recs post #7 - at last!

[snick_backup]

It’s been quite a while since I last did a recs post, mostly because I haven’t gotten the chance to read as much lately, but just recently I've run across enough really excellent fics that they just demanded a post.

A Slayer in Camelot, by lears_daughter
BtVS post-S5; Merlin spoilers through late S1
Buffy’s fall through the portal landed her in Camelot, where she meets a man who looks very much like Giles. I only know Merlin secondhand, via the flist, but I still enjoyed this crossover quite a lot. There are lots of great Buffy-esque moments, including pitch-perfect first and last lines, and the Buffy/Uther romance-that-wasn’t is understated and almost sweet.

From Nothing to Something in 50 Sentences, by empressvesica
post-Chosen
Another fic found in my search for Faith/Giles, this really is a romance in 50 sentences. The structure allows for a long, slow construction of the relationship, which works really well for these two scarred characters that are both so armored against emotional intimacy.

Vigil in Accustomed Places, by djinn_fic
Spoilers through 5.16 “The Body”
A character study of Joyce, waiting many a time for her daughter/warrior/baby girl to come home. Brief, spare, with some lovely insights.

When Violet Eyes are Smiling, by rebcake
vague spoilers through the end of BtVS
A girl from the future with fuchsia hoverboots comes to set Joyce Summers straight about some things. This was written in response to a discussion of Mary Sues, and manages to be entirely tongue-in-cheek and yet feel genuine at the same time. But mostly: funny. Because rebcake always brings the funny.

Scarlet and Midnight - penny_lane_42
post-S2
So I have a thing for Buffy and Spike meeting up during the summer post-S2 (in shippy context or not). I have a serious thing for post-apocalyptic scenarios. And I like hurt/comfort fic. All of which means that of all the beautifully-written, insightfully-characterized fic in penny_lane_42’s oeuvre, Scarlet and Midnight almost has to be my favorite. The prose is excellent, too, although, as I told the author the other day, I get too caught up by the gorgeous character interactions to notice it.

Ouroboros and Three Nights Spent in Bed, by st_salieri
post-series
You guys may have picked up by now that babyfic/pregnancyfic is a major guilty pleasure of mine. These two intertwined Spike/Buffy fics, however, have no guilt at all associated with them. They’re exactly how I like my babyfic: quiet, down-to-earth, unromanticized yet full of wonder at the marvel of new life, and beautifully characterized.

Restoration, by msclawdia
post-NFA
Usually I’m not much for shanshu!Spike fics. His vampirism is so integral a part of the character that I can’t help but see the ‘reward’ of being human as a kind of diminishment. I told rebcake some of this and she pointed me to Restoration, which chronicles Spike’s (now William’s) post-NFA transformation from ex-vampire to a whole person. It’s a quiet, reflective fic with a lovely sweet gradual Buffy/William romance thrown in as well.

Gifts, by green_maia
post-Chosen
And, another shanshu!Spike fic, this one the first of a whole ‘verse of fics (full index here) dealing with Spike, Buffy, Dawn, Giles, and the post-Chosen world. “Gifts” is all Spike and Spike&Dawn - which combination always makes me happy - and is both elegiac and hopeful. Maia’s take on the contrast between Spike and shanshu!Spike is an interesting one, and her ideas about the differences between them make more sense to me than almost any other soul/soulless discussion I’ve seen.

Comments

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

¡Yay! You read Restoration! I think that msclawdia always delivers a beautifully balanced story, and that one is a little jewel. *happy sigh*

Thanks for the rec! It's weird what itsy detail will lead to a story. Violet hair=whole future 'verse in my head.

I haven't read a couple of these, so thanks for the recs!

[snickfic]

I did indeed read Restoration, and I said, "Why have I never read this before?!?" Except, I know exactly why I hadn't: I read the first scene, said, "Oh, shanshu!Spike," and clicked back. I'm so glad you convinced me to try again; sometimes a rec from a trusted source makes all the difference. :)

That's one of the reasons I make these posts: I love passing on the found treasures.

(And: I love that you use the upside-down exclamation point. I wouldn't mind if it got imported into English eventually.)

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

the upside-down exclamation point

The think I can't figure out is why I often use the upside-down exclamation point, but hardly ever use the upside-down question mark. I think it's got something to do with me being a tad exclamation mark happy to begin with. *iz ashamed*

[snickfic]

Don't be ashamed! I think it might be something fannishness brings out - I am much perkier and more prone to using words like 'fabulous' in my fannish interactions than I am generally.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

*is thrilled to be recced* I'm just endlessly amused that we have the same kinks that way. Seriously, someone says the words apocalypse, and I start flailing with joy. What does that mean? What does that say about me?

Oh my goodness, st_salieri's babyfic is the most gorgeous thing ever. I'm like you: I love babyfic when it's well done and am fascinated by anything involving pregnancy (another weird quirk we share), but it's so hard to find the good stuff! Would now be a good time to mention that I've been wanting for a long time to write a fic in which Spike shanshus, he and Buffy forget that protection has to happen when you're human, she gets pregnant, and then both of them have to realistically deal with their own feelings of guilt and fear and unworthiness and worries that they're incapable of actually raising a child? No?

And there are several fics here that I haven't read before but that sound absolutely lovely! I can't wait to check them out!

[snickfic]

Seriously, someone says the words apocalypse, and I start flailing with joy. What does that mean? What does that say about me?

Hee. Not quite sure, but it goes for me, too (though possibly without the flailing). I think partly it's the 'extreme circumstances' part, which allows for all sorts of interesting relationships and alliances, not to mention h/c. Partly it's the whole survival scenario - I love reading about that kind of thing, even though I, personally, want to sleep in my own bed every night. And partly it's just that sometimes I want some Doom and Gloom with my corn flakes, yanno?

I'm like you: I love babyfic when it's well done and am fascinated by anything involving pregnancy (another weird quirk we share), but it's so hard to find the good stuff!

So true. Interesting about the fascination. It's not something I've ever seen discussed much, but there must be other folks that share it, too, or there wouldn't be quite so much (generally subpar) babyfic in fandom.

EDIT: For something better than sub-par, have you read Impossible, by bitterness? It's the closest I've ever found to the plotty, Spuffy, getting-together-because-of-the-baby I'd want to write if I were going to write such a thing. It's post-S6/AU-S7, there are no easy fixes for the Spike/Buffy ship and no silliness about the pregnancy, it brings back practically every character you could ever want (Oz! Faith!), and despite occasional rocky prose the characterizations and the voices are excellent. Basically, it's the babyfic I'd rec to people who like babyfic (vs. st_salieri's stuff, which I rec to anyone).

No?

YES!!!!!

Ahem.

Yes, please. If you would be so kind as to write this fic, I would gladly be your most abject foot-washer willing beta.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I agree on all you reasoning, and I'll add to the list my obsession with stories about a small group of people who band together and fight against impossible odds. Which fits very nicely in a post-apocalyptic framework, honestly.

Plus: you know how I feel about angst. ;)

I have not read it! But now I'm so excited about checking it out as it sounds like exactly my sort of thing! *is excited*

Ha! Well, I really do want to write it, though I don't know if I will anytime soon. My main objection to a lot of babyfic is that Buffy and Spike either take it in stride or are straight-up excited. Or it's just a plot device to get them together. I wanted to have them already be together and to watch how it would affect their relationship then. Plus, I just picture Buffy freaking out. Being all, "What do I know about bringing life into the world? All I know is death!" and pondering her relationship with her own mother, which was strained at times, and thinking about how good/bad a job she did raising Dawn. And Spike, newly human, is struggling with both that and feeling like he doesn't know enough about being human and that he's got too much blood on his hands to raise a child. Both of them go through rough patches, both of them are the support each other needs at times. And of course there are lots of sweet and melty moments mixed in.

If I ever get around to it, I'll definitely take you up on the beta-help!

[snickfic]

I'll add to the list my obsession with stories about a small group of people who band together and fight against impossible odds.

Oh yes. That, too.

If I ever get around to it, I'll definitely take you up on the beta-help!

Yes! Yes yes yes.

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

You know, I friended you to follow Seraph. I mean, you seem funny and cool, but mostly? Seraph. However you're proving to be a really good resource; the stories on this list that I've read are all outstanding. Assuming the ones I haven't read are just a good I'm a happy, happy fan!

Though I have to say Buffy/Uther? Really?? I'm a little squicked!

[snickfic]

I mean, you seem funny and cool, but mostly? Seraph. However you're proving to be a really good resource

Hee. I'm so glad! I try to keep the sort of blog that I like to read, and also I just love pointing people to things that I like in hopes that they like them, too.

Though I have to say Buffy/Uther? Really??

Well, I think I'd be a little more bothered if the romance is actually followed through on, which it isn't. (The fic itself uses the term "UST," which I generally avoid just because it's so narrow.) And possibly I'd mind more if I were actually familiar with the show itself. Plus, useful fact about me with regard to recs: I think I'm less squicked by the idea of Buffy/Giles than is a significant portion of my flist, even though the pairing rarely works for me in practice.

Mostly, though, that particular fic's about Buffy! in Camelot! beating up Arthur! (That might have been the best part, actually.)

[silverusagi]

Oh, I must go read the Buffy in Camelot one! I watched a few eps of Merlin.

[snickfic]

Yay. Hope you enjoy. :)

[green-maia.livejournal.com]

Maia’s take on the contrast between Spike and shanshu!Spike is an interesting one, and her ideas about the differences between them make more sense to me than almost any other soul/soulless discussion I’ve seen.

Oh, I'm so glad you find it interesting! Thank you so much!!

[snickfic]

You are very welcome!

[djinn-fic.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the rec!

[snickfic]

You are very welcome! It was well-deserved. :)