Trying to get back in the groove with writing recs. I shall prevail! All recs will be crossposted to Pharmakon.

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STAR TREK 2009

The Ups and Downs of You by raphaela667. (Kirk/Spock)

Deaging characters is a cliche in any fandom, even ones that are new enough not to have had a fic like this written before - and one thing nobody could define the Star Trek fandom as is "new". Regardless, they're good for giving you the warm fuzzies, and this one has the added bonus of a) having a sort-of plot and b) expanding on the relationships in the crew of the Enterprise.

And Cried Out His Name In Joy by pervyficgirl. (Kirk/Spock Prime)

I was not expecting to like this fic. I have a personal bias against fics depicting relationships where there is a maturity gap. Not so much an age gap - especially not when dealing with relationships between two people who aren't of the same species - but more a life stage gap, if that makes sense.

I really did like this fic, however. It highlighted the good part of Kirk's character, the part that's normally very well hidden behind rampant sexism and womanising - the genuinely altruistic side where altruism isn't done out of a sense of marytrdom, but because doing something to help is something attractive in and of itself. The fic itself has a wonderfully paced progression, building up to something that feels like an inevitability.

Plus Spock Prime is awesome.

How To Avoid Kicking Puppies and Other Valuable Lessons in Leadership by sparky77.

“That was stupid. I’m all for handling things on your own, but some things are too big and you need help handling them,” The Captain says and then frowns. “Did that sound dirty to you? It sounded a little dirty to me. I’m really bad at this.”

That quote sums up exactly what I love about this fic. It hits a perfectly irreverent tone while still demonstrating the methods Kirk uses to manage his crew on the Enterprise and why they work.

The end is awesome, too.

The Unveiled Secret by laurajv.

This a very well-written conversation between Sarek and Spock Prime. Age gives perspective, and Sarek has a very rare opportunity to gain some of that perspective on his son.

And, again, Spock Prime is awesome.

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D.GRAYMAN

Bye, Baby Bunting, Daddy's Gone A-Hunting by questofdreams. (Kanda/Allen)

There is a shortage of good Kanda/Allen around, largely, I suspect, because it's bloody difficult to get them to stop fighting long enough to get a fic out of them, therefore ensuring that the majority of Kanda/Allen is hopelessly out of character.

This fic, however, not only has them both in character, but has Cross being overprotective in his own, psychotic way. And Allen, who has no idea why Cross would be behaving in such a bizarre manner because it never occurs to him that maybe Cross actually gives a shit about him.

This proves my theory that Cross makes everything better. :D Go read!

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PERSONA 4

These all come from the badbadbathhouse kink meme. 'Tis amazing!

Breeze - In Monochrome Night

The prompt requesting this will spoil the ending, so I want to place a big blaring warning here: DO NOT LOOK AT THE PROMPT BEFORE READING THE FIC. It won't make the fic any less worth a read, but it may make it less of a horribly creepy gutpunch.

Still Worth It

I died laughing. (Mental health warning: I have a warped sense of humour.)

Out of Service (Souji/Yosuke)

This is much longer than the previous recs and gets much more involved. The prompt was for a fic where Souji and Yosuke meet up later in life and don't recognise each other. The author managed to make that into a deliciously twisty piece of angst, well worth a read.

Always Use Protection

I have a big soft spot for fics with an older Nanako, where the entire Investigation Team are homicidally overprotective of her. (Because they would be. You know it.) This fic has all that plus entertaining snippets of the future life of the Investigation Team members - it's pretty much me favourite fic of this type.

kerCRACK (Mitsuru/Naoto)

The one and only time the "in my pants" joke has ever been funny.

Cuz. It's Mitsuru.

Ten Steps (Souji/Yosuke)

In this AU, the development of Junes is delayed Yosuke comes to Inaba after Souji - and also after the murders have started. It fits neatly with the events of the game without relying on it too heavily - really nicely done.

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