Uffish Thought

Murderbot TV 101-103

2025-05-27T23:22:52Z

I've been watching the Murderbot TV show and enjoying it!

( spoilers for Murderbot 101-103 )

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March recs

2024-04-30T01:29:46Z

I didn't read a ton in March -- between my birthday, attending SXSW Film (16 movies in one week!), and then getting over the cold I caught at SXSW -- and what I did read was mostly… Harry Potter fic? Yeah, I was surprised too. I've bookmarked only one fic in the last few years since JKR went off the transphobia cliff, so it was a bit strange, but I was pleased to see fandom is persisting in being aggressively queer and/or 'fuck canon' about it.

So I've got 1 Murderbot fic, 1 The Fugitive fic, and 5 Harry Potter fics, plus a handful more at Pinboard.

reasoning made lucid and cool by The_Onion (Murderbot, gen)

Iris is guest-teaching a PUMNT course, so it makes sense for Murderbot to go as her security. Yes, ART is doing most of the job, and yes, they are making Murderbot take a class, but it's still only there for work. It thinks? What do you mean it has to do a group project.
"Really, the longer I stayed here, the more it seemed like this was all a ploy to force me into an education module."

A++ Murderbot-ART dynamic, plus Murderbot blowing its cover to save lives, as per usual.

Wikipedia: List of notable manhunts by rastaban (The Fugitive, Sam/Richard)

Categories: Manhunts | US Marshal's Office | Overturned convictions in the United States | Withdrawn drugs | Gay & lesbian figures in the 1990s

Charmingly meta fic from the POV of someone editing the articles about Richard's story. I love the details filling in the case details, and every quote from Sam sounds just like him.

HARRY POTTER

Heal Thyself by astolat (Harry/Draco)

"Are you going for the course?" Lovegood asked. "You have the NEWTs.”
“What course?” Draco said, then, “No, don’t be ridiculous,” when he realized she meant the notice pinned up on the board he’d been staring at: Applicants To The Introductory Mediwizard Course For The Coming Term Shall Present Themselves In The Chief Mediwizard’s Office By August 24th.
“Oh, I thought you might,” she said. “Well, goodbye.” And off she wandered again in her addled way.

Great redemption arc for Draco with fascinating worldbuilding about magical healing. And competence porn, of course - astolat always excels at that!

the dogfather by hollimichele (gen, Remus/Sirius)

“I’m not a reverse werewolf either,” says the man. “I’m your godfather.”

Wonderful AU where Harry gets adopted by Muggles and Sirius escapes early that I started reading on Tumblr ages ago and finally got around to finishing on AO3 years later.

All Our Secrets Laid Bare by firethesound (Harry/Draco)

Over the six years Draco Malfoy has been an Auror, four of his partners have turned up dead. Harry Potter is assigned as his newest partner to investigate just what is going on.

Creative and engaging plot (mystery with intermittent work disasters), and VERY hot.

that’s the art of getting by by sarewolf (Remus/Sirius)

“What do you want me to do?” Remus says, tiredly. All he wants is to curl up on his bed. Smoke a pack of cigarettes. Get drunk. He can’t stop looking at Harry.
“Remus…” Dumbledore is gentle. Remus hates when he has that tone. Hates that he knows it will hurt. “There is no one else left.”
A bitter laugh escapes him. “So you’ll curse the poor thing with a werewolf for a guardian?”

Wrenching, gorgeously written AU that digs into Remus and Sirius's trauma, then patiently untangles their grief and betrayal and love so they can start to heal.

Lost and Found by rosie-writes (Remus/Sirius)

Imagine a universe in which Remus never went to Hogwarts. The Marauders never became Animagi, and so Peter had nowhere to run when Sirius cornered him after the Potters' deaths. Peter was the one who ended up in Azkaban, whilst Sirius was granted custody of Harry. Fast-forward six years or so, to a sunny day in April 1988….

Wistful but startlingly sweet AU.

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December recs

2024-01-30T20:03:51Z

Whew, I read a lot of fic in December! My Yuletide recs are here and here, and I winnowed down the rest of them to a mere ten recs.

Click on for Batman, Murderbot, and Goblin Emperor fics!
( Read more... )

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November recs

2023-12-24T04:18:19Z

Yuletide is coming - but this should tide you over until then!

IRIS Log #1548 by deadchannelradio (Batman, gen)

(01:25) Red Hood: (Mild static) (Out of breath, slurred) You motherfuckers. Put some fuckin-
(01:25) Batman: (Shaking) Red Hood-
(01:25) Red Hood: Shut up. Put some fucking respect. On my name. Start fucking copying me. I just got thrown fucking. Um. 40 feet. Into a fucking uh. What's it. Ditch. I'm still fucking conscious.
(01:25) Batman: Red Hood, do not move, we're en route-
(01:25) Red Hood: What'll I win if I stand up.
(01:25) Batman: (Loud) Do not stand up.

Absolutely hilarious slice-of-patrol-life story, featuring a VERY concussed Jason.

Easy as Pie by Ptelea (Batman, gen)

Five times Jason baked something for or with his siblings, and one time they baked for him. A drabble sequence of triple drabbles written for the Seasons of Drabbles Summer 2023 challenge emuxchange.

Soft Batsiblings story, with a lot of feels packed into a small space.

Cinema Verite by BoldlyNo (Murderbot, gen)

"Someday, Ratthi hopes, he’s going to run out of things to learn about Secunit that break his heart."
Making a documentary in five hours flat is an experience in and of itself, but making a documentary with some of your friend's worst memories as footage is something else altogether.

Will I ever be over them making a documentary FOR GREAT JUSTICE? Definitely not. This is a great Ratthi POV on it.

Reformation by LocalCryptid7 (BNHA, Midoriya/Todoroki/Shinsou)

After a failed suicide attempt, years of bullying, and his mother's death, Izuku Midoriya doesn't think he has any option besides joining the League of Villains. After all, foster care is no place for a quirkless kid like him. Plus, working as a hacker and analyst for the League doesn't sound like it would be too bad. But, after meeting a hurt little girl in Overhaul's headquarters, Toga and Izuku can't just sit back and take orders from Shigaraki anymore. With some careful consideration, Izuku figures a villain reformation program at UA doesn't sound horrible, even if it means having to put up with Bakugou.

Villain!Izuku is usually a hard sell for me, but this works! Mostly because it shows both how Izuku ended up isolated and needing, AND he immediately turns tail once a kid is in danger. And then good followup on the consequences.

The Warlock's Cat by Marchling (Shadowhunters, Magnus/Alec)

Pain raced up his arm. It was a sharp throb that radiated out. More than a broken bone. When Alec went to flex his hand to see how bad it was he couldn’t. His eyes snapped to his own hand and there was no hand.
A mission gone wrong leads to Alec being turned into a cat. Alone. Hurt. No one aware of what's happened to him.
If only there was a cat-loving warlock nearby to save him.

Hello, I am a sucker for turned-into-a-cat-&-taken-in-by-my-enemy-who-turns-out-to-be-loveable stories - which is a very specific trope, but thankfully people keep writing it! This is a fun exemplar and an interesting AU.

Burgeoning by Owlship (Mad Max, Max/Furiosa)

He smiles a little, an uptick of his mouth, plush lips exposed where he's shaved the mangy beard off in the process of cleaning off the wasteland. "Here," Max says, and nudges into her space, arranges the plant carefully so the roots are properly covered, the leaves brushed free of dirt.
Furiosa doesn't realize she's going to move until she does, leaning across the slight distance between them and pressing her lips to his.

Max-returns-to-the-Citadel PWP, featuring poor gardening etiquette and a lovely vulnerable Furiosa.

comments

September recs

2023-10-30T03:06:15Z

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.

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July recs

2023-08-31T23:57:17Z

It might be the very last day of the month, but that means I'm not late! Five Sandman recs, and one each for Batman, Murderbot, and Biggles.

SANDMAN

What Manner Of Creature by @ro-moray (Dream/Hob)

Hob’s had a number of theories about his strange friend over the years. They are all, of course, completely incorrect.

Great through-the-years look at Hob and Dream, with humor and understanding.

to dream you was remembering by @cuubism (Dream/Hob)

Hob understands now both why Dream created this nightmare, as well as why doing so was an unconscious rather than conscious act, and the thought hurts more than the nightmare itself. After all, Hob has had four hundred years to grapple with his own loss. He’s not sure that, even after so much time, Dream has grappled with his.

Short scene with Hob and Dream and a baby nightmare, but it packs a hell of an emotional punch.

The Dread and Fear of Kings by @maybemalapert (gen)

“I’m afraid I’m not much into charcoal sketches,” Hob said, taking in the crude rendition of himself and his Stranger that he’d last seen in the hands of Johanna Constantine. “Now, oil paintings on the other hand–”
“Mr. Gadlen,” the man interrupted. “I have gone to great lengths to find you and to confirm that it was indeed you who met with Dream of the Endless in 1889 and every century prior. Let me assure you, I do not make a habit of kidnapping people on a whim.”

Deliciously whumpy fishbowl rescue with Burgess being a real bastard (what else). Happy ending, but mind the tags.

Yours for the Taking by @signiorbenedickofpadua (Calliope/Dream/Hob)

When Hob spots a sad woman in white through a window of a famous author’s house, he gets a bad feeling. Further investigation reveals that she’s in need of rescue, but what Hob isn’t prepared for is the fact that the woman he sets out to save turns out to be a literal Greek goddess, the ex-wife of the Stranger he keeps waiting for, and a rather lovely person to boot.

SUCH a good and satisfying read, with a skillful build to the three-way romance.

more sky comes and more days by Chrome/@catalists (Calliope/Dream/Hob)

In the aftermath of her imprisonment, Calliope is determined to learn to trust humans again, so she finds a roommate and settles in the mortal world. Meanwhile, her former husband has been on another quest that ended in grief, and he seeks her out for solace. What could possibly go wrong?
or,
“Hey, Zed,” Hob answered. “Something the matter?”
“Yes,” she said. “Calliope’s ex showed up and he’s fucking terrifying.”

Really enjoyed this way of them all colliding - funny and bittersweet at turns - and the resolution.

MISC

Birdwatch11 by @smilebackwards (Batman, gen)

Tim hadn’t actually meant to start a popular Batwatch blog.

He hadn’t meant to start a blog at all honestly but by the time he turned eleven he’d accumulated hundreds of pictures of Batman and Robin on his Nikon DSLR and it had just seemed inefficient to go through the trouble of printing them and storing them in a box under his bed when BlogSphere had a perfectly adequate platform.

Short, funny, sweet story about someone trying to claim credit for Tim’s pre-Robin photo habit, and his A+++ response.

in recognition by isilee (Murderbot, gen)

Volescu’s first communication from SecUnit, once it had pieced together its brain again and settled into Preservation a little more, appeared in his feed inbox right as he took a sip of his morning coffee.

*dies laughing* In which Murderbot recognizes Volescu for having the sense to retire. Cute look at the friendship of the whole survey group.

Biggles in Sarawak by @philomytha (Biggles/von Stalhein)

Biggles is asked to help the CIA transport a Soviet spy they’ve captured in a remote jungle location. The trouble is, the spy is Erich von Stalhein. And that’s only the first problem.

Excellent adventure jam-packed with tropes from hurt/comfort to teaming-up-with-your-nemesis to sex pollen (with said nemesis, of course).

comments

January recs

2023-02-25T04:34:31Z

Alright, I’ve got multiple Murderbot Diaries recs from last month, and one each for MCU (Black Widow+Spider-Man), Due South, The Hands of the Emperor, and Star Trek AOS. Enjoy!

Acceptable Mission Cost by i_have_loved_the_stars_too_fondly (Murderbot, gen)

The planetary leader of Preservation is taken hostage by a corporation and held for interrogation. Lonely and homesick, she starts talking to the SecUnit assigned to guard her cell. When it's ordered to kill her, it can't bring itself to follow through.

Yessssss, awesome alternate first meeting where Murderbot is assigned to guard Mensah! Some heavy plot reliance on coincidence but the feels are excellent.

@Perihelion: Fuck you ART by Sparrowlicious (Murderbot, gen)

And that's how I accidentally started a social feed account with a cult following. It's not my fault humans have an obsession with my opinions.
aka Murderbot discovers space twitter and commits crimes against corporate entities (ART is helping!)

I’m not usually a fan of social media fics done this far from their origin (i.e. Space Twitter is just like modern Twitter!), but Murderbot and ART’s friendship in this story is impeccable and hilarious.

Iterative User Testing by Ostentenacity (Murderbot, gen)

Murderbot's buffer is becoming a problem.

Funny but sweet story about Murderbot working on its social interactions (and also reprogramming its brain a little with ART? Friendship is magic!).

The Peter Tingle by igrockspock (MCU, Peter/Yelena)

Yelena's bored and she's got three options:
(1) Start a fire.
(2) Start a brawl.
(3) Talk to Peter Parker.

Completely unexpected but completely delightful pairing! Shenanigans, banter, grief, Peter being a nice young man who does math in bars and also dresses up in spandex, and Yelena finding someone she can be a little vulnerable with. (set after Hawkeye and No Way Home)

This Canadian Life by SpaceTimeConundrum (Due South, Fraser/RayK)

Today on our program we’re bringing you a three act investigation into a true Chicago legend. It’s a larger-than-life tale of murder, exile, culture shock, and the incredible power of human kindness as we ask the question: did Chicago have its own Canadian superhero in the ‘90s? The answer may surprise you. From WBEZ Chicago, it’s This American Life.

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!! Great outsider POV in a way, and fun post-canon content that also follows up on some minor characters and the ripple effects of Fraser being Fraser.

Absurdly Discreet by breadandroses (The Hands of the Emperor, Artorin/Kip)

"Being seduced by someone who turns out to be a spy isn't a crime," Ghilly said.
"It is when you're the Sun-on-Earth's personal secretary," Cliopher replied dryly.
— The Hands of the Emperor, Chapter 63

Sharp look at that barely mentioned incident from the book, and the DEVOTION. The PINING. GAH.

the ship in port is the safer one (but it's not the reason it was made) by KiaraSayre (Star Trek reboot, gen)

The Enterprise's first mission is a boring one. Luckily, the ship more or less makes its own trouble, including: stills, toilet paper, lighting issues, awkward crewmembers, lunchroom seating politics, and, of course, the Admiralty.
Or: How Jim Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Chain Of Command.

Very fun and creative story about the Enterprise going on a shakedown cruise, Jim learning some valuable lessons about personnel management, and the dangers of a genius crew with too much time on their hands.

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September recs

2022-10-09T04:49:13Z

Whelp, I've started my annual fall DCU binge. I don't know what it is about this time of year, but every October for the last three years has been Batfamily Time in the Spatz household. I just started a little early this year!

Five DCU fics above the cut, plus four more DCU and five other fandom recs underneath.

DCU

Like a Hinge, Like a Wing by Ultrageekatlarge/ @bonesbuckleup

The problem is that Tim’s spent the past month or so slowly getting murdered.
(AKA, An AU where Jason never went to Ethiopia, and Tim takes a different road home to the Waynes.)

SO GREAT. I went absolutely feral about this fic, which I have already read twice and have open in a tab for reccing so I'll...probably go read it again after this. Just A++ Tim h/c where he's being poisoned for his trust fund after his parents die, and tries desperately to rescue himself before finally reaching Bruce and telling him he needs Batman's help, and then the fallout of all that. Wonderful!

Send to All by kerosceene

I, ___________________________, hereby acknowledge that this form represents my wishes should I contract phytoaphrodisiac-induced delirium (hereafter referred to as “PAID”) during engagements with or while apprehending Dr. Pamela Lillian Isley (“Poison Ivy”).
The bats have a sex pollen release form. Because of course they do.

Hilarious and extremely chaotic Batfamily epistolary goodness, and Barbara is the absolute best and does not deserve this shit.

two against the world by carolinaa / @officialratprince

“I’m Tim,” he says, though introducing himself to a puppy makes him flush in embarrassment. “Are you hungry?”
The dog blinks at him, all scared eyes.
“Where’s your family?” Tim asks. “Did they leave you?”
(Or: Tim Drake finds a friend.)

This is a sweet and achy AU, but Tim is also a feral little goblin boy, so it's basically perfect.

Immersion by @smilebackwards

Father’s Day is going to be a disaster. What precisely is Tim supposed to get Bruce? The man has everything—cars, planes, a space station—and millions of dollars to buy anything he doesn’t.
Or: Tim is this close to calling Bruce ‘Dad’ when life takes an unexpected turn.

The final part of the Surveillance series (my beloved)! Absolutely love this story where something objectively miraculous happens to Tim but it is actually The Worst, because that's how Tim's life is. <3

Aftermath by ivy_and_ivory

Now: Batman is in Paris, pulled there by a case that extends beyond Gotham’s borders, when circumstances lead him to a badly injured Red Hood – who might hold the key to Batman’s investigation.
Then: The Red Hood storms into Gotham, begins to stake his claim on the criminal underground, then abruptly disappears – but only after he breaks into Arkham Asylum and leaves the Joker dead in his own cell.
Or: A study of why Bruce couldn’t kill the Joker, what would happen if someone else could – and how you move on from the aftermath.

Really fascinating AU with some brilliant identity porn and wrenching Jason-Bruce interactions, plus a dash of casefile for your plotty pleasure.

More DCU recs under the cut, plus recs for Murderbot Diaries (more amnesia fic!!!), 9-1-1, Star Wars, and Biggles.

( Read more... )

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June recs

2022-07-19T22:27:49Z

Mostly Star Wars this month, again, with my favorites above the cut! (all Codywan unless otherwise marked) The rest are roughly sorted by diminishing levels of plot and increasing levels of porn because it amused me - plus a handful of recs from other fandoms at the end (The Goblin Emperor, Murderbot, Knives Out, and 9-1-1).

Originally posted by echo-my-cyare

STAR WARS

an ice cream-covered screaming hyperactive thought by @adiduck

Cody is fairly certain he is not going to get his security deposit back.
There are three new stains on his carpet, and a patch by the door has been roughed up enough Cody’s pretty sure the weave’s come loose. The door itself has scratches in the paint all the way up to the door knob, and the curtains covering the windows on either side of the door are shredded, showing the metal grating over the transparisteel on the street side. The caf machine, the dish rack, and the soap dispenser are all in a collapsed and soapy heap on the floor. Cody’d managed through reflexes honed by war to save his favorite caf mug, but had sadly lost two of his plates and a bowl before he’d managed to wrap the perpetrator in three towels and shove the whole bundle up against a shoulder.
The towel bundle, very put out by this turn of events, is yelling.

Post-war AU in which Cody rescues a tooka kitten and then Obi-Wan rescues him from the kitten in turn. Extraordinarily cute, but also a beautifully written look at Cody trying to navigate civilian life and friendship (and maybe more) with Obi-Wan.

sanguine by @glimmerglanger

Everyone said synth was just like real blood.
The Healers in the Temple had said so from the time Obi-Wan became aware that his dietary requirements did not align with those of his crèchemates. That realization had coincided neatly with an awareness of the fact that, perhaps, his crèchemates met his dietary requirements.
OR, the one where Obi-Wan faces a reckoning about himself and his relationship with blood while in the middle of a war.

aka a canon AU with vampire Obi-Wan Kenobi detailing the events of the Clone Wars. I had such a great time reading this series over the spring: it starts off with shorter h/c-centric stories about Obi-Wan and his clones trying their best to take care of each other, and then starts getting plotty and increasingly AU around the Zygerria arc. Long, satisfying angst-with-a-happy-ending that deals with a lot of crunchy trauma and bigotry and pining and grief along the way.

Recollection by @elwenyere

CC-2224 had been compromised.
That had been the assessment delivered by Lieutenant Piett, the Imperial officer who met the returning Purge Troopers in the landing bay, and CC-2224 had accepted the new parameters and applied them to his current situation. He had been compromised in the field, and that was why his heart rate was tachycardic, his vision was blurred, and he was currently being dragged down the hall by the armpits, his wrists cuffed behind his back so that every step wrenched against his shoulders.
Or, Eternal Sunshine of the Reconditioned Mind

Trippy and beautiful and tender, with a very unique look at Cody’s memories of the war and Obi-Wan. (and don’t worry, a happy ending! As happy as post-Order 66 gets, anyway.)

Strangers Like Me by K_R_Closson (mostly gen, Obi-Wan/Jango)

When Obi-Wan chose to fight for the Young, he left behind the only life he'd ever known, and the only dream he had ever wanted. On Melida/Daan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Child of No Clan, finds purpose and finds family, and begins a journey which will change the shape of his life and the galaxy in ways he'll never fully understand.
Or, the one where Obi-Wan is adopted by True Mandalorians off Melida/Daan. Featuring: teenage shenanigans, pet strill, Force teleportation, first love, and found family.

Fantastic Jedi Apprentice-era AU that does a great job negotiating Obi-Wan’s trauma and balancing his identity between his old family and his new one.

More fic under the cut!

( Star Wars, Goblin Emperor, Murderbot, Knives Out, 9-1-1 )

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May recs

2022-06-11T03:52:30Z

Quite a hodgepodge this time around, since not having my computer for the first half of the month resulted in me plowing through to-read piles on my phone. Enjoy!

Standard Operating Procedures by @galateagalvanized (Star Wars, Cody/Obi-Wan)

“Sir, I need you to tell me what’s wrong,” Cody says, battlefield calm, and he can’t help his relief when Obi-Wan pulls the tattered remains of his usual dignity back over his shoulders.
“Right,” Obi-Wan says. “Of course. Commander, as far as I can tell, everyone besides you on this ship has fallen truly, madly, deeply in love with me.”

Where Cody is the exception to acting weird because of course he’s already in love with Obi-Wan. I LOVE THIS TROPE. Plays out mostly as you would expect, i.e. delightfully.

Fauna One by @avonya (Murderbot Diaries, gen)

On an otherwise tedious survey, Murderbot meets a cat.

Wonderful pre-canon fic that does that thing canon does where it’s hilarious and fun and also makes you want to scream about how fucked up its enslaved life used to be. But yes, mostly it’s about Murderbot making friends with a feral cat.

things to never give the devil by @fahye (Our Flag Means Death, Ed/Stede)

"Dark Fate?" says Stede, making sure to pronounce the capitals.
"Very effective for star-crossed lovers. And at a bargain price, if I do say so myself. A potent mixture of unspeakably rare ingredients, brewed under a new moon, which will drag you through the depths of your own soul in search of difficult truths, and leave the undeserving to drift forever in a dreamscape of torment and emotional agony!"
"What?" says Stede. "No! That sounds awful!"

Set post-S1, the path to Stede and Ed reuniting is full of obstacles. Fairytale-flavored and as delightfully bonkers/romantic as the show, with amnesia, aka my favorite trope!

The Song Remains the Same by @sholiofic (Agent Carter, Peggy/Daniel/Jack)

After a lab accident, Peggy wakes up in 1948, with no memories of anything since early 1946.

Did I mention I love amnesia? This fic is SO GOOD in that respect, and does a beautiful job with Peggy’s tendency to be kinda judgey - usually well deserved! but less good when she finds out her future self somehow ended up in a triad with Jack Thompson of all people, and starts fucking up her own life and future happiness. (don’t worry, they figure it out eventually) And all that on top of a really good casefile!

All Bets Are Off by Carmilla (Singin’ in the Rain, Don/Kathy/Cosmo)

Don will always say that he fell in love with Kathy at first sight.
It’s a good story. It doesn’t really matter that the truth is a little more complicated.

A good solid OT3 get-together, but with some good queer backstory feels for Don.

Things Floating Like the First Hundred Flakes of Snow by @beaarthurpendragon (MCU, Steve/Bucky)

In the summer of 1968, the Winter Soldier manages to break free of his HYDRA programming enough to get a message to SHIELD Deputy Director Peggy Carter that Captain America is still alive.
Or: How Bucky and Steve save one another, one more time.

Great AU with a fantastic older Peggy interacting with the Winter Soldier, and then some brutally good depiction of Bucky working through his brainwashing/trauma (guest-starring Charles Xavier) and a happy ending - or rather, a beginning.

5 Times Tim Spends the Night at Wayne Manor + 1 Time He Comes Home
by @motleyfam (DCU, gen)

Tim is good at galas.
No, scratch that—Tim is great at galas. He’s been attending them ever since the age of three, when his parents first stuffed him into his little Gymboree tuxedo and gave him a stern lecture about ‘sitting quietly’ and ‘speaking when spoken to.’ He knows all the rules: what to wear, how to stand, when to smile, what to say, what not to say. He knows how to come across as polite and intelligent and charming, and on absolutely any other day, he would be rocking this.
Or, my take on a ‘Tim Joins the Family Early’ AU, told through a series of sleepovers—most of which are unplanned.

Directly in my favorite overlap of Wayne Adoptive Family Feels, Tim thinking his life is totally normal (no parental neglect here!), and good soft h/c.

comments

December recs

2022-01-27T05:49:37Z

In what's starting to be an annual tradition, I got into a new fandom fic-first while procrastinating on Yuletide. But unlike last year, I didn't stop at reading fic, but actually ended up binge-watching all five seasons of 9-1-1! We're gonna be in firefighter found family land for a spell now, ya'll.

I've got a lot this month, so we're back to my five favorites up top, and the rest under the cut. In total, there's sixteen 9-1-1 fics (all Buck/Eddie), plus a handful of fics from ATLA, The Untamed, The Witcher, and Murderbot.

Leave the Light On (I'll Be Coming Home) by @hmslusitania

“We’re here for our grandson,” Helena says.
“Chris is still sleeping,” Buck says.
“I meant, we’re here to take him back to Texas,” Helena clarifies.
“Yeah,” Buck says. He’s too tired, way too tired to be tactful. “Over my dead body.”
An accident on a call leaves Buck with custody of Chris after Eddie is... missing presumed. While they navigate their new family circumstances -- and fight to stay together, despite Eddie's parents' best efforts -- a John Doe wakes up in a coma ward with no memory of his own life beyond the knowledge he has a son named Christopher and, somehow, he needs to get home.

This story came for me personally with a fatal two-hit combination of my beloved amnesia and presumed-dead tropes, and the author absolutely destroyed me with both sides of the story - Buck and Christopher grieving and figuring out their new life together, and amnesiac!Eddie managing to pine without remembering what he's longing for. Heartbreaking, romantic, beautifully written. I've already read it twice!

too many heartbeats for one ribcage by @lamardeuse

Eddie's not queer.

It's always fun running into lamardeuse in a new fandom, because they have been wrecking me emotionally with their fic since...2006? When I found Due South fandom? Good times. This one's a beautiful queer character study of Eddie growing up and growing into himself and falling in love.

all that we need by not1_2write

When Buck buys a Powerball lottery ticket he doesn't think much beyond his need for change to air up his tire. He forgets all about the ticket until word spreads that the winning ticket was sold in LA and hasn't been claimed yet and pretty much dismisses it. After all, there's no way he won the lottery.
Turns out no, he really did win the Powerball, to the tune of 295 million dollars and just in time for Christmas. He's going to make sure the 118 has the best Christmas of their lives. And just maybe he'll have a good one too.

Pure fluffy wish-fulfillment of the highest quality, featuring Buck's enormous heart and love for his family. (Am I weak for thoughtful gift-giving? Yes, yes I am.)

Don't Take the Money by @hmslusitania

“You know, being stuck here isn’t actually the end of the world,” Chimney says, coming up to the table and picking up one of the smoke detectors. “It just feels like it, Buck. Trust me, I know.”
“I’m pretty sure it might actually be the end of the world,” Buck says. “Considering this is the sixth time I’ve lived this day.”
Chimney stares at him for a beat and then his eyebrows lift. “Wait, are you like – dude, are you in Groundhog Day?”
OR: The post-lawsuit time-loop AU literally no one asked for.

Time loop fic set during 3x06 Monsters. Sheer delight, great characterization, and a clever exemplar of the genre - plus the character-dies-repeatedly-in-weird-ways trope is especially apt given 9-1-1 in general and Bobby's fears about Buck in particular.

things we shouldn't do by @ingu

“Why is everybody taking my relationship status so personally? Can’t I be fine with being single?” Buck said.
“Hey, you don’t have to say yes, be sad and alone if that’s what you want,” Josh replied. “But, I’m just saying. I’ve seen photos and this guy is volcanic levels of hot. Also, single dad, super cute kid. Saves lives for a living like you. I think you should give it a go.”
(the one where Buck and Eddie accidentally get set up on a blind date with each other, and everything snowballs from there)

I love fake-dating fic, but I have gotten very picky about it after all these years in fandom. This one is fresh and funny, from the setup to the fake-dating-for-discounts through the denouement, and just the right amount of angst to balance the sweetness.

Many more recs under the cut!

( 9-1-1, ATLA, Witcher, Murderbot, Untamed )

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May recs

2021-06-24T03:12:49Z

Alright, from my May reading, we've got a selection of recs: 5 Murderbot recs, 4 Untamed, and 3 miscellaneous fandoms (original slash, Supernatural, Wizard of Oz).

MURDERBOT

Demo and Inspection by lick / @indigo

There are a number of things to do, and a number of arguments to be had, before a group can go on a survey trip. Dr. Mensah and Pin-Lee were running out of time to hammer out a deal with the bond company, and the required rental SecUnit had become the sticking point.
Or: Dr. Mensah "meets" Murderbot for the first time.

The first story in an ongoing series following the events of canon from Mensah's POV. The author is SO GOOD at writing Mensah, oh my god, with her compassion and intelligence and carefully stifled fears.

Full Disk Burn by @fallintosanity

While touring the soundstage of one of its favorite serials, Murderbot saves a human from being jumped by thugs. But the human is more than he seems, and Murderbot finds itself entangled in a bigger mess than it had planned.

Immensely fun 'Murderbot gets into trouble because it can't resist helping people, pretends not to care' premise, with a great OC, some nifty worldbuilding around the Corporate Rim media industry, and pitch-perfect bickering with ART.

Not Angry, Just Disappointed by lick

Seth said sternly, “Perihelion, you need to tell us the truth. We can’t leave the home system until we find out what happened. If you’re hiding something—”
Peri cut him off. I am not hiding anything.
Peri might be able to lie astonishingly well to a corporate representative, even impersonate a human over the feed, but it couldn’t lie to Iris. “Yes, you are,” she said.

Great look at how that reveal about "Peri's SecUnit" happened. Iris is also my favorite now as well as obviously being ART's.

In Control by Mayasynth / @bumblebeebats

Four times having a governor module fucking sucked, plus one time [REDACTED: FILE MISSING]. (Or: Murderbot has Emotions for 8,000 words. ART tries to help. So does Dr. Mensah, but like, in a decidedly less assholish way.)

Great/agonizing flashbacks, great/hilarious friendship and boundary negotiations with ART, and a great/emotional punch to the gut.

Threat as Greeting by FlipSpring

I pull close to it in the feed, and say, “You were lucky."
The rogue SecUnit reacts, physically and in the feed. It sits bolt upright, and a wave of fear ripples off of it like a [cloud of micro-debris], or like an [emergency evasive maneuver that grinds a planet’s upper atmosphere]. It’s unpleasant. It’s unfamiliar. I capture the data, store it, and start chewing on it immediately.
ART meets Murderbot, from ART's POV.

This whole series of outsider POVS is fantastic, but this one does some particularly cool things with ART's perspective and the multitasking cranky vastness of its mind.

THE UNTAMED

This was a GREAT month for stories featuring the Untamed ladies. So great that I don’t have any Wangxian recs this month. Yeah, I was surprised too.

Tether by @withbroombefore (gen, minor Wangxian and Yanli/NHS)

It is unexpectedly easy; he does not even need to lie outright, just let them follow his gaze to where Wen Zhuliu's body sprawls on the floor. “They caught me in Yiling,” he says, and holds out one hand to each of them.
Wei Wuxian tells the truth, sort of. AU diverging when Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji find Wei Wuxian in episode 20.

From the description and the first scene, I thought this was going to be a Wei Wuxian story, but it is NOT, it is a fabulous Jiang Yanli story, where she steps up to cover some of WWX's duties and finds her strength. The subtle fallout from that makes for a great alternate universe fix-it.

Zephyrs Blowing Below the Violet by Comfect (gen)

Yú Zǐyuān realizes that Wang Lingjiao's flare, not Wen Zhuliu's hands, are the greatest danger in Lotus Pier, and acts accordingly.
As a result, everything changes, and she eventually realizes that she does, in fact, have three children.

I'm not a fan of Yu Ziyuan in general, but this fic uses some great unreliable narratation and captures all of her flaws and all of her love and all of her badassery and made me like her, dammit. Most characters wouldn't fight a war and come out the other side more emotionally healthy, but honestly it suits her. Fascinating look at how the war might have gone differently with more experienced sect leaders, as well.

chances are by @wildehacked (Wen Qing/Jiang Cheng)

Five bad ideas and one good one.
or: "Please let me help you,” he tells her, sick with guilt and rage that can’t go anywhere.
She laughs wildly. “I don’t need any more of your help, Jiang-zongzhu.”

Brutally good set of five AUs where things went worse for Wen Qing, plus one fix-it.

alright, I think I’ve found the saddest timeline by @tanoraqui

This ficlet is so short and sharp that any summary or excerpt would spoil it, but it's really hard to argue with that description. Oof.

MISC

(original) Follow the River Down by @sassysnowperson

"Am I cancelled?" David asked. He didn't know exactly what it meant to be cancelled, but it seemed like the sort of thing that would come with a lot of notifications.
There was an ugly snort on the other side of the phone. "No, Dad, kinda the opposite," Nicole said patiently. "Jonathan Vane said you were his favorite artist!"

Lovely "Older Little-Known Rock Singer/His Younger #1 Fan who is a Famous Actor" romance. If you don't fall in love with David at his very first dad joke and affectionate banter with his daughter, then you will over his deep kindness and compassion towards Jonathan. Also: very hot. Extra recommended for ex-bandom peeps.

(Supernatural) phone calls and photo albums by @bundibird

Sammy is 18, and off at college. John is 43, and in the wind, chasing whispers. Dean is 22, and alone.
And Adam Milligan is 16, and fighting with his mom, and wants to come and stay with his dad for a while.
Too bad John left his phone with Dean before he fucked off into the sunset.

Fascinating AU. While I would definitely read the 100K epic version of this, it hits the emotional high points and Dean's wounded big brother instincts reactivating despite his shock is always good for me.

(Wizard of Oz) Five Earth Gifts Dorothy Brought Home by ErinPtah

Although Dorothy has lived full-time in Oz for many years (she’s even been promoted to Princess Consort), she pays the occasional visit to America.
And when she returns, she always brings Ozma a fantastical – well, by fairyland standards – souvenir.

*snorts* Come for the talking cat on the Roomba, stay for the adorably married Dorothy/Ozma.

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Murderbot: Fugitive Telemetry

2021-06-12T17:12:36Z

Oops, I read this last month but just rediscovered the txt file I made with some random notes/thoughts. Presented in no particular order:

( spoilers )

Dang, Murderbot fandom absolutely exploded this year. Last time I really checked in on the fic situation, there were maybe a few dozen fics? ...Actually, no, let's be ~~nerdy~~ precise about this: the last fic I recognize is from Yuletide 2019. From the publication of ASR in May 2017 to the end of 2019, there are 53 fics on AO3. From 2020, there are also exactly 53. But just in the six months of 2021 so far, there are *223 fics*. Nice! That's too few datapoints to call it exponential growth, but it sure looks like exponential growth.

I also got sidetracked doing surname research, because a) I like figuring out more of Preservation's heritage and b) I like being able to picture the characters, and Murderbot is almost totally uninterested in describing people, so we gotta take our hints where we find them

( names )

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Signal Boost: Murderbot and ART interview

2020-05-07T03:19:11Z

marthawells posted: Murderbot and ART interview

This is EVEN FUNNIER after reading Network Effect!

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Signal Boost: Murderbot Ebook Giveaway

2020-04-20T20:43:02Z

marthawells posted: Murderbot Ebook Giveaway

Tor.com is giving away the four Murderbot novellas in anticipation of Network Effect coming out on May 5th! If you haven't read them yet, I highly recommend them!

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Tumblr recs 2017

2018-12-23T07:43:31Z

( January: Star Wars, Leverage, Goblin Emperor, Vorkosigan, Chalion )
( February: Yuri on Ice, Rivers of London, Fantastic Beasts, Hannibal )
( March: Yuri on Ice, Voltron )
( April: Star Wars, Yuri on Ice, Voltron )
( May: MCU, The Mummy, Witcher, Yuri on Ice, Ouran, Queen's Thief )
( June: MCU, Six of Crows )
( July: Goblin Emperor, Wizard of Oz, original, Teen Wolf )
( August: Hannibal, Naruto, Leverage )
( September: Mythbusters, Lord Peter, Books of the Raksura, Captive Prince, Murderbot )
( October: Leverage, Dragon Age, Kingsman, Magnificent Seven )
( November: Stranger Things, Hobbit, Walking Dead )
( December: Goblin Emperor, Temeraire, Yuletide )

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Dear Yuletide Author

2018-10-19T03:05:58Z

Dear Yuletide Author,

Thank you so much in advance for writing me a story! I love that we both share one of these tiny, beloved fandoms, and I'm excited to read what you come up with for me.

( General likes/dislikes )

( Fandoms: The Breakfast Club, Nirvana in Fire, Murderbot, B13 )

Thank you again, and good luck with your writing! If there's anything that's really confusing or stymying you about my prompts, or you have a thrilling plot bunny that really inspires you but you're not sure I'll like or not, or whatever, please feel free to get in touch with inmyriadbits (DW, Tumblr). She's my twin sister, so she knows all my preferences and all of these fandoms and can guide you - and will probably be delighted to keep the secret from me and then tell me all about it after reveals ;)

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