Poetry Month- A Well-Worn Story

I thought this would be appropriate for April:

A Well-Worn Story
by Dorothy Parker

In April, in April,
My one love came along,
And I ran the slope of my high hill
To follow a thread of song.

His eyes were hard as porphyry
With looking on cruel lands;
His voice went slipping over me
Like terrible silver hands.

Together we trod the secret lane
And walked the muttering town.
I wore my heart like a wet, red stain
On the breast of a velvet gown.

In April, in April,
My love went whistling by,
And I stumbled here to my high hill
Along the way of a lie.

Now what should I do in this place
But sit and count the chimes,
And splash cold water on my face
And spoil a page with rhymes?

Multi-fandom Rec Post

I usually don't do rec posts, as (A) my friends' list used to be pretty homogenous, so anything I'd read, you'd likely already read, and (B) it feels like I'm always reading WIP's and I hate to recommend an uncompleted story. However, my friends' list has branched out into new fandoms, and I've recently read several really good-- and complete!-- stories, so I thought it might be time to do a rec post again.

First and foremost, A Conversation Carole Never Wanted to Have by lls_mutant. You don't have to have watched a single episode of Glee to enjoy this one. All you need to know is that Carole is Kurt's new stepmother, that they bonded while Kurt played matchmaker between her and his widowed father, and that Kurt now has his first boyfriend, Blaine. It's a wonderful (step)mother and (step)son moment, and I love it precisely because it is such an awkward conversation to have, but Carole rises to the challenge admirably.

Proving that the HP fandom is still active, Match.com by bend_me_baby. It's Remus/Sirius (of course!) and an AU in which they are both muggles who haven't yet met. If you want a hint how they will meet, the title should be a clue. I love the slow but steady development of their romance, and I found the whole thing (4 chapters) an enjoyable read.

Most of the QaF fics I'm currently reading are massive WIP's, but here are a few very good one-shots. Toothbrushes by morrbran is a moment in that magical first season, and The Nude by sapphire_3 is set post-series. You don't have to be a QaF fan to appreciate these moments in time-- although it helps. Think of them as bookends of one another: Justin trying to make a place for himself in Brian's life, and Brian feeling a bit awkward with his current place in Justin's (so to speak).

Here's one from a show I don't even watch--I just like the Hawaii 5-0 fanfic! Not Trained for This by perspi is a wonderful little "Two Men and a Baby" type fic. Unlike every other Hawaii 5-0 fic I've read, there's no Steve/Danny slash in this one-- although the door isn't closed on the possibility-- but it's so sweet and funny that you won't miss the slash.

And if you aren't in the mood to read, just go ogle this drool-worthy photo of Hawaii 5-0's Alex Mclaughlin. No wonder so many people are watching the show. Thanks for the eye-candy, sheafrotherdon.