rec: wither and die

[ghost2.livejournal.com]

Story: Wither and Die
Author: LillyRose
Rating: not given, but I'd say All Ages.
Author's summary: It's the little things that remind him that nothing is forever.
Characters/Pairings: Seventh Doctor/Ace
Warnings: none

Recced because: Like I was going to make it through an entire week of reccing without singling out a Seventh Doctor story! I remembered initially finding this vignette on LJ, and was very pleased to see that it had been posted to Teaspoon as well so I could use it. The title is taken from the Tenth Doctor's famous line in School Reunion. Here it's applied to the Seven/Ace relationship, in a completely believable manner. The result is a bittersweet gem about the passage of time and the little defining moments along the way. I love all of it, including the ending. Even though it kind of broke my heart.

Rec: my nest of mercies

[livii.livejournal.com]

Story: My nest of mercies
Author: lcsbanana
Rating: All Ages
Author's summary: "You've heard that nonsense about stepping on a butterfly?"
Characters/Pairings: Ace/Harriet Jones
Warnings: none

Recced because: This is an utterly lovely story, and a terrific pairing. Harriet Jones is a great character, and she’s wonderfully written here, older and (somewhat) wiser after her downfall at the hands of the Doctor, as she finds Ace lurking in her garden, squashing her zinnias. Ace is post-Doctor, travelling and stalking women who give off odd time readings. The storyline is clever and interesting, thoughtful about time travel, possibilities, and hope, and ends with this beautiful imagery of Ace both watching over or protecting Harriet, and needing her just as fiercely. "You'll come through. I can tell that about you, you're the sort of person who always comes through,” Ace says, and oh, the story makes you believe it, for both of them.

(Edit: I swear I didn't look at the comm before posting this - I guess we were all in an Ace mood!)

Rec: Falls the Shadow

[dark-aegis.livejournal.com]

Story: Falls the Shadow
Author: Nemo the Everbeing
Rating: All Ages
Author's summary: It was supposed to be nothing more than a seaside holiday for two old friends to relax and recharge, but something went wrong. Then a lot of things went wrong. Now, as Ace deals with the emotional fallout of a realization that could put an end their decade-long friendship, the Doctor discovers something potentially deadly about the world on which they’ve stopped. And then the darkness falls.
Characters/Pairings: Seventh Doctor, Dorothy (Ace) McShane (Seven/Ace)
Warnings: Swearing

Recced because: I never thought I'd actually like, no love, a Seventh Doctor/Ace story. The Seventh Doctor was my first Doctor, just as Ace was my first companion, and I always thought theirs was more of a mentor/mentee or father/daughter relationship. That is until I read this story. This is an older, wiser Ace and a clever, clever Doctor. Nemo the Everbeing has a great talent to bring these characters to life in such a way that I can say 'yeah, I can see that happening' when it comes to a pairing that I never thought I'd be able to read. The storyline is rich and engaging, with the underlying romance a perfect counterpoint to the angst and entertainment of time going dreadfully wrong. If you are hesitant over the idea of Seven/Ace, do give this a try. I guarantee that it will sway you, because this is a writer whose pairing of these characters I can get behind. Nemo has several fics that are just as brilliant as this one, and I highly recommend them all, but this one has a special place in my heart.