recs and links

notfic in which Steve is an art student and Bucky is a dirty hipster (so, basically like canon except now instead of in the 40s)

When something about a case strikes Sherlock as familiar, he and John are off to Boston to consult with Dr. Walter Bishop. (Spoilers for Fringe through s4; none for s2 of Sherlock.) I enjoyed this a lot, mostly for the Sherlock-Walter interaction.

Darcy should have seen it coming. She couldn't hang around the spandex crowd forever and not end up with a great big target painted on her back eventually. She was just surprised it took Loki so long. Long, highly enjoyable story of Darcy and Loki being bros and Darcy and Clint getting together.

Abed redoubles his attention on the screen, trying to figure out what it is that's causing the tears- it's Shepherd Book, dying on Haven, every hint of his real identity being cut off too soon. It's a brilliant scene, highlighting all the questions surrounding Book's secret past while proving, without doubt, that those questions would never be answered. It's as frustrating as the series itself, thirteen perfect episodes and a movie, and a hundred story lines that never got to be. Awesome first kiss for Troy and Abed, from Abed's POV, with some lovely Firefly references.

So you're fed up with Google, and you've got a litany of reasons. More now than ever. You don't even have to explain—we're just here to help you crawl out from under the shadow of the big G, step by step.

“You know, they’re calling me your sidekick now.” Steve who’s settling in beside him, freezes. “My sidekick?” “Yeah. Captain America and Bucky. His trusted kid-sidekick.” “We’re the same age...” “I know. It’s those fucking comics.” “Oh.” Then Steve glances at him, sly. “Does this mean you’re my Robin?” “If you think I’m going to run around without any pants on, you’ve got another thing coming.” “I don’t know. I think you could make it work.” Heartbreaking. Oh, Bucky. Oh, Steve...

Bert's spent countless untold years with Mary, traveling with her from place to place, from family to family. Sometimes he arrives in the place before her, and waits. Sometimes he catches up to her, after she's been there for a while. He's immortal, of course, thanks to her, but he's not immortal like her. There are places Mary Poppins can live and thrive that Bert can't, and during the years when she's living with families under water, or deep in the heart of a flaming volcano, Bert can only wait for the winds to change, the tides to turn, the volcano to sleep, and hope the next child lives in a place where he can join them. He's not magic like Mary Poppins, but over the years, Bert's developed his own magic, making paintings and drawings that can come to life, and can be used as portals to other worlds. Lovely and clever backstory for Bert. ♥

Quick and lovely Bucky/Natasha makeouts.

"Is that what you're trying to get Cap to do here?" Clint asks with a grin. "Get him to make some noise to Beyonce?" "Darcy's been helping me get acquainted with popular culture," Steve says, with a glance back at the computer. "It's been...an interesting learning experience." "I've already gotten him an iPod," Darcy says proudly. "We're putting together some playlists for his musical education." "An iPod, huh?" "Yeah, and SHIELD paid for it," Darcy says with a smug grin. "God, it's awesome being able to put stuff on an expense list." Adorable story of Darcy and Clint going on a date, but the best part is Steve and Darcy as bros.

She sees them share their cigarettes, their rations, the crumpled, handwritten news they get sent from home. A few of the older men rally themselves around a boy who looks younger than Peggy, who must surely have lied on his forms, pink-eyed and homesick. They play poker for chunks of chocolate and handfuls of copper coins. She keeps her distance, but seeing friendship and makeshift families coming together in such a foreign place helps her settle. It’s her first time away from home as well, after all. She knows it’s just empathy, but with each warm surge of feeling she gets from observing her men, her mother’s words ring hollow in her ears. Peggy doesn’t know how anyone could face the war without love. 5 times Peggy falls in love. Really lovely

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The questions, when Nick finally gets a chance to ask them, are met with the kind of irritation only someone both fourteen and tired and extremely disappointed could manage. “It was a recording,” Cassie snaps. “She saw the conversation years and years ago, and recorded her end of it, okay? We’re supposed to talk to this Shadow.” “I’m sorry,” Nick says quietly. Cassie’s frown only deepens. “I know,” she says. Cassie's mom has work for them to do. Cool story about how her plans might work.

This is the perfect mix of action, emotion, banter and hot porn. Dick and Steph have an unexpected teamup on a case and end up doing more than just fighting crime together. Sekrit Batpairing of my heart for the win! ♥

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Steve has the common sense - or good grace - to look a little bashful now, like that'll do a gorram thing for Mal's opinion of him. "I'm looking for someone - I was told you were the man to come to. That this ship did things other people wouldn't." "She maybe does," Mal monotones, tipping his head at Inara, who rolls her eyes. Steve sighs, obviously fed up with his treatment of the "lady." Well, good. He deserves as much frustration as Mal's feeling. "A - a friend of mine is trapped in a facility." He's searching Mal's face, those baby blues suddenly real sharp. "I heard your crew had experience - " Mal's gun is out and tipped up under Steve's chin before he can finish the sentence. "Heard from who." To the stranger's credit, he doesn't stammer under the press of steel. "Shepherd Book," he says calmly. Eeee! Steve and Bucky 500 years in the future! Bucky trapped by the same people who had River and Steve asks Mal's help to get him back! Mal being frustrated that everything is out of his control. I love this so much!

This played at the beginning of the final episode tonight... as if I wasn't crying enough. DISCLAIMER: I am in no way associated with DirecTV, NBC, FNL, or anyone associated with the show. Just a fan spreading the love. Watch Friday Night Lights on Wednesday nights on DirecTV's 101 Network. The same episodes will reair again on NBC starting in spring/summer of 2011.

No one chooses for Loki. He chooses for himself. He chooses his brother, and Midgard, and Steve Rogers. This is really lovely. Loki chooses to join the Avengers, and falls in love with Steve. I was skeptical of the pairing too, but it works here.

Dysfunctional superhero team as family. *heart*

"Steve's always blamed himself because he couldn't save you, James," she says softly. "That he couldn't find you, couldn't bring you home--" --you were left behind no one came for you and you were left to die they didn't come to find your body so they could take you home didn't want you because no one cared-- "--before he died. When he--when S.H.I.E.L.D. thawed him out he never stopped talking about you. Even now you're back you're still first in his thoughts." "He thought if he'd survived," Tony says as Pepper falls silent, "you might've too, but when we took a team out to look for you, for any sign, anything left--" "I was long gone," Bucky murmurs. Bucky learns some things and tries to figure out how to make them better for Steve. (I also really like that Pepper calls him 'James' in this. That seems appropriate.)

Damian's got chicken pox, and at the moment, Tim's the only help he's got. Aw, boys.

I always enjoy it when Lily and Sirius bury the hatchet, and this is a tender and lovely story where that happens on a full moon morning and Sirius is trying to protect Remus.

try New Ocean when Librarian's Dream is available.

Roxy Wasserman visits Caritas. Perfect little crossover.

The rain hits the earth like fallen nails, a clang and batter against the pavement. Broyles flicks his collar against the chill, the brief flare of a match warming his fingertips. His dancing shoes are slick with wet, the puddles at his feet a reflected one-two jab of red and blue light. He breathes out and watches as Nina approaches, moving past his patrol car and entering the pedestrian tunnel. Sharp doesn’t hustle, her steps short, powered, never rushed, as if the rain wouldn’t dare dampen her over-priced suits and leather shoes. Perfect bit of Sharp/Broyles noir nihilism set in the Brown Betty-verse.

Steve and Bucky then (see gentle his condition) and now. Oh, heart. Awkward boys in diners ftw!

I haven't read Snuff yet, so possibly I'm missing some finer nuances, but this is hilarious. The way she turned the Commander of the Watch's words into mere advice reminded Vimes of Vetinari; using a turn of phrase to script her own reality. Writers.

Arson was not a popular crime in Ankh-Morpork. Not an unheard of crime, of course, because Ankh-Morpork was nothing if not a city of extremely heard crime. But even in the lowest of low places1 among the city streets, it was rare. River water you could stand on and the general public’s realization that hey, this building is touching that building and that building and thatbuilding is my house made most potential arsonists follow their survival instincts and join the Alchemists’ Guild instead.2 The lack of fire insurance helped, as well.3 Ahahahahaha, an awesomely perfect little slice of Vimes and the Watch.

"Take it easy on the gas pedal, sweetcheeks. I've heard THC slows down your reaction time." "I will turn this car around." "Please, I'm your GPS, map display and navigation equipment. Without me you couldn't take us to the nearest head shop, let alone back to HQ." "Well, I definitely remember there was a lake a few miles back that looked deep enough to at least take out your voice circuits, KITT." "Try me, Hasselhoff." This is exactly what MM and Wendy (and Ida!) on a road trip would be like. Adorable

"They are only objects," she told them. "This River is not the river that can flow and bend." buT iN tiMe You MaY SEe thE plaN I haVe FOR yOu. unTIl THen YoU MUSt be PATienT. Short, sharp, perfect meeting between River and Delirium during her time at the Academy.

Wichita wrote a list for him, because the whole concept was stupid and passive and that’s just not her. Anyway, Columbus likes lists. She writes a list of all the things she’s going to tell Columbus, and the only reason she won’t is because she might run out of time. The secrets she wants to keep from him, well, she’s taking those to the grave and hopefully not beyond. I really enjoyed this look at Columbus and Wichita's relationship after the movie.