Recs: Longfics
Apr. 1st, 2011 04:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
swordageI... I think I somehow bruised my spine or something. Any weight on my hips/lower back (like, you know, the weight of my UPPER BODY) leads to slowly-growing really-awful pain just above the back points of my pelvis. I'm doing a lot of lying down. Just sitting long enough to eat lunch has led to the kind of pain that shortens my breath. It just isn't going away - heat helps a little, stretching helps a little (but gives me that poking-a-bruise feeling), lying down in certain positions helps a little... Nostalgia is a darling and hasn't left my side all day. Awww. I don't know what this is, but I hope it goes away soon.
Anyway, this has led to me rereading a bunch of my favorite multichapter stories. I am a huge fan of long plotty stories, and I suspect most these are pretty low on the collective radar. And that's a shame, because they're totally frigging awesome. Some of these are explicit, some violent, some may have touchy issues - I am not with it enough to give warnings right now, so read headers and bring your own judgment with you.
First up: HI I'M SWORDAGE AND I LOVE SCORPONOK. The Bayverse one, mind you. I can almost forgive the lack of Scorponok fic, because this one nearly makes up for it. Replacement and the continuing stories in Roads may not be the most exquisitely written stories, but this Scorponok is the beeeeest. It ignores all but the first movie, since I believe it was written before the second was a glimmer in Bay's eye, which is fine because of that whole SCORPONOK NOOOOO thing that happened in RotF. Anyway, the basic premise here is that Scorponok needs a new carrier to bond to, and he chooses Optimus Prime. Prime is not quite so keen on the idea of enslaving anyone, to say the least, and events unfold from there. The chapters aren't in chronological order, Daniel Jackson shows up as a minor character to be all anthropologist at the Autobots, and horrible things happen to Starscream, but if you're willing to jump in and enjoy the Scorponok then I think you'll enjoy this story as much as I do.
My second rec is actually by the same author, which I did not realize until today! I am observant. This one's writing style is a bit more mature, though if you asked me to pin down why I wouldn't be able to. I was happily able to read it as it updated (it's complete now, no worries) and I gotta say the anticipation was nearly unbearable. I ADORE this story. It's easy to brush it off because of the premise, but if you give it a shot you'll find a really neat mystery and some very excellent G1 characters. Okay, now that I've tried to sucker you in, I guess I should tell you it's about were-cars. NO DON'T RUN okay just hang on, it's not what you're thinking. The premise is that most Cybertronians only have one form. The ability to change into a car or jet or whatever is a result of a virus. There's no mysterious fur or tails, but rather wheels and wings. And Prowl gets called in to work a case in Iacon that involves shapeshifters and serial murder. It's a Prowl story. Of course I fucking love it. Doesn't hurt that he's totally amazing and every chapter has me sighing with longing. ONE DAY YOU WILL BE MINE, PROWL. IT IS ONLY LOGICAL. Anyway, go check out Were-Cars of Cybertron.
Glances Into A Spark & Kick In The Head are a long series of short stories that ultimately combine into a heck of a lot of awesome Bayverse. They involve Optimus, Megatron, Ironhide, Ratchet, Wheeljack, and the rest of the cast being AWESOME. If you love the idea of young Prime and Lord High Protector ruling Cybertron, if you love every variation of Ironhide and Ratchet's codgety dynamic, if you have more than a few hours to spare... Seriously, give these a try.
Okay, this next one... I am not even sure how to describe it. The prompt for it was cracktastic, and the story is hands-down the BEST Shockwave story I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Ever wondered what Shockwave did for those four million lonely years? Well, this version of events is now my headcanon. If you want a nicely-paced, deliciously logical and yet utterly adorable/sad/vaguely disturbing Shockwave story, check out The Logic of Creation. Also it has Acid Storm. GO GO GO
Best Laid Plans doesn't have its own tag or convenient title entry, so scroll down for the first bits. And bring your tissues, because goddamn, this story is not afraid to rip out your heartstrings and garotte you with them. This is a story about Sideways and Demolishor. Did you know that in his bio, it says that Demolishor looks out for smaller Decepticons? Just because he can. So. This is Demolishor looking out for Sideways, and things being not quite what they expected, and it's lovely and gorgeous and poignant and did I mention bring tissues? Yes. Because. You know what will happen. You know how RotF opened. But you hope so desperately that it won't.
Speaking of bawling your eyes out, Phoenix is another one that had me simultaneously smiling and clutching my pillow. It is a story about how utterly broken the war has made all the Autobots, but Ratchet in particular is broken is ways that are truly horrible. This is the only time I have EVER seen the fanon thing about him raging at his patients actually work. Seriously, it makes it work. This is not a nice story - it is a story where the pain is never-ending, where the common thread that holds everything together is why won't you die already so I can stop waiting for you to die. Not as a passing guilty thought - it is constant, loud and raging. If you're in a headspace where you can take that, this story is amazing.
Staying Alive: A How-To is something I have rec'd like half a dozen times now but I don't care, it's so fun and makes me grin every time I read it. FLOPPING LIKE A FISH. Okay see now I can't even think of anything to say, just - if you haven't already, read it.
I'm also pretty damn sure I've rec'd Belonging, but since it remains the best goddamn TFA fic ever, I shall rec it again. I honestly cannot imagine Megatron and Optimus working in any scenario but this. The action is awesome, the voices are so true that I read every single one of Megatron's lines in his sdkjfhsd so delicious voice, and if you haven't read it yet you should now. Right now. Yup. (Hit Next Entry at the top of the page for the second part.)
Okay, Means of Persuasion is Marvel-verse, but don't let that scare you off. It was one of the first TF stories I read and if it made total sense to me then I have no doubt you will do just fine. Don't get scared off by the beginning either - it's slow to start but if you stick with it until Prowl and Bluestreak meet up you'll do fine. I can't even begin to describe this story, just... there is so much to it. It is a truly epic story, you know? Seriously epic. I like that in a fic.
Okay, one last one: CSI: Ark is a classic and I love it and I love Grimlock and jfhdjhsd it's so FUN go read it right now seriouslyyyyy. When I try to get someone into TF, I link them to this. Hell yes.
Anyway, this has led to me rereading a bunch of my favorite multichapter stories. I am a huge fan of long plotty stories, and I suspect most these are pretty low on the collective radar. And that's a shame, because they're totally frigging awesome. Some of these are explicit, some violent, some may have touchy issues - I am not with it enough to give warnings right now, so read headers and bring your own judgment with you.
First up: HI I'M SWORDAGE AND I LOVE SCORPONOK. The Bayverse one, mind you. I can almost forgive the lack of Scorponok fic, because this one nearly makes up for it. Replacement and the continuing stories in Roads may not be the most exquisitely written stories, but this Scorponok is the beeeeest. It ignores all but the first movie, since I believe it was written before the second was a glimmer in Bay's eye, which is fine because of that whole SCORPONOK NOOOOO thing that happened in RotF. Anyway, the basic premise here is that Scorponok needs a new carrier to bond to, and he chooses Optimus Prime. Prime is not quite so keen on the idea of enslaving anyone, to say the least, and events unfold from there. The chapters aren't in chronological order, Daniel Jackson shows up as a minor character to be all anthropologist at the Autobots, and horrible things happen to Starscream, but if you're willing to jump in and enjoy the Scorponok then I think you'll enjoy this story as much as I do.
My second rec is actually by the same author, which I did not realize until today! I am observant. This one's writing style is a bit more mature, though if you asked me to pin down why I wouldn't be able to. I was happily able to read it as it updated (it's complete now, no worries) and I gotta say the anticipation was nearly unbearable. I ADORE this story. It's easy to brush it off because of the premise, but if you give it a shot you'll find a really neat mystery and some very excellent G1 characters. Okay, now that I've tried to sucker you in, I guess I should tell you it's about were-cars. NO DON'T RUN okay just hang on, it's not what you're thinking. The premise is that most Cybertronians only have one form. The ability to change into a car or jet or whatever is a result of a virus. There's no mysterious fur or tails, but rather wheels and wings. And Prowl gets called in to work a case in Iacon that involves shapeshifters and serial murder. It's a Prowl story. Of course I fucking love it. Doesn't hurt that he's totally amazing and every chapter has me sighing with longing. ONE DAY YOU WILL BE MINE, PROWL. IT IS ONLY LOGICAL. Anyway, go check out Were-Cars of Cybertron.
Glances Into A Spark & Kick In The Head are a long series of short stories that ultimately combine into a heck of a lot of awesome Bayverse. They involve Optimus, Megatron, Ironhide, Ratchet, Wheeljack, and the rest of the cast being AWESOME. If you love the idea of young Prime and Lord High Protector ruling Cybertron, if you love every variation of Ironhide and Ratchet's codgety dynamic, if you have more than a few hours to spare... Seriously, give these a try.
Okay, this next one... I am not even sure how to describe it. The prompt for it was cracktastic, and the story is hands-down the BEST Shockwave story I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Ever wondered what Shockwave did for those four million lonely years? Well, this version of events is now my headcanon. If you want a nicely-paced, deliciously logical and yet utterly adorable/sad/vaguely disturbing Shockwave story, check out The Logic of Creation. Also it has Acid Storm. GO GO GO
Best Laid Plans doesn't have its own tag or convenient title entry, so scroll down for the first bits. And bring your tissues, because goddamn, this story is not afraid to rip out your heartstrings and garotte you with them. This is a story about Sideways and Demolishor. Did you know that in his bio, it says that Demolishor looks out for smaller Decepticons? Just because he can. So. This is Demolishor looking out for Sideways, and things being not quite what they expected, and it's lovely and gorgeous and poignant and did I mention bring tissues? Yes. Because. You know what will happen. You know how RotF opened. But you hope so desperately that it won't.
Speaking of bawling your eyes out, Phoenix is another one that had me simultaneously smiling and clutching my pillow. It is a story about how utterly broken the war has made all the Autobots, but Ratchet in particular is broken is ways that are truly horrible. This is the only time I have EVER seen the fanon thing about him raging at his patients actually work. Seriously, it makes it work. This is not a nice story - it is a story where the pain is never-ending, where the common thread that holds everything together is why won't you die already so I can stop waiting for you to die. Not as a passing guilty thought - it is constant, loud and raging. If you're in a headspace where you can take that, this story is amazing.
Staying Alive: A How-To is something I have rec'd like half a dozen times now but I don't care, it's so fun and makes me grin every time I read it. FLOPPING LIKE A FISH. Okay see now I can't even think of anything to say, just - if you haven't already, read it.
I'm also pretty damn sure I've rec'd Belonging, but since it remains the best goddamn TFA fic ever, I shall rec it again. I honestly cannot imagine Megatron and Optimus working in any scenario but this. The action is awesome, the voices are so true that I read every single one of Megatron's lines in his sdkjfhsd so delicious voice, and if you haven't read it yet you should now. Right now. Yup. (Hit Next Entry at the top of the page for the second part.)
Okay, Means of Persuasion is Marvel-verse, but don't let that scare you off. It was one of the first TF stories I read and if it made total sense to me then I have no doubt you will do just fine. Don't get scared off by the beginning either - it's slow to start but if you stick with it until Prowl and Bluestreak meet up you'll do fine. I can't even begin to describe this story, just... there is so much to it. It is a truly epic story, you know? Seriously epic. I like that in a fic.
Okay, one last one: CSI: Ark is a classic and I love it and I love Grimlock and jfhdjhsd it's so FUN go read it right now seriouslyyyyy. When I try to get someone into TF, I link them to this. Hell yes.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-01 09:12 pm (UTC)(and OW for the back pain! I sympathize - I had a random flare up of hip bursitis since last weekend, which makes sitting in chairs and walking anywhere full of all sorts of ow. =P Bodies should not randomly break. I'd like to lodge a complaint with the universe.)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-01 09:49 pm (UTC)The stories will still be there when you have time! XD I know the draw of a good longfic, though. Oh so many sleepless nights that I couldn't afford. Ahaha.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-01 09:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-01 10:06 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-02 12:03 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-02 12:58 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-02 12:04 am (UTC)The only one I haven't read is means of persuasion - I started reading it but then somethings started hitting my humiliation/embarrassment squick and I stopped. Is it worth pushing on?
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-02 12:57 am (UTC)Hmm, about Means of Persuasion - I'm not sure? I think it depends on what was pinging you. If it was the gladiator stuff and how blatantly they're being set up, yeah, that ends as the story picks up the pace. But there are other things later on that could possibly hit the same buttons. Honestly, if it was hitting your squicks hard enough to stop you, I don't think I'd recommend pushing on. Better to take care of yourself.