Words by Sinope

This year, I was foolish enough to do not one but two holiday fic exchanges. Fortunately, I managed to a) finish things for both, and b) get absolutely amazing gifts in return!

For yuletide, my own fic is still anon, but I received Summer Rain, based on the song "Jolene." It reads as an original high fantasy short story with fun worldbuilding, political intrigue, and lots of play with genderbending, interesting female leads, and sexualities. I love it, and you should totally read it!

For alumpofcoul, I received A Friend in Need, by the superlatively generous ladydeathfaerie. It's a long, delicious Avengers fic in which Pepper, Phil, and Clint join forces to top Tony and help get him out of his head, and it's filled with all sorts of sexy kink. I'm so delighted by it (and a little disturbed at how apparently predictable my literary kinks are? :-D).

Finally, also for alumpofcoul, I Did a Thing.

Specifically, I decided that rather than picking a particular pairing and writing a story about them, it was a good plan to incorporate all of my recipient's pairings into a Choose Your Own Adventure erotic romp. All I can say is, hey, I had fun. :-D

You're a Good Man, Phil Coulson
by Sinope, for allofthefandoms
Rating: explicit (no warnings)
Kinks: many, mostly BDSM-related (see the endnotes if you want details)
Possible pairings: Clint Barton/Phil Coulson, Clint Barton/Phil Coulson/Natasha Romanov, Phil Coulson/Pepper Potts, Phil Coulson/Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Phil Coulson/Nick Fury, Phil Coulson/Steve Rogers, Clint Barton/Phil Coulson/Pepper Potts/Steve Rogers/Natasha Romanov/Tony Stark

Summary:
You are Philip J. Coulson: agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., mild-mannered spy, part-time resident of Stark Avengers Tower, and part-time babysitter for a team of agents investigating budding superheroes. It's a busy life, but the rewards are worth it.

(A kinky, polyamorous "Choose Your Own Adventure" fic.)

My rational mind knew that I didn't have time to do Yuletide this fall, so -- for the first time in years -- I decided not to sign up. But then a last-minute pinch hit came through the queue that was too utterly perfect for me to resist. Obviously, I can't reveal it now, but I'll be on my honeymoon cruise when the reveal happens. So for now, O Recipient, know that I had an incredible time writing for you, and that it was such a thrill to write on a subject so dear to me!

Now, I didn't expect recompense for a pinch-hit so last-minute, but I was thrilled to have three -- three! -- lovely little ficlets written for me.

Hi Becca, from Huge, is a sweet little glimpse at Becca's life after she left the camp and tried to figure out where things were with Chloe.

Realization, from A Song of Ice and Fire, is a very cute slashy snippet between Renly Baratheon and Loras Tyrell.

Finally, last and most wonderfully, Twelve Gifts, from Love Actually is a beautifully concise portrait of how the Mark/Peter/Juliet relationship develops over the course of a year, as told in twelve gifts. If you like "Love Actually," you'll love this sweet little triad romance that exemplifies storytelling between the lines.

I haven't had the chance to do real Yuletide recs this year -- and I've only read a small handful of the stories, though I have many more open in tabs to read on the cruise -- but I have been saving the stories I particularly loved to my bookmarks, if anyone needs more suggestions of rewarding reading.

Happy Yuletide, everyone! I love fandom.