B r i g h t   S h i n y   O b j e c t s
Pieces that sparkle in the light.
Cross fandoms, cross genres, crossed wires and crossed eyes.
In other words, stuff we've been reading and thought you might enjoy too

X - M e n

Safety in Numbers by Elizabeth
This is still my favorite Logan/Rogue story, I think. It's what got me started on this whole fanfic addiction in the first place. Beautifully written, amazingly true to the characters, it still makes me weepy, no matter how many times I read it, and I've read it many times.
 

Life Less Static by Molly
Probably my second favorite L/R fic. Logan comes home and realizes a few things. I love this fic.
 

Letters and Papers from Prison by Minisinoo
A beautiful exploration of Rogue, and how she deals with one of the men in her head.  (Not a direct link)
 

X-Manson by Dr. Benway (Comicverse)
This is guaranteed to blow your mind. What if everything you ever knew about the X-Men was wrong? And not in a good way? Not for the faint of heart.
 
 

S m a l l v i l l e
 

Benediction by Te
Oh, my. Hot boys. Big gay alien sex! (NC-17)
 

Boxed by Thamiris
Amazing fic woven in and out of Metamorphosis. Not just sex, people, *character-revelatory* sex. The best damn kind there is in fiction. (NC-17)
 

Drift by Sarah T.
After "Hourglass", Lionel deals with his son.
 

Reveal by LaT
Lionel Luthor bears witness, and ruminates on his son. (NC-17)
 
 

H a r r y   P o t t e r
 

Darkness Dying by Iniga
The events leading up to the deaths of the Potters.  Comedy, angst and grown-up Marauders.  And lightbulb jokes.  Can't go wrong with a good lightbulb joke.
 

The Darkness and the Light series by R. J. Anderson
Mad Eye Moody's niece arrives at Hogwarts, eventually allying herself with Snape.  Sounds Mary-Suish?  Who cares?  It works because R.J. Anderson has a knack for creating appealing original characters and tempering their interaction with canon characters.
 

The Squid-Snape-Vorkosigan series by E. H. Smith
A sentient, wish-granting giant squid, Severus Snape, Dennis Creevey and various Vorkosigans, universe swapping and some good old angst.  Bloody excellent.  (The site linked also features a couple of detours into the Darkness and the Light trilogy, and an incredibly funny Lockhart/Trelawney, also highly recommended.)
 

Dreamwalk Blue by Viola
It's 1943.  World War 2 is raging.  The magical community is attempting to deal.  And, even when he's madly in love, Tom Riddle is a twisted little bugger.  A WIP, begun before J.K. Rowling established Dumbledore and McGonagall's ages, this is fic noir, with jazz, cocktails, cigarettes and style.
 
 

T h e   W e s t   W i n g
 

Dancing Drunk by Teanna
Teanna's writing surprises me and I do like being surprised. Just when you're telling yourself "you can't do that in fic," Teanna says you can and goddamn, she'll show you how. This is a dark story of a steady decay - a CJ and Toby who are not nice, and not coping.
 

Whatever Happened To Baby Mandy? by Teanna
This is Mandy the way we like her. She's a bitch and with a potty-mouth that makes a sailor blush.  And I love a writer who can get away with this sort of thing: "Bitch. Bitch. Bitch. Yeah, whatever."
 

Opportunity Cost by The Stylus
It's just such a slow and beautiful story. You find yourself seeing CJ and Abbey exchanging longing looks over drinks and you can imagine the detail. The quick looks, the shake of a head. I want more!
 

Revelation by Luna
When you've written so many stories at such a high standard, it has to be hard to top yourself. But "Revelation" has become a clear favourite for me in Luna's oevre. This writing is so beautiful it makes me want to throw my word processor out a window and give up ever trying to write something that is this good. I think what impresses me most about it, is that it's a romance that is real - it's like believing in fairy tales. CJ and Toby the way we wish it would be.
 

Carrying Cathy by Luna
We could probably just stick up a link to Luna's stories here and leave it at that, but I think those of you who are unfamiliar with her stuff might appreciate a couple of suggestions to start with. This a very subtle fic that investigates that elusive definition of love and offers up a sad answer.