Yuletide 2005 - 19 Recs
Below are some recs of wonderful stories from this year's yuletide challenge. I haven't finished the entire archive yet, so there may be more at a later date, but these were my initial favorites. Authors have not been announced at the moment, but I'll add those once they're unveiled, and it's many, many fandoms. ETA: Authors Names Have Been Added!
YULETIDE 2005 STORIES (19 Recs)
1. Part of How Life Goes by kattahj - Road to Avonlea - Felicity/Gus - This is the story written for me and I love it muchly. It’s a great example of the dynamic between Felicity and Gus from early on - always fighting or deeply enamored with one another. The voices are wonderful and it brings the happy ending. I love happy endings for my pairings. "Sometimes I dream you're dead," she murmured into his neck, "and then I wake up to find you there beside me. I feel so lucky, and then I feel guilty for feeling lucky, because who am I to be allowed to keep you when so many..."
2. Thinking to Do by florahart - Brokeback Mountain - Ennis/Jack - A wonderful look at Jack during that first summer on the mountain. Wonderfully written and full of hope. As expected, Ennis brought up his arm, then, wrapping it around Jack. In the morning, they would both pretend there was nothing deliberate about it, just like they had that first hung-over morning, but Jack knew better, and so did Ennis if he'd ever let a maybe hang still.
3. In Threes by Jai - Brokeback Mountain - Ennis/Jack - Hot. A day on the mountain where the boys get close a few times. Because really, they should. "I'm just tryin a remember the last time I gone three times in a day," Ennis said with a quiet chuckle as he stretched his feet toward the fire, arms folded behind his head.
4. Diastole by oddcellist - Brokeback Mountain - Ennis/Jack - Gah. This is so beautifully written, so perfectly Ennis that it breaks my heart. Time with Jack was always running out, Ennis thought, and he wasn't strong enough to beat the clock, wasn't sure he even liked the idea of trying, probably ruin things by holding on too long.
5. Puppies and Punishment by lovelyzelda - Arrested Development - General Series - Dude. It’s almost like an episode with the banter and Michael declaring he’s leaving his family and…good stuff if you like the show. "I did. But that sweet well has dried up or fallen over or whatever it is that wells do when they kick you out and stop giving you things."
6. Let's Do Some Living After We Die by jengrrrl - Beautiful Girls - Marty/Willie - This story is a great look into the future. The Marty voice is spot on and the Willie is still a bloody mess. It must be written all over my face, the realization, because her mouth quirks up and she says, "Willie Conway, as I live and breath. You've gone senile in your old age."
7. Some People Ride the Wave by sweetestdrain - Dead Like Me - George - George quits happy time and tries different things with her undead life. It fits perfectly with where the series left off, George trying to make sense of things. And then comes the moment. It happens after a particularly disgusting reap involving a dumb but well-mannered old guy and a woodchipper - an incident which George is still getting the creepy crawlies about, thank you very much, there was a reason she never watched Fargo.
8. Bedtime Story (with Strawberries and Cream) by cjmarlowe - Dead Like Me - Reggie, Daisy, Roxy - The Reggie point of view is great in this story and the moment of serendipity with the reapers was interesting. Reggie strained but couldn't hear the answer, then smirked when she realized the two women were breaking into Mr. Johnson's house. The jerk deserved it. She hoped they stole his DVD player. Actually, she hoped they stole his computer. And then found kiddie porn on it and turned him over to the cops. That would be sweet.
9. Good For You by giddygeek - Entourage - Vince/Eric - This story nearly killed me dead. Pre-show look at the relationship between the two friends, except this time we get to see a little of Vince pining. The story does wonders with the characters and the dynamic between the two. Vince fell in love with acting in the third grade. He tried out for the school play mostly to spite the boy who had told him he was too pretty for the basketball team. He got the lead because how many other eight year old boys in Queens wanted to get up on the stage and recite lines and wear a costume?
10. Real Love Stories Never Have Endings by shoshannagold - Playing by Heart - Joan/Keenan - It’s painful and lovely and brings the love. Good stuff. He pulled her hand back from the breakfast tray. "While I'm actually intrigued by the idea of being covered in compote and turned into your scone, I'd rather not be doing it to the orchestral tunes of Ma Bell."
11. The Ballad of Mark and Roger by marksykins - Rent - Mark/Roger - Starts with their initial meeting and goes from there. I love the Mark voice, the steadiness of his friendship that’s evident in the play. Wonderful story. A little rush accompanies that statement. Of course, Roger's been his best friend pretty much from the moment they met, but it's nice to see someone else can see that it's the other way around, too. "I should," Mark agrees. His tongue feels thick. "What do I say?"
12. Moment In Time by wowbagger - Scrubs - General Series - Because the JD voice is spot on and it has Ben in it. I felt like I was Sherlock Holmes, searching for some improbable clue. I wished I had a monocle. Wearing a monocle, now, that's class. That's style. I always wondered why they weren't in fashion, and made a mental note to bring it up to Turk later that day.
13. My Thing by notpoetry - Scrubs - Dr. Cox/Ben/JD - Again, the JD voice is great in this story, but really, the Dr. Cox voice in this is reason enough to read it. Plus, it’s funny and quirky. I remembered Cox's earlier comment about wood and masturbation, and I guess he saw it on my face or something because he said, "Gladys, if you could chalk it without pleasuring it, that'd be terrific."
14. Sharing A Room With His Brother by pluvial_poetry - Supernatural - I love the Dean voice in this. Don’t let the title fool you, it’s not incestuous, just brotherly love and fighting and…well, if there is any incest workings, I didn’t see them because I didn’t want to. Loved this story though. "Just checking to see if you still had a dick. 'Cause I would swear that you just tried to pillow talk with me!" Dean's shout was muffled by the pillow but he had no doubt that Sam heard and understood him. If only because Sam pushed him out of bed and told him to fuck off.
15. Chains by kaethe - Supernatural - Dean angst. Dean wanting to be protective of Sam, but plagued by his own nightmares. Not to mention a really interesting creature of the week storyline that’s well thought out. I love it. Dean stopped in front of the mirror, frowning at it. It seemed to be ordinary, maybe a foot square with a gilded metal frame surrounding the glass. He'd be willing to bet it was pretty old, twenty or thirty years at least, and the reflective surface had darkened some, but he doubted it had ever been worth much. Yet it seemed to be the strongest source of EMF readings in the room.
16. The Thousand Ways to Bleed by lithium_doll - Supernatural - This story is beautifully written and very dark and creepy, especially at the end. Loved it. Dean doesn't even flinch. "Dr Phil called; he's looking for his schtick. Are we going to do this or we going to talk about warm fuzzy feelings?"
17. A Little Bit More by katie_m - Veronica Mars - Veronica and Logan - Dude, this story has the perfect Veronica and Logan voices, complete with the banter exchanges the two often share. I love this story. "Duncan? No. But if you're planning to finally let him "do it" with the lights on, let me know so I can make popcorn." The air quotes were halfhearted at best, and he tipped his head back to rest on the back of the couch, eyes closed.
18. Apologetic Camel by helvirago - Wonderfalls - It has Jaye, Eric, Mahandra, and Aaron...all in one story. And lots of snark. Really people, read this and write much more of it. "Oh, who even knows. We hated each other. Who needed a reason? She used to act all tough, but one swing and she went down like a hamster with a glass jaw."
19. Plastic Reindeer by lise - Wonderfalls - Jaye/Eric - Dude, it's Jaye/Eric with Jaye trying to find Eric a Christmas gift and her little animals singing. Good stuff that should be read. She'd thought it was the part about getting her sister a girlfriend; maybe the nun in a barrel, or even going slightly (slightly, *hah*) manic in front of the boy she liked. All those things had definite hellish qualities about them - looked like hell, felt like hell, had even smelled a bit like brimstone. But now Jaye knew better. Hell was a wax lion and his newly acquired evil genius partner, plastic reindeer, singing "silent night", off-key.
YULETIDE 2005 STORIES (19 Recs)
1. Part of How Life Goes by kattahj - Road to Avonlea - Felicity/Gus - This is the story written for me and I love it muchly. It’s a great example of the dynamic between Felicity and Gus from early on - always fighting or deeply enamored with one another. The voices are wonderful and it brings the happy ending. I love happy endings for my pairings. "Sometimes I dream you're dead," she murmured into his neck, "and then I wake up to find you there beside me. I feel so lucky, and then I feel guilty for feeling lucky, because who am I to be allowed to keep you when so many..."
2. Thinking to Do by florahart - Brokeback Mountain - Ennis/Jack - A wonderful look at Jack during that first summer on the mountain. Wonderfully written and full of hope. As expected, Ennis brought up his arm, then, wrapping it around Jack. In the morning, they would both pretend there was nothing deliberate about it, just like they had that first hung-over morning, but Jack knew better, and so did Ennis if he'd ever let a maybe hang still.
3. In Threes by Jai - Brokeback Mountain - Ennis/Jack - Hot. A day on the mountain where the boys get close a few times. Because really, they should. "I'm just tryin a remember the last time I gone three times in a day," Ennis said with a quiet chuckle as he stretched his feet toward the fire, arms folded behind his head.
4. Diastole by oddcellist - Brokeback Mountain - Ennis/Jack - Gah. This is so beautifully written, so perfectly Ennis that it breaks my heart. Time with Jack was always running out, Ennis thought, and he wasn't strong enough to beat the clock, wasn't sure he even liked the idea of trying, probably ruin things by holding on too long.
5. Puppies and Punishment by lovelyzelda - Arrested Development - General Series - Dude. It’s almost like an episode with the banter and Michael declaring he’s leaving his family and…good stuff if you like the show. "I did. But that sweet well has dried up or fallen over or whatever it is that wells do when they kick you out and stop giving you things."
6. Let's Do Some Living After We Die by jengrrrl - Beautiful Girls - Marty/Willie - This story is a great look into the future. The Marty voice is spot on and the Willie is still a bloody mess. It must be written all over my face, the realization, because her mouth quirks up and she says, "Willie Conway, as I live and breath. You've gone senile in your old age."
7. Some People Ride the Wave by sweetestdrain - Dead Like Me - George - George quits happy time and tries different things with her undead life. It fits perfectly with where the series left off, George trying to make sense of things. And then comes the moment. It happens after a particularly disgusting reap involving a dumb but well-mannered old guy and a woodchipper - an incident which George is still getting the creepy crawlies about, thank you very much, there was a reason she never watched Fargo.
8. Bedtime Story (with Strawberries and Cream) by cjmarlowe - Dead Like Me - Reggie, Daisy, Roxy - The Reggie point of view is great in this story and the moment of serendipity with the reapers was interesting. Reggie strained but couldn't hear the answer, then smirked when she realized the two women were breaking into Mr. Johnson's house. The jerk deserved it. She hoped they stole his DVD player. Actually, she hoped they stole his computer. And then found kiddie porn on it and turned him over to the cops. That would be sweet.
9. Good For You by giddygeek - Entourage - Vince/Eric - This story nearly killed me dead. Pre-show look at the relationship between the two friends, except this time we get to see a little of Vince pining. The story does wonders with the characters and the dynamic between the two. Vince fell in love with acting in the third grade. He tried out for the school play mostly to spite the boy who had told him he was too pretty for the basketball team. He got the lead because how many other eight year old boys in Queens wanted to get up on the stage and recite lines and wear a costume?
10. Real Love Stories Never Have Endings by shoshannagold - Playing by Heart - Joan/Keenan - It’s painful and lovely and brings the love. Good stuff. He pulled her hand back from the breakfast tray. "While I'm actually intrigued by the idea of being covered in compote and turned into your scone, I'd rather not be doing it to the orchestral tunes of Ma Bell."
11. The Ballad of Mark and Roger by marksykins - Rent - Mark/Roger - Starts with their initial meeting and goes from there. I love the Mark voice, the steadiness of his friendship that’s evident in the play. Wonderful story. A little rush accompanies that statement. Of course, Roger's been his best friend pretty much from the moment they met, but it's nice to see someone else can see that it's the other way around, too. "I should," Mark agrees. His tongue feels thick. "What do I say?"
12. Moment In Time by wowbagger - Scrubs - General Series - Because the JD voice is spot on and it has Ben in it. I felt like I was Sherlock Holmes, searching for some improbable clue. I wished I had a monocle. Wearing a monocle, now, that's class. That's style. I always wondered why they weren't in fashion, and made a mental note to bring it up to Turk later that day.
13. My Thing by notpoetry - Scrubs - Dr. Cox/Ben/JD - Again, the JD voice is great in this story, but really, the Dr. Cox voice in this is reason enough to read it. Plus, it’s funny and quirky. I remembered Cox's earlier comment about wood and masturbation, and I guess he saw it on my face or something because he said, "Gladys, if you could chalk it without pleasuring it, that'd be terrific."
14. Sharing A Room With His Brother by pluvial_poetry - Supernatural - I love the Dean voice in this. Don’t let the title fool you, it’s not incestuous, just brotherly love and fighting and…well, if there is any incest workings, I didn’t see them because I didn’t want to. Loved this story though. "Just checking to see if you still had a dick. 'Cause I would swear that you just tried to pillow talk with me!" Dean's shout was muffled by the pillow but he had no doubt that Sam heard and understood him. If only because Sam pushed him out of bed and told him to fuck off.
15. Chains by kaethe - Supernatural - Dean angst. Dean wanting to be protective of Sam, but plagued by his own nightmares. Not to mention a really interesting creature of the week storyline that’s well thought out. I love it. Dean stopped in front of the mirror, frowning at it. It seemed to be ordinary, maybe a foot square with a gilded metal frame surrounding the glass. He'd be willing to bet it was pretty old, twenty or thirty years at least, and the reflective surface had darkened some, but he doubted it had ever been worth much. Yet it seemed to be the strongest source of EMF readings in the room.
16. The Thousand Ways to Bleed by lithium_doll - Supernatural - This story is beautifully written and very dark and creepy, especially at the end. Loved it. Dean doesn't even flinch. "Dr Phil called; he's looking for his schtick. Are we going to do this or we going to talk about warm fuzzy feelings?"
17. A Little Bit More by katie_m - Veronica Mars - Veronica and Logan - Dude, this story has the perfect Veronica and Logan voices, complete with the banter exchanges the two often share. I love this story. "Duncan? No. But if you're planning to finally let him "do it" with the lights on, let me know so I can make popcorn." The air quotes were halfhearted at best, and he tipped his head back to rest on the back of the couch, eyes closed.
18. Apologetic Camel by helvirago - Wonderfalls - It has Jaye, Eric, Mahandra, and Aaron...all in one story. And lots of snark. Really people, read this and write much more of it. "Oh, who even knows. We hated each other. Who needed a reason? She used to act all tough, but one swing and she went down like a hamster with a glass jaw."
19. Plastic Reindeer by lise - Wonderfalls - Jaye/Eric - Dude, it's Jaye/Eric with Jaye trying to find Eric a Christmas gift and her little animals singing. Good stuff that should be read. She'd thought it was the part about getting her sister a girlfriend; maybe the nun in a barrel, or even going slightly (slightly, *hah*) manic in front of the boy she liked. All those things had definite hellish qualities about them - looked like hell, felt like hell, had even smelled a bit like brimstone. But now Jaye knew better. Hell was a wax lion and his newly acquired evil genius partner, plastic reindeer, singing "silent night", off-key.