The Rec Center #339
Hi folks! This week we have articles about queer youth gamer culture and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, some cool fanart for LOTR and MDZS, a list of multifandom slow burn fic recs, and more! — Gav
new stuff
“Hooray, Star Trek feels like Star Trek again” by Angelica Jade Bastién and Kathryn VanArendonk at Vulture
Two longtime Trek fans and TV critics provide a celebratory but in-depth analysis of why Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is so great, examining its relationship with Star Trek’s legacy.
“From Club Penguin to Roblox, LGBTQ youth have always flocked to gaming websites” by Tricia Crimmins at the Daily Dot
“Often, games are an intermediary between acknowledging one’s queerness privately and publicly.”
“Fan fiction doesn’t have to be a punchline” by Allegra Rosenberg at Garbage Day
There’s a new show in development for Channel 4 in the UK where puppets read erotic RPF for laughs (....). You may have already heard about this because the producers have been trawling the AO3 and contacting people via comments on their fic. 🙃 Allegra has a great breakdown here, and while this is directed more at the people making the show, for RPF writers in related/adjacent fandoms, if you haven’t already: archive-lock your fic.
https://twitter.com/ben_rosen/status/1542545127658250240
older stuff
“How trans women are finding safe spaces on Twitch and YouTube” by Jessica Lucas at Input
“VTubing—vlogging using virtual avatars—can make the difficult process of transitioning easier.”
tumblr & beyond
Eowyn fanart by mintaii
“types of conflict include but are not limited to...”
the concept of batman ever having sex: debunked.
some beautiful wangxian fanart that’s probably too NSFW to post as our main pic.
“exposure to ds9 fandom over the years made garak sound like a much more sinister character than he actually is in canon.”
a warm hello to this extremely nerdy grandfather.
fanfiction
Amongst the most-submitted tropes in our submissions box, “slow burn” remains the undisputed champion. Thank you very much to everyone who sent in a rec. — Elizabeth
“You Have [1] New Message” by torikabori. 56K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Star Trek: Alternate Original Series (Movies); Ship: James T. Kirk/Spock
Recced by: anon
Backstory: It ’s the “You’ve Got Mail ” and Star Trek mashup you didn ’t know you needed, but you definitely need.
Rec: The characterizations, the way canon fits into the You’ve Got Mail setup, the emails back and forth, the FRIENDSHIP they develop along the way. Everything about this fic delivers, it is so enjoyable.
Content warnings: N/A
“Superposition” by Synoshian. 54K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Quánzhí Gāoshǒu - Húdié Lán, The King’s Avatar (Cartoon); Ship: Han Wenqing/Ye Xiu
Recced by: athenejen
Backstory: In the original source material, Ye Xiu and Han Wenqing are legendary e-sports rivals; in this brilliant AU they were instead the opposing generals of two neighboring countries in a fantasy-esque setting who find themselves working together—though due to canon-typical identity shenanigans only one of them actually knows they’re doing it together—to escort a bunch of runaway teenagers to safety.
Rec: The slow burn of strangers-to-allies-to-lovers that is secretly enemies-to-lovers is absolutely delicious, but what I love most about this story is the world-building, which provides a thoughtful and fascinating look at what effects the omegaverse could have on the historical and socio-political aspects of a setting. All wrapped up in a delightfully plotty action-adventure package!
Content warnings: Descriptions of war and violence, implied/referenced child abuse, implied/referenced rape/non-con, attempted kidnapping
“two-headed dragon” seriesby elderflowergin. 62K words over 8 works, various ratings from Gen to Explicit.
Fandom: Hyena (TV, Korean); Ship:
Recced by: drivingsideways
Backstory: Yoon Hee-jae/Jung Geum-ja Hyena is a 2020 Korean TV drama series. The titular "Hyena" in this is the brash, gutsy, no-name lawyer with questionable ethics and work practices, whose reach exceeds her grasp- Jung Geum-ja. The show starts with a dramatic con job/ heist where she pulls off a win over star lawyer-with-impeccable-credentials Yoon Hee-jae; their collision in the work arena is only matched by the fireworks they set off outside it. Over the course of the show, the two drift from lovers to enemies to reluctant allies to (gasp!) friends and partners and the end of the show leaves them on the precipice of something more-which is where elderflowergin steps in to weave their magic.
Rec: This is one of those post-canon works that surpass the original, imho. Using both minor characters from the canon, as well as original characters, the author creates a deeply immersive world that feels both like an extension of the canon but also deepens your understanding of the characters and the world in which they operate. The writing is elegant, precise; deeply emotional without being sentimental, the humour is wry, the shenanigans wild- in keeping with the tone of the show-and most of all, the love story is both sweepingly, achingly Romantic and incredibly real.
Content warnings: Some workplace harassment, discussions of underage sex work
“We Shall Be Dangerous” by tiger_moran. 76K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (mostly the Guy Ritchie movies); Ship: Sebastian Moran/James Moriarty
Recced by: Ceilidhann
Backstory: Colonel Sebastian Moran, not long cast out of the army, goes to work for Professor James Moriarty and quickly grows besotted with the older man. Yet every time it seems there is a chance of him reciprocating instead Moran is left feeling hurt and rejected. Can the two of them ever truly communicate with each other, so that Moran can take his rightful place by Moriarty’s side?
Rec: I love how this relationship unfolds with an aroace character at the centre of it and how well it fits into the canon of Sherlock Holmes. The development of their relationship is a satisfying slow burn and is fittingly passionate while never descending into triteness or cheap twists.
Content warnings: N/A
“The Covering Sky” by Rellie. 136K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Game of Thrones; Ship: Jaime/Brienne
Recced by: Nicole
Backstory: This epic fic reimagines a version of Game of Thrones where Brienne and Jaime end up in King’s Landing together and slowly come together amid an onslaught of political machinations trying to manipulate their lives.
Rec: This fic takes everything I love about Game of Thrones (the epic feeling, the characters, the political issues) and creates a beautiful love story.
Content warnings: Canon-typical violence, references to sexual assault
“Daybreak” by inkmyname. 19K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: 山河令 | Word of Honor (TV 2021); Ship: Wen Kexing/Zhou Zishu
Recced by: AirgiodSLV
Backstory: This takes place during the ‘Siji Manor arc’, a series of episodes wherein the protagonists return with their adopted child/disciple to a home that’s been lost to both of them for different reasons.
Rec: This manages to combine found family, slow burn, caretaking, love languages, hurt/comfort, mutual pining, unresolved tension, and domestic fluff in an exquisite love story. The characters are balanced between still keeping some of their darkest secrets from each other, and having enough revealed from their pasts to feel vulnerable and seen.
Content warnings: References to past trauma/child abuse, negotiated consent play
https://twitter.com/misslindsayv/status/1541797346270248960
FINAL THOUGHT
Have a safe & restful (& for some, long) weekend! — Elizabeth