redrikki

Over the weekend, I participated in the Flash in the Pan fic exchange. I got four gifts. Four!

1. Home-cooked meal - by Peggy_Carter46 
Agent Carter (TV)

Peggy tried to make a nice meal after Jack is released from the hospital. It doesn't go as planned. 

2. A Dam Fine Cup of Coffee by glorious_spoon 
Agent Carter (TV)

"So that dishwater you used to inflict on us back in New York was on purpose," Jack said.

Peggy gave him an arch look. "Of course it was."

3. Hospital Dine-in by Peggy_Carter46 
Agent Carter (TV)

Peggy's in the hospital after being rescued from Leviathan. Daniel and Jack bring her something to cheer her up.

4. A Good Cup of Coffee by sholio 
Agent Carter (TV)

Making coffee is one of Peggy's jobs at the SSR. She's just not very good at it.


And last, but not least, here's my story:

Title: Taste of Nostalgia
Fandom: The Umbrella Academy
Characters: Allison, Vanya
Warning: Discussions of eating disorders, vomit, and Reginald Hargreeve's shitty parenting
Summary: Allison and Vanya visit Griddy's for old times sake.

Read on AO3 or ( below )

I haven't bothered with Thursday recommendations for a while, but this series utterly devoured my brain during the months where it was updated twice-weekly, so I just have to share it now that it's done.

Do you liked Downton Abbey? How about well-researched historical fiction? How about gay romance set against the backdrop of World War I? How do you feel about gross sobbing? I know I did it more than a few times reading it.

I give you the Halo Effect series by Alex51324 

Part 1. Halo Effect - When Thomas rescues Lady Mary from the nefarious attentions of Turkish houseguest Kemal Pamuk, his employers and coworkers begin to see him differently...and Things Get Better. A Season One AU diverging from canon in Episode 3, The One Where The Turkish Gentleman Dies in Mary's Bed.

Part 2 - Soldier's Heart - Following the events of "Halo Effect," Thomas Barrow goes to war. A season two AU.

I hear the author plans a season three in the long term, but is currently working on a one-shot set in WWII where Thomas and his boyfriend take in an evacuee from the blitz.

Last night I had some friends over for Hanakka round two. I know some people like to make full meals out it with a main dish and latkes on the side, but not here, sister. We made a monster stack of latkes and ate them all with sour cream and apple sauce until we were genuinely afraid we might be sick. Then they hung around for the next three hours while we talked about everything from ham radio to our cats to the weirdly alienating experience that is being Jewish in America.

On that note, I have some additional Yuletide recs to share.

Stir and Cook Slowly
(Batwoman (TV 2019))
Mary learns what a yarzheit is. Kate relearns to smile.

In which Kate Kane is unambiguously and unapologetically Jewish and her relationship with Mary is as wholesome as latkes.


The Rubber Shapeshifter Assimilation
The Middleman (TV)
“So once I get all bundled up, what’s with the trip to the South Pole? Killer penguins? Evil Santa? Evil Santa with a tuxedo-clad army of evil penguins?”

It's basically a lost episode of The Middleman complete with spot-on dialogue, cuddling for warmth, and all the romantic tropes you need for a South Pole adventure. 

This year's Remix Revival is live! Go check it out. I got two stories written for me. If you can guess which one I wrote, I will write you a fic on a topic of your choice. Anyhow, here's my gifts:


Little Girl, Go to War ("Translated from the Original Trigedasleng" Remix) based on Born to Float (The 100)

Forget born to die -- Octavia thinks she was born to be hated.

A nice, sharp look at Octavia in the later seasons. It makes me wish I'd kept up with the show past season four.



Forever War based on Peace is a Lie (Star Wars)

Vader has trouble distinguishing between the past and the present. Fortunately, it rarely matters in the context of the Empire's forever war.

This takes what I was going for in the original, turns the dial up to 11, and breaks the nob off. Bleak, chilling, and deeply unsettling in the way only Vader can be.

I think I read enough fic to get in on this Thursday rec thing dreamwidth has going, so here goes!

attackfish, queen of the Avatar AUs, has written a story just for me, but before I can recommend it, I must recommend the rest of the series.

Until the Walls Break Like Waves by attackfish 

It was just before the winter solstice when Earth Kingdom soldiers captured the prince of the Fire Nation and his uncle, the Dragon of the West. It was the dead of winter when they were brought to Ba Sing Se.

You want Zuko wump? This has it in spades with a side order of touching family relations and mind bending.

Until the Walls Universe Drabbles by attackfish 

Real drabbles are exactly 100 words. This is a hill I will die on, but I'm willing to let it slide for this collection of short stories set in this universe. Strictly speaking, you don't need to have read these for the next story to make sense, but it certainly makes more sense if you read these first.

The Sharpest Rocks Like Just Below the Surface by attackfish 

No one comes out of Lake Laogai the same person they were when they went in.

This is the story she wrote for me and I couldn't be happier. Iroh gets his mind back and the Gang gets an honorary uncle.


In other news, there's a Netflix Originals Exchange on AO3 that I'm seriously contemplating signing up for. Sign-ups close August 31st so, if you, like me, are indecisive, you have some time to make up your mind.

A couple of exchanges went live yesterday, so now that I've had time to read them, I figured I'd share my favorites.

Hurt Comfort Exchange

I actually participated in this one! I can't show you mine yet because the authors are still a secret, but I got a really swell gift.

All Similar Sorrow - Gwen struggles during an anniversary. Peter can relate. (Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse)
Gwen and Peter bond over getting the alternate versions of their friends killed and its touching and cathartic.

Other stuff from the exchange you should check out includes:

Looking for My Happiness Now - A mishap reverts Peter's body to his 16 year old self. But this story is about Gwen Stacy. (Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse) Another Gwen and Peter bond over getting the alternate versions of their friends killed story and I could literally read a million of them if they were all this good.

Dreaming of Yesterday - Vanya wakes up in her thirteen-year-old body after Five has time-traveled them as the world was ending. None of the others seem to have their adult memories, and being the only adult in a group of teenagers will give Vanya a new perspective on her siblings. (Umbrella Academy) Vanya gets her youth back and grows the hell up.

Wayback Exchange

I thought long and hard about signing up for this, but it came due at the same time as the Hurt Comfort Exchange, so I didn't. It was probably a good choice considering how hard I struggled to find the motivation to write anything in the last couple of months. Still, there was some really fun stuff in there. Here are my top three.

Be It Ever So Humble -"Can't be homesick when you're home," Kaylee says. The captain doesn't say anything, but from the proud look on his face, he agrees. "Maybe don't tell your Daddy that." (Firefly) Lovely character study of our favorite mechanic.

Makeshift League - It's good for them. That doesn't mean they are good at it. (DC Animated Universe: Timmverse) In which Bruce/Lois/Clark are an endearingly dysfunctional threesome.

A Mouse in the White House - The Brain has a plan to take over the world, starting with the Oval Office. But dealing with the 45th President might be harder than anticipated. (Pinky and the Brain) Blistering political satire featuring everyone's favorite lab rats and least favorite president.

I wrote over 2,000 words spread across 8 stories this month in She-Ra & the Princesses of Power, Star Wars, and one fandom which shall remain nameless until the exchange is revealed in February.

She-Ra & the Princesses of Power

Parting Strands
Adora and Catra have always looked out for each other, but Adora's beginning to suspect that's over. Her thoughts on "Promise."

Star Wars

Everything this month was based on John Mulaney quotes. Despite their comedic origins, the stories all got rather angsty. Oh well.

"Whats that? Over there! Don't do that!" with Obi-Wan (and Anakin) on tumblr or AO3
"I think I'm becoming more like my mom" with Anakin on tumblr or AO3
"My life is a freaking nightmare" with Anakin (and Padme) on tumblr or AO3
"It's easier to do nothing rather than something" with Palpatine on tumblr or tumblr or AO3
"When people are mad at it, it's my fault" with Anakin (and Obi-Wan) on tumblr or AO3

Mystery story was written for the Past Imperfect Future Unknown exchange which will go live on Saturday and be revealed on the Saturday after that. Spoiler alert, it involves time travel and is awesome.

Now that I'm done tooting my own horn, I'll take a moment to toot someone else's with some recs. This month I've mostly been reading Into the Spiderverse stuff. Here are my favorites:

It's a School Night, Why Are You Out Saving the World? by TechnicolorVocab01

After the events of the film, Jefferson is determined to be more supportive of both Miles and the new Spiderman. It takes him a while to figure out they are one and the same.

Lay it on the Line by badgerpride89

Nine months after the collider, Miles has been meeting up with Gwen and Peter for lunch every Saturday. Naturally, this attracts his parents' attention. This is part of the series Afterward. All the stories in it are good, but this is my favorite.

Spider-Man is Dead (Long Live Spider-Man) by tajargirl

Series of four short stories focusing on the death of Peter Parker in the lives of every Spider. Including Peter Parker.