escape yourself and gravity

Okay, two quick recs here.

First of all, my cm_exchange fic. I have been meaning to rec this for AGES because I got it, and it was EXACTLY what I wanted. Only better, because the author took my prompt and used, like, the whole thing, but gave it fabulous twists and wonderful dialogue and superb characterization.

My prompt was "Morgan/Hotch/Reid - Morgan and Hotch both want Reid. Reid seems oblivious to either of them, so they decide on a wager. Whichever of them can get Reid in bed first wins. Only it turns out Reid knew about it from the beginning, and he has a better plan--to get all three of them in bed together. Humorous attempts at dating from Morgan (flowers, wine, chocolates) and Hotch making excuses (practice at the shooting range?). NC-17 preferred. *G* (Written with some artistic license)"

The fic is Make Your Own Luck, rated NC-17, just over 10k, and takes place generally speaking during the second half of season 3. It has Derek Morgan/Spencer Reid/Aaron Hotchner and various permutations of the three. It's incredibly hot, it's funny, it's in character, it's genuine... I read it, squealed over it, and went right back to re-read it. I've re-read it once since then, and desperately want to re-read it again.

Seriously, this person wins my personal CM Exchange award for awesomest gift. *G* Go read it now!


Second rec: Sideways, a Morgan/Reid fanmix by carolinecrane. You guys, I've been listening to this all weekend, and the songs just get stuck in my head and won't get out. She's given a huge amount of thought to what songs are on the mix and why, and these songs fit the characters so well. Plus there are awesome artists on this mix: Mountain Goats, Citizen Cope, Sufjian Stevens, Counting Crows, the Weepies, Crosby Stills and Nash...plus there are some artists I'd never heard of before but now want to hear lots more of: Adorable and Let's Go Sailing. This is an awesome mix.

By the way, if you've never read carolinecrane's fics, you're missing out. She writes some amazing Morgan/Reid (Laying Foundations Series and Through the Din of This Loud Life) and she's also got some fantastic CSI fics (and yes, C, I love the JAG fics, too. *G*).

*clears throat*

I just read a magnificent Lucius/Severus fic.  I know!  I don't read that pairing ever!  But snegurochka_lee happened to rec one, and...well, here, let me just share what I wrote in my comment to the author.

Okay, first off, you should know I don't read Lucius/Severus. I just DON'T. Wanna know why? No one has ever convinced me Lucius could possibly care about Severus as much as Lucius cares about himself.

Congratulations. You've just done that.

I followed a link from snegurochka_lee's rec to your fic, and DAMN but am I glad I did. I've never read such a lovely and haunting fic involving Lucius Malfoy, and the way he knows Severus and obviously respects Severus and desires Severus...

This is so beautiful and hot and sublime. The characterisation is spot-on, the romance is just the perfect level for them, and Severus! My heavens, he's such a strong character! I love strong Severus fics, and this is...

Wow. Just wow.

(I just hope my Remus-muse will forgive me for saying how much I loved a fic that is Severus with Lucius. ^_~)

In addition to a strong Severus, this fic has NC17 content and kinks, a fantastically amusing and insightful first-person narration from Malfoy, and Rome.

And yes, this is really innerslytherin posting.  No one has hacked my LJ, no one has a gun pointed at my head... I just...wow, I can't help it, I had to rec this.

ETA:

It would sort of help if I actually, like, named it, right?

Lonesome No More by nishizono. *sheepish*

Make sure when you read, that you comment, too! Writers THRIVE on comments! ^_^

First of all I am going to rec to you something that will make you all gasp--if for no other reason than that I am the one reccing it.  This fic is completely NOT my usual cup of tea.  And yet, the writing is so damn good, the characterisations so spot-on, that I cannot resist.  I am going to second schemingreader's recent rec.

Lupin Triumphant - by accio_arse
Pairing: Lupin/Voldemort, Lupin/Snape, Lupin/Lucius, Lucius/Rodolphus, Lucius/Voldemort
Rating: NC-17
Wordcount: 16,000 in total
Warnings: dub-con, violence, mild bondage
Request: **Voldemort/Lupin Voldemort rewards his best spy. Just before Final Battle. Lucius IS NOT amused! BD - Dom!Lupin and sub!Voldemort; voyeur - LM. Nagini plays a role, either as participant or director.

Take a look at those warnings and parings.  I know, you're thinking I'm on crack or under Imperius to have read this fic in the first place.  I don't know what to say, except that if you trust me and read this fic, you will thank me.  If you want further evidence of the fact that this author is extremely talented, I even liked Lucius Malfoy in this fic.  I'm telling you, I'm just amazed.  I want to quote my favourite passage to you, but even though it's not spoilery, I don't want to give it away.  So I'll steal this from SR too and quote the first lines, which is how her rec managed to draw me in, in the first place:

There’s a party of pain going on behind my skull. It’s the kind of inconsiderate, noisy party that’s still drunkenly singing at three in the morning when all sensible wizards have gone to their beds. If I had brain neighbours they’d be complaining.

This is a dark fic, but it is not a hopeless fic.  And the humour of the voice...

Okay, I'm going to stop raving.  Just go read it for yourself.



And now, the non-HP rec.  (duh duh DUH!)

Deeper Than Thought - A Separate Peace, Gene/Finny, by floweringjudas - A 1200-word fic, slash of the mildest sort, just barely exploiting the UST between Gene and Phineas.  And even better, it's written in Knowles' style so beautifully.

Okay, I know I'm spamming tonight, but OMG.  I just now got around to reading severity_softly's three connected Snape drabbles.  They're about Eileen, Tobias, and Severus.  Dude.  Go read them now.

Look at Me - Part 1 - Severus is five.

Look at Me - Parts 2 & 3 - Severus is fifteen and twenty respectively.

These are awesome.  I just...severity_softly really knows this family.  I think I've been around since she joined the fandom (am I right, S_S?) and I've seen her already-good fiction improve by leaps and bounds.  And the fact that she took only 300 words to tell an incredibly emotional and compelling story...  That inspires awe in me.


I would also like to take this opportunity to point out that if you like those three drabbles, you should definitely check out her longer fic, Of Things Dead and Buried.  It may not be totally cool to rec something I betaed, but I don't give a damn, it's GOOD and you should read it.

Summary: Severus returns home from Hogwarts over the summer between his sixth and seventh year to find his mother quickly becoming a shell of her former self. She might be willing to forget herself, but he won't.

Humour Fics

As a dedicated H/C addict and fluffy-angast writer, I've always thought being funny is hard.  That's why I'm always so impressed when I find fics and authors who are skilled at writing good humour fics.  I want to share three of my favourites with you.  All three make me laugh out loud when I reread them, and all three leave me with a smile on my face and a good feeling in my heart at the end.


Ulterior Designing by busaikko
PG13
Remus hires Hermione to redecorate and ends up being sent to buy things at Severus' shop.  Talking cats and much misuse of "ergo".  I'll be completely frank--most of busaikko's fics make me cry (even her happy endings) so finding one that made me laugh was a relief to this flangst-addict.  The lovely thing about busaikko is that the fact that it's a humour fic doesn't mean it's lacking in characterisation or emotional depth.  (This is true, actually, about all the authors in my recs today.)

Remus Lupin and the Monument of Magical Balance by thesnapelyone
PG13
After Voldemort's Defeat, the Order has one problem--Snape is holding himself hostage until he sees Remus Lupin.  Snapely's fics deserve more attention than they get.  Her talent for humour never ceases to impress me.  Pratchett-esque humour including, but not limited to, Ministry-bashing, good-natured Tonks-bashing, and a somewhat light-hearted treatment of the Death Eater Cause.

Tidings of Little Comfort and Questionable Joy by thetreacletart
PG13
After the war, Remus demands Harry and Draco's presence at his and Severus' first Christmas together.  This fic made me howl with the out-and-out ridiculous behaviour Severus, Harry, and Draco, stoop to in their perpetual war on each other.  The characterisations are fabulous, the writing superb, and the ending perfect.