The last couple of years I'd gotten more than one story, so this year when I saw I'd only gotten my assigned one, I was a wee bit disappointed.

I shouldn't have been.

Etch out a Future of Your Own Design (13741 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Real Genius (1985)
Rating: Explicit
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Mitch Taylor/Chris Knight, Mitch Taylor/Jordan
Characters: Mitch Taylor, Chris Knight, Jordan
Summary:

Chris keeps in touch.

So, what can I say?

First, the title. The title. For those who don't recognize it, that's from Thomas Dolby's "Windpower," which is one of my favorite songs - and somewhat obscure. Choosing a Thomas Dolby song for a Real Genius fanfic? Appropriate. Choosing a Thomas Dolby song that isn't "Blinded Me With Science?" A damn nice touch. Choosing the one that's my go-to- regain-some-faith-in-humanity song? Wow. Just - wow.

Second - this story is well into novelette territory, over half of novella length. And none of it is padding - every scene develops character. And this is mostly about character, although there is a plot and it does resolve quite nicely. The author has a wonderful grip on the canon characters, and develops how they would change and grow over the next fifteen-some-odd years in a completely believable fashion.

Third, it's a Chris/Mitch story that still recognizes the canonicity of Mitch/Jordan, leaves Jordan's character perfectly intact, and doesn't break her friendship with the guys. It's so wonderful to get a story that can slash the boys without writing out the girls, or turning them into unrecognizable bitches, or ignoring that they exist. Bi!Mitch and understanding!Jordan FTW!

Fourth, it's an unmarked subtle crossover with Eureka, and the author pulls off a slow reveal of that fact - a hint, a stronger hint, then finally namedropping the name of the town Jordan's been recruited to work in. I got it on the first hint, but I still really enjoyed having that first guess supported and then substantiated.

Little things: they pick the lock in the Feynman building. There's a reference to Mitch going to Caltech for grad school instead of Stanford (my headcanon, which I worked into one of my fics, is Stanford). There's explicit, enthusiastic consent for all the sex, both with Jordan and with Chris. A throwaway line that's a mash-up of YourFaceInABook and 1984.

Finally, Chris gives a speech about freedom of information that's an interesting echo of Cosmo's speech from Sneakers, except this time from the good guys' side. I just about fell out of my chair - yes, that's what Chris has been doing with his life, and yes, this is exactly what he'd think and feel and believe about it after what happened in the movie.

In short: SQUEE! I loved this more than I can properly explain. More, I feel like my Yulegoat cared enough to look at my other fandoms (and possibly my music selections) to draw extra inspirations from. (Note: since I'm not caught up on canon, I didn't list Eureka as one of my fandoms this year, so they couldn't have gotten that one just from the Yulegoat Letter.) It's always so nice when someone puts the time and effort in to do a little research. <3