R/S Games Recs and Crack_Broom monthly recap and a little something else

[ceredwensirius]

Recs! Whee! Okay, first. OMG. rs_games started posting!! The mods did a great job choosing their starter guns. Now, as one of the co-captains for Team AU I will admit to a bit of bias for my team but really, everything posted today was just incredible.

Okay, now, first the rs_games recs. Now, I am going to give you the order you should read and view these in. Well, in my opinion anyway.

First, go look at this incredible piece of art. We ALL know who is responsible for this little bit of canon acheyness but of course we all have to smile and wink knowingly at each other like we don't.

Team Canon: Entre chien et loup :: G.

Next, go read this. This is a gorgeous gut-twisting story that left me absolutely breathless and on the verge of tears. As soon as I was done reading this I said, "oh god, I need a drink."
Team Canon: Take This Longing :: If Remus doesn't need him anymore, then what's the point of anything? (April 1981) :: NC-17 -- Explicit sex, strong language, jealousy, suspected infidelity, violent images.

The reason you read that one first is that this story can cheer you up and put you back together. The mods did a beautiful job of pairing these stories together. Yes, I know I already said that but it bears repeating.

This is light-hearted fun that will have you cracking up until you've got tears in your eyes. Tears of laughter, that is. Hilarious, heart-warming and funny.

TEAM AU!!!: What Always Was Sirius Black and Remus Lupin are friends caught up in the same dilemma: trying to find the perfect man. Why is it so difficult to find someone who is perfect for each of them? :: PG-13.

There. Feel better? Thought so. Alright, now go look at this little bit of gorgeous steampunk whimsy. Just really delightful and happy.
TEAM AU!!!: Flight Some things are inevitable. :: G.

Okay. And now here are my crack_broom recs for the month of September. It was my first time flying there and it was a lot of fun. If you have never recc'd there you totally should. Sign-ups are easy, just go to the profile page and follow the directions.

Crack_Broom recs for September

Fic

Title: Grow In The Openings
Author/Artist: mindabbles/spacefragments
Length/Word Count: 33,000
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: None that I can find.
Pairing: Remus/Sirius, Sirius/Charlie, Sirius,OMCs, mentions of Remus/Tonks and Ginny/Harry
Rating: NC17
Author's Website: Her Masterlist
Why everyone should read this: To be honest, I was frankly surprised this hasn't been recc'd here already. I double and triple checked just to be sure. This wonderful fic/art combination was created for the 2009 bigbangblackout. This fic takes you on an emotional roller coaster starting with a tense reunion between Remus and Sirius in Grimmauld Place. Sirius has escaped the veil and now has before him the daunting proposition of making a life for himself. Along the way he makes a lot of mistakes, finds a job, has numerous affairs, tries his hand at being a godfather, and solves a mystery. Throughout, the chemistry between Remus and Sirius snap, crackles and pops but frustratingly they can't quite figure it out until the end. The art serves as a lovely counterpoint to the story with vibrant colors and expressive scenes. If you haven't already read this story, it is well worth it.


"You think I need to know what it's like," Remus interrupted again, turning his hand so their palms pressed against each other. "What it's like to spend years knowing that you could love someone, but just in the periphery of your mind—knowing it like you know to breathe, without even realising. And then one day, knowing, because of some stupid little thing he does, something he always does, some melodramatic gesture, or he smiles at you like you are the only one who really knows him. And then you see that you are, and that he is the only one who really knows you. And then you're completely fucked, because you realise that you've probably loved him since you were a kid and everyone else has been an attempt to either fill the void or get as far away as possible from what you've wanted and can't have."


Title: A Safe Place
Author: remuslives23
Length/Word Count: 35, 615
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: None that I can find.
Pairing: Remus/Sirius
Rating: NC17
Author's Website: Her Masterlist
Why everyone should read this: You just can't go wrong with a remuslives23 story. She has a unique, distinctive style of writing that completely emerses you in the world she creates. This fic was written for the 2009 rs_games, Team AU, and is among my favorites from that fest. This magic AU features a wealthy and successful Remus who is a high-placed Ministry official. Though his circumstances are very different from those in canon, his intrinisic character is firmly intact. An attempt on Remus' life brings Sirius waltzing into the story as the hard-bitten Auror who resents being assigned to 'babysit' Remus and be his bodyguard. The sexual tension between these two is about as thick as it gets, but things are complicated because Sirius isn't gay. Really. Not even a little. Thrown together in isolation, Sirius is forced to confront a few things about his past he has tried to bury, and Remus tries to keep his hands to himself. This is by no means just another "I'm not gay fic." This is a bodice-ripper style, action packed mystery that will have you tense not only from the tension between the boys, but the numerous attempts on Remus' life by a mysterious attacker. I know this is another long rec from me, but it is so worth the read.


I will not think of him naked in the shower. I will not imagine Sirius Black wet.

But as Remus threw a bowlful of vegetables into the steaming pan, it was a dripping, naked brunette he was picturing in his mind and his body screamed at him to run up that staircase and claim the man who was setting off all kinds of reactions in him.

‘Fucking confused straight boys,’ Remus mumbled under his breath, stirring the meat and vegetables a little more vigorously than required. ‘Does he even know the kind of mixed signals he’s sending?’

Remus suspected that Sirius didn’t realise the ‘come hither’ signals he was throwing out and it was only that fact that kept him from dragging the other man close and snogging him stupid. It had been a while since Remus’ last boyfriend walked out the door and the presence of an attractive, wavering-about-his-sexuality man in his house had Remus’ body sparking uncontrollably.

Off limits. So very off limits...

‘Er...’

Remus looked over his shoulder and the flip fell from his suddenly boneless fingers.

‘I forgot to call into my place and get some clothes,’ Sirius said, nervously adjusting the towel around his waist. ‘I don’t suppose I could borrow...’

‘Sure,’ Remus said quickly, removing the finished meal from the burner. ‘Um, the food is ready so I’ll...’ He waved his hand in the direction of the second floor then hurried up the stairs, careful to avoid touching Sirius or his bare chest in any way. Gods, but he was fit...

‘He is not making this easy,’ he grumbled, shifting his half-hard cock to a more comfortable position in his pants before rooting through his cupboard for something that might fit the slightly bulkier Auror.

‘Pardon?’ Sirius said from the doorway and Remus jumped, bumping his head on the bottom of a shelf.

‘Fuck!’ he exclaimed and before he could turn around, Sirius was next to him.

‘Are you alright?’ he asked, putting his hand on Remus’ shoulder as he emerged from the cupboard.

‘I’m fine,’ Remus said, a little breathless. From the head injury, not Sirius’ touch. ‘I didn’t realise you... uh... Here.’ He shoved a pair of sweatpants and a long sleeved tee-shirt at Sirius who took them with a brisk nod.

‘Thanks,’ he said, backing up fast. ‘I’ll be down in a minute. Downstairs... for dinner...’ He shook his head then left hastily, leaving Remus to fall back against the door with a little moan.

This is going to be harder than I thought.

Dinner wasn’t as awkward as Remus had imagined it might be, though. They stuck to talking about neutral topics as they ate then Sirius offered to clean up. He refused to take no for an answer and cited the 'you cook, I clean' habit he'd fallen into with James Potter as his motivation. Remus, for the first time discomfited in his own home, retreated to the living room, sitting on the couch and summoning some files to work on. He was distracted by the sound of clinking china and closing cupboard doors, the file concerning the latest lycanthropy infection figures lying open and forgotten on his lap.

He hadn’t lied to Sirius last night; despite the fact he was one of the most attractive men he'd ever met, the brunette really wasn’t his usual type so Remus wasn’t sure why it seemed he couldn’t get the man out of his head.

Proximity. And the fact he’s saved your arse twice in twenty-four hours.

Yes, that was it. Some sort of misguided saviour worship or something.

Remus let out a relieved breath and reached for his glasses. This wasn’t a real attraction – it was just gratitude to the man for being there when Remus needed him.

And with that thought, he bent his head over his folder and immersed himself in werewolf statistics.


Title: Dedicated Follower of Fashion
Author: archduck
Length/Word Count: 4, 483
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: At her fic journal.
Pairing: Sirius/Remus
Rating: Hard R
Author's Website: Her Masterlist
Why everyone should read this: archduck never fails to deliver a wonderful story and this is no exception. Writen for the 2009 rs_career_fest, this delightful non-magic AU will put a grin on your face and keep it there from beginning to end. Sirius is the fabulously wealthy Viscount Black, son of the Marquess and Marchioness of Grimmauld, and Remus is an on-his-way-to-the-top fashion designer and boyfriend of said Viscount Black. The dialog throughout this cleverly constructed piece is wonderful and witty and is an absolute must read.


Remus chuckled to himself as Sirius swept into his studio unannounced wearing cowboy boots, leather trousers and oversized aviator sunglasses, a bedraggled Pettigrew in tow.


‘Good afternoon, Sirius. And what can I do for you today?’ Remus asked, trying hard not to giggle at his boyfriend’s ridiculous attire. No doubt a number of noted designers had sent carloads of free samples to him that morning and having so many shiny new things to play with had made Sirius lose all sense of reason. And taste.


‘Anything you like,’ Sirius said, with a wink. ‘Can I come through?’


‘Of course. To what do I owe the pleasure? You don’t have an appointment scheduled.’


Sirius tutted. ‘I don’t need an appointment, darling. I’m your boyfriend.’


Remus rolled his eyes. ‘Social call, is it?’


‘Ascot is next month!’ Sirius exclaimed, with an uncharacteristically camp flourish of his hands. ‘I want to cause a sensation.’


‘You don’t need my help to do that,’ Remus said, fixing the cowboy boots with a look of pure distaste.


‘Oh but I do. Are you aware of how many headlines we generate? I never got half as many column inches before I met you,’ Sirius said, licking his lips deliberately.


‘Can we leave talk of your column inches out of this?’


Sirius grinned. ‘Such a filthy mind. Anyway, I know you’re not dressing Lily because pregnancy has made her hair frizz and she’s too paranoid and too fat to leave the house, let alone attend one of the highlights of the social calendar. That ought to give you plenty of time to devote to creating something fabulously eye-catching for me. I think there should be a cloak of some description. Yes, a nice swishy cloak. Or a tailcoat – one that swishes.’


‘I’ll do it,’ Remus said carefully, ‘on one condition. You stop channelling Freddie Mercury this instant. I don’t know what happened to you this morning, but you’ve got to snap out of it before I beat you to death with those horrendous boots. The fashion police have had an arrest warrant out on them for months.’



Title: Alone: Bad, Friend: Good!
Author: eprime
Length/Word Count: 10,068
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: Livejournal, Dreamwidth
Pairing: Remus/Sirius
Rating: R
Summary: The final confrontation with Peter messes with Sirius' head so much he breaks out of Azkaban a week later and goes a bit mad.
Warning: Mind control
Author's Website: Master List at: Livejournal, or if you prefer, Dreamwidth
Why everyone should read this: eprime is a versatile author that I just found this year and can't get enough of. Written for the 2010 rs_career_fest, this piece was inspired by the challenging prompt of Sirius is a mad scientist and Remus is his assistant. What she created is an incredibly inventive First War AU in which Sirius escapes Azkaban a week after his capture. His anger and malice simmer so close to surface as he descends into a madness born of grief, betrayal, and the thirst for revenge. He holds Remus prisoner in Grimmauld Place with the Imperious curse, unwilling to let Remus confirm or deny if he was the traitor, and forcing him to help carry out Sirius' plans for Peter and the remaining Death Eaters. eprime holds the tension tight even as Remus seems to join Sirius in madness, and becomes a willing assistant. The conclusion is a bit of a surprise that is satisfying on every level. Please give this fic a try - you won't be disappointed!


"Sirius," he whispers.

"Imperio," Sirius says.

When Remus comes to again he is sitting unmoving in front of the large table that runs the length of the kitchen. The house elf, Kreacher, putters from sink to cupboard putting away dishes and silverware in between his mutterings and the dark glances he tosses over his shoulder.

The voices of Sirius and his mother echo down the stairwell. They are up there an indeterminate amount of time and the shouting only gets louder and more vicious the longer it goes on. By the time the voices fall silent the kitchen has gone dark and Kreacher has disappeared. Remus still sits in the same spot, floating on a wonderful feeling of well-being.

Heavy footsteps sound on the stairs behind Remus and he knows in some distant part of his mind that it is Sirius. The thought doesn't bother him and he doesn't worry about what they are doing in a place Sirius swore never to step foot in again. He doesn't worry about how Sirius escaped from Azkaban and what his intentions are now. He is content to sit in the dark and feel Sirius' presence and wait for whatever comes next.

"Get up," Sirius finally says and Remus pushes back the chair and stands, slowly turning around to face him. Sirius' face is in shadows. Only the sconces along the wall down the stairwell cast any light into the room. It is very quiet except for the sound of Sirius breathing. It has a ragged, uneven edge to it. Mrs. Black. The vague thought drifts through Remus' mind. She always did have that effect on Sirius.

The flame of a table lamp flickers to life and Sirius steps forward, his eyes cataloging the scrapes and bruises that still cover Remus' visible skin. Remus remembers now with a dreamy clarity how Sirius had cleaned and dressed his wounds on the floor of the cottage near the woods. Flashes of images; Sirius wringing a cloth and pressing the cold compress to his forehead, white bandages being wound around his ribs.

"I never thought I'd live to see you in this place," Sirius says in a low voice, sounding almost rueful and he reaches out to brush Remus' long fringe out of his eyes. Remus stares back mutely, awash in a sea of contentment. "We're staying, you know, for a while. I don't know how long, really. Walburga wasn't exactly gracious in her welcome as you might have heard, but she came 'round in the end." He laughs, horribly. "She's a bit short on sons at the moment. Besides, if there's one thing dear old mum understands it's the thirst for revenge."

Remus doesn't move as Sirius' thumb brushes over his cheekbone and down Remus' jaw. "It's a horrible old place and no mistake, but it's well warded and unplottable. My father strengthened everything, added some nasty surprises, before he died. After Regulus was killed." Sirius smiles in a way that would have made Remus go cold if he was capable of processing it at the moment. "And--you'll find this terribly ironic and amusing--we'll be casting the Fidelius on the place tonight." His fingers curl around Remus' jaw and tighten. "This time, of course, I will be the Secret Keeper."

Remus doesn't fight when Sirius lifts his chin and leans in. He doesn't even think about it. "You are going to help me," Sirius says slowly, thoughtfully, his mouth inches away from Remus'. "You are going to help me find Wormtail so that I can skin him alive, and then you are going to help me go after every other Death Eater out there still walking free. And maybe I'll save something special for Fudge and those ministry fools and sycophants who shipped me off to Azkaban without a trial. And after that..." Warm breath ghosts over Remus' face as Sirius whispers. "I'll see about taking care of you."



Title: Tom Jones (A Love Story)
Author: wook77
Length/Word Count: 23, 800
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: None that I can find.
Pairing: Remus/Sirius
Rating: NC17
Author's Website: The Author's Work at Skyehawke
Why everyone should read this: I can't tell you how many times I have reread this particular fic. This is a non-magic AU written for the 2009 bigbangblackout in which Sirius is a successful banker who is knocked to the ground by Remus, a humble street muscian. After their brief encounter neither of them could the other out of their mind. This is a story about falling in love where you least expect to find it, negotiating class differences, and close friendships. The writing is smooth, witty and engaging. It is delightful story that remains among my favorites. Please give it a try - you won't be disappointed!


"Sirius," he moans out as Sirius's hands slip up his shirt and tease at his nipples.

"Remus," Sirius moans back as his tongue starts doing amazingly wicked things with the curve of Remus's ear.

"We're in an alley." Remus sounds dumb. He knows it but he can't think much beyond the hands on his chest and the mouth on his ear and the breath in his ear. Every time Sirius sucks on his earlobe, a bit more of his brain power follows the suction.

"That we are. Your powers of observation amaze me." Sirius forces his shirt up further, the cold air brushing across his stomach and making his muscles tighten at the sensation.

"We're in a public alley."

"Correct again, Mister Lupin. Any other observations you'd care to share?" Sirius's lips move across his cheek to nibble at his chin and then up to his lips. Whatever Remus had planned on sharing is immediately sucked out of his gaping mouth and replaced by Sirius's probing tongue.

He wants to protest but every time he starts, Sirius's tongue brushes his or traces along his teeth or delves deeper into his mouth or any of the myriad things it's currently doing. Besides, his tongue is far too busy doing the same to Sirius to be able to formulate words. Add in the way that Sirius is grinding his cock against Remus's leg and, well, Remus is far too busy feeling to be thinking. He's lost in the way that Sirius's hair feels against his hands or the way that Sirius's hands warm his stomach, leaving little handprints of warmth to chase away the chilled night air before moving on to explore other needier areas.

When they break for air, foreheads touching, Remus can't catch his breath. This has happened so suddenly that his brain can't catch up. It's still about five minutes back with Sirius's fingers delving into his waistband and not on the here and now of warm body pressing him into cold brick. Laughter from just outside the alley brings him back into himself abruptly.

"We're in an alley."

"You're repeating yourself."

"We're in a public alley."

"Repetez, s'il vous plait?" Sirius asks as he pulls back.

"We shouldn't be doing this." Remus shifts so that his hands press down against Sirius's wrists, forcing them away from his body. As soon as they're gone, he tugs his shirt and coat down so that the cold air can't touch him and remind him of the way that Sirius's hands chased away the chill.

"I have to disagree with you." Sirius's hand reaches out and traces his cheek.

"So glad you're not one of those arses too busy saying yes," Remus remarks.

It's quite apparent that Sirius gets the reference to their first conversation as he laughs. Here's Remus's chance to taste that laugh and so he does. He leans forward and catches Sirius's mouth with his, threading his hand deep into Sirius's hair and holding him steady as he tastes the laugh. His tongue swipes across Sirius's open lips and silences the laugh but he doesn't care because then Sirius's tongue is touching his.

This time, when they pull apart, it's Sirius's turn to say it. "We're in an alley."

Remus hears the laughter in his voice. "Already said that."

"We're in a public alley." Remus can see the way that Sirius is biting back a laugh.

"Can't think of anything unique to say? And here I thought you were so witty."

When Sirius starts to laugh, Remus presses a finger against his lips. "You start that again and we'll never leave this alley. I'm cold and I'd really like to get home."

"I can warm you up pretty quickly," Sirius leers as he says it.

"That was fairly cheesy, even for you."

"Stick with me. You ain't seen nothing yet." Sirius waggles his eyebrows and then steps away from Remus, straightening his clothes.

"I'll look forward to it," Remus says drolly. Sirius laughs once more and Remus clenches his hands to keep from touching those lips and feeling it. Instead, he rights his own clothes and then starts towards the main street again.

"When're you free next?" Sirius asks as he joins Remus in walking back to the flat.

"Dunno," he says back and then ruins it with an all too eager, "Tomorrow?"

"I've meetings that will probably run late but maybe a late meal? A movie?"

"Sounds good." They've reached Remus's flat and they enter the entryway. The warmth hits Remus's nose first, making it burn as he realises how cold he'd really been.

"Number?"

Of course. He'd forgotten to give Sirius his number. He fumbles in his pockets and comes up with a pen but no paper. Feeling bold and rather silly all at the same time, he grabs Sirius's hand and writes his number on Sirius's palm. Afterwards, he starts to go up the steps and is yanked back down, straight into Sirius's arms.

"Not so fast," Sirius murmurs. "I'm not ready yet."



Title: The Full Value of Joy
Author: dogsunderfoot
Length/Word Count: ~38,000
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: None that I can find.
Pairing: Remus/Sirius
Rating: PG13
Author's Website: The Author on Fanfiction.net
Why everyone should read this: dogsunderfoot has a gift for inventive AU stories that pull the reader into her alternate world. Recently posted and written for the 2010 marauderbigbang, this story is no exception and is now one of my favorites in her catalog of works. Sirius works as an editor for an extremely successful publishing house and one morning runs across an article about a dear friend and author he used to work with who disappeared after losing his wife and son in a tragic auto accident. What unfolds is a touching story about the power of grief on the human soul and how it can affect a person's decisions. Remus is reluctant to be pulled back into his friends' world but the ever persistant Sirius has his say. Please give this touching romantic story a read, I promise you won't be disappointed,


"Fine, Remus, I’ll confess. I saw the bloody article with the bloody picture and I was worried about you. That’s when I badgered your agent into giving me your number."

"Shit," Remus whispered. "Fucking hell."

An uncomfortable silence fell between them. Again, Remus rubbed his temples; Sirius massaged the back of his own neck, feeling the tension settle there. He couldn’t think of what to say. He didn’t know Remus well enough anymore to know what would pacify him or what would set him off further.

It wasn’t until Remus had pulled up in front of the hotel that he finally looked at Sirius and asked sharply, "What was it in the article that made you decide to track me down? You had five years, Sirius, that you could have tried to find me—"

"No, stop right there," Sirius said, resentment exploding within his heart. "I tried to find you. I flew to France to try to find you, but you’d left the day before. For months, I asked your editor for any news, and he just kept telling me he didn’t know anything either, that you had left general directions for depositing your checks and that you would phone them for messages. Then I tried to talk to your agent, but he said he didn’t have the first idea where you’d gone. When he retired, that’s when things changed, and they got stricter about confidentiality. I didn’t know what else to do to find you. I didn’t even know where to begin to look."

He slammed his head back against the headrest. "Damnit, Remus, you wanted to disappear, and you did. I was trying to respect your need to get away, to be free of—whatever it was that you needed to be free of. I hated not knowing where you were. I hated every birthday and every Christmas that passed because you weren’t there. I wanted to see you and be with you and talk to you and..." He stopped and looked over at the other man who was staring at him with widened eyes.

Before he could stop himself, Sirius reached over and gently framed Remus’ face between his hands. "I wanted to know you were all right. I wanted to talk to you and know that you were finding some kind of happiness again." His thumb gently traced Remus’ bearded jaw. "When I saw that picture in the magazine, I knew that you hadn’t."

Remus gently pulled away. "Don’t, Sirius. Please."

"Don’t touch you at all? Don’t tell you what I’m thinking? Don’t yell at you for being so bloody maddening as to disappear from our lives for five years?" His voice softened. "Or don’t yell at you for disappearing from my life for five years?"

Remus looked out the driver’s side window, without saying anything.

Sirius sighed. "I’m sorry. I don’t..." He shook his head, unable to verbalise the feelings of fear and worry—and want—that were swirling through him. "I don’t want to fuck this up. I don’t want you to disappear again."

Still, there was silence.

"Remus, talk to me. Say something. Even if it’s to tell me to keep my bloody hands away from you."

Finally—finally—Remus turned to Sirius and gave a weak smile. "It must have been one hell of a terrible photo."



Title: Our Hell Is A Good Life
Author: toujours_nigel
Length/Word Count: 5,700
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: None that I can find.
Pairing: Remus/Sirius
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Insinuations of incest, canonical deaths: Regulus and Orion Black.
Author's Website: The authors site on AO3
Why everyone should read this: toujours_nigel is one of my favorite authors and one who can get me to read fanfiction outside of Harry Potter which I do only for a few special writers. She has a unique style of writing, able to capture and set a mood expertly. This piece was written for the 2010 rs_career_fest and is a dark, rich look at the Black family from the POV of Sirius told with masterful use of the second person. toujours_nigel lets you into his mind, plagued with guilt and longing and the desire to be and not be a Black. Still the heir, which complicates his service to the Order, his familial relations are strained by suspect paternity. One of my favorites from this fest, this story is well worth the read.


“Sirius,” Remus says, as though from a great distance, and again, louder, “Sirius, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” you say. I miss my mother, you think, and I miss my father, and my brother, and my uncle; and I think he’s been sleeping with my mother far longer than I’ve been alive, and I think my father knew and didn’t care; I think I’m my uncle’s son and I think his daughters knew; I think Bellatrix knew and hated me for it; I think Narcissa knew and Snape found out and spent a month insinuating; and I was sixteen, and I couldn’t bear the thought of someone articulating something I was terrified of; I sent him to the Shack so you would kill him and the Ministry would kill you, and nobody would know that I wasn’t who I seemed, nobody would know that I snuck glances at you and thought about you and fantasised about you and wondered whether, if I kissed you, you’d kiss back; nobody would know how depraved I was; I was young, forgive me; forgive me, I’m so lonely, I’m so alone, I missed you, Remus, forgive me, forgive me, forgive me. “It’s nothing,” you repeat, and force your eyes open—when did you shut them?

Remus is close, kneeling beside you, one arm outstretched as though he thought to touch you and thought better of it, and his face is creased into the lines of concern, and something perilously close to true affection. “You’re overwrought,” he comments, understating the obvious, and shifts to balance his weight on the balls of his feet. “I’ll get tea.” Always, always tea, and you know it’s going to be Assam, no milk, two sugars, not because you drink it that way—you don’t—but because Remus’ mum made it for him, every full moon he was at home, just after his transformation, and it’s seeped into his blood and brain as basic comfort. That’s what Remus does, when his family and friends—he thinks you his friend, again, still, always—are devastated, broken, ripped apart and he cannot think how to sew them back together. It is a mark of commiseration and affection, and you wonder what demons dance across your face to make Remus relent—you spent five years his confidante and three a traitor—and pull you back into his limited circle of friends.



Title: The River Lethe
Author: grandilloquism
Length/Word Count: 9100
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: None that I can find.
Pairing: Remus/Sirius
Rating: PG13
Author's Website: Only her LJ
Why everyone should read this: This is a beautiful adult fairytale about Laudinum-addicted painter Sirius and Remus, the keeper of a magical Inn set out of time that can only be approached by those with death hanging nearby. The prose is simply gorgeous in this slightly dark tale that is, to quote the author, "part Inn at the End of the World, part Grimm fairy tale, and a splash of Doctor Who."


It was then that the wind caught the door Sirius had left open and slammed it unforgivingly into its sill; the man stood in a fluid, graceful movement, unfolding long legs and turning in a gesture that was impressibly quick.

They stood silent, each surveying the other. In the steady light of the tavern room Sirius could see that his features were strong, rather than handsome. A broad forehead made intellectual for the moment by his furrowed brow and the intense look of total absorption in his large, dark eyes. His long, slender nose led to a small, frowning mouth and sharply pointed chin; Sirius’ fingers itched for a paintbrush. With the suffuse light bringing out reds and golds in his loose brown curls and that expression of frowning concentration he could have painted him as the Light Bringer, Lucifer the Morningstar.

“Hello,” he said, voice pleasant and deep, though he still frowned. “Will you be needing a room?”

For a reason he found himself unwilling to pursue, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up; he nodded.



Art

Title: Sirius Black - Hedonistic Viscount
Artist: carmentakoshi
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: None that I can find
Pairing: Remus/Sirius
Rating: PG
Artist's Website: Her Masterlist
Why everyone should read this: These pieces were drawn as a companion to archduck's Dedicated Follower of Fashion and I would be remiss if I didn't point it out to you. The detail work on Sirius' jacket is lovely and having Remus' exasperation with Sirius' Freddie Mrecury look come to life is just priceless.

Title: MWPP - Pirates
Artist: cathybites
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: At her website
Pairing: Remus/Sirius, James, Peter
Rating: G
Author's Website: Her Website
Why everyone should read this: Because the Marauders as pirates is awesome? Seriously, this is a lovely piece done for the 2005 hp_art_exchange that I fell in love with. I am enamored of Remus' period clothes and that devilish twinkle in Sirius' eye. Please take a look and enjoy.

Title: Running With Wolves
Artist: deathjunke
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: None that I can find.
Pairing: Remus/Sirius
Rating: G
Artist's Website: Masterlist
Why everyone should read this: This is a gorgeous piece done for the 2010 rs_career_fest. There is so much movement in this piece and the kiss between Sirius and Remus, while very sweet, still hints at the underlying passion between them.

Title: Soothing Universe
Artist: remeciel
Alternate Links to Fic/Art: I've been unsuccessful in finding links that work. If you know of one, let me know and I'll add it.
Pairing: Remus/Sirius
Rating: PG13
Artist's Website: Artist's website
Why everyone should read this: Created for the 2009 rs_games, this is an interesting role reversal AU with Remus as the rebel and Sirius as the calming influence. The art is lovely as it always is from remeciel with her almost statuesque Remus and Sirius.

I'm reccing Sirius/Hermione there this month. I got bumped up unexpectedly. Hee!

And, and... hm, well, we're making progress on rs_remix We've got a timeline set and are working on the rules and such so this is really happening. I am going to have to be a bit tougher than I was with rs_career_fest but I'm trying to set the tone with the rules from the outset so maybe I can fool everyone into thinking I am one tough customer. Yeah, shut up. Quit laughing. You know who you are.

Comments

[museme87.livejournal.com]

Oh I'm always up for some James/Sirius/Lily! Do you have any particular favorites that you can recommend?

[ceredwensirius.livejournal.com]

As a matter of fact I do. I've never seen it handled the way I would like and sadly I am not very good at writing them directly or I would have done it already. I've touched the pairing only twice and in one instance they were dead and the other the spend most of their time off the page.

http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=ceredwensirius&keyword=Sirius%2FJames%2FLily&filter=all

[museme87.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Thank you. :) Sex is hard enough to write as it is. I could never tackle a threesome. I always go to eprime for my threesome needs.

[ceredwensirius.livejournal.com]

Oh, I could write them getting it on, what I would have trouble with, what I do have trouble with, is explaining how they all got there in the first place. The sex itself is the easy part, the hard part is convincingly portraying the emotional aspects of it.

[museme87.livejournal.com]

Writing sex is a struggle for me most of the time. The only way I'm going to ever get over that is by actually writing it, I realize, but I still dread it. I wish sex was the easy part. :( I completely agree with you though. That is an extremely difficult position to get them into while trying to make it believable at the same time.

[ceredwensirius.livejournal.com]

Don't get me wrong, I have written my fair share of cracktastic fic that has no place outside of fandom and was written for fangirls to whom I am blatantly pandering. See: Attention Whore.

But, if I were trying to take a serious run at it and not just porn for the sake of porn and oh look they all just decided to get into bed together, how awesome is that? then yeah, its harder to make that believable. I am more comfortable in humor so that's where I tend to run to when writing.

Portraying James/Sirius/Lily in a serious way would be... tough.

[ceredwensirius.livejournal.com]

Er, add to the above comment somewhere, sex is funny. Because it is.

[ceredwensirius.livejournal.com]

Here is another one. http://setissma.livejournal.com/259022.html