.
First off, for those of you who did not already know, I open the
guess what fics I wrote game. There are three, and two of them are visible already, and the two that are visible are in different fandoms but have protagonists with the same name. The third, which has yet to be revealed, is in a fandom you all know I love, and probably for someone who reads this journal operating under a semi-pseudonym.
And now, onto the recs.
Chinese History/Red Cliff, Classical Composers, Gankutsuou, Henry IV/V, Inglourious Basterds, Mad Men, Monster, Paradise Kiss, The Pirates of Penzance, Princess Tutu, The Sandman, Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga, Skullcrusher Mountain, Suikoden III, Suikoden V, Temeraire.
An Empty Cup, for the movie
Red Cliff, but which is really for
Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Features Bastard-versus-Bastard in the best way possible. Best read with some knowledge of the historical period if not the actual work.
Totentanz, Historical, Liszt/Chopin, with Liszt's bitterness perfectly characterized and Chopin the passive-aggressive genius. The lyrical and sumptuous style is evocative of the period, but, well, more like Chopin that Liszt in its fragmentation. Best read with some musical knowledge, but can stand on its own if you have an interest in the Romantic period.
Going Cold, Gankutsuou, Franz taking what he wants from Albert, or at least what the Count wants him to want. You know I love it when getting what you want comes with a price, and this one has Franz paying
duly for it. Best read without a predilection for the OT3, and with a glass of water nearby.
And to Tilt with Lips, Henry IV/V sequence, featuring Kate Percy, Hotspur, and a genius possessive and machinating young Hal. Hotspur is
real in this, guys, and I love the worst marriage proposal ever, and the way that Kate accepts him and her own position about until Hal comes along, and Hal is of course my favorite little Alex DeLarge. Best read with a fast-and-loose view of history, and without your parents in the room.
A Basterd's Work is Never Done, Inglourious Basterds, Aldo and Hans and all the more beautiful for it. Landa is a genuinely terrifying man and characterized amazingly here through literary references, and Aldo is concentrated badass of course, and the fic feels like the movie. Best read with knowledge of the fandom and a thick skin, in a brightly lit room.
Broken Alphabet, Mad Men, Peggy and her role in society. PINSTRIPE YOU HAVE TO READ THIS IT IS PEGGY'S GENDER ISSUES DONE RIGHT. Best read with knowledge of the fandom, but, failing that, it's totally fine if you adore or despise the early 1960s.
Please Please Me, Mad Men, Peggy and Sal run into each other at a party, self-evaluation ensues. Takes place after the end of season three and as such contains spoilers, but it's about how small the world really is even when the British invade. Best read with the Beatles on loop.
Schutzwall, Monster, Lunge case study. It makes the
I am Tenma schtick genuinely terrifying, and captures the feel of the manga beautifully and acutely. Best read with a blistering hatred for the Berlin Wall.
Bloom, Paradise Kiss, Isabella and George, through the years. This is the ending (or beginning) that I always pictured for them, and told very delicately, with just enough George in it that it makes Isabella believable, because she's built around him to some extent, but not
entirely, and that's what makes this fic special. Best read with an appreciation for high fashion, but not a passion.
Excerpts from an Extant Libretto: Childe Frederic, or, the Call to Duty, Pirates of Penzance prequelfic with the Pirate King (whose name is not Frank) and his Pirate 'prentice, in play format. Best read with background knowledge, but, failing that, a sense of duty.
Fredric's Legacy, or, the Privateer Patriarch, Pirates of Penzance, OH MY GOD GUYS IT'S WORLD WAR II. Best read with background knowledge and an appreciation for the WRENs. Lots and lots of WRENs.
Snapshot, Princess Tutu, generations after, the beginning of another faerie tale, or at least a reconstruction of the old. Anything that ages Fakir up so well...well, you know how I roll. Best read with warm leftover cookies and milk.
Revisionism, the Princess Tutu fic I wish I wrote. Best read with knowledge of Nutcracker injokes and a love of meta.
Happily Ever After Every Now and Then, Princess Tutu, oh god oh
god I never expected to see those words in a Tutu fic and now I want to write the continuation in which the story of that town changes but isn't subdued, but I kind of have to wait for the reveal to ask the author about that. Terrifying in places as the world becomes real around them, and the
only time I will every tolerate Duck becoming truly human again. Best read with historical knowledge of the Interwar period in Germany. Yes, you read that right.
Schizophasia, The Sandman, Deliriumfic, literally. I don't think I
should say more than that. Best read with a healthy appreciation for how difficult it is to find the right words.
Space Boundaries, SMT:DDS ingame, the Embryon coming out of the desert
without all the pretension that implies. It's very subtle and, yes, a little didactic, but Megaten fic needs that. Best read with canon knowledge, but hey, one good turn deserves another.
Drugstore Sushi, Jonathan Coulton's
Skullcrusher Mountain explained. I...don't think I need to say any more than that. Best read cold.
Five Years Later, Suikoden III, Thomas and Cecile, and it's not a spoiler to say that they get together in the end, but the
how is truly cute. I've been longing for good Suikofic and this is truly obliging that, and, dare I say inspiring. Best read with an appreciation for familial politics.
Light on Water, Suikoden V, How Ferid Won Arshtat, literally first and figuratively after. The last section is the best, just wait for it. Smashing dialog in this one. Best read with half a playthrough of the source material, and barring that, a desire to brutally deconstruct courtly love.
A Voyage of Discovery, Temeraire, Laurence being oblivious of Tharkay three times in a row. What can I say, I love it when that happens. Best read with an appreciation for fine naval traditions.
wisdom to the mighty, honor to the brave, Temeraire, hijinks ensue on the way to Australia, and poor Granby is rather drunk. Best read for the smarmy and very definitely not English Tharkay. Jokes about Imperialism win the day. Best read with knowledge of the books, of course, but without that, I'll just hope for some schadenfreude.
A Room with a View, Temeraire, oh my god Perscitia, you're so adorable. I love the way her strategy and scholarliness is handled here, and Wellington's acceptance as well, but most of all I love Kitty Wellington's characterization here, and it kind of makes me feel sad for her on behalf of Jane Roland. But. BUT. Perscitia! Mathdragon! Solving the problems of England through cows! ...Best read with canon knowledge, all of it, really.
A Woman of Character, Temeraire, and an exceptionally well-characterized Jane Roland, as well as the system of Aviation in England, which is also a character. Best read with a fondness for women who wear many hats, but none with ribbons and flowers.
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