FFXII: Like a waltz (recs)

FFXII is, in nearly every way, exactly the game I've always wanted. The battle system is as complicated as I want to make it, and ridiculously fun; the characters are complex and layered and most importantly, likeable; the villains are villainous and well motivated. The scenery and the character designs are gorgeous. The score is epic. And the game is filled with references to Tactics and Vagrant Story, because Matsuno has taken all that Square Enix will give him for his little universe and run with it.

The only place where XII falls short of its predecessors is in its ending; yes, there is the triumphant victory, followed by selfless sacrifice left purposely ambiguous, because that's what Matsuno does- but then all of that delicious, dark ambiguity was cleared away by a neat and tidy finish that gave happy, shallow endings to all the characters.

...well, as happy as anyone ever is in a Matsuno game. Of course, it could have been worse- everyone could have died, or everyone could have been cursed with the life of an immortal exile. Instead, everyone is reasonably content, but there is no closure, no proper emotional release. FFX's ending was so effective because of the catharsis- it ended in absolute tragedy, but it was tragedy with a purpose, and the remaining characters moved on in new directions. The world at the end of FFX was a new one; you don't entirely get that sense at the end of XII. The world advances, but the characters don't; they all end up in exactly the same place they began in (if not physically, then mentally and emotionally).

Unsatisfying. Of course, the game was much heavier on plot than character development, but that's no excuse, really. Six people manage to change the world; one ought to think the world would have an equally tremendous impact on them. Instead, the crowning achievment is that everything is back the way it used to be.

(One can argue that Tactics and VS end in similar ways, but in Tactics, Delita and Ovelia end up changing each other, and in VS, Ashley comes to terms with himself and his past, if not his future.)

Anyway. Enough of my griping; on with the recs!

Erlkönig by Mithrigil, and part of her now sprawling fanon universe (Very epic feeling, poetic writing; Ashe/Basch, unrequited Vossler/Ashe, Basch and Noah backstory). Larsa, at the end of his life.

We Cover Distance, but Not Together by Hebiserpens, who has also written a few other Gabranth backstory pieces, which can be found on her website.

Some Watcher of the Skies by Colored Ink, and archived on Livejournal along with several other excellent and largely Balthier-centric pieces at Wreaths and Bells. The origin of Balthier's name, and his choice of weapon. If you read nothing else, however, read Four and Twenty Blackbirds, for its take on Balthier and Fran's fate at the end.

Five Things That Never Happened to Larsa Ferrinas Solidor (and one that did) by Geekerypokery, who has one or two other ficthings on her LJ; a fix-it for all the tragic deaths in the game.

Al-Cid Is Here To Have Sex With Your Family by Moonsheen, which is Al-Cid meeting Larsa for the first time. There are a number of other awesome fics on Moonsheen's LJ.

Ficbits: Balthier and Fran, Al-Cid and Ashe by Mullenkamp, who is also the person with the most amazing FFXII and Vagrant Story icons evar. The ficbits are good, too- on the funny side, which is something this fandom needs more of. Also, the Yasumi Matsuno Drinking Game, which is so appropriate it hurts.

My Choice by Silverlocke980; it's a series of one shots about the characters and their weapons or espers. The quality varies, but some of them are quite insightful.

Of Bars and Bets by The Shoeless One; pure silliness, involving Basch, Balthier, Fran, too much alcohol, and cheating at cards.

Morpho Aurora Aureola by Beeblebabe. Cid, his wife and son. (This is the sort of fic that makes you want to cut yourself, just a little.)

Larsa and Penelo and Vaan silliness and The One Where Larsa Says They Can Keep Vaan as a Pet by Lazulisong. ...okay, so I'm not actually interested in reading Larsa/Penelo, but...SO. FRICKIN. CUTE.

The Marriage Blade by Luc Court, who has written other Drace and Gabranth pieces, and a Fran and Balthier piece (as well as a number of incredible Naruto fics).

Circular Thinking by Imadra Blue. Nice Fran introspective-y piece.

fic recs, caps lock abuse, and an excess of exclamation points

As promised, these are not Naruto. Because I do read things in other fandoms. So I give you some Bleach and some FF and a bit of Saiyuki. As always, when I finally decide to do a rec post, I can't find half the things I've been reading. Clearly, I suck.

Bleach! My newest obsession, since the latest Naruto chapters have been sucking. I'm an 11th Division fangirl, so many of these are going to reflect that. They're also mostly humor, because the angst and drama all tend to revolve around characters that I just don't care about. (Rukia, I'm looking at you.)

The Dreaded Three Step by vez. Yumichika always gets his way in the 11th Division, but there are some things Zaraki will never let him get away with. (Silliness!)

Pick up Lines from Hell by hey-diddle-diddle. One sided Zangetsu/Ichigo. Poor Zangetsu, he gets very lonely in Ichigo's headspace. More silliness.

Untitled drabble and art by explodinguterus. Yachiru is adorable and evil, and that's all that really needs to be said about that.

Actions Speak Louder by beckingham. General 11th Division drabble. Of course they believe in love at first sight. (Not actually humor!)

Morning After by mimma. Renji/Byakuya with very silly footnotes. I normally can't stand the pairing, but I'm a sucker for (so many things) silliness and footnotes. And, by the same, Stupidity, which is some 11th Division shennanigans.

Author Rec- Moonsheen. You've probably read all of Moonsheen's stuff, but I'm reccing her anyway. Go search through the memories or scroll down, pretty much everything is good. This Untitled Drabble gets a special mention, because of the assbanditry.

Author Rec- Celeste1. Read everything of hers. Just do it, I don't care if it seems daunting. Especially read the drabbles (ff.net), yes, all 144 of them (livejournal). It's her fault I 'ship Shuuhei/Yumichika and Chad/Ishida and Ganjyu/Hanatarou. I can't do more to reccommend her without large signs and possibly confetti.

Final Fantasy! My first true love, particularly the older games.

Author rec- Black Jester. FFVII and IX oneshots. In particular, the first three Turk stories, Veracity, Colors, and Numbers, and Tomorrow Will Be Dying, a Freya and Amarant piece.

Stuff of Legend by Lirilith. FFIV far-into-the-future-fic from Edward's (that is, Gilbert's) perspective. A curious, slightly angsty sort of "what if," and anything that incorporates the spoony bard in his proper capacity as a storyteller is a good thing.

(Is it bad that I want to write OT3 fic for FFIV? I kind of think so.)

Saiyuki-
Tunnel Vision by incandescens. General Tenpou, as seen through the eyes of Konzen. I like how Sanzo is in denial no matter what incarnation he happens to be in.

ALRIGHT, I LIED, HERE'S SOME NARUTO ANYWAY. (My goodness, but I am an obsessed fantwit.)
Unnecessary Things by harukami. Zabuza/Haku, AU (no ninjas, but the setting is similar), happy ending. It's just- yeah. Beautiful. Go read, it's amazing. And it has a sequel! Contentedly Ever After- now with parfait!

(Non sequitur no jutsu! You know what makes me amazingly happy? MY DORM ROOM. IT'S BETTER THAN YOURS. I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, MY ROOM WINS. *cough* Yeah, okay, some things just need to be mentioned in every forum possible, you know?)