the face of the moon

Without, er, making any long statements about the recent ontd_ai drama llama, I'll just say that the community atmosphere and ongoing flashfic challenges have inspired me to write more this summer than I have in quite some time.

So for ai_kinkmeme's debut post, the prompt "Kris/Adam, SHOTGUNNING" inspired this ~900 word ficlet, which I have lovingly titled: WEED WAS BAG.

( Adam has a very distinctive knock. At least, that's what Kris thinks. He always knows it's him, at any rate. )

So I somehow ended up with 1600~ words last night for the flashfic prompt "High school AU, first meeting" in the Adam Appreciation Post last night at ontd_ai. It's very, um, fluffy. It's interesting to write teenaged!Kradam though, because both of them are so much more confident and at ease with themselves as twenty-somethings than I think they ever were in high school. (But then again, isn't everyone?)

(Side note: YES, I KNOW THE AGES DON'T MATCH UP EXACTLY. IDK, IT'S FREAKING HIGH SCHOOL AU FIC. WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME.)

( Adam first hears about the transfer student from Arkansas from Neil. Apparently they have a lot of the same classes together and have been getting along like a house on fire. )

( Spoiler cut! )

ETA: Yikes. Still some problems with this crossposting function -- my lj-cut did not go through on its own. D:

So it turns out that, uh, vidding is addictive. And now that I've got a new computer with a meaningful amount of hard drive space... this is only one of three or four vids currently rattling around in my mind.

Dean learns to sing Hallelujah. Dean/Castiel vid, Hallelujah cover by Imogen Heap. Spoilers through 4x10. (I.e., the newest episode post-hiatus is not used)

Available for download here, if you are so inclined.




spn - Hallelujah - Sarashina Nikki

What IS it with this show?? Not only has it completely eaten fandom, but it's making ME productive. I start things all the time, with lots of ambitious ideas I never follow through on. But not only have I completed a vid, I'm also 4000 words into a fic I might actually finish. THIS IS WEIRD.

Anyway. So, I love vidding, but have never had enough hard drive space to save a meaningful amount of source material. Solution: the one episode vid. And then after watching 1x11, the Labyrinth of Gedref, I realized that I just so happen to have in my music collection a song about a unicorn curse. That's fate, man. You don't mess with that.

If anyone wants a download I can set that up, but otherwise it's on YouTube and Imeem. Imeem has the better picture quality, but on my computer YouTube has a much smoother playback.


Song: Black Unicorn, by Heather Alexander
Spoilers: 1x11
Length: 3:42

For the past several months I've been collating recs (god bless del.icio.us) for all the different fandoms I read in (which is a lot), towards the aim of a) being able to re-find shit I've read and b) being an actual active member of fandom in SOME sort of capacity, which I haven't really done in the last 8 years or so.

So this is the first of, hopefully, a long series of themed rec posts about basically where ever I'm at in fandom at the time. Right now I'm pretty solidly in SPN fandom, with long forays into J2 RPS, so I'll start off there.

Fandom: Supernatural
Theme: Brotherly Banter, fics that I think capture best the joking, teasing, needling, and loving aspects of sibling dialog.
Recs: 12

Crap Job, by SciFiNutTX (Gen)
Keywords: Outsider POV
Snippet: “Like this is my fault,” Sam huffed. “Figures.” “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Dean demanded. “You always blame me,” Sam replied. “Hey!” The robber shouted, looking distressed. “Robbery in progress, remember?”

The Idea of an Island, by eighth_horizon (Gen)
Keywords: Outsider POV, Ficlet
Snippet: Carrie figured if looked like she was working, they’d ignore her and she could eavesdrop and stare. “Blood poisoning,” Gary said. “That's it?” They were FBI. Hot undercover gay FBI guys looking for serial killers. Wow. This was going in her LJ.

This Wasteland of Open Sky (1/2), by lyra_wing (Sam/Dean)
Keywords: Teenchesters
Summary: Dean and Sam take a road trip, during the summer before Sam's sophomore year of high school. Adventure, wonder, confused feelings, and maybe a little bit of growing up, too. This story was inspired by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and all the Latin American writers of magical realism.
Snippet: Sam grins. "Why do—" "Shut up. One day, one very important day, I won't throw scissors, and then what? You'll be screwed." Dean pops open the driver's door and gets in the car. "I'm just saving it up." "Uh-huh," says Sam, still smiling.

First Hour, by Merry (Gen)
Keywords: Stanford-era
Summary: Dean tries to let go; Sam tries not to.
Snippet: "Dude," Sam says when Dean picks up. "Do your own laundry." "What?" "Were you trying to stow away?" Sam asks kindly. "Because it would work better if you were actually in the shirt."

Results I Can See Today, by eighth_horizon (Sam/Jess)
Keywords: AU, Standford-era, Fluff
Summary: AU where there was no rift when Sam left for college. There's no big fight, and Sam doesn't swear he's done hunting.
Snippet: "Let's just go," Sam said, "Wherever the hell we're going. And don't treat Jess like that, or I'll kick your ass." "Chivalry is dead, Sam," Dean said. "Gloria Steinem hoisted it on its own petard and pulled a Bobbit on the petard."

And the Highway Lines Pass By (1/4), by philalethia (Sam/Dean)
Keywords: Dean's Deal
Summary: Sam and Dean in the first three months following the S2 finale.
Snippet: "No, no, Sammy, it's fine. You think we need it, we probably do." Except they don't, and Dean knows it. Sam's just being stubborn and stupid, and he was born with some kind of biological imperative to be a pain in Dean's ass. But no way in hell is Dean letting Sam know how much the calendar really bothers him. "But you're buying me crayons the next place we stop, and I'm decorating it."

Tricks are for Kids, by Vehemently (Gen)
Keywords: Dean's Deal
Summary: A series of road games. An epic goof-off opportunity. A lexicon.
Snippet: "Oh, man, Wile E. That dude needs a medal." There was no way he could know Sam was awake, so for all Dean knew he was telling the walls. "Or maybe they should put him in charge of NASA."

Sucker Bet, by candacehilligoss (Dean/Other, Sam/Dean pre-slash)
Keywords: Dean's Deal, Casefile, Mom!Dean
Summary: Yeah, it's the old gay bar trope.
Snippet:  Someone had told their father once that Dean had been blessed with angelic looks and a devilish way about him. Their father had thereafter kept that someone, a lady in her mid to late cougars, well away from both his sons, but Sam didn't think he'd disagreed with the statement.

Waiting Games (1/2), by nutkin (Sam/Dean)
Keywords: Powers!Sam
Summary: The bad news is that Sam's ability is changing. The worse news is that he's having visions of him and Dean. Doing that.
Snippet: "The only reason I haven't left you by the side of the road with a, 'Will Fortune-Tell For Food,' sign is cause I sang you to sleep when you were five. You're just some person, there's no freakin' incentive to not weed you outta the gene pool." Sam huffs. "Why do I even talk to you."

General Specific, by eighth_horizon (Gen)
Keywords: AU, Casefile, Disability!fic, Powers!Sam, Mom!Dean
Summary: Sam has always had visions and is not quite right as a result. Don't worry; he's mostly happy. Sam and Dean hunt for the 'special children' gone bad when they're not hunting demons with their father.
Snippet: “Dean Winchester,” she said, “I know you’re there. How is Sam?” She wasn't asking in the polite way people did, and she wasn’t asking 'how is your crazy brother.' Her tone said she was asking because something should be wrong with Sam.

No Sweeping Exits or Offstage Lines, by sneaky-sena (Sam/Other, Sam/Dean UST)
Keywords: Humor, Angst
Summary: He hates that the years Sam was gone are so hidden from him, hates that he has to get to know his own brother all over again.
Snippet: "Oh," Sam says. He takes a swig of beer. "We just used to go out is all. Running into an ex is always weird." "You used to go out where?" Dean asks before Sam's words sink in. "Oh," he says. Sam nods. "Yeah. Oh."

Charm City, by Hth (Sam/Bayliss)
Keywords: Crossover (Homicide: Life on the Streets)
Summary: You know that thing I do sometimes where I get characters from different universes to have sex and talk about how much they have in common? I did that thing.
Snippet: “Dude,” Dean says, “he’s like Dad’s age. I’m just saying, you shouldn’t go too bargain-bin, you know? It’s Baltimore, but still, you’re a good-looking guy; you can buy retail. Hey, you’re a Winchester, right?” “I don’t know why I tell you anything,” Sam says. “Yeah, me either,” Dean says.

7beeb854653523a9ac3a43bfa4062256
http://www.ljmeme.com

Hm. I was just watching the gravi vids Croik's done (particularly Everything You Need. I want to marry that vid) and thinking about how much I love this anime. The manga is all right, but the anime is fantastic. It's only 14 episodes long and every episode packs a punch. And it maintains a perfect balance between the gut-wrenching angst and the fluffy humour, not letting either one overwhelm the storyline and somehow combining the two to create a sort of "voice" unique to this anime. (wow that was a long runon sentence)

I'm crazy about Gravitation. I have a very good memory and a short attention span, so I don't often rewatch anything I've already seen, but I have watched this series straight through countless times-- I can actually recite the dialogue along with it. And I don't speak Japanese!

This is the love story of a rising pop star and an eccentric romance novelist. It's about these two people, what pulls them apart and what, ultimately, holds them together. It's a wonderful love story. I truly think even people who aren't m/m fans would like it. (I use m/m because I really don't think Gravi qualifies as either yaoi (not nearly graphic enough) or shounen ai (they're neither of them boys, even if Shuuichi doesn't alwaysusually act it))

I love Yuki because he tries *so hard* to be a complete asshole, but he's not and he hates it. And my love for Shuichi knows no bounds. I love him so much. I love him because he KNOWS Yuki isn't the big bad wolf he pretends to be. And Shuuichi is such an honest person. He's true to himself, above all things. He wants Yuki and he wants his music and he won't let anything or anyONE stand in the way of either of those things.

I loved that subplot at the end of the series, where Shuichi finally (temporarily) gives in and gives up Yuki because not only does the whole world think he and Yuki should be apart, but it seems like Yuki agrees. And Ryuichi just walks right by him, refusing to recognize him. Because a Shuichi who gives up his dreams, who does the "practical" or "realistic" thing instead of that which will make him happy, is a Shuichi who's killed the most important part of himself.

And I love Shuichi for his indomitable spirit. He approaches every problem with the foregone conclusion that he will conquer it. No matter how many times life knocks him down and tells him to give up, give up Yuki, give up singing, he always finds the strength to get back up again and try again harder. Take the whole Aizawa arc, for example. Shuichi is deceived into thinking Aizawa wants to be friends and pays for his trusting nature by being beaten and gang raped. Naturally, Shuichi's a mess. But the next morning he wakes up and, even though he's still a mess, is able to make decisions about what he wants to do and then go out there and DO IT. (Even though his decisions aren't maybe the best possible ones...) And then Shuichi gets over it and moves on. And Shuichi's able to face Aizawa fearlessly, with nothing but scorn and pity in his eyes. Shuichi is SO strong.

Honestly, contrast that to Yuki. Yuki undergoes an ordeal that, if not precisely the same, is amply comparable. And he falls to pieces. He murders his betrayer, changes his name to that of his betrayer, gets ulcers, becomes dangerously depressed, and basically lets that one event rule his life for the next 10 years. (Or however long)

And while Yuki smokes and drinks and won't let anyone close to him, Shuichi doesn't let what was done to him touch his spirit. He laughs and cries and loves and trusts in other people just the same as he did before. Shuichi is an amazing person, a force of nature. I love him so.

One of the reasons this speaks to me so much is that it reminds me of my mantra, the Emily Dickinson poem in my profile. "Captivity is Consciousness. So's Liberty." If you believe yourself to be trapped by a situation, like Yuki does, then you WILL be trapped. And you'll never get out. But if you believe that you're free-- you are. And Shuichi is pink-haired, loud-mouthed embodiment of this ideal. He's like my own personal mascot.

::frets:: I need a Shuichi icon.

Nothing groundbreaking in particular, but I was just thinking about the ways the FMA military makes my head hurt.

For the uninitiated, in every military service in every country there exist two worlds. That of the commissioned officers, and that of the enlisted men. And ne'er the twain shall meet. Commissioned officers start at the rank of second lieutenant and as long as they keep their nose clean they automatically get promoted to first lieutenant in 6 months. And in a year (2 years?) they are then automatically promoted to Captain. After that promotion gets a bit harder and more complicated. There is a fixed number slots for each rank every so whenever the Promotions Board convenes to evaluate what slots are open and who's eligible to get promoted. The competition/apple-polishing hence gets pretty fierce, but *largely* promotion is still based on a time clock.

But in FMA Havoc has been a 2nd lieutenent for over five years. And Hawkeye, who is clearly a most exemplary officer, has been a first lieutenant for four years. And these are the easy promotions. They're automatic.

Okay, fine. Willing suspension of disbelief and all that.

But then there's RadarSergeant Major Fury.

Fury hurts my brain. Don't get me wrong, I love RadarFury. He's short and cute and wears glasses and likes animals. I like RadarFury just fine. It's just those two little words that come before his name that give me a headache.

Fury is an enlisted man. So what a member of the enlisted is doing as part of Mustang's staff when everyone else is a commissioned officer puzzles me. Because, for one thing, while everyone else in the unit is at the beginning of their careers Fury is at the end of his. He's reached the highest rank an enlisted man can. That's it. (Well, technically a sergeant major CAN be awarded a commission but it's really out of the ordinary) But that's fine, that's not so bad. Fury is shown in one scene fixing a telephone, maybe he's their telecommunications guy or something.

But Fury is a SERGEANT MAJOR. Highest rank of an enlisted man! And, unlike commissioned officers, promotion in the enlisted ranks is NOT timebased. Or, well, they are, but only in the sense that to be promoted to corporal (for example) you must have served for atleast 12 months, although your commander as the authority to waive that requirement if there is sufficient need. But just because you've been in the service for a year doesn't get you promoted to corporal. No. Your direct superiors have to really feel that you show considerable leadership qualities.

And here's the part that really hurts my brain. To get reach the rank of sergeant major Fury had to have been promoted SEVEN TIMES. And you know that guy, that really charismatic apple-polishing guy who's on the army fast track? That Colonel Mustang guy? He's been promoted TWICE. (I say twice instead of five times because it's my opinion that Mustang grabbed his Nat'l Alchemist license immediately after he got his commission and hence leapfrogged over the first three commissioned ranks and went straight to major)

And on top of that, there's the fact that Fury is portrayed as being the youngest member of Mustang's staff. There's no way to prove that of course, but I think his appearence and characterization points to him being in his early twenties. And you know how I mentioned that there's a time-in-service requirement of 1 year to be promoted to corporal? The time-in-service requirement of to make sergeant major is *nine years.* And that's just the requirement! Sergeant majors have a vital role in the military, they need a lot of experience behind them. The average time-in-service of someone promoted to sergeant major is about 21 years.

You have no idea how much Fury hurts my brain.

So I have fanwanked an explanation for Fury's inexplicable existence, as well as his presence in Mustang's unit.

Now, I mentioned above that time requirements for enlisted promotions can be waived at a commander's discretion. This often happens in times of war, battle field promotions. My father came home from Vietnam a Master Sergeant (that's one rank below Sergeant Major) at the age of 19. So it IS possible, but only in a battlefield environment.

So Fury must have been in Ishbar. He enlists near the very end of the seven year war, gets promoted to private first class, maybe corporal. Then his unit gets into a huge firefight and he's the only one who makes it out alive. So therefore the military (as is its way) pins a medal on his chest and promotes him up to Master Sergeant. Then in the some five or six years after the end of Ishbar, Fury achieves the last promotion to Sergeant Major on the weight of his exemplary service record. By coincidence or design, Fury's path now crosses with Colonel Mustang's. And Mustang remembers Fury from the war, either personally or by rumor. (Mess tent talk, you know. "Hey, you hear about Bravo Company?" "Yeah, some stuffed shirt made a bad call and they all bought it." "Nah, one guy made it out. Fury something. I hear they're promoting him.") So, naturally, Mustang snaps him up for his unit.

That's my pet theory anyway.

(It's important to note that my references are all to the US Army's standard way of doing things and it's entirely possible that the military makeup and system of promotion of Amestris is completely different. However, I strongly doubt it. The exact time requirements may vary from country to country, but this is the way it's done everywhere.)