(no subject)

[skygiants]

So.

Around this time last year, I was feeling vaguely un-great. And so I made an offer.

Right now, I myself am doing pretty well, albeit in a crazy busy sort of way - but a lot of you people I care about are going through tough things, and when you guys are sad, that makes me sad, too. I wanted to take the time to go through innerbrat's love meme earlier this week and tell you all about your fabulousness, but every time I opened up the page a little voice shouted "No time for love, Dr. Jones!" in my head and I reluctantly closed it down and went back to my reading/take-home midterm/thesis draft.

After today, though, life hopefully slows down a bit, at least for a week - and so I am repeating my offer from last year. If there's something I can do to make you happier, this post is a place for you to request it. I will write fic, both new requests and old ones I never got around to doing and forgot about; I will make icons; I will tell you my thoughts on yaoi; I will upload music that reminds me of you or that I think you would like; or, if you want, just tag in and I will tell you some of the myriad reasons why I think you are awesome.

Please don't be shy about taking advantage of this. I really want to do stuff for you guys, because you all mean a lot to me.



And for the time being, I will trundle back to my thesis chapter, the completed draft of which must be done today before I go off to see Titus Andronicus tonight. I got into a pretty good thesis-writing groove last night before I fell over, so here's hoping I can manage that again!

Comments

[muji]

Well, you're already sending me fodder for a project. :D

[skygiants]

Yes! Which will be mailed out . . . today or Monday, depending on how the thesis-ing goes. *eyes it balefully*

Also! While I have you here, reasons you're awesome: man, Steph, your organization and your skills and your ideas just constantly amaze and impress me. Whether it's cheerfully plotting to become trilingual just because, or coming up with fabulous plots completely out of the blue, or managing to make a success out of a sales thing that would absolutely terrify me - I'm kind of inspired by what you accomplish. And that's without even reckoning in just how much fun you are to hang out with.

[avariel-wings.livejournal.com]

I want to claim... something! But I don't know what.

[skygiants]

While you think about it, I will tell you why you are awesome! :D

You are one of the people that makes me really sad I can't usually be online during the daytime hours (my time), because I miss the days when I could be and we would hang out and RP and also talk. You're always so unfailingly friendly and kind and enthusiastic, and so willing to try your hand at anything - you were one of the very first people I felt comfortable chatting with online back when all the internets were a scary scary place to me, and there are excellent reasons for that.

[villainny.livejournal.com]

Something about Torquil. Ridiculous crossovers a happy, happy bonus.

[skygiants]

>:D!

Getting to write WACKY TORQUIL CROSSOVERS is going to be one of the carrots to get me through thesis drafting.

I really can't write Torquil, so apologies in advance!

[skygiants]

They had received the invitation to dine four nights ago, and since that time the two youngest Miss Bennets had been in a constant state of the giggles. Their mother was scarcely better, for after all, "they did say that the family was the most respected in ______shire, and none of the sons married except Mr. Hathaway, who was a recluse in any case. And as they were all known never to leave the region it was quite likely that they had found no local girls to suit - and no surprise it was either, as all the ones they had met had been so plain - and therefore it was the most likely thing in the world that they should fall in love with a beautiful stranger."

"It is indeed," said Mr. Bennet, "and if I should happen to make the acquaintance of any beautiful strangers I shall be sure to point them in Mr. Archer's direction straightaway."

"Mr. Bennet, you take a wicked delight in teasing me, I am sure. It is one of our girls I mean, as you know perfectly well. I am sure Jane has ten times the looks of any of the Miss Moneypennys," Moneypenny being the name of the family in _____shire upon whom the Bennets had descended en masse for a house-party.

In response to which, Mr. Bennet merely looked ironical - but this could be forgiven, perhaps, as this exact conversation had been repeated no less than twelve times before the evening upon which the Bennets and the Moneypennys were to dine with Mr. Arthur Archer and his siblings arrived.

Mr. Archer himself turned out to be somewhat of a disappointment, at least to the youngest Bennets, for though he was pleasant of countenance, with an open face and a friendly blue eye, he spent the entire evening conversing with Mr. Bennet and Mr. Moneypenny over matters dull and financial. The eldest Miss Archer was full of wit and dazzle, and Jane thought her very agreeable indeed, but Elizabeth privately considered that there was something not quite genuine about her sweet voice and protestations of enjoyment. As for Miss Shine Archer, she sat at one end of the table and spoke to no one except the younger and handsomer Mr. Jonas Moneypenny, who did not, in truth, appear terribly flattered by the attention at the beginning, though his countenance underwent a remarkable change as the night went on, and by the end of the evening he appeared veritably enraptured. (Mr. Jonas Moneypenny later met a tragic fate, as he took it upon himself to become a gentleman-smuggler, a career for which he had very little aptitude. It can only be assumed that Miss Shine found her early partiality most terribly embarrassing and wished to forget it entirely.) Erskine, the youngest Archer sibling, was as yet only a child, and a rather unhandsome child at that - but Mr. Torquil Archer! In Mr. Torquil Archer all the dreams of Kitty and Lydia were realized. Mr. Torquil Archer was charming and attentive; Mr. Torquil Archer could converse on the latest in music, and wore the height of fashion from Paris; Mr. Torquil Archer could join the girls in begging their parents to allow them to get up some private theatricals, and do it all with the best of grace and enthusiasm, and moreover a sparkle in his eye that promised that any such theatricals could never be dull. Even Lizzy had to admit that he was agreeable on every point; even Mary had to agree that his knowledge of music, especially on points of church liturgy, was comprehensive, and that the interest he took in the local choir was nothing less than truly Christian.

zomg exceeded character limit

[skygiants]

There was only one moment over the course of the evening when Mr. Torquil acted in a way that was the slightest bit ungentlemanly: when Jane, in all innocence, asked whether they should be making the acquaintance of his brother Mr. Hathaway Archer. Then, Mr. Torquil's brow darkened; then he answered curtly that his brother, who was installed in a separate household, almost never entertained visitors, being an unfriendly and sour type by nature with no interest in his fellow human beings. The terms he used were most unfilial, and Jane was quite shocked, and fell silent, embarrassed and ill at ease, for the rest of the soup course.

But later on, when she shared the incident with Lizzy in their shared bedchamber, she hastened to excuse him - for she could see, she said, that there was some great sorrow at the root of his anger, perhaps an unfortunate family quarrel which one party or the other now regretted.

"I see," said Elizabeth, most entertained. "And now I suspect you shall wish all the more to make the acquaintance of Mr. Hathaway, that you might have the hope of reconciling the two - will you not, Jane?"

Jane blushed, and said merely that she thought it very unfortunate that such an agreeable person as Mr. Torquil should be divided from such an agreeable person as any brother of Mr. Archer, Mr. Torquil and Miss Dillian was certain to be.

"Yes," Elizabeth said, more slowly. "But I am not so certain Mr. Torquil is so agreeable as that. There was something I thought I saw in his face that convinces me that he could be quite wicked if he chose. But one thing is certain," she added, turning over and preparing to go to sleep. "He is a most interesting gentleman - and I give you leave to attempt to meddle in his affairs all you like, Jane, for I shall be exceedingly interested to observe the results."







You said you wanted ridiculous? :D!

[wickedtrue.livejournal.com]

I demand that once you finish your thesis chapter that you buy yourself your favorite chocolate-y comfort food item and fall asleep eating and watching a tv show you haven't gotten to see yet.

I know, I'm hard to please.

[skygiants]

You are so demanding. *woeful*

(AKA, I will do my best. *squishes!*)

[varadia]

Me?

I. Um. You can either tell me nice things, or write me fic!

Something with Jamie and X.

Or Jayne and Galadan.

Or Paul's reaction to River/Galadan (MAYBE WITH BABIES).

*helpfully guides your hand?*

(Or, you know . . . Edwardian schoolgirls. PICK ONE)

[aberration]

... and now I want to sometime have X-Jamie-Elle... playing Monopoly. Or something that would cause an equal amount of confusion and staring.

[skygiants]

I will tell you nice things NOW, and write you fic later! *dignified* (For . . . one of those things. Or ALL OF THEM. AT ONCE.)

As for the nice things part - Lynne, I don't know how it was so long before we started actually talking and writing together, but I am thiiiiiiiiis glad that we are now doing so lots (and here you must envision my arms not only spread out, but stretched to twice their normal length a la Gumby.) Even though you sometimes make me cry. *solemn* I put up with this because I LOVE YOU. And seriously, you are just smart and insightful and fun, and also someone I trust. Even when it appears I am foolish to do so. *glomps*

[skygiants]

Being the chosen avatar of the gods only gets you so far.

There's gray in Paul's hair these days, and more lines on his face, and he walks with a limp due to an unfortunate incident involving Ceinwen, young Kevin, and a group of irritated lios alfar (he doesn't want to talk about it).

He comes to Milliways once or twice a year. It's a kind of ritual, now: catch up with Kim. Pass her an envelope for Dave, with greetings from the Dalrei, and other news as well, the kind Kim neither needs nor wants to know. Have a cup of coffee, for old times' sake.

His path does not overlap with that of Galadan. He doesn't seek to make it do so. He made a bargain, a long time ago, and the terms appear to have been kept.

Things have continued in this way for twenty years, when Paul, sitting at a booth with his coffee, finds himself accosted by a child of perhaps six or seven.

The child looks perfectly ordinary, with dark eyes and dark hair cut in a manner that makes it difficult to determine its sex. All the same, Paul nearly jumps out of his seat at the sight of it.

He knows the look of those with andain heritage very well, by now.

"Hello," says the child, and proceeds to dive under the table, apparently in search of a lost toy or ball. Paul composes himself and waits. He's fairly certain, now, that the father of the child will soon be arriving - and indeed, it doesn't take long.

Galadan hasn't aged as Paul has, of course. He looks precisely the same as he had the last time they met, and precisely the same as he did the first time, for that matter. Paul is painfully conscious of every ache, every pain and every line, and every time Jaelle (whose hair is still pure red) has told him with fond mockery in her voice that he's nearly an old man now. He tries not to let this show.

"You seem to have something of mine," says Galadan. His voice is very quiet, and Paul can't imagine that he is pleased that Paul should know this thing about him. Unsurprising.

"It will only be a minute, I should think," Paul says. Out of fairness, he should add something about he knows this from experience. An offhand mention of his own daughter. Equal trade. He doesn't, because where his daughter is concerned, fairness and equality are not highest on his list of priorities.

He wonders if the mother knows what Galadan is. He wonders if she knows what her child is.

The child chooses this moment to crawl back out from the table and say, with remarkable composure, "Hello, Father."

"Your mother's waiting out back," Galadan says to it, and it scampers off towards the back door, leaving Galadan still facing Paul.

"Will you ever bring him back to Fionavar?" Paul says, after a long moment of silence.

"Perhaps." The response is cool.

Paul nods, and gets out of his seat. Galadan will see his limp - weakness, but it can't be helped. And it's a reminder, too. Years have gone by. Things have changed.

And things haven't. "Until then," he says, "it is not my concern," and, with a nod of his head - equal to equal, parting - heads for the door.

He moves slowly these days, and he has no doubt that before he has the chance to reach it, Galadan will somehow manage the last word.

[shati.livejournal.com]

... McCain/Obama wingfic mpreg?




Or just hang out with me sometime on AIM. That also makes me happy!

[skygiants]

. . . . how sad will it be if the reason I really familiarize myself with McCain's policies is for wingfic mpreg? I guess there are many reasons to become politically aware . . .

ME TOO. I have missed you the past week! Also Ji made me promise to show you a youtube clip and I have not yet managed to do so. :O

[aberration]

If you'd feel like rambling about it, I'd be amused by some thoughts on how Jamie and Elle are going to SET STUFF ON FIRE manage to get along.

[skygiants]

*beams* I can totally ramble about that.

Jamie and Elle consistently make me crack up because they are going to set stuff on FIRE and it will be AWESOME! I think - well, first of all, Jamie canonically has a habit of getting along with creepy girls who could potentially kill him with basically a thought. He rolls with it! It's all customs, yo. And - it's kind of a relief to talk to Elle, from Jamie's perspective, because she's also different (and Jamie is different even if he tries very hard to pretend he's totally normal) and she's got secrets, which makes him totally curious, and also even though her sense of humor is . . . kind of creepy sometimes, it's existent! Which is, um, more than with a lot of Jamie's friends. And though Jamie is not quite as morally gray as Elle - his moral grayness stops pretty much at the 'actually hurting people' line - there's definitely an element of amorality in him, which they also connect in, I think.

Also I think there is something about being older than your maturity level for both of them. Also the fact that Jamie totally does not mind explaining things to Elle that fall out of her knowledge range, because he enjoys being a know-it-all . . .

There, I have babbled. Your thoughts, you should show me them!

[wakeupnew]

I would love reasons why I am awesome, or icons of pretty things; I am flexible!

[skygiants]

Icons of pretty things will have to wait until post-thesis draft, but reasons why you are awesome is easy! First, I've got to say - reading your posts always makes me smile, because you're one of those people who constantly picks up on the humor and the shininess of the world, if you know what I mean. Beautiful things and wonderfully ridiculous things and just wonderful things are never wasted on you, and that's a rare and important gift. And that's even aside from your own humor and your writing skills - I think we've only threaded together twice or three times ever, which always amazes me, because I've had ridiculous amounts of fun when we did. You've got a way of picking up on the little details that I think must tie back into the first thing I said. In sum: your existence makes me happy. :D

[sir-gareth.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling damn good actually, but hell, I can't turn down an offer like this.

Fic me something Meg and Indy-ish. Cos I miss them.

I'm thinking a director's cut scene from their adventure with Alanna in Loompaland (even though it was all pretty seamless). Regardless, it gives you a random excuse to read it again!

Or y'know... 134 waffles-y.

Or a missing scene from their 1938 New York gala thing.

Do I need to go on?

As a very last resort, can you write Sokka? Sokka and Meg. Something. I don't know!

[skygiants]

The other options are also good . . . but an excuse to write Sokka? How can I turn that down!

[adiva_calandia]

*hugs*

A reassurance that I will get my 15 page Goya paper done on time and that it will not suck would be nice.

Also nice would be inna-dress!Kim and Mary interacting somehow. Kim teaching her to pick locks or pockets? Mary lording reproductive knowledge over her*? Kim's coming out as a girl? Mary's attendance at Kim's come out ball? YOU DECIDE.

*This is on my mind because I'm reading an 18th century treatise on anatomy and venereal disease and there are HORRIFYING THINGS like wombs FALLING OUT. I mean, SERIOUSLY, AUGH.

[skygiants]

You can do this! And it totally will not suck, I PROMISE. (Out of curiosity, when is 'on time'? Not that it will change the reassurance - seriously, it is not fun, but I have written fifteen-page papers in a single night when necessary, and you can too! Um. Not that I would recommend it, if it is at all avoidable.)

Also: BWAHAHAHAHA. *plots evilly*

[ashen_key]

Oooh. I shall think about this and get back to you.

And good luck on your thesis!

[skygiants]

Thank you! And please do. :D Would you like some description of your awesome in the meantime?

[ceitfianna]

*snugs*

Thesis writing, good for you, mine is on pause at the moment and pretty icons are always good and just generally you have helped me read great stuff.

[skygiants]

*snugsback* Icons I can do! :D Pretty icons I cannot promise, necessarily, but I will do my best.

Also *beams* I LOVE having people to gush about DWJ with, you don't even realize how much. Every time we talk about her it makes my day. Although your excellent taste in reading material is obviously not the only reason you're awesome! You are awesome for many reasons involving fun writing and constant friendliness and a general kind of air of exuberance that's totally contagious.

[jothra]

I would actually be very amused to hear your thoughts on yaoi.

[skygiants]

. . . do I have actual thoughts on yaoi?

Um. It is occasionally hilarious! I approve of hilarious yaoi. Does that count? >.>

[silveraspen]

*drifts in, bearing tea and diet Coke, and presents you with both*

Hi. :) I have no idea what to ask for, except maybe a Mary-Gabriel something some day. Mostly I just wanted to leave support because oh man, that's a lot of work to be facing, and I have an inkling of how that goes.

You are an awesome and lovely person. I'm delighted to know you.

[skygiants]

Oooh. *snags, and beams!*

It is really not that bad, I promise! Some weeks things pile up more than others, but overall it works out all right. And Mary-Gabriel I will totally pounce you for as soon as Mary's back from school for break - after all, we have Plans. >:D

And so very likewise, Aspen. *hugs* You are always someone I am supremely happy to know, play with, and just hang out with - and while you maintain a veneer of sage serenity, I know the truth, which is that inside you have a cunning and evil brain which can come up with terrifying yet awesome things!

[oneechan19.livejournal.com]

I can't really think of anything to request. Hm.

Except, oh! The Rufus Wainwright CD you got last May while I was visiting! You were going to rip and then share with me.

[skygiants]

ACK. Yes. I totally forgot to respond to this. And I will totally do this once I go home and re-unearth the CD, the files from which were lost from my computer after the Great Music Accidental Deletion of '07. :D

[dictator-duck.livejournal.com]

I need nothing but you know I never, ever turn down fic.

...Company, Joseph and JB? I couldn't pull it off, maybe you can? :D? *snugs*

P.S. Bah, Becca, for linking to the other post! I somehow managed to tag under there first. *smart*