'14 Yuletide Stories (while still anonymous)

It looks like I'm not going to get deeper into the stack any time soon, so I'm going to just go ahead with this list of links now:

Dungeons and Dragons (the '80s cartoon) scored two stories this year, both for Astolat. I enjoyed each in its own way. Both are very pleasingly canon-friendly. The longer is the more skilled, but the shorter serves up an idea that's drawing me back to canon to explore.

• "Dropping In for a Spell" (~3K words, PG)
• "and knowing we are not alone in the dark" (~18K words, PG)

Forever Knight also boasts two stories, both hefty, one for Greerwatson and one for Quietcuriosity. The one for Greer is plot-driven casefic, just as she likes best; it's set in early to mid second season. The other may be exceedingly excellent, and certainly is canon aware, but it's tagged for graphic violence and rape, so I haven't read it and probably won't; it's set before the flashbacks of "A Fate Worse Than Death." If you read it, let me know what you think — should I go there? We all have our squicks and triggers...

• "Chasing Prey" (~8K words, PG-13)
• "Couched Work" (~9K words, R)

1,623 fandoms are represented, but no one happened to write Battlestar Galactica ('78) or Young Blades this year. There are 9 stories each for Forever and Grimm, but a quick glance didn't yield any immediately grabbing my fancy. (There's also nothing for Call the Midwife; did the fandom get too big for this game?)

Do you have any recommendations to share from this year's Yuletide?

'14 HL Exchange Stories (while still anonymous)

I didn't read every story in this year's hlh_shortcuts ficathon, but I read most, and it was a good year! They had 21 stories. These are the ones I personally liked best:

1. "Stars Made of More Than Ticky-Tacky" (gen) — Methos is living an ordinary life. One of his neighbors is extraordinary. Maybe ordinary is extraordinary, when you look right.


2. "An Audience of Everyone" (gen) — In the wrong place at the wrong time, Amanda is murdered by terrorists live on worldwide television... twice.


3. "Lumens" (gen) — A serious "Joe's life," from Vietnam to present, with Ian and Darius and others, but in an HL/HP crossover universe where, in due time, Hermione starts showing up at Watcher-run bookstores.


4. "The Opposite of People" (gen toward Duncan/Methos) — Methos works as crew on a production of Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead.


5. "Practice" (Methos/Gregor) — Gregor wants to make amends for "Studies in Light," but Tessa and Richie are no longer here to forgive him.


6. "You Get What You Need" (Duncan/Methos) — Ten years post-series. Subtle crossover with Supernatural by way of the Methuselah's Stone. Duncan has been helping rebuild New Orleans after Katrina; now, he wants to reconnect with Methos.


7. "Stone Fences and Heather" (Duncan/Methos) — A trip together to Glenfinnan to scatter ashes on the loch. Rachel appears. Healing is slow, but home is the goal.

Among the stories I didn't read are the crossovers with Teen Wolf, Moonlight and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and the Beauty and the Beast fusion. You're on your own with those. ;-) If I overlooked a gem, please let me know!