Challenge 85: 5 Multifandom Recs (X-Men, FFVII, Twilight, Sailor Moon)

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5 Multifandom AU recs (because that's how I roll).

Fandom Category: X-Men (movie-verse)
Pairing: Jean Grey/Scott Summers
Fic Title: How the Leopard Changed Her Spots
Author: Minisinoo
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1647028/1/HOW_THE_LEOPARD_CHANGED_HER_SPOTS
Rating/Warning(s): T/PG-13
Genre: AU, Power swap
WIP?: No

Why This Must Be Read: So this is the 3rd time I've rec'd Min's work on this comm I regret nothing! but this fit so well with the current challenge that I couldn't NOT rec it. This is a power swap AU of X-Men 1 so everyone (except Professor X) has someone else's power. In this story Jean has Mystique's mutation and fights on Magneto's side, while Scott has Cypher's mutation, which allows him to learn, understand, and speak any kind of language (e.g. spoken language, body language, computer language, etc.). He's also deaf. It is so, so fascinating to see how these fundamental changes in mutation/ability shape both Jean and Scott. They're so different to their canon counterparts, but at the same time, the core of each of these characters remains. It includes an excellent and sensitive portrayal of living with a hearing disability, as well as a rousing and impassioned defense of diversity, tolerance, and compassion delivered by Scott to the Senate during the hearing about the Mutant Registration bill. So. Good. Go read it! Now!


Fandom Category: Final Fantasy VII
Pairing: Yuffie Kisaragi/Vincent Valentine
Fic Title: The Difference
Author: Rose Flame
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2670694/1/The_Difference
Rating/Warning(s): R/M. Warnings for war, muchos angst, adultery, character death, age difference (kind of hard to avoid when one of the characters is immortal). NO PEDO, don't worry.
Genre: AU
WIP?: No

Why This Must Be Read: In this AU, instead of getting sealed up in a coffin for 50 years, Vincent chooses to live as a hermit in the forests of Wutai, where he eventually meets a young Yuffie Kisaragi. This story covers their relationship over the years as she grows up, goes off to explore the world, joins Cloud's crew, becomes ruler of Wutai, and beyond. It's wonderful to see how their relationship naturally grows and evolves without ever getting into squick-y territory. A lovely and bittersweet read.


Fandom Category: Twilight
Pairing: Bella Swan/Jacob Black
Fic Title: Human Nature
Author: SleepySheep683
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6363639/1/Human_Nature
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17/M. Warnings for explicit sex, racism
Genre: All human AU
WIP?: No

Why This Must Be Read: This story was everything I ever wanted out of an All-Human Twilight AU. It's a realistic view of how Jacob and Bella's relationship might have gone if there were no such thing as vampires or werewolves. Even without supernatural barriers, the course of true love never does run smooth. Unlike in canon, the author doesn't avoid the whole racism issue. There would be very real and understandable reservations from friends and family on both sides with regard to a relationship between a white girl and a Native American boy. Moreover, there would be realistic issues when there's an age difference and one partner goes off to college while the other's still in high school. Finally, the author doesn't fail to address the issue of poverty and class. These are all "mundane" issues compared to the canon supernatural issues, but this fic perfectly demonstrates that "mundane" doesn't have to equal "boring".


Fandom Category: Sailor Moon
Pairing: Ami Mizuno/Hermes (OC)
Fic Title: Ami's Odyssey
Author: Queen
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/198447/1/Amis_Odyssey
Rating/Warning(s): PG/K+
Genre: AU, Crossover with Greek Mythology
WIP?: No

Why This Must Be Read: It's a Sailor Moon and Greek mythology crossover! What's not to love? So according to Greek mythology, Athena and Poseidon compete with each other to claim Athens for their own. In this story, Poseidon calls upon Ami Mizuno aka Sailor Mercury, Senshi of Ice and Water, to destroy Athens when he loses, assuming that their shared elemental affinity would make her sympathetic to his cause. She refuses and he takes away her crystal, which allows her to transform. Now she has to get it back and Hermes becomes her reluctant companion as punishment for stealing Sailor Pluto's time key, which allowed Poseidon to pull Ami back through time. This is a rollicking adventure through Greece and time, with notable mythological figures making cameos here and there. Very much worth reading.


Fandom Category: Sailor Moon
Pairing: Usagi Tsukino ("Serena")/Mamoru Chiba ("Darien"), the rest of the Senshi/various male OCs
Fic Title: To the Gentleman in the Back
Author: Alicia Blade (aka Marissa Meyer who just relased her YA debut, Cinder, this past January)
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4492014/1/To_the_Gentleman_in_the_Back
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13/T. Um, warnings for dudes being skeevy?
Genre: American AU, no powers
WIP?: No

Why This Must Be Read: So in this AU all the Sailor Senshi are American (so they all go by their American Dub names) and they never had special powers. Lita (Makoto/Sailor Jupiter) is head chef at a swanky restaurant, Mina (Minako/Sailor Venus) is a model, Raye (Rei/Sailor Mars) just opened her own art gallery, Amy (Ami/Sailor Mercury) is a medical student, and Serena (Usagi/Sailor Moon) is unemployed with a degree in PR. All 5 girls decide to join a date auction to help raise money for the hospital Amy works at. Ah, date auctions...I unapologetically love this trope. Aside from Serena and Darien, most of the ships involve male OCs (although you may recognize Lita's beau(s) from their cameos in canon), who are all fascinating characters in their own right. The fic is a fun ride with some interesting relationship musical chairs. You'll enjoy yourself immensely.


May I have a Yuffie/Vincent tag, please? And I guess an Ami Mizuno/OC tag since that got 2 recs. OC pairing tags for Makoto Kino, Minako Aino, and Rei Hino would be lovely but not necessary.