The Post-Christmas...Post

First of all, a belated Merry Christmas, happy holidays, etc. to all on my FL (if you're reading this and you're not on my FL, no well-wishes for you). likeadeuce, bohemiancachet and nicalamity, I got your cards. They are cherished and adored. Nic, your card/gift will be going out today. I hope you like it!

And yuletide. I wrote a story and an itsy-bitsy drabble, and I really wanted to write some Philadelphia Story fic, but when I tried to get ahold of the movie (since I'd foolishly left my copy at school), it was checked out from both the library and Blockbuster. These things always happen to me.

But enough about my hard, hard life.

I got the awesomest, awesomest (it even merits the invention of a word!) yuletide fic I could have asked for. It's Brick fic, Live a Little (The Two Things That Kill You Every Time).

I just...yuletide is designed around the premise that you write a story in a rare fandom, sure, but you also write a story that suits your recipient. This story was written for me. It has so many things I absolutely adore. The sense of setting is there, the characterization is spot-on and digs deeper than what's revealed in the film, there are Bob Dylan references in the section headings...I could go on and on. And the tone is perfect. There are so many fantastic lines and images.

I'd like to say you could read this even if you haven't seen Brick, but...you probably can't. So if you haven't, go see it, and then go read this fic. It's stunning. It's my favorite of all the yuletide fic I've read this year (and clearly I am in no way biased).

As a little girl in Cleveland, Emily Costich used to daydream about Southern California. The dreams and the stars and the jingle jangle of the classic songs. She wasn't the sort of silly girl who hoped of hitting the big time, all chandeliers and champagne and lying half-prostrate atop a grand piano. No, she was just looking for a little bit of sunlight, a little bit of starshine.

And the dialogue is superb.

( A few more recs )