The Rec Center #288
Hello everyone! This week we have articles on tabletop gaming and teen girls, as well as some delightful Bob’s Burgers fanart. And in honor of the return of Leverage, we have multi-fandom (including Leverage, ofc) OT3 fic, plus Gav’s spoiler-free review! — Elizabeth
new stuff
“The Black creatives of Dimension 20’s ‘Misfits and Magic’ are redefining inclusivity in tabletop gaming” by Anna María at the Daily Dot
An interview with the creators of Dimension 20, a tabletop RPG show led by a Black GM, whose upcoming season is a deconstruction of Harry Potter’s wizarding fantasy concept.
“Who runs the world? Not teen girls.” by Constance Grady at Vox
“They shape everything from what we listen to to how we part our hair. Will we ever give them the respect they deserve?”
ah yes the MCU… My Chemical University
older stuff
The Secret Beauty of Marvel’s What If Comics” by Evan Narcisse at io9
In light of the trailer for the MCU’s What If, a very interesting history of the What If comics series—which premiered in 1977—and how it both capitalized on and continued to build the feedback loops between comics creators and fans.
tumblr & beyond
Bob’s Burgers fanart by jess a.m.
“avoiding shipping discourse on tumblrdotcom“
A fascinating theory about the xenomorph lifecycle in the Alien franchise.
The Supernatural vs Good Omens fandom experience.
“Ultra-Marines Mr. Bond? How utterly predictable.”
jrr tolkien: the story of the war of the ring is long and dark, many die, it is haunted by my friends who perished in WW1, even at the end the hero himself fails and is permanently wounded also I would like to make it EXTREMELY clear that nothing bad happens to the ponies
fanfiction
This week we have OT3s in honor of Leverage and Hardison/Parker/Eliot—in the words of our first reccer here, “the most OT3 to OT3.” If you want more Leverage fic in particular, check out issue 225. Thank you very much to all of our guest reccers! — Elizabeth
“Old Dog” by thingswithwings. 21K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Leverage; Ship: Hardison/Parker/Eliot
Recced by: shadowkeeper
Backstory: Where relationship negotiation comes with kink negotiation. All Eliot wants is to protect Hardison and Parker. Hardison and Parker are desperate to take care of Eliot.
Rec: The most OT3 to OT3, the character work in this feels so natural and lovely.
Content warnings: N/A
“everything you want (you can have)” by melonbutterfly. 12K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis; Ship: John Sheppard/Rodney McKay/Jennifer Keller
Recced by: Kay
Backstory: While the fandom was overwhelmingly full of John/Rodney fics, there is a small, but lovely subset of poly fics featuring canon pairing Rodney/Jennifer with John in some kind of romantic and/or sexual relationship.
Rec: This fic is a really compelling examination of asexual romantic and platonic relationships, as well as polyamory negotiations between partners of varying sexualities. It’s also just a really lovely character study of three people we didn’t get to see interact as a unit much on the show.
Content warnings: Internalized homophobia and acephobia, references to past abusive relationships (both familial and sexual)
“you’re gonna give your love to me” by irnan. 10K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: MCU; Ship: Natasha/Steve/Bucky
Recced by: glass_eel
Backstory: Sex pollen but no dub con, Natasha hides out with her friends while under the influence.
Rec: It’s just so sweet, everyone loves each other and knows each other so well. irnan has written this OT3 in many variants but this one’s my favorite. Nat coming to terms with love and desire, everyone getting what they want.
Content warnings: N/A
“because I don’t know how to love any other way” by Rain_sleet_snow. 6.3K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Star Wars Prequel Trilogy; Ship: Obi-Wan Kenoib/Owen Lars/Beru Whitesun
Recced by: KeeperofSeeds
Backstory: A post-Revenge of the Sith story where Beru & Owen don’t let Obi-Wan drop off Luke and retreat to the desert in solitude. The OT3 you never knew you wanted.
Rec: I love a good AU and this one is fantastic. It fits well into canon and gives a lovely look into Beru especially and to Tatooine culture.
Content warnings: N/A
“three-body problem” by sixthlight. 15K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch; Ship: Beverley Brook/Peter Grant/Thomas Nightingale
Recced by: aiyesha
Backstory: Rivers of London is about PC Peter Grant, who, on his first big case, attempts to take a witness statement from a ghost &, as a consequence, ends up apprenticed to the last (maybe) wizard in Britain. The series follows his induction into the world of magic & the trials of community policing when your “community” contains everything from goblins to nature spirits to murderous unicorns.
Rec: This story takes a canonical relationship (Bev & Peter), & a fanonical relationship (Peter & Nightingale), asks “¿por que no los dos?” & gives you the V-shaped, well-balanced relationship of your/my dreams. (&, tbh, if you like this, pls check out sixthlight’s other stories for this rel, they’re all /chef’s kiss/).
Content warnings:
“The Romcom Jobs” by samyazaz. 5K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Leverage; Ship: Hardison/Parker/Eliot
Recced by: Gav
Backstory: Eliot, Hardison and Parker are a trio of criminals who perform heists together as part of a team of vigilante con-artists.
Rec: A cute “5+1 things” format fic where the Leverage trio enact classic romcom tropes as part of various cons!
Content warnings: N/A
something that’s really neat about fandom but is all but untranslatable to those outside it is that you can express friendship by writing your friend’s favorite character just getting absolutely railed six ways from sunday
FINAL THOUGHT
In line with this week’s fanfic theme (Leverage is an iconic OT3 show!), the revival Leverage: Redemption premiered yesterday and it is just as wonderful as the original! If not moreso! Here’s my spoiler-free review! — Gav