Winter Solstice means that HLH-Shortcuts 2015 is releasing

[brightknightie]

The annual hlh_shortcuts exchange game has 12 stories up since Sunday, with 6 to go.

I haven't yet read any. I will!

As usual in this fest, the entries look very heavy on the latter-season characters, settings, and themes, especially the D/M pairing and Amanda, which should greatly please most HL fans. Richie appears in at least 3 stories so far, which should please a bloc of fans. There are 23 crossovers to date: one with Agent Carter and one with Star Trek: The Next Generation [errata per argentum_ls: and also one with Forever]. No Tessa, Charlie, Darius, etc. as yet.

Comments

[argentum_ls]

Three crossovers.

[brightknightie]

Correction entered.

[argentum_ls]

:)

I wouldn't want you to miss that one.

[brightknightie]

I started going through the HL stories today, and while that particular one is still in my future -- saved as a likely dessert to sweeten the others, just in case they're sour -- I've dipped into and backed out of a few, and so far commented on just one.

If you have any most-particular recommendations from this year's entries, stories that I shouldn't miss, please let me know?

(My tastes just don't align with the majority of the fandom, unfortunately for me. I adore HL as it was up through "Eye for an Eye," love it dearly as it was through "Homeland," and remain happily enthralled through "One Minute to Midnight," but at "Prophecy," something went horribly wrong between me and my show and never recovered. I love adult four-century-old Duncan; I can't stand childish four-century-old Duncan.)

[argentum_ls]

Which one did you like?

As someone who got enough of Duncan on the show, and is therefore happy to read all the fic that he's not in (plus, I really have no use for D/M, tho I will read it if it's more gen than explicit), I may not be useful in offering recs. Though, I did quite like the story written for me.

[brightknightie]

The one that I have enjoyed most so far was "Ace in the Hole," an old-fashioned (canon)argument fic with a nice frame. "Holiday Spirits" has some well-written passages and pleasant moods, though intoxicated isn't my own personal favorite way to spend time with anyone, fictional or real, and, imo, first-times should never be intoxicated, fictional or real, because that confuses consent.

I'd supposed that if there were a very well-written story, then I'd enjoy it no matter the specifics. Perhaps not.

[argentum_ls]

I like that you picked that one to comment on :)

I thought all the stories were well-written this year, tho certainly there are definite appeals to taste and character preference.

I enjoyed "Costume Drama" quite a lot. "Non, niet, no" made me laugh, tho it may not appeal to you. And I also enjoyed the Agent Carter crossover, even though the show doesn't interest me.

[celli]

*squee*

[brightknightie]

I hope that the Richie stories in particular are delights for you!

[argentum_ls]

One of them was written for me and I really enjoyed it. Richie has a strong showing in this year's fest. He's the POV character in four stories.