Rec: Hothouse Flowers

[tardis-stowaway.livejournal.com]

Story:  Hothouse Flowers
Author:  DameRuth
Rating: Adult
Word Count: 6,583
Author’s summary: Most flowers can be made to bloom out of season, with the right tools. (Author self-rating: R for sexual themes.)
Characters/Pairings:  Ten/Jack, Gwen
Warnings:  Alien sex, swearing.

Recommended because:  Recipe for a wonderful Ten/Jack story:  take one slight AU where Time Lords and humans not only have vastly different equipment in their trousers but also incompatible pheromones, making them unable to even arouse each other naturally.  Subtract one Rose, wait a year that never was, and add a few drops of universal aphrodisiac.  Throw in healthy servings of strong characterization, moving hurt/comfort, and fabulous humor.  Turn the heat up to high.  Season with angst and caring. 

DameRuth’s entire Flowers series is well worth a read, but I thought I’d just recommend one favorite to avoid intimidating readers who might lack the time for a lengthy series just now (though I hope you'll be so impressed that you go on to read the whole thing). “Hothouse Flowers”  convinced me to love the Jack/Ten ship.  The relationship between the Doctor and Jack here is like the best chocolate:  rich, dark, and just the right touch of sweet. DameRuth has a talent for the little details that add vibrancy to a story.  The dialog is spot-on whether the characters are being witty or tender. The Doctor feels genuinely, fascinatingly alien.  The biologist in me loves the unique premise of the series, but it’s the quality of writing that keeps me going back to this story over and over.  

( A brief excerpt )

rec: timelines and all that

[gwynevere1.livejournal.com]

Story: Timelines and All That
Author: Sun @ Teaspoon / sunstar77 @ LJ
Rating: Adult
Word Count: 4,408
Author's Summary: "I went back to her estate, in the 90s. Just once or twice. Watched her grow up. Never said hello, timelines and all that." What if Jack lied to the Doctor when he said that? What if he did say hello, just once?
Characters/Pairings: Jack Harkness/Rose Tyler
Warnings: Explicit Sex

Recced because: Bit of background here: This fanfic is actually a redo of an earlier version. While I liked the original's superb characterizations and the sizzling hot porn, wmr and a couple other readers pointed out a logic flaw in the ending of the original story--and I had to agree with them.
Unlike some lesser fic writers, sunstar77 did not throw a hissy fit at the constructive criticism but took it into account and came up with this superior version. Like the first draft, this rewrite maintains the wonderful interactions between Jack and Rose and the way the narrative tone changes from burning hot porn (still there) to melancholy regret at the end. Now, this fic is my favorite one-shot Whoniverse story.

Rec: Almost--Not Quite--Maybe

[tardis-stowaway.livejournal.com]

Series:  Almost—Not Quite—Maybe
Author:  spantasmagoria
Rating:  Teen
Word Count:  7,609 for the whole series
Author’s Summary: After an accident on an alien planet, Jack and the Doctor end up as...roommates in the Doctor's skull.
Characters/Pairings:  Ninth Doctor/Rose, Jack
Warnings:  Crack! Also, discussion of sex.

Recommended because:  Friday calls for crack!fic.  What better crack can there be than Nine/Rose crack with Jack playing matchmaker…while cohabiting the Doctor’s body?  “Almost—Not Quite—Maybe” is full of priceless moments.  There’s snappy dialog and zany situations.  The Doctor is grouchy, Rose is exasperated, and Jack is mischievous.  There’s Jackie and a game of Twister (but not at the same time).   Jack goes out on the town and decides he loves the 21st century.  Pranks are played.  spantasmagoria's great comic timing still makes me laugh with every reread.

( Why yes, you should try an excerpt )