dragonyphoenix

"I want to be like you when I grow up."

Andromeda had suggested Hermione Granger, who had saved the world, or Auror Patil, or lovely Luna Lovegood. "I'm just an old woman poking her nose places it doesn't belong. I'm sneaky, and sometimes I'm mean. I'm no hero."

The girl had shaken her head. "But I want to be me, don't you get it? I'm a Slytherin. And you're the first person I've ever met who made it look like being me was an ok thing to be. I can't be anyone else. I've tried."

Seduction By Winglet pairs Tony Stark (Marvel Universe) with Martin Crief (Cabin Pressure). It looks like a crack pairing, but it's not. They are both such geeks that it works. Diversions, which is a spin-off by another author, is also excellent.

In the Morning of the Magicians (BtVS): I don't care what any canon authority says, this is definitely Ripper and Ethan's backstory.

And a video: Trisha Jain thought that My Tears Ricochet "perfectly encapsulates, line for line, the fractured sibling relationship between Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng." She's so right.

Happy Fanfic Writers Appreciation Day!

To celebrate I’ll share some of my fave fanfics. I thought I’d share 5 (as in 5 times something or other and 1 time not) but I could not keep my list that small.

1. The first is a double rec in that it’s the same idea continued and the idea is a doozy! The Yelp Page for Aziraphale’s Bookstore. Just let that sink in for a moment. It’s even better than that. Part 1. Part 2.

2. An Ever Fixed Mark. Short version: Pride and Prejudice with soul marks. But it’s actually a deconstruction of the trope. Lovely and brilliant.

3. Hello Operator, Please Give Me Number Nine. Suzie plays Calvinball with Death. That says it all.

4. OK, I can’t limit myself to one rec of Beer Good Foamy’s stories. In Radio Silence, BtVS’ Gentlemen drop by Night Vale and, as they tend to, take everyone’s voices. If you’re at all familiar with Night Vale, the problem is obvious. Get Some Walking In, a West Wing fanfic the author describes thusly: “Normally, anyone who claims that the US government might have a detailed contingency plan for how to deal with the zombie apocalypse would, of course, get No Comment. Which makes things a bit awkward when CJ has to give a briefing on it.“ Has CJ’s voice down to a T. I honestly would recommend stopping to read all Beer Good Foamy’s stories while your there.

5. From What Seemed Like a Ruin. Bucky Barnes heals and raises / trains a goshawk. OK, and that description sucks, but it’s an excellent story.

Just a note, as I’m writing this, I’m coming up with more stories I absolutely have to rec!

6. In the Light of Two Moons is, sadly, an unfinished work. Babylon 5 meant to be a pairing between Neroon and Catherine Sakai, it starts on a Shadow prison planet after the Shadows have left. Good characterization, great storytelling. I wish there were more.

7. Alive in your blood now. Eeee! Vorkosigan Saga. Another one that’s hard to describe. It touches on social justice, maybe more than touches on, I’d actually call it a theme. Helen Natalia growing up and into her own. Love this.

8. freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose. Stargate Atlantis. Rodney after he returns to Earth, coming to terms with his grief and being the favorite professor of a few really dedicated students and someone most everyone else just tries to avoid. Lots of feelings and thoughts which, let’s face it, I just adore.

9. The Seduction By Winglets series. Cabin Pressure / Iron Man and/or Marvel Universe. Martin Crieff / Tony Stark. Not crack. Seriously.

“How’d you do it?”

Perhaps he could turn that passion down a darker path. He leaned back in his chair, imagining her in leather, pants so tight they might as well have been painted on, and a bodice. Surely handcuffs or a whip wouldn’t be enough to drive her off. Her little spy game required her to return to his bed to learn whatever she was after. “Do what?”

She played her part perfectly, becoming even more agitated at his amused tone. Oh, this was fun. “Guess who’s in charge of the Talent Show.”

“I take it that you have that honor.”

“Only because you somehow got out of it. What did you do, threaten to kill him?”

Giles hid his discomfort behind a sip of tea as he wondered how thorough a dossier she’d been given. He wasn’t above murder, not when it was necessary. Did she know or was she merely guessing? “Not at all. I merely suggested that cleaning up the detritus of the scanning project was keeping me too occupied to allow me to pursue other interests.”

“Don’t try to jive me. I tried a similar argument. He told me to make time.”

“Perhaps I’m more persuasive than you?”

Jenny took the chair across from him and leaned over the table. “What is it? Come on. You can tell me.”

Giles placed his teacup and saucer on the table before spreading his empty hands between them. “I’d ask what I might expect to receive in recompense but in fact I have nothing, as you’d say, on him.”

“You know something or you did something, and I’m not leaving until you tell me.”

“You know how much I enjoy your company, but unless you intend to miss your next class, you will, in fact, need to leave in, oh, about a half-hour or so.”

She stood and glared down at him. “You haven’t heard the last of this.” Oh, yes, he would definitely bring out the whip next time.

“I look forward to your next little chat on the subject.”