Kat

BWA!

2008-07-21T20:13:49Z

I now have a recording of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend."

Sung by Yzma.

CANNOT. STOP. LAUGHING.

Fanmix: falling is like this

2008-07-21T20:08:57Z

Medium: Books
Fandom: Lois McMaster Bujold’s Miles Vorkosigan series
Subject: Cordelia Naismith/Aral Vorkosigan
Title: Falling Is Like This
Warnings: Huge spoilers for Shards of Honor.
Notes: A soundtrack for a love story. All quotes are from Shards of Honor, by Lois McMaster Bujold, and thus spoil the book very badly.

zip with all songs and art

1) The Meeting: First Sight, Trevor Morris
[instrumental]
“It first occurred to me when I saw you in the ravine.”
“What, throwing up in the mud?”
He grinned at that. “With great composure. By the time we finished burying your officer, I knew.”

2) The Journey: Falling is Like This, Ani diFranco
You give me that look that's like laughing
with liquid in your mouth
like you're choosing between choking
and spitting it all out
like you're trying to fight gravity
on a planet that insists
that love is like falling
and falling is like this
“I…” he began, and trailed off. “You’re not what I expected a female officer to be.”
“Oh? Well, you’re not what I expected a Barrayaran officer to be, either, so I guess that makes two of us.”

3) Proposal: Falling Slowly, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can't go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won
“I thought, perhaps, when we arrive on Barrayar, and you are free, you might consider staying…not a visit. Permanently. As—as Lady Vorkosigan.”
…
She wondered where the phrase about hearts leaping up came from; it felt far more like the bottom dropping out of her stomach.

4) Cordelia Leaves: Sacrifice, Christophe Beck
[instrumental]
Last chance to leave a message for Vorkosigan—no. The absurdity of transmitting the words “I love you” through Tafas’s mouth shook her with painful inward laughter. “My compliments” sounded rather swelled-headed, under the circumstances; “my regards,” too cold; as for the simplest of all, “yes”…

5) The Interval: Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning), Vertical Horizon
So you sailed away
Into a grey sky morning
Now I'm here to stay
Love can be so boring…
But it's not so bad
You're only the best I ever had
You don't want me back
You're just the best I ever had
“You saved my clothes?”
“As you see.”
“Good heavens. Uh—why?”
His mouth crimped ruefully. “Well—it was all you left.”

6) The Lovers at Escobar: Head Over Heels, Yiruma
[instrumental]
She sighed shakily at the sight of him, and the paralyzing panic streamed out of her in that long breath…
His lips moved silently around the shape of her name, and he entered, a sudden panic in his face almost matching her own.

7) The Battle of Escobar: Winterborn, Cruxshadows
Discard regret, that in this debt
A better world is made
That children of a newer day might remember
And avoid our fate
And in the fury of this darkest hour
We will be your light
You've asked me for my sacrifice
And I am Winter born
He stared into the snow, then reran the transmission, transfixing it with a frightening expression, grief and rage and nausea mixed…
“It’s—“ Venne had to clear his throat, “it’s confirmed. The Prince’s flagship has been—obliterated. There’s nothing left but debris. You’re in command now, sir.”

8) I Can’t Take Barrayar: So Close, Jon McLaughlin
We are so close
To reaching that famous happy ending
Almost believing this one’s not pretending
Let’s go on dreaming for we know we are
So close
So close
And still so far
“You are—you are—I don’t know what you are. But I need it. Will you marry me?”
She sighed, and laid her head upon her knees, twisting a grass stem around her fingers. “I love you. You know that, I hope. But I can’t take Barrayar. Barrayar eats its children.”

9) We Really Must Do Something About Our Eyes: The Atheist Christmas Carol, Vienna Teng
It's the season of scars and of wounds in the heart
Of feeling the full weight of our burdens
It's the season of bowing our heads in the wind
And knowing we are not alone in fear
Not alone in the dark
Don't forget
Don't forget I love
I love
I love you
He took her in his arms, and they kissed, for the first time, for a long time.
“Oh,” she muttered after. “Perhaps that was a mistake. It hurts so much when you stop.”
“Well, let me…” His hand stroked her hair gently, then desperately wrapped itself in a shimmering coil; they kissed again.

10) Suicide By Alcohol: Soldier of Fortune, Deep Purple
But I feel I’m growing older
And the songs that I have sung
Echo in the distance
Like the sound
Of a windmill going round
I guess I’ll always be
A soldier of fortune
“You’ll have to give up this suicide-by-alcohol thing, you know.”
He cocked his head. “I thought I was being subtle.”
“Not noticeably.”

11) Home to Beta Colony: Exile, Kate Rusby and Kathryn Roberts
and I can dream before the break of day
that I'm back with you again
then the morning blows it all away
and leaves an echo of your name
and still a thousand miles lies between us
and we're waking up alone
what if I could cross a hundred borders
there's no going home
That night, in her weariness and loneliness, she sat down to write her first letter to Vorkosigan. She threw away her original attempt halfway through, when she realized his mail was probably read by other eyes, perhaps Illyan’s. Her second was more neutrally worded. She made it handwritten, on paper, and being alone kissed it before she sealed it, then smiled wryly at herself for doing so. A paper letter was far more expensive to ship to Barrayar than an electronic one, but he would handle it, as she had. It was as close to a touch as they could come.

12) Returning: Look into the Air, Explosions in the Sky
[instrumental]
Alone at last, she leaned her forehead against the cool smooth plastic side of a packing case, and wept silently for herself.

13) Reunion: She Was There, Douglas Sills (Scarlet Pimpernel OBC)
All at once, I felt a chill
In a spill of moonlight, she was there
Though we both held very still
There was something pulling in the air
His eyes snapped open. “You,” he said hoarsely after a moment, “are not a hallucination.”

14) Marriage: Lullaby, Dixie Chicks
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up
“Can you, ah—stay long?”
There was a hesitant hunger in his face, soundless desire suppressed by uncertainty. We have hesitated so long, she thought, it’s become a habit. Then it dawned on her that he feared she might only be visiting…
“As long as you like…I can’t go back. I resigned my commission—mailed it in from Escobar—and everything I own is in the back of that flyer down there.”
She savored the delight that ignited his eyes during this speech, as it finally penetrated that she was here to stay. It contented her.

15) Forever: Life Less Ordinary, Carbon Leaf
The night you came into my life
Well it took the bones of me, took the bones of me
You blew away my storm and strife
And shook the bones of me, shook the bones of me
By the way, I do know why you stayed away...
I will keep tongue-tied next time
He stirred beside her, and pulled the sheet tenderly up over her bare shoulder, tenting them together... “Ezar had been questioning me about you, in our argument about Escobar. Implied that you had affected my nerve, for the worse. I didn’t know then if I’d ever see you again. He wanted to know what I saw in you. I told him…” he paused again, and then continued almost shyly, “that you poured out honor like a fountain, all around you.”

Bonus Song
Miles Vorkosigan: Bigger Than My Body, John Meyer

tigerkat24 @ 2008-07-18T19:10:00

2008-07-18T23:16:32Z

It was pointed out to me today that I have a nickname for every single horse in my stables. So, for your edification and entertainment, some of the more colorful ones:

Crouching Moron Hidden Batshit, Psychopath, Alfeazle or just Feazle, Li'l Thang I, II, and III, Bitchpony, Bratpony, Grand Old Lady (this mare's nickname varies between that and "Evelyn," actually; Sixth Doctor fans will know why), Fuzzyface, Mr. Nibbles, Loverboy, Babydoll, Ladybird, Boo, Theney-Boo, Pickadiddle, Trubs, Dinosaur, General Lee (or "Richard Henry Lee," depending on whether I've watched Gettysburg or 1776 more recently), Big'n'Dumb, Qubert, Uglyface, Spaztastic, Hanky Panky (also occasionally known as "Grand Pimpmaster" and "Iroh"), and You Bastard.

I love my job.

tigerkat24 @ 2008-07-18T11:48:00

2008-07-18T15:49:20Z

HAYBALES SUCK.

*goes back to work*

(FG folks, I might be five minutes late tonight. Gonna need a serious bath after today's work)

Fanmix: an unearthly man

2008-07-17T02:47:21Z

Medium: Television
Fandom: Doctor Who
Subject: The Doctor
Title: an unearthly man
Warnings: Nothing more serious than Doctor/TARDIS shipping and a very strange sense of humor.
Notes: Fourteen songs for the Doctor, and a bonus that I simply couldn’t resist. No specific Doctor intended. Explication, pictures and zip behind the cut.

zip here

1) The Doctor’s Theme, Murray Gold
[instrumental]
Introducing the Doctor.

2) Bill Nye the Science Guy
Bill Nye the Science Guy
Bill Bill Bill Bill Bill Bill
Bill Nye the Science Guy
Introducing the Doctor a little less reverently.

3) Wand’rin’ Star, Lee Marvin
Wheels are made for rollin',
mules are made to pack.
I never seen a sight
that didn't look better lookin' back.
I was born under a wand'rin' star.
The Doctor and his journeys; can’t have one without the other.

4) The Garden of Everything, Sakamato Maaya feat. Steve Conte
Each atom sings to me
Set me free
From chains of the physical
Oh free me
Oh free me
The Doctor and his TARDIS; really can’t have one without the other.

5) Whistle Down the Wind, John Barrowman
Make it clear and strong, so the whole night long
Every signal that you send, until the very end
I will not abandon you, my precious friend…
So whistle down the wind, for I have always been right there
The Doctor’s invitation to his friends. Is it any wonder so many of them accept?

6) Self-Preservation, The Lucksmiths
And, yeah, we're a mess
But let me just stress
That we're both at our best in a tight spot
And whatever comes next
If we leave the nest
Don't settle for less than what we've got
The Doctor and his companions. They may bicker a lot, but when the chips are down, they’ve got each others’ backs.

7) Movin’ Right Along, Kermit and Fozzie
Movin' right along, hey, L.A., where've you gone?
Send someone to fetch us, we're in Saskatchewan.
Movin' right along (doog-a-doon, doog-a-doon)
You take it, you know best.
Hey, I've never seen the sun come up in the West.
The Doctor and his companions on their journeys. Sure, they may not always know where the hell they are, but at least they had a lot of fun getting there.

8) Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious!
If you say it loud enough, you'll always sound precocious,
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
The Doctor talking his way out of danger. He has to do this quite a lot.

9) Die Another Day, Madonna
For every sin, I'll have to pay
I've come to work, I've come to play
I think I'll find another way
It's not my time to go
The Doctor and regeneration. Hey, when you’ve got thirteen lives, you always die another day.

10) Winterborn, The Cruxshadows
And in the fury of this darkest hour
We will be your light
You've asked me for my sacrifice
And I am winterborn
The Doctor and the Time War.

11) Kyrie Eleison, Gregorian
[no lyrics found]
The Doctor alone.

12) Another White Dash, Butterfly Boucher
There is something exciting about leaving everything behind
There is something deep and pulling leaving everything behind
Something about having everything you think you'll ever need
Sitting in the seat next to you
And I watch another white dash, another white dash, another white dash
Fly beside us
The Doctor keeps going, in the end. He always will.

13) We Are the Champions, Queen
We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions of the world
The Doctor’s hope; sometimes, he wins, and everybody lives.

14) The Doctor, Murray Gold
[instrumental]
The Doctor; older, wiser, but still ever the Doctor.

Bonus Song: I Got a Girl, Lou Bega
I got a girl in Paris, I got a girl in Rome
I even got a girl in the Vatican dome
I got a girl right here, I got a girl right there
And I got a girlfriend everywhere.
I got a girl on the moon, I got a girl on Mars
I even got a girl that likes to dance in the stars
I got a girl right here, and one right there
And I got a girlfriend everywhere
‘Cause let’s face it. He does.

tigerkat24 @ 2008-07-16T14:20:00

2008-07-16T18:23:16Z

If this goes into law, just when I finally got on birth control, I am going to climb over the counter and strangle the first pharmacist to deny me my legally-proscribed medication for cripplingly intense pain, you motherfuckers. Then I am going to HHS and explaining to everyone there in pointed detail just what happens to my body when I am not on birth control, complete with practical demonstrations. With a corkscrew and a hammer. And probably a lot of needles.

Any suggestions, ladies?
(Seriously, write to your Congressional representatives and get this wiped off the books for all eternity. Fuckers.)

Writing Meme!

2008-07-16T18:03:16Z

To pass the time for you while I reread His Majesty's Dragon and sequels and finish Victory of Eagles.

Post the first lines from your last twenty-five fics and see if there's a pattern (or something like that).

1) There is a turtle swimming through space, with four giant elephants and a flat disc of a world balanced carefully atop its meteor-pocked shell. That’s no less believable than a police box travelling through time and space.
-The Dalek Invasion of Discworld, Doctor Who/Discworld

2) I freely admit that I have a really bad sense of timing when it comes to women.
-A Modest Proposal, Dresden Files

3) Road trips, Molly decided, were definitely out.
-Four Ways Long Distance Relationships Don't Work Out, and One Way They Definitely Do, Dresden Files

4) Murphy stares at him, her expression totally blank. “Dresden, what exactly were you thinking? No, forget that, were you thinking?”
-Asking for Trouble, Dresden Files

5) The church was empty, silent apart from the creaking of the doors and the Doctor’s footsteps on the carpet. He frowned.
-Ten Times Trouble, Doctor Who

6) Sophie was laughing helplessly in the corner, Calcifer convulsed with cackles, and even Michael was having a hard time muffling his giggles. Howell did not think it was remotely funny, but that was his family for you.
-What Planet Are You From?, Howl's Moving Castle/Torchwood

7) The Brain was not pleased with his new minion.
-World's Greatest Criminal Mind, Pinky and the Brain/The Great Mouse Detective

8) The slender, gothy young woman eyed the terminally skinny anthropomorphic personification and said, “I don’t think this blind date thing is working out.”
-Blind Date, Sandman/Discworld

9) They always used lightning.
-It's Always Lightning, Avatar: The Last Airbender/Star Wars. Not fond of this one.

10) He was clever, that was the hell of it, clever and witty and peculiarly stupid in that way that I could never once resist, witness the Doctor.
-The Hell of It, RPF/Doctor Who

11) “Approval,” he says, and she laughs at him.
-Honor, Avatar: The Last Airbender/Mulan

12) She shoots him a glance over the rim of her glass, smirks, and says, “Nice gun.”
-Explosive, Firefly/Doctor Who

13) He met her again when he dove behind a wall to avoid a line of bullets and landed facefirst in her breasts.
-Bang, Firefly/Doctor Who

14) Harry Dresden was not amused on a number of levels.
-Practicality, Dresden Files/Harry Potter. Proved surprisingly popular. Apparently people like bazookas.

15) “MRS. HUDSON!”
-Ridiculous, Sherlock Holmes/The Great Mouse Detective

16) The shouting could be heard down the hall.
-The Usual, Harry Potter/The Lord of the Rings/Arthurian Legend. I'm thinking this one should be retitled "Beardsley's," though.

17) There was another one out there.
-You Are Not Alone, Doctor Who/Magic School Bus. Sequel in the works.

18) The TARDIS lands him on some godforsaken planet where they still used elements, when she was still fighting him, before he made her submit. Still, they have metal ships, and a certain level of sophistication. He realizes this when he pokes his head out the doors to see where he was and comes face to face with a ring of blue fire so hot it singes his face.
-I Can't Decide, Avatar: The Last Airbender/Doctor Who

19) They didn’t talk about it for the longest time.
-The Sound of Silence, the Sarah Jane Adventures

20) The stories were lovely, full of mystery and danger, joy and sorrow intermingled. His mother’s soft voice would weave tales of the Crusades and Sir Ian of Jaffa; his father would tell of Yataxa the goddess with pride in his face. Daleks and Voord and Zarbi lived alongside Kublai Khan and Robespierre and Nero, heroes and villains and those in between, glorious things his parents had seen and done.
-Listening, Doctor Who

21) “I dunno,” Jayne said, and stuck his foot out to get a better look. “Not sure ‘bout the spikes.”
-Special Discount, Firefly, Puck's fault

22) Rule number one of being me. It’s always vampires.
-Surprise Attack, Dresden Files

23) There is not much to do in these quick, quiet seconds besides think.
-The Space Between the Seconds, Doctor Who

24) Camera on Sozin as he outlines his plot for taking over the entire nation to someone off screen. He mentions the death of the Avatar and the danger of the Air Kingdoms, says something about “the task you were born for.” He may mention that it was emotions that brought down the Avatar and nearly brought him down. Long, wonderful, impassioned, menacing monologue, beautifully performed. He turns around, says, “And you will help me defeat them.”
Cut to a Dalek. “AFFIRMATIVE.”
-Doctor Air, Avatar: The Last Airbender/Doctor Who. Apparently very few things cannot be improved by adding "Cut to a Dalek."

25) Today, not to put too fine a point on it, sucked.
-Harry Dresden and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Dresden Files

Hmm. General patterns seem to be me playing with language more and more. I start out messing around with Space Between the Seconds and by the Dalek Invasion of Discworld I've nearly gone overboard. Thank you, darling beta! A few of these, namely all the Dresden Files fic and The Dalek Invasion of Discworld are me consciously trying to mimic the author in question. Interestingly, I've only started out with dialogue in three fics; I was under the impression that I did it a lot more. I also seem to start out right in the middle of the story and explain things later. Very Doctorlike of me, I think. So! What do you think?

tigerkat24 @ 2008-07-14T16:09:00

2008-07-14T20:11:29Z

WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME VICTORY OF EAGLES WAS OUT.

ASKGNSPKFJFL.

*flail*

History Annoyances

2008-07-11T20:55:51Z

Dear author of the book I'm reading:

Stop implying that John Adams did not love his wife. Fifty-nine years of love letters say you fail. Kthxbai.

Seriously, how is this hard? John and Abigail Adams are one of the great American love stories, to hear everyone but you tell it. Yes, they fought, yes, they disagreed on shit, but you know what? So does every single loving couple ever. People argue. It happens. It doesn't mean they loved each other any less.

Oh, and "remember the ladies" and his dismissal of it that you're going on about? Please note that if you actually read the letter in question and don't just take the quotes out of context, it becomes obvious that they were teasing each other. Abigail certainly meant "remember the ladies," no lie, but his response? Was a joke. Remember that you yourself said she was his greatest political advisor and the one he depended on the most. Clearly one should not take that response all that seriously.

Jeebus, woman. Get your stories straight.

Annoyed,
A John Adams Fangirl

(PS: Jefferson can suck it.)

tigerkat24 @ 2008-07-08T00:26:00

2008-07-08T04:26:56Z

Wow, fashion website, recommending strapless dresses for busty gals isn't going to make people laugh at you at all. Admit it, dudes, you just want to see some boobage.

Journey's End Reaction Post

2008-07-06T03:15:56Z

Wow. Just... wow. Rusty is forgiven LoTTL.

In order of various levels of fangirling!

Sarah Jane! She got her badass back! I heartily approve. Needed moar Luke (I should have liked him to help save the world; he's quite good at that) but what little there was of him was excellent. Also, "It's a long story." I'll bet. Needed moar Sarah Jane/Jack, too, but I approve of what was there.

WAAAAAH DONNA. Oh, Donna. You will be so missed, dear heart. Don't worry, though, Torchwood and UNIT and Sarah Jane, they've got your back. Oh, darling. At least you went out with a hell of a bang.

Is it just me or are Martha and Mickey working for Torchwood now?

About the second Ten: Rusty nicked that idea off honorh's Seed Pearls. Trufax.

DoctorDonna was win. In so many ways and on so many levels.

Cheer up, emo Doctor! Go get an explanation for that brown-haired, very clever, socially inept, suspiciously-resembling-you boy before Sarah Jane decides to fuck with your head a bit.

Oh wow. Rusty is so forgiven. Wow.

Fic: The Dalek Invasion of Discworld

2008-07-05T23:19:43Z

Title: The Dalek Invasion of Discworld
Author: TigerKat24
Rating: PG-13 for some swearing.
Summary: Exactly what it says on the tin. Beta'd by the lovely Priscellie.
Disclaimer: I own neither Daleks nor Discworld.

There is a turtle swimming through space, with four giant elephants and a flat disc of a world balanced carefully atop its meteor-pocked shell. That’s no less believable than a police box travelling through time and space.

The police box is nowhere near this universe, anyway.

A saucer was. It was shaped vaguely like a donut with windows. Inside, the most feared enemy of the Time Lords prepared to invade as their ship approached the turtle: a terrifying sight, sure to spark fear in the heart of any sensible being.

No one ever accused the Discworld’s inhabitants of being sensible.

--

Samuel Vimes was not having a good day.

"Oh, come on!" he shouted at the skies. "Vampires who don't drink blood, golems that own themselves, fine, but homicidal pepperpots? Seriously?"

Nobody responded. Bastards.

Vimes kicked the pepperpot that Sybil’s dragons had roasted, bruised his toe, and had to hop around swearing for a bit. Solid metal. He’d never seen anything made of metal that could talk. Must be something the wizards had made; he’d send up a nasty letter in the morning.

Still swearing, he headed into the city. Time to rally the Watch and “exterminate” the rest of them.

--

Archchancellor Ridcully stalked back into his study in a vicious temper. He’d received three death threats and a pointed note from the Patrician, enough to annoy any man who didn’t deserve them.

He glared at the hastily-drawn circle, which contained something resembling a tankard designed by Bloody Stupid Johnson.

“All right!” he bellowed at it. “What are you?”

The thing, already incensed, practically vibrated with rage.

“DALEKS DO NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS! EXTERMINATE!” A line of scorching light burned through the wall where Ridcully’s head had been a moment before.

The Archchancellor snapped his fingers.

He’d been needing a footstool anyway.

--

“Dungeon dimensions?” Nanny asked, nibbling an apple.

Creak, creak, went Granny’s rocking chair. “What else could they be?”

“The Gentry,” Nanny opined.

Granny shook her head. “’S metal. The Gentry don’t like metal.”

Nanny picked thoughtfully at her teeth, then grinned. “They looks like ton—“

“Gytha Ogg!”

Nanny rolled her eyes. “You don’t know what I was goin’ to say, Esme.”

“I don’t need to,” Granny snapped. Creak, creak.

“Be like that,” Nanny said, without heat, and settled back.

Metal shrieked on rock as the last of the invaders, backing frantically away from Greebo, failed to see the cliff.

--

Rincewind opened his eyes, whimpered, closed his eyes, and tried to wake up.

Sadly, the thing looming over him was still there when he opened his eyes again.

“Gurk,” remarked Rincewind.

“IDENTIFY!” the thing shrilled, pointing a stick attached to its front at Rincewind.

Behind it, the Luggage groaned to its feet. The thing turned, and a leap of blue fire shot from the stick.

When the chaos died down, Rincewind was a distant, fading blur. The Luggage, lid slightly scorched, glared at the ex-thing’s compatriots, who made a concentrated effort to look innocent while scooting away.

The Luggage charged.

--

“EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!”

Death watched the metal thing wave its stick-weapon at him with mild curiousity. It was the sixth one today that he had collected personally, and thousands more were dying all across the Disc. An invasion, he thought, that the inhabitants had taken in typical stride.

“EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!”

Death was not quite sure how to handle this. Normally the people he collected understood. This was complicated.

“WHAT ARE YOU?” the thing asked, at last, panic evident in its tone.

DEATH, Death said. WHAT ARE YOU?

“DALEKS DO NOT KNOW DEATH!” the thing wailed. “EXTERMINATE!”

OH, YES, Death said. PRECISELY.

--

This is a turtle, swimming through space. The world atop the turtle was wracked with sparks and shouts a moment ago, but everything seems to have calmed down.

The saucer lifts off from the Hub, a few desultory lightning bolts flung after it by bored gods. It is much lighter rising than landing, and as soon as it is away, it blasts for deep space.

Vimes has lots of paperwork. Ridcully has some new furniture. Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg have an afternoon’s entertainment. The Luggage has lunch.

The Daleks have a cautionary tale. Narrative causality.

The turtle swims on.

tigerkat24 @ 2008-07-03T20:28:00

2008-07-04T00:30:54Z

I hate this time of month. Either I'm in so much pain that I can't function (and can't eat due to nausea because it hurts so much; that's a charming new development), or I'm dizzy and flaky from the medication that keeps the pain away, and can't function. I swear to God, if they make me jump through one more hoop to get on birth control, I am going to break down in tears.

Why Don't I Have a Books! Icon?

2008-07-03T19:31:21Z

This is inspired by the Big Read meme going around that prompts people to select 'classic' books from a list that they have read. With that in mind, I'd like you to list the ten books that have had the most influence on YOU, personally. It doesn't matter whether or not they're classics, adult books or YA. This meme is not asking you to be a literary critic. These are the books that have made an impression on you, that stay in your mind, that have had an impact on your life. The books that taught you how to write, that molded your ideas about life and love. The books that you *always* have a copy of on your bookshelf, and invariably read until the binding is falling apart.

1) The Fire Rose, Mercedes Lackey
Lackey has a way with language that always strikes me, even when she's writing about certain Mary Sues I could name (Vanyel, anyone?). She's splendid with description, and even when her plots fall flat, which this one doesn't, the language carries the day. I also love Beauty and the Beast, and this reinterpretation of the legend has the benefit of being impeccably-researched historical fiction as well.

2) Persuasion, Jane Austen
Guh. Just guh. One of the best love stories ever, and a wonderful, wonderful book. Jane Austen makes some of the most memorable characters I have ever read. A pitch-perfect romance.

3) Proven Guilty, Jim Butcher
Plot! Jim Butcher teaches me about Plot! Proven Guilty has the added benefit of just being fun.

4) American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Likewise plot. Neil Gaiman weaves everything together skillfully and near-seamlessly. I will admit to having problems buying the climax, but I'm just too in love with his concept and execution that I simply can't care.

5) His Majesty's Dragon, Naomi Novik
WOW. Amazing language, great plot, a climax that never fails to make me tear up, wonderful characters, just wow. Seamlessly weaves dragons into British history. This is precisely how the Napoleonic wars would have gone had Napoleon in fact had dragons to deploy.

6) Magic and Malice, Patricia C. Wrede
See above. Wow. Also has a wonderful love story that His Majesty's Dragon doesn't. Both take place in the Regency; a coincidence? I THINK NOT. So does Persuasion. I'm terribly fond of the Regency, so having so many of my favorite novels take place there is a bonus.

7) Crown Duel, Sherwood Smith
Some of the best damned worldbuilding since Tolkein. Tolkein and I don't really get along for various wordy-related reasons, but Crown Duel is so wonderfully written and just right with the world.

8) Matilda, Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl is a master storyteller, and Matilda is my favorite story of his. A bright little girl and the people who believe her, the people who don't, and her revenge on the idiots of the world. Clearly Roald Dahl was at some point a bright little kid, because this book resonates with me so much. Hands up, who else tried to move chalk with their eyes after seeing this?

9) A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett
I don't know. I love Sara, I love Becky, I love the coincidences, I love Miss Minchen and Amelia Minchen, I love the whole book. It's just so well done and such a childhood memory. Maybe that's it. Either way, the binding on mine is kind of dead.

10) The Killer Angels, Michael Shaara
Oh, Michael Shaara. A heartbreaking story of Gettysburg. The language is exactly right for the time. The men he's writing about are so right for their time and yes. Amazing story.

Doctor Who 4.12

2008-06-29T02:19:55Z

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD YOU GUYS.

In order of squeeing.

HARRIET JONES, MADE OF WIN. Yes? Yes. She looked so beautiful, and her last line, oh, it was just a punch to the gut. God bless you, Harriet Jones. You will live on in fanfiction.

SARAH JANE SMITH. CAN I GET A HELL YES. She and Luke were just so cute in this. Such good acting from both of them. Their body language all the way through was completely mum-and-son, and she was so protective of him and he was so protective of her and that "I love you" scene made me sniffle. So beautiful. Though if Sarah Jane could remember that she has the sonic lipstick, that would be preferable to, y'know, dying.

Martha Fucking Jones is the most badass woman alive and the line to kiss her feet starts over there. That is all.

Jack Harkness! Oh, Jack. I'm so glad you remembered how to act again. You and your kids and the look you gave them when they were commenting on the Doctor and the flirting with Sarah Jane and the sudden Donna/Jack ship forming and oh. Oh wow. Also, Jack, I realize that BFGs are a fad in this episode, but do you really have to have two? I think we all realize that you have nothing to compensate for.

ROSE. YES. ROSE. YES. WOW. RTD, THAT IS GOOD ROSE. GOOD BOY. BISCUIT FOR YOU.

WILF! I love Wilf. Have I mentioned that I love Wilf? Because I do. "Wanna swap?" YES.

"Where the hell have you been?" YES. Dialogue in this was amazing.

In short, OMG. I haven't had a squee-fit like this since Parting of the Ways. Now if only RTD remembers how to do finales and doesn't pull a Last of the Time Lords... *knockonwood*

I need a Harriet Jones: Made Of Win icon.

tigerkat24 @ 2008-06-23T19:38:00

2008-06-23T23:39:31Z

I ate'nt dead, just ate by travelling. We'll talk tomorrow, my darlings. <3
*snore*

tigerkat24 @ 2008-06-22T00:06:00

2008-06-21T22:07:36Z

SARAH JANE.

SARAH JANE AND LUKE.

SARAH JANE AND LUKE AND TORCHWOOD.

SARAH JANE AND LUKE AND TORCHWOOD AND DONNA.

SARAH JANE AND LUKE AND TORCHWOOD AND DONNA AND ROSE AND MICKEY AND JACKIE AND MARTHA AND SARAH JANE.

HOMG this finale is going to be awesome. RTD is going out with a bang.

More things.

2008-06-17T19:25:07Z

1) Started up a wishlist on Amazon, to make birthdays easier, but mostly for my own remind, since it seems my family generally pays more attention to what they'd like to recieve than what I'd like to recieve when buying presents for me.

2) Going into Amsterdam tomorrow to see the Anne Frank house and possibly Remembrant's house. We'll see.

3) Both impressed and disappointed with my FG players. Impressed, because I threatened people and got a sudden flood of posts. Disappointed because nothing's happened since. But the flood! The flood is good.

4) Have still not seen either Forest of the Dead or Midnight. Intend to do so tomorrow when I get back from Amsterdam.

5) Note to self: read Serpent's Shadow when I get home.

6) Note to self #2: type up list of books-read for May and mini-reviews.

7) Overall, feeling rather ambivalent at the moment. Utrecht and by extension the Netherlands are beautiful and awesome, and I am so glad I came. I just rather wish that I was here by myself as opposed to with my mother. Ah well. Can't have everything.

Several Things

2008-06-16T15:00:08Z

I'm in Utrecht, which is beautiful. I spent all of today and most of yesterday just walking around the city (and bought a horse for the collection, natch). Tomorrow I will either go into Amsterdam, to the Remembrant museum and the Anne Frank House, or spend yet more time in Utrecht. I'd like to take a tour of the Dom tower, as I simply didn't have energy for it today, and of the Museum of Catherjineconvent, which isn't open on Mondays, and Mom and I both wanted to do a canal tour. This city is really gorgeous.

On a happy yet slightly bizarre note, my cousin Elise had her baby yesterday. Hailey Ruth Parker, June 15th. Welcome to the world, kiddo. Good luck.

It's bizarre, because Elise isn't more than three years older than me, and her sister EJ not more than two years, and both of them have children now. And here I am, quite happily single and childless, and fully intending to remain so for the rest of my life. Very strange feeling.

My love to everyone at home.

Fanmix: Shiptease!

2008-06-12T20:52:41Z

Medium: TV
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Subject: Ships
Title: Shiptease!
Notes: We all know that Mike and Bryan like to taunt the shippers. Here’s a song for every couple ever given some sort of onscreen encouragement.
That’s right. Every. Couple. And a few extras.
We’re in for a long haul, folks.

Warnings: SPOILERS up to Boiling Rock. Silliness. No explication because it’s just too damn long, though there are explanatory notes when I feel that they’re needed. Picture, tracklist and zip behind the cut.

zip link

Katara/Aang—I Want You To Want Me, Cheap Trick

I want you to want me.
I need you to need me.
I’d love you to love me.
I’m begging you to beg me.

Katara/Zuko—Are You Happy Now, Michelle Branch
(Katara’s POV, post-book 2 finale, pre-Firebending Masters)

Could you look me in the eye,
and tell me that you're happy now oooooh.
Would you tell it to my face or have I been erased,
Are you happy now?
Are you happy now?

Katara/Haru—If I Told You, The Wedding Singer

If I told you
All the words I've yet to say
Would they matter
Or would you simply turn and walk away
If I hold you
Would you tell me I should go
Do I chance it
Or would it just be better not to know

Katara/Jet—Trash the Rental, Soho Dolls
(Jet’s POV)

What's driving me is driving you.
Born from the same race, from the same blue.
You try to resist, you try to resist,
But I tell you, tell you, tell you, tell you,
You're gonna stay.

Aang/Toph—Still There For Me, Corbin Bleu
(It’s arguable whose POV this is from. I leave it up to you.)

Even when I'm not giving enough
And I'm taking too much
You're still there for me
Even when I got nothing at all
And I'm ready to fall
You're still there for me

Sokka/Toph—Can’t Help Falling In Love, Elvis

Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can’t help falling in love with you

Sokka/Yue—If I Never Knew You, Jon Secada and Shanice

I'm so grateful to you
I'd have lived my whole life through
Lost forever
If I never knew you

Sokka/Suki—Kiss the Girl, Little Mermaid (m4a)
(Circa The Serpent’s Pass, clearly)

Sha-la-la-la-la-la
My, oh, my, look at the boy too shy
He ain’t gonna kiss the girl
Sha-la-la-la-la-la
Ain’t that sad, ain’t it shame, too bad
You gonna miss the girl

Zuko/Mai—And So It Goes, Billy Joel

But if my silence made you leave
Then that would be my worst mistake
So I will share this room with you
And you can have this heart to break

Hakoda/Bato—You and Me, Plain White Ts (m4a)

You and me, we like the same kind of music
That's why we, make a good you and me
We got style, baby we know how to use it
That's why we, make a good you and me

Roku/Sozin—Bring on the Wonder, Susan Enan

I can't see the stars anymore, living here
Let’s go to the hills where the outlines are clear
Bring on the wonder
Bring on the song
I pushed you down deep in my soul for too long

Azula/Mai—Caring is Creepy, the Shins

Hold your glass up, hold it in
Never betray the way you've always known it is.
One day I'll be wondering how
I got so old just wondering how
I never got cold wearing nothing in the snow.

Azula/Ty Lee—You Belong to Me, Jason Wade (m4a)

See the pyramids around the Nile
Watch the sun rise from the tropic isle
Just remember darling all the while
You belong to me

Mai/Ty Lee—Eric’s Song, Vienna Teng (m4a)

Strange how I fit into you
There's a distance erased with the greatest of ease
Strange how you fit into me
A gentle warmth filling the deepest of needs

Pakku/Kanna—Both Hands, Ani DiFranco

and both hands, now use both hands
oh, no don't close your eyes
I am writing graffitti on your body
I am drawing the story of how hard we tried

Aang/Zuko—Don’t Ask Me, Ok Go

Quit acting so friendly.
Don't nod don't laugh all nicely.
Don't think you'll up-end me.
Don't sigh, don't sip your iced-tea.
And don't say, 'It's been a while...'
And don't flash that stupid smile.

Sokka/Aang—If I Were Gay, Stephen Lynch

‘Cause if I were gay, I would give you my soul
and if I were gay I would give you my whole... being
and if I were gay, we would tear down the walls
But I'm not gay, so won’t you stop cupping my hand

Sokka/Zuko—You’re Nothing Without Me, John Barrowman

A show off, a blowhard
You're equal parts hot air and gall
And no one would doubt me
Without me you're nothing at all

Zuko/Song—Chocolate, Snow Patrol

What have I done? It's too late for that
What have I become? Truth is nothing yet
A simple mistake starts the hardest time
I promise I'll do anything you ask...this time

Zuko/Jin—Ripe, Ben Lee (m4a)

So for once in my life, I saw what I wanted and took a bite.
I picked the fruit from the tree and it was ripe.

Sokka/Ty Lee—Things I’ll Never Say, Avril Lavigne

If I could say what I want to see
I want to see you go down on one knee
Marry me today
Guess I'm wishing my life away
With these things I'll never say

Sokka/Mai—She’s Always a Woman, Billy Joel

She can lead you to live
She can take you or leave you
She can ask for the truth
But she'll never believe you
And she'll take what you give her as long as it's free
She steals like a thief
But she's always a woman to me

Katara/Ty Lee—If I Fell, Evan Rachel Wood

If I give my heart to you
I must be sure
From the very start
That you would love me more than her

Katara/Mai—I Feel Everything, Idina Menzel

When you're furious
When you start to freeze
When you can't be touched
I feel everything

Katara/Azula—Fuck Was I, Jenny Owen Youngs

Skillet on the stove
It's such a temptation
Maybe I'll be the lucky one that doesn't get burnt
What the fuck was I thinking?

Azula/Suki—Favorite Girl, Joseph Arthur

In your version of this world
you're everybody's favorite girl
but that don't mean I'll be the victim
of any pain you are inflicting today

Aang/Meng—Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Elton John

Don't go breaking my heart
I couldn't if I tried
Honey if I get restless
Baby you're not that kind

Azula/Zuko—Stand Up, Trapt

Why don't you let me be
Leave me alone
You start a fire inside that I could never control
You wanna see a reaction

Sokka/Azula—Filthy/Gorgeous, Scissor Sisters (m4a)
(Again, I leave it up to you whose POV this is from.)

Cuz you're filthy (filthy)
Oooh, and I'm gorgeous (gorgeous)
Cuz you're filthy (filthy)
Oooh, and I'm gorgeous (gorgeous)

Zuko/Jun—Portions for Foxes, Rilo Kelly

And it's bad news
Baby I'm bad news
I'm just bad news, bad news, bad news

Iroh/Jun—You’re So Damn Hot, ok go

You don't love me at all, but don't think that it bothers me at all.
You're a bad-hearted boy-trap, babydoll, but you're...
You're so damn hot.

Iroh/Ming—Dante’s Prayer, Loreena McKennitt

When the dawn seemed forever lost
You showed me your love in the light of the stars
Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me

Longshot/Smellerbee—Stolen, Dashboard Confessional

Before the gold and the glimmer have been replaced
Another sun soaked season fades away
You have stolen my heart
You have stolen my heart

Suki/Ty Lee—This Town is Wrong, the Nields (m4a)
(I maintain that this is a love song.)

They want you to have long hair, short skirts, clear skin, nothing hurts
Following their every rule
Why don't you make the rules?
Why don't you make the rules?

Suki/Mai—If I Told You, Idina Menzel

Cause I'm shedding my skin
So you can see my face,
I need you to know who I am.
I'm ready to go where I've never been,
Will you stay around and follow me?

Cabbage Man/Cabbages—I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts, Monty Python
(Replace coconuts with cabbages, and this is kind of insanely right. It even scans!)

Hoi've got a lo-ve-ly bunch o' coconuts.
There they are a-standin' in a row.
Big ones, small ones, some as big as yer 'ead!

Bonus Songs
(These are noncanon ships that I personally favor. I just threw them on for the heck of it.)

Song/Kuei—Better Man, James Morrison
(Largely based off a fanfiction by my very dear friend Dark Puck)

There was a time
I had nothing to give
I needed shelter from the storm i was in
And when it all got too heavy
You carried my weight
And I want to hold you

Haru/Ty Lee—Are You Gonna Be My Girl? Jet

So 1, 2, 3, take my hand and come with me
because you look so fine
and I really wanna make you mine.
I say you look so fine
that I really wanna make you mine.

Hakoda/Ursa—All I Have To Give, Backstreet Boys (m4a)
(I admit it; the grammatical errors in this song make me twitch. But the sentiment is right.)

But my love is all I have to give
Without you I don't think I can live
I wish I could give the world to you...but
Love is all I have to give

Piandao/Ursa—Ain’t No Other Man, Christina Aguilera
(I swear this makes sense in my head.)

Ain't no other man, can stand up next to you
Ain't no other man on the planet does what you do
(what you do).
You're the kinda guy, a girl finds in a blue moon.
You got soul, you got class.
You got style with your bad ass - oh yeah!

Meme!

2008-06-05T17:34:35Z

Go here and refresh until you get five quotes that resonate with you, then put them up in your journal.

It really doesn't matter if the person who hurt you deserves to be forgiven. Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. You have things to do and you want to move on.
Real Live Preacher, RealLivePreacher.com Weblog, July 7, 2003

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)

'Tis the privilege of friendship to talk nonsense, and have her nonsense respected.
Charles Lamb (1775 - 1834)

One kernel is felt in a hogshead; one drop of water helps to swell the ocean; a spark of fire help to give light to the world. None are too small, too feeble, too poor to be of service. Think of this and act.
Hannah More

We have enough religion to hate each other, but not enough to love each other.
Jonathan Swift (1667 - 1745)

ETA: And another! Nicked off eponymous_rose who nicked it off someone else.

I feel like writing meta, but I'm entirely too tired lazy to pick a single subject and coherently analyse it.

SO. Throw a fannish topic at me, and I will ramble about it! Hopefully in an entertaining way.

Good Times

2008-06-02T22:09:38Z

The good times started Sunday. I expect they'll continue until next Tuesday. But for those of you playing along at home:

1) Morning shift, on which I got reacquainted with the horses, snuggled with Cari, washed a lot of fans and got permission to use my boss as a reference. Not much awesome here apart from snuggling with Cari, which is always amazing.

2) Herndon Festival! Went with my dad, which is always nice, as I don't get to spend enough time with him. I got a fan with my name on it in Chinese characters (transliterated, obviously), a lot of free brochures and candy, a pencil, a couple of notepads, a balloon, and a bottle of water all for free. Festivals are fun that way; if you look in the right place, there's a lot of stuff that won't cost a penny. I also got to ride the Ferris Wheel, though not with my dad, the chicken. Above all, a very good time, even if it rained on the way back.

3) Evening shift! I love evening shift. I get to play with the horses more, it's shorter so I don't get as tired, I love the girl I share it with, and there's nobody around to get in my way. But the best part? Sue (my boss) came over and told me I was one of her best employees. She said I was reliable, competent and clever, flexible, and above all one of the best barn hands they have working. She said I could have as many hours as I want, and that she's probably going to give me a raise. Surprisingly, given my brokeness, I am most excited about the compliment. Sue used to be my trainer, you see. If she tells me I'm doing well, she means it. I don't doubt that the compliment was prompted by her mistaken impression that I'm going to quit, which is silly, I mean, why would I quit when they pay me to play with horses? But that doesn't mean she doesn't mean it.

4) Sonogram today. That was just neat. I got to see my uterus and ovaries, and discovered that no, I don't have ovarian cysts or cancer of any sort. My cramps are genetic. This means I will probably get birth control, and thus will lose the cramps, the ouchy breasts, and most of my acne. *crosses fingers*

That's all that happened. To come! Dinners with Daddy, zillions more evening shifts, KATIE, exploring DC with Katie, spending time with El and Sarah at Faire, Artspeak!, a clean room, hopefully progress on my projects, good books, good music, fun times, and Amsterdam and Munich. This summer is starting out very well indeed.

tigerkat24 @ 2008-05-31T18:09:00

2008-05-31T22:12:43Z

I have the too-few-bookshelves problem again. I'm trying to shuffle things around to make it work, but it may not work out, which means there may be another booksale in the near future. Keep an eye on this space.

In other news, I'm off to my dad's house soon for dinner and a brief birthday party (I think), then home to game and watch the new Doctor Who, then to bed since I have work at an ungodly hour tomorrow. Then, cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning to try and get my room ready for Katie's visit, along with the sonogram. That'll be fun. Thus far, I have two shelves of horses washed, my bed made, and the floor about three-quarters clean. This is actually major progress.

Moving stuff around may have to wait for July, though. It is lovely and comforting to turn my head in the morning and see nothing but lots and lots of books.

Game-people, if you're checking this, I should be back by nine at the absolute latest. If I'm not back by then, feel free to text me.

tigerkat24 @ 2008-05-28T11:46:00

2008-05-28T15:56:30Z

So... I'm here again. Sorry about the long delay. Have some miscallaneous observations.

1) I really love my Proudian class, and I really love my professor. We all pitched in and bought each other donuts and apple juice for the last day of class. *sniff* I'm gonna miss them all until I see them again senior year. Except for Sami who I will see next fall. HI SAMI ILU.

2) Airplanes, conversely, suck. Thanks to some nasty weather in Phoenix I ended up getting stuck overnight in Chicago and coming damned close to having a panic attack. What is it about travel that makes me so goddamned nervous?

3) My mom is made of awesome and win. This is why. (That's a cake.)

4) Rehobeth was awesome, despite my getting sick at the end. I ate good food, had good company, went in the hot tub ridiculously late, jammed in the back seat with three other girls, listened to a Dramatic Reading of a romance novel sex scene, came home with entirely too many small plastic horses (or glass, one was glass), got free Coldstones on my birthday, and generally had an excellent time.

5) Did I mention that I love my mom? I bemoaned to her that I'd gotten blood all over my favorite pink pajamas, so she bought me pink pajamas for my birthday. ^.^ Also a whole lot of other stuff including books, a couple of nifty headbands, and some sweet pink shoes, but I'm really in love with the pajamas. Also her card made me cry.

6) Awkwardness sucks. So does hurt. Thankfully the boy and I have decided to get over it by sheer willpower, because he's a wonderful person.
If you don't know what this is about, ask me.

7) Freaking drama on my friendslist. Sheesh. It's not even funny drama, and someone used "gay" as a derogatory term.

8) I have work! Huzzah!

9) Seven days until Katie gets here! Yay! (also, seven days....)

10) I am definitely going up to stalk Pris late this July, though whether anyone will be coming with me is still up for debate. I am also definitely going to Amsterdam and the Lion King. I will try to go see Good at Elden Street Theater and Ragtime at the Kennedy Center. Might also go to the VA Renaissance Faire (hey, Katie, want to go? Spotsylvania's about an hour and a half away, but admissions is only seven bucks).

In conclusion, you guys are all awesome in many varied ways, especially for putting up with me during this rollercoaster of a week. I LOVE YOU.

Stress. ARGH.

2008-05-22T05:17:55Z

Nearly done. I've been very, very busy, hence the sudden disappearance (sorry, guys! Pris, email me your fic and I will beta it to the best of my ability, and we'll talk tomorrow night probably). My room is packed, my books and the hobbyhorse are shipped (and wasn't that a bitch and a half, story later). Myranda said that Sami and I could use her 'fridge next fall so as to keep life sorted. I've got all my evals done. All I need to do is finish my observation paper, my outline, and my bibliography entries, then present them tomorrow, and I'm done. ALMOST THERE.
*augh!*
At least finaleclipse freaking started up again. FG should take a leaf from its book and do the same thing. Hint. Hint. Brick.