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throw cares away
Incredibly strange discovery du jour: my aunt, who I have not seen for a few years, looks really scarily like Stella Kowalski. Same haircut, same coloring, same lines around the mouth. I am slightly freaked out by this, but in the best possible way (& she is my favourite aunt, so I may accidentally like Stella better because of it).
Never mind that; before I dive into a round of belated Christmas and New Year's celebrations with the extended family, I am taking the time to post my Yuletide recs! I have probably passed over many undiscovered gems, but this is my list of favourites from the main archive.
ANTHROPOMORFIC
The Magical Healing Power of Threesomes
Anthropomorphic Fandom/LJ/Dreamwidth. No, seriously. Also, Fandom has lunch dates with Porn and Meta. I am terrified to say this, but all of the characterization is perfect.
BLACK BOOKS
A Matter of Perspective
In which Manny is like a vole, Bernard is possessive, and Fran is sure that everything will work itself out. The inside of all three of their heads is freakishly perfect, and I was laughing by the end of the first paragraph.
The Quiz
Fran takes a magazine quiz to see if Bernard and Manny are doing it. Which, duh.
CALVIN & HOBBES
The Lengthy Dimly Lit Coffee Break of the Psyche
Not only does this have the most excellent title ever, it's also the Calvin & Hobbes story I always needed without ever knowing I did. It features a Calvin who is believably adult while still retaining the wildly active and imaginative thought processes that made him such an awesome kid; it also features a Hobbes who is still around, which is what I meant when I said I never knew I needed this fic. Plus it has a Spaceman Spiff dream sequence and a Susie I am completely in love with.
CHUCK
Chuck vs. Bowling, Drugs, and the Unexpected Romance
This is probably the truest Chuck/Casey fic I have ever read. Chuck is flailingly himself, Casey is still badass and terrifying, and I completely believe it. Morgan and Ellie are both little jewels in this fic, too.
DALEMARK QUARTET
Threading the Needle; Faith
In a recurring theme this year, this is one of the many stories I never knew I always needed. Every year comes the new crop of Maewen-Mitt reunion fics; this is not one of those. This is about Maewen laughing until she cries at historically inaccurate films years later, and understanding Mitt as one in a line of foolish teenage crushes, and keeping her faith. It's wonderful.
DISCWORLD
Like Clockwork
I think I want an entire novel from Vetinari's POV, exactly like this. And at some point in that hypothetical novel, I want Vetinari to grasp that one nagging thought. This is brilliant.
EASTWICK
She's Got a New Spell
KAT/JOANNA FIC. I wish I could have read this right after the appropriate episode, but now isn't too shabby either. Joanna is so perfectly hilariously awkward and babbling that it even makes me genuinely like her again, and Kat is a delight.
EDDIE IZZARD
Delicious
A write-up of an Eddie Izzard sketch. It's about the Northwest Passage, and Vikings, and Hitler, and cannibalism, and polar bears. I laughed until I cried, and I desperately want to see it actually performed.
ENCHANTED
Before It Breaks
Wherein there is not a happily-ever-after, but still a lot of hope. I love the honesty of this, and I adore Giselle.
THE GRAVEYARD BOOK
Tipping the Balance
A tale of Bod finding his place in the world, with his human friends (whom I adored), with Silas, and in the between places. I think all I really want out of this fandom is good Bod/Silas fic.
You Comes and You Goes
A conversation between Silas and Miss Lupescu, some years later. This one has exactly the tone I always cherish in fic about Neil Gaiman books: it elaborates upon the mythology in small and brilliant ways.
THE HAZARDS OF LOVE
Fair
Margaret and the Queen, after. I love this for telling their entwined stories (rather than William's, rather than the Rake's), and for how it feels shockingly like the album, and for how it makes things strangely better. This is another of those stories I didn't know I needed.
The Sister's Bargain
In which Margaret's sister Janet sets out to save Margaret's child. I'm absolutely in awe of this one -- the author wrote new songs, all of which sound amazingly, perfectly Colin; I would love to hear this one actually performed.
Three
And of course it wouldn't be Christmas without the Rake and his children! I think Hazards of Love fic demands amazing word choice and atmospheric stuff, which is why I'm reccing so many. This one I love for the sheer horror of the ghost children.
HIS DARK MATERIALS
like gold to ayery thinnesse beate
I am wary of reunion fics, but this one is scarily word-perfect. I am absolutely and utterly in love with this Lyra, her resourcefulness and her lies and her frustration of airplanes. And the Narnia joke didn't go amiss, either.
Through a Glass, Darkly
This, however, is perhaps exactly what I've always wanted out of a Will/Lyra reunion fic, which is that it isn't -- they have a moment, and hope, but they're still parted. It's heartbreaking in precisely the right way.
HOT FUZZ
DIY For Beginners
Danny decides he has to become gay in order to keep Nicholas from leaving Sandford. Hilarity ensues. Nicholas' reaction is spot-on in a way I didn't expect, and the Danny voice in this is so perfect that I can't even properly express it.
Model Village
The one where the NWA won. This is deliciously horrifying.
Yippee Ki Yay, Mother Hubbard
Post-film slice of life in the grand tradition of warm-and-happy Nicholas/Danny fics everywhere. I love this one because Danny is kind of badass, in his Danny way, and their argument about the Die Hard films is perfect.
THE HUNGER GAMES
Apprentice
A backstory character-sketch for Cinna. Cinna is one of my favourite characters, and this is a perfect little encapsulation of why.
KING OF SHADOWS
Be Free, and Fare Thou Well
Nat, playing Prospero for Arby's last show. I love the idea of him coming full circle, playing Shakespeare's part rather than playing a part for Shakespeare. It makes me so strangely happy for both of them.
LILO & STITCH
all your heart-melodies
In which Lilo wants to be an intergalactic space hero, and grows up. Between this story and the Calvin & Hobbes one, I'm beginning to sense a pattern in my own tastes.
LIFE ON MARS
The Fools on the Hill
I think this is exactly the show-coda I didn't know I was looking for. It holds together so thematically well that I'm left with a little satisfied glow, and my god, Gene is fucking perfect.
LOVE ACTUALLY
Impropriety
In which Natalie continues to be her inappropriate and completely awesome self, and David doesn't mind at all. This left me actually giggling with joy.
PIGEON SERIES
The Pigeon Wants A Story
You know those adorable Pigeon books by Mo Williams? Where the pigeon is not allowed to drive the bus, and other tragedies? Here, the pigeon gets to write a Yuletide story. I coo with delight.
ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD
What's Wrong With This Picture? Nothing -- It's Denmark!
Possibly I love this story in large part because it was written for my friend Nai, and we've had discussions about how fic concerning Rosencrantz and Guildenstern caught in the loop and uneasily aware of it would be awesome, so I understood ahead of time what this fic was doing. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, in a modern production, panicked.
SLINGS & ARROWS
By Way of Explanation
Every year I have one story that is my absolute favourite in the archive: this year, it's this one. It's about Ellen, and about Geoffrey, but mostly about Ellen; it's both honest and kind, and makes me understand their relationship about a thousand times better. I adore it.
Castles in the Sky
In which Maria is long-suffering, Nahum takes everything cheerfully in stride, Anna is her amazing, competent self, and Darren has ARTISTIC VISION and makes me cry with laughter, as usual.
WHITE COLLAR
And anyone who's ever had a heart
This is, perhaps, exactly the OT3 fic I want from this fandom. All three of them are wonderfully written, but I especially love the Elizabeth herein, possibly even more than I love her in the show, which is saying a lot. (She's an accountant as well as an event planner! She has sexy librarian glasses! She disguises herself to sneak into places! Be still my heart.)
Making Book
JUNE FIC. :D June and Mozzie sometimes have dinner together; June is smart and classy and, apparently, ships Neal/Peter like the rest of us.
WHIP IT
Searching for Something That Makes Hearts Move
I went to the Whip It section hoping to find me some Pash/Bliss, but what I found instead was this, which I do choose to read as just as Pash/Bliss as the film; it's actually Pash/Maggie, of all things, and tells the same kind of story for Pash as the film did for Bliss. Plus it makes fun of Twilight and has a David Bowie action figure.
YOUNG WIZARDS
and the city stood in its brightness
Dairine, and her mother's death. This is perfect Dairine, avoidant and angry and undespairing.
To Each His Thunder, Rain, and Wind
A Regency AU. Let me say this again. A Regency AU. It's fairly brilliant, both in terms of the fun and gripping errantry plot, and in terms of the sheer awesome hilarity of a REGENCY AU. Dairine and Roshaun are especially apt Austen-esque characters.
Next: look through the separate Yuletide Madness page! I was unsure at first, but I think I love the AO3's organization of the archive this year.
Never mind that; before I dive into a round of belated Christmas and New Year's celebrations with the extended family, I am taking the time to post my Yuletide recs! I have probably passed over many undiscovered gems, but this is my list of favourites from the main archive.
ANTHROPOMORFIC
The Magical Healing Power of Threesomes
Anthropomorphic Fandom/LJ/Dreamwidth. No, seriously. Also, Fandom has lunch dates with Porn and Meta. I am terrified to say this, but all of the characterization is perfect.
BLACK BOOKS
A Matter of Perspective
In which Manny is like a vole, Bernard is possessive, and Fran is sure that everything will work itself out. The inside of all three of their heads is freakishly perfect, and I was laughing by the end of the first paragraph.
The Quiz
Fran takes a magazine quiz to see if Bernard and Manny are doing it. Which, duh.
CALVIN & HOBBES
The Lengthy Dimly Lit Coffee Break of the Psyche
Not only does this have the most excellent title ever, it's also the Calvin & Hobbes story I always needed without ever knowing I did. It features a Calvin who is believably adult while still retaining the wildly active and imaginative thought processes that made him such an awesome kid; it also features a Hobbes who is still around, which is what I meant when I said I never knew I needed this fic. Plus it has a Spaceman Spiff dream sequence and a Susie I am completely in love with.
CHUCK
Chuck vs. Bowling, Drugs, and the Unexpected Romance
This is probably the truest Chuck/Casey fic I have ever read. Chuck is flailingly himself, Casey is still badass and terrifying, and I completely believe it. Morgan and Ellie are both little jewels in this fic, too.
DALEMARK QUARTET
Threading the Needle; Faith
In a recurring theme this year, this is one of the many stories I never knew I always needed. Every year comes the new crop of Maewen-Mitt reunion fics; this is not one of those. This is about Maewen laughing until she cries at historically inaccurate films years later, and understanding Mitt as one in a line of foolish teenage crushes, and keeping her faith. It's wonderful.
DISCWORLD
Like Clockwork
I think I want an entire novel from Vetinari's POV, exactly like this. And at some point in that hypothetical novel, I want Vetinari to grasp that one nagging thought. This is brilliant.
EASTWICK
She's Got a New Spell
KAT/JOANNA FIC. I wish I could have read this right after the appropriate episode, but now isn't too shabby either. Joanna is so perfectly hilariously awkward and babbling that it even makes me genuinely like her again, and Kat is a delight.
EDDIE IZZARD
Delicious
A write-up of an Eddie Izzard sketch. It's about the Northwest Passage, and Vikings, and Hitler, and cannibalism, and polar bears. I laughed until I cried, and I desperately want to see it actually performed.
ENCHANTED
Before It Breaks
Wherein there is not a happily-ever-after, but still a lot of hope. I love the honesty of this, and I adore Giselle.
THE GRAVEYARD BOOK
Tipping the Balance
A tale of Bod finding his place in the world, with his human friends (whom I adored), with Silas, and in the between places. I think all I really want out of this fandom is good Bod/Silas fic.
You Comes and You Goes
A conversation between Silas and Miss Lupescu, some years later. This one has exactly the tone I always cherish in fic about Neil Gaiman books: it elaborates upon the mythology in small and brilliant ways.
THE HAZARDS OF LOVE
Fair
Margaret and the Queen, after. I love this for telling their entwined stories (rather than William's, rather than the Rake's), and for how it feels shockingly like the album, and for how it makes things strangely better. This is another of those stories I didn't know I needed.
The Sister's Bargain
In which Margaret's sister Janet sets out to save Margaret's child. I'm absolutely in awe of this one -- the author wrote new songs, all of which sound amazingly, perfectly Colin; I would love to hear this one actually performed.
Three
And of course it wouldn't be Christmas without the Rake and his children! I think Hazards of Love fic demands amazing word choice and atmospheric stuff, which is why I'm reccing so many. This one I love for the sheer horror of the ghost children.
HIS DARK MATERIALS
like gold to ayery thinnesse beate
I am wary of reunion fics, but this one is scarily word-perfect. I am absolutely and utterly in love with this Lyra, her resourcefulness and her lies and her frustration of airplanes. And the Narnia joke didn't go amiss, either.
Through a Glass, Darkly
This, however, is perhaps exactly what I've always wanted out of a Will/Lyra reunion fic, which is that it isn't -- they have a moment, and hope, but they're still parted. It's heartbreaking in precisely the right way.
HOT FUZZ
DIY For Beginners
Danny decides he has to become gay in order to keep Nicholas from leaving Sandford. Hilarity ensues. Nicholas' reaction is spot-on in a way I didn't expect, and the Danny voice in this is so perfect that I can't even properly express it.
Model Village
The one where the NWA won. This is deliciously horrifying.
Yippee Ki Yay, Mother Hubbard
Post-film slice of life in the grand tradition of warm-and-happy Nicholas/Danny fics everywhere. I love this one because Danny is kind of badass, in his Danny way, and their argument about the Die Hard films is perfect.
THE HUNGER GAMES
Apprentice
A backstory character-sketch for Cinna. Cinna is one of my favourite characters, and this is a perfect little encapsulation of why.
KING OF SHADOWS
Be Free, and Fare Thou Well
Nat, playing Prospero for Arby's last show. I love the idea of him coming full circle, playing Shakespeare's part rather than playing a part for Shakespeare. It makes me so strangely happy for both of them.
LILO & STITCH
all your heart-melodies
In which Lilo wants to be an intergalactic space hero, and grows up. Between this story and the Calvin & Hobbes one, I'm beginning to sense a pattern in my own tastes.
LIFE ON MARS
The Fools on the Hill
I think this is exactly the show-coda I didn't know I was looking for. It holds together so thematically well that I'm left with a little satisfied glow, and my god, Gene is fucking perfect.
LOVE ACTUALLY
Impropriety
In which Natalie continues to be her inappropriate and completely awesome self, and David doesn't mind at all. This left me actually giggling with joy.
PIGEON SERIES
The Pigeon Wants A Story
You know those adorable Pigeon books by Mo Williams? Where the pigeon is not allowed to drive the bus, and other tragedies? Here, the pigeon gets to write a Yuletide story. I coo with delight.
ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD
What's Wrong With This Picture? Nothing -- It's Denmark!
Possibly I love this story in large part because it was written for my friend Nai, and we've had discussions about how fic concerning Rosencrantz and Guildenstern caught in the loop and uneasily aware of it would be awesome, so I understood ahead of time what this fic was doing. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, in a modern production, panicked.
SLINGS & ARROWS
By Way of Explanation
Every year I have one story that is my absolute favourite in the archive: this year, it's this one. It's about Ellen, and about Geoffrey, but mostly about Ellen; it's both honest and kind, and makes me understand their relationship about a thousand times better. I adore it.
Castles in the Sky
In which Maria is long-suffering, Nahum takes everything cheerfully in stride, Anna is her amazing, competent self, and Darren has ARTISTIC VISION and makes me cry with laughter, as usual.
WHITE COLLAR
And anyone who's ever had a heart
This is, perhaps, exactly the OT3 fic I want from this fandom. All three of them are wonderfully written, but I especially love the Elizabeth herein, possibly even more than I love her in the show, which is saying a lot. (She's an accountant as well as an event planner! She has sexy librarian glasses! She disguises herself to sneak into places! Be still my heart.)
Making Book
JUNE FIC. :D June and Mozzie sometimes have dinner together; June is smart and classy and, apparently, ships Neal/Peter like the rest of us.
WHIP IT
Searching for Something That Makes Hearts Move
I went to the Whip It section hoping to find me some Pash/Bliss, but what I found instead was this, which I do choose to read as just as Pash/Bliss as the film; it's actually Pash/Maggie, of all things, and tells the same kind of story for Pash as the film did for Bliss. Plus it makes fun of Twilight and has a David Bowie action figure.
YOUNG WIZARDS
and the city stood in its brightness
Dairine, and her mother's death. This is perfect Dairine, avoidant and angry and undespairing.
To Each His Thunder, Rain, and Wind
A Regency AU. Let me say this again. A Regency AU. It's fairly brilliant, both in terms of the fun and gripping errantry plot, and in terms of the sheer awesome hilarity of a REGENCY AU. Dairine and Roshaun are especially apt Austen-esque characters.
Next: look through the separate Yuletide Madness page! I was unsure at first, but I think I love the AO3's organization of the archive this year.
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