Weekly Recs 8/29/11
Second straight week of LiveJournal not having its shit together. Groan.
Completed Stories:
(Mostly newly-completed stories, plus some old ones if I haven't read them before.)
"The Curve of the World" by Hagar (hagar_972)
[T, Ziva, Dreamwidth link, AO3 link, 500 words]
Summary: Five things Ziva believes in.
KEW note: There's a fabulous quote from this piece--"Ziva smiles politely at claims that the world is either cruel or kind; she knows better than that."---that really sums up the author's deep understanding of the character.
"Between August and September" by misura
[K+, ensemble, Kate, implied Gibbs/Abby, set after season 2, ~1,100 words]
Summary: Age is a matter of perspective.
KEW note: This story kind of blew my mind for making me realize that Ghost Kate is actually canon (makes me wonder why I haven't come across a story like this before). Plus the characterization is amazing, particularly Gibbs and Kate.
"The Game" by traceofink (pen_without_ink)
[M, ensemble, NCIS Fanfiction Archive link, ~21,850 words]
Summary: The Game is on...will Gibbs catch Miller before another little girl falls victim to the monster?
KEW note: Very fast paced, action thriller novel style.
"Black Lines in Shadows" by vegawriters (vega_voices)
[T, Ziva, Abby, Gibbs, Tony, ~2,150]
Summary: Her tattoos are not black ink and shadowed, but invisible, stretched across her skin, telling a story that only she knows.
KEW note: This story leans into the sexier, hidden sides of the team and I love it.
"Prayer" by vegawriters (vega_voices)
[T, Ziva, Tony, ~1,900 words]
Summary: She dreams of being a mother and of her father as a benevolent grandfather, not a harsh, angry dictator who is willing to sacrifice his own children as a means to an end for his country.
KEW note: A new-to-NCIS author tackles the subject of Ziva's religion and acquits herself admirably.
"Blush" by jelenamichel (jelenamichel)
[M, Tony/Ziva, ~16,000 words]
Summary:Ziva considers what it might take to make Tony blush.
KEW note: Not going to lie, the second chapter of this was a little too much for me to handle. But I'm sure many will enjoy it without turning furiously red.
"Five Points" by Calliatra (calliatra)
[T, Jenny, fanfiction.net link, ~3,950 words]
Summary: "I made some choices I'm not particularly proud of." A look at Jenny Shepard's five point plan.
KEW note: This is a ferociously in-character, career-driven Jenny.
"Llamará" by Spanish-little-girl (o_o_aurora_o_o)
[K, Ziva/Ray, Tony, ~110 words]
Quote: Como hipnotizada, Ziva miraba el teléfono. Como hipnotizado, Tony la miraba a ella.
"Broken Hebrew" by taleofmorewoe
[T, Tony/Ziva, ~1,200 words]
Summary: He could feel her skin warm and hot against his own. She was still panting as well, her face buried in the crook of her arm. Her hair was a frizzy, curling mess with pieces dampened and clinging to her back. He smiled tiredly, leaning down to place a gentle kiss against her neck. It was an instinctive action, a desire to maintain the closeness the two of them had just felt with one another for the passed... Fuck if he could remember.
KEW note: This ends up a bit twee, but I liked the atmosphere of tired, post-sex awkwardness that it created.
"Gray Scale" by lennoxcontrary *PART 1 COMPLETE
[M, ensemble, AU from 7x24 "Rule 51"]
Summary: When the Reynosas come after Gibbs the team is forced into dark territory.
KEW note: Chapters 28 and 29 added. I'm so glad that there will be a continuation to this story, because I'm just a little bit disappointed that the mystery of Gray's background wasn't addressed in this otherwise awesome story.
Works in Progress:
(Stories in this section will be carried over week to week as long as I continue to follow them or until they are completed or abandoned. Recent updates will be noted.)
"Of Ghosts and Gremlins" by AlkalineTeegan (alkalineteegan) *UPDATED
[T, Tony, Jimmy, set between season 3 and 4]
Summary: A post-"Hiatus" exploration of how Tony and Jimmy might have become friends.
KEW note: Chapter 19 added.
"From Hell's Heart" by Laine3112 *UPDATED
[T, Tony, ensemble]
Summary: Gibbs' unusual behaviour has everyone concerned. When the reason is revealed and almost kills them both, Tony demands answers.
KEW note: Chapter 6 added.
"Defensive Wounds" by rebecca-in-blue (rebecca_in_blue) *UPDATED
[T, Ziva, ensemble, ~11,950 words]
Summary: When the team discovers that a suspect on a case has a history with Ziva, she's forced to confront a few things she's buried.
KEW note: Chapters 4 and 5 added. I'm loving the shifting focus among the team members.
"Fitting Pieces" by Detour
[T, Tony, Gibbs, pre-series, written before 8x22 "Baltimore"]
Quote: The cops on scene weren't having problems keeping the perimeter clear, but one stupid tourist with a camera had started taking pictures, and suddenly a half dozen people were trying to snap a souvenir, making it a busy evening. Cameras were confiscated, and threats of being taken to a holding cell issued, but neither the cops nor the onlookers seemed extremely concerned. It was just a dance, and one none were more practiced in than the reporters who camped to the side of the observers. But even they were strangely listless, saying the right words, asking the expected questions, but without strong interest. Murder was not a novel concept in Baltimore.
"Road Trip" by taleofmorewoe
[T, Tony/Ziva]
Summary: “... Drive me home.” The words were said quietly and once out between them, she turned to head for the elevator. Tony sat there in some sort of temporary shock, trying to get the words to register properly, until he heard the ding and the familiar woosh of air as the doors parted. He quickly shoved away his papers, shut off the light, grabbed his bag, and ran for the doors himself. He made it just in time to slide into the elevator next to her, leaning against the wall and staring at the now glowing button for the garage.
Completed Stories:
(Mostly newly-completed stories, plus some old ones if I haven't read them before.)
"The Curve of the World" by Hagar (hagar_972)
[T, Ziva, Dreamwidth link, AO3 link, 500 words]
Summary: Five things Ziva believes in.
KEW note: There's a fabulous quote from this piece--"Ziva smiles politely at claims that the world is either cruel or kind; she knows better than that."---that really sums up the author's deep understanding of the character.
"Between August and September" by misura
[K+, ensemble, Kate, implied Gibbs/Abby, set after season 2, ~1,100 words]
Summary: Age is a matter of perspective.
KEW note: This story kind of blew my mind for making me realize that Ghost Kate is actually canon (makes me wonder why I haven't come across a story like this before). Plus the characterization is amazing, particularly Gibbs and Kate.
"The Game" by traceofink (pen_without_ink)
[M, ensemble, NCIS Fanfiction Archive link, ~21,850 words]
Summary: The Game is on...will Gibbs catch Miller before another little girl falls victim to the monster?
KEW note: Very fast paced, action thriller novel style.
"Black Lines in Shadows" by vegawriters (vega_voices)
[T, Ziva, Abby, Gibbs, Tony, ~2,150]
Summary: Her tattoos are not black ink and shadowed, but invisible, stretched across her skin, telling a story that only she knows.
KEW note: This story leans into the sexier, hidden sides of the team and I love it.
"Prayer" by vegawriters (vega_voices)
[T, Ziva, Tony, ~1,900 words]
Summary: She dreams of being a mother and of her father as a benevolent grandfather, not a harsh, angry dictator who is willing to sacrifice his own children as a means to an end for his country.
KEW note: A new-to-NCIS author tackles the subject of Ziva's religion and acquits herself admirably.
"Blush" by jelenamichel (jelenamichel)
[M, Tony/Ziva, ~16,000 words]
Summary:Ziva considers what it might take to make Tony blush.
KEW note: Not going to lie, the second chapter of this was a little too much for me to handle. But I'm sure many will enjoy it without turning furiously red.
"Five Points" by Calliatra (calliatra)
[T, Jenny, fanfiction.net link, ~3,950 words]
Summary: "I made some choices I'm not particularly proud of." A look at Jenny Shepard's five point plan.
KEW note: This is a ferociously in-character, career-driven Jenny.
"Llamará" by Spanish-little-girl (o_o_aurora_o_o)
[K, Ziva/Ray, Tony, ~110 words]
Quote: Como hipnotizada, Ziva miraba el teléfono. Como hipnotizado, Tony la miraba a ella.
"Broken Hebrew" by taleofmorewoe
[T, Tony/Ziva, ~1,200 words]
Summary: He could feel her skin warm and hot against his own. She was still panting as well, her face buried in the crook of her arm. Her hair was a frizzy, curling mess with pieces dampened and clinging to her back. He smiled tiredly, leaning down to place a gentle kiss against her neck. It was an instinctive action, a desire to maintain the closeness the two of them had just felt with one another for the passed... Fuck if he could remember.
KEW note: This ends up a bit twee, but I liked the atmosphere of tired, post-sex awkwardness that it created.
"Gray Scale" by lennoxcontrary *PART 1 COMPLETE
[M, ensemble, AU from 7x24 "Rule 51"]
Summary: When the Reynosas come after Gibbs the team is forced into dark territory.
KEW note: Chapters 28 and 29 added. I'm so glad that there will be a continuation to this story, because I'm just a little bit disappointed that the mystery of Gray's background wasn't addressed in this otherwise awesome story.
Works in Progress:
(Stories in this section will be carried over week to week as long as I continue to follow them or until they are completed or abandoned. Recent updates will be noted.)
"Of Ghosts and Gremlins" by AlkalineTeegan (alkalineteegan) *UPDATED
[T, Tony, Jimmy, set between season 3 and 4]
Summary: A post-"Hiatus" exploration of how Tony and Jimmy might have become friends.
KEW note: Chapter 19 added.
"From Hell's Heart" by Laine3112 *UPDATED
[T, Tony, ensemble]
Summary: Gibbs' unusual behaviour has everyone concerned. When the reason is revealed and almost kills them both, Tony demands answers.
KEW note: Chapter 6 added.
"Defensive Wounds" by rebecca-in-blue (rebecca_in_blue) *UPDATED
[T, Ziva, ensemble, ~11,950 words]
Summary: When the team discovers that a suspect on a case has a history with Ziva, she's forced to confront a few things she's buried.
KEW note: Chapters 4 and 5 added. I'm loving the shifting focus among the team members.
"Fitting Pieces" by Detour
[T, Tony, Gibbs, pre-series, written before 8x22 "Baltimore"]
Quote: The cops on scene weren't having problems keeping the perimeter clear, but one stupid tourist with a camera had started taking pictures, and suddenly a half dozen people were trying to snap a souvenir, making it a busy evening. Cameras were confiscated, and threats of being taken to a holding cell issued, but neither the cops nor the onlookers seemed extremely concerned. It was just a dance, and one none were more practiced in than the reporters who camped to the side of the observers. But even they were strangely listless, saying the right words, asking the expected questions, but without strong interest. Murder was not a novel concept in Baltimore.
"Road Trip" by taleofmorewoe
[T, Tony/Ziva]
Summary: “... Drive me home.” The words were said quietly and once out between them, she turned to head for the elevator. Tony sat there in some sort of temporary shock, trying to get the words to register properly, until he heard the ding and the familiar woosh of air as the doors parted. He quickly shoved away his papers, shut off the light, grabbed his bag, and ran for the doors himself. He made it just in time to slide into the elevator next to her, leaning against the wall and staring at the now glowing button for the garage.