Old People Recs, Day 2

[kelly_chambliss]

daily_deviant's annual "Kinky Kristmas" extravaganza is another fest that often gives us a good dose of old-people fic. Here are some great reads from Kinky Kristmas 2013:

Fic
• A Single Redeeming Vice (Amelia Bones/Poppy Pomfrey)

GO READ THIS FIC RIGHT NOW! It's a total winner of a story, and it hasn't had nearly the attention it deserves. Written from my prompt requesting "butch/femme dynamic and smoking kink," it's beautifully written and characterized and hot. To me, sex in fic works only when it's firmly grounded in strong characterization, and "A Single Redeeming Vice" delivers in spades. I love it.

• Proceedings from the Herbologists’ Fortnightly (Pomona Sprout/Severus Snape)

Pomona/Severus is not an easy pairing to pull off, but when it works, as it does here, it's delightful. I enjoy the fanon trope of a Snape who is suave, sexy, and silky-voiced; I also love a kind, no-nonsense Pomona who puts aside any body anxiety to enjoy a hot night with an attentive lover.

• Life During Wartime (Severus Snape/Kingsley Shacklebolt/Aberforth Dumbledore)

Wow, talk about powerful! I love gritty, well-characterized wartime fics that pull no punches, and this one is enthralling. It does live up to the "kinky" part of "Kinky Kristmas" by introducing a device I've never thought about before: the cock-cage. But this story is a perfect example of the truth of one of my most consistent belief about writing: in the hands of a good writer, there is nothing -- no kink, no topic, no trope, no squick -- that can't be done well and memorably. Really a strong story.

• The Watcher (various pairings, including Minerva McGonagall/Irma Pince).

Voyeurism is pretty much a bullet-proof kink for me, and in this fun story, we get the perfect voyeur character: Peter Pettigrew in his animagus form. He sneaks around like the ratty rat he is and watches a large range of pairs, of which my favorites are Molly/Arthur and Minerva/Irma. Each section is nicely-characterized, and the Minerva/Irma in particular is tender and IC. Oh, and hot.

Art
• Intense Negotiations (Severus Snape/Alastor Moody) Note -- NWS!

When it comes to Snape, I'm picky about my slash pairings, but Snape/Moody has been my favorite since I wrote my own fic with the pair for snapelyholidays in 2009.

You won't find softness or romance in this art, but if you wanted that, you wouldn't be interested in Snape/Moody to start with. Notice, too, all the fun details of shelf, wall, and desk.

And that's not all! Here's a list of the other old-person fic you'll find at Kinky Kristmas:

• Pomona Sprout and the Five Points from Hufflepuff (Pomona/Minerva) -- Not technically an "old person" fic, because Pomona and Minerva are seventh-years, but nicely-written and great fun.
• Minerva McGonagall, Hypnotic Healer (Minerva/Rosmerta)
• Letting her Hair Down (Minerva/Severus)
• Win Some, Lose Some (Minerva/Severus)

(The snow is really coming down here in New York. It looks lovely, and best of all, I don't have to drive anywhere in it. I may have to go out and take a walk, though; I enjoy walking through heavy snow when I'm not struggling to get somewhere. But I know the storm is a danger/inconvenience for many -- my sympathies to you if you're one of them.)