#fandom misc

Have you pulled inspiration from media sources other than the property your fic is related to (a plot point from a TV show that has nothing to do with the characters/setting of the fic, a line from a book, etc.)? If so, for which story? Why did you find that media source compelling?

I mean, yeah, all the time! Most of the time it's either glancing or obvious - a trope or a scenario that inspires a different take (either because I like it or because I hate it) or the seed of a base plot, vs a fusion (currently working on, among other things, what if Veronica and co ended up becoming the Animorphs) - and I have a whole giant list of potential cases to use for my VM fic. A lot of them are news articles, but some of them are from other stories (for instance, having to prove that a company knew their cutting-edge medical implant had a fatality-inducing failure point is something I took directly from an episode of Saving Hope).

However, I'd be remiss not to mention the inspiration for the title of Life Is A Series Of Tests, my Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling - titles are my nemesis, and I knew when I finally thought of it that it was a quote from something... and I was almost positive it was classic literature, so I was mystified why I couldn't find it on Google, and had to leave it uncited for a long time.

Literally years later, I stumbled across it and realized the reason I thought it was from classic literature was because I'd retained it from a Sense and Sensibility fanfic (specifically the final story in the Her Whole Heart Devoted series).

Is there a tiny detail in one of your fics that you feel goes tragically unnoticed?

I don't know if anyone caught this independently (although I did mention it to at least one person uh, you), but there's a bit in Satisfaction where Weevil and Veronica are indulging in some banter early on - when they've gotten a little more comfortable with each other but still don't know each other very well, where he mugs a bit and says, "You judge me before you even know me," pretending to be offended...

...and this is an almost unaltered quote from Shrek. ("They judge me before they even know me," - although Shrek is saying it much more seriously than Weevil is.) I double-checked the dates to make sure his cousins could/would have watched it, because he's very much quoting the movie on purpose to be funny/ridiculous, but I don't think anyone's noticed. (Veronica certainly didn't.)

(And since it feels unfair to mention something we already talked about, I'm very pleased with the way I conveyed Jade's initial assumption in Flipping The Script that 'Eli' is short for something, in her case because she thinks the design of his coveralls is hiding part of his name. This is both a fun little thing that feels very relatable to me, and a sneaky dig born from my absolute HATRED of the way older fic seems bound and determined to insist that his first name is Elias or Elijah. ELI IS A NAME BY ITSELF. (And if his full name was anything else, Keith would call him that.) Nobody's ever commented on it, though.)

Share a line or paragraph you’ve written that you don’t think will ever actually be posted in anything! (Or, if you don’t hoard cut sentences and passages like I do, share anything you want that has yet to see the light of day!)

I do sometimes save stuff! A while ago I started writing a fic that is still under the working title of 'fagin', which is basically just Weevil through the eyes of various queer people over the years, because Veronica assuming (whether for a bit or not) that he was a.) ignorant and b.) reacting to what she said with knee-jerk bigotry rather than because it was a major accusation drove me nuts in S4 (although for the record - I don't think any of the aggravating or hypocritical things she does in S4 are OOC! I think they're 100% consistent with her existing flaws and hypocrisies up until that point, and no one will be surprised that I don't think living with Logan brought out her best qualities). One of the sections is from the POV of one of his employees who's been outed and expects to be fired, and initially I was going to write a whole bait and switch to this tune, but the section was getting long and unwieldy and I ended up taking it in a different direction instead and keeping the action condensed over a week or two instead of spread over a few months, so I had to cut this bit:

Mr. Navarro pushes his keyboard to the side and regards Evan levelly. “Here’s the deal. I’m going to be taking some time off in a few months.”

Evan’s first reaction is relief – he’s not in trouble, this isn’t about… anything else, either – but his boss looks a lot more serious than usual, so he starts second-guessing that reaction almost immediately. “Okay,” he says, cautiously.

“I’m handing most things off to Jasper,” Mr. Navarro says. “Ordering, inventory, assigning the jobs.”

Evan nods. That’s not surprising at all, but he’d expect them to all be hearing about it at once.

“You probably already know that Jasper’s not much for managing the customer side of things,” his boss goes on. “And you do pretty okay at that, so I’d like to ask you to take care of that while I’m gone, but–” He frowns. “You’re smart, Evan, and you know what you’re doing, but you’re always waiting for someone to tell you what to do. Even when you know what to do, half the time you still wait for someone to tell you to do it. So. Here’s the deal. You have four months to prove to me you can show initiative when you need to, start making calls yourself instead of running it all past me and Jasper, and you can run the front when I’m gone. Otherwise…” He shrugs. “I’ll figure something out with Pedro.”

Is there a story idea you have that you would love if it could appear fully realized but that you do not think you’ll ever write yourself?

TONS of them, but of course every time I read this question they flee my mind. (I'm also in a bit of difficulty because given the dire state of non-Logan VM fic, I've recently kind of hit a point where I just start trying to write the fic I want to see even when it's a reach for me, and that's spilling over into other fandoms.)

That said, here's a grab-bag:

*I will never write that Comedy of Errors VM fic where Lilly/Weevil, Caitlyn/Chardo, and Felix/Molly all run away together (separately from the other couples) on the same night and their plans continually cross in whatever ways create maximum chaos (with Veronica and/or Thumper wandering through the plot whenever an extra blonde girl or bald biker would most confusing) - but I would love for it to exist

*I think it would be amazing if someone took that 'Alone on Thanksgiving? Mad at your dad? I'm a thirty-year-old felon with a van and a guitar who'll be your fake boyfriend in exchange for food' post and wrote a Beren/Luthien fic about it

*I have always wanted to read a Sybil/Tom (Downton Abbey) fic where she gets amnesia after marrying him and has to reckon with the huge change of circumstances when the last thing she remembers he was a near-stranger who worked for her family and she lived in a manor house, not a cramped apartment in Dublin (this is because I got very excited for a S/T The Vow AU over a decade ago and then it was just a boring retread of the movie set in the modern day that wasted all its potential and I am still mad)

*I've been considering writing a fic that explores the idea that Logan was emotionally abusive to Veronica in S4, and her fully realizing this only in the emotional aftermath of his death, but not only is the subject matter really daunting but... well. In this fandom? It feels like taking my life in my hands, tbh. But I would devour anything like that by someone else. (Same goes for taking his violent, manipulative behaviour when she breaks up with him between S1/2 seriously, while we're on the subject.)

*my kingdom for an arranged-marriage eventual-romance Haldir/Gloredhel fic, like the ones I love for Eomer/Lothiriel. I'd settle for Hareth/Galdor too, but Haldir/Gloredhel is what I really want.

*I've mentioned in at least one other place that I'd love to read a fic about Lilly Kane II Smith slowly realizing as she gets older that some of what her dad's told her about her family doesn't add up and doing some semi-inept (pre-)teen sleuthing to try and uncover the truth/missing information - but I don't have any solid ideas (and I don't think I could maintain verisimilitude wrt her being Australian, honestly), so I'm not planning on writing anything on the subject

What are people interested in?

(Relevant information: I am here for Weevil, and I am decidedly not here for Logan. Also, these are mostly not the actual titles, I just don’t have one yet.)

Finish the short ones first!

*The long, sad, bittersweet Weevil/Jade reunion, where she runs into trouble post S4 and has no one else to call. (Pros: As a (long) oneshot, will probably be finished in the next millennium! I’ve also not only started it but made some decent progress. Has a likely sequel which is… maaaybe less sad. Kind of. Jade POV, which is, uh, scarce. Cons: Sequel is less well-planned-out and kind of self-indulgent, this is a ship that like two people are on. Also it’s sad.)

*Five Children Veronica Mars Never Had (Pros: Short enough it might get finished before the heat-death of the universe! I’ve also already started it. Takes a bit of a turn from the typical children-as-a-ship-exploration/validation these things often have (most of these children are not biologically Veronica’s). Novel canon is relevant! Some very solid V/W friendship in at least one. Cons: Tremendously, horrifically depressing; I literally just keep killing people to make the premise work. Very little shipping.)

*The Jade/Eli Chronicles (Pros: Related oneshots so, again, will probably be finished in a semi-reasonable time. Fluffy if you block S4 from your memory. Jade gets, like, lines. Cons: Not a ton of substance, only happy if you block S4 from your memory, this is a ship that two people are on.)

*Five (Or Some Number) Worlds Veronica Didn’t Grow Up In (Pros: Fun crossovers/fusions! All the chapters will be more standalone, so I might even post it serially. A BtVS where Veronica isn’t the Slayer (Lilly was). Animorphs!!! Cons: Fusions are automatically disinteresting if you don’t know the other canon. Some of them are not super well-developed yet. Also, how do you make Veronica Mars more upsetting? Cross it with Animorphs!)

I want longfic, because the literal problem is not enough V/W longfic!

*Veronica Mars, Intrepid Reporter

A Lilly lives AU where canon splits whenever Lilly (doesn’t) begin her affair with Aaron. Veronica copes with Duncan’s sudden cold shoulder by becoming an investigative high school journalist.

Pros: This is my first-concieved AU, and maybe the project I’m most proud of? (Pending completion.) Heavy focus on the death of Marisol Reyes. Features a not-irredeemably-awful high school experience for Veronica. Lilly is still flawed as per canon but she’s not evil and she loves her brother and her friends. Eventual (very eventual) Veronica/Weevil. Meg lives. Lots of Keith and Veronica’s relationship. Probably the most optimistic of all my AUs.

Cons: Spans a long time and will probably be gigantic (these things always get bigger once I’m writing them), so will take approximately forever to finish. Planned out to some extent but not started yet. Somewhat critical take on Logan (I almost put that in the ‘pros’ column but I know how the fandom is about him).

*The Lawsuit Story

An AU where Weevil doesn’t settle as soon as in canon (or maybe Lamb just panics quicker), and an attempted attack on him kills Jade instead.

Pros: Hello to the novel canon! This is probably my favourite of all the universes I’m messing around with. The Weevil/Veronica friendship is so strong with this one that I am legitimately conflicted over whether to actually even have them get together. Valentina has an extremely strong presence and I love her. It's pretty charitable to Logan, considering I wrote it. Carmen makes a few appearances. Celeste Kane goes down.

Cons: This was originally just part of ‘Five Children…’ so the long version probably won’t be written until that’s finished. May or may not contain Weevil/Veronica, but if it does, it is a loooong wait. Does contain LoVe.

*High School Revenge Story

Another Lilly lives AU, where Lilly definitely IS having an affair with Aaron. And also Weevil, but not anymore. And also, Veronica’s (post-Troy) boyfriend. Anyway, Veronica finds out about the last point and decides to get revenge/prove she’s not some virginal innocent sidekick by hooking up with Lilly’s sidepiece, who she imagines wants to piss Lilly off as much as she does.

Pros: Not only is it Veronica/Weevil, but Veronica/Weevil is, like, eighty percent of the plot. There’s definitely smut (plot- and character-advancing, even!). There’s an unexpectedly touching strangers-with-benefits relationship even before the extremely unplanned pining. This one felt the most like the show when I was planning it out, especially with the nature and timing of the twists. Lilly is not evil, she’s just a teenager in over her head who doesn’t want to admit it and coping maladaptively.

Cons: I always feel weird touting porn as a selling point when I wrote it, because I have had zero sex in my entire life (although I am thirty, and I feel like life experience and general knowledgeableness about actual human anatomy count for something here). I have not started this one yet, although it’s more or less outlined. Logan also does not come off well (this is because he is a teenager having a Very Bad Time, but his actions are still not excusable). This was originally two different AUs before I realized they should probably be one (I cannot say what the other one was, because it’s a major spoiler), so there’s the possibility of disjointedness where they meet. Also, I’m not entirely sure I have the chops to pull this one off – there’s a lot of dark stuff going on under the surface (well, there’d have to be, for the plot to work, because otherwise it’s just very OOC), and it’s not the kind of thing that’s usually my forte, but I’m going to give it a shot anyway.

*Platonic Co-parents

AU where Veronica stays at Hearst. She and Weevil have a one-night stand in her third year and end up getting a child out of it.

Pros: It’s just a lot of fun! It’ll probably end up W/V but in the meantime they’ve got a solid, supportive friendship going on, to the aggravation of everyone either of them tries to date. (“What do you mean your daughter’s father is sleeping on your couch because the hot water broke in his apartment???”) I have a later scene planned out where they go to the high school reunion separately and deliberately show everyone the same picture of Mariana to see if anyone realizes it’s the same kid, which sums up the vibe pretty well. There is Keith+Weevil awkwardness and then probably some Keith+Weevil friendship later on. Lots of time given to Weevil’s family. Also, Veronica looks into Susan Knight’s suspicious drowning. I have also (technically) started it.

Cons: Listen, I know it’s a reach for Veronica to be willing to have a child at this point in her life, but I’ve done my best to justify it and I think I did okay. Plus, you know, the entire premise is a junk food trope – it’s not evil, but it’s trite. I love it anyway.

No, I want something else/FINISH YOUR OTHER STUFF

*[Earth’s Children] The story where an adult Durc and Brun’s former clan meet the post-Ayla Lion Camp!

Pros: Ambitious dual narrative I think I’m pulling off well (time divergent; one strand moving forward from the first encounter, one from Ayla’s departure), lots of screentime for supporting characters with wasted potential (Vorn, Frebec, Ura, Brac, not to mention Durc), several chapters already written.

Cons: Extremely ambitious so it will take me forever to finish, there’s basically no one in this fandom.

*[Earth’s Children] The Echozar/Joplaya fic

Pros: Actually develops their friendship into something that makes sense, development of Echozar’s childhood and of the Lanzadonii, I’ve got a rough outline and a few pages written.

Cons: Definitely chaptered so it will take some time, there are even less people in this part of the fandom.

*[The Old Guard] Give An Inch Fall A Mile (Joe and Nicky friendship-with-benefits their way into being Joe and Nicky)

Pros: Lots of sex scenes (obviously) on which I have had positive feedback, several chapters written (probably half-finished), I'm very proud of the writing quality on this one, and I absolutely should be writing this first.

Cons: I have been stalled out on it for more than a year, it may not be finished before the new movie comes out and possibly makes it incompatible with canon.

*[Veronica Mars] The Firebird AU… crossover… fusion… thing

Post-S4, Veronica travels through alternate universes and learns that she needs to get her shit together and apologize to Weevil.

Pros: Um, the Firebird Trilogy is cool but is not required knowledge for entry, alternate universes are neat, and even though this idea is probably dumb I can’t stop thinking about it. It would probably even technically comply with canon.

Cons: Half of the universes I have up my sleeve are from the AUs mentioned above, so it probably won’t get written (if it does) until they’re finished in like ten to twenty years. The actual plot is thin; I mostly have a bunch of scenes. There is a decent chance this idea is self-gratifying and pointless, but I also just cannot stop thinking about it.

*[Veronica Mars] Zombie Apocalypse

Post-S4 zombie apocalypse lands Veronica and Keith on a stolen yacht with a bunch of Weevil’s gang, Jade and her new boyfriend, and this one other guy.

Pros: There’s a lot of compelling (I think) personal drama, which is largely not rooted in anyone being an asshole (except Veronica, but that’s canon and I can’t do anything about it except try to fix it with zombies). Weevil finds out his kid is trans and does his best to speed-run the acceptance ladder despite his personal doubts because he’s extremely concerned about being killed by zombies (and thinks he's dying for a minute) and knows this is his only chance to make them feel supported. Eventual W/V, probably.

Cons: I do not know where I’m going with this. Author is not trans herself and might fuck up.

*[Veronica Mars] The Babysitter Effect

Valentina’s babysitter is still in the truck when Weevil stops to help Celeste, and she witnesses everything.

Pros: Teenage awkwardness, but in a fun way. Weevil gets the justice he fucking deserves. Beginning already written.

Cons: I have no plans at all for what happens after the inciting incident, and even if I did I don’t know how long this would be.

Soooo... if you're not in the Silm fandom you've probably never seen my writing before, but I'm happy to back it up with excerpts! Please ask me for excerpts.

in which the mothman formerly known as jonathan sims makes another decision.

Chapter VI: Stranger and Stranger

(Because no one blooped at me and because I can)

If any of this is intriguing, you should ask me about it!

 Reuven Harel (original flavour)

-despite the fact that they have literally only two things in common (genre and gender), Reuven is technically based on Prince Zuko

-Reuven’s society has two types of illegitimacy – outright bastardy, and respectable illegitimacy, if your parents were of acceptable social degrees in relation to each other and behaved in very particular ways and had a very particular relationship. He’s the latter. His friends/comrades, who come from cultures where you’re either legitimate or you’re shamefully not, are shocked at how casually he admits to being a bastard.

-there’s an AU where none of the main cast got involved in the potentially world-ending conflict, and as a result Reuven became the benevolent military dictator of the whole country (it’s complicated)

Kosomot

-Kosomot grew up thinking he was the only Vala/Ainu child ever. He… was not.

-he’s the one who accidentally prompts Aule into creating proper gender-neutral pronouns in Khuzdul

-his mother tried to eat him

Pavel Svoboda

-he’s the middle child of five

-after he helps save the world he settles down and becomes mayor of a medium-sized town and semi-accidentally adopts three children with his boyfriend COMPLETELY PLATONIC HOUSEMATE

-while he’s off adventuring, literally no one believes him when he says he’s just a farmer. He’s famous! He’s competent! He has a Moravan accent so no one in Syopyr can tell his class by the way he talks! One time he got frustrated and spent like half an hour talking about cow diseases, by way of proof.

Beck Davis

-despite the fact that she’s pretty much literally Korean Rosa Diaz, her existence actually predates me ever watching B99, and possibly predates B99 itself

-she spent a long time giving her boss Lucas a lot of side-eye and disdain because she thought he was hooking up with his secretary. He was not. (He assumed she just thought that was a scumbag thing to do; Connie, the employee in question, figured Beck had a thing for Lucas and was jealous.) Anyway she and Connie are married now.

-she got hired by a supernatural PI because her reaction to finding out about the Masquerade (TM) was to smash a vampire in the face with a fire extinguisher

Godric Cutter

-he was in the navy for several years before he became a pirate

-he was supposed to be tall, but I was literally the only one in the original RP with a sense of restraint, so at 6’4 he was the shortest one except for my other two characters (one of whom was a twelve-year-old girl)

-the forum RP I played him in lasted three pages when I was fourteen. He’s been haunting me with spontaneous character revelations and outlet-less feelings for more than a decade.

Reuven Harel (Cattle Crossing RP version)

-once used a grey area to legally blackmail his politician father for college money

-has an ongoing conflict with his nine-year-old stepdaughter over whether or not he does, in fact, like turkey bacon as much as he claims to