Rec the Thing

I haven't read widely in the Summer of Horror collection yet, but here are some things I've enjoyed so far!

Nor Any Drop (Biggles books (WE Johns), gen, 12K)
Blowing up the reservoir has more consequences than Biggles expected. AU of Biggles Flies East.

This is possibly one of the tensest fanfic reading experiences I have EVER had, due in part to having absolutely no idea who (if anyone) was going to survive and how (if so) they possibly could survive. The horror element is absolutely horrific but in a low-key way that's more psychologically horrifying than splattery/gory. If you don't know the canon, I think you could probably read this as original fiction and pretend they're OC WWI spies on opposite sides. If this was an original horror story, it would be a very good one IMHO.

On and On and On (Archie comics, gen, 1400 wds)
It's another sunny day in Riverdale, and Archie is heading into the woods with his friends. Surely the witch he's heard so much about doesn't really live there too...

This one has a really excellent, chilling twist that works wonderfully with the canon and I absolutely did not see coming.

Sokovia, still (Falcon & the Winter Soldier, gen, 1200 wds)
Although it had fallen, Sokovia refused to go quietly.

I think it's the matter-of-factness that makes this one so chilling: yes, Sokovia is full of ghosts; no, there's nothing to be done about it, any more than the tragedy that created them can be fixed. You just have to deal with it and move on. I love the sense of ... I don't even really know what to call it, jaded despair that permeates this story.

The Three-Eyed Shadow (Yu Yu Hakusho, Hiei & Yukina gen, 2800 wds)
Yukina is kidnapped in Makai before she manages to reach the human world. Things go... a little differently.

A little detour into one of my very old fandoms! Yukina's story is tragic enough in canon (she's an ice maiden whose tears are jewels, who is kidnapped and tortured to make her cry to cause her captors to become rich; all of that is actual canon) and this is a turn-left-at-canon AU take on that. The descriptions of her situation are very vivid and chilling, and this variation on her rescue takes things in a very different direction than canon.

And I was completely thrilled with my gifts! Both are for the Biggles book series.

Red as Blood (Biggles books, Biggles/von Stalhein, 3000 wds)
A deliciously dark, atmospheric and vivid Beauty and the Beast tale with really nice character/relationship arcs and a powerful ending.

Still and White (Biggles/von Stalhein, 4200 wds)
Snowbound in a castle with a ghost! Eerie, haunting (literally and figuratively) and sometimes charmingly funny, with a wonderful and chilling coda.

Fic in a Box released this past week!

Recs post for fics and art at my journal here.

Fandoms: Falcon & Winter Soldier, Benjamin January Mysteries, Dark Matter, Justified, Persuasion, Captain Marvel, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Vorkosigan Saga, original work.

trickortreatex released this past weekend! Here are a few recs from that. All are still anonymous.

I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) (Ted Lasso, Roy & Keeley, 700 wds)
Phoebe cajoles Keeley and Roy into dressing up and taking her trick-or-treating. Keeley is enthused. Roy...is less so. Completely adorable. I haven't seen S2 yet but didn't notice any spoilers. Roy being a grumpy, devoted uncle is always my jam.

echoes never ceased (Falcon & Winter Soldier, 400 wds, Sam & Bucky gen)
The hospital's been quiet, so far. Really creepy and excellent.

Your Hands Will Do (Falcon & Winter Soldier, Bucky/Zemo, 2200 wds, explicit)
“Everyone has needs, James. It's nothing to be ashamed of.” Bucky needs some help after both his vibranium arm and his other arm are damaged in a fight. Sweet and hot, and has excellent Sam too.

That Special Touch (Cobra Kai, Johnny/Daniel, 1100 wds)
"The sooner you stop complaining, the sooner we'll be done." Pumpkin carving at the LaRusso household. Very cute.

Tuned (Cobra Kai, 975 wds, gen)
So Johnny has magic mind-reading powers now. It should alarm him, Daniel thinks, how easily he’s accepted that. Johnny with telepathy, and somehow it works! Fun, sweet, and a bit angsty, with dead-on character voices.

Monsters Come Out At Night (Stranger Things, Steve/Nancy/Jonathan, 1300 wds)
"So?" Steve asks, shifting on his feet. "Is it something or…" Monster-hunting casefic with established relationship! It has that properly creepy Stranger Things feel, and the character dynamics are really lovely.


And one bonus rec:

Locks and Keys by latestillusion (Falcon & Winter Soldier, Sam/Bucky/Zemo, 1100 wds, explicit)
Sam and Bucky convince Zemo to try out a chastity device that comes with two separate locks. Chastity-belt porn, very sweet and hot.