Drabbles are hard. That's one reason why I'm a drabble purist; if it isn't exactly 100 words, you're taking the easy way out and I won't be impressed if you claim it's a drabble. You have just enough room to show an idea, set up a punchline or whatever, and making that sound plausible while still keeping to the strict word count is quite a challenge.

In an effort to have less words of review than actual content, I hereby offer you three drabbles from three different authors that I picked off Twisting the Hellmouth. All are PG, gen, and need no warnings. And they're all 100 words long, of course.

Title: The White What?
Author: P.H. Wise
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Dune
Categories: Crack, crossover, eugenics, real family

Summary:
Xander has a powerful magical heritage that he is only beginning to discover...

Review:
"Real families" are a common trope in BtVS crossover fanfic. It offers an easy way into a crossover to declare that someone (usually Xander or Willow) was adopted/kidnapped/hidden, and have them discover or be discovered by their real (crossover) parents. This drabble is the reductio ad absurdam of that idea, and a caution to overly enthusiastic breeding programmes everywhere. The repetition at the end is a little weak, but I'll let it off that for a good idea well expressed.

The White What?


Title: What's in a Name?
Author: Speaker to Customers
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Star Wars
Categories: Crack, crossover, real family

Summary:
An incredibly stupid variation on the 'Character X's Real Father' theme.

Review:
If "The White What?" was a reductio ad absurdam, this little gem is just plain absurd. If you're faster than me you might well see the punchline coming, but enjoy the concise, clear writing anyway.

What's in a Name?


Title: Hiding in Plain Sight II
Author: Marcus L. Rowland
Fandom: Highlander/Top Gear
Categories: Crack, crossover, driving, faked death

Summary:
If Richie Ryan isn't dead, where is he?

Review:
Marcus is one of the most prolific drabble writers I know. I picked this story not because of the surprise idea — if you know anything at all about Highlander and Top Gear you'll have already guessed it — but because it's a great demonstration of how to structure a drabble to read naturally.

Hiding in Plain Sight II

Title: Spin of the Wheel Series (Any Road & Where The Four Winds Blow)
Fandom: Highlander
Pairing: Duncan/Methos
Categories: Post Canon, Future, First Time, Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Angst
Length: Long (38,462 words)
Warnings: Character Death (off-screen) *Joe Dawson*

Author on LJ: killabeez
Author Website: Killa

Summary: Duncan is given a glimpse of an alternate future where he didn't kill Richie.

Review:
As with everything Killa writes, this story is a beautiful read. The characterization is spot on and the story is rich and fulfilling, leaving you with the sense that it could easily be canon.

For anyone that may have read 'Any Road' when it was written years ago, the sequel was just posted last month for the hl_chronicles challenge.


Spin of the Wheel Series

Title: Spin of the Wheel Series (Any Road & Where The Four Winds Blow)
Fandom: Highlander
Pairing: Duncan/Methos
Categories: Post Canon, Future, First Time, Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Angst
Length: Long (38,462 words)
Warnings: Character Death (off-screen) *Joe Dawson*

Author on LJ: killabeez
Author Website: Killa

Summary: Duncan is given a glimpse of an alternate future where he didn't kill Richie.

Review:
As with everything Killa writes, this story is a beautiful read. The characterization is spot on and the story is rich and fulfilling, leaving you with the sense that it could easily be canon.

For anyone that may have read 'Any Road' when it was written years ago, the sequel was just posted last month for the hl_chronicles challenge.


Spin of the Wheel Series

Title: Spin of the Wheel Series (Any Road & Where The Four Winds Blow)
Fandom: Highlander
Pairing: Duncan/Methos
Categories: Post Canon, Future, First Time, Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Angst
Length: Long (38,462 words)
Warnings: Character Death (off-screen) *Joe Dawson*

Author on LJ: killabeez
Author Website: Killa

Summary: Duncan is given a glimpse of an alternate future where he didn't kill Richie.

Review:
As with everything Killa writes, this story is a beautiful read. The characterization is spot on and the story is rich and fulfilling, leaving you with the sense that it could easily be canon.

For anyone that may have read 'Any Road' when it was written years ago, the sequel was just posted last month for the hl_chronicles challenge.


Spin of the Wheel Series

Title: Spin of the Wheel Series (Any Road & Where The Four Winds Blow)
Fandom: Highlander
Pairing: Duncan/Methos
Categories: Post Canon, Future, First Time, Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Angst
Length: Long (38,462 words)
Warnings: Character Death (off-screen) *Joe Dawson*

Author on LJ: killabeez
Author Website: Killa

Summary: Duncan is given a glimpse of an alternate future where he didn't kill Richie.

Review:
As with everything Killa writes, this story is a beautiful read. The characterization is spot on and the story is rich and fulfilling, leaving you with the sense that it could easily be canon.

For anyone that may have read 'Any Road' when it was written years ago, the sequel was just posted last month for the hl_chronicles challenge.


Spin of the Wheel Series

Title : Misconceptions
Fandom : Highlander
Pairing : Duncan/Methos
Categories : Angst, Drama, Mpreg, Domestic, Friendship, Family, AU, Romance
Length :  Super Epic (292,406 words)
Warnings :  Mpreg, Violence

Author on LJ : dkwilliams
Author Website: Diana's Fiction

Summary: The shared Double Quickening in "Revelations" has an unexpected side effect, one that changes the lives of Methos and Duncan MacLeod.

Review:
Wonderfully written with a lot of amazing little details. The characterizations are so spot on you don't realize the story's not canon. Absolutely hilarious in some spots and at other times the beauty and emotion will bring a tear to the eye.

Mpreg isn't usually my cup of tea, unless it is made believable. The way this one is written, it fits in with the mythology of Immortals without clashing with the idea that they can't have children. Extremely well done and well worth reading.


Misconceptions

Title : Misconceptions
Fandom : Highlander
Pairing : Duncan/Methos
Categories : Angst, Drama, Mpreg, Domestic, Friendship, Family, AU, Romance
Length :  Super Epic (292,406 words)
Warnings :  Mpreg, Violence

Author on LJ : dkwilliams
Author Website: Diana's Fiction

Summary: The shared Double Quickening in "Revelations" has an unexpected side effect, one that changes the lives of Methos and Duncan MacLeod.

Review:
Wonderfully written with a lot of amazing little details. The characterizations are so spot on you don't realize the story's not canon. Absolutely hilarious in some spots and at other times the beauty and emotion will bring a tear to the eye.

Mpreg isn't usually my cup of tea, unless it is made believable. The way this one is written, it fits in with the mythology of Immortals without clashing with the idea that they can't have children. Extremely well done and well worth reading.


Misconceptions

Title : Misconceptions
Fandom : Highlander
Pairing : Duncan/Methos
Categories : Angst, Drama, Mpreg, Domestic, Friendship, Family, AU, Romance
Length :  Super Epic (292,406 words)
Warnings :  Mpreg, Violence

Author on LJ : dkwilliams
Author Website: Diana's Fiction

Summary: The shared Double Quickening in "Revelations" has an unexpected side effect, one that changes the lives of Methos and Duncan MacLeod.

Review:
Wonderfully written with a lot of amazing little details. The characterizations are so spot on you don't realize the story's not canon. Absolutely hilarious in some spots and at other times the beauty and emotion will bring a tear to the eye.

Mpreg isn't usually my cup of tea, unless it is made believable. The way this one is written, it fits in with the mythology of Immortals without clashing with the idea that they can't have children. Extremely well done and well worth reading.


Misconceptions

Title : Misconceptions
Fandom : Highlander
Pairing : Duncan/Methos
Categories : Angst, Drama, Mpreg, Domestic, Friendship, Family, AU, Romance
Length :  Super Epic (292,406 words)
Warnings :  Mpreg, Violence

Author on LJ : dkwilliams
Author Website: Diana's Fiction

Summary: The shared Double Quickening in "Revelations" has an unexpected side effect, one that changes the lives of Methos and Duncan MacLeod.

Review:
Wonderfully written with a lot of amazing little details. The characterizations are so spot on you don't realize the story's not canon. Absolutely hilarious in some spots and at other times the beauty and emotion will bring a tear to the eye.

Mpreg isn't usually my cup of tea, unless it is made believable. The way this one is written, it fits in with the mythology of Immortals without clashing with the idea that they can't have children. Extremely well done and well worth reading.


Misconceptions

Title : Misconceptions
Fandom : Highlander
Pairing : Duncan/Methos
Categories : Angst, Drama, Mpreg, Domestic, Friendship, Family, AU, Romance
Length :  Super Epic (292,406 words)
Warnings :  Mpreg, Violence

Author on LJ : dkwilliams
Author Website: Diana's Fiction

Summary: The shared Double Quickening in "Revelations" has an unexpected side effect, one that changes the lives of Methos and Duncan MacLeod.

Review:
Wonderfully written with a lot of amazing little details. The characterizations are so spot on you don't realize the story's not canon. Absolutely hilarious in some spots and at other times the beauty and emotion will bring a tear to the eye.

Mpreg isn't usually my cup of tea, unless it is made believable. The way this one is written, it fits in with the mythology of Immortals without clashing with the idea that they can't have children. Extremely well done and well worth reading.


Misconceptions

Title: Forging The Blade Series
Fandom: Highlander
Pairing: Gen
Categories: Friendship, Pre-Canon, Drama
Length: Super Epic (122,751 words)
Warnings: Explicit Violence <<--- That is why I gave it such a high rating, otherwise it would be PG-13

Author on LJ: macgeorge1
Author Website: N/A

Summary: These are the stories of Duncan's tumultuous first years as an Immortal. Having been cruelly banished from his clan as a demon and living for years as an outcast, he eventually stumbles into a cave in Strathconnon Forest and encounters his first Immortal in an experience that will scar him forever. Ultimately, he is found by the legendary Connor MacLeod, from whom he learns who and what he is, and they form a bond of brotherhood that will sustain them both through the centuries.

Review:
One of the few fics dealing with Duncan's first years as an immortal. It is extremely well researched and doesn't contradict canon. The flashbacks of Duncan's early years from the series and Endgame are used within the fic and expanded upon.

For most of us that have read this story, it has become canon. I can't count the number of times I've read other HL fics and thought, 'but that's not right, that's not the way it happened' and in fact it's not canon it's contradicting but the events of this fic. *g*  This is one of the only fic, in any fandom, that's managed to affect me to the point of not realising that it's not in fact part of canon.


Forging The Blade

Title: Forging The Blade Series
Fandom: Highlander
Pairing: Gen
Categories: Friendship, Pre-Canon, Drama
Length: Super Epic (122,751 words)
Warnings: Explicit Violence <<--- That is why I gave it such a high rating, otherwise it would be PG-13

Author on LJ: macgeorge1
Author Website: N/A

Summary: These are the stories of Duncan's tumultuous first years as an Immortal. Having been cruelly banished from his clan as a demon and living for years as an outcast, he eventually stumbles into a cave in Strathconnon Forest and encounters his first Immortal in an experience that will scar him forever. Ultimately, he is found by the legendary Connor MacLeod, from whom he learns who and what he is, and they form a bond of brotherhood that will sustain them both through the centuries.

Review:
One of the few fics dealing with Duncan's first years as an immortal. It is extremely well researched and doesn't contradict canon. The flashbacks of Duncan's early years from the series and Endgame are used within the fic and expanded upon.

For most of us that have read this story, it has become canon. I can't count the number of times I've read other HL fics and thought, 'but that's not right, that's not the way it happened' and in fact it's not canon it's contradicting but the events of this fic. *g*  This is one of the only fic, in any fandom, that's managed to affect me to the point of not realising that it's not in fact part of canon.


Forging The Blade

Title: Forging The Blade Series
Fandom: Highlander
Pairing: Gen
Categories: Friendship, Pre-Canon, Drama
Length: Super Epic (122,751 words)
Warnings: Explicit Violence <<--- That is why I gave it such a high rating, otherwise it would be PG-13

Author on LJ: macgeorge1
Author Website: N/A

Summary: These are the stories of Duncan's tumultuous first years as an Immortal. Having been cruelly banished from his clan as a demon and living for years as an outcast, he eventually stumbles into a cave in Strathconnon Forest and encounters his first Immortal in an experience that will scar him forever. Ultimately, he is found by the legendary Connor MacLeod, from whom he learns who and what he is, and they form a bond of brotherhood that will sustain them both through the centuries.

Review:
One of the few fics dealing with Duncan's first years as an immortal. It is extremely well researched and doesn't contradict canon. The flashbacks of Duncan's early years from the series and Endgame are used within the fic and expanded upon.

For most of us that have read this story, it has become canon. I can't count the number of times I've read other HL fics and thought, 'but that's not right, that's not the way it happened' and in fact it's not canon it's contradicting but the events of this fic. *g*  This is one of the only fic, in any fandom, that's managed to affect me to the point of not realising that it's not in fact part of canon.


Forging The Blade

Title: Forging The Blade Series
Fandom: Highlander
Pairing: Gen
Categories: Friendship, Pre-Canon, Drama
Length: Super Epic (122,751 words)
Warnings: Explicit Violence <<--- That is why I gave it such a high rating, otherwise it would be PG-13

Author on LJ: macgeorge1
Author Website: N/A

Summary: These are the stories of Duncan's tumultuous first years as an Immortal. Having been cruelly banished from his clan as a demon and living for years as an outcast, he eventually stumbles into a cave in Strathconnon Forest and encounters his first Immortal in an experience that will scar him forever. Ultimately, he is found by the legendary Connor MacLeod, from whom he learns who and what he is, and they form a bond of brotherhood that will sustain them both through the centuries.

Review:
One of the few fics dealing with Duncan's first years as an immortal. It is extremely well researched and doesn't contradict canon. The flashbacks of Duncan's early years from the series and Endgame are used within the fic and expanded upon.

For most of us that have read this story, it has become canon. I can't count the number of times I've read other HL fics and thought, 'but that's not right, that's not the way it happened' and in fact it's not canon it's contradicting but the events of this fic. *g*  This is one of the only fic, in any fandom, that's managed to affect me to the point of not realising that it's not in fact part of canon.


Forging The Blade

Title: Forging The Blade Series
Fandom: Highlander
Pairing: Gen
Categories: Friendship, Pre-Canon, Drama
Length: Super Epic (122,751 words)
Warnings: Explicit Violence <<--- That is why I gave it such a high rating, otherwise it would be PG-13

Author on LJ: macgeorge1
Author Website: N/A

Summary: These are the stories of Duncan's tumultuous first years as an Immortal. Having been cruelly banished from his clan as a demon and living for years as an outcast, he eventually stumbles into a cave in Strathconnon Forest and encounters his first Immortal in an experience that will scar him forever. Ultimately, he is found by the legendary Connor MacLeod, from whom he learns who and what he is, and they form a bond of brotherhood that will sustain them both through the centuries.

Review:
One of the few fics dealing with Duncan's first years as an immortal. It is extremely well researched and doesn't contradict canon. The flashbacks of Duncan's early years from the series and Endgame are used within the fic and expanded upon.

For most of us that have read this story, it has become canon. I can't count the number of times I've read other HL fics and thought, 'but that's not right, that's not the way it happened' and in fact it's not canon it's contradicting but the events of this fic. *g*  This is one of the only fic, in any fandom, that's managed to affect me to the point of not realising that it's not in fact part of canon.


Forging The Blade

Title: Forging The Blade Series
Fandom: Highlander
Pairing: Gen
Categories: Friendship, Pre-Canon, Drama
Length: Super Epic (122,751 words)
Warnings: Explicit Violence <<--- That is why I gave it such a high rating, otherwise it would be PG-13

Author on LJ: macgeorge1
Author Website: N/A

Summary: These are the stories of Duncan's tumultuous first years as an Immortal. Having been cruelly banished from his clan as a demon and living for years as an outcast, he eventually stumbles into a cave in Strathconnon Forest and encounters his first Immortal in an experience that will scar him forever. Ultimately, he is found by the legendary Connor MacLeod, from whom he learns who and what he is, and they form a bond of brotherhood that will sustain them both through the centuries.

Review:
One of the few fics dealing with Duncan's first years as an immortal. It is extremely well researched and doesn't contradict canon. The flashbacks of Duncan's early years from the series and Endgame are used within the fic and expanded upon.

For most of us that have read this story, it has become canon. I can't count the number of times I've read other HL fics and thought, 'but that's not right, that's not the way it happened' and in fact it's not canon it's contradicting but the events of this fic. *g*  This is one of the only fic, in any fandom, that's managed to affect me to the point of not realising that it's not in fact part of canon.


Forging The Blade

Title : Always the Bridesmaid
Fandom : Highlander
Pairing :  Duncan/OFC/Fitz, Duncan/Fitz
Categories : Friendship,Character Study, Unrequited Feelings
Length : Medium (12,958 words)
Warnings : N/A

Author on LJ: elynross
Author Website: The Principality of Whimsy

Summary: Thwarted in his pursuit of the beauteous Angelina by the villein Robert de Valicourt, Hugh Fitzcairn must find other ways to entertain himself, with the help of his good friend and rival, Duncan MacLeod. However, more may be in danger than simply Duncan's virtue....

Review:
There are sadly very few fics with Fitz as a central character, so when I do run across one it tends to stick with me.

Written from Fiz's POV, it's partly an introspective character study on Fitz's feelings for Duncan. It incorporates my own head-canon for Fitz, which is that he is attracted to beauty in all it's forms and not just to women. Although there's still plenty of wine and women and Fitz's mischievous nature is in full evidence. The events of the story see the relationship between Duncan and Fitz change drastically, whileat the same time it seems nothing has changed at all. By the end, your heart breaks a little for Fitz, however it's not a sad ending, just sort of wistful.

Always the Bridesmaid

Title : Always the Bridesmaid
Fandom : Highlander
Pairing :  Duncan/OFC/Fitz, Duncan/Fitz
Categories : Friendship,Character Study, Unrequited Feelings
Length : Medium (12,958 words)
Warnings : N/A

Author on LJ: elynross
Author Website: The Principality of Whimsy

Summary: Thwarted in his pursuit of the beauteous Angelina by the villein Robert de Valicourt, Hugh Fitzcairn must find other ways to entertain himself, with the help of his good friend and rival, Duncan MacLeod. However, more may be in danger than simply Duncan's virtue....

Review:
There are sadly very few fics with Fitz as a central character, so when I do run across one it tends to stick with me.

Written from Fiz's POV, it's partly an introspective character study on Fitz's feelings for Duncan. It incorporates my own head-canon for Fitz, which is that he is attracted to beauty in all it's forms and not just to women. Although there's still plenty of wine and women and Fitz's mischievous nature is in full evidence. The events of the story see the relationship between Duncan and Fitz change drastically, whileat the same time it seems nothing has changed at all. By the end, your heart breaks a little for Fitz, however it's not a sad ending, just sort of wistful.

Always the Bridesmaid

Title : Always the Bridesmaid
Fandom : Highlander
Pairing :  Duncan/OFC/Fitz, Duncan/Fitz
Categories : Friendship,Character Study, Unrequited Feelings
Length : Medium (12,958 words)
Warnings : N/A

Author on LJ: elynross
Author Website: The Principality of Whimsy

Summary: Thwarted in his pursuit of the beauteous Angelina by the villein Robert de Valicourt, Hugh Fitzcairn must find other ways to entertain himself, with the help of his good friend and rival, Duncan MacLeod. However, more may be in danger than simply Duncan's virtue....

Review:
There are sadly very few fics with Fitz as a central character, so when I do run across one it tends to stick with me.

Written from Fiz's POV, it's partly an introspective character study on Fitz's feelings for Duncan. It incorporates my own head-canon for Fitz, which is that he is attracted to beauty in all it's forms and not just to women. Although there's still plenty of wine and women and Fitz's mischievous nature is in full evidence. The events of the story see the relationship between Duncan and Fitz change drastically, whileat the same time it seems nothing has changed at all. By the end, your heart breaks a little for Fitz, however it's not a sad ending, just sort of wistful.

Always the Bridesmaid

Title : Always the Bridesmaid
Fandom : Highlander
Pairing :  Duncan/OFC/Fitz, Duncan/Fitz
Categories : Friendship,Character Study, Unrequited Feelings
Length : Medium (12,958 words)
Warnings : N/A

Author on LJ: elynross
Author Website: The Principality of Whimsy

Summary: Thwarted in his pursuit of the beauteous Angelina by the villein Robert de Valicourt, Hugh Fitzcairn must find other ways to entertain himself, with the help of his good friend and rival, Duncan MacLeod. However, more may be in danger than simply Duncan's virtue....

Review:
There are sadly very few fics with Fitz as a central character, so when I do run across one it tends to stick with me.

Written from Fiz's POV, it's partly an introspective character study on Fitz's feelings for Duncan. It incorporates my own head-canon for Fitz, which is that he is attracted to beauty in all it's forms and not just to women. Although there's still plenty of wine and women and Fitz's mischievous nature is in full evidence. The events of the story see the relationship between Duncan and Fitz change drastically, whileat the same time it seems nothing has changed at all. By the end, your heart breaks a little for Fitz, however it's not a sad ending, just sort of wistful.

Always the Bridesmaid