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| Story: InertiaAuthor: Sandshrew777 Fandom: Hairspray Genre: Short, Friendship Pairing/Character: Link, Seaweed Summary: Seaweed and Link don't seem like they have anything in common. Three small scenes beg to differ. Quick one-shot on the friendship between two unlikely characters. Squeeing: Three scenes that manage to portray friendship between cracker boy and dark chocolate boy in a charming, meaningful way. Short, but manages to make me think that, yes, this should definitely be canon. Excerpt: As a white teenager, Link Larkin had absolutely no idea how Seaweed Stubbs felt when the egg smashed into the back of his brown blazer. | |
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| Story: Leaves in the SunAuthor: Picklesticks Fandom: Naruto Genre: Character Pairing/Character: Jiraiya Summary: Leaves turn naturally toward the sun, and the Leaf-nin turn naturally toward their golden sun. When the sun is snuffed out, emptiness takes its place. Squeeing: Short and full of vivid, striking imagery, this fic just makes a part of me think, of course, yes. I rarely like extended metaphor, but this one works. Excerpt: The shinobi of the Leaf turn naturally toward their sun, their Hokage – golden Minato, with the brilliant hair and the brilliant smile. | |
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| Story: So Sacrifice YourselfAuthor: bluesea14 Fandom: Harry Potter Genre: Drama Pairing/Character: Percy, Lupin Summary: Percy Weasley has a conversation with Remus Lupin at Dumbledore's funeral. AU, written pre-D.H. Squeeing: A nicely written Pre-DH fic that examines Percy's possible motivations. Even though it's not canon compliant, I like the Percy-voice. Excerpt: I’m a member of the Order of the Phoenix, but I never turned up for the meetings. I never went to Grimmauld Place, because my parents – especially my mother – spent so much of their time there. I would report to Dumbledore alone in Hogwarts. | |
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| So, I'm in the middle of a massive meta essay on AU and divergent fanfic, and I'd like to get a sample of what some people like. Consider it a favor (and motivation for me to actually finish the damn essay sometime this month).
Show me the AU and Divergences! Pimp yourself, pimp your friends, pimp strangers - anything AU you've liked, any length or fandom! | |
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| Story: Nowhere ManAuthor: Selena Fandom: Torchwood/Star Trek: DS9 Genre: Crossover, Drama Pairing/Character: Garak, Torchwood Crew, The Master Summary: During the year that wasn’t, Torchwood tries to save the day. Elim Garak just tries to survive. Squeeing: Wow, wow, wow. This is a brilliant concept executed perfectly - just suppose the reason Torchwood was in the Himalayas was to investigate a Rift event that brought Garak through. Garak's presence during the Year that wasn't is perfect - his insights into the way the world changes are chilling to people who remember the reason behind Bajor's occupation. Excerpt: “Toclafane,” Garak repeated, sounding interested. “Not a species I’ve come across before. But I am reasonably sure they are not the ones you people are supposed to make first contact with. Hm.” | |
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| Story: Promises to MeAuthor: Mint Poppies Fandom: Yu Yu Hakusho Genre: Romance, post series Pairing/Character: Yuusuke/Keiko Summary: Keiko has always known that Yuusuke took his promises to her very seriously. But it wasn't until her death that she truly knew how far his devotion extended. Squeeing: Yuusuke and Keiko have one of my favorite anime het romances - there's something really deep and solid about them. They'll go to hell and back for each other (complaining the whole way). I think this fic managed to capture how very true they are to each other. Excerpt: Yuusuke had never, not once, broken a promise to Keiko.
Not a single one. | |
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| Story: Learning CurveAuthor: Lady Ezri Fandom: Gundam 00 Genre: WAFF Pairing/Character: Lockon, Setsuna Summary: Lockon helps out when he discovers that a fellow Meister doesn't know how to write in English, and helps teach him something else. Squeeing: Short but sweet Lockon and Setsuna fic. Lockon is very "big brother" in this, which is how I like to see him with Setsuna. Excerpt: He looked to the island seeing Setsuna sitting there with an expression that Lockon had never seen was spread across Setsuna’s face, frustration. | |
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| Story: When Egos CollideAuthor: TrudiRose Fandom: Shrek/Beauty and the Beast Genre: Humor, crossover Pairing/Character: Gaston, Charming Summary: No one's as vain as Prince Charming...except one man. Squeeing: The title says it all. OMG, does the title say it all. Excerpt: The black-haired muscleman scowled at seeing his fans’ attention diverted. His mood was not improved when his lackey, a tiny fellow, piped up, “Gosh, Gaston! That guy is just as handsome as you are!” | |
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| Story: What He WantsAuthor: redqueen76 Fandom: Naruto Genre: Angst, mindfuck Pairing/Character: Kakashi/Iruka Summary: It's not that Kakashi needs him, because he doesn't. But Kakashi wants him, and Kakashi always gets what he wants. Squeeing: This is a hard story to rec because it gets into a really nasty area - Kakashi decides he wants Iruka, and goes to an extreme length to get him. The whole fic is at turns disturbing and fascinating, dealing with the darker possibilities that jutsu might create. Kakashi's characterization, too, is very dark, but it really makes the piece work - Kakashi is so badly twisted by his experiences. Excerpt: “What have I told you,” Kakashi says, his voice deceptively low and calm, “about bothering Iruka with your nonsense?”
Shiko lunges at Kakashi, but she might as well be moving in slow-motion. Within the space of a blink, she is on the ground, wrists broken. “How are you doing this?!” she screams, and her noise has now brought spectators. “Fuck you, how is this possible?! You bastard son of a bitch!!!” | |
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| Story: Madness, thy constant companionAuthor: lucid_babblesFandom: X: 1999/ Tsubasa Chronicles Genre: Angst, crossover Pairing/Character: Subaru/Seishirou, Kurogane/Fai Summary: Fai and Subaru meet (in an asylum). Squeeing: Subaru and Fai are both badly broken, and this fic illustrates that. I love the portrayal of Subaru's madness as a quiet kind of thing, and his perceptions of his former friends are heart-breaking in their subtlety. Using Fai's relationship with Kurogane as the counterbalance is a really nice trick, and the whole fic hurts. Excerpt: When they check Subaru in, he is not stark raving mad. He has never been one for public displays anyway, and he is off-kilter in a much more subtle—and all the more chilling—way. When his grandmother hesitantly squeezes his hand, a goodbye, he just smiles at her. The way he would smile at a stranger, when he used to smile at all.
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| Story: a break in timeAuthor: CetraGlow Fandom: Harry Potter Genre: Angst, character study Pairing/Character: Harry, Tom Riddle Summary: Timetravel. Dumbledore had it all wrong. Squeeing: Sometimes short fics work best to convey a simple awesome idea - this is a case of that. Can't say much without spoiling it, but this sent shivers down my spine. Ouch. In a brilliant kind of way. Excerpt: “And the new transfer student this year, going into Seventh Year, Adrian Cobre!” | |
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| Story: I'd Storm Heaven For You, If I Only Knew Where It WasAuthor: spazzyfroggiesFandom: Kuroshitsuji Genre: Angst, character study Pairing/Character: Elizabeth/Ciel Summary: Elizabeth was once a little girl in love with a little boy. Squeeing: Short and poignant story about Elizabeth after Ciel is gone. Poetically written, and it encapsulates the depth of her feeling, even as she grows beyond childhood. Excerpt: In six years, that little girl grew up into a beautiful young woman, and her little boy was never seen again. | |
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| Story: Sworn, Stained and JustifiedAuthor: Doctoress Octopus Fandom: Naruto Genre: Drama, character study Pairing/Character: Sasuke/Sakura Summary: Twenty truths about Sasuke Uchiha, from birth to twenty-five. Failures, triumphs, and everything in between. Squeeing: This is another story based on the old "twenty truths" style, but it's very well done - it provides a human, realistic look at who Sasuke is. Some of the truths are inventive, but all fit into a canon-based universe. Excerpt: There’s a scar on Sasuke’s right side in memory of his first summoning.
Sasuke discovered rather quickly that the disrespect he generally passed towards Orochimaru and the other Oto-nin had no place in the relationship between the proud serpents and himself – at least not while he was still learning. Kabuto healed the injury like everything else, but the three-inch fang mark still curves over Sasuke’s hipbone to this day. | |
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| Story: Green Means GoAuthor: Tynan Fandom: Gundam Wing Genre: Humor/Romance Pairing/Character: Heero/Relena Summary: Heero, using a variety of innovative methods, signs up for the assignment of a lifetime: teaching Relena Peacecraft to drive. Squeeing: The "teaching someone to drive" fic is somewhat cliche, but it still amuses me when the writer uses a unique angle. This long oneshot is amusing, and I like the Relena/Heero dynamics. Excerpt: “What do you mean you don’t know how to drive?”
Relena tilted her head towards Heero, wondering why he was so confused by this, “Well . . . I just never learned I suppose.” | |
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| Story: Can't Change Its SpotsAuthor: Edmondia Dantes Redux Fandom: Pet Shop of Horrors Genre: Humor Pairing/Character: Leon/D Summary: Of jaguars, detectives, and disgruntled kami. Squeeing: A very drunk Leon gets involved with a jaguar in this short, much to D's displeasure. Short, but witty dialogue (bonus points for writing drunk well) Excerpt: D looked at Leon. Then he looked at the jaguar. Then he looked at Leon.
The jaguar grinned back unrepentantly and licked Leon's cheek. | |
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| Story: Objects in the MirrorAuthor: Alowl Fandom: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Genre: Drama Pairing/Character: Bashir, Garak, O'brien Summary: Garak, Julian, O'Brien, and memories of the Eugenics Wars. "It was meant to be nothing more then a joke." Plotting Cardassians, furious doctors, and oblivious engineering chiefs. Squeeing: A short story that has an excellent "OUCH ZINGER" kind of ending. I'm fascinated by Bashir's genetic enhancements, and this story encapsulates what that could mean. Excerpt: Julian Bashir burst from the holosuite, face like a thunderstorm as he roughly shouldered his way through the afternoon crowd. Low moans of protest and a trail of outraged shouts followed in his wake as he forced his way between various customers. Garak trailed sedately behind the CMO, arms clasped behind his back and an expression of mild interest on his face as he observed the younger man’s progress.
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| Story: Heavy SilencesAuthor: blinkblink Fandom: Magic Kaitou Genre: Drama Pairing/Character: Kaitou, Conan, Nakamori Summary: "We would like Kid delivered by the 24th. For every day you're late, one bright face vanishes from the world." Children kidnapped, Nakamori has only one place to turn for help. Kaitou Kid. Squeeing: blinkblink has been writing some really good Magic Kaitou fic lately that is laden with interesting plot, investigative angles, and are just plain clever. This is a fairly long story (60,000 words) that is full of Black Organization darkness and the fight against them. Very well constructed and executed story. Excerpt: “Alright. What do you want?”
“That’s simple, Inspector. The same thing you do. Kaitou 1412.” | |
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| Story: Don't Know Much About HistoryAuthor: musegaarid Fandom: Good Omens Genre: Humor Pairing/Character: Adam, DEATH, Crowley/Aziraphale Summary: Adam and DEATH get a history lesson from Crowley and Aziraphale. Squeeing: Adam decides to study history by doing the voyeur thing to Crowley and Aziraphale. So utterly amusing a concept, well-executed. Excerpt: "YOU KNOW TWO PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE."
Adam's face lit up. "That's right! I do. I could look for them… Hey, wanna stay and watch?"
There was a pause. "THAT MIGHT PROVE TO BE INTERESTING."
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| Story: Four of a KindAuthor: Sanada Fandom: Gundam 00 Genre: Humor Pairing/Character: Lockon(Lyle)/Tieria Summary: The Meisters go undercover at a poker match. Tieria gets to crossdress (again). Squeeing: It's really hard to find good Gundam 00 fic... but this one hit the right notes - plenty of humor, and just so much fun to read. Reminds me of the way good GW fic used to be done. Excerpt: "Some vacation..." Lyle muttered under his breath. "So, is Tieria going undercover as one of my 'staff', too?" Wang blinked, and then inclined her head in a flirtatious smile.
"No, Mr. Stratos. He will be posing as your wife." | |
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| Story: With No CompanionAuthor: sutaretagaisce Fandom: Princess Tutu/Utena Genre: Fairytale, Crossover Pairing/Character: Anthy, Rue Summary: Pre-series. Anthy and Rue have come to be defined by the absence each of their princes leave. Squeeing: Beautifully lyrical writing that fits the tones of both series perfectly. Princess Tutu and Utena mesh really well together, and sutaretagaisce creates a fairytale-like story that merges the series together in a heart-breaking way. Lovely, lovely work. Excerpt: But then the world stopped acting like a fairytale and became unfair. So no longer did the prince manage to save all the girls. At times he only saved a few. Or just one. Or, tragically, he grew so weak he could not even save himself. And when they discovered the princes could fail, that they could break or fall apart, the girls stopped expecting to be saved. They gave up hoping.
So they began to forget what it was like to feel loved or give such love in return. That is when the girls of the world stopped being princesses. | |
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