dustyryder's recs

Fandom: X-Files 
Title: Joined At The Soul
Author: Diana Williams
Genre: Slash, Case File, Angst, AU, First Time, Hurt/Comfort
Pairing: Skinner/Mulder
Rating: NC17
Warnings: Murder and Multilation of Children - Non-Graphic
Spoilers:  Not that I'm aware of...

Notes: This AU takes place while Mulder is still in DC's Violent Crimes Unit, before the X-Files.  When his subordinates screw up the case of a suddenly high-profile Serial Killer, Skinner takes over, and meets the infamous Profiler Fox Mulder, who has been sent to help clear up the case.  As Mulder gets closer to the killer, he and Skinner begin to form a relationship built on mutual need, and respect.  The fic is built to dove-tail with canon - the author's idea is that Skinner and his wife were separated more than once before their divorce, and that this case file takes place during one of those times.

Don't be alarmed that on Diana Williams' site, she actually advertises the fic as Part One of a series.  Obviously, she changed her mind about that, because there is no Part Two that I can find.  But it doesn't matter.  This fic stands on it's own.  No sequel is needed.  It would have been nice, just because I like this world, and Mulder and Skinner's interaction in it.  But you don't need to worry about missing anything.   It is complete in and of itself.

One thing that threw me all the way through - the name of one of the Serial Killer's last victims?  Miguel Alvarez.  Which won't mean a thing, unless you happen to watch HBO's Oz.  Which you may have noticed from my recs, I do.  And not only that , but on Oz?  Miguel Alvarez is one of my favorite characters...so everytime they mention him, it kind of throws me right out of the story, for just a second or two, you know?  It's weird.  But still, I really enjoy this fic, every time I read it...


Excerpt:

( Skinner picked up the phone. )

I rate this fic:  Pretty Damn Good

Fandom:  X-Files
Title: Out of the Dark                
Author: Kassandra
Genre: Slash, Some Het, Case File, Novel-length, First Time, Action/Adventure, Angst
Pairing/Characters: Skinner/Mulder, Mulder/OC, Mulder/Others, Mulder/Scully Friendship
Rating: NC17
Warnings: BDSM, Dom/sub, Bondage, Violence, Fisting, Kink, Non-Con, Questionable Consent
Spoilers: None?

Notes: Mulder is going over the deep end.  Trouble at work, trouble with his partner who seems to be slipping away from him more every day.  He needs a break - a way to escape the inside of his own head for a while.  When Frohike sets him up for the vacation of his life at a sexual Fantasy Island, he thinks he may have just found the way to make it work.  But instead he finds himself getting sucked further and further into a lifestyle he can't keep up with and still maintain his sanity.   When things take a turn into danger, he ends up relying on Skinner, of all people, to help him sort out the mess his life has become, and find a way to separate himself from the obsessions that attract him, and could lead to his death.

This is a novel length fic, and I got so absorbed into it, that I finished it, and immediately turned around and read it again.  The characters were believeable, and well written - especially the original characters, even the villians, and I'll be damned if there isn't one hell of a lot of very erotic sex in this fic, too.  But be aware, most of the sex has some elements of D/s, bondage or other BDSM practices, although most of it goes no further than tethers and blindfolds.  However there is enough that goes past that to warn you about it.  And there's a fair amount of questional consent issues, as well. 

So you know...this is the fic that got me going in the X-Files Fandom.  I'd watched the show off and on, nothing much, but the fic I'd read all featured Krycek, and although I liked him, I didn't really get the Mulder/Krycek vibe.  Well, I found the vibe that does work...Skinner/Mulder and throwing in some Dom/sub issues will cinch the deal for me pretty much every time.   And it's all Kassandra's fault. 


Excerpt:

( Caitlin, this is Fox, our newest guest. )



I rate this fic:  Pretty Damn Good

Fandom: NCIS/Stargate SG-1 Crossover
Title: Stardust
Author: Kikkimax  (kikkimax)
Genre: PreSlash, Angst, Crossover, Case File, Hurt/Comfort, Friendship
Pairing/Characters: Daniel/Tony, Gibbs, Kate, Abby, Ducky, O'Neill
Rating: R
Warnings: Talk of Torture
Spoilers: NCIS: Takes Place at the end of Season 1.
                Stargate SG-1: Takes place after Evolution, Part 2, Season Seven

Notes: Gibbs and his team are called in for an unusual murder case, and the only witness is the man the dead men had handcuffed to a chair at the time, surrounded by implements of torture.  The only problem?  An unfortunate case of amnesia: he can't remember a thing.  The team take him into protective custody as a material witness, while they try to help "John" (Doe) jog his memory.  The problem is,  the only flashes of memory he *does* have include watching a large, deadly firefight which includes a pyramid shaped "Spaceship." 

I'd never seen NCIS when I read this fic, and had absolutely no idea who they were.  By the time the fic was over (and it's a fairly long fic), I really wanted to know more about those guys.  That's when I started watching NCIS.  Yes, you have Kikkimax to blame for my current obsession with NCIS.  It's all her fault, okay?  Both casts are well drawn, perfectly believable and enjoyable characters, even if you don't get to see near as much of  SG-1 as you do NCIS.   Well, except for Daniel.  The plot is good and solid, the descriptions fascinating, and I can see why both the Stargate Fan Awards and the NCIS FanFic Awards voted this fic top Crossover. 

Excerpt: (Remember: "John Doe" is the name their amnesiac witness is going by.)

( Gibbs threw out a hand to stop Tony )


I rate this fic: Damn Good Fic

Fandom: NCIS
Titles: Between Good And Better & The Trick Is Not Minding
Author: twoweevils 
Genre: Slash, First Time, PWP, Case File, Angst  
Pairing: Gibbs/DiNozzo
Rating: NC17
Warnings: None
Spoilers: Right after Season 2, ep. 18 - Bikini Wax

Notes: Between Good And Better has got probably my favorite phone sex scene of all time.  Especially when you consider that neither one knows what the other is doing until the very end.  The sequel has an actual plot and stuff, which, as you all know, gets in the way of the smut, but is actually kind of fun, and there is, of course, smut as well. I like them both, but I love Between Good And Better. It makes me sweat.

Excerpt: (From: From Good To Better)

( This is Gibbs. )


I rate this fic:  Pretty Damn Good 
Plus,The Dusty Seal of Approval for:  Superior Phone Sex!

Fandom: NCIS 
Title: Setting The Scene
Author: Rebecca  (blueraccoon)
Genre: Slash, First Time, Angst, Case File
Pairing: Gibbs/DiNozzo
Rating: NC17
Warnings: Dom/sub, Light Bondage
Spoilers: None

Notes:  During a  murder investigation involving BDSM, Tony reveals a bit more knowledge of "The Scene" than the rest of the crew expects.  One of the best parts of the story is the way Kate reacts to  Tony's revelations.  I like how casual Tony is about it all, because being up tight and secretive would have played right into Kate's uptight attitude. I'm always more interested in the personal stories than I am in the casefiles, but this has a bit of both - which is pretty cool. There's an interesting Original Character, which I actually would have liked to see more of. And of course it's a first time fic - my favorite. Written for the Kink and Cliche Challenge, and Rebecca's cliche prompt?  A stressful case rattles the detectives and/or clues them in.  And her kink prompt?  Handcuffs.  She managed to work both in one story.  Go her.


Excerpt:

( So, Kate said, leaning back in her chair. )


I rate this fic: Pretty Damn Good