All the RomCom of Qi Xi

Sometimes, I wonder how good of a storyteller I am.

The below video is one that makes me wonder because, dear lord, these two with their deep, abiding love - that's romance. If I could even capture half of the amazing love of these two, I will consider myself a successful storyteller.

I got this video from Smart Bitches, Trashy Books - an awesome review/snark romance novel website.

Note: You will need tissues.

Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

Moar Reviews! This time, it's all movies.

( Pineapple Express ) 7 out of 10
( Strange Wilderness ) Negative a Billion out of 10
( Tropic Thunder ) 3 out of 10
( Jumper ) 3 out of 10
( Where in the World is Osama bin Laden ) 9 out of 10
( Serenity ) 9 out of 10
( Assault on Precinct 13 ) 8 out of 10
( The Prince and Me ) 8 out of 10
( Soul Men ) Negative Infinity out of 10
( Eagle Eye ) 10 out of 10
( Iron Man ) 9 out of 10
( Dominick and Eugene ) 9 out of 10
( Babylon AD ) 2 out of 10
( Heroes (TV Series) ) 9 out of 10
( Ghost Town ) 9 out of 10

I've a rec that can't wait for my recs post - If I or She Should Chance to Be by andrealyn just about takes my breath away. It's long (about 58k) and plotty and brilliant. It's got a few warnings, which you can see here with accompanying header information. Give yourself plenty of time to read this and you won't be sorry.

I left a rather babbling comment that basically consisted of *squee* and shameless fangirling. Perhaps when I'm less stunned about how awesome that fic is, I'll be able to give better feedback.

Let the author know how much you enjoy it, yeah?

I left work early to take a nap. Instead, I'm reading Kirk/McCoy. <3 omnomnom

I've ficced again at st_xi_kink. Both of them are currently being continued but, alas, only on my thumbdrive. As soon as they're completed, I'll post here.

I'm sort of really really in love with this pairing.

Random - I've never been interested in characters changing sex. Harry is a boy. Remy is a boy. Revan is a girl (:P take that, you male!revan folks :P:P:P). BUT OMG. I'm falling in love with girl!Kirk or girl!Bones. VTF? (lololol at Chekov) Universal Constants (girl!Kirk/McCoy, boy!Kirk/McCoy) is a fun read. I haven't seen it posted elsewhere in a more compact format, unfortunately. It's a bit longer than average.

Captain Kirk Saves the Day (boy!Kirk/McCoy) is also a fun read.

There's lots of stuff being posted to kirk_mccoy so I highly recommend that you pop over there and take a look.

I also find myself liking w00bie. VTF?! Sulu/Chekov is sort of fluffy and (kill me now) I like it. Shoot me now.

Also - some other fandom resources for you to help tempt you into a new fandom:

Newsletter: trek_news

Comms: st_reboot (just Star Trek: XI, graphics, fic, art)
trekslash (All Trek, just slash)
newtrekslash (Just Star Trek: XI, just slash)
trekfics (All Trek. All pairings)
st_xi_kink (Just Star Trek: XI, Sexier fics for all pairings)

Lists:
listing of Kirk/McCoy fics posted around town. It includes one of mine and I've linked the other down below but, srsly, they're really rough.

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks. This book pulled me in, held me under the water and drowned me in its awesome. ( some flailing, some plot points, I'm trying to avoid spoilers and I overuse the word  ) 50 out of 10. Or, since I can only score it at 10 out of 10 - that's what I'm giving it.

Anyone else read this? Anyone want to discuss? I'm getting the next two books in the series either tonight or tomorrow depending on my back and I'd love to talk about this series with people.

We had an amazing set of authors and artists sign-up for the hd_worldcup. In the end, no vidders signed up so we had to redo the numbers for each of the positions. I'm thinking it's an awesome thing as there's another artist position and art is love <3.

The 2009 Teams! There's some amazing quality right there. New and returning people, new and well-known names. I'm very excited for this round! I was a bit worried there for a bit that we wouldn't have enough sign-ups but some awesome pimping by flist members (yes, I credit all of you) and at some awesome communities really got the ball rolling. <3 you all!

The only bit that annoys me with HDC is that I keep getting asked if I write H/D (and poor accioscar can attest to the look I get on my face when people ask me this. It's sort of twisted up and stuffs :P). I DO! I HAVE! Just, um, not really since DH. My Memories have my fic in it. Though, um, ignore Voice in the Dark. It's bad an abandoned WIP. And the hd_365 won't make much sense unless you read the comm as so much of it is based on the comm as a whole.

My 7 fave H/D I've written in no specific order are:
Moments
White
Dandelions and Dreams
Moments of Truth Between the Lies
The Latin Trilogy (Deprecor, Experior, Insequor).
One Last Fare (One Last Fare, Dreaming in Madrid and A Long Overdue Conversation)
and A Good Book (see? I've even participated in H/D Centric Fests!)

Most of them aren't happy (and only one of them is DH compliant) but I don't think I write 'happy' well. Some of them aren't the strongest writing as I've matured since then. But they all have a special place in my heart. So, see? I do write H/D. I have about 4 started... I just haven't finished any of them. /defence of my H/D involvement.

So what are you guys most looking forward to at hd_worldcup? What's your favourite piece from last year? What team are you cheering on?

ETA: GreatestJournal is back up until January 30th if you guys need it. Not sure if some of you were aware but I remember reading a few posts about lost rpgs.

Post of links:

jesus christ, that only took over a year and a metric shittonne of money. Thanks RDR for proving that you're a bunch of dicks but at least you're finally-getting-smart dicks. Or, more likely, poor ickle SVA wants to sell books so he begged/pleaded his way into getting RDR to shut the fuck up.

On to the rest which are all recs from various holiday exchanges:

Le Songe by remeciel. The first set of art is absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful. Remus/Sirius

Parts of a Whole - Remus/Sirius. Yes, I obviously know who the author is but dude. AWESOMENESS. Complete and total awesomeness. My favorite bit is the hand fisted in the shirt.

( ramble about explicit smut versus UST inspired by the above )

Contoured Bodies (Seamus/Lavender) IDK that I buy that this is Seamus and Lavender as Lavender's skin is unmarred after getting ravaged by Fenrir and I really cannot see that what with how scarred-up Remus and Bill are/were. However, that aside, I think it's a beautiful tender piece that definitely deserves a look. And then another one.

Back to my rs_small_gifts fic. Which is going to kill me.

I'm sitting in janicechess's house and I should be working. And I am if your definition of working is yelling at my computer as I read emails from my boss. Swear to god, that woman wouldn't remember to breathe without me there to pat her hand and remind her about the concepts of in and out.

I really do not want to go back to work. ( cut to spare the uninterested as I bitch about the amount of work waiting for me )

Anyway on to non-work related shit - I think there's a karmic rule about fandom and fic searches - only the worst stories ever get searched for (and having seen a couple of my "bad" fic get searched for, I fully embrace and participate in this philosophy). I normally click the link anyway cause I cannot stop myself due to my overactive trainwreck syndrome. I've been pleasantly surprised a few times and this time was one of them as I encountered some stunning Remus/Sirius. The fic search sounded ridiculous and I was totes ready to laugh and spork but, instead, I ended up with biting back tears at the way that the canon between these two was handled.

Being an Historical Record of Events Surrounding the Unfortunate game of Truth-or-Dare Game of February the Twenty-Second And Consequences thereof is the first. It's got a few SPAG errors, a couple moments that made me think "chick with dick" but, honestly? Don't let that fool you into not reading it. It's got quite a good sense of poignancy and beauty there, the way that they fumble around one another and slowly build into an interesting take on the fanon trope of how and why Sirius leaves Grimmauld Place.

I see a Darkness is the second part and just about broke my heart. It doesn't start where Being an Historical... stops. Instead, it's got a disparate timeline that weaves everything together in a broken misshapen lump of a relationship that works even when it doesn't. The author does a great job of getting everything out there, whether positive or negative. You can feel the way that Remus reacts to everything and it is an amazing piece of work.

geekerypookery is the author and I'm currently trolling her journal looking for more R/S because I love her dynamics of these two so much.

Moving on to the ramble, I love fic searches. I really do. ( cut for the rest as I ramble and ramble )

In other less rambly stuffs and postings - I'm working through my hp_yule_balls assignment. It's a tough slog (no offence to the mods or the recipient as it isn't their faults). Mainly it's a tough slog because I'm so wishywashy about whether or not my idea is a good one and if it's a good fit. So I'm being one of those tedious participants who need constant handholding and reassurance.

I'm also working on a story that currently has the summary of "the story where Remus is a street musician and Sirius is a stockbroker and Peter likes Tom Jones while James has his head up his arse and it works just don't ask me how or why or where this came from".

There are also my three non-HP claims at slashfest. I've about 5k into a Wolverine/Gambit post-X3 story and about 1k in to a PWP with Christian/Ollie at Verbotene Liebe. I have nothing into my Nightrunner claim but a good idea.

Some fics I've read recently and enjoyed. I thought I'd rec a couple.

GIFT FOR ME!!! - back to when it all falls apart. It's Remus/Sirius. Plotty, angsty, canon compliant, brilliant characterisations, interesting play with tenses, back and forth scenes. It's really really well done. I really liked this because the author didn't shy away from showing Sirius as a complete prick. Too many times, Sirius is shown to be those OHWOEISMEFORIAMAVICTIMFOREVAH sort of characters. He's perfect and a victim all at the same time. This story didn't shy away from showing Sirius as human - warts and failings and greediness and selfishness all right there. It also doesn't pull any punches when it comes to Remus himself. Remus shows himself to have plenty of faults too. ( spoilers for the fic contained within )

Get Down - another Remus/Sirius fic. Only this time - it's got artwork, too! I've had this fic open since it was posted because I can't quite wrap my head around just what sort of comment to leave. I've read it about 30 times but I just don't know what to say to encompass my OMGBESTTHINGEVAH reaction in any sort of rational manner. For now, you all need to go forth and read it and leave your own comments so that I can get mine figured out.

Today (well, today in Australia) is chaeldub's birthday. One of two things can happen. I will either be late with his gift!fic or... he can contact the government to have his date of birth moved. I'm even willing to write a letter verifying the very real need for this date change.

However, it seems much more likely that I will be late. Thus, instead of having gift!fic now, I shall extend the birthday celebration, yeah? Happy Birthday, Chael! I truly hope that it is absolutely smashing!

Now, in honour of his birthday as I have to do something for him on the day. Thus, a few recs of my favourites of his works. Please leave a comment if you enjoy them.

My absolute most favorite thing ever of chaeldub's is In Darkness Lies. Summary: Seamus learns that it is not the chances that we take but the choices we make that determine our destiny. It's Seamus/Dean and GAH. Sure, he wrote this for me but that's not the reason I love it. The reason I love it is that it is so creative and brilliant and heartbreakingly beautiful. I cannot possibly express how much win this story is made from. It's about 19k and worth the time to read it. Please to be having tissues handy.

The inspiration for this story was a comment I made in response to Eat of the Apple (Harry/Lucius) Summary: After the war, in a world without Voldemort, without friends, Harry lives his life like a ghost. In Lucius Malfoy's mind, even the brightest star has to fade sometime. Now the former Chosen One will meet the new Dark Lord. The words "Dystopian world" sort of freaked my shit out for a bit as the word seems to be used for pretentious twaddle that sucks. However, this story is just amazing in its darkness and the despair and everything. I love both of these so much.

They can be read independently or together. I prefer to read the entire thing. In fact, I go back to them quite often.

A Small Crime (Harry/Colin) An act of love - ends in death. An act of death - ends in marriage. An act of convenience - ends in a small crime. Written before DH, Colin's world is so very insular and dry that you wonder how it came to that when he was such a dynamic character in the books. It's a wonderful story that's slightly angsty, slightly fluffy and completely enjoyable.

Five Rings - Dean/Seamus featuring the most gorgeous artwork ever. Alcohol and lust are a dangerous combination... especially for six boys fresh from a war trying to find their way in the world. This is not only written for me (GAH YAYES) but it's also some fairly awesome storytelling. I love the different vignettes in it. Add in the artwork and it still makes me gush.

20 Things about Colin Creevey is also awesome. It's obviously twenty things about Colin. The one that sticks out the most for me is 3. The only magic his father every taught him was how to write his name in the snow. Which Colin thinks is brilliant.

Little House by the Sea Series is an ongoing series that you'll want to check out. It has a spot of confusion, some upset, some interesting ideas on how to bring [Person x] back and more. They're an enjoyable fun time even in the midst of confusion and upset.

So, there you have it, my top favorite stories by chaeldub. It doesn't make up for not finishing this darn fic in time but it's a bit closer, yeah?

Love you, Chael.

wook