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Round 187: Just Like Canon

Posted by: runpunkrun

Our theme for June is just like canon!

The tag for this round is: theme: just like canon

If you're just joining us, be sure to check out our policy on content notes. Content notes aren't required, but they're nice to include in your recs, especially if a fanwork has untagged content that readers may wish to know about in advance.

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Tron (Movies): Outer Limits by badgerwitch

Posted by: bluerosekatie

Fandom: Tron (Movies) Pairings/Characters: Rinzler & OCs, Sam Flynn/Quorra in the background Rating: Teen Length: 71,293 words Creator Links: badgerwitch on Ao3 Theme: Just Like Canon (Featured), Robots Androids & AI, Science Fiction, Alternate Universe: Fork in the Road\

Summary: Their entire world lay subject to Kevin Flynn's rules, except for the Sea of Simulation. There, there are no boundaries to the outside laws of the modern, connected world. ...Rinzler isn't done just yet. Post-Legacy. Unfinished.

Reccer's Notes: A story starting off from the ending of Tron: Legacy, which follows Rinzler journeying across networks and being discovered by some human hackers in the process. Serves as an alternate canon continuation with a great premise and some fun Sam/Quorra in the background near the end. Although this fic is marked as complete, it is abandoned/discontinued, so if you hate cliffhangers, be warned.

Fanwork Links: Outer Limits on Ao3

comments & original content @ fancake

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Mega Man (Cartoon 1994): Double Trouble by jackalopez

Posted by: bluerosekatie

Fandom: Mega Man (Cartoon 1994) Pairings/Characters: Mega Man & Roll & Dr. Light, Dr. Wily & Proto Man Rating: General Audiences Length: 4,075 words Creator Links: jackalopez on Ao3 Theme: Just Like Canon (featured), Science Fiction, Robots Androids & AI, Gen, Siblings

Summary: Mega Man and his sister, Roll, face their toughest enemy yet! And it just so happens to be… Mega Man?!

Reccer's Notes: A fun genfic recreating the canon's monster-of-the-week episode structure, including a cameo from another classic Rockman character, the Copy Robot. Super canon-accurate and an enjoyable read!

Fanwork Links: Double Trouble on Ao3

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The Protomen: How To Draw a Circle by Anonymous

Posted by: bluerosekatie

Fandom: The Protomen Pairings/Characters: Megaman & Protoman & Thomas Light Rating: Unrated, estimate Teen Length: 3,997 words Creator Links: N/A, Author is anonymous Theme: Featured (Just Like Canon), Gateway Fanworks, Old Fandoms, Siblings, Robots Androids and AI, Science Fiction

Summary: A spotlight thrums to life, its beam illuminating a bare-bones stage.

Reccer's Notes: A script format retelling of Act 1 of the Protomen as a stage play, packed with references to the Orestia and Act 2 of The Protomen. Deals heavily with themes of generational trauma, cyclical revenge, and family issues, while following the canon story. As heartbreaking and beautiful, if not more, than the original album, plus, there's a great video podfic version also available on the Archive!

Fanwork Links: How to Draw a Circle on Ao3

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Star Trek TOS: Equilibrium by PSW

Posted by: kingstoken

Fandom: Star Trek: TOS Pairings/Characters: McCoy & Spock & Kirk Rating: T Length: 152,048 words Creator Links: PSW Theme: just like canon

Summary: McCoy's transport is destroyed in what appears to be a containment field explosion, leaving no known survivors. The truth, however, is not so simple as that ...

Reccer's Notes: McCoy is kidnapped by non-Federation aliens that force him to work for them in a medical capacity treating other kidnapped individuals.  Meanwhile Kirk and Spock think McCoy has been killed in an explosion.  I think this fits the "just like canon" theme because the quality, plot, and the writing of this fic is as good as any Trek tie-in novel, and may in fact be better.  There is a quite a bit of hurt!Bones in this as he struggles to survive and try to escape the situation he is in.  At the same time Spock and Kirk are trying their best to deal with their grief over the loss of their friend, and not always doing that in the healthiest of ways.  All while there is a greater plot about these new aliens and what they are trying to achieve, and some original characters that I really enjoyed.    

Fanwork Links: AO3

comments & original content @ fancake

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Stranger Things: In A Strange Land, by MrsEvadneCake

Posted by: runpunkrun

Fandom: Stranger Things Pairings/Characters: Ensemble gen, with a focus on Steve Harrington Rating: Teen Length: 180,411 words Creator Link: MrsEvadneCake Theme: Just Like Canon, Gen, Epic Works

Summary:

Doom comes to Hawkins, Indiana. Population est. 30,000.

It's cold, that's all, and the breeze is kicking up. That's why Steve feels the chill go up his spine like someone dropped an ice-cube down his back.

"Why wouldn't I be real, El?"

"The Aboleth got you."

Reccer's Notes: This fic is just like a season of the show, with a new big bad and EVERYBODY (from S2) in it, the voices expertly rendered, and the story well told. Highly recommended.

Fanwork Link: In A Strange Land

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That's it for Journey & Travel! You can check out the 22 recs posted for this theme here at Tumblr, at the comm on Dreamwidth, or at Pinboard.

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Subways Of Your Mind by FEX (AKA The Most Mysterious Song On The Internet): Fanvid by hailey

Posted by: full_metal_ox

Fandom: “Subways Of Your Mind”, AKA “The Most Mysterious Song On The Internet” (FEX song); Lostwave Pairings/Characters: Gen; invitation to the audience. Rating: General Audiences Length: 3:16 Content Notes: No AO3 Warnings Apply; the song was identified and claimed in 2024; role-playing unreality galore in the comments. Creator Links: (YouTube): hailey-ks7mg

Theme: Journey & Travel, Fanvid, Folklore & Fairytales, Gen, Non-AO3 Works, Research, Social Media

Summary: if you don’t know the song in this video it’s known as “the most mysterious song on the internet”. It’s a new wave/post punk song that was originally played on a german radio station between 1982-1984. no one knows it’s name or who created it, leading to a several year search for it’s origins that inspired me to make this edit. i recommend watching whang’s videos on the subject if you want to learn more :) • The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet - Tales From the Internet • The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet UPDATE driving ambiance + footage is of the autobahn motorway in germany and is from the channel rarbi.art https://www.youtube.com/user/rarbiart/ note: this video was made for creative purposes only. all music and images belongs to the original creators. no copyright infringement intended.

Reccer's Notes: Commenter dj-ov2it’s summary:

People think of this as a meme but keep in mind. One singular day in early 80s northern germany, a couple thousand people were listening to this song and of those, a whole lot might have been driving a car. This exact video - albeit in an abstract sense - has HAPPENED before and those people are mostly still very much alive. Hell, my close relatives might be some of them.

Fanwork Links: the most mysterious song on the internet but it's playing on your car radio in 1980s germany, by hailey

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Merlin: We Can Always Run by kairennart (Personaje), queerofthedagger

Posted by: sasheneskywalker

Fandom: Merlin Pairings/Characters: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon, Leon & Arthur Pendragon, Morgana & Arthur Pendragon, minor Elyan/Gwaine, minor Gwen/Morgana Rating: Mature Length: 148,000 words Creator Links: queerofthedagger, Personaje Theme: journey & travel, slow burn, road trips, hurt/comfort, fix-it, friends to lovers, angst (with a happy ending)

Summary: Arthur has always had distant dreams of leaving Camelot. They were never more than a wistful fantasy, at least once he grew up.

Finding out about Merlin’s magic changes everything though, and not only because Arthur would do more to keep Merlin safe than he cares to admit. What follows are secrets upon secrets, allowing the dreams to slip back in as all his father’s lies unravel around him. Slowly but surely, Camelot feels less like a home and more like a gilded cage, and Arthur isn’t so certain anymore whether he’s the right person to carry this legacy. If he even wants to.

One final secret, one opportunity, and suddenly the dreams aren’t mere dreams anymore. Merlin wouldn’t be Merlin if he didn’t follow wherever Arthur goes, and as they try to outrun Uther’s manhunt for them, they have to learn to live a life that’s about more than duty, other’s expectations, and a destiny that has never once cared for them.

Or: Arthur long since expected that one day, he might have to flee Camelot with Merlin. He just never thought that he would be the reason.

Reccer's Notes: Fantastic fic about Merlin and Arthur traveling the world together, having adventures, helping people, being general badasses, and falling in love. I love the way Merlin and Arthur’s relationship develops throughout the story <3

Content Notes: canon-typical violence

Fanwork Links: We Can Always Run

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Due South: About a Riv by china_shop

Posted by: mific

Fandom: due South Characters/Pairings: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski, Ray Vecchio/Stella, Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski/Ray Vecchio Rating: Explicit Length: 9254 Content Notes: no AO3 warnings apply Creator Links: china_shop on AO3 Themes: Journey and Travel, Road trips, Polyamory, Action/Adventure, First time, Friends to lovers, Post-canon

Summary: Fraser finds a 1971 green Buick Riviera in Ottawa, and takes Ray Kowalski and Diefenbaker on a road trip to Florida to deliver it to Ray Vecchio.

Reccer's Notes: A rollicking tale, interestingly structured in a series of 1st person POVs moving from Ben to Ray K to Ray V. They each elaborate on different aspects of the action plot (which involves a road trip to drive the Riv from Canada down to Florida), and on the developing relationships between Ben, Ray and Ray, the Rays often dissing each other and cutting in to say "what he didn't tell you was this..."

It's fun, interesting, with great characterisation, and the non-linear structure absolutely works. During all the drama, Stella quietly breaks up with Ray V in a believable, no-fault way, and it ends happily with Ben, Ray and Ray working things out together. Excellent reading!

Fanwork Links: About a Riv

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SGA: Pictures from a Moving Car by Punk

Posted by: mific

Fandom: Stargate Atlantis Characters/Pairings: Rodney McKay/John Sheppard, Walter Harriman Rating: Gen Length: 1000 Content Notes: no AO3 warnings apply Creator Links: Punk on AO3 Themes: Journey and Travel, Roadtrips, Established relationship, Friendship

Summary: The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step of getting Rodney McKay in the damn car.

Reccer's Notes: A fun short fic (exactly 1000 words as it was written for the "pic for 1000" challenge) where they're back on Earth and John drags Rodney away from Science for a road trip. Lovely banter and companionship, and Rodney being very Rodney. Note that if you open 'reader view' in the AO3 post you can see the prompt picture :D

Fanwork Links: Pictures from a Moving Car on AO3 Podfic read by Punk on the Audiofic Archive

comments & original content @ fancake

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Lord of the Rings: Die Wanderung, by Ithrenwen

Posted by: birdylion

Fandom: Lord of the Rings Pairings/Characters: original hobbit characters, cameo of elven characters Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Length: 50k words Creator Links: Ithrenwen Theme: Journey and Travel, Pre-Canon, Backstory

Summary: "In den ältesten Erzählungen finden sich Andeutungen, daß sie einst in den oberen Tälern des Anduin gehaust haben mußten, zwischen den Ausläufern des Großen Grünwaldes und dem Nebelgebirge. Die Gründe, warum sie später das schwierige und gefährliche Wagnis unternahmen, über das Gebirge nach Eriador zu ziehen, sind nicht mehr bekannt. Ihre eigenen Berichte erwähnen, daß sich die Menschen vermehrt hätten und ein Schatten auf den Wald gefallen ist, so daß er sich verdüsterte, und sein neuer Name war Düsterwald." (J.R.R. Tolkien, Herr der Ringe, Einführung: Über Hobbits)

Reccer's Notes: Die Geschichte beschreibt die Wanderung der Hobbits über das Nebelgebirge, die im Intro von HdR nur erwähnt ist, und deren mögliche Hintergründe. Der Fokus liegt dabei sehr stark auf der Reise und ihren Gefahren und Schwierigkeiten, denen diese Gruppe von Hobbits dabei ausgesetzt war.

English description, for the curious: The story describes how a group of hobbits made their way from the upper valleys of the Anduin, where they lived in earlier times, over the Misty Mountains. The story focuses on the travel itself and its dangers to which which this group of hobbits were subject.

Content Notes: depictions of violence and fighting, character death

Fanwork Links: "Die Wanderung" on fanfiktion.de

comments & original content @ fancake

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Heated Rivalry: I Was Raised Out in the Cold by LavenderProse

Posted by: mific

Fandom: Heated Rivalry Characters/Pairings: Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, OMC Rating: Explicit Length: 10,048 Content Notes: no AO3 warnings apply Creator Links: LavenderProse on AO3 Themes: Journey and travel, Mutual pining, Established relationship, Huddling for warmth, Missing scenes

Summary: He crowds Shane into the hood of the car, hands up under his shirt and jacket again. October is getting cold; nights are getting colder. The places where Ilya is touching him are the only parts of Shane’s body that are warm right now. Maybe that’s why he wraps his arms around Ilya’s neck and clings to him, though he doesn’t necessarily surprise himself with it. They don’t even kiss for a moment. Ilya busies himself breathing into the crook of Shane’s neck, trying to regain control. Shane opens his eyes and gazes over Ilya’s shoulder at the dark field and realizes that an utterly foreign feeling has risen up in him. It’s Ilya’s broad shoulders and beautiful hair between Shane and the world and he feels — small. Protected.

“Oh my God,” Shane whispers, completely ashamed of the feeling and hungry for it. It curls warm in his stomach. His toes arch inside his shoes. Something about being so close to this man, something about Ilya putting himself between Shane and — the world. Whatever lurks in the deep night. It’s a feeling like a ghost, something that Shane isn’t allowed to look directly at except for moments like these. Quiet and dark.

Shane, Ilya, Vermont. Meeting in the middle.

Reccer's Notes: This is set during the episode four montage of hook-ups, with Shane and Ilya driving some distance (and in Shane's case, crossing a national border) to meet up a couple of times in Vermont, midway between Montreal and Boston. At this stage they still haven't admitted their feelings, but the logistics, and an unexpected interruption, lead to them spending more time together than usual. Excellent writing, amusing and poignant, with lovely intimacy and hotness. Great sense of place in both locations where they meet (surprisingly outdoorsy for city-boy Ilya, especially given the weather). Recommended!

Fanwork Links: I Was Raised Out in the Cold

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Heated Rivalry: Scott Hunter's Life-Changing Road Trip by Cricket_Writes

Posted by: mific

Fandom: Heated Rivalry Characters/Pairings: Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Scott Hunter/Kip Grady, Cliff Marleau, Eric Bennett, Carter Vaughn, Yuna Hollander, David Hollander, Greg Huff, JJ Boizeau, Hayden Pike, Jackie Pike, Gloria Grey, Svetlana Vetrova Rating: Teen Length: 6606 Content Notes: no AO3 warnings apply Creator Links: Cricket_Writes on AO3 Themes: Journeys and Travel, Road Trips, Friendship, Teams, Families of choice, AU: Fork in the road, Pining

Summary: “Holy shit,” Carter says from the stall next to Scott, also staring at his phone. “Did you all see about Rozanov and Hollander?” The way Vaughan says it, it doesn’t sound like good news. Carter thrusts his phone in Scott’s face, and he takes it, pulls it back so the headline will focus. HOCKEY STARS CAUGHT IN STEAMY AFFAIR, the headline proclaims, and Scott skims through it quickly. Rozanov and Hollander, years—years?!—worth of videos and photos leaked. Scott is in an NHL locker room, watching his worst nightmare happen to someone else. Holy shit.

Reccer's Notes: This is a reversal of canon, as Shane and Ilya are outed much earlier and that kick-starts Scott into coming out and resolving things with Kip. After the public outing, Scott, Carter and Eric embark on a long (there and back) road trip from New York to Shane and Ilya's very suddenly organised wedding in Montreal. It's a lovely fic told from Scott's POV, in which Shane and Ilya are crucial but largely in the background, and are overwhelmed by the support of their friends, teams, and family, while Scott finally gathers the courage to love Kip openly.

Fanwork Links: Scott Hunter's Life-Changing Road Trip

comments & original content @ fancake

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Mo Dao Zu Shi: [Podfic] Night Bus by flamingwell

Posted by: full_metal_ox

Fandom: Mo Dao Zu Shi Pairings/Characters: M/M; Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji/Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian Rating: General Audiences Length: 57 words; 26:47 Content Notes: No AO3 Warnings Apply; winter weather as relentless atmosphere and adversary; public transportation as a liminal zone; possible unreality—the situation is open to interpretation. Creator Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Podfic, Podfic Length: 20-30 Minutes, Audio Format: MP3, Audio Format: Streaming, Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending Creator Links: (AO3) flamingwell, (Tumblr) flamingwell Theme: Journey & Travel, Hurt/Comfort, Inspired Work, Modern AU, Non-Fic Recs: Fanart, Non-Fic Recs: Podfics

[See the post at Dreamwidth for additional content, including the podfic cover and image description, and flamingwell's creator's notes.]

Summary: When he came to, the bus was on the freeway. The windows were dewed with drops of melted snow that shone with captured light. Outside, traffic was at a standstill. Dingy slush covered the roads, gradually accumulating as snow drifted down from the woolen sky, the flakes picked out in sharp contrast where they plunged into the light of streetlamps and headlights. Wei WuXian laughed softly to see it. When he turned away from the window, he saw that the beautiful man from earlier was still sitting next to him, watching him with an expression that might, optimistically, be called inquisitive. “The snow,” Wei WuXian said, gesturing outside. “It looks like champagne bubbles, only going the wrong way.” He laughed again, and rubbed his head. “Have you ever felt drunk, but been pretty sure you weren't drinking? Haha, no, never mind me. I'm just tired.” He rubbed a hand over his face, wanting desperately to sleep. Podfic of Night Bus by Suspicious_Popsicle.

Reccer's Notes: Suspicious_Popsicle’s tale of an encounter between a sore-pressed traveler and a mysterious benefactor in an isolated and enveloping environment, with the ambiguity of possible supernature in play and a twist ending that leaves room for continuing speculation, has many of the elements of a classic Old-Time Radio drama, in the fashion of Quiet, Please or Lights Out!

flamingwell understood the assignment. Her delicate and hushed narrative voice is a perfect vehicle for the subject, animated by Wei Wuxian’s nervous chatter—gradually devolving from restless to febrile to fading—and punctuated by Lan Wangji’s dark temple-bell solemnity.

Fanwork Links: [Podfic] Night Bus, by flamingwell Collections: Mic-bearing Podtriarchs Voiceteam Mystery Box 2025

comments & original content @ fancake

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Lord of the Rings: My Adventure, by Belladonna Baggins née Took, by Thimblerig

Posted by: birdylion

Fandom: Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion Pairings/Characters: Belladonna Took Rating: General Audiences Length: 11,440 words Creator Links: Thimblerig Theme: Journey & Travel, Action/Adventure, Backstory, Epistolary, Female Characters, Gen, Pre-Canon

Summary: Gandalf exclaimed once: 'That I should live to be 'Good morninged' by a son of Belladonna Took!' Bilbo's mum has a story to tell and this is it. Holidays by the Sea, Elves, and much Falling in the Water.

Reccer's Notes: This is such a lovely story about Belladonna Took, an adventurous hobbit herself. We read/hear it as she writes it down while pregnant with Bilbo, and she tells the story of a journey she took when she was younger and "less respectable". It's an action adventure and quite fun to read and listen to, a really nice background for her.

Fanwork Links: My Adventure, by Belladonna Baggins nee Took on ao3 Podfic of My Adventure, by Belladonna Baggins nee Took read by the author

comments & original content @ fancake

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Lord of the Rings: The Long Road Home by Scribbler

Posted by: birdylion

Fandom: Lord of the Rings Pairings/Characters: Boromir; Faramir, Aragorn, OCs Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Length: 95,516 words Creator Links: Scribbler Theme: Journey & Travel Previously recommended by beatrice_otter for the themes pre-AO3, fixit AU, plotty fic, novel-length, family (link to rec)

Summary: Against all odds, Boromir survives Amon Hen. Ashamed and filled with remorse, he goes on a quest for redemption. Bound by his promise to a sick man, Faramir keeps the secret of his brother's survival. But as secrets are wont to do, the truth comes out eventually and Aragorn journeys north to bring Gondor's prodigal son home.

Reccer's Notes: Although previously recommended for other themes, this fic is perfect for Journey and Travel as we follow Boromir's travels through Gondor and beyond while he tries to regain the honor he feels he lost on Amon Hên. Again and again he meets new people and sees how the war impacted their lives.

The story encapsulates the aspect of "wandering" that first drew me to LotR: how immediate the surroundings are when you're out by yourself, how much shelter and food matter for this kind of travel, or weather and season. The story spans over a few years, during which he sometimes stays in a place for a few months, often out of necessity. I love how the story shows the physicality of Middle Earth, so to speak. You can feel the distances.

[See the post on Dreamwidth for Content Notes]

Fanwork Links: The Long Road Home on ao3

comments & original content @ fancake