the stars like dust

And go to ficbyzee 's journal and read this: 


"Woke up New" takes the characters of Merlin and Arthur and tosses them into each other's bodies. This is a fandom cliche, but Zee makes it fresh by really playing out what that would mean to Merlin and Arthur specifically. The power issues are touched on with a lot of grace, and she rounds out both the main characters with a believable mix of feelings and attitudes. It's hot, and funny, and entertaining, but it also has a strong kick to it.

I'm supposed to be creating a writing/scheduling wiki for the SO and I. Instead, I'm reading my email and sinsense's comment threads and thinking about bandboys and their filthy, filthy scenes. And, okay, so I just watched Release the Bats also, and am reflecting on NPR's interview with Pete. None of which are at all relevant to the motive for this post, which I will now explain.

Whether you are in bandom or not, I urge anyone who enjoys urban fantasy or fantastical urbanity to read "After" by sinsense. Here is part one, and here is part two of two. It really isn't necessary to know the bands to read, though it is all the richer if you do. She created a universe in which one can imagine a dozen tellable stories, and she did it with flair and skill. I'm going to try for a brief summary as follows:



Okay, so ignore my summary. But read her lovely story.

Aaaaand, I’m here a little more again. I’m even a tiny bit interactive.

Two things were awesome for me today, and I’d like to share them.

The first thing is really a pair of things, stories by lavvyan; she understands the true meaning of sex pollen. Her au makes my smile so wide that I’ve scared the cat. Go here and see for yourself that Tulip and Sunflower are MFEO!

The second thing is a McKay/Zelenka story. It is one of the rare ones in that pairing that really work for me. Dr. Z is made of wonderful, and I love him, and Rodney/him in theory, but I end up unable to make the leap for most stories. But cinead’s “A Matter of Convenience” brings the funny and the hot and the snarky-perfect emo!porn that I love. She also nicely treads the line between ignoring context and other connections and simply diverting attention or wasting space by trotting out all the folks for a cameo.

For the stungunbilly update, let's just say that I'm living day to day and trying to build up the things that give me joy. Such as John and Rodney and Ronon and Teyla and the Supernatural boys, and maybe a few dozen other things like Castle Waiting, and O! how I adore Stephen Colbert and his pointy finger and his little smile that he can't help cracking while he points the finger and calls everyone out.
Podcasts are things of ingenious wonder, I've been doing some knitting for the relief of having something solid and lovely to show for each day, and the more slash put to mp3 the better the world works, IMHO.

Now I’m going back under the couch for awhile. Be full of spice and excellent to each other, you folks spin my happy.

Everyone's already read basingstoke's new Specialist Ronon Dex/ Doctor Rodney McKay story, right? Because:

a)It's Basingstoke, come on.

b)It's Ronon/Rodney, omg squee.

c)You get to pick your own ending!!!!!!!

d)There's unicorns!

e)Ronon gets prettier the more you tan him.

6) There is no rule #6.

A Short List of Stargate: Atlantis Stories

(that I can’t stop re-reading)

Now with added context.

Special Note: This is not a comprehensive list, at all. Even of my current favorites, let alone general recs. Included here are the first ten stories that come to mind as ones that I re-read compulsively, of late.

 

• “Second Skin” by Toft Froggy.
• “Advantage” by Resonant
• “Close Encounters” by Amireal
• “Oblivious” by Shalott
• “Three Fates” by Auburn and  eretria
• “A Little Bit Crazy” by the Grrrl
• “Four Quarters” by trinityofone
• “Something to Remind You” by cjandre
• “The Best Things in Life Are Free” by Smittywing
• “Crimes against Humanity” by Jenn

Two of these are works in progress, three are extreme alternate universes, one is a high school alternate universe, and all of them have John and Rodney having sex in them. The linking qualitiy is the spontaneous need to read them repeatedly. Though the sex in them is important, I think, none of them would cling to me the way that they do without being emotionally powerful as well as hot. I also needed to be able to recognize the John and Rodney I know from SG:A in them. Even when that is extremely disturbing, as in "Crimes". 

“Three Fates” and “Four Quarters” both have soundtracks associated with them, and are extended aus with more than one part and artwork as well. The development of the world behind the stories definitely has something to do with the way these universes haunt me. I should mention here that although I do frequently re-read these, it is selective. Generally I go over sections of the story again and again, not the whole work.

Several of these are by well-known writers, but the stories are not chosen based even partly on this.

There are no Ronon stories on the list, as Ronon stories are treasured and doled out in a miserly way, to make them last. Too few, still too few.

There is a lot more I would say, but not without spoiling the stories. If anyone is interested in analysis, tell me and I'll do it under a cut. Meanwhile, please keep your hands inside the car at all times and enjoy the show.