va'esse deireádh aep eigean, va'esse eigh faidh'ar

I feel like I am disconnected enough from broader fandom to not know whether 'extremely specific Netflix-style genres' is or ever was a meme, but I have been thinking about how if it is/was, one of my favourite Netflix-style fanfic genres is crime drama f/f that feels like a Katatonia song. You know the type. Quiet pieces a little obviously-aware about how thoughtful they're being. There was a big loss not too long ago - or, at least, it doesn't feel long ago at all. The whole fic probably takes place in the fall/winter/night, or, if it's a longer fic that covers a year+, the important bits all do. The whole thing feels rather noir. If there's joy, it feels both incongruous and deeply earned. You know ... a Katatonia song.

Possibly I am the only person at the centre of the venn diagram of Katatonia songs and crime drama f/f, but other people should join me. Alphabetical by fandom.

the clean horse of our courage. law & order: criminal intent, eames/barek. 3.3k words, rated e. by omiceti

Carolyn talks to herself, so choose your bar carefully.

It's kind of-sort of a fic about a one night stand that isn't going to stay one night, but it's also about unexpected connections and inexplicable warmth, about being tired and realising you care about something (someone) enough to want it.

things forgotten and reinvented. law & order: special victims unit, alex/olivia. 1.2k words, rated t. by humanveil

"You mad?"
Olivia shakes her head. "I think that would be easier."

Season 10, Alex and Olivia finally (and with more than a little help from Elliot) have a conversation about what five years means, and how five years feels. On choosing to care, and wanting a future, and how canon definitely has not done anything to contradict this.

walk slow through the fire. the fall, stella/dani. ~900 words, rated m. by whiteberryx

There's nothing here for her, but that doesn't stop her.

Dani falls into bed with Stella over and over again, and only gets part of what she wants. A really incisive look at what happens when mismatched desires meet matched expectations.

the right of way. scott & bailey, julie/gill. 7.3k words, rated t. by anacel

Julie senses this ordeal will be harder to shake off than Gill is willing to yield, as Helen's ghost looms over her like a passenger on her soul.

Gill and Julie at Sammy's engagement party, in the aftermath of 3x08. Comes with content warnings for, you know, absolutely everything that happened to Helen Bartlett, but a really lovely look at trauma, reunions, and endearments.

alone and adrift on a tide. shetland, rhona/phyllis, rhona & jimmy. 3.6k words, rated t. by mazily

Rhona came to Shetland for the water.

Post-season 3 Rhona, on moving on when you still love someone but they've done unforgivable things, and on comforts allowed and unallowed. It's definitely the story of the end days of a relationship, rather than romantic shipfic, but it feels very true and sharp and necessary.