And yeah, exposition is evil. I usually try to fit it into long internal monologues, which may well put my readers to sleep, but that's really the only way I can tolerate writing it. ^^;;; I've given up on so many fic projects because I was just tired of writing all the introductory stuff and really wanted to get to the interesting part, but couldn't.
Yeah, I didn't say there weren't any characterizations that everyone could agree on as OOC, I just said there weren't a lot. I only consider something universally OOC if it goes against the essence of the character's basic personality (like you said, a genki Subaru or Arashi with no explanation given). Or if you can specifically point to an event in canon that is comparable to the event in the fic and show that the character reacted differently in canon.
What I was talking about is the more arbitrary characterization judgments; when people say "That's OOC" when they really mean "I don't see that character the same way you do". And I really do think the way people act is very dependent on the situation they are in. Going back to my earlier example, just because Aoki was optimistic and kept it together after Daisuke died doesn't mean he'd act the same way if his family died. It's a very different situation, and even if he's like that 90% of the time, I think that situation would fall into the 10% of the time when it would be impossible.
But really, I haven't gotten all that many negative comments on my work. I'm not sure if that means I'm doing really well, or if the people reading my fics just aren't the sort to be brutally honest and rip into them. ^^;;;
You have a point, too. I usually leave positive reviews unless something really rubs me the wrong way, but I try not to fall into the "omg that was awesome write more!" trap. I try to use specific examples of things I liked, and disliked, if that applies. And I'd like to say I like getting constructive criticism, but unfortunately I'm not that mature, and it usually makes me just a bit discouraged. ^^;;;; Though usually I notice that people criticize things I did on purpose to make a point, which means they missed the point, so I either have to clarify what I was trying to say, or respectfully ignore the criticism. I usually end up doing the latter, because I'm really lazy and I don't usually do much revising after I've finished writing a scene. XD
And you're totally right about originality in fanfiction. Though... something from earlier in your post... Spears' first album is actually called "Baby One More Time". (I have a little brother who used to be in love with her-- I have an excuse for knowing these things, alright? XD) Which still sounds pretty disturbing XD
I'm hungry. Food time. *nod nod*
listening to: Hands to Heaven, Breathe
losing my religion on Saturday, December 7, 2002 at 12:31 p.m.
Well, I guess the powers that be decided I needed more stress and unpleasantness in my life. Not only did I just remember that I have another paper to write by the end of the semester, about why I want to be an English teacher (because I want the fucking summers off, it's no huge goddamn philanthropic reason)... which brings the paper total up to 4, in addition to 4 final exams... not only that, but I'm pretty sure I bombed my math test and my dad is being a world-class asshole. I would like to die now, please. ><;;;;
Kira, I know what you mean about criticism on characterization. It bothers me a lot when someone criticizes my characterization, because like you said, if I had seen something wrong with the way my characters were acting, I would have had them act differently. OOC is a tough term to toss around, because there's not a lot of actions or reactions that everyone could agree on as OOC for a certain character. A lot of it comes down to a matter of opinion.
I mean, the character I think I know best (Aoki) is the one whose characterization I've gotten the most critical comments on. People have a tough time seeing him as flawed, I think, which is amusing, 'cause I'm the one who's obsessed with him so you'd think I'd make him too perfect or something... XD In any case, most of the comments came from fics where I had put him in situations much more severe than anything he's faced in the manga so far, so how can anyone say how he'd act? *shrug* I angsted for a bit, but dangit, in the end it's my damn fic. ^_~ Nobody sees the characters the same way, so as long as people aren't making Kamui, like, the poster boy for Prozac without any good explanation for it, characterization is pretty much arbitrary.
And hell, my browser just froze, so I'd better wrap this up. Just shoot me. ><
listening to: The Killing Moon, Echo and the Bunnymen
losing my religion on Thursday, December 5, 2002 at 06:23 p.m.
Hmm. I have 6 fics to write and/or finish by Christmas. Not to mention The 10-Page Psychology Paper of DOOM, an opinion paper for Politics that I can't remember the length of and probably lost the sheet for, and various final exams. I think the fics are most likely going to get more attention than the academic shtuff, however. ^_^;;;
In other news, my car is supremely fucked up. And it's not going to be fixed until the end of the week. *cries* I miss it! ... not to mention I think I left some CDs in it o_o well damn. XD
*growls* And for some reason, my hands and feet are always cold. I think I have bad circulation... it's annoying.
Ammie, dear, trust me, you are so much happier not knowing. She is just a very scary little girl, that's all. XD XD
Oh, and in an odd coincidence that reminded me of our little conversation last night, some of the guys in my psych class were discussing about how all the Disney female characters were attractive except Pocahontas. XD The guy who brought it up also said he didn't like anime because "dude, that's like, cartoons with a plot and shit". *snorts* I'm so alone here... *sobsob* XD
Anyway, Ms. Tentacle Fetishist, Aoki sex fuck yourself-- okay, that just doesn't sound right XDDDD In any case, he is not a shotacon deviant! *sniffle* Unless Karen is secretly a little boy! :P
Time to get something done. I'm not sure what, exactly... but something. *nod nod*
listening to: Lonely Day, Phantom Planet
losing my religion on Tuesday, December 3, 2002 at 06:25 p.m.
Words cannot express how much I wish school didn't start up again tomorrow. I also wish I didn't have a philosophy paper due. Or, at the very least, I wish it would write itself so I can go back to sitting here and having plotbunnies gnaw at my brain.
It has been an interesting break. I have learned that taking her advice on renting movies is either a very good thing or a very dangerous thing. I have not yet decided. Also, it is not nice to take advantage of someone's weakness for flustery bespectacled men. *broods* XD
Hmmm, what else. Saw "Treasure Planet" yesterday. Excellent movie, very cute. Doctor whatshisface with the puppy ears reminds me of Aoki in a very terrifying sort of way. He's voiced by Niles from Frasier. *snicker* Also liked the snotty British catgirl captain. Ben was amusing, I want a Morph, and spider alien thing = CREEPY. That's all I have to say. XD
Have been entertaining myself by poking around Rinkworks. Book-A-Minute and Movie-A-Minute amuse me. And I must say that this was my exact reaction to The Andromeda Strain, and I'm glad I'm not the only one. Mutated, my ass. Someone got lazy, is what I'm thinking. -.-;;;
My connection has decided it would be funny to imitate a sloth. Keri is not amused.
Keri is, however, bouncing off the walls. This song tends to do that to me... she had to go and remind me of it XD That, and Christmas is coming, and I have fic projects to occupy myself with, and life is good. ^___^
Whee. AIM just kicked me off again. This threatens my bouncy mood. Grrr. Okay, I'm back on. Yeah. This entry is so pointless. Whee!
Lala... I wish I could go to sleep tonight and wake up on December 19th with all my exams done with and passed with flying colors. Yeah, that'd be nice. ^_^
*sobs* I have heard that this layout has A/K cuteness, BUT IT WON'T LOAD FOR ME! Then again, nothing will... but wah, I really really want to see it :_: I will not go to bed until it loads. *nod nod*-- oh! It just did! HOW CUTE! ^____^
I'm going to go on a happy note, then. *wanders off thinking of A&K under the mistletoe* :D
listening to: Jellyhead, Crush
losing my religion on Sunday, December 1, 2002 at 11:34 p.m.
Well, it's Thanksgiving. Why do I feel like it's Christmas, or is going to be Christmas in a few days? o_O;;; I think it's the damn radio station playing Christmas music all the time. Bah. Anyway... XD
Things I am thankful for:
My active imagination. *snickersnicker*
My cable modem. <3 <3 <3
Having my own computer, on which I can place as many anime desktops, cute icons, humongous movie files and smutty pictures as I want. ^___^
FINALLY HAVING MY DRIVER'S LICENSE AND A CAR. ^________^
My friends, who (mostly) tolerate my fits of angst and understand my obsessions, and are willing to bitch right along with me when the fandom is being all fucked up as usual. ^.^
The fact that I'm out of high school. XP
Having this week off from school... it was highly satisfying and relaxing.
Smut. Lots of it. In written and drawn and imagined form. Hee. ^^
The fact that you haven't given up on me yet. *snuggles*
And, last but certainly not least... a certain couple who will go unmentioned... awww, they may be fictional, and I may be a freak, but I love them. *cuddles them senseless, then steals all their clothes and locks them in a hotel room together* ^______^
Mmmhm. So that's that. I get to make mashed potatoes in an hour, 'cause I make them better than anyone else does. *gloat gloat gloat* :D
XD XD Those schoolboys are so adorable! Especially the tennis players. *_* Oh, and THANKS for the postcard! ^__^ Heehee, I need to visit that store now... think they sell them there? ^_~
Ko, you're right, "For the Longest Time" does fit A/K pretty well. o.o Very cute. Of course, I prefer to interpret it romantically, but that's no shock to anyone. ^_~ A wallpaper would be great... *gazes longingly at the very bare extras section of Eternal Flame* I would do it, but I've never made a wallpaper before and it'd most likely turn out shitty. XP
Speaking of EF, the gallery section is a little more than half finished. After that's done, all I'll have to do is come up with a links and extras page, and then the site will make its grand debut. ^____^ *bounces* It's good, if I must say so myself. ^.^
listening to: too lazy to open Winamp
losing my religion on Thursday, November 28, 2002 at 01:35 p.m.
I am unusually sparkly today. ^___^ I hadn't realized how much I needed some time off from classes... true, it's less stressful and unpleasant than high school, but it still gets to be a tiring routine after a while. So, a week of freedom ahead of me. Yay. ^.^
I am, however, vaguely irritated that the most tolerable local radio station has decided to play nothing but Christmas music from now until the end of December. Yeah, Christmas music is nice, but not before Thanksgiving, and not constantly. >< Times like these, I'm very thankful that I can hook my CD player up in my car...
I bought myself a Harry Potter shirt at Walmart today. From the boys' section. Yeah, I'm a dork. But it's cute. XD
*rolls around laughing* XD XD Funniest thing ever. Go read now. You rock. ^___^
o.o Whee, another Vash-dub-voice fan! *glomps Rae* ^___^ Johnny Yong Bosch has such a great voice. *_*
*snuggle* ^_^
listening to: nothing
losing my religion on Sunday, November 24, 2002 at 11:10 p.m.
*stretches* Ah, I love the feeling of having all your work done and a week of vacation ahead of you. ^___^ All I have to do is get through two more lecture classes and then it'll be blessed Thanksgiving break. I just finished a five-page paper on Sense and Sensibility... like, ten minutes before it was due... ^^;;;; It was kinda disorganized and rambly, because the question was rather vague, but at least it's done and it sounds relatively smart. XD
Oh... o.o In my version, it went on after the ending to what was supposedly the "sequel", and it said that they did make it. He claimed they were "extra chapters" but considering the setup of the book, I figured it was just part of the story... maybe that wasn't in all versions, though? o.O;;;
Brain breakage is fun. ^_^ And yeah, him picking up that rock in the opening was pretty dumb-looking *snicker* Karen looked gorgeous, though. I don't know why they felt the need to put her in a sleeveless purple evening gown and long white gloves, but pretty... *_* Aoki kinda scared me, though. Scary expression, and they made his arms and legs way too long. XD
Actually, I think I see what you mean... I mean, I don't know about the movie (but I will definitely have to track it down now ^__^), but I can see where Karen does have a certain amount of... hesitance to trust people, considering her background and such. Hell, the poor guy had to stab himself in the leg to convince her that he did care about her... *snicker* And I like your theory about Arashi and the switching-sides thing, though... well, okay, I don't like it, since the Seals are my babies and I don't want them all going evil *sniffle* but it is interesting. I also agree that X hasn't lost its touch... hell, it's astounding to me that they're even still working on a project that they started 10 years ago. I can barely work on something for 10 days without losing interest or moving on to something else. XD
Well, some of you will be happy to note that I made considerable progress on "Eternal Flame" last night. (Actually I worked on it all evening x.x) The fanfiction and fanart sections are now complete (for now, anyway), but I'm not putting anything up until I've finished most of the site. If I put stuff up now, I'll lose interest and the rest will never get done. ^^;;; All I need to do now is the gallery of scans, the other random stuff, and the links. So it should be done soon. I'm hoping to finish it over break, if not before then. ^_^
Speaking of break, I am now going to list the things that I absolutely MUST get done under penalty of death. So if I don't get these things done, you can all, like... yell at me and write lots of schmoopy Yuuto/Karen fics to punish me XD XD
1. I /will/ write more of a certain fic, if not finish it, so that certain people will stop making sad puppy faces every time the word "fanfiction" is mentioned and I'm around XD
2. I /will/ get us unstuck on our novel.
3. I /will/ come up with a goddamn title for the honeymoon fic and post it somewhere, because in my not-so-humble opinion it's too amusing not to share. I doubt anyone else will appreciate it as much as I do, but eh. XD
4. I /will/ reread Goblet of Fire and go see Chamber of Secrets again. (Hey, I didn't say I wasn't going to leave some time for my own amusement ^_~)
There's other stuff I should do, too, but those are the main ones. I've got a week, I should be fine. ^_~
Brrr... cold... need to go to class. x.x
listening to: nothing
losing my religion on Friday, November 22, 2002 at 09:55 a.m.
o.o Asuka updates. Looks like stuff is finally happening. Innnteresting. But more to the point... Yuuto color pic. Pretty. Wah. *_*
Okay, off to class, will respond to stuff later. ^_^
listening to:
losing my religion on Thursday, November 21, 2002 at 03:46 p.m.
I just got the best fic idea ever. *cackles* God, I love Yuuto. :D
I never saw the movie, I just read the book. I don't know... I thought it was a happy ending. *shrug* Maybe I'm forgetting something, though... and I was more talking about the resolution of the main romantic issue being a relatively peaceful one, instead of one of them being dead or something.
Yes, I liked Moulin Rouge, but what are you talking about-- that didn't have an unhappy ending! They ran off to Tahiti after the big musical number, didn't they? *innocent look* XD Seriously, I haven't watched the ending since the first time I saw the movie. *sniffle* I'm firmly in denial, so it doesn't count *snicker* And actually, I have no problem with both Aoki and Karen dying (except for the fact that they won't be in the manga anymore and then I'll have much less of a reason to follow it XP). I just don't want one of them dead and the other alive. Especially if the one who lives is Aoki, because... ugh. The ending of the TV series bugged me in that respect, him all smiley at her grave with his precious wife on his arm... I know it's what Karen would have wanted, but bleh, something just bothers me about the idea of her dying for him and him going back to his family like nothing happened. Would they die for him, I wonder?
Which reminds me... I managed to catch the DoH and DoE game ending movies. I really liked the DoH one, though it was odd that they cut Arashi's part out... but the scene at Karen's grave was much better than it was in the anime, IMO. He actually looked sad, unlike in the anime where he might as well have been at the circus, and the transparent image of her in the sky, while cliched, was cute.
As for the DoE one... what the FUCK? @_@ Unlike everyone else, I'm not shocked by the fact that Seishirou killed Subaru... what really made me wonder what crack the designers were smoking was Kusanagi killing Aoki... and smirking afterwards! o_O;;;; I had flashbacks to the movie (and that totally pointless scene in the anime where Kusanagi beats him up for no reason x.x;;;)... now I'm starting to wonder if he's really as fluffy and nice as everyone thinks he is. Which is it, CLAMP? Is he a cute fluffy teddy bear or an evil DoE? >< Anyway. I tried to figure out how everyone died, and the best I could come up with was that Kusa killed Aoki, Yuuto killed Karen, Satsuki somehow took out Yuzu, Sorata and Arashi all at once, Seishirou killed Subaru, and Fuuma killed Kamui. I couldn't really figure out what happened to Sorata and Arashi, though. A big flash of light and they just fell back. o.O I assume it had to be Satsuki, though, since they'd just shown her, and Nataku and Kakyou weren't involved, so... *shrug* Weird. Very weird. x.X
Guh. I need to find Erin and ask her if we're still going to the movies tonight. x.x People are too goddamn hard to find on this campus, I swear... of course, considering I came from a very small high school, that's understandable XD
listening to: Temptation Eyes, The Grass Roots
losing my religion on Wednesday, November 20, 2002 at 10:18 a.m.
Yes, but Princess Bride had a happy ending. ^^;;; I'm all for drama, but I like my characters to get something for all their struggles... something other than death and misery. Yeah, I should stop reading X now, right? XD
As for Subaru still loving his sister's murderer after nine years... I think it's just dumb. ^^;;; That's one of my main issues with the yaoi pairings in X... they're so unrealistic. Even beyond all the mysticism and elemental/magical powers, I can't see a relationship like S/S or F/K happening in the real world. But that larger-than-life, dark fantasy aspect seems to be something that appeals to you and 90% of the rest of the fandom. I guess I'm missing something. *shrugs* hehe
I do agree that the het pairings are more... hmm... moderate, compared with the dramatics of the B4 (yeah, I'm tired of writing it out XD). But I also think they're more subtle, and that, to me and a handful of other people (x.x), is a good thing. Personally, I tend to get sick of main characters to begin with, let alone when I'm constantly getting their angst shoved down my throat. ^^;;; So a subtle relationship like A/K, to me, is refreshing. It isn't that they don't have conflict; it's just that their conflicts are those that normal people face in the real world, rather than dramatic power struggles and love-hate dynamics and all that stuff that psychiatrists would have a field day with. ^_~ Of course, a lot of people don't turn to manga looking for realistic relationships, so I guess I can understand the huge following for characters and relationships who would be considered incredibly unhealthy in reality... ^^;;;
And as for the Nadeshiko being dead thing... well, yes and no. It does make it completely impossible for a relationship to occur rather than mostly impossible, but I don't think it's necessarily worse. Death is very painful, but when someone dies, you don't have hope of seeing them again (at least in this lifetime). That makes it more painful in the short term but less in the long term, because sometimes it's that hope that hurts the most. It's easier to eventually move on when you know you can never have them than it is to move on when you're pretty sure you can't, but they're still around and still part of your life, so there's always that very slim chance... At least, that's my opinion about it. *shrug*
Now, a disclaimer I wanted to put here just in case... I think it's unfortunate that this whole debate had to come down to yaoi vs. het, because that may end up making me look like I'm anti-yaoi or just plain don't like it. So in case anyone got that impression, I like yaoi. I do. I wouldn't consider myself a yaoi fangirl, because there's a whole culture that goes along with that that I don't really fit into, but I do like yaoi couples and such. I even like some X yaoi couples (though they're kind of on the weird side ^^;;;). The real issue is that I don't like canon and mainstream X yaoi, and the reason for that is mostly that I don't like the characters involved in the canon and mainstream yaoi couples. Conversely, most of the characters I like in X are straight and involved in heterosexual relationships, so therefore I like those better in X. It really has nothing to do with straight vs. yaoi for me, I'm just responding to what I see in the rest of the fandom. Just in case anyone thought I was against homosexuality in general or something... not that anyone probably would, I mean, it'd be hypocritical if I was -.-;;;; But just in case. ^^;;;
listening to: Subdivisions, Rush
losing my religion on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 08:37 p.m.
OK, I was all set to let this current debate rest and such, but then I saw this, and... Argh. *sigh*
First of all, it isn't fair to compare Sorashi to S/S. I don't think CLAMP was meaning to draw a parallel between them at all, and frankly I think you're really reaching to say they are similar. It's a romantic archetype to have a couple where one is actively pursuing while the other has to slowly come to develop feelings. And let's not forget that at that point (no matter what may or may not have happened later), Seishirou did not love Subaru. Sorata loved Arashi; that's quite a difference. Simply put, S/S is not the archetype that all other couples should be judged against. Each couple has its own separate strengths-- comparing them is rather useless.
And why does a couple have to involve drama and pain to be interesting? @_@ Some people find Sorashi more interesting than S/S, and to say it's somehow less worthy of attention because Sorata didn't turn out to be a killer is pretty unfair. Down with healthy relationships, huh? And though the focus hasn't been on Arashi's feelings thus far, the balance is slowly shifting. There has been character development. Each scene between them developed their interactions a little more so that it would become believable when she began to return his feelings.
As for your comments on A/K... *sighs* I'm trying to figure out a way to word this that doesn't make it sound like I'm attacking you for stating your opinion (which is something I hate to see happen on blogs, obviously). Of course, you're perfectly welcome to find Aoki boring, but that doesn't mean he is, and it's not really fair to say CLAMP didn't do a good job with them just because he's not the type of character that you find interesting. And I don't understand why people are always saying they're not well-developed. They may not have appeared in many scenes together, but the interactions they have had have been wonderfully subtle and have been slowly developing over time. Not to mention, it also bugs me when people complain about certain characters not being developed enough, and then complain when they DO get screentime because it distracts from the fan favorites... @_@
And the difference between them and Fujitaka/Nadeshiko is that those two didn't have any conflict. They were together and peaceful until she died. Of course a relationship like that isn't going to be as intriguing as one that has some issues to be worked through. I'd compare Fujitaka/Nadeshiko more to Aoki and his wife, though more well-developed (since we actually get to see Nadeshiko). A/K does have conflict and reasons to be intriguing, though neither of them are murderers, so I guess you wouldn't have any reason to be interested. :P
In other non-bitchy news, this song seriously reminds me of X.
Under blue moon I saw you
So soon you'll take me
Up in your arms
Too late to beg you or cancel it
Though I know it must be the killing time
Unwillingly mine
Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him
See what I mean? Although it also reminds me of guys in creepy bunny suits, but... *snicker* Donnie Darko is such a great movie. ^^
Speaking of movies... damn, "Insomnia" sucked. Total waste of a rental. XP Robin Williams was kind of creepy, but not creepy enough, and the ending... bleh. Though I did have an amusing moment while watching it... *pulls up IM* (oh, and keep in mind that this conversation occurred at 4 in the morning XD XD)
AokisWindMachine: .......
AokisWindMachine: god.
AokisWindMachine: slash has warped my brain.
CyberneticPyro: eh?
AokisWindMachine: XD he had the guy pushed up against the wall
AokisWindMachine: and he was like "is this an accident?"
AokisWindMachine: and he reached down
CyberneticPyro: O_O
AokisWindMachine: ... to get a gun.
AokisWindMachine: and I was like "... oh." XD
There. Al Pacino/Robin Williams slash. My squick quotient for today has been fulfilled. (And so help me, if I get any search requests for that...)
Okay. I'm going back to bed. x_x
listening to: The Killing Moon, Echo and the Bunnymen
losing my religion on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 09:11 a.m.
That's fine. You've stated your reasons for focusing on yaoi, they're valid, I don't agree with them, but they're fine for you. I don't think anyone thinks there is an anti-het conspiracy, though. No one said there was. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind unless they want their mind to be changed. I've had a few people tell me I've gotten them interested in certain pairings, so obviously I must be doing something right. Then people bitch about... I don't even know what. I don't even know exactly what I've done. It's just a pet peeve of mine when yaoi fans are so fixated on yaoi that they reject everything else. I'm not the only one who has said it; perhaps I'm just the most vocal. You all have little things that irk you that you like to complain about... why is that okay for you but not for me? I complain about a lot of things, but that doesn't mean I necessarily think they're going to change, or that I want to force anyone into seeing things my way. Sure, maybe it'd be better if I just suffered in silence, but that's not the kind of person I am. And personally, I find the recent trend of treating any display of emotion as ridiculous and oversensitive unless it fits into a certain group's idea of what one should react to disgusting and disturbing, but that's just me.
Yeah, so the relationships most focused on in the story are yaoi. That means you have canon and fandom on your side. So what, exactly, are you complaining about? So occasionally some people bitch about the lack of support for the pairings they like. In the end, you still get the fanart and the fics and the discussions and the official art and etc. etc. etc. Who's winning here? I think the answer is obvious.
But none of this matters in the end, because I wasn't picking a fight with anyone, I was just expressing my opinion, and I don't know why expressing your own opinion on your own blog has suddenly become taboo unless you're a Big Name Fan (c). I've been told that certain people think I've somehow twisted what you said and read too much into it. If that's true, then I apologize, but what I got from your post is that you think my fics are Mary Sues in disguise, and I notice that you didn't even try to justify that statement in your response. And if that's not what you meant to say, then it sure as hell sounds like it. Considering, you know, I'm writing most of the A/K fics out there, and I'm the only one who likes him enough to be accused of something like that.
Let's see. Karen as I write her is outgoing and playful, while I'm shy and moody. She's flirty, I can't flirt to save my life. She keeps her emotions hidden, I bitch about mine endlessly... she has religion issues, I'm happily agnostic... she's brave, I'm a wuss... yeah, I can totally see how I'm writing her to be just like me. About the only things we have in common are low self-esteem and an affection for Aoki, and sorry, but that's canon so I can't really help it. *shrug*
In any case... yeah, an explanation of that little statement would be greatly appreciated. Beyond that, I'd like to let this rest. We're never going to agree, and you can just disregard anything I say about het pairings or fics in the future, because you may not realize it, but I gave up on changing your mind long ago. I won't give up on the rest of the fandom, however, and you'll all just have to learn to deal with that, won't you? ^_^
listening to: Alone, Heart
losing my religion on Monday, November 18, 2002 at 08:20 a.m.
Okay.
I'm just not going to speak anymore. At all.
EDIT: No, you didn't offend me. Just made me feel like shit, that's all. Thank you so much for implying that all the fics I've put my time and energy and so-called talent into were no better than Mary Sues. You have no idea how much that means to me.
EDIT AGAIN: (yes, I'm doing this in stages as I become calm enough to discuss it rationally) Okay, look. I've read over mine and MD's entries on this topic several times, and nowhere can I find anything that said that you, personally, needed to write or read het fics. In fact, I wasn't even talking about that. You're the one who keeps "constantly bringing it up", so perhaps it's you who has the problem?
As for your "heavy yaoi subtext", 3 of 14 characters in the manga are canonically homosexual, and one is arguably bisexual. There are far more potential couples in canon that are heterosexual than those that are homosexual. Just because the fandom only sees the yaoi pairings doesn't mean that X is predominately yaoi-based, because it really isn't. So no, I don't think it's totally unreasonable for me to comment on the discrepancies involved with 90% of the fandom being totally focused on 10% of what goes on in the story.
I'm just so fucking sick of the idea that I and anyone else who likes het should have to shut up because we're in the minority. I don't understand why I'm not allowed to say that I wish the fandom respected the pairings I like a bit more. I have never at any point said that people should stop writing yaoi. I never took away your or anyone else's right to be a yaoi fangirl. What more do you want me to do? Stop talking about the pairings I like? Leave the fandom?
In the end, I don't really give a fuck who wants to read and write about which two or more characters in bed. What really bothers me is the overwhelmingly "our way or the highway" attitude in this goddamn fucked up fandom. To assume that just because you find the het pairings boring, the entire rest of the fandom does too, is completely egotistical and ridiculous. I don't believe that's true at all. I think a lot of people would like and support some of those pairings, if people like you wouldn't automatically judge the fics as not worth reading because one of the participants doesn't have a fucking dick.
As for the Mary Sue thing, just because I'm attracted to a character doesn't mean that when I pair them with someone, it's a Mary Sue. You're attracted to Fuuma, so by that logic, whenever you write about Fuuma paired with someone I should be able to run around screaming Mary Sue, right? I love Karen; she's a wonderful character, very complex, and though I may not write her perfectly, I'd never do her the disservice of making her into a thinly-veiled representation of myself. I've been told by many people that my characterization of Karen is excellent, some of whom aren't even major fans of the character or the pairing. Forgive me for choosing to believe them over someone who is clearly biased against the pairing to begin with.
That said, it still hurts, to be told something like that by someone who I consider a friend, you know? I thought we had learned something from the last time this sort of thing happened. I don't think this one can be chalked up to a lack of communication. You directly attacked me without cause or provocation... insulted my writing, which is something that is very important to me and which I personally don't think you have the right to judge, since you've said yourself that you ignore the pairings that bore you, so how would you know or care when they're written correctly?
I don't understand it. I don't understand what I possibly could have done to you to prompt a low blow like that. All I said was that it sometimes aggravates me a little when yaoi fans reject het just because it's het. That hardly seems harsh enough to merit a response like yours, and I can't help but wonder what the real issue here is...
If you want to let me know, I'll be around. If not... whatever. With friends like this, who needs enemies?
listening to: Barely Breathing, Duncan Sheik
losing my religion on Sunday, November 17, 2002 at 01:44 p.m.
Well, I just got back from seeing Chamber of Secrets... ^____^ It was excellent. Daniel Radcliffe continues to be about the cutest thing on earth, and he fits the role perfectly-- I can't imagine anyone else as Harry, which is why I really hope they keep the same cast for future movies. o_o Kenneth Branagh as Lockhart was hilarious, and Jason Isaacs as Lucius (heh heh... -.-) Malfoy was deliciously evil. Special effects were great, as usual. My only complaint would be that some characters were underused, most notably Snape, but that's the fault of the source material, not the movie. Besides, I know there'll be tons of Snape in the third movie, so I'm not too upset. ^.^ The Quidditch stuff in the first movie was better, however, 'cause this one's Quidditch scene focused mostly on Harry and Draco, which means not as much Oliver Wood cuteness. :_: There wasn't much Fred and George, either, and I love them. *_* Ah, adorable little British boys...
*cries* Wah, you know I am paranoid about IMing people, so you could message me once in a while! :P Besides, I always feel like I'm boring you, since I know absolutely nothing about your favorite topics... and yes, I do read your blog. *glare of death*
Eek, Kimmie, niceynice!Schwarz? o_o I am afraid as well. The character designs better not be too fucked up... and no Farfie? That sucks. :_: As long as Brad and Schu are still hot, though... but somehow I have my doubts. -.-;;;
Rae, that fic is wonderful. *_* I was going to e-mail you, but I'll just do it here: Can I humbly ask to archive your fic on my A/K shrine? It isn't up yet, but hopefully it will be soon. ^^;;; Let me know... and again, great job. ^___^
Oh, did they? Oops. ^^;;; Well, even so, it isn't usually a major issue, which is something I like about CLAMP works. It's nice to see stories where homosexuality isn't a huge deal, it's just there, like anything else.
You and your friend's conversation about future Harry Potter books amused the hell out of me. "Luscious", indeed. XD XD
listening to:
losing my religion on Saturday, November 16, 2002 at 08:17 p.m.
I had an entry typed up last night, but thanks to AIM's insistance on opening links in pre-existing windows, it went byebye. That's okay, though, 'cause it was incoherent, and I probably wouldn't have finished it because I got halfway through it and fell to a crippling bout of aaaaangst. (Yes, the multiple a's are necessary. Not just angst. ^^) Am currently not so much angsting, because I had a session at the counseling center today and those always seem to make me feel better. And on Monday I get to go in and rant about a certain person, yay. XD
Anyway... I'll start this off with a very apt quiz result. ^_~
Which fandom archetype are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Raise your hand if you're surprised. ... Yeah, I didn't think so. Heehee.
Anyway, now to live up to my archetype and bitch. ^__^ Actually this isn't so much bitching as an observation on the latest little war over Ms. Mary Sue and whether or not it's okay to gang up and verbally beat her six ways to Sunday. To be a total bitch for a moment, I don't really care to stick up for her... similar to what Beth said, if someone is clueless enough to post a fic that's bad in as many ways as that fic is bad, and expect people to like it, then perhaps they deserve some sense knocked into them. Attacking them for the explicit purpose of making them stop writing or take their fic down... that's more questionable, and perhaps is a little sadistic, and is certainly overkill when 40 people are doing it... but in the end I don't really care, and I hope at the very least she learns from this.
But. I've been waiting for someone to bring up the adamant insistances that "Kamui is gay" ever since I saw that comment in a few of the reviews, and Kim finally did it (I think she was the first to say it... forgive me if I'm wrong, I'm sure I don't read all the blogs that have commented on this issue). Yeah. Unless Kotori had something under her frilly skirts that we weren't told about, I've always assumed Kamui was bi, if anything.
If anything? Let me explain that. See, I don't think "straight" and "gay" even exist in CLAMP's little world. I've always gotten the message from their works that destiny, not gender, determines who a person will fall in love with. CLAMP characters angst about many things, but I've never seen one angst about or even discuss their sexual orientation (again, forgive me if I'm wrong, I haven't read every CLAMP work), and I think that's telling. It must be omitted for a reason, because we all know the ladies take every chance they can to make their characters angst. I honestly think they're trying to tell us something-- that it really doesn't matter what label you give yourself, what matters is who you love and how you deal with it.
That said, I hope you can understand why it's annoying to me when people criticize Mary Sue fics because they make a "gay" character "straight". Not only do I not believe it applies to CLAMP characters, but it's not the issue. The problem with a Mary Sue fic isn't that it's heterosexual romance (and if that is your problem with it, do us all a favor and get a life). The real problem is that adding a perfect original character to be (insert bishounen here)'s love interest more often than not disrupts the spirit of the original work and makes the other characters act OOC. So say that, rather than bitching about "how dare you make Kamui straight!"
*coughs* And that leads perfectly into the other thing I wanted to rant about... or actually, respond to. Becky (whose layout, by the way, is absolute genius *giggles madly*) made some great points about the open-mindedness of slash/yaoi fans, which is something I've ranted about in the past, I believe. ^^ It's irritating to see people be blatantly biased against het and then prance around bragging about how "open minded" and "accepting" they are. Yes, it's great that you think homosexuality is okay and acceptable and sparkly, but to be truly open-minded you've got to accept the other side of the coin, too.
Not to say everyone has to read and write and like het fics, but if you're going to be biased against anything that doesn't involve pretty boys screwing, admit you're biased. I know some yaoi fangirls who openly admit that yaoi is all that interests them, and while it bugs me a little that they can't see that some het couples are just as interesting as slash ones (*cough cough* XD), I have more of a problem with people who think they're so enlightened, but are really not much better than the homophobes.
Okay. *deep breath* I think I'm done. Now to tackle some of my backlogged social blogging. ><
Ne, Alison-san, did you ever get my e-mail requesting to archive your A/K fics on my shrine? ^^;;; I sent it a while ago-- just checking if it got through...
Ah, no problem. I gotta share the Aoki love, you know. ^_~ And of course I love the layout *sparklesparkle* Maybe I'll do a Y/K/A one someday... I'm not so good at editing pics together, though. XP CLAMP should do an official pic of those three. Yeaaaahhh. XD XD
*SPARKLE* I did?? Wow, that makes me happy. Nothing like spreading your obsession to the world at large. XD XD So, gonna write fic now? *ears perk* ... uh, yeah. I'll try to control myself and be not so much with the nagging. XD
I am going to IM you sometime... when I get the courage. Ehehe. *is a wuss about IMing people* XD Anyway, I'm definitely working on the shrine. I'm going to start working on the fanart section as soon as I finish this entry. ^^ And yes, Karen is gorgeous. That mask pic absolutely slays me... I need to make a wallpaper of it or something so I can stare at it more. I mean, I'm more inclined to lust after Aoki, of course, but that pic... gah. XD
Speaking of that pic, I had the strangest fic inspiration based on it today in English class. It's... um... rather lemony, and I think I like it. I'd write it, if I didn't have three other projects jockeying for attention in my head right now. @_@ Maybe someday...
Tomorrow I will be seeing Chamber of Secrets. Yay. ^.^
listening to: The Energy, Audiovent
losing my religion on Friday, November 15, 2002 at 01:32 p.m.
Ahem... I was bored earlier today, so I opened a fic blog. ^^;;;; And for its inaugeration, I posted the first scene of an original story I'm working on. It's not much, but I promise it gets better. ^_~ So go check me out:
*scurries off to write more* ^.^
listening to: nothing
losing my religion on Wednesday, November 13, 2002 at 11:19 p.m.
Ooooh, it's Day 2. *wiggles fingers* Spoooky. No nosebleeds yet, nor weird visions, so I should be safe. Should I take a picture of myself just to be sure? *snicker*
Yeah. I think I'm obsessed with this movie. Not surprising, considering I'm obsessed with urban legends, and this is like the mother of all urban legends. I have the Japanese version sitting on my laptop right now; I started watching it earlier, but decided it would be much more effective in the dark, and am now patiently waiting for the sun to go down. ^.^ Am hoping to be able to write an article for the Leader that compares the two versions... that would be much more interesting than interviewing some dumbass band that doesn't return their calls, so let's hope it works out. ^^;;;
I also started my original fic today. I told a few people the idea a while back... It's kind of cheesy, maybe, but there will be plenty of love triangles and interesting things (and slash, yes, otherwise no one will read it XD XD). Only wrote the first scene, but it turned out fairly well. I haven't introduced my favorite character yet, unfortunately, but he'll be along soon enough. ^_^;;; My usual readers will get the first scene tonight, hopefully, if I get off my lazy ass and type it up. ^_^
Oh! I guess I was too busy gushing about my license to gush about this in my last entry, but everyone should immediately drop what they are doing and go read this (the first fic snippet on the page). My unedited first response...
Keri: *reading blogs* ... eeh? *clicks on link* ... *SPARKLESPARKLE!* ... *readread* ... *squeals for ten minutes straight* ^______^
So yes. It's gooood. ^_^ *clings to MD* Don't wanna be a pest... but more soon please! ^.^ Oh, and yes, Yuuto and Aoki are both damn hot and underappreciated. *hearts* And you don't write badfic. *pats* What I've read of your writing has totally blown me away... I'm jealous, truthfully. ^_^;;; Hell, you held my interest in a story where Fuuma was the only character. That's a superhuman feat if I ever saw one. XD XD
Ah... someone linked to me! *waves to Hana* It always astounds me when people I don't know link me... I can't imagine how my crackheaded, obsessive ramblings must sound to someone outside my circle of friends. ^^;;;; Anyway... hi! I really liked your mini-rant about the fandom. *applauds* Personally I find all the drama in the CLAMP fandom endlessly amusing... As I told some friends a few days ago, it's like that old phenomenon of owners looking like their dogs or vice versa. Most of us are beginning to look like the manga we are so enamored of-- angsty, dramatic, and often lacking in common sense. XD (And hell, that includes me, before anyone takes offense. I know I'm overly angsty, and I've been known to blow fandom stuff out of proportion every now and then, too. It's just an amusing observation. ^^;;;) Oh, and I'm very pleased to see Aoki/Karen in your list of favorite couples. ^_~
Awwww, 15-year-old geek Ammie, how cute. ^_~
Speaking of cute, this is so freakin' adorable. *waves Yuuto/Sorata flag* XD XD
listening to: No One is to Blame, Howard Jones
losing my religion on Monday, November 11, 2002 at 05:08 p.m.
