Yuletide Recs Post!
I'm still making my way through the archive and thought I'd share some stuff I've really enjoyed so far, including an unexpected gift for me!
If you enjoy any of the fics below, please don't forget to leave their authors kudos or a comments on AO3!
Title: Regular Kismet
Fandom: Constantine & Now You See Me (Movies)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: None
Characters: John Constantine, Angela Dodson, Balthazar, Henley Reeves, Chas Kramer
Pairing: John Constantine/Henley Reeves
Additional Tags: Eventual Happy Ending, Humor, Comfort, Romance, Supernatural Elements, Families of Choice
Summary: After the Near End of the World, John Constantine slowly stops existing to begin living. Happily ever after is a process, but he'll get there. Eventually.
Need to know canon: Yes for Constantine, context is important.
This arrived in my inbox yesterday as a completely unexpected gift and a part of Yuletide Madness!
Thank you Author Anon! I didn't sign up so I wasn't a recipient, I just wrote a couple of gifts and wasn't expecting anything, least of all something this cool.
John becomes Angela's new sister, and both of them belong to Isabel's cat, whose name is Duck, and somehow John gets his groove back and lands a hot date in this unexpectedly delightful crossover. Also, CHAS!!! Thank you for giving me some post-movie Chas <3
***
Title: On the Shore, the Whale Bone and the Horseshoe Crab
Fandom: Aliens (1986)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Ellen Ripley, Dwayne Hicks, Bishop, Rebecca "Newt" Jorden
Pairing: Dwayne Hicks/Ellen Ripley
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alien 3 (1992) Never Happened
Summary: "Hey, it's proteins and electrolytes. It could be worse. You're welcome to try to get the machine to dispense something else," Ripley said, leaning against the open edge of his pod. "Coffee. Water."
"Tequila," Hicks offered. "Margaritas."
Ripley laughed, a loud and full-body laugh, and Hicks chuckled throatily at her reaction -- and from the walkie-talkie on Ripley's belt loop came the tinny approximation of an android/spaceship clearing his/its throat.
Need to know canon: Yes. Context is important.
I really loved the Bishop & the Sulaco interactions in this, they're totally culture shock BFFs now and nobody can tell me different. Hicks deferring to Ripley was 1000% Correct also. The Alternate Ending they deserve, frankly.
***
Title: The Funny Pit
Fandom: Golden Girls
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: None
Characters: Dorothy Zbornak, Blanche Devereaux, Sophia Petrillo, Rose Nylund
Additional Tags: Crossovers & Fandom Fusions, Alternate Universe - The Purge Fusion, Minor Violence, Humor, Family Fluff, Angst with a Happy Ending, Mild Angst, Banter, Cheesecake
Summary: The girls spend Purge night eating cheesecake, swapping stories - and worrying about Blanche, who's terribly late.
Then someone jostled the doorknob. Dorothy automatically reached for the bowie knife she’d strapped to her hip (no matter the government’s latest choices, she couldn’t bring herself to buy a gun - unlike Sophia and Blanche, both of whom owned models that they spent the rest of the year storing in awkward places and occasionally forgetting they owned. More than once a year Dorothy found herself staring at a revolver accidentally left in the freezer ‘for safekeeping’).
Need to know canon: Yes for Golden Girls, to appreciate the sitcom feel of this, and the fond insults.
I don't even know what The Purge is that this is crossed over with, but the whole thing is delightfully cracky and read like an episode of Golden Girls, and I was genuinely delighted.
***
Title: Runs radiating under
Fandom: The Eagle | The Eagle of the Ninth (2011)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose not to warn
Characters: Marcus Flavius Aquila/Esca Mac Cunoval
Pairing: Marcus/Esca
Additional Tags: Road Trips, Post-Canon, Alternate Ending, Pining, Introspection, Mithraism, Happy Ending, First Kiss
Summary: After resolving the matter with the eagle, Marcus and Esca slowly head back south to Calleva.
In which Esca is busy with logistics, planning, cultural mediation, networking, and future planning. Meanwhile, Marcus has a lot of feelings.
Need to know canon: Yes. Context is important.
This was such a great character study - the author tags it as alternate ending and suggests that instead of bringing the eagle back, they burn it on Guern's funeral pyre and simply make their way down to Calleva and while I love this give-no-fucks ending for them, truthfully this fic would work for any point in time after their adventure. It's just a really nice look at Marcus' state of mind after everything that's happened, the way he comes to some realisations, and I really enjoyed the uncertain and tentative feel of it. The ending is perfect.
***
Title: Perks of Being a Bembridge Scholar
Fandom: The Mummy Series
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Characters: Evy Carnahan O'Connell, Rick O'Connell
Pairing: Evy Carnahan O'Connell/Rick O'Connell
Additional Tags: Banter, Museums, Mummies, Married Couple, Anniversary
Summary: It's Evelyn and Rick's first anniversary, and Evelyn has a perfect evening planned: an after-hours visit to the National Museum in Denmark. Just her, Rick, and centuries of history. No harm ever came from walking through a museum, after all.
Need to know canon: Yes, though you could probably still enjoy the fic without any more indepth knowledge than this: they're married, they have terrible luck with mummies and artifacts, she's the brains and he's the brawn and they're both hot af.
This was so great, and full of great, memorable lines. Loved the way that this day-in-the-life turns something really extraordinary into just another thing that happens on their watch and of course it only happens to them! Really nice banter too, that clearly shows how much they love each other and I love that a lot.
***
I do not know what's going on in the Die Hard fandom this year but fuck, I like it!! All 3 fics posted were gorgeous and I'm reccing them all. Thanks anon authors, you did great!
Title: From the Wreckage
Fandom: Die Hard (Movies), Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: None
Characters: John McClane, Matt Farrell
Pairing: Matt Farrell/John McClane
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Cohabitation, Hurt/Comfort, Getting Together, Domestic Fluff, Banter
Summary: It's five in the afternoon on a Tuesday when Matt shows up at John's doorstep, backpack flung over his shoulder and a duffle bag in his hand.
Need to know canon: Yes. Context is important.
Oh, I loved this one. They have such a great dynamic here; John's internal monologue admitting his resting bitchface is 90% bullshit, and Matt gently, gradually making his way through John's defences and into his living room. LOVED the h/c of this, both of them are still recovering as it's fairly soon after the events of the movie. I'm a huge sucker for age gap and this was very well done.
Title: Christmas Harder
Fandom: Die Hard (Movies), Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: None
Characters: John McClane, Matt Farrell
Pairing: Matt Farrell/John McClane
Additional Tags: Christmas Fluff, Domestic Fluff, Cooking, Getting Together
Summary: "See, that's the thing." Lucy pauses to eat another slice of orange. "This is my dad's apartment, so out of the two of us, which of us has the right to be here?"
And that's the crux of it, really. Matt knows he doesn't belong here with the McClanes. He really does, but he likes living with John. Really. He never would have thought it possible. His old self, before the fire sale, would laugh. Warlock still laughs at him. But it's strangely nice and not only because all of his possessions were blown up and he had literally nowhere to go.
Need to know canon: Yes. Context is important.
Another awesome post-canon wreck, in which Matt wonders why John burned the newspaper he was looking through for a new apartment, John figures out it's important to say things out loud sometimes, and Lucy is fed up with wading knee deep in unresolved sexual tension, and I LOVED IT.
Title: All I Want for Christmas (Is Han Solo Saving the Day)
Fandom: Die Hard (Movies)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: None
Characters: John McClane, Matt Farrell
Pairing: Matt Farrell/John McClane
Additional Tags: Christmas Shopping
Summary: John goes Christmas shopping. (spoiler: it doesn't go well)
This was so cute and funny, I smiled through the whole thing. I don't want to spoil, but it's immediately apparent from the very outset that a miscommunication has occurred and I read the whole thing kind of laughing and cringing for poor, normally very competent John, so out of his depth.
Need to know canon: Nope, just a great short little vignette about a couple of dudes trying to keep things casual at Christmas.
***
Title: standing sentinel
Fandom: Alien vs Predator (2004)Aliens vs Predators Series - Various Authors
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: None
Characters: Scar (Predator), Alexa Woods
Pairing: Scar/Alexa Woods, Scar & Alexa Woods
Additional Tags: Alien Culture, Alien Cultural Differences, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Ending
Summary: He gestures towards himself, towards her. Fist against his heart, and a chirp. Partners.
Need to know canon: Yeah, context is important.
I liked seeing Scar's people's customs and lives through Alexa's eyes and it was so interesting to imagine what his people think of her, this fragile human woman wearing her kill scar with pride. I really love this unlikely pairing and while the author - being unsure of the recip's views on such things - restrained themselves at writing actual alien cock, I hope they will remedy in future in a sequel. What i'm taking away from this fic: headcanons accepted! Alexa is Scar's mate now even though she doesn't know it yet, and hey that's a fun conversation topic as you learn another language, right? This entry was originally posted at https://alby-mangroves.dreamwidth.org/76045.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
If you enjoy any of the fics below, please don't forget to leave their authors kudos or a comments on AO3!
Title: Regular Kismet
Fandom: Constantine & Now You See Me (Movies)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: None
Characters: John Constantine, Angela Dodson, Balthazar, Henley Reeves, Chas Kramer
Pairing: John Constantine/Henley Reeves
Additional Tags: Eventual Happy Ending, Humor, Comfort, Romance, Supernatural Elements, Families of Choice
Summary: After the Near End of the World, John Constantine slowly stops existing to begin living. Happily ever after is a process, but he'll get there. Eventually.
Need to know canon: Yes for Constantine, context is important.
This arrived in my inbox yesterday as a completely unexpected gift and a part of Yuletide Madness!
Thank you Author Anon! I didn't sign up so I wasn't a recipient, I just wrote a couple of gifts and wasn't expecting anything, least of all something this cool.
John becomes Angela's new sister, and both of them belong to Isabel's cat, whose name is Duck, and somehow John gets his groove back and lands a hot date in this unexpectedly delightful crossover. Also, CHAS!!! Thank you for giving me some post-movie Chas <3
***
Title: On the Shore, the Whale Bone and the Horseshoe Crab
Fandom: Aliens (1986)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Ellen Ripley, Dwayne Hicks, Bishop, Rebecca "Newt" Jorden
Pairing: Dwayne Hicks/Ellen Ripley
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alien 3 (1992) Never Happened
Summary: "Hey, it's proteins and electrolytes. It could be worse. You're welcome to try to get the machine to dispense something else," Ripley said, leaning against the open edge of his pod. "Coffee. Water."
"Tequila," Hicks offered. "Margaritas."
Ripley laughed, a loud and full-body laugh, and Hicks chuckled throatily at her reaction -- and from the walkie-talkie on Ripley's belt loop came the tinny approximation of an android/spaceship clearing his/its throat.
Need to know canon: Yes. Context is important.
I really loved the Bishop & the Sulaco interactions in this, they're totally culture shock BFFs now and nobody can tell me different. Hicks deferring to Ripley was 1000% Correct also. The Alternate Ending they deserve, frankly.
***
Title: The Funny Pit
Fandom: Golden Girls
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: None
Characters: Dorothy Zbornak, Blanche Devereaux, Sophia Petrillo, Rose Nylund
Additional Tags: Crossovers & Fandom Fusions, Alternate Universe - The Purge Fusion, Minor Violence, Humor, Family Fluff, Angst with a Happy Ending, Mild Angst, Banter, Cheesecake
Summary: The girls spend Purge night eating cheesecake, swapping stories - and worrying about Blanche, who's terribly late.
Then someone jostled the doorknob. Dorothy automatically reached for the bowie knife she’d strapped to her hip (no matter the government’s latest choices, she couldn’t bring herself to buy a gun - unlike Sophia and Blanche, both of whom owned models that they spent the rest of the year storing in awkward places and occasionally forgetting they owned. More than once a year Dorothy found herself staring at a revolver accidentally left in the freezer ‘for safekeeping’).
Need to know canon: Yes for Golden Girls, to appreciate the sitcom feel of this, and the fond insults.
I don't even know what The Purge is that this is crossed over with, but the whole thing is delightfully cracky and read like an episode of Golden Girls, and I was genuinely delighted.
***
Title: Runs radiating under
Fandom: The Eagle | The Eagle of the Ninth (2011)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose not to warn
Characters: Marcus Flavius Aquila/Esca Mac Cunoval
Pairing: Marcus/Esca
Additional Tags: Road Trips, Post-Canon, Alternate Ending, Pining, Introspection, Mithraism, Happy Ending, First Kiss
Summary: After resolving the matter with the eagle, Marcus and Esca slowly head back south to Calleva.
In which Esca is busy with logistics, planning, cultural mediation, networking, and future planning. Meanwhile, Marcus has a lot of feelings.
Need to know canon: Yes. Context is important.
This was such a great character study - the author tags it as alternate ending and suggests that instead of bringing the eagle back, they burn it on Guern's funeral pyre and simply make their way down to Calleva and while I love this give-no-fucks ending for them, truthfully this fic would work for any point in time after their adventure. It's just a really nice look at Marcus' state of mind after everything that's happened, the way he comes to some realisations, and I really enjoyed the uncertain and tentative feel of it. The ending is perfect.
***
Title: Perks of Being a Bembridge Scholar
Fandom: The Mummy Series
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Characters: Evy Carnahan O'Connell, Rick O'Connell
Pairing: Evy Carnahan O'Connell/Rick O'Connell
Additional Tags: Banter, Museums, Mummies, Married Couple, Anniversary
Summary: It's Evelyn and Rick's first anniversary, and Evelyn has a perfect evening planned: an after-hours visit to the National Museum in Denmark. Just her, Rick, and centuries of history. No harm ever came from walking through a museum, after all.
Need to know canon: Yes, though you could probably still enjoy the fic without any more indepth knowledge than this: they're married, they have terrible luck with mummies and artifacts, she's the brains and he's the brawn and they're both hot af.
This was so great, and full of great, memorable lines. Loved the way that this day-in-the-life turns something really extraordinary into just another thing that happens on their watch and of course it only happens to them! Really nice banter too, that clearly shows how much they love each other and I love that a lot.
***
I do not know what's going on in the Die Hard fandom this year but fuck, I like it!! All 3 fics posted were gorgeous and I'm reccing them all. Thanks anon authors, you did great!
Title: From the Wreckage
Fandom: Die Hard (Movies), Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: None
Characters: John McClane, Matt Farrell
Pairing: Matt Farrell/John McClane
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Cohabitation, Hurt/Comfort, Getting Together, Domestic Fluff, Banter
Summary: It's five in the afternoon on a Tuesday when Matt shows up at John's doorstep, backpack flung over his shoulder and a duffle bag in his hand.
Need to know canon: Yes. Context is important.
Oh, I loved this one. They have such a great dynamic here; John's internal monologue admitting his resting bitchface is 90% bullshit, and Matt gently, gradually making his way through John's defences and into his living room. LOVED the h/c of this, both of them are still recovering as it's fairly soon after the events of the movie. I'm a huge sucker for age gap and this was very well done.
Title: Christmas Harder
Fandom: Die Hard (Movies), Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: None
Characters: John McClane, Matt Farrell
Pairing: Matt Farrell/John McClane
Additional Tags: Christmas Fluff, Domestic Fluff, Cooking, Getting Together
Summary: "See, that's the thing." Lucy pauses to eat another slice of orange. "This is my dad's apartment, so out of the two of us, which of us has the right to be here?"
And that's the crux of it, really. Matt knows he doesn't belong here with the McClanes. He really does, but he likes living with John. Really. He never would have thought it possible. His old self, before the fire sale, would laugh. Warlock still laughs at him. But it's strangely nice and not only because all of his possessions were blown up and he had literally nowhere to go.
Need to know canon: Yes. Context is important.
Another awesome post-canon wreck, in which Matt wonders why John burned the newspaper he was looking through for a new apartment, John figures out it's important to say things out loud sometimes, and Lucy is fed up with wading knee deep in unresolved sexual tension, and I LOVED IT.
Title: All I Want for Christmas (Is Han Solo Saving the Day)
Fandom: Die Hard (Movies)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: None
Characters: John McClane, Matt Farrell
Pairing: Matt Farrell/John McClane
Additional Tags: Christmas Shopping
Summary: John goes Christmas shopping. (spoiler: it doesn't go well)
This was so cute and funny, I smiled through the whole thing. I don't want to spoil, but it's immediately apparent from the very outset that a miscommunication has occurred and I read the whole thing kind of laughing and cringing for poor, normally very competent John, so out of his depth.
Need to know canon: Nope, just a great short little vignette about a couple of dudes trying to keep things casual at Christmas.
***
Title: standing sentinel
Fandom: Alien vs Predator (2004)Aliens vs Predators Series - Various Authors
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: None
Characters: Scar (Predator), Alexa Woods
Pairing: Scar/Alexa Woods, Scar & Alexa Woods
Additional Tags: Alien Culture, Alien Cultural Differences, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Ending
Summary: He gestures towards himself, towards her. Fist against his heart, and a chirp. Partners.
Need to know canon: Yeah, context is important.
I liked seeing Scar's people's customs and lives through Alexa's eyes and it was so interesting to imagine what his people think of her, this fragile human woman wearing her kill scar with pride. I really love this unlikely pairing and while the author - being unsure of the recip's views on such things - restrained themselves at writing actual alien cock, I hope they will remedy in future in a sequel. What i'm taking away from this fic: headcanons accepted! Alexa is Scar's mate now even though she doesn't know it yet, and hey that's a fun conversation topic as you learn another language, right? This entry was originally posted at https://alby-mangroves.dreamwidth.org/76045.html. Please comment there using OpenID.