Like Describing the Alphabet by Mosca (Jayne/Mal | NC-17)

Fandom: Firefly
Pairings/Characters: Jayne/Mal, Kaylee/Inara, Wash/Zoe
Rating: NC-17
Wordcount: 42,000
Author: Mosca
Website: none?
Summary: In which Mal unbuilds some walls; Jayne learns to kiss on the mouth; and nobody gets left behind.
Why: I was feeling a little depressed this afternoon, so to be entirely truthful, I almost clicked the back button as soon as I started reading this. My (admittedly limited) experience with Jayne/Mal fic has always indicated something hot but slightly depressing, and I really wasn't in the mood for that. However, something made me keep reading past that initial dread of angst, and I'm so glad I did. This story did a wonderful job of drawing me in and then keeping me there until the end. It also wasn't nearly as dark as I had been expecting. Instead, it was perfect. There was angst where there needed to be angst, but there was also a lot of sweetness and a lot of laughs along the way. I loved the way that the author wrote all the characters and their relationships. In short, completely contrary to my expectations, this story was exactly what I needed (and wanted!) to read.

Like Describing the Alphabet by Mosca

Island by Punk (Riku/Sora | G)

Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Pairings/Characters: Riku/Sora
Rating: G
Wordcount: 250
Author: Punk
Website: The Underground
Summary: The water feels like wind, like flying.
Why: I'm not usually a fan of the really short stuff, but this was just lovely. I could almost taste Sora's longing.

Island by Punk

Five Things Anya Learned About Dimitri by memlu (Anastasia/Dimitri | G)

Fandom: Anastasia
Pairings/Characters: Anastasia/Dimitri
Rating: G
Wordcount: 410
Author: Mekosuchinae (current personal journal)
Website: Memlu (currently being used as an archive
Summary: Against all odds and his own claims to the contrary, Dimitri is a romantic.
Why: Sometimes the five things format doesn't work for me, but when it works...well, it really works. That's the case with this one. I loved the author's insights into Dimitri's character, and I also loved seeing him through Anastasia's eyes. He's always been one of my favorite Disney guys, and this is why. ♥

Five Things Anya Learned About Dimitri by memlu

For the Good of the Scheme by Sahiya (Gregor/Miles | PG-13)

Fandom: Vorkosigan Saga
Pairings/Characters: Gregor/Miles
Rating: PG-13
Wordcount: 3,700
Author: Sahiya
Website: Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
Summary: Gregor was in a closet. It smelled like Ivan's socks. And it was all Miles's fault.
Why: Sahiya is one of the immensely talented authors of A Deeper Season, the classic Gregor/Miles story, so it probably should come as no surprise that I loved this. Sahiya has some really great comedic timing that had me snickering the entire way through this. I also really loved seeing a younger Miles and Gregor. Oh, and Ivan! I'm always an Ivan fangirl, but I don't think it's bias talking when I say that Ivan is amazing in this story. Not to mention the dialogue; there are so many great lines in this story that I found myself stopping quite a few times just to re-read them and laugh properly. In all, this is a really fun romp that I highly enjoyed.

For the Good of the Scheme by Sahiya