. . . Looking back on March

Hi! This is my monthly look back at what I read and loved. I've provided a soundtrack if you'd like.

In Feb & March I found myself stressed with fandom obligations, without the time I usually spend completely immersed in fic worlds.


So once I was released from obligation (could I be more dramatic?), you can imagine how happy I was to come across some new favorites from the land of fic!!  

WHAT I READ

CUE DROP IT LIKE IT'S HOT

I was a judge in the High Times contest, which was really fun and yielded some great fic! I was surprised by the quality. See THIS POST for a breakdown of a handful of my faves.

Real quick:

Racerback by Zigster

Official Description: "As I watch him do the breast stroke through the choppy morning waters, I almost want to be in his place. What would it be like to be so alone?" AH/AU Ed, Jas and pot cookies. Entry for the High Times Contest

Weekend At Longmeadow by winterstale and Viola Cornuta
Official Description: Garrett & Jasper met as kids, left Texas as founders of Hill Country Outlaws. Edward, Emmett and Peter ramble along to a lakehouse party for grass and girls. Tune in, get turned on and smoke up. M/F/M. Entry for the High Times Contest

La Beep Beep by yellowglue

Official Description: Meaning. A sunny day. Life. Truth... A safe place... And bottomless supply of Swedish Fish. "Yesterday and Today" on vinyl. And pink pot. Because we're all searching for things. E/B entry for the High Times Contest.

Candy From Strangers by Chicklette

Official Description: "This weekend, I will kiss a boy. I will drink alcohol…I will do everything that Bella Swan never does. I might even take candy from a stranger." Entry for the High Times Contest

~oOo~

Usually I go for AU or AH, dark stories of great angst or sweet, happy romps, cracky laughfests, emotional depth, straight up smut. I love it all, especially when executed in a stellar manner. 

But starting last month and well into this month I could only do heart happy fics. The great news is... I found a bunch of GREAT ones that I can't wait to rec.

CUE POLYPHONIC HEART HAPPINESS

Green by Bratty-Vamp
Official Description: What happens when lawn-boy, geek, and self-proclaimed social leper finds himself in a situation that shakes his comfortable invisibility? Will he stay green? AU- All human. COMPLETE

This was rec'd to me by purelyamuse who has hooked me up with some choice fic this month. This story was just what the doctor ordered. I read it front to back in a day or so. It was so sweet!

purely wrote a great review of it on her blog

How to Win Back the Love of Your Existence by Missypooh
Official Description: It's 4 years after Edward leaves Bella. There are no werewolves. Bella & Jake were never more than friends. Bella has grown up, graduated from College, has a boyfriend & is moving back to Seattle to attend Law School when her path crosses Edward's. EPOV COMPLETE

This story pulled me in and I consumed chapter after chapter, wanting to know what will happen next. This author has got Edward's voice down.

Just like the title says, Edward has to find a way to win Bella back after he decimated her heart and she has moved on. But the context of her new life adds SO much to this premise, as do the changes that Edward will have to make.

This was a fun read! AND, chapter 22 should be required reading for every male of our species. For reals.

Dear Mr. Masen by jendonna
(a collab between jennde and belladonna1472)
Official Description: "Error 434: Reprimanding an executive." Life changing or just stupid? Dear Mr. Masen: A story of unauthorized Internet usage, culinary delights and the goings-on at Cullen, Inc. AH, ExB. WIP

Bella is a culinary dynamo stuck in the IT department at Cullen Inc. Edward is CFO and a workaholic. Bella sends Mr. Masen an email reprimanding him for unauthorized internet usage. He writes back mentioning he had spent that time looking for a recipe for a date that went terribly. This is one of many dating blunders that the two share as they start writing back and forth, commiserating and developing a friendship over email.

They are so charming and flawed. I am loving their "banter" via email. So far this has been so very sweet and a very quick read. Definitely a heart happy fic.

Said and Done by ICMezzo
Official Description: Graduate students Edward and Jasper feel the connection, but is it enough to overcome their differences? EdwardxJasper slash, human/vampire love. RATED M. COMPLETE

I LOVE me some vampSlash and this one was funny! Like I was legit laughing out loud at several points.

Oh, this Edward. This velcro-loving, neurotic Edward who is always trying to maintain his pride and dignity in the face of his siblings who are constantly entertained at his expense.

And Jasper, trying to maintain boundaries with a vampire Edward who has no qualms about following him everywhere.

It's also refreshing to not have Edward and Alice's powers playing into things. And I love that because he hasn't had access to people's minds for the duration of his vampirehood, he is stuck with the basic understanding of humans and human nature. Well, whatever he's witnessed or been able to pick up with his keen vampire hearing. This Edward is left with a lot less insight, yet he retains the cocky Edward pride. Fabulous, the trouble that gets him into!

Also, ICMezzo provides a special treat of outtakes and funny missing moments in her A/Ns! My favorite was Jasper's Batslash dream with Edward as Dracula/Batman!!

It took several chapters to get going, but once it did, this story was charming and funny and a great frickin read!!

The following two fics weren't straight up heart happy --- 

there was tension and drama, and really two very stellar all-round fic reads.

For the Summer by Camoozle
Official Description: Every year Bella waits for the 'Pay Checks' to roll into her sleepy river town and every year Edward's hers, just for the summer. AH, AU, OOC, B/E COMPLETE

I LOVE this story!
I've heard about how great it is forever but I think I was avoiding it because I just assumed that Edward would be this entitled asshole. Not so. purelyamuse again steered me in the right direction and said if I didn't read this we couldn't be friends. Just kidding. Not really.

The story takes place over a series of 17 summers, starting from when Edward and Bella are both little. Reading about their summer adventures was like living vicariously.

Camoozle's writing is so natural and very true to her character of Bella. Especially as she evolves and changes over time. Very tight. And what a frickin Bella! It was interesting to be inside the head of such a dynamic character. She saw Edward's flaws and acknowledged her own, which is refreshing. And there was nothing malicious about their conflict. Just genuinely good people who have problems communicating their true feelings.

This was a straight up great read. A burst of happy combined with fantastic storytelling.

The Art Teacher by spanglemaker9
Official Description: He gave me art and words and passion and life, but all I wanted was him. COMPLETE

Faque me, this fic.

I LOVE when an author uses a character's interpretation of art as another means of delving into the character. Starting in the very first chapter we get a glimpse of where this Bella is coming from through her selection and description of a particular painting.

And we get to see the passion and enthusiasm Edward has for art as he teaches a seminar at Bella's school. Understandably, Bella feels a pull towards him.

"I listen as he talks about art and how it can speak for us where words fail."

And this Bella is no wide-eyed little girl - she can sense that he feels it too.

I was pleased to find out that the majority of the story takes place when they are no longer teacher and student. And it was majorly refreshing, some of the turns this story took.

This was such a fantastic story! If you drool, like I do, over sensual description of color and form - this story is for you. If the idea of Artistward gives you goosebumps, what the hell are you waiting for? Go read this now!

~oOo~

Another way I found to slough off the stress? 

Two words: Batman. Slash.

CUE BATMAN AWESOMENESS
(btw, The Edge from U2 did this theme song for one of the more recent incarnations of animated Batman.)

My new obsession was sparked by a Batman animated movie which has been playing on Netflix streaming - Batman: Under the Red Hood. It explores the relationship between Batman and Jason, the boy who was the 2nd Robin. It seemed to just skim the surface of a really complicated dynamic. So I sought out fanfic to fill in the blanks. Which of course led me directly to Batslash. And that's where I've been ever since.

My OTP... Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson (Robin #1)

I won't go into it here too much but there are some fascinating possibilities that arise when you have Bruce Wayne, a stoic, emotionally stunted individual who is powerful both physically and societally due to his wealth and status.

And he's interacting with this funny, lively younger man who he took under his wing, training Dick to become the first Robin (the original partner in crime-fighting). So then here's Dick who is looking for love and approval while simultaneously trying to prove himself and assert his independence.

Now imagine when you stir in relationship uncertainty, sexual tension, and the adrenaline rush that comes from beating up bad guys and saving the day. Talk about ripe for fanfic. Ok, I went into it, but just a little bit.

WHAT I WROTE

You didn't think I'd leave you with just one Polyphonic reference, did you?

CUE THE MOST HAPPY-MAKINGEST BAND ON EARTH COVERING THE QUINTESSENTIAL ANGSTY BAND, NIRVANA.

I wrote...

My Contribution to Pop Culture

...which would be the inclusion of an Althea-ism into urbandictionary. WOOT!


READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY:

Why You Gotta Be Pullin' That Fic
I don't understand why pulling fic is so common. I sometimes wonder if authors even realize the negatives. Even if you pull them, your stories are still out there. Someone will claim your words as theirs, and there will be nothing you can do to prove otherwise (unless you want to pay to get lawyers involved). Click on my post to see what I mean.

FOR TWIFIC PIMPS

The Fanfic My Fanfic contest is now over. Here are results.

http://fanficmyfanfic.blogspot.com/