It is getting to be Yuletide nominations time again, and so it is time for me to start thinking about what I'm going to nominate and request. Tell me your thoughts! I am curious. Here is what I am currently considering:

+ The Lost Boys, if it is still eligible, because this year is the 30th anniversary, and the nostalgia is running strong. A group of us just did a fun group rewatch, and so many fab ideas were floating around. I am inspired to write and to request.

+ Full Out, a cheesy, fun movie about a gymnast who loses her Olympic dreams after a car accident and has to get them back. Her physical therapist is a gorgeous woman, and there are a bunch of fun dance scenes and flirtations and hip hop dance and gymnastics.

+ Tess Gratton's United States of Asgard series, which is about the Norse gods being real and what our world looks like with them, but mostly is about teenage warriors finding their strength and being fierce and amazing and wonderful. I love them so much. (And Glory, my favorite version ever of Fenris Wolf.)

+ Avengers Grimm, a super low budget ridiculous movie about fairy tale warriors, but has some fabulous heat between Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. Could also use werewolves, of course.

+ Kisses & Curses, because I still want that threesome story I requested before. Such a fun game; I should really play it again, in case someone else requests it, because I'd also love to write it.

+ Sarah Rees Brennan's Turn of the Story, because I still want warrior woman Louise to have all the adventures. All of them.

+ Werewolf the Beast Among Us, because there is a badass werewolf hunter woman, and I want more of her. Of course I do. I always do.

Look, only, like, two fandoms where I want werewolves (plus USAsgard, where Glory is sort of technically a werewolf and a god and Fenris Wolf all at the same time). That's super low for me. (Seriously, though, you could add werewolves to any of these fandoms and they would be even more fun.)

Brief politics RE DeVos:

Me to my R Senator: *thoughtful commentary and criticism about DeVos*
R Senator: *stock response, with addition of how much he trusts her educational work*
R Senator publicly celebrates her confirmation.
Me to my R Senator: SHE FUCKING BOUGHT YOUR GODDAMN VOTE, MOTHERFUCKER, AND SOLD OUT YOUR FUCKING CONSTITUENTS AND WE ALL FUCKING KNOW IT
R Senator: *does not respond*
Me: FUCKING FUCK I FUCKING HATE HIM SO FUCKING MUCH

I have long loathed the man, but for some reason, I can't imagine why, lately my hate has gone white hot. It probably doesn't help that I've decided to start actually paying attention to his responses, when before I would just ignore him after contacting him. I should go back to that. It would be better for my health.

A meteor blazed over the midwest the other day. My immediate response was: PLEASE LET IT BE THE FIRST SALVO TO THE ALIENS TAKING US ALL OUT. #teamextinctionlevelcomet

Books:

Follow up on that post where I talked about Riordan's God's of Asgard books. Despite my complaints about the first one, I bought the second one the second I finished it, because in the end, he told a really compelling story and I loved the characters. I really enjoyed the second book, too, and am now left wanting the third. I think I will go back and read the rest of his books when I can find them on sale. Is this series Yuletide eligible, I wonder? I might want some fic for side characters.

In other book news, I read the Unfuck Your Habitat book, and was not as impressed as I hoped, since I love the online presence. It was interesting enough, I guess, but not something I think I will reread in the future. Similarly, I read Snowbirds by Crissa-Jean Chappell, which is a young adult Amish mystery, and while it was an entertaining read, I wanted to connect with it deeper than I did.

Riordan's books prompted a reread of Tessa Gratton's United States of Asgard series (it was super weird to see Fenris wolf be a dude in Riordan's books, I have to say, after my beloved Glory, who I totally adore).

I need to start another book that is new to me. Not sure what, though. Do you guys have any recommendations?

I only managed five stories across three fandoms for Yuletide this year, half as many as last year, but I'm mostly very pleased with what I did write. We'll see how next Yuletide goes, as always. Perhaps I will scale my goal back to 5 stories a year for the next few years.

Assignment: The Light That Carries You Home (Full House, gen) (for celeria)
Characters/pairings: DJ Tanner, Kimmy Gibbler, Stephanie Tanner, Michelle Tanner, Danny Tanner, Becky Donaldson, Tommy Fuller Sr
Tags: Road trips, cabin fic, sister-sister relationship, college anxiety, post-series, pre-series, first meetings
Word count: 10k+

Summary: The summer before she leaves for Berkeley, DJ says good-bye.

I was so excited to get this assignment, and then I struggled, and struggled, and struggled some more. Part of it was that I always struggle to write fiction without monsters, and I just finished another such project before I started this, and part of it was the election fallout. I wrote probably 20k total on this in fits and starts, with deleted scenes and three different openings (one of which became a treat) and multiple drafts and multiple betas and lots and lots of rewriting. I'm fairly pleased with how it came out.

Treat: The Face of Someone Who Needs You (Full House, DJ/Steve) (for celeria)
Characters/pairings: DJ Tanner/Steve Hale, Danny Tanner
Tags: Post-series, break up, growing up, male-female friendship
Word count: 1800+

Summary: DJ loves Steve, still, and she'll always be grateful for prom, but that doesn't mean they're getting back together.

This is, of course, the opening that I cut from the main gift but which stood enough on its own to be read as a treat. It is more bittersweet than I normally write for Yuletide, but I really love DJ in it.

Treat: Oh, That Curse I Cannot Lift (Confident - Demi Lovato, Michelle/Demi) (for st_aurafina)
Characters/pairings: Woman (Demi Lovato)/Woman (Michelle Rodriguez)
Tags: Alternate universe - werewolf, first time shifting, pack building, outdoor sex, oral sex
Word count: 5100+

Summary: There’s silver bullets in Demi’s belt, a silver core to the metal band around her throat. Michelle wonders if she knows, if she can smell the similarities between them.

When I finally had the second draft of my assignment done and off to the beta, I went looking through the prompts again, wanting to write treats. I had avoided the other Confident prompts, because I try not to write in fandoms I request, but I decided to skim through them to see the different things people wanted (I love seeing the different ways people are inspired by the same source material), and when I saw the werewolf prompt, I immediately opened a file. The first words were: WEREWOLF CONFIDENT PROMPT OMG YES THIS IS MINE.

So, yeah. That happened. Of everything I wrote this year, this story is the one that has a neon sign with my name on it, and I would not be surprised at all if everyone who knows me and read it immediately guessed it was mine.

Once again, I got to write Michelle Rodriguez as a werewolf, which is one of my favorite things.

Treat: Comes the Night, Comes the Shadow (Lost Boys, Star/Michael/David) (for havocthecat)
Characters/Pairings: Star/Michael/David
Tags: Bloodplay, blood drinking, public sex
Word count: 1900+

Summary: Star is sixteen when she comes to Santa Carla.

As soon as I saw havocthecat's Lost Boys request, I knew I wanted to try to write a gift fic for her, and then I bugged her to post her letter, which means I would not at all be surprised if she knew this was me. I love how she loves the Lost Boys, and Star in particular, and I have become so deeply sold on Star/Michael/David. This was, as always, a joy to write; Lost Boys was my second online fandom, and I've been writing in it for nearly 20 years now. I love it so.

Treat: Straight On 'Til Morning (Lost Boys, Star/David, Star/Michael) (for skazka)
Characters/Pairings: Star/David, Star/Michael, Marko, Dwayne, Paul
Tags: Alternate universe - always a different sex, fortune telling, peter pan references
Word count:

Summary: Star saw a knight in the cards, but there was no boy in shining armor on a white horse. There wasn't even a boy in a car, offering her safety and family and home. There wasn't a boy at all, though boys come to Santa Carla by the dozens, and die just as fast.

There was, though, a girl.

This was the first story I started for Yuletide 2016, and the last I finished. I saw the prompt before I even read my assignment and immediately fell in love with it, particularly the way skazka loves Santa Carla and the feel of the movie, and his lesbian biker gang prompt was the greatest thing ever. I love this story, and this world, and if I write more lesbian Lost Boys gender swap, do not be surprised.

Carrie Fisher's death is hitting me hard. She gave me hope RE bipolar and still being a person, someone who can create and do things and -- fuck. Clearly, hard.

( Twister )

( Saving Face )

( Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated )

I got three (THREE!) wonderful stories for Yuletide this year, all girl slash, and all absolutely delightful.

Long Live the Queen (video game)

The Many-Headed Beast (2210 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Long Live the Queen (Video Game)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Elodie/Briony
Characters: Elodie (Long Live the Queen), Briony (Long Live the Queen), Charlotte (Long Live the Queen), Joslyn (Long Live the Queen)
Additional Tags: Kings & Queens, Coming of Age, Intrigue, Established Relationship, Femslash
Summary:

In the years immediately following her coronation, Elodie finds herself up to her neck in intrigues and machinations. Briony provides some unexpected relief.

It's a gorgeous, fun story with a witty, clever, smart Elodie and a politically savvy Briony. Together, they maneuver through court life. A great combination of lighthearted fun and bittersweet; really nicely captures the tensions of the game, and the responsibilities placed on a young queen in this world.

You may be able to read this without knowing the canon, but it's pretty deeply tied to the events and feel of the game, in wonderful, layered ways. (If you haven't played it, I highly recommend the game, as well! Long Live the Queen)

Confident - Demi Lovato (Music Video)

As I told carlyinrome via text earlier, I have never been so glad I nominated a fandom for Yuletide before. I didn't expect so many people to request it, or write it, and I am absolutely thrilled that two of the stories are for me!

ETA: Meant to include a link to the video, because in less than 4 minutes, you can be up to date on this canon and ready for these amazing stories: "Confident"

I am not a weapon but I will win this war (2733 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Confident - Demi Lovato (Music Video)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Woman (Demi Lovato)/Woman (Michelle Rodriguez)
Additional Tags: PWP, Light Bondage, Biting, D/s elements, Light plot, mentions of polyamory, Rough Sex
Summary:

Beretta always did like to wind down with company after a fight.

Excellent world building (a great resistance in a dystopian world), with characters I love, and sex that is hot as hell. Like, seriously hot, with great details and description. This story is a fantastic spin on the music video.

they'll inherit your blood (2283 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Confident - Demi Lovato (Music Video)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Woman (Demi Lovato)/Woman (Michelle Rodriguez)
Characters: Woman (Demi Lovato), Woman (Michelle Rodriguez)
Additional Tags: Assassins & Hitmen, Misses Clause Challenge, Backstory, Girls with Guns
Summary:

Both before and after.

Title from Regina Spektor's Après Moi.

I love this look at women warriors and how they come to be what they are, and how one really shouldn't exist with the other, and yet when they do, smoking hot sex happens.

I may be done posting stories, depending on how the next few days go, so I'll do a tally now. (If I manage anything else, I'll update it.) This was not my best writing year by far; between November's rage slump, and being slammed with family holiday stuff this year, I just ran out of time despite the dozens and dozens of letters I flagged for potential treats.

Assignment: 9k+, old fandom
Treat #1: 2k+, old fandom
Treat #2: 3k+, new fandom

That is it. Le sigh.

There are some excellent fandoms in the taglist for Yuletide, though, and I can't wait to dive into the stories this weekend!

Haven't done the retrospective in a few years, and am super excited about this year's assignment, so I am going to do it again now. I can't believe 2007 is the only year I wrote a single story. (Well, and 2005 if you don't count the story I had to write to qualify. Back when you had to qualify for Yuletide.) Here's to my 12th Yuletide!

( 2005 (Qualifying - Mean Girls, Assignment - Bend It Like Beckham) )

( 2006 (Assignment - Emelan by Tamora Pierce, Treat - Dog Soldiers) )

( 2007 (Assignment - Emelan by Tamora Pierce) )

( 2008 (Assignment - Jurassic Park series, Pinch Hit - Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris, Treat - Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, Treat - Mean Girls, Treat - Lost Boys) )

( 2009 (Assignment - California Diaries series by Ann M. Martin, Treat - Blue Crush, Treat - Scooby Doo Where Are You/Scooby Doo on Zombie Island, Treat - Practical Magic, Treat - Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin, Treat - Fast and the Furious series, Treat - Fairy Tales: Little Red Riding Hood/Snow White) )

( 2010 (Assignment - Make It or Break It, Treat - Sons of Anarchy, Treat - Blue Crush, Treat - Dustland Fairytale video by The Killers, Treat - Sparrow Hill Road series by Seanan McGuire) )

( 2011 (Assignment - Pioneer Trail/Oregon Trail video games, Treat - Lilo & Stitch, Treat - Fast and the Furious series, Treat - Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin, Pinch Hit - Fallen London video game) )

( 2012 (Assignment - Emelan series by Tamora Pierce, Treat - Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin/Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Treat - Sons of Anarchy) )

( 2013 (Assignment - Practical Magic, Treat - Follow Me Down by Seanan McGuire, Treat - Ма́фия | Werewolf party game, Treat - Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin, Treat - Thunderheart) )

( 2014 (Assignment - Fast & Furious 6, Treat - Making Out by Katherine Applegate, Treat - Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Treat - Practical Magic, Treat - Goblin Market - Christina Rossetti, Treat - Thunderheart, Treat - Lost Boys, Treat - Carmilla (Web Series)) )

( 2015 (Assignment - Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M Martin, Treat - Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M Martin, Treat - Fast & Furious 6, Treat - Jurassic Park series, Pinch Hit - Make It or Break It, Treat - Make It or Break It, Treat - Make It or Break It, Treat - Ice Princess, Treat - Fast & Furious series, Treat - Jurassic World) )