So. As so often occurs, while I want my text to stand on its own, I also have a lot of thought about what's happening at this moment in the story that I want to parse out and dissect, if only for my own peace of mind. Specifically, I want to talk about Robin.

( This is just so unexpected! )

Ohmigod, you guys, I finished my Influence revisions! Cause I've been sitting around, trying to figure out how to make things work, and then I had one of those lovely light bulb moments where it all makes sense!

So Chapter 8 of Influence is back out for beta! Yay!

I understand that my betas have lives outside of editing my stuff, though, so don't take this as a promise to have the next chapter out by any particular time, because it's likely that I'll have to do some more minor revisions once it comes back to me.

I don't know why I got so stuck on this one. I think it's because I was trying to think of a way to get from A to B that was completely different from the way I had used at first. And it's hard (for me) to think of another way to cover the conflict that I wanted. But I like this version much, much better, and I'm happy with what I have now.

This is dedicated to ukraine_girl

( Puerile humour ahoy! )

Sometimes, I do read books about vampires. This is rare, as I kind of hate most modern vampire myths and their romanticization. (Because undead creatures who want to eat you drink your blood are so sexy.) Barb Hendee’s “Vampire Memories” books are an exception. All two of them.

Completely shunning the idea of Wangst=Otherness and that the best way to explore Otherness is to have a human woman moon over a Sexy Other in what is an almost inevitably creepy relationship, Hendee all but complete cuts out the human aspect and instead focuses almost entirely on the vampires themselves, who are human-like, but decidedly not human, and whose way of thinking is decidedly alien to our own. To Hendee’s vampires, humans are happy meals on legs, and the best reason to not eat the whole happy meal is that these happy meals sometimes have guns, and will totally alert the media. They also don’t have the time or interest for angsting about their immortal souls or pining for the one mortal who can save them. They crave companionship, but not necessarily love, and the companionship they crave is that of their own kind.

At the end of Blood Memories Eleisha, our small and waiflike main character who has the ability to make people long to protect her, an ability far more frightening than being able to create fear or desire in your target, had gathered the beginnings of a new, small family around her, and learned that they may not be alone.

Hunting Memories explores the consequences of that, and delves more into the history of the vampires, and their abilities. Blood Memories was pretty standalone, wrapping up pretty much every plotline that needed to be wrapped up, but Hunting Memories largely sets the stage for future books.

My sole problem was how much time was spent in the head of Julian, Eleisha’s enemy. No matter what the reason, dwelling inside the head of a psychopath who spends all his time thinking about murderous revenge and about how much he wants to make that nasty woman to thwarted him suffer (and how he wishes his victims looked more like her) just isn’t my thing. His subordinates were ok, though.

I'm allowed to like the mainstream pairings in my fandom.

No, seriously. There's no need to call my mainstream pairing "stupid cliche bishie yaoi bullshit" to my face.

Title: And Seconds to Break
Pairing/Characters: Topher, Whiskey, mentions of others
Rating: PG
Spoilers: season one
Word Count: 3,084
Summary: Pre-series AU. Topher starts working at the Dollhouse as Whiskey's handler. I blame czgoldedition.

( “I must say, Mr. Brink, that your resume is rather unusual when compared to those who typically apply for this position.” )


Title: Consequences
Pairing/Characters: Claire, Topher
Rating: PG
Spoilers: vague ones through Belonging
Word Count: 815
Summary: AUish. Topher's newfound sense of conscience has consequences, and Claire deals with the direct results.

( Topher sits up in the chair, gives the whole room a puzzled glance. “Did I fall asleep?” )

***SPOILERS***


Y'know, in case anyone didn't get it from the title...

( Cut for those wishing to remain pure until 2010 )

Title: Foreigner
Author: C.J. Cherryh
Year: 1994
# of pages: 423
Date read: 10/7/2009
Rating: 3*/5 = good

Description:

"It had been nearly five centuries since the starship Phoenix, lost in space and desperately searching for the nearest G5 star, had encountered the planet of the atevi. On this alien world, law was kept by the use of registed assassination, alliances were defined by individual loyalties not geographical borders, and war became inevitable once humans and one faction of atevi established a working relationship. It was a war that humans had no chance of winning on this planet so many light-years from home.

Now, nearly two hundred years after that conflict, humanity has traded its advanced technology for peace and an island refuge that no atevi will ever visit. Then the sole human the treaty allows into atevi society is marked for an assassin's bullet. The work of an isolated lunatic?. . .The interests of a particular faction?. . .Or the consequence of one human's fondness for a species which has fourteen words for betrayal and not a ingle word for love?

My thoughts:

This was a very good science fiction novel about different cultures interacting. I liked how Bren Cameron has to figure out what's going on without inadvertently offending his atevi hosts. I look forward to learning what happens next in the second book in the series, Invader.

Fandom: CWRPS
Pairing: Jeff/Jensen, Jared/Jensen
Rating: Adult
Warnings: Slavefic AU. Sexual, mental and physical abuse of adults and minors. Dark themes, adult concepts and language.
Disclaimer: This is in no way a true story.
Word Count: 2,644
AN: Master list of previous chapters found here. Cast of characters can be found here. Banner by the lovely and generous bloodquartz. Podfic version read by the amazing superstitiousme (found here, courtesy of the very kind general_jinjur). And don't forget the other really awesome stories to be found at whatwekeep.

---

( Sometimes there's nothing you can do. )

[Ficlets/Drabbles]

x Nothing Special by deird1 (Buffy G)
x Recall by brutti_ma_buoni (Ensemble PG)
x Wall by spikesdeb (Buffy G)
x Two Wall drabbles by efnisien (Angelus and Spike, Angel and Ensemble PG-13)
x Wall by eda_b09 (Buffy G)
x Assumption by tiger_bri_duck (Spike/Dru PG)

[Icons/Art/Vids]

x 72 Whedonverse icons (including crossovers) by sarah_jones
x 30 Btvs icons by brulianbaby
x 33 Doublemeat Palace icons by xochantelly
x A Faith fanmix by ladysophiekitty

[News/Meta/More]

x Tv Guide interview with Joss (outside link)
x First look at issue 32 (outside link)

Fandom: MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

Pairing: Napoleon Solo/Illya Kuryakin

Length: 98K

Author on LJ: Unknown

Author Website: www.chromeandgunmetal.com

Why this must be read: Napoleon has offended Illya and is trying desperately to gain his forgiveness. But Napoleon disappears and Illya is left to look for him and deal with Napoleon's offense. Elise Madrid writes a tight story, capturing the personalities of both men very well. The reactions of each are believable and the ending is just what you'd hope for. Enjoy!


Unfit for Vision

I know this has been done to death but come on now. If the guy keeps saying no and variations of the same, then it is not dub-con, it is NON-CON. It doesn't matter if the guy has a thing for forceful guys or rough sex. Nothing in his words or behavior even implied 'yes,' and no, getting turned on does not count. Unless it's playing, generally with a safe word, no means no. Please, stop insisting it was only dub-con. Now I'm a little freaked out by you.

Hello Veronica Mars fans!!

vmarsawards is back!

This community has been inactive since 2005!, but I have now taken over moderating it, and I hope that with your help we will be able bring new life into this community again!


<A HREF="http://community.livejournal.com/vmarsawards/"><IMG STYLE="border: none;" SRC="http://i38.tinypic.com/2kq3qs.png"></A>

how to nominate + the rules Watch/friend the community

Veronica Mars is still really popular even if it ended many years ago. There are still a lot of amazing Veronica Mars icon makers out there, just look at all the amazing icons posted in this community everyday! And they all deserve some recognition for being so awesome! This community is here to give VMars icon makers some praise and to let them know we love their icons.

Feel free to help us promote the community, just use the banner up there ;)

Round 1 is now open! Go nominate!

Thanks so much for your time!

[3] Eden Espinosa (1 with Megan)
[3] Kerry Ellis
[2] Kendra Kassebaum
[4] Kendra Kassebaum & Teal Wicks
[1] Teal Wicks

Teasers:
  

here @ my journal

Firefly (1-13)
Smallville (14-28)
Legend of the Seeker (29-69)
The Vampire Diaries (70-84)

Teasers:
   

See them all HERE @ isisizabel

Icons & banners.
[00-01] Bones
[02-07] Emily Deschanel (+ David Boreanaz)
[08-10] Zooey Deschanel
+ 2 Bones banners.
Public, for now.



Here @ tentatives.