L'Abécédaire d'un duel by MmeBahorel

[merryghoul]

FANDOM: Duel after a Masquerade Ball - Jean-Léon Gérôme (painting)
FIC LINK: L'Abécédaire d'un duel
AUTHOR LINK: MmeBahorel
RATING/WARNING(S): Teen
WIP?/WORD COUNT: No/7002
MAIN CHARACTERS: Original characters inspired by the painting named above.

FIC SUMMARY:

Critic Edmond About suggested, "At forty years old, before one steps on the dueling ground, one might forget to make his will, to write to his wife, or to provide for his son's future, but one doesn't forget to put on real pants."

But About forgets the history that takes an affair from a general insult to blighted honour. Each participant, from beginning to end, lends his past to the careering force of history.


RECCER'S NOTES: MmeBahorel did an amazing job for this Yuletide fic; it's filled with meticulous research that tells the story of what lead up to the duel in the painting.

Natsume Yuujinchou: Three for Family, by NightsMistress.

[thady]

FANDOM: Natsume Yuujinchou | Natsume's Book of Friends
FIC LINK: Three for Family.
AUTHOR LINK: NightsMistress
RATING/WARNING(S): PG-13
WIP?/WORD COUNT: one-shot | ~ 3,600 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Natsume Takashi, Fujiwara Touko, Fujiwara Shigeru

FIC SUMMARY: The more Touko hears about Natsume Takashi, the more confused she becomes. The stories she hears are of a selfish child acting out for attention, or worse, but all she can see is a sad, lost child in need of a place to put down roots so that he can settle his mind.

RECCER'S NOTES: This is such a wonderful characer study of bot Touko and of Natsume as we see him through her eyes. I love the way the story flows, and how Touka sees more than the others do. There's such a gentleness and kindness to her that makes me love her just the more.