Apr 2019 Archive, part a

This better still be here tomorrow, you understand~?

We must not lose out on something so cute so quickly!

I got diabetes reading that. The fluff was too much for even my experience writing overwhelming sweetness.

This was the cutest bloody thing I've ever read. Which is, in all things, surprising considering Jacques' nature.

That was such a cute interlude! I really liked the bit where all the kids fell asleep on Jacques. My heart just about burst at that.

(:P)

Well I just finished removing all my works from Deviantart and FF.net.

And, after giving this some thought, and reading the comments posted by the deviants. I eventually came to the decision that perhaps straightening my LGBT OCs wasn't that good of an idea.

So I'm going to do some studying on how to a better job of writing LGBT characters before I can begin reposting my work.

But, for now, I need some time to cool down Before I feel ready to repost...

I can only say a three words:

IT IS AWESOME!!!

The Orville is a ongoing science fiction dramedy series from the critically acclaimed creator/co-creator of Family Guy and American Dad Seth Macfarlane. It's a homage to the legendary sci-fi programme Star Trek, specifically Trek before it became Sexually Transmitted Disease Star Turd: Dumbfrakery Star Trek: Discovery. I.e. terrible. The Orville is published by Fox Television Studios (now a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Corporation), and streams in Australia for free on SBS On Demand and airs on free-to-air on SBS Viceland.

It is the 25th century, and humanity is now a founding member of the Planetary Union, a alliance of a multitude of alien species. Ed Mercer (played by Seth Macfarlane himself) is a captain in the Union Fleet, and is rising through the ranks rapidly. That is, until he comes home from work one day to find his wife, Commander Kelly Grayson (played by Andianne Palacki (sp?)), banging a blue-skinned alien called Darulio in his bed.

One year later, Ed's career is in shambles. The affair and subsequent divorce has put him at the bottom of the list for promotion, and has resulted in him drinking his career away. He is given a second chance when he is given command of the USS Orville, a mid-level exploratory vessel that needs a new captain after the last one retired. Ed accepts, and enlists his best friend, Lt. Gordon Malloy (played by Scott Grimes) as the ship's helmsman.

His initial crew consists of CMO Dr. Claire Finn (played by ST:DS9 alumni Penny Johnson Jerald); Science officer Issac, a member of the elusive robotic-species, the Kaylon (played by Mark Jackson); 2nd Officer Bortus, a member of the all-male Moclans (played by Peter Macon); the young security chief Alara Kitan, a member of the high-gravity-dwelling Seleyans (played by Halston Sage); navigator John LeMarr (played by J. Lee)...and his Ex-wife as his first officer. Yes. This goes as well as it sounds, at least initially.

Mid-season, Lamarr gets promoted to Chief Engineer, simular to how Geordi LaForge on TNG started out as the helmsman, and then switched over to the engineering officer. During the second season, Alara leaves, and is replaced with Jessica Szohr as Talla Keyali as the new security chief.

More to come soon.

Went for one of the less popular William Shakespeare plays this time. Sir John Falstaff had a minor appearance in the last Thursday Next novel I read, and the back cover blurb for the next one indicates that Merry Wives itself will be important to the plot. I’m debating whether I want to read through all the Henry plays as well before I continue with Thursday Next; I’ll admit I’m not too interested in the purely historical plays. I like my Shakespeare with a little fantasy.

Spoiler warning for The Merry Wives of Windsor.

It took me quite a while to really get into this play, partly because I had difficulty keeping track of the characters early on. This is probably my fault for, as I mentioned above, not reading the Henry plays first. (Also, my work schedule means I can typically only get reading done in fifteen-minute chunks separated by hours of work time during most of the week.) Either way, I did get into the play and its characters as time went on. I mean, its primary action is about a straight dude getting dumped on by everyone around him for being a horndog, so as an asexual person, it was hard not for me to be amused. I was cheering on the “merry wives” the whole time!

I was surprised at how modern this play felt to me. A lot of the humor—pratfalls, veiled pun-based insults, intentional and unintentional innuendo—are still hallmarks of modern humor, especially in film. In particular, the scene where Mistress Quickly keeps misinterpreting Sir Hugh’s innocent Latin as vulgar English, and the boy learning English is clearly more aware of the dual meanings than the grown Sir Hugh, felt like something out of a modern comedy.

It’s also interesting that the play, written so many centuries ago, very clearly puts female roles in the lead, while showing most of the main male roles to have character failings. We’re still struggling with presenting good female characters in fiction today, yet here’s Shakespeare back around 1600, making them the leads of a play, and the undeniable moral superiors of the story. The one thing Mistress Page is shown to get wrong is her plans for marrying her daughter off to Doctor Caius, but even then, it’s Anne Page’s desire to marry for love that’s cast as the correct decision; again, the smart decision comes from a woman. I also like that Fenton serves as a contrast to Falstaff by initially courting Anne for the same financial reasons as Falstaff was targeting Anne’s mother, but then got to know Anne and fell in true love.

—doctorlit, rooting for Anne to get paired with no one . . . but he guesses that’s just not in the cards, in this time period . . .

“Spoiler? I would I could wash myself of the spoiler. Spoiler, spoiler, spoiler! Ay, spoiler! I warrant you, spoiler, and of the season too, it shall appear.”

My brother tried to convince me not to watch this series, because he said it was too boring. I’m learning to ignore his word when he says he doesn’t like something, because he’s way more critical of fiction than I am. Sometimes, you just have a to let a story unfold over you, know what I mean?

Spoilers for Iron Fist season one. (And there are some major twist reveals about character allegiance this season, so if you’re planning to watch, please don’t read this.)

Like I said in my Luke Cage season one review, I was put off a bit by how dark the Daredevil and Jessica Jones series have been up to this point. While Iron Fist wasn’t quite as light in tone as Luke Cage, it was definitely more enjoyable than the other two. Cage is still my favorite, though.

I was side-eyeing this going in, because it’s essentially got a white character taking on aspects of Asian culture and martial arts, and I wasn’t sure how well it would be handled. I think it did quite well, with the actor who played Danny Rand finding a good balance between reverence for his monastery training, and a bit of childishness at seeing aspects of his old New York life for the first time since age ten. I also liked that the show addressed the failings of K’un-Lun’s training in teaching Danny to ignore his own feelings, preventing him from healing emotionally through the kind of psychiatric treatment he would have received growing up in the States. By the end of the season, Danny really feels like a balance between the eastern and western aspects of his life, not bound too tightly to the rules of K’un-Lun, but not entirely given over to the anger and regret he felt from losing his parents.

Up until this point, I thought that Madame Gao was a Celestial, or another similar being, who got tied up with Wilson Fisk’s criminal enterprises partly out of an ignorance of human culture and biology. Even on the occasions when Daredevil encountered her, she always seemed so calm and aloof, and non-threatening (except when Daredevil tried to grab her), that I rather liked her as a character. This means that I was actually disappointed to learn in this series that she was a member of the Hand. Even though it gave her more screen time to be cool in, it also means she’s a much more dangerous threat than I realized, and considering the fact that she seems to be immortal, her character will inevitably need to be killed off eventually. I am both anticipating that, to see an end of the damage she causes to innocent people, and sad about it, because her voice is cool.

The sheer number of villain factions in this season was a little overwhelming, and it doesn’t help that when we are first introduced to them, we don’t know the real moral standings of the Meachums, Davos, or Bakuto, and that’s saying nothing of the fact that Colleen Wing was secretly Hand all along. (Small side note: I’m terrible at guessing plot reveals before they arrive, partly because I don’t try to, because I love the little feeling of thrill when something unexpected happens in a story I’ve invested in. But I actually guessed Colleen’s real allegiance many episodes in advance, although my one friend who’s also into the MCU managed to convince me I was wrong at the time, for which I am grateful. But I still wish I had been wrong.) By the end of the season, once everyone’s standing was a little more firmly established, it was kind of fun having so many villains going after each other, since it lead to scenes where, no matter who won/died, it was a win for the “good side.” But it also left me feeling like the actual protagonists were often floundering to make any real progress, especially considering how long Danny was manipulated by Harold Meachum.

Putting aside my love of hearing Madame Gao speak, I thought all three actors playing the Meachum family were particularly excellent. Joy Meachum seems so kind and sympathetic whenever she’s alone with Danny or Ward, but her actor turns her into an absolute shark in the board room scenes. Ward’s actor was so good at wearing that mask of straight-laced and uncaring disdain, for so many episodes, it makes it even more disarming when he starts to crack under the pressure later in the season as he comes to realize how dangerous Harold 2.0 and 3.0 are. And Harold’s actor is so good at sounding both sincere and manipulative in a single sentence, I think the only time we’re presented with Harold’s honest self is when he’s in a rage, or right after his second resurrection, when he’s wandering around deliriously piecing his memories back together—and how telling that even in that state of mind, he sees the Rand Enterprises logo, and asks, “Why isn’t it my name?” His ambition, and fury over not getting what he wants, are his defining traits, always hidden under telling others what they want to hear to get them to do what he really wants. It’s also interesting (and kind of sad) that Joy and Ward swap relationships with Danny by the end of the season, with Ward going from having Danny committed to a mental hospital at the start of the season to saving his life at the end, while Joy goes from helping Danny get a foot back in the door of their company at the start to plotting with two other villains to have him killed in the final scene.

—doctorlit is ticked off that he’s eventually going to have to start going after the MCU stuff that’s on networks he isn’t already paying for

“You took a vow of spoilers? “You took a vow of spoilers?” “You took a vow of spoilers?” “You took a vow of spoilers?”

I got tired of actually looking for badfic, but I managed to find something that is too terrible for a mission. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13236838/1/idk Main criticism, they forgot the "edit sober" step.

A Splatoon badfic (NSFW).

**Content Warning: Pedophilia**

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13019505/1/The-return

Some of the issues:

1. It has a Mary Sue that is an assassin, a master of mimicry, a chef at the age of twelve. She also has this sooper speshul ability to manipulate anybody's ink.

2. Said Sue kissed and made out with adults. Only one person had a problem with it, but dropped it later and never brings it up again.

3. Both the Sue and her younger brother got girlfriends and both girlfriends are adults (no, these aren't one-sided crushes on the adults). Nobody in the fic seems to have a problem with this.

4. In some scenes, this fic seems to be trying hard to make sure every character present in a scene has speaking lines but does so in an unnatural way.

And that's about as much as I want to say about it.

--Ozzielot

• A thousand cuts by TheAutisticDuo
  
  A Borderlands story with a really, really, really bad sue, a bunch of canon-character corruption, a shitload of nonsense, and a pinch of a offensive username. Here's a link to the story AND my riff of it over at Library of the Damned:
  
  https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12518886/1/A-Thousand-Cuts
  
  https://literarytravesty.wordpress.com/2019/02/04/a-thousand-cuts-oneshot/
  
  - Indestructible by Alimoo1971
  
  Basically a badfic version of the Stargate SG1 episode "Upgrades", except with Sam and Jack becoming indestructible and- in the author's own words- getting "cool powers". Because of a asteroid. Yep. Here's the link:
  
  https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13165691/1/Indestructible

Already mentioned this on the discord, but...
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8907116/1/The-irregular-rider
Trans-Dimensional hopping by a Gary Stu into the world of Familiar of Zero, somehow gaining the powers of various Kamen Riders in the process. The one good thing I can say for this is that it's SFW. Yeesh. Fortunately for any agents sent here, there's only one Gary Stu to kill off (and a whole bunch of characters to neuralize/exorcise) as far as I can tell.

Tales from the Bladeship

Summary: You were once human but now you're an andalite, an andalite who's just about to be sold to one of the worst warlords in the universe.

Complaints, among several others:
1) Visser Three, somewhat incompetent villain that he is, would not allow an uninfested Andalite on his ship under any circumstances
2) Visser Three would definitely not keep said Andalite as a "pet" for kinky reasons
3) Said Andalite agreeing to be temporarily infested by some random Yeerk on the blade ship so long as they leave when asked is pretty dumb
4) ...

- Tomash

I got it for Christmas and read it in a couple of days. For a book that starts with a meteor strike taking out Washington DC and most of the Eastern Seaboard, and deals intimately with all manner of prejudice (it is the 1950s, after all), it's surprisingly... wholesome, is the best word I can come up with. It would be very easy for that premise to go all DARKNESS -- NO PARENTS, but Kowal resists the temptation. That doesn't mean she doesn't do justice to the fact that '50s America was super prejudiced in so many ways - but she does it in a way that doesn't make me hate every single character in there.

I think part of the reason is that she doesn't take the route of 'it's Institutional, so we can't change it', but rather treats institutional prejudice as something that can be changed, and by individuals. Yes, it takes work - a lot of work, a lot of pain - but it can be done.

hS

Please let me offer you a pot of black-hole coffee.
Also, quick question. Would you happen to know a superhero verse called Whateley Academy? The name you use definitely rings some bells for me.

Thanks for crossing over Minh! Have a Hitchhiker's Guide to Fanfiction Tropes.

I'm another newbie! Have some explosive chocolate!

Hello there, newbie! Have some chocolate and enjoy your stay! And don't worry, we don't bite... much.

For your gift, have five blank Rider Cards from the Kamen Rider continuum and a solid gold spork!

I bring color-changing chia pets as a gift. Would you prefer the hedgehog, or sheep?

*throws confetti*

And yeah, Herr used to be a lot more active here. (Also, *Wozzeck. *collects mini-boarder*) I miss him too.

You have great taste in fandoms, so here's a dozen bottles of Bleeprin, a Minecraft figure of Commander Riker, and some Sony headphones with the Ravenclaw insignia! Enjoy your stay! :D

For your newbie gift, have a stone which may or may not have some kind of magical ability or give you superpowers. I am not responsible for the consequences of touching or using it.

Hope you have a great time here!

In terms of my fanfiction, I have a fair number of stories over at FF.net. Not all of them are particularly good (in fact, only one is really decent, at least as far as I'm concerned), most of them video game ones. My most notable story is the Destiny fanfic Outbound Hopes, which I'm currently on hiatus from while I deal with some personal issues.

Here's the link if anyone's interested:

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12681906/1/Outbound-Hopes

I also have two stinkers which you're free to let loose at.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12381342/1/Borderlands-The-Post-Sequel

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12375809/1/The-Depths-of-the-Night

They're both from really early on in my FF writing career, and they're old shames of mine.

Have one of my own shed feathers and a complimentary kit of Spikes!

Also, for identification purposes in future posts, you can put your username in the "Author" text box when posting replies or messages. That way we'll know you made the post straight away and your activity will be easier to track!

First of all, have a suit of Imperial Guard flak armor. Second of all, no need for cricket noises, I've read some missions written by Herr Wozzak. Third of all, welcome fellow 40k player! Admittedly, I played my first game the day before yesterday, but I have a fully painted IG kill team and a partially painted space marine kill team. What format of 40k do you play?

Oh, forgot Smeg. That’s always a useful one

I'm up for another Gathering.

We'll go Gnome Hunting!

Summary: There have been no new angels created in the time since Lucifer was cast down from heaven. What if God wanted something different in the deal that Lucifer made with him? AU from S1 Ep13.


A Divine Spark


Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Category: Gen

Fandom: Lucifer (TV)

Characters: Lucifer Morningstar (Lucifer TV)Chloe Decker, Linda Martin (Lucifer TV)Amenadiel (Lucifer TV), Mazikeen (Lucifer TV)Dan Espinoza, Trixie Decker

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Lucifer is secretly where all the angels came from, Father-Son Issues, Lucifer Morningstar (Lucifer TV) Needs a Hug, Angst with a Happy Ending, Case Fic, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, post season one, lots of therapy

Language: English

This is an excellent hurt/comfort fic and is a not quite an mpreg thing? It's a little hard to explain, but there is no physical squick involved, lots of therapy sessions and everyone is amazingly in-character

For Undertale: Inverted Fate! It's an AU that actually keeps everyone (mostly; Papyrus doesn't hate puns THAT much) in character, plus sits tone is very close to that of the game. As for the plot... I don't want to spoil the canon for you, so if you've completed UNDERTALE, then go check it out!
https://invertedfate.com

For Zi-O: Kamen Rider Zi-O: Another Story. It serves as the Blade/Kiva tribute arc and it's pretty compelling. Everyone's in character as far as I can tell, but the format struggles a bit trying to adapt a TV show to a textual medium.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13242454/1/Kamen-Rider-Zi-O-Another-Story

The Waiting is the Hardest Part by Dragon Adept, is a Freefall (the webcomic) fanfic that tells the story of Donna Morris, one of the other Bowman's Wolves, who does medical stuff at a hospital on Mars. As of this strip, it's strongly implied to be canon.

It's got the canon's balance of interesting ethical dilemmas, neat interspecies stuff, and lighthearted moments, and I'd recommend reading it if you liked the comic.

Iwae! The new writer who will protect a continuum I know nothing about is...

*makes clock ticking noise with mouth*

SilverStorm0!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf1DkBQRQj4

Hooray! *blows party trumpet*

'Twas a pleasure reviewing your work, and I'm happy to see that you succeeded on your first try - that's a testament to your potential as a writer, I have to say. Best of luck with your first mission! :D

Granted!

I recognize your name and I approve of sporking old shames—it's a good start.

I like your characters. That's the main thing that I really have to say, because I found that the most interesting. I think it'll be cool to see how these two interact, and both of them coming from the same canon should result in some interesting conversations. There's plenty of potential for conflict between the two of them, but also plenty of potential for them to also become closer over time. and the two don't need to be mutually exclusive, either. Thumbs up.

As for the writing: your SPaG looks good, and the ending to the first prompt especially made me laugh out loud.

And now I'm imagining Chenille as an Angora rabbit after the brushing scene. This is never going to leave my head.

Anyway, yeah—congrats on a job well done, and I look forward to your missions. :)

We don't actually have your accounts over there... I'm kinda interested to see your posts.