An email from my mom:

Here are some things Dad mentioned he would like:

Movies: Star Trek, Terminator Seduction (not sure, couldn't make out his spelling,) Night in the Museum (new one,) District 9


My dad has never been known for his spelling. But I wouldn't be surprised if that is indeed exactly what he wrote.

Current Mood: amused
Current Music: this way--jewel

Well, as Welch would say, this is what we made. For cal_reflector's request Asagi/Koiwai (which means I should have all sorts of disclaimers about how I don't know the series well and haven't finished it and blah blah blah).

Title: Yotsuba and T-shirt Girl
Series: Yotsuba to!
Length: 1285 words
Genre: Uh... Humor?
Summary: Asagi gets involved in a family game.


This was really, really hard, and I'm not happy with it, so if it disappoints, I owe you something else. I couldn't get into the characters at all.

And I found it a very difficult style and humor to duplicate, especially without visuals, because you end up with a text littered with so many exclamation points that it looks like it was edited by Elaine Benes.

Tags: drabble requests, fanfic
Current Mood: uncomfortable
Current Music: d playing video games

D got his letter today, and though he's got like nine prereqs to take first... he's in!

Current Mood: relieved
Current Music: perhaps perhaps perhaps--mari wilson

13drabbles Challenge
Drabbles Completed: 9/13

Title: Fireworks
Series: ToA
Length: 100 words
Theme: #13, "Unexpected"
Character: Natalia (Guy/Natalia)


Finally, a pure 100-word drabble. This one has been giving me fits because I've been trying to make it something more, but sometimes, you've just got to stick to 100.

Time has been getting away from me on these, too. I still have four to go. I needed to get this one done and up and out of my way so I can concentrate on other things. I've really been letting my writing fall way down my list of priorities lately. Stupid shiny new video game.

Tags: abyss, abyss fic, fanfic, guy/natalia
Current Mood: accomplished
Current Music: the name of the game--abba

Since there was absolutely nothing on TV last night, we decided to get a head start on our Christmas movies. We started with Scrooged, which we bought after Christmas last year and hadn't seen in ages--it never seems to be on TV anymore. Oh my gosh, what an 80s time capsule. Tab! Mary Lou Retton! West Berlin! The Solid Gold Dancers!

So here's our list:

Scrooged
The Ref
Love Actually
Miracle on 34th Street
It's a Wonderful Life
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
About a Boy*
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (MST3K version)
Santa Claus (MST3K version)



*Not technically a Christmas movie, but it's become a tradition to watch it every year anyway.



And I hope I can track down A Very Brady Christmas on TV this year. Last year I couldn't find it, but it eventually showed up Christmas morning and I caught the last half hour. So gloriously cheesy.

And dammit, Eight is Enough's "Yes Nicholas, There is a Santa Claus" still gets me. I hope it's still up on AOL video. I've got it bookmarked somewhere....

Current Mood: nostalgic
Current Music: santa lost a ho--the christmas jug band

D has his grad school interview today.

Please send him good vibes.

Current Mood: optimistic
Current Music: everything counts--depeche mode

Oops. Just spent $125 at BAM.

Oh well, at least most of it was Christmas presents.

Current Mood: embarrassed
Current Music: if I had $1000000--barenaked ladies

Geez, was that episode an exercise in fanservice for the Sheldon/Penny contingent or what?



How come I never get fanservice for my pairings? I always back the wrong horses.

Current Mood: tired
Current Music: a theory--tracy chapman

LUCKY 13!



Fun fact: D took me to see Space Jam on our honeymoon. Yes, the movie with Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny. Amazingly, I did not leave him then and there.

Current Mood: loved
Current Music: come by me--harry connick jr

I have to wait until JUNE for the next Apothecarius Argentum? What the heck? With these long waits I totally forget what happened from one volume to the next. And did you not only ( no one cares ) Bastards!


And it looks like they're finally releasing season 2 of You're Under Arrest. Thank goodness. Might have to make it an early Christmas present for D. Aw, he says he wants to wait until the second set comes out. Dammit, I want to watch it now!

Tags: you're under arrest
Current Mood: annoyed
Current Music: big in japan--alphaville

Since I can't do Secret Santa, does anyone want to exchange gift fic drabbles with me?


Although my chances of getting some steamy Guy/Nat are nil, right?

Current Mood: curious
Current Music: let's forget about it--lisa loeb

At various times I've started some of these other drabbles, then got stuck, switched to another theme, got stuck, then played video games instead. I really, really would like to finish at least one of them this week.

But I don't know which one to focus on. My problem is I'll look at one, then look at another, then do nothing.

I don't know if I should try to finish the idea I started, or scrap it for something different.


Poll #1482444 Unblock me
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 2

Which theme should I strive to finish this week?

I find it ironic that the one theme I have absolutely no idea what to do with is "Health" given that my girl has healing artes. You'd think that would be the easiest one.

Current Mood: frustrated
Current Music: please read the letter--robert plant and alison krauss

Go Blazers!



But more importantly.....



GEAUX TIGERS!!!








Ah, well, at least UAB won, so D won't spend the rest of the weekend pissed off. It would have been nice to see Bama go down, though.

Current Mood: hopeful
Current Music: funhouse--pink

Oh, game. You give me the "yay, Guy cheered up Natalia" skit before he actually did. Are you even trying?

Guy: If His Majesty insists on rejecting you, then come with me to Malkuth. I'd welcome you with open arms.

SWOON. Shippiest line in the whole game. Curse you, anime, for leaving it out. You know if you take that to insane shipper extremes, it's practically a proposal. I mean, royal blood or not, a proper lady isn't going to run off with a man she isn't married to.

And I love his other little attempts to include her and cheer her up. Talking about the Behemoth and how it can't be much of a monster if it's running away from flowers, right Natalia? Just to make her giggle. Man, so sweet.



Then when he helps rescue Anise and Nat says she's proud of him. Aw, we've come a long way from "You're so strange and pathetic", haven't we.



Although I think one of my absolute favorite lines is when Tear says the very idea of her and Luke having "that kind of relationship" is "absurd", and then Guy says, "Damn, that was cold." I don't know why that cracks me up every time.






And I cannot get this song out of my head, especially the "Oh-oh!" parts.

Tags: abyss, not now! i'm playing video games!
Current Location: sheridan
Current Mood: enthralled
Current Music: male prima donna--sublte sexuality

13drabbles Challenge
Drabbles Completed: 8/13

Title: Campfires and Company
Series: ToA
Length: 700 words
Theme: #6, "Food/Drink"
Character: Natalia (Guy-Natalia friendship)


And so the pendulum swings back to friendship. This is the one I got frustrated with and put aside for something pornier. I'm still not quite thrilled with it, and it again went too long. Sometimes I think these ideas are simple enough to fit a drabble, then I do a check and I'm over six hundred words, so I try to wrap it up before it gets any longer. And I like round numbers. I hate to have something with an awkward number. I was at 691 or something, and I was like, geez, can't I squeeze in nine more somewhere?

I don't know where in the canon timeline this takes place. I tried to pinpoint it, but then realized Guy has plenty of things to brood about, so it doesn't need to happen after any particular event.


You know, I think I like the birthday one better, though. Maybe I should have stuck with that idea. Oh, well.

Tags: abyss, abyss fic, fanfic
Current Mood: blah
Current Music: one starry night--shades apart

I kind of broke my own rule when they split up for Kaitzur and Engeve. My first priority is keeping G/N together, and second is to keep a healer in each group. Well, the first time I played, I sent Guy and Luke with Natalia, then the second time I sent Guy and Anise with her, so this time I had to go with Guy and Tear. So the Jade-Anise-Luke group had no healer. At least they had plenty of items.

But, yeah, sorry, Guy, that I made you go with two beautiful girls. I know that's like your nightmare. When you'd reach camp each day and the screen went black, whatever you three did is your own business. What happens on the battlefield stays on the battlefield, right?

I loved his concern for Cecille and telling her to be careful, and she was like, "What? Oh, thanks." Like she was thinking, "Weirdo." Hey, he just doesn't want any more of his family to die, okay?



Jade: Besides, Guy says he'll carry you on the way back.
Anise: Ooh, really? Uh...Guy, can you do that?
Guy: ...Well, as much as I'd like to...
Anise: Figures... I guess you can't do anything about your special condition.
Guy: Special condition, huh...? Well, maybe I just need a special lady to condition me.

Oh, Guy. Oh, Guy. Never again will I worry that the things I make you say are too cheesy, because that, my dear boy, was cheesetacular.

And "As much as I'd like to"? Don't put Guy/Anise in my head, game. Don't do it!



He was back in fine form with his one point of damage against the beastie down in the ruins. Then he yells at Nat, all, "Hey, think before using your artes!" and she yells back, "I don't need to hear that from you!" Dude, she's healing you. Fine, just die fifty times in this battle.

And, Jade, you're supposed to be badass. I put you in boss battles so you can cast wicked artes, and what do you do? Nothing. You completely ignore my strategy and my direct instructions. Geez, I may as well put Luke back in.

It took me thirty-six minutes to fight that thing.




Crap, I didn't get the skit where Guy comforts all the girls. What the hell, game? You give me the skit about traveling the whole world while I'm still in freaking Daath and haven't even been to half the places yet, and you can't give me the skit with Guy and his harem? What the hell?

Tags: abyss, not now! i'm playing video games!
Current Location: zao ruins
Current Mood: cranky
Current Music: right by your side--eurythmics

I never use my Noelle icon. Here she is.

Because GINJI DIED.

This is the first time I didn't save him. I didn't know it was possible to not save him, but when I was making my list of new things to do on this third play, I realized I had to let him die. BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO. And then it was moot, because it took me too long to fight the whatsit monster in the Highlands, and I didn't make it in time anyway.

I'm sorry, Ginji!

Noelle sure was practical about it, though. "Oh, well. Anyway, we need to get going."



One thing I need to remember and haven't been taking advantage of in fic is Natalia's love of fantastic stories. I can never be sure if she just really gets into them, or if she believes them a little. Of course, it's probably both.



Oh, and the reason I never made it through the forest before? I was GOING THE WRONG WAY. Duh. I actually paid attention this time and Tear tells you which way to go. I still suck at sneaking--I thought I was hiding behind the rocks, but they saw me anyway. And I can never aim Mieu right to get the fire off in the right place. The wolf things always saw me before I could scare them with the fire. But I finally did it.

Tags: abyss, not now! i'm playing video games!
Current Location: shurrey hill
Current Mood: sad
Current Music: bitter heart--zee avi

Heh, so my game is just like "Screw it. You're getting skits whether they're in the right place or not." On a third go, it's not like they're spoiling me.

But it's still funny to get the househusband skit where Anise says "I'll marry you any time, Count Gailardia!" when we're not supposed to know that yet!



Nat: Luke! The Tartarus is a Malkuth craft, you know. Kimlasca-Lanvaldear's cruise ship, the Princess Natalia, is much more enjoyable.
Anise: Yeah, that sounds a lot better.
Guy: Really? I think men would take the Tartarus any day.

Oh, please, Guy. You know you want a ride on the Princess Natalia. She herself promises an enjoyable experience.




Guy: Shall I go with you?
Luke: Nephry's a woman, remember?
Guy: Oh, I love looking at beautiful women.
Nat: Guy is most certainly... a guy...

And yet why are we the only ones who think he's straight?


I still think "Sarah Palin" when I see Nephry. She just has that look.



Man, I hate Theor Forest. I can't do the sneaking thing. In the past when it asked "Give up and just fight?" I was like hell yeah, just fight. I'm trying to do the sneaking part this time, but I suck.

Like the thing later where you have to draw the glyph, and the game's like, "You suck. Give up and let Tear do it?" I'll have to do that right this time, too.

Tags: abyss, not now! i'm playing video games!
Current Location: theor forest
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: all the things she said--simple minds

Ha, my game messed up. I had Natalia in her Star of Malkuth costume, because why wouldn't you, and got the skit about that.

Except.

1)It features short-hair!Luke, and this was before the Haircut of Redemption
2)Luke wasn't in the party; he was sleeping in Yulia City

Oops!

I've also been using various short-hair!Luke titles prior to the HoR because... well, I'm shallow, and I hate the long hair*. I remember when I first bought the game and he had short hair on the front of the box and long hair on the back, and I spent the whole first part of the game waiting for him to cut his damn hair.

But because I put him in short-hair mode right up front, I got Guy saying, "What's up with your hair? Oh, it's a rug!" Ha! Then after teh HoR, Tear says something like, "You know, I was really surprised when you took your wig off and cut your hair. Are you going to get a long hair wig now?" That's so awesome. But it makes me wonder why Natalia had zero reaction to the short-hair/wig up front. I don't know, maybe she will once we rescue her and Ion-hime?


Then I also put Nat in her bathing suit while Asch was in the party. You're welcome, kid.



I don't guess there's any reason to have Asch cook. I just like making him cook because then Natalia practically has an orgasm over pizza.





*Although it works on Asch. Not really game!Asch, because he's a bit ridiculous looking, but anime!Asch? Kind of hot. I get it, Natalia.

Tags: abyss, not now! i'm playing video games!
Current Location: daath
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: male prima donna--subtle sexuality

I hate that I can't make Luke not do stupid things. It sucks to just sit there helpless knowing the story has to go the way it does, and all you can do is shout "Noooooooooo!"

I do enjoy cutting Van off in mid-sentence. Shut up, Van.


Luke: ...How come you opened the channel to me?
Asch: I wouldn't have if I'd known how stupid you were, defect.

Haha, I do love you, Asch.


Guy: If Luke thinks by himself for a while, I'm sure he'll realize what he needs to do.
Asch: Humph. I wonder.
Luke: (Guy...)
Asch: (He's as naive a fool as he always was...)
Guy: I don't trust you, you know.

But haha, you don't know Guy at all. And he's got some serious restraint. While you're all, "Stupid reject stole my family from me", if I were Guy, I'd throw my personal tragedy in your face, all, "At least your family's still alive. Your dad killed mine, asshole."

(Oh, and "naive" and "fool" are definitely not words I'd use to describe Guy.)


And Natalia's little "Do you remember me?" almost breaks my heart. Oh, sweetie, I think the thought of you is all that kept him going some days.



But, Nat. I stick up for you on the not-knowing-how-to-cook thing, because you're a princess, and you have people to do that for you. But. How do you burn a sandwich? It's lettuce on bread. WHY ARE YOU EVEN GETTING HEAT INVOLVED?

Tags: abyss, not now! i'm playing video games!
Current Location: yulia city
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: white flag--dido