The Rec Center #434
Hi everyone! So: Gav has spent the past week on a remote island with minimal internet/cell service. (And even minimal electricity!) As we’ve done a few times in the past, we’re running a pared-down newsletter this week, fic and fanart only. (An unthemed grab-bag—thanks to everyone who sent in these recs!) We’ll be back next week with our usual mix of articles, Tumblr posts, etc. — Elizabeth
fanfiction + fanart
Dungeon Meshi fanart by hazwqste
“Are We Not Wise Enough?” by chapstickaddict. 21K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: The Green Knight; Ship: Gawain/Lord Bertilak/Lady Bertilak
Recced by: Gin
Backstory: Gawain emerges not entirely triumphantly from his encounter with the Green Knight, and is led back to the keep by his previous hosts, the Lord and Lady Bertilak, who then embark on something of a seduction campaign. Gawain proves himself worthy of it.
Rec: Obviously I came away from watching the 2021 film with a craving for this triad, and this fic delivers not only on the front of blisteringly hot sex, but also on Gawain making amends for his poor conduct as the Bertilaks’ guest and accepting the changes in himself due to his quest. Surrender to those who have earned it is a repeating motif that I greatly appreciated, and the language is gorgeous.
Content warnings: N/A
“letting me in or letting me go” by gsparkle. 31K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: MCU (with 616 references); Ship: Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff
Recced by: anon
Backstory: A Natasha-centric private investigator AU in which she is forced to team up with Clint and his protégée Kate Bishop. The assignment ends up tying into Natasha’s past with the Red Room.
Rec: The AU is really well-crafted and the dynamics of all characters involved are fun, emotional, and in-character. This author really gets Natasha.
Content warnings: N/A
“The Nettles in the Garden Don’t Go Away” by JRaylin441. 126K words (WIP), rated Mature.
Fandom: Our Flag Means Death; Ship: Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet
Recced by: queuest
Backstory: A soulmate AU where Stede and Edward unwittingly share everything they own. Starting from childhood and leading into canon, a story of Ed and Stede’s search for their soulmates.
Rec: This story throws together a lot of soulmate tropes all in one universe, and poor Ed and Stede have one of the more unique and difficult to figure out soul bonds. It’s really enjoyable to see their slow burn discovery of their connection.
Content warnings: N/A
“The Killing Lights” by 0nlyamemory and VagabondsAndConventGirls. 25K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: BTS; Ship: Jeon Jungkook/Min Yoongi
Recced by: stitch
Backstory: Min Yoongi is the current Court Archivist... and was the past Court Archivist across ages past. As a reward for his service (kind of sort of), the king gives him a present in the form of a traumatized Gumiho named Jungkook.
Rec: The Killing Lights is the first in a LONG historical fantasy story and it’s just... brutal and beautiful in how it’s written and what the authors are writing about. I love it because it feels like I could feasibly expect to see a 20 episode drama just about these celebs-as-characters getting into the best-worst supernatural shenanigans.
Content warnings: Past torture, child abuse, rape, body horror
Locked Tomb fanart by mariellavee
“By the Love of the Ancestors” by meliko. 25K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Horizon: Zero Dawn; Ship: Aloy/Alva
Recced by: anon
Backstory: Horizon is a video game series, set in the far future after an apocalypse. The fic is set after the events of Forbidden West, with main character Aloy exploring the ruins of San Francisco with Alva.
Rec: This introspective fic explores Aloy’s complicated relationship with Elisabet and her feelings about being a savior through some sweet romance with Alva and good old adventuring. The world-building and details are evocative while keeping very close to the game’s mechanics and rhythm, making it feel like an extension of the game itself.
Content warnings: N/A
“the late hum of the river” by AG1234VL. 23K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù陈情令| The Untamed (TV); Ship: Jiāng Chéng | Jiāng Wǎnyín/Wēn Qíng
Recced by: Dori
Backstory: Wei Wuxian does not survive the core transfer. Wen Qing is desperate not to lose both patients and takes extreme measures to stabilize Jiang Cheng’s qi.
Rec: I like the shifted focus onto background characters and their struggles when these are equally as important to the plot as those of the canon mains.
Content warnings: Major character death, suicide, war
“smallpox” series by vowelinthug. 74K over 4 works, rated Mature.
Fandom: Black Sails; Ships: John Silver/James Flint/Thomas Hamilton, John Silver/Madi
Recced by: beanarie
Backstory: Black Sails is about marginalized people, most of them crooks, navigating life under colonialism in the early 1700s. After the events of the show, Silver and Madi find Captain Flint in Boston with the love of his life, Thomas, and Madi and Thomas decide that Silver needs to stay.
Rec: The show does not end entirely happily, so reading about the characters being happy together and working through their differences is like oxygen. And it’s just so snarky and heartfelt at the same time. Also Thomas’s characterization makes me scream.
Content warnings: N/A
“The Least of All Possible Mistakes” by rageprufrock. 118K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: BBC Sherlock; Ship: Lestrade/Mycroft Holmes
Recced by: Galia
Backstory: In this fic, Gregory Lestrade is Georgiana Lestrade—the same witty, exasperated Detective Inspector, but with an exquisite backstory and an intimate knowledge of what it’s like to navigate London’s finest as a woman.
Rec: I have truly and honestly never read anything half so well-written as this fic. George is a marvel—loving and dangerous and determined and fascinated—and her dynamic with Mycroft is so beautifully adult and complex.
Content warnings: N/A
And some vids!
“KIM || See me in a crown” by Y O R Y. 1:15, Not Rated.
Fandom: KinnPorsche (TV); Ship: Gen
Recced by: AirgiodSLV
Backstory: Kimhan Theerapanyakul is the third son of a prominent mafia family in Bangkok. Early in the series, we learn he’s moved out and lives apart from his family, and we discover more about him over time.
Rec: This is a fantastic character study, and one that really touches on the different sides of Kim’s role in the series. I really like how the public/secret aspects of his life are shown in contrast with each other.
Content warnings: Graphic violence
“Emma & Knightley (1996/2009/2020/Clueless/EA) | She Drives Me Crazy” by hurleybird. 2:51, Not Rated.
Fandoms: Emma (1996); Emma (2009); Emma (2020); Clueless; Emma Approved; song is "She Drives Me Crazy" by The Good Natured; Ship: Emma/Knightley
Recced by: mischiefseven
Backstory: Emma is a novel by Jane Austen. This vid explores the central romantic relationship of the story across multiple adaptations.
Rec: Emma/Knightley is one of my favorite romances, and this vid shows off my favorite moments from each of the different versions of it.
Content warnings: N/A
FINAL THOUGHT
Greetings from my little island lighthouse! I’ve had a lovely week hanging out with several thousand puffins and their various seabird pals, hauling driftwood for the fire, and enjoying some miraculously dry weather. Thanks to Elizabeth for putting together today’s newsletter! We’ll be back to our regular programming next week. — Gav