straightforwardly (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
straightforwardly) wrote2014-12-26 04:49 pm
straightforwardly) wrote2014-12-26 04:49 pm
Entry tags:
0057 | Yuletide 2014 Recs Post
As the title of this post suggests, here are my Yuletide recs for 2014!
I've posted links to my gifts in earlier entries (which should be public), but in case any of you all are interested in having a quick link, my main fic can be found here and my Madness treat here. Both are for Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun (the pairings are Hori/Kashima and Mikorin/Sakura, respectively), and are utterly delightful.
Everything is alphabetical, first by category, then by fandom, and then, if necessary, by the title of the actual fics. I figured that was the quickest and fairest way to organize them.
If any of the authors I rec here read this: I apologize for all the times I accidentally hit the "subscribe" button rather than the "share" button. >_>I've tried to comment on everything that I've rec'ced here, but some may have slipped through the cracks. Okay, I haven't quite managed to comment on everything here (yet), but I really want to share this, so I think I'm going to post this and finish commenting later. My commentary is mostly brief (and somewhat repetitive; I apologize for that), but rest assured that if it's on this list, I enjoyed it.
Total: approximately 59ish(?!) recs in 36-42 fandoms, depending on how you count them.
First: I'm unsure what the etiquette is when it comes to recommending (and commenting on... and kudos-ing...) fics that I beta read, since I've never been in that position before. I mean, I don't think there's any conflict of interest, but I don't know how others see it / what the etiquette is. Still, I beta-ed some, really, really good fics (three in total) this Yuletide, and I definitely want to give them some recognition. So, I decided to put them in their own category.
Chrysalis (4147 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Carmilla - J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Relationships: Carmilla/Laura (Carmilla)
Characters: Laura (Carmilla), Original Female Character(s), Carmilla (Carmilla), Original Male Character(s)
Additional Tags: Butterflies, Dreams and Nightmares, Gratuituous Vampire Lore, Dubious Consent, Old Age
Summary: Long after the time of her first account, a much older Laura contemplates the past.
I really, really loved this novel when I read it for the first time earlier this year, and this is a lovely continuation set many years after the end of the novel. The prose fits the source quite well, and the ending is absolutely perfect.
The Devil You Know (5923 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Kate Fuller/Richard Gecko/Seth Gecko
Characters: Kate Fuller, Seth Gecko, Richard Gecko
Additional Tags: Canon-Typical Violence, Threesome - F/M/M, post season one, Sibling Incest, Codependency
Summary: Kate needs to be part of a family.
I'm not familiar with the canon— I was lured into this beta by the promise of incest— but despite that handicap, I really, really loved this. It's quite atmospheric, especially in the beginning, and the relationship between the three characters was incredibly well-crafted.
Clumsy Steps, Steady Hands (2059 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Long Live the Queen (Video Game)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Arisse (Long Live the Queen) & Elodie (Long Live the Queen)
Characters: Arisse (Long Live the Queen), Elodie (Long Live the Queen)
Additional Tags: Mentors, Royalty, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
Summary: Elodie approaches Nova's Eastern Queen for help in learning to rule. Arisse accepts.
Very well-characterized (especially Arisse, though seeing Elodie grow from her perspective was also lovely), with many amusing moments which meld seamlessly with the more serious ones. I could easily see this as having been a possible branch in the game.
Brass Buttons, Red Strings (2951 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: 月刊少女野崎くん | Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Hori Masayuki/Kashima Yuu
Characters: Kashima Yuu, Hori Masayuki
Additional Tags: Canon Compliant, Graduation, Romantic Comedy, Love Confessions, Misunderstandings, Humor, Senpai-Kouhai Relationship
Summary: Of all days to be late to school today is the absolute worst, and Kashima intends to keep herself from being caught at all costs. Today is no day to get herself detained in an administrative audience for a talking-to. Today is Hori-senpai's graduation.
This is absolutely adorable, and it completely captures Kashima's personality. Her interactions with Hori at the end are the best. ♥
A Writer and A Duck (203 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Princess Tutu
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Ahiru | Duck, Fakir (Princess Tutu)
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Yuletide Madness Drabble Invitational, Drabble Sequence
Summary: Shared moments in two ordinary (?) lives.
This is a sweet, poetic piece about Fakir and Ahiru, post-series.
The Kindness of Men (2921 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Black Beauty - Anna Sewell
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Ginger (Black Beauty)
Additional Tags: Stealth Crossover, Yuletide Treat, Yuletide 2014
Summary: The last time Ginger saw Black Beauty, she'd said, "I wish the end was come, I wish I was dead. I have seen dead horses, and I am sure they do not suffer pain."
This story left me on the verge of tears, and definitely healed some half-forgotten wounds from childhood. If you're at all familiar with Black Beauty— and if you ever felt the least bit of sorrow over Ginger— then I'd highly, highly recommend that you read this.
Warm By The Fire (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Carmilla - J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Laura/Carmilla - Relationship
Characters: Laura (Carmilla), Carmilla (Carmilla)
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble, Shapeshifting, Cat Carmilla, Christmas
Summary: Is there anything closer to contentment than this?
This is basically a 100 words of warm, fuzzy feelings. Plus, it has cat!Carmilla, which is always fun.
Detritus (1162 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Code Name Verity - Elizabeth Wein
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Julie Beaufort-Stuart/Maddie Brodatt
Characters: Julie Beaufort-Stuart, Maddie Brodatt
Additional Tags: Misses Clause Challenge
Summary: Maddie, trying to hold on.
Oh, this is just such a sweet and heartbreaking piece. It's basically about Maddie and Julie, and how they come together, and the prose and dialogue are absolutely delightful.
Here is the River and Here is the Box (4138 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Code Name Verity - Elizabeth Wein
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Julie Beaufort-Stuart/Maddie Brodatt
Characters: Maddie Brodatt, Julie Beaufort-Stuart, Jamie Beaufort-Stuart
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Soulmates
Summary: It appeared on the inside of her hip the morning of her thirteenth birthday.
Soulmate!AUs are very much a hit-or-miss for me— and, quite frankly, are usually misses— but for the most part, I liked how this one was handled, especially in regards to Julie and Maddie's relationship.
Onyx and Bone (1913 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Deathless - Catherynne M. Valente
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Koschei the Deathless/Marya Morevna
Characters: Koschei the Deathless (Deathless), Marya Morevna (Deathless)
Additional Tags: D/s, BDSM
Summary: "You cannot punish someone unless you wish to forgive them, after all." Marya and Koschei learn the contours of their new life together.
A lovely piece which illustrates Marya and Koschei's relationship well and which, I think, fits in quite nicely with the canon.
Every Possible Accident (6503 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Dracula - Bram Stoker
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: John Seward/Lucy Westenra, Arthur Holmwood/Lucy Westenra, Arthur Holmwood/Quincey Morris/John Seward/Lucy Westenra
Characters: John Seward, Lucy Westenra, Quincey Morris, Abraham Van Helsing, Arthur Holmwood, Count Dracula
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Awkwardness, Mutual Pining, Blood, Happy Ending, Christmas, Period Typical Orientalism, Accurate Train Tables, implied polyamory, mild violence, Yuletide Treat
Summary: An exploration of what might have happened had Lucy not found herself alone during Dracula's final assault upon her.
I love the actual novel, but sometimes it's nice to have things end more happily. I love seeing Lucy surviving, and her relationship with Dr. Seward— who's always been a favorite of mine— was very well done.
Letters from Jane Fairfax (1158 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 2/2
Fandom: Emma - Jane Austen
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Frank Churchill/Jane Fairfax
Characters: Jane Fairfax
Additional Tags: Epistolary
Summary: Jane Fairfax writes to Frank Churchill.
A look into Jane's thoughts during some parts of the novel. I particularly liked her observations about Emma.
Or By Opposing End Them (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Hamlet - Shakespeare
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Hamlet/Ophelia
Characters: Ophelia
Additional Tags: Drabble, Yuletide Treat, Pregnancy, Implied/Referenced Suicide
Summary: Ophelia is pregnant, and there is only one thing she can do.
A look into Ophelia's mindset during the play, using the Ophelia-was-pregnant theory. The theory itself is not one that I'm particularly enamored of, but this drabble sketches out her mindset really, really well.
Triumvirate (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Hamlet - Shakespeare
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Hamlet/Ophelia
Characters: Laertes, Hamlet, Ophelia
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble, Childhood, Pre Canon
Summary: It had all been so simple, once upon a time.
This is quite a bittersweet piece, with an ending line that tugged at my heartstrings.
Five Times Howl and Calcifer Came to an Agreement (And One Time They Didn't) (2945 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Howl's Moving Castle - All Media Types, Howl Series - Diana Wynne Jones
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Howl Pendragon, Calcifer (Howl Series), Michael Fisher
Additional Tags: 5 Times, 5 Things, Friendship, Families of Choice
Summary: The thing about a magical contract is that the negotiation of it never really ends. Oh, it may seem that you've got everything sorted out at first... but life's a lot more complex than that.
Oh, how do I describe this fic? Excellent characterization (particularly of Calcifer), well-written relationships, and a lovely look at some events which must have occurred at some point from Calcifer's point-of-view.
Second Time Lucky (5726 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Howl Series - Diana Wynne Jones
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Sophie Hatter/Howl Pendragon
Characters: Sophie Hatter, Howl Pendragon, Calcifer (Howl Series), Witch of the Waste
Additional Tags: Weddings, Fluff
Summary: “I refuse to get married twice,” Sophie snapped.
I'm not sure if I can accept any version of Howl and Sophire's wedding(s) that's not this one. The author nails both Howl and Sophie's characterization (as well as the relationship between the two of them) perfectly.
The Sea Wife (6840 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: The Immortals - Tamora Pierce
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Veralidaine Sarrasri, Numair Salmalín, Miri (Tortall), OCs
Additional Tags: Misses Clause Challenge
Summary: Daine visits her friend Miri's seaside hometown and meets a mysterious woman. A case of mistaken identity results. Set between Wild Magic and Wolf-Speaker.
I'm trying to think of how to describe this one without spoiling it. It's basically just a delight to read. I loved Kilda, and could easily see her story as being something which could have happened in the books. Plus, Daine meets Miri's uncle and, again, it's like a scene straight out of one of the actual books.
Words (1173 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Theodore Laurence/Josephine March
Characters: Theodore Laurence, Josephine March
Summary: A writer needs words.
This would soothe any Laurie/Jo shipper's heart. It captures their characters and their relationship very well, especially when it comes to Laurie's devotion to Jo. The prose wasn't bad either.
An Unlikely Heroine (3339 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Catherine Morland/Henry Tilney
Characters: Catherine Morland, Henry Tilney
Additional Tags: horrid novels, overactive imaginations, sarcastic husbands
Summary: Catherine is convinced their neighbor was murdered and Henry is convinced that his wife has let her imagination overcome her common sense. But as we've seen--he's not always right.
I knew from the very first sentence—Catherine Tilney had let the tea steep too long while pondering the heroine to corpse ratio in novels— that I would love this, and I was right. If you love Henry/Catherine, and want to see Catherine being right for once, then you should read this.
The Dragon’s Confession (306 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: The Paper Bag Princess - Robert Munsch
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Elizabeth (The Paper Bag Princess), Dragon (The Paper Bag Princess)
Summary: Why did he knock himself out to prove something to a paper-bag-wearing princess?
D'awww. If, like me, you've always kind of wanted to see Elizabeth and the Dragon become friends, you should definitely read this fic.
The Paper Bag Princess (53 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: The Paper Bag Princess - Robert Munsch
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Additional Tags: Interactive Fiction
Summary: A piece of Interactive Fiction based on the Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch.
I don't know if any of you are familiar with Interactive Fiction, but someone made one for Yuletide. I am quite impressed. I've played through it once so far, and it's both charming and pretty intuitive.
Unstable (4378 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 3/3
Fandom: A Tale of Time City - Diana Wynne Jones
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Vivian Smith, Time Lady, Original Female Character(s)
Additional Tags: Unstable Eras, Theories About Time City, Vivian's Mother, Post-Canon
Summary: Vivian's mother learns to cope with the changes Time City brought to her reality.
This is a lovely, realistic piece about Vivian's mother coping with both suddenly living in Time City, and with the fact that she and her daughter came from slightly-different timelines.
Rupert Hentzau Pays A Call (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Zenda Novels - Anthony Hope
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Rupert of Hentzau, Antoinette de Mauban
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble
Summary: Madame de Mauban is not at home.
It packs a lot of characterization in a few brief sentences, is quite amusing, and has great dialogue.
Some Additional Tales of My Dealings With Rupert Hentzau (1881 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Zenda Novels - Anthony Hope
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Rudolf Rassendyll/Rupert of Hentzau
Characters: Rudolf Rassendyll, Rupert of Hentzau, Fritz von Tarlenheim
Summary: The slightly scandalous re-telling of three scenes from Prisoner of Zenda, where some of the subtext has become text.
A lovely fic which reminds me of all the reasons why I adore Rupert.
The Crowned Shape (3394 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Arthurian Mythology
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Morgan le Fay, Igraine Pendragon, Guinevere (Arthurian), Nimue (Arthurian), Original Character
Additional Tags: Unreliable Narrator, Misses Clause Challenge, Yuletide Treat
Summary: Three viewpoints from the days of Arthur's kingdom.
I loved this. Basically, it's three different perspectives on Morgan and her motivations, set during three different points in the legend. There's much ambiguity, and very strong characterizations.
Sword (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Arthurian Mythology
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Merlin/Nimue
Characters: Merlin, Nimue
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble
Summary: Merlin saw Nimue once more before the end, and asked her what she meant by it.
The final sentence makes this drabble more than worth it.
Beloved of Ma'at (1429 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Ancient Egyptian Religion, Ancient Egyptian RPF
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Ma'at (Ancient Egyptian), Sobekneferu
Additional Tags: Religious Imagery & Symbolism, Character Death
Summary: At the end of the Twelfth Dynasty, Chaos threatens the Two Lands. Sobekneferu becomes Beloved of Ma'at, and plans for future Order.
I'd probably get more out of this story if I were more familiar with Egyptian mythology and history, but even with the little I know, I thought this was fantastic. A great story about an endearing character.
Far from the Blessed Isles (1562 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: The Odyssey - Homer, Greek and Roman Mythology
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Penelope (Odyssey), Calypso (Greek and Roman Mythology), Nausicaa (Odyssey), Circe
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Underworld - Freeform, Greek Mythology - Freeform, Misses Clause Challenge, Yuletide Treat
Summary: The dead talked a lot among themselves, there being little else for them to do. Conversation tended to run along circular paths.
This is definitely one of my favorites from this Yuletide. The characterization is strong, the relationships well-written, and I love that it has the flavour and world of Greek Mythology while still managing to give these women at least a small amount of peace.
A Kisa in the Night (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Kisa the Cat (Brown Fairy Book - Andrew Lang)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Kisa/Ingibjorg
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Summary: Oh, a bat can see
and a cat can see
and I can see things too.
Chez Lui (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Beast (Beauty and the Beast 1991)
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble
Summary: Home is the same - but he has changed.
A short, but believable look into the Beast's feelings right after the curse is placed upon him.
what true love is made of (2723 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Casablanca (1942)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Victor Laszlo/Ilsa Lund, Rick Blaine/Ilsa Lund
Characters: Ilsa Lund, Victor Laszlo, Original Characters
Additional Tags: Canon Compliant, Character Study, Romance
Summary: Ilsa was given the greatest gift of all in life. Choice.
A lovely story which fleshes out Ilsa's character in a delightful way.
the nomad wind, night in, night out (711 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Mulan (1998)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Original Female Character(s), Shan Yu
Additional Tags: Backstory
Summary: His grandmother is the one to show him how to use a knife.
Everyone should really read this. Shan Yu's grandmothere is such a compelling character, with a fascinating backstory. I am in love. ♥
Eldest (1092 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Sleeping Beauty (1959), La Belle au bois dormant | Sleeping Beauty - Charles Perrault
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty), Flora (Sleeping Beauty), Fauna (Sleeping Beauty), Merryweather (Sleeping Beauty)
Additional Tags: Sisters, Betrayal, Pre-Canon, Misses Clause Challenge
Summary: Once upon a time, there were thirteen fairy sisters.
Consort (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Chess (Board Game)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: King/Queen
Characters: King (Chess), Queen (Chess)
Additional Tags: Drabble, Yuletide Treat
Summary: The King watches the action.
This captures the devotion and admiration the king feels for his queen quite nicely.
Correspondence (1026 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Chess (Board Game)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Black King/Black Queen, White King/White Queen, Black Pawn/Wife
Characters: King (Chess), Queen (Chess)
Additional Tags: War, Off-screen death, Anthropomorphic
Summary: King Ivor sends a dove with a smirking message: Your eastern castle will be naught but rubble by nightfall.
A darker take on chess, but one that's also very, very good. There's a decent amount of world- building packed into this, and those last few lines were perfect.
Strategy (2478 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Chess (Board Game)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: King/Queen (Chess), Knight/Rook (Chess)
Characters: Queen (Chess), King (Chess), Knight (Chess), Bishop (Chess), Pawn (Chess), Rook (Chess)
Additional Tags: Anthropomorphic, Games, Banter, Royalty, Sibling Rivalry, Yuletide, Yuletide 2014, Competition, Background Relationships
Summary: Kings talk smack. Queens get stuff done.
I admit that most of the actual movements which occur in this fic went straight over my head, but I enjoyed the dialogue, and liked all the small details we get about all of these characters' relationships with one another.
Fuck You and Your Can Opener Privilege (4334 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Fail_Fandomanon RPF
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Overly Aggressive Anon/Overly Earnest Anon
Characters: Overly Aggressive Anon, Overly Earnest Anon
Additional Tags: Humor, Metafiction, Canadian Shack, Wilderness Survival, Cults, Yuletide Treat
Summary: When two nonnies find themselves in a wasteland of frozen threads, they must survive not only the dangers of the wilderness, but their own foibles and flaws. Also, dememe is down.
This is absolutely hilarious, yet also quite touching at times. I don't know how familiar you all are with![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fail_fandomanon, but if you ever frequent the community, you should read this fic. It was an absolute delight.
Touch Him Not Today (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Conscientious Objector - Edna St. Vincent Millay
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Death/Narrator (Conscientious Objector)
Characters: Death (Conscientious Objector), Narrator (Conscientious Objector)
Additional Tags: Drabble, Yuletide Madness Drabble Invitational, Chromatic Yuletide, bargains with death, Love/Hate Relationship, Brothers & Sisters - Freeform, Angst
Summary: She will not touch Death today.
Short, yet compelling. I find myself wanting more about these two, and the situation they're in.
Beloved (5721 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Crane Wife Songs - The Decemberists, The Crane Wife - The Decemberists (Song)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Additional Tags: Femslash Retelling, Eventual Happy Ending, Fairy Tale Elements, Folklore, Femslash, Misses Clause Challenge
Summary: When Oak finds a strange wounded girl in the woods, her life changes forever. But the winter is long, and it's easy to lose hope...
This fic just utterly satisfies the fairytale-lover in me. A delightful story with a perfect ending.
The Legend of the Dancing Queene (3199 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Dancing Queen - ABBA (Song)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Characters: The Dancing Queen, The Goblin Queen, Dolly the Go-Go Girl
Additional Tags: rhymed narrative poetry
Summary: Isabella loves to dance. When she attends a fete held by the Goblin Queen and outdances her, she's sentenced to immortality. Who can break her curse?
This is definitely one of the must-reads from this year's Yuletide. It's basically a 3000 word poem about a girl who's cursed by the Goblin Queen. I loved Isabella, I loved how her curse was broken, and most of all, I adored that ending stanza.
Banner (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Goblin Market - Christina Rossetti
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Goblins (Goblin Market)
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble
Summary: The goblins took a lock of hair. They had good reason.
An explanation for why the goblins took Lizzie's hair.
Men Sell Not Such In Any Town (1707 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Goblin Market - Christina Rossetti
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Laura (Goblin Market)
Summary: Many years after the events of the poem, Laura has her say.
A delightful retelling which gives Laura a bit more agency, without robbing Lizzie of any of her independence and courage.
Tantalus (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Goblin Market - Christina Rossetti
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Laura (Goblin Market)
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble, Addiction
Summary: Forbidden fruits, and just out of reach...
A fantastic glimpse into Laura's mindset when she's craving the goblin fruit.
Taste (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Goblin Market - Christina Rossetti
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Lizzie (Goblin Market), Laura (Goblin Market)
Additional Tags: Yuletide, yumadrin
Summary: Lizzie, afterwards, when Laura was saved.
I've never seen this take on Lizzie's thoughts after the events of the poem, but I find it quite compelling.
Footprints (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Mortal City – Dar Williams
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: The Girl/The Guy
Characters: The Girl, The Guy
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble, Morning After, Snow
Summary: What happened the next morning
I wrote for this song last year, so of course I was going to jump on any new fic for it that I saw. This is quiet, gentle, and atmospheric, and suits the song quite well.
And Here It Ends, And Here It Begins (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Non je ne regrette rien - Edith Piaf (Song)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Narrator
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble
Summary: Everything is over, but there are no regrets.
This says so much in just a 100 words, but, at the same time, opens up so many questions.
And Tie It All Up With A Tom-Tit's Feather (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Scarborough Fair - Simon & Garfunkel (song)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Narrator/True Love
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble, Break Up, Angst, World War I
Summary: Tell her to buy me an acre of land? But it is 1916, and land is bought with blood.
I love, love, love this one. I have a huge soft spot for stories set during World War I, and this one blends the song and the setting together perfectly.
The Keeping of Promises (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Sovay (Traditional Song)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Sovay/Sovay's True Love
Characters: Sovay
Additional Tags: Drabble, Yuletide Madness Drabble Invitational, Misses Clause Challenge, mentions of domestic abuse, Mention Off-Screen Previous Character Death, Angst, Romantic Angst, Threats
Series: Part 22 of Yuletide Drabble Invitational 2014
Summary: Do not make promises you cannot keep.
An interesting look into why Sovay would feel the need to test her fiancee the way she did.
No One May Point a Pistol At You But Me. (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Sovay (Traditional Song)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Sovay, The True Love (Sovay), A Highwayman
Additional Tags: Yuletide Madness Drabble Invitational, Drabble
Summary: Another encounter.
This was delightful, and had me grinning like mad. If you're at all familiar with the premise of Sovay, read this.
I Could Have Kept Her From Screaming (2110 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Till We Have Faces (Song)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Original Female Character/Original Female Character
Characters: She - Character, Narrator
Summary: my joy and i held candles, before the frozen throne
So much worldbuilding. *_* I'd be lying if I said that I completely understood what was going on in this story, but that's part of the charm, I think. And the relationship between the two characters was fantastic.
once upon a dream (1424 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Cinders (Visual Novel)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Cinders (Cinders), Perrault (Cinders), Tobias (Cinders), Lady Carmosa, Gloria (Cinders), Sophia (Cinders), The Fairy (Cinders), Madame Ghede
Summary: Cinders can see her life taking many paths but never quite the ones she wants to tread.
Of all the fic I've read for this fandom (which, admittedly, is not very much, since it's so tiny), this is definitely the best one I've seen. It's just so good. It's a fantastic character study of Cinders— and, to a lesser extent, most of the other characters as well— and uses the format of the actual game to create a seamless narrative. Lovely, lovely, lovely.
Yielding (3169 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Hakuouki
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Kazama Chikage/Yukimura Chizuru
Characters: Yukimura Chizuru, Kazama Chikage
Additional Tags: Angst, Orgasm Delay, Woman on Top, Yuletide Treat
Summary: This is a night for forgetting, for departing.
A satisfying conclusion to the Kazama/Chizuru ending.
Choose Well, Choose Wisely, Choose Again (1578 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Long Live the Queen (Video Game)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Elodie (Long Live the Queen)
Additional Tags: Temporary Character Death, brief references to canon romance, Royalty, Princesses, Time Loop, court intrigue, Politics, Teenagers In Charge, Choices, Too Much Responsibility
Summary: Elodie knew that a princess had only one chance to rule wisely. Elodie knew wrong.
A look into what-if Elodie— the same Elodie— actually lived through replays in a kind-of Groundhog Day-style loop. It melds game mechanics with story in an interesting way, and was a satisfying read.
Letter To An Acquaintance (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Long Live the Queen (Video Game)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Elodie/Briony
Characters: Elodie (Long Live the Queen)
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble, epistolatory
Summary: Elodie doesn't know why Briony writes to her, and she doesn't know why she's writing back.
Short, bittersweet, but also somewhat touching.
The Queen Is Dead (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Long Live the Queen (Video Game)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Arisse
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble, Scheming, Implied Future Femslash
Summary: Fidelia is dead; which suits Arisse very well indeed.
An intriguing look into Arisse's character at the start of the game.
save the world or save the girl (don't worry, she's going to die either way) (5057 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Persona 3
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Relationships: Aigis/Arisato Minako, implied Arisato Minako/Mochizuki Ryoji
Characters: Aigis, Arisato Minako, Elizabeth (Persona series), Mochizuki Ryoji
Additional Tags: Fix-It of Sorts, Bad End AU, Crueltide
Summary: Minako Arisato makes a different decision, but in the end, nothing really changes.
This is pretty much the fic I've always wanted for this fandom. It's put stars in my eyes, and I think that pretty much everyone who's played the game should read it, even if they're not interested in the pairings. Honestly, the pairings aren't the important part— at heart, this is a story about Minako, and it does it really, really well.
All I Want for Christmas (1108 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Nimona (Webcomic)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Nimona, Ambrosius Goldenloin, Ballister Blackheart
Summary: “Ambrosius,” Ballister says slowly, barely able to believe what he’s about to propose, “I think we’re going to go on a quest.”
This is really cute. There are quests and hugs and evil!pink!reindeer Nimona, and it made me smile.
Science Time with Nimona and Ballister (1262 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Nimona (Webcomic)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Nimona, Ballister Blackheart, Ambrosius Goldenloin
Additional Tags: SCIENCE!
Summary: Welcome to SCIENCE! Time with Nimona and Ballister. You are about to step into an important alternate dimension: the laboratory. With this kit, you will learn how to study the world around you, analyze the intersections of magic and SCIENCE!, and create rudimentary plans to take over your local kingdom.
This just left me cackling with laughter. I admit that I was initially a bit hesitant about reading this, but the character voices are spot-on, and the format really, really worked.
When There's Nothing Left to Burn (18534 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 4/4
Fandom: Nimona (Webcomic)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Ballister Blackheart/Ambrosius Goldenloin, Ballister Blackheart & Nimona
Characters: Nimona, Ballister Blackheart, Ambrosius Goldenloin, Original Characters
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Politics, Canon-Typical Violence, Families of Choice
Summary: Sir Blackheart could really use some down time to process recent events, but the kingdom (and a few people in particular) have other plans for him. Plan A involves adoring fans and discounts at the open-air market. Plan B involves hospital visits to make sure he won't need another metal arm. Plan C includes a mysterious treatise tacked onto the Institution doors, and posters with his name on them appearing across the city.
This fic contributed to me staying up far too late on the night the archive opened. This is pretty much a perfect look at how things should develop post-canon. All the characters and all of their relationships are portrayed so well— I can decide what I enjoyed more, the Ballister-Goldenloin interactions, the Ballister-Nimona interactions, or the Goldenloin-Nimona interactions. And that ending was absolutely brilliant.
I've posted links to my gifts in earlier entries (which should be public), but in case any of you all are interested in having a quick link, my main fic can be found here and my Madness treat here. Both are for Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun (the pairings are Hori/Kashima and Mikorin/Sakura, respectively), and are utterly delightful.
Everything is alphabetical, first by category, then by fandom, and then, if necessary, by the title of the actual fics. I figured that was the quickest and fairest way to organize them.
If any of the authors I rec here read this: I apologize for all the times I accidentally hit the "subscribe" button rather than the "share" button. >_>
Total: approximately 59ish(?!) recs in 36-42 fandoms, depending on how you count them.
First: I'm unsure what the etiquette is when it comes to recommending (and commenting on... and kudos-ing...) fics that I beta read, since I've never been in that position before. I mean, I don't think there's any conflict of interest, but I don't know how others see it / what the etiquette is. Still, I beta-ed some, really, really good fics (three in total) this Yuletide, and I definitely want to give them some recognition. So, I decided to put them in their own category.
Fics I Beta-Read
Chrysalis (4147 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Carmilla - J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Relationships: Carmilla/Laura (Carmilla)
Characters: Laura (Carmilla), Original Female Character(s), Carmilla (Carmilla), Original Male Character(s)
Additional Tags: Butterflies, Dreams and Nightmares, Gratuituous Vampire Lore, Dubious Consent, Old Age
Summary: Long after the time of her first account, a much older Laura contemplates the past.
I really, really loved this novel when I read it for the first time earlier this year, and this is a lovely continuation set many years after the end of the novel. The prose fits the source quite well, and the ending is absolutely perfect.
The Devil You Know (5923 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Kate Fuller/Richard Gecko/Seth Gecko
Characters: Kate Fuller, Seth Gecko, Richard Gecko
Additional Tags: Canon-Typical Violence, Threesome - F/M/M, post season one, Sibling Incest, Codependency
Summary: Kate needs to be part of a family.
I'm not familiar with the canon— I was lured into this beta by the promise of incest— but despite that handicap, I really, really loved this. It's quite atmospheric, especially in the beginning, and the relationship between the three characters was incredibly well-crafted.
Clumsy Steps, Steady Hands (2059 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Long Live the Queen (Video Game)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Arisse (Long Live the Queen) & Elodie (Long Live the Queen)
Characters: Arisse (Long Live the Queen), Elodie (Long Live the Queen)
Additional Tags: Mentors, Royalty, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
Summary: Elodie approaches Nova's Eastern Queen for help in learning to rule. Arisse accepts.
Very well-characterized (especially Arisse, though seeing Elodie grow from her perspective was also lovely), with many amusing moments which meld seamlessly with the more serious ones. I could easily see this as having been a possible branch in the game.
Anime & Manga
Brass Buttons, Red Strings (2951 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: 月刊少女野崎くん | Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Hori Masayuki/Kashima Yuu
Characters: Kashima Yuu, Hori Masayuki
Additional Tags: Canon Compliant, Graduation, Romantic Comedy, Love Confessions, Misunderstandings, Humor, Senpai-Kouhai Relationship
Summary: Of all days to be late to school today is the absolute worst, and Kashima intends to keep herself from being caught at all costs. Today is no day to get herself detained in an administrative audience for a talking-to. Today is Hori-senpai's graduation.
This is absolutely adorable, and it completely captures Kashima's personality. Her interactions with Hori at the end are the best. ♥
A Writer and A Duck (203 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Princess Tutu
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Ahiru | Duck, Fakir (Princess Tutu)
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Yuletide Madness Drabble Invitational, Drabble Sequence
Summary: Shared moments in two ordinary (?) lives.
This is a sweet, poetic piece about Fakir and Ahiru, post-series.
Books & Plays
The Kindness of Men (2921 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Black Beauty - Anna Sewell
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Ginger (Black Beauty)
Additional Tags: Stealth Crossover, Yuletide Treat, Yuletide 2014
Summary: The last time Ginger saw Black Beauty, she'd said, "I wish the end was come, I wish I was dead. I have seen dead horses, and I am sure they do not suffer pain."
This story left me on the verge of tears, and definitely healed some half-forgotten wounds from childhood. If you're at all familiar with Black Beauty— and if you ever felt the least bit of sorrow over Ginger— then I'd highly, highly recommend that you read this.
Warm By The Fire (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Carmilla - J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Laura/Carmilla - Relationship
Characters: Laura (Carmilla), Carmilla (Carmilla)
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble, Shapeshifting, Cat Carmilla, Christmas
Summary: Is there anything closer to contentment than this?
This is basically a 100 words of warm, fuzzy feelings. Plus, it has cat!Carmilla, which is always fun.
Detritus (1162 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Code Name Verity - Elizabeth Wein
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Julie Beaufort-Stuart/Maddie Brodatt
Characters: Julie Beaufort-Stuart, Maddie Brodatt
Additional Tags: Misses Clause Challenge
Summary: Maddie, trying to hold on.
Oh, this is just such a sweet and heartbreaking piece. It's basically about Maddie and Julie, and how they come together, and the prose and dialogue are absolutely delightful.
Here is the River and Here is the Box (4138 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Code Name Verity - Elizabeth Wein
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Julie Beaufort-Stuart/Maddie Brodatt
Characters: Maddie Brodatt, Julie Beaufort-Stuart, Jamie Beaufort-Stuart
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Soulmates
Summary: It appeared on the inside of her hip the morning of her thirteenth birthday.
Soulmate!AUs are very much a hit-or-miss for me— and, quite frankly, are usually misses— but for the most part, I liked how this one was handled, especially in regards to Julie and Maddie's relationship.
Onyx and Bone (1913 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Deathless - Catherynne M. Valente
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Koschei the Deathless/Marya Morevna
Characters: Koschei the Deathless (Deathless), Marya Morevna (Deathless)
Additional Tags: D/s, BDSM
Summary: "You cannot punish someone unless you wish to forgive them, after all." Marya and Koschei learn the contours of their new life together.
A lovely piece which illustrates Marya and Koschei's relationship well and which, I think, fits in quite nicely with the canon.
Every Possible Accident (6503 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Dracula - Bram Stoker
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: John Seward/Lucy Westenra, Arthur Holmwood/Lucy Westenra, Arthur Holmwood/Quincey Morris/John Seward/Lucy Westenra
Characters: John Seward, Lucy Westenra, Quincey Morris, Abraham Van Helsing, Arthur Holmwood, Count Dracula
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Awkwardness, Mutual Pining, Blood, Happy Ending, Christmas, Period Typical Orientalism, Accurate Train Tables, implied polyamory, mild violence, Yuletide Treat
Summary: An exploration of what might have happened had Lucy not found herself alone during Dracula's final assault upon her.
I love the actual novel, but sometimes it's nice to have things end more happily. I love seeing Lucy surviving, and her relationship with Dr. Seward— who's always been a favorite of mine— was very well done.
Letters from Jane Fairfax (1158 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 2/2
Fandom: Emma - Jane Austen
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Frank Churchill/Jane Fairfax
Characters: Jane Fairfax
Additional Tags: Epistolary
Summary: Jane Fairfax writes to Frank Churchill.
A look into Jane's thoughts during some parts of the novel. I particularly liked her observations about Emma.
Or By Opposing End Them (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Hamlet - Shakespeare
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Hamlet/Ophelia
Characters: Ophelia
Additional Tags: Drabble, Yuletide Treat, Pregnancy, Implied/Referenced Suicide
Summary: Ophelia is pregnant, and there is only one thing she can do.
A look into Ophelia's mindset during the play, using the Ophelia-was-pregnant theory. The theory itself is not one that I'm particularly enamored of, but this drabble sketches out her mindset really, really well.
Triumvirate (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Hamlet - Shakespeare
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Hamlet/Ophelia
Characters: Laertes, Hamlet, Ophelia
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble, Childhood, Pre Canon
Summary: It had all been so simple, once upon a time.
This is quite a bittersweet piece, with an ending line that tugged at my heartstrings.
Five Times Howl and Calcifer Came to an Agreement (And One Time They Didn't) (2945 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Howl's Moving Castle - All Media Types, Howl Series - Diana Wynne Jones
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Howl Pendragon, Calcifer (Howl Series), Michael Fisher
Additional Tags: 5 Times, 5 Things, Friendship, Families of Choice
Summary: The thing about a magical contract is that the negotiation of it never really ends. Oh, it may seem that you've got everything sorted out at first... but life's a lot more complex than that.
Oh, how do I describe this fic? Excellent characterization (particularly of Calcifer), well-written relationships, and a lovely look at some events which must have occurred at some point from Calcifer's point-of-view.
Second Time Lucky (5726 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Howl Series - Diana Wynne Jones
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Sophie Hatter/Howl Pendragon
Characters: Sophie Hatter, Howl Pendragon, Calcifer (Howl Series), Witch of the Waste
Additional Tags: Weddings, Fluff
Summary: “I refuse to get married twice,” Sophie snapped.
I'm not sure if I can accept any version of Howl and Sophire's wedding(s) that's not this one. The author nails both Howl and Sophie's characterization (as well as the relationship between the two of them) perfectly.
The Sea Wife (6840 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: The Immortals - Tamora Pierce
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Veralidaine Sarrasri, Numair Salmalín, Miri (Tortall), OCs
Additional Tags: Misses Clause Challenge
Summary: Daine visits her friend Miri's seaside hometown and meets a mysterious woman. A case of mistaken identity results. Set between Wild Magic and Wolf-Speaker.
I'm trying to think of how to describe this one without spoiling it. It's basically just a delight to read. I loved Kilda, and could easily see her story as being something which could have happened in the books. Plus, Daine meets Miri's uncle and, again, it's like a scene straight out of one of the actual books.
Words (1173 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Theodore Laurence/Josephine March
Characters: Theodore Laurence, Josephine March
Summary: A writer needs words.
This would soothe any Laurie/Jo shipper's heart. It captures their characters and their relationship very well, especially when it comes to Laurie's devotion to Jo. The prose wasn't bad either.
An Unlikely Heroine (3339 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Catherine Morland/Henry Tilney
Characters: Catherine Morland, Henry Tilney
Additional Tags: horrid novels, overactive imaginations, sarcastic husbands
Summary: Catherine is convinced their neighbor was murdered and Henry is convinced that his wife has let her imagination overcome her common sense. But as we've seen--he's not always right.
I knew from the very first sentence—Catherine Tilney had let the tea steep too long while pondering the heroine to corpse ratio in novels— that I would love this, and I was right. If you love Henry/Catherine, and want to see Catherine being right for once, then you should read this.
The Dragon’s Confession (306 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: The Paper Bag Princess - Robert Munsch
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Elizabeth (The Paper Bag Princess), Dragon (The Paper Bag Princess)
Summary: Why did he knock himself out to prove something to a paper-bag-wearing princess?
D'awww. If, like me, you've always kind of wanted to see Elizabeth and the Dragon become friends, you should definitely read this fic.
The Paper Bag Princess (53 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: The Paper Bag Princess - Robert Munsch
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Additional Tags: Interactive Fiction
Summary: A piece of Interactive Fiction based on the Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch.
I don't know if any of you are familiar with Interactive Fiction, but someone made one for Yuletide. I am quite impressed. I've played through it once so far, and it's both charming and pretty intuitive.
Unstable (4378 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 3/3
Fandom: A Tale of Time City - Diana Wynne Jones
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Vivian Smith, Time Lady, Original Female Character(s)
Additional Tags: Unstable Eras, Theories About Time City, Vivian's Mother, Post-Canon
Summary: Vivian's mother learns to cope with the changes Time City brought to her reality.
This is a lovely, realistic piece about Vivian's mother coping with both suddenly living in Time City, and with the fact that she and her daughter came from slightly-different timelines.
Rupert Hentzau Pays A Call (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Zenda Novels - Anthony Hope
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Rupert of Hentzau, Antoinette de Mauban
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble
Summary: Madame de Mauban is not at home.
It packs a lot of characterization in a few brief sentences, is quite amusing, and has great dialogue.
Some Additional Tales of My Dealings With Rupert Hentzau (1881 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Zenda Novels - Anthony Hope
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Rudolf Rassendyll/Rupert of Hentzau
Characters: Rudolf Rassendyll, Rupert of Hentzau, Fritz von Tarlenheim
Summary: The slightly scandalous re-telling of three scenes from Prisoner of Zenda, where some of the subtext has become text.
A lovely fic which reminds me of all the reasons why I adore Rupert.
Fairytales & Mythology
The Crowned Shape (3394 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Arthurian Mythology
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Morgan le Fay, Igraine Pendragon, Guinevere (Arthurian), Nimue (Arthurian), Original Character
Additional Tags: Unreliable Narrator, Misses Clause Challenge, Yuletide Treat
Summary: Three viewpoints from the days of Arthur's kingdom.
I loved this. Basically, it's three different perspectives on Morgan and her motivations, set during three different points in the legend. There's much ambiguity, and very strong characterizations.
Sword (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Arthurian Mythology
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Merlin/Nimue
Characters: Merlin, Nimue
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble
Summary: Merlin saw Nimue once more before the end, and asked her what she meant by it.
The final sentence makes this drabble more than worth it.
Beloved of Ma'at (1429 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Ancient Egyptian Religion, Ancient Egyptian RPF
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Ma'at (Ancient Egyptian), Sobekneferu
Additional Tags: Religious Imagery & Symbolism, Character Death
Summary: At the end of the Twelfth Dynasty, Chaos threatens the Two Lands. Sobekneferu becomes Beloved of Ma'at, and plans for future Order.
I'd probably get more out of this story if I were more familiar with Egyptian mythology and history, but even with the little I know, I thought this was fantastic. A great story about an endearing character.
Far from the Blessed Isles (1562 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: The Odyssey - Homer, Greek and Roman Mythology
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Penelope (Odyssey), Calypso (Greek and Roman Mythology), Nausicaa (Odyssey), Circe
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Underworld - Freeform, Greek Mythology - Freeform, Misses Clause Challenge, Yuletide Treat
Summary: The dead talked a lot among themselves, there being little else for them to do. Conversation tended to run along circular paths.
This is definitely one of my favorites from this Yuletide. The characterization is strong, the relationships well-written, and I love that it has the flavour and world of Greek Mythology while still managing to give these women at least a small amount of peace.
A Kisa in the Night (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Kisa the Cat (Brown Fairy Book - Andrew Lang)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Kisa/Ingibjorg
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Summary: Oh, a bat can see
and a cat can see
and I can see things too.
--In the Dark
A short, but interesting look into why Kisa felt the need to leave. It makes a lot of sense, all things considered.
Movies
Chez Lui (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Beast (Beauty and the Beast 1991)
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble
Summary: Home is the same - but he has changed.
A short, but believable look into the Beast's feelings right after the curse is placed upon him.
what true love is made of (2723 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Casablanca (1942)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Victor Laszlo/Ilsa Lund, Rick Blaine/Ilsa Lund
Characters: Ilsa Lund, Victor Laszlo, Original Characters
Additional Tags: Canon Compliant, Character Study, Romance
Summary: Ilsa was given the greatest gift of all in life. Choice.
A lovely story which fleshes out Ilsa's character in a delightful way.
the nomad wind, night in, night out (711 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Mulan (1998)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Original Female Character(s), Shan Yu
Additional Tags: Backstory
Summary: His grandmother is the one to show him how to use a knife.
Everyone should really read this. Shan Yu's grandmothere is such a compelling character, with a fascinating backstory. I am in love. ♥
Eldest (1092 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Sleeping Beauty (1959), La Belle au bois dormant | Sleeping Beauty - Charles Perrault
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty), Flora (Sleeping Beauty), Fauna (Sleeping Beauty), Merryweather (Sleeping Beauty)
Additional Tags: Sisters, Betrayal, Pre-Canon, Misses Clause Challenge
Summary: Once upon a time, there were thirteen fairy sisters.
Now there are only twelve.
This is easily one of my favorite stories I've read this Yuletide. The backstory and motivations it gives Maleficient are the best, and yet it doesn't try to portray canon!her as anything but what she is. Very, very good, and quite bittersweet.
Other
Consort (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Chess (Board Game)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: King/Queen
Characters: King (Chess), Queen (Chess)
Additional Tags: Drabble, Yuletide Treat
Summary: The King watches the action.
This captures the devotion and admiration the king feels for his queen quite nicely.
Correspondence (1026 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Chess (Board Game)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Black King/Black Queen, White King/White Queen, Black Pawn/Wife
Characters: King (Chess), Queen (Chess)
Additional Tags: War, Off-screen death, Anthropomorphic
Summary: King Ivor sends a dove with a smirking message: Your eastern castle will be naught but rubble by nightfall.
A darker take on chess, but one that's also very, very good. There's a decent amount of world- building packed into this, and those last few lines were perfect.
Strategy (2478 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Chess (Board Game)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: King/Queen (Chess), Knight/Rook (Chess)
Characters: Queen (Chess), King (Chess), Knight (Chess), Bishop (Chess), Pawn (Chess), Rook (Chess)
Additional Tags: Anthropomorphic, Games, Banter, Royalty, Sibling Rivalry, Yuletide, Yuletide 2014, Competition, Background Relationships
Summary: Kings talk smack. Queens get stuff done.
I admit that most of the actual movements which occur in this fic went straight over my head, but I enjoyed the dialogue, and liked all the small details we get about all of these characters' relationships with one another.
Fuck You and Your Can Opener Privilege (4334 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Fail_Fandomanon RPF
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Overly Aggressive Anon/Overly Earnest Anon
Characters: Overly Aggressive Anon, Overly Earnest Anon
Additional Tags: Humor, Metafiction, Canadian Shack, Wilderness Survival, Cults, Yuletide Treat
Summary: When two nonnies find themselves in a wasteland of frozen threads, they must survive not only the dangers of the wilderness, but their own foibles and flaws. Also, dememe is down.
This is absolutely hilarious, yet also quite touching at times. I don't know how familiar you all are with
fail_fandomanon, but if you ever frequent the community, you should read this fic. It was an absolute delight.Songs & Poems
Touch Him Not Today (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Conscientious Objector - Edna St. Vincent Millay
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Death/Narrator (Conscientious Objector)
Characters: Death (Conscientious Objector), Narrator (Conscientious Objector)
Additional Tags: Drabble, Yuletide Madness Drabble Invitational, Chromatic Yuletide, bargains with death, Love/Hate Relationship, Brothers & Sisters - Freeform, Angst
Summary: She will not touch Death today.
Short, yet compelling. I find myself wanting more about these two, and the situation they're in.
Beloved (5721 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Crane Wife Songs - The Decemberists, The Crane Wife - The Decemberists (Song)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Additional Tags: Femslash Retelling, Eventual Happy Ending, Fairy Tale Elements, Folklore, Femslash, Misses Clause Challenge
Summary: When Oak finds a strange wounded girl in the woods, her life changes forever. But the winter is long, and it's easy to lose hope...
This fic just utterly satisfies the fairytale-lover in me. A delightful story with a perfect ending.
The Legend of the Dancing Queene (3199 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Dancing Queen - ABBA (Song)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Characters: The Dancing Queen, The Goblin Queen, Dolly the Go-Go Girl
Additional Tags: rhymed narrative poetry
Summary: Isabella loves to dance. When she attends a fete held by the Goblin Queen and outdances her, she's sentenced to immortality. Who can break her curse?
This is definitely one of the must-reads from this year's Yuletide. It's basically a 3000 word poem about a girl who's cursed by the Goblin Queen. I loved Isabella, I loved how her curse was broken, and most of all, I adored that ending stanza.
Banner (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Goblin Market - Christina Rossetti
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Goblins (Goblin Market)
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble
Summary: The goblins took a lock of hair. They had good reason.
An explanation for why the goblins took Lizzie's hair.
Men Sell Not Such In Any Town (1707 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Goblin Market - Christina Rossetti
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Laura (Goblin Market)
Summary: Many years after the events of the poem, Laura has her say.
A delightful retelling which gives Laura a bit more agency, without robbing Lizzie of any of her independence and courage.
Tantalus (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Goblin Market - Christina Rossetti
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Laura (Goblin Market)
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble, Addiction
Summary: Forbidden fruits, and just out of reach...
A fantastic glimpse into Laura's mindset when she's craving the goblin fruit.
Taste (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Goblin Market - Christina Rossetti
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Lizzie (Goblin Market), Laura (Goblin Market)
Additional Tags: Yuletide, yumadrin
Summary: Lizzie, afterwards, when Laura was saved.
I've never seen this take on Lizzie's thoughts after the events of the poem, but I find it quite compelling.
Footprints (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Mortal City – Dar Williams
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: The Girl/The Guy
Characters: The Girl, The Guy
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble, Morning After, Snow
Summary: What happened the next morning
I wrote for this song last year, so of course I was going to jump on any new fic for it that I saw. This is quiet, gentle, and atmospheric, and suits the song quite well.
And Here It Ends, And Here It Begins (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Non je ne regrette rien - Edith Piaf (Song)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Narrator
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble
Summary: Everything is over, but there are no regrets.
This says so much in just a 100 words, but, at the same time, opens up so many questions.
And Tie It All Up With A Tom-Tit's Feather (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Scarborough Fair - Simon & Garfunkel (song)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Narrator/True Love
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble, Break Up, Angst, World War I
Summary: Tell her to buy me an acre of land? But it is 1916, and land is bought with blood.
I love, love, love this one. I have a huge soft spot for stories set during World War I, and this one blends the song and the setting together perfectly.
The Keeping of Promises (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Sovay (Traditional Song)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Sovay/Sovay's True Love
Characters: Sovay
Additional Tags: Drabble, Yuletide Madness Drabble Invitational, Misses Clause Challenge, mentions of domestic abuse, Mention Off-Screen Previous Character Death, Angst, Romantic Angst, Threats
Series: Part 22 of Yuletide Drabble Invitational 2014
Summary: Do not make promises you cannot keep.
An interesting look into why Sovay would feel the need to test her fiancee the way she did.
No One May Point a Pistol At You But Me. (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Sovay (Traditional Song)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Sovay, The True Love (Sovay), A Highwayman
Additional Tags: Yuletide Madness Drabble Invitational, Drabble
Summary: Another encounter.
This was delightful, and had me grinning like mad. If you're at all familiar with the premise of Sovay, read this.
I Could Have Kept Her From Screaming (2110 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Till We Have Faces (Song)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Original Female Character/Original Female Character
Characters: She - Character, Narrator
Summary: my joy and i held candles, before the frozen throne
So much worldbuilding. *_* I'd be lying if I said that I completely understood what was going on in this story, but that's part of the charm, I think. And the relationship between the two characters was fantastic.
Video Games
once upon a dream (1424 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Cinders (Visual Novel)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Cinders (Cinders), Perrault (Cinders), Tobias (Cinders), Lady Carmosa, Gloria (Cinders), Sophia (Cinders), The Fairy (Cinders), Madame Ghede
Summary: Cinders can see her life taking many paths but never quite the ones she wants to tread.
Of all the fic I've read for this fandom (which, admittedly, is not very much, since it's so tiny), this is definitely the best one I've seen. It's just so good. It's a fantastic character study of Cinders— and, to a lesser extent, most of the other characters as well— and uses the format of the actual game to create a seamless narrative. Lovely, lovely, lovely.
Yielding (3169 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Hakuouki
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Kazama Chikage/Yukimura Chizuru
Characters: Yukimura Chizuru, Kazama Chikage
Additional Tags: Angst, Orgasm Delay, Woman on Top, Yuletide Treat
Summary: This is a night for forgetting, for departing.
A satisfying conclusion to the Kazama/Chizuru ending.
Choose Well, Choose Wisely, Choose Again (1578 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Long Live the Queen (Video Game)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Elodie (Long Live the Queen)
Additional Tags: Temporary Character Death, brief references to canon romance, Royalty, Princesses, Time Loop, court intrigue, Politics, Teenagers In Charge, Choices, Too Much Responsibility
Summary: Elodie knew that a princess had only one chance to rule wisely. Elodie knew wrong.
A look into what-if Elodie— the same Elodie— actually lived through replays in a kind-of Groundhog Day-style loop. It melds game mechanics with story in an interesting way, and was a satisfying read.
Letter To An Acquaintance (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Long Live the Queen (Video Game)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Elodie/Briony
Characters: Elodie (Long Live the Queen)
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble, epistolatory
Summary: Elodie doesn't know why Briony writes to her, and she doesn't know why she's writing back.
Short, bittersweet, but also somewhat touching.
The Queen Is Dead (100 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Long Live the Queen (Video Game)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Arisse
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Drabble, Scheming, Implied Future Femslash
Summary: Fidelia is dead; which suits Arisse very well indeed.
An intriguing look into Arisse's character at the start of the game.
save the world or save the girl (don't worry, she's going to die either way) (5057 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Persona 3
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Relationships: Aigis/Arisato Minako, implied Arisato Minako/Mochizuki Ryoji
Characters: Aigis, Arisato Minako, Elizabeth (Persona series), Mochizuki Ryoji
Additional Tags: Fix-It of Sorts, Bad End AU, Crueltide
Summary: Minako Arisato makes a different decision, but in the end, nothing really changes.
This is pretty much the fic I've always wanted for this fandom. It's put stars in my eyes, and I think that pretty much everyone who's played the game should read it, even if they're not interested in the pairings. Honestly, the pairings aren't the important part— at heart, this is a story about Minako, and it does it really, really well.
Webcomics
All I Want for Christmas (1108 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Nimona (Webcomic)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Nimona, Ambrosius Goldenloin, Ballister Blackheart
Summary: “Ambrosius,” Ballister says slowly, barely able to believe what he’s about to propose, “I think we’re going to go on a quest.”
This is really cute. There are quests and hugs and evil!pink!reindeer Nimona, and it made me smile.
Science Time with Nimona and Ballister (1262 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Nimona (Webcomic)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Nimona, Ballister Blackheart, Ambrosius Goldenloin
Additional Tags: SCIENCE!
Summary: Welcome to SCIENCE! Time with Nimona and Ballister. You are about to step into an important alternate dimension: the laboratory. With this kit, you will learn how to study the world around you, analyze the intersections of magic and SCIENCE!, and create rudimentary plans to take over your local kingdom.
This just left me cackling with laughter. I admit that I was initially a bit hesitant about reading this, but the character voices are spot-on, and the format really, really worked.
When There's Nothing Left to Burn (18534 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 4/4
Fandom: Nimona (Webcomic)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Ballister Blackheart/Ambrosius Goldenloin, Ballister Blackheart & Nimona
Characters: Nimona, Ballister Blackheart, Ambrosius Goldenloin, Original Characters
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Politics, Canon-Typical Violence, Families of Choice
Summary: Sir Blackheart could really use some down time to process recent events, but the kingdom (and a few people in particular) have other plans for him. Plan A involves adoring fans and discounts at the open-air market. Plan B involves hospital visits to make sure he won't need another metal arm. Plan C includes a mysterious treatise tacked onto the Institution doors, and posters with his name on them appearing across the city.
This fic contributed to me staying up far too late on the night the archive opened. This is pretty much a perfect look at how things should develop post-canon. All the characters and all of their relationships are portrayed so well— I can decide what I enjoyed more, the Ballister-Goldenloin interactions, the Ballister-Nimona interactions, or the Goldenloin-Nimona interactions. And that ending was absolutely brilliant.
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