Bioluminescence in the abyss

Vidder: Foomatic
Musical artist: Northern State
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: foomatic
Vidder's website: vids tag
Why this vid kicks ass: Today's rec continues with the theme of awesome women being awesome, but this time with an edge sharp enough to cut.

Girl 4 All Seasons

Fandom: EUREKA
Pairing: Allison Blake/Nathan Stark, Implied Jack Carter/Allison Blake
Length: 2,172 words
Author on LJ: blackmamba_esq
Author Website: Fiction Master List on Livejournal
Why this must be read: This story is so very good on so many levels, I don't even know where to begin.

I didn't realize it was a Christmas story until I was already into it (although that's why I'm making sure to rec it today), but I love the author's use of the Season. Christmas is supposed to be about family and memories, but the former is denied to Nathan while he's stuck reliving the later.

I admire how blackmamba_esq uses the time-travel element as well. I like how it ties into the fractured nature of the the story-telling, just like how present experiences can make us recall memories in a non-linear way--one situation can make us remember something past which brings forth a completely separate memory, which is paralleled in the way Nathan is travelling through time. The sci-fi/fantasy element becomes a metaphor for a real-world emotion, one that is particularly strong during the holidays, which I think is the best way genre writing can be used.

OK - I'm rambling. Let's just say: It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me think about past mistakes.

Still

[o]
(with a hat-tip to Bryan Lambert)
Merry Secular Christmas everybody! I hope you all are able to enjoy this time with friends, loved ones, and family, and get some great stuff!

Fandom: ENTOURAGE
Pairing: Eric/Michael Phelps
Length: 923 wds
Author on LJ:dancinbutterfly
Author Website:None
Why this must be read: Originally written for Oxoniensis porn battle this is hot,hot,hot! But it's also edged with angst on Eric's part and a desire to get his power back. The fact that he can partly do that by screwing Michael Phelps into the mattress is just a lovely bonus.

“He says he’ll try and means it because the guy’s got a bit of a goofy face but under his button down shirt is a body he wants to see naked. But he doesn’t think it’ll happen.”



Sink or Swim

Fandom: LORD PETER WIMSEY
Pairing: Peter/alien
Length: 920
Author: nineveh_uk
Author Website: See the wimseyfic tag on her LJ
Why this must be read:


The title given is actually the title of the journal entry, as the fic itself is – probably for the excellent reason that it needs no title – nameless. For this is the one and only Wimsey mpreg fic in existence, brought to you as a special treat for Christmas Day. Mpreg definitely falls into the "more than" category of fanfic – any story using this trope is manifestly not attempting to fill in the gaps in canon, continue canon, or otherwise have anything more than the kind of relationship to canon that Lord Peter has to the disreputable Death Bredon. And yet even crack requires skill at both style and characterisation, since the pleasure derives from seeing how so wildly inappropriate a narrative element can be treated in a convincingly Wimseyish fashion. This story pulls off both a terrific Sayers narrative voice, and spot-on characterisation – because of course if Lord Peter were to find himself pregnant after having sex with an alien in a dubious Viennese night club, this is how he would react. As a bonus for the thoroughly depraved, there is a Bunter mpreg version here.

‘I confess, my lord, that the possibility of such an explanation for your lordship’s recent condition had not occurred to me.’

‘You don’t think anyone else suspects?’

‘I believe that would be most unlikely, my lord.’

‘I’m glad to hear that at least.’

It was against all his principles, but Bunter was still feeling rather weak. ‘My lord, if I may be permitted… My lord, how?’

‘I’ve been pondering that one myself. My only conclusion is that it is the result of one of the more continental evenings of our recent European journey.’

‘Vienna, my lord?’ suggested Bunter, in tones that perfectly modulated understanding and a merest whiff of manly sympathy.

Show me a snake and an apple, and I'd be lost

Fandom:ENTOURAGE
Pairing: Turtle/E(maybe)
Length: Drabble
Author on LJ:sthlmsyndrom
Author Website: none
Why this must be read:Turtle's always sort of been the backup singer to the Vince and Eric duet. This is a tiny glimpse at the way that might have been different.


Sal Es

Fandom: FOREVER KNIGHT
Pairing: general
Length: 1734 words
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: http://www.fkvoyage.com/fkfanfic/trap_diane/
Why this must be read: It sounds fairly silly on the surface: Nick teaches LaCroix to drive on his precious Duesenberg while Janette tags along. Then, hilarity ensues. This story is set immediately after the flashback from 'Father's Day' and further builds on the claustrophobia Nick feels with his "family". It's a wonderful read that showcases the dynamic between our favorite vampirc trio and come on, Nick, LaCroix and Janette all looked breathtakingly beautiful in their 1920s garb, so all that is icing on the cake when it comes to visualizing this story.

LaCroix Takes the Wheel by Diane Trap


( Excerpt )

#262 - "Chafed Dickens [5 of 5]"

The finalle to the Chafed Dickens storyline, and the last strip of 2009. I wish to thank everyone for the support in this 10th anniversary year, and those who cheered me on during this Christmas Weekly spurt. Have a Merry Christmas, a great holiday season, and see you all in 2010!

This final strip in the Chafed series underwent some changes since I first mapped it out several years ago. It was originally intended to be a Mark and Mike strip, with the two of them discussing the dream. Mike wonders if he learned the obvious lesson, but Mike replies, "Who could concentrate on what they were saying? Those woman were hot wank material!" However, I decided to change it when I saw inspiration from an online "critic":

"The problem with OEL is that IMAGE comics, that Ninja High School guy, MegaTokyo, and Scott Pilgrim, already came up with the idea of stealing anime and manga ideas and art first. [And if I want to really be a dick about it, the Sexy Losers guy, which is why he's resorted to Kevin Smith-style humour to cover up his weakness in character development. Although I will admit that Japan did rip off his magic sex doll idea with that manga and movie..." from here, emphasis mine.

Weakness in character development? This made me do a double take. I've heard this criticism before and it always struck me as an odd criticism to find in a gag comic. Sure, the characters are all two-dimensional. That's because in a gag comic, the gag is more important than the characters -- the characters existence is to get to the laugh. Initially I tried hard to not have a lot of recurring characters, but I found that established characters were handy as a shorthand towards jokes. In a four panel comic, the less explanation one needs to get to the punchline, the better.

Since SL is a gag comic, I've strayed from developing any characters to maintain that shorthand. Mike jerks off anywhere and anytime. Mrs. Shibata is a horny housewife. Chie gets semen in her face. Touro fails to get Madame X in bed. That's all you need to know about these characters. Developing the characters any further would ruin them utterly, and SL would change from a gag comic to being another pseudo-love opera. The characters would learn and grow, and well, let's be honest, learning and growing is a lot less funny than fucking up.

So FUCK character development. It was never my intention to do a happy-good-feely comic with characters that you could laugh and cry and otherwise identify with. This is potty humor. This strip is an acknowledgement that these characters are icons of their idiosyncrasies and nothing more.

Fandom: THE AVENGERS
Character: Emma
Length: 264 words
Author on LJ: inamac
Author Website: her IJ
Why this must be read:

Since we're on about Emma and kinks, here's an extra treat in the form of a hilarious little ficlet. Remember "A Touch of Brimstone," a.k.a. the episode with the very kinky Queen of Sin costume that was actually banned in the US? Well, InaMac does, and this ficlet is from the point of view of the lucky bureaucrat handling Emma's resulting expenses claim. I'm not going to include an excerpt because the fic is so short, but seriously, is that concept not enticing enough?

Advent Tarot II -- The High Priestess

Vidder: kellygarrett312
Musical artist: the Kinks
Character: Emma (some Steed/Emma)
Vidder on LJ: unknown
Vidder's website: her YouTube page
Why this vid kicks ass:

I hope no one minds me doing this a day early, given that tomorrow is Christmas and I won't have time, and seriously, this vid needs to be shared. There is a reason Emma is considered one of the sexiest TV heroines ever, and it has never been put better than this. kellygarrett312 sets a delightful mix of fight scenes, ship tease and general gorgeousness to the Kinks' "You Really Got Me," which both for the lyrics and swinging '60s' rock 'n' roll vibe is a perfect choice. Even if you're not familiar with The Avengers, this vid is a must-see. Watch Emma kick ass and look amazing doing it. Your eyes will pop along with Steed's.

The Avengers: Emma Peel and the Kinks

HERE!!

Attn. Drivers: Tomorrow is the last Friday of the month, which means it's time for Friday Night Drive-In, a.k.a. Fan Vid Recs! Reccers may post 1 vid rec for their fandom, formatted as follows:

Subject Line: VID REC: Fandom - Song Title

Vidder:
Musical artist:
Pairing:
Vidder on LJ:
Vidder's website:
Why this vid kicks ass:

Tags: fanvid, fandom, fandom, etc.

Because the vidder community has some unique ownership issues, it’s important that reccers be extra careful when making vid recs. Depending on the vidder’s preferences regarding public access to their work, please link your rec in the appropriate manner:

1. To the vidder's public LiveJournal (or clone site) announcement post; or
2. In the absence of a public announcement post, direct link to the vid's webpage or to the vidder's website, or
3. For vids that are password-protected, link to the vidder's instructions on acquiring the password; or
4. For vids that are only available privately (e.g., tapes, dvd-R’s, collections, etc.), provide contact info for the vidder.

Do not:
-- Hotlink, i.e. link directly to the video file rather than the webpage.
-- Re-upload videos that a vidder has removed from the web.
-- Delay in removing a vid rec if requested to do so by the vidder.

Thank you!

Okay, so we're heading into the final stretch of this rec set, and it's time to look at some of my favourite multi-fandom vids.

Vidder: arefadedaway
Musical artist: Superchick
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: arefadedaway
Vidder's website: vid tag
Why this vid kicks ass: This vid is about awesome women being awesome. Watching it makes me want to climb mountains, run for Prime Minister and basically complete multiple impossible feats before breakfast. It'll get your blood pumping too. Maybe that makes it sound like a health tonic, but believe me, it tastes much better. :)

One Girl Revolution

Fandom: PRIMEVAL
Pairing: Connor/Stephen, Stephen/Ryan, Connor/Stephen/Ryan
Length: 1300
Author on LJ: odsbodkins
Author Website: None
Why this must be read:

It's Christmas Eve, you've got three presents still to buy, a feast to prepare and Uncle Albert's been at the cooking sherry already… So trust me, what you need is funny, smutty fanfic in the shape of Odsbodkins' Connor and Caves where Connor gets more than he bargained for when he's stranded in a cave with Stephen – with Captain Ryan on the other end of the radio. The fic's full of lovely lines, including my favourite I’m trained in covert wanking!

Happy Christmas, everyone!

Connor and Caves

Fandom: EUREKA
Pairing: Gen
Length: One-shot
Author on LJ: anonymous_sibyl
Author Website: Her fanfiction can be found in her memories or her Account at An Archive of Our Own.
Why this must be read: The Jo-and-Zoe-run-away-and-get-drunk-fic of joy! We also learn Important Things, like Jo practices running in hot boots!

Pink Umbrella Drinks