![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I don't have a life; I have a lifestyle - and recs
Fic recs - new and old
I had a great Friday night reading session. Thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
adela711, I read three stories in a row that I enjoyed quite a bit.
The Wanton Wonton byfuriosity. H/D. The author describes this as crack!fic, and it is. Summary: What is Draco Malfoy doing in Hungary? What do zombies have to do with it all? And why the hell is there a plot? There's a big difference to me between stupid, sophomoric humor and a fic that plays it mostly straight, with the occasional quick-witted bit thrown in to keep me on my toes.
"You're obsessed with me," Draco accused, trying to disentangle himself.
"That's not what the books say." Potter licked his neck carefully.
"Oh, please. You know as well as I do that the woman lies. You were all up in my grille by fourth year. Not that I'm surprised."
__________________
The Symmetry of Absence byfrogslayr. Harry/Draco/Snape. Summary: Snape puts up with Draco, who fancies Harry. And there's a cat. The summary doesn't do this fic justice. I love fics that explore Draco's childhood and the personality defects that arise from it. What I really liked were the characterisations and how carefully she brought them out. Draco is broken in that hidden, only-Snape-knows kind of way. And Snape has his hidden desires, too. I especially liked the reinterpretations of canon as the years pass. She could have made the ending longer, with more build up to the resolution, but asking for more story is hardly a complaint.
The tiny black kitten peered over the edge of Snape’s bony hands and blinked its large green eyes at the boy and the boy stared back. Snape had picked the clumsiest one of the litter, the one brimming with mad energy like the boy’s, the one that kept chasing and biting its own tail.
Draco poked at the kitten and it batted back, claws extended, not giving an inch. Snape saw a ghost of the child’s old smirk as he took the beast from Snape, soft slender fingers brushing against his callused ones, and his heart caught in his throat again.
“You should name it,” he muttered gruffly.
The boy paid him no heed, entranced by the little claws reaching for his nose, and hugged it close, breathing in the smell of clean fur with a happy sigh.
“Potter,” he heard him whisper into the kitten’s back, and Snape stiffened.
___________________
Stop the World (I Wanna Get Off) bymijan H/D. Summary: Harry quits. Draco doesn't like it. Harry decides he's not going to live up to everyones expectations and becomes the antithesis of CAPSLOCK!Harry. The reasoning, which could have been overly trite, actually make sense to me.
Dumbledore’s tone voice remained calm, but his eyes narrowed. “You have a job to do, and your name carries a responsibility.”
“Then how about I change my name.” It was not a question. “I never signed up for this job. I quit.”
At that, Dumbledore sighed in that infuriating way he had of making the world appear so heavy on his shoulders. He looked to the side and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Perhaps you are frustrated or overwhelmed, and need a few days to yourself. I understand that. We will speak of this again, but for now, be mindful of your classes, and take that time to quiet and organize your thoughts.”
Harry said nothing.
Dumbledore tipped his head in acknowledgement, never losing the critical expression on his face, and departed the Great Hall.
Harry watched him go. With a nonchalant shrug, he left for Gryffindor tower. On his way, he thought about his classes. Dumbledore said to be mindful of his classes. Another expectation. The only class in which there were no expectations was Potions, save for Snape’s expectation that he would fail spectacularly.
Perhaps he would start having to disappoint everyone. It ought to be fun.
__________________
Earlier this weekzionsstarfish posted the sequel to Obligations, her excellent Draco!vampire H/D fic. Obligations 2. ZS has never written a story I didn't love at first reading, and this one is no exception. Why isn't her name trumpeted from the rooftops, huh?
For a few moments, there was only the sound of their harsh breathing. Harry's pulse stampeded against the palm of Draco's hand, his lungs heaved, and Draco could not look away from all the evidence of life that flowed through the body underneath him, and all the pain and confusion that came with it.
Finally, in a small voice, Harry said, "Did it hurt when you died?"
"What?"
"Did dying hurt?"
Draco blinked. He pushed away from Harry and sat up. Harry lay still, like he was trying to imagine not breathing and not moving ever again.
"Believe me, Harry. Living hurt a hell of a lot more."
_________________
There were updated chapters this week for four long H/D WIPfics that I started reading nearly two years ago when I first found fandom. And these fics are well-written, and hooked me with their clever plots and great dialogue and...the whole thing. The quality hasn't changed; if anything, the authors have all improved their skills. But sadly, the rich detail of the stories has faded, and I can't remember things that would make the new stuff far more enjoyable as a reader. One of the chapters concerns Draco's reaction to a serious memory loss, and I'm all, "Boy, I can relate, dude, because I don't remember what the hell happened to you, either." I could go back and reread, of course, but then I'd have to repeat the process when the next chapter appears, which -- if past history is any indication -- promises not to be any time soon. I'm left to envy the experience of future readers who will find these stories someday, finished, and will have a great experience with them. But I've got this chapter-interruptus history. It's compounded by the fact that I read so many H/D's that any unique points blend together.
I had a great Friday night reading session. Thanks to
adela711, I read three stories in a row that I enjoyed quite a bit.The Wanton Wonton by
furiosity. H/D. The author describes this as crack!fic, and it is. Summary: What is Draco Malfoy doing in Hungary? What do zombies have to do with it all? And why the hell is there a plot? There's a big difference to me between stupid, sophomoric humor and a fic that plays it mostly straight, with the occasional quick-witted bit thrown in to keep me on my toes."You're obsessed with me," Draco accused, trying to disentangle himself.
"That's not what the books say." Potter licked his neck carefully.
"Oh, please. You know as well as I do that the woman lies. You were all up in my grille by fourth year. Not that I'm surprised."
__________________
The Symmetry of Absence by
frogslayr. Harry/Draco/Snape. Summary: Snape puts up with Draco, who fancies Harry. And there's a cat. The summary doesn't do this fic justice. I love fics that explore Draco's childhood and the personality defects that arise from it. What I really liked were the characterisations and how carefully she brought them out. Draco is broken in that hidden, only-Snape-knows kind of way. And Snape has his hidden desires, too. I especially liked the reinterpretations of canon as the years pass. She could have made the ending longer, with more build up to the resolution, but asking for more story is hardly a complaint.The tiny black kitten peered over the edge of Snape’s bony hands and blinked its large green eyes at the boy and the boy stared back. Snape had picked the clumsiest one of the litter, the one brimming with mad energy like the boy’s, the one that kept chasing and biting its own tail.
Draco poked at the kitten and it batted back, claws extended, not giving an inch. Snape saw a ghost of the child’s old smirk as he took the beast from Snape, soft slender fingers brushing against his callused ones, and his heart caught in his throat again.
“You should name it,” he muttered gruffly.
The boy paid him no heed, entranced by the little claws reaching for his nose, and hugged it close, breathing in the smell of clean fur with a happy sigh.
“Potter,” he heard him whisper into the kitten’s back, and Snape stiffened.
___________________
Stop the World (I Wanna Get Off) by
mijan H/D. Summary: Harry quits. Draco doesn't like it. Harry decides he's not going to live up to everyones expectations and becomes the antithesis of CAPSLOCK!Harry. The reasoning, which could have been overly trite, actually make sense to me. Dumbledore’s tone voice remained calm, but his eyes narrowed. “You have a job to do, and your name carries a responsibility.”
“Then how about I change my name.” It was not a question. “I never signed up for this job. I quit.”
At that, Dumbledore sighed in that infuriating way he had of making the world appear so heavy on his shoulders. He looked to the side and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Perhaps you are frustrated or overwhelmed, and need a few days to yourself. I understand that. We will speak of this again, but for now, be mindful of your classes, and take that time to quiet and organize your thoughts.”
Harry said nothing.
Dumbledore tipped his head in acknowledgement, never losing the critical expression on his face, and departed the Great Hall.
Harry watched him go. With a nonchalant shrug, he left for Gryffindor tower. On his way, he thought about his classes. Dumbledore said to be mindful of his classes. Another expectation. The only class in which there were no expectations was Potions, save for Snape’s expectation that he would fail spectacularly.
Perhaps he would start having to disappoint everyone. It ought to be fun.
__________________
Earlier this week
zionsstarfish posted the sequel to Obligations, her excellent Draco!vampire H/D fic. Obligations 2. ZS has never written a story I didn't love at first reading, and this one is no exception. Why isn't her name trumpeted from the rooftops, huh? For a few moments, there was only the sound of their harsh breathing. Harry's pulse stampeded against the palm of Draco's hand, his lungs heaved, and Draco could not look away from all the evidence of life that flowed through the body underneath him, and all the pain and confusion that came with it.
Finally, in a small voice, Harry said, "Did it hurt when you died?"
"What?"
"Did dying hurt?"
Draco blinked. He pushed away from Harry and sat up. Harry lay still, like he was trying to imagine not breathing and not moving ever again.
"Believe me, Harry. Living hurt a hell of a lot more."
_________________
There were updated chapters this week for four long H/D WIPfics that I started reading nearly two years ago when I first found fandom. And these fics are well-written, and hooked me with their clever plots and great dialogue and...the whole thing. The quality hasn't changed; if anything, the authors have all improved their skills. But sadly, the rich detail of the stories has faded, and I can't remember things that would make the new stuff far more enjoyable as a reader. One of the chapters concerns Draco's reaction to a serious memory loss, and I'm all, "Boy, I can relate, dude, because I don't remember what the hell happened to you, either." I could go back and reread, of course, but then I'd have to repeat the process when the next chapter appears, which -- if past history is any indication -- promises not to be any time soon. I'm left to envy the experience of future readers who will find these stories someday, finished, and will have a great experience with them. But I've got this chapter-interruptus history. It's compounded by the fact that I read so many H/D's that any unique points blend together.