Sometime very soon, I'm going to make an index post for my fics. There's just one problem with that - I've noticed that especially in my early days of LJ (but later as well), I had an unnecessary and thoroughly embarrassing habit of ranting about irrelevant stuff for several paragraphs before I actually included a story in the same post. I can't tell you how unprofessional - I know, I'm not getting paid for writing fanfic but that doesn't mean I can't take any writing seriously - that seems to me now. I'm kind of not linking to all that from the top of my journal for all eternity.

So, in the coming days, I will repost all the stories prefaced by unrelated rambling in brand new entries, which will then be linked to from the index along with the rest. None of the original posts are getting deleted, just friendslocked. I guess I've become more conscious of how the public part of this journal comes across - or maybe it's my outlook on fic presentation that has changed to comply with the (entirely reasonable) demand to "cut the crap and give us the story".

At any rate, expect possibly disconcerting flashbacks in the near future. XD

This isn't really as radical as the title makes it sound.

There's just something that has been bothering me regarding my friends list. There are a few people I've had friended at least since last year or even longer - and we've never once talked on LJ (apart from the time we friended each other). Or there are people with whom I last had any contact in 2007/early 2008 and not since then. In both of these cases, it's starting to make me uncomfortable to show my friendslocked entries to people I know virtually nothing about, or at least nothing current. I, for one, am very different from when I first got an LJ.

Therefore: I'm posting this today, and tomorrow I'll defriend everyone this would pertain to. (It only concerns a very small and specific group of people on my friends list, so if you're reading this and are in doubt, you're probably not among them.) I'm just not a fan of defriending anyone without notice.

This post is public and public it stays; I'm even linking it from the "friending policy" section of my profile in case anyone needs to refer to it. If you find yourself defriended and think we should stay mutual friends, just tell me here (but please do give me some reason). If, by any chance, you friended me for my fics, you'll still be able to read them since the vast majority of them are public (and usually crossposted to the appropriate comms) and soon I'm planning to make an index post for them as well. Any other questions or problems, feel free to bring them on right here.

Last but not least, this is nothing personal. I think it can't be if I basically don't know you at all. I'm only doing what seems to me necessary at the moment and won't actually hurt anyone.

Thanks for tuning in.

IN HONOUR OF THE BIRKIN!BANGS Oh, hi there, you wonderful person, you. Once upon a time I promised you a welcome-back fic, then shifted it to a birthday fic when I couldn't keep the deadline, and now it's too late for it to be even that - but with a title like this, I can pretend I made it more or less on time! I'm sorry for not writing something happy and bouncy for the occasion, but those two steadfastly refused. At least I got the season right for once? So, dubiously healthy habitual behaviour it is.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Have some confetti and hope you enjoy it. If not, well, you still have a few days to devise a suitable way to make me pay. XD

Title: And a Sunday's Asylum for All
Pairing: William Birkin/Albert Wesker
Rating: PG-13/soft R
Word Count: ~740
Summary: William knows where to seek reprieve from his own mind - not to mention his workaholic tendencies - on a hot afternoon in the summer.
Notes: Be warned - Birkin is portrayed as less than well-adjusted, the fic is told from his perspective, and it shows. Given some of his deeds in the games, I think that even if such a messed-up mental state isn't completely confirmed in his case, it is at least a valid possibility. (It's a valid possibility for pretty much everyone in Umbrella if you ask me. XD) Also, as I wrote this, one part of the story sounded better in past tense and the other one in present, both insisting that this was NON-NEGOTIABLE, SLAVE! Since I'm not a fan of unjustified tense shifts, I had to find a way to incorporate them somehow. Let me know if it's worked?
Disclaimer: Resident Evil belongs to Capcom. I make no profit and intend no copyright infringement.

( The weather was too hot and Wesker too irritating. )

I like purple. I like it so much, in fact, that I'm showing it off in my layout like no one's business and was long before I knew the first thing about Watchmen. But you know who all the purple reminds me of now...



Apparently I am le fierce. Brilliant! XD


( Completely unrelated )

Storytime!

Title: In Fragments Unsettled
Pairing: Albus Dumbledore/Gellert Grindelwald
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~2,000
Summary: Great things come at a great price, especially for two wizards whose deeds once decided the fate of their world. As their now separate lives draw to a close, regrets continue to mount against all their covert wishes for peace, for the irreparable to be mended.
Notes: This fic is a somewhat dark and fairly minimalistic take on Albus and Gellert's downfall. It reminds me slightly of The Absolute Almost, but the difference is that while I had to put myself in Gellert's shoes in that story, this one plays more on the objective principle where I tried to examine instead of taking sides. I think the way Albus and Gellert ended up couldn't have been caused by any one problem or disagreement, no matter how grave, and while Albus is usually (and with good reason) portrayed as the more admirable of the two, he is no saint himself and aware of the fact. From the perspective of this fic, I can't honestly say either he or Gellert was more "in the right". It's all open. Sympathize with either or neither or both. Also, feedback is much appreciated.
Warnings: Stemming from the above - you know those dismal stories that still contain some hopeful, uplifting element in spite of everything else? This is not one of those fics. (Though the angst itself isn't overly flashy.)
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to JKR. I make no profit and intend no copyright infringement.

( In his head a jumble of thoughts, actions, emotions played out countless summers and hellish winters ago, yet still not harmlessly dormant. The shadows have stretched towards him; the night ascends. )

You know those days when there are so many things you could write about, but it's so difficult and such a mess that you end up swallowing it down and switch to the next, conveniently unavoidable item on the agenda? Yeah. Thank me now or forever hold your peace.

( Movie!HBP - very mixed feelings in the spirit of reading into everything. )

Thoughts?

birkin_wesker

Yeah, I've done it. This post is friendslocked until I bring on the real pimpage. WHAT IF THERE IS NO FANDOM ARGH ARGH

( Then the reality we must face will turn everything, even dreams into rust )

I wrote this ficlet months ago, but circumstances intervened. I wouldn't like to look like I'm planning to stop writing, though, so here you go. Because it asks for this line of thought at the moment, I don't think this fic compares in any way to the epic story I posted a year ago almost to the day. But, it's a tiny little something. Feedback appreciated; I may be out of shape.

Title: Inaction
Pairing: Past Albus/Gellert
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~500
Summary: Albus enjoys no calm on quiet days.
Disclaimer: The HP universe is JKR's. I make no profit and intend no copyright infringement.

( Outside, everything is stark and fast and frenziedly logical. )

So much that I need icons with them already, but I still haven't chosen which. They're lovely, in any case. Why, yes, I always thought that boy wasn't using his full potential in Sweeney Todd.

...Can we skip the HBP movie and get straight to the grand finale? I'm starting to look forward to it (now that I know they're at least not going to cut the young Albus and Gellert completely) and I don't want to wait, whine whine.

I went to see this pretty much on rec, but it turned out to have quite a few of the elements I enjoy in a movie. I was amused that this was the director of 300, but this really was different. Now, as soon as I find the original book(s?), they are MINE.

Beware: this review will reek of pure I've-only-ever-seen-the-movie-once n00bdom. I know that irritates me in HP, so this is a fair warning. But on to the actual movie.

First off, the atmosphere. I liked the mix of stylized violence, contemplative scenes and parts that were essentially music videos. Dynamic is the word I'm looking for. I know this may be inappropriate for me to say since I haven't read the original (yet!), but it felt like a comic book. The way the plot followed the characters while incorporating the world at large worked well too; no loose ends as far as I could tell, everything coming full circle. The ending was the proverbial crown to that. I could go on about how brilliant that was, but let me just say those twists were among the things that ultimately set Watchmen apart from your typical "superhero" movies.

Speaking of which, I especially liked that although it technically was about heroes, none of the main characters was unequivocally a good guy or a villain (at least to me). I mean, for the longest time I had a huge problem with the Comedian, but then he got that scene where he's "spilling his guts to his own arch-enemies" and my perception of him did a 180. It was similar with most of the other characters - there was always something or other I could appreciate about each. I'd never have thought I'd sympathize with a right-wing nut like Rorschach but honestly, aside from his comments about the "indecent lifestyle" and such, I did relate to his disillusionment and at the same time uncompromising dedication to his cause. (His last scene was only inevitable in that regard, but I won't spoil in case there's anyone on the planet who hadn't seen this before I did.) Dr. Manhattan - very believable with practically living in a different world. He had some of the best lines, I'd say. Nite Owl and Laurie were likeable but less fascinating to me (though I did appreciate that you could tell why they'd be attracted to each other, something that het pairings in high-budget movies don't always bother to show because they just expect the audience to take it all for granted). Finally, Ozymandias: he's even more of my favourite than the others, and not only because he mentioned Alexander the Great (by the way, dude, I hear you). They've done a good job on showing that even though he's probably the second most powerful character, it's no cakewalk for him either. He does mean well in the grand scheme of things - do I dare say "for the greater good"? - but when all is said, he's the one left standing in the wreckage. That doesn't speak to me, that screams. Also I got way too hyper about that neatly placed quote from Shelley (you may be able to guess which poem). That was a brilliant little touch.

( Sample quotes of win )

Moral of the day: I do enjoy other films besides arthouse from time to time. It really struck the right chord with me. Got me thinking as well.


PS: serenity_winner, THANK YOU FOR THAT COMM. A THOUSAND TIMES.

"It's a flame of sadness urisosogu kanashimi sura dakiyose
Life is going on kareru made aruiteyuku dake
It's a flame of sadness"

( Now it snows in hell! )

I am currently distracted (EXAMS? WHAT EXAMS?!) by one particular trailer for Resident Evil 5. I have the sneaking suspicion that this game is going to out-gross even the previous one in the series (which is saying something... eurgh, the island), though I don't dare guess whether it's going to be scarier. At the same time, I can't wait for it to come out. This is because DAMMIT, WESKER! What happened to make you so full of action? (He's a very important character, in fact, but he's been mostly watching and pulling the strings from afar for a while now. AND SUDDENLY HE'S FIGHTING OUT THERE WITH A VENGEANCE!) Sure, he's a calculating somewhat-evil jerk, but I digress. He's badass. He's stylish. He means business. And he's among my favourite characters in the series for some reason, so he'd have to do something really disgusting to make me hate him yet. I only worry he might get, you know, killed since it looks like they've made him the main villain in the new game. You'd better not bite it, Wesker, you hear me? There's no Resident Evil without your... influence.

So, if you can either enjoy or survive all the disturbing stuff, watch this. It's pretty exciting, actually. Look out for the suave gentleman in a black coat. XD

You see? I don't do pretentious literary things all the time.

Since I can do nothing but sort out my stuff these days, I shall now bring order to the fics I wrote last year.

( 2008 Fic Meme )

MISERY (Live) ~ Beauty & Stupid (Live) ~ 50% & 50% (Live) ~ LEMONed I Scream (Live) ~ Rocket Dive (Live)

What is this, a death day? I've just found out that Munetaka Higuchi of LOUDNESS has died of liver cancer. Although I heard that he was ill, this still comes as a shock. He wasn't even fifty.

So that's another of my favourite bands whose members aren't all alive anymore. I really just don't know what to say.

Except for one thing: Rest in peace.

So, it's been 108 years since Oscar Wilde died. Time really flies. But no worries, Oscar, you're not forgotten!

In happier news, you should all check out this promising RPG called CXXIV. It takes place in 124 AD, meaning during Hadrian's reign, and it looks awesome! Even if you don't intend to play, do have a look at those gorgeous "Roman Life" and "About Villa Adriana" sections - you won't regret it. I'm so happy it seems like there's going to be more about Hadrian around. Seriously, where's the fandom?

Speaking of which, if you have any favourite history links, now would be a good time to share them should you feel the urge. XD

Why orange? Well, it's been snowing and the streetlamps are making everything seem to have that colour. The snow, the air. (How poetic.) Sometimes nights like this also look purple, but this time, it's orange. Never mind me. XD

Anyway. Screw the world, I'm writing drabbles! One is happy and the other sad. I won't tell you which is which. You have to find out... it is pretty obvious.

They're both inspired by the snow because it's beautiful and I'm in the mood.

Title: Tranquility
Pairing: Remus/Sirius
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Summary: Remus and Sirius spend a cold day out. MWPP era.
Disclaimer: The HP universe is created by JKR. I make no profit and intend no copyright infringement.

( Snowflakes are aflutter in the air, no doubt about to engulf everything. )



Title: Forever and Never
Pairing: Albus/Gellert
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Summary: Albus has plenty of time to reflect.
Disclaimer: The HP universe is created by JKR. I make no profit and intend no copyright infringement.

( Sometimes, like on this day in winter, Albus wishes to wipe his memory blank or turn back time. )

I'm sure everyone knows already, but since I intend to revel in the fact for a little longer, I'll say it again: Obama won. Totally. WON. I'm tempted to just wave my hand, "Oh, I knew he'd make it," but I'd been nervous about this for as long as I can remember following the campaign, so I won't say that. Watching the race develop from afar, unable to influence the result, I was very anxious indeed. But that's all done and over with - OBAMA WON!

Honestly, I'm glad. Obviously he's going to have it difficult, and there still are issues that don't make me as happy as they could, but I am convinced that he was the better candidate and will be a much, much better president than McCain (or, let's not even think of the possibility, Palin) could ever have been. He is sensible, constructive, and finally seems like someone who can actually do a good job. We'll see how everything turns out yet, but for the moment my expectations are high.

I'd also like to point out, as an observer from the outside, that this election was epic. I've been lucky to escape most of the nastiness, but thanks to LJ I feel like I had an opportunity to go through the whole process myself. It was awesome to discuss the election with those of my friends who were passionate about it, to hear about what it was like to be there. The massive turnout impressed me as well - people going to vote despite various problems, willing to wait in line for hours on end - let me tell you, I can't imagine anything of this magnitude happening in my own country anymore. You've been great!

I woke up today just in time to watch Obama's victory speech when it came up on the TV here. I won't lie, I was overwhelmed. I still can't believe he made it, even though I'd hoped he would win all along. This is amazing, seriously amazing. I'm just so relieved.

Thank you, Americans, for making history.