spatz | September recs

Get in, bitches, we've got small fandoms this month! Murderbot, Nine Worlds, and KJ Charles' Band Sinister for your reading pleasure. It just got cold here, so curl up with a hot drink and enjoy!

[note: the last Nine Worlds rec has SPOILERS for At the Feet of the Sun, so don't read it yet inmyriadbits! I stuck it down at the bottom so they're more avoidable.]

After Hacking by gamebird (Murderbot, gen)

Murderbot is not paid enough to deal with this shit. (It's not paid at all, which is definitely not enough.)

Series of short works at the period between Murderbot hacking its governor module and the first book. Varying quality, but a great look at its developing personality and sneaky skillset, and a number of sharp, painful dilemmas of the 'do I help and maybe blow my cover or do I let this shitty corporate thing happen' variety.

The mysteries of a marriage by scintilla10 (Band Sinister, David/Amanda)

Five times David consulted in a medical capacity on Amanda's gothic novels.

Adorable look at their marriage.

Variations on George Penn by beautifulduckweed (Band Sinister, George/Ned)

George Penn and Ned Caulfield: their lives and love viewed through a glass, darkly.

Lovely glimpse of a background couple from the book, with excellent use of outsider POV by way of fake excerpts.

Emerald Truth, Three Ways by toffeecape (Nine Worlds, Fitzroy/Kip)

Three ways truth serum could have been deployed during the Emerald Conspiracy case.

Very fun trifecta of scenes, and a mix of funny, tropey, canon-typical pining, and competence. Delicious!

Tell me what your heart's been through by alfgifu (Nine Worlds, Fitzroy/Kip)

The spear butt struck the side of his face, knocking him to the smooth marble floor. He was tired enough to lie there, gasping, until one of the guards hooked their hand into the loop of his arms where they were bound behind him, and hauled him back to his knees.
“We will try that again,” said his interrogator. The man was wearing the full panoply of the Imperial guard and an incongruously friendly smile. “What is your name, barbarian?”

Truth serum AND time travel AND hurt/comfort AND Kip being a fucking badass AND fanoa feels to the max! I adored this.