February Festival - day 22

[brandywine28]

Yes, I'm well aware that it's March. And not Early March, either. *facepalm*

Whatever. Watch me as I nobly press onward! (This one got a bit long-winded.)

Day 22 - a new fic. Something posted within the last twelve months

A Walk in the Park by nopseud (AJ/Lance)
I remember being surprised during this year's MtYG that this story didn't garner more attention--probably because none of the characters spontaneously grow breasts, I guess. Instead, what we get is a long, drawn out not-quite-courtship of the absolute best kind, full of romantic misunderstandings and will-they-or-won't-they-moments. And dog-walking. Lots of dog-walking.

I spent most of New Years Eve curled up on my couch in ratty pjs, reading this fic while just outside my window a phalanx of clumsy holiday drunks vomited into the gutter. I think I made the right choice staying in. :)

Cake by pensnest (Chris/Joey)
An irrestible, heartwarming AU in which Chris and Joey bond over cake and you know Joey must be serious about Chris because he puts on a tie to impress him. A TIE!

Young Hearts Run Free by zebraljb (Kevin/Joey)
Lara is such a trailblazer. :)

Honestly, I think I'd rec this even if it were terrible, just because it's JOEY/KEVIN CROSSDRESSING FIC!!! Fortunately it's NOT terrible; it's sweet and engaging and by the way, did I mention that this is a Joey/Kevin crossdressing fic? Because it is.

Incidentally, is there a name for this pairing? Jevin? Kevtone?

Once by eponymous (Nick/Howie)
A lovely, bittersweet slice of pain that hurts in all the right ways. Howie is engaged and Nick isn't taking the news very well.

Man, oh man, willfully blind Nick and all the damage he does to himself...

Escondido by strippedhalo (JC/Joey)
Joey and JC take a vacation and nothing goes as planned. From sunburns to ninja chihuahuas to epic bug freakouts, the whole thing is pretty much a disaster. But it doesn't matter! Because they love each other! All together now: AWW!

It Starts with a Milkshake, Birds and Snakes, an Amtrak Train and Lance Bass is Not Afraid by llamabitchyo (Lance/JC)
Dairy Queen and bickering greek gods and a wonderfully awkward courtship--OMG, this story! I'm redifining 'incoherent' right now but I don't care! I love everything about it! I even love the vaguely Lynnecest-y ending!

Comments

[zebraljb.livejournal.com]

First of all, I'm proud to say I've read all of these. And LOVED them all. Well, except my own, but hey, I guess I love that, too. :)

Secondly, I'm proud to say that the last one was written FOR me for the MTYG challenge this year. It has maps! I am a geeky sucker for maps. And JC is blind and loves Lance's voice. And don't we all?

Thirdly, I'm proud to say one of these is mine. YAY! Written very quickly and with the thought "this is gonna suck royally" the entire time...so I'm glad you liked it. :)

[eponymous.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you!

A Walk in the Park was one of my favourites from the sesa, too. Great characterisations and humour, and I loved the JC/Nick secondary pairing.

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

Anytime!

Yeah, Nick really got around in that story; seems like almost everyone got themselves a piece. As they should.

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

That story is genius on so many levels! It's a Real World AU, except it really, really isn't. And every time I think about it I crave Dairy Queen, which feels almost like a cruel joke b/c I live nowhere near one. I'd have to go all the way to New Jersey and I like to think I'm not quite pathetic enough to cross state lines just for a milkshake. (But I'm not gonna lie, I HAVE thought about it.)

I'm trying to keep these lists as unpredictable as I can. It would've been too easy to rely solely on MtYG stories and besides, THE PUBLIC MUST BE MADE AWARE OF THE KEVTONE!!

[eponymous.livejournal.com]

Indeed! My feedback said something like "Everybody should have a Year of Nick."