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And the New Year's journal reset continues. :) Here are the non-anon gifts I received in 2021, leaving out only those archive-locked or where the authors chose to disable the share feature. I was very blessed in that respect this year!

( Links to 13 Stories Behind Cut: Angel, Firefly, Jurassic Park, Riddick, Love and Friendship, Fast and the Furious, King Arthur: LOTS, Person of Interest, Leverage, B:tVS/John Wick )

As promised, here are the non-archived locked gifts I received the first half of 2020. :)

Quite a variety here! Hope you find something to enjoy here as well:

Rebuild, Renew, Restore (3086 words, G) by tielan
Fandom: Pacific Rim (Movies)
Relationships: Mako Mori & Jake Pentecost, Raleigh Becket/Mako Mori, Raleigh Becket & Jake Pentecost
Additional Tags: Post-Movie: Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018), Fix-It

Hey Little Sister (1150 words, NR) by Grundy
Fandom: Knives Out (2019), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV)
Relationships: Alicia Cabrera & Marta Cabrera
Additional Tags: Post-Movie, Crossover
Summary: Marta and her sister are settling into their new house and changed circumstances.

friends in highly low places (5597 words, T) by xslytherclawx
Fandom: Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, Star Wars - All Media Types, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV)
Relationships: Anakin Skywalker/Buffy Summers
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Crossover, Crossover Pairings, Pre-Relationship, Getting Together
Summary: Anakin Skywalker has, all things considered, had a pretty shitty life. There was a time when he thought things might be better, but as it was, the best thing that had ever happened to him was when Watto sold him and his mother to Cliegg Lars, who then freed them. Which isn’t a high bar.

Hell's Bells or Heaven's Bells (100 words, G) by Corina
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV)
Relationships: Xander Harris/Anya Jenkins
Additional Tags: Drabble, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Fix-It
Summary: Xander and Anya drabble for the episode Hell's Bells.

Family above all else (100 words, T) by Corina
Fandom: Fast & Furious (Movies)
Relationships: Elena Neves/Dominic Toretto
Additional Tags: Drabble, Fix-It
Summary: In which Dominic Toretto saves Elena Neves.

a brand new box of matches (200 words, G) by nowrunalong
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV)
Relationships: Buffy Summers & Dawn Summers
Additional Tags: Sisters, Protectiveness, Episode: s02e14 Innocence, Drabble Pair, Extra Treat
Summary: Buffy sits alone in her room.

Perspective (100 words) by LittleRaven
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV)
Relationships: Buffy Summers & Kendra Young
Additional Tags: Drabble, Episode Tag, Missing Scene, Episode: s02e09-10 What's My Line
Summary: Buffy and Kendra carve out a little time before Kendra leaves Sunnydale.

Touch (1182 words, M) by innie
Fandom: Salt (2010)
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Relationships: Evelyn Salt & Ted Winter, Mike Krause/Evelyn Salt, Peabody/Evelyn Salt
Summary: It should be simple, being touched.

Apparently I've been forgetting to rec the gifts-for-me this year. But then, it's been that kind of year - multiple unexpected, exhausting RL events hitting one after another. Apologies, lovely authors! These stories were all very, very much enjoyed.

I haven't had time to write much outside these artificially imposed deadlines - don't think I'm going to make my getyourwordsout goal, but I am trying to keep at least some momentum going. So here we are: my prezzies from chocolateboxcomm, multifandomdrabble, nightonficmountain, fandom5k, and not_primetime.

(Minus one ficlet from an author who turned off their AO3 share button - respecting that choice.)

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The Bag (451 words) by Ashling
Fandom: Jack Reacher (Movies)
Rating: General Audiences; Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Samantha Dutton & Jack Reacher
Characters: Jack Reacher, Samantha Dutton
Additional Tags: Post-Canon
Summary: Nothing can ever be easy. Not with Reacher.

With All the Exits Sealed (200 words) by SegaBarrett
Fandom: Firefly
Rating: General Audiences; Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Malcolm Reynolds/Inara Serra
Characters: Inara Serra, Malcolm Reynolds
Additional Tags: Double Drabble
Summary: Mal and Inara and the dance they do.

Recoup Planning (100 words) by LittleRaven
Fandom: Firefly
Rating: Not Rated; Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Saffron (Firefly)
Additional Tags: Drabble, Episode Related, Episode Tag, post-episode: s01e11 Trash
Summary: Saffron has time to think.

Mornings Maketh (100 words) by heeroluva
Fandom: Firefly
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jayne Cobb/River Tam
Characters: Malcolm Reynolds, River Tam, Jayne Cobb
Additional Tags: Caught, Drabble
Summary: Mal wakes to screaming.

In Want Of (14520 words) by Damkianna
Fandom: Battle Creek (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Russ Agnew/Milt Chamberlain
Characters: Russ Agnew, Milt Chamberlain
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Background Case, Undercover as Married, Trust Issues, Confessions
Summary: "Why, hello there, Mr. and Mr—Baumgartner?" / "Yeah," Russ bites out. "That's us."

the sum of every yesterday (5188 words) by susiecarter
Fandom: The Great Wall (2017)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: William Garin/Pero Tovar
Characters: William Garin, Pero Tovar
Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Time Loop, Reconciliation, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Pining, Denial of Feelings, Kissing
Summary: "The morning as it had passed, the whole day, the day before it," Tovar tries to explain, "it was all—it was unmade. Time ran backward, all at once, instead of forward. When they attacked, with the mist—" / "I remember it," William says, and again Tovar wants to laugh, wild and useless, and bites his tongue hard to stop it. / "Ah, but that's just it, amigo," he says instead, when he's able. "You don't."

Entirely a Matter of Chance (10040 words) by blancwene
Fandom: Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Rating: General Audiences; Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Elizabeth Bennet/Charles Bingley, Mary Bennet/William Collins, Jane Bennet/Original Male Character(s)
Characters: Elizabeth Bennet, Charles Bingley, Charlotte Lucas, Jane Bennet, Fitzwilliam Darcy, William Collins (Pride and Prejudice), Mary Bennet, Mrs. Bennet (Pride and Prejudice), Original Male Character(s)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Developing Relationship
Summary: It is an unfortunate truth that though a mother may bask in the triumph of her eldest daughter’s marriage for an interminable amount of time, she eventually regains her senses. And in Mrs. Bennet’s case, the joy of seeing Jane married to a gentleman met at her brother Gardiner’s in town was only too quickly followed by panic at the realisation that she had four daughters still to settle. (Upon his arrival in Meryton, Mr. Bingley is immediately smitten with a different Miss Bennet.)

So, I haven't been posting personal stuff much lately. Or much at all, really. There's lots of RL reasons for that, only the latest of which is that my mother broke the elbow of her dominant arm badly - twice; required surgery - twice; and has required, and will require, quite a bit of assistance for awhile.

I'd just been starting to get past the depressive phase I'd been struggling with ever since I abruptly ended up having to get my own solo apartment (and nearly doubled living costs that came with it) last spring, and the other family drama that occupied the fall and winter months - and, yeah. Double-shot motivation killer. Fandom's just getting the corners of my life at the moment.

Anyway, I decided to give multifandomdrabble a try this year to see if I could nudge myself forward again, and was blessed with no less than SEVEN awesome gifts:

We're a Happy Family by Ultra
Firefly, Mal & Crew: Mal appreciates the family around him.

Without Words by beedekka
John Wick, John/Winston: John may be 'excommunicado', but that doesn't mean he can't still communicate.

dead is dead by kiss_me_cassie
B:tVS, Buffy & Kendra: Mr. Pointy vs. A Sword.

Good Favor by lionessvalenti
Snow White and the Huntsman, Snow & Eric & William: Eric is teaching Snow White the art of swordsplay. It's not going well.

Wind Beneath Her Wings by klutzy_girl
B:tVS, Buffy/Spike: Spike and Buffy arrive home following their wedding.

Routine Upkeep by st_aurafina
Firefly, Kaylee-centric: Kaylee's learning what it takes to keep her crew going in hard times.

With Comments from the Peanut Gallery by misura
Fast and the Furious, Hobbs/Deckard: All talk, no action.

I only had time to write two myself (see previous posts!) but the whole experience definitely lifted my spirits. 10/10 would participate again. :)

So, I've been waiting, while I juggled RL (Happy Holidays, everyone!), doing research for what remains of my old Wishlist, and the run-up to Yuletide, for the new Wishlist to finish filling in. And ... no takers for the last three slots? Seriously? C'mon, people.

Call it a New Year's resolution - finish filling it in for me, would you? I can't guarantee when, but I can guarantee all requests will be filled ... eventually!

Anyway. I received two amazing fics this yuletide! One for a movieverse I've been a fan of for two decades; the other for a much newer inspiration. They definitely deserve an anonyrec, and I'll be checking back after reveals to see what else they've written. Read and enjoy:

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We Gather Together (6843 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Independence Day (Movies)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: David Levinson/Constance Spano
Characters: David Levinson, Constance Spano, Tom Whitmore, Jasmine Dubrow Hiller, Steven Hiller, Julius Levinson, Patricia Whitmore (Independence Day), Dylan Hiller
Additional Tags: Holidays, Thanksgiving, Family, Families of Choice
Summary: Connie and David host Thanksgiving 1996

Dreaming in Sunlight (3863 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Arthur/The Mage | Guinevere
Characters: The Mage | Guinevere, Arthur (King Arthur: Legend of the Sword), Bedivere (King Arthur: Legend of the Sword), Goosefat Bill
Additional Tags: Mage as Merlin, Minor Violence, Yuletide Treat, Post-Canon
Summary: When the crown is on Arthur’s head, the Mage closes her eyes and disappears. Her duty here is done. There is no reason for her to stay. If Arthur needs her, she will come. (This is the start of Arthur’s long and tiring quest to bring the Mage back to Camelot).

It occurred to me today that while I've been posting the exchange gifts I've written here this summer, I've entirely neglected to post the gifts I've received!

Here are my gifts from not_primetime and rarepairfest, and the remix written for one of my stories in circle_of_friends. All of them are well worth the read. :)

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Exit Strategy (5111 words) by DesireeArmfeldt
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Person of Interest (TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Harold Finch/John Reese
Characters: Harold Finch, John Reese, The Machine (Person of Interest)
Additional Tags: Gift Fic, POV Third Person Limited, Canon-Typical Violence, Post-Canon, My First Work in This Fandom
Summary: Series finale fix-it fic.

The Art of Survival (3292 words) by OzQueen
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Mummy Series, The Mummy (1999)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Ardeth Bay/Rick O'Connell
Characters: Ardeth Bay, Rick O'Connell
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Huddling For Warmth, Skinny Dipping, Hand Jobs, Making Out, Blow Jobs, Facial Shaving, Bathing/Washing
Summary: "What is your plan of escape?" Ardeth asked. He had pulled his robes back on and was lounging by the fire, leaning back against his saddle. // "Steal your horse," Rick said. // "He will not obey just any man," Ardeth said dismissively. // "I'm not just any man, Medjai."

Dreadful Duty (the Second Impressions remix) (2884 words) by deird1
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Lydia Bennet/George Wickham
Characters: George Wickham
Additional Tags: Remix, Crossover
Summary: A history of George Wickham, Watcher.

To accompany my decade-post of Yulefic written, a post for all ten years' worth of the yuletide fic I've received! Herein find all 43,949 words gifted to me in 19 stories since 2006.

It's been a long time since I've reread some of these; I was glad for the excuse to go back through them. *grin*

( Yuletide 2006-2015: A Decade of Yulefic Received )

Overall, I've really been blessed, I think: some fic I've received have been more exciting than others, but there's never been any coal in my stocking at all. I don't doubt the streak will continue this year, as well!

Just a quick check-in to say Happy Holidays to everyone celebrating today. Mom and I killed Christmas Eve with cheese and crackers, a bottle of wine, and a couple of Christmas action movies (Die Hard and Lethal Weapon). We'll do presents in ... uh, about seven hours? ... with bro and sis-in-law and the littles.

In the meantime, though, I did manage to write two stories for Yuletide this year, both in fandoms I've written for before. And I received:

History of Bleeding - 6427 words, rated T, Bullet to the Head (2012)

I asked for a story about fathers and daughters this year because I have feels on the subject, for obvious reasons. And my Yuletide Author delivered in spades! Gritty just like the movie, but thoughtful and very well written and made me smile, if a little mistily.

Life has been crazy the last couple of weeks what with my niece being born on the 23rd and now housesitting at a friend's house with no computer until Jan 3rd, so I'm not sure if I'll have time to read the rest of the Yuletide archive before reveals.

But I did make time to read my three gifts this year, and loved them all! No coal in my stocking, despite hitting the default list: writers, you rock! Here they are:

1. Where There's Life - Falling Skies, Anne Glass, gen

My pinch hitter took this request and ran with it, giving me 4.6k of fabulous Anne Glass backstory for the Falling Skies series, with incidental bonus backstory for Karen as well. I completely believed every word; this is my headcanon for the characters, now. Ended on a perfect note.

2. with coffee spoons - Person of Interest, Joss Carter and Lionel Fusco, gen

A delightful little story of Detectives Carter and Fusco building their partnership, framed around stakeouts and cups of coffee and conversational faux pas and commiserating about Finch & Reese. This could totally be canon, too.

3. Same Numbers, New Rules - Safe/Emberverse, Luke and Mei, gen

Not a fandom combination I'd expected, but the characters still came through as themselves in their altered setting. Very interesting; and I was very happy to receive fic for this movie.

On the writing side: I ended up writing eight fic (six regular, two Madness), for a total of seven fandoms and 14,200 words. Three of the fandoms are new to me; two are fandoms I haven't touched in years; and the sixth is not a pairing anyone would expect from me. But the seventh? I'd bet at least a couple of you will "aha!" at me on reveals day. =)

It looks like I'm not going to have time to do an overall Yuletide rec list before the reveals, but my bookmark list is here, if you want to know what I would rec. (The only thing I click that button for at AO3 is Yuletide stories; everything else I still use Delicious for.)

There are a few stories I want to highlight, though, before I head out. Two have nothing to do with Yuletide, but were written for or because of me, anyway:

Insider Trading by lyssie, a delightful Kate Beckett meets Joss Carter snippet; and
Imagine This by pprfaith, an amazing Fast and Furious-verse story featuring Brian/Han in Tokyo

And the two Yule stories I received this year, both of which are MADE OF GLEE and which satisfied me greatly, containing both delightful characterization and plot:

A Taste of Home - Eureka, Jack/Henry
Summary: "Another day in Eureka, another near-disaster. Set in the middle of Season 3. Episode-like, but with more porn." Very, very true. ♥

Five Beginnings, Five Endings - Princess of Flames (probably the first one ever!)
Summary: Some things that might have happened after, in The Princess of Flames. With Elfrid/Bal, Roland/Juseppa, and Fialla/Gespry. ♥