In a comment to my answer post for "desert island books",
layne67 asked what 5 fanfics I'd take with me... which is an almost impossible question to answer because I have so many favorite stories across several fandoms.
But since there's no questions for today or tomorrow, I'll give it a go. I'll list them in no special order other than "Captain America stories" followed by "LOTR stories", with the caveat that if I made another list next week it would probably contain
completely different stories, because my favorites list is seriously huge and what tops it largely depends on my mood on any given day.
The first two are nothing new to anyone, as I keep gushing about them. They're my current go-to stories when life gets stressful and I need an escape:
1. Owlet's "
This, You Protect", wherein the Asset's mission parameter abruptly switches from "this, you kill" to "this, you protect". Because it's chapter after chapter in Bucky's slowly-recovering brain, and has stuff like this scene, where Bucky learns old people can be interesting allies, and cats, particularly his old lady neighbor's cat Eleanor, are attracted to him:
“She doesn’t usually take to people,” the old woman says.
She’s carrying a tray with mugs and a plate on it. An ancient urge rises to get up and take the tray, but the risk of severe puncture wounds is too great if he moves.
“Eleanor’s a tough customer. You must be high quality.”
Assessment: high quality assassin, fighter, and spy. Cats are predators. Maybe cats are attracted to the tough and deadly. He scratches a little more firmly, and Eleanor rises, pads over and snuggles down on his lap.
She is purring, right on top of all his tender parts, and that’s where all her claws are. Terrifying.
2. "
The Third Directive" and "
Simple Conversation", by
marjun (linking them together under one because
Simple Conversation basically continues the story started in
The Third Directive. If that's cheating, I don't care). It's very similar to #1, with chapter after chapter inside Bucky's brain and Steve's brain, too, but with a more serious tone and a ton of Steve-taking-care-of-Bucky h/cccccccccccc and hugs and tears and all that you'd want in a Post CA:TWS Bucky Recovery Fic. Plus there are Avengers. Win.
3. Canafinwe's
Pale-Faced Tark. (I'd also like to take her
A Long and Weary Way but it's not finished yet....and I have no idea if/when it ever will be. *sigh*) This one made the list because I love stories with unexpected strangers coming to Aragorn's aid, and this one is a primo example of that.
4. Mirach's
Crossroads of Light and Shadow, because it's just so doggone unique and original and creepy and full of peril and... *flails* It hit me like a ton of bricks the first time I read it and remains one of my all-time favorite LOTR short stories. I mean, seriously... Aragorn and
mewlips. And the
Shadow-bride. *shiver*
5. Ugh, there are far too many to choose what the last one would be, so would it be terribly egotistical if I listed my Bowen Rushlight WIP instead? I figure if I was stranded on a desert island, I might actually have time to work on it. :P