2016 Yuletide Recs Post #1
I've got another 37 tabs open to read, and a huge number of fandoms I haven't glances at yet, but I wanted to offer a first rec-set.
Here are 23 recs in 16 fandoms. Chalion-verse, Vorkosigan, Kushiel's Legacy, Killjoys (TV), Life (TV), Pride, artwork by Rene Magritte, Tang Dynasty RPF, Professional Wrestling RPF with a helping of D&D, Lovecraft, Her Smoke Rose Up Forever, Changeling: the Lost, Dark Souls video game, Cannibal Shia LaBeouf song, Antler Guy, and NASA 'Mars Explorers Wanted' posters.
First, my own gift and a few other from the Chalion-verse:
On the Nature of Miracles (1475 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Chalion Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Original Characters, Original Female Character(s)
Additional Tags: Bechdel Test Pass, Fictional Religion & Theology, Miracles, Healing, Politics, Misses Clause Challenge
Summary:
Even the Mother's miracles of healing have limits
Bookmarker's Notes:
A precise bit of world-building, looking at the limits of power for saints and sorcerers in Chalion, with a very well-drawn and likeable OC.
The Saint, the Scholar, and the Whale (6308 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Chalion Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Illvin dy Arbanos/Ista dy Chalion
Characters: Ista dy Chalion, Illvin dy Arbanos, Desdemona (Chalion)
Additional Tags: Fictional Religion & Theology
Summary:
Ista in Jokona meets an unusual divine on an unusual mission.
Bookmarker's Notes:
An intriguing story of a Learned sorcerer on a diplomatic mission, with a delightful clash of cultures and religions.
all the words that ever were or ever will be (2825 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Chalion Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: the Daughter (Chalion), the Bastard (Chalion), the Son (Chalion), Lupe dy Cazaril
Additional Tags: Canon Compliant
Summary:
"The gods held mountains in their minds, and all else besides, all at once." -Curse of Chalion
Bookmarker's Notes:
It's incredibly difficult to pull off a POV of a divine, near-omniscient being, but I do believe this author has actually managed it! Bravo!
First Choices (2017 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Chalion Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: the Bastard (Chalion), Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting
Summary:
A growing number of L.G.B.T. Quintarians are choosing to devote themselves to gods other than the Bastard.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Queer liberation and the Quintarian faith: "We are not disasters out of season." Surprisingly moving New Yorker article.
Then a couple of other books series, Vorkosigan and Kushiel's Legacy:
Intelligent Disobedience (1304 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Vorkosigan Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Relationships: Simon Illyan & Aral Vorkosigan
Characters: Simon Illyan, Aral Vorkosigan
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, mention of animal harm
Summary:
A well-trained dog obeys his master, but the very best dogs know when to refuse to obey.
Bookmarker's Notes:
A breath-takingly intense confrontation between Simon and Aral.
The Huntsman's Reel (4440 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Vorkosigan Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Simon Illyan/Alys Vorpatril
Characters: Alys Vorpatril, Simon Illyan
Additional Tags: Dancing, Assassins & Hitmen, Politics, Undercover as a Couple
Summary:
"Somewhere in this party," said Captain Illyan, "there are four Cetagandan assassins."
Bookmarker's Notes:
This hits my competence kink, hard and fast. Alys is awe-inspiring as a hostess who won't let a little thing like an assassination attempt interrupt her party.
Lovely In Her Fall (10054 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Kushiel's Legacy - Jacqueline Carey
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Original Characters
Additional Tags: Twins, Orgy, Healing Sex, Public Sex, The Night Court, Tentacles, Courtesans, Teacher/Student Roleplay, Coming In Pants, Fight Sex, Hurt/Comfort, Food Porn, Sexual Roleplay
Summary:
A life told in visits to the Houses of the Night Court.
Bookmarker's Notes:
To know one’s passion is to know one’s self. One man explores his culture, and himself, through a lifetime of visits to all the different Houses of the Night Court. If you ever wondered how all those different Houses could possibly be considered sexy, read this.
Then a couple of Killjoy fics I enjoyed:
Pretty as a Peacock (1281 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Killjoys (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Pree (Killjoys), Johnny Jaqobis, Dutch (Killjoys), D'avin Jaqobis
Additional Tags: Backstory, Daggers, Canon-Typical Violence, Sex Work
Summary:
Prima knew he was pretty; his mama had always told him so. "Pretty and smart and gods-be-damned ruthless, child," she’d say with a pleased grin.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Pitch-perfect Pree, how he got here, and his observations on his favorite Killjoys.
hands fall together (3937 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Killjoys (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Dutch & Johnny Jaqobis
Characters: Dutch (Killjoys), Johnny Jaqobis
Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Team as Family, Team Bonding, Trust Issues, Pre-Canon, Electrocution
Summary:
Dutch and Johnny investigate a mysterious abandoned RAC outpost, get in trouble, and solve a question of trust.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Perfect pre-series Killjoy fic with excellent Dutch voice. I wanted to pull it around me like a warm blanket and bask in their growing friendship.
A story based on some artwork:
what is, and will be, and will have been (200 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: La voix du sang - René Magritte
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Additional Tags: Double Drabble, Inspired by Art
Summary:
A double drabble about a tree with doors in it.
Bookmarker's Notes:
A philosophical treat. This double-drabble, based on a piece of art, has really made me THINK.
One from the movie Pride:
Speaking for the Skin and the Bone (1501 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Pride (2014)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Sian (Pride)
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Misses Clause Challenge, mention of canon character death
Summary:
In 1984, Sian James was a young housewife and mother who volunteered to help establish support for the families of striking miners. In 2005, she became the first woman to represent Swansea East in Parliament.
This is a snapshot of a moment in between.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Sian takes a moment to contemplate who she is now, surrounded by these fresh-faced young university students.
One fic from the TV show, Life:
Reasons Why You Don't Want to Talk (2352 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Life (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Charlie Crews, Dani Reese
Additional Tags: Season/Series 01
Summary:
“We don’t have to talk about it. We never have to talk about it.”
The relief of it was something close to a high. So yeah. Dani wanted to keep him.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Nice little missing scene from Dani's building partnership with Charlie Crews. Excellent world-weary cop voice that fits her character to a tee.
Some RPF from the Tang Dynasty and Professional Wrestling:
A Change of Season (3456 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Táng Cháo | Tang Dynasty RPF
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shàngguān Wǎnér/Wǔ Zétiān
Characters: Shàngguān Wǎnér, Wǔ Zétiān
Additional Tags: Misses Clause Challenge, Chromatic Source, Chromatic Yuletide, Palace Intrigue, strong women of history, corridors of power, Poetry, Love Poems, Mentor/Protégé
Summary:
Shangguan Wan-er could think of no reason for the Empress to summon a palace slave to her presence. No good reason. It would be the first meeting of two of the most powerful women of Chinese history.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Lovely and subtle, as befits a woman who survived by her wits and her words.
Apartment Wrestling (1026 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: NXT, Professional Wrestling
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Candice LeRae/Johnny Gargano/Tommaso Ciampa
Characters: Candice LeRae, Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa
Additional Tags: Fluff, Wrestling, Blood, Kayfabe Compliant
Summary:
The mature way to divvy up chores.
Bookmarker's Notes:
A couple of typos, but well worth a read - hot and hilarious OT3 action.
Eye of the Beholder (1143 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: NXT, Professional Wrestling, Dungeons & Dragons (Roleplaying Game)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Tommaso Ciampa/Johnny Gargano
Characters: Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, Kana | Asuka, Ember Moon | Athena, Tye Dillinger
Additional Tags: Role-Playing Game, Fluff, Yuletide Treat
Summary:
The weekly game of Dungeons and Dragons that happens at the NXT Performance Center is going smoothly until someone takes a death ray to the chest.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Delightful D&D details with a truly sweet first-time romance.
Then there is some horror, in HP Lovecraft, Changeling: the Lost, the Shia LaBeouf song, Her Smoke Rose Up Forever, the Dark Souls video games, and Antler Guy.
The Long Summoning (2410 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Cthulhu Mythos - H. P. Lovecraft
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Additional Tags: Misses Clause Challenge
Summary:
Time isn't real. There is only what you need, and what it costs.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Perfect horror - A girl raised to see the more reality than any human should.
The Wilderness (5917 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Changeling: The Lost
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Additional Tags: POV First Person, Horror, Hunters & Hunting, Don't Have to Know Canon, Crueltide, Misses Clause Challenge
Summary:
I know exactly who I am.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Subtly building horror, perfectly hidden under the mundanity of normal life. You really don't need to know canon to appreciate this!
Zombie Cannibal Shia LaBeouf (1434 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Shia LaBeouf - Rob Cantor (Song)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death
Relationships: You & Shia LaBeouf
Characters: Shia LaBeouf (Shia LaBeouf - Rob Cantor (Song)), You
Additional Tags: Canon-Typical Violence, Cannibalism, Implied Character Death, Ambiguity, Gallows Humor, Humor, Horror, Body Horror, Post-Canon, Undead, POV Second Person
Summary:
He never truly dies: zombie cannibal, Shia LaBeouf.
Bookmarker's Notes:
All the mad frenzied cannibalism of the original, now with an extra helping of crazy!
A Flame Once Lit (3104 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Dark Souls (Video Games), Dark Souls I
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Rape/Non-Con
Relationships: Artorias the Abysswalker/Bed of Chaos, Artorias the Abysswalker/The Witch of Izalith
Characters: Artorias the Abysswalker, Great Grey Wolf Sif, Witch of Izalith, Ceaseless Discharge, Dragon Slayer Ornstein, Daughters of Chaos
Additional Tags: Dendrophilia, Tentacles, Dubious Morality, Sex Magic, Conception, Corruption, Crueltide
Summary:
On an errand for his liege, Artorias seeks the Witch's aid. Instead, he aids her on an errand of her own.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Is it horror? Is it porn? I do believe it's both. Hot, dark, despairing and evocative, with a real feel for the characters and setting of the game.
As Though to Breathe Were Life (2922 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Her Smoke Rose Up Forever (anthology) - James Tiptree Jr.
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Original Male Character(s)
Additional Tags: Original Character-centric, Alien Cultural Differences, Not Entirely Hopeless
Summary:
“It’s a human thing,” I say. “The struggle, you don’t get how much we need it. Really trying, setting your heart on something grand and impossible, win or die.”
Bookmarker's Notes:
An original sci-fi story in the style of Tiptree's anthology, with all of the hopeless insight that implies.
It's a Neighborly Day in This Beautywood (2998 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Antler Guy (Sculpture/Tumblr post), A House I Pass on the Way to Work Has This Sculpture in Its Yard - elementalmw
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Antler Guy, Steve (A House I Pass...), Sharon (A House I Pass...)
Additional Tags: Neighbors, First Meetings, Yuletide Treat, Lasagna As a Form of Tribute, POV Nonhuman
Summary:
The Old One, The Sleeping Beast, Seeker of Blood and Devourer of Souls, Haunting Abomination of the Darkened Woods, woke to find his sacred grounds were no longer there.
The new ways are more than a bit confusing, but there's no reason an ancient god can't adapt with the times.
Bookmarker's Notes:
There is nothing better than ridiculous memes written with absolute, deadpan sincerity. The Old One awakens!
And last but not least, some NASA "Mars Explorers Wanted" Posters fic:
Selected Correspondence of Aris Merrick, Martian surveyor (2230 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Official NASA Journey to Mars Posters (2009)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Additional Tags: Epistolary, Yuletide Treat, Mars
Summary:
A new Martian sends letters to friends and family on Earth.
Bookmarker's Notes:
This epistolary-fic made me truly yearn to walk the surface of Mars.
your shadow at evening, rising to meet you (1356 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Official NASA "Journey to Mars" Posters
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Original Characters
Summary:
It was a source of consternation to certain of Earth's constitutional bodies that the original Mars mission made landfall on Christmas Eve.
Bookmarker's Notes:
The author manages lovely prose without losing the grit and the feel of real people who have fought for what they love: Dr Prathiba Sengupta Magnus, who showed them fear in a handful of Martian dust, and promise, and beauty, and ambition, and will be laid to rest beneath these red-ochre sands
Here are 23 recs in 16 fandoms. Chalion-verse, Vorkosigan, Kushiel's Legacy, Killjoys (TV), Life (TV), Pride, artwork by Rene Magritte, Tang Dynasty RPF, Professional Wrestling RPF with a helping of D&D, Lovecraft, Her Smoke Rose Up Forever, Changeling: the Lost, Dark Souls video game, Cannibal Shia LaBeouf song, Antler Guy, and NASA 'Mars Explorers Wanted' posters.
First, my own gift and a few other from the Chalion-verse:
On the Nature of Miracles (1475 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Chalion Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Original Characters, Original Female Character(s)
Additional Tags: Bechdel Test Pass, Fictional Religion & Theology, Miracles, Healing, Politics, Misses Clause Challenge
Summary:
Even the Mother's miracles of healing have limits
Bookmarker's Notes:
A precise bit of world-building, looking at the limits of power for saints and sorcerers in Chalion, with a very well-drawn and likeable OC.
The Saint, the Scholar, and the Whale (6308 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Chalion Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Illvin dy Arbanos/Ista dy Chalion
Characters: Ista dy Chalion, Illvin dy Arbanos, Desdemona (Chalion)
Additional Tags: Fictional Religion & Theology
Summary:
Ista in Jokona meets an unusual divine on an unusual mission.
Bookmarker's Notes:
An intriguing story of a Learned sorcerer on a diplomatic mission, with a delightful clash of cultures and religions.
all the words that ever were or ever will be (2825 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Chalion Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: the Daughter (Chalion), the Bastard (Chalion), the Son (Chalion), Lupe dy Cazaril
Additional Tags: Canon Compliant
Summary:
"The gods held mountains in their minds, and all else besides, all at once." -Curse of Chalion
Bookmarker's Notes:
It's incredibly difficult to pull off a POV of a divine, near-omniscient being, but I do believe this author has actually managed it! Bravo!
First Choices (2017 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Chalion Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: the Bastard (Chalion), Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting
Summary:
A growing number of L.G.B.T. Quintarians are choosing to devote themselves to gods other than the Bastard.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Queer liberation and the Quintarian faith: "We are not disasters out of season." Surprisingly moving New Yorker article.
Then a couple of other books series, Vorkosigan and Kushiel's Legacy:
Intelligent Disobedience (1304 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Vorkosigan Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Relationships: Simon Illyan & Aral Vorkosigan
Characters: Simon Illyan, Aral Vorkosigan
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, mention of animal harm
Summary:
A well-trained dog obeys his master, but the very best dogs know when to refuse to obey.
Bookmarker's Notes:
A breath-takingly intense confrontation between Simon and Aral.
The Huntsman's Reel (4440 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Vorkosigan Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Simon Illyan/Alys Vorpatril
Characters: Alys Vorpatril, Simon Illyan
Additional Tags: Dancing, Assassins & Hitmen, Politics, Undercover as a Couple
Summary:
"Somewhere in this party," said Captain Illyan, "there are four Cetagandan assassins."
Bookmarker's Notes:
This hits my competence kink, hard and fast. Alys is awe-inspiring as a hostess who won't let a little thing like an assassination attempt interrupt her party.
Lovely In Her Fall (10054 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Kushiel's Legacy - Jacqueline Carey
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Original Characters
Additional Tags: Twins, Orgy, Healing Sex, Public Sex, The Night Court, Tentacles, Courtesans, Teacher/Student Roleplay, Coming In Pants, Fight Sex, Hurt/Comfort, Food Porn, Sexual Roleplay
Summary:
A life told in visits to the Houses of the Night Court.
Bookmarker's Notes:
To know one’s passion is to know one’s self. One man explores his culture, and himself, through a lifetime of visits to all the different Houses of the Night Court. If you ever wondered how all those different Houses could possibly be considered sexy, read this.
Then a couple of Killjoy fics I enjoyed:
Pretty as a Peacock (1281 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Killjoys (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Pree (Killjoys), Johnny Jaqobis, Dutch (Killjoys), D'avin Jaqobis
Additional Tags: Backstory, Daggers, Canon-Typical Violence, Sex Work
Summary:
Prima knew he was pretty; his mama had always told him so. "Pretty and smart and gods-be-damned ruthless, child," she’d say with a pleased grin.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Pitch-perfect Pree, how he got here, and his observations on his favorite Killjoys.
hands fall together (3937 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Killjoys (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Dutch & Johnny Jaqobis
Characters: Dutch (Killjoys), Johnny Jaqobis
Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Team as Family, Team Bonding, Trust Issues, Pre-Canon, Electrocution
Summary:
Dutch and Johnny investigate a mysterious abandoned RAC outpost, get in trouble, and solve a question of trust.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Perfect pre-series Killjoy fic with excellent Dutch voice. I wanted to pull it around me like a warm blanket and bask in their growing friendship.
A story based on some artwork:
what is, and will be, and will have been (200 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: La voix du sang - René Magritte
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Additional Tags: Double Drabble, Inspired by Art
Summary:
A double drabble about a tree with doors in it.
Bookmarker's Notes:
A philosophical treat. This double-drabble, based on a piece of art, has really made me THINK.
One from the movie Pride:
Speaking for the Skin and the Bone (1501 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Pride (2014)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Sian (Pride)
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Misses Clause Challenge, mention of canon character death
Summary:
In 1984, Sian James was a young housewife and mother who volunteered to help establish support for the families of striking miners. In 2005, she became the first woman to represent Swansea East in Parliament.
This is a snapshot of a moment in between.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Sian takes a moment to contemplate who she is now, surrounded by these fresh-faced young university students.
One fic from the TV show, Life:
Reasons Why You Don't Want to Talk (2352 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Life (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Charlie Crews, Dani Reese
Additional Tags: Season/Series 01
Summary:
“We don’t have to talk about it. We never have to talk about it.”
The relief of it was something close to a high. So yeah. Dani wanted to keep him.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Nice little missing scene from Dani's building partnership with Charlie Crews. Excellent world-weary cop voice that fits her character to a tee.
Some RPF from the Tang Dynasty and Professional Wrestling:
A Change of Season (3456 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Táng Cháo | Tang Dynasty RPF
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shàngguān Wǎnér/Wǔ Zétiān
Characters: Shàngguān Wǎnér, Wǔ Zétiān
Additional Tags: Misses Clause Challenge, Chromatic Source, Chromatic Yuletide, Palace Intrigue, strong women of history, corridors of power, Poetry, Love Poems, Mentor/Protégé
Summary:
Shangguan Wan-er could think of no reason for the Empress to summon a palace slave to her presence. No good reason. It would be the first meeting of two of the most powerful women of Chinese history.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Lovely and subtle, as befits a woman who survived by her wits and her words.
Apartment Wrestling (1026 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: NXT, Professional Wrestling
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Candice LeRae/Johnny Gargano/Tommaso Ciampa
Characters: Candice LeRae, Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa
Additional Tags: Fluff, Wrestling, Blood, Kayfabe Compliant
Summary:
The mature way to divvy up chores.
Bookmarker's Notes:
A couple of typos, but well worth a read - hot and hilarious OT3 action.
Eye of the Beholder (1143 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: NXT, Professional Wrestling, Dungeons & Dragons (Roleplaying Game)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Tommaso Ciampa/Johnny Gargano
Characters: Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, Kana | Asuka, Ember Moon | Athena, Tye Dillinger
Additional Tags: Role-Playing Game, Fluff, Yuletide Treat
Summary:
The weekly game of Dungeons and Dragons that happens at the NXT Performance Center is going smoothly until someone takes a death ray to the chest.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Delightful D&D details with a truly sweet first-time romance.
Then there is some horror, in HP Lovecraft, Changeling: the Lost, the Shia LaBeouf song, Her Smoke Rose Up Forever, the Dark Souls video games, and Antler Guy.
The Long Summoning (2410 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Cthulhu Mythos - H. P. Lovecraft
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Additional Tags: Misses Clause Challenge
Summary:
Time isn't real. There is only what you need, and what it costs.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Perfect horror - A girl raised to see the more reality than any human should.
The Wilderness (5917 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Changeling: The Lost
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Additional Tags: POV First Person, Horror, Hunters & Hunting, Don't Have to Know Canon, Crueltide, Misses Clause Challenge
Summary:
I know exactly who I am.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Subtly building horror, perfectly hidden under the mundanity of normal life. You really don't need to know canon to appreciate this!
Zombie Cannibal Shia LaBeouf (1434 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Shia LaBeouf - Rob Cantor (Song)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death
Relationships: You & Shia LaBeouf
Characters: Shia LaBeouf (Shia LaBeouf - Rob Cantor (Song)), You
Additional Tags: Canon-Typical Violence, Cannibalism, Implied Character Death, Ambiguity, Gallows Humor, Humor, Horror, Body Horror, Post-Canon, Undead, POV Second Person
Summary:
He never truly dies: zombie cannibal, Shia LaBeouf.
Bookmarker's Notes:
All the mad frenzied cannibalism of the original, now with an extra helping of crazy!
A Flame Once Lit (3104 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Dark Souls (Video Games), Dark Souls I
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Rape/Non-Con
Relationships: Artorias the Abysswalker/Bed of Chaos, Artorias the Abysswalker/The Witch of Izalith
Characters: Artorias the Abysswalker, Great Grey Wolf Sif, Witch of Izalith, Ceaseless Discharge, Dragon Slayer Ornstein, Daughters of Chaos
Additional Tags: Dendrophilia, Tentacles, Dubious Morality, Sex Magic, Conception, Corruption, Crueltide
Summary:
On an errand for his liege, Artorias seeks the Witch's aid. Instead, he aids her on an errand of her own.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Is it horror? Is it porn? I do believe it's both. Hot, dark, despairing and evocative, with a real feel for the characters and setting of the game.
As Though to Breathe Were Life (2922 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Her Smoke Rose Up Forever (anthology) - James Tiptree Jr.
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Original Male Character(s)
Additional Tags: Original Character-centric, Alien Cultural Differences, Not Entirely Hopeless
Summary:
“It’s a human thing,” I say. “The struggle, you don’t get how much we need it. Really trying, setting your heart on something grand and impossible, win or die.”
Bookmarker's Notes:
An original sci-fi story in the style of Tiptree's anthology, with all of the hopeless insight that implies.
It's a Neighborly Day in This Beautywood (2998 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Antler Guy (Sculpture/Tumblr post), A House I Pass on the Way to Work Has This Sculpture in Its Yard - elementalmw
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Antler Guy, Steve (A House I Pass...), Sharon (A House I Pass...)
Additional Tags: Neighbors, First Meetings, Yuletide Treat, Lasagna As a Form of Tribute, POV Nonhuman
Summary:
The Old One, The Sleeping Beast, Seeker of Blood and Devourer of Souls, Haunting Abomination of the Darkened Woods, woke to find his sacred grounds were no longer there.
The new ways are more than a bit confusing, but there's no reason an ancient god can't adapt with the times.
Bookmarker's Notes:
There is nothing better than ridiculous memes written with absolute, deadpan sincerity. The Old One awakens!
And last but not least, some NASA "Mars Explorers Wanted" Posters fic:
Selected Correspondence of Aris Merrick, Martian surveyor (2230 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Official NASA Journey to Mars Posters (2009)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Additional Tags: Epistolary, Yuletide Treat, Mars
Summary:
A new Martian sends letters to friends and family on Earth.
Bookmarker's Notes:
This epistolary-fic made me truly yearn to walk the surface of Mars.
your shadow at evening, rising to meet you (1356 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Official NASA "Journey to Mars" Posters
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Original Characters
Summary:
It was a source of consternation to certain of Earth's constitutional bodies that the original Mars mission made landfall on Christmas Eve.
Bookmarker's Notes:
The author manages lovely prose without losing the grit and the feel of real people who have fought for what they love: Dr Prathiba Sengupta Magnus, who showed them fear in a handful of Martian dust, and promise, and beauty, and ambition, and will be laid to rest beneath these red-ochre sands