Resisting Everything but Temptation

For annavere , a vid with cool use of color:

I usually agree that it's better to give than to receive, but honestly, I was not at my best this year writing holiday exchange fic. I did try my best, and I appreciate my betas helping me, but I know I'm rusty.

The gifts I received, however, are just so, so happy-making. Both of them are absolutely packed full of little details that are exactly to my tastes, down to specific headcanons and tropes and settings. Both have the voices down so well that I could hear all the characters without effort. I am verklempt.

For hlh_shortcuts, I received this note-perfect crossover where Methos meets Bucky in the FatWS time period:

Home for Christmas (Gen, 3,026 words)
Fandoms: Highlander and MCU (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier)
Characters: Methos, Bucky Barnes, Duncan MacLeod, Joe Dawson
Summary: In the winter of 2024, roughly a year after half the planet has been snapped back into existence, Methos is wandering the streets of New York, trying to reconnect with an old friend.

I never knew how much I would enjoy Methos meeting Bucky Barnes, and I loved the dense, chewy back story on both sides, here. Touches on Bucky's feelings about Steve's decisions, about Sam Wilson, and about the siren song of home, and mirrors all that in Methos's feelings about MacLeod and his own little family. I've had the best time mentally filling in the details and imagining what comes next for both of them. Everything I love in a crossover!

And for yuletide, even though I always, perpetually, for almost 20 years now (when I actually participate in Yuletide) ask for Jeremiah/Kurdy, it hasn't happened in a long, long time, and I am just so chuffed about this one:

Course Correction (could be either pre-slash or platonic life partners, 1,262 words)
Fandom: Jeremiah (TV)
Relationship: Jeremiah/Kurdy Malloy
Summary: Kurdy and Jeremiah have spent years on the road, before and after Thunder Mountain. Between them, maybe they can finally think about starting anew.

This is pretty much exactly what I asked for—Jeremiah and Kurdy on the road again after the show ended, finding their way back to each other. Plus, bonus protective Kurdy being there to shield Jeremiah from his toxic world-killing dad, and extra bonus Theo guest appearance! Perfect characterization and voices. I missed them so much.

My heart is happy, and thankful. Giving is awesome, but sometimes so is receiving.

Well, wow. For me, that was the most enjoyable Premieres show we've ever had. I lost track of the emotions and thinky thoughts and visual candy, and just let it wash over me.

I'd be hard-pressed to pick out favorites because there were so many, but Trelkez made a wonderful Miracles vid, which pleases my heart immensely. heresluck's Killjoys vid also rocked my world, and it was fun seeing other people react to it and ask afterward, "what is that show??" And one that I've seen many times, but that only gets better and more affecting, is Hallo Spaceboy by gwyn and cesperanza. Stunningly good. jmtorres's Fringe vid was hilarious, but also heart-twisty in several different (wonderful) ways. And finally, after 22 years in fandom, I've seen a vid that I want to share with my brother: jetpack_monkey's Scooby Doo adorableness. Plus, sisabet's Jessica Jones vid was flawless. I could go on! Hopefully all will be posted soon.

I made two vids this year, which might be a first? Mainly because melina is an influencer and instigator, and also thanks to TGIF/F, there was this one:

Fandom: Jessica Jones
Song: One Woman Army
Artist: Kate Earl
Pairing: Trish Walker & Jessica Jones
Summary: Trish Walker may not have super powers, but she's not about to let that stop her.

Download a hard copy: [Right-click save as]

or Watch/download on Vimeo: (password: trishtalk)



And then, the current fandom of my heart:

Fandom: The Magicians
Song: Breathing Underwater
Artist: Metric
Pairing: None, ensemble
Warning: ( Click to reveal, a little spoilery )
Summary: I can see the end, but it hasn't happened yet.

Download a hard copy: [Right-click save as]

or Watch/download on Vimeo: (password: fillory)



Thank you so, so much to gwyn for champion-level cheerleading and encouraging, as well as some great beta tips, for a show she doesn't even watch. An act of friendship for which I am grateful. ♥ I love this show so much, you guys. kalliel had a little lovefest for Sera Gamble going in her journal last week, and I am so right there. Making the vid helped me get through the ambivalent feelings I had about the season finale, and I'm back to being 110% in love with it, and hopeful for next season.

Thank you for watching, if you do!

What fandoms did you acquire in 2015?

Longmire and Hannibal, in terms of things I've actually read fic for and would like to read more fic for. I did really enjoy Daredevil and Jessica Jones, and I've flirted around the edges of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Continuum, Agent Carter, and MCU. I've read a tiny bit of Force Awakens, and might read more. But Longmire is the only one that I really feel invested in at the moment. Although, I'm sort of in a long, protracted process of re-acquiring Kirk/Spock as a fandom. :) ETA: Doh, I totally forgot Killjoys.

What fandoms did you let go of in 2015?

Haven (though that was already mostly a done deal) is probably the one I feel really done with. I'm not sure about Lost Girl—I still have fond feelings, but I probably won't stick with it. ETA: Oh, and I forgot, 12 Monkeys. That was a show where my fannishness fell off a rather abrupt cliff, and I doubt it will return. ETA2: I forgot Vikings, too! Wow, I dropped that one fast, and that was before (spoiler) happened.

What fandoms did you mean to get into but didn't in 2015? Why?

I wished I had more time for Hannigram, K/S, and Jessica Jones, as well as Ripper Street.

What fandoms do you intend on checking out in 2016?

I'm not sure. Maybe SW: Force Awakens. Oh, and Agent Carter!

What fandoms do you think you might let go of in 2016 unless things significantly improve?

Grimm, sadly.

What show impressed you most in 2015?

Hannibal, hands down. A couple of other shows really impressed me (Madam Secretary, Continuum, Hamilton and Longmire at the top of the list) but Hannibal just blew me out of the water. Despite how conflicted I am about my love for the show, I just can't escape its genius.

What show impressed you least in 2015?

This is a tough one, but I'll go with Haven. Even though absolutely nothing about S5 surprised me, it still managed to piss me off and disappoint me.

Your biggest fan anticipations for the New Year?

I think Civil War? I mean, the trailer was pretty awesome. And Agent Carter—even though I'm not super fannish about MCU, I'm looking forward to both of those. And probably S2 of Daredevil? Everything else I'm psyched about is off the air, so. ETA: Doh, I totally forgot Killjoys here, too. Very hopeful for S2.

What a wonderful day this is—two of my very favorite people in the world posted fantastic stories. It's a good day!

Perdition (7554 words) by destina
Fandom: Hannibal (TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Will Graham/Hannibal Lecter
Summary: If Will can't manage to die, he'll have to live.

This story sings off the page. Or rather, soaks through it with atmosphere, with eroticism, romanticism, and brutal psychological precision and seduction—just like the show. Ugh, so good.

Pas de Quatre (55045 words) by hafital
Fandom: Captain America (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Steve Rogers/Sam Wilson, Steve Rogers/Natasha Romanov, Steve Rogers/Natasha Romanov/Sam Wilson, James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers
Summary: "I guess this is it," he said, looking around at his team, these three who meant more to him than anyone else.

*clappy hands of delight!* This is a wonderful, long, emotional story full of feeeels and sexy set pieces, great moments of friendship and intimacy, and a deliciously vulnerable Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson, as well as Natasha at her most wise, loving, and beautiful—all of them creating a family capable of bringing home a wandering Winter Soldier.