The Rec Center #231
Hi all,
In light of recent events, we’re changing the format a bit for this week’s newsletter. We want to use our platform in a constructive way, so we’re going to share some donation links up top. Elizabeth has started a Twitter thread of Black-led and -focused organizations and causes, as well as mutual aid and bail funds working directly with BLM protesters on the front lines. If you have any money to spare, even a small donation helps, and if you have any organizations to add to the thread, please reply to the original tweet.
We also know that many of you turn to The Rec Center for a break during times of stress, so we’re doing the same thing we did the Friday after the 2016 U.S. presidential election—publishing a truncated newsletter with some fanfic recs rather than our usual raft of multifandom content.
To everyone getting involved with protests and other forms of activism right now—we’re proud of you, and we hope you’re taking care of yourselves as much as possible, in a situation where “please stay safe” doesn’t really cut it.
Black Lives Matter.
ACAB,
Elizabeth & Gav
fanfiction
Thank you very much to everyone who sent in these recs. — Elizabeth
“Know By Name” by wordswithout. 8K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Star Trek: Picard; Ship: Hugh (Third of Five)/Geordie La Forge
Recced by: anon
Backstory: Hugh’s journey from borg drone to xB, through the relationships he builds. A heartfelt exploration of identity, love and what it means to be a person.
Rec: A deeply moving story and interrogation of a character I have always connected with. Also this fic fixes a certain, uh...plot point...that I did not care for.
Content warnings: N/A
“Falling From the Sky, Calling From the Graves” by galacticproportions. 2.1K words, rated Gen.
Fandom: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker; Ship: Finn/Poe
Recced by: glorious_clio
Backstory: Rey and Poe face each other, and themselves, in the wake of the Resistance victory.
Rec: It’s an exceptional fic that addresses the tension that the end of a war can bring, and the relationships that Finn, Poe, and Rey are trying to build with each other now that they’re out of the proverbial trenches.
Content warnings: N/A
“Would You Trust It” by Theoroark. 10K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Overwatch; Ship: Sombra/Widowmaker
Recced by: Blooming
Backstory: Sombra falls during a mission. Widowmaker is left to help someone who could never admit she needed it.
Rec: This fic is a perfect mix of emotion, tension, and hope about two emotionally-challenged, independent women navigating each other’s hefty baggage and ultimately committing to each other.
Content warnings: N/A
“Catch My Disease” by Rhovanel. 2.5K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: What We Do in the Shadows; Ship: Gen
Recced by: Argosy
Backstory: The vampires explore the internet in a bid to go viral.
Rec: This fic is consistently hilarious and feels like a little piece of the film.
Content warnings: N/A
“one good thing” by Yuu_chi. 27K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù/The Untamed; Ship: Lan Zhan/Wei Ying
Recced by: Elizabeth (a different one)
Backstory: Lan Wangji, a stoic, quiet man, moves into a house haunted by the aggressively adorable Wei Wuxian.
Rec: This is the only fic that has ever made me cry real tears, and then it made it all better. And the yearning!
Content warning: MC death/resurrection is canon and a big part of the fandom
“the small” by dirgewithoutmusic. 7K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Tortall—Tamora Pierce, Protector of the Small Series Ship: Lalasa/Tian
Recced by: haygahr #9190
Backstory: “Bandits came for Lalasa’s family and burned the whole farm out, except for her, because she had been at the river washing clothes. Lalasa did not miss her father or her brothers for all the long years of her life, which should tell you something about her. She cried for them anyway, and that should tell you something too.”
Rec: It’s rare that I describe a story as “sensitive” but this is exactly that. It’s such a delicate touch about female strength and healing and kindness, and a really lovely read.
Content warnings: Kidnapping, mild violence, mentions of abuse
“Let’s Give Ourselves Promises of Our Unending” by aimmyarrowshigh, nichestars. 105K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Star Wars: Rogue One; Ship: Cassian Andor/Shara Bey/Kes Dameron
Recced by: KJ
Backstory: Cassian lives AU after the Rogue One mission to get the Death Star plans. This is his slowly-built and steamy (for Hoth, anyway) relationship with Shara Bey and Kes Dameron, fellow Rebellion fighters and the parents of everyone’s favorite hotshot pilot Poe.
Rec: I liked how incredibly #married Shara and Kes are, and how you see the opening up of the very guarded Cassian Andor as they all respectfully tiptoe together. Also, examines the concept of Space Latinx Identity further.
Content warnings: Bog Standard Star Wars Violence, a smut scene that involves menstruation if that puts you off
“Lunch and other obscenities” by Rheanna. 10K words, rated Gen.
Fandom: Star Trek (2009 reboot); Ship: Gen, Spock/Uhura
Recced by: Gav
Backstory: A lot of Star Trek reboot fics explore the college setting of Starfleet Academy, where the original Enterprise crew are students (or in Spock’s case, a professor). Gaila is Uhura’s roommate, a minor character who became very popular in the fandom.
Rec: This is one of several very fun and thoughtful fanfics about Uhura and Gaila’s friendship, something that’s basically an afterthought in the movie. Gaila is canonically a one-note character riffing on the 1960s Star Trek trope of “sexy green lady,” but this fanfic flips the script by examining the culture clash (especially regarding sex) between Gaila’s Orion background and Uhura’s human expectations.
Content warnings: N/A
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