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- DCU - The Romantic Machinations of Timmy the Elf Who Didn't Want to be a Dentist, and his Faithless Sidekick, Yukon Cassandra by Kerrie Smith - There were times while reading this that I actually had to stop for half a minute to just laugh, because I couldn't read and giggle that hard at the same time. Dick and Babs get into a fight and Tim makes it his mission over the next few weeks to get them back together in order to Save Christmas, and in the process is extremely cute with Cass. I *heart* Tim/Cass vibes. But the funny is why you must read this story. And if you don't crack up laughing at the party scene, you are not human, not even close. (Dick/Babs, and mild Tim/Cass vibes.)
- DCU - Scar Tissue by Smitty - *sigh* I really am running out of ways to describe Smitty's fics, because they all have that same sparkly feel to them that I associate with the characters at their best. Scar Tissue capitalizes on both their angst and their light-heartedness without dragging either out too long. It's not pure fluff and it's not wallowing in angst; it's... just one of those quieter moments that define how a relationship will go. (Dick/Babs.) - DCU - Holiday (Drop) Ins by Smitty - More pure, unadulterated fun. I honestly can't decide who I like best in this story, because they're all terribly amusing. Though, I think, I have to give the most props to Dinah, whom Smitty obviously enjoyed the heck out of writing. Though, I wanted to hug Cass to little bitty pieces, too. ^_^ (Dick/Babs, li'l bit Bruce/Dinah.) - DCU - A New Year to Remember and Family Reactions and To Catch a Killer by Terri Hayes - Once again, let me start off with my 'problems' with the (first two) fics--they're very exposition-y, they almost felt more like character essays than fic, and while that's hardly a bad thing, it's just not the same as fic. That aside, Terri's takes on the characters are wonderful, very solid and much in agreement with my own. The writing is smooth and readable and "To Catch a Killer" is an excellent case story. Actually, that one doesn't 'suffer' (a word I hesitate to use) from the same problem the other two do and is easily my favorite of her writing. It's one of those rare stories that actually weaves an interesting case and keeps my attention on it, and does the idea justice. The little details were wonderful, as well as the characters' reactions. And Alfred! Dude, Alfred rocks. (Fair amount of Dick/Babs in the story.) - DCU - Holiday (Drop) Ins by Smitty - More pure, unadulterated fun. I honestly can't decide who I like best in this story, because they're all terribly amusing. Though, I think, I have to give the most props to Dinah, whom Smitty obviously enjoyed the heck out of writing. Though, I wanted to hug Cass to little bitty pieces, too. ^_^ (Dick/Babs, li'l bit Bruce/Dinah.) - DCU - Scar Tissue by Smitty - *sigh* I really am running out of ways to describe Smitty's fics, because they all have that same sparkly feel to them that I associate with the characters at their best. Scar Tissue capitalizes on both their angst and their light-heartedness without dragging either out too long. It's not pure fluff and it's not wallowing in angst; it's... just one of those quieter moments that define how a relationship will go. (Dick/Babs.) - DCU - Letting Go by Dannell Lites - I've actually read this story before and I remember hurting the first time I read it, and it didn't get any easier this time through. I was browsing through Soft Spots, reading the recs GenX had written and randomly decided to give this one a reread. Through the first two parts, my heart hurt for the characters, for the loss of Bruce, for everyone's pain--it's not many stories that can do justice to the aftermath of Bruce dying, but this story accomplishes it beautifully. But it was the epilogue that actually brought tears to my eyes--I'm not saying I bawled like a littlebabysissygirl, but my throat hurt and there were definitely tears in the corners of my eyes. And I don't cry easily, it has to be done just right, and this story was beautiful in the almost... well something akin to a lyrical tone of voice used. (Li'l bit Dick/Babs, death warning.) - DCU - August by Chicago and Smitty - I admit, it took me a bit to get into this one, because of how it starts out with newspaper articles instead of the typical fic, but after I sat down to read (with no distractions), I read this puppy all the way through in one sitting. The style was a really interesting one, little bits and pieces, snippets of scenes spread out across three or four days, all from various characters' POVs, and each of them showing their reactions to the situation. I loved that despite the huge cast in this fic, you still got drawn into their reactions. Despite so much happening (the main plot with Dick being hurt, Babs' and Spud's reactions, Bruce going more than a little bit nuts and working to take down the bad guys, Tim, Cass, Dinah, and Alfred not exactly sure what they should be doing and having their own reactions, Leslie, Superman, the Titans going through much the same, Dick's partner and the other cops...) all of it was worked in there and it never felt overly crowded to me. The writing itself was fantastic, there were at least two points where I physically hurt for the characters (especially the scene towards the end with Spud and Bruce). I also loved that the ending wasn't anti-climactic, which can happen so easily with stories like this, where everything is building and building and building--I really liked the way it ended. ....I'm done fawning now, honest. ^_~ (Spudverse and all that that entails.) - DCU - For Her by Lyssa - You know, every time I start to forget about how much Dick angsts sometimes, how much guilt he carries around with him, it's a beautiful story like this that brings it rushing back to me. In a lot of ways, he is just like Bruce, blaming himself for things that aren't really his fault and even intellectually knowing that. With a lot of authors, I might have rolled my eyes at the story, but with Lyssa, I found my heart aching for the poor boy all over again. (Dick/Babs.) - DCU - Rite of Passage by Lyssa - Oh, jeez, ow. I never quite know how to feel on such wonderfully sad and painful takes on the Robin/Batgirl (Dick/Babs version) relationship when they were younger. Because Dick was so much more mature than other kids his age, because he was so smart and clever and charming and wonderful, but he was also still a child and Barbara was so much older than he was. (At that age... six?... years makes a big difference.) This story captures the situation perfectly, makes me hurt for the both of them, even knowing how things eventually turn out. Wah. (Dick/Babs.) - DCU - There's Got to Be a Morning After by Vicki Napier - In an odd bit of coincidence, I was just thinking about this story yesterday (but I couldn't remember which one it was, just that Dick came back to Babs' apartment after the fight at Blackgate, and she was pissed because Bruce didn't even blink at all the damage he'd taken) and when I was checking mail, someone inquired about this very story, with a response to where to find it. It was good to reread this story, because even I was miffed at Bruce sending Dick into Blackgate without even any backup, and I'm always up for Bruce being forced into being a little more human and Dick angsting about things that are Not His Fault But He Blames Himself Anyway. ^_~ The grammar is a little touch and go, and, sure, Bruce is a little overly sappy for a NML-era fic (but, hey, he wasn't far out of character, and I have ridiculously tough standards and set characterizations that not everyone agrees with), but it's hardly detracting and sometimes this is exactly what I want. I adore this fic because it gave me exactly what I was looking for and I enjoyed the hell out of it. (Li'l bit Dick/Babs.) - DCU - Yes Virginia series by Vicki Napier - Well, after reading There's Got to Be a Morning After, I had to reread the "Yes Virginia" series as well. Exploring the idea of what if Huntress had gotten pregnant after her fling with Nightwing?, this is an adorable little series that has some wonderful Bruce/Dick father/son stuff (a little more emotional than I'm used to, so I had a bit of trouble with it, but these are emotional circumstances, so there's a lot of leeway to be taken), some wonderful Dick/Babs schmoopy stuff, and a strong, caring, likable Huntress. My only real complaints would be that the Dick/Babs relationship was given a little too much weight given the circumstances and I kind of missed the harder, angrier edge to Helena. However, when Dick misguidedly proposed to her and she turned him down flat, saying that both of them deserved better than that, I could not have loved her more. The characters cry a little too often for my liking, but I'm giving them the emotional circumstances thing again. There are some really cute lines and this is a nice fix-it fic for when the more uptight and frustrating comic book character don't just frigging deal with their problems and admit their feelings. ^_^v (Dick/Babs, mentions of the Dick/Helena fling.) - DCU/B:TASverse - Monopoly and Life by bk - *squee's happily* Oh, my god, this was perfect! Just absolutely perfect. It's such a... simple, uncomplex idea (the Bat-group playing Monopoly as part of a celebratory night), but it's pulled off with such heart and cleverness and intelligence that it makes me melt. Everything was just perfect, from the way they argued, the way Babs was just utterly into the game, the little details with the pizza and the monopoly pieces, the way they teased each other, everything. I could not stop grinning like a loon the entire time I was reading--and dude. The thing with Babs' pizza was wonderful. So much love I have. XD (Some very slight Dick/Babs, not really the point of the story.) - DCU/B:TASverse - Home Again by bk - I have a very special fondness for TAS!Dick, because... part of it is that Dick is my boy. He is, and probably always will be, my favorite fictional character ever. But part of it is also that TAS!Dick is such an intriguing character because he's so much angrier and angsty than the comics Dick (which is a surprise, usually it's the other way around ^_~) and that is wonderful fun to play around with as an author. And, ohhhh, how I love an author that plays with Dick's issues towards Bruce and the whole Bat-thing, the way Bruce seems to not give a damn, the way he was so easily replaced, etc. Okay. This fic... could have used a little polishing, especially towards the beginning I found myself skimming a bit, just catching the highlights of the fic. But as it goes along, it gets better and there are some absolutely priceless scenes in here--any time Babs and Tim interact, I immediately sat up and paid attention, because the author nailed their TAS voices. The Bruce - Dick reunion scene got off to a rocky start, but halfway in, it started to rock. The angst is laid on rather heavily and the characters are a little overreactive/melodramatic, but, hell, I'm sure as hell not one to talk about that. ^_~ (And the author was hardly bad about it, I agreed with a lot of the directions she took the characters.) But... when I read my way through all that's been posted (it isn't finished yet)... I genuinely liked what I'd read, I genuinely liked the way Babs wasn't going to let Dick off the hook for being a jerk, I genuinely liked the way he was a jerk, but eventually realized it and apologized (that's my boy *sparkles*), and I genuinely liked the way they were slowly coming back together. They didn't just fall right back into a relationship, the author was building them there. So it was a good read and, man, I miss those TAS characters sometimes--it's fics like this that remind me of that. ^_____^ (Some Dick/Babs.)
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