Yuletide Reveals Time!
So I wrote nine stories this year, with a wordcount of ~20K, which passed my previous all-time-high yuletide wordcount of ~17K in 2009. I was quite happy! I didn't have time (or inspiration) to write everything you guys voted for on the poll a couple weeks back, but I did manage quite a few. I may just write NYRs for the first time, especially for New Girl (I have about 900 words on a prompt already) and Ultimate Spider-Man. :)
Assignments and Pinch Hits
Got This Secret, Baby (2798 words)
Fandom: Community RPF
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Donald Glover/Gillian Jacobs
Characters: Joel McHale, Jim Rash, Ken Jeong, Alison Brie, Danny Pudi, Dan Harmon, Megan Ganz, Chevy Chase, Ludwig Goransson
Summary:
Donald and Gillian's secret isn't quite as secret as they think.
Okay, so when I got this assignment, my first reaction was, a person I know? Again?! I'm going to have to work harder at not blowing my secret identity than last year (wherein weasleytook knew easily). Which of course, I failed at miserably. Three fandom seconds after posting it, myr_soleil guessed it was me and I oh-so-unconvincingly denied it. So yeah, you were right. *kicks at imaginary pebbles in embarrassment*
My second reaction was, yay, Donald/Gillian! I really enjoyed writing the D/G treat last year, so I was looking forward to writing a full-fledged story. And Myr could have pretty much written her entire Yuletide letter to hit every favorite thing about the pairing as if she were me, so... it was a delight. ♥
My third reaction... I have to do more! I've been learning Sony Vegas the last year or so, and used it to make a 30 sec. pretend Veridian Dynamics commercial for my Better Off Ted story last year, but I'd never collected, edited and timed a set of clips to music. The fanvid probably took more hours than the fic, lol. But I'm pleased with it for my first outing. And Myr, Got This Money is now my ringtone, it's become such a part of my soul. Thank you. ♥
Take A Chance (3986 words)
Fandom: Raising Hope (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jimmy Chance/Sabrina Collins
Characters: Barney (Raising Hope), Virginia Chance, Frank (Raising Hope), Burt Chance, Hope Chance, Wyatt (Raising Hope), Maw Maw (Raising Hope)
Summary:
Pretending to be married is getting to be a habit with Jimmy and Sabrina.
This was actually written as a treat, but after the Dec. 22nd due date passed, I realized that my treat had become the main assignment for lovelypoet. It's the second time that's happened, and I sort of feel bad about it. Everyone whose assigned writer defaults should go out to the list, I think, even though I know situations like this cut back on the mods' scrambling.
But it is a work of my heart, and turned out to be my longest fic this year. I love Raising Hope so much, and the fake relationship trope is one of my all time favorites. Right up there with secret identity and secret relationship. When I saw the prompt, I had to write it. The denizens of Natesville are just so darn sweet and I'm hoping that the writers don't drag out Jimmy/Sabrina much longer.
Nights and Days at JJ's (2858 words)
Fandom: Parks and Recreation
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Leslie Knope/Ben Wyatt
Characters: Ann Perkins
Summary:
At JJ's famous diner, you can get a tasty bite, any time of the day or night.
My first pinch hit, and I was so excited to nab this one! I read a lot of Ben/Leslie, but I hadn't written any, or any Parks and Rec before, so I was excited to give it a try. longswordho/polishmyarmor wanted cute fluffy adorableness that showed how they are now dealing with their relationship since they're out in the open. I took the "cute" part to the extreme, I think. But Leslie and Ben (as well as her friendship with Ann) make me all gooshy inside, and that translated to the written word. :D
Surprisingly, I thought this one would do better than it did, since I'm really proud of it. There were so many good Parks fics this year, though. I should have added Ron Swanson. *nods*
Rumour Has It (1745 words)
Fandom: Becoming Human (Web Series)
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Matt Bolton, Christa Stammers, Adam Jacobs (Becoming Human)
Summary:
It's no fun when the rumour mill gets it totally wrong.
I had this one marked for possible treating, so I snatched it the second it came across the pinch hit list. I don't write a lot of high school-set fandoms (Spectacular Spider-Man is the only other one, I think!) but this series just feels so real. That's one of the things I love about it and its parent show, Being Human UK - the supernatural elements just heighten the reality of humanity and its problems. So I wrote a story about high school gossip and friends sticking up for each other, which may or may not have a few semi-autobiographical elements in it. :D
I know several of you watch Being Human UK, but have you seen the Becoming Human series? It's pretty awesome, I must say. Each episode is short enough that you can catch up in a couple of hours. And
mikeneko has a nifty catch-up list in her letter. USE IT.
Treats
Boy on a Swing (1411 words)
Fandom: Grimm (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Marie Kessler, Nick Burckhardt
Summary:
Marie sees a lot of her dead sister - and herself - in her little nephew.
Even though I never expected to even like it, Grimm pulled me in right away. As much as I enjoy Once Upon a Time, Grimm feels more intimate, more unpredictable. We're not told everyone's motivations (unlike where you get a piece of backstory every single episode on OUaT) and I'm always guessing. So glad it got a full season pickup. Who knows about a second season, though? It's NBC.
Marie is the most mysterious of all. I wouldn't mind getting her backstory repeatedly because, hello? Badass librarian. For now, we can just imagine it in fanfiction. I also love family stories, and passing a legacy, so here we are.
Saturday in the Sticks with Jesse (3589 words)
Fandom: Breaking Bad
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Jesse Pinkman, Walter White Jr.
Summary:
Walter Jr. has questions, and he's pretty sure Jesse has the answers.
I asked for minor characters in my Breaking Bad request, and when I saw thirstyrobot/Mercy asking for Walt Jr., I jumped on it! I'm convinced that he is brilliant and underestimated because of his cerebral palsy, so I played around with that idea. Plus, Jesse just needs to interact with Walt's family. That one little scene with Skyler in season 1 was not enough for me. Hank is awesome, but he still has no idea about Walt and Jesse's double life (may he find out long before the series finale, O Vince Gilligan). Luckily there are still sixteen more episodes to hope for these things to happen.
Shirley the Vampire Slayer (2529 words)
Fandom: Community, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Shirley Bennett, Garrett Lambert, Jeff Winger, Annie Edison, Abed Nadir, Pierce Hawthorne, Troy Barnes, Dean Craig Pelton, Leonard Briggs, Magnitude, Michelle Slater, Britta Perry
Summary:
“What a cruel woman.” Jeff takes a couple of steps toward her. “I like that in a Slayer.”
So, show of hands. Who guessed this one was me before this post? I thought it was hella obvious, but maybe not! I decided I had to write one last Community fic, since it will likely be ineligible next year. And I love the genre-fusion episodes, so take_liberties prompt really grabbed me.
The next problem was: which fusion, and which characters? I'd just finished my long!fic Abed/Annie/Troy, I wrote a Star Trek fusion with a Troy lead last Christmas. Maybe, I think while doing something completely unrelated that Sunday, I should write a story focusing on the girls. There isn't enough fic about the girls.
After trying on and throwing out various things like Charlie's Angels and Birds of Prey, suddenly I think, what about fandoms that have a female lead with an ensemble cast? And immediately BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER sprang to mind. Though I briefly considered Annie or Britta in the lead, Shirley took my Muse by the hand and said, "Sweetie? You know you want to make me the Slayer." And then all the other characters fell into place, BAM! I should scan my scribbly character-map notes (again, taken when I should have been focused on something else) for you - I didn't use everyone I could have. And I wrote it basically in one evening, with a good revision later on, based on beta feedback.
Jeff/Shirley flirting was a lovely bonus, since their gossip ep is one of my favorites, and the foosball ep had just aired.
Thank you to everyone who recced this one. Even though it wasn't the fic with the highest hits, comments or recs in Community this year (it was 10 of 26-ish), it might be the best I've done comment/rec-wise in my five years of Yuletide. ♥
A Road to Choose (1405 words)
Fandom: Downton Abbey
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Edith Crawley
Summary:
The problem with discovering one's own path, Edith Crawley finds, is that it is never clearly marked. A few Edith moments from series 2.
I don't know how it happened, but like many people, Edith became my favorite Crawley sister during series 2. So irmelin's request for Edith fic called to me! Just a little introspective piece, but I enjoyed writing it.
Here's to You (295 words)
Fandom: Once Upon a Time (2011)
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Archibald "Archie" Hopper
Summary:
Archie raises a glass.
suaine's letter had a tiny little comment about Archie and Graham becoming drinking buddies, and my mind wouldn't let it go even after "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" happened. So this Madness treat is a little tribute. :)
I hope all of you do one of these for your fics. I love reading them.
Happy New Year!
Assignments and Pinch Hits
Got This Secret, Baby (2798 words)
Fandom: Community RPF
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Donald Glover/Gillian Jacobs
Characters: Joel McHale, Jim Rash, Ken Jeong, Alison Brie, Danny Pudi, Dan Harmon, Megan Ganz, Chevy Chase, Ludwig Goransson
Summary:
Donald and Gillian's secret isn't quite as secret as they think.
Okay, so when I got this assignment, my first reaction was, a person I know? Again?! I'm going to have to work harder at not blowing my secret identity than last year (wherein weasleytook knew easily). Which of course, I failed at miserably. Three fandom seconds after posting it, myr_soleil guessed it was me and I oh-so-unconvincingly denied it. So yeah, you were right. *kicks at imaginary pebbles in embarrassment*
My second reaction was, yay, Donald/Gillian! I really enjoyed writing the D/G treat last year, so I was looking forward to writing a full-fledged story. And Myr could have pretty much written her entire Yuletide letter to hit every favorite thing about the pairing as if she were me, so... it was a delight. ♥
My third reaction... I have to do more! I've been learning Sony Vegas the last year or so, and used it to make a 30 sec. pretend Veridian Dynamics commercial for my Better Off Ted story last year, but I'd never collected, edited and timed a set of clips to music. The fanvid probably took more hours than the fic, lol. But I'm pleased with it for my first outing. And Myr, Got This Money is now my ringtone, it's become such a part of my soul. Thank you. ♥
Take A Chance (3986 words)
Fandom: Raising Hope (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jimmy Chance/Sabrina Collins
Characters: Barney (Raising Hope), Virginia Chance, Frank (Raising Hope), Burt Chance, Hope Chance, Wyatt (Raising Hope), Maw Maw (Raising Hope)
Summary:
Pretending to be married is getting to be a habit with Jimmy and Sabrina.
This was actually written as a treat, but after the Dec. 22nd due date passed, I realized that my treat had become the main assignment for lovelypoet. It's the second time that's happened, and I sort of feel bad about it. Everyone whose assigned writer defaults should go out to the list, I think, even though I know situations like this cut back on the mods' scrambling.
But it is a work of my heart, and turned out to be my longest fic this year. I love Raising Hope so much, and the fake relationship trope is one of my all time favorites. Right up there with secret identity and secret relationship. When I saw the prompt, I had to write it. The denizens of Natesville are just so darn sweet and I'm hoping that the writers don't drag out Jimmy/Sabrina much longer.
Nights and Days at JJ's (2858 words)
Fandom: Parks and Recreation
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Leslie Knope/Ben Wyatt
Characters: Ann Perkins
Summary:
At JJ's famous diner, you can get a tasty bite, any time of the day or night.
My first pinch hit, and I was so excited to nab this one! I read a lot of Ben/Leslie, but I hadn't written any, or any Parks and Rec before, so I was excited to give it a try. longswordho/polishmyarmor wanted cute fluffy adorableness that showed how they are now dealing with their relationship since they're out in the open. I took the "cute" part to the extreme, I think. But Leslie and Ben (as well as her friendship with Ann) make me all gooshy inside, and that translated to the written word. :D
Surprisingly, I thought this one would do better than it did, since I'm really proud of it. There were so many good Parks fics this year, though. I should have added Ron Swanson. *nods*
Rumour Has It (1745 words)
Fandom: Becoming Human (Web Series)
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Matt Bolton, Christa Stammers, Adam Jacobs (Becoming Human)
Summary:
It's no fun when the rumour mill gets it totally wrong.
I had this one marked for possible treating, so I snatched it the second it came across the pinch hit list. I don't write a lot of high school-set fandoms (Spectacular Spider-Man is the only other one, I think!) but this series just feels so real. That's one of the things I love about it and its parent show, Being Human UK - the supernatural elements just heighten the reality of humanity and its problems. So I wrote a story about high school gossip and friends sticking up for each other, which may or may not have a few semi-autobiographical elements in it. :D
I know several of you watch Being Human UK, but have you seen the Becoming Human series? It's pretty awesome, I must say. Each episode is short enough that you can catch up in a couple of hours. And
mikeneko has a nifty catch-up list in her letter. USE IT.
Treats
Boy on a Swing (1411 words)
Fandom: Grimm (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Marie Kessler, Nick Burckhardt
Summary:
Marie sees a lot of her dead sister - and herself - in her little nephew.
Even though I never expected to even like it, Grimm pulled me in right away. As much as I enjoy Once Upon a Time, Grimm feels more intimate, more unpredictable. We're not told everyone's motivations (unlike where you get a piece of backstory every single episode on OUaT) and I'm always guessing. So glad it got a full season pickup. Who knows about a second season, though? It's NBC.
Marie is the most mysterious of all. I wouldn't mind getting her backstory repeatedly because, hello? Badass librarian. For now, we can just imagine it in fanfiction. I also love family stories, and passing a legacy, so here we are.
Saturday in the Sticks with Jesse (3589 words)
Fandom: Breaking Bad
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Jesse Pinkman, Walter White Jr.
Summary:
Walter Jr. has questions, and he's pretty sure Jesse has the answers.
I asked for minor characters in my Breaking Bad request, and when I saw thirstyrobot/Mercy asking for Walt Jr., I jumped on it! I'm convinced that he is brilliant and underestimated because of his cerebral palsy, so I played around with that idea. Plus, Jesse just needs to interact with Walt's family. That one little scene with Skyler in season 1 was not enough for me. Hank is awesome, but he still has no idea about Walt and Jesse's double life (may he find out long before the series finale, O Vince Gilligan). Luckily there are still sixteen more episodes to hope for these things to happen.
Shirley the Vampire Slayer (2529 words)
Fandom: Community, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Shirley Bennett, Garrett Lambert, Jeff Winger, Annie Edison, Abed Nadir, Pierce Hawthorne, Troy Barnes, Dean Craig Pelton, Leonard Briggs, Magnitude, Michelle Slater, Britta Perry
Summary:
“What a cruel woman.” Jeff takes a couple of steps toward her. “I like that in a Slayer.”
So, show of hands. Who guessed this one was me before this post? I thought it was hella obvious, but maybe not! I decided I had to write one last Community fic, since it will likely be ineligible next year. And I love the genre-fusion episodes, so take_liberties prompt really grabbed me.
The next problem was: which fusion, and which characters? I'd just finished my long!fic Abed/Annie/Troy, I wrote a Star Trek fusion with a Troy lead last Christmas. Maybe, I think while doing something completely unrelated that Sunday, I should write a story focusing on the girls. There isn't enough fic about the girls.
After trying on and throwing out various things like Charlie's Angels and Birds of Prey, suddenly I think, what about fandoms that have a female lead with an ensemble cast? And immediately BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER sprang to mind. Though I briefly considered Annie or Britta in the lead, Shirley took my Muse by the hand and said, "Sweetie? You know you want to make me the Slayer." And then all the other characters fell into place, BAM! I should scan my scribbly character-map notes (again, taken when I should have been focused on something else) for you - I didn't use everyone I could have. And I wrote it basically in one evening, with a good revision later on, based on beta feedback.
Jeff/Shirley flirting was a lovely bonus, since their gossip ep is one of my favorites, and the foosball ep had just aired.
Thank you to everyone who recced this one. Even though it wasn't the fic with the highest hits, comments or recs in Community this year (it was 10 of 26-ish), it might be the best I've done comment/rec-wise in my five years of Yuletide. ♥
A Road to Choose (1405 words)
Fandom: Downton Abbey
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Edith Crawley
Summary:
The problem with discovering one's own path, Edith Crawley finds, is that it is never clearly marked. A few Edith moments from series 2.
I don't know how it happened, but like many people, Edith became my favorite Crawley sister during series 2. So irmelin's request for Edith fic called to me! Just a little introspective piece, but I enjoyed writing it.
Here's to You (295 words)
Fandom: Once Upon a Time (2011)
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Archibald "Archie" Hopper
Summary:
Archie raises a glass.
suaine's letter had a tiny little comment about Archie and Graham becoming drinking buddies, and my mind wouldn't let it go even after "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" happened. So this Madness treat is a little tribute. :)
I hope all of you do one of these for your fics. I love reading them.
Happy New Year!