I Want Your Spander Recs

[suki_blue]

Here's the thing, I was into Spander for a really long time. As well as writing my own stuff, I read extensively. But when asked now to rec to a Spander Newbie, I draw a blank, many blanks. It's been so long, I can't remember the classics.

This is where you, my adorable flist come in. Could you please comment to this post with your Spander recs. Classic, recent, a little-known gem, it doesn't matter. Give it to me hard. Give me all of them. Plotty, porny, fluffy, angsty, I want it all. Pretend I'm a Newb who has never read a single Spander. My only stipulation here is that it must have a happy ending, which also obviously means no character death (although vamping is fine). Self-pimping is also yay.

Also desperately wanted are Xangel recs and X/S/A.

Could I have a link and a brief description of the fic.

Think of this a post we can flash at any Newbie who happens by.

Thanks in advance

~waits~

Comments

[allyndra.livejournal.com]

The first real Spike/Xander story I read was Esmeralda's Stranger Things (http://dea.certes.tripod.com/strangerthings/index.htm) series. Spike rescues Xander from a tribe of demons by convincing them Xander is his. They evolve into a relationship, then they get Angel involved, the Doyle (who is not dead). Very long, lots of smut. It's not quite what I look for in a fic now, but I still enjoy it, and it completely blew me away at the time.

I know you're totally familiar with amejisuto's Hold Me. Thrill Me. Kiss Me. Kill Me. (http://www.ameswierdness.com/viewstory.php?sid=60&ageconsent=ok) Xander meets Spike the summer before junior year. This one is still awesome.

You may feel odd about self-reccing, but Teenage Dirtbag and Grief Counseling are way up on my list of Spike/Xander recs, always.

Everything that reremouse has ever written, but especially Scoffs at Gravity (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=reremouse&keyword=Scoffs+At+Gravity&filter=all). Xander goes to liaise with Wolfram & Hart post-Chosen.

Kay's Spander in Spandex (http://www.athenewolfe.com/justrewards/viewstory.php?sid=1175). The title worried me, but it's so much fun. The Scoobies and Fang Gang on the Tour de France. What's not to love?

Everything savoytruffle has ever written, but I'm going to specifically mention Dirty Dancing Spander Style (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=savoytruffle&keyword=My+fic:+Dirty+Dancing+Spander+Style&filter=all), because I never would have thought this fusion could work and it so, so did.

Reconstruction, Restoration, and Reunification (http://www.angelfire.com/darkside/wordsmith/wordsmith.html) by Wordsmith are still stories close to my heart. I adore Xander-taking-charge fics.

And speaking of post-Grave fics, crazydiamondsue's Sunday Morning Coming Down (http://www.angelfire.com/fang/journals/arvs/crazydiamondsue/sundaymorning.html) is fantabulous. Much as I love Xander in control, Xander falling apart in the wake of Buffy's death can be pretty amazing, too.

I'm sure I'll think of more, but I don't want to spam you too much. :o)

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Go ahead and spam if you think of more. More is of the good!

Stranger Things is one of my top fics of all time, so I'm chuffed it got rec'd first. LOVE it.

I don't think I remember the Dirty Dancing one, so I think I'll have a look at that one!!!!

Thank you honey, you are such a star! ~massive hugs~

[tabaqui]

darkhavens has a wonderful rec page at her bloodclaim journal....

http://community.livejournal.com/bloodclaim/2725575.html

It's about 100 recs by all the comm members. She also has a Buffy and AtS 'newbie' guide.

:)

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Thank you, hon! That's really handy!

~hugs and smoochies~

[kitty-poker1.livejournal.com]

Wow, now you're asking! Any newbie could do a lot worse than haunt laazikaat's excellent Spander Files (http://spanderfiles.com/) for older work and bloodclaim for brand new fic. Or members' recs, as mentioned by tabaqui!

Sabershadowkat's Tiny Smiles (http://www.sabershadowkat.com/buffy/tinysmiles1.html) is a big favourite of mine. Very sweet, very fluffy and with an irresistibly in-charge Xander. Her stand-alones are well worth reading too. She's now left the fandom, unfortunately.

Mustn't forget the fic that kicked off a Spander passion for more than one person: Alexandria Brown's brilliant Waiting Here (http://www.abfic.com/buffyindex.html). Pay attention to the warnings - she's not kidding! She's also left the fandom and most of her series are on permanent hiatus.

A very early favourite was Velvetcrypt (http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/firebird_ascending/fics/SpikeXander.html), especially Family and Finding Home. The characterisations are a bit off, but the stories are sweet, fluffy and page turners. Also left the fandom. *sniffle*

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Hooooooooooooraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! I knew you'd have some good ones! I just adore Waiting Here, Family and Finding Home! I can't quite remember Tiny Smiles but I know I read and really liked it.

Spander Files really is the place to be. Spanderers would be lost without it!

Thank you for contributing, honey ~hugs~

[thedabara-cds.livejournal.com]

the_magic_box_ has a lot of really good Spander recs with little plot blurbs etc. However quite a few of the older ones have links that no longer work, but the vast majority of them are all on the Spander files site - which I cannot recommend highly enough! Here's hoping we suck you back in to the dubious majesty that is Spander!!

P.S. Check on the Spander Files site under the catagory "Spander Plus" for great S/X/A and S/X/G fic!

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon!

Ah, Spander plus! Didn't know about that. Thanks again!

Here's hoping we suck you back in to the dubious majesty that is Spander!!

You never know!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Oh, I wonder who this could be for? *g* The Xangel and X/S/A and 'must have happy ending' kinda give it away. :P

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

~whistles in innocent fashion~ I'm not looking innocent enough, am I? ~bg~

[literati.livejournal.com]

*coughs* As long as we're reccing here, I'm going to have to say that your Just Series (Just Begun (http://www.sukibluefiction.com/Suki%20Blue%20Fiction/WebPages/JustBeguncontents.htm), Just Dance (http://www.sukibluefiction.com/Suki%20Blue%20Fiction/WebPages/Just%20Dance.htm) & Just Us (http://www.sukibluefiction.com/Suki%20Blue%20Fiction/WebPages/Just%20Us%20Contents.htm)) is a must for any Xangel fan. So damn hilarious.

Oh, and Nexus (http://www.athenewolfe.com/justrewards/viewstory.php?action=printable&textsize=0&sid=482&chapter=all) for Xangel(us) which is long and plotty, there are a lot of dark moments, but overall awesome.

Btw, have I mentioned how fabulous you are today? :D

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Btw, have I mentioned how fabulous you are today? :D

Erm, nope, go for it, lol!

Thanks, honey! I loved writing those fics! Just wish I'd written more Xangel.

Nexus is def in my top ten Btvs fics of all time.

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

I had the same thought last night when somebody on teh flist posted that it was Bloodclaim's fifth birthday. I haven't read Spander since 2006 and my thought was not to find the classic Spander because I've got links to all that saved in my recs, but the good Spander that's been written in the past two years. I scrolled through a couple pages of Bloodclaim but I didn't even recognize most of the authors. I don't know where I should jump in to start reading the new stuff.

Here's all my Buffyverse recs by tag: http://lunabee34.livejournal.com/tag/recs:+ats and http://lunabee34.livejournal.com/tag/recs:+btvs

And here's some of the classics I haven't seen mentioned yet:

Fading (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=uberaeryn&keyword=Spangel+Series+Fading&filter=all) by uberaeryn; Spangel

This rec page in particular has lots of good stuff: http://lunabee34.livejournal.com/66255.html#cutid1

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

No, I don't recognise the majority of the new guys. I just haven't paid any attention to Spander in such a long time, which is a shame!

Thank you for the recs link, honey!! You're a star. ~huggles and smoochies~

[bmblbee.livejournal.com]

You say self spamming is all right? Then I humbly lay my
Spander offerings at your feet and hope you can find something you like.

http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Thank you, honey! Self-pimping is win!

[sparrow2000.livejournal.com]

Hey hon, I've got a pile of rec lists which I did a couple of years ago to keep track of my favourite fics. They're grouped by genre and there's about 350 in total. sparrow's honking great rec list (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=sparrow2000&keyword=My+recs&filter=all).
There are some broken links where folk have taken their fic down or moved servers, but I'm in the middle of trying to fix these.

Okay, having pimped everyone else I'll be shameless and pimp myself *g*
My Perceptions 'verse is S3/4. Spike comes back to town early and sees Xander and Willow fooling around. Let's just say Lovers Walk didn't happen.
Perceptions (http://sparrow2000.livejournal.com/?skip=10&tag=ttm+perceptions). Sequel is Diversions (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=sparrow2000&keyword=Diversions+%28Perceptions+sequel%29&filter=all). Sequel is Realisations (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=sparrow2000&keyword=Realisations+%28Diversions+sequel%29&filter=all).

I'm also pretty fond of Daddy's Boy 'verse (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=sparrow2000&keyword=Daddy%27s+Boy+%27verse&filter=all) which is vamp Xan.

You know thismaz from writercon. For some really top knotch Spike, Xander goodness check out Blood on a Sundial (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=thismaz&keyword=Blood+on+a+sundial&filter=all) and Ice cream 'verse (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=thismaz&keyword=Ice-cream+%27verse&filter=all), you won't be disappointed. All her other stuff is in my rec lists.

I hope you find some stuff here to encourage you to dive back into the spander goodness *g*

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Holy honking great recs list, Sparrow!!!! LOL, that's a lotta fics!

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you ! ! ! ! !

Seriosuly, there's some brilliant stuff here. I'll definitely be digging through it, like a mole in a hole :oD

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

Anything by spikedluv or kitty_poker1 is a surefire winner.


Gabrielle

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

I definitely think you're right! Thanks, hon!

[azurehart.livejournal.com]

Through the Eyes of a Child by Cath

http://buffy.adultfanfiction.net/story.php?no=9256

When Xander is wounded by a demon and regresses mentally to about 6 years old, Spike steps in and cares for him.

---
Unbreakable by fanbot

http://fanbot.net/Stories/Unbrkble/Unbreakable.htm

It's five years past "Not Fade Away." Spike works freelance for the Watcher's council. Xander went missing for a long time, until Spike found him. Now, Spike must help Xander recover from long, hard years in captivity.

---
What Brought Us Here by spikedluv

http://nummytreats.forsaken-faith.org/archive/viewstory.php?sid=637&i=1

A story on how Spike and Xander became a family.

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think I've read Unbreakable but not the others. There are great! Thank you!

[laazikaat.livejournal.com]

Not just old classics on Spander Files, new stories (http://spanderfiles.com/grp/new.html) are being collected and added every month.

Some great new authors are Yanagi Wa (http://spanderfiles.com/authors/yanagi_wa.html) and Kimalis (http://spanderfiles.com/authors/kimalis.html) to name just a couple.

I'm going to stalk this post for story and author recs I might be missing, great idea. I'm also slowly working my way down darkhaven's best 100 list at bloodclaim

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Thank you, luv! Would we all do without Spanderfiles?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[kimalis.livejournal.com]

Come on now, whats a Spander rec list without Repossession (http://lazuli.kat.users.btopenworld.com/repossession.htm) and Changes (http://www.spanderfiles.net/arvs/tabaqui/changes/changes.html) by Tabaqui

I'm a sucker for an epic so these are my favs
5 Gold Rings (http://www.angelfire.com/planet/rngrdead/arvs/fivegoldrings/fivegoldenringsindex.html) by Rngrdead

And absolutely anything by Yin (http://spanderfiles.com/authors/yinagain.html), especially Meditation in Motion, The Hour Series and Long Time Gone

For XSA, there's New Order (http://spanderfiles.net/arvs/jasonsnene/no.html) by jasonsnene


I second the call before, you just can't beat The Spander Files (http://spanderfiles.com/contents.html), and the Spander Plus section has everything you could want.

ETA - The Crack!fic and Bad!fic at this place (http://www.sukibluefiction.com/Suki%20Blue%20Fiction/WebPages/FictionContents.htm) cannot be beaten.

[tabaqui]

Ooh but! I didn't write Repossession, that's Lazulikat....
:)

[lusciousxander.livejournal.com]

The Spander fic I've enjoyed a lot recently is He Needs Me (http://spuffystuff.org/heneedsme.html) by Slaymesoftly that had won an award, well deserved.

Also, here you'll find lots of recs for good Spander (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=lusciousxander&keyword=Spander+Links&filter=all) and Xangel (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=lusciousxander&keyword=Xangel&filter=all) fics.

And for a shameless self-pimp, I've just written this fic for Fall_for_S&X, and I'm quite proud of it:

Poetic Justice
(http://community.livejournal.com/fall_for_sx/188254.html#cutid1)
Character: Xander/Spike
Type: Slash
Summary: Angry that Spike attempted to rape his friend, Xander engages into a fight with Buffy that results to a wish that will, obviously, be granted immediately.

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Thank you, luv! Plenty to be going on with there, yay!

And thanks for the self-pimp, too. It's great to have new stuff!

[tabaqui]

I totally blanked on your Spangel request - i actually wrote one! And it has a happy ending!!
:)

Two Fusiliers.
:)

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Ta very much! Spangel with a happy ending! Whoooohooooooooo!

For anyone else that happens upon this post, your stuff is brilliant. I inhaled your fics when I first started on Spander :oD

[lil-coyote.livejournal.com]

*twitches with the glee of Spander overload*

WOW. Bookmarking the page so I can go read all the recs.
Here's my recs? http://lil-coyote.livejournal.com/tag/spike/xander

BTW, is that second epilogue ever coming out on Grief Counciling? I've been waiting on it to put the book together? Should I consider it done now?

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Thank you, luv! There's some good stuff here!

Oh! Yes, I'm working on the GC epilogue now. I hope to be done in a couple of weeks. I'm determined to finish it! :oD

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

I decided to come back and offer a specific link:

Unfinished Business (http://kitty-poker1.livejournal.com/tag/unfinished+business) by the legendarily awesome kitty_poker1. All I can say about this one is that Xander + ghost!Spike equals true delight in every way! Never has Xander been written better than in this fic and Kitty's Spike is awesome too!


Gabrielle

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Auw, thanks, hon! And this is a brilliant fic, classic Spander and very funny!

[devo79.livejournal.com]

Um I guess I'd be one of the new authors =)

My Spander Files page is here: http://spanderfiles.com/authors/devo79.html

My fic list can be found here: http://devo79.livejournal.com/14591.html

I write Xangel and Spander.

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Thank you, luv! I, and I suspect a few others, will be checking you out!

[kimalis.livejournal.com]

ok, spamming your page but righting a wrong.
and you know what? This time I'm not even going to touch the bloody html, I'm linking the old fashioned way, then nothing can go wrong. Right?

Repossession by Lazuli Kat
http://lazuli.kat.users.btopenworld.com/repossession.htm

and

Changes by Tabaqui
http://www.spanderfiles.net/arvs/tabaqui/changes/changes.html

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

LOL, thank you, luv!

[jasonsnene.livejournal.com]

You've gotten some great fics on here! One of these days I'll learn how to do that fancy linking in comments thing so I can do it too. Heh. Until then, I'll just enjoy the labor of others.

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

LOL, enjoy the recs, honey!

[truly-tazi.livejournal.com]

Spander

Domestic Piranha (http://www.crackedverse.com/piranhas/index.html) by James Walkswithwind and Mad Poetess

Crackfic for sure and a must read.

Spangel

The Bloodlines Saga (http://www.keonkwa.com/Bloodlines%20Page.htm) by Pal Kwai

Heavy into the vampire them. Reminds me of the tv show Kindred. A long but good read.

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Thank you for contributing, hon!

Domestic Piranhas!!! BIG YESSSSSSSSSSSSS! :oD Wasn't that the one where they get turned into lizards? Or am I thinking of another fic?

[cybremly-v3.livejournal.com]

Just dig up Ame's site link and there ya go.

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Yes, agreed!!

[saifai.livejournal.com]

Thought I'd add a few of my all time favorites to the list:

• "29 Linear Moves (http://www.allaboutspike.com/print.html?id=874)" by Yindagger (yin_again)
• "No More Snakes and Ladders (http://community.livejournal.com/snakes_ladders/)" by reremouse and tabaqui
• "Who ya gonna call? (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/738076/1/Who_ya_gonna_callr)" by kirasmommy
• "One Tin Soldier (http://spanderfiles.net/arvs/dnalia/ots.html)" by D'Nalia
• "Quantum Xander I (http://www.geocities.com/kiwileesa2000/quantum)" and "Quantum Xander II (http://www.geocities.com/kiwileesa2000/qx)" by Cassy Mills (jameschick)

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

Oooh, thank you, honey!

New Spander Fic... Fresh off the press.

[sheppsboy]

Title: My Eyes Breath Fire For Time Has Bled Me of My Dreams.

Entry: fall_for_S/X: Season Ten (October 15th 2013)

Author: Sheppsboy

Fandom(s): BTVS

Characters: Spike,Xander,Drusilla,Jesse,Buffy,Willow,Giles

Pairing(s): Spike/Xander past Jesse/Xander

Rating: NC-17

Beta (s): Unbeta'd but proofread

Disclaimer: I do not own these lovely boys, if I did that would be human trafficking. Joss is the one who holds title and deed to them! (Sheppsboy sighs to himself)No money is being made from this.

Genre: Slash

Warnings: suicide, child abuse, character death, graphic violence,Masturbation,underwear sniffing, attempted rape, rimming,homophobia, heavy angst, gay stereotypes, gratuitous interpretations of Greek and Roman Mythologies, Buffy is depicted as a selfish girl that is obsessed with gay men, I mean like an insane stalker. Trust me I have met teenage girls like this, and last but not least hints at unrequited Xangel.

Spoilers: None kind of AU

Word count: 25,513

Summary: Ancient forces are at work to bring Spike and Xander together, while Spike travels through Oceans of time to save his Xan-Pet. Will he succeed in winning his heart before the clock winds down? Or will Xander be lost to him forever?

http://sheppsboy.livejournal.com/10700.html