Construction Zone

Title: Det[god]ails
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto, Ianto, Jack (Ianto/Ianto, Ianto/Jack)
Author on LJ: amand_r
Author Website: Fic Tag
Why this must be read:

Because Torchwood is a rare fandom where even the crack isn't all that cracky. This lovely little story is the perfect example of how something harmless can, in Torchwood, take on meanings that are darker and at the same time, funnier, than they otherwise would.


Excerpt: Ianto had been running on about three hours of sleep, and so when he had walked into himself in the Hub, he wasn't as surprised as, in retrospect, he should have been.

His other self was pretty much him, except that instead of the same rumpled suit that Ianto hadn't had a chance to change in forty-eight hours, he was wearing denims and a t shirt for a band that Ianto secretly liked but didn't dare mention to anyone. And his other self, while looking about his age, was a little thinner, a little grayer.

And he was decaling the Torchwood logo on one of the clear Plexiglas walls of the old conference room. His brow was drawn in concentration, and he ran the plastic comb over the vinyl of the decal with quick zwip sounds. A post carrier bag was slung across one shoulder, and Ianto could see decal sheets and rolls of larger labels sticking haphazardly from it.

He felt for his gun, and then realised that it was back at his desk. He had to remember to stay armed, even in the Hub (or Christ, especially in the Hub), no matter what Gwen said to Mickey about disarming when they were in house. He set the files he was carrying on the closest surface, and instead looked about for anything that could be used as a weapon.

The closest thing was an umbrella. It would have to do, because he'd just kicked a rubbish bin, and the metal clanged loudly.

"Oh hullo," the other Ianto, who Ianto had told himself to think of as Ianto II, said, spinning and making a cringing face. "This is inconvenient." He stared off into space as if trying to remember something before shaking his head. "Don't shoot…" He stared at Ianto's hands. "The umbrella?"

Det[god]ails

Title: The Justice League Of Cardiff Is A Stupid Name
Fandom: Torchwood/Justice League
Characters: Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper, Ianto Jones, Clark Kent (Superman), Bruce Wayne (Batman)
Author on LJ: sam_storyteller
Author Website: Fic
Why this must be read:

The author's summary pretty much sums this up. Superman is evil and Batman wants to know why Torchwood's agents don't wear capes.

It is crack of the finest variety.

Excerpt: "He's an alien," Jack Harkness said, standing in front of the clear plexi wall of the Torchwood incarceration cell. "He's the last of his kind. So they say, anyway. His planet was destroyed in a cataclysm, and he was the only one spared."

"We seem to have a lot of those," Ianto volunteered, arms crossed, also regarding the alien. "He looks human. Weird, but human."

"Easy to say when he's not destroying any major city centres," Jack said. The man on the narrow bunk stirred briefly, then settled back into slumber. A small green stone set into the restraint collar around his neck winked gently in the dim light.

"You see news stories about him sometimes," Ianto continued, drawing closer. "The Man of Steel. Reckon if they didn't have them they'd need Torchwood, what with all the mischief Metropolis seems to fall into."

"Point taken," Jack said, and it was: Ianto was subtly reminding him that with Superman in a cell in Torchwood's underground lair, Metropolis was more or less laid bare for the taking. Oh, there were a handful of others who could help, but Superman was out. And Batman was apparently missing from Gotham, which may or may not have been coincidence; given Superman had attacked Gotham, who knew if Batman was even alive.

The Justice League Of Cardiff Is A Stupid Name

Title: This Be The Verse
Fandom: Torchwood
Pairing: Owen/various canon
Author on LJ: caladria
Author Website: Torchwood Fic Tag
Why this must be read:

Because Owen remains mostly a mystery (and a prick) and this explains both beautifully. I seem to be wandering down a character driven set of recs, and this one fits right in. Besides, this is such a perfect look at Owen that it will become personal canon.

Warnings for brief, explicit sex.

Excerpt: The first time Owen thinks he hears someone die, he’s seven.

He can hear them fighting, downstairs – they think he’s asleep. They think they’re so clever, hiding themselves from their son; their rage, their anger, their sheer disgust at each other. They don’t think he can see it, hear it. They don’t think he can see it when they look at him, the mixture of themselves and the person they despise most in the world.

Kids are smarter than you think, and Owen’s smarter than most.

This Be The Verse

Title: Ouroboros
Fandom: Torchwood
Pairing: Jack/Ianto, Lisa/Ianto
Author on LJ: valderys
Author Website: valderys
Why this must be read:

The author says: Ianto never gives up, and he never surrenders. Not even when he’s forgotten what he’s meant to be fighting for…

I think this is a fantastic look at who Ianto really is and what he is capable of. He's not the innocent people often make him out to be and sometimes, it's good to be reminded of that fact.

Excerpt: The sound of gunfire was dreadful in that small space, and Ianto stared into… Lisa’s unfamiliar eyes and smiled his love in those last few seconds. But then the noise stopped and he was still alive. He thought he was alive. The smell of cordite almost overwhelmed the smell of blood, but he could move, he could breathe, the air still stung his throat. It seemed good enough. He didn’t move though. He curled his fingers into the girl’s shirt, and hung on. She stared at him, but didn’t try to talk, and Ianto was grateful for that.

He’d done everything he could. He’d lied for her, he’d whored for her. He’d cheated, and stole, and been responsible for murders. The only way he could give her up now was if they pried her from his cold dead fingers.

Ianto realised he still had the gun Jack had given back to him. It was on the floor by his shoulder where he’d dropped it as he’d moved. He took it up again, in the ringing silence after the gunfire, he took it up again and then he turned once more, making sure his body was still a shield. But he had to see them, he had to know what they were going to do. He couldn’t afford to turn his back, or to let them sedate him – Owen could be sneaking up behind him with a needle, even as he cowered.

Things were far from over, and he had to be strong – he had to remain strong – for Lisa’s sake. Nothing had really changed. Lisa still needed his help. It was still the two of them against the rest of the world.

He looked up into four sets of appalled eyes, and slowly raised the gun.

Ouroboros

I'm reccing on Crack Van again (for both Torchwood and DBZ - I seem to come up in twos all the time...). Anyway, I hope to be better at it this time, since i no longer have pneumonia!

Now, let's get started!

Title: five ways to be
Fandom: Torchwood
Pairing: Various canon: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Owen, Tosh/Mary, vague Owen/Diane.
Author on LJ: obfuscate3
Author Website: LJ Memories
Why this must be read:

This fic was written for the lgbtfest and is a beautiful look at each member of the team and even though it focuses on their sex lives, it really comes down to the essence of each character. Beautiful writing.

Excerpt: Jack is the best bullshitter this side of the twenty-seventh century. They have classes on it in other centuries. He’s got a degree, in another life. Jack Harkness, Bullshitter Esq., First Degree.

That’s not actually true, but it might as well be.

He didn’t sign up for Torchwood so much as he attempted to infiltrate it, and was more than a little surprised when Torchwood promptly infiltrated him back. In other circumstances that sort of thing might be mutually pleasurable, but in practice it was merely unsettling.

five ways to be

Title: Fifty Things Captain Jack Harkness Learnt After Ianto Jones Learnt to Knit
Fandom: Torchwood
Pairing: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys
Author on LJ: loveslashangst
Author Website: A list of her fics/
Why this must be read: I can't believe this hasn't already been recced. But, since it hasn't, let me sell it to you if you've missed it.

This is a story about grief and healing. Set after the end of season 2, it looks at Jack, Ianto, and Gwen through the very simple coping mechanism that Ianto randomly adopts – knitting.

If you're a knitter, you will love this. If you're not a knitter, you will still love this! It is in turns tear jerking and laugh out loud funny. It's bittersweet, especially retrospectively since we've seen CoE, but it reminds us that in time, all wounds eventually heal. And life moves forward, as painful as that may be.


( Excerpt )


Fifty Things Captain Jack Harkness Learnt After Ianto Jones Learnt to Knit

Title: Five conversations Gwen Cooper had following the evasion of the apocalypse (and one that required no words).
Fandom: Torchwood
Pairing: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys
Author on LJ: theohsocurlyone
Author Website: Don’t know of one other than her LJ.
Why this must be read: This is set post Children of Earth. ( SPOILERS )

Author's Summary: Change from the bottom up; it's the only way.

No excerpts, because it would spoil the story.

Five conversations Gwen Cooper had following the evasion of the apocalypse (and one that required no words)

These are my favorite apocalyptothon fics, at least of the ones I've read thus far. You should assume that all of these fics are about the end of the world, and as such, will contain death and Bad Things.

But, these fics, are not Bad Things. They are amazingly Good Things. The quality of writing for this ficathon never ceases to amaze me.

Anyway, in fandom order:

Big Bang Theory

lilyayl wrote Anything-Can-Happen Thursday. PG13. After the boys accidentally cause aliens to invade the Earth, Penny helps start the Resistance to save the world. -- This was written for me and it is amazing. I wanted to see Penny being awesome, because my money would be on her to survive the apocalypse, and it *really* is now that I've read this. You guys, I cannot tell you how good this fic is. It's epic and awesome and *amazing* and just... Penny is my hero. Go and read. Even if you don't like BBT much as a general rule. You'll be glad you did.

Burn Notice

boosette wrote Bones Come Marching from the Promised Land. PG13. It takes the end of the world for Michael to realize that you can go home again. It takes going back to realize that he can't stay after the end of the world. - Full disclosure: I beta read this fic. But I'd rec it anyway, because it's well written Burn Notice fic, and that's a rarity. This is a gorgeous look at what happens to a spy at the end of the world.


Dollhouse

penmage wrote A Damp, Drizzly November in my Soul. PG13. When the ice caps start melting, Paul and Mellie are trapped in the building together. In the end, Paul can't really remember what's real and what's not. This was chilling and gorgeous.


House, MD

curia_regis wrote Go Gentle Into that Good Night. PG. A global catastrophe causes a major shortage in global resources. The government's plan involves ridding itself of the infirm. - This is amazingly brutal, scarily realistic, and perfectly in character for House. Fantastic work.


Torchwood

settiai wrote The End, Begin Again. PG13. (Vague CoE Spoilers.) Five times Jack Harkness saw the end of the world (and one time he didn't). This story just really *gets* Jack and it is beautiful. It made me cry. Gorgeous stuff.

Title: The Best Bang Since the Big One
Fandom: Torchwood/Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Prompt: 137 - bleach at tamingthemuse
Warnings: Puns and flirting
Rating: Teen
Summary: It was at a dive bar at the end of the universe, Milliway’s by name, that Jack Harkness met the most interesting man he was ever to meet.
Disclaimer: I own neither fandom and haven’t had time to have this Britpicked.
A/N: This idea has been in the back of my head for months. I finally decided to start writing it.
As always, feedback is welcome and appreciated.

*************

( The Best Bang Since the Big One )

Since I'm useless at work today anyway, I figured I'd speed the time along by giving you guys a set of crossover recs. It's likely going to be a big list. Enjoy! And if you do enjoy, please let the author know.

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Good Omens/Supernatural: oxoniensis wrote A Backdoor to Hell . PG. It's not the strangest request Aziraphale's heard, but it surprises him nonetheless. (Comment: This one was fun and even has footnotes!)

Supernatural/DCU: dotfic wrote Then You'd Better Not Stay. PG-13. Dean Winchester/Wonder Woman. He's a hunter. She's an Amazon princess. Together, they slay dragons! (Comment: Awesome fic, awesome premise, awesome pairing. What's not to love here?)

Supernatural/Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: chaletian wrote Judgement Day. Gen. Dean and Sam didn't expect the apocalypse. (Comment: Short, sweet and to the point, this fusion is fantastic!)

Firefly/Terminator movies: trollprincess wrote Our Passenger. R. A mysterious dangerous woman boards Serenity.(Comment: I was skeptical of the premise until I started reading. I'm so glad I started reading. This was fantastic.)

Harry Potter/X-men Movierverse: penknife wrote Stutter. Gen, Lily & Sirius, Charles/Erik (implied). It's a rough flight. (Comment: I love this fic more than I can coherently put into words, more for what isn't said than for what is. It's a brilliant crossover that puts these two worlds together in a way that will leave you wishing for more.)

Harry Potter/Doctor Who: fly_to_dawn wrote Redheads and Dragon’s Eggs. PG. Now that’s a real mystery,’ she said, ‘it must have been four or five years ago - a stranger left it to my mum, as a gift for me to keep. (Comment: Donna! Charlie! Dragons! Win!)

Harry Potter/Doctor Who: st_aurafina wrote You Can Never Go Home Again. PG. On the other side of the Veil, Sirius can't help his friends, but he can help someone else's. (Comment: I want this to be canon for both fandoms, please. Please? I'll beg.)

Doctor Who/Torchwood/Iron Man: st_aurafina wrote Never Have I Ever. PG. Ianto, Donna and Pepper end up at a secretaries'/assistants' conference and have a conversation about their bosses (Comment: Everyone's favorite assistants dish the real truth! Aided by booze. Heee!)

Bandom (My Chemical Romance and Cobra Starship)/Shaun of the Dead: akire_yta wrote With Just A Touch of My Burning Hand. G. This is sort of an obscure cross-over with the film 'Shaun of the Dead,' and is based off a passing comment in one of the closing scenes. Multimedia. (Comment: Just go and check this out. It's too funny to miss!)

Primeval/Jurassic Park III: cordeliadelayne wrote Visitors. PG. When a T.Rex goes on a rampage in the ARC, who better to help, than two people who have survived a dinosaur infested island? (Comment: This fic has dinosaurs. And it's also made of awesome. Go and see for yourself!)