recs and links

Bruce just this effect on him. It’s as if all the juvenile alpha male posturing he suppressed in high school was saving itself up for a rainy day, or maybe just waiting for him to meet Bruce Wayne. It wasn’t raining the night he met Batman, but after he’d displayed with all the finesse of a bull pawing the ground – and Bruce egging him on – it might as well have been. Really lovely melancholy but hopeful episode coda for "Hereafter."

Danny is part Veela and he goes into heat. No, really. This is hilarious. "The Vicks didn't make it stop," he tells Mike that night. "And the gun runner got away." "Shit," says Mike. "You might have to man up and mate for life with this guy."

about chief?

AU in which Babs offers Jason a spot on the Birds of Prey. Short but packs a nice punch.

Princess of Lost Island of Women to wed in First Diplomatic Marriage of Twentieth Century Classicists Stunned; Distraught Highly enjoyable romance novel-type AU of the Justice League, in which Diana and Bruce make a marriage of convenience that is a little less convenient than they'd planned.

Sweet pair of stories in which Diana and Bruce finally get their dance, and sort out some of their relationship issues. I like that Diana knows how far she can push him, and when to let him be.

Lovely, elegiac yet hopeful look at Bruce and Terry post-Return of the Joker. "'I'm not the Bat twenty-four seven,'" Bruce mocks, imitating Terry's careless drawl. "'I just work here.'" "Whoa, first of all, please never do that again. Second, since you bring it up, and since you always forget this, I existed before you met me. Carrying a universal lock-splice is a juvie thing, not a Bat thing." "Of course," Bruce says, annoyed with himself. He should have known that. Terry looks no more comfortable with this topic of conversation than the last.

Really lovely moment between Kalinda and Alicia as they stop for ice cream and play hooky for a little while.

Astrid dreams in numbers. She knows that life is all about patterns and symbols, codes that say things, mean things, and so in her dreams she counts because it’s the only way understand it. Really great look at Astrid. *heart*

OMG SO AWESOME! BRAINS! The Zombie Apocalypse comes to Baltimore and Bunk and McNulty get caught up in its wake. Utterly BRILLIANT. (also, I REALLY want the story of Omar Little: Zombie Hunter now.)

Really lovely look at Tiana and Lottie's friendship as they cook a meal together.

Money had always been the score, the prize, the proof they could take care of themselves. A world where her sister didn’t care about money was actually scarier than a world full of zombies. I liked getting Little Rock's perspective on things.

Lovely look at Ariel settling into her life on land, from Eric's POV.

Anytime Max and Dick team up to pwn Terry and Bruce, it's awesome. I also like that despite the angst of the past, this story has a hopeful ending.

Highly enjoyable pre-series story of how Niles and CC came to have the relationship they do.

I was uncertain of the Prufrock references, but the author really makes them work. Lovely introspective look at Sarah and how she lives life the way she does. She braces for the feel of it under her boots, takes the breath that will send her forward. She has thrown herself into the future for John before. Every minute of every day, really, is a blind step into the future. This shouldn't be different. But it is.

Making conversation with Derek is always difficult. Sarah has lost the knack of easy banter, back and forth, unless she's waitressing, but talking with him makes her even more awkward. Both of them are unmoored, washed out to sea and trying to find their way back to shore. Sharp, hot Sarah/Derek that gets her voice just right.

“I dunno, boss,” Esposito said, trying his best to keep a straight face, “If the guy is really a vampire, Castle knows everything about how to beat them.” “He’s right,” Castle agreed. He tapped the breast of his jacket. “Even carry my own garlic and everything.” “What makes you think I wouldn’t just let a vampire eat you?” Beckett demanded, getting up from her desk. Esposito laughed. “C’mon, Beckett,” he said. “Don’t you want to be there and see his little heart break when he realises the guy is just some guy and not a vampire?” “Hey!” Castle protested at the thoughtful look on Beckett’s face. “Sad truth, bro,” Esposito said, shaking his head mournfully. “The lady wants to make you hurt.” Fantastic casefile that gets the voices just right, full of banter and Beckett being smarter than everyone.

Beautiful story of Isabeau attempting to fit herself back into the constrained life of a lady after having the freedom of a hawk. Really wonderfully done. She’s not entirely sure that the nuns don’t know more of her history than they let on. They greet her with warmth and when she demonstrates her skill with medicines and herbs, only a few brows raise in surprise. In truth, Isabeau relishes the opportunity to use her hands for more than simple embroidery or other womanly pursuits. With something worthwhile to do, her life begins to feel more complete.

“What would you do with Charlie?” “Sing songs, hang stockings, clean up the mess when he ate himself sick,” Casey said. “We can do that,” Dan said. In spite of himself, Casey had to smile at that. “You’ll eat yourself sick for me?” “Drinking myself sick is a normal part of my family get-togethers,” Dan said. “It’s not that much of a change.” Casey's being a Scrooge but Dan knows how to make it better. Adorable.

Marion wins her first drinking contest. Awesome.

There are three characters in our story, the first and most important of which is the Library itself, an enormous octagonal grey stone building covered over with a thick veil of ivy. Only a dozen narrow, barred windows and a heavy wooden door suggest that it might be anything but impregnable. Two dozen gargoyles perch on the roof and hiss and spit at passersby. Any trace of magic in your blood will afford you entry, but once you are inside the building, just as your eyes begin to adjust to the gloom, someone will stop you and kindly ask you to explain what you need. The Library is one of the most highly guarded places in the wizarding world, and it doesn't share its secrets with everyone. Absolutely gorgeous and layered story of the wizarding library, the librarians who curate it, and a visit from Sirius and Remus. Reads just like the best kind of fairy tale.

“You’re out of parrot-related trivia?” Natalie asks, looking a bit surprised. “I skipped that section of the Encyclopedia Britannica. It’s their beady eyes,” Jeremy says. “Reminds me of paintings where the eyes follow you.” “You know that parrots’ eyes actually follow you, right, honey?” Dana says. “When Dana says, ‘honey,’ she means, ‘dumbass,’” Natalie says, helpfully. “We know,” Dan says. “We know.” Really lovely Christmas story full of the crew being family, especially Dan and Dana, coated in a deliciously crunchy layer of snark and banter.

Really well done and believable backstory for Valmont and Merteuil.

"So, this Halloween. It involves Otherworldly creatures terrifying normal people while you stand around singing songs about it?" "Yes! Only you make it sound so wrong," Jack complained. "And I just don't stand around." He puffed up and posed dramatically. "I am the Pumpkin King!" Susan wasn't impressed. Jack visibly deflated. Hee! This is delightful.

"Good point. We need urban camouflage. Or suburban camouflage. What's that like, a cable-knit sweater and golf pants?" David looked thoughtful. "Hey, at least the camera's waterproof; we just got water with our proof. Success is sweet." David pulled back the covers and slipped into bed. Maddie flinched as his bare leg slid against hers. "Hey, it's alright. You can touch me. I'm not poison oak." "Ya got that right," Maddie's voice was muffled. "Poison oak is quiet." Ah, I love the "there's only one room with one bed" cliche, and this is an adorable take on it with spot-on Dave and Maddie banter.

Jason and Nicky, before and after. Beautifully evocative and bittersweet, yet shot through with hope. "You stopped running," he says, and it barely manages not to sound like an accusation. She has a job, neighbors who would remember her face, friends who enjoy her company. She's left footsteps and fingerprints in her life. She looks away for a long moment before meeting his eyes again. "I think, at one point, you need to find ways to live with your choices. Even if -- even if it's a luxury that you can't afford, maybe not even deserve."

"You ever think about death, Ted?" "Think about death." He's torn about how to answer and settles on a question in return. "Why?" "Because. Because we're all going to die eventually. Because someday, Ted, our bodies will stop breathing and they'll put us in the ground." Charlie doesn't look perturbed as he says this; his eyes are still closed. Ted takes a breath. "Yeah, I think about death sometimes." really lovely - great Ted voice, and it nails Crews and Reese, as well. I really miss this show sometimes.

Nature versus nurture. You look at the hurt that she’s caused and the damage she’s done and the record of her easy smiles, and you wonder. Nature or nurture, because it could have been either. They are still guinea pigs caught in experiments of purpose and hubris, Cortexiphan bound up in your neurons and her world an experimental maze, identical twin studies with too many variables and Walter, always Walter, the architect and creator of you both, who cared too little to even remember your name. Beautiful look at Olivia, from both sides.