So I wanted some comfort fic and went to look up some old favorites. Most of these I've recced before.

Yet Another Snape Meets the Dursleys Story by rabbit and v-Jinx-v, Harry Potter, gen - totally gen h/c emotional porn. I love this story. This is one of my go-to comfort fics for the entire Snape Meets The Dursleys, Realizes How Much They Suck, Hates Them So Much, Is Generally Fucking Kick Ass and Super Competent While Dudley Turns Out to Eventually Be Awesome and Snape and Harry Bond So Much. It hits all my gen h/c kinks, with the Pathetic!Brave!Stoic!So!Goddamn!Gryffindor!Harry and Reluctantly!Admitting!Bias!Against!Harry!And!Uber!Competent!Snape and the sucky Dudsleys so very much told on child abuse and being shitty human beings and my personal favorite Personal!Growth!Dudley.

..wow, count those capital letters.

Nightblooming Heartsease by julad fic Transfigurations (Harry Potter, Harry/Draco) which is also a favorite fic but not a comfort fic. If you've read this, you may or may not get why I love this one when I really want to feel warm and fuzzy because yeah, I know how it ends, but ending was part of the journey and the entire thing is gorgeous. The author created the prequel whole as an exploration of the lives of Snape and Neville during war that occurred before the events of Transfigurations and took great pains to not only write fully-fleshed, three dimensional characters but a fully fleshed, uncertain, gorgeous three dimensional relationship that explained how being different people didn't necessarily mean there isn't common ground to be explored and cherished. It's wartime desperation and amazing domestic sweetness and two people who work together and learn together and then fall in love together. Warning: character death. But honest to God, that's part of what makes it comfort fic.

Goodnight Moon by yahtzee, Joan of Arcadia/The Day After Tomorrow crossover, gen - it's wistful and dreamy and sad in the very best, most uplifting, most human way possible. When this hit fandom, I think everyone recced it. And it was totally worth it.

An Affair to Remember by Tira Nog, SGA, AU, John/Rodney - yes, it's a SGA version of the movie. This is emotional porn for me. I only read it once a year now so as to keep that fresh reaction of just ridiculous amounts of tear-wiping and contented purring.

Fearless, Mindless Fancy by giddygeek, SGA, AU, John/Rodney - it's adorable and creepy and wonderful adn so much fun. John is a psychic! Rodney has a TV show about science and debunks this kind of thing! THEY THEN HUNT GHOSTS!

Benediction by thete1 - this was one of the earliest Smallville fics written and still among my absolute favorite for being gorgeous and sweet and everything Lex and Clark could have been.

Ice by merryish, Smallville, Clark/Lex - I love this story. There is a storm! And a barn! And Clark and Lex with no idea what the hell they're doing but going to try anyway. You know. To keep warm. Emotional intensity plus hotness can never go wrong. <--link corrected, thanks to merrily for the link

Omiai by Rose Emily, Smallville, AU, Clark/Lex - arranged marriage fic! Secretly falling in love! Angst! God, this one is every cliche I love done briliantly well. And long, long, long.

Primary by velvetglove, Smallville, Clark/Lex - a long, slow, deliciously building relationship after many years and much heartbreak and so wallowable.

Loves Me Not by astolat, SGA, John/Rondey - in which nothing in this not hilarious and sweet and funny and adorable and sure, Rodney loves chocolate, but kind of thinking that's not the only reason it goes this way.

If anyone wants to throw out their go-to-comfort fics? I would not like, be opposed or anything.

Randomly, because I'm having trouble sleeping:

So I was chatting with the awesome that is girlnamedpixley and was thinking of fics that are the equivalent of hydrogen-bomb-grade chocolate--everything in the universe can go wrong and this fic makes it right. Except it's totes not a fic, it's a series. SO I gave her this one and tried to get a blood oath that she'd read it.

Identical Series by lanning, Smallville, Clark/Lex, plus everyone.

It's currently eleven stories, with the eleventh in progress, over 240K total wordcount so far, and without caveat, the most ambitious, epic, romantic, action-adventurey set of short stories, novellas, and novels I have ever read. It defines great OCs, complicated and fascinating plots, a massive host of characters both canon and not, a strong use of an ensemble cast, and takes the potential of first and second season Smallville and runs with it.

It's a story about kind of everything, and basically, if you never read or watched Smallville, you're fine, trust me when I say, Lanning will make it redundant to know it, but this is what you need going in.

Once upon a time, two boys met on a riverbank and changed each others' lives.

That's how it started. Lanning will take it from there.

I totally own I rec like I'm having a religious experience, but I've always found God in reading, so this is not exactly a surprise. I love this fic for every reason I love fanfic and every reason I love profic; it's rich and sweeping and beautiful and epic, about family and faith and love and sacrifices made for those things that are worth the price paid for them, about stumbling hard and falling down and still getting back up--because someone is there to help you get up. It's beautiful and breaks my heart and is my happy ending, always. And it's still in progress.

Each part is complete in itself, and if you've never read Smallville in your life, this one is the one you should break that habit for.

Look! Not something Fanlore related!

Recs!

Stocks and Bonds of Holy Matrimony by justabi, SV, Clark/Lex.

Every time I read it, it sends me into a giggling fit like you would not believe.

"Clark, is there something you'd like to tell me?"

"Good morning?"

"Not quite what I'm looking for."

"I'm an alien? You hit me with your car? Am I getting warmer?"

"Stop making jokes. My phone has been ringing off the hook all morning. There is a picture of you and me on the front page of the Daily Planet."

"That's great, Lex. I didn't think the benefit would be front page news, but that's wonderful."

"The story is not about the benefit last night."

"What do you mean?"

"Since when have we been lovers eagerly awaiting the chance to legally wed in the state of Kansas?"

I just--it's so them. So. Very. Them.

Form, Not Meaning by out_there, Prison Break, Michael/Alex.

The guh is eternal on this one. To put this in context, everything I know about Prison Break I learned from a.) svmadelyn b.) Like a Stone, sdwolfpup's vid (God the guh. The guh is legion. The guh owns me. Oh my God the wall touching) and c.) fannish osmosis. And I love this fic. It doesn't hurt that I know what they look like and Michael is hot like whoa and Alex is deeply, deeply scary. Well, they both are scary.

That was good for me. *sighs happily*

For the nostalgists among us. I just like to re-read stories from early in the fandom every so often (read, obsessively).

Reckoning and Courier by latxcvi. Of everything written post-Exodus season two, this is one of my absolute forever-favorites, just for the sheer *intensity* of Lex. And Lex's exquisitely appropriate revenge. If you haven't read, go *now*. I am so not kidding.

Breathing Amber by harriet_spy. Lana, past, present, and future. It's freakishly chilling, in that way that makes Lana make *sense*. Written during the first season, but trust me, just as utterly true now as it was then. Futurefic.

Many Waters by liviapenn. Post-Heat coda. Lex and that damned wedding dress. Just breaks my heart. Every. Time.

Red Is a Primary Color by ingrid_m. Pete fic is as rare as a unicorn, but on the other hand, most of it is extraordinarily good. Futurefic, presidency of Lex. There are a lot of things I love about this story--it's a discernibly different Pete, but exactly the same, too. He's VP of the United States, he's achieved everything he ever wanted, and for some reason, it never occurred to him there'd be a price to it. It's--*amazing*. Haunting. Really *damn* good.

And for the Lexana among us--oh please, like that isn't our big guilty pleasure, furtively reading it when our AIM friends aren't looking and--oh, wait. That's just me.

Crisis series by Christie. It's one of the first I read, way back in season one. Futurefic. Interestingly, it works even now, though this Lex is not quite as broken. I love the Lana here--this Lana on the show I would have loved. This Lana I would have *shipped* with Lex. It's wonderfully written and vivid and is pretty much the reason I could never quite ship Lex/Chloe as my het of choice. Because this? Is just too good.

Mmm. Pretty. It makes me happy. Though not significantly cooler, sadly.

Mmm. Adjective Clexness. Lex exercises his vocabulary.

Untitled by comicbkromance -- so pretty.

Lex lies in bed and tries to think of every word he knows for "beautiful."

Off the top of his head, he can think of roughly one hundred and fifty, in eight languages (if you weren’t counting Latin, and he wasn’t)—Chinese, Russian, French, Japanese, Italian, German, Spanish, and Arabic. Clark stretches in his sleep, the sheets rucking around his hips, and he makes a breathy, contented sound.

Lex wishes he knew Ancient Sumerian. Mandarin. A couple of African dialects.

Mmmm. *Pretty*. And see! Excuse to use my cookies icon!

Yes, you need to read this.

The Clarwiches snippet. Hee. It's funniness. And hypothetical four penises.

Oh *man*.

Clark finds deep meaning in the movie, The Legend. I mean, really deep meaning.

The Stuff of Legend.

Favorite. Fic. Lines. Ever.

Cradled in Clark’s arms, Lex experienced a hideous flash-forward moment in which he envisioned his commitment ceremony with Clark: Clark whirling him onto the dance floor, the two of them twirling around and around in tuxedos to the strains of “Is Your Love Strong Enough.” Clark dipped him on a power chord.

Come *on*. You so do want to read this. Like, right now. One beverage warning, as I tragically lost my hot chocolate to it.

*still laughing*

Two this time.

Roughfucked by London, QaF. This link goes to part i, but it's complete now. *happy* *very, very happy*

Pyrrhic by Kat Reitz and Tzigane - Mostly AU post-Shattered and Asylum, more or less. Warn for incest. Also, really really really good and very long. I didn't have nearly as many issues with teh pacing in this one, and it's a solidly satisfying story. And God, I love how they write Clark. I want to *keep* him and not, you know, kill him in his sleep. And Lex. Ah. *sighs*

If you haven't read it, you need to, and if you have, read it again. I'm kind of blissed out on the endorphins of happy here.

It's been a *damn* good weekend, including the fic happiness.

*bliss*

No spoilers.

Genesis.

Just. Wow. And wow.

There's just something about me the last week that says, "this will go wrong."

No, really. I mean, not all the time. It's all in sneaky, undercover ways, so people look at me like I'm crazy when I say that yes, I'm apparently coming into a curse that was cast at my birth by some very pissed off godparent, because it's just--bizarre.

Okay, maybe not entirely *wrong*. But witness this little bit of conversation.

It's jeans-shopping. This is the lowest maintenance piece of clothing in my life, other than my three-to-a-pack white t-shirt thing that really, *comfy*, Hanes, best friend for life. Seriously. I know my inseam, I generally know my waist, and it's all math--pick up teh jeans, look at the size, walk out.

But no. Being a girl and being tall sucks if you want jeans that fit. For years I gravitated toward men's jeans, 29 waist, 34 or 36 leg. Easy stuff. Could do it in my sleep.

Then I went shopping with Nezsa. And decided, since the last pair of jeans I bought were for women and, miracle of miracles, fit, I would check out what the girls were wearing in jeans this year.

Pair 1: Levi, Boot cut low-riders

Me: I like-=-

Nezsa: No.

Me: But--

Nezsa: Your thighs look weird. Take them off.

Me: ...my thighs are weird?

Nezsa: In those jeans? Yes. Take. Them. Off.

This continued through low riders set 2, vintage, 3, and these stretchy ones that scared me but I thought looked good, but my Weird Thighs, because honestly, I *need* more body issues, and thighs so far had escaped my attention, were just fighting this tooth and nail.

Now that I think about it, my thighs do seem weird. I also have disportionately long legs. Yes, seriously, this is what i need to obsess about. Argh.

So she ran through everything that looked denim. Now, surprisingly, finding an inseam that kicks over 34 is not as easy as you might think. And sometimes, just plain impossible. My sixth pair--I'm not joking, I tried on six pairs of jeans for her, and I don't try on clothes if I can help it--she agreed with and was kind enough to let me buy them.

So I thought, okay, that wasn't so bad. So now I had Weird Thighs, but really comfy jeans that were the correct length. This is happiness.

Today, went shopping for blinds for my room. Twice. As neither set I bought fit the window. Because of course, a tape measure isn't good enough. You need this measured by *geometrists* or something to get the correct proportioned, which means my windows can be looked through by any perve in the area who wants to scare me to death.

Or I can go for that elegant sheet-over-the-window look.

I'm telling you, there's a lot ot be said for hanging the blue monkey sheets in teh windows. You know, the ones facing the road.

Oh yeah. I'm all about the class this year.

Did I mention my stackable shoe rack didn't fit my other stackable shoe rack? Yes, my day has been *marvelous*.

Blah blah blah

Did a author-sweep of scribblinlenore at SSA here. I always forget how deeply, passionately, I love Aphrodesia, that single-handedly reconciled me to the concept of Ponn Farr!Clark. I mean, saffron. That's just so cool.

It also got me through insomnia, version 2.3, the one where it's not just being tired and can't sleep. It's a hellish place of being tired, can't sleep, and can't stop thinking. These are the times that things like Lobster!Ben become really reasonable, revolutionary ideas in fiction. Or Clark growing wings. At four in the morning, my pillow and I had a deep conversation about how this could change Clark's life. Then we remembered Te did it already, and well, damn.

In case anyone's forgotten: Whosoever Loveth and Maketh a Lie. The one with wings and kinky sex.

In the last month, I have read or re-read the following:

Clark with a two pronged penis.
Clark with a self-lubing ass.
Clark with a self-lubing penis.
Clark turned into a girl. This genre deserves its own archive. Seriously.
Clark turned into a girl and getting pregnant. Own. Archive. I want them all together somewhere.
Clark staying technically male and getting pregnant. See above.
Clark getting his ass-hymen removed.
Clark the cannibal.
Clark with wings. Feathery ones.
Clark turns into a cat.
Clark turns into a frog.
The one where Clark's penis talks to him.
The one from mutant fish pov.
Pon Farr!Clark

Edited to Add, via pearlo

Clark with a prehensile penis. I completely forgot, but I read it sometime this summer.

Edited to Add, via svmadelyn and hwmitzy

Clark with a knot in his penis.
Clark with a retractable penis.

I have no idea what this means at all, but it's been an adventurous month, don't you think?

Hmm. Did I miss anything interesting?

svmadelyn and nonchop are working me through the trauma. I don't think I'll ever be clean again. Ever. I mean, ever.

But! nonchop recommended this, so I share.

Context by Addicted Kitten. It's one of those improbable crossovers that just works and makes laugh and is fun and creates happy thoughts. Smallville/Nsync, Justin, Lance, Clark, and Lex, funny as hell. I mean, seriously. Fun.

"But I asked you first," Clark said, leaning against the counter. "Are you here on business?"

"That's a good question." Lance copied Clark's casual pose on the opposite counter. "I am here on business, this time. But Lex and I go way back. We had mutual friends, and a few memorable encounters in the VIP room at Club Zero."

"Oh." Clark frowned. "Encounters? So you were friends?"

Lance smiled to himself. "We shared...common interests."

"Like what?"

"Corporate holdings. Apple martinis. Light bondage."

Just. Heh. I'm so entranced.

Nothing new with the file cabinet.

Recs

Scrabble Fic by josselin. Heh. Brian and Justin play Scrabble. Cuteness. Very.

Re-Rec

Because I can. I really have nothing better to do. Isn't that just sad? To be creative about it, one per fandom I've been monogamous with.

Queer As Folk

The Color Series by Triskyfic -- see, I did this one an injustice the first time I read it and again when I recced it. I still have problems with the way she themes throughout with color, but that's a personal quirk, and the more I read it, the less I notice it, because it's good. I'm especially attracted to the past/present/future mix she does--you'd think it would be confusing, and it *is*, but in the addictive, right way it's supposed to be. Teasy-like. It's extremely solid, and it's fun, and kano may be my new favorite word.

Smallville

And Dark Our Celebration Was by Hth. See, this is where it's nice when one gets perspective after short periods of time hiding from one's home fandom. I really, really hated this story in every way that can be considered a positive--beautiful writing, dark in that hopeless, deathless way that's like you need to talk yourself off a ledge after, but subtly so. Kind of like an ice pick to just left of the heart, so to speak.

It's hard to explain.

"I don't call it sleeping with you. If this is what you consider a perfectly acceptable sexual encounter then I have to say, I don't think much of the quality of people you've been dating lately."

I just love that line.

*grins* I think I may re-read Immortality next. For those unfortunate few who remember my temper tantrums after *that* one was released, feel free to send scathing email about being discreet in public. God, I miss Grail muchly. *sighs*

Annnyway.

X-Men Movieverse

One that isn't on my page, one that is. Vic gets short-shifted from me most of the time--I *know* her and therefore, the entire contempt of familiarity kicks in, but this is one of my favorite stories by her and in retrospect, one of my favorite re-reads in X-Men, it's so damn timeless. And reminds me I have thirty eight X-Men stories i've kept meaning to add to my page and never have. Crap.

A Harbor in the Tempest by musesfool -- there's a lot to like about this story that has nothing to do with its genealogy, and five pages in, you know it's Casablanca With Mutants, so just go with it. The movie is classic, the story is too. As a mutant-world safety zone, with Logan the cynic and Jeez, poor Jean, it starts off clean and keeps going. Vic does immaculate prose, so you really can just get yourself lost in the story. And you may think you know it, but trust me, you don't. Read it.

A Place by Sandra. I have this hope that I'll run into her again cross-fandom, which considering the rate LJ spreads, possibly isn't too far in the future, or so I can hope.

There's a place.

A place where an old man's voice isn't whispering tenderly when she quietly grieves. Where she can run and the voices aren't shouting after her, in her, telling her there are starved, scared wolves lurking in those dark, hushed forests.

Most writers can't pull off rhythmic, stylized stories brilliantly. Hell, a majority can't pull off readable grammar, but that's not the lecture for the evening. This story is the one, single, shining reason why I actually still believe that any subgenre of fiction can be done brilliantly, because this is one of the most beautiful single pieces of fiction I've read in my life.

I'd quote more, but frankly, there's no way to do it and make it nearly as perfect, as shattering, as it does when read straight through. And that would be *now*, because seriously, this is why X-Men was my addiction for over a year and why I can quote by memory from this one. It's *good*.

Star Trek: Voyager

Ah, I miss you sometimes.

Mirror Images by Dave Rogers. See, I still get chills from re-reading this one. It's simple in-canon fic--gap filler, if you will, reaching across from Vis a Vis through Demon, and for perfect capture character, there's nothing better in the fandom.

Wordlessly, she stood up and strode into the office, where the E.M.H.
sat quietly and discreetly. Tom's mirror image could not hear what
passed between them, but she was back in minutes.

"Listen, whoever - whatever you are." She spoke rapidly, in short,
clipped sentences. "She won't know about the Maquis. Break it to her
gently. Help her through it. She won't know about the Hirogen. She
doesn't need to. And she won't know about Steth. Don't you *ever* let
her find out."

"I don't understand." His face was frowning, but his eyes were bright
with hope.

"The Doc's beamed a sample of my DNA to the surface. She'll be waiting
for you."

"B'Elanna, I...", he stammered, jumping to his feet. "Why? I thought
you hated me?"

"I do." She turned away. "But not that much."

Gets me every time.

What the heck. One more.

Comicdom

And think, I know *nothing* about the fandom or the canon, but whoo, this story...

This Is How by Siarade. Again, when style is done well, I'm pretty much an easy lay, kay? Non standard use of timeline, which I applaud muchly, lovely pov, and this beautiful, intnese examination of grief.

When you talk about the dead, about dead things, talk with someone who knows. People who don't know can't talk about the dead. They expect death to be a jump from alive and vital to cold and empty. Not even a jump; that implies movement, when they expect it to be a snap ì once one way, now the other, a momentary switch that has no levels or gradation.

And the eternal seconds of watching someone die.

Why This Sudden Backtrack

seemag asked what stories scarred you (in a good way), and mentioned Iolokus, which to go with it, HELL YES, but since I wasn't ever even within a breath of being intimately involved with that fandom, I think of it differnetly from a fandom I wrote and participated in. Just the depth of commitment.

Scarring though. That's a weird one. And also kind of funny, since jaymalea asked me last night what my favorite slash story was and I couldn't tell her.

( story blatherings )

Reason four thousand nine hundred eighteen that I love rivkat.

Five Things That Never Happened to Lex Luthor. I wish I could hit everything I loved, but every bit of it would spoil, so go with the fact that number four was--man. And number five? Oh yes. And number one? Ooh.

Notice all the non commital noises. And I didn't even get around to two and three, geh and whoa.

She rocks.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY musesfool. May it be filled with much Sirius/Remus, Eowyn, chocolate, and other lovely things, honey. *hugs*

Reorganized my hose by color. Lookie there, only two colors. That took a long time. Tore one pair on suit of armor (miniature) I recieved from sister for Chirstmas, kind of liked it, and scrapped it to make masks to play burlgar with Child later. I'm leading him to the dark side big time.

Why do I see myself testifying about this in court someday? *worries*

Am joining family on vacation beachward in a few weeks. This means, of course, bathing suit shopping, the single most terrifying experience of my life, and I'm counting the time I tried on sixteen (SIXTEEN) prom dresses in varying shades of pink before being allowed to settle back into black.

I did look at some of the bits, though, that are so cheerfully considered appropriate outdoor attire. I was thinking I'd like that twenties sort of look--ankle to wrist covered, maybe something in stripes, with a big floppy hat and very large sunglasses. Apparently, however, like the never ending stretches of capri pants that seemed to be assaulting me from every direction, the bits left from creating Barbie's wardrobe tied together with tiny bits of string are so the way to go.

It interests me in a morbid kind of way. Just looking at them reminds me of every inch of inexpertly placed fat and the sheer lack of cup size I have going on. There was this one that I sort of liked--a kind of top that went to just above the navel, adn cute little hot pants, which actually looked not only comfortable, but also like it might protect those bits that should never really come in contact with one hundred degree sun and the unfortunate abrasions of sand. It also would have required a mortgage to own.

It's cute. But no bathing suit is that cute. I'm leaning toward t-shirt and cut-offs again. I shall be viciously unfashionable and also? Boondocky. But comfy as well. Perhaps I should not have gotten my tooth fixed after all.

WiPs

I have a new classification system for them.

Stories I'm Hiding From

Clexbrothers weird AU -- yeah, yeah, yeah, this one's old news and I've posted bits here.

Pretty When You're Mine -- I almost want to finish this simply because raincitygirl said in such a mournful tone that I probably wouldn't, as I am contrary like that.

Stories I'm Ignoring

Something Like Forgetting -- yes, I'm actively ignoring. Even whistling during.

Where No One Else Can Follow -- because I have no idea what to DO with it.

This, Too -- cowrite with Pru. I am pleased to say we are BOTH hiding AND ignoring it splendidly. And also? This sucker won't stop growing. I don't trust it. I keep expecting it to attack.

Bruce/Lex for Te -- because I'm malleable and she KNOWS that. And also, I can't get Bruce to do anything but stalk. Stupid weird boy.

Pretentiously Titled Fic -- aka, the one that accidentally got a plot. I was amusing myself by writing up a scene where Pete and Clark from Standing in the Common Spaces have another chat. Bah. Go away.

Stories That Annoy Me and Act Dumb

The Yard -- because it scares me and the outline I was dumb enough to make won't stop growing.

Rising - stupid AUness.

And the rest that I am pretending aren't there until I can deal with them.

With any kind of luck, they'll all go away.

How to...

Amuse yourself during break at work.

The break room has newly cleaned, waxed, polished, whatever floors--slick and slippery and I was in my non-slick shoes, which wasn't satisfactory at all. Since I go to lunch a half-hour early than most, I was in first, admiring the way the worn million-year old hallogen lights overhead turned the floor a perky shade of sick yellow, and considered the fact that the partition that separates it from the conference room was down.

In this room, you see, are chairs with wheels.

Nice, slick wheels. That sliddddeee.

You tell me what I spent fifteen minutes doing in the break room while I warmed up my lunch and waited for it to cool to eat.

I will just point out--man, that was fun.

And no one is going ot convince me that other people weren't doing it, too.

Today was serenely monotonous, filled with small annoyances, but I did get to overhear a client bitching out the senior clerk on the phone. That was a mistake on his part. The rest of us are kinda--leery, about being sharp with rude clients. She's sort of not. She gave him a three second warning and hung up the phone.

I want to be her when I grow up. She hung up with style and even a flourish.

Mmm. Flourish.

Made triple chocolate brownies from box, the best kind. Chock full of preservatives, artificial colors and flavors, massive amounts of fat, oil, and tiny Hershey's kisses to make the chewy and the gooey.

Mmm. Cholesterol. (is that how you spell it?)

I want another one.

I won't sing, 'cause me doing it should be a federal offense, so.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TE!

*hugs* May it be a wonderful day that includes all fruit/sex partner combinations of your choice.

Watch for mosquitoes though.

Birthday present en route. Er, I think.

Other Things

Bought shoes. Red ones. Yes, that kind of shocked me, too, but they're cute. Don't match anything except denim, but hey. Shoes! Bought egrerious amounts of food to cook in bizarre ways.

Places to Go

Because I just like linking today.

Here, musesfool discusses style and substance.

Recs

Clark Kent Appreciation Day by tstar78 Lex appreciates Clark the way he deserves. The schmoopiness never ends. Adorable.

Taken by Lenore. Absolutely hysterical what if--in which Clark is too nice and Lex is just really, really helpful.

Behind a Dragon's Smile by thamiris. An anniversary, a fairy tale, and some serious hotness. I want to read the story she cited now. Must find.

*****

Must make brownies now.

Air by by C. M. Decarnin (SV, Clark/Lex)
http://www.livejournal.com/users/carenejeans/5246.html

mecurtin? This one?

Really REALLY good ficness here, btw. Must read. Now.

Thanks to I think Olympe for the rec on her LJ. I think it was her. *mulls*

Fic

Thebes by rosenho

I honestly think the entire historical challenge was almost created for this story. When I'm competent, will do something more than be amazed, but right now, that's about what I've got. If you haven't read it, you should be doing so now. It's completely incomparable. latxcvi was right. This is Clark, this is Lex, and this is the spirit of it.

Cycles by zarah_5

I had to read it three times. And I still dont' think I have it all. And I'm still thinking about it.

Echo by blackfall

Three words. Piercings. Concert. Lex.

The Last Days by Lux.

The writer's notes mention English isn't her first language, and there are a few awkward phrasings, but other than that? Lovely. I liked the flow, I liked both Clark and Lex, and I liked how it all slipped together so effortlessly. *grin* I want to *keep* her.

Places

Teh Summer of WiPs, listed out and annotated by the lovely, brilliant, all-knowing, all-wise mecurtin

Yes, I'm happy to see a single refernece point. How'd you tell?

I'm slightly beneath the mood weather, but serious application to enhancers should fix that. There's also triple chocolate cake waiting.

( Clark issues, redux from LJ )

Read it now, choke laughing, and then read it again.

Lied by Mereid.

Gotta love a proactive Clark.

"Didn't Mr. Luthor bring a date?" A young woman breathed airily at Clark's
side. "He looks *so* handsome."

"He does, doesn't he?" Clark sighed, touching the back of his hand to his nose,
and sniffing a little. "He's so brave. After Troy, well. We didn't think he'd
ever go out in public again..."

I'm in love. *Happy*

Naps are evil, but damned if they aren't intersting. And relaxing. And--lots of other words.

Hiding from OotP spoilers. It's like a minefield out there--one foot wrong and boom. Spoiled. Which I have avoided assiduously. But still. *shivers*

Bought "The Ring" last weekend and still haevn't gotten around to watching it. I have a weird relationship with movies that scare me--or logical. I watch them during daylight. And only have time at night. Hence, it sits on my DVD player and mocks me.

It's getting darkish again, see. Grr. Stupid nap.

Grr. But! A ray of light. Of a kind.

Roomies, part seven is up! Lex is such a brat. And I like him that way. *happy sigh* Brat, brat, brat. But so pretty.

I want more, dammit. The Summer of WiPs is the biggest tease ever. And where *is* Altville anyway?

Blow your minds, people. It will never ever be as good as this again.

Agenda.

Like every SV slash fan with a pulse and an internet connection isn't.

Jesus Christ, I love her.

And screw coherency. I'm going to re-read.

Unfortunately, the funniest thing that happened today is so contextual it won't make any sense to anyone who doesn't work where I do. This is one of the few times in my life I literally could NOT stop laughing. Laid on the keyboard, my instructor almost patting my shoulder because, seriously, only I could manage something like this.

Okay, I'll try it like this.

The new system that's being implemented around the end of the month is what we're being trained to use--a lot of automation for some basic tasks, new stuff, etc. Lots of stuff we're used to doing by hand, so expect me to lose any ability to write with a pen soon. Anyway, we were learning how to edit cases, and one of the exercises is to add a child to one of the cases.

Sounds simple, right?

It actually IS. I skipped a step by accident, but came back to it and finished up, then couldn't figure out why the program didn't tally right. Hmm, thought I, so I went to look. Child had been made Head of Household, which is basically a term for the parent of the family who made the application. I also had managed not to actually add him to anything except in this one record.

I'll fix! I thought. Easy.

One hour, forty five minutes later, Child was still there, still head of household, and not moving. I tried to delete him off the case--he would not delete. I took away his social security number and his ability to speak English--okay, that last part was just malice, but his Swahili was excellent, I might add. Nothing. Finally, my instructor leaning over me, I asked if I could kill him.

Between the two of us, we could not find the function that let us declare him dead.

Stupid Refusing To Die Fictional Kid on a Case. Unfortunately, these cases are what we've been building from the beginning of the course--I can't just delete it off and start over, because I don't have all the information anymore. So. Stupid Non-Dying Fictional Child is still there, still mocking me, and I cant' use that case to go any farther.

Okay, use this case, Instructor says, giving me a new case number that was around the same level as mine had been before Stupid Non-Dying Fictional Child refused to go away. This one I errored out on several times and it gave me a Please Call System Administrator warning when I was trying to add his school information. Huh, says professor. He found another one and watched entranced as I managed, and neither of us know how, to get the entire family disqualified.

He worked my first case and then my third, and could not figure out what on earth I'd managed to do. I could have found a bug in the system. Either that, he theorizes, or I emit a strange, magnetic forcefield of some kind that is, in fact, causing the computer to become the technological equivalent of insane.

Either those two, or, he said, looking me in the eye, or my work computer is, in fact, really that pissed about the technodultery.

I. Am. So. Tired. One more day. Even I can't crash a system in one day. I think.

Isn't it nice there's fic to read when I drag myself home?

":A HREF="http://www.livejournal.com/users/scribblinlenore/29585.html" TARGET="_Top">Billy Swanson. Oh wow. Clark and Lana, Clark and Lex, and passion. The achingly slow, careful exploration and realization, almost inevitablity, just completely captivated me. Sad, painfully accurate Lana, wonderfully written Clark, and a Lex still avoiding. I love it. And you will too.

Quote of the Day

Has anyone ever actually freed a cock from its denim prison?

What's the procedure for that? Is there a parole hearing first? What if the cock is a repeat offender? Or if it's spent time in solitary? Does a plea for clemency help at all?

How about a record of good behavior?

I want to marry reetchick when I grow up. I really, really do.

Why I Friended You: Volume III

I swear, I was going to finish tonight, but I am fried. Hopefully, have enough energy to read porn. Or at least, look at it longingly.

*hugs to everyone*

No particular order here, just grabbing and answering as I can.

transtempts -- don't hate me--I don't remember the specific reason why I friended you originally, but I can tell you why I love reading your LJ. It's the Angel spoilers and occasional thoughts you have on it, amongst a LOT of other things, but that's what jumps out. I was SO not watching the damn show (in mourning for Doyle, you see). I avoided, avoided, avoided, then ran across something you posted before the Conner/Cordy thing and I was like, huh. Maybe.... *sighs* Now I'm addictd, dammit. Stupid show. *grins* And your daily commentary is a LOT of fun to read. Short, slightly ironic, and giggle-inducing at times.

goss -- it was the South Park thing--Beth sent me a ton of graphics on CD and I fell in love with those and had, had, had to find the creator. You know, as to keep up more easily and all. I love your art and your sense of humor, and I really get a huge kick out of your LJ. *grins* It just makes me happy.

edie22 -- I could not, for the life of me, find the log I made of some IRC chats, because that's where we met forever ago, but yeah. I liked chatting with you there and when you came to LJ, of course, HAD to keep up. Plus, EXTREMELY hot fic, and your LJ always has something vaguely off-beat about it that makes me want to come back and check it out.

ladyvyola -- I started reading your LJ when I was still in diaryland--it was just a good way to keep up with Ljdom and still stay where I was. *g* You crated and maintain that wonderful icon communtity I like to visit sometimes, and you're just so all-around nice that it's one of the few places I go when I just don't want anything even VAGUELY gripey floating around my head. *hugs* And you do some seriously good recs.

nestra -- Hmm. I think your reputation preceded you in this one--I'd read some of your work and enjoyed it, and when you came on LJ, really, had to keep up and see what you did. I like following what you do and how you do it, and you do some wonderfully diverse recs. LJ-stalking. It's all the rage. *g*

*****

I have chocolate, tea (apricot, Bencheley), and porn. Okay. Relaxing commences....now.

But seriously? Stupid Fictional Kid IS going to die. I'm so feeling the deathy vibes here.

Kind of. In a very tired, too-much-damn-training sort of way.

Getting to that. See, today, I committed technodultery.

*sighs* I cheated on my work computer with another one. Very traumatic--to both. At least, that's the only explanation I can come up with as to why the computer I was training on today KEPT LOGGING ME OUT EVERY FIVE SECONDS.

So, I have a theory.

All these computers are networked--kind of. People who do this sort of thing know what it's called, but there we are. I logged into the training computer, and obviously, my One True Work Computer recognized my login, despite the fact I was miles away at the training facility. Insta!rage. So it obviously started a barrage attack on my training computer in a jealous, molten rage of possessive anger.

It's a delicate thing, balancing the computers in my life. I want to make them feel secure, loved, appreciated. My home computer, of course, understands I am whimsical and also, cannot take it to work with me every day. It knows its place in my life. My work computer? Not so much. I think the fact I've only really had it for a month is screwing with its self-esteem--our adjustment period after it's First True User left was difficult, but I felt we had a connection. I think, when I get back to the office on Friday, we're going to need to have a long talk about boundaries and flings with foreign computers that don't detract from how I feel about it.

Until then, a tech is working on my training computer to see why on earth it was acting like it took a high dose of PCP.

I've named work computer Max, by the way. Training computer may be called a variety of expletitives, none of which are appropriate for polite company. Luckily, none of you are. *g*

Recs

stalkingeric is the place to be. Totally. Where bexless is writing this funny, cute, FUNNY, adorable, VERY COOL College!Clark and College!Lex fic. The definitive one. Also probably the first one, so definitely definitive. It's called Roomies, three parts so far.

Also, box_of_serial is puttering along nicely as Liv hits part 26 of Altville and man, I want to marry her and make her write for me ALL THE TIME. Which is, well, kind of disturbing, don't you think?

And on Saturday, dammitcarl posted Truth in Smoke at selling_out. How the Band Got Together. Oh mmmm. You rock, honey. So very much.

Distrubing News

Apparently, watching SpongeBob SquarePants on repeat is just a bad idea any way you look at it.

Take Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, who are possibly my new OTP.

I shouldn't slash cartoon character. Especially octogenarian ones. You'd think that would be a given. But no. They share a bathroom. They wear pajamas constantly. And please, ward? Like I bought that with Batman! I sat there, with soda, dead sober, watching this, going, huh. Why am I seeing this? Did someone drug me? Do I NEED to be drugged?

Similar issues arise with Rocket Power, and yes, you know which two strangely single, no-women-around, constantly vacationing and reminiscing together men I speak of.

My brain scares me badly. I won't even go into the strange chemistry of Patrick and Squidwarts, especially with that entire best-friends, bathtubs-thing in that one ep, and this is where I officially send in my reservation for the handbasket.

*sighs* And here I never believed TV rotted your brain.

I'm finishing up the 'why did I friend you' meme thingie, so if anyone wants to be added, feel free to toss your name in the ring. Hat in the ring. Hat-ring? Is a ring even involved?

Oh God, I'm tired AND rotting.

Five Ways Clark Kent Didn't Get Laid by Celli. Tell me you aren't in love with her. Go ahead. Just try. Because whoa doggies, does Clark get out there. Whee! All are good. Some are surprising. And man, the hotness never ends. Go Celli!

I'm random AND wired AND high on chocolate. I love Nestle. I swear, it can almost make up for anything. Even the tooth sitch.

Since a few people want to know why I friended them, I'll start now while I have time and a lot of good vibes. And also off the cuff, like, first impressions wise.

Okay, here we go.

celli Okay, I'm not sure of the original reason I friended you, though I think--*think*--it was during my SV blitz of reading everyone who wrote something I liked. However, that's not the make or break for friending. I liked your LJ. *grins* It's strange, I know, but when someone friends me or I find someone interesting, I usually try and make time to read two weeks worth of their LJ to see what kind of person they are, what they do, how they think, etc. And I really, really loved your LJ--upbeat, interesting, fun, with all these little slices of life in the fannishness. And I dearly love your work--seriously, it's so good and so consisent and you do really unusual things, and it makes me want to keep up with you. After we started chatting, it just became--more focused. *grins* I like you, therefore, I shall read your journal daily. Perhaps several times a day, even.

wubba -- *grins* This I remember, since it was relatively recent. I'd JUST decided not to friend anyone else for a few months, since I was having trouble keeping up, and then I stumbled across a link to something--oh, a few weeks before. That I'd MISSED. And you know, intentions, whatever, I had to friend immediately. I really do enjoy your LJ a lot, and it's--I want to say soothing, but that sounds really dumb. It's just nice to read it. Relaxing? You're just fun. And I really, really like fun.

kernzelda -- okay, I went to your LJ after you friended me--I can't remember how long after, so don't ask. And immediately, of course, forgot to do my two week read, and then--hmm. I want to say you commented in my LJ, and I looked at it and thought, hmm. I recognize that name! So I went to your LJ and liked it. Though seriously, you don't post enough there. You had interesting comments in my LJ that made me want to keep up with you and see what else you were thinking. Which is, apparently, a lot. Very happy with this.

lainy122 -- okay, mea culpa, I don't remember why. The two week rule though was in effect if I remember the time period correctly, though. But how about this--I keep reading because you make me laugh a lot. Like Celli, you make your life sound like so much fun and I like reading about it. It's--relaxing just to sit down and giggle with some coffee, you know? And this title Hey, I've been turned into a cow. Can I go home? for an entry? How the hell would I ever be able to stay away? Of course, I can't. But yes, for all those reasons.

weredonit your username. *grins* No, not that. Well, I don't think so, anyway. *thinks* Your icon? No, hold on, let me think. *grins* I like your take on fandom when you feel like it. I've never seen you be malicious at any time to anyone. And I wanted to get to know you, in that LJfannish way, so LJ was the perfect place to do so. You have this gift of snark that just does good things for me.

dijianna -- hmm. Okay, I remember because you posted in my LJ in comments, and I went to your LJ while surfing to check out what you were up to. I simply loved your recs journal--good reading! yay!--but I also found your thoughts engaging enough to want to follow along, just to see where you'd go. I'm such a sucker for interesting, provoking thinkers.

valentinemichel - I remember this. Again, relative recentness. Yay! I was looking at your work in Level Three, actually, and then noted that someone by that name was in LJ--I think you had friended me. Interested, I went to check it out, and lo! It was the writer! So okay, not so much a huge Clexer, but you wrote so well. And your posts amused me hugely. You also think a lot, and I like people who do that. In comments in my LJ, you left really thought-provoking stuff that really got me thinking. And I like that, too. And seriously, that bend toward the dark? Does good, good things to me. Few writers do it well and consistently at the same time, but your take is so--unusual. It kept my attention riveted. Even if I didn't think I'd agree with the characterization normally, your stories reconciled me to it. That make sense?

fox1013 *grins* Remember when we met in chat? I just barely recall, but I thought you were cool there, and I liked you, therefore, I friended you. And I never, ever find you boring. You like to rant, but it's not ever the kind of stuff that makes me feel like you're being militant or agenda-izing. They're cool to read. And I like you. *g* I love how your mind works--the most bizarre tangents, the most interesting and strange posts, seriously, it's sometimes hard to look away. Muppets, I ask you! MUPPETS! *G*

Okay, more later. Must think of porn. Porn. Porn. NEED it.

I think I'm collecting--scribbles. They're too long to be drabbles, too incomplete to be stories yet, too--addictive to stop writing them. And they're all like, three pages and then STOP, which is a level of frustrating that I had no idea existed. Part of it is my attention span, I think. I haven't been able to focus very well lately. I get far enough for me to not want to discard the storyline, then my head wonders off into a completely different place and it's. Well. Weird. Probably doesn't help that we're still short two in the front at work, so I'm exhausted, but that's never been a problem before when I want to write.

*sighs* Arkham and The Yard are doing the same thing for the most part. Lots of pieces that I need to assemble and every time I start, I think, oh, but I need THIS. Gah.

( god, this is embarassing )

Recs

Gotham Underground by Dana. I enjoyed this a LOT. I love Lex. I love Bruce. I warmed up to Clark quickly. *hugs Clark* Nice plotline, creepy, and fun to read. And well, yes, hot, too. Mmm.

The Enemy Within by jett. No spoilers. Read it straight through. Trust me on this one, it's best that way. Now.

The Scientific Method by Lenore. Hee! Sequel to Asset Management, Clark and Lex ponder alien--setbacks. Not that this can't be overcome with a little research.

Yes. This makes me happy. mmm.

Christmas, v.2 by zahra. This is so cute it just hurts in a good, good way. *sighs happily* Love it.

Distant Lands by Beth. Fourth in the series, links to the first three in the entry. Clexy goodness. This one involves chocolate. And I worship the ground she walks on.

Mmm. Good ficness everywhere. Re-read my hardcopy of Manifest Destiny by Livia today, teh one I printed out and carry around for emergencies. What kind of emergency, I don't know, but wouldn't it just be tragic if there WAS some kind of CLex related emergency and I was caught unprepared?

I am so a Girl Scout.

Original Entry Date: 5/30/2003, 23:11
Backdated Entry Date: created 8/20/2007, 15:37, partial copy of privatized entry.

T-ball, second practice yesterday. On Sunday, first one, recognized one of the coaches as a guy I went to school with, two years my senior.

He's married. With three daughters.

What. The. Hell.

I'm telling you, it's the normal things that screw around with my head the most. I can deal with growing up myself, because I'm in complete denial about the fact and like it muchly. But someone who used to SCARE me in high school? Not so much. Grrr. My sister couldn't help but remark on his tan and his ass. I'm thinking, is he going to make fun of my hair?

Yep, that's me, all kinds of piles of strangeness.

In more interesting news, child is definitely a lefty. This despite the fact that he writes with his right hand at school (I suspect he's been trained that direction, since his handwriting is still pretty bad even for his age, while his left hand is still better but he acts confused using it). As an aside, it IS funny--since Child learned to draw, he's tended to use both, changing hands as one of them tires. Practical kid. But he's almost always shown a decided preference for physical activity on the left side--throwing, catching, etc.

Anyway, my sister's fiance, who DOES play baseball, was the first to note that while Child threw with his left hand best, he tended to bat from either side, but backwards--using a leftie position on the right side, and a rightie on the left. Sort of. SisterFiance thinks that part of that is observation--everyone he knows and has met and played with is right handed, so he's trying to model. It's cute. I understand this could slow him down should he pursue a professional career, but well. Cute.

Teeth hurt. Want dentist. Seriously overworked, as one of us is on vacation and another is in training. Scary numbers of people with smart questions, but several with really, really, really stupid ones. Want my mommy and a pony. Would settle for someone who loves me to write me porn.

The Yard is progressing. Unlike before, I'm plotting first because my margin of error is very, very small, and well. I'm not good at plot. It's not my natural forte. Romance, sex, love, death, that sort of thing, yay! But worldbuilding? Huh. Anyway, my apologies for being weird. I'll direct you to cool people who are not weird and who are brilliant to entertain you.

box_of_serial by Livia, where lives Altville, updated regularly. Oh yummy.

rageprufrock with numerous WiP's she updates nicely.

selling_out where Jessica and co are creating a fabulous universe.

I want a pony now.

Another State of Jenn in Fandom--this is basically how I keep progress on current activities.

( lalala nothing to see here, lalala )

Anyway, as I don't have The Yard tonight, since I want to finish this particular curve and make sure it works before I start posting again....

(original entry privatized, story can be found on my webpage under the title Looking Glass

Following Standard Lemming Procedure and doing the Meme. Because, a.) I have the day off and b.) arkham just kicked my ass (Dev, Clark's a hugely insane brat, you know and c.) I really don't have anything to do.

So hmm.

*****

Writer you most wish wrote your genre or OTP

cesperanza, Mustang Sally, Darkstar, Bishclone.

taraljc with doubles -- because I would love to see her try Clark/Lex. I think she'd do some seriously unusual things with the characterizations than most of us do.

There's like, entire FANDOMS of people I'd like to transplant over. But one I know never will until I re-enter het is Dangermom, because I love how she characterizes. Dammit. Depressing.

There SHOULD be a question on who you'd drag back to your fandom despite the fact they got away and MAKE them stay--that would be Te, Merry, Julad, Mako, Lori, shallot (oh damn, would I pay for this one), Maude M, elynross, Kassie and Lar, Maygra, Kellie Matthews, Brancher....

I'd probably bliss out and never be seen again. But mmm. Worth it.

*looks to wish-list* Anyone want to give me these for Christmas? *hopeful*

Writer you did a dance of joy when you got feedback from

Te. Like, literally on this one. Basingstoke. Merry. Livia. Julad. *thinks* Diebin and Donna in X-Men movieverse. Everyone in Voyager.

Writer you would read pretty much anything they wrote

Te, Bethy, Jane St. Clair, RivkaT

Writer you admire from afar/would love to get feedback from

Jane St. Clair. You mean like a wishlist? *flushes* Trust me, my list is neurotic in the extreme.

Writer(s) who have most influenced your style in some way

Wow, that one's a no-brainer. Te-dominant. Bishclone for my early X-Men work and some of my later SV. Bethy and Victoria. Most recently Pru and Koimistress.

Writer you most want to meet and chat fic with

All of them. This isn't a short list.

Writer you most want to meet and chat smut with

Anyone who writes NC-17 that I've liked. It's a very long list. I mean, really long.

And finally, along the "bulletproof kink" (TM Te) lines, story that still turns you on no matter how many times you read it

Past Grief and Incarnadine. Have never been able to burn those out. Don't WANT to. For humor, Beth's Babyverse series, because it's just so damn good.

*****

*looks at list* Huh.

*****

Koi decides I need to be organized

Talked last night. Asked me questions. Uncomfortable questions. Tell me about this AU, jenn! What's the backstory?

Jenn: I don't know.

Koi: When did they conquer? What's Kal like? What are the Kryptonians like? How do Other!Lex and Kal know each other? Do they know each other?

Jenn: ....

Koi: *pokes* Tell me about Metropolis!

Jenn: You want me to build an entire AU world in chat, don't you?

Koi: That's a really good idea. Go right ahead.

Sort of like that, but there was more speculation on what I wanted to do as opposed to what would actually work. There was suggestions and backstory, so you know? I may not be able to move forward in plot, but damned if I don't have VERY weird backstory going on. I actually opened the chat this morning to read it and thought, wow. This is--really complex. Strangely fun. Requires flashbacks, if I can keep up the energy to write all of this.

It's intersting.

( thoughts about WiPs )

Recs

Transom by MHC. You'll need several readings, but--wow. Beautiful. Just. And hurty. That too. No spoilers. I'm not sure I'd know how to spoil it even if I wanted to, though.

Where You Are by Caro and Shellah. Oh wow. Just LOVELY. *sighs* Just the right amount of sweetness and newness and bittersweet. I loved every second. *hugs both*

Laid Bare by Bethy. Hot. *grins* Very, very, very hot. *loves Bethy*

Anger Management by Lenore. Oh GOD. Thank you Silverkyst for reminding me. This is SO good. And so funny. And yeah. I think so, considering the pictures. *grins* Hee. And very hot, did I get around to saying that? Oh yes.

Drugs of Choice by carlanesses. Drabbles and an intersting plotline to go with them. Very nice to read. More now, chica. *pokes*

Leaning by ingrid. I liked Clark so much in this. Very lovely view of him. Hmm. It's quiet, and sweet, and very gentle, and well, made my day brighter, somehow.

The Restraint of Beasts by penelope z. She knows how to make it hurt, doesn't she? Poor Clark. Poor, poor Clark.

Tertium Quid by RivkaT. You must read it. It's Lana, with all her weaknesses used as strengths and wow. That was disturbing as hell. It's Lex and Lana and Lana and Clark and all of them and none of them. You should read RIGHT NOW.

And now shall find something else to procrastinate with. Maybe make paperdolls. Hmm.