It Is Recommendsday, My Dudes #121 · 6:59pm Jul 12th, 2023
Y'know, I had a set on today for my schedule, but I'm not feeling that pair today. Instead, I'm feeling just kind of… weird? Weird, yeah. So let's do something a bit surreal instead. (Expect me to have some trouble summarizing things because hooboy these are a bit odd.)
So first up is Trixe. It's a shortskirtsandexplosions jam, and it really shows.
Starlight wakes up on a perfectly normal morning. She yawns, gets out of bed, looks at herself in the mirror and says: "Trixe." Which confuses her. And then confuses her more when Spike walks past her room, waves, and states: "Trixe."
Things get weird from there.
Very few authors on this site can challenge skirts when it comes to the surreal. Skirts just has this way with concepts that push the boundaries and yet still entirely work. Because despite the utter weirdness of Trixe, this is a perfectly rational little story. Well. Maybe not rational since the whole thing's quite mad.
A highlight for me is that the characters are paralyzed in terms of dialogue but they push through with body language, facial expression, and a lot of frustration. Stories without dialogue aren't uncommon, but those are almost always environmental pieces. Characters wrestling with the lack of communication is far less common and here it really leans into the problem.
But don't get me wrong: this story is still weird as hell. Everytrixie is still themselves (so to speak) but the situation is utterly ridiculous. It's got power, though. It's memetically stuck with me for years, and every time I think about it I subconsciously mutter 'Trixe" to myself.
The other one today is less surreal and more just plain weird. And a little bit unnerving. Fluttershy's Secret Kissing Story (by Ara) The cover art alone should clue you in to that part.
Fluttershy remembers every kiss she's gotten. From the nurse that kissed her forehead as a newborn to kisses on the cheek by family members to her first teenage kiss to... others, Fluttershy remembers them all. And often in very vivid ways.
At the core, this is a story about Fluttershy's growing up from a filly to adult - the journey and her life before progressing into the impact of Kindness coming to her. How it's told, though, marks this as probably one of the most unique stories on the site.
I normally use the term 'visceral' to describe scenes full of action. Here, it's different. This story is extremely visceral: each kiss is full of scent and feel and pressure and emotion, described often to the point of being a little discomforting. But that's the key part of understanding Fluttershy in this: it's her way of expressing herself and her interaction with the world. It's how she cares and shows herself to those around her. Even if it does get a little unnerving in a few spots.
Perhaps one of the best parts here is that it shows a wholly unique approach for how Fluttershy interacts and views things, and yet it feels entirely Fluttershy. Throughout the story, it feels correct. Rarely do you get something so wildly out of the norm for a character that somehow still feels in character. (And other characters as well. Really, the Rainbow Dash portrayed here feels right in that same way.)
I can't think of a single story that has such a wildly unique approach and is told with such outstanding quality. It's weird as hell, but very worth the time.
New or catching up? Try Recommendsday: The Index for your story needs!
The one with kissing is definitely gripping and worth the ride. If the work makes you reminiscent about all the kisses you ever made, it definitely doing something.
Real talent, that.
I may not remember much of any of the specifics or incident of Fluttershy's Secret Kissing Story, but I sure do remember the effect and atmosphere and how visceral it felt. It's just an experience, somehow managing to be almost a prolific while being fully a deep emotional dive. You can't beat it from being unique, and thus while it won't be to everyone's taste (hence the sub-90% approval rate) and can be a tough one to get through the full 11K, it's one I feel everyone need to try. It's sure stuck with me.
Well, for that, and also for the likely-deliberately off-putting cover art.
Because this author sure knew how to set the fic's tone, in all its effectively creepiness, before it's even started.
"visceral" is absolutely the word to describe Fluttershy's Secret Kissing Story, and it's maybe the most visceral story I have ever read :O what a triumph
It takes something for a shortskirtsandexplosions fic to be the less strange of the two being featured, but I think you may have managed it this time! I know everyone says this, but Fluttershy's Secret Kissing Story is like nothing else I've ever read. The word everyone seems to use is "experience" and I'm no exception. Oddly, I think the ending may be the least strange part of the fic (though I don't want to spoil things) but that doesn't mean it's ordinary. Just that what precedes it is so utterly odd. I don't think I'd like to read more stories about Fluttershy written like that, but this one was definitely worth the effort.
5737685
It is absolutely unique, which is one of the reasons I've been looking for an excuse to feature it. 'Experience' is the proper way to put it.