Black and Blue

keladry_lupin found this Mad Libs-style ficlet generator on indeedsir (the Jevves/Wooster community), and since the results she got were so hilarious, I decided to give it a try.

The results: beyond silly, yet oddly fitting! They make just enough sense to be coherently ridiculous. *g* Have fun with them, and try it yourself if you'd like a good laugh! I'd love to see the results you get.

First, featuring Jeeves and Wooster, ( Stoic Lang Syne )


And then, featuring Severus and Luna, ( Severus and Luna, by... William Shakespeare? )

That's done an oddly good job of putting a smile on my face, and I hope it works for you, too.

I posted this meme the other day, in which I invited people to name a character from an array of fandoms (Harry Potter, Pet Shop of Horrors, House, Jeeves & Wooster or any of the Star Treks except for Enterprise), and in return, I would supply some backstory or a take on how I see/interpret the character. I posted it as a bit of fun, but it's actually proved to be a very good writing exercise for me, so I thought I'd gather the responses here (cleaned up a little) for those who haven't seen them.

( Three Facts about Minerva McGonagall )


( Five Things That Never Happened to Ronald Weasley )


( Three Facts about Rowena Ravenclaw )


( Five Things That Never Happened to Lisa Cuddy )


( Three Facts about Elim Garak )


( Why Data is Awesomecakes )


( Three Facts about Jean-Luc Picard )


( Three Facts about Luna Lovegood )


( Why Q-Chan is Awesomecakes )


( Three Facts about Madeline Bassett )


( Why Gul Dukat is Both Awesomecakes and Awful )


( Three Facts about Severus Snape )


( Three Facts about Julian Bashir )


( Three Facts about Bertie Wooster )


( Three Facts about Reginald Jeeves )


If you'd still like to play along with the game, just drop a comment asking for a character from one of the fandoms listed and suggesting which letter you'd prefer!

It's hideously hot and humid here. Not great breathing weather, so I'm not spending much time outside if I can help it. It's just the sort of air that sticks to everything and makes you feel filthy the instant it touches your skin. It seems as though everybody is moving in slow motion, probably because the heat has sapped all available energy.

Because of the very hot weather, I've held off for a few days on making my Pay It Forward gifts, although I do have the stuff for them. I hope to get them done this weekend when the air's a bit cooler, so those of you on the list can look forward to seeing those next week. ~crosses fingers~ (By the way, if you're interested in being on the list, I have two slots left here.)

Next, I have things to squee about from portus_envy, where I've received lots of beautiful things to share, and I've written something, too.

Written for me or my prompts:

*darkheartwalsh wrote Solitaire for me, in response to my prompt for a Dark!Hermione. The resulting story is darkly beautiful and evocative and heartbreaking, with a fairy tale quality that calls to mind the real fairy tales--twisted, disturbing and lovely.

*lady_rhian wrote the final installment in her drabble series, "The Birthday," for my prompt: The Tango. I asked for a tango, and she certainly delivered all that and more: lush romance, sexiness and sly humor. It's perfect! (Though you will, I suspect, be quite jealous of the way Hermione gets to spend her birthday. *g*)

*dreamy_dragon73 wrote a delicious SS/HG/LM ficlet for me: Trinity, which uses the prompt I gave her (ribbons) in an extremely clever way to perfectly illustrate the dynamic that really makes an OT3 work. It also features pouty Lucius, while Severus and Hermione drool over books. Lovely!

I also wrote a Snuna ficlet for lorena_snape: The Power of Your Intense Fragility. The prompt was for something Snape-centric, DH-compliant and angsty/realistic, and since she also mentioned liking rare pairings, Luna found her way in the mix, too.

And lastly, I have stolen the 3 Variable Funny Test from mundungus42 because I found it... well, funny. ( I'm funny? Funny how? Like a clown? Do I amuse you? )

That sounds just about right to me.

Those of you who have been reading my journal from the start (all three of you *g*) might know that my iTunes player is weirdly prescient when it comes to these iTunes memes. I had good results when I composed the soundtrack to my arty, cutting-edge biopic, and the results that I got on the "How Do You Really Feel About DH" meme were frankly creepy in their accuracy.

With that in mind, I gave a try to the "Something About You" iTunes memo that's going around and... yes, my player is still pretty psychic. I'm thinking of asking it for lottery numbers the next time the jackpot gets huge. ;-) In the instances where it isn't psychic, it's pretty amusing.

Don't believe me? Have a look! I used some lyrics from the songs, too, just because.



First off, the directions, if you want to give it a try:
1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.


( Now, this is what my freaky iTunes player says about me... )

Reluctantly, I had to set aside one of my Trading Places stories, because it's still clogged up in a frustrating way and I think the story and I need to take a break from one another. It was preventing me from working on my other things on a deadline, so even though I feel horribly guilty about it, it had to be done. I will get back to it; I just want to finish it well.

In any case, it seems to have worked, because I've been writing tons over the weekend and into this week. This is good news for my Snarry Games and hp_beholder stories, and my PSoH story for the Ides of March is nearly finished, too. Isn't it amazing how one troublesome story can sap all your creative energy? All that guilt and frustration was like a millstone around my neck. Now that I've given myself permission to step back, I feel rejuvenated creatively.

This creativity has also expressed itself in the form of a little drabble series that I wrote for grangersnape100. I originally imagined one or two drabbles, but it ran away with me and before I knew it, it was a story. I must warn for gender-bending and mpreg, but honestly, it's not as bizarre as it sounds. Really. You can read it here, if you haven't already seen it: Backwards and in High Heels. A sequel might be up by tomorrow; it's already partially written.

So, this is what I have been doing, aside from cursing about a) snow and b) having to be back in class and at work. Hopefully, I'll have something more interesting to post later this week. In the meantime, have a meme from mundungus42:

Please post a comment with an entirely fictional and made-up memory of you and me. It can be anything you want - good or bad - as long as it is fake. When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised about what people don't actually remember about you.

First, the meme:

The Letter meme: Comment and I'll give you a letter; then you have to list 10 things you love that begin with that letter. Afterwards, post this in your journal and give out some letters of your own.

keladry_lupin gave me the letter M. ( And this is what I did with it )


On another note, I was inspired last night, and I've spent most of the day working on my Ides of March fic as well as one of my entries for lupin_snape's Trading Places. Both should be done by tomorrow, and I'm wondering if anybody is interested in quick-and-dirty beta work ? You needn't take on both fics, naturally.

The Trading Places fic is Snape/Lupin and will probably be 5,000 words or less; it could use a spot of Brit-picking and I'd like some feedback about the content, especially since I've never devoted so much time to Remus' POV. The Ides of March story is PSoH and Leon/D. That obviously doesn't need Brit-picking, but I'd appreciate if a few people would give it a look and see if it works the way I'd like it to work. It's only about 1,000 words, so it's a very quick read. Both pieces are slash, but neither is graphic (which I know will disappoint some of you and relieve others). Nothing very squicky in either.

Any takers? Let me know if you're interested and I'll e-mail it along.

Ooh, and in other news? A new chapter of 'Wanderlust' will be up soon!

We're expecting a huge snowstorm to hit sometime tonight and run all the way through tomorrow evening. If the local weather broadcasts can be trusted (always a gamble), then we might be due for a good foot of snow. :-P This, after a week that took us from 50 degrees one night to 13 degrees the following morning! Is it any wonder everybody is sniffling and wheezing?

On that note, I woke up with a blinding migraine--pure agony. (It's my second in as many months, which I suspect means that I really ought to check out the newer class of migraine drugs; I haven't had them this frequently since my teenage years, and I don't have the time to be incapacitated.) The first dose of pain reliever did nothing, but the second did the trick, and I still felt up to cooking for the friends who came over tonight--nice, since I was afraid I was going to have to cancel. Since it's freezing cold and calling for comfort food, I made a big vat of French Onion Soup and a tray of Croque Monsieurs that I put under the broiler. Dinner was a Chocolate Induglence cake, which is a new recipe that I am definitely going to make again.

I was also tagged by gin_tonic for the "Seven Quirky Things/Habits/Facts About Me" meme, so I'll give it a shot. I'm not tagging anybody for this, despite the instructions that insist that I must, because 1) I am a rebel like that (I defy you, instructions!) and 2) I think most of you have done it already. If any of you haven't, go ahead and knock yourselves out giving it a try.

So...( Seven Habits of Highly Effective Bluestockings )

I hadn't done much in the way of memes in some time, and now I've done two in one day. This one is quite interesting though, from eeyore9990: the Interview Meme. She asked me the following five questions: ( Q & A, this way )

In keeping with the rules of the meme, anybody who wants to play can post here, and I'll interview you. Five questions, and not sex questions. Probably. I'll try to think of something clever and astute!

This meme is all over the slashy side of my flist, so why not try it? I'll try to refrain from any wise-ass reasons like, "I'm listed as the author," or "You're reading it on my LJ." I don't know that I've really written enough to have a distinctive style, but I'll give it a go.


1. Severus Snape is the main character (unless it's PSoH fic, and even then, he's possibly involved *g*).

2. There's a high probability that Severus is young--either at Hogwarts or even younger.

3. Severus feels things deeply, but Does Not Talk about his feelings and will go to great lengths to avoid such discussions.

4. He does, however, amply demonstrate his feelings through his actions, not always consciously.

5. He's also tremendously socially awkward...

6. ... Unless he's in a position of power. Then he plays the role of All Powerful Potions Master to the hilt.

7. There is at least one section stuffed with purple-prose-like sensual description, probably about scents. (Alternatively: at least one passage of wannabe-lyrical imagery.)

8. The Weasley family might as well not exist, except for a few incidental mentions.

9. Severus is Muggle-savvy and knows how to get along in the Muggle world.

10. Severus is never Lord Snape, and he doesn't have a manor house. EVER.

From sylvanawood:

Dear Santa... Dear Santa, This year I've been busy! In February I bought porn for sylvanawood (10 points). Last Tuesday I helped camillo1978 across the street (6 points). In January I helped samantha_vimes hide a body (-173 points). Last Saturday I gave drachenmina a wedgie (-10 points). In November I put money in bitterfic's expired parking meter (14 points). Overall, I've been naughty (-153 points). For Christmas I deserve a spanking from Severus and Lucius! Sincerely, bluestocking79

Write your letter to Santa! Enter your LJ username:

~considers~ You know, if that's a punishment, then I resolve to be naughty all the time.

(Although really, I don't understand why I got points taken for helping with the body. I was just being a good friend and a helpful Slytherin!)

I'm busy chopping away at the exchange fic, trying to make the bloody beginning behave. I've just had a brainwave that I hope will make the difference, but I'm coming up for a little bit of air to post this amusing little meme. From sylvanawood:

Leave a list of fictional characters in your journal that you would love to get a message from. It is your friend-list's mission, should they choose to accept it, to write you an in-character "letter" from a character on that list. Then they post their own list in their journal and the process continues!

sylvanawood listed five characters, but I went for ten, so you all have a variety to select from, if you decide to participate. Why not?

1. Severus Snape (really, this one was obvious)
2. Lord Peter Wimsey
3. Sherlock Holmes
4. Count D (PSoH)
5. Morpheus, AKA Dream of the Endless (Sandman)
6. Jack Sparrow
7. Becky Sharp (Vanity Fair)
8. House
9. Alexander Dane (Galaxy Quest--whether you write him as Dr. Lazarus is up to you)
10. Hamlet


I wrote a note to sylvanawood as Data, from Star Trek: TNG. See it here: ( Drinks? )

Have fun! And wish me luck on finishing this story, as I wish the rest of you luck on finishing yours...

Taken from all over the flist, but most recently from shiv5468.


( 70 Questions and a Few Answers )

It seems like most of my Flist has done this one already, so I'll be a good little lemming and do it as well. Besides, I have actual work I should be doing, and internet memes are God's gift to procrastinators. So here goes:

The Rules: (in case you're one of the 3 people who hasn't done the meme)
1. Go here.
2. Put in Username: nycareers, Password: landmark
3. Take the "Career Matchmaker" text
4. Post the top ten results

So I did that, and this is what I got: ( My Dream Jobs? )

In other procrastinating endeavors, I wrote another drabble for snape100: A Dream Come True. Once again, it features young Snape, this time at King's Cross. It occurs to me that I have written a lot of little drabbles featuring young!Snape, but what can I do? He's so fascinating that he demands to be written!

...and you pretend like you actually care. ;-) I'm not sure that any of this is actually interesting at all, but I need to procrastinate, damn it! If I read one more sentence of Derrida, I just might become unhinged.

So, 7 strange things you probably didn't know about me:

1. I'm violently allergic to both peanuts and dogs. Nowadays, people bend over backward to accommodate kids who are allergic to peanuts, but I had it before it was a trendy allergy.

2. I didn't start driving regularly until I was 20 years old, because my Driver's Ed. Experience was that bad.

3. When I was seven, I was hospitalized for a month with encephalitis. (How I got encephalitis in Michigan in December, we'll never know.) In retrospect, I realize that I was lucky not to have ended up brain-damaged, but at the time, all I did was complain about missing out on the school Christmas concert, because I'd had a good part.

4. I once rode for free on a train going through the French Alps. My Eurail pass was misplaced, couldn't be located, so I spent most of a seven-hour trip feigning illness or sleep, or else hiding in the toilets. I got to Chamonix without getting caught!

5. When I was eight, I was featured in a production of Carmina Burana. It wasn't until years later that I realized what I'd actually been singing.

6. I have never read The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I never could get past all the Hobbit Songs in The Fellowship of the Ring.

7. When I was oh, about 3 or 4, my parents gussied me up in lots of frilly, girly things and took me to a particular studio to have my picture taken. During the session, for some unknown reason, I decided it would be fun to pose with my ruffle-laden arse to the camera, my face peeking out from between my legs. The photographer thought it was so adorable (NOT in a pervy way) that he asked for permission to make prints for display.

And that is why, to this very day, there is a photography studio that proudly displays an enormous portrait of me with my arse up in the air as the chief exhibit in their main salon.

I offer to you my Nerd Test results!





Not really that surprising, I don't think. Most of my nerdiness is derived from literature and history knowledge, which is certainly appropriate! I'm a life science nerd rather than a physical sciences nerd, so I was at a bit of a disadvantage on the science questions. I'm emphatically not a techno-nerd, so my low score there is no shock.

Still: I am a nerd. A Nerd Queen, evidently. I accept this. In fact, I am pleased by it. The extent of my nerdiness may not be immediately obvious from looking at me, but it's there, lurking beneath the suface. I am a Stealth Nerd. :-) Are you nerds as well? Go take the test and find out!

It is obscenely hot here, and I am SO glad that today is my off day, because the air conditioning on campus is on the fritz. Again. It's either freezing us, or it's utterly useless. I'm up to my eyeballs in work, but at least I can do it in the air-conditioned paradise of my own home.

Right, all right, everybody's doing it, so why shouldn't I? Here's my attempt at the Shaggability Meme, taken from duniazade:( Click Here for Shaggable Men. )

In non-hormonal news, I wrote another drabble, this time for Pet Shop of Horrors Drabbles. I am considering the possibility that I have become addicted to writing drabbles.

I'm rather happy with this one, which you can read here. I know that most of you may want to give it a miss because you're not in the PSoH fandom, and may never have heard of it, but it's there all the same. (Besides, if you've never tried PSoH, you really, really should. The manga series is addictive like CRACK; the main characters are incredibly rich and the series itself is completely charming. Just read it; you won't be disappointed!)