Yuletide 2018 recs
Dec. 23rd, 2019 11:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kate_nepveuI didn't read, or reread, everything I wanted to, but I am very definitely out of time; I'm only posting this now because I need to hydrate and sit upright for a bit before falling face-first into bed. So, somewhat fewer recs than usual, but 62 is still a very respectable number.
Books
Definitely Worthy (3921 words) by makgeolli
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Sahra Guleed & Beverley Brook, Sahra Guleed & Molly (Rivers of London)
Characters: Sahra Guleed, Beverley Brook, Molly (Rivers of London)
Additional Tags: Deviates From Canon, Post-Book: The Hanging Tree, POV Female Character, Female Friendship, POV First Person
Summary: In which Guleed gets tangled up in River business, claims a magical sword, slays a sea serpent and joins the Folly. You know, just normal copper things.
Guleed is so great.
essential nature (2570 words) by etben
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Beverley Brook/Peter Grant
Characters: Peter Grant (Rivers of London), Beverley Brook, Cecelia Tyburn Thames
Additional Tags: Spoilers for Lies Sleeping
Summary: “So you kissed him,” Val said, “then what?” // OR: three conversations and a dream (feat. Peter Grant)
Beverly, ditto.
Duty of Care (5069 words) by DoctorTrekLock
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Molly (Rivers of London) & Thomas Nightingale
Characters: Molly (Rivers of London), Thomas Nightingale, Peter Grant (Rivers of London)
Additional Tags: Backstory, World War II, Mail Order Catalogs, Duty of Care, Friendship, Spoilers for Foxglove Summer, Yuletide
Summary: There is a reason that Molly guards the Folly.
Molly, again ditto. (Great last line.)
Homemakers (5658 words) by Sophia_Prester
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Peter Grant & Thomas Nightingale
Characters: Peter Grant (Rivers of London), Thomas Nightingale, Molly (Rivers of London), Foxglove - Character
Additional Tags: Post-Book: Lies Sleeping, Fluff and Angst, Found Family, mentions of Peter/Beverley, gratuitous references to GBBO
Summary: The problem wasn't Christmas itself, as annoying as it made things when you just had to nip down to the shop on a routine errand. The problem was that the Winter Solstice and all of the holidays that had accreted to it over the centuries made this time of year about as safe as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. // At a very dangerous time of year, Peter is re-adjusting to being back at work, Nightingale has something on his mind, and the Folly's greatest defense comes from an unlikely (and delicious) source.
Exceedingly heartwarming.
Happy Families Are All Alike (3892 words) by scioscribe
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Flowers in the Attic - V. C. Andrews
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Cathy Dollanganger/Chris Dollanganger
Characters: Cathy Dollanganger, Chris Dollanganger, Cory Dollanganger, Carrie Dollanganger
Additional Tags: Missing Scene, Sibling Incest, Sexual Tension, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Yuletide Treat
Summary: Among Corrine's gifts to her imprisoned children--a copy of the card game Happy Families.
Additional scenes that feel very true to (my memory of) canon, with just the right queasy fascination.
build a bridge to the stars (2502 words) by jediseagull
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Course of Honour - Avoliot (Original Work)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Kiem Tegnar/Jainan nav Adessari
Characters: Jainan nav Adessari, Kiem Tegnar
Additional Tags: Past Abuse (mentioned), Exquisite Nerdery About Math
Summary: Afterwards, Jainan gets invited to give a talk on regolith extraction.
Lovely story about Jainan's continued healing and growth.
Author's Note (1752 words) by Phlyarologist
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Dragaera - Steven Brust
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Pel (Dragaera), Khaavren (Dragaera), Aerich (Dragaera), Tazendra (Dragaera)
Additional Tags: Humor, Friendship, Paarfi's insufferable commentary, Yuletide Treat
Summary: Which, in its Treatment of Several Duels Fought by the Duke of Galstan, Refutes Several Charges made against Paarfi of Roundwood.
Paarfi being very Paarfi.
Offerings from the Oven (1531 words) by NaomiK
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Chalion Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting
Summary: If you’ve scrolled past one too many well-meaning memes on your social network thinking “surely, empty platitudes superimposed over a photo of flowers is not really what the gods crave from me?” it might be time to think in more concrete terms.
Food and activism, thoughtful and loving.
Separation Anxiety (5762 words) by GoldenThreads
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: A Charm of Magpies Series - K. J. Charles
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Stephen Day/Lucien Vaudrey, Frank Merrick/Jenny Saint, Lucien Vaudrey & Frank Merrick
Characters: Lucien Vaudrey, Stephen Day, Jenny Saint, Frank Merrick
Additional Tags: Post-Canon
Summary: Taking a steamship to Shanghai may have been a poor choice.
Post-canon domesticity and adjusting.
Clarke: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
When the Winds Begin to Sing (2407 words) by regshoe
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - Susanna Clarke
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: John Uskglass | The Raven King
Additional Tags: Magic, Nature, Fairy Tale Elements, Yuletide Treat
Summary: ‘We do not know why in 1202 he quarrelled with Winter and banished it from his kingdom, so that for four years Northern England enjoyed continual Summer.’—Jonathan Strange in The Edinburgh Review, 1815. // These events are remembered in rather more detail, however, in Northern England itself.
The King's Hunt: The Wild Hunt In Northern England, 1110-1434; 1817-2018 (2024 words) by Lanna Michaels
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - Susanna Clarke
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: John Uskglass | The Raven King
Additional Tags: Yuletide 2018, Wild Hunt, Future Fic, Interviews
Summary: The night she left to follow the King, it wasn't raining or anything like that.
These two stories both have wonderful, though very different, voices.
And One Go Alone (3605 words) by magistera
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Dark Is Rising Sequence - Susan Cooper
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Bran Davies/Will Stanton, Jane Drew/Will Stanton
Characters: Will Stanton, Bran Davies
Summary: 'After' is such a final word that Will hardly allows himself to think it for years.
Will and his crushing loneliness. (But not for always.)
...for wage or yet for wed (4031 words) by Vaznetti
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Lymond Chronicles - Dorothy Dunnett
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Francis Crawford of Lymond and Sevigny/Christian Stewart
Characters: Francis Crawford of Lymond and Sevigny, Christian Stewart, Gideon Somerville, Kate Somerville
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
Summary: Two meetings between Francis Crawford and Christian Stewart, in the music room at Flaw Valleys.
I may never reread canon, so I cannot vouch for this in the details, but I loved it in the big picture.
christmas letter (1660 words) by melodiousb
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Mrs. Pollifax - Dorothy Gilman
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Emily Pollifax, Carstairs (Mrs. Pollifax), Bishop (Mrs. Pollifax)
Additional Tags: Surveillance, Christmas
Summary: She’s always tried to model herself on people like her efficient neighbor Miss Hartshorne, or her aunt who sat on the boards of six different charities, but these days, when she finds herself in an unfamiliar situation, she’s more likely to wonder what John Sebastian Farrell would do.
I really like the details of her tradecraft in this.
Alabaster, in a moment of respite (1425 words) by Lleu
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Broken Earth Series - N. K. Jemisin
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Alabaster/Innon (Broken Earth)
Characters: Alabaster (Broken Earth), Innon (Broken Earth)
Additional Tags: Established Relationship, POV Second Person
Summary: You do your best not to drift when you’re in bed with Innon; some nights you have more success than others.
It's a Curious Thing (1853 words) by fresne
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Broken Earth Series - N. K. Jemisin
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Alabaster & Damaya | Essun | Syenite, Damaya | Essun | Syenite/Innon
Characters: Alabaster (Broken Earth), Damaya | Essun | Syenite, Innon (Broken Earth)
Additional Tags: between, Happy Times on the Island, Bit of Might have Been
Summary: It's a curious thing to be happy. // Syenite does not have the trick of it. So she scowls at the rare warm beautiful day. She scowls at the sunlight that reflects brilliant gold on the blue water and the white capped waves. Like a burst vesicle spilling everywhere.
Two happy in-canon moments.
Every Sundown (10515 words) by neveralarch
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Imperial Radch Series - Ann Leckie
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Awn Elming/Justice of Toren One Esk Nineteen | Breq, Justice of Toren One Esk Nineteen | Breq/Seivarden Vendaai
Characters: Justice of Toren One Esk Nineteen | Breq, Seivarden Vendaai
Additional Tags: Role Reversal, Minor Character Death, Drug Addiction
Summary: Breq is a traitor, a rebel, and a captain a thousand years out of date. Mercy of Seivarden is drifting without a crew.
So cool to see these characters in this situation.
Work/life balance (1922 words) by morganstern
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Imperial Radch Series - Ann Leckie, Provenance - Ann Leckie
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Ingray Aughskold/Taucris Ithesta
Characters: Ingray Aughskold, Taucris Ithesta, Cheban Veret
Additional Tags: Established Relationship, Anxiety, Brief description of a murder scene (in context of Taucris's job)
Little bit of how they are post-canon, sweet and solid; I particularly like the concern over filing systems.
Six Cross-Stitch Pieces Inesser Finished, and One She Didn't (1941 words) by tonepoem
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Machineries of Empire Series - Yoon Ha Lee
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Kel Inesser/Lyoshke
Characters: Kel Inesser
Additional Tags: Minor Character Death, arts and crafts the Kel way
Summary: Whenever Inesser remembers her past, it's through all the cross-stitching she's done.
It's not only the cross-stitching that has me recommending this character study . . . but it helps, because I'm me.
A Conspiracy of Marriages (3113 words) by nerakrose
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Temeraire - Naomi Novik
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: William Laurence/Tenzing Tharkay
Characters: William Laurence, Temeraire (Temeraire), Tenzing Tharkay, John Granby, Augustine Little, Iskierka (Temeraire)
Additional Tags: background Granby/Little - Freeform, Humor, Politics, Established Relationship, Fluff, Post-Canon
Summary: Wherein Laurence would just really like to live a quiet, non-scandalous life, thank you very much, except then Temeraire gets really into marriage laws.
This is DELIGHTFUL.
The Christmas Present (5090 words) by SunlitStone
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Temeraire - Naomi Novik
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Iskierka & Temeraire, John Granby & Iskierka, William Laurence & Temeraire, Temeraire & Tenzing Tharkay
Characters: Temeraire (Temeraire), William Laurence, John Granby, Tenzing Tharkay, Iskierka (Temeraire)
Additional Tags: copious application of dragon logic
Summary: "A present," Temeraire repeated. "The white stag. To...show our appreciation of him as our host." . . .
"copious application of dragon logic" is the best and truest tag ever.
Change Bitter Gall and Blighted Leaves (9977 words) by Colourofsaying
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Uprooted - Naomi Novik
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Agnieszka/Kasia (Uprooted)
Characters: Agnieszka (Uprooted), Kasia (Uprooted), Princess Malgorzhata (Uprooted), The Dragon | Sarkan, The Willow (Uprooted)
Additional Tags: Suicidal Thoughts, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, only in passing and never dwelt on, and she does get much better as the story progresses, we end in a good place, Angst with a Happy Ending, Happy Ending, Eventual Happy Ending, Misses Clause Challenge, Femslash Yuletide, Femslash
Summary: For many trees, there is no death; there is growing, and there is what comes after growing. A tree that falls in the forest sprouts new life from its body as it lies, crumbling into leaf and mould. A tree that falls to corruption may send forth shoots year after year, decade after decade, waiting until there is one shoot that is strong enough, wise enough, to resist that corruption and grow tall. Unless they fall to axe and saw, a tree may live forever. So Wood-Queens and their people do not die. They sleep, and they forget. They are patient. All things come to fruitfulness in time, and what is time, to a tree? // Kasia suffers intensely throughout Uprooted; this is her path back to herself.
Thoughtful and thorough.
The Realms of the Immortals (56883 words) by nirejseki
Chapters: 6/6
Fandom: Tortall - Tamora Pierce, Immortals Quartet
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Rikash Moonsword/Veralidaine Sarrasri, Rikash Moonsword & Veralidaine Sarrasri
Characters: Rikash Moonsword, Veralidaine Sarrasri, Numair Salmalín, Skysong (Tortall), Barzha Razorwing, Hebakh Razorwing, Uusoae, Jachull of Mortal Fear, Moonwind, Diamondflame
Additional Tags: Road Trips, Alternate Universe - Role Reversal, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Age Swap, Mind Control, Stormwing-Typical Behavior, Assassination, Worldbuilding, Watership Down cameo, Young Wizards cameo, Book: The Realms of the Gods, Pre-Relationship
Summary: Rikash knew he was signing up for a lot when he became Lord of the Stone Tree Stormwing nation. // But joining forces with the extremely dangerous, mysterious, and oddly intriguing Veralidaine Sarrasri, the famous Stormwing Killer, on a road trip through the Divine Realms to assassinate those immortals stupid enough to risk the destruction of the world by working with Chaos? // That's - unexpected.
Great world-building, very fun AU that captures the flavor of the books well.
Reforged (1722 words) by thisisthemorning
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Emelan - Tamora Pierce
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Daja Kisubo, Trisana Chandler, Briar Moss, Sandrilene fa Toren
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Bonding, Family Feels, Found Family
Summary: After they return from Namorn, Briar, Daja, Sandry and Tris find new ways to be family.
Very sweet.
Pearl of my Heart (1960 words) by Ghostinthehouse
Chapters: 6/6
Fandom: Emelan - Tamora Pierce, PIERCE Tamora - Works
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Rizuka fa Dalach/Daja Kisubo, Daja Kisubo/Original Female Character(s)
Characters: Daja Kisubo, Briar Moss, Sandrilene fa Toren, Trisana Chandler, Little Bear (Circle of Magic), OFC, Jorality Bancanor
Additional Tags: Misses Clause Challenge, Trans Female Character
Summary: 5 times Daja's family took the measure of her new love, and 1 time Daja made her own assessment
What it says on the tin; excellent worldbuilding and relationships.
A Soldier's Return (1927 words) by ryfkah
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Discworld - Terry Pratchett
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Maladict/Polly Perks
Characters: Maladict, Polly "Ozzer" Perks
Additional Tags: Unresolved Sexual Tension, Immediately Post-Canon
Summary: It wasn’t that she’d joined up because of Polly, per se. The notion had been percolating for some time. Somewhere between the coffee fiasco and the sack of beans delivered straight to her skull via pigeon, her military record had gotten a little … embarrassing. Mal did not generally do embarrassing. She was quite sure that she could do better the second time around. // The question she’d been stuck on was how much difference that would make if Borogravia itself could not do better.
A nicely characteristic look at their concerns right after the book ends.
Ambush (2694 words) by carotid
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Discworld - Terry Pratchett
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Maladict, Polly "Ozzer" Perks, Betty "Shufti" Manickle
Additional Tags: Maladict/Polly Perks (implied)
Summary: Polly is unsure about surprises, even when -- or perhaps especially when -- they're intended for her benefit.
Enjoyable and warming characterization.
You Need A Big God. (1402 words) by Lanna Michaels
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Small Gods - Terry Pratchett
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Om (Small Gods), Brutha (Small Gods)
Additional Tags: Yuletide 2018, Yuletide Treat, Post-Canon, Discworld Theology
Summary: Om and Brutha, afterwards.
Such a great, satisfyingly surprising/inevitable look at the two of them.
A Winter's Afternoon (1067 words) by Persiflager
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Lord Peter Wimsey - Dorothy L. Sayers
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Harriet Vane/Peter Wimsey
Characters: Harriet Vane, Peter Wimsey
Additional Tags: Domestic Fluff
Summary: Harriet misses the sun.
What it says on the tin.
She Sells Sea Shells (880 words) by Gammarad
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Hamster Princess Series - Ursula Vernon, Die sechs Schwäne | The Six Swans
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Harriet Hamsterbone
Additional Tags: Pirates
Summary: Harriet and Mumfrey find a mysteriously beached pirate ship.
The Little Mole-Maid (3222 words) by hamsterwoman
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Hamster Princess Series - Ursula Vernon
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Harriet Hamsterbone, Wilbur (Hamster Princess), Mumfrey (Hamster Princess)
Summary: “Hey, Wilbur! Hey, Hyacinth!” Harriet shouted, waving her sword in greeting. “Hey, cursed princess! You are cursed, aren’t you? And need me to set off on a quest to save you?”
Two fun casefics.
Circadian Rhythms (1353 words) by Raven
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Murderbot Diaries - Martha Wells
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Dr. Mensah (Murderbot Diaries), Murderbot (Murderbot Diaries)
Summary: This is the thing about your neural pathways expanding with practice. Sometimes you open your mouth and say a thing without meaning to, and it’s because you’re better at understanding humans than you thought you were.
An excellent bit of their evolving friendship, after the fourth novella.
Need to Know (2249 words) by Beatrice_Otter
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Murderbot Diaries - Martha Wells
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Asshole Research Transport (Murderbot Diaries)
Additional Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Pre-Canon, Don’t copy to another site
Summary: All I wanted was for construction to be completed so that I could be launched and begin researching. Unfortunately, human illogic tends to delay things, and they were the ones running the project.
Great ART voice.
the never-ending flight of future days (1765 words) by Nestra
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Books of the Raksura - Martha Wells
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Moon (Books of the Raksura), Jade (Books of the Raksura), Chime (Books of the Raksura), Stone (Books of the Raksura), Pearl (Books of the Raksura), Bitter (Books of the Raksura)
Additional Tags: Post-Canon
Series: Part 22 of Yuletide Stories
Summary: "Moon fought the urge to retreat to his bower and hide. Maybe he could find some very urgent errand that would take him away from the colony until the whole thing blew over."
Awww, grown-up Bitter.
In Which Cimorene Settles In as King's Chief Cook and Librarian, and Deals with Politics (6940 words) by Beatrice_Otter
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Enchanted Forest Chronicles - Patricia Wrede
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Cimorene & Kazul (Enchanted Forest), Cimorene & Morwen (Enchanted Forest)
Characters: Cimorene (Enchanted Forest), Morwen (Enchanted Forest), Kazul (Enchanted Forest), Cimorene's Mother (Enchanted Forest)
Additional Tags: Bad Parenting, Politics, Competency, Missing Scene, Bechdel Test Pass, Fails to Pass the Reverse Bechdel Test, Misses Clause Challenge, Don’t copy to another site
Summary: What it says on the tin
Logistics!
Movies & TV
Carmen Sandiego and Mathnet (aka the TV of my childhood)
The Ballad of the Burgled Beats! (6957 words) by violeteyes
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?, lofi hip hop radio - beats to relax/study to
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: The Chief (Carmen Sandiego), Carmen Sandiego, Studying Anime Girl (lofi hip hop radio - beats to relax/study to)
Additional Tags: the near future, Crossover
Summary: A theft. A game. A mystery. When one of the most popular internet radio streams vanishes, it's a case for the detectives at Acme. When it's accompanied by a taunting message from the world's greatest thief, it's personal.
I could feel the details of this childhood favorite coming back to me as I read.
The Problem of the Cryptic Clue (1907 words) by tablelamp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Mathnet
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Kate Monday, George Frankly
Additional Tags: casefic, Humor, Mathematics, Mathematicians
Summary: The story you are about to hear is a fib, but it's short. The names are made up but the problems are real.
This, on the other hand, I remembered surprisingly well from the start. It's great.
Words My Mother Taught Me (5616 words) by stickmarionette
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Rachel Chu/Nick Young, Rachel Chu & Eleanor Young
Characters: Rachel Chu, Kerry Chu, Nick Young (Crazy Rich Asians), Eleanor Young, Oliver T'sien, Eddie Cheng, Astrid Leong
Additional Tags: Family Drama, In-Laws, Racism, Cultural Differences, The Immigrant Experience, Chinese Culture, Mother-Daughter Relationship, Character Study
Summary: his whole thing with Nick's family left her feeling distinctly clumsy, wishing that her Mandarin was better, less stilted, and that she had the instinctive understanding of their world that felt like her birthright. // To the Chinese, 'who are you' meant 'who are your people?' // For years, Rachel's only root was her mom, and through her, she learned words and phrases and meaning, and took them for herself like she was covering some classic song. And somehow her cover got through to Eleanor.
Complex and thoughtful.
Beginnings (1154 words) by Fabrisse
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Rachel Chu & Goh Peik Lin
Characters: Rachel Chu, Goh Peik Lin
Additional Tags: Friendship, Chromatic Yuletide, Mrs. Claus Challenge
Summary: Vignettes from the early days of their friendship
What it says on the tin.
The Good Place (nb. I haven't watched any of season 4)
Performance Review (2566 words) by randomizer
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Good Place (TV)
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Judge Hydrogen, Jeff the Doorman (The Good Place)
Additional Tags: Epistolary
Summary: The Judge is judged.
Starting with narrower-focused stories. I love Gen, and I love good epistolary stories.
For Better Or For Worse (1527 words) by C-chan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Good Place (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jianyu Li | Jason Mendoza/Janet (The Good Place)
Characters: Janet (The Good Place), Bad Janet (The Good Place), Neutral Janet (The Good Place)
Additional Tags: Mild Language, Reference to canon-compliant time shenanigans, Wedding Planning
Summary: Perhaps it was odd that the nearest few thousand Janets were all Bad Janets, but anything was possible this close to the Medium Place. Besides, that was only the 3,794th weirdest thing registering in her system at any given moment (wait, 3,795th—a show about a men's single figure skating champion leaving the competitive skating world to coach a Japanese unreliable narrator was the top anime of 2016). // In which Janet prepares for her upcoming nuptials with a little help from her friends fellow Janets.
Mostly a Bad Janet.
Life, Death, and Breakfast (3364 words) by LovelyPoet
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Good Place (TV)
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Jianyu Li | Jason Mendoza, Chidi Anagonye
Additional Tags: Developing Friendships, Implied/Referenced Drug Use, Humor, Slice of Life, Lighthearted conversations about death
Summary: The first Wednesday that Jason showed up (It was a sheer coincidence, Chidi thinks.) Chidi was so absorbed in his reading that he didn't even notice it happening until Jason was sitting across the table from him, chewing with his mouth open and already deep into the kind of story that Eleanor calls Florida Man: The Greatest Hits Collection. // On Wednesdays we wear pink hang with our boy. // Or // During the year in Australia Chidi and Jason fall into a routine and a friendship.
Could use a SPAG tidy but I really love their dynamic and am always glad to see more of it.
Choose Your Own Torture (1335 words) by antivillain
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Good Place (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Tahani Al-Jamil/Eleanor Shellstrop
Characters: Michael (The Good Place), Eleanor Shellstrop, Tahani Al-Jamil, Chidi Anagonye
Summary: Michael's neighborhood keeps failing. Time to see if the woman who keeps messing everything up might have the answer to how to fix it.
The Eleanor/Tahani section, starting with this: she does, and it's Attempt 218.
Want What You Wish For (5129 words) by samalander
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Good Place (TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Tahani Al-Jamil/Eleanor Shellstrop
Characters: Tahani Al-Jamil, Eleanor Shellstrop, Chidi Anagonye, Janet (The Good Place)
Additional Tags: Attempt 333, Meet-Cute, Pets, Golden Retriever
Summary: Eleanor glances up into the tree. "Be cool," she whispers, though she's pretty sure that cats hating her is a universal constant. // Or, how Tahani and Eleanor ended up in bed, iteration #333
What if they ALL had animal soulmates in that attempt?
loathing, unadulterated loathing (6859 words) by shinealightonme
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Good Place (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Tahani Al-Jamil/Eleanor Shellstrop
Characters: Tahani Al-Jamil, Eleanor Shellstrop
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - College/University, Enemies to Lovers, unromantic but like in a fluffy way, Insecurity, Roommates, oh my god they were roommates
Summary: The thing no one tells Tahani about Wicked: it's a love story.
See the tags, which are perfect.
The Bed (4330 words) by SophiaCatherine
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Good Place (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Tahani Al-Jamil/Chidi Anagonye/Eleanor Shellstrop, Chidi Anagonye/Eleanor Shellstrop, Tahani Al-Jamil/Chidi Anagonye, Tahani Al-Jamil/Eleanor Shellstrop
Characters: Chidi Anagonye, Eleanor Shellstrop, Tahani Al-Jamil, Jianyu Li | Jason Mendoza, Janet (The Good Place)
Additional Tags: Soulmates, Domestic Fluff, Sharing a Bed, chidi anagonye's anxiety
Summary: Chidi's really very upset about the mix-up that has left him with two soulmates and one bed in a tiny house full of clown decor. And he didn't expect his soulmates to be anything like this.
One more ship fic, this time an OT3. Why didn't we get a glimpse of this attempt, darn it?
Five Times Philosophy Class Was Totally Easy (1506 words) by storiesfortravellers
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Good Place (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Chidi Anagonye, Eleanor Shellstrop, Tahani Al-Jamil, Jianyu Li | Jason Mendoza
Additional Tags: Humor, Philosophy, Foucault, Judith Butler - Freeform, Crack, Possible Hints of Chidi/Eleanor, Possible Hints of Tahani/Eleanor
Summary: Once in a while, the group understands the readings surprisingly well. // Sort of. // AKA the reboot where the four of them find refuge in the Medium Place and decide to start up their class again, this time focusing on more contemporary thinkers.
Finally, an ensemble fic: extremely delightful AND educational!
As a Shrike to Your Thorn (5704 words) by DachOsmin
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Ocean's 8 (2018)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Lou Miller/Debbie Ocean
Characters: Daphne Kluger, Nine Ball (Ocean's), Lou Miller (Ocean's), Debbie Ocean
Additional Tags: Heist, Case Fic, Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Alternate Universe - Fae, Fae & Fairies, Pining
Summary: “One month from now Lord Claud of Clan Báicéir, Prince Under the Hill, King of Air and Darkness, will be holding a ball to celebrate Midwinter. And we are going to rob it.”
What it says on the tin (and what a great tin it is).
something that seeks its level (6034 words) by Stratisphyre
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Ocean's 8 (2018)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Amita (Ocean's), Lou Miller (Ocean's), Debbie Ocean, Constance (Ocean's), Nine Ball (Ocean's), Tammy (Ocean's), Daphne Kluger
Additional Tags: Slice of Life, Background Debbie Ocean/Lou Miller
Summary: Amita: before and after.
This character study has lots of great details and relationships.
In Search of a Happy Ending (6043 words) by napkins
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Princess Tutu
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Rue (Princess Tutu), Mytho (Princess Tutu), Fakir (Princess Tutu), Ahiru | Duck (Princess Tutu)
Additional Tags: genre hopping, Groundhog Day
Summary: Fakir is sure there's something he can do to bring them all together once again for a happy ending. He just hasn't found the right story yet.
I am not actually morally obliged to rec all Princess Tutu post-canon fix-its, I just really like them. And this is, as it must be, excellently layered meta.
Other: minimal canon or easily-findable/well-known source
mysterious historical documents
A-jobbing I will go (2746 words) by Quillori
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Medieval Manuscript Illustrations
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat
Summary: The adventures of an ex-cabbage farmer or sub-optimal employment prospects in the medieval labour market.
This first-person narrator is delightful and exploring the manuscript art as factual, from a laborer's point of view, is excellent.
Joust on Vellum (1123 words) by greerwatson
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Medieval Manuscript Illustrations
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Monk, Battle Snail
And this first-person narrator is the illustrating monk letting his imagination fly, and is quite sweet.
A Quickstart Guide to Voynich RPG (1248 words) by yhlee
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Voynich Manuscript (Book)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Additional Tags: Horror, Humor, Role-Playing Game
Summary: Actually, it's an RPG manual. A very special RPG manual.
I love the cheerily desperate tone of this.
the flower among them all (6133 words) by evewithanapple
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Tam Lin (Traditional Ballad)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Janet/Tam Lin
Characters: Janet (Tam Lin), Tam Lin, Original Characters
Summary: "Hold me fast and fear me not." What has Janet to fear?
I love this fierce, actively-choosing version of Janet.
Rules of Parenting (590 words) by DianaSolaris
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Calvin & Hobbes
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Calvin/Susie Derkins
Characters: Calvin's Mother (Calvin and Hobbes)
Additional Tags: Epistolary, Adult Calvin (Calvin & Hobbes), Grandparents & Grandchildren
Summary: Calvin's mother didn't have any guidance when raising Calvin, but she wants to be sure that little baby Locke doesn't get stuck in the same situation.
Hits all my parent feels.
Petard (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Calvin & Hobbes
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Calvin's Mother (Calvin and Hobbes)
Additional Tags: Drabble, Yuletide Madness Drabble Invitational
Perfect.
The Giant in the Cavern Brings Copper and Silver and Gold (3172 words) by Dira Sudis
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Thing in the Walls Wants Your Small Change - Virginia M. Mohlere
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: The Dragon & Caro, The Dragon & the House Spirit
Characters: The Dragon (The Thing In the Walls Wants Your Small Change), Caro (The Thing In the Walls Wants Your Small Change)
Additional Tags: Dragons, Friendship, Agender Dragon, It Pronouns
Summary: Every time the dragon takes a penny, the giant supplies another one.
This is a great story and a great reversal of the POV.
Once and Future (2770 words) by oliviacirce
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Winter Solstice Camelot Station - John M. Ford, Arthurian Mythology & Related Fandoms
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Original Characters, Kay (Winter Solstice Camelot Station), Galahad (Winter Solstice Camelot Station), The King (Winter Solstice Camelot Station), The World's Best Knight (Winter Solstice Camelot Station), Merlin (Arthurian), Guinevere (Arthurian)
Additional Tags: Trains, Christmas, Winter Solstice, Roman Britain, Magic, Time - Freeform, Arthurian, Mythology - Freeform
Summary: Rex Invictus.
It's a miracle that this fic exists, let alone is this good. (The source poem, ditto.)
exit loop; (2234 words) by meggsy
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Seedship (Video Game)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Seedship AI
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat
Summary: Four things the Seedship AI couldn't save, and one thing it could.
It's a very quick easy (though potentially addictive) game, though probably you don't need any canon knowledge, honestly. What it says on the tin; heartwarming.
Other: comics (just what happened to be left)
Cut and Run (5530 words) by Crait
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Hawkeye (Comics), Marvel (Comics)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Kate Bishop/America Chavez, Clint Barton & Kate Bishop, Clint Barton & America Chavez, Clint Barton/Bobbi Morse (implied)
Characters: Kate Bishop, America Chavez, Clint Barton, Lucky (Hawkeye)
Additional Tags: Future Fic, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Emotional Constipation, Male-Female Friendship, Families of Choice, Bisexual Kate Bishop
Summary: Clint Barton: matchmaker?
Really fun story imagining America Chavez deciding to reform the Avengers sometime in the future, with great Clint voice and fondness for the characters in all their dumbass glory.
Fetch (37 words) by misura
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Hawkeye (Comics)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Lucky (Hawkeye)
Additional Tags: Poetry, Parody
Summary: [a very short poem]
Tiny and perfect.
Cemetery Polka (2072 words) by sophiahelix
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Sandman (Comics)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Dream of the Endless/Thessaly, Death of the Endless/Thessaly
Characters: Death of the Endless, Thessaly (The Sandman)
Additional Tags: Post Series
Summary: “You know I have to keep moving,” Larissa says. “You know why. // Death smiles. “It doesn’t really make a difference, in the end.” // “Well, it does to me,” Larissa says. // They regard each other, for a long moment. Behind her large glasses, Larissa’s eyes are unblinking, but her clasped hands betray her, the fiddling of her thumbs against each other. She wets her lips, pursed and full and pink. // Death is mortal, tonight.
Contemplative.
And that's that for 2018! May you find something to tide you over until this year's collection goes live.
+1 (thumbs-up, I see you, etc.)?
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Date: 2019-12-24 02:06 pm (UTC)Thank you!
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Date: 2024-06-20 12:02 pm (UTC)yay! that's why I (try to) do these lists.