rec_cember is run by goodbyebird

I think I can manage 3 posts a week, but probably only until the 20th when we head home. At that point I will probably not bring my laptop and won't be able to make such nice recs. I think I am also probably too shy to put the recs in one by one at something like recthething. But maybe I'll manage a rec roundup for that! Wish me luck, you guys.

one step back and to the left, by sithlordbinks
Fandom: Star Wars (Clone Wars specifically)
Words: 126.3k; 7/10 chapters so far [WIP]
Rating: E
Pairing: Cody/Obi-Wan Kenobi

Cody’s mouth is dry, words stuck in his mind. Which perhaps is a good thing considering in response to I think I may have you, all Cody’s brain is providing him is please do.
And it’s then, Cody realizes, that with the most inconvenient, embarrassing, unprofessional timing ever, he’s hard.
Kriff. Fucking kriff.

or: cody thinks he's doing Real Great at the friends with benefits thing with his general. spoiler: he is not…and somehow this saves the entire galaxy

This is the fic I've been waiting for in the codywan side of fandom. It has everything I was hoping for, in no particular order:
- a very much forbidden relationship
- intense extremely tight 3POV from Cody's perspective with a goodly dose of unreliable narrator with Cody outwardly classically stoic while inwardly immersed and overwhelmed by feelings
- societal-wide clone depersonalisation and extremely bitter clones as a leitmotif
- Obi-Wan's immense guilt over whether or not Cody can even consent and being left wondering if he's not only crossed boundaries but committed a crime
- Cody whump both emotional and physical
- competence from both Cody and Obi-Wan
- not a strong focus on clones being Mandalorian (there's a tidge of the fanon Mando'a but most of it is actually centring around the clone<->Mandalore culture shock, and how Cody feels being a fish out of water even on Mandalore because of the clones' aborted cultural upbringing, all of which is extremely compelling to me)

It's still WIP, but I have faith the author will complete it, and in the meantime there's already so much to enjoy and it doesn't end on a super-cliffhanger, so it's quite enjoyable even as-is. I just, I love it so much. After a fandom full of Woobie-Wan Kenobi I am delighted to see less focus on him and greater focus on Cody and Cody's friendships and relationships that are not actually revolving around Kenobi. I am not usually much of an Anakin fan, but I loved Anakin & Cody's interactions in this and it's extremely sweet and organic - they actually feel like in this universe they could be friends.

Canon knowledge required: Basic knowledge of Star Wars Prequel Trilogy (at least films 1 and 2) suffices, but very helpful to have seen most of Clone Wars (animated show, set between films 2 and 3) and film 3.