the ties that bind us by artic_fox (pg-13)

[sandystarr88.livejournal.com]

Fandom Category: Pirates of the Caribbean
Pairing: Elizabeth Swann/James Norrington
Fic Title: The Ties That Bind Us
Author: [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/norribeth/58303.html
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13
Genre: AU
WIP?: No

Why This Must Be Read: "Missed opportunities" is probably the main theme of the pairing of Elizabeth Swann and James Norrington, and this fic takes one of those missed turns in their relationship and brings them together in this post-CotBP AU. Elizabeth is not in love with James Norrington (at least not yet), but he still does everything in his power to make her happy.

Two Iron Man recs.

[little-giddy.livejournal.com]

Fandom Category: Iron Man (movieverse)  
Pairing: Tony Stark/Pepper Potts
Fic Title: Days Like These
Author: abvj 
Link: http://abvj.livejournal.com/68765.html
Rating/Warning(s): pg13
Genre: Character study, UST.
WIP?: No. One shot, 4000 words.

Why This Must Be Read: The fic is set throughout the year after the film. The style is gorgeous. It took me one or two sections to really get into it, but when it does click into place, it's brilliant. Pepper's characterisation is fantastic: capable, smart, funny, dry-witted and above all, this really portrays exactly how warm she is - even when she's pretending not to be and especially when she doesn't want to be. Tony is right on the money as well, and what I adored about this was the way Tony is presented initially as annoyingly immature, but the details around the dialogue flesh out the fact that he both is and isn't. This all sounds rather deep and all that, but what makes this fic one of my favourites is how it's all done: with a sense of humour and understated cuteness that makes it flow.

( Short excerpt. )

Fandom Category: Iron Man (movieverse)  
Pairing: Tony Stark/Pepper Potts
Fic Title: Welcome to Gaza
Author: dollygrip 
Link: http://dollygrip.livejournal.com/6432.html
Rating/Warning(s): G
Genre: Humour, fluff. UST.
WIP?: No, one shot. About 2000 words, est.

Why this must be read: Another everyday mission to save the world... with a twist. I'm reccing it because I laughed out loud several times in the middle section. It's light-hearted, short and made me grin.

( Short excerpt. )

Twist of Fate by 38gnihsurc (NC-17)

[aj.livejournal.com]

Fandom Category: Veronica Mars
Pairing: Veronica Mars/Duncan Kane, Veronica Mars/Eli "Weevil" Navarro
Fic Title: Twist of Fate
Author: 38gnihsurc
Link: http://38gnihsurc.livejournal.com/tag/twist%20of%20fate
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17; AU, retelling of season 2 with spoilers therein.
Genre: Action/Adventure, Mystery, AU, Retelling, Romance, Friendship.
WIP?: Complete.

Why This Must Be Read: This was actually a new find for me. It's an AU retelling of season 2 with the premise of instead of Meg being on the bus, Veronica is. It's very respectful of the current canon but gives a lot more face time to Eli and lets Veronica really make some decisions about her life and where she wants it to go. I honestly like the Veronica in this story more than I do the one in the aired season 2, and not just because of the pairing. This is the Veronica we got to know in season 1 carrying through and keeping herself grounded and in charge, even when a lot of her control is taken away.

The Paths We Travel by (PG-13)

[lady-s.livejournal.com]

Fandom Category: Iron Man
Pairing: Tony Stark & Pepper Potts
Fic Title: The Paths We Travel
Author:Staars
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4255598/25/The_Paths_We_Travel
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13
Genre: Romance and Action
WIP?: Complete

Why This Must Be Read: The plot of wonderfully thought out and contains many twists. It have wodnerful characters that fans loved in the movie, plus new characters that are more than your average Mary-Sue. The Characterization is very well done and it all makes sense to the fandom.