Offsite Recs

There are so many fanfics that I absolutely love, and sometimes I feel that rec-ing them is a kind of tribute to those authors who wrote them. I know there's not much here right now, but I plan to add new recs when I have the time, school and play willing. Keep checking back for new updates! I, like you, am always up for new and wonderful 1x2x1 stories!



[crossing] ::: Lone Wolf

Stats: PG-13 // 1+2, eventual 1+2+1, mention of 1xR and 2xH // fluff // sap // just the right amount of angst // Heero POV

Summary: When Duo and Hilde set a date to be married, Heero doesn't realize how much it affects him until Relena asks him the simple question: "Heero, who is it that you love more than me?"

LW's Notes: Okay, talk about an old-school classic, but with so little to read anymore, I find myself falling back on old favourites. In any case, this is one of those stories that you can read over and over, and every time, it still tugs at your heartstrings, makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes you truly feel! There is something about Heero's voice in this story that is just hauntingly real; I've never related so much with a character in a story since Holden Caulfield, and that's a fact! I mean, seriously, I don't know if it's because I've felt the way Heero does in this story, or maybe the gorgeous way he emotes in this story, the way he pours himself out in such a heart-warming way, you want to reach into the screen and hold him, but it's absolutely amazing. Truly, the magic of this story can't be understood until you experience it for yourself! And I promise you, you will never listen to Patsy Cline's Crazy the same way ever again!



[grief and a headhunter's rage] ::: Jei

Stats: PG-13 / 1+2. 1x2x1 / drama / (OC) death / romance / COMPLETE / CLASSIC

Summary: Heero is an anthropologist studying the effects of death on the living. His studies bring him to a pediatric, long-term illness ward, where one particular doctor comes to pique his curiosity.

LW's Notes:If you held a gun to my head and asked me to choose my favourite fanfic ever, period, amen, this is it. (I've been meaning to a 'rec for this story forever, and hopefully I'll get to Jei's other amazing stories, which I also highly suggest.) Jei's work is nothing less than art, written with a certain casual prose that makes her stories extremely easy to read, and yet, anything but base. She has a good ear for natural, dynamic dialogue, and a great eye for detail, and shares just the perfect amount, especially with this story, where the main focus is Heero's observations of his surroundings. And as if to make matters even better, she's quite a creative person, and is able to come up with very interesting stories, and better still, amazing character interactions and portrayals, which, when it comes down to it, is the heart of any great piece of writing.

This story is home to my favourite Duo portrayal of all time. I love reading a well-written Heero's observations of an equally well-written Duo, as his introspective nature and deep understanding tends to highlight the most interesting details about others. Anyway, as a doctor, Duo is dealing with young children that he knows have a very good chance of dying, and seeing the ways he deals with these things is absolutely mind-blowing. He has that caring charm, that sharp wit and great sense of humour, and yet, he is still ridden with that undeniable passion that makes Duo who he is. It is the fluxuation of that passion, in regards to both his job and his dealings with Heero, that make this story as beautiful as it is. As for Heero, he is also written quite well. As the narrator, he offers perceptive insight on the things around him, and it is quite interesting to read as he tries to break down and understand the minds of the other characters--who are also, I might add, written quite well too, though the story doesn't showcase them quite as much as our central two boys. It is clear that Duo is an anomoly to him, and despite having a good feel for the other doctors in the ward, he can't quite seem what to make of Duo, and his own internal struggle with his feelings and opinions of him are treated with a loving care that few authors put into their work.

So, basically, what I'm telling you is to read this story, my favourite fanfic of all time, as well as Jei's other wonderful stories. Truly, she is one author I feel deserves way more credit than she probably recieves.



[bridlewood manor] ::: Mitsugi

Stats: PG-13 / 1+2+1, 1x2x1, R+1, 4+3(+4?), 5+H+5, various others / drama / fluff / epic of epics / CLASSIC / ON HOLD

Summary: Set at the turn of the twentieth century, Bridlewood Manor tells the story of the young Peacecraft heiress, and the various characters who live and work at her fabulous estate. Heero is a secret agent sent to infiltrate the Peacecraft mansion in order to gather information on her enigmatic uncle, Treize Kushrenada. But upon becoming a member of the household, Heero's life changes in ways he could have never predicted.

LW's Notes: Okay, so everyone and their mother has probably read this, but it's so amazing I think it sure needs a rec. I mean, where to even begin! There is so much story here, it's almost a crime--only not, because it's an awesome, awesome tale. First off, I love the idea of Heero as a secret agent/spy. It's just so him! Not to mention that his portrayal here is one of my absolute favourites of all time. I mean, who could forget the scene with the scavanger hunt in the train station with Duo, between the tracks? Or the way he calls Duo his 'nezu'! He's sweet, but still retains his go-get-'em attitude; he's tough without being a rock and soft without being a pansy. Damned hot. And Duo is just beyond adorable, but not in a way that makes him seem campy. He's got cunning and a smart mouth, tons of passion and zest, everything we love in a robust, well-rounded Duo, but isn't so full of himself that he seems like an obnoxious, ignorant twit. Quatre is quite interesting too. Not only is there quite a unique backstory concerning him, but his emotional confusion about Trowa is quite interesting to read. It's always nice to see a 3+4+3 that isn't completely coated with sugar. Trowa--aw, hell, everyone is written in such a wonderful, lush way that is full of character and feeling and unique, while still retaining many of the qualities that make that character who he or she is. Even Relena, who is still crushing on Heero like it's her job, has enough depth to make it seem like there is more to her than a mere whim of the author. Not to mention that this story just keeps going and becoming more intense! (I do hope Mitsugi feels inclined to finish, as it's really down to the wire.) And it's nice to read a historical piece that actually has, you know, history to it. Way cool. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it 20. Definitely the best fanfic I have ever read. Period.


[the edulcoration of duo maxwell] ::: Mookie

Stats: R / 2x1x2, 3x4x3, 5xMx5, past 2xH, past 4x1 / varying degrees of citrus / romance / angst / sap / philosophical / COMPLETE /CLASSIC

Summary: Businessman, Duo Maxwell, bites off a little more than he can chew when he gets involved with the mysterious Heero Yuy, a hooker he picks up off the streets and spends a week with him.

LW's Notes: Alright, so it starts off being a rip-off of 'Pretty Woman', a film that I'm morally against as it starred Julia Roberts and Richard Gere; I was kind of unsure at first, but then I saw that it was being archived obsessively at atsui.org, and I figured, 'If A-Chan likes it, then it's probably good; let's try this sucker out again.' OMG, thank Shinigami I did! Mookie can seemlessly jump from plot, to steamy lemon, to the philisophical workings of 'Pulp Fiction', and then right back to plot again.

On top of all that, the characters are written with more flare and personality than I've seen in a while. Duo is full of attitude, which I absolutely love; he's stubborn, smart, and has the world in the palm of his hand, yet he still cannot quite figure out what's missing in his life. It's both interesting and frustrating (in a good way!) to watch as he fumbles with his emotions for Heero. Heero, on the other hand, is oozing with mystery, a little rough around the edges, but still possessing this certain charm to him that makes you want to melt. He's a man who knows what he wants, yet he can't seem to quite decide what to make of Duo, or how to deal with their relationship. Maybe I'm just a huge dork, but what really nailed the coffin for me was the constant comparison to Apollo and Dionysus, which totally backs up my Yin Yang 1x2x1 theory. There is a certain beauty and elegance and mystery to such a thing that makes the pairing even more wonderful to read than it already is.

Quatre, I must say, is absolutely brilliant in this story; his whole background will probably rouse up a little cheering section inside. He's still a caring, sweetheart, yeah, but he still has demons to conquer. Once again, it's nice to find a Q that's not a total wimp. Tro's kind of a back-player in this one, but you still can't help but feel sorry for the guy. (I wanted to hug him!) 'Fei and Meilan will totally rock your socks, as well. One of the reasons I enjoy them so much together is that they have a lot of fire between them. On the one hand, they're a bickering couple, who just can't seem to talk about anything, but on the other, they're a burning, passionate pair. OMG, please read this story! It's so worthwhile!



[true colours] ::: Fancy Figures

Stats: R / 1x2, 3+4, brief 1xOC, past 3xSolox3 (yes, you read that right O_o) / OoC (for Q) / lemon / romance / angst / sap / COMPLETE

Summary: Duo was a talented, aspiring artist, finally making his break and stepping out of his brother's shadow, until a tragedy manages to destroy everything he had gained. But when Heero, a man who seems to have everything all together, appears in Duo's life and offers him a position with his corporation, can Duo rebuild what he has lost? Or perhaps even find more?

LW's Notes: When I was reading this story, I hung on every single word like it was oxygen. Hell, I was even on vacation when I started reading it, and I spent 11 euros in a 'net cafe just so I could get more! Perhaps being an artist myself was part of the reason this story spoke so boldly to me; a major theme here is the importance of creativity, not so much the outcome, but the joy of shaping something beautiful with your hands. Fancy Figures was somehow able to not only bring an extremely well-rounded story to life, but she was also able to paint pictures with mere words. (It reminds me of this Chekov quote that's something like: "Tell me not that the moon is shining. Rather, show me the glint of light on glass.") I cannot even begin to tell you how well-crafted this story is; by the end, every little loose end has been tied up, and I remember having literal spasms in my chair as things began to come together. And the symbolism relating to Heero's colour-blindness, an aspect which I found extremely interesting, is just off the wall!

I love Heero's sweet, confused yearning for Duo. Sick as it might sound, but I also found Duo's self-destructive behaviour rather interesting to read too; it's obvious what he wants, but he's having trouble getting there, and it's a joy to watch as he and Heero slowly weed out all the demons. Quatre, while ridiculously out-of-character, is still an interesting dynamic in the story. I love Trowa's attitude, the way he can easily deal with just about anyone without hardly lifting an eyebrow. Another extremely interesting element to this story is Solo's ever-lingering presence. Even though he's dead, he is still very much a part of everyone's lives, haunting the story like a ghost with unfinished business. A very gratifying read here! Don't miss it!



[glory] ::: Casey Valhalla

Stats: R / 1+2, 2+1, eventual 1x2x1, 3x4x3 / Lots of swearing (on Duo's part) / demons / magic / some dark topics / violence / blood / squickiness / evil Duos and partially insane Quatres / lemony later on ^__^ / CLASSIC

Summary: At the most basic, a faction of rebels takes on the oppressive government that is out to dominate the galaxy.

LW's Notes: Okay, this is definitely one of the best, most engaging fanfics ever. Not only is the story immensely in-depth and interesting, but the whole world it takes place in is none like I've ever seen in fanfiction before! Think like a mish-mash of Star Wars, various Final Fantasies, a dash of Tenchi Muyo... you get the idea. Though the beginning is a little technical with details about this new universe, once you get beyond all that, you'll be in for a real treat! And yet, despite being in this whole, new world, there are still unmistakable parallels to the GW-universe, which I love. I mean, the fact that Trowa is a freaking elf is just beyond wicked cool! But, of course, I think what really makes this story is Heero's and Duo's relationship. They have an established, very close relationship (the details of which I just think are so creative and awesome), but it's clear that there is something unsaid between them. Even though it might sound like one of those, "I like him, but I don't know if he likes me," while the other one is thinking the exact, same thing, there is quite a bit of realism to the way they deftly pussyfoot around their feelings. On top of that, there's this certain charm to it that I absolutely love; I can think of quite a few scenes that just had me cackling like a witch. Believe me, this is a fun, fast-paced bit of entertainment unlike any you've ever seen! I promise you you'll be enchanted, or your money back!

And, for the record, Quatre is also really kick-ass in this story. (Are we noticing a pattern when it comes to Q-bean and 'fics I like? =^_^=)



[the one-eared neko] ::: Kaitsurinu

Stats: PG-16 / eventual 1+2+1, R+1 / action / fluff / drama / Relena-rough / IN PROGRESS

Summary: Bored with his life and his girlfriend, Heero follows the strange, bohemian con-man he meets at the carnival one night. However, little does he realise that his road-trip with Duo Maxwell will change him in ways he never dreamed.

LW's Notes: Okay, so the title is a little cheesy, but other than that, this is a really great story! Originally intended for the OTP contest on gwyaoi.org, this story is not lacking in either plot or writing style. It might seem kind of cliche, but I found that both Heero and Duo are written so well that it completely overshadows any whiffs of common trends you may come across. For instance, even though it's obvious that Duo is the one-eared Neko of the title, there is still mystery oozing out of him left and right. He's brash, charming, dark, funny, full of attitude and just as wonderfully Duo as ever, but he's not piegeon-holed into any particular corner, other than that of the itinerant bohemian, which I like. To sum it up, Duo's duality is kept very much in balance, and, as anyone who knows me will tell you, I am all about the Dionastic.

Heero, on the other hand, I found just as interesting. He's been trapped in a completely dull existance and thirsts so much for freedom, he's willing to follow a complete stranger in order to escape. But even though he's meant to start off as one of those Joe-Schmoe-type characters, he's anything but bland. He's curious, inquisitive and even a little shy, which are Heero traits that often get swept under the mat. This does not mean, by any account, that he's some kind of childish softie; we still get the bad-ass half of Heero, full of temper and impatience, calculating and aloof. His observations of Duo, which actually reveal just as much about Heero himself as they do Duo, are most interesting to read, especially as Heero begins to learn more about the con-man. But it's nice to see how the traits of both guys, good and bad, help them grow and change throughout the course of the story.



[web of betrayal] ::: Dyna Dee Stats: R / 1x2x1, 3x4x3, Rx1, 2+3 (strong friendship) / angst / drama / sap / drama / super-duper-uber Relena-bashing (yay!) / COMPLETE

Summary: Wrongly accused of a crime, Duo is abandoned by his friends, convicted, and sent to a penal colony, where he is abused and completely broken. Now, after Trowa, who was the only one to stick by Duo, has finally been able to bail him out, they unearth a dastardly web of deception that stretches much further than simply the injustice against Duo.

[tangled in the web] ::: Dyna Dee

Stats: R / 1x2x1, 3x4x3 / angst / drama / sap / sequel to Web of Betrayal / IN PROGRESS

Summary: Picking up where Web of Betrayal left off, Heero and Duo finally seem to be on the road to returning to the way they used to be before the events of the first story, but they soon discover that there are still people out there who mean Duo harm.

LW's Notes: Can I just start off by saying that Dyna Dee is probably my absolute favourite 1x2x1 author and that Web of Betrayal is probably my favourite of her stories? (Well, I did end up saying it, so there ^_^) Anyways, I cannot even begin to describe to you how much I love this story. First off, the plot is highly engaging and very unique. Though you may have a vague sense of what's going on, there are still so many pieces that slowly fall together as things progress, and it all fits so seamlessly well, it makes you wonder how long it took Dyna to concieve it all!

Then there's her character portrayals, which are equally as wonderful as her storyline. Yes, Duo might come off as extremely OoC and even a little weak, but I find that not to be the case at all, especially if you consider the things that Duo has endured. It is even really hard to say since Duo barely says a word for the whole of the first story, which is actually something that I would imagine is extremely challenging to do well. Yet, Duo still retains shards of who he was, though his old, brash self is very much buried. I kind of like that he shows a more shy, childish, yet still brave and strong personality here; it's a nice change from the usual, badly written 1x2 where Duo is completely incapable. This Duo may be traumatized, but he's not incapable. Heero is majorly cute in this story; it's hard to be specific without ruining the plot, but the way he deals with Duo is just heart-melting. It's clear that Duo is the most precious thing in Heero's life and that he would do anything for him. OMG, I'm such a closet-sap! And Trowa... OMG, Trowa! Now, I always liked Trowa, but this story made me love him! Major, major props and kudos to Tro for this one. He sees that Duo is being manipulated unfairly and goes against his friends, even Quatre, to take Duo's side. The fierceness and stubborness seen in Tro here is just so wonderful. Take that anyone who is under the misconception that Tro is some kind of boring, bland nobody!

The second story is still in progress, and to be honest, at first I was a little worried that she was writing a sequel, especially considering the high opinion I had of the first story. Still, so far, I've found myself just as immersed in it as the other. Still paranoid, Duo is still trying to get used to normal life and Dyna has portrayed the trials and hard work of such a task quite well, I think. And Heero is just so cute, even if he's a bit on the over-protective side. His dedication to Duo really almost makes me jealous! (Yeah, I'm jealous of a cartoon; shut up.)



[mr. self-destruct] ::: Corroded Faith

Stats: R // 1+2+1, brief mentions of some others // amazing Heero POV // angst // sap // on-going, role-playing blog

Summary: "I am striving for a purpose and a life to call my own, enjoined by my emotions. I refuse to assimilate, I will not imitate martyr, mannequin, machine or man. This is who I am."

LW's Notes: This is one of those stories that you read and remember for a long, long time. (I actually decided to 'rec it after coming acros a folder of favourite chapters that I printed off years ago! Amazing what a forced clean-up of the room will uncover....) Anyway, I sure wish this story had gotten more notice, because I think it stopped being updated due to lack of interest. Which is a huge shame and loss! This story delves into Heero better than any GW anything I've ever read. Period. Amen. No joke. Everything from the language, the sentence-structure, right down to the actual things Heero says and does are exactly as Heero is in my head. I've never seen anyone so artfully capture all Heero's emotions, the confusion, hopelessness and sadness, the sweetness, the odd wit, the shyness. This story perfectly illustrates the complexity in Heero's simplicity, both through good times and bad. As the subtitle for the story reads: the me you know, he used to have feelings.

Of course, an extra, added bonus is the absolutely heart-melting interaction with Duo. The general story basically revolves around Preventer Duo (nice change, BTW) suddenly crash-landing in Heero's normal, post-war life and how their relationship progresses. Duo is quite the interesting character here, and it is clear that though Heero is attracted to him, he's still not sure what in the nine hells to make of the braided wonder. And OMG, you will never, ever listen to the song Diary of a Madman, by A Perfect Circle the same way again after one particular chappy in this story in which Heero uses the chorus as a journal entry about Duo. It made me want to both squeal and cry! OMG, please read this! I order you! (There is actually a brother story to this called Death Becomes Him, which tells the same story from Duo's POV, but I found that link through the story's homepage, which, sadly, I don't think exists anymore. Lots of candy to anyone who can find it, though!)