High Times Contest results

I was recently a judge on the High Times contest.

There's nothing hotter than a fuckhot stoner Edward. Oh, and if he is an artist or musician -- forget about it. (my first and most favoritest in all of ficland? Unexpected by ooohlalaaa)

So when YogaGal invited me to be a judge for a contest that requires entries to relate in some way to the good green, I was in! I had no idea that the quality of some of the fics would be so stellar.

I really did enjoy almost all of the entries, but there are several that stood out to me as amazing.

Weekend At Longmeadow by winterstale and Viola Cornuta

(2nd Place - Judge Score)

Official Description: Garrett & Jasper met as kids, left Texas as founders of Hill Country Outlaws. Edward, Emmett and Peter ramble along to a lakehouse party for grass and girls. Tune in, get turned on and smoke up. M/F/M. Entry for the High Times Contest

Review I wrote for contest site:

This story was like a time machine back to the summer of '70. The author created this colorful world, rich with the history of that time and filled with music. Sweet sweet music. I fell in love with these characters who seemed so authentic to the time period yet so unpredictable. The scene at Longmeadow was happening and I felt privileged to be a fly on the wall. As an Edward lover, I didn't know what to expect when I saw Garrett as a main character. I'm so glad that I took the time to dive into this world and give Garrett a chance. It was a lot of fun getting to know him, Jasper, Katie, and the rest of the gang. The story really does have an epic quality to it, having the length of a fully told story and the depth of a fantastically developed story world. Loved it!

La Beep Beep by yellowglue

(1st Place, Judge Score)

Official Description: Meaning. A sunny day. Life. Truth... A safe place... And bottomless supply of Swedish Fish. "Yesterday and Today" on vinyl. And pink pot. Because we're all searching for things. E/B entry for the High Times Contest.

Review by YogaGal:

One thing that stands out about Beep Beep is how authentic it really is. I think we've all had similar feelings (whether pot was involved or not) about boys and other such things. There is an innocence about this story, a tentativeness that seems to permeate the entire piece. I also loved that you could totally visualize the pink hairs in the weed (!!!NSFW image!!!) that made it so damn amazing, and that it wasn't just used to get to the lemon--because there really wasn't one, it was just snippets, lots of UST and nothing overt which was refreshing and sweet.

The flow of the story almost mimicked the feeling of being high, and there was also something very alluring about the way the characters were written. You were pulled to them, wanting to follow their story right up until the end. I loved the use of weed, the developement of the relationship and finally, the way they came together and just decided to be, despite the fact that Edward was Bella's brother's friend. It's such an awesome one shot and really, the way it's written it stands alone really well and I didn't feel like I needed more, even though more would be nice ;)
-Yogagal

My initial reaction:

I want some fluffy pink indica, stat! So tender, the timeline and how slow he takes it w her, wanting to earn her trust. Fuckhot stoner artist... yes please. I'm curious to find out who wrote this bc it definitely had a distinctive style/voice. And music references are win - when they see each other they hear Bob Marley!!

Candy From Strangers by Chicklette

(2nd Place, Public Vote)

Official Description: "This weekend, I will kiss a boy. I will drink alcohol…I will do everything that Bella Swan never does. I might even take candy from a stranger." Entry for the High Times Contest

My initial reaction from reading it:

I love it when it feels like a fic was made just for me! Going to her first show, Bella is a fantastic narrator because we get to experience this thru her awe-filled eyes. "Is it just me, or does everything seem amazing today?"

Plus, the author totally taps into those teenage girl feelings of wanting to feel wanted, and wanting to experience the romantic ideals, wanting to be someone else for a day. The description of the pretty people sitting behind her: "I want to be these people, be inside of them, and laugh with them at jokes made at my expense. They all look so...easy."

Bella's inner monologue as she's high is delicious. The description of experiencing the music + dancing = living... the author clearly goes to shows and knows what it's like.

Review by Rochelle Allison:

Bella attends an outdoor concert with friends, meets Edward, and smokes for the first time. She also has her first kiss (and then some) that night, and although she has to return to “reality" the next afternoon, she’s a different person now that she’s experienced Edward.

I loved this. It had a sweet, dreamy cadence that completely fit the scene described.

There was a certain sense if serendipity, like when you have a feeling something amazing is going to happen and then it totally does. The chemistry between Edward and Bella, as well as the way they reconnected much later on, left me wishing there was more to the story; the overall bittersweet yearning sort of transferred over to me as the reader. But, while I wanted more, it was excellent as a one shot.

Rochelle Allison

Racerback by Zigster

(3rd Place, Public Vote)

Official Description: "As I watch him do the breast stroke through the choppy morning waters, I almost want to be in his place. What would it be like to be so alone?" AH/AU Ed, Jas and pot cookies. Entry for the High Times Contest

My initial thoughts:

SO WELL WRITTEN - I can't wait to find out who wrote this fucking great story!!!

Review by AG:

Racerback is an awesome 3-shot novella about Edward, popular athlete, and Jasper, the social pariah of school. Zigster really sets this story well, on the coast of the pacific, where both Edward and Jasper commonly swim and surf. When Jasper needs saving during a swim, Edward swoops in and bring him to shore, thus beginning their friendship.

Edward comes off as an overachiever of sorts, and feels a lot of pressure to please his father and live up to his peers. Laid back Jasper is totally opposite, having been shunned by the student body long ago, and watching their polarity was interesting and fun.

The marijuana-related aspect to this would be Jasper's trademark pot-cookies. He carries them around and sells them to classmates and faculty alike. Since Edward's got a bit of a stick up his ass, he's never tried pot, but reluctantly gives in when Jasper offers. This is when Edward begins to loosen up a bit. The sexual tension here kind of sneaks up on you. You realize it's there for Edward, but you don’t feel it yourself until it explodes, and Zigster... good lord. She writes good kisses, I'm just saying._

All authors and their titles:

Until I Got High by Samie James Bait
Only 98 Percent Effective by Lexiecullen17
A Higher Power by SoapyMayhem
Gateway by eyesopenwide
The Treehouse by Wordslinger
Candy From Strangers by Chicklette
Racerback by Zigster
Black Rose by alotmoreofmagic
Let’s Get Heavy by Givemehotknives
Beautiful by duhitsangie
Weekend At Longmeadow by winterstale & viola cornuta
In Case of Emergency by araeo
La Beep Beep by Yellowglue