Spider Alchemist-I was the original anonymous recommendation person, just thought I'd clear that up.
Jomlos: Behold, Rotton/Eda Crack Fic, leave you demand for sanity point.
Dellanotte: Aside from the Shipping, the humor is golden. Special points for Holiday Spirits, which is probably what would happen if the Omake ever got its own story arc.
Stories focused on the family and the friendly relationships of the cast. Plot-focused stories or light day-in-the-life stories. Pretty much anything that isn't focused on romance.Forcibly United by Gaming Ikari (crossover with Ranma ½)
Recommended by lanky
Synopsis: Two characters from Nerima come to visit the city of Roanapur, introducing magic which changes the dynamics of the status quo in new and interesting ways. Ranma decides that Revy is a tomboy and Hilarity Ensues.
Comments: This story is better than it sounds. The author covers the issue of introducing magic and high-powered Charles Atlas Superpower martial artists to the core cast of Black Lagoon in a way which is respectful of both universes. Amazing as it may seem, the author manages to hit the sweet spot which blends the tone of Ranma 1/2 with the tone of Black Lagoon almost perfectly. It also doesn't hurt that the story was released on September 10th, 2009, and is already over 60,000 words long, with a technical quality to the writing which is generally unheard of in fanfiction.
Recommendation seconded by Thinks Too Much: it's really more of a Ranma ½ fic than a Black Lagoon one, but it's still one of the better fics available and worth looking up to get your fix. Be aware the author is trying to give Gretel a happy ending via Easy Amnesia, but it's starting to look like said amnesia is being subverted, and the rest of it is worth it. (Also, poor Gretel deserves to be happy, even if it takes an inaccurate trope.) Watching the gangsters' response to things like magic mushrooms or chi attacks is hilarious and those reactions tend to be spot-on in-character; the fights balance the supernatural with the gunfighting quite well, and overall it's worth looking up.
Synopsis: Revy's long-lost little sister shows up in Roanapur...and brings chaos in her wake. How can one small girl cause so much confusion?
Comments: Rachel, Revy's little sister, has made her way to Roanapur, and promptly starts causing chaos. She starts out by flirting with Rock, and after Revy warns her off in no uncertain terms, goes on to run a fraud that ends up snaring quite a few members of Hotel Moscow. Seeing Revy having to deal with someone that makes her seem fairly reasonable and sane is amusing. And that's without the North Koreans trying to take over Roanapur...
Dellanotte: Eh, I'll have to contest this one, a bit. While it starts out strong (read: Rachel's Newcomer-naivitee and "sub-aquatic real estate"), Technomad's all but dropped the ball by chapter 6. Not only does Rachel carry way too much of the game plan, the author seems to have a less-than-firm grasp on Roanapur's deeper politics. Points for the idea and early execution, though.
Synopsis: Before she was Balalaika, she was Vladilena, the Marshall's granddaughter. Desperate for military glory, she disobeys orders and ventures into the "devil's nest" - Afghanistan.
Comments: An interesting look into pre-series, especially when Balalaika interacts with others in the military. The Author updates fairly regularly, which is always nice.
Synopsis: Business is not usual for Dutch when the boss of the Chinese Triads comes calling. The next delivery run for the Black Lagoon Company could be fatal for the crew if loyalties are not chosen wisely. And the new girl has a bad attitude.
Comments: Another very nice pre-series fic from Amigodude, this time focusing on Revy's first run with the Black Lagoon. Does a very good job in telling things from Dutch's perspective.
Synopsis: "All you're doing is surviving, when you could be winning. Now you're lucky that gang you just slaughtered was a buncha downright bastards nobody liked, or I'd be thinking more than twice about saying this. Join my crew, Revy Two-Hands."
Comments: Yet another pre-series theory on how Dutch hired Revy, and perfectly in keeping with the series' darkest moments of Nietzsche Wannabe monologuing.
(For the love of tropes, we beg the Wiki Magic to cough up some good Revy/Rock.)
Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.Black and Blue Lagoon by Nugar
Synopsis: Rock and an unconscious Revy end up adrift after a botched pirating job, finally ending up on a deserted island. Revy sees a new side to Rock as he fights man and nature to save her, but the real danger may be more insidious. They're out of cigarettes.
Comments: Pretty enjoyable. Don't know what to say other than the fact Rock and Revy pretty much stay in character while slowly bonding and trying to survive. Funny, sweet, plenty of Cluster F Bombs... and they do it. Censored version in link.
Arcane Azmadi: Seconded... holy shit is this good. Not only are the cast perfectly in character, but it really captures the feel of Black Lagoon in its writing and narration- snarky, sarcastic and foul-mouthed as well as deadly serious, but with a good sense of fun. I can just imagine this being the basis of a really good OAV adaptation.
Magareagle: I agree with the above comments. While the uncut version would regrettably not fly given the new content guidelines (and yet it is that much better), even the cut version is a classic. Imagine a bit of Robinson Crusoe mixed with Black Lagoon and a remarkable in character romance and you get this.
Synopsis: Rock's residency papers have yet to be filed. Balalaika being who she is decides to cut corners and hurry the process up by marrying him to Revy; Hilarity Ensues. More of a Slice of Life fic than anything only boasting two, if funny, chapters. Also, Hansel and Gretel are alive and were adopted by Rock as this fic is in continuity with his other fic, Assassin's Keeper.
I'll give a second recommendation to this fic. When I first saw the author, I almost brushed the review off as a fluke until I gave him another. I found it enjoyable, cute, and awesome while keeping fairly true to the characters. This stands as a vastly superior fic to another one of Gunman's which involved Rock getting a hold of an Iron Man armor.
Synopsis: Chaos returns to Roanapur as the Triads and Hotel Moscow start their inevitable war. Old alliances clash with new ones, and the only person who can save them all is pressing out his collared shirt by the bed.
Comments: The best multi-chaptered Black Lagoon fic I've read. Brilliant stuff, I don't want to say much otherwise I'll spoil it. The romance side ties in firmly into the heart of the violence and politics of Roanapur's war, and the conflicting motivations each character has as the story goes on manages to stay well in character. Excellent work here.
Firstly, this is beautifully written and I thoroughly recommend it. Second, there is something off about it. It has a definite Twilight of the Gods uber-serious atmosphere and misses out on the original flavor's humor. This isn't a major problem given the premise.
One of the best original flavor fanfics I have ever read. I could easily see this being done as the concluding season of Black Lagoon.
The only way this would be canon is if Hiroe let his badass criminals use the "L-word." While unkeptsecret does a beautiful job of humanising everyone, from Chang to Sawyer (even Watsap), there's a fluff line that's almost dangerously skirted here. All the same, the author clearly has a grasp of Roanapur's innermost cogs, and the story is woven perfectly. Ignoring the title, this is one of the best stories in the fandom.
Synopsis: The inevitable finally happens, and Revy breaks. Luckily she has Rock to hold her together.
Comments: A brilliant WAFF/comfort fic. It doesn't break canon, and it's one of the most beautiful, well-written and emotional stories this troper has had the fortune to read.
Synopsis: After returning to Venezuela, Garcia and Roberta come to grips with new feelings for one another. The Lagoon Company gets more than they bargained for on a "simple" job for Abrego.
Comments: A wonderful Romance/Friendship fic. It presents Roberta and Garcia's romance in a good way and a nice parallel with them and the Lagoon crew. The action is awesome as well.
