Annnd... the winner is, the favourite Isis fic -

[icarus]

This was the only duel where the fics were issued shotguns. This is a race where a single vote could and did turn the tide (how's that for mixed metaphors?).

Just as I had trouble picking a favourite, so did everyone else. But slowly, in layers of single votes, five fics emerged from the pack: Oral Sex, Dark Creatures, Briar Nose, In Want Of A Wife and What Fools These Mortals Be. Then Scars caught a few late votes and caught up. But in the end, the winner is:

Oral Sex

... with 7 1/2 votes.

Second place has a 3 way tie:
Dark Creatures
Briar Nose
In Want Of A Wife ... with 5 votes each.

Closely followed by:
Scars with 4 1/2 votes and
What Fools These Mortals Be with 4 votes
The First Piece Of Silver with 3 votes
Before the Cock Crow with 3 votes as well

The rest of the pack:
Ouroborus with 2 votes
An Ass Of Himself with 1 1/2
And Between Friends
Salvation

[Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<a [...] http://isis.arithmancy.net/">') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]

This was the only duel where the fics were issued shotguns. This is a race where a single vote could and did turn the tide (how's that for mixed metaphors?).

Just as I had trouble picking a favourite, so did everyone else. But slowly, in layers of single votes, five fics emerged from the pack: <i>Oral Sex</i>, <i>Dark Creatures</i>, <i>Briar Nose</i>, <i>In Want Of A Wife</i> and <i>What Fools These Mortals Be</i>. Then <i>Scars</i> caught a few late votes and caught up. But in the end, the winner is:

<h1><a href="http://isis.arithmancy.net/oral.htm">Oral Sex</a></h1>
... with 7 1/2 votes.

Second place has a <i>3 way tie</i>:
<a href="http://isis.arithmancy.net/darkcreatures.htm">Dark Creatures</a>
<a href="http://isis.arithmancy.net/briarnose.htm">Briar Nose</a>
<a href="http://isis.arithmancy.net/wife.htm">In Want Of A Wife</a> ... with 5 votes each.

Closely followed by:
<a href="http://isis.arithmancy.net/scars.htm">Scars</a> with 4 1/2 votes and
<a href="http://isis.arithmancy.net/nope.htm">What Fools These Mortals Be</a> with 4 votes
<a href="http://isis.arithmancy.net/silver.htm">The First Piece Of Silver</a> with 3 votes
<a href="http://isis.arithmancy.net/cockcrow.htm">Before the Cock Crow</a> with 3 votes as well

The rest of the pack:
<a href="http://isis.arithmancy.net/ouroboros.htm">Ouroborus</a> with 2 votes
<a href="http://isis.arithmancy.net/donkey.htm">An Ass Of Himself</a> with 1 1/2
And <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/isiscolo/117506.html">Between Friends</a>
<a href="http://isis.arithmancy.net/sal1.htm">Salvation</a>
<a href="<a href="http://isis.arithmancy.net/">Severus Looks In the Mirror</a> ... all received 1 vote each

Honourable mention:
<a href="http://www.riddikulus.org/authors/isiscolo/LP.html">Letter Perfect</a> just because I think squidfic should be mentioned.

I'd like to note that this is the only dueling fic where a 100 word drabble was nominated for the prize. *tips hat*

<small>The Fine Print:
Previous votes are <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/icarusancalion/149236.html">Isis</a>, <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/icarusancalion/147803.html">Aja</a>, <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/icarusancalion/145343.html">McTabby</a>, <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/icarusancalion/146490.html">Um, Icarus *eheh*</a>, <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/icarusancalion/141515.html">Anna</a>, <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/icarusancalion/143813.html">Minx</a>, <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/icarusancalion/138566.html">Maya</a>, <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/icarusancalion/139634.html">Amanuensis</a>, <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/icarusancalion/136182.html">Rushlight</a>, <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/icarusancalion/137941.html">Sushi</a>, <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/icarusancalion/136182.html">Aspen</a>, <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/icarusancalion/133683.html">Cybele</a>, and <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/icarusancalion/132721.html">Cassandra Claire</a>. Void where prohibited.</small>

Comments

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm entertained by these results! I decided not to vote because I wanted to see what others picked untainted by my own opinions - and also because I, too, have a hard time choosing. But for the curious, I think my best stories are Dark Creatures, Briar Nose, and Before The Cock Crow.

Re:

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Damn. Lost my response to this.

I think I would have voted for Dark Creatures if I were picking out your best story. Snape's characterisation is so vivid, you can practically smell the potion fumes. I hadn't read In Want Of A Wife until this week, and it's definitely my favourite. I so love cross-dressing.

This has been a great chance for me to read stories by good authors that I've overlooked, either because I've been too wrapped up in my writing committments or I'm overwhelmed by their output that I can't choose.

I did Cedar next... and not a single person voted. I'm stunned. That's never happened. I was thinking that maybe it's Superbowl weekend and I posted it on a Friday night so people just missed it, and I picked some weird stories, Like The Finest Gold and The Palmer Method.

Or else I've thrown too much at my friendslist this week with the commentaries. But wildernessguru, ever the cynic, suggests there might be politics. Do you have any idea why no one voted? I finally deleted her match and have rescheduled it for next week.

I feel awful because cedarlibrarian is arguably the most sensitive person on my friendslist.. um.. well, perhaps even with cybele_san.

Icarus

Re:

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm surprised nobody voted! But yeah, weekend stuff - I went out last night and didn't get on the computer until this afternoon, so.

Cedar's stories are definitely not for mass consumption, I think. Palmer Method is a tremendous story though - chilling and so effective!

Re:

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I think what I'll do is do one for a very popular author, then Cedar's right after while people still have their ears perked.

Heh. Then I'll include Cedar's H/D fic.

Percy is so cold and compelling in The Palmer Method, and I never thought I'd use those two words in combination. There are certain stories that leave a permanent after-image on the back of your eyes. If You Are Prepared and The Palmer Method are two of those stories. I could never read either of them twice.

*shudders*

Icarus