A Potpourri of Fanfiction – Part Four of Many

[lavanya_six]

In which I recommend fanfic from Gilmore Girls, Sailor Moon, and, yes, finally, Evangelion.

Also, femmeslash.

The Series by Rocky (Alt Link)

Series: Gilmore Girls

Synopsis: AU from the start of Season 4. Paris begins to realize she's interested in more than friendship with Rory, but how does straight arrow Rory feel about that? Meanwhile, back in Stars Hollow, Lorelili and Luke deal with corporate buyouts and jealous lovers.

Reason Why I Recommend: Betcha never thought I'd recommend a Gilmore Girls fanfic, huh? Well, this one's amazing. First off, it's a femmeslash story (Rory/Paris) BUT it's written in Original Flavor. The tone of the story is true to the TV series, and it's even written in script format. I know that script formatting is looked down on in the fanfic community, but here it's done well. There aren't overwrought descriptions or overflows of blocking; instead most of the text is dialogue with simple notes for time and setting. In other words, it's written like an actual script, not like Eva-R.

Furthermore, the Rory/Paris femmeslash is written very naturally. There isn't the typical "Hey, wait a minute... I'm a lesbian!" characterization you get in most Wish Fulfillment Slash. Instead the characters spend a good chunk of the fanfic coming to terms with the idea that they're interested in members of the same sex and all that implies. Oh yes, there's angst, but angst that makes sense in terms of gradual character development. And though the Rory/Paris femmeslash is one of the cores of this fanfic series, the other characters of Gilmore Girls are not neglected. The rest of the Stars Hollow cast have their own plot lines too.

It's also really funny and witty, maintaining the comedic pacing of the TV series. It uses a 4 Act structure, something I've decided to adapt into the next chapter of Taking Sights. Highly, highly recommended.

NOTE: The archive this is hosted on isn't the best website in the world. I'm still trying to figure out a way to download this story without destroying its formatting. If you want to read it, open the link and then keyword search for "by Rocky" and there you'll be.



Secondary Characters by Jon Carp

Series: Sailor Moon 

Synopsis:  Sailor Pluto goes insane, turns evil (or decides to, at any rate) , and starts a-murderin'.

Excerpt: "Uh huh. It's great to be around somebody who... y'know...
spends time with you and really cares about..." She [Hotaru] realized what
she'd said and trailed off.

Michiru looked at her sadly. "I'm sorry. I know we don't
give you enough attention, but we all do our best. You know that,
don't you?"

"Of course. You don't have to..." something clicked in her
head. "...feel bad just because you're fucking me up for life."

Michiru blinked. "What?"

"Oh, you know," Hotaru said casually. "It's not exactly
healthy for somebody to be raised by people like you. I'm probably
going to grow up to be a drunken, misanthropic, schizophrenic dyke.
Still, all of you are far to busy to ever actually take care of me, so
I may have a chance."

Reason Why I Recommend: This is NOT original flavor, if you didn't catch on from the excerpt. Instead its typical Jon Carp, meaning darkness and wicked humor. It's a very twisted, very original take on Sailor Moon.



HERZ by E. L. Toh

Series: Neon Genesis Evangelion

   "This is the latest in from Hathor Broadcasting Corp.
Breaking news from the UN on a new Eva conspiracy. We're put
you to UNIPF HQ in Tokyo-2 where Maj-Gen Katsuragi Misato of
HERZ will be making a special live announcement."

   Misato was very telegenic. She had a commanding and
charismatic presence. The viewers respected and liked her.
As a result, in some higher circles she was feared and
hated.

   "Yesterday after events in Western China, the UN has
uncovered evidence that the major governments have not
learnt the lessons of 2015. They have been lying to us and
have continued to build Evas in clear contravention of the
Second Treaty of Valentine and without regard for the well
being of the human race.

   UNIPF and HERZ hereby evoke the Emergency Clauses of the
Second Treaty of Valentine to declare these actions by some
member-states as a clear and present danger to international
peace and security. We are also authorized by the Emergency
Clauses to evoke Chapter VII of the UN Charter. As such, all
Member-States must comply our decision to employ massive
force to correct the situation.

   The UN regrets that it must take this course of action
but finds that it has no choice. In the days to come, we ask
for your support. We do this to ensure that humanity will
have a future so that you and your children can live with
the possibility of happiness. May God have mercy on our
souls."

   The image switched to UN bombers dropping N2 mines on
military bases throughout the world that had been implicated
in illegal Eva construction.

Synopsis: After a last minute change near the 'End of Evangelion', the world averts Third Impact. However, the Evangelions still exist and questions remain as to what purpose these invincible machines should be put to. The US and other nation-states attempt, against treaty, to build their own Evas in secret. Meanwhile, SEELE, still kicking around in the shadows, plans to finally instantiate Instrumentality. Can HERZ, the phoenix that rose from the ashes of NERV, stop the legion of enemies that threaten it? Or has time finally run out for humanity?

Reason Why I Recommend: HERZ is a very old Evangelion fanfic, and it's perhaps the first (or one of the first, at least) continuation story. Combining character drama with international political theory, HERZ looks at what kind of a world people like Shinji and Asuka would live in if there was no Third Impact. It also does a lot of world building, like how the UN would function post Second Impact and how the world would react to the revelation of the secrets of NERV and SEELE. Sadly, few fanfics since have taken more than a cursory note from HERZ. My own fanfic, Taking Sights, owes more than a little to the imagination displayed in HERZ's world building. My only note against this fanfic is that it mixes in a lot of Japanese titles and honorifics.