X-Men: Normal by Penknife

Normal (Scott | PG | 1,036 words) has Scott thinking about his mutation and what it might be like to be normal. Which sucks as a summery because this story rocks so, so much. Scott must have wondered about the things he thinks about here. And the implications of science and his mutation and others' mutations. It's all done right here.

Excerpt:
He's considered the alternative, first in the long weeks of living with his eyes bandaged shut after his mutation manifested, then after the first time he saw the words "secondary mutation" in the medical journal articles and understood that his body might still betray him. "Untapped potential," Hank calls it, but Hank's a little crazy. It wouldn't even have to be that; another head injury might do it, and it's not like he never gets hit.

Firefly: Par for the Course by Voleuse

Par for the Course (Simon | G | 1,060 words) is a series of snippets concerning Simon and food. This is a story that feels like it could slide right into canon without any tweaking necessary. It's got some lovely insight into what it must be like on long voyages while being short on cash. Simon's very human here as well, and the contrasts between his past and present are neat.

Excerpt:
"Looking for something?"

The captain's voice startles Simon, and he drops the bar he had been investigating onto the counter, where it lands with a crunch.

"I think the protein bars aren't good anymore. And these," he pokes at the pile of jagged crumbs under the protein, "crackers are stale."

"The crackers don't matter, son," Mal says. "And the protein's still protein. It's what we've got to eat."

"But it's not good," Simon protests.

Harry Potter: After the Earth by Torch

After the Earth (read to find out | PG | 471 words) is something I don't wish to summarize because it's so short and it's got a bit of a surprise. This is just a nifty story that sends shivers down my spine.

Excerpt:
One of the men waiting outside the door was unfamiliar to her. He introduced himself as a representative for the Ministry of Magic, Jacob Summerbee, looked very uncomfortable, and shook her hand a little too heartily. The other man was quite familiar indeed, though she had not seen him for several years. Remus Lupin's hair was heavily streaked with grey now, and his face was drawn.

Sports Night: Those Stories Plus by Violet and Cinnamon Spark

Those Stories Plus (ensemble | PG | 4,443 words) reads like an episode. Dan keeps going on about the cheese thing, Casey googles his name, and Dana's name was misspelled in Sports Illustrated. If you at all like dialogue-centric stories, then this one'll be a fun read.

Excerpt:
"You need to experience the cheese thing," Dan persisted, following him. "It heals all wounds. I'm prepared to say it's the alpha and the omega of dairy-based foodstuffs."

"You're still on that?" Natalie asked as they passed her.

"Sooner or later you'll thank me."

She laughed. "What's going on?"

"We found a Casey McCall website."

"That's cool!" Natalie smacked Casey lightly on the arm. "You're ready for your closeup."

"It was the website of an elderly golf teacher," Dan finished.

"So it's not our Casey?"

Dan's eyes twinkled. "It's our Casey when he's seventy."

Dark Is Rising: Long Way to Go by Nope

Long Way to Go (Will/Bran | PG | 1,260 words) is about Will. It's got an experimental style that works. Everytime I read this, I find something new or different. It's got a lot of the lovely use of symbolism that was in the original series as well as things left unsaid.

Excerpt:
"Where are we?" asked Will looking out of the window. It was still raining, a continuous soporific counterpoint to the rise and fall of the train wheels that had left him in a half drowse since Bath.

"Outside Bristol," said the woman. "Cardiff soon, see, then up into Snowdon and the smaller stops beyond."

Will thanked her and said "I wasn't asleep long, then?"

The woman tutted but gave no other reply. She turned more cards. The Magician. The Wheel. The Lovers. The part of Will that was as old as time shivered. The part that was a nineteen year old just scant months from attending Cambridge shrugged and turned to look out the window.

Marvel Universe: Thou Shalt Not... by mice and wal_lace

Thou Shalt Not... (ensemble | PG | 3,892 words) is a list of rules found on the fridge in Xavier's School. It is very giggle-inducing, what with taking people's mutant abilities into consideration and the various pranksters in the house.

Excerpt:
18) If it is morning and it is a song you are singing and you know for a fact that none of us are deaf, there will be consequences. I can't think of any right now because it's morning and someone is singing and the coffee isn't done yet.
18a) Had coffee. Will pour coffee down your pants if you sing.
18b) Decaf. Caffienated coffee is too good for you.
18c) ...oh...oh god, are you singing songs from "Oklahoma"? Why, why would you do that? Why are you doing it? Why do you persist on doing that? Why is the decaf coffee taking so long to make?
19) Addendum: Additions are not to be made to this list before nine o'clock in the morning or after midnight.

DC Universe: Mpreurgh by Propaganda and Derry

Mpreurgh (Tim/Bart | PG | 4,017 words) has Tim pregnant. I laughed out loud nearly the entire way through this. There's a Robin maternity suit. And Batman knitting booties. And Bart hoping the child has tentacles. Yet somehow, no one's what I'd consider wildly out of character.

Excerpt:
"Can I have a Zesti?" Bart asks.

"No," Tim says and bends back a little to ease his spine. "You're meant to be providing moral support and you're not even getting sympathetic backache. You can at least suffer through the vast amounts of calcium Alfred's forcing down me."

Bart frowns. "Wait. So because you're being deprived of Zesti, I am too? That's not fair!"

"You should have worn a condom, then!"

"I didn't think you could get pregnant, Tim, 'cause you're not a girl! Not my fault I was always taught a uterus was necessary for pregnancy."

And there's commentary too.

due South: Scrabble by Speranza

Scrabble (Fraser/RayK | NC17 | 28,233 words) gets Fraser and RayK together. It is really, really long with fantastic characterization. The story's written from a double point of view, which works well once you get used to it. I am amazed by how perfect both voices are. Fraser's a little darker here than I normally like to read him, however the change of pace is nice. And this version of Fraser is one that is shown in the series; it's just hidden most of the time. Plus, there's Scrabble.

Excerpt:
He's the youngest and most fit of the three, which is just as well--no fun otherwise. I'm perhaps ten feet behind him when I burst out through the back door, and that fact tells me that I'm faster than he is. Ah, but he's clever--good boy, he's going up the fire escape, moving vertically. Points for thinking outside the proverbial box.
//
When I get to the door I have to stop myself from blinking--cause they're gone, poof, like a magic trick. Now Fraser's fast but he ain't that fast, not speed of light fast. But I can't think to where he's gone--until I hear a clang and look up. The Third Guy's two flights up, on the roof, and Fraser's right behind him.
//
I like that in a perpetrator.
//
Catchin' up, too.
//
I climb quickly and then step onto the roof. He's there, just a boy, really, standing unsteadily and pointing his gun. But I am rock steady. I smile a bit, and walk toward him, hand extended.
//
I cross the alley and crane my neck to see if I can see something. Yeah, I barely can--I can see a bit of red serge, Fraser's arm, then a bit of dirty white jumpsuit. I'm steelin' myself to go up there when--

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