Unfit for Society Recs

Here are my recs from the shackinup_sesa, now with the authors' names attached. Previously seen in my lj, but recorded here for posterity. As the "shacking up" name implies, these are all Sirius/Remus stories, of various timelines and ratings, written for the shacking_up Secret Santa. *g*

The Times of Our Meeting by blacksatinrose
Beautifully sad and lovely and heartbreaking and hopeful fic set between the end of PoA and the beginning of OotP. I love that Sirius really hasn't changed that much, that he's still stubborn and refuses to let Remus's stupid reticence stop him. Written for me! *twirls*

Friendly Rivalry by stickpegasus
Remus and Sirius practice dueling in the kitchen at 12GP, and Molly catches them. Lovely light interlude during OotP that shows both what powerful wizards they are, and what good friends. The sex is a little...clinical for my taste, but the ending is perfect, and they're both nicely in character.

A Thousand Doors by kestrelsan
Remus accompanies Sirius to identify and pick up Regulus's body. This is so sad, and so in character, the way Sirius won't ask for comfort and Remus can't offer it without being asked.

Homeless Near a Thousand Homes by sullensiren
This story is so good at showing how Remus and Sirius overcome the distance of time and broken trust, and there's banter, and you know I love stories with banter. Poignant and sweet. And Remus cuts Sirius's hair, which I have a thing for. *g*

A Number of Things Which Sirius Black Did Not Give to Remus Lupin for Christmas by throughadoor
Hee! Cute and clever and funny.

Nine Regrettably Short Stories About Sirius Black and Things That Happened On or Around Christmas by librae
Oh. Oh! This is beautiful and understated, and it's Sirius's first Christmas in his new flat and it's not the same, and somehow, Remus manages to make it a little bit better. This made me all sniffly. Wonderful.

A Mirror with Memory by throughadoor
Another beautifully poignant story set early in OotP, and I love the photograph motif used throughout.

Culmination of a Vague Idea by hiddendaze
The flares! The old crushes! Sirius finding good things in his memories, and being able to share them with Remus. Just a wonderfully loving story, and, along with the story just above, one of the few 'get together during OotP' stories I totally believe.

Angels, and Arise, Arise by imochan
This story is almost too much, the emotions being buried under the sensory detail, but then Sirius fights free of it, and his feelings come through clearly. Evocative and painful and lovely.

Dreams to Believe by setissma
Cliché fic (Remus and Sirius have to share a bed at an overcrowded inn) that manages to totally hit my bulletproof kink. Remus is so adorkable here, and the mittens. So much love for the mittens. And for Sirius being all cool and yet uncertain of Remus's feelings.

On Being a Marauder by smartlikejustin
Hee! Sirius comes up with the Code of the Marauders (it's more like guidelines, really), and when he breaks it, and why he breaks it, it's so adorably cute. And yet the shadow of future betrayals edges the story with a little bit of sadness, because we know what's going to happen.

~*~

Read. Love. Send feedback.

~victoria

Ocean's 11
The Perfect Con by lisew
Danny's dressed as Santa and Rusty's speaking Spanish. Short and fun, and captures the nonchalance of the movies perfectly.

Changing the Stakes by gryvon
Tess and Danny think Rusty needs a girl. Rusty agrees that he needs *someone*, and keeps finding reasons to be in Chicago. I love how angst-free Rusty is here, even though the whole thing is important to him. (Rusty/Linus)

Probably Everyone in Cell Block E by hackthis
Danny's not the one letting his emotions screw up the job. Oh, this is absolutely perfect, and a whole new spin on the Tess situation in the first movie. The little details are perfect and the Danny-voice is spot on.

Caldwell Stories by zen_of_punk
Just post-O11 Linus/Rusty, this is a nice portrait of Linus; it feels true.

***

Earthsea
Seasons in the Archipelago by serenissima
Beautiful Ged/Tenar fic with a spot-on Tenar voice. Written for me! Whee! It's lovely and sad and true and I love it SO MUCH.

Sparkweed by mctabby
A tense moment between Ged and Jasper that feels as if it could slot right into the books, with Ged's confusion and hatred and Jasper's scorn and arrogance perfectly realized.

*

The Chronicles of Prydain
At War in a Time of Peace by silveraspen
Oh, I do adore Gwydion, and this story is a lovely, bittersweet look at his thoughts as the Sons of Don leave for the Summer Country. Sad and true.

Snow and Change by evilprodigy
A sharp little vignette about Eilonwy and Taran and growing up, and the difficulty in going from Assistant Pig-Keeper to High King. My favorite bit: She'd spent the last hour or so worrying over her lack of worry, and even now as she sat in her chambers attempting to stubbornly hold onto it, she found herself easily distracted and cheerful. It was damnably disconcerting.

*

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.

*

Little Women
Set Thine Heart Toward the Highway by elynross
Laurie has doubts about his marriage, Amy knows eavesdroppers never hear well of themselves, and Jo and her Professor prove to be exceptionally well-matched after all. I admit to being a diehard Jo/Laurie shipper, but this story just *completely* captures the tone of the books and the characters' voices, and could so easily be a missing chapter that I'm stunned. Just amazing.

The Prickling of Snow by pearl_o
Oh, poor Laurie, doomed to have his hopes dashed. This is a lovely evocation of Laurie as he grows and falls in love with Jo.

On Growing Up by elynrae
Jo can't leave things the way they are with Laurie before he leaves. Oh, this one hurts, and it feels as though it should totally be part of the book, because it still bothers me that she did leave it that way.

A Different Road by loligo
An alternate (and far better, imo) ending for Little Women. Jo is dying inside after Beth's death and upon his return from Europe, Laurie has the perfect solution. A story that made the Jo/Laurie shipper in me so very happy.

These are all from the yuletide archive (and there are a few more I'll probably eventually get around to reccing, but these are all the stories I recced before the authors were revealed (plus one pinch hit Ocean's 11 fic that's utterly FABulous).

In no particular order whatsoever. I'm cut-tagging, because it's longer even than normal (55 stories in 38 fandoms. I think. Math and I are unmixy things at the best of times, which today is not).

Edited 7/25/06 - I've split this post into several posts and removed the cut-tag. [/eta]

***


Good Omens/Dogma
Christmas Mixer by monkeycrackmary
Hee! Office Christmas parties are the same everywhere, and the Metatron attempts to escape from conversation with Aziraphale at this one. Witty, clever, with a spot-on Aziraphale voice, and lines that I can easily imagine Mr. Rickman speaking. (I will see Dogma one day. It's on my list.) Anyhow, read this fic.

Good Omens
The Probability of Ducks by graycastle
Just ducky. Sorry. Seriously, wonderfully ineffable and in character banter between Crowley and Aziraphale on the possibility of ducks.

Comfort and Joy by penknife
Crowley and Aziraphale do Christmas shopping. Charming and wonderful and... ineffable. Just excellent.

Eight Nights by daegaer
This is just absolutely darling. Aziraphale is sneaky and clever, Crowley gets presents, and their affection for each other shines through nicely.

A Precise and Accurate History of Monday, Eleven Years Later by giddygeek
oh, I'm in love with this story. It makes me all achy in the chestal area because it's so warm and loving and sweet and funny. Just completely charming.

Sandman
Take Your Brother to Work Day by marksykins
Lovely revisiting of "The Shadow of Her Wings" with Death taking Daniel along for a day's work as he attempts to become comfortable with his new role. Really nails the characters.

Discworld/Sandman
Whose Names Are Death by bravecows
Brilliant, poignant, clever story in which Death of the Endless visits Death of Discworld.

Further Reflections by foreverdirt
Susan Sto-Helit and Death of the Endless meet, and find they have things in common. Just delightful. The voices are spot-on.

***

Go and read if you haven't already, and give feedback to the many splendiferous authors.

~victoria