recs and links

"The sun is rising over Cicely, and it looks like we're going to have a beautiful day. Today I can't help but appreciate the light breaking over Main Street; the way I can see the Brick emerging from the shadows of dawn. "I've always been an appreciate-the-sunrise kind of guy, but there's something a little bit special about what might be the last one I see from where I sit. This is 'Chris in the Morning' on KBHR, and I wish you a happy apocalypse." The apocalypse is coming to Cicely. Joel panics, and everyone else behaves perfectly in character as well. Reads just like an episode.

Really excellent story about Vetinari and Moist and Death and taxes.

His tongue feels thick and heavy in his mouth. He closes his eyes. Thoughts slip away from him like the white flash of silvery fish, flitting here and there, sparks of light in the darkness. Oliver dreams in a rotating kaleidoscope of languages: Russian, Chinese, English, the island, the sand-paper grittiness of mud on his fingers and concrete under his knees, the screams of prisoners echoing in a metal box. He thinks of the way he wants to scratch his way out of his own head sometimes, to peel the persona of Oliver Queen off, this patchwork of half-remembered drunken socialite behavior and the hyper-manners of a civilized age that he wears like an itchy sweater. Really good story that reads like an episode, with slightly more insight into Oliver than we often get on the show.

the link to my tag cloud?

In which Kate and Clint and Lucky save New Year's Even in the most Hawkeye way possible. Adorable.

Lilo grows up and becomes a space adventurer. Everyone helps. Oh heart.

Then he started moving, and Felicity loved that he didn't treat her like she was delicate. He would touch her like she was special, sure, like he was carefully loving the way she felt, but he never held back as if she might break or fall apart. It made her feel strong, and satisfied, and possessive. And it fucking felt amazing -- Oliver was all control and power and raw need like this, like he couldn't stop or take it easy on her. He expected her to keep up, and she did. Super hot and also wonderfully in character Oliver/Felicity.

Holiday gift-giving between Wendy and her friends. Aw.

Yes! This explains a lot about Nicky Parsons and why she's willing to go on the run with Jason. Totally my head canon now.

He dreams of Samuels. "Why now?" he asks in the dream, which he would hesitate to do in reality, for fear of the answer. "Why does He want me now, when he never did before?" "Now," says Samuels, in his slow, deliberate way, "you are ready to listen." He wakes up and thinks, oh yes. Because his whole life has been destroyed, so he has nothing better to do. "Thanks," he says to the stars above. God remains unapologetic. If the show had had a second season, we could only HOPE it would be as good as this story of Jack finding his way to David in the wilderness, and the two of them learning to trust each other. This really nails Jack's character and also David's humanity. *happy sigh*

Walter Dorsey was getting his ass kicked at hockey by a girl. Sure, the girl was an Olympic figure skating champion, and she had the advantage of being on the same team as his little brother, also an Olympic champion and still an incredible hockey player even with the missing eighteen degrees of peripheral vision. But Walter was still getting his ass kicked by a girl. Doug takes Kate home to propose. And play pickup hockey. This is adorable.

Gwen's not a damsel in distress. Really good story about her and Peter resuming their relationship and dealing with a new villain, and what it might mean for both of them.

Artemis has four Thanksgivings in the span of four days. She figures Wally would've been proud. *sobs* This captures Artemis' grief really well. (as the tags say, you don't need to read the first, unfinished story to get this one, nor do you need any familiarity with Lost Days) (YJ animated)

Costis comes to some conclusions. Oh, Costis. *ruffles his hair*

When the citizens of Attolia complain that the Thief of Eddis is a terrible influence on their queen, they have no way of knowing the truth of their own words. Gen is teaching Irene his tricks, and she's taking joy in learning them. oh, this is lovely.

Excellent casefic that shows how Ettersberg reverberates even now through Nightingale's life.

Kate, Lucky and Clint, and a year of doggie costumes. Hilarious and adorable.

Steve has a hard time figuring out what to get Bucky for Christmas. Sweet and hot and a little melancholy.

Charming epistolary Oliver/Felicity story.

Diaz and Santiago have to go undercover in a gay bar. Sounds just like an episode, except with bonus Diaz/Santiago makeouts!

Nick doesn't remember, so Cassies going to have to do it for the both of them. This is both heartbreaking and hopeful. Lovely.

All Nick's roads lead to Cassie eventually. Really well done look at AUs and precognition.

“You summoned the kraken?” Irving said. “Not exactly, sir.” Abbie went right on looking him dead in the eye. [...] “Technically, it’s a leviathan.” “And technically, the leviathan cannot be summoned,” Crane added. “It’s a biblical beast said to arise when the time is nigh—” “We put it back,” Abbie interrupted. “Let’s focus on that, okay?" Abbie, Jenny, and Ichabod fight the leviathan. This hilarious and awesome in exactly the same way as the show.

Ollie's oblivious but not quite as oblivious as Felicity and Dig think he is. Adorable OT3 fluff.

Evelyn wants to make sure her adventuring, treasure-hunting fiancé is on board with the quieter, less exciting aspects of a librarian's life. But life, as usual, doesn't exactly go according to plan. This is adorable.

Lovely story in which Dig and Ollie show up to help Felicity celebrate Hanukkah.

Looking at the bright eyes of the girl next to you though, you know you made the right decision. If you'd stayed, she never would've become this person capable of making you exhaust yourself in the chase. Someone who could be your equal as well as your friend. It's a good thing, even if you miss her terribly. Cass comes back to Gotham to see Steph. This is lovely

The story of how Bucky Bear became Bucky Bear. *sobs*

"I think I might be a little selfish," Steve whispers to Bucky. "I think it's sweet that Clint and Kate share Pizza Dog, and I'm glad that Han can help Eli while his grandpa is sick, but ... " Steve squeezes Bucky so tight that Bucky thinks his stuffing might burst from his seams. But that's okay; it's the kind of hug that is worth it. "But I could never share you the way Clint and Kate share Pizza Dog," Steve whispers. "And I could never, ever give you away, no matter how important the mission." *sobs* Bucky Bear is Steve's favorite. Oh my heart.

But Sweetums' favorite of these awesome little kids was Hulk. He was just so smart and friendly, and he really understood what it was like to be, well, big. A-Babies meets the Muppets. BRILLIANT.