Templum Bellonae

If you’ve never seen Dexter, this story won’t make any sense. If you have, you’ll recognize that Fahye has Dexter’s voice down cold, and that’s what makes this story so good.

And it’s a gift from my foster father, just like everything else that comprises the person that the world knows as Dexter Morgan; all those bits and pieces of Harry, wedged between the fragments that were once a terrified child, somehow making up an entire human being. Of sorts.

“– to dispose of the body. Creepy motherfucker. He doesn’t deserve a taxpayer-funded cremation if you ask me, Dex.”

Dangerously distracted Dexter.I blink my way back towards the light, the telephones hammering away at my sleep-deprived senses, and Angel Batista’s disgusted indignation.

“Sorry, I was spacing out there.”

Spoilers for the entire first season of Dexter. I’m serious—if you’ve never watched the show (or at least read the books), don’t read this. It will spoil one of the best shows on TV. This may well be the only television show about which I ever say this: it’s better than the books. The cast is perfect, the acting is brilliant, and the writing is sharp and funny and absolutely right. Go watch Dexter—or at least pick up a copy of Darkly Dreaming Dexter.

Ask Me How by Fahye

Oh my god, I love this story! John is a robot.

SGA fandom kicks so much ass.

The Difference Engine by Sam Starbuck

A fairly short, slightly angsty, delightfully romantic piece of fluff. In an attempt to put a halt to a demonic investment scheme, Spike takes part in a plan Xander hates.

Lt. Uhura and the Change of Life by Witling

(Link is to the first story in the series.)

This is one of my favourite Firefly fanfics. The whole cast is perfectly themselves. The plot goes AU sometime between Objects in Space and the Big Damn Movie. This story is a good example of how a few small changes can change everything, and it’s also total wish fulfilment for me, changing everything about Serenity that I didn’t love, and leaving all the parts I did. (Not that I would have preferred to see the movie happen this way, exactly, but I’m happy to see it explored in fic.) There are five stories in the series:

1. Two Gorram Days: while the others go off on a rescue mission, Jayne, laid up with a broken leg, is left to look after River. He finds this less difficult and more enjoyable than he expects.
   
2. Kinship: Simon and Inara become friends, River and Jayne get closer, and Mal is in a bad mood.
   
3. Bank Job: an alternate version of Serenity: Those Left Behind, featuring a girls’ afternoon in and the end of the Hands of Blue guys (Say what you like about Joss Whedon, the man can create some seriously creepy villains. Note to self: never watch Hush alone late at night ever again.)
   
4. Miranda: alternate version of the Big Damn Movie, with enough changes to keep you on the edge of your seat, even when you think you know what’s coming.
   
5. Prodigal: after Miranda, they all get to meet the family Jayne left behind many years earlier.

I don’t like Prodigal as much as the others, and there’s some squabbling at the end of Miranda that kind of annoys me (but much less than it would in another fandom, because Joss Whedon’s characters totally would intrude on each other’s private lives in just this way), but overall it’s an awesome series, set in a fandom that doesn’t have nearly enough fic. Dyce hits the characters’ voices perfectly, too.

Horseshoe Nails by Dyce

This is a multi-part, in-progress AU spinoff from Unrealized Realities, exploring how John Crichton might have come to be a Peacekeeper Captain. Although it’s unfortunately not finished yet, the first two seasons (up until When the Chips are Down) are complete, and the latest update (The Devil You Know) was posted March 22, 2008, so it’s still being updated!

In Unrealized Peacekeeper, Tauvo Crais manages to avoid a collison with John’s module, so the escaping prisoners on Moya don’t bother to recapture John and Aeryn. Instead, John is put to work on wormhole tech by Captain Crais.

I love this story so much. The characterizations are wonderful, and so is the plot. It manages to be faithful to the big events of Farscape canon, while still telling its own story. If it’s ever complete, it may rival In the Company of Ghosts as my favourite Farscape story.

Unrealized Peacekeeper by OneEye

Those crazy Ancients with their ascension machines! This time, John touches an impotence machine, which puts a hold on his sex life but not on his relationship with Rodney.

Strange How Certain the Journey by Telesilla

Sam and Vala and some pornographic etchings.

“Samantha Carter, I didn’t think you were that kind of girl.”

Girls on Film by Splash the Cat

After Look at the Princess, Aeryn finds a new scent to try out on Crichton.

Brisingamen by Technosage

John gets an erection at an inappropriate time.

Do-Over by Carolyn Claire

When the team have to wear dresses, John offers Rodney what he thinks is affectionate teasing. Rodney does not agree.

Elizabeth smiled and cocked her head at John. “Major, would you please put on your dress now? It’s just your color.”

“Since when has puce been my color?”

“Ah, he even knows his color names,” Rodney said. “I’m so impressed by your machismo.”

Dress You Up by lizarin

AJ. Justin. A used-car lot. No, it’s not an AU.

Used by Chris J.

Followed by Windfall.

John eats some fruit. My reaction can be summed up in the words of the first commenter: Holy FUCK.

Forbidden Fruit by Cathy

AU in which John agrees to be, basically, a sperm donor for Jeannie McKay. I don’t know what it is about this fandom, but for some reason, the kids in Stargate fanfic manage not to be annoying.

“I want to go over to Corrie’s–”

“Let’s see,” Rodney began, hands on his hips, “can we phrase that as a question?”

“Let’s see,” Sara drawled, matching his pose, “can *we* go over to Corrie’s tonight and watch movies?”

“Hm,” Rodney said, because it was always important to give the impression that you were taking your kids seriously and thinking about the ideas they were presenting to you, not just making a snap decision without giving their suggestions the proper consideration they deserved. “No!”

Small Primes and Square Roots by Livia

Make-believe and Crazy Space Incest.

“Thank you, Simon.”

“Anything for you. Except cannibalism, if it can possibly be helped.”

“Our crew were contaminated in the crash. Cannibalism’s out of the question.”

“Thank you.”

The Edges of Things by Jane St. Clair

Atlantis

Rodney opened his mouth again, then closed it abruptly. People often accused him of lacking a filter between his brain and his mouth. Those people were just idiots who didn’t like hearing the truth about themselves. Rodney was absolutely not going to yell, Colonel Sheppard’s cockblocking me! in front of everyone on the senior staff.

Trying to Pull on Braxa by 30toseoul

Three months after NFA, TPTB bring Darla back for her shot at redemption.

Okay, so. romanyg came up with this cool idea of having “Darla: the Series,” gender swapping the key roles in A:tS. And it was a really, really cool idea. And it inspired me. So, if it *was* Darla’s TV show instead of Angel’s, and we didn’t AU but worked post-NFA, as a spinoff series, giving all my favorite dead characters screen time… what would we get?

Unfortunately a WIP, and not updated since the end of 2005.

Darla: the Series by Dess

Yet another Angel S6 series, this one the collaborative effort of a number of authors. Angel, Spike, Illyria, and Gunn survive the last battle, and a few other old friends show up in the course of the season. And in lieu of the Hyperion, the AI team is now living in an old movie theatre (which actually would have been pretty cool-looking if they’d done it on the show. And so perfect for the L.A. setting…)

Angel: No Limits by Ladycat, The Brat Queen, Jane Davitt, Just Human, Kara, Kita, Mad Poetess, Ros Fod, Soundingsea, Stakebait, Tracy, WesleysGirl and Wolfling

If the events of Deep Down had happened in a different way. As you’ll have realized by now, I have much love for any story with Connor in it, but this is also a very well-written story, and one that I wish had a sequel or three.

Odi et Amo by Corinna

Strange and disturbing conversation between Wesley and Connor, mostly about Jasmine.

North Northwest by Stakebait

Lois and Lex start sleeping together, and Clark gets jealous. Except…

New Habits by Suz