I doctored up most images for that extra-broody goodness.
Screencaps courtesy of Nadine (Xander, mostly) and Buffyworld (Wes in Orpheus). Sethian banner from a screencap of the Punk'd appearance at The Buffy Screencap Site.
Other images found at ILB's images.
ChrisLee asked about authors I like. I answered at great length.
Dear me. Other authors? Far too many to remember to include, but at the same time, not nearly enough for my appetite. I can't get enough of Sheila Perez, Jane St. Clair, Kate Bolin, Te, Kita, and Kyra Cullinan. I definitely fall on the style side of the style/action divide; I'm convinced that the telling's in the words, so "nothing" can happen and I'll be delighted, because everything's happening. All six of those authors have singular voices that tell stories absolutely beautifully and intelligently. What's more, the questions they're asking through their fic are complex, challenging, and *original*. Wish I could put hth in this category, but she seems to have left the fandom; what she left behind is, however, stunning.
Other writers I like enormously:
Meg's doing some fascinating work on S/X, Giles, and Oz which I wish she'd finish and post. Claire writes knife-sharp slash that's both moving and disturbing. Dolores Labouchere is twisty and amusing and sad and just all around wonderful. I'm more and more taken with Abbie Strehlow's imagistically-intense Spike work. Rubywisp has a muscular, purely carnal style, similar to the Great Lar's, that can't be beat. Minervacat quietly crafts some heart-breakingly lovely Faith/Giles and femslash that's astonishing in its simplicity. Voleuse occasionally dips her hand into the Jossverse, and when something like "Family Values" results, it's a day for thanksgiving. Minim Calibre's work is like winter sunlight, bright and cold and revelatory. Mer's work is so well-crafted and spotless I can only gape at it. And Real Mitzvah has a light touch, spare style, and sweet, sweet Xander that I devour like candy. Buffy/Angel slash by Matthew Haldeman-Time: He gives good Oz. (And Wes, and Angel, and Spike, and Doyle...). Zyre writes some beautifully subdued Angelverse works.
Guilty pleasures are the best:
Juliatheyounger's 'We're Not Gay. We're Just Friends. Who Have Sex.' Fun as hell.
Moist & Delicious, the Spike-Xander archive. Comprehensive.
Pet's Educated Guesses: Add Oz & Devon to Xander/Spike, and it's even more fun.
Good Words: Fanfic writers talk about themselves, work they like, and what the hell we're doing.