192 | Original Works Exchange Recs

[straightforwardly]

► The Original Works Exchange is getting pretty close to wrapping up, so I thought that I'd at least post my recs, even if I haven't finished with my comments.

First, my gift!

The Long Hunt (4903 words) by Anonymous
Relationships: Vampire Sister/Vampire Hunter Brother
Additional Tags: Vampires, Monsters, Post-Apocalyptic, Sibling Incest
Summary: For two decades he's pursued her; first as the monster wearing his sister's face, then as his sister who was a monster. Years ago he'd given up intent to slay her, and she'd shown no inclination to harm him. So why did he keep up the chase?

And now for everything else that I particularly loved:

can't keep my hands to myself (don't want to) (4363 words) by Anonymous
Relationships: Sensible Queen/Arrogant Female General of Foreign Country Who's Very Good in Bed
Additional Tags: Complicated Relationships, Misunderstandings, Assumptions, Denial of Feelings, Mutual Pining, Extra Treat
Summary: When the imperial delegation reached Tadmir with Livia Domitia Sabina at its head, Anzaze was ready for it. She could hardly fail to be: six times already, Livia had come to collect the tribute owed the emperor of the Latians. And six times, she'd made it clear she wouldn't mind being invited into Anzaze's bed; six times, Anzaze had refused her.

But this time it would go differently. This time, Anzaze would let Livia see the break in her lines; and Livia, general that she was, would rush the opening without fear, and press her further still: So you do want it after all. Take me to your cold bed, then, little queen, and let me set it to burning. Say you will.

And this time, Anzaze would lift her head and meet Livia's eyes, and say calmly Yes.

Fool's Errand (2062 words) by Anonymous
Relationships: Injured Vampire Hunter/Vampire Who Finds Him
Additional Tags: Vampires, Vampire Hunters, Biting, Blood Drinking
Summary: When things go sideways on a routine hunt, Julian finds himself as prey instead. He expects death, but finds that an old enemy has different plans.

A French Farce (6212 words) by Anonymous
Relationships: King's Musketeer/Cardinal's Guard
Additional Tags: 17th Century, Identity Porn, Sharing a Bed
Summary: Philippe, a new soldier in the Cardinal's Guards, rescues the last man he should.

(Caveat: the above does have quite a few really distracting SPAG errors. But I loved it enough that I think it’s worth pushing past for the sake of the story.)

I Am the One You Love (5608 words) by Anonymous
Relationships: Mage who thinks her friend has been possessed/Friend who took over this body long before they met
Characters: Original Female Character(s), Original Demon Character(s)
Additional Tags: Angst, Demonic Possession, Friendship, Sad Ending, Original Works Exchange Treat
Summary: “That was the first thing I knew about you,” Nia said. “I was talking to the elders on my first day, and your grandmother told me you were the one who gave me the honey.”

“And the second thing you found out about about me was that I was odd, wasn’t it?” Maran asked.

made myself a stranger (but you still know my name) (8255 words) by Anonymous
Relationships: Nobleman/Diplomat from Enemy Country
Additional Tags: Politics, Relationship of Convenience, Mutual Manipulation, Mutual Deceit, Unintentional Redemption, Failboats In Love
Summary: Giuanne swirled his cup of wine idly, leaning back against one gleaming marble column, and did his best to look self-important, disdainful, and a little bit bored.

It wasn't difficult.

At least not until Aurelio arrived. But then it had been that way for weeks, months. Giuanne had lost all hope of mastering himself in that regard. Because Aurelio had no idea Giuanne was using him and always had been, cold and clear-eyed and deliberate; and he had no idea Giuanne was in love with him; and Giuanne could speak of neither, even as it sickened him with hot helpless guilt to hold his silence.

name me mountains, call me stone (4041 words) by Anonymous
Relationships: Conquering Kingslayer General/Newly Widowed Queen she marries to legitimize her rule
Additional Tags: Political Expediency, Cultural Differences, Misunderstandings, Marriage of Convenience, Developing Relationship, Ambition
Summary: The palace was captured by the Chen-Pa sometime in the afternoon.

Jiayi couldn't have said when with any certainty. It felt as though she should have known, as if someone should have sounded the temple bell to announce it; it was strange, kneeling in the dimness of her chamber in the women's palace with maidservants huddled close around her, listening to their quiet sobbing and realizing all at once that she couldn't tell. If battle continued, it was not close enough to hear. Perhaps it was all already over.

Singing Again at Seven Bells (2061 words) by Anonymous
Relationships: Mermaid/Female Pirate Captain
Additional Tags: some violence, mention of eating human flesh, death of exceedingly minor characters, pickled cabbage
Summary: Being the journal of Captain Annabel Blackwater, terror of the deep.

Shelter (2200 words) by Anonymous
Relationships: Dragon Running a Shelter & Humans It Considers Stray Pets
Additional Tags: Friendship, Misunderstandings, First Contact (sort of)
Summary: They told a lot of old stories out past the boneyards where humans buried their refuse and their dead. They told stories of the olden days and knights in gleaming ships and dragons riding between the stars, their flames licking the earth and warming our places: city and hearth, home and dark machine heart. They told a lot of stories and Shania listened with the open ears of a child, drinking them in with her dark eyes, and storing them in the secret spaces of her memory.

Sometimes You Get Lucky (5267 words) by Anonymous
Relationships: Lizard-Type Alien/Human Who Is Surprisingly Into That
Additional Tags: Xeno, Getting Together, First Time, Huddling For Warmth, Size Difference, Cunnilingus, Cloacal Fisting, Grinding, Original Works Exchange Treat
Summary: Temporarily stranded after a shuttle crash, a human pilot and her lizard-person passenger have to survive the cold of the night together.

Illegal Alien (4536 words) by Anonymous
Relationships: Undercover Alien Posing as Human/His Human Single Neighbour
Additional Tags: Neighbors, Awkward Flirting, Misunderstandings, Humor, Fluff and Crack, Romance, Alien/Human Relationships, Getting Together
Summary: Chris's new neighbor is weird. Cute, but weird. Fortunately for him, Chris is completely on board with that combination.

(Or: How to facilitate interplanetary understanding in less than a month.)

► And, while I'm talking about gifts—Darkest Night really, truly did spoil me this year. By which I mean I got yet another truly excellent treat since I made my last post.

Silent as Stones (5012 words) by Rirren
Fandom: Stand Still Stay Silent
Warnings: Major Character Death
Relationships: Lalli Hotakainen & Emil Västerström
Characters: Lalli Hotakainen, Emil Västerström
Additional Tags: Stranded, Ghosts, Angst, Sad, Suicide Attempt, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Ambiguous/Open Ending
Summary: Lalli and Emil try desperately to get to the meeting point in time. But that's not what's worrying Lalli.

Emil isn't talking to him.