ariadnes_string

For Yuletide, I wrote the story below for hhertzof:

The Waves and the Rocky Shore (2026 words) by ariadnes_string
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Riddle-Master Trilogy - Patricia A. McKillip
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Morgon of Hed/Raederle of An
Characters: Morgon of Hed, Raederle of An
Additional Tags: Future Fic, Post-Canon
Summary:

Morgon and Raederle meet for the first time after the events of Harpist in the Wind.

It's pretty deeply embedded in canon, so I don't think it would make sense if you haven't read the books, but I love them, and love these characters, so I was delighted to get the assignment, even though it was weird to write something after so long.

Dear Yuletide Author:

First of all, thank you so much for writing a story for me! Any story with any of these characters will make me happy, so please just write what seems fun and interesting to you! I don’t expect you to get every character I requested into your story—any (or all) of them would fine . I saw this phrase in someone’s letter a while ago, and it perfectly expressed my feelings: If you come to a place where you think you can either write a good story or make me happy, write a good story. (and if that’s your phrase—thank you!).

( more about my preferences and requested fandoms )

Happy new year, everyone!

Much to my surprise, I ended up writing two things for Yuletide. I didn't sign up, because I didn't have time to write a letter, much less write a gift. But things lightened up in mid-December, and I snagged a late pinch hit and wrote a treat.

I stole time away from family and work to write these and...it felt pretty good! Can't say it'll happen again before next Yuletide, but it was nice while it lasted.

Here's the pinch hit. I was just thinking about this movie when it came up, and oh boy did it stand up to a (third or fourth) re-watch. My second fic in this fandom.

Contend with the Living Blues (1837 words) by ariadnes_string
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Warrior (2011)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Tommy Conlon, Frank Campana, Brendan Conlon
Additional Tags: Pre-Slash, Tattoos
Summary:

Saints preserve him from Conlons, Frank thought, especially this one.

As for the treat: I guess it was just a matter of time before I wrote a story about my namesake, huh? I got hit by a plot bunny for this angle on the story, and couldn't shake it, though I only finished it for madness. It's still a little rough.

Naufrage (1863 words) by ariadnes_string
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Greek and Roman Mythology, Cretan Labyrinth Stories (Greek Mythology)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Ariadne/Dionysus, Ariadne/Theseus
Characters: Ariadne (Greek and Roman Mythology), Dionysus, Theseus (Greek and Roman Mythology)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Drug Use
Summary:

In the Mediterranean, many are lost, but some are found.

(I'm not commenting on LJ anymore, so if you're reading there and want to comment, come to DW)

I wrote two stories for Yuletide this year--which were either a good distraction from end-of-the-year stress, or made the end of the year more stressful because they took time away from other things that needed to get done. Depends how you look at it!

Five Times Rachel Dreamt of Quinn, and One Time Quinn Woke her Up (2629 words) by ariadnes_string
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: UnREAL (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Rachel Goldberg/Quinn King
Additional Tags: Voyeurism, Canon Jewish Character, Misses Clause Challenge
Summary:

It started on the first night of the first day Rachel worked on Everlasting.

This was my assignment, and I was happy to get it, since I've wanted to write for this fandom for a while (even though I STILL haven't watched the end of the 2nd season). I like all the parts of this fic, but I failed that basic "kill your darlings" test of writing with it. I think the last section is the best, but I only thought of the idea for it at the very last minute, and even though I knew I should rework the whole fic to be just the last section, and junk the other parts, I couldn't bear to. So it isn't as strong a story as it might have been. Sigh. #reasonstokeepmydayjob, eh?

Peven's Tower (2169 words) by ariadnes_string
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Riddle-Master Trilogy - Patricia A. McKillip
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Raederle of An, Peven of Aum
Additional Tags: Missing Scene, Misses Clause Challenge
Summary:

After battling the shape-changers at Erlenstar Mountain, Morgon disappears. Raederle's search for him leads her to a place both unexpected and familiar.

I picked up this pinch hit in the last round of pinch hits, and again, was pleased to write it, since I've loved the books for a long time. I meant to make it more episodic, but the story of Raederle revisiting Peven grew to fit everything I wanted to say. It builds off a throwaway line in canon, about Raederle visiting Peven's Tower before Morgon wins the crown. I'm glad it got such nice responses, since I didn't want to let down the source material.

Maybe for the first time, everything I wrote for Yuletide was about, and from the POV, of women.

Oh, and I never posted the fic I wrote for trickortreatx, so here it is:

When the days have no number (1802 words) by ariadnes_string
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Killjoys (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Johnny Jaqobis, Dutch (Killjoys), Alvis Akari, Lucy (Killjoys)
Additional Tags: Pre-Series
Summary:

Johnny thinks he's seeing things.

That makes a total of 7 fics I wrote this year, for better or worse!

Dear Yuletide Author:

First of all, thank you so much for writing a story for me! Any fic with any of these characters will make me happy, so please just write what seems fun and interesting to you! I don’t expect you to get every character I requested into your fic—any (or all) of them would fine . I saw this phrase in someone’s letter a while ago, and it perfectly expressed my feelings: If you come to a place where you think you can either write a good story or make me happy, write a good story. ( and if that’s your phrase—thank you!).

If it’s helpful, here are some things about my general preferences:

( general preferences )

I got tagged yesterday for come_at_once, the 24-hour Sherlock Holmes fandoms tag-team challenge. I had my doubts, but I managed to write a bit of silliness in the 6 or so hours I had available. Sometimes it's actually better for me to write that way, I think.

The prompt was "show and tell."

The Stone of the Jaguar Kings (1301 words) by ariadnes_string
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (Downey films)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson
Additional Tags: Established Relationship, Magical Artifacts, irresponsible anthropology, Chair Sex
Summary:

A famous explorer leaves a mysterious stone in Holmes' keeping.

Hi! We are currently in a windowless space waiting for the tornado warning to expire, so I'm catching up by posting this.

I got two delightful gifts from the chocolate_box exchange.

Vicarious Mercy (1206 words) by fadeaccompli
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Imperial Radch Series - Ann Leckie
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Justice of Toren One Esk Nineteen | Breq & Gem of Sphene, Justice of Toren One Esk Nineteen | Breq/Mercy of Kalr
Characters: Justice of Toren One Esk Nineteen | Breq, Mercy of Kalr, Gem of Sphene
Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Bureaucracy
Summary:

In which Sphene discovers a way to shorten committee meetings, and Mercy of Kalr does not disagree.

Quantifiable Effects (483 words) by Isis
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Beverley Brook/Peter Grant
Characters: Beverley Brook, Peter Grant
Additional Tags: Pegging, Bondage, Sexual Humor, PWP without Porn
Summary:

After the events of Foxglove Summer, Peter gives Beverley a gift. And vice versa.

And I wrote one gift.

Five currant buns (949 words) by ariadnes_string
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Imperial Radch Series - Ann Leckie
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Justice of Toren One Esk Nineteen | Breq/Mercy of Kalr/Seivarden Vendaai
Characters: Justice of Toren One Esk Nineteen | Breq, Awn Elming
Summary:

There are some songs I remember but never sing.

I kind of want to sign up for smutswap but the fact that I only barely managed to write something for my recipient for this one is making me think twice.

Okay, the warning is about to expire and we seem to have survived!

I’m sorry this letter is so late! If you’ve started something, please just go ahead, I’m sure I will love it!

If it’s helpful, here are some things about my general preferences:

( general preferences )

I moved, then had family visiting for the holidays, then traveled, and so I have been very remiss about sharing the absolutely lovely gifts I got for Yuletide--all three of them!

I have always loved the Riddlemaster Trilogy, but I've always been wary of requesting fic for it--worried it wouldn't live up to my feelings about the books. But there was gorgeous fic for it in last year's Yuletide, so I took a chance and requested it. And, oh my goodness, what a good decision that turned out to be. I received not one but two fics in the fandom, both post-series fic that focus on the consequences of the events of the novels for the two main characters, Morgon and Raederle, and on their somewhat idiosyncratic love for each other. Both stories give us very grown-up, nuanced, versions of the characters, and beautiful details about their (new) world. These are just beautiful, moving, thoughtful stories--read them if you love the books!

Tuning (3313 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Riddle-Master Trilogy - Patricia A. McKillip
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Morgon of Hed/Raederle of An
Characters: Morgon of Hed, Raederle of An
Additional Tags: Post-Series
Summary:

Morgon and Raederle drift across the realm, and the earth's harp is tuned to the dawn of another new age.

I love the way this story works the connection between magic and the natural world, and its overall concern with the value of peace.

Like Petals from the Bough (3841 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Riddle-Master Trilogy - Patricia A. McKillip
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Morgon of Hed/Raederle of An
Characters: Raederle of An, Morgon of Hed, Nun (Riddle-Master Trilogy), minor OC characters - Character
Additional Tags: Grief, Loss, dealing with eternal life
Summary:

Raederle deals (or doesn't) with the fact that she is not dying.

I love the way this fic, like the novels, considers how you can love someone but need to go away from them for a while. Its consideration of grief is also very moving. As the author's note says, not a happy story, but in the best possible way.

AND THEN--someone wrote me Limetown fic! As in Limetown the podcast (you can now listen to the whole first season--it's like Serial meets the X-Files, or maybe Lost). This story is about how one of the other, barely heard from, characters might have thought about the events of the first season, and is very nicely done!

Thank You for Listening (2962 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Limetown (Podcast)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Lia Haddock, Mark Greene (Limetown)
Additional Tags: Missing Scene, Post-Season/Series 01, Yuletide Treat
Summary:

"The thing was, when Lia had first pitched the idea of doing a series on Limetown, it hadn’t seemed dangerous." Producer Mark Greene's take on the events of Season One of Limetown.

So much gratitude to all the writers for making these tiny fandoms come to life!

(and now that I'm back, I'm going to try to read some more in the archive!)

Dear Yuletide Author:

First of all, thank you so much for writing a story for me! Any fic with any of these characters will make me happy, so please just write what seems fun and interesting to you! I don’t expect you to get every character I requested into your fic—any (or all) of them would fine . I saw this phrase in someone’s letter a while ago, and it perfectly expressed my feelings: If you come to a place where you think you can either write a good story or make me happy, write a good story. ( and if that’s your phrase—thank you!).

If it’s helpful, here are some things about my general preferences:

( general preferences )

Requests, in alphabetical order

( Hamilton )

( Killjoys )

( Limetown )

( Riddle-Master Trilogy )

Thank you, and have fun!