Here's five completely unrelated fanworks that stuck in my head or under my skin this year. Four fics and one vid.
stormwreath:
History Of The Watcher's Council. Canon says the Watcher's Council has been around as long as the Slayers... so how did they get from Shadowmen to stuffy Brits? This is a deliciously detailed and very believable history, with more than a few little in-jokes for those interested in history.
quinara:
4'33''. Yes, it's a fanvid set to... silence. Or rather to the pauses of silence before something starts, to a breath drawn to say something unsaid. Which fits very nicely with Spike and Buffy in the basement in early s7.
ladyofthelog:
The Sound Of Her. I never got wingfic. Nothing against those who like it, I just never got the point, I thought it seemed to be mostly fluffy wish fulfillment. And then
ladyofthelog served up this tale of Faith growing wings and it's... visceral. In the best Cronenbergian sense.
brutti_ma_buoni:
Finger On The Pulse (Buffybot/Gwen Raiden). The sort of fic that looks sweet and hot and heartwarming until you think a bit about it and realise you need a shower. Without being exactly able to say why.
And finally,
gabrielleabelle:
The Watcher's Council Wellness Retreat. Giles does the sensible thing after "Tabula Rasa" and sends the whole mess of Scoobies to a psychiatric retreat. Cue metalulz.