Yindagger’s Recommendations

Archives:

Eternally Yours - http://www.angelfire.com/nm2/kages/index.html
Especially:
"Escape" by Julia the Younger. Completed. I love this fic – it’s sad and angsty and heartbreaking and sweet and sexy and hot and not terribly long. You’ll find yourself going back to it when you need to just … feel… everything… a lot.

"Sweet Memories" By Kayla. Completed. Romance – Spike and Xander lose their, memories, and a few innocent coincidences conspire to make them think they’re a couple. Let’s hear it for the innocent coincidences!!

"Suck and Blow", "Twister" and "Tarot" By Hallucination. They’re all good – in a non-angsty, fluffy-cute, romantic sweetness way, but "Twister" has a sex scene that will make you look at that particular game in a whole new light.


Weetabix & Alcohol -
http://www.weetabixandalcohol.freewebtools.com/index.html
Especially:
"Homeward Bound" By Buddy – WIP. This story is just ripping my heart out right now – so good, so sad, and so good.

"The Spaces In Between" By Jenni – Complete. This one is AU all the way, with Spike and Xander returning to Sunnydale. The problem – Xander seems to be unable to remember the last 3 years of his life. Lovely story – it twists you up in knots, and then makes it all better at the end. Ahhhhh.

"Consent" By Meg – Complete. This is a shorter fic, and it’s really smutty. That’s why I love it. It’s cool, hot and sweet, all at once.


Deepest Darkest Desires - http://www.oocities.org/edibbea
Especially:
Everything by Edibbea:
"Secrets" – WIP. I beta this series, and it is shivery hot, in a totally consensual bondage kind of way.
"Dream A Little Dream of Me" – WIP. If I’m lucky I’ll get to beta the next parts of this series, and I’m in love with it so far.
"Birthday" – Complete. This was my birthday present from Edi. It fit perfectly and was just what I wanted.

"He Might Be A Pain …" and "So What If He’s A Pain" By CC. This is a pair of odd little alphabetical stories, but I really like them.

"The Highwayman" By CC. CC’s brain must be a great place to hang out. This story is just … sigh. Is there something more bittersweet than bittersweet? If so, that’s what this is.

Individual Stories:

"Modus Vivendi/ Ars Morendi" By Wiseacress. Complete. This story is just – everything. It’s scary and sad and weird and evocative and gorgeously constructed using masterfully chosen words that wrap you up in a cocoon of unease and longing and sometimes outright horror. Not a light and fluffy read – this one will stay with you. "Ars" is an alternate ending that is every bit as disturbing and magnificent as its progenitor. To say that I love this story is a massive understatement. http://www.allaboutspike.com/wiseacress/

"Repossession" By Lazuli. WIP. I admit it; I’m a total Repo-junkie. This story is way, way AU, but it works. This is not the Xander and Spike we know, not even close; however, Laz makes it work pretty well. The story is rich, detailed and captivating. This story has made me laugh out loud and cry onto my keyboard, sometimes in the same chapter. Laz is just now starting to post the final third of this wonderful story. I’m also very partial to Repo because it inspired me to take a little idea that was knocking around my head and put it on paper. That little idea became "Long Time Gone". http://lazuli.kat.users.btopenworld.com/repossession.htm

Also, while you are at Lazuli’s site, go read "Hunger". The first time I read it I couldn’t decide if I liked it or not. It stuck with me for days, and I went back and read it again. And again. And now I know – I do like it, but it’s just disturbing. It’s not gory; it just cuts close to the bone emotionally.
http://lazuli.kat.users.btopenworld.com/hunger.htm


"Twilight Time" By Shadow. WIP. This one is just a really good, fun story. It starts out with some Hurt!Xander/ Comfort!Spike and I just like it a lot. It’s not terribly challenging, it’s just good. The characterizations are sound, the pace is brisk, and, hell – I just like it. http://shadowsalcove.kixxster.org/satwilight.htm

"Twisted Fates" By Kat B. WIP. This is a novel-length retelling of the Buffy series that turns things on their ear a bit. Her premise is that Spike, instead of Angel, was souled by the Gypsy curse and came to Sunnydale to help Buffy. Instead of falling for Buffy, her Spike falls for Xander. This story is just worlds of fun – I like it a lot. She’s finished the first season, and thinks it will go through Season Five. I, for one, can’t wait. http://penetratingurges.cjb.net/

"Manly Girly Giggles" and "Radioactive Flowers" By Kiara – "Giggles" is complete, "Flowers" is a WIP. Stay with me here – Xander pisses Anya off, she turns him into a girl. Then, the aliens attack Earth. I am not making this up. I am also not joking when I say that this story is great! It’s silly and fun, and Kiara makes Girl!Xander so damn funny and true. It’s got Xander and Spike love, epic battles, heartbreak and demon floral décor – what’s not to like? http://www.angelfire.com/ks/kiararogue/Xandspikepart1.htm

"Predatory Acts" and "Preying On My Mind" by JDavitt. "Predatory is complete, "Preying" is the sequel, a WIP. This is a Spike/Hyena!Xander story and it is great. I don’t think I can adequately describe this one – just go read the first chapter. If you aren’t immediately drawn in, you can sue me. Or be mad. Whatever. Go. Read. http://members.rogers.com/jdavitt01/index.html


Personal Fic Sites

Bloody Kisses – The Writings of James_Chick2002 (Cassy) http://www.angelfire.com/vamp/bloodykisses/main.html
Especially:
"Vengeance" – Complete. This is an older story, but I love it so much. It’s future/AU – Xander comes back to Sunnydale 30 years after being cursed by a vengeance demon and meets up with his old buddy Spike – who isn’t exactly the man he used to be. Cassy is such a good plotter; this story will suck you in and not spit you out until you read the whole darn thing.

‘Truth or Dare" – Complete. This is the very first X/S fic I ever read, so I thought that all S/X fics were as well written as it is. Um, not so much. But this is great – funny, cute, sexy, sweet, hot and always beautifully executed.

Pretty much everything on this site is worth reading, and most of it is worth reading twice. I have happily spent several afternoons here just working my way down the list.

Subtle Salvation – The Writings of LadyCat
http://www.subtle-salvation.com/
Especially:
"Hunt Brother" - WIP. God, I love this story. It’s got Hyena!Xander. I can’t even describe this story adequately – just go read it. Then bug the hell out of LadyCat for updates.

"Lessons" – WIP. Here’s the premise – Spike’s chip works both ways. When he does bad things he gets pain, but if he makes someone happy, he gets pleasure. Someone finds out about this little detail and exploits it for their own gain. Xander finds Spike during said exploitation and saves him, but finds himself the guardian of a much different Spike. Read it. Love it. Beg for more. It’s what I do.

"Soul" – WIP. Souled!Spike comes back and runs into Xander. This story is hot and sweaty and shivery good. The only problem is that it’s a WIP, and you will ache for more.

Everything that comes out of LadyCat’s fertile brain is good. My advice for this site is to start at the top and read every word. Repeat. Then beg like you never have before for updates. You know you want to.

Popslash
http://www.popslash.net/Main.Slash.php
There is so much salty goodness here. My two favorites are "One Hand Clapping", which is S/X and also includes some Zen Buddhism (slash and Zen – a match made in my brain), and "Hues of Bliss", which is Xander/Giles (a pairing I usually hate). "Bliss" is dark and has drug use and angst, but it just grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. Everything in the X/S folder is worth a read.

Fangy.net
http://www.fangy.net This is another site that you can just start from the top and go for days. It has many, many WIPs that I would love to see finished, but it hasn’t been updated in quite a while.

By Mcee:
"Dancing About Architecture" – If Mcee would write some more of this story, I would gladly wax her car, clean her house and bake her the cookies of her choice. It’s AU/ futurefic in which Xander and a very different Spike meet up after 8 years apart. It’s sweet, beautiful, lovely and entirely cookie-worthy. It’s also a WIP that hasn’t been updated for some time.

"Adorned" – a beautiful little moment of decoration, with assorted colors. Yes, I’m being vague. Go read it; you’ll understand.

By Alex:

"Snippets" It’s just good. I love it. Read it. I found a couple of new favorite songs from this little series.

"Brown Paper Packages" WIP. Porny goodness – really! Xander finds out that Spike’s past includes some very interesting video work.

"Elegantly Wasted" WIP. Another heartbreaker, and it’s a WIP, and it just … ends. This isn’t much of a recommendation, is it? Read it if you think you can take the pain.

"Back With Me" WIP. I like this story a lot. The stopping point isn’t too jarring; sort of between story arcs, so it won’t frustrate you too badly. This one has some great comeuppance for the Scooby gang for their treatment of Spike, and the S/X is lovely.

"Waiting Here" Completed. Not for the faint of heart – it’s dark. But the end is sweet, and the journey is beautiful. Give it a chance.