obligatory yuletidery
So, Yuletide happened again this year! I have been busy and have only gotten through a tiny sliver of the archive, but I wanted to do some recs before the new year of awesome things I did get a chance to read. And tomorrow I'll be allowed to let you guys know what I wrote, in case you are curious about that!
First of all, I received two amazing stories, but even if they weren't for me, I would be going apeshit over them. They are both Zachary Quinto/Jesse Tyler Ferguson RPF, and are thus hugely underappreciated both, so do consider reading them. It is not the fault of either of these wonderful anonymous (haha) writers that this pairing is not fully understood as the OTP it really is.
In Real L-I-F-E (3987 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Actor RPF
Relationships: Jesse Tyler Ferguson/Zachary Quinto
Summary: In which the concerned parties eat a lot of breakfast, get drunk, make questionable cultural references, and eventually attempt to get their groove back. As a plot-related side note: this story is apparently sponsored by sipping tequila! The drink of drunks.
You guys, this fic, you guys. It is seriously one of my favorite things I have ever read, and the fact that it was written for ME still makes me want to weep a little bit. It is hilarious, and sexy, and has a lot of breakfast foods in it, and Zachary Quinto's eyebrows basically need to win Best Supporting Role from Inanimate Objects in it. It wins.
Also in this pairing we have:
Drastic Maneuvers (1141 words) by Anonymous
This one is also woooonderful and sweet and fluffy, and shows ZQ and JTF at their most adorable and domestic, and Noah the dog kind of steals the show, and it makes my grinchy heart grow eleven sizes.
and
Conceit on Parade! (422 words) by Anonymous
This is just a baby Madness ficlet, written for screamlet this time, but it also encapsulates everything that I love about their "fashionable, gay love" and is hugely lovely.
30 ROCK/FAIRY TALES
The Prince and the Peacock (2075 words) by Anonymous
Bar none, one of my favorite fics this year. Wesley Snipes is heir to a fairy kingdom, and he must find a princess (only a real one will do). I can't even describe this fic, or tell you how much I adore it. Just read. Wesley/Liz.
ALEJANDRO (MUSIC VIDEO)
Don't Call My Name (1123 words) by Anonymous
Fantastic Gaga world-building, and the style is just amazingly good in its detail.
ANIMORPHS
I've got Four Voices on the Line (the only one I hear is mine) (3739 words) by Anonymous
A Tobias-POV fic with amazing power -- lovely and bittersweet. Rachel and her relationship to Tobias is also really wonderfully rendered.
ARTS AND SCIENCES RPF
An Ocean Not To Break (1554 words) by Anonymous
Beautiful, elegiac Byron/Shelley. It could break your heart, but in a nice way.
AVATAR
The Spiral of Lives (20323 words) by Anonymous
A truly impressive AU (Avatar without the Avatar program, basically), with wonderful plotting, characterization, and narrative style. I never expected to enjoy an Avatar fic this much. Beautifully detailed gen.
BABY-SITTERS CLUB
Baby-sitters Club The Next Generation #6: Byron and the God of California (29536 words) by Anonymous
Believe me when I say I would not tell you to read 30k of BSC slash if I was not absolutely sure that this was the fic that won Yuletide. Reading this was the most amazing experience -- I laughed my behind off and experienced so much nostalgia and shrieked to screamlet in about ten thousand emails. It's Byron Pike/Jeff Schafer (which, if you don't ship it, don't worry, you will), examines the next generation of the club after the girls go to college (but they're home for the summer, so there's lots of Original Gangster action, especially Kristy), and is written in chapter-format just like a book, only there's swearing and boy-on-boy action. And I want to marry whoever wrote this. Marry her to pieces.
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM/MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE
Looking Behind Now (2087 words) by Anonymous
Tony meets Omar and Johnny at one of their laundrettes. They are in their fifties, still together (duh), and still fucking amazing. I just -- Jesus, take the wheel -- this is what Yuletide is all about. Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.
BRIDESHEAD REVISITED
quomodo sedet sola civitas (2486 words) by Anonymous
Exquisitely lovely multi-POV Brideshead fix-it. It's unusual in many ways -- we get Sebastian POV for once, which is so well rendered that I can't even, and Kurt and Anthony Blanche are big presences -- especially the divine Antoine. There was lots of good Brideshead this year, but this was my favorite. Charles/Sebastian, Sebastian/Kurt.
COMMUNITY
History of Film (2420 words) by Anonymous
Really adorable and funny Community ensemble gen, with a hint of Troy/Abed at the end. The group goes through various genres. Jeff wears a fedora.
Critical Approaches to Film Noir (6461 words) by Anonymous
There's a grift on, and Abed rises to the occasion and becomes a private eye. Fun, plotty ensemble piece, also with Troy/Abed overtones. (Full disclosure: I beta'd this, but not for anyone I knew personally.)
Mandatory Futures in Make Believe (4021 words) by Anonymous
The group takes a family planning class. This piece is just so amazingly funny, and with such a fantastic and personable style, that it could be about anything and you'd still want a bajillion more words. Jeff/Britta.
COMMUNITY RPF
Somewhere Inside (I cannot find the feeling I got from you) (0 words) by Anonymous
Don't let "0 words" fool you -- this is a Donald Glover/Gillian Jacobs story told entirely through public tweets and private DMs, which is just... totally awesome. (Full disclosure: I beta'd this, but not for anyone I knew personally. And even if I hadn't, I still would have gone nuts over it.)
THE HUNGER GAMES
To the Victors (248 words) by Anonymous
There have been lots of Hunger Games recs circulating and no one needs me to join in, but I did want to single out this little Katniss/Gale/Peeta ficlet from Madness that I really loved. It packs a hell of a punch in a short amount of time, and the language is just lovely.
JONATHAN STRANGE AND MR. NORRELL
Invasion and Inscrutability (1426 words) by Anonymous
Awesome piece about the Raven King and the gentleman with thistledown hair. The writing style is so amazing that I kind of can't even handle it.
METAMORPHOSES - OVID
Love-lies-bleeding (1867 words) by Anonymous
One of the most extraordinary things to come out of Yuletide, for sure. It's a Theseus/Pirithous story, narrated by a cynical and wry Persephone, and it is balls-out awesome. It reduced me to gape-mouthed awe, and that is saying a lot. Perfect.
NORTHANGER ABBEY - JANE AUSTEN
A Path with Primrose Strewn (1773 words) by Anonymous
An absolutely pitch-perfect look at Catherine and Henry's children and their family dynamic. It is the most adorable, funny, and charming thing ever, and spotlights a pig named Mistress Pottage. Wonderfully Austen in every respect.
SHERLOCK RPF
The Sleepover (2769 words) by Anonymous
A warm, sweet and funny look at Martin and Benedict's relationship. Both boys are perfect. I mean: Benedict had wormed his way back under the duvet, and was sitting with his knees drawn up, looking like a six-foot-tall Dickensian waif. Martin/Benedict.
STAR TREK RPF
(Just Like) Starting Over (6488 words) by Anonymous
This is Pinto, but it's also a hilarious, banter-tastic ensemble piece that gives every member of the Trek cast a moment to shine. The character voices are absurdly good, and the Shatner&Nimoy cameo is worth the price of admission alone. Chris Pine/Zachary Quinto.
First of all, I received two amazing stories, but even if they weren't for me, I would be going apeshit over them. They are both Zachary Quinto/Jesse Tyler Ferguson RPF, and are thus hugely underappreciated both, so do consider reading them. It is not the fault of either of these wonderful anonymous (haha) writers that this pairing is not fully understood as the OTP it really is.
In Real L-I-F-E (3987 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Actor RPF
Relationships: Jesse Tyler Ferguson/Zachary Quinto
Summary: In which the concerned parties eat a lot of breakfast, get drunk, make questionable cultural references, and eventually attempt to get their groove back. As a plot-related side note: this story is apparently sponsored by sipping tequila! The drink of drunks.
You guys, this fic, you guys. It is seriously one of my favorite things I have ever read, and the fact that it was written for ME still makes me want to weep a little bit. It is hilarious, and sexy, and has a lot of breakfast foods in it, and Zachary Quinto's eyebrows basically need to win Best Supporting Role from Inanimate Objects in it. It wins.
Also in this pairing we have:
Drastic Maneuvers (1141 words) by Anonymous
This one is also woooonderful and sweet and fluffy, and shows ZQ and JTF at their most adorable and domestic, and Noah the dog kind of steals the show, and it makes my grinchy heart grow eleven sizes.
and
Conceit on Parade! (422 words) by Anonymous
This is just a baby Madness ficlet, written for screamlet this time, but it also encapsulates everything that I love about their "fashionable, gay love" and is hugely lovely.
30 ROCK/FAIRY TALES
The Prince and the Peacock (2075 words) by Anonymous
Bar none, one of my favorite fics this year. Wesley Snipes is heir to a fairy kingdom, and he must find a princess (only a real one will do). I can't even describe this fic, or tell you how much I adore it. Just read. Wesley/Liz.
ALEJANDRO (MUSIC VIDEO)
Don't Call My Name (1123 words) by Anonymous
Fantastic Gaga world-building, and the style is just amazingly good in its detail.
ANIMORPHS
I've got Four Voices on the Line (the only one I hear is mine) (3739 words) by Anonymous
A Tobias-POV fic with amazing power -- lovely and bittersweet. Rachel and her relationship to Tobias is also really wonderfully rendered.
ARTS AND SCIENCES RPF
An Ocean Not To Break (1554 words) by Anonymous
Beautiful, elegiac Byron/Shelley. It could break your heart, but in a nice way.
AVATAR
The Spiral of Lives (20323 words) by Anonymous
A truly impressive AU (Avatar without the Avatar program, basically), with wonderful plotting, characterization, and narrative style. I never expected to enjoy an Avatar fic this much. Beautifully detailed gen.
BABY-SITTERS CLUB
Baby-sitters Club The Next Generation #6: Byron and the God of California (29536 words) by Anonymous
Believe me when I say I would not tell you to read 30k of BSC slash if I was not absolutely sure that this was the fic that won Yuletide. Reading this was the most amazing experience -- I laughed my behind off and experienced so much nostalgia and shrieked to screamlet in about ten thousand emails. It's Byron Pike/Jeff Schafer (which, if you don't ship it, don't worry, you will), examines the next generation of the club after the girls go to college (but they're home for the summer, so there's lots of Original Gangster action, especially Kristy), and is written in chapter-format just like a book, only there's swearing and boy-on-boy action. And I want to marry whoever wrote this. Marry her to pieces.
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM/MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE
Looking Behind Now (2087 words) by Anonymous
Tony meets Omar and Johnny at one of their laundrettes. They are in their fifties, still together (duh), and still fucking amazing. I just -- Jesus, take the wheel -- this is what Yuletide is all about. Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.
BRIDESHEAD REVISITED
quomodo sedet sola civitas (2486 words) by Anonymous
Exquisitely lovely multi-POV Brideshead fix-it. It's unusual in many ways -- we get Sebastian POV for once, which is so well rendered that I can't even, and Kurt and Anthony Blanche are big presences -- especially the divine Antoine. There was lots of good Brideshead this year, but this was my favorite. Charles/Sebastian, Sebastian/Kurt.
COMMUNITY
History of Film (2420 words) by Anonymous
Really adorable and funny Community ensemble gen, with a hint of Troy/Abed at the end. The group goes through various genres. Jeff wears a fedora.
Critical Approaches to Film Noir (6461 words) by Anonymous
There's a grift on, and Abed rises to the occasion and becomes a private eye. Fun, plotty ensemble piece, also with Troy/Abed overtones. (Full disclosure: I beta'd this, but not for anyone I knew personally.)
Mandatory Futures in Make Believe (4021 words) by Anonymous
The group takes a family planning class. This piece is just so amazingly funny, and with such a fantastic and personable style, that it could be about anything and you'd still want a bajillion more words. Jeff/Britta.
COMMUNITY RPF
Somewhere Inside (I cannot find the feeling I got from you) (0 words) by Anonymous
Don't let "0 words" fool you -- this is a Donald Glover/Gillian Jacobs story told entirely through public tweets and private DMs, which is just... totally awesome. (Full disclosure: I beta'd this, but not for anyone I knew personally. And even if I hadn't, I still would have gone nuts over it.)
THE HUNGER GAMES
To the Victors (248 words) by Anonymous
There have been lots of Hunger Games recs circulating and no one needs me to join in, but I did want to single out this little Katniss/Gale/Peeta ficlet from Madness that I really loved. It packs a hell of a punch in a short amount of time, and the language is just lovely.
JONATHAN STRANGE AND MR. NORRELL
Invasion and Inscrutability (1426 words) by Anonymous
Awesome piece about the Raven King and the gentleman with thistledown hair. The writing style is so amazing that I kind of can't even handle it.
METAMORPHOSES - OVID
Love-lies-bleeding (1867 words) by Anonymous
One of the most extraordinary things to come out of Yuletide, for sure. It's a Theseus/Pirithous story, narrated by a cynical and wry Persephone, and it is balls-out awesome. It reduced me to gape-mouthed awe, and that is saying a lot. Perfect.
NORTHANGER ABBEY - JANE AUSTEN
A Path with Primrose Strewn (1773 words) by Anonymous
An absolutely pitch-perfect look at Catherine and Henry's children and their family dynamic. It is the most adorable, funny, and charming thing ever, and spotlights a pig named Mistress Pottage. Wonderfully Austen in every respect.
SHERLOCK RPF
The Sleepover (2769 words) by Anonymous
A warm, sweet and funny look at Martin and Benedict's relationship. Both boys are perfect. I mean: Benedict had wormed his way back under the duvet, and was sitting with his knees drawn up, looking like a six-foot-tall Dickensian waif. Martin/Benedict.
STAR TREK RPF
(Just Like) Starting Over (6488 words) by Anonymous
This is Pinto, but it's also a hilarious, banter-tastic ensemble piece that gives every member of the Trek cast a moment to shine. The character voices are absurdly good, and the Shatner&Nimoy cameo is worth the price of admission alone. Chris Pine/Zachary Quinto.