Thoughts on the Journey

Christmas and the day after were a little chaotic with lots of family and weather so this my Yuletide post. Later I might do a deeper dive into all of the holiday travel of it all, thankfully most of those people are in-laws and not related to me but they're still a lot. My giftee really liked their fic which felt amazing as its a fandom I've written in but not a character's voice that I've written before.

My gift was a great Critical Role Campaign 4 fic called To Know and To Love which is Hal and Thaisha being domestic and in love.

I've also been reading lots of good fic. The random fic thing on the front page of Yuletide is one of my favorite things though today I did venture into the fandom lists to see what I missed. There's still more to read and I have time which feels so lovely.

I think I'm going to try and actually send out holiday cards this year, since mail is wonderful and this year's been another rough one. All the cards I send are not religious, usually involving sparkly or snow covered creatures.

Let me know if you'd like one and where to send it. Comments are screened.

I've been having a wonderful and quiet holiday with my parents. Lots of baking, cooking and reading with a dusting of snow. I made a glorious honey cake that we're slowly eating and enjoying.

My Yuletide gift was a wonderful Toby Daye fic about the Luidaeg and Quentin that I loved, and my giftee really liked their fic, which is really all I ask for on Yuletide.

Alms for Oblivion (1254 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: October Daye Series - Seanan McGuire
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: The Luidaeg (October Daye), Quentin Sollys
Additional Tags: mentions of Toby, Light Angst, Future Fic, ish, Not completely canon compliant, as it predicts something that may not happen
Summary:

The request was "I loved the last book and had a hard time figuring out who to ask for so I think I'm going to go with the Luidaeg as her story and family is at the center of everything. I'd love her perspective and thoughts on changes, what's she's seen or even wonderful lighter moments with the new generation of Fae that's she's been leaving a mark on. Please include anyone that you'd like since she lives at the center of a lovely big world of people who care. I also really love the various teens; Quentin, Raj, Dean, Chelsea and have requested them previous years so would love to see them if they fit."

I somehow ended up writing the Luidaeg and her thoughts on being the Lady of the Lake, Quentin finding Excalibur, and what it may mean. I hope you like it, as I've not written in this fandom before, but I love the characters a whole lot!

I've been having a lovely quiet holiday mainly involving some cooking, reading magazines and books, lots of Yuletide and then the busy of helping my parents with a New Year's Day party. This has been what I needed, time to be and be grateful to have time with my parents and phone calls with my other family. Now I feel like I can take on the new year with hope.

Before I left for the holidays, I saw the new Star Wars and mainly it left me feeling sort of like The Last Jedi, during it I was pulled in and interested. Then after as I started thinking about it, I ended up feeling disappointed. Both movies remind me of some fantasy novels I've read where great ideas but the execution is odd and I'm left seeing the holes. Also I felt like there was an uncomfortable balance in all the movies in terms of which characters the directors thought were the most interesting. The trilogy didn't feel much like a trilogy. I'm sorry about that as there's so much potential in the new trilogy but I felt it kind of got lost. Though I have enjoyed many of the other material from them like the various books. The way I feel about it, these aren't movies I'll eagerly rewatch the way that I do Rogue One, The Clone Wars or Star Wars Rebels.

In good news, I wrote for the Rebelcaptain Secret Santa along with Yuletide this year and really do love the rebelcaptain fandom. It was so much fun to be going into Yuletide after having watched enough of Guardian to have context for fic. Later I'll do a proper Yuletide rec post.

Follow-on (1180 words) by FiKate
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Chronicles of Chrestomanci - Diana Wynne Jones
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Christopher Chant/Millie, Christopher Chant & Mordecai Roberts
Characters: Christopher Chant, Millie | Millie Chant, Mordecai Roberts | Tacroy
Additional Tags: after conrad's fate, Friendship, Cricket
Summary:

After the events of Conrad's Fate, Christopher learns that he disappointed Tacroy and realizes cricket might be a way to help their relationship. My wonderful prompt was about wanting more about how Tacroy's perception of Christopher isn't the same as everyone else's and I used that as a way to look into what happened after Conrad's Fate.

This was a tricky fic and at this point, I haven't heard from my recipient but I'm proud of it. Young Christopher is a fascinating character and Tacroy intriguing but hard to get a read on. This is the first fic I've written in the Chrestomanci fandom proper, I did write one odd fic that was from the fictional Millie series. At this point, I've now written Hexwood, Magids, Chrestomanci, and Eight Days of Luke of Diana Wynne Jones' works. I don't know if I'll ever write for all of them but her fandoms are great.

My gift:

Speak Low when Speaking of Love (3086 words) by estelraca
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: October Daye Series - Seanan McGuire
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Dean Lorden/Quentin Sollys
Characters: Dean Lorden, Quentin Sollys, The Luidaeg (October Daye)
Additional Tags: Aftermath, Friendship, Musings on the Future
Summary:

In the aftermath of the situation with the Selkies and the Roane, Quentin and Dean try to help their families feel better. For Quentin that includes convincing the woman that most of the world is terrified of that she should come to dinner with him. Spoilers through Unkindest Tide.

This fic made me so happy. I love all the teens of the October Daye books and their perspective on what's going on around them.

The Rebelcaptain Secret Santa ended up being a lovely exchange and I wrote a very fluffy Modern AU fic. My prompt was a fluffy domestic and after asking, I learned my person liked baking together and I went for it.

Cookie Plan (1314 words) by FiKate
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Cassian Andor/Jyn Erso
Characters: Cassian Andor, Jyn Erso
Additional Tags: Modern AU, Rebelcaptain Secret Santa, Cassian the cook, Fluff, Domestic, Holidays, Established Relationship
Summary:

When it comes time to bake cookies for the holidays, Cassian has a plan and Jyn's ready to help. Since this is the first year that they're able to bake and prepare together. This modern version of Jyn and Cassian is slightly inspired by my College AU about them.

Written for Pawprinterfanfic and the 2019 Rebelcaptain Secret Santa. I hope you like it.

My gift was a sweet fic with Jyn taking care of Cassian.

Day and Night and Morning Light (1278 words) by YoukaiLuvr
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Cassian Andor/Jyn Erso
Characters: Cassian Andor, Jyn Erso
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Somebody Lives/Not Everyone Dies, Caretaking, Fluff, Domestic Fluff, tension headache, Post-RotJ, RebelCaptain Secret Santa 2019
Summary:

“Good morning,” he responded, ducking down to kiss her.

“What was that for?” Jyn asked.

“Just…because I can,” he said, smiling and leaning down for another kiss.

***********

RebelCaptain Secret Santa gift fic for FiKate.

I had a good Thanksgiving with my family and today had a long train ride and went from rain to snow. I didn't actually end up online that much this holiday and had a fun moment of my computer thinking it didn't have enough battery and shutting itself off.

Otherwise it seems fine, but I'm going to check in with Apple to see if maybe I need a new battery. The big stuff with my family is that my Dad had a fall and hurt his knee but thankfully nothing's broken and he's doing PT and trying to take care of it. Also my oldest niece is in her junior year of high school and thinking about colleges, this is so surreal but also cool. She also drove down to my parents' place since she got her license earlier in November.

Before the holidays, I have a lot of errands to get done; dentist, oil changed in my car, stuff like that along with fun things like writing for exchanges, presents and volunteering. At the moment, I'm glad to be home in my warm apartment as its snowy and cold outside.

I meant to write up this past week earlier since a good deal happened in it but then I stayed up too late watching The Haunting of Hill House and haven't been focused enough for words. And I binged that because it pulled me in and some of the grief felt familiar. Powerful and well done show, I'd recommend stretching it out since its in intense.

I think I'm on a slightly more even keel now but life is feeling in an odd place. The holidays are coming up, which I love but now there's also the association of my sister being sick around them. And I'm between jobs, which adds to that feeling of being unsettled. This past week and the one before, my last one at the public library felt more like a month than two weeks.

To begin with, last Monday, I learned about volunteering work that I think I'll be able to help with including working with a fellow librarian who works for the same library staffing agency. That was a really nice surprise and need to get back in touch with her. Then I had probably one of the worst work schedules at the nice library, closings and then openings, 5 to 9, Monday and Wednesday and 9 to 1 on Tuesday and Thursday. By the time I hit Friday I wasn't up to doing much and I think I might have been sick too. The last day of work was nice, one of the older librarians bought me one of the Dunkin Halloween themed donuts and the director of the library made it clear that they'd be happy to have me work with them again and it might happen.

Oh and Thursday after work, the HVAC maintenance person stopped by for what was meant to be a regular check up but instead found out it was broken. They came by again early Tuesday morning to fix one leak and say there's another, so as the weather's getting colder, I don't currently have heat. I'm also still dealing with a prescription thing that's taking far too long but I think its on the right track now.

Wednesday night was an alum meet up for my New Zealand university which I helped to arrange a little with an older couple at a pub in downtown Boston. I left the night feeling good about how it went but also feeling a lot like Lady Sybil Ramkin, since I was more in the hostess role. The spot we ended up in was pretty tight for how large a crowd we had but everyone had a good time and wanted to do more. It was nice to meet other Americans who spent time in New Zealand as well as New Zealanders living the US. The crowd was a true range of ages and experiences, but I spent most of the night handing out drink tickets and name tags.

So while I met people, the connections didn't feel as strong and I didn't find any fandom folks. I know they're out there but its always tricky knowing the right questions to get beyond so what do you do. There's a cool bookstore that does events that I keep meaning to try and get to. And then the night ended with a truly disheartening conversation with two NZ men about politics with them being 'realistic' and it left me tired. I think the worst of it was I felt talked down to, like how precious of you to be hopeful, it was disappointing since I'd had good interactions with them throughout the night. And I think that compounded that feeling of being slightly invisible.

In hopeful holiday news, I signed up for Yuletide and the Rebelcaptain secret santa and I'm planning on using November to try and get more writing done. Get some works in progress out into the world. The first chapter of my college AU is up and I think that's one that won't take much to finish and post, two more chapters, one smutty interlude. Ice Dancing AU as always is going to take more work, but I know I can get it done and also I have some shorter works to finish up.

I'm having a wonderful and rather Star Wars' holiday with an Alliance sweater, galaxy necklace and some silly Star Wars' band aids, alongside books and socks, a Christmas staple.

I've also added a new bread recipe to my collection, a sweet filled bread from Smitten Kitchen, that I might try with other fillings.

My Yuletide gift is just what I wanted, an Ivan story about him growing up and figuring things out. Now I will enjoy the delicious fun of diving deep into the archive as its cold outside. My recipient liked their story, which always makes me happy.

Genuinely Self-Absorbed and Deeply Shallow (1575 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Vorkosigan Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Ivan Vorpatril, Alys Vorpatril
Summary:

Or, Three Moments in the Evolution of Ivan Vorpatril, innocent bystander and political non-combatant

I normally love the holiday season but with worrying about my sister and everything that's part of that. It truly took until a few days ago to go, okay, we're all here as a family and there are reasons to celebrate.

I found it helped too when I decided that it was alright if cards and presents went off after Christmas, the thought matters and then there isn't this horrible stress of oh god, will it get there in time attached. With that in mind, if you would like a holiday card, the ones I have aren't particular to any holiday, then message me your address. If I have your address, then I'll try and send out a card to you.

Since my family lives in two places, we do two celebrations which I love. A smaller one that's me and my parents before tomorrow going up for the bigger one with everyone else. Part of today is going to involve baking, which has been one of the true bright spots of this year for me. Also I have a library part time job after the holidays which will help me build up money for my move. Boston area, folks, I'm going to be up there in January and February as I plan my move next year.

Have a happy holiday everyone and I hope that you're around those you love. I'm glad to know you.

ETA: I forgot to crosspost this somehow as I think LJ was acting up.

I've been doing a lot of baking lately, trying out new recipes that have turned out really well. On Sunday night, I made naan which turned out delicious and I've recently found this whole wheat sandwich bread that's easy and lasts. My writing is going slowly as my creative energy seems to be channeled into cooking.

For me though this is a time of year when I love creating for others and would love to send out cards to anyone who would like them. Comments will be screened on this post and you can also message me to let me know that you would like one and your address or even to say that your address hasn't changed.

My December meme is here and open for topics to write about or fic prompts.

I'm slowly getting things accomplished as I think about all that happened at Chessiecon and where I want to be next. I'm working on getting myself out of where I am now and to a place where I'm living near friends. There are jobs out there, its a matter of getting in the door and being the right fit.

In the meantime, I've written up a new blog post about the films I saw at the Rehoboth Beach Film Festival and I'm going to do an in depth one for Chessiecon.

I also wanted to remind everyone that I love sending out cards and if you'd like one or your address has changed, let me know here. All comments on there are screened and if you don't want a card but instead want a fic or also want a fic, let me know.

My Yuletide and Treat fic are both going along, the ideas are there its just getting the words to work.