recs: first pass yuletide 2013
:)))) let's not talk about christmas, except it's been beautiful, new zealand is beautiful, everything is boring, and it's fun to hang out and get drunk in my parents' house. MMM, BEING HAPPILY CASUALLY DRUNK.
yuletide is SO GREAT, everyone. i haven't been through the archive comprehensively yet, but i have loved SO MANY STORIES already!!!
my gifts:
Episode 8 - All the Things - The Outs, Mitchell&Jack + ensemble
Mitchell steps right in a puddle as he’s stammering through his relationship debrief with Jack. It figures. Somehow no rain has fallen since last night yet the streets are slick and the sky is overcast. Yet Jack Widdows wanted to go for a long walk, and there are times, even now, when Mitchell just can’t say no to Jack Widdows.
This is SO fantastic. When signups came around I had just finished watching The Outs - which is fantastic, btw, if you're looking for a short brainsuck, this is your show - and this is a brilliant epilogue which gets everything about the characters and their future perfectly right. (Also: flawless Mitchell-voice, oh man. NO FLAWS.)
The mini-crossover at the end fucking wrecked me and I have a new Mitchell ship.
and
Martyr for a Cause - The Fosters, Callie+Jude
She would bend over backward to provide for him. Even if she had to sacrifice everything in order to do it.
Largely my feelings about the show can be summed up as "Oh, Callie" and this fic captures her perfectly, in all her protectiveness and her damage and what it means for her future. ;___;
YULETIDE I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
other recs:
One Of Their Better Parties - Arrested Development, Michael Bluth + ensemble
Lindsay comes up with the bright idea of weekly family dinners. Gob turns up with an uninvited guest.
The ensemble of this fic is GREAT - Gob/Tony is a pairing I totally didn't know I shipped but apparently have really strong feelings about, because I kept clapping my hand over my mouth and squealing - and I looove all the fucked up, hilarious family dynamics that read so true to the show. MICHAEL YOU LOSER I LOVE YOU.
best documentary short - Brooklyn Nine-Nine, ensemble
The following footage is of real events - or, a film crew stops by the Nine-Nine; typical chaos ensues.
This is just super-cute and tonally perfect. I love the 9-9 so hard and so does this story!
a distinct lack of tutus - Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Rosa/Amy
Sure, whatever," says Diaz. She slouches even further into today's leather jacket. "Women hit on me all the time. I know how to handle it.
This story is winning Yuletide and for good reason! UNDERCOVER AT A GAY BAR, and the Diaz/Santiago is PERFECT. My favourite part of this story, though, is the hilariously snarky, complicated partnership between Santiago and Peralta. BROTP!
Controlled Flight Into Terrain - The Magicians, Julia + Alice
She was sitting unaccompanied at the long curvy countertop, nursing a whiskey, with people crowded in on either side of her. She made a point not to look at any of them, since speaking to anyone was nearly the last thing she was interested in.
I always forget how much I do genuinely love The Magicians, despite sort of having to hide behind my fingers when I read the books (QUENTIN LET ME STRANGLE YOU). I really liked the concept of this - Alica and Julia deserve to meet, honestly - and the way it's executed is so spare and honest and harsh, ahhhh.
A Goddess Returns to Auckland - The Almighty Johnsons, Gaia
Gaia was on her way to the pub when Idunn was ripped from her.
This is a beautiful, thoughtful story that treats Gaia immensely well, but the thing that really got me was how well the author gets Auckland - it's not my favourite place in the world, for sure, but it made me feel strong, positive things about it, and that's a fucking achievement.
in this moment - Nashville, Will Lexington
Will Lexington's life, in snapshots.
I don't talk about it a lot but I'm addicted to Nashville and Will Lexington's trainwreck life has been the highlight of this season for me. This is a really really kind, really smart look at Will and his life and his choices, and the prose is beaaautiful.
Ninety-Five - Windows 95 Tips
A collection of helpful tips to improve your Windows 95 experience.
TERRIFYING, HILARIOUS, BEAUTIFUL.
Delete Selected Email? - Literary RPF, Jonathan Franzen
Jonathan Franzen's agent sends him proposals for movies based on Franzen's latest book. Cracky humorfic about Franzen's literary rage.
I don't have strong feelings about Franzen, but I do have strong feelings about the gross White Dudes of modern (eternal?) lit, and this is a really fucking fun (and funny) takedown.
Common Ground - Fast and the Furious Series - Brian/Dom + ensemble
Brian was focused on the job, on getting the detective shield, on moving up and maybe taking LT's place one day. He didn't have time for distractions, even if they were distractions of the bald and built variety, with a voice like rough velvet and legs like oak trees and shoulders that were probably carved out of marble.
(Coffeeshop AU, because every fandom needs one, and the idea of Dom running a coffeeshop and Brian and Rome as patrol officers was too fun of an idea not to write.)
Does what it says on the tin! Lovely use of the ensemble and I very much enjoyed Brian and Dom's coming together. The supporting cast is particularly effective - Rome and Mia, oh my god, LOVE YOU LONG TIME.
witch oil - His Dark Materials, Ma Costa
There’s a gentle practice in deceiving one’s own child in order to stay his questions (and an even gentler one when it comes to raising someone else’s child), the same way there’s a poetry to learning, at a point, that one’s own parents were occasionally full of shit.
GYPTIANS!!! I read Mark Reads HDM fairly recently and it knocked me on my ass a little with how much I fucking love those books, and their worldbuilding, and this story really exemplifies a lot of my fave things that canon does. The worldbuilding is superb and Ma Costa is fantastic, the story of her life compelling and beautifully-drawn and painful, as is everything HDM.
These Mortal Lullabies - Dead Poets' Society + Greek Mythology, Todd/Neil
A grief-stricken Todd is offered the opportunity to descend into the underworld and bring Neil back to the land of the living.
Gorgeous - the fix-it for DPS that I have always wanted and needed. I'm definitely going to be inserting this to the end of the movie (if I can ever bring myself to watch it again, HAHA FUNNY JOKE). All the character voices are GREAT and I love the way this winds through a bunch of different mythologies.
Anything You Can Do - Breakfast With Scot, Sam/Eric + Scot
Scot going back to figure skating triggers an ridiculous escalation of egos in the household.
Fantastic premise and pitch-perfect character work. Sam doesn't get as much development as Eric and Scot in the film so I was absolutely delighted to read his narration - his voice is so wry and laid-back, what a joy.
For Your Service, With Thanks - Animorphs, The Ellimist + ensemble
The rules of the Ellimist prevent him from saving his children's lives. He spends eternity giving them every other salvation.
This is, essentially, the goodbye that I wished the books had given us. Beautiful prose and a thoughtful, clear-eyed look at every character; I was sobbing by the end.
yuletide is SO GREAT, everyone. i haven't been through the archive comprehensively yet, but i have loved SO MANY STORIES already!!!
my gifts:
Episode 8 - All the Things - The Outs, Mitchell&Jack + ensemble
Mitchell steps right in a puddle as he’s stammering through his relationship debrief with Jack. It figures. Somehow no rain has fallen since last night yet the streets are slick and the sky is overcast. Yet Jack Widdows wanted to go for a long walk, and there are times, even now, when Mitchell just can’t say no to Jack Widdows.
This is SO fantastic. When signups came around I had just finished watching The Outs - which is fantastic, btw, if you're looking for a short brainsuck, this is your show - and this is a brilliant epilogue which gets everything about the characters and their future perfectly right. (Also: flawless Mitchell-voice, oh man. NO FLAWS.)
The mini-crossover at the end fucking wrecked me and I have a new Mitchell ship.
and
Martyr for a Cause - The Fosters, Callie+Jude
She would bend over backward to provide for him. Even if she had to sacrifice everything in order to do it.
Largely my feelings about the show can be summed up as "Oh, Callie" and this fic captures her perfectly, in all her protectiveness and her damage and what it means for her future. ;___;
YULETIDE I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
other recs:
One Of Their Better Parties - Arrested Development, Michael Bluth + ensemble
Lindsay comes up with the bright idea of weekly family dinners. Gob turns up with an uninvited guest.
The ensemble of this fic is GREAT - Gob/Tony is a pairing I totally didn't know I shipped but apparently have really strong feelings about, because I kept clapping my hand over my mouth and squealing - and I looove all the fucked up, hilarious family dynamics that read so true to the show. MICHAEL YOU LOSER I LOVE YOU.
best documentary short - Brooklyn Nine-Nine, ensemble
The following footage is of real events - or, a film crew stops by the Nine-Nine; typical chaos ensues.
This is just super-cute and tonally perfect. I love the 9-9 so hard and so does this story!
a distinct lack of tutus - Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Rosa/Amy
Sure, whatever," says Diaz. She slouches even further into today's leather jacket. "Women hit on me all the time. I know how to handle it.
This story is winning Yuletide and for good reason! UNDERCOVER AT A GAY BAR, and the Diaz/Santiago is PERFECT. My favourite part of this story, though, is the hilariously snarky, complicated partnership between Santiago and Peralta. BROTP!
Controlled Flight Into Terrain - The Magicians, Julia + Alice
She was sitting unaccompanied at the long curvy countertop, nursing a whiskey, with people crowded in on either side of her. She made a point not to look at any of them, since speaking to anyone was nearly the last thing she was interested in.
I always forget how much I do genuinely love The Magicians, despite sort of having to hide behind my fingers when I read the books (QUENTIN LET ME STRANGLE YOU). I really liked the concept of this - Alica and Julia deserve to meet, honestly - and the way it's executed is so spare and honest and harsh, ahhhh.
A Goddess Returns to Auckland - The Almighty Johnsons, Gaia
Gaia was on her way to the pub when Idunn was ripped from her.
This is a beautiful, thoughtful story that treats Gaia immensely well, but the thing that really got me was how well the author gets Auckland - it's not my favourite place in the world, for sure, but it made me feel strong, positive things about it, and that's a fucking achievement.
in this moment - Nashville, Will Lexington
Will Lexington's life, in snapshots.
I don't talk about it a lot but I'm addicted to Nashville and Will Lexington's trainwreck life has been the highlight of this season for me. This is a really really kind, really smart look at Will and his life and his choices, and the prose is beaaautiful.
Ninety-Five - Windows 95 Tips
A collection of helpful tips to improve your Windows 95 experience.
TERRIFYING, HILARIOUS, BEAUTIFUL.
Delete Selected Email? - Literary RPF, Jonathan Franzen
Jonathan Franzen's agent sends him proposals for movies based on Franzen's latest book. Cracky humorfic about Franzen's literary rage.
I don't have strong feelings about Franzen, but I do have strong feelings about the gross White Dudes of modern (eternal?) lit, and this is a really fucking fun (and funny) takedown.
Common Ground - Fast and the Furious Series - Brian/Dom + ensemble
Brian was focused on the job, on getting the detective shield, on moving up and maybe taking LT's place one day. He didn't have time for distractions, even if they were distractions of the bald and built variety, with a voice like rough velvet and legs like oak trees and shoulders that were probably carved out of marble.
(Coffeeshop AU, because every fandom needs one, and the idea of Dom running a coffeeshop and Brian and Rome as patrol officers was too fun of an idea not to write.)
Does what it says on the tin! Lovely use of the ensemble and I very much enjoyed Brian and Dom's coming together. The supporting cast is particularly effective - Rome and Mia, oh my god, LOVE YOU LONG TIME.
witch oil - His Dark Materials, Ma Costa
There’s a gentle practice in deceiving one’s own child in order to stay his questions (and an even gentler one when it comes to raising someone else’s child), the same way there’s a poetry to learning, at a point, that one’s own parents were occasionally full of shit.
GYPTIANS!!! I read Mark Reads HDM fairly recently and it knocked me on my ass a little with how much I fucking love those books, and their worldbuilding, and this story really exemplifies a lot of my fave things that canon does. The worldbuilding is superb and Ma Costa is fantastic, the story of her life compelling and beautifully-drawn and painful, as is everything HDM.
These Mortal Lullabies - Dead Poets' Society + Greek Mythology, Todd/Neil
A grief-stricken Todd is offered the opportunity to descend into the underworld and bring Neil back to the land of the living.
Gorgeous - the fix-it for DPS that I have always wanted and needed. I'm definitely going to be inserting this to the end of the movie (if I can ever bring myself to watch it again, HAHA FUNNY JOKE). All the character voices are GREAT and I love the way this winds through a bunch of different mythologies.
Anything You Can Do - Breakfast With Scot, Sam/Eric + Scot
Scot going back to figure skating triggers an ridiculous escalation of egos in the household.
Fantastic premise and pitch-perfect character work. Sam doesn't get as much development as Eric and Scot in the film so I was absolutely delighted to read his narration - his voice is so wry and laid-back, what a joy.
For Your Service, With Thanks - Animorphs, The Ellimist + ensemble
The rules of the Ellimist prevent him from saving his children's lives. He spends eternity giving them every other salvation.
This is, essentially, the goodbye that I wished the books had given us. Beautiful prose and a thoughtful, clear-eyed look at every character; I was sobbing by the end.