Caged Wisdom

Yuletide reveal and fic 2013 in review (XMFC, Elementary, Sleepy Hollow)

yahtzee63 — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 21:14:00 GMT

January 1! So I can reveal that for Yuletide I wrote "Elinor & Marianne," a Sleepy Hollow story! The summary: “Here’s what I figure,” Abbie said. “You need to catch up to modern culture. But you should catch up in stages. By degrees. Even Mark Twain was a little too far ahead for you, so let’s take it back a step. We’ll start you off with what’s closest to your time period, and move forward a few decades at a time until you’re back in the groove.”

So she starts Ichabod with a novel Corbin gave her long ago: Sense & Sensibility.

Had great fun writing this and hope to do a bit more in this fandom. (With Victor Garber appearing as Ichabod's father, I would guess this is inevitable.)

Also, I now know that my lovely Orphan Black story, "Duplicity," was written by the terrific Barometry. Thank you, Barometry!

As for the 2013 fic year in review: The number of stories is fewer than ever - but one of those stories was 162K words, so I actually wrote a lot:

Honestly, I think two of the stories I wrote this year are two of the fanworks I'm proudest of over the whole (holy crap) 20 years I've been doing this. The first would be "Anarchy in the U.K." an XMFC royalty AU. The summary: Charles lives in the unceasing glare of the public spotlight, yet keeps his sexual orientation a closely held secret, afraid he could lose his throne and force his deeply troubled younger sister into a role that would crush her. Erik, journalist and world traveler, has been a loner most of his life; he has little patience for closet cases. But a chance meeting in Kenya brings these two opposites together and sets in motion a love affair that will challenge the British monarchy -- and their most deeply held beliefs about who they are, and who they should be. Writing that was SUCH a joy, and the characterizations for that AU (which is indeed very AU) have stayed with me so strongly that I still think about them. I've even started writing a collection of ficlets from that universe, which hopefully I can publish in a month or so. I already wrote one brief follow-up, "Born to Rule," featuring the birth of a future heir to the throne. Apparently I have a bigger weakness for royalty stuff than I'd realized.

The other fanwork from this year I'm hugely proud of is "Death Before Dusk", an "Elementary" story. The summary: The bad news: In 111 days, an asteroid will strike the Earth in a cataclysm that promises to destroy human civilization as we know it.

The good news: There's been a murder.

I can never thank the frabjous meronym enough for letting me pick up her idea and play with it, because putting Sherlock and Joan into such a stark near-future was a joy to write.

Once all is said and done, I think I'm going to be as proud of my other long XMFC story last (and this) year, "Pantheon." The summary: In the year 96 AD, all Rome is aware that their gods have begun to Mark certain people with their gifts -- the healing power of Apollo, the metal control of Vulcan, the deathly touch of Pluto, or the mental powers of Minerva. When those gifts fall to slaves or barbarians instead of the Romans themselves, strict control is necessary.

Then a gladiator from Judea meets an enslaved scribe from Britannia, and the repercussions will shake the Empire itself.

My deep love of Roman AUs has come out to play. I had to put this on hold while I finished umpteen other things, but I love how the story concludes and can't wait to turn back to it (within the month, I believe).

And of course there was my Secret Mutant gift exchange story, "Xmas in Connecticut." The summary: In December 1944, the entire nation loves Rebecca Lawrence - "America's Most Beloved Homemaker." Her columns about leading the ideal life in the country help lift people's spirits on the home front during World War II. But when her publisher asks her to host a war hero for Christmas dinner, the world is in danger of learning the truth ... which is that "Rebecca Lawrence" is imaginary. Really, she's a combination of Raven's snappy writing and Charles' knowhow in the kitchen.

However, this war hero, Erik Lehnsherr, is headed to Connecticut, so Raven and Charles have no choice but to find a way to make the imaginary real - at least, just for Christmas. Charles thinks they can pull it off, at least until he opens the door to see Erik and falls in love at first sight.

I don't do enough fluff, I think. "Xmas in Connecticut" reminded me that I adore writing fluff.

My other two stories this year were for "Sleepy Hollow," both the Yuletide fic linked above and the first one I wrote, a few hours after I saw the pilot: "Madhouse/Asylum". Honestly it's too short to summarize; let's just say that, given the state of mental health treatment in the era Ichabod came from, he would have thought Abbie was taking him somewhere truly terrible in the pilot. So it plays with his expectations versus hers. This was recced by Fandom Fast Learner Orlando Jones, which tickled me pink.

And that's it! If I have a fic resolution for 2014 (how is it 2014 how how how), it's to write more but shorter stories.

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/330380.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

Sekrit Mutant, Yuletide and "Pantheon" (XMFC, Charles/Erik, Logan/Rogue, NC17)

yahtzee63 — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 04:04:17 GMT

First up: It's after Christmas, but I can reveal that I wrote "Xmas In Connecticut" for Kaydeefalls in the Secret Mutant holiday exchange. She asked for a fusion -- any fusion -- so I put the characters in the 1940s movie "Christmas in Connecticut." The synopsis:

In December 1944, the entire nation loves Rebecca Lawrence - "America's Most Beloved Homemaker." Her columns about leading the ideal life in the country help lift people's spirits on the home front during World War II. But when her publisher asks her to host a war hero for Christmas dinner, the world is in danger of learning the truth ... which is that "Rebecca Lawrence" is imaginary. Really, she's a combination of Raven's snappy writing and Charles' knowhow in the kitchen.

However, this war hero, Erik Lehnsherr, is headed to Connecticut, so Raven and Charles have no choice but to find a way to make the imaginary real - at least, just for Christmas. Charles thinks they can pull it off, at least until he opens the door to see Erik and falls in love at first sight.

I participated in Yuletide again this year - so far, I've been aboard in every year, though I had to default that time I slipped on the ice and banged my hand up beyond the ability to type. My story is flying under the radar, though at least one of you has found it, which made me happy. :) But more importantly, you all need to read my gift story, which is AWESOME. "Duplicity" is an "Orphan Black" story, Paul/Beth & Paul/Sarah, looking at the many lies and truths hidden within each relationship. And while it focuses in tightly on those three, there are great insights into the other characters, especially Felix and Art. It's made me tremendously happy and is well worth checking out, if you love OB as much as I do.

In the WIP category I have "Pantheon", a Roman Empire XFMC AU that, in its own weird way, is closer to canon than most of the XMFC stuff I've written in the past year and change. The synopsis:

In the year 96 AD, all Rome is aware that their gods have begun to Mark certain people with their gifts -- the healing power of Apollo, the metal control of Vulcan, the deathly touch of Pluto, or the mental powers of Minerva. When those gifts fall to slaves or barbarians instead of the Romans themselves, strict control is necessary.

Then a gladiator from Judea meets an enslaved scribe from Britannia, and the repercussions will shake the Empire itself.

I've posted 9 of the 12 chapters; the rest is plotted out, but ultimately I had to take a break over the holidays, as work/travel/holiday/fic exchange obligations were absorbing so much time. However, I plan to resume publishing in mid- to late January, and should wrap up very shortly thereafter.

My holidays have been lovely so far. Right now I am doing a house swap in the Bay Area, which has been a fascinating experience. I had NO IDEA I could clean my house like that. I mean, I cleaned out every drawer and wiped down the insides. THAT kind of clean. Happily, she was just as meticulous with her own apartment, which is adorable and perfectly situated. Have been catching up with old friends, seeing the sights, and eating chow mein. What's not to love?

Hope all is well with all of you.

ETA: Just saw "American Hustle," which is terrific. Jennifer Lawrence's performance merits all the hype and then some, but everyone is excellent across the board. Check this out if you possibly can.

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/330040.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

Dear Yulegoat --

yahtzee63 — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 18:03:14 GMT

I feel like my signup was probably plenty of information, but I'm going to reproduce it here with a few extra notes, in case that's helpful:

Request #1: Maisie Dobbs

As much as I love Maisie's independence, I get awfully curious about all the unspoken details of her love life. I'd be interested in a vignette from her courtship with Simon, some UST for her and Stratton, or especially a look at her romance with Andrew Dene, who seems to have understood her better/been more like her than any of her other beaus, and for precisely this reason recognized her unwillingness to commit sooner than anyone else. I like James Compton, too, so you can write about him as well, if you'd like. Compare and contrast them all - really, honestly, anything about Maisie's love life will be awesome.

Here is something that is probably not helpful AT ALL but which I feel the need to share with you, i.e., my personal MD fancasting.

Maisie Dobbs = Kelly MacDonald
Simon Lynch = Matthew Macfayden
Richard Stratton = Richard Armitage
Andrew Dene = James McAvoy
James Compton = Laurence Fox
Billy Beale = Eddie Marsan
Maurice Blanche = Ian McKellen
Lady Rowan Compton = Lindsay Duncan
Lord Julian Compton = Michael Gambon
Priscilla Partridge = Emily Mortimer

And Stratton is my favorite. I think Stratton is everyone's favorite. Except Maisie's.

Request #2: Atonement (2007)

I say we only have the information about Robbie and Cecilia's untimely deaths from Bryony, and the one thing we can be canonically certain of is that Bryony is a big fat liar. Can you offer a suggestion about how they might have gone on, after the war, even facing all their many problems? That would be my dream. If not, just giving them a while at that cottage would be good for me. Please as little Bryony as possible.

This is pretty shameless anti-McEwan's intent, but obviously I don't care one bit. It seems to me entirely possible that Bryony might be lying about the resolution of Robbie & Cecilia's lives, and that inventing this tragic outcome (and her own pseudo-fictional resolution of it) could be yet one more twist in her imagination. So I'd like to see them escape the bleakness of that fate, and the frosting on the cake would be the meta explanation of why Bryony doesn't acknowledge it.

But meta is not necessary. I really just want escape, and Robbie/Cecilia love.

Request #3: Neverwhere (Neil Gaiman)

I'd love any look into the courtship of Richard and Door! Kind of fell in love with these two when I listened to the audio play, so if you wanted to use James McAvoy and Natalie Dormer for visuals, no complaints here. :)

You may be noticing a McAvoyesque quality running through many of my requests. This is not coincidence. Anyway, it seems to me that Richard has only just begun learning about London Below, and he and Door are only beginning to know one another, so I'd especially like to see more here. And as it seems likely that Door will be ascending to the honors and duties of Lord Portico, some exploration of that would also be interesting to me.

Request #4: Orphan Black

I'd be really fascinated to get Paul's view of Sarah versus Beth, or -- even better -- Beth's view of Paul versus Sarah's. I really feel like Beth is the silent third party in their relationship all along. Guest starring moments by Felix, Cosima, Allison and the rest very welcome. :D

I love the entire cast/world/etc. of "Orphan Black," and yet my curiosity about Beth seems unlikely to ever be answered within the show. To me, understanding her is fundamental to understanding Paul, and the whole nature of how Clone Club bonded together in the first place. So anything we could learn about her would be enormously welcome.

Request #5: The Americans

Would be fascinating to see how Claudia and/or Gregory view Elizabeth and Philip's relationship.

I knew this show would be straight up my alley -- I mean, it's "Alias" in the 1980s if Jack Bristow had been Russian too. SOLD. Elizabeth and Philip's relationship is so twisty and dark and uncertain, even within their own hearts, so I'm actually not sure they have the best view of what's going on. I think Gregory probably knew the most about them, especially Elizabeth ... but I think Claudia's vision might be clearer. So very, very interested to see what this might look like to them.

**

Overall notes -- I love differing perspectives, unresolved sexual tension, gentle humor, high-concept plots, holiday fic, adventure, affection, and really tons of things. I do not love character-bashing or unhappy endings on Christmas Day. (I can deal with bittersweet -- a couple of my requests practically demand it -- but nothing just gut-wrenching, I guess.) My internet access on Christmas Day is often dicey but I promise to read and comment as soon as I can. And, in advance, THANK YOU! I'm sure I'll enjoy whatever you create for me.

Latest Fics (Sleepy Hollow, complete; XMFC, in progress)

yahtzee63 — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 02:33:30 GMT

Right now I am 3 chapters (out of 11, I think) into the XMFC AU story "Pantheon". Summary: In the year 96 AD, all Rome is aware that their gods have begun to Mark certain people with their gifts -- the healing power of Apollo, the metal control of Vulcan, the deathly touch of Pluto, or the mental powers of Minerva. When those gifts fall to slaves or barbarians instead of the Romans themselves, strict control is necessary.

Then a gladiator from Judea meets an enslaved scribe from Britannia, and the repercussions will shake the Empire itself.

Basically, it's Kate Quinn's MISTRESS OF ROME mashed up with the legend of Spartacus, plus (oddly) more canon than I've written into an XMFC AU for a while now. [Rated NC-17, with bonus Logan/Rogue, plus other relationships both canonical and not as we get further in]

Also, for my new enthusiasm, the crack-tastical "Sleepy Hollow," I wrote "Madhouse/Asylum", which deals with what Ichabod's expectations of a mental institution would've been, versus Abbie's reality. The lovely, really-in-deeper-with-fandom-than-is-healthy-but-never-stop Orlando Jones (Captain Frank Irving) actually recced this on Twitter, which was too awesome. My first SH fic, but will not be my last. [Rated G]

Have signed up for both yuletide and secret_mutant, so December's gonna be busy.

How AU is too AU?

yahtzee63 — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 03:40:00 GMT

This could be a huge ol' meta question, but what I am actually asking is, if I wrote an XMFC story in a setting so remote that it would absolutely require changing character names, as in all of them, would it throw you out of the story too much? There would be a handy reference guide in the notes.

(If it's relevant, and I don't see how it would be but it feels like it would be, they still have their mutations.)

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/329739.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

Fic prompts?

yahtzee63 — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 23:18:19 GMT

I long to write some more fic but find myself a bit stymied. Any prompts for me? XMFC and Elementary particularly desired.

New Fic: "Death Before Dusk" (Elementary, Holmes/Watson) and "Born To Rule" (XMFC, Charles/Erik)

yahtzee63 — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 02:17:42 GMT

Not one but two new fics for your perusal, should they interest:

"Death Before Dusk", an Elementary fic, Sherlock/Joan, and yet not as romantic as you might be thinking. 15K words. The synopsis --

The bad news: In 111 days, an asteroid will strike the Earth in a cataclysm that promises to destroy human civilization as we know it.

The good news: There's been a murder.

Also, I recently posted "Born To Rule", which is not so much a sequel to my XMFC AU story "Anarchy in the UK" as it is a brief, 5K coda, shamelessly written/posted to coincide with the birth of Wills & Kate's kid. The AITUK universe should get to have royal babies too, right?

Movies I have seen and liked: "The Great Gatsby" (so sue me, I thought the acting was amazing and made up for some extra Luhrmann); "The Heat" (freakin' hilarious); "Pacific Rim" (my friend Steph and I are considering costuming as jaeger pilots for Halloween) and "The Bling Ring" (sort of style over substance, but I think that's the point?) Still hoping to check out "The Wolverine" and "World War Z."

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/329419.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

XMFC FIC: "Anarchy in the UK" (Charles/Erik, NC17, 160K) (no, really)

yahtzee63 — Sun, 26 May 2013 23:19:50 GMT

Hi there! I didn't die. I just took my time writing a very, very long fic -- the longest I ever wrote -- which you can now read in its entirety at the AO3:

"Anarchy in the UK"

Synopsis: "Good God, Erik thought. The Prince of Wales is gay."

Charles lives in the unceasing glare of the public spotlight, yet keeps his sexual orientation a closely held secret, afraid he could lose his throne and force his deeply troubled younger sister into a role that would crush her. Erik, journalist and world traveler, has been a loner most of his life; he has little patience for closet cases. But a chance meeting in Kenya brings these two opposites together and sets in motion a love affair that will challenge the British monarchy -- and force them both to change forever.

Many thanks due to rheanna27 for Britpicking above and beyond the call of duty on that one.

In other fannish news, I love "Elementary" with wild desperate love and expect to write it next.

New Fic: "Persephone" ("Prometheus," Elizabeth Shaw/David 8, NC17), plus epilogue to an XMFC fic

yahtzee63 — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 20:39:10 GMT

Have just posted "Persephone," a fic that takes place just after the ending of the movie "Prometheus."

Summary: Elizabeth repairs David - but slowly he begins to realize he is malfunctioning in a way she can't fix.

And he doesn't want her to.

Also, needing some light and happy fun one fine day, I wrote an epilogue to "Appropriate Boundaries," a.k.a. "the one where Erik is Charles' massage therapist." You thought it couldn't get any fluffier? WELL, THINK AGAIN.

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/328688.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

XMFC Fics -- "One Last Kiss At The End Of The World" & "As Dark Longs For Day"

yahtzee63 — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 06:32:53 GMT

I have now completed "One Last Kiss At The End Of The World," an XMFC Charles/Erik fic. The summary: When Raven gets mixed up in a mutant cult, Charles infiltrates the group, pretending to be a true believer in the hopes of getting her out. What surprises him is the charisma and uncanny wisdom of the cult's leader, Elisha Ammon -- the emotional power of this isolated group of mutants working to create a home together -- and his powerful connection to Ammon's right-hand man, Erik Lehnsherr. But Ammon's fear of humanity, and of the future, makes him desperate for control ... and when the bond between Charles and Erik can't be contained, Ammon's reaction proves deadly.

(The role of Elisha Ammon is being played by the very obliging Imaginary Benedict Cumberbatch.)

Also, posted all in one great big chunk is the XMFC Charles/Erik fic "As Dark Longs For Day". The summary: A daring young thief escapes from the wicked bishop's dungeons, thinking herself free -- until she encounters a rider with a black horse, a tame hawk and a dark secret. And who is this mysterious young man who only appears at night, accompanied by a tame wolf? Yes, it's the Ladyhawke/XMFC pastiche the world's been clamoring for! Hope you enjoy.

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/328277.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

update - hurricanes and other disasters

yahtzee63 — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:39:53 GMT

A non-fic post: Several of you have been kind enough to email or text and ask how I'm faring in the hurricane. The short answer is that I am well out of range, i.e., still in Scotland. Though I'm obviously concerned about my house, everything I've read from my local friends and the news there suggests that it ought to be fine. Supposedly I am going home tomorrow, though given the likelihood of continued power outages in NoLa, I consider myself at about a 50% probability to get stranded in Philadelphia for a day or two. If this happens, NYC people, I may be headed your way. I'm currently without phone contacts (though not without phone - why did I not take the time to import the info to the global phone?), so if anybody wanted to drop me a line via email with their number, I would be very grateful!

Right now I'm on a train from Inverness to Glasgow, though it is currently motionless due to a landslide on the tracks. We'll make it, by diverting through Edinburgh, but it's going to take a while. Transit is not going well for me currently, is what I'm saying.

More fic updates, and new fic, not long after I get back to the US and have electricty/internet again, but at this point I think giving any time estimates on that would be a bad idea.

ETA: All flights to New Orleans canceled tomorrow and most likely Friday too. I was offered a bump to first class if I'd travel on Sunday instead, so I am doing that. Three more days in Scotland!

I know that my house is without power, but it's in an area that has no trees or power lines down and no flooding, so I remain only at Concern Level Yellow there.

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/328005.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

Hear ye, hear ye - podfic of "Sacrament" is now available

yahtzee63 — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 05:34:45 GMT

The luminous podcath has recorded a lovely podfic of my XMFC story "Sacrament," i.e. "the one where Charles is a priest." She's done a wonderful job, as always, so this is well worth checking out --

Appropriate Boundaries: The Podfic.

Headed to Scotland, the better to go hiking with the intrepid rheanna27. Will attempt to update fic from small islands off the northern coast. I'm sure that will go well.

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/327879.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

Completed XMFC fic: "Appropriate Boundaries"

yahtzee63 — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 23:10:01 GMT

I've finished posting "Appropriate Boundaries", a modern-day, no-powers AU in which Erik is the massage therapist who's assisting Charles -- and they quickly run into the question of how to turn a professional relationship into a personal one. Hope you enjoy!

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/327455.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

Fic updates, podfic announcement, and book rec

yahtzee63 — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 01:00:21 GMT

First of all, I'm currently posting not one but two XMFC fics:

1) "Appropriate Boundaries", in which Charles has been having serious problems with back cramps in the year and a half since he's been in a wheelchair. His doctor prescribes massage therapy. But when Charles meets his masseur, Erik, in some ways they begin to heal each other. So how do you cross the boundaries between professional touch -- and the personal?

2) "One Last Kiss At The End Of The World," in which Raven gets mixed up in a mutant cult, and Charles infiltrates the group, pretending to be a true believer in the hopes of getting her out. What surprises him is the charisma and uncanny wisdom of the cult's leader, Elisha Ammon -- the emotional power of this isolated group of mutants working to create a home together -- and his powerful connection to Ammon's right-hand man, Erik Lehnsherr. But Ammon's fear of humanity, and of the future, makes him desperate for control ... and when the bond between Charles and Erik can't be contained, Ammon's reaction proves deadly.

(Elisha Ammon is being played by Imaginary Benedict Cumberbatch, who had a window in his schedule.)

These are both being posted as I write; I'll update again when they're done.

Also! I very negligently neglected to inform the world that an absolutely marvelous podfic of my XMFC story "Undone" has been made by the equally marvelous podcath. I am guilty of both neglecting the wonderful podficcer and not sharing her awesomeness with the world, though I think most of you know she's great already. If you haven't heard it already, take a listen!

**

Book rec! Those of you who read my journal back in the day will remember my Former Coworker Who Looks Like Michael Vartan But Who Unfortunately For Me, But Not For Him Or His Husband, Is Gay. Well, now I can add, And Is Also An Author. If you would like to read a literary novel about the gay scene in Manhattan and the complicated romances and friendships interwoven within, then may I point you to his novel? Read and enjoy!

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/327303.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

Fic updates -- Pride & Prejudice and XMFC, plus bonus Alias podfic!

yahtzee63 — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 22:21:50 GMT

Am I the actual very last person to post their Help Haiti story? Probably. But post it I have. For the patient, long-suffering kangeiko, I have written this --

Title: "A Marital Education"
Fandom: Pride & Prejudice
Rating: R
Summary: Darcy's impotent.

**

Meanwhile, the wild AU series of XMFC stories in which Charles is a former priest continues, and concludes, with "Miracle," in which Erik's belief system is shaken to the core. Enjoy!

**

Finally, the marvelous dodificus has created a podfic of my Alias story "The Backup." If you were one of the six or seven people who had a yen for Jack/Will, well, now you have a faboo podfic for your listening pleasure.

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/326952.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

New fic: "Faith" (XMFC, AU, Charles/Erik, NC17)

yahtzee63 — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:40:25 GMT

I do not normally wander off into radical AU series, but there's a first time for everything, I guess. The third installment of the "Father Charles" series is up now, complete: "Faith."

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/326744.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

DW gift story rec, plus fic update

yahtzee63 — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:52:19 GMT

The lovely basingstoke has written me a lovely story based on a long-standing favorite "what if" of mine with "Doctor Who." Loving Nine as I do, I've always wondered how he and Martha might have hit it off; also I always wondered how the events of "Human Nature"/"Family of Blood" would have played out if it were the Ninth Doctor in that predicament, instead of the Tenth. basingstoke took this, ran with it, and the result is the wonderful "Bloody Nature." Read and behold!

Also, I finished "Paralyzer," so if you were waiting on that to read, wait no longer.

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/326644.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

new story -- "Grace"

yahtzee63 — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:59:23 GMT

"Grace", the sequel to "Sacrament" -- in which Charles used to be a priest and is now working on building a life together with Erik. But while Charles is looking toward the future, Erik remains haunted by the past.

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/326344.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

new fic in progress

yahtzee63 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:52:19 GMT

I felt like I ought to say that I haven't been reading my flists on DW or LJ for a week or two now; I'm taking a little break from fandom, and I'm not sure how long that is going to last. Potentially a while.

However, I am still writing. Latest XMFC story: "Paralyzer" -- 1960s hunt for a serial killer who targets mutants!

(And yes, I'm posting as I write. So follow along or catch up at the end, whatever floats your boat.)

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/326087.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

In search of iron-ons

yahtzee63 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:00:42 GMT

One of you out there must be (a) pretty good with graphic design and (b) with access to a machine that makes iron-on transfers, right? Or you know someone who does?

A friend and I each need some iron-ons to complete our Mardi Gras finery. I need a Gizmonics Institute logo and patch, and she needs the sign that hangs on the outside of the TARDIS. We can provide the actual designs/dimension, of course, and would pay. Only trick is we need them in about two weeks. Anybody? Bueller?

**

FYI, there is more XMFC fic here: "Sacrament." Charles is a priest!

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/325790.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

the meme

yahtzee63 — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:13:23 GMT

Pick up the nearest book to you.
Turn to page 45.
The first sentence describes your sex life in 2012.

"Not long afterward, Betty was walking in a park in Boston near Symphony Hall and the headquarters of Christian Science, when she received what she would later describe as her first visitation from the master El Morya."

... cryptic.

**

Awoke to startling clarity only four hours after I went to bed. :( This is the second time this has happened in about a week. I have long had sleep problems, and I tend to think of the insomnia being at stage one (not too bad, can deal), stage two (where I mostly live, hello Tylenol PM) and stage three (where I do not sleep despite sedative levels that would fell an elephant.) Stage three appears to have returned for a while.

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/325536.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

quick question about the Regency era

yahtzee63 — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:14:11 GMT

My genius flist seems likely to know:

Let us say it's Regency-period England. We have one lord, still alive and holding the title, but for some years now in a state of illness/partial dementia that renders him effectively unable to make his own decisions. Who is most likely to have authority over the estate (and the marriages of his children) -- the son and heir to the title, who is of age but barely; the wife; or an executor, solicitor or person of similar position? In this situation there is no other close male relative of age and similar status/landholding.

**

Have been weirdly under the weather for days. Today nausea was added to the mix. Ughhhhh. But I keep on keeping on.

**

Before I gave my mother a dog for Christmas, I sat down and seriously questioned whether she was mature enough to handle the responsibility. This was not an idle inquiry.

Today Mom called and said she just seems to be doing it all wrong, and she's tired of worrying about it, and so we have to find another home for the puppy and that's all there is to it. She has had the dog for three weeks and has not yet even had it spayed (before which any assessment of personality is only a guess). When I asked her if she had looked into obedience training or read any of the books on puppy raising I bought her, she acted annoyed.

Much is explained, people.

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/325234.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

Fannish not-Friday Five

yahtzee63 — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:16:17 GMT

5 characters or couples you wish could have gotten a happy/happier ending.

1) Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr, most X-Men canons -- given the fluidity of comic book canon/alternate timelines/etc., it seems just possible those crazy kids might work it out eventually, at least in some dimension or another, but by then they will have done their time tearing each other apart while simultaneously yearning to be on the same page. Also the same bed.

2) Jack Bristow and Irina Derevko, "Alias" -- who make Charles and Erik's story look SUPER HAPPY by comparison. So much angst, so much hotness, so many contract negotiations with Lena Olin getting in the way. Still the alpha couple for my personal bulletproof kink, "Hot Angry Old People."

3) Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" -- You know, I never even saw the last movie. But so far as I can tell, they get married after 15 years of the most anemic courtship ever? And are destined maybe to get divorced? Beverly, I like you and all, but I would've jumped Jean-Luc Picard no later than "The Big Goodbye." Canon has yet to provide one compelling reason for all the damn delaying, and I'd believe their romance had a better shot if Beverly hadn't been so inexplicably reluctant for so long. Maybe this is a case where I'm wishing for a happier ending, or rather a happier beginning.

4) Jadzia Dax and Worf, "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" -- Now, this is more like it. Jadzia started flirting with Worf about 90 seconds after she laid eyes on him, and unlike virtually any other Trek couple, they pretty much just went for it. Seriously refreshing. And then Terry Farrell didn't re-up her contract, and -- alas. (For the record, I was fine with Ezri Dax not taking up with Worf in her turn -- they had zero chemistry -- but the same could be said of Ezri and Julian, which was just ... you know, it made oatmeal look enthralling.)

5) Josephine March and Theodore "Laurie" Lawrence, "Little Women" -- you know, in the 1995 film version, I can just buy Jo/Bhaer. Gabriel Byrne turns Bhaer from an almost farcical father figure into a guy worth the wanting; his advice feels more judicious and heartfelt, less censorious. But Laurie/Amy? COME ON FOR SERIOUS. One of the most painful parts of this is that Jo's initial refusal only makes sense if you read it as her rejecting marriage itself, and the limitations on her freedom she might realistically have dreaded in that era, despite Laurie's optimistic promises that they could choose how they wanted to live. But when she marries Bhaer instead, she accepts lectures and corrections ... instead of the guy who wanted her to travel and write and take just as big a bite of life as she'd ever dreamed. As I think of it I am making grumpy face.

**

For such as may be interested, I have written a story for "Tangled" -- "A Princess And A Guy Like Me." As the title indicates, I may have imprinted strongly on princess/ruffian relationships circa 1977.

Also, here lies the latest XMFC story: "In Shadow and Silence."

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/324899.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

Yuletide reveal!

yahtzee63 — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 18:52:09 GMT

This year for my assignment I wrote "Look and Listen," a "Rear Window" story that asks how those events looked for Miss Lonelyhearts and the Songwriter. It was a fandom I'd never have thought to offer if I hadn't seen it in the requests, but just the idea delighted me. What better movie to reverse perspective on, right? Anyway, I had a blast with it, AND also learned what I think is the ultimate Christmas trivia of all time regarding "Rear Window" -- the Songwriter? The guy up there struggling to write a tune while murder and mayhem is going on around him? Is the guy who wrote, recorded and sang (all voices!) on ... wait for it ... "The Chipmunk Song." "Christmas, Christmas, time is here, time for toys and time for cheer -- " Yes! That's him! What a resume, right? The movie wouldn't be the same if THAT were the song he was composing all the while.

Also as a treat I wrote "Pugs With Michael Fassbender, or, the Importance of Perspective," for "Michael Fassbender With Pugs," obviously. I have little to say about Michael Fassbender or Tumblr, but quite a lot to say about pugs. But since I ended up stepping on the assigned Yulegoat's toes, I wish I'd just waited on this one -- but at least there is more pugfic.

Ended up not going out last night -- I just felt completely thrashed. I'm slightly sniffly and under the weather, but I think yesterday that combined with cramps and being generally run-down anyway to just fell me. So I spent NYE sneezing on the couch and watching "Hellboy." Hardly one for the record books, but OTOH, I'd forgotten just how much I enjoyed "Hellboy."

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/324761.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

The Year In Fic, The Year otherwise, and Yuletide recs!

yahtzee63 — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:09:25 GMT

First, the fic meme:

The Year In Fic

It's been a big year. A big big year. This is actually sort of troubling now that I look at it. And it doesn't include ficlets. Hmm.

2011 Fanfic

Ugly Betty

All 12 stories and 150,000 words in my Ugly Betty Virtual Season Five. The fact that I haven't finished this is criminal. But I still have the outline (which I had sent to myself as backup about three days before the laptop was lost in the mugging), so all can yet be set right.

So far the series goes like this:

1) "Anchored," which provides a different ending to "The Past Presents The Future," and a non-Daniel reason why Betty might wind up staying in NYC after all.

2) "Betty Strikes Back," in which our heroine decides she's had enough of her recent run of bad luck and refuses to take it any longer! And Daniel is still trying to figure out how to handle this brand-new crush of his, while Marc and Wilhelmina both encounter old flames ...

3) "The Homecoming Game," where Betty's life has become a very complicated balancing act between her professional goals, her father's problems and Daniel's sudden desire to buy a new apartment -- one that, for some reason, he insists she approve of.

4) "Lucky Star," set around a charity ball featuring the famous Star of Kashmir, a ruby fabled to grant your heart's desire, and how its magic works on Wilhelmina, Claire and especially Betty and Daniel --

5) "Down to Earth," in which practical concerns about jobs and money threaten to bring Betty and Daniel's incipient romance crashing down almost before it gets started, and Marc is eager to catch Cliff's attention before a crisis with Amanda changes everything.

6) "Fireworks," in which we find out whether Betty can say goodbye to MODE without saying goodbye to Daniel.

7) "The Unusual Suspects," -- someone's trying to kill Daniel Meade! But who, and why?

8) "Blood and Roses," where The Would-Be Killer is revealed and winds up chasing Daniel ... and Betty, and tons of our other heroes too ... through MODE, after hours. Who's down?

9) "You Must Remember This," where Betty has amnesia about the last four years and thinks it's still her first week working for that TOTAL JERK Daniel Meade, who had forgotten what an assface he was and is completely humiliated by the reminders.

10) "A Tale of Two Daniels," where Betty's family is kicking up a lot of drama, but not nearly as much as the Meades, now that some other guy has showed up claiming to be the real Daniel.

11) "Show Me," in which Daniel's trying desperately to find out who he really is, but Betty turns out to have known all along.

12) "My One And Only," where the real Daniel Meade finally stands up.

And there are nine more episodes! I WILL write them. It must be done.

That was all before June. Also before June: My brief, intense and wholly enjoyable re-immersion in early 1990s soaps, which resulted in these --

Guiding Light

13) "Barcelona," set after the series finale during Holly's travels with Ed -- and the ways Roger seems to be following along, even after his death.

14) "The Shape Around My Silhouette," set during Holly and Roger's ill-fated reunion. It's such a bad idea, and yet the ways it works and the ways it doesn't both pull Holly in even closer.

Also this happened:

Harry Potter

15) "Never Is A Promise," epilogue-compliant, a story of what Harry and Hermione might have had, and what they do have instead.

And of course along came Professor X and Magneto, a 'ship of mine from way back, to insist that I am not quite done with slash just yet, to my great surprise.

XMFC

16) "Drowning Men," aka the first huge id explosion of thoughts about how sincerely screwed-up Erik could be after his childhood and how that might play into his romantic/sexual relationship with Charles.

17) "Dead Man's Paradise," the one set in the secret mutant prison that has enforced gladiatorial games and control collars and Erik and Charles falling in love through a mesh-wire fence.

18) "The Winter of Banked Fires," the first Big Whompin' Epic fic I've done in a long time, set after X3 and during XMFC and every time in between. The synopsis from the AO3: Charles Xavier has returned from the dead -- but is lost within his own mind. Rogue has cast aside her own power and doesn't know where she fits in the world any longer. The production of synthetic Cure means mutantkind itself is newly at risk. And Magneto, turned human against his will, is in despair until the day he feels a familiar consciousness tugging at his own --

19) "Undone", in which Charles Xavier travels back in time from the end of his life to the events of XMFC and tries to change everything.

20) "Enigma," in which Erik Lehnsherr travels back in time from the end of his life to his childhood and tries to change everything.

21) "The Attempt," where Charles is straight -- no, really -- and yet tries to make a romance with Erik work.

22) "The Hidden Heart," in which we learn that the only thing capable of getting Charles and Erik back together again five years after their divorce is a Die Hard pastiche.

Not linked here are my Fringe Secret Santa fic (when do we get to reveal those?) and what I wrote for Yuletide. Also the ficlets.

I wrote a lot this year.

Musings & Meme-age

Favorite story this year: "The Winter of Banked Fires," which is just a story of my heart.

Best story this year: Probably also "The Winter of Banked Fires," though of course I keep thinking of things I'd change, or add. I could write that story forever in my head. For me that's just How It Ends.

Story most under-appreciated, in my opinion: I don't feel like I have any complaints here. I wish there were more active readers for Roger and Holly, but given that this is taken from daytime TV aired in the early 1990s, I'm thrilled there are any.

Most fun story: "You Must Remember This," with Betty once again tromping about MODE's offices in mismatched prints and golf socks, and Daniel realizing in horror that she's picking the cabbage out of his cole slaw.

Sexiest story: "Dead Man's Paradise" is trashy in my favorite ways. I also really like the Rogue/Logan in "The Winter of Banked Fires."

Hardest to write: "The Winter of Banked Fires," by a mile. I've mostly gotten to a place where I'm happy for my fic to reflect my id, weirdness and all, but in that one, I wanted to try and FIX IT without ignoring any of the problems, and X-canons are not a help in that regard to put it lightly, but the effort was hugely enjoyable.

What pairing/genre/fandom did you write that you would never have predicted in January 2011? Although I felt like I was done with slash, ironically I'd never have felt I was done with Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr; they've been hugely fascinating to me for about a decade now. So really the winners here must be "Guiding Light," with Roger and Holly. They were always fascinating to watch together, but they were not a favorite pairing for me when their stories first aired. (As a small child, I had seen much of Roger's super-villainous period and he'd scared the CRAP out of me, which is probably why. Remember that time he was dressed as a clown and stalked someone through a house of mirrors while disco played on the speakers? How that should have been hilarious and instead is giving me the creeps just thinking about it THIRTY YEARS LATER? Oh, poor Michael Zaslow, you were so good.) Didn't see that coming, for sure.

Did you take any writing risks this year? I don't know that "risky" is really the right word, but I think "The Attempt" plays against reader expectations.

Do you have any goals for the New Year? I mean to finish the UB season five, but other than that -- let's just see what happens.

**

Otherwise this year: I went to Spain. I went to Colombia. I bought a house. I moved cross-country. I got mugged. I spent some time in NYC. I finished one book and, while not quite finishing another, expect to get gone by Jan. 3 or so. I bought my mother a chihuahua. Big drama! Next year will hold its own adventures, but I suppose I am hoping for something a bit quieter. At least after I get back from three weeks in Australia.

Now, the joy of Yuletide! My fabulous Yulegoat wrote a "Revenge" story, "The Stony Path," which asks us just how Amanda/Emily began down the road of becoming STONE COLD BADASS, provides some cool fannish answers and quotes the great masters of the art of vengeance, such as Machiavelli and the Corleones. Some others I've read and enjoyed:

Holiday: "The Fifth Avenue Anti-Stuffed-Shirt and Flying Trapeze Club Goes To France." So witty and sharp and sparkling, as much a glass of champagne as the original film itself. The author manages to flesh out Susan Potter's backstory a bit without ever feeling as though we've lost our focus on Linda and Johnny's madcap romance.

Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier: "Two Unsent Letters and a Portrait," which absolutely nails the writing style for the book, and recaptures the narrator's endless imagination, melancholy and insecurity.

X-23: "Untitled," which works better as a title for a story about Laura's non-feelings about Christmas than you'd think. I like how Logan is subtly both hoping and dreading a stronger reaction from her, and how unsure and yet analytical she remains throughout.

M*A*S*H: Between You, Me and the Stove," which captures both the genuinely difficult situations Father Mulcahy has to deal with and the sharp humor of the show.

Tangled: "10 Glimpses of Rapunzel's New Life As Told By Eugene," a story that manages to introduce some real complications she'd face after her long confinement while still remaining true to the voice of the movie ... in other words, by being adorable.

AND

"A Disney Prince Consort", which shows us Rapunzel taking over and Eugene helping her the whole way. I love what a great dad he is here, while still being wholly Eugene.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: "Ask," which is AT LONG LAST a Miles/Julian story!

Michael Fassbender With Pugs: "Owned." A pug tries Tumblr! I really liked the pug characterization here.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond: "They That Go Down To The Sea In Ships." Is Kit/Nat not everyone's ur-ship? I mean, down deep? Loved this take on them.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: "Best Brains," in which Mike, Joel and the Bots have to face down the zombie apocalypse. Hilarious.

Jane Austen's Fight Club: "Jane Eyre Has A Posse." Other 19th-century heroines get in on the action. My God, the nicknames alone in this one are priceless.

**

Festivities beckon tonight, though I'm actually not feeling terrific -- not sick, just really tired. But it's a low key party, they claimed, so we shall see what we shall see. Should get some work done first. Happy New Year to all!

This entry was originally posted at http://yahtzee.dreamwidth.org/324385.html. Please comment there using OpenID.