Election by Dee12

Official Description: Attrition Warfare: a strategic concept which states that to win a war, one’s enemy must be gradually worn down to the point of collapse. The race for Senior Class President brings Bella and Rosalie’s own war to a head. AH/AU B/R femmeslash.


Femmeslash: the “F” word of the Twific fandom.

As someone who identifies as gay, I was immediately skeptical about reading Dee12’s “Election.” Oftentimes in fic, the purposes for lesbianism are murky, and full of ulterior motives. It’s for casual fun, shock value, or inserted as a collegiate rite of passage. Perhaps it’s Bella’s gateway to end up with Edward, or maybe someone just likes to watch – usually some dude who ends up banging everyone in the end. If I see “scissoring” mentioned in a fic one more time, I’m going to scream bloody murder. There’s an overall lack of spark, no oomph. I feel no real emotional connection with the women presented. It’s a titillating spectacle, a minor fling on the quick jaunt over to Heteroville. My poor little gay heart couldn’t take much more.

“Election” was different. It wooed me, drawing me in with intelligent dialogue and an immediate chemistry so fiery it felt like my computer screen would catch fire. After the first chapter, I stopped and just stared off into space. I was completely shaken. Here was someone who understood my life – what it meant to be young and full of hormones and just incredibly confused about the weird things going on in your brain and your pants. Dee12 writes with a fluidity that underscores the emotional depth of her characters (both Bella and Rosalie here are infinitely likable), yet the tale remains true to their age and maturity. It’s high school fic with a kick.

Bella and Rosalie have known each other for years and have fought for just as long. The sparks flaring between them are present from the very first paragraph. When they both decide to run for senior class president, their feelings are forced to the surface in a way that is simultaneously scary and exhilarating. The story itself discusses the interplay between two strong-willed characters, a kind of push-and-shove that ultimately leads to an exceptional climax – and this climax is lovely:

“There’s a foreign emotion playing across Rosalie’s features when she says, “You were supposed to be my constant” one that Bella can’t place and lacks time to process because Rose’s lips are on her own with all of the force of a fist to the face.”

This story doesn’t try for sappy and it doesn’t do Lilith Fair, and I love that about these characters. Dee12 has broken out of the rigid gender/sex roles that so many Sapphic stories seem to fall into. There doesn’t have to be cuddling all the time, and it’s not a porno. This is the beginnings of love – of real friendship, bloody, messy, true – of that fluttery feeling in your stomach when you can’t decide whether you want to kill someone or kiss them like crazy.

“Election” is breathtaking, fast-paced, and has all the makings of a fandom favorite. I will be forever grateful to Dee12 for putting out a story about a relationship that all people can relate to, whether they’re straight or gay. This is a must-read.

If I’m being honest, I had no intentions of reading Election at all. So what changed my mind? When Kass told me that she had read, and *gasp* actually liked it, I knew I didn’t stand a chance of resisting. I couldn’t help but be curious about Dee12′s story.

As scary as it is to say, I actually enjoyed it.

Rose and Bella are so different in this fic, and have such a destructive dynamic that I couldn’t help but be sucked in.

Their “interactions” are never graphic, and the writing is hilarious and witty.

Alice Brandon is like a Gummi Bear. She probably farts rainbows.

How could you resist inner dialogue like that?

So. I’ve seen this rec’d on ADF and on twitter and I bet I’ve clicked on the link a hundred times.

And promptly closed it.

And shuddered.

Because Rosalie and Bella? Ew.

Then a few days ago, EchoesofTwilight started a breakup post on Edwardville and htothem said, “I’m really happy for you, and Imma let you finish, but Election has the best B/E break up OF ALL TIME!” Apparently, I’m a glutton for punishment because I couldn’t not read it after that.

And guess what? It’s utterly brilliant.

Why do I love it? Well. I’ll just list some of my favorite quotes:

Replacing “Rosalie” with “Cuntalie” is already set in stone, but she’s having trouble deciding between giving her a handlebar mustache or a goatee.

“Well, Mike what I’ve got for you involves your dick…and my blender. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got an anywhere else to be.”

“I don’t think you’ve got the guts, Fella.”

“That’s my liver”

This story is perfect for a femmeslash-fearing wussperv like me. It’s real. It’s fucking hilarious. There’s cupcakes. And just enough citrus to make the point without squicking me out. Not to mention, it’s short–there’s only one chapter left (for a total of seven). Oh yeah, and what about the breakup? Totally awesome. Trust me. If you don’t read this fic, you are seriously missing out. Read it nao.

Brown Study by littlesecret84

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5561987/1/Brown_Study


Official Description: Bella’s dreams have a way of coming true. But what will she do when the man she dreams of appears in her life as a boy who is less than ideal? Will finding him mean losing her BFF, Jane? Does knowing the future change the present? Rated M for adult stuff.

Don’t miss Brown Study Extras.

Kristen Nicole says: When Kassiah asked me to do this Guest Review for “Brown Study,” I quickly shuffled through a myriad of emotions. I was thrilled, and then I was nervous, and then I was straight-out terrified. Everyone knows littlesecret84. She’s exceptionally funny and brash, and thus far I’ve enjoyed everything she’s written – but this new story that she’s put together is like an entirely different animal.


I love it.


Wait, scratch that. I adore it.


In the realm of twific, it’s easy to become inundated by the hundreds upon hundreds of fics that all espouse the same general plotline. There’s a Girl. Girl meets Boy. They fall in love. While this is all fine and dandy, it’s just too ephemeral for me. Something is missing from these stories. There’s no cohesiveness to bond us to the characters. In “Brown Study,” littlesecret84 has supplied us with her very own brand of Elmer’s Glue: Jane. This solid, incredibly realistic portrayal of Jane and Bella’s friendship is what makes “Brown Study” so wonderfully unique. Their easy banter and effortless interactions with one another are what gives Bella and Edward’s relationship legs to stand on. No man is an island. Bella might yearn for Edward, but in “Brown Study,” she also longs for the simple joy of spending time with her best friend – the person who really understands her and accepts her for everything that she is, good and bad. An excellent example of this comes from the very first chapter:

“Jane and I run down the stairs and out of the house, jumping into my truck to spend one last day at the beach. It’s a little chilly but we’ll get to show off our piercings and have some fun. We end up having a good time, meeting a group of local boys who are clearly into Jane and make her blush. She ends up ignoring them and I am yelling at her on our way back to the truck when I get a little carried away jumping around. The next thing I know, Jane is dragging me into the ER because my ankle hurts like a motherfucker.

I sit there patiently waiting for a doctor to see me. My foot is in Jane’s lap and she is telling me stupid stories to get my mind off the pain.”

This is not another tall tale of Alice dragging Bella on a shopping trip. This is so much better. You can put yourself into these interactions between Bella and Jane, because they seem so realistic. They hang out, watch television, and spend time together. Jane is the quintessential “best friend” here. We have had a friend like her – we have been her. There’s no cattiness, no snotty attitude, no unlikely actions or conversations. Just the story of two great friends, and what happens when one of them falls in love. How is their friendship affected by bringing in a third party? Can these bonds remain strong, even when faced by the introduction of a serious love interest?


While I enjoy the role that Edward plays in this story, he is merely the icing on top of an already delicious cake. I would read this story for the Bella/Jane interactions alone. I think that littlesecret84 has produced something remarkable here – and I honestly cannot wait to see where she goes with it.

Kassiah says: Everyone knows how much I love littlesecret84, and I’m ngl- when she told me she was writing a hs-fic, I squeed and fawned all over her. I love hs-fics and I love the way littlesecret writes, hence I knew that I’d love her hs-fic so, so much.


What I wasn’t prepared for is loving Jane. I love how realistic Bella and Jane are:

So we eat and gossip and giggle and she swears she’s not into Edward. In fact, she tells me the she doesn’t find him attractive at all. She thinks he is too hairy and hates the stubble on his face that I want to feel against my cheeks. She prefers dark eyes and doesn’t like the coppery tones in his hair.

“He has brown hair,” I argue.

“Yeah, but yesterday when we were standing outside the school and the sun was out, I noticed that he has… highlights.”

I gasp.

“No, Bella! Natural ones, you know, in the sun,” she explains.

“Oh thank God! I wouldn’t let either one of us date a boy with highlights!”

I agree with Kristen Nicole, the interactions between Jane and Bella are enough to make you want to read Brown Study, even if there was no Edward. Wait, did I actually just admit that? ::rolls eyes:: Okay, almost enough.


Oh, but there is an Edward.  He’s fuckhot and amazing and has fingers that make time stand still and thank rob I claimed him before anyone else could.

Edward, Hat Guy, Mr. Cullen, whoever he is, turns around so fast that I jump back.

Oh.

My.

God.

The eyes. The nose. The eyebrows. The lips. Can I touch them now? Scruff. He’s a boy but not really a boy because he shaves and he probably shaves a lot but he definitely did not shave this morning.

Did I mention that this is a fic that requires my hatred for Kate almost as much as my adoration for Jane. How crazy is that? Absolute. total. win.


Brown Study is a story with an amazing plot, great descriptions, excellent dialogue, and a fantastically sexy author. You can’t go wrong with that. Read it, you’ll love it.