Resisting Everything but Temptation

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.

If you are the person who nominated Being Erica for Yuletide with the character "worldbuilding," please, for all that's holy, comment on the Yulebuilding post. I'm not saying for sure that I can fulfill your dreams, but I AM saying for sure that if I can, I will.

You're the best! Thank you so much for offering to write in one of the tiny fandoms of my heart. The good news is, I love these fandoms wholeheartedly, so it's easy to make me happy. Just the fact that you like one of these fandoms makes me happy.

( General likes... )

( Jeremiah (TV) )

( Hornblower (TV) )

( 12 Monkeys (TV) )

( General squicks and dislikes )

Am I...am I seriously considering signing up for Yuletide for the first time since 2006?

It would appear that I am. Doing that. 

I received four wonderful gifts for Yuletide, and I'm overwhelmed. Two longer stories, and two treats:

Accusing You of Stealing What I Gave Away for Free
Fandom: Ocean's (Movies)
Pairing/Characters: Danny Ocean/Rusty Ryan (Teen and up)
Summary: Danny makes speeches. When that's not enough, he steals things.

This is a clever and insightful look at the whole shape of Danny and Rusty's lives, with Danny making a lot of mistakes but finally learning, while Rusty waits for him to catch up. Since Rusty is my favorite, this hit my jones so hard—and it's wonderfully sexy, too.

the still and silent sea
Fandom: Vikings (TV)
Pairing/Characters: Lagertha Lothbrok
Summary: It is the still and silent sea that drowns a man. —Old Norse proverb

Everything I adore about Lagertha in a breathtakingly stark and beautiful story. It's harsh and not without pain, but so beautiful and strong and full of love, like Lagertha herself.

Then, two treats in 2 Guns fandom! I was thrilled that someone else asked for 2 Guns and offered to write it, and I got such a kick out of these: Not gonna let you down and Don't Ask, Just Tell. The first answered my request for the scene after Bobby shot Stig in the thigh. Such wonderful hurt-comfort and caring between them. The second is a snippet in which Stig cuts to the chase, as he would.

I've read some other terrific stories, too, in Vikings and Grimm and Kings and Band of Brothers fandoms, and ooh, Die Hard ♥ and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and a few others. I'll link and tag them all to Pinboard rather than make this post gigantic. BUT, I have to point out the two Hornblower stories that are new this year, both of which are absolutely fantastic (and one of which has only my lone comment and kudos on it, which is just wrong). They are both Hornblower/Bush (YAY), one book canon, one movie (slightly AU) canon:

On Land and At Sea (8,283 words)
Fandom: Hornblower - C. S. Forester
Pairing/Characters: William Bush/Horatio Hornblower/Barbara Wellesley
Summary: Hornblower introduces his captain to his wife. (A missing chapter from the beginning of Commodore Hornblower.)

This is delightful! Light-hearted and oh-so-sexy—a terrific combination. I love the tone and the character dynamics. The climax of the story is genius. (And praise kink! So perfect for Horatio.)

A Slave to Duty (15,578 words)
Fandom: Hornblower (TV)
Pairing/Characters: William Bush/Horatio Hornblower
Summary: A swashbuckling adventure at sea and a violation of Article 28 of the Navy's Articles of War.

This one just blew my mind. Amazing writing, fantastic level of detail, gorgeous characterizations and streamlined storytelling. The summary is accurate. It's everything I love about the movies, with an emotional and true-to-character love story running through it. When I saw that it was set immediately after "Duty," I watched the movie again before reading it. (I had been in the middle of rewatching this one anyway.) So worth it! Plus, it has bonus Orrock! I adore Orrock. If you have any interest in Hornblower at all, don't miss this story.

...when the holiday family madness is past:

12 Haven stories!
8 Lost Girl stories!
7 Common Law stories!
7 Political Animals stories!
5 Friday Night Lights stories!
3 The Wire stories!
2 Wiseguy stories!
2 Hustle stories!
1 Jeremiah story!
1 Southland story!

... and a fantastic hlh_shortcuts story written just for me. :D

And as for Merlin, I can't talk about it yet. {{{{Hugs}}}} to all my fellow Merlin fen. (Everyone in the path of these storms, stay safe.)