jlh | Yuletide Recs!

Here are more stories, just under the wire for the reveal, but I've finally finished rummaging through all the fandoms I care about for treasures and found twenty-two stories in seventeen fandoms. My previous rec list, of fandoms I either offered or requested, is here (thirteen stories in seven fandoms).

Hairspray (2007): One of the interesting things about the casting of Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle in the Hairspray movie is that the character is younger and sexier—and therefore can be shipped with my favorite, Corny Collins. Call me a new convert thanks to (And My Heart's) Keeping Time

Casablanca: As Time Goes By. Rick and Louis end up in New Orleans after the war. Louis thinks about how they got there, and where they might be going.

Top Gun: Attitude Adjustment. Okay, so you know all those cliches that Maverick/Iceman brings to mind? Well, this story will banish them all—and the ending is perfection. All that and super hot, too. If you're looking for something more melancholy and bittersweet, try Two Hearts In Your Chest.

Ocean's 11: I've found I have a little thing for some Rusty/Linus, and the most satisfying one this year was The Houston Job, Forty-Eight Minutes Earlier, with Rusty and Linus stuck in an elevator. Of course the best is when Linus manages to pull one over on Rusty, and for that you'll want You're Doing It Wrong, with an elaborate con that of course only becomes clear at the end.

The Addams Family (movie): The Last Rites of Wednesday Addams. The author's summary: Wednesday Addams must live up to expectations, traditions, and generations of women. It's a good thing she's inherited the best of both of her parents, isn't it? To say more, well, I'd ruin it. Run don't walk.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: A Fine Romance. Tick and Adam ride Priscilla back home to Sydney, having switched Bernadette for Benji. Fantastic missing scenes story.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: Well, a lot of it is Perry/Harry, which isn't something that appeals to me, but Just Another Day at Work isn't shippy at all. What it is, is funny and clever and bizarre and satisfying, much like the film, with a spot-on Harry voice and Perry being, well, Perry.

Arrested Development: Domestic Disturbances is once of those "missing episodes" and is as pitch-perfect as you'll find. Of Ninjas and Peppermint Ice Cream shows Maeby with her uncles getting ice cream. Maybe Tonight is an adorable glance at Maeby and George Michael as adults.

Ugly Betty: Setting the Record Straight. Marc is worried about another person? Includes Cliff (adorable) and therefore comic book references.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: I adore Tom/Lucy, and Simon and Tom and the Bum Advice, where Simon takes Tom out drinking after he's had a fight with Lucy with (somewhat) predictable results, is an unexpected treasure in the expected ocean of Matt/Danny.

Agatha Christie—Poirot Series: Hercule Poirot's Morning Off. How he recharges the little grey cells.

Sesame Street: Why Sex Ed Should Stay in Schools. Look, it's Bert and Ernie, they're puppets, it's NC-17, it's funny, and somehow it doesn't feel wrong. I say, go with it.

Helen Fielding—Bridget Jones' Diary: The Naughty Girl. Mark and Bridget before, at, and after a Turkey Curry Buffet post-Edge of Reason. Great characterization, adorable story.

Dorthy L. Sayers--Lord Peter Wimsey series: I know that Lord Peter fanfic is a touchy subject, and I approached this year's list with all due caution. But I will heartily recommend Scarce Any Man, an excellent missing moment story showing Harriet just before Strong Poison. And The First Year After is a brilliant glimpse into how, immediately after Strong Poison, Charles Parker found forgiveness from Harriet.

Historical RPF: I'm not usually one for historical RPF for obvious reasons, but the Lewis and Clark story Every Land simply cannot be missed. Don't let the NC-17 rating throw you; this is far from a sexfest, but rather a well-researched and more importantly well-written tale that I can't begin to characterize. Just read it.

British Comedy RPF: Emma's Friends follows Stephen, Hugh and Emma, and sort of Ken, during the filming of Peter's Friends. Again, don't be put off by the NC-17 rating, as I almost was; if you've seen that film and followed that gang at all, this story will satisfy.

Beatles RPF: I have a thing for John/Paul Beatles slash—I'm not sure why so much of it is bittersweet rather than rampaging we-rule-the-world. But Sold Out Completely manages to be both, and includes photographs. Brilliant.