Here I Am

Life has been super busy recently and work's been charging along as well. Which is good, I guess, because I do enjoy job stability, but a few minutes of rest is always something I enjoy. I've just had a lot of HR-related seminars and workshops recently, so then I'm out of the office and when I'm back in, I've got to play catch up.

I had a few things I wanted to post about, but now that I'm writing the entry, I've got nothing much to report.

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A Story Rec:

For Fandom Trumps Hate, I did some bidding with the plan to make donations no matter what, but I won a few things.

And I got this amazing story set in the Cal Leandros world - Brothers Before Souls  by yopumpkinhead  - It's set during Blackout, but it's from Niko's perspective on dealing with Cal going missing, to finding him, and to making the choices that he does for his brother.  I loved everything about this story and I highly recommend it.  One can never go wrong with Niko POV.  If you know the books, I definitely recommend you check it out.

**

So author reveals occurred for chocolateboxcomm and I meant to share the story I wrote, but again...time gets away from me. 

I wrote The In Between Moments - Walking Dead, Rick/Daryl - it's set over the course of seasons four to winter finale of current season (7) - Somehow Daryl and Rick have managed to carve something out for themselves despite the constant loss and destruction around them. At least they always find their ways back to each other. A series of moments (missing scenes) between Daryl and Rick set from the end of season four through to the winter finale of season seven.

After the initial panic I always experience before starting a project for a challenge, I had a lot of fun with this one.  It took me some time to figure out what I wanted to write and how I wanted to bring canon into it.  And I had one scene written, but I was feeling like I wanted to do more...so it slowly expanded and I'm happy with the final product.  Gotta thank my betas for keeping me on target and pointing out when things that are in my head didn't translate onto the page.  And, it was nice to sort of give Daryl and Rick a few happy moments.

**

I made up my deficit from January on my word count and pulled ahead during February.  A lot of it was nonfannish writing and a few WIPs I've been tossing around in my brain (I long ago stopped posting WIPs because when/if I lose interest, I didn't want people wondering how something ends)

Currently on my fannish writing to-do list:

-my piece for picfor1000 - I've got this cool picture.  Now the challenge is to keep my wordy butt limited to exactly 1000 words.
-Ante-Up Losers story - I love any excuse to rewatch/read Losers.
-Just got my fandom5K assignment the other day and I'm super excited.  And this one I need to come up with something good and something that will lead to at least 5000 words of a story. 

I've also got to continue with my regular writing. 

**

Not much else to report.  I joined Planet Fitness by my house because it was 10.00 a month and I figured it would help me break up my routine.  Though I do most of my working out at home or my Saturday bootcamp class...I do a lot of Jillian Michaels with her dvds or app.  But thought, this might be good for me.  Change it up.  I met with the trainer to set up a personal fitness plan...

This woman was crazy.  Like I just wasted an hour of my time.  First, she told me that I should have a heart rate of 114 when I'm working out to be in the "fat burn zone" like it's still the 80's/early 90's.  And then she just proceeds to give me a sheetful of machines to use and never showed me how to actually use the machines.  And learning the machines is the whole reason I signed up for the personal fitness plan.  It was just insane and has me rethinking this gym.  It's super cheap, but I don't know.  As part of my gastric sleeve surgery I got to use the gym's fitness center for a three month program and work with a trainer.  And maybe I got spoiled because she showed me how to do a move and then made me do it a few times to perfect my form and we moved on.   That's what I need and like.    For  now though, I think I'll just google some of the machines and go from there...or just use the gym for cardio and stick with home for strength training with free weights/body weight.

**

Alright, I'm off.  I'm going to head to bed and do some reading.  I'm trying to finish up the first book in the Mistborn trilogy.  I'm really enjoying it.  It started a bit slow and it took me a little bit to catch on about the journal entries at the start of each chapter, but I find this world fascinating.  Even if the book is 600 pages long.

SaveSave

Dear creator,

Thank you for writing or creating art for me, and I hope you have fun with it.  I tend to be terrible with these letters because I can ramble, but I'm pretty easy to please.  I ended up signing up at the last moment, so that's adding to the strange frenzy feeling to this letter.  My apologies and really, take as much or little of this as you want outside of my definitely no things - which were also in the sign-up.  Feel free to look at my Yuletide letter as well if this doesn't provide enough information.

Things I love:   I love fluff and schmoop.  Sucker for happy endings.  I'm a huge fan of hurt/comfort and I even like angst, but I prefer it to at least end hopefully and definitely prefer happy.  I love competency, friends to more, being equals.  I love familial relationships, but also families we create ourselves.  I'm a huge fan of banter and all that can be said with nuance in those moments.  I'm always a fan of cliches like stranded, forced together, amnesia...as long as it's done well and you have fun with it.  I love genderbending as far as taking a cool male character and making him an even more awesome female character.   I do love me some jealousy/possessiveness as long as it doesn't cross over into a creepy stalker type feeling.   In art I just love catching the quiet moments, domesticity, huddled together.

No, thank you:  most AUs aren't my go-to reads.  I'll read some, but not really what I seek out for fic.  I can't read non-con/rape.  I also can't handle violence against animals or children.  I'm not a fan of death fic or unhappy/no-hope endings.  I don't particularly enjoy incompetence or humiliation for no reason...if it serves a purpose in the story and it makes sense, I can handle it.

Below are the specific requests.  Again, take as much or little from these as you want.  I get how the muse can work (or sometimes not work).  If the match is for art, I don't really have any guidelines for that.  I'm in awe of artists and those abilities.  Again, go where the muse takes you.

Marvel Cinematic Universe
Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes, Steve/Sam, Steve/Tony

It's probably obvious, but I adore Steve Rogers.  He's my favorite character in the Marvel Universe.  Of the three pairings I put, I love them all for different reasons.  Steve/Bucky just know each other and have been through so much together.  I love the relationship that Steve and Sam created and the faith that Sam has always had in Steve...and it's obvious that he's one of the few people that Steve seems to let his guard down around.  Steve and Tony are opposites in so many ways with common hopes for the world and I think they bring out the best and worst in each other.

I always love the idea of Steve pining and not realizing that feelings are returned because he's so oblivious to certain things.  I love the idea of Bucky and Sam forming a close friendship - something Steve wants in theory, but when it starts to happen feels left out and jealous (of whichever pairing you go with).  I love Steve and Tony moving forward together.  Future fic is cool.  For Bucky/Steve, pre-First Avengers is fine.  Really anywhere in the timeline you want.



Sports Night
Dan Rydell/Casey McCall

This is one of my favorite pairings of all time.  I love the banter and deep friendship.  I love that even when they're at each other's throats or mocking each other relentlessly, they always try to be there for each other.   I would really love anything of Dan and Casey, but some ideas - moving from friends to more, Casey trying to help Dan when he gets lost in his head and loss, domestic fic (Charlie being involved optional).

Veritas the Quest
Calvin Banks/Nikko Zond or Nikko & Solomon

From the first episode I loved the relationship between Calvin and Nikko.  I'd prefer it a few years in the future of the show for the pairing because it just feels slightly icky when Nikko is under age.   What do they do in their down time?  How did Solomon react to this relationship?  I'd love them to still bicker and drive each other crazy, but have some balance and fondness, rather than the battles it was on the show.

For Nikko & Solomon - set it during the show, after the show, before the show...I just love their dynamic.  I love that Solomon keeps trying to protect Nikko, but cant' seem to accept that he needs a different sort of relationship at this point.  I love the two of them working to get to know each other and re-create a relationship.  I love that Nikko is a magnet for trouble and is likely turning his father gray.

Teen Wolf
Scott McCall/Stiles Stilinski;  Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski

I love Stiles.  He's my favorite character on this show and I love all his relationships.   I'm always a fan of hurt Stiles that leads to protective Scott or Derek...and him sorta rolling with it to a point.  I love future fic and pack.  I love Stiles figuring out who he is, but still coming back to the pack. 


Stargate Atlantis
John Sheppard/Rodney McKay, John Sheppard/Ronon Dex;  Ronon Dex/Rodney McKay

I recently did a rewatch of this show and I still love it.  I love John/Rodney so much because it seems so obvious to everyone but them.
I love the idea of Sheppard being afraid of a relationship (when he's like barely afraid of anything else) but having his eyes opened when Rodney gets hurt.  I love Rodney getting snippy with John about taking stupid risks.  Future fic.

For Ronon with Sheppard or Rodney - I love the idea of him coming to stay on earth with them and seeing that side of their lives.  I love that Ronon is much more a person of showing how he feels through actions, but can still say something important when he needs to.  I love as much as he messes with Rodney, he respects and cares for him. 


Crossover Fandom
Barry Allen/Kara Danvers

Since the first crossover episode with them, I just loved the idea of these two.  They're both people who were quiet and nerdy - for different reasons - for a lot of their life, but they become these strong people when they start to use their powers (or in Barry's case, get his powers).  I like the idea of them because Kara doesn't necessarily have to be too gentle because Barry isn't as easy to break and can hold his own because of his powers and healing.

Kara Danvers/Steve Rogers

I saw this pairing as an option and I was just intrigued.  Never really thought about it before, but it could totally be the most awesome thing ever.  And like with Barry, it's pretty hard to break Steve, so I think Kara doesn't have to worry too much about how breakable he could be.  But at the same time, Steve is reckless and self-sacrificing to a level that I can just see irritating her beyond belief.  So much potential here.


Anyway, I know I've said this before but take as much or as little from these thoughts as you want.  I hope I didn't confuse things.  Just write something you'll enjoy and I'm sure I will too.

Happy writing or drawing, as the case may be!

Tommygirl