Auf dem Zaun

Because I have SO MUCH to squee about, and I'm still squeeing almost all the time, although it's already the night of the 27th. That's how insanely and unbelievably good yuletide has been to me this year.

I got two gifts, both completely and utterly wonderful, exactly what I wished for, and more.

Maybe some of you remember that I wished for Reign of Fire fanfic with Quinn/Van Zan slash in last year's Yuletide challenge, and before that at tausch_fiktion.
From the Ashes granted my wish, while staying so true to the movie end time atmosphere. I admit I had to read the story a second time until it really clicked; I guess there was a certain unspoken expectation in my head (which I didn't really know about myself), and when the author of 'From the Ashes' handled my request a bit differently, I first had to adjust my vision. But after I'd done that, oh, it was glorious.
It's the story of what could have happened, had Van Zan survived at the end of the movie, of destroying and building, and of remembering, personally and collectively. There's dirt, ashes and bodily fluids, Pirates of the Caribbean stories, centuries old stone and makeshift machinery, and even a touch of poly relationships (although I might have imagined that, but I don't think so). Go read it, and comment! You don't have to like Quinn/Van Zan to enjoy the story, because there's much more to it than that relationship.

"Life as a superhero: day one. Mission objective: find tea. And a name. I really need a name."
The second gift I got is Five Times Faiza Hussain Meets a Superhero. It's a very different story than 'From the Ashes', and I love it for entirely different reasons, but oh, I love it, I love it so much! It completely nails Faiza's character, showing different episodes of her life before she became a superhero, and directly after it. Kelsey Leigh (the female Captain Britain), Nocturne, Pete and Brian all make an appearance, and the secret author managed to characterize them each perfectly in only one or two short sentences. The humour, the tone, the subtle references to characters' personal and cultural background - it's all so brilliant and shiny, and makes me so happy, just like Captain Britain and MI 13 in its great moments.
Warning: If you read this story, be careful, it will make you want to read the comic. And the comic will make you want to read other comics. Costs time, but is so worth it.

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In the end my own stories (I wrote two, my original assignment and a treat) seem to make me almost as happy as my wonderful gifts. At first I wasn't altogether satisfied with what I had written, but surprisingly I got lots of lovely comments (a total of 11, I think, which is a lot more than I usually get for my German fic, and they are all so nice!), and re-reading my stories I found I actually quite liked them. I'm even content with my English there.

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Interestingly, I'm content all around. I've been feeling rather thin-skinned and unhappy for one or two months, and I was really getting annoyed by that. I have no patience for bad moods. At least for the moment my state of mind has changed for the better, and it's almost (almost!) worth the whiny times because thinking about them makes me appreciate my cheerfulness even more. If that makes sense.
I can see fandom and internet as fun again, not only as an obligation. *takes a deep breath* Thank you, Yuletide. Thank you, iaido. Thank you, world.

Look what I got at Daily Drabble's Wichteln!! Morgana & Arthur sibling fic! (Is that a word, sibling fic?) Isn't it wonderful?

I'm not yet ready to write real posts again, just wanted to wish you all happy holidays - the light is coming back!

Later tonight I'm planning to get involved in some major Yuletide Madness. I have a list of requests I could write something for, and half a fic written.
Is anyone coming to join me, in schreibwut (on aim) maybe?

Ah, and I just bred a mint egg with the code gDU1. Geh Du Eins? Does have a certain charm, doesn't it?
Is there anyone who would like to adopt it?
(shiun, this egg and its sibling were the result of my most recent attempt at breeding a silver for you. It seems you'll have to wait for this Christmas present a bit longer, but eventually I will succeed!)

So, everyone is reading and reccing SGA Big Bang fic.
Not me, of course. I'll be getting to that, but right now I'm busy *cough*
... digging through older Marvel fanfic. In my free time! I still have free time! It's not September yet.

What I actually wanted to say is:
Yesterday I read some of the best porn EVER. I would like to recommend it to you.

crimsonquills: Context is Everything is a 2k PWP.
It has: Steve Rogers, Tony Stark and the Iron Man armor (!!). While I know that almost nobody on my friendslist knows this fandom, I think that maybe really good porn (with armor!!) can still be really good porn (with armor!!!) even if you don't know who you're reading about. And some of you probably know the Iron Man movie, so you can just imagine that Tony has a nice blond boyfriend named Steve (who happens to be Captain America, but that doesn't have to be the point for you).
Context is Everything also did have quite a few (textual, not sexual) attributes that I don't usually go for in porn, but here not only did they not keep me from enjoying the fic, but I think I might have started to think of them as comletely plausible and natural and erotic. I cannot recommend this enough.

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Some other rather random stuff:

- Iron Man was at the GC. Well, okay, probably he just placed his armor there and didn't visit the GC himself, but.

- I have a slight language/ terminology problem: "trope" =/= "Tropus". "trope" = "Topos" ?? Does anybody know that?

- ???

I'm in love with Fuyumi Soryo.
Yesterday I read Cesare, the nine chapters that have been published so far, and being completely hooked by it I searched for the mangaka's other works and came upon Eternal Sabbath. Oh my. It doesn't have swords or magic, BUT it does have a plot, great characters, including one of the most interesting heroines I've seen in years, and moral dilemmata and character development... and while dealing quite a lot with thoughts about 'human existence' and other psychological and philosophical issues, it is never shallow or immature.
Apart from that - I just love Fuyumi's artwork. In Cesare, the detailed and vivid pictures pulled me right into the scenery of 15th century Pisa - I'm nothing of a history geek (sadly), but if my history lessons would have been like that, I sure I would have become one. Eternal Sabbath is not as stunning, but nevertheless still beautiful and exact, which fits the setting and characters (Kujou Mine ♥ is a neurologist, and, well, I'm not telling you anything about the other characters :)).


And now for something completely different - adressing the thousands of Tamora Pierce fans on my friendslist. xavie wrote a short Alanna/Harry Potter crossover for the otw_onlinecon-Fannish Past Challenge. The second part of this challenge says to cross your first fandom with your current fandom. Does anyone want to do it, too? There are certainly not enough crossovers in the world. I'm planning to write a short crossover, too, but I'm not sure if I'll manage it, I don't really seem to be in control of myself at the moment. (Where's that next chapter? Ah! *opens comic reader*)

Look, I was given a great gift for Yuletide:
Three Nights and Forever, a story in the world of Guy Gavriel Kay's The Fionavar Tapestry, which is one of my favourite book series ever.

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Now I'm reading through hundreds of wonderful stories at the Yuletide archive. I already stumbled upon this gem:

Courting the Enemy.
The fandom is The Chronicles of Riddick series (I hope you've seen the movies, if you haven't, go watch them), the story is Riddick/Vaako and has fights, power games, Riddick and Vaako, obviously, and is hot and breathtaking.
(*looks for Riddick-icon on hard drive*)

[List will be updated]