Saudade de Mim

by: lightbird (dramatic owl on AO3)
trope_bingo trope: mind games
Fandoms: Avatar: The Last Airbender, Quantum Leap, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Firefly, Merlin

This was one trope on my card that I would've chosen to avoid, for various reasons. Unfortunately it ended up falling into the line that I was trying to complete with other tropes that most inspired me, so I had to deal with it (I'm already in amnesty, but it would be nice if I could actually accomplish a bingo at all). So, I decided to read other people's works -- starting specifically with the tag in the community and on AO3 but then branching out -- in order to explore the different ways that this trope has been interpreted and handled. And came up with an entire set of stories I loved in several of my fandoms. Then I remembered that a rec set can fulfill a prompt too and pulled this list together. I've included various fandoms and a couple of different takes on the trope. I also specifically recommended several works by the same author that use this trope, which are all part of an excellent series of Avatar: The Last Airbender stories.



Rec 1

Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Fic: Crown of Thorns
Author: AzarDarkstar (I will be recommending several stories from a series in this fandom by this author)
Characters: Kuei (Earth King), Long Feng
Summary: Kuei has never looked more like the king he is in reality. Long Feng bows lower.

Why I Like It: This is a lovely, intense piece about two minor characters in the series who appeared and were pivotal in Season 2. Written from Long Feng's perspective, the author beautifully portrays a scene between Long Feng and the Earth King which explores the bond between these two men and how it has changed, as well as filling in a small piece of the aftermath of events at the end of Season 2.

Rec 2

Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Fic: Three Ghosts
Author: AzarDarkstar again
Characters: Avatar Kuruk, Ty Lee, Toph Bei Fong, Bumi
Summary: Their names are like shattered glass; one breath is all it takes to break.

Why I Like It: Clever, eerie collection of drabbles that explores different characters and their dealings with ghosts from their past.

Rec 3

Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Fic: Let the Flames Begin
Author: AzarDarkstar again
Characters: Long Feng, Ozai
Summary: There is something to be said of punishment. But the future torment of the man in the cell across from him will be its own reward.

Why I Like It: I love stories that flesh out and breathe life into minor characters that we may not see onscreen much. This is another one from Long Feng's perspective. AzarDarkstar does such a wonderful job with this particular character, has a lovely command of language and does an excellent job presenting Long Feng's feelings and thought process in this short post-series story that gives us a glimpse of a possible encounter between him and Fire Lord Ozai post-finale.

Rec 4

Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Fic: No Easy Way
Author: AzarDarkstar again
Characters: Long Feng, Ursa
Summary: Her name is sin on his tongue, even if he's yet to say it.

Why I Like It: Another beautifully written Long Feng-centric fic in this series. Written again from his perspective, the story hints at a pairing that isn't seen much (if at all) and is a wonderful 'what if' scenario about Ursa's (Zuko's mother) fate.

Rec 5

Fandom: Quantum Leap
Fic: Scorched
Author: Janet_Coleman_Sides
Characters: Sam Beckett, Al Calavicci, The Devil
Summary: Slash, explicit. Sam is bedeviled between Leaps by the devil, once again in the form of Al. "Them that dance with the devil's bound to get scorched."
WARNINGS: Dubious Consent, Rape/Non-con Elements (author has tagged for these on AO3 but I'm including here as well)

Why I Like It: Janet Coleman Sides is a wonderful writer and I love all of her Quantum Leap fics. This story is an intense, compelling riff on the Halloween episode that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, works this trope and offers an interesting theory on why Sam hasn't returned home yet.

Rec 6

Fandom: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Fic: Maithuna
Author: Leyenn
Characters: William Riker/Deanna Troi
Summary: an act of uniting two things into one state of being; a spiritual uniting in order to bring about concord.

Why I Like It: Sensual and sexy, and an all-around terrific Riker/Troi fic that puts a more positive spin on this trope than I usually encounter (it's also a hurt/comfort fic and the author has tagged it as 'mental manipulation' rather than 'mind games'). Superb writing and characterizations too.

Rec 7

Fandom: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Fic: Good Sex - Julian's Revenge
Author: SeriesFive
Characters: Julian Bashir/Elim Garak
Summary: Slash, explicit. Julian told him that he wouldn't see it coming.

Why I Like It: I love these two characters and their complex friendship, so I'm up for any good fic about them, gen or slash. This is a great, very erotic story with a hilarious twist.

Rec 8

Fandom: Firefly
Fic: Fig Leaves
Author: Nary
Characters: Malcolm Reynolds, Inara Serra, Jayne Cobb
Summary: Mal, Inara, and Jayne get into a spot of trouble and wind up telling some stories they never meant to share.

Why I Like It: Incredibly good backstory fic with spot on character voices.

Rec 9

Fandom: Firefly
Fic: Abandon Ship
Author: slipstream
Characters: Jayne Cobb, River Tamm, Malcolm Reynolds
Summary: Jayne's a mite touched in the head.

Why I Like It: Slipstream is a fantastic writer, who does a great job in general with the characters. An incredibly dark, eerie, gut-wrenching fic that really packs a punch.

Rec 10

Fandom: Merlin (TV)
Fic: Just Like Anyone Would Bruise
Author: lady_ragnell
Characters: Nimueh, Uther Pendragon
Summary: Nimueh sees a way to end Uther's legacy, and must go to Camelot to set it in motion.
WARNINGS: Extremely Dubious Consent, Past Character Death, Future Character Death, Dark (author has tagged for these on AO3 but I'm including here as well)

Why I Like It: Words cannot express how much I love this story. It's very, very dark but it is an absolutely beautiful, interesting and stunningly-written fic.