other
ai rps
On Neptune It Rains Diamonds - Willowbell
When he's onstage he has to clutch his guitar or his mike too tight sometimes, because he's still that scared little boy with the voice and the eyes, and he still gets stage fright thinking "What if they don't like me?"
("What if they don't like me, momma?"
"Well, you're gonna have to prove them wrong, baby.")
This story is sweet and breathtaking, filled with quaint little flashbacks - Kris's childhood, his marriage, the other idol contestants - that just make it come to life. There's humour, light and playful, and it complements the emotion that the story's filled with. I especially find it lovely how with so few words the author conveys how much Kris loves Katy, and yet that sentiment doesn't get in the way of the Adam/Kris dynamic.
The Night Before the Last Time - Shelbecat
"It's an unconventional lifestyle," he finally finishes, watching Kris with a measured gaze to see if he gets it.
He doesn't, not at first. Then realization dawns slow and easy over his face and a smile breaks across those heartbreakingly manipulative lips.
"Gotcha," Kris says, and goes back to his eggs like Adam just told him it's going to be in the high 80s today.
I guess I'm a sucker for romance, and despite the fact that this story hurts, just breaks your heart, the ending's so lovely and tender, you can forgive all the rest. I love that Adam isn't perfect, isn't carefree and blase, and he wants so desperately to fix what he's broken but he can't - but it all works out after all.
Unless the Dreamer is the Real You - Hitchedtoaster
kris curls himself up small in the space of shade behind adam's back, and shuts his eyes. he folds his hands between his own knees, fingers nudging the small of adam's back, and focuses on the sunspots behind his eyelids til he dozes off too, warm.
There's something about the way this story's written, like a lazy summer day, slow and inviting. It's third person narrative, but in a detached, storyteller sort of way. The fic meanders through the season, focusses on Kris's self-consciousness and the thousand little ways Adam affects him. Their interaction is lovely and the way they grow to need each other, inevitable. Plus there's a sweet little bonus scene that just makes things perfect.
csi
Devotion - kissingchaos9
Greg waited a few seconds until everyone finished putting their books back into their bags. "Just a couple of things before the bell rings. One, you're going to have a pop quiz tomorrow." He managed to maintain a straight face while half the class laughed and the other half groaned. "It's the first one of the year, so don't make me look bad. Two, now that class assignments are pretty much firm, Jake doesn't have a partner, so he's going to have to threesome with Natalie and James, hold your adolescent snickering please. Also, Wednesday we're going to start our semester long project about forensic chemistry, and we're going to have one of the CSIs from SFPD come and give a little presentation, so be prepared with some questions that don't involve blood and guts, okay?"
An adorable CSI school teacher AU, which is not too sappy, but quite cute, just overall a feel good fic.
Game Day - Steph
He looked up stats and explanations of all the positions. He took detailed notes on his laptop, and used a highlighter and some Post-Its to mark important sections of the book. He said the phrase "wide receiver" until it stopped making him snicker.
Greg realized, somewhere during the fourth hour, that he hadn't studied this hard for anything since his Organic Chemistry final senior year of college. That thought brought back memories of the good old days when he could seduce the undergrads with his considerable and esoteric knowledge of scientific facts and equations. He once got a blowjob for reciting the Periodic Table.
Greg is such a dork, and this is so cute. Greg tries so hard, when he didn't have to at all. Also, sexy and yummy, all wrapped up with a perfect ending.
dc universe
Containment - solvent90
Kon couldn't look away. He realised with a jolt he hadn't seen Tim's eyes once, all week: Tim hadn't put the lenses back, even in the Tower. He'd forgotten how sharp the blue was. God. They'd been the wrong colour in all the fantasies.
"I - think you've been avoiding me. Since. Since last week. And. I wanted to apologise. If I made you uncomfortable."
Kon pictured burning a giant hole into the roof above them and taking off through it. Uncomfortable was probably Tim-speak for hard and if Tim tried to give him the Talk -
This is likely one of the best DC sex pollen fics out there (and I love the fact that there can be so many in DC-verse), because it's not just about the sex. It's about their friendship too, about how much Kon cares about Tim at the same time as he is madly in lust with him. Solvent90 characterizes both Kon and Tim beautifully.
Cover - solvent90
By third period that morning, it was settled that he was a) gay, b) dating Conner Luthor and c) hilarious to torture about it. Finally, he had to be cool about it in sheer self-defence. After he deliberately went over to sit with Conner in the cafeteria, stole his purple jello, it was settled that they were just another boring couple, and, apart from the guy who had an obvious crush on Conner himself and kept shooting Tim the death-glare, nobody bothered any more. And then it was settled, and Conner turned up at Tim's apartment at 7:33 to pick him up.
I've fallen in love with not just Conner-fic, but with DC Universe Kon and Tim. This is just adorable, and demonstrates Tim's weaknesses and vulnerabilities - he's only the Boy Wonder after all, and it's just wonderful and amazing and yummy. Part Two and Part Three here.
Eight Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Ward Sidekick Partner: or Dude you sound like a NAMBLA member - Betty
1. Don't.
Short and hilarious. Batman never ceases to amuse me.
Friday I'm in Love - Impertinence
Kon sits down on his bed, slides a hand down his stomach. "Sorry I left so quick," he says, switching the phone to his left hand. "I, uh. I had to pee."
"You didn't stop to go to the bathroom," Tim noted, obviously amused.
Crap. "It was a false alarm," Kon says.
"You're lying through your teeth."
This story is wonderful and hilarious, parts where I was literally tearing up laughing. The author has Kon down just as I imagine him, lame and awkward and so adorable, and Tim is the perfect combination of dry sarcasm and geekiness. In between all the humour is a wonderful story about friendship and first times too.
Hanging Work - Lucy
"He's not one of your stray cats!"
"No, true. For one thing, he has opposable thumbs for climbing, instead of claws. Although he does climb nearly as well, and lands on his feet about as often."
"You can't just keep him, take away his chance at a normal life." He took a step forward, letting his boots grind the rooftop beneath them.
She tensed almost imperceptibly, but he could see that she was ready to move. The little smile disappeared. "Do you want to know what else he has in common with my cats? He was abandoned in this city by careless people, left to choose between fending for himself in alleys or being caught by a system that threw him in with hundreds of other strays, and might very well have killed him." She tilted her head. "Did you find out who he was?"
What started out as an interesting "five things" scenario was developed into a brilliant and believable story arc. Wrong place, wrong time, and Richard Grayson was never adopted by Bruce Wayne, Batman never allowed other caped crusaders to work in his town, and yet, like it or not, they're drawn to one another. This is a wonderfully written AU.
Maybe In The Meantime - Te
The point is that Kon's totally not a girl, and even though Tim is his friend -- his *best* friend, in the entire world, and that's really important and, by rights, he *could* totally be getting a hug -- he's not.
Tim doesn't do that kind of thing, and that's cool.
Tim is way more of the "tiny smile which may or may not mean violence is about to happen" kind of guy, anyway, and Kon had gotten that smile, already.
The quote is representative of how the entire fic goes, and it is exactly how I feel like things go in Kon's head - fast and random and emotional and just perfectly how Kon would be thinking about what Tim's thinking. Te writes these characters so well, I love it every time.
Numerous Things That Never Happened - Betty
"Hey!" says Robin. "Do I ask you about the peanut-butter and the bat-cuffs I found under the--" and Dick swings back to look at him and they appear to be conducting some kind of rapid fire negotiation with their eyebrows. Which is pretty impressive, since they both have masks on.
I like this one, just because it's so frigging hilarious. No pairings of note, nothing serious, just a laugh out loud fic.
Scions - Danny
The first thing he does is sit down behind his desk and boot up his beloved laptop. It's one of dozens of specialty models Bruce commissioned to interface with the computers in the sub-sub-basement. A single black wire runs out of a discreet depression in the desk and into the machine. Nine times out of ten, Tim can tell people it's for his iPod, and they believe him. They don't know that iPods don't run at 5.6 petaflops. Google doesn't run at 5.6 petaflops, but several hundred feet down there's a nitrogen-cooled room full of custom processors that do.
It never gets less awesome.
...
The Angels You Need - Mary & Te
Jason picks up on the second ring. In the background, Tim can hear him moving papers
around. Chances are, it's nothing more important than the homework he has due on Monday.
"Tim...?"
"Yes."
"Is something... is everything all right?"
No, it isn't, and you *know* that. You -- "I couldn't sleep. I thought... we could talk."
Jason blows out a breath. "Hey," he says. "Anytime."
This series is just absolutely amazing. I found it a little difficult to get into it when I first started, because my background in the Batman-verse isn't strong, and this story is an AU from Death in the Family, I suppose, focusing on Jason and the younger ones. Pairings shift a lot, so don't expect consistency in relationships - the one thing that stays the same is the Batfamily, and how much they matter to one another, how much they love one another. The series is especially good when they cover an AU No Man's Land, and it's interesting how they take all these characters from DCU and distort them to match their storyline. It is absolutely brilliant, dark and twisty, right into the heart of Gotham - it's really quite a read. The worst thing is that right now the series is left on a cliffhanger, and I have no idea when it'll be continued. But it's too good to pass up, and there's so much in the series you can afford to wait for the next part.
Unicorn Bait - Basingstoke & Zee
After the lecture, Kon floats over to Tim and pokes him in the arm. "Dude, the look on your face was *priceless.*"
Tim gives him an 'I-have-kryptonite-stashed-in-my-belt' look and doesn't reply.
Kon pokes him again. "Sorry for accidentally dumping you, dude, but you have to admit my control before that was pretty impressive. I had no *idea* I could use this stuff to get under people's clothes."
This look is more of a 'You-clearly-inherited-none-of-Luthor's-brain-cells' look, and then Tim turns and stalks away.
Cute, short and sexy. I always find the Kon/Tim dynamic adorable, because Kon's such a dork (he takes after Clark after all), but Tim has his moments too - he's darkly sarcastic and ironic, but he has his adorable moments.
dn angel
Submerged by Meg
Hiwatari-kun's kitchen was notoriously understocked -- well, ok, he admended silently, it wasn't understocked, it was as bare as -- as -- as -- as a candy store the day before Valentine's Day. He opened a few cubboards in guilty curiosity, and discovered that Hiwatari-kun apparently lived on
a) instant ramen
b) instant rice
c) instant soup
d) air.
So I finished watching D.N. Angel, and am loving Satoshi/Daisuke, mostly because Daisuke is so oblivious and Satoshi is too damn cool. The anime makes it so very easy. Of course, I am also completely head over heels for Dark, because he is one suave, sexy man-thief. Of course, the D.N. Angel slash fandom is rather small, but Meg's writing mostly makes up for it. She is very good, and very funny, especially in this story. Satoshi's drunk personna is hilarious and adorable.
full metal alchemist
Settling by Sleeps With Coyotes
"A date?"
Al blinked. "Um...."
"A date?" Ed shouted, whipping to his feet. "I thought--how could--I'll fucking kill him!"
"Huh?" Al managed, taking an instinctive step back as Ed growled something indecipherable and stood trembling like he was being pulled in too many directions at once.
"Nobody screws around on my brother," Ed snarled in a low, dangerous voice.
"Um...me?" Al squeaked, wincing at his own tone. Ed just looked at him, sympathy and resolution and a bright core of absolute fury in his gaze, and it was the seriousness of it that drove away Al's surprise long enough for a clue to wriggle its way to the forefront of his mind. "Wait--you think...me and Roy?"
He'd squeaked again, but the sound of it seemed to have penetrated the red haze of his brother's anger, at least. That or the hint of laughter rising in Al's voice.
This completely ignores the anime-cannon ending, which is fine with me, because episode 51 made me sad, as did the full length movie sequel. This, on the other hand, makes me hand-flappingly happy, because Ed is adorable and geeky, and Al plays matchmaker quite superbly, and isn't quite as lame with the ladies as you'd think, what with having Ed as such a particularly disastrous role model.
The Stormbringer Series by Mirabella
Ed smirks and opens his mouth. Al puts a stop to it by poking Ed hard in the leg with his foot and scowling fiercely. It's not cold out, but if the cat wants in then she should be in, and if Ed says something to make the General put her back out again he'll be eating cold leftover noodles for a week. Ed gives Al a grimace that's half exasperated and half apologetic and slides his hand affectionately onto Al's ankle, his thumb brushing the hollow behind the bone.
Mustang's eyes follow the movement, his gaze sliding like hot silk over the intersection of their bodies, lingering there for a breath too long before he turns away to search for something on the shelf.
When I first started reading FMA, I tended to avoid Ed/Al pairings, a) because of the incest, and more importantly (because who am I kidding? I love the Harry Potter twincest), b), because Al's character is so sweet and innocent, I just couldn't put him into a physically intimate situation. But Mirabella's subtle, brilliant characterisation and beautiful writing changed all of that. This is a nine part series, so start at the top (I've only linked the main index of Mirabella's FMA fanfiction). The story becomes very intimate, and I am unshamed to say I devoured the story in one sitting, panting for breath on the last part.
high school musical
Waltz by Rageprufrock
"Hey!" Chad says suddenly, sounding excited. "I think I'm getting it! I'm getting it, right?"
"Shut up, you'll ruin it," Ryan snaps, but Chad's right, he's getting it. And they box their way across the floor to the beat, barefoot in blue jeans and Ryan thinks that if this doesn't get Chad pussy, he's going to go choke a bitch with his own two hands.
So let's not lie, I adore Pru with every ounce of my being. So the fact that she's written such a brilliant, brilliant HSM fic just makes me swoon. In fact, it was mostly her post that made me watch HSM to begin with. Her Ryan voice is just perfect, and I've been waiting for this story to come out for a while - nothing stronger than some Sharpay bitchiness (to my disappointment), but it's a cute story nonetheless. Check out the rest of her 14 Valentines posts for more (hopefully) long-awaited stories and wonderful writing.
house
A Life Never Lived by Mer
Wilson was standing with his head bowed, the file dangling from his hand. He lifted his head, as if he could feel House's eyes on him. House couldn't remember the last time he'd seen Wilson look so lost. He was suddenly very afraid.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, knowing the words were inadequate. He had never been any good at offering comfort. He had never wanted to learn.
It's friendship, and it's hurting, but for once, it's not House doing the hurting, and for once, he cares, he wishes. Good enough just isn't good enough.
A Modest Proposal by Ignaz Widsom
He averted his eyes in the darkness. "If you actually think you want to be saddled to a crippled freak for the rest of your life, you're delusional."
For a moment, Wilson was silent, but his indignant outrage was practically audible. "We're both freaks! We're all freaks! Do you honestly think that anyone we know doesn't have some freakish quality or other? House --" he laughed, a little crazily. "You never get tired of telling me what a fuckup I am. I've been married four times now. I blow-dry my hair. I'm a freak! Or look at Cuddy -- she signs up for internet dating sites more often than most people change their underwear, even though she's a beautiful woman who could get a date without batting an eyelash."
I must admit, I had trouble getting into the premise for this story in the beginning - it just seemed legally unbelievable to me - but it hooks you on as you read, and you root for House and Wilson, for this to work and for them to make it. Characterisation for Stacy and Cuddy were excellent, true to form, though I had issues with the ducklings. But it's honestly worth the couple hours of reading, because they just try so hard to make everything work, and it shows.
Excessive Tape and Major Miracles by Caro
There was a dark gleam in Wilson's eyes, one that left House feeling like he was on the edge of something precarious and about to lose his footing. And when you were a man with a bad leg, stability was the one thing you couldn't let yourself be without.
Wilson's voice is absolutely perfect in this fic, better, I think, than the portrayal of House - but it just makes you focus on Wilson's character instead. Sweet and endearing, and just how Wilson would think. It has a lovely ending.
Intersections by Daasgrrl
They're talking about coma scales. Wilson is an 8 out of 15 on the GCS, which means his condition is 'severe'. Apparently, a thumb pressed firmly above the eyes will make them flicker open in response to the pain, and his body will flinch away from a pinprick in an automatic effort to protect itself. He will swallow automatically if something is placed on his tongue.
Just absolutely brilliant. Despite it all, a convincing premise, and a complete emotional roller coaster. You hurt for Wilson, and you long for everything to be okay. It's perfectly written, perfectly executed, and there's no way you aren't hooked in.
Surface Tension by PWCorgigirl
She was the only thing holding them together, and she managed it best by holding them apart, one at arm's length on either side of her.
A beautiful, poignant story told from the perspective of House's mother, hightlighting periods of his childhood, and the relationship with his father. The writing is wonderful and emotional, just a lovely Gen fic.
Five Ways Dr. James Wilson Didn't Cheat on His Wife by Djinn
Wilson has to laugh again at that, and he glances at her out of the corner of his eye. "I've probably destroyed things more sacred than a two-dollar plastic necklace."
"Like marriage vows?" Cuddy jibes, no real heat in the accusation, and there is something so familiar about that comment, so completely something House might say, that it doesn't cut him at all. If anything, it feels strangely comfortable, and it doesn't occur to him how strange it is that something that reminds him of House should put him so at ease.
Inevitable, would be how I would describe this story. Every piece seems like it fits into Wilson's history, characterisations are wonderful, Wilson is wonderful. Though it's from his point of view, it feels like we're being told the story from the outside, and there's just enough objectivity to make it feel real, a true story told.
The Fine and Subtle Art of Cariology by Rageprufrock
Wilson looks pained. "That made no sen--never mind. Just promise me you won't do anything that'll make me regret ever having met you."
House' eyes widen. "You mean I haven't already done that?"
"No," Wilson says with a genuine smile, and the realization that Wilson is telling the truth is flattering, a little humbling, even, because House is like every eight-year-old boy who ever lived and nobody has prettier pigtails or hair ribbons than James Wilson.
I cannot stop talking about how good Pru's stories are, and this one is hilarious and fun, but cute and so very House. House realises he has *feelings* for Wilson, and they fall together so easily: they were made for this.
Then, Now, Eventually (1, 2, 3) by Amazonqueenkate
James hadn't asked for details and Greg never offered (when did he ever offer?) but the impression he'd been left with was something about a knock-down, drag-out with Stacy that ended with slamming doors, promises to never speak again, and Greg had sped off into the night in Stacy's little coupe, leaving her with his more conservative sedan (a car James had helped him pick out, a car he hated) as "one more fuck-you."
Sexy and hot and real - this is exactly how it goes down.
The Unwilling Host by J. M. Torres
"Hello, Gregory," said his mother. "Who answered the phone?"
"Cameron," said House. "You met her at my office, remember?"
His mother sounded dubious. "Well, she seemed like a nice young woman, but you really shouldn't--she works for you, doesn't she?"
"Oh, Mom," House said. He had everyone's attention now. "For the record, my girlfriend is six feet tall and has gorgeous brown eyes and blond hair." He looked over at Wilson. "Okay, kind of a dirty blond, I guess."
His mother, who was used to this joke, said, "Isn't he married, dear?"
A lovely and endearing life-of-House story that fits everybody in just perfectly. Cameron isn't annoying, Chase isn't a jerk, and Cuddy has a sensitive side. Wilson and House fit like they should, of course, and there's nothing hard, nothing strained, just comfortable.
Tracking Time by Namaste
"Just do me a favor, and tell me you hadn't already finished 10k before I showed up," he said. "Not that my ego couldn't take it, but it would take some of the joy out of running you into the ground."
"I'm not saying anything. Just try and catch up some day when I haven't pulled 36 hours straight."
"Is that an invitation, or a challenge, Wilson -- if that is your real name?"
"What makes you think it's not a warning?" Wilson smiled as he headed toward the parking lot, leaving House alone in the pool of light at the ER entrance.
A lovely, involved and developed story encompassing House and Wilson's past, several years into the past. I love the backstory that has been infused into this, and I love the relationship between House and Wilson. It's sweet and it's real, and I love long-drawn stories.
When House Met Wilson by Rageprufrock
House tells Chase he met Wilson at a Pottery Barn while buying a vase.
"Vah-ze," House emphasizes.
The look on Chase's face is enough to carry him through the worst parts of the day, Cuddy's nagging about paperwork, Cameron's thoughtful staring, and Wilson's pissy mood inclusive.
The thing about this story that there's a thread of truth in all of House's lies, and that's what makes them good lies. House and Wilson sort of sit in the sidelines of this story, and yet they are exactly what this story is about. Wilson is sweet and real and House isn't quite the jerk he pretends to be, at least when it comes to Wilson.
iron man
Another Man's Treasure by April
Tony did his best to puff up his chest and look nobly patriotic. "I'm just proud of all that he's achieved and so I'm keeping his memory alive in my own uniquely special way."
"In your own uniquely special deranged way."
"Fine, tack on unkind adjectives. I can take it."
I don't really know the context of the Captain America/Tony Stark slash, but this fic (which isn't about the pairing so much as about Stark's unhealthy obsession) is absolutely hilarious. I love the last line.
Four Times Pepper Considered Quitting and the One Time She Did by Seren_CCD
She looked at him and smiled. "Well, you were right."
"Of course I was," he said. "What about?"
"I'm perky and a redhead," she said turning to leave the room. "I'm also 5'10", can run in heels, and can spot an error in a spreadsheet from 50 paces. So looks like another 3 points in my favor."
This is completely movie-verse - ever since I saw the movie I've been reading here and there in the fandom, and there are a lot of great stories like this; in-character dialogue and great humour. I really enjoy the description of Pepper's first day on the job.
His Girl Friday. Or Saturday. Maybe Sunday. by Zahra
There's a special sort of hell associated with job hunting that no one told Pepper Potts about when she was in college. Of course, Pepper foolishly also thought that college was supposed to actually prepare her for the "real world" -- but she was wrong there too. After all, there was no class in college called "How to Balance Your Checkbook" or "How to Rent Your First Apartment" or "How to Interview for a Job and Not Smack the Interviewer."
Pepper really could have used that last one instead of Modern Art 403.
The plot revolves around Pepper's increasingly desperate job search, and the author is just perfect at creating realistic but ridiculous situations for poor Pepper. Plus this characterization of Tony Stark is my favourite - the author has really got his authoritative, sexy/snarky voice down.
merlin
Drastically Redefining Protocol by Rageprufrock
Merlin covered his face with his thin hands. "Christ. Arthur, I don't think you really grasp how much I absolutely cannot let the Prince of Wales sleep on the floor," he said, sounding more wretched with each word. "I feel all the British in me would just curdle in protest."
Which was a preposterous claim coming from someone calling him Arthur instead of 'your highness' or 'sire,' but Arthur preferred not to bring that to Merlin's attention and said instead:
"Fine. If you haven't a tub and you won't let me sleep on the floor then we can bloody share your bed, all right?"
As with so many other fandoms, Pru's stories were what got me in Merlin to begin with. Arthur is the crown prince of Wales, and a completely ass when Merlin first meets him, but he's charming and considerate when he wants to be, and I fell in love with him right alongside Merlin. And Merlin himself is wonderfully endearing, a soft-hearted resident in London's children's hospital, who loves his patients too much for his own good. This brilliant AU had me laughing one minute and tearing up at the next, devouring each part as it came out.
Room 20 by Astolat
Merle blinked at him with no fear at all, although he was skinny and felt like something put together out of matchsticks and paper; like Arthur could've taken him apart in thirty seconds. Instead Merle only looked mildly surprised, and then suddenly his brows drew closer, like he was focusing on Arthur for the first time ever, and he said, uncertainly, "Do I-do I know you?"
I wasn't really into the story when I first started it, but for a 1000 word fic, Astolat sure packs a heavy punch. There's backstory that's never told, and burning questions that the story leaves hanging, and for all of that, the story stands just fine on its own. It's a fascinating story that she's woven, and I'd love to know more.
Wood For The Trees by Hackthis
Merlin's face is creased with sleep and his shirt is rucked up around his torso like the bottom half magically went walkabout. Arthur is not looking at the dark hair on Merlin's chest or the way it tapers off in a line before disappearing under the waistband of his pyjamas.
Arthur's seen Merlin shirtless before. He's scrawny. It's not attractive in the slightest.
Really.
For some reason, I love London!AUs - there's something so wonderfully playful about them. The boys aren't exactly oblivious, they just haven't gotten around to realising what a great thing it is they've got yet. And in the meantime, their interaction is absolutely delicious.
the oc
The Cause And The Effect by Ishafel
Ryan learns that there are bruises in other places, too, bruises that weren't even formed yet.
Wow. This was impressive, and I can't help but be a sucker for hurtfic. This is just so sad, two boys, just helpless boys who were handed this life and lived it because they knew no other.
The Difference Between Breaking the Bank and Just Breaking Even by Wearemany
The best advice you ever got was from the guy who fucked you before sending you out for your first date. He said you'd make more if you enjoyed it. You always liked sex, and you like fucking guys more than you'd expected. You get a lot of repeat business and since you got off the street and into house calls, you've gotten in a lot fewer fights.
Hot, in a word. An AU, where things maybe could have ended up for Ryan. Sad, but not morbid, because this isn't the end for Ryan, not by a long shot. Sequel here.
Two Cripples Dancing by Zahra
Seth smiled in spite of himself, tripped over a water sprinkler, and sort of collided with the glass to alert Ryan to his presence, because he was smooth like that. After separating himself from the sliding door, Seth knocked on the glass, but Ryan didn't even budge, just a nod with his head to motion Seth inside.
I love everything Zahra writes, absolutely everything. She never feels out of character, and every piece of hers has this great wit to it. This one's good, hot and clumsy and you're not quite sure what Ryan's thinking, whether he's for real, but oh, he's good.
Unlucky at Pinochle by Wearemany
"I admit that my pinochle game is slipping a bit."
"You lost a bet?"
Seth nods, big puppy eyes and an apology on his lips. Seth is good at apologies, which is good because he's always got a lot to apologize for.
So basically, this story makes me salivate every time I read it. Based on this video, it is just so good, and real, and deliciously hot.
Unravel by Rangergirl
It feels almost irreverent to speak of this out loud, as though somehow if he's taciturn enough he can convince them both that Marissa's alive and healthy and their worlds haven't all been ripped apart at the seams and scattered in pieces around their feet tonight.
Emotionally rich and descriptive, a wonderful memorial to a character and a reminder as to why she was loved. It describes both boys to their breaking point and leaves them there, but not without the promise of tomorrow, of hope.
pirates of the carribean
First Warning by Rave
Clink. Jingle.
Damn.
"Wotcher, eunuch," said Captain Jack Sparrow, emerging from the captain's cabin in worn breeches and wild hair and precious little else--excepting, ridiculously, his hat. Will was not yet fully adapted to piratical standards of modesty; he'd managed unbuttoning his shirt a few notches ever since the day he nearly got heatstroke, collapsed, and woke up to Sparrow trying to give him the kiss of life, and considered this a great accomplishment. Sparrow, on the other hand, pranced about jingling, tanned, and practically naked as if deliberately trying to make Will nervous. It was working.
Cute, funny subtext laden fic that stirs your belly and leaves it like that. Characterization of Jack is spot on and sexy, while Will is just entertaining.
Hurrican Jack by Shrift
"Will you be quiet?" says Will desperately, the cords in his neck straining, "and bloody move?"
Jack grins for a bit too long, or perhaps it's just long enough, because Will breaks Jack's grip on his wrists and lunges, one hand clutching a fistful of Jack's hair at the nape, and the other pressing hard just below the small of his back. The time for teasing has passed.
Mmm, delicious. Jack takes on the seducing of Will after he's cast ashore by Elizabeth. I could go for a continuation, an explaination of the morning after, but it stands alone just as well.
Synergism by Magicspromise
Of course, he thought, as Jack set to work on his hand, prodding and plucking at the slivers of wood. Will felt addled and slow, having to reiterate things he already knew. But what he didn't know pirates had a habit of calling everyone "love". Then again, maybe it is just Jack's habit. Jack's habit...Jack rabbit.. Will often played such games when his mind wandered. ...Rabbit...hare...Jack's hair...
Will was broken out of his rhyming reverie when he noticed Jack had stopped pulling splinters and was instead tracing the lines of his hand with his fingertips.
Short and just a little sexy. Delicious.
rps
Accented by Antihysteric
Bradley's only listening with half an ear because the more emphatically Colin gestures, the less comprehensible he sounds, so it's a bit of a lost cause. It's possible that Colin just said something about working on knocking, which makes no sense at all. It's not as though Bradley barges into other people's rooms at inconvenient hours without notice.
Working on the reasonable assumption that that was what Colin'd said, Bradley says indignantly, "That was once! One time!"
Colin blinks and furrows his brow, and that -- that right there -- is why he's the on-set darling. He looks like a baby animal, for Merli -- for Christ's sake. A piteous, vacant one.
Mmm, adorable and delicious. I'm not sure what it is about Bradley and Colin that works for me, but they're just both so lovely to look at, and those cast videos sure help.
supernatural
Do Winchesters Dream Of Electric Impalas? by Kellifer_fic
"When do you stop grieving?"
Sam turned slowly, eyebrows raised. There were times when Dean asked questions like that because he was being goofy. Sam's general response was don't be such a robot and they would both laugh. This, however, wasn't one of them. Dean was genuinely asking a question because he was curious and he honestly didn't know the answer.
When I first read about this fic, I thought, robot!Dean, kind of silly, probably crack. Instead, what I got was an ingenious, creative and touching story about Sam and Dean and brotherly love made of something deeper than flesh and blood. It took a little to get into this story, which I chock up to the fact that John's portrayed as a bit more of an asshole than usual, but I really liked the way Dean's character was written, especially the unexpected innocence written into his though process. The ending's not an ending at all, not what I expected, and I wish there were more to the story.