Originally posted 5th May 2011: Day One: Fanfic

[8daysofhappy]

Rather than sit and fret all day about the referendum, I thought I might try another round of Eight Days of Happy. If you have access to my DW or my LJ, you can find the 2009 round linked in my sticky posts at the top of each journal. If not, you can find a copy of most of the posts at 8daysofhappy.

First up, fanfic! As before, it's easier for me to post 8x8 themed recs than to narrow the field down to eight favourites. Not as before, I'd like to invite you to join me in the comments! Please, come, share your recs (or not, as the whim takes you), enjoy!

Day One: Fanfic


Eight ways to approach love


How to Fall in Love Completely and Never Be Found by mosca (TGW, Alicia/Kalinda) -- This is so clever and sharp! It fits perfectly with the tone of the show and the pragmatic way that both Alicia and Kalinda approach what they want most.

Scenes from an Usual Domestic Arrangement by recessional (Sherlock Holmes 2009, OT4) -- Does exactly what it says on the tin, and does it damned well.

Tipping the Balance by laliandra (The Graveyard Book, Bod/Silas) -- Growing and learning and changing, because while you can't cross the same river twice, sometimes that's what makes it worth doing.

put your mind at ease by ink_like_blood (Hawaii Five-0, Steve/Danny) -- I sent anotherusedpage an email explaining the show and reccing this story with the subject, "Brilliantly fucked up repressed military dude slash".

Sentimental Reasons by Frostfire (Casablanca, Sam/Rick) -- A gorgeous, delightful romance to sink into like a hot bath. Like you would sink into a hot bath. Not like a hot bath would sink into something. Damn it.

Satisfaction by hth and linabean (SGA, Rodney/Ronon) -- Where different cultural expectations are even harder to deal with when you refuse to talk about them.

Hiding Again by mercurial_wit (Grey's Anatomy, Meredith, Addison and Derek) -- I wish this scene had existed. I wish it so, so hard.

Four Seasons by toft (Oglaf, Lesbian Mercenary/Snow Queen) -- If you like the comic but you haven't read this story yet, run, don't walk. If you don't know the comic but are intrigued by the character names, there's a link in the story notes.





Eight perfect codas


she's got you high (and you don't even know yet) by Viorica8957 (Hanna, Hanna/Sophie) -- I have a worrying feeling my notes for each story in this section will be exactly the same. THIS IS SUCH A PERFECT CODA TO THE MOVIE IT WORKS SO WELL OH I LOVE IT. Captures Hanna's way of seeing the world brilliantly.

Candy Letters by shopfront (Sunshine Cleaning, Norah/Lynn) -- This is also a perfect coda to the movie. It does, indeed, work so well. And, yes, I love it. A real balm to my soul.

Lessons in Letting Go by cjmarlowe (Breakfast with Scot, Sam/Eric, Scot/OC) -- Scot's first date. For all that they're older and wiser, Eric and Sam are still utter dorks. <3

All Of Us Amazons by psocoptera (Huge, Chloe & Alyssa gen) -- If there had been another season of Huge, we might have got to see more of Chloe and Ali as siblings. As it is, at least we have this wonderful piece to give us a hint at the sisters they grow up to be.

The Most Important Meal by dira (Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Joe Bloomfield/Guinevere Pettigrew) -- Miss P deserves every happiness going, most definitely including this one.

The Bonds of Boundaries by qds (The City and The City, OFC friendship) -- Oooh, but this one is clever. Fascinating world-building, both technological and social. Really cool.

A Perfect Honeymoon by delilah_joy (Some Like It Hot, Daphne/Osgood) -- Complicated and sexy and wonderfully queer.

Proved by statistics by troublesteady (Monstrous Regiment, Polly) -- It makes me happy to imagine that this is how it works out a few years down the line.





Eight minds


An Unanticipated Side Effect of Dosing Oneself with Wraith Enzyme to Deliver an Important Message by bironic -- A fan sestina! Really effective marriage of form and content.

A Little Mental Yoga by dira (Southland, Cooper/Sherman) -- Telepathy AU! Fun and thoughtful. (I'M SORRY. I COULDN'T RESIST.)

Everything Bulletproof by feverbeats (RocknRolla, Archie/Johnny) -- I can no longer read Johnny as cisgendered. This story is powerful and angry and kicks me in the gut in just the right way.

in silence, burning by lightgetsin (The West Wing, ensemble) -- A retelling of Noel that works for me much, much better than the original.

Right Answer by lightgetsin (Vorkosigan Saga, Gregor) -- Gregor in his late teens/early twenties, learning how to deal with Aral, Cordelia and himself.

Theft of Assets, Destruction of Property by helenish (HP, Draco/Neville) -- To me, this is a story about having and overcoming depression. It's also an old-fashioned romance.

broaden into boundless day by thingswithwings (SGA, Sheppard/McKay) -- Rodney loses his memory. John tells him what he's forgotten. My heart breaks for them.

untitled trans!River piece by odditycollector (Doctor Who, River) -- This is totally my personal canon. [ETA: Thanks, raven! This is up at AO3 as Never Any Prologue.]






Eight cliches too much fun to miss


Full Service Firm by rivkat (SPN RPF, Jared/Jensen) -- Jensen's a lawyer! Jared mistakes Jensen for a high-class escort! Jensen finds he likes it! This is one of my go-to comfort fics. Hilarious, sweet and uncomplicated.

Stay Awake When I'm Asleep by passe_simple (TSN RPF, Jesse/Andrew) -- BABY! THERE IS A BABY!

Curving Like the Ocean Toward You by gyzym (Hawaii Five-0, Steve/Danny) -- The one where they would rather redecorate a house than talk about their feelings.

The Tragic, Doomed, and Epic Life and Loves of Elizabeth Jean McKay, Plus Other Interesting Stuff by deastar (SGA, OC-centric, McKay/Sheppard) -- Awesome, hilarious, brilliant kidfic.

Partial Harmonics by recessional (Losers, Cougar/Jensen/Aisha) -- This totally counts! Because there's a bit at one point where they kind of sort of effectively play truth or dare. So there! I didn't just try to sneak this in here because it's one of my favourite series. Honest. *looks shifty*

Conspicuous by thingswithwings (Leverage, Sophie/Parker) --<3<3<3 Undercover at a lesbian bar. <3<3<3

Time of Your Life by astolat (AIRPF, Cook/Archeletta) -- This is one of those totally classic slash stories. If you like slow burning love stories where two characters grow together and learn to get each other in a way that no one else can, this is one for you.

Always Starts the Same, with a Boy and a Girl by lightgetsin (White Collar OT3) -- Peter has to chase down two master criminals.





Eight meetings of different worlds


Carrying Dangerous Goods by novembersmith (Gen Kill/Temeraire) -- I love this story so much! As well as being delightfully written, funny, engaging, sweet, clever and warm, it's also full of great character insights and brilliant OCs.

Donna Noble, King of Camelot by netgirl_y2k (Doctor Who/Merlin) -- This is less a story and more an explosion of joy.

Election Days by raven (The West Wing, Star Trek) -- This takes my breath away with its scope, intelligence and grace. How does the Federation hold an election? Donna and CJ do what needs to be done.

The Justice League of Cardiff is a Stupid Name by sam_storyteller (Justice League/Torchwood) -- I couldn't stop giggling after reading this. Batman meets Torchwood. So much yes.

Practical Legends by kristin (The Wire, Ziggy & Omar) -- Ziggy runs into Omar. Omar is amused. This is a rare moment of happiness that fits perfectly with season two of the show.

In Pompeium by hhertzof (Doctor Who/Cambridge Latin Course) -- If you, like me, learned Latin from the CLC, this fic is for you. It even has a gloss at the bottom.

How Do You Like Your Blue-Eyed Boy, Mr Death? by nomadicwriter (The West Wing, Discworld) -- If you know both fandoms then trust me, every line of this is golden.

Lilies of the Field by raven (Vorkosigan) -- Cordelia Vorkosigan and Alys Vorpatril quietly keep three worlds ticking over.






Eight times I clapped my hands and cried, "Teeeeeeeeam!"


Operation: Wedding in Vermont by ligreomg (NCIS) -- This made me laugh SO HARD. I rarely rec things that are obviously unbetaed, but here, oh man, it just makes it better. If Gibbs is going to insist on rules, then the team will do exactly as he asks.

OH&S by mercurial_wit (Inception) -- I'm pretty sure anyone who reads in Inception has already read this, but, yes, because a hefty dose of medical realism turns out to be EXACTLY what this film needs.

The Replacements by lithiumdoll (Inception) -- The team seek a replacement for Dom. Things don't go well. They do go hilariously.

Toilet Wars by derryderrydown (Torchwood) -- Some people have better bathroom manners than others.

I Lie, I Cheat, I Steal (and I Just Don't Get Any Respect) by fiercelydreamed (Leverage/White Collar) -- My absolute favourite thing about this is the Hardison POV, but I had a lot of favourite things to choose from.

844,739 Ways to Eat a Hamburger by minervacat (SGA) -- Team. Roadtrip. What could possibly go wrong?

Un(covered) by rageprufrock (NCIS) -- alwaysagirl!Toni has a crush on her boss. This is hurty in places, but worth it.

Slow Path by aria (Doctor Who, no spoilers for S6) -- Amy and Rory raise their kid. I love the insights here into what it means to be part of Team TARDIS.






Eight stories I keep in my heart


In which Princess Nell learns the truth about magic. by sebastienne (The Diamond Age, Nell/Purple) -- The Diamond Age needs this scene so, so badly. In which the book does bother with sex ed.

Hurree Babu and Noddy Sing the Blues by dhobikikutti (the Daily Show RPF, Aasif Mandvi, John Oliver) -- John Oliver goes out with Aasif Mandvi and his friends. Witty, warm and pointed. I am grateful to dhobikikutti for how kind this story is, and I am aware that it really didn't need to be.

Come At The King by VanaTuivana (The Wire, Omar/OMC) -- Omar Little growing up. Pitch perfect.

Imaginary Boys by busaikko (SGA, SG1, Sheppard/Mitchell) -- Sheppard before and after she transitions, not necessarily in that order.

Clever Woman, Doctor's Wife by recessional (Sherlock Holmes 2009) -- Mary has an aunt who mentors her through some of the many aspects of life she will have to navigate.

All Their Rights Respected by petra (Gen Kill) -- After Iraq, Ray learns to be Rae. She has to deal with a lot of shit, but it's worth it, and Brad has her back.

For What It's Worth by justaotherwitch (Gen Kill, Brad/Ray) -- Brad and Ray fall into a D/s relationship, and the entire journey is hot like burning.

Clex in Discworld snippets by bravecows -- A collection of awesome, awesome scenes.






Eight times I couldn't stop smiling


The Origin of the Phrase by toft (Inception, team, Yusuf/Saito) -- In which Yusuf turns into a goat and the team does its collective best not to panic.

The Bond Forger by z_fic (White Collar, Lauren Cruz/Diana Berrigan) -- They are so good together! I would totally watch the Lauren and Diana show!

Common Issues in Child Care by neveralarch (Doctor Who) -- This is old Who, and I only recognised some of the characters, but I loved it all anyway.

Naming by fizzyblogic (Sherlock Holmes) -- Sherlock, née Elizabeth, picks his name

There's No I in Team by thefourthvine (Sports Night, Dan/Casey) -- Better than an episode.

You Get Your Life Back by cesperanza (True Blood, Eric/Sookie) -- I love this best for all the fun, affectionate swipes it takes at canon.

Ray Person's Analysis of Green Eggs and Ham by sparky77 (Gen Kill/Dr Seuss) -- A pitch perfect Ray Person rant.

Scenes from [...] by raven (Doctor Who, Spoilers for 6x01 and 6x02) -- The story I needed after the end of those episodes.