get me off this crazy thing

My hopes and wishes for 2025 are mainly that nothing is as bad as people fear and we all have a good time. :D

I wrote three (3!) stories for Yuletide this year. Don't know what got into me. But it's mostly because I was indecisive. My recipient had 2 fandoms I could write for and I decided to write for both of them:

Main story:

Advantage (3935 words) by hafital
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Sting (1973)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Henry Gondorff/Johnny Hooker
Characters: Henry Gondorff, Johnny Hooker (The Sting), Billie (The Sting)
Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Late Night Conversations, Stubborn Johnny, Patient Henry, Johnny needs to learn to duck
Summary:

After his run-in with Snyder, Henry convinces Johnny to stay the night. 

And then, a Treat for the same recipient:

Pin My Siren Thief, Bombard (1326 words) by hafital
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Sneakers (1992)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Martin Bishop & Bernard Abbott
Characters: Martin Bishop, Bernard Abbott
Additional Tags: Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship, Yuletide Treat
Summary:

“What does this mean?” he asked, reading the card. “‘Pin my siren thief, bombard?’”

Abbott’s grin went as wide as wide could be, and it transformed his entire face.

By then, I was like may as well go for broke and write a third Robert Redford fandom, a Treat for dorinda!:

A Different Memory (2888 words) by hafital
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Spy Game (2001)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Tom Bishop/Nathan Muir
Characters: Nathan Muir, Tom Bishop
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat
Summary:

One month into his retirement, Nathan Muir receives an unexpected visitor.

Always a pleasure to write for Dorinda. It was like I was running my own private little Robert Redford mildly injured h/c fic fest ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Of the three, the Sneakers fic was the most difficult to write, to get the right tone and there's actually so very little of Agent Abbott in the film (the James Earl Jones character) that I had to really tease the story out bit by bit. And figuring out the anagram took some doing. (Also, how adorable is that movie!? Rewatching it after so many years was a treat in itself. My choice would probably be Martin/Whistler as a pairing, but I loved writing Agent Abbott quite a lot).

My favorite of the three is the Spy Game story (for reasons; also I posted it to the archive with literally 10 minutes to spare before the archive went live on Dec. 25 haha), though I have a soft spot for Johnny Hooker getting one over on Henry Gondorff. <3

This last year went by in a complete blur but then the last month or so slowed down to a very. slow. crawl. which was fine by me. I'm not actually in a rush to get to 2024 but it's here now! So, yay for New Year and hopefully we all survive it in tact and happy and healthy and the world stops being such a crazy shit show. That's my wish!

Later today, I'm going on a hike with friends up to the Griffith Observatory where there will be a beautiful (but probably hazy, knowing LA) view of Los Angeles. Huzzah!


That is very fitting for my own personal holiday theme I've got going on over here. Having lots of fond feeling for Los Angeles right now as my Yuletide gift got me to rewatch Once Upon a Time in Hollywood a few times this past week. It remains my favorite Tarantino movie, and possibly one of my favorite movies all together. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

(eta: whoa, just had an earthquake. okay maybe that's too much of an LA experience for New Years, let's pull it back)

It's been a Brad Pitt Yuletide. It's also been a very crooks and thieves and heists kind of season.

On to Yuletide Reveals --

I wrote 2 stories for Yuletide this year, which is 2 more than I've written for Yuletide since 2010!

What Really Happened with Marco (11458 words) by hafital
Chapters: 7/7
Fandom: Ocean's Eleven Trilogy (Movies)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Danny Ocean/Rusty Ryan
Characters: Danny Ocean, Rusty Ryan, Reuben Tishkoff, Saul Bloom, Isabel Lahiri, Tess Ocean, Linus Caldwell
Additional Tags: background Danny/Tess, background Rusty/Isabel, Canon-typical shenanigans, Stories as Truth, Team as Family, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Polyamory, No Danny Oceans were actually harmed in the writing of this story
Summary:

Rusty visits Danny's grave, and remembers. Meanwhile, everyone has a story to tell about Danny and Rusty.

and a treat for dorinda

Timing and Lighting (1841 words) by hafital
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Sting (1973)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Henry Gondorff/Johnny Hooker
Characters: Henry Gondorff, Johnny Hooker
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat
Summary:

Johnny struggles to find the words he needs.

( yammering on writing and stuff )

mwah. happy new year!

haven't done yuletide in ages, but giving it a go this year. crazy times.

Dear Yuletide Friend <3,


Thank you for writing my story this year! It's been so long since I participated in Yuletide that the whole sign up part of it has changed considerably, so forgive me for not including things like DNWs and tags and whatnot. :D

ETA: I would love treats for any of these! In case anyone comes here to check. Sort of late in the day, but I didn't realize we were supposed to mention that lol.

Request 1 - Friday Night Lights

I didn't require that you had to use every character in my request because honestly these are all favorites and I am happy to receive any combination in a story. I love the Taylors and I love Tim Riggins. I have a yen for Tim/Julie, anywhere from just friendship or futurefic, or whatever spark works. I guess if I have a DNW it would be for any infidelity between Eric and Tami, and no non-con.

Request 2 - Dunkirk

Ever since I saw this movie the first time I have wanted fiction between Collins and Farrier. I read a few of the stories in the archive and still want more. :D I also said for this request you don't need to include both so if for whatever reason you only want to focus on one of these men, that's fine, too. I'm mostly wanting some kind of reunion fic but I honestly am not too picky so whatever you want to explore, gen or slash or future fic or whatever, go for it!

Request 3 - Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Man, I adore the relationship between Rick and Cliff, and however you want to explore that will be fine with me. For any DNW, I don't want them to be like angry with each other anything like that. And no intimate partner abuse. The dynamic in the film is what I love the most.

Request 4 - Emma.

I'm perpetually in love with this novel, and I very much loved the new film. My request said I was happy to receive either Emma/Mr. Knightly or Emma/Harriet, either gen or romance at any rating, but I am also okay with all of them together or any combination. Post novel or something that takes place within the known story are both good. Most of all, have fun!

The Highlander Holiday Shortcuts reveal was yesterday! Every year since it started, the hlh_shortcuts fest has been a real highlight of the holiday season for me, and this year was no exception.

As a gift, the wonderful merriman wrote a HL/Ocean's 11 crossover story entitled Fencing for me! Do you have any idea how long I have wanted a HL/Ocean's 11 crossover???? Well, you can safely assume it's been since two seconds after watching Ocean's 11 the first time. hah.

And so now I can talk a little bit about my story that I wrote for the ever generous and amazing unovis.

Domaine du Meilleur Bien-Aimé
for Unovis
Duncan/Methos, various OCs

No doubt Methos took great delight in making MacLeod tramp all over eastern France with nothing more than a rambling note and the vague directions given by a barefoot child, but there could be no question that in the end MacLeod would find him.

It'll be up at the HL Archive in uno momento. And done.

But, first, let's talk about ( DONKEYS )

Honestly, I had no idea where the donkeys came from. I had not set out to write donkeys. NO REALLY. But Lucy knew better. Clearly. Perhaps the blame falls to Mrs Augusta Elton:

"I wish we had a donkey. The thing would be for us all to come on donkeys, Jane, Miss Bates, and me and my caro sposo walking by. I really must talk to him about purchasing a donkey. In a country life I conceive it to be a sort of necessary; for, let a woman have ever so many resources, it is not possible for her to be always shut up at home;and very long walks, you knowin summer there is dust, and in winter there is dirt."

"You will not find either, between Donwell and Highbury. Donwell Lane is never dusty, and now it is perfectly dry. Come on a donkey, however, if you prefer it. You can borrow Mrs. Cole's. I would wish every thing to be as much to your taste as possible." -- Emma, Jane Austen.

~~~

Yay the Yuletide Archive is LIVE!

This year I received another lovely Ozma/Dorothy story. The Royal Wedding of Oz, which is delightful and sweet and everything I could want, except that I want MORE. lol. But I always want more Oz, and more Ozma and Dorothy. I am like the Hungry Tiger in that way.

And that's all of Yuletide that I've read so far. There is so much to read! *big eyes*

~~~

I'm in Mexico right now, with my parents at their house, under a pile of blankets because central heating is apparently too modern an invention. But their house is large and freshly painted, so that's good. And has internet, which is really the important thing. :D The town is, well, a town, and in this part of Mexico (Baja California) everything is rather 3rd world meets Walmart and Costco, but yesterday we drove out into the country side a little bit and it's truly beautiful and stunning out here, once you get away from the towns. The drive down from LA is lovely, too, with the ocean right there. I love the ocean.

Last night my mom and I visited some of her neighbors who, um, party. LOL. They had a Karaoke machine and were singing, loudly, ranchero songs. Honestly it was like being at the barn because the grooms all play ranchero music ALL THE TIME. But they were so nice! My parents have really nice, friendly, generous neighbors. The kids won't stop playing with fireworks, though, and that's kind of annoying. It's going to be LOUD on New Years and I'm so glad I'm going to miss it. lol.

Yay I had a lovely New Year's Eve celebration with astolat. In conclusion, Adam Lambert is adorable, but many of us knew that already. He's fun. He can stay. *g*

~~~

yuletide 2009 reveal!

Life was such that I could only write the one main story this year. This was the first time I didn't do a pinch hit or an extra story as a gift and I was a bit sad about that, but there was literally no way I could do another story, although I thought about it. Anyhoo, my story:


Shades of Mars
24, Jack/Tony, Adult, +4,500 words.
Written for savageseraph
With a big thank you to kadymae for the last minute beta.
Spoilers for Day 7 and Day 3; No spoilers for the upcoming season.

( Jack/Tony 4eva! story blather )

For Yuletide Madness, I received a delightfully naughty drabble gift for Lost In Austen, entitled A Treat From the Future. Darcy/Amanda. Love it! Want MOAR. So much more. ;)

~~~

If anyone wants to try and guess my story, go right ahead! Although, I doubt anyone will. It's not a fandom that's popping up on rec lists, as far as I can tell. But anyhoo, a hint: it's not a fandom I've ever written for before, but I have talked about it often.

'La, I lazed around all morning, and now I gotta rush. This is just a quick note to shower love and affection on my yuletide story, written for ME: What's On The Other Side?, a lovely Oz story with Dorothy and Ozma, bittersweet and beautiful and sad and wonderful all at the same time.

I also got a Yuletide Madness story, but I don't know what it is! :D :D

ETA: OH DUDE TOTALLY FORGOT IT IS ALSO WHO DAY. *big eyes* That'll have to wait. eeeeeeeeee.

With 45 minutes to spare. Oh yeah.

Lordy, I hope I did that correctly. *twitch*

And now I gotta run to the barn. bwee!

Hiii wonderful people. Is there someone wiling to beta for me? Pretty please. I don't want to say what the fandom is, but I just need a beta for grammar. ~4700 words, m/m, some blood and violence but it's not too bad.

So, I got my assignment! woo. It's... well, I love it. I'm a bit terrified also, but this is a fandom that I truly love. So. yay! I'm excited and also daunted. *big eyes*

Dear Secret Yuletide Writer-Type Person!

Thank you so much for writing my story for me. I'm very excited for all of my requests; they're all near and dear to my heart. I hope I nattered on sufficiently in the detail sections for you and my main hope is that you have fun writing. I'm happy to receive gen, het, slash, whatever. I'm pretty easy to please. My brain is swiss cheese right now and I seem unable to go into specifics without going around in circles, so just write what you want. :) Remember, have fun!