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Yuletide recs for 2019, round 2
I still haven't read everything I want to in the collection but here are 16 more recs in 12 fandoms.
No need to know canon: Arthurian Legend, 11Foot8 Bridge (Anthropomorphic), 18th Century CE Frederician RPF, and two stories in 221b Baker Towers
The Turn of the Year (1769 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Arthurian Mythology
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Gawain (Arthurian), Bertilak de Hautdesert, Dame Ragnelle, Lanval (Arthurian)
Additional Tags: Fae & Fairies, Complicated Relationships
Summary: In chilly Orkney, where the stench of sorcery blows in along with the North Wind, Gawain learned what it was to love the otherworldly.
Bookmarker's Notes: This story is strange and magical and difficult to describe, just like Gawain's fae lover.
steel away love (300 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 11Foot8 Bridge (Anthropomorphic)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: 11Foot8 Bridge/Storrow Drive Bridge
Characters: 11Foot8Bridge, Storrow Drive Bridge
Additional Tags: queer... bridges???, sure, seems legit
Summary: They will never meet, but that does not stop them from loving each other.
Bookmarker's Notes: Evocative language of love between two bridges that can never touch.
Five Ways in which Frederick the Great and Maria Theresia did not meet (10362 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 5/5
Fandom: 18th Century CE Frederician RPF, 18th Century CE RPF
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great & Wilhelmine von Preußen | Wilhelmine of Prussia, Franz Stephan von Lothringen | Francis I Holy Roman Emperor/Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina, Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great/Hans Hermann von Katte, Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great & Other(s), Maria Theresia | Maria Theresa of Austria & Joseph II, Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great & Maria Theresia | Maria Theresa of Austria, Maria Theresia | Maria Theresa of Austria / Franz Stephan von Lothringen ×
Characters: Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great, Maria Theresia | Maria Theresa of Austria (Frederician RPF), Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina, Wilhelmine von Preußen | Wilhelmine of Prussia (1709-1758), Joseph II Holy Roman Emperor, Franz Stephan von Lothringen | Francis I Holy Roman Emperor, Friedrich Heinrich Ludwig von Preußen | Henry of Prussia (1726-1802)
Additional Tags: Rivalry, Enemies, Seven Years' War, Character Study, Developing Relationship, Alternate History, Keep Your Enemies Closer, My Best Enemy, Yuletide, Misses Clause Challenge
Summary: 1740: Two young monarchs ascend to the throne: Frederick II of Prussia and Maria Theresa of Austria. Over the next few decades, the rivalry between them will change Europe forever. Yet they never meet face to face. But there were five times in their lives when they might have done...
Bookmarker's Notes: Even if you don't know the history of these two great monarchs and enemies, this fic is well worth the read as the two of them spend their lives dueling with each other across the courts and battlefields of Europe.
Full House (9115 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 221B Baker Towers
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Summary: "Who are you?" is the first and perhaps hardest question to answer.
Bookmarker's Notes: If you ever read a Sherlock Holmes story, if you ever watched Sherlock or Elementary or any of the versions of this ancient and venerable canon, read this. Meet John, a first-generation Londoner from Afghanistan who works as a cleaner at St. Barts. Get to know his family, three generations under one roof, around one table, speaking three languages and loving each other across a massive generational and cultural divide. Meet Sherlock, not-his-boyfriend, with the mad-wavey brain and the drugs habit, covered in someone else's blood. Enjoy the deeply satisfying casefic and join me in being terrified by this version of Moriarty.
Baker Tower (1071 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 221B Baker Towers
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Summary: London is his balm, his bane.
Bookmarker's Notes: This is a short read, but a dense one. The author has managed to capture Sherlock's frenetic observations and thought-processes in a way that should probably come with a warning label. He solves the case, rapid-fire, leaving Lestrade and the rest of us to fill in the blanks. It's unforgettable.
Canon knowledge preferred: The War of the Worlds - H. G. Wells, two for The Mummy (1999)
Secondary Infection (2620 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The War of the Worlds - H. G. Wells
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Assorted Martians
Additional Tags: Blood Drinking, Character Death, Heavy-handed use of Victorian hymn
Summary: The Martians have the very best of intentions. And they don't die. Not exactly.
Bookmarker's Notes: Brain-bending and terrifying alien PoV with outstanding world-building. Figuratively and literally.
A Favour for a Friend (4682 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Mummy Series
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Ardeth Bay/Jonathan Carnahan
Characters: Jonathan Carnahan, Ardeth Bay
Summary:
Travelers by Night (13182 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Mummy (1999)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Jonathan Carnahan, Ardeth Bay, Evy Carnahan O'Connell, Rick O'Connell
Additional Tags: cw for: canon-typical alcohol abuse, era-typical coping mechanisms, and a lot of oblique references to the Gallipoli campaign
Summary: Very quickly, Jonathan weighed the odds. On one hand, potential death, whether by armed bandits, a mummy’s curse, or people who looked like bandits and who were very angry about someone unleashing a mummy’s curse. On the other hand, potential riches, home ground, and topics of conversation other than what happened at school fifteen years ago and who got it in the neck where.
Bookmarker's Notes: A memorable, plotty story featuring a Jonathan wandering through life. This story's reading of him as a veteran of WWI makes me understand his character better, and more sympathetically than ever before.
Canon knowledge required: The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin, Star Trek: Rihannsu - Diane Duane, Hadestown - Mitchell, Jeremiah (TV), and three stories for Gideon the Ninth
your name a kiss of snow (3393 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Genly Ai/Therem Harth rem ir Estraven
Characters: Genly Ai, Therem Harth rem ir Estraven
Additional Tags: Missing Scene, First Time, Diary/Journal, Gender-Neutral Pronouns, Hurt/Comfort, Telepathic Bond, Yuletide Treat
Summary: “Therem,” Genly said to me, “you’re trembling.”
I looked at my shaking hands. I was too tired to try and maintain shifgrethor. “I was afraid you might die.”
“There’s a good chance I might yet,” Genly said, “we’ve got four hundred miles to go.”
Bookmarker's Notes: Canon cries out for a story where Genly overcomes his hesitation and has sex with Therem, in kemmering on the ice. This delivers, in a delicate and gentle way befitting the book.
Day Comes Up New (4470 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Trek - Various Authors, Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: Rihannsu - Diane Duane
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Arrhae i-Khellian t'Llhweiir, Terise Haleakala-LoBrutto, Ael t'Rllaillieu
Additional Tags: Pregnancy, Rihannsu, Politics, Romulan wine
Summary: "I have done something spectacularly stupid," Arrhae said.
Bookmarker's Notes: A worthy ending and afterword to the series, building a lasting peace between the Federation and the Empire, bought at great personal cost. Excellent character voice by someone with a deep understanding of mnhei'sahe.
Maybe it will turn out this time (2148 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Hadestown - Mitchell
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Eurydice/Orpheus (Hadestown), Hades/Persephone (Hadestown)
Characters: Eurydice (Hadestown), Hermes (Hadestown), Persephone (Hadestown), Hades (Hadestown), Orpheus (Hadestown)
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat
Summary: On the road to hell, on the railroad line.
---
You know how this story ends. I've told it before.
Oh, you mean what happened next? You're sure, sister? Don't ask questions if you don't want the answer.
Bookmarker's Notes: The feel of canon, of a song that repeats over and over again, but one thing is changing - Eurydice is singing her own song, now. And that will change everyhing.
lay me down and close my eyes (3412 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Jeremiah (TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Markus Alexander/Jeremiah
Characters: Markus Alexander, Jeremiah (Jeremiah)
Additional Tags: Missing Scene, Caretaking, Casual Sex, Denial of Feelings, Communication Failure, Developing Relationship, Extra Treat
Summary: Set during 1.18. Coffee can't actually sober anybody up. Markus just needs to sleep it off—if he can get to sleep at all. Jeremiah decides to help.
Bookmarker's Notes: A charming scene with Markus over-thinking everything and Jeremiah taking a leap of faith. I ached for Markus here, with all the weight of the world on his shoulders.
dig me up, lay me down (1162 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Gideon the Ninth - Tamsyn Muir
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Gideon Nav/Harrowhark Nonagesimus
Characters: Gideon Nav, Harrowhark Nonagesimus
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, canon-plausible necrophilia
Summary: “Griddle, I am not fucking a skeleton for a weird sex game with you!”
Bookmarker's Notes: I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who read Gideon the Ninth and thought, 'What this needs is some really weird, necromantic porn.' With hilarious, in-character banter!
the blood of you bleeding as you try to let go (6577 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Gideon the Ninth - Tamsyn Muir
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Gideon Nav
Additional Tags: Time Travel, Ghosts, Pre-Canon, Post-Canon, Canonical Character Death, meaningful swimming pools
Summary: Throughout her childhood, Harrow sees one specific ghost. Gideon is as helpful as she ever is.
Bookmarker's Notes: Outstanding character voice as young Harrow is visited (and aggravated) by the ghost of Gideon.
dulce et decorum est (11174 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Gideon the Ninth - Tamsyn Muir
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Palamedes Sextus, Dulcinea Septimus | Cytherea the First, Camilla Hect, Gideon Nav, Harrowhark Nonagesimus
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Historical, Espionage, Alternate Universe - World War II, New Zealand, Necromancy, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon Relationships
Summary: Over dinner, Palamedes reflected again on what the situation must be in Britain, that it had seemed logical – seemed worthwhile – to round up a crowd of researchers from all corners of the Empire and set them to finding a way to battle German soldiers with the corpses of their own dead.
Bookmarker's Notes: Brilliant, plotty retelling of canon during WWII. Gideon is the butchest, boldest lesbian you can imagine, and is constantly out-gentleman'ing poor Paramedes in pursuit of Dulcinea.
No need to know canon: Arthurian Legend, 11Foot8 Bridge (Anthropomorphic), 18th Century CE Frederician RPF, and two stories in 221b Baker Towers
The Turn of the Year (1769 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Arthurian Mythology
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Gawain (Arthurian), Bertilak de Hautdesert, Dame Ragnelle, Lanval (Arthurian)
Additional Tags: Fae & Fairies, Complicated Relationships
Summary: In chilly Orkney, where the stench of sorcery blows in along with the North Wind, Gawain learned what it was to love the otherworldly.
Bookmarker's Notes: This story is strange and magical and difficult to describe, just like Gawain's fae lover.
steel away love (300 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 11Foot8 Bridge (Anthropomorphic)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: 11Foot8 Bridge/Storrow Drive Bridge
Characters: 11Foot8Bridge, Storrow Drive Bridge
Additional Tags: queer... bridges???, sure, seems legit
Summary: They will never meet, but that does not stop them from loving each other.
Bookmarker's Notes: Evocative language of love between two bridges that can never touch.
Five Ways in which Frederick the Great and Maria Theresia did not meet (10362 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 5/5
Fandom: 18th Century CE Frederician RPF, 18th Century CE RPF
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great & Wilhelmine von Preußen | Wilhelmine of Prussia, Franz Stephan von Lothringen | Francis I Holy Roman Emperor/Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina, Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great/Hans Hermann von Katte, Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great & Other(s), Maria Theresia | Maria Theresa of Austria & Joseph II, Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great & Maria Theresia | Maria Theresa of Austria, Maria Theresia | Maria Theresa of Austria / Franz Stephan von Lothringen ×
Characters: Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great, Maria Theresia | Maria Theresa of Austria (Frederician RPF), Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina, Wilhelmine von Preußen | Wilhelmine of Prussia (1709-1758), Joseph II Holy Roman Emperor, Franz Stephan von Lothringen | Francis I Holy Roman Emperor, Friedrich Heinrich Ludwig von Preußen | Henry of Prussia (1726-1802)
Additional Tags: Rivalry, Enemies, Seven Years' War, Character Study, Developing Relationship, Alternate History, Keep Your Enemies Closer, My Best Enemy, Yuletide, Misses Clause Challenge
Summary: 1740: Two young monarchs ascend to the throne: Frederick II of Prussia and Maria Theresa of Austria. Over the next few decades, the rivalry between them will change Europe forever. Yet they never meet face to face. But there were five times in their lives when they might have done...
Bookmarker's Notes: Even if you don't know the history of these two great monarchs and enemies, this fic is well worth the read as the two of them spend their lives dueling with each other across the courts and battlefields of Europe.
Full House (9115 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 221B Baker Towers
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Summary: "Who are you?" is the first and perhaps hardest question to answer.
Bookmarker's Notes: If you ever read a Sherlock Holmes story, if you ever watched Sherlock or Elementary or any of the versions of this ancient and venerable canon, read this. Meet John, a first-generation Londoner from Afghanistan who works as a cleaner at St. Barts. Get to know his family, three generations under one roof, around one table, speaking three languages and loving each other across a massive generational and cultural divide. Meet Sherlock, not-his-boyfriend, with the mad-wavey brain and the drugs habit, covered in someone else's blood. Enjoy the deeply satisfying casefic and join me in being terrified by this version of Moriarty.
Baker Tower (1071 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 221B Baker Towers
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Summary: London is his balm, his bane.
Bookmarker's Notes: This is a short read, but a dense one. The author has managed to capture Sherlock's frenetic observations and thought-processes in a way that should probably come with a warning label. He solves the case, rapid-fire, leaving Lestrade and the rest of us to fill in the blanks. It's unforgettable.
Canon knowledge preferred: The War of the Worlds - H. G. Wells, two for The Mummy (1999)
Secondary Infection (2620 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The War of the Worlds - H. G. Wells
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Assorted Martians
Additional Tags: Blood Drinking, Character Death, Heavy-handed use of Victorian hymn
Summary: The Martians have the very best of intentions. And they don't die. Not exactly.
Bookmarker's Notes: Brain-bending and terrifying alien PoV with outstanding world-building. Figuratively and literally.
A Favour for a Friend (4682 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Mummy Series
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Ardeth Bay/Jonathan Carnahan
Characters: Jonathan Carnahan, Ardeth Bay
Summary:
Roped into doing a favour for a friend, Jonathan finds himself in charge of an antiques shop in Cairo. This is honestly the very last favour he's going to do for anyone. Ever.
Bookmarker's Notes:Outstanding sensory details and narration, capturing Jonathathan's personality to a T.
Travelers by Night (13182 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Mummy (1999)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Jonathan Carnahan, Ardeth Bay, Evy Carnahan O'Connell, Rick O'Connell
Additional Tags: cw for: canon-typical alcohol abuse, era-typical coping mechanisms, and a lot of oblique references to the Gallipoli campaign
Summary: Very quickly, Jonathan weighed the odds. On one hand, potential death, whether by armed bandits, a mummy’s curse, or people who looked like bandits and who were very angry about someone unleashing a mummy’s curse. On the other hand, potential riches, home ground, and topics of conversation other than what happened at school fifteen years ago and who got it in the neck where.
Bookmarker's Notes: A memorable, plotty story featuring a Jonathan wandering through life. This story's reading of him as a veteran of WWI makes me understand his character better, and more sympathetically than ever before.
Canon knowledge required: The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin, Star Trek: Rihannsu - Diane Duane, Hadestown - Mitchell, Jeremiah (TV), and three stories for Gideon the Ninth
your name a kiss of snow (3393 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Genly Ai/Therem Harth rem ir Estraven
Characters: Genly Ai, Therem Harth rem ir Estraven
Additional Tags: Missing Scene, First Time, Diary/Journal, Gender-Neutral Pronouns, Hurt/Comfort, Telepathic Bond, Yuletide Treat
Summary: “Therem,” Genly said to me, “you’re trembling.”
I looked at my shaking hands. I was too tired to try and maintain shifgrethor. “I was afraid you might die.”
“There’s a good chance I might yet,” Genly said, “we’ve got four hundred miles to go.”
Bookmarker's Notes: Canon cries out for a story where Genly overcomes his hesitation and has sex with Therem, in kemmering on the ice. This delivers, in a delicate and gentle way befitting the book.
Day Comes Up New (4470 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Trek - Various Authors, Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: Rihannsu - Diane Duane
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Arrhae i-Khellian t'Llhweiir, Terise Haleakala-LoBrutto, Ael t'Rllaillieu
Additional Tags: Pregnancy, Rihannsu, Politics, Romulan wine
Summary: "I have done something spectacularly stupid," Arrhae said.
Bookmarker's Notes: A worthy ending and afterword to the series, building a lasting peace between the Federation and the Empire, bought at great personal cost. Excellent character voice by someone with a deep understanding of mnhei'sahe.
Maybe it will turn out this time (2148 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Hadestown - Mitchell
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Eurydice/Orpheus (Hadestown), Hades/Persephone (Hadestown)
Characters: Eurydice (Hadestown), Hermes (Hadestown), Persephone (Hadestown), Hades (Hadestown), Orpheus (Hadestown)
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat
Summary: On the road to hell, on the railroad line.
---
You know how this story ends. I've told it before.
Oh, you mean what happened next? You're sure, sister? Don't ask questions if you don't want the answer.
Bookmarker's Notes: The feel of canon, of a song that repeats over and over again, but one thing is changing - Eurydice is singing her own song, now. And that will change everyhing.
lay me down and close my eyes (3412 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Jeremiah (TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Markus Alexander/Jeremiah
Characters: Markus Alexander, Jeremiah (Jeremiah)
Additional Tags: Missing Scene, Caretaking, Casual Sex, Denial of Feelings, Communication Failure, Developing Relationship, Extra Treat
Summary: Set during 1.18. Coffee can't actually sober anybody up. Markus just needs to sleep it off—if he can get to sleep at all. Jeremiah decides to help.
Bookmarker's Notes: A charming scene with Markus over-thinking everything and Jeremiah taking a leap of faith. I ached for Markus here, with all the weight of the world on his shoulders.
dig me up, lay me down (1162 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Gideon the Ninth - Tamsyn Muir
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Gideon Nav/Harrowhark Nonagesimus
Characters: Gideon Nav, Harrowhark Nonagesimus
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, canon-plausible necrophilia
Summary: “Griddle, I am not fucking a skeleton for a weird sex game with you!”
Bookmarker's Notes: I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who read Gideon the Ninth and thought, 'What this needs is some really weird, necromantic porn.' With hilarious, in-character banter!
the blood of you bleeding as you try to let go (6577 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Gideon the Ninth - Tamsyn Muir
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Gideon Nav
Additional Tags: Time Travel, Ghosts, Pre-Canon, Post-Canon, Canonical Character Death, meaningful swimming pools
Summary: Throughout her childhood, Harrow sees one specific ghost. Gideon is as helpful as she ever is.
Bookmarker's Notes: Outstanding character voice as young Harrow is visited (and aggravated) by the ghost of Gideon.
dulce et decorum est (11174 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Gideon the Ninth - Tamsyn Muir
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Palamedes Sextus, Dulcinea Septimus | Cytherea the First, Camilla Hect, Gideon Nav, Harrowhark Nonagesimus
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Historical, Espionage, Alternate Universe - World War II, New Zealand, Necromancy, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon Relationships
Summary: Over dinner, Palamedes reflected again on what the situation must be in Britain, that it had seemed logical – seemed worthwhile – to round up a crowd of researchers from all corners of the Empire and set them to finding a way to battle German soldiers with the corpses of their own dead.
Bookmarker's Notes: Brilliant, plotty retelling of canon during WWII. Gideon is the butchest, boldest lesbian you can imagine, and is constantly out-gentleman'ing poor Paramedes in pursuit of Dulcinea.