Yuletide!

[cyphomandra]

This year I was lucky enough to get a game as a present - Merry Christmas Detective, for the Dark Parables video game fandom. For those who don't know them, these are hidden object/puzzle games with fairy tale retellings and a fondness for massively over-elaborate bedazzlements (if you need an axe it will be a) covered in jewels b) broken into 17 pieces in order to conceal it in a flower garden c) completely functional despite this once you assemble all the pieces). I find them very soothing. You play as the Fairytale Detective, a mysterious personage - you see their gloves, holding a casebook or a tape recorder, but nothing more. I was intrigued; and what I got was a backstory, and a catch-up on previous characters, all in the context of a game very much in keeping with canon. Fantastic.

Merry Christmas Detective (1016 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Dark Parables (Video Games)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: The Fairytale Detective
Additional Tags: Twine game, Interactive Fiction, Riddles
Summary:

On a cold winter's night, the Fairytale Detective gets a box.

Also in the interactive fiction tag is this fascinating take on the opera Turandot; I am still playing it, but it is stunning, full of evocative writing and unexpected events. Possibly never having seen the opera may be handicapping me somewhat.

As you move towards the door, something like a shadow or a wisp of mist appears in your path; barely visible at first, then it takes shape, and you recognize the prince of the Kyrgyz. His peaked hat and high-collared robe are as snowy white as they were the day you sent him to the executioner, but now their embroidery, too, is pale and translucent. He stretches out a hand towards you. You start back in alarm, and the shade remains for a moment, looking at you, before it dissipates.

Even in death, they think you belong to them.

The Fourth Riddle (54 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Turandot - Puccini
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Liù (Turandot)/Princess Turandot (Turandot)
Characters: Princess Turandot (Turandot), Liù (Turandot)
Additional Tags: Interactive Fiction
Summary:

It's what comes after the riddles that's harder.

Back to fiction - I've read a lot, and I still have a lot of tabs open (especially longer ones). I really enjoyed this take on Nadine, trying - and failing - to find Randall Flagg in an AU of The Stand:

deep red bells (2397 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Stand - Stephen King
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Nadine Cross/Randall Flagg
Characters: Nadine Cross, Randall Flagg
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Hitchhiking, Additional Warnings Apply, Yuletide Treat
Summary:

Nadine learns what she can about the great love of her life.

and this devastating character assessment of Guy in Rosemary's Baby, justifying everything:

Always Be Somewhat Suspect (3478 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Rape/Non-Con
Relationships: Guy Woodhouse/Rosemary Woodhouse
Characters: Guy Woodhouse, Rosemary Woodhouse, Minnie Castevet, Roman Castevet
Additional Tags: Unreliable Narrator, Sexism, Banal Evil, Yuletide Treat, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con
Summary:

Nine months of Guy Woodhouse self-justifications, in reverse.

And, in contrast, from Madness - a perfect fandom fusion of From Eroica with Love and Pern. Funny, believable and oddly touching.

The Hatchling Job (1498 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Eroica Yori Ai o Komete | From Eroica with Love
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Klaus von dem Eberbach/Dorian Red Gloria
Characters: Klaus von dem Eberbach, Dorian Red Gloria
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Dragons, Alternate Universe - Pern Fusion, Heist, Developing Relationship, Yuletide Treat
Summary:

K'Laus stares at the empty sand and tells himself he's wrong. Dorian couldn't. He wouldn't. There was no way that even Dorian would be audacious enough, stupid enough, to steal a queen egg directly off the hatching grounds.

Back to reading!

Comments

[reconditarmonia]

Hey, don't mind me, I've just been vanity-googling my fics. I was wondering how "The Fourth Riddle" ended up going for you - I know you left a preliminary comment, but I'd love to hear how later game stages worked out (which ending/s did you get? what did you like best?)

I do theoretically plan to release version 2.0 at some point, with all the sidequests I didn't fit in for the 2018 deadline and Turandot-POV versions of the endgame, so I'm always still looking for feedback.