OK, so here is where I give awards for stuff I like. I have no rules, no rhymes, no reasons, and no ability to make spinning gifs, hence the luscious Avaricious did the dizzy griffin guy for me.

Basically, I just pick fic or writers whose work is UNIQUE in some way, and give them a pretty picture with which to do whatever they please, including not a godamn thing should they be so inclined. I am aware that saying I think someone deserves an award, then making one and handing it out willy nilly is perhaps crossing the line into a whole new level of snobbery. But I wanted to do something with the nifty griffin gif goshdarnit. Besides, everyone likes getting prezzies.

Please note: These awards cannot be applied for.
 
 

The award for September goes to someone whose work I have long adored, but only more recently got to know. Her stories were among the first I sought to archive when I opened StA over a year ago. At the time, she wrote a good deal of B/A(/S) oriented fics, and I was both amazed and thrilled at the level of believable slash she was able to sneak into those pieces.

She and I don't see eye on most of Joss' characters. Much like Te, this is one of the chief reasons I enjoy reading her. I never know what I'm going to get, because I can never see inside her talented head. Some of her fics make me gasp in lusty pleausre, some howl in Angelho outrage. All make me weep for joy at her skill with the pen.

This month's Spinning Griffin Award goes to Criss Moody.

If you're not a Criss fan yet, I urge you to read the following snippets of fic greatness below. Then, follow the links and go read the fics themselves. Then, foillow the link to her site, and go read the ones I haven't housed on StA. Finally, build Criss a small altar in the shape of a naked man. She more than deserves it.

Allow me to begin with my absolute fucking favorite Criss fic. "What Remains" is the shake-and-shimmy-worthiest smut I have ever read. And ladies and gents, I've read alot of smut. Behold: "The tongue wafts over his cheek and plunges into his mouth, licking along his teeth, sucking at his tongue, and Wesley knows. Why. The completeness of the act. No kiss. Spike wants Angel's taste, his come, jiz, jism, the pearly white stuff of mock-life. Gods, to be this man. To be the creature that wakes up with Angel's cock in his ass, teeth in his throat, and soul in his hands." Frankly, noone else can use the word jism and make me even want to read any further. But noone else writes sex suffused with need and hurt this way either. For godssake, she made me find Wesley attractive in this one.

Want more proof of NC-17 goodness? I dare you to write a believable Angel/Oz/Doyle fic. I double dare you to make it half as good as hers. "With A Twist" is absolute PWP greatness. Partake of this: "Then the finely tuned point of Oz's tongue announces itself to Angel's ass, riding around the minuscule ridge of his asshole.  Angel bites deep into his lips, arching back into the touch, and grinding forward into Doyle at the same time. Yeah, that's nice. Very not calm. Very not soul-having." Excuse me while I go have some alone time, won't you?

And lest you think Criss can't do plot... I hate Criss for this fic. But I love this fic. "Morning Ritual" is Wesley with balls. I still have a hard time believing it out of the context of her story, but *inside* of it...I fall at her feet. "Wesley isn't Angel.  And as much as he'd like to turn the tables on the vampire, make him feel the ripping pain of abandonment, Wesley does love him.  As much as he can love anyone he barely knows and frequently loathes." Oh, Oh Criss, why do you mock my love so? And fuck. Why must you do it so *well*?

Last, but definately not least, remember that whole B/A/S thing I mentioned prior? Hoo yeah. Try "By Her Side" on for size. Growly Vamp Angel and Snarly Spike at Joyce's grave. Who winds up on..top? Well, that depends on your definition, doesn't it? "A few years, a few hundred, but Spike knew the punishing, erotic hard taste of his grandsire's cock as well as the blonde knew the taste of Dru's cunt.  Familiar, family.  What was me was you is us." But it's the ending line...ahh, no, I shan't spoil it for you. It's stuff like this that makes me forgive her for hurting Angel better than anyone I know.
 

Several more luscious pieces await you on Criss' page. Even more salty goodness on her website. Run there. Love her. Then come back and we'll work on that altar together. ((NOTE: At time of publishing, Criss' personal webpage is down. When the site reopens, the link will be inlcuded here. Please feel free to read all her StA stuff in the meantime, and bug her for more. :} ))