PARTY! (?)
I do try to pretend to be normal around this time of year. You know. With the cheer and the ... cheer ... and ... things. Seasonal-type things. Family, and ... whatever.
Unfortunately, as may be detected in the above paragraph, I kind of rely on staying under the radar, going with the flow, because when it comes up specifically, my "normal" isn't all that convincing. I usually end up just staring blankly at people until they get unnerved. Or upset.
But this year, I'm mostly free of the usual obligations, and I thought I'd try to take my first (baby) step out from under the radar. To make a (quiet) stand in the flow. To do something that is a personal celebration - that is me celebrating - even if it's not what anyone else would consider a "Christmas" celebration. This may sound ridiculous, but the idea made me smile, so it's what I'm doing: a Show-themed Christmas party.
... Now, when I say "party", this is not going to include dance music or anything. This is a pretty mellow affair, easy-come, easy-go kind of thing; think last-scene-of-A-Very-Supernatural-Christmas vibe, but with fic recs and pics and clips and links and stuff I like and general nostalgic enjoyment of the small Show-type fandom forays I've made in the last few years. There will be sap and snark and love for Show and us, its talented and passionate fans.
All are welcome (although if you don't know or care much about Supernatural, you may find yourself pretty damn bored).
[All not-just-screencaps not-directly-linked credits are footnoted. It seemed easiest. At the time.]
[1]
[invitation flipside]
And the Next Day Would Be Christmas by brynnmck (pre-series, John, Dean and Sam)This is the reason this idea occurred to me in the first place. Shortly after watching "Death's Door", and being resolutely unemotional about it, idjits, I randomly came across this old SPN Christmas fic, which ordinarily I wouldn't read, but her writing style is gorgeous and I gave it a go. And came out the other side with an ache in my chest, and a smile on my face. And wanting to share it. And then wanting to share more of the Show goodness that's out there.
[2]
But wait a second; don't shut the door. Lookit, you've managed to time your arrival with some warped [wassailers].
[3]
Well, wasn't that charming? *shuts door* Now that the mood is established, please. Come on in. The couch is a little ratty but comfortable. There'll be 'nog, just as soon as I (*sploosh*) get the mix right. (*sploosh* ... *splish*) Put your feet up; snuggle in; say hi (warning: tv tropes link) and catch up (if you need to). And let's do Christmas ... stuff, or whatever.
[4]
[2]
First, though - [music]. You might have your own soundtrack, but if not, feel free to switch on mine. (It's not Christmassy at all. For some reason, Jeffrey Foucault just perfectly catches my mood for this. Plus, he has that American Heartland - and thus very Show - sound. I've been listening to him quite a lot lately.)
Oh - I assume you've met my boyfriend, Show. (Just my pet name for him. He loves it. Don't you, Showikins?)
(Seriously. If you're going to play any get-to-know-you party game, do that meme. It's my favouritist meme evar.)
Comfortable? Here, have a drink. We decorated.
[the tree]
A Very Supernatural Christmas picspammy episode review of doom delightfulness by kroki_refur (careful, it's a big'un, mind the two parts)
We thought about having an [angel], too.
[5]Yes, thank you Dean, that'll do nicely. (He also said he was making duck. Don't be too hopeful, though.)
[Christmas newsletter card]
And we tried making those, you know, cards with the photos and chatty little summary of the year and everything, but. Uh....
[6]
... we ran out of time and no one was taking it seriously.
[7]
And that newsletter got seriously fucking depressing.
So we just put up what pics we could find.
[8]
[9]
There were some [family stories] told, though:
Go Tell It on the Mountain by ficwriter1966 (pre-series, John, Dean and Sam)
Another makeshift Christmas for the Winchesters, but at the heart of the story is memories of Mary and wee!Dean.
Home by
dodger_winslow (pre-series, Bobby and Rumsfeld; warning: references to animal cruelty)
Because Uncle Bobby and his great big crotchety heart has to be part of Christmas, even if the story isn't. And if there is more than a passing metaphorical resemblence to John Winchester in there, well, who are we to hold it against him?
That Mourns In Lonely Exile Here and Do You Hear What I Hear? by erinrua (A Very Supernatural Christmas, SamnDean)
And how could I leave out two of the first and very best episode gapfillers I ever read? I couldn't, that's how. The first Sam's pov, the second Dean's, leading into the final scene.
Ah, hang on, the kids are acting up.
Well, while they're distracted, there's also some [mistletoe].
Once Upon a Time In the West by marinarusalka (pre-series crossover, John/Sarah Connor, Sam, Dean, John Connor; warning: NC-17 for explicit smut)
The drive-by pairing is amazing and the voices are spot-on and the sex is all about character, and Dean and Sam at the end just make it.
AHEM. Now. Where were we? Oh yes. Cards and things. The good thing is, everyone else is so much better at this sort of thing than I am.
[cards and presents and stockingfillers]
Lock and Load by
tahirire (SamnDean)
The boys went shopping. As they do.
Everyone else just got creative. And I got random.
[10]
[11a]
[11b]
[11c]
[12a]
[12b]
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]
[18]
And to finish us off, a [12 Days of Christmas]
[19]
(1) wallpaper base
(2) blogpost
(3) via blacklid
(4) article
[5] tumblr
[6] blogpost
[7] tumblr
[8] tumblr
[9] wiki
[10] tumblr
[11] all by maskedfangirl, [ a] [ b] [c]
[12] fanart [a] [b]
[13] fanpop
[14] fanpop
[15] blogpost
[16] redbubble
[17] blogpost
[18] carg's doodles tumblr; paper doll masterpost (also includes Bobby, Cas and Crowley)
[19] deviantart
So ... that's my half-assed pine-freshener ornaments effort tapped out. I'm not very good at this sort of thing, really. I don't know how to say all the heartfelt and wonderful things that I feel and mean about you and me and them and the world. But y'all are awesome and delightful, and thanks for coming to my party! Further celebration and gifts of fic, fanart, meme and meta recs, and lots of warm'n'fuzzy Show-love conversation and socialising welcome in the comments (whenever you've got time! :D), and when you're out to whatever rl thing you're doing, be warm and safe and blessed.
Unfortunately, as may be detected in the above paragraph, I kind of rely on staying under the radar, going with the flow, because when it comes up specifically, my "normal" isn't all that convincing. I usually end up just staring blankly at people until they get unnerved. Or upset.
But this year, I'm mostly free of the usual obligations, and I thought I'd try to take my first (baby) step out from under the radar. To make a (quiet) stand in the flow. To do something that is a personal celebration - that is me celebrating - even if it's not what anyone else would consider a "Christmas" celebration. This may sound ridiculous, but the idea made me smile, so it's what I'm doing: a Show-themed Christmas party.
... Now, when I say "party", this is not going to include dance music or anything. This is a pretty mellow affair, easy-come, easy-go kind of thing; think last-scene-of-A-Very-Supernatural-Christmas vibe, but with fic recs and pics and clips and links and stuff I like and general nostalgic enjoyment of the small Show-type fandom forays I've made in the last few years. There will be sap and snark and love for Show and us, its talented and passionate fans.
All are welcome (although if you don't know or care much about Supernatural, you may find yourself pretty damn bored).
[All not-just-screencaps not-directly-linked credits are footnoted. It seemed easiest. At the time.]
[1]
[invitation flipside]
And the Next Day Would Be Christmas by brynnmck (pre-series, John, Dean and Sam)This is the reason this idea occurred to me in the first place. Shortly after watching "Death's Door", and being resolutely unemotional about it, idjits, I randomly came across this old SPN Christmas fic, which ordinarily I wouldn't read, but her writing style is gorgeous and I gave it a go. And came out the other side with an ache in my chest, and a smile on my face. And wanting to share it. And then wanting to share more of the Show goodness that's out there.
[2]
But wait a second; don't shut the door. Lookit, you've managed to time your arrival with some warped [wassailers].
[3]
Click to viewWell, wasn't that charming? *shuts door* Now that the mood is established, please. Come on in. The couch is a little ratty but comfortable. There'll be 'nog, just as soon as I (*sploosh*) get the mix right. (*sploosh* ... *splish*) Put your feet up; snuggle in; say hi (warning: tv tropes link) and catch up (if you need to). And let's do Christmas ... stuff, or whatever.
[4]
[2]
First, though - [music]. You might have your own soundtrack, but if not, feel free to switch on mine. (It's not Christmassy at all. For some reason, Jeffrey Foucault just perfectly catches my mood for this. Plus, he has that American Heartland - and thus very Show - sound. I've been listening to him quite a lot lately.)
Oh - I assume you've met my boyfriend, Show. (Just my pet name for him. He loves it. Don't you, Showikins?)
(Seriously. If you're going to play any get-to-know-you party game, do that meme. It's my favouritist meme evar.)
Comfortable? Here, have a drink. We decorated.
[the tree]
A Very Supernatural Christmas picspammy episode review of doom delightfulness by kroki_refur (careful, it's a big'un, mind the two parts)
We thought about having an [angel], too.
[5]Yes, thank you Dean, that'll do nicely. (He also said he was making duck. Don't be too hopeful, though.)
[Christmas newsletter card]
And we tried making those, you know, cards with the photos and chatty little summary of the year and everything, but. Uh....
[6]
... we ran out of time and no one was taking it seriously.
[7]
And that newsletter got seriously fucking depressing.
So we just put up what pics we could find.
[8]
[9]
There were some [family stories] told, though:
Go Tell It on the Mountain by ficwriter1966 (pre-series, John, Dean and Sam)
Another makeshift Christmas for the Winchesters, but at the heart of the story is memories of Mary and wee!Dean.
Home by
dodger_winslow (pre-series, Bobby and Rumsfeld; warning: references to animal cruelty)
Because Uncle Bobby and his great big crotchety heart has to be part of Christmas, even if the story isn't. And if there is more than a passing metaphorical resemblence to John Winchester in there, well, who are we to hold it against him?
That Mourns In Lonely Exile Here and Do You Hear What I Hear? by erinrua (A Very Supernatural Christmas, SamnDean)
And how could I leave out two of the first and very best episode gapfillers I ever read? I couldn't, that's how. The first Sam's pov, the second Dean's, leading into the final scene.
Ah, hang on, the kids are acting up.
Well, while they're distracted, there's also some [mistletoe].
Once Upon a Time In the West by marinarusalka (pre-series crossover, John/Sarah Connor, Sam, Dean, John Connor; warning: NC-17 for explicit smut)
The drive-by pairing is amazing and the voices are spot-on and the sex is all about character, and Dean and Sam at the end just make it.
AHEM. Now. Where were we? Oh yes. Cards and things. The good thing is, everyone else is so much better at this sort of thing than I am.
[cards and presents and stockingfillers]
Lock and Load by
tahirire (SamnDean)
The boys went shopping. As they do.
Everyone else just got creative. And I got random.
[10]
[11a]
[11b]
[11c]
[12a]
[12b]
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]
[18]
And to finish us off, a [12 Days of Christmas]
[19]
(1) wallpaper base
(2) blogpost
(3) via blacklid
(4) article
[5] tumblr
[6] blogpost
[7] tumblr
[8] tumblr
[9] wiki
[10] tumblr
[11] all by maskedfangirl, [ a] [ b] [c]
[12] fanart [a] [b]
[13] fanpop
[14] fanpop
[15] blogpost
[16] redbubble
[17] blogpost
[18] carg's doodles tumblr; paper doll masterpost (also includes Bobby, Cas and Crowley)
[19] deviantart
So ... that's my half-assed pine-freshener ornaments effort tapped out. I'm not very good at this sort of thing, really. I don't know how to say all the heartfelt and wonderful things that I feel and mean about you and me and them and the world. But y'all are awesome and delightful, and thanks for coming to my party! Further celebration and gifts of fic, fanart, meme and meta recs, and lots of warm'n'fuzzy Show-love conversation and socialising welcome in the comments (whenever you've got time! :D), and when you're out to whatever rl thing you're doing, be warm and safe and blessed.