#mademedoit

So I’m not sure whether to thank or curse @fleurdeneuf for setting me on this “top ten fics” task. It sent me down the biggest fic-reading rabbit hole I’ve been on in ages (and I’m not actually sure I’m done with it). I decided to focus on Nine/Rose adult, even though I do like a lot of other things. (And I’ve read too much fic in other fandoms to ever narrow down my top ten fics out of *everything* ever.) I revisited fics and authors and favorites lists I had completely forgotten about. I didn’t find everything I remembered loving, and I actually decided not to list many, many, MANY fics (and authors) that I think are stupendous, mostly just because I hadn’t revisited them enough or they hadn’t hung with me like I thought they ought to. Because what I did end up listing were fics I’ve reread repeatedly, stuff that’s left an impression, and two that were really instrumental in forming my ideas of what fic Nine/Rose was about. Still, it is a very imperfect list.

(Also, please excuse the clumsy, ugly links. I don't spend much time on Tumblr so I don't completely know what I'm doing, AND I do everything on my phone, and I think the app has fewer editing options. My thumbs are tired.)

Pulse by Casira

http://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=2727

This is one of the first Nine/Rose fics I ever read, when I was new and completely besotted with the pairing and desperate for fic that resolved that towering UST. It’s not only stuck with me for years but initially it just broke my damn heart. I have added a coda in my head to change the ending and make things less traumatizing for myself, but that just tells you how much of a punch it packs.

Fevered by HonorH

http://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=15787

This was another one I read early on and it quickly became one of my go-to fics. Hell, I read this before I’d even seen Jack in an episode so I had to make him up in my head. HonorH gets the two of them dead right.

Five and a Half Hours Later by sap1066

http://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=10188

I almost listed another fic by sap1066 here–just because EVERYBODY and their Aunt Matilda lists this as a favorite–but ultimately I had to go with it because it’s just. So. Damn. Good. I’ve sought it out and reread it and thought about it so damn much. It very much helps soothe the pain of Nine having regenerated so fast, and I love living in its wonderfully romantic, complex, show-that-could’ve-been where we got so much more time with him.

Doing It by anogete

http://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=29774

This one is fun as hell. It’s a kind of twist on the alien aphrodisiac thing–more of an “aliens made them do it”– where the Doctor’s been injected with a poison that can only be cured by having sex. Watching he and Rose navigate the way toward the cure is delightful, as is Jack’s fun watching them do so.

Not-So-Forbidden Fruit by threerings

http://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=26698

This is another one I don’t see recced much, but I love it and think it’s so sexy and playful. Some strange alien fruit at a festival gives Nine and Rose a push in the right direction.

Personal Pronouns by JessaLRynn

http://jlrynnfiction.livejournal.com/40141.htm

Jessa is a legend, of course. SO many of her fics I could have listed. I chose this one because, again, I’ve gone back and reread it so much. I also don’t see it on her Teaspoon or ff.net pages, so maybe fewer people have read this one she posted on LJ.

Torture by 11nine73

https://time-and-chips.livejournal.com/40670.html

Another somewhat off-the-beaten-path choice, and again, we’ve got sexy and playful.

A Lot Can Happen in a Little by takethewords

https://iwantchips.livejournal.com/3721.html

Takethewords writes the most GORGEOUS stuff. I don’t know if she has another pseud outside of LiveJournal, but that’s the only place I ever saw her writing. So, so pretty.

Slipping by amberite

http://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=7186

In case you’ve ever got a fancy for some fic that deals with the Doctor’s alien-ness, that assumes sex with him wouldn’t be like it is with a human, this is a very interesting take on what that might be like.

Suicide Blonde by Rabid1st

http://archiveofourown.org/works/1150925

This is an epic fic where Ten sends Rose back to help a completely broken Nine. Also with slightly alien sex, it’s ambitious and tense and shows a very satisfying turnaround for our poor Nine.