recs and links

"Show them cross-cultural commonality, show them how we're all different and the same, show them how linguistic groups express themselves, in short: tell them how to proposition the galaxy. Ways To Say I Love You, 101." / Spock raised an eyebrow. "Nyota, while I fully endorse your objectives, I think this plan would be unwise." / "Not at all," she said, primly, standing up and clearing away the dishes. "All the ways to say, 'I love you'. It'll be a hit. I'll do you some research." Uhura/Linguistics=OTP! Really lovely look at Uhura and through her, the crew of the Enterprise.

Pavel has been waiting all his life for a friend like this. Between classes they debate derivative theoretics outside in the Academy's regal shadow, Pavel stretched out beneath a tree, River pacing barefoot with blades of grass tickling her ankles. The table in the alcove facing the ocean on the fourth floor of the library becomes theirs; they study until late at night beside the open window, listening to the sounds of the sea. On the weekends they take the BART to the beach, sharing a pair of headphones to tune in to the Vulcan Science Academy's weekly podcast, and Pavel walks in the surf with his pant legs rolled up, while ahead of him River dances joyfully with the waves. Chekhov and River being BABY GENIUSES together at the Academy. *hearts*

Nyota’s favourite is a short paper written when Grayson was quite young. It is about the language of taboo and exclusion. Things unsaid, and things unsayable. Though the taboos themselves may differ, linguistic methods for dealing with them do not. Grayson postulates, rather cheekily, that euphemism and elision are universal phenomena. This is why Nyota Uhura picks xenolinguistics: the ways in which different cultures communicate might differ, but the ways in which they fail to communicate do not. She finds it strangely comforting that language makes them all alien to each other. Brilliant, sharp look at Uhura.

“Sometimes people suck, Sammy.” He sounded so defeated. The exhaustion of this whole past year shone in his eyes. / Sam knew that people sucked. It’s not like he and Dean had ever had any illusions about the dark and evil things in the world. They'd never been allowed to have any. But Dean had faith in people, thought they were worth saving. / It made Sam angry when Dean was disappointed. / “Sammy?” Dean’s eyes were sad, his defenses brought low by someone who hadn’t done something as simple as treasure the life that was entrusted to her. Her job. / “Okay,” Sam said. “Yeah.” Heartbreakingly lovely look at Sam and Dean post-Mystery Spot, as Sam tries to deal with everything that happened in Broward County, and how little time he has left to save Dean. (Wincest)

Gaila does not get her new roommate at all. They've been at school 3 whole weeks now, and she hasn't had sex with anyone. Not even once. She wonders if she should do something. Sex is as important as food, after all. If her roommate were anorexic, she should definitely try to help. Sex anorexia (sexorexia?) is probably just as bad and life-threatening. Plus, it seems to put her roommate in a really bad mood. The situation definitely calls for action. But what should she do? Gaila, attempting to become friends with Uhura.

Exactly what it says on the tin. Lovely. Because Kirk ♥ his crew. (and bones especially.)

Sharp look at Sam hunting on his own at Stanford, and the cracks in his relationship with Jess.

It's really over. The weight that came off his shoulders made him dizzy, made him want to lie back down on the bench seat and let the sun come up over him and cry like a fucking baby for a while, because who was left to see him? Castiel and his angel buddies were gone, for good as far as Dean knew. There wasn't a soul around for miles. If he wanted to lie there for a while and bawl his eyes out, he'd earned it. / In the end, the tears wouldn't come, but the relief stayed with him, washing over him in slow waves, and he lay on the cool leather, eyes closed, and felt about a million years old, so tired he wasn't sure if he'd ever move again. After the apocalypse is averted, Sam and Dean find their way back to each other. Lovely.

Utterly wonderful look at how Uhura and Gaila became friends.

Poignant, sharply observed story of Simon realizing that his old life is gone, that he's not the same man he was on Osiris; it has a palpable weight to it, like the boxes Simon rifles through. “Sometimes, wild birds will attack the more exotic ones,” Simon had explained, just as his father had explained it to him when he’d started keeping them as pets. As a child, Simon had figured that heaven must be pretty much like the east balcony, where Father kept gloriously plumed pets in giant rosewood cages amid small fountains and greenery. As an adult…well, it was still a pretty thought. “Their bright colors attract predators to food sources and—” “They’re different,” River interrupted, her voice low but fierce enough to silence the others. “They’re brighter. And stranger. They’ve been places, and they remember things. The other birds, the dull ones—they’re jealous.”

Fantastic AU in which John is able to save Mary on 11/2/83, but the Winchesters still don't manage to have a happily ever after. Bleak and sharp and true to the characters in heartbreaking ways.

so cool!

There's a heart of gold beneath McCoy's curmudgeonly exterior and here are five short glimpses of it. *sniffle*

James Tiberius Kirk does not need a family. Lovely look at Kirk becoming captain and everyone else meshing to become his crew.

Here's the thing about mornings: when you wake up, you have no idea if it's going to be the last. The last time you look in the mirror as you put on a little makeup, just enough so that you look like you've had more than three hours sleep. The last time you put your badge on your belt, and your gun in the holster in the small of your back. Last time you drink a cup of raw sewage instead of the good coffee from Castle's machine, because you still won't admit that yes, sometimes it's nice to have nice things. Beckett gets shot and Castle has to deal. Lovely.

He learns to make do with what he's given, mostly; bunking down on old straw mattresses, helping to teach some of the kids from the Core how to fight, choking down food that's just this side of palatable. But Mal keeps a hold of some things from before, refusing to carry one of the regulation firearms everyone was given in their first week's training. Lovely look at Mal, during and after the war.

River and Simon have a vivid fantasy life. Sharp, sad, believable take on how Simon and River might rationalize what they do.

Lovely look at Max and Alec after their conversation about Ben.

Two missing scenes from "The Kids Are All Right." Oh, Dean. *sniffle*

Adorable Kirk/McCoy with them being all BFF-y and encouraging the gossip.

So there may be a little snag in the plan to have Dean kill Lucifer. Lovely and plausible (if a bit too British in places) coda to Lucifer Rising. (Wincest)

Gaila loves Jim Kirk the way she loves pizza: that is, more than everything else, but not to the exclusion of everything else. This is both adorable and amazingly sense-making.

Lovely look at River's relationships with various members of Serenity's crew.

Adorable bit of domestic Max/Alec schmoop.

Sometimes, when Serenity stops on a moon closer to the Core, Inara buys a burlap sack full of onions, a thick slab of strong cheese, and loaves of stale bread. Then she and Shepherd Book slice the onions so thinly she can read the maker’s mark on her knife through their concentric rings. / Inara’s eyes water, and she wipes them on the sleeve of her kimono, or else the finely woven handkerchief the Shepherd tucks beneath her bracelet with gentle fingers. His eyes water as well; they both look as if they are grieving a loss, but the galley is loud with their laughter and the metallic noises of their knives working. / Inara coats the skillet with rendered fat, and the onions’ acrid bite turns rich and sweet in the recycled air. Beautifully clear, sharp look at Inara and her relationships with Serenity's other inhabitants.

"Love is a chemical reaction in the brain," she says, instead, miserably. "An involuntary interaction of pheromones and neurotransmitters." / Inara laughs her gentle Companion laugh and offers River a tea biscuit. "That's not very comforting when you're in love, is it?" Gorgeous, achy look at River learning about love.

“I think it’s great that Starfleet doesn’t have non-fraternisation rules for starships.” Hee hee hee! It's almost like "La Ronde" for ST:XI, except hilarious, not depressing.

"I'm taking you out," said Jim, "if I have to sedate and drag you. Put the bourbon away. Get changed. Into something nice. Not too nice, though. Don't want anyone to think we're on a date." His sudden grin showed his teeth, almost blindingly white against his tanned skin. / "It's my birthday," McCoy said. "Shouldn't I be allowed to do whatever the hell I want?" / "You have to celebrate. Years from now – if you don't get burned to a crisp by a solar flare or sucked out of an airlock – you'll look back and wish to God you'd done something exciting for your thirtieth birthday. I know you will, because I'll be there and I'll keep reminding you." McCoy and Kirk are oblivious bffs who are really in love. Aw, boys.

"What do you think you're doing?" she demands, keeping her voice low. / He shrugs. "Your game, Maxie." / "It's not a game." / "Could have fooled me. I'm just playing along." / "There's playing along," she says, "and then there's being obnoxious." Tasty Max/Alec.

Really lovely Kirk/McCoy, with pining.