The Dangerous Existence of Madame Lee

I haven't had a whole lot to say lately, as you've probably noticed; life carries on at its usual speed. I managed to clonk myself on the head this evening at work (nothing serious, but it sure hurt at the time), and feel a massive bruise coming on. I think it's pretty well hidden, but with my luck it'll seep onto my forehead. Ow.

I like cooking, but do not like to grocery shop very much, probably because it is one of the most tedious chores in the history of ever and no matter how I feel when I enter the store, I'm always tired, cranky, and ready to kill someone when I leave. It doesn't help that I shop primarily at my hated workplace. Anyway, at least we're ready for the next of my culinary adventures, because not by veggie burgers alone can man live. (Seriously. There were three layers of them on waxed paper in a Tupperware container in the fridge. We have just now eaten the first layer, which was about 4-5 burgers. FYI, they are delicious on sandwich thins with grainy mustard, tomato, and avocado, also cheese. They are also good with pesto, tomatoes, and mozzarella. I am trying to think of a Mexican-flavored variation that doesn't involve beans, since there are plenty in the burger already. We have got some salsa verde left over, which presents possibilities.)

The lolmom has made noises about making pumpernickel bread. Mmmm, delicious pumpernickel bread. :9

Also, I told a_t_rain I would rec her Merchant of Venice fic, then failed to actually rec the fic, so here 'tis: A Wilderness of Monkeys. It's a WIP and this is only the first part, but I look forward to the rest of the story. Shylock/Portia hatesex! How can you not go in for that? (Yeah, okay, I like Shylock even if he is an asshole. Faith of my fathers, and all that.) Go read it. Now.

Also, apropos of nothing:
Dear floor lamp in the den,

Do not go out. DO NOT. I see you flickering and quavering.

Yours very truly,
l33

Because I feel exhausted and weak thanks to horrid bl33ding stuffs, and because I don't feel like bitching about the myriad evils of Santa Claus, I present you with a fic. I haven't been doing fic recs lately because a.) I suck, and b.) Thousand Ships shut down, which effectively cut off part of my supply.

She Walks in Beauty by one mourning dove. Not Trojan War fic proper, but worth your time. I'm not sure if this is a work in progress or not, but it is enjoyable, even if there are a few anachronisms and the prose is a little purple. (Also: I for one could do without "REVIEW PLEASE" at the bottom of every chapter, but I find it less egregious because this is well-written.) It follows the relationship between Persephone and Hades, and all in all it's a worthy effort.
What else has this author done? Nothing else, as far as I'm aware.

In unrelated news: 3054 words of t3h n0v3l are written. Which is not much, but I'm forcing myself to churn out a thousand words a day. I figure this is manageable.

Okay, so I have errands to run, so here goes.

Heavenly Deluge by Thyme In Her Eyes. There isn't enough Clytemnestra fic in this world. While I don't altogether agree with her Clytemnestra, this is a damn fine fic--the prose is lush, but never over the top, and Clytemnestra's hatred and loss come through beautifully. The last line will give you chills.
What else has this author done? An awful lot of stuff! She's done some other Greek mythology work and written in a variety of fandoms, including an awful lot of FF7 work.

Two Drachmae by Gloria Mundi. I don't like Achilles/Hector, but I like this. It's sad and powerful, and the sorrow and longing come through so clearly. It's difficult to explain--go read it yourself.
What else has this author done? Awww, c'mon, guys, you know the drill. Visit her site, Imagin'd Glories.

Demand by Anaimos. Diomedes convinces Odysseus to come to Troy at the beginning of the war. Short, sweet, and slashy.
What else has this author done? A bit of other Trojan War stuff; I don't know about anything in any other fandom.

Or, um, it would have been if it hadn't rained half the day. But my Stakhanovite tactics paid off (or had better, as I enjoy receiving time-and-a-half), and then I got to go home and crash WHEEEEEEE YAY. Also, for the edification and delight of momo, I am hard at work on checking and responding to my e-mail. At long last. F'rinstance.

Anyway, we all know what Sunday means in these here parts, so without further ado, some recs!

goddess loving fool by sasori. Ignore the author's notes--they're rather jarring--but read the story itself. Despite a few minor grammatical errors, it's a pretty good piece about the reunion of Helen and Menelaus at Troy, at the end of the war.
What else has this author done? Most of her other work is in various anime fandoms, including RK, but she's also done some HP and Tamora Pierce-based fic as well.

Rites of Passage by Cinzia. Achilles, fourteen or so, is going to be educated, and although it is not the done thing, Patroclus will wait for him. The imagery is gorgeous--I'm a sucker for a good mental image--and I don't mind admitting that this one moved me to tears.
What else has this author done? A lot of it has been in LOTR and Lotrips fandom, but she's done some other work here and there. Visit her site, Cinzia's Web.

Fall by Helen. An encounter between Aeneas and Helen the night that Troy fell. It's violent and amazing; the complexity of Aeneas' mixed feelings towards her is beautifully emphasized.
What else has this author done? A bunch of other Trojan War stuff.

Yes, it's that time of the week again. I seem to be getting to slim pickings, but there are lo these many weeks left in the year. Enjoy.

Incomparably Cunning by Snoodle. A cute, clever, funny story about Odysseus and Penelope meeting for the first time, and the circumstances surrounding Helen's marriage to boot. Although this author's Clytemnestra isn't quite to my liking, Odysseus and Penelope are dead on, and it's funny without being stupid--a rare accomplishment in a humor fic indeed.
What else has this author done? Her work is pretty varied, including Buffy, POTC, and Narnia fanfic.

The Baths at Smyrna by Gloria Mundi. This is the sequel to last week's offering, "Pyrrha's Bracelet". Yes, I know there's a disproportionate amount of Gloria Mundi here, but damn if she isn't good. This is a brief encounter between Achilles and Odysseus, and a discussion of age and passion.
What else has this author done? Oh, you know what's coming next. Visit her site, Imagin'd Glories.

Fire and Ashes by Shirasade. Achilles reflects on his last night with Patroclus, and everything that he would have done differently. Bittersweet and beautifully imagined.
What else has this author done? Nothing that I know of, though she seems to have a few fansites here and there. Visit her site, Shirasade.net.

Fanfic recs for this week. Whee!

1.) Solace in the Cup by Freelance Muse. Dionysus comes to visit Cassandra in the last days before Hector's death, and leaves her with sweetness to dilute the sorrow. The prose is really lush, and the author uses imagery to great effect; the description is plentiful without being purple.
What else has this author done? Her work has been various--there's a little bit of everything.

2.) Firestorms by Tiamats Child. A sweet, sad fic about Cassandra and Andromache at the sack of Troy, taking refuge in the temple of Artemis. There's some nice imagery here, and most of all the mood of desperation and fatalism comes through.
What else has this author done? Most of her other work is in Les Miserables fandom and RPS, and she's done a few pieces based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's work as well.

3.) On Helen by Elandae. A brief description of Helen, physically and preternaturally. Short, but powerful.
What else has this author done? The only other work of hers that I know about is Trojan War fic.

[SPESHUL IRRELEVANT NOTE FOR momo: Yes, Ashley, I'm working on my e-mail even as we speak. This does not give you carte blanche to fall down on the job, though.]

Anyway, it's Sunday again, so enjoy.

1.) Artemis the Huntress by J. Dawnwolf. This isn't Trojan War fic proper, but it's absolutely worth reading. A retelling of the story of Artemis and Orion from Apollo's point of view, it's witty, well-characterized, and clever. The ending seems a little rushed, but the previous chapters more than make up for it.
What else has this author done? Most of her other work seems to be in HP, Tolkien, and Artemis Fowl fandom, with a little bit of miscellaneous stuff thrown in here and there.

2.) Strange Armies in the Night by Gloria Mundi. Let us once again bid a merry hello to this staple of Lee's weekly recs. This features Achilles and Patroclus, my slash OTP (theirloveissomartial), and vague intimations of what's to come. Oh, and vague hints of BDSM, if you choose to read it that way.
What else has this author done? You know the drill—some POTC, some LOTR, some miscellaneous. Visit her site, Imagin'd Glories.

3.) Dido, through Anna by Anaimos. Most Trojan War fic is based on Homer, not Virgil, so this is a nice change. The use of color and imagery, in particular, is really great, as is the view through Anna's eyes, since she doesn't get a lot of face time even in the Aeneid.
What else has this author done? Nothing that I know about.

Time for more recs! I'm trying to get my mojo on here. Really, I am.

1.) Ashes of Ilium by Julie. A short, unusual one-shot: while waiting for the ships that will take her to slavery in Greece, Andromache and Odysseus exchange a few words. Odysseus' view of Andromache, and his realization that the tables could easily be turned, are particularly poignant.
What else has this author done? Nothing that I know about.

2.) Trade Winds by Banba. Clytemnestra in the last days before the Greek fleet leaves for Aulis. Her Clytemnestra is less calculating than mine, but the psychological tension and the existential angst are well done, and the characterization of Agamemnon is pretty good as well. As a plus, this story features my two favorites, Clytemnestra and Achilles. ^_^v
What else has this author done? Most of her other work is in Thoroughbreds fandom, which I'm not familiar with, but she's written in Moulin Rouge and Phantom of the Opera as well.

3.) Until Then by Yvi. Oh, wow. This dark, angsty, and wonderfully twisted little fic takes a look at Electra and Chrysothemis in the years between Agamemnon’s death and Orestes' return. It's gloriously creepy.
What else has this author done? A whole lot of Moulin Rouge and Les Miserables fanfic, although she's written in other fandoms as well.