Fic Recs: Topher & Claire - Dollhouse
Whaaaat, Lauren’s got another tragic ship that she’s in agony over? WHY YES.
For some background: I recently watched Dollhouse for the 1.5th time. I watched the first season sometime in 2014 or 2015 but hadn’t watched either of the epitaphs or the whole second season, so I was all-too-happy to do a sort of rewatch/watch about a month ago. Even though it was only on for two seasons back in the late 00s and very early 10′s, I think it still holds up today. While there’s some technology and style choices that date it a bit, the overarching themes and motifs are just as compelling today as they were then.
A LOT goes down in that second season and WOW. Just wow. There’s Topher and there’s Claire and there’s that ONE SCENE in season two that may actually my favorite scene in all of television. You know the one.
MY HEART HURTS. High-level Shakesperean-esque drama and angst between these two.
All that said, I was only too happy to wander over to AO3 for some more feels and am pleased to say that there’s some really well-written fic out there for this pairing. Most of what I found was written back in late 2009 or early 2010/2011 - I’m really glad the authors have kept these pieces up, even ten years later.
These recs runs the gamut from totally G to totally E. There are issues around memory, personhood, and identity due to the underlying themes of the show.
This is a tragic pairing. You have been warned. Please be advised and read the descriptions and the tags on AO3.
Please leave comments and kudos for the authors over on AO3!
Without any further ado, please enjoy these fic recs for Topher & Claire from Dollhouse.
Pas de deux by thedevilchicken (M, 2K, mid-canon) - Author’s description: “He was the first thing she remembered, after.” This fic both breaks my heart and soothes it. Claire comes back to the Dollhouse after Topher’s already started to lose it. The author uses repetition as a rhetorical device which really gives this fic a cadence that’s dreamy and flowy. Packs an emotional punch but is delivered with a tender hand, so it’s not *too* painful. My favorite fic on the list. Read it.
Electra on azalea path by dollsome (M, 1200+ words, post-canon AU) - Author’s description: “The world ends above them. They stay down here. It feels a little heavenly to her, this apocalypse.” I have read and reread this one so many times. This fic is dark - it is not a “happy” ending, but they are together. The author really plays up the tragic elements of this pairing, drawing comparisons from classic Greek tragedies. Masterfully written. Beautiful.
how to grow a woman from the ground by dollsome (G, 534 words, in-verse) - Author’s description: “It's one thing to whip 'em up and send 'em out on their merry way. It's another thing to have them right here, like, all the time.” This is a very short Topher POV fic - he’s realizing that while he wrote Claire’s code, she’s very much her own person, and he’s (pleasantly) surprised at how that’s making him feel. Short and sweet.
Nothing Gold by kay_obsesive aka @kingkazul (G, 400 words, missing scene/canon divergence) - Author’s description: “She is not his fantasy.” Claire comes back to the Dollhouse after having left without saying goodbye, and Topher’s relieved and worried about her. Tender. Great character writing.
It’s Hot in Hell by @purpleyin (T, 805 words, canon divergence, missing scene) - Author’s description: “Claire/Topher UST. Good things can come from bad things – make that very very bad things and very good things too, in the reverse retrospective order.” Features underlying sexual tension in a closed space. No resolution in sight.
Mutually Exclusive by mcsmutty aka @purpleyin (E, 1500+, canon divergence) - Author’s description: “Is it because she should hate him that she tries not to, or is it because she knows he doesn't?” Claire’s teasing of Topher goes a step too far during a staff meeting, so excuses himself for some... privacy. Claire follows him. That’s all I’m gonna say about this one. Earns it’s E rating.
Waiting for Our Lives to Start Their Ending by kay_obsessive aka @kingkazul (T, 5547 words, in-verse canon divergence/missing scenes) - Author’s description: “They're waiting for the world to fall apart and trying not to do the same. Dysfunctional Claire/Topher between Hollow Men and the Epitaphs.” You’ve been advised straight from the author on this one - this isn’t happy Topher and Claire. BUT. It’s a great character study, especially for Claire - we get filled in on how she passes her days during this time in the canon, and we see Topher beginning to lose his mind. The rest of the main cast is present or discussed in this fic, so it’s quite a bit longer than all the other fics on this list. I’ve read and reread this one several times, specifically for the “it only happens one more time” scene. Heartbreaking and well-done.
We Just Might Feel Good by kay_obsessive aka @kingkazul (T, 578 words, sorta fluffy) - Author’s description: “There is a scar on Claire's hip, right side, just above the sharp angle of the bone. He spent almost three years inventing stories for that scar. Prompt: scars.” I really like when fics for this pairing talk about Claire’s scars, but this one is especially sweet because it’s not about the ones on her face. Bonus forehead touching, which I am consistently weak for.
