1st Yuletide Recs post of 2020

[keerawa]

I have a baker's dozen recs so far in as many fandoms: Cordelia Movie Poster, Duolingo, The Sea Witch (art), The Cremation of Sam McGee (Robert Service poem), Aladdin (movie), Agatha Christie's Poirot & Among Us, Rivers of London, In Plain Sight (TV), Uhura's Song, Pawns & Symbols, Hard Core Logo, Killjoys (TV), In the Flesh (TV).

Don't Need to Know Canon: Cordelia Movie Poster, Duolingo, The Sea Witch (art)
It's the Best Time of the Year (3268 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Cordelia (Movie Poster 2020)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Relationships: Man (Cordelia Movie Poster)/Woman (Cordelia Movie Poster)
Characters: Man (Cordelia Movie Poster), Woman (Cordelia Movie Poster)
Additional Tags: Crueltide, Murder Mystery, Time Loop, casefic, Monsters, Horror, dubcon
Summary: Every day was Christmas, and every Christmas was murder.
Bookmarker's Notes: A dark and brilliant gem of a fic - murders and time loops and a mysterious, beautiful woman. *shivers*
Translate This Sentence (2492 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Internet & Social Media (Anthropomorphic), X-Men - All Media Types, Sherlock (TV), Marvel Cinematic Universe
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Duolingo Owl (Anthropomorphic), Duolingo (Anthropomorphic), Original Characters
Additional Tags: Humor, Friendship, Fandom Allusions & Cliches & References, Brief references to Charles/Erik & Steve/Tony & Sherlock/John/Mary, Anthropomorphic, Fluff, Language
Summary: After finding some very fannish translation exercises on Duolingo, one user starts to wonder if Duo might be in the same fan communities that she is.
Bookmarker's Notes:

Translate this sentence: Peace was never an option
Okay, Gem thought, that was a strange example to test the imperfect tense. But where have I heard that before?
Charming meta - fun and so very yuletide!

Invocation to the Weaver of Waters (100 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Sea Witch - Adrien Amilhat
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: The Sea Witch (Amilhat)
Additional Tags: Yuletide, Yuletide 2020, Yuletide Madness, Yuletide Madness Drabble Invitational, Drabble, Poetry, Alliteration, Nets and Weaving
Summary: She waits, weaving waters, watching and warding
Bookmarker's Notes: Stunning poem with perfect alliteration and imagery.

Benfits from some knowledge of canon: The Cremation of Sam McGee (Robert Service poem), Aladdin (movie), Agatha Christie's Poirot & Among Us

Conflagration (1074 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Cremation of Sam McGee - Robert Service
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Major Character Death
Relationships: Sam McGee/Narrator
Characters: Sam McGee, Narrator
Additional Tags: Canonical Character Death, Non-Canonical Character Death, maybe? - Freeform, is it death or is it conversion to cryptid?
Summary: In the years after he takes Sam McGee on the Christmas mail run to Whitehorse, the narrator dreams of what might have been -- and what might still be.
Bookmarker's Notes: The author has done a marvelous job of taking Service's poem and turning it into something other, a doomed uncanny love story.
The Tigers Have Spoken (2091 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Aladdin (1992)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Aladdin & Rajah (Disney), Aladdin/Jasmine (Disney) (background), Jasmine & Rajah (Disney)
Characters: Rajah (Disney: Aladdin), Aladdin (Disney), Jasmine (Disney)
Additional Tags: Language Barrier, Protective Rajah, POV Rajah
Summary:

“Jasmine, I’ve been—” The boy stops short when he sees it’s not the princess herself come to greet him, but the princess’s tiger. “Oh. Um. Hi. I was just…”
Rajah plants himself in the middle of the doorway. He is a solid barrier, but he is also ready to move, should the boy decide to try any of his idiot cleverness. He knows the boy can tell.
Rajah is very good at his job.

Bookmarker's Notes: This fic creates a beat of silence, of devotion and wisdom, within the canonical story. Rajah is a loyal guardian and a dear friend to his princess. The boy's not worthy of her - then again, who could be?
The Murderer is Among Us Now (1471 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Poirot - Agatha Christie, Among Us (Video Game), Agatha Christie's Poirot (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Hercule Poirot, Arthur Hastings, Ariadne Oliver, James Japp, Felicity Lemon
Summary: If the world's greatest detective were alive in 2020 and unable to go out to detect, what indignities might he be willing to suffer to keep his little gray cells sharp?
Bookmarker's Notes: Exquisite Poirot-voice, absolutely hilarious, and the perfect ending to 2020.


Must Know Canon: Rivers of London, In Plain Sight (TV), Uhura's Song, Pawns & Symbols, Hard Core Logo, Killjoys (TV), In the Flesh (TV)

Friend from Foe (3117 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Peter Grant (Rivers of London), Thomas Nightingale, Martin Chorley|Faceless Man
Additional Tags: Action/Adventure, Mind Manipulation, Post-Book: Foxglove Summer
Summary: Everyone knew about the open day at Casterbrook. Even the Faceless Man.
Bookmarker's Notes: One of my gifts. Read it for an intense confrontation with the Faceless Man and a deeply satisfying conclusion.
the sky above me, like a full recovery (1500 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: In Plain Sight (US TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Marshall Mann, Mary Shannon
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
Summary: Mary's looking forward to spending Christmas alone.
She should have known it couldn't be that easy.
Bookmarker's Notes:

"Well, I'm thinking a rousing fire, you in a cable-knit sweater, singing carols, roasting chestnuts. Drinking eggnog. Partying like it's 1899. You know, the whole nine yards."
The perfect holiday-themed banter between Mary and Marshall.

Diplomacy (5273 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Uhura's Song - Janet Kagan
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Tail-Kinker & Spock (Uhura's Song - Janet Kagan)
Characters: Spock (Star Trek), Tail-Kinker to-Ennien, Sarek (Star Trek), Another StarFreedom to-Eeaiou, Brightspot to-Ennien
Summary: Sivao is on its way to joining the Federation, if they can just get through the talks with Eeaiou and the Federation. Stiff Tail is their main representative and the Federation has asked Spock, Uhura, Chekhov, Academy Cadet Brightspot to-Ennien, and Another StarFreedom to Eeaiou to help the Federation delegation. Spock requests the noted diplomat Tail-Kinker to-Ennien as a member of their party.
Bookmarker's Notes: Uhura's Song is one of my favorite books, and this YT fic is a too-short but worthy sequel. I love the deep competency and empathy of the Federation team, including Sarek, the playfulness of Tail-Kinker, the bardic references, and the anthropological awareness.
i have begun to ask for you (i who have no need) (2922 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Trek - Various Authors, Pawns & Symbols - Majliss Larson
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jean Czerny/Tirax
Characters: Jean Czerny, Tirax (Star Trek)
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Amnesia, Rescue, Arguing, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Unresolved Emotional Tension, Yuletide Treat
Summary: "Then go find some wares more to your taste," the crewman spat, "and get out of our way."
"No," the Klingon said, and then—then, at last, his eyes did flicker to her after all. To her, and no one else; he didn't have to search the faces of the other slaves to find hers, wasn't looking them over and singling her out as the best-suited to his needs. It was as if he'd known she'd be there, as if he'd seen her the moment the turbolift doors had opened and tracked her every motion since, but only now was willing to give away that he had.
Bookmarker's Notes: Intense, amnesia-trope, enemies-to-nope, still enemies with Czerny captured by Orion slavers and poor Tirax tasked to retrieve her from them.
Strength of the Pack (2659 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Hard Core Logo (1996)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Joe Dick/Billy Tallent
Characters: Joe Dick, Billy Tallent, John Oxenberger, Pipefitter (Hard Core Logo)
Additional Tags: Horror, Alternate Universe
Summary: Something's *wrong* with Joe.
Bookmarker's Notes: Joe wakes up in the woods with no memory of what happened last night, covered in someone else's blood. The woods part seemed a little strange. Excellent character voice!
Lead Me To Your Door (4786 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Killjoys (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Dutch | Yalena Yardeen & Johnny Jaqobis
Characters: Dutch | Yalena Yardeen, Johnny Jaqobis, Lucy (Killjoys)
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Case Fic, Reunions, Minor Violence
Summary: Dutch arrives on a space station to do a job and is surprised to see a very familiar ship a few berths over.
Bookmarker's Notes: Perfect post-canon, with Dutch, Johnny and Lucy reuniting on the job.
Of Nightmares and Dreams (3376 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: In the Flesh (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Sue Walker, Jem Walker, Kieren Walker, Steve Walker (In The Flesh)
Additional Tags: Introspection, Nightmares, Depression, Suicidal Thoughts, Mentions of Suicide, (last three tags are canon-typical level), Zombie Apocalypse, Post-Zombie Apocalypse, Family Drama, Family Feels, Healing, Mother-Son Relationship, Mother-Daughter Relationship, Yuletide 2020, Gift Exchange
Summary: Sue is alone with a depressed husband who lost the ability to smile and a girl-turned-hunter who’s out there gunning down monsters to make herself feel again.
A mother is supposed to be the glue that helps the family unit stick together, but all Sue’s got are broken pieces floating in a puddle of her own misery.
Bookmarker's Notes: A brutally dark and unflinching look at one family's slow recovery in the aftermath of 'In the Flesh's zombie apocalypse. It hurts, but it's worth it.

Comments

[hurry_sundown]

Thanks for posting these, dear. The HCL and RoL were excellent (those are what I've read so far).