Yuletide Recs #1

 
 I've been poking at this off-and-on all day.  Here's some of what I've liked so far:

 1. Second Son (Vorkosigan Saga) - http://archiveofourown.org/collections/yuletide2009/works/38803 - short read on a missing scene between Aral and Gregor set at the end of TWA.  Has quite possibly one of the best brief descriptions of Miles' character ever.

 2. Tidings of Comfort and Joy (Murder She Wrote) - http://archiveofourown.org/works/30725 - a nice piece featuring Jessica Fletcher and a little piece of the past.  Warm and cozy.

 3. Sworn in Silence (Vorkoisgan Saga) - http://archiveofourown.org/works/34339?view_adult=true - Not sure what it considers "adult" material, but it's a little heavy.  It's not fluffy.  Set directly after Yuri's death squads were sent out and Aral's mother and older brother were killed.  It makes me glad I didn't get it because I could not have done this story this well.  I might even rate it the best story I read today.

 4. The Rules of Barrayaran Sex (Vorkosigan Saga) - http://archiveofourown.org/works/33665 - Remember Cordelia's rules she was collecting?  This story makes excellent use of that point, and the canon, and if you need some cuddly Cordelia/Aral fic, LOOK NO FURTHER.  I think it's the most-commented upon story of the group.  It's got sexy couple moments that aren't over the top, that fit with the people and with real life.  As befits the usage of the Rules, it's told from more of Cordelia's POV (not first person).

 5. Knights and Ladies (Voltron) - http://archiveofourown.org/collections/yuletide2009/works/37074 - This one is just cutesy and fluffy and I like it.  It also had one line that totally made me LOL - "It's not fair. Marna, please. You always get to be Princess Allura." - for semi-obvious reasons.

6. The Case of the Cunning Linguist (Nancy Drew) - http://archiveofourown.org/collections/yuletide2009/works/30733 - if you need to laugh at bad but funny puns (you can guess the subject of the puns/references from the title) and have a little gentle fun poked at the Nancy Drew books, this isn't bad.  Innuendo only.

And of course, no rec post would be complete without my Yuletide gift !

7. A Glimpse of the Future (Heyer, A Civil Contract) - http://archiveofourown.org/works/34146 - This is based on my request to see where the characters of A Civil Campaign, particularly Giles Deveril, are 20-25 years down the road.  It has that, very nicely done, as well as a slightly malicious treatment of Julia Oversley, Marchioness of Rockhill, and a plot involving another Lynton/Oversley matchup.  According to the author's notes, it's going to have more chapters eventually, and I am definitely looking forward to that.  Go read it!

 Now, back to waiting for Yuletide Madness stories to be available, because there is one waiting for me!

 DV