Unfit for Society Recs

The Iliad

like the brightest of stars by emilyenrose
Achilles's shield tells no tale of glory at all.

Here is what is on the shield of Achilles: the land, the sea. The sowing and the harvest. The meeting-place where the lawgivers debate. The dancing-place where the youths link arms. The city and the country, the procession and the sacrifice, the sons and the fathers, the faithful friends.

The gods give Achilles all of human life to bear on his arm. That almost-more-than-human arm. He shoulders the shield and the fate of humanity together. Afterwards people tell Achilles's story with the rest of the hero-songs, but he's not a hero, do you understand? Hephaestus knew it. In the end, he's not a hero, not a demigod, not a thing apart. He's one of us. Lovely retelling of Achilles' story.


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The Raven Cycle

Constant as the Northern Star by Nestra
As he knew would happen, Ronan didn't answer. Not in words. Ronan was teaching him a new language, where asshole was a term of affection, Adam was the answer to a question, and there was no word for no.

Yes, said the touch of Ronan's lips on his cheek. More, said the brief press of his body against Adam. Now, said the clasp of his hand.

Yes, Adam responded, following him up the stairs. Really lovely post TRK Adam/Ronan.

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Vids

Orphan Black

Hollow by sharkodactyl
Really good look at Rachel, especially in the final season. (And I can't get the song out of my head.)

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Arrow

If You Ask Me To Stay by always_a_queen
Nicely slow-growing Ollie/Felicity. A little overwrought, but that's kind of Ollie's trademark, yeah?

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Community

WILD ONE by alizarin_nyc
Really well done Jeff/Dean.

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The Iliad

Rous'd His Drowsy Blood by lanyon
Really lovely and heartbreaking Achilles/Patroclus.

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Aladdin

Whole New World by Roga
Funny, sweet, and poignant story of the genie after the movie's over. Lovely.

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Fairy Tales

Fire, Measured by What Doesn't Burn by tangleofthorns
Absolutely stunning and heartwrenching modern recasting of the twelve dancing princesses. Breathtakingly beautiful and moving. Totally lives up to the hype. The wind was knocked out of you, suckerpunched away with the awareness that you never could tell safe from suicide bomber. Your mouth hung open and empty. She walked right past you without a second glance, her stilettos pointed in her hand like switchblades. Her bare feet were tiny; her head barely came to your shoulder. It felt like it took her all night to go, and by the time you could breathe, she was gone.

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Fables

Shards by zeldadestry
Cinderella's in love with Bigby, but she'll be okay. Sharp and smart, feels really true to canon.

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Mythology

Small Step For Man by toft_froggy
Artemis and Apollo, through the ages. Creepy yet beautiful meditation on what it means to live forever. I really like how the gods are all both human and distantly other at the same time.

this is not a chick flick by bookesque
As so often happens, the reality of the lives of Hades and Persephone cannot possibly compare to the epic saga that our imaginations have concocted. This is not a romantic story. But it is a story of love, nonetheless. Hee! This is an awesome, funny, touching retelling of the Persephone myth, full of banter and hilarity.

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The Iliad

Little Victories by penknife
"All I ask is to go home," he said. "I'd like to lie in my own bed with my wife beside me, and bore my son sick with tales of our great deeds." "You don't ask for glory?" she asked, her eyes sparkling. "If I can't manage that without your help, I probably don't deserve it," he said. Athena and Odysseus have a conversation during the funeral games for Patroclus. Vivid and lovely, with spot-on characterization and sharp dialogue.

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The Iliad
what we can never say by postingwhore
The structure works brilliantly to evoke the long, endless sameness of the days of the Trojan War, and how young and immature Achilles is when it begins (and how immature he stays, really, through the ten long years), the writing is spare and muscular, the emotions palpable. It lost me in the middle a bit with all the licking of the blood, but the ending is a punch to the gut.

Greek Mythology
Aoidos by figbt
Dionysus has a thing or two to teach Apollo. I really liked the characterization of both gods, and tension between them in this, as well as the use of the myths, but describing music in prose is an almost impossible task, so the climax of this story didn’t quite work for me.

The Persian Boy
Hamartia by Tosca
Hephaistion, in the aftermath of falling out with Alexander over the Eumenes incident - raw and angry and hurt, and then cold and simmering with resentment. And Alexander, who's willing to admit he maybe shouldn't have said what he said in public, waits patiently for Hephaistion to come around. *flails* I love this so much, and it was written for me. FOR ME! *twirls* "I just want you to be my Patroklos." *loves*

Norse Mythology
Trickster's Game by alchemine
Loki's stirring up trouble and Odin wants it stopped. Sharp and funny, with some nice characterization of Odin, Loki, Thor and Freyr.


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Sir Gawain & the Green Knight
The Water-Horse by thamiris
This is simply and stunningly amazing. It's been years since I read Gawain and the Green Knight, but I didn't feel a lack at all - this story pulled me in and kept me on the edge of my seat - the language is beautiful, the emotions true, the sense of time and place palpable. Utterly compelling and wondrous writing. I normally try to avoid labels like "the best" of anything, but this... this may be one of the best pieces of writing I've run across in a while, fan or pro.

Greek Mythology
Unexpected by thermidor
Um. This story manages to totally hit my deepest, most bulletproof kink. Dionysus takes to visiting Hephaestus, and the latter is suspicious, even as he grows used to Dionyus' company, and begins wanting what he believes he can never have.

The Iliad
a stretch of gold, irresistible by postingwhore
Exceptionally hot and lyrical Achilles/Patroclus, edged with wistfulness.

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