Icon meme!
Apr. 27th, 2026 08:53 pmBorrowed from ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dswdiane:
Reply to this post saying 'icon', and I will tell you my favourite icon of yours.
♥♥♥
dswdiane:Reply to this post saying 'icon', and I will tell you my favourite icon of yours.
♥♥♥
Five favorite films
Apr. 27th, 2026 08:27 pmFor teratornis, here is my answer to their question about my all-time favorite movies. For this list, I picked material I have seen multiple times (preferably at very different points in my life), and which tangibly improved with each watch - as opposed to something like Die Hard, which has comfortably plateaued and is unlikely to get "better" the next time I view it. Arranged in chronological order.
Casablanca (1942)
This is a perfect film. This should be used to explain what "cinema" is. The perfect balance of feelgood and tearjerker. The direction never puts a foot wrong, the performances are splendid, the script has a touch of wry wit that makes it insanely quotable, but never makes the mistake of being ironic. No, it is passionate and earnest and incredibly romantic. It's a cliché pick for a list like this, but that's because it's so darn good.
The Third Man (1949)
That score. Those angles and shadows. The bombed out ruins of post-war Vienna. The craggy faces of a majestic panoply of character actors. The concise script, of morality at odds with loyalty. Joseph Cotten's permanently sorrowful features. Orson Welles' roguish charm and chilling sociopathy. The final shot among the autumn leaves and emptiness. The story grows and deepens as the years go by, and I always soak up the atmosphere.
Hard Core Logo (1996)
The one film I am truly fannish about, where I want to write crossovers (I've got three potential ones mapped out) to save this doomed band from themselves. Yes, a lot of that is because it happens to feature John Pyper Ferguson, but it's also because each member of the band feels like a real person, fitting the documentary style. The structure is an enormous part of the film's hold on me, as it crafts a brash and vulgar, yet enigmatic narrative, filled with lies and partial truths. It's about art, about compromise, about selling out. It's also full of great punk music, and introduced me to the Headstones.
Prospero's Books (1991)
A love letter to Shakespeare and the arts of the Renaissance. Sir John Gielgud had always wanted someone to make a film of The Tempest, and Peter Greenaway fulfilled his request with this avant-garde fantasia, which is by no means to all tastes, but which really does feel like getting lost on an isle of enchantment. The plot of The Tempest is spoken into being, all the while recreations of paintings on classical subjects, mime, dance, image overlays and an amazing description of Prospero's library cross the screen. It is an incredible work of artistic expression, and features my favorite piece of film music of all time.
Mulholland Dr. (2001)
This is inarguably the most successful failed TV pilot in the history of cinema, and will never be outdone. The origin of the film explains part of why I love it so much, as it was designed to be spacious, filled with strange occurrences, quirky characters and dangling threads of mystery (like Twin Peaks, in fact). There are so many strange stories within this single film, presented without explanation beyond what the viewer wishes to bring to it. It engages my mind in a very satisfying way, because while parts of the film are indeed very disturbing, it covers crazy amounts of ground with its neo-noir fairy tale vibe, and is hauntingly beautiful and even humorous at points, combining disparate elements into a singular dreamlike mood in a way only Lynch could manage.
~~~
This selection of favorites probably says something about me, but I'm not sure what!
teratornis, here is my answer to their question about my all-time favorite movies. For this list, I picked material I have seen multiple times (preferably at very different points in my life), and which tangibly improved with each watch - as opposed to something like Die Hard, which has comfortably plateaued and is unlikely to get "better" the next time I view it. Arranged in chronological order.Casablanca (1942)
This is a perfect film. This should be used to explain what "cinema" is. The perfect balance of feelgood and tearjerker. The direction never puts a foot wrong, the performances are splendid, the script has a touch of wry wit that makes it insanely quotable, but never makes the mistake of being ironic. No, it is passionate and earnest and incredibly romantic. It's a cliché pick for a list like this, but that's because it's so darn good.
The Third Man (1949)
That score. Those angles and shadows. The bombed out ruins of post-war Vienna. The craggy faces of a majestic panoply of character actors. The concise script, of morality at odds with loyalty. Joseph Cotten's permanently sorrowful features. Orson Welles' roguish charm and chilling sociopathy. The final shot among the autumn leaves and emptiness. The story grows and deepens as the years go by, and I always soak up the atmosphere.
Hard Core Logo (1996)
The one film I am truly fannish about, where I want to write crossovers (I've got three potential ones mapped out) to save this doomed band from themselves. Yes, a lot of that is because it happens to feature John Pyper Ferguson, but it's also because each member of the band feels like a real person, fitting the documentary style. The structure is an enormous part of the film's hold on me, as it crafts a brash and vulgar, yet enigmatic narrative, filled with lies and partial truths. It's about art, about compromise, about selling out. It's also full of great punk music, and introduced me to the Headstones.
Prospero's Books (1991)
A love letter to Shakespeare and the arts of the Renaissance. Sir John Gielgud had always wanted someone to make a film of The Tempest, and Peter Greenaway fulfilled his request with this avant-garde fantasia, which is by no means to all tastes, but which really does feel like getting lost on an isle of enchantment. The plot of The Tempest is spoken into being, all the while recreations of paintings on classical subjects, mime, dance, image overlays and an amazing description of Prospero's library cross the screen. It is an incredible work of artistic expression, and features my favorite piece of film music of all time.
Mulholland Dr. (2001)
This is inarguably the most successful failed TV pilot in the history of cinema, and will never be outdone. The origin of the film explains part of why I love it so much, as it was designed to be spacious, filled with strange occurrences, quirky characters and dangling threads of mystery (like Twin Peaks, in fact). There are so many strange stories within this single film, presented without explanation beyond what the viewer wishes to bring to it. It engages my mind in a very satisfying way, because while parts of the film are indeed very disturbing, it covers crazy amounts of ground with its neo-noir fairy tale vibe, and is hauntingly beautiful and even humorous at points, combining disparate elements into a singular dreamlike mood in a way only Lynch could manage.
~~~
This selection of favorites probably says something about me, but I'm not sure what!
A film and a meme
Apr. 25th, 2026 07:30 pmThe film was Me and Mrs. Jones, a 2002 Masterpiece Theatre broadcast. Kind of a Roman Holiday remix. There's a reporter (played by Robson Green) who is trying to get the story of his career by befriending a restless head of state, with whom he falls in love. However, he's a tabloid gossip columnist and she's the married Prime Minister (Caroline Goodall) struggling with an election campaign. The film is nowhere near the level of Roman Holiday in direction, screenplay or chemistry of the leads, but it mostly kept my attention. ( Read more... )
And now, a character meme fromsenmut:
Your choice of character from your choice of fandom:
Since I now have evil Immortals on the brain, I'm going with them as a group.
1. Are they successful by their own standards?
Kronos leaps to the top of the bar in purgatory, but is clobbered off of it by various victims of Duncan MacLeod before he can give his "I am the END OF TIME!!!" speech. Grayson urbanely drops hints which credit himself with the western application of sulfur, and nobody else can really better that (although plenty would surely try, evil Immortals being a comparatively vain lot). Byron, despite being the most justly famous of the bunch, feels like he's one of the least successful.
The real winner among MacLeod's kills would obviously be Sean Burns, who not only did not die in vain, his spirit assisting MacLeod in fighting off the Dark Quickening, but would in fact do some of his best work as a psychopomp, helping the cases too difficult to reach in life to move onward into the hereafter (Ingrid, Alfred Cahill and Michael Moore among them).
2. Are they seen as successful by those around them?
Evil Immortals seem to come in two main flavors: The psychos who completely let themselves go, and don't care what anyone thinks of them (Kanis, Kern, Caspian), and those who put on airs and place themselves above their surroundings (Consone, Ward, Durgan, Xavier). Those in the latter camp would appear to have it all, to be the ones mortals would look up to as winners in the game of life - yet they lived hollow, bitter existences until MacLeod snuffed them out.
3. Is there a regret they have?
"I should never have messed with the Highlander. What was I thinking?"
"Tell me about it."
4. Is there a triumph they treasure?
Another frequent problem with evil Immortals is getting stuck on their past, and chasing the old high of their glory days. An inability to grow and adapt. Kronos can reminisce about the Horsemen, but if he hadn't tried so hard to put the band back together and force a reunion tour to happen, he and his brothers would have lived a lot longer. For the evil Immortal, their triumphs are their downfalls.
5. Would they prefer a fabulous dessert or a sumptuous dinner?
Most of them would go for a sumptuous dinner, for a mix of practical benefit and status symbol, lording it over the peasants with a six-course meal. Nefertiri, though, would definitely be sampling every decadent bon-bon invented since the fall of Egypt, I have no doubt.
Thank you for the fun questions,senmut!
And now, a character meme from
senmut:Your choice of character from your choice of fandom:
Since I now have evil Immortals on the brain, I'm going with them as a group.
1. Are they successful by their own standards?
Kronos leaps to the top of the bar in purgatory, but is clobbered off of it by various victims of Duncan MacLeod before he can give his "I am the END OF TIME!!!" speech. Grayson urbanely drops hints which credit himself with the western application of sulfur, and nobody else can really better that (although plenty would surely try, evil Immortals being a comparatively vain lot). Byron, despite being the most justly famous of the bunch, feels like he's one of the least successful.
The real winner among MacLeod's kills would obviously be Sean Burns, who not only did not die in vain, his spirit assisting MacLeod in fighting off the Dark Quickening, but would in fact do some of his best work as a psychopomp, helping the cases too difficult to reach in life to move onward into the hereafter (Ingrid, Alfred Cahill and Michael Moore among them).
2. Are they seen as successful by those around them?
Evil Immortals seem to come in two main flavors: The psychos who completely let themselves go, and don't care what anyone thinks of them (Kanis, Kern, Caspian), and those who put on airs and place themselves above their surroundings (Consone, Ward, Durgan, Xavier). Those in the latter camp would appear to have it all, to be the ones mortals would look up to as winners in the game of life - yet they lived hollow, bitter existences until MacLeod snuffed them out.
3. Is there a regret they have?
"I should never have messed with the Highlander. What was I thinking?"
"Tell me about it."
4. Is there a triumph they treasure?
Another frequent problem with evil Immortals is getting stuck on their past, and chasing the old high of their glory days. An inability to grow and adapt. Kronos can reminisce about the Horsemen, but if he hadn't tried so hard to put the band back together and force a reunion tour to happen, he and his brothers would have lived a lot longer. For the evil Immortal, their triumphs are their downfalls.
5. Would they prefer a fabulous dessert or a sumptuous dinner?
Most of them would go for a sumptuous dinner, for a mix of practical benefit and status symbol, lording it over the peasants with a six-course meal. Nefertiri, though, would definitely be sampling every decadent bon-bon invented since the fall of Egypt, I have no doubt.
Thank you for the fun questions,
senmut!Friday Five: Music and Earworms
Mar. 29th, 2026 08:48 pmSeen via teratornis and it seemed like a fun post to make. ( Read more... )
teratornis and it seemed like a fun post to make. ( Read more... )I hate leaving things unfinished, or partially done. I started Snowflake with the intention of doing every challenge, but I'm gonna have to bow out of Challenge #5, a wishlist venture. Asking for things? Nope. Sorry. Not happening. I am bad at that.
So, on to Challenge #6. Top 10 Challenge.
And I'm gonna have fun and talk about ten tropes I love. Which I guess could also count as a sneak wishlist, just without the actual request feature.
They're numbered but not ranked. I thought about giving canon or fanfic examples for each, but this post is long enough as is.
1. Conversations with dead people
An emotional trope. Things left unsaid, fears unspoken, last regrets to acknowledge. Literal ghost, or a dream sequence, or a hallucination. The question: Is it real or the character's subconscious? What does the visitation signify? The possibilities range from spooky to redemptive. It is a heady brew of emotion and mystery, breaking reality and showing facets a normal conversation never could.
2. Best friend with a death wish
Pure loyalty in every situation is a beautiful thing. Unfortunately for one half of this partnership, the other half is running pell-mell for the cliff. Cue angst. Cue anguish. Cue agony. This is a first rate shipping dynamic, when one half of the pairing is bent on self-destruction and the other half can only watch in dread. It's supposed to be ride or die, not ride and die. How do you save your partner from their own demons?
3. Redemption equals living
I hate the Redemption Equals Death trope. Hate it. It's a punitive narrative action that says redemption isn't actually possible, that all attempts will fail and the only real value to the reformed is to conveniently remove themselves from the picture, letting everyone else get on with their lives. It's why I love the Angel and Faith dynamic, where Angel spells it out clearly. Laying down and dying is easy, one big gesture and it's over. Living with your actions, that's the hard part. Getting up every day to fight the good fight, knowing it won't undo what was done. That's the bread and butter of a good character arc.
4. Hidden identities/spies
The perfect umbrella trope for all manner of exciting developments. Spy vs spy! Spy vs handler! Truths within lies and lies which contain truths! False lovers getting lost in character! Once you introduce spies, it is a delightful playground of difficult relationships, but I also love all the classic accessories: the hidden compartments, masquerade balls, secret codes and smiling facades. And thinking it over, I realize this is one of the reasons I am eternally fannish about Jeremiah: lots of double agents. My earliest fics centered on that topic. This is my JAM.
5. Token evil teammate
There's nothing better than the merciful heroes allowing a villain to live, from dire necessity against an existential threat or compassion as the antagonist falls on hard times. Then we get this trope, which I mostly call "villain in a cage." Literal or metaphorical, the important thing is they are momentarily captive. A good villain is a dark reflection of one or more good guys, a path not taken, a worst outcome. They sit there, unable to harm anyone physically, so they use truth as a weapon, they find every insecurity and push buttons just by being present. And since a good villain is highly competent, they are useful, the ultimate double edged sword. And maybe the heroes start rubbing off on them, by proximity, by humanity, by lack of other options, but there's always the question - is it all an act? Lots of great character work can result from this pressure cooker. Always a good time for me.
6. Amnesia
Total amnesia is fine, but it's more interesting when it's selective. The person is mostly the same, but there are missing pieces. Accidental or deliberate, the result is a great crisis of identity and free will. It can increase paranoia in the victim, or anguish in a loved one. It can cause questioning or reaffirmation. It can propel a mystery. It can unveil psychological horror, if it was deliberately caused. It is guaranteed to cause a whirlwind of angst.
7. Enemies to lovers
As I said, a villain should be a reflection. That means commonalities. A subconscious ability to relate. A worthy opponent deserving respect. But with lines crossed and bad histories, every single interaction is a battlefield which facilitates character growth and ethical debates (hell yeah). Also, part of what makes villains villains is that they WANT things, and won't stop till they get them, so seeing that hunger turn toward someone they can't acquire by normal methods tends to bend them out of shape in a delightful way - and can be exceptionally cathartic if the character they covet is generally overlooked by the rest of Team Good. There is no more powerful depiction of the transformative power of human connection.
8. Slow burn
I can't tell you how many times I'm reading a shipping fic and they arrive at the whole "shut up and kiss" moment, and I'm sitting there going "no, hang on, go back, that conversation was interesting! It wasn't finished!" The best romances take forever. Skilled writers can actually do what feels like a slow burn in a brisk twenty thousand words, so it's less about the time spent reading for me and more about giving the yearning and pining and fighting of the inevitable its proper due. Don't skip to the good stuff when what you're skipping is the good stuff!
9. Dramatic declarations of love
This can be romantic or platonic love, but moments of peril and high stakes where love is unequivocally declared, preferentially through action, are great. Lifesaving! Emptying an entire clip into the enemy who dared threaten the object of affection (yes, my favorite hostage scene of all time is Wesley on the roof with dear old dad in 'Lineage'). Rescue missions! Thousand to one odds are no object. Those are the obvious ones, but it can be tailored to different characters and their wants. Meaningful action, synergy, sacrifice, all that good stuff. I gravitate to it because... Well, a lot of my favorite characters aren't the sort who are likely to say "I love you" easily, but could channel it into action without hesitation.
10. Found family
We'll end with a gimme. I mean, who doesn't love found family? Is this even a trope? It feels ubiquitous. Great though, isn't it?
So, on to Challenge #6. Top 10 Challenge.
And I'm gonna have fun and talk about ten tropes I love. Which I guess could also count as a sneak wishlist, just without the actual request feature.
They're numbered but not ranked. I thought about giving canon or fanfic examples for each, but this post is long enough as is.
1. Conversations with dead people
An emotional trope. Things left unsaid, fears unspoken, last regrets to acknowledge. Literal ghost, or a dream sequence, or a hallucination. The question: Is it real or the character's subconscious? What does the visitation signify? The possibilities range from spooky to redemptive. It is a heady brew of emotion and mystery, breaking reality and showing facets a normal conversation never could.
2. Best friend with a death wish
Pure loyalty in every situation is a beautiful thing. Unfortunately for one half of this partnership, the other half is running pell-mell for the cliff. Cue angst. Cue anguish. Cue agony. This is a first rate shipping dynamic, when one half of the pairing is bent on self-destruction and the other half can only watch in dread. It's supposed to be ride or die, not ride and die. How do you save your partner from their own demons?
3. Redemption equals living
I hate the Redemption Equals Death trope. Hate it. It's a punitive narrative action that says redemption isn't actually possible, that all attempts will fail and the only real value to the reformed is to conveniently remove themselves from the picture, letting everyone else get on with their lives. It's why I love the Angel and Faith dynamic, where Angel spells it out clearly. Laying down and dying is easy, one big gesture and it's over. Living with your actions, that's the hard part. Getting up every day to fight the good fight, knowing it won't undo what was done. That's the bread and butter of a good character arc.
4. Hidden identities/spies
The perfect umbrella trope for all manner of exciting developments. Spy vs spy! Spy vs handler! Truths within lies and lies which contain truths! False lovers getting lost in character! Once you introduce spies, it is a delightful playground of difficult relationships, but I also love all the classic accessories: the hidden compartments, masquerade balls, secret codes and smiling facades. And thinking it over, I realize this is one of the reasons I am eternally fannish about Jeremiah: lots of double agents. My earliest fics centered on that topic. This is my JAM.
5. Token evil teammate
There's nothing better than the merciful heroes allowing a villain to live, from dire necessity against an existential threat or compassion as the antagonist falls on hard times. Then we get this trope, which I mostly call "villain in a cage." Literal or metaphorical, the important thing is they are momentarily captive. A good villain is a dark reflection of one or more good guys, a path not taken, a worst outcome. They sit there, unable to harm anyone physically, so they use truth as a weapon, they find every insecurity and push buttons just by being present. And since a good villain is highly competent, they are useful, the ultimate double edged sword. And maybe the heroes start rubbing off on them, by proximity, by humanity, by lack of other options, but there's always the question - is it all an act? Lots of great character work can result from this pressure cooker. Always a good time for me.
6. Amnesia
Total amnesia is fine, but it's more interesting when it's selective. The person is mostly the same, but there are missing pieces. Accidental or deliberate, the result is a great crisis of identity and free will. It can increase paranoia in the victim, or anguish in a loved one. It can cause questioning or reaffirmation. It can propel a mystery. It can unveil psychological horror, if it was deliberately caused. It is guaranteed to cause a whirlwind of angst.
7. Enemies to lovers
As I said, a villain should be a reflection. That means commonalities. A subconscious ability to relate. A worthy opponent deserving respect. But with lines crossed and bad histories, every single interaction is a battlefield which facilitates character growth and ethical debates (hell yeah). Also, part of what makes villains villains is that they WANT things, and won't stop till they get them, so seeing that hunger turn toward someone they can't acquire by normal methods tends to bend them out of shape in a delightful way - and can be exceptionally cathartic if the character they covet is generally overlooked by the rest of Team Good. There is no more powerful depiction of the transformative power of human connection.
8. Slow burn
I can't tell you how many times I'm reading a shipping fic and they arrive at the whole "shut up and kiss" moment, and I'm sitting there going "no, hang on, go back, that conversation was interesting! It wasn't finished!" The best romances take forever. Skilled writers can actually do what feels like a slow burn in a brisk twenty thousand words, so it's less about the time spent reading for me and more about giving the yearning and pining and fighting of the inevitable its proper due. Don't skip to the good stuff when what you're skipping is the good stuff!
9. Dramatic declarations of love
This can be romantic or platonic love, but moments of peril and high stakes where love is unequivocally declared, preferentially through action, are great. Lifesaving! Emptying an entire clip into the enemy who dared threaten the object of affection (yes, my favorite hostage scene of all time is Wesley on the roof with dear old dad in 'Lineage'). Rescue missions! Thousand to one odds are no object. Those are the obvious ones, but it can be tailored to different characters and their wants. Meaningful action, synergy, sacrifice, all that good stuff. I gravitate to it because... Well, a lot of my favorite characters aren't the sort who are likely to say "I love you" easily, but could channel it into action without hesitation.
10. Found family
We'll end with a gimme. I mean, who doesn't love found family? Is this even a trope? It feels ubiquitous. Great though, isn't it?
Book prognostication meme
Jan. 6th, 2026 08:03 amAs seen from *checks list* brightknightie, teratornis, argentum_ls, and rhi.
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Turn to page 126.
3. The 6th full sentence is your life in 2026
The nearest book on my nightstand was The Code of the Woosters, which seemed unlikely to deliver the Cassandra goods—but that being the assignment, I located the page in question, began counting down the highly detailed, robustly elegant Wodehouse sentences, each describing ridiculously specific situations and spirits, only to land on the instructed sixth full sentence (by this point halfway down the page), read it, and promptly started recounting.
There was no mistake. Here is the sentence:
"It was the same with me."
This genuinely made me laugh. I'll take the black comedy aspect of all of this. Not like it's telling me something I couldn't have guessed!
brightknightie, teratornis, argentum_ls, and rhi.1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Turn to page 126.
3. The 6th full sentence is your life in 2026
The nearest book on my nightstand was The Code of the Woosters, which seemed unlikely to deliver the Cassandra goods—but that being the assignment, I located the page in question, began counting down the highly detailed, robustly elegant Wodehouse sentences, each describing ridiculously specific situations and spirits, only to land on the instructed sixth full sentence (by this point halfway down the page), read it, and promptly started recounting.
There was no mistake. Here is the sentence:
"It was the same with me."
This genuinely made me laugh. I'll take the black comedy aspect of all of this. Not like it's telling me something I couldn't have guessed!
Writing Meme
Sep. 30th, 2025 11:31 amI saw this writer meme via havocthecat, and (being in likewise need of rebuilding blogging muscles) I have answered it. Very fun questions.
Which of your fics is your pride and joy?
All of them qualify in one way or another. Point at any of my fics and I will rattle off things I'm proud of with each, starting with the fact that they exist. Even a trifle such as Diminutive Disruption, which I had legit forgotten I wrote, I am super proud of. Because I did manage to write something silly, and because it made a few people smile, and because I wrote it in two days while in bed with a fever. It's an accomplishment.
However, there is only one true answer and favorite among my own works, and that is Life in Death. My non-linear, epigraph-laden darling. My case for why Libby and Sims were both more nuanced than a surface read of "betraying bitch" and "sadistic psychopath," and where I attempted to salvage them as people, with motivations and personal codes and coping mechanisms for the horrible stuff they did.
It was a deep dive into the show's least explained lore and into the mental landscape of a man attempting to disassociate from his own existence. It was about the parallels Sims has (like all great villains) with various of the good guys. I also went to bat for my most cherished interpretation of canon and declared that actually, there is zero proof that Sims is dead and a weight of evidence suggesting the opposite.
It's still my favorite of everything.
What are your top three most commonly used tags on AO3?
"Angst" leads the pack with 7/14 fics tagged as such. Second place is "Female Friendship" with 3 uses. There's a bunch vying for third, and if I remove tags that belong to multiple works in a series, it's a tie between "Canon-typical Violence," "AU - Canon Divergence," and "Women Being Awesome."
I like canon. I like what ifs within the canon. I like female characters. And I love exploring dark emotions. Somewhere in the nexus of those elements is where I find most of my plots.
( Remaining questions definitely cut for length. )
havocthecat, and (being in likewise need of rebuilding blogging muscles) I have answered it. Very fun questions.Which of your fics is your pride and joy?
All of them qualify in one way or another. Point at any of my fics and I will rattle off things I'm proud of with each, starting with the fact that they exist. Even a trifle such as Diminutive Disruption, which I had legit forgotten I wrote, I am super proud of. Because I did manage to write something silly, and because it made a few people smile, and because I wrote it in two days while in bed with a fever. It's an accomplishment.
However, there is only one true answer and favorite among my own works, and that is Life in Death. My non-linear, epigraph-laden darling. My case for why Libby and Sims were both more nuanced than a surface read of "betraying bitch" and "sadistic psychopath," and where I attempted to salvage them as people, with motivations and personal codes and coping mechanisms for the horrible stuff they did.
It was a deep dive into the show's least explained lore and into the mental landscape of a man attempting to disassociate from his own existence. It was about the parallels Sims has (like all great villains) with various of the good guys. I also went to bat for my most cherished interpretation of canon and declared that actually, there is zero proof that Sims is dead and a weight of evidence suggesting the opposite.
It's still my favorite of everything.
What are your top three most commonly used tags on AO3?
"Angst" leads the pack with 7/14 fics tagged as such. Second place is "Female Friendship" with 3 uses. There's a bunch vying for third, and if I remove tags that belong to multiple works in a series, it's a tie between "Canon-typical Violence," "AU - Canon Divergence," and "Women Being Awesome."
I like canon. I like what ifs within the canon. I like female characters. And I love exploring dark emotions. Somewhere in the nexus of those elements is where I find most of my plots.
( Remaining questions definitely cut for length. )
Friday Five
May. 3rd, 2025 10:32 amOn Saturday, discovered through network, originating from ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thefridayfive
1. What is your all time favorite book?
I must concede defeat and go with Vivian Vande Velde's Companions of the Night (1995), which I read countless times as a teenager, and which I revisited a year ago and to my astonishment it still held up as a thriller, as an exploration of vampire lore, as a YA novel skirting the edge of paranormal romance, and as a character study of a teenage girl thrown into insane circumstances. It's still my highest standard for a believably dangerous vampire love interest and I read the book in two sittings because it remained highly compelling after all these years.
2. What is your all time favorite movie?
The Third Man (1949) has continued to beat all comers and has never gone down in my estimation across multiple watches. It's basically a perfect film to me. The feel-good variation on this movie-making perfection would be Casablanca (1942), but The Third Man nudges it because of the score.
3. What are you reading right now?
Arthur C. Clarke. 2001: A Space Odyssey. About thirty pages from the end, though! I will likely make a post about it.
4. What is your favorite show on TV?
My usual comfort show for many years has been the combined twelve seasons of Buffy and Angel. Bad things would happen and that's where David and I would go, curling up and watching it until we could recite swathes of dialogue. Other shows where I have lost count of the number of times I've seen them have been The Wire and Highlander, and my chief source of writing inspiration has been Jeremiah, but the Buffyverse was the only show where we got to the end and instantly started over.
5. What is the last movie you saw in the theater?
That would be Baby Driver, seen when David and I were visiting some of his family in Boston. I had to look it up to remember when it was (2017). It was a surprisingly good time, and it featured a music score I really appreciated, including Queen's 'Brighton Rock.'
Then whatever the hell that was about Kevin Spacey broke, and was followed by a whole bunch of other information about certain Hollywood people, and it leeched all the fun right out of the experience.
Still, the core memory is of a really nice evening.
thefridayfive1. What is your all time favorite book?
I must concede defeat and go with Vivian Vande Velde's Companions of the Night (1995), which I read countless times as a teenager, and which I revisited a year ago and to my astonishment it still held up as a thriller, as an exploration of vampire lore, as a YA novel skirting the edge of paranormal romance, and as a character study of a teenage girl thrown into insane circumstances. It's still my highest standard for a believably dangerous vampire love interest and I read the book in two sittings because it remained highly compelling after all these years.
2. What is your all time favorite movie?
The Third Man (1949) has continued to beat all comers and has never gone down in my estimation across multiple watches. It's basically a perfect film to me. The feel-good variation on this movie-making perfection would be Casablanca (1942), but The Third Man nudges it because of the score.
3. What are you reading right now?
Arthur C. Clarke. 2001: A Space Odyssey. About thirty pages from the end, though! I will likely make a post about it.
4. What is your favorite show on TV?
My usual comfort show for many years has been the combined twelve seasons of Buffy and Angel. Bad things would happen and that's where David and I would go, curling up and watching it until we could recite swathes of dialogue. Other shows where I have lost count of the number of times I've seen them have been The Wire and Highlander, and my chief source of writing inspiration has been Jeremiah, but the Buffyverse was the only show where we got to the end and instantly started over.
5. What is the last movie you saw in the theater?
That would be Baby Driver, seen when David and I were visiting some of his family in Boston. I had to look it up to remember when it was (2017). It was a surprisingly good time, and it featured a music score I really appreciated, including Queen's 'Brighton Rock.'
Then whatever the hell that was about Kevin Spacey broke, and was followed by a whole bunch of other information about certain Hollywood people, and it leeched all the fun right out of the experience.
Still, the core memory is of a really nice evening.
Fic Stats Meme
Feb. 26th, 2025 07:19 amSeems like half of my reading list have already done this. I was going to abstain, but the result is surprisingly varied among my eleven fics, so it seems like a nice morning activity.
Rules: give us the links to your fics with the most hits, second most kudos, third most comments, fourth most bookmarks, fifth most words, and fic with the fewest words.
Most hits: Without a Witness - Teen Wolf, 19,986 words. Lydia's relationship with Peter during season two, and her attempts to gain some form of control over her situation. The majority of people would bounce hard off this pairing, but that still nets me 326 hits.
Second most kudos: A Crime Spree Waiting to Happen - Highlander, 4,226 words. Matthew attempting to keep Cory and Amanda from meeting, and then attempting to track them down during 'Money No Object.' My first fic exchange, 28 kudos.
Third most comments: Guests for the Weekend - Highlander, 7,622 words. Amanda, Anne and Richie foil a burglary by burgling. A total of 9 comment threads.
Fourth most bookmarks: No More Reason to Stay - Highlander, 11,495 words. Brian Cullen visits Darius a few years before their ends, and has flashbacks to his tormented relationship with MacLeod and his steady deterioration. Somehow acquired 3 bookmarks.
Fifth most words: Other Angels - Jeremiah, 11,765 words. Elizabeth fix fic. Was supposed to be about half the length and a single chapter, but my brain wouldn't cooperate.
Fewest words: A Lasting Impression - Highlander, 3,165 words. A Methos character study set during his introductory episode. Every word was a battle, hence so few of them.
Rules: give us the links to your fics with the most hits, second most kudos, third most comments, fourth most bookmarks, fifth most words, and fic with the fewest words.
Most hits: Without a Witness - Teen Wolf, 19,986 words. Lydia's relationship with Peter during season two, and her attempts to gain some form of control over her situation. The majority of people would bounce hard off this pairing, but that still nets me 326 hits.
Second most kudos: A Crime Spree Waiting to Happen - Highlander, 4,226 words. Matthew attempting to keep Cory and Amanda from meeting, and then attempting to track them down during 'Money No Object.' My first fic exchange, 28 kudos.
Third most comments: Guests for the Weekend - Highlander, 7,622 words. Amanda, Anne and Richie foil a burglary by burgling. A total of 9 comment threads.
Fourth most bookmarks: No More Reason to Stay - Highlander, 11,495 words. Brian Cullen visits Darius a few years before their ends, and has flashbacks to his tormented relationship with MacLeod and his steady deterioration. Somehow acquired 3 bookmarks.
Fifth most words: Other Angels - Jeremiah, 11,765 words. Elizabeth fix fic. Was supposed to be about half the length and a single chapter, but my brain wouldn't cooperate.
Fewest words: A Lasting Impression - Highlander, 3,165 words. A Methos character study set during his introductory episode. Every word was a battle, hence so few of them.
TV Question Meme
Nov. 24th, 2024 09:30 pmSeen via argentum_ls and amazingly, finally, a meme I can actually do. Yay for me! And I did scribble my five shows before I read the questions. :)
TV questions: pick your five favourite TV shows (in no particular order) and answer the following questions. Don’t cheat!
I went in the order they sprang to mind, either as firm favorites or as shows which I have written fic for.
( 19 Questions )
argentum_ls and amazingly, finally, a meme I can actually do. Yay for me! And I did scribble my five shows before I read the questions. :)TV questions: pick your five favourite TV shows (in no particular order) and answer the following questions. Don’t cheat!
- Angel (1999)
- Jeremiah (2002)
- Teen Wolf (2011)
- Highlander (1992)
- 12 Monkeys (2015)
I went in the order they sprang to mind, either as firm favorites or as shows which I have written fic for.
( 19 Questions )
So I like angst a bit
May. 10th, 2024 08:14 amThere's a quiz going around, seen via havocthecat.
Which AO3 Tag Are You?
My result: Hurt/No Comfort.
"you are satan's favorite, most specialist soldier, and I live in fear of you"
I thought this was harsh, until I expanded the definition to include emotional hurt, which... kind of tracks, if I'm honest.
havocthecat.Which AO3 Tag Are You?
My result: Hurt/No Comfort.
"you are satan's favorite, most specialist soldier, and I live in fear of you"
I thought this was harsh, until I expanded the definition to include emotional hurt, which... kind of tracks, if I'm honest.
