Yuletide Recs I

[selenak]

Part of the Yuletide experience is also the fretting about one's own stories. I was fretting A LOT until literally an hour ago when I got the lovely feedback from my main recipient which assured me she liked my Yuletide story. (Given she's someone I highly respect in another fandom than the one we were matched, I was mightily relieved.) With that burden off my chest, I can proceed to the reccing stage. :) A first bunch of recs, to be followed by many more, under the cut.



Being Human

i am a monster (is this what it feels like to be a man) (1456 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Being Human (UK)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Hal Yorke
Additional Tags: Character Study, Backstory, mention of canon character death, Pre series, Post Series, Historical Illusions
Summary:

August, 1485. One King dies, another replaces him. This doesn't mean anything to an illiterate prostitute who slips a son out that evening in Cheapside, London. The woman and her midwife name him Harry, after their new King, and tell him one day he will be a Lord.

(Or, Five Lessons Hal Learns in Leadership. 1485-2013)

Great Hal character portrait through the centuries, the way he construct his various identities; also, I dig the history use and the sneaky Thomas Cromwell cameo.

Broadchurch:

Former Detectives Club (1069 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Broadchurch
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Author Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Ellie Miller, Alec Hardy
Summary:

"Have you always been like this?" she asks, exasperated.

Most Broadchurch stories were shipping Ellie Miller and Alec Hardy romantically, when one of the things I liked about the relationship was that they DIDN'T have UST, so I was thrilled to come across this friendship story, capturing their bristly comradery and giving us a plausible, understated glimpse at Ellie Miller trying to deal with the aftermath of the series' events.

Coriolanus

Sleight (2389 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Coriolanus - Shakespeare
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Relationships: Tullus Aufidius/Caius Martius
Characters: Tullus Aufidius, Caius Martius (Coriolanus)
Summary:

This is a hate story.

He is not a clever man, but he is a good one. A good soldier. Coriolanus is a better one.

The Ralph Fiennes film version of the play was the first one that brought out the homoerotic dimension of the Tullus Aufidius/Caius Martius relationship to me. Mind you, this is definitely enemy slash - which feels right for these characters! - with neither of them suddenly acknowledging their secret woobieness.

Elementary

All I Want for Christmas is You (to Help Me Find Evidence to Take Down a Brainwashing, Kidnapping Cult) (2972 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Elementary (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Joan Watson (Elementary), Ms. Hudson (Elementary), Sherlock Holmes, Marcus Bell
Additional Tags: Christmas Eve, Domestic, Joan Watson POV, Background Femslash, Male-Female Friendship, Background Case
Summary:

"You told there was an emergency,” Bell said.

“He told me there was a dinner party,” Ms. Hudson said, bringing out a fresh plate of sugar cookies for the detective.

“He told me nothing,” Joan said, “and now I’m working on Christmas Eve.”

“Yes, it’s a Christmas miracle,” Sherlock said. “Watson here was just complaining to me that she had nothing to do tonight.”

Christmas Eve with Sherlock involves exactly as much casework as you would expect. It's a good thing Joan enjoys the work. The fact that Ms. Hudson is there to keep her company doesn't hurt either.

And sometimes you're just in the mood for fluff and cheer and adorable character interaction, which this story provides a plenty. I squeed.

The Evolution of Reptiles (7708 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Elementary (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Author Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Jamie Moriarty | Irene Adler, Joan Watson (Elementary)
Additional Tags: Magical Realism
Summary:

"You could at least pretend at some small talk before you pull out the crayons," Moriarty says.

Superb post season 1 interaction between Moriarty and Watson, using Moriarty's artistic abilities really well.

Emma

#knemma (6329 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Emma - Jane Austen
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: George Knightley/Emma Woodhouse
Characters: George Knightley, Emma Woodhouse
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Fans & Fandom, Chatlogs, follows the plot of the novel, Female Character of Color
Summary:

Emma W
you know, you set really high standards
for the men in my life
GK
What?
Emma W
I guess this is how Tom Hiddleston’s little sister feels
if he has one.
GK
I guess.

AUs that transport Austen's Emma into the present have Clueless to contend with, and I'm impressed this one pulls it off by choosing another format entirely. It's also hilarious meta on fandom, with both Emma and Knightley as BNFs.

History

Deliverance (987 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 15th Century CE RPF
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Juana of Castile, Catherine of Aragon
Summary:

A father's lies, a husband's faithlessness and a woman's fight for justice. Juana's story in three letters.

Juana always breaks my heart whenever I think of her, and this story only deepens the feeling. Well done.

Orphan Black

One of the many great and amazing things about Orphan Black is how not only did our leading lady play utterly distinct and different characters but how these characters had utterly different relationships with the same person at times. As with Sarah's adopted brother Felix, who in addition to having one of those sibling relationships which I love with her forms a delightfully odd couply friendship with her clone Alison. These stories portray both very well.

Networking (3160 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Orphan Black (TV)
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: Author Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Alison Hendrix, Felix Dawkins, Sarah Manning
Additional Tags: Holidays, Alison and Felix are BFFs Forever!
Summary:

Alison attempts to help; Felix overreacts.

you gotta go there to come back (2444 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Orphan Black (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Felix Dawkins & Sarah Manning
Characters: Felix Dawkins, Sarah Manning
Additional Tags: Adopted Sibling Relationship, Character Study, Pre-Canon
Summary:

Sarah leaves; Felix waits.

A Place of Greater Safety - Hilary Mantel

Conductors of Light (2812 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: A Place of Greater Safety - Hilary Mantel
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Maximilien Robespierre, Camille Desmoulins, Georges Jacques Danton
Summary:

What is the position of magicians in France? As well ask, what is the position of one who practices the law? It varies.

Neat AU, or maybe "fusion" is a more correct term, in which magic is a thing in pre Revolutionary France as described by Hilary Mantel, and her narrative tone is matched exactly.