Cries and Whispers

Oh noes! A meme!

2008-06-28T00:50:44Z

Yoinked from cluegirl.

I rarely do memes. In general, I'm too lazy and impatient, and they take me too long. This one, however, sounds like fun, and might solicit some odd and interesting stories from the flist.

Post five things you've done in your lifetime that you don't think anybody else on your friends list has done. See if anybody else responds with "I've done that." If they have, you need to add another. Have your friends cut & paste this into their journal to see what unique things they've done in their life.

1. Robbed a graveyard, "stole" 3 chickens and kidnapped a dog all on the same roadtrip.

2. Lived for 6 months in a haunted house. (That's probably a gimme, but wotthehell, Archie, wotthehell.)

3. Gotten stuck in the evil time/space continuum masquerading as the big roundabout in Swindon. (Possibly the only reason people live in Swindon: they get trapped there and finally give up and rent a flat.) (Apologies to anyone who might actually live in Swindon, but my initial impression was not positive...)

4. Sat on a balcony in Saigon watching gunfire in the jungle while my dad and mom argued over whether it was M16 or AK47.

5. Been trapped at a suburban pagan religious observance (I hesitate to call it a 'celebration' as it was FAR too similar to torturous Anabaptist sermonizing) after which I was forced to chauffeur home a drunken transexual Viking wannabe who got miffed because I wouldn't let him sing off-key Wagner into the back of my head.

Ghastlycrumb Tinies, Round 1

2008-06-26T23:16:40Z

(my contrib)

J is for Jillian, who drowned in the punch.

K is for Kenneth, who ate some bad clams.

I tag malinalda

Bleach Fic: "Sword Brothers", Renji/Ishida, NC17

2008-06-25T20:26:01Z

Here's a link to the original post on renishi: Sword Brothers

Bleach Fic: "Ishida Dreams", Ichigo/Ishida, NC17 (link)

2008-06-25T20:19:48Z

Here's a link to the original posting on ishi_ichi: Ishida Dreams

Bleach Fic: "Whatever You Want", Ichigo/Ishida, NC17 (link)

2008-06-25T20:15:26Z

Original post on ishi_ichi to be found here: Whatever You Want

Fixing Tags on my site

2008-06-25T20:13:22Z

I'm trying to reorganize all my tags to make things easier to find. Since I've been posting my Bleach fics directly at comms rather than in my own journal, I'm going to be either posting either the fics or links in my LJ, just so I know where to find everything. Just an FYI when you see fics or links pop up. Don't get excited. It's nothing you (probably) haven't seen before.

Inspiration for _debbiechan_

2008-06-23T02:07:09Z

Miss D said she needed some yaoi inspiration, so I scanned five pages out of a Renishi doujin and tucked them below under a cut.

The scans aren't great because I have a 4 in 1 scanner and am techno-clumsy, but I hope they serve their purpose. The doujin is by Half-Moon, about PG-15. From what I can figure, Renji just shows up on Ishida's doorstep. Ishida initially slams the door in his face but then relents, lets him in, serves him tea, THEN feeds him dinner. But what's dinner without "dessert"?

It goes on after this. I tried to look up the kanji to see if I could get an idea of what's going on, and I think Renji wakes him up and asks him to iron his clothes, whereupon Ishida clobbers him and tosses him out, and Renji ends up over at Ichigo's. Which Ichigo doesn't look pleased about. It's very cute, but I have only a vague idea of what's going on.

Hope it helps excite the yaoi muses for you!

Reason to Hate Me #15

2008-06-09T04:40:49Z

I just spent the last 2 hours TWELVE FUCKING FEET AWAY from EDDIE IZZARD, laughing so hard that I cried all my makeup off.

Front row tickets FTW!

Alas that I have a two hour drive home now, but it was OMG SO worth it.

I'm in love.

Some Thoughs on Bleach -99

2008-06-08T04:04:35Z

Not in essay form because, frankly, I have to write enough of the damn things for school. Besides, I have no coherent topic, rather just bobbles and bits that I've been pondering since Friday.

1. The Color Spread: How much do I love it? Loads and loads. As much as I've been enjoying the gaiden, it's nice to see the regular crew again. Much has been said about the innuendo in this spread, and I've seen a couple of folks mention that this is Kubo's "revenge" for what's been happening in the anime arc. Do you know what convinces me that Kubo is definitely saying something to so-called animators? The fact that Ishida is EATING! In the general hue and cry following the new opener for the anime, some of the loudest voices were screaming "Good God, Ishida! Lay off the heroin and EAT A SAMMICH!" Other things I love about the color spread -- that may or may not be related to Kubo thumbing his nose at animators and certain groups of fangirls alike? That Kurosaki is arguing with Ishida (like an 'old married couple', someone said) and scowling mightily as the Kurosaki Of Old? Oh God yes! Halleluja, yes! (Filler-Opener-Kurosaki smiles -- yes, smiles I tell you -- and for me, the effect is just disturbing.) That Rukia's nibbling on Ichigo's leg of prehistoric Tofurky (or whatever the hell that is)? Good. That if you tilt your head right it looks like Ishida about to take a bite out a nice Leg of Renji? Even better. There may be even more 'secret messages' on that picnic table, but I'm pretty tickled with what I saw.

2. Aizen v Shinji: Oh yeah. I think it was last week I noted that Shinji and Aizen didn't seem to have a typical Gotei 13 Captain/Lieutenant relationship. (Where's the respect/adoration? Where's the teasing? Where's the subtext?) Well, seems Aizen noticed it, too. Much has already been said about that, and I really haven't anything to add except for this question: Back Bleach -107 when Shinji finds Aizen spying on him, Aizen says "When did you realize?" Shinji's reply: "Since you were still in your mama's womb." Now in -99, that scene replays almost exactly. This sort of echo is a wonderful narrative device (and truth be told, I was anticipating it, because it's just too good a line to throw away in one panel), but it made me wonder if there was something more to it. We know that Shinji has been suspicious of Aizen, but we're never told why. This makes me wonder if there's even more backstory. If you take Shinji's line literally rather than figuratively, it could mean Shinji knew Aizen's mother and/or family. Possibly Aizen comes from a shifty, suspicious family? No idea if it is true, but Kubo can be tricksey, and sometimes I wonder if he isn't hiding clues in plain sight.

3. Neha Makes a Crazy Ass Prediction: Periodically I lurk around on some Bleach forums just to see what upcoming chapter predictions people come up with, and having read a few about the Vizard, I decided my own ideas really couldn't prove any more laughable.

Since we last saw Aizen staring down Urahara and Tessai lo these 90 years ago, and when last scene in the SS arc, Aizen was a Captain and Urahara and Tessai were banished Personae Non Grata as far as SS was concerned, I'm gonna creep out on a limb and say that Urahara and Tessai are about to get their asses framed. Most probably by Aizen. OK, yeah, that's kind of a gimme. But what about the Vizards?

Here's what we know: 1) they all defeat their Hollows and become Vizards; 2) they don't seem to have anything to do with SS anymore -- despite the fact that they were all high-ranking officers/elite Shinigami; 3) that Hiyori (at least) hates Shinigami. From past experience we know that 4) Sereitei, esp the Gotei 13 can be incredibly hide-bound and short-sighted. 5) We know about the Maggot's Nest -- and I'll say right now that I don't think we were given that much info on it just because that's where Mayuri came from. We also know that 6) the Maggot's Nest is full of people who Soul Society thinks might possibly be a danger to them. The implication is that anyone who doesn't conform to normal standards gets popped in there; 7) if you're a member of the Gotei 13, you're there for life. No such thing as retirement. You're in the Gotei 13, or the Royal Guard, or the Kidou Corp, or you're dead or you're in the Maggot's Nest. Or in exile.

And since Kubo is too good a story teller just to trot all that information past us and not do anything with it, here's the way I'm leaning: that the future Vizard are about to whup ass on their inner Hollows and show what they've become; that even tho they look like normal Shinigami, they're obviously Different, and SS won't trust them as officers anymore; that they either get stuck in the Maggot's Nest, or are going to be put in the Maggot's Nest forever and ever. (I think that would sour me on Shinigami if my many years of devotion and service were about to be rewarded that way, don't you? What do you say, Hiyori?) That Urahara knows they have been/are about to be locked away, springs them outta jail and sends or takes them off to the Real World; that Tessai and Yoriuchi help him do this, or help him escape if he hangs around afterwards. And you pretty much know the rest of the story.

Oh, and can we go back to the framing thing for a minute? I wouldn't be a bit surprised to find that Mayuri is involved in that. Not a bit. Was he in cahoots with Aizen? I think he was to some extent. To the point I'd bet some money on it. Was he supposed to go to HM with the others? I don't think so. He stood everything to gain by getting rid of Urahara and Hiyori, I don't think he needed more of a reason than that. And, as I commented in someone else's journal (forgive me, I don't recall whose, or who responded), isn't it interesting that when Unohana calls everyone to the execution grounds when Aizen is doing the Hueco Mundo Shuffle, Mayuri -- getting out of his bath/shower -- tells Nemu that "he's not concerned with that". Yeah, I'm thinking he and Aizen had a little understanding with each other -- we can help each other out, and afterwards, we don't mess with each other. Which, alas, leads me to...

Chilling Realization #1 (which annieroo actually came up with but which just keeps getting more chilling as we think of these things): For the sake of this Chilling Realization, let's say Mayuri was in cahoots with Aizen. Let's also just go ahead and acknowledge that Mayuri is wholly amoral (Bad Science). So, does anyone in the room really believe that Mayuri is loyal to Soul Society? Or is Mayuri always going to do whatever is Good for Mayuri? Show of hands, please. Uh huh. Right. So, where is Mayuri right now? He's in Hueco Mundo. In the ruins of Freak-Espada Szayel's laboratory. Full of wide-eyed wonder at whatever the hell is in Szayel's Storage Facility.

With Renji and Ishida. Whom he may or may not be healing.

Do the possibilities that arise from that arrangement not give any one else an acute case of the creeping willies? Because they do me.

Chilling Realization #2: That Chilling Realization #1 would make one HELL of a dystopic Bleach Alternate Reality. Brrr.

That's all I got!

Thank you to my very kind f-list

2008-05-10T21:21:15Z

I just wanted to give everyone my deepest thanks for your responses to my last post about losing my elderly kitty. I was so touched by all your thoughtful messages, and it honestly did make me feel better. It's hard to explain how much the death of a pet can affect people (especially people who don't have human kids) and gahhh, right at the start of Finals? Gah. Believe me, your thoughts and messages helped immensely.

Thank you guys so so much! *HUGS*

Brief and Probably Insufficient Update

2008-05-05T02:30:32Z

So here's what I'm doing right now and most likely tomorrow and the next day and the next.

1. Studying for final exams. One tomorrow morning, one Tues.
2. Racking my brain for a thesis sentence for the 7-9 page paper due Thurs morning at 10:30 am.
3. Taking care of my poor cat, who after looking like she was recovering well (escaping from cage, attempting to climb on furniture, that sort of thing) now seems to be taking a turn for the worse. I dropped her at the vet on Thurs because she was having bowel problems, I picked her up Fri with some meds and instructions. They said she ate there, but she hasn't touched her food and hasn't passed any solids since I brought her home, despite giving her her regular dose of Propulsid. So in between studying and writing, I'm feeding the kittums water through a syringe and basically trying to keep her alive and not too dehydrated so I can drop her at the vet tomorrow on my way to my final. Fun, huh?

4. And then there's Wankfest mod-ing, which is the only truly fun thing in my line up. I'm having a great time (re)reading all the entries and doing the late-night posting duties.

Back to studying and worrying. Come Thursday afternoon, I should have my life back (mostly). Let's hope I still have my cat. (Sigh.)

Snupin Shopping List Challenge

2008-04-26T05:58:10Z

In response to westernredcedar's challenge at lupin_snape to create an example of a shopping list that Msrs Lupin and Snape might have put together. Since mine is an image file, and for some pernicious reason IJ will not let me insert an image from file, I am placing it here. For best readability, click on the image twice, then click on the little magnifying glass that comes up. I was able to read it that way, so hopefully you'll find it legible. If not, I'll happily provide translation. (crosses fingers and hits button)

Bleach Anime Question

2008-04-25T00:33:18Z

So, does anyone know how long the anime filler arc is supposed to go on? Also, any clue to the reasoning behind sticking in filler in the middle of another arc? The Bounto one at least came after the SS arc finished, but this one just popped up with "So Ichigo rescued Orihime (???) and the Arrancar battle rages on, but now we're going to tell you a different story." Sigh.

I think I know now why so many people like the manga better. (But I'll take my Bleach however I can get it.)

Allow me also to register my dislike of the new opening. Meh.

Bleach question

2008-04-19T04:09:34Z

Er... are there one or two moons in Hueco Mundo? I can't remember and if I try to go back thru all the online mangas looking, I'll get caught up and, y'know, never finish the fic I'm trying to write.

Any clue?

Bleach -105

2008-04-18T09:43:15Z

Cut for spoiler squee

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Ickle Byakuya in a pony tail!!!!!!!!! OMGOMGOMGOMG!

I don't usually even think of writing het, but after reading this latest manga, I am so imagining Bya tied to a tree somewhere and being tormented by Yoruichi. (Maybe when he's a little bit older.) Pride, anger and teen-age hormones + the utter evil tease that is Yoru. Even imagining it is delish. Hee hee hee!

And oh god, the Urahara Mayuri scene? Methinks a certain shopkeeper has got a HELL of a lot to answer for.

Especially to the Quincy.

And it's weird. Somehow, even without the mutations and the ultra-weird get-up, to me,Mayuri looks just as creepy as ever.

Bleach flashbacks OMGsogood!

Oh please!

2008-04-16T22:00:17Z

I am only 6 web-articles, 100 pages of reading and one 3-page personal response paper away from being able to write pron again.

After I pass out and sleep for awhile, that is.

Speaking of pron, I might be going on a crusade soon. I am currently of the opinion there's not enough smutty Ishida (Uryuu) art out there, and I've decided there needs to be more. Possibly this is deadline stress and lack of sleep talking, but if I still feel this way next week, I may have to do something about it. Like, maybe have a 'you draw it, I'll write it' challenge.

I may come to my senses about that, tho. That's why I'm waiting til next week.

don't freak

2008-04-12T17:04:23Z

Hey kids,

Had an RL security breach so am deleting journal for a couple of days. Be back soon when the heat dies down. You can still find me over on IJ under the same name.

Birthday Greetings!

2008-03-28T21:05:30Z

http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Make Money Online

To one of my earliest fandom friends, a fantastic beta and all around cool person! Mwah! May you have many more!

Bleach Fic: Runaway Horse, Hollow!Ichigo/Ishida, NC17

2008-03-21T03:57:08Z

Greetings all,

Yes, I wrote a new Bleach fic. Unfortunately, since I'm observing the LJ boycott tomorrow (and I'm skirting it kind of close right now) I won't be posting it on LJ til Saturday. Yes, I am evil for putting up the title and making you think it's posted here. Blame the Evil Non-Con Bunny. He's just that perverse.

In the meantime, however, I have posted the fic on my IJ account -- which is not under boycott tomorrow -- and if you are unwilling to wait for the LJ posting, you may find it here: cut to "Runaway Horse" in my IJ. Commenting is just as easy over there. ^_^ (No, I'm not a bit transparent. Why do you ask?)

And no, I couldn't just wait til Saturday to post. It's a well-known fact that an NC17 fic will burn a hole right through your hard drive if you don't post it almost immedately. Honest.

Grrrr...

2008-03-20T00:12:35Z

You know what I hate?

I hate it when I'm cruising along on something like, oh, say -- just say -- a non-con fic, or something equally evil and painful. And everything's going fine. And then...

Fluffy bunnies attack! Bunnies that want me to write something cute, where no one suffers anything worse than a skinned knee or embarrassment, and the characters are mostly nice to each other.

Gah! Get out of here, damn it! And give me my non-con bunny back! The black one over there. With the handcuffs and the chainsaw. Yeah, that one. The rest of you bunnies, get the hell out.

Grrrr.

Bleach: Results of the Ishida Slash Poll (so far) and yet another poll (this time with ticky boxes!)

2008-03-15T03:45:27Z

The Ishida Slash Poll is still open, and I’d like to thank everyone who has participated so far. The results so far have proved most edifying, and very, very helpful for idea fermentation. Based on the preferences stated, the ideas submitted and whatever catalyzed in the slashy side of my brain, here are the fics you can expect to see in the (hopefully not-too-distant) future:

1. Ichigo & Renji x Ishida. I’m thinking Jealousy and Shower!Sex are just natural components to this one. Possibly some spanking. Possibly even... well, you’ll see.

2. Hueco Mundo gang-bang. Yeah, this idea seems to be taking on a life of its own. Aizen fans and folks who are tired of seeing Ichigo and Renji as the sole possessors of Ishida’s ass, this one’s for you. As for all you deviants who just wanna see Ishida thrown down and repeatedly violated, I am only too happy to oblige. (Being exactly that sort of deviant myself.)

3. Byakuya/Ishida. See, I’ve been wondering if there wouldn’t be some interest in this pairing, if only because the two of them are so similar in some ways. I’ll definitely be exploring this. I can’t say when you’ll see it, if only because Bya is a complex character and it may take me awhile to figure out the mechanics. Renji might find his way into this one as well. (Hmm, gotta wonder what Renji would think of those two getting together; and if he’d be jealous; and just which one he’d be jealous about.... Intriguing.) I feel sure Bondage can be worked into this one.

4. Ichigo/Shirosaki/Ishida. Oh, I definitely want to write this pairing/threesome. I’m just still on the fence about exactly what and how. It really is like a box of chocolates and I don’t know which one to pick. Do I put Ishida in Ichigo’s weird sideways world and let Ichigo and Shirosaki fight over him? Or do a threesome? Or do I let Shirosaki take over Ichigo, and poor Ichi is stuck watching while his Hollow has its way with Ishida? Who might or might not already be his boyfriend? And Ishida might or might not know what the hell is really going on? The possibilities! They are too much for my brain! (This might require another poll.)

5. Fans of Chad, I have not forgotten you. I have plans for Sado and Ishida – evil plans – but I can’t tell you what they are because it would spoil the surprise.

That will probably keep me busy for awhile... tho I'm always open to further suggestion.

And now, because I finally figured out the diff between radio buttons and ticky boxes, Another Ishida Poll!

View Poll: Where Are You on the Ishida Dub-Con Spectrum?

Ah, Bleach Slash fandom! There's nothing like finding people who are just as perverted as you are!

Bleach: Ishida Slash Poll

2008-03-14T02:47:40Z

I've finished up all the fics I was working on, but for some reason, I feel like writing more Ishida pron. Since I'm sorta open on the direction right now, I've made a short poll to find out what other folks (y'know, readers) would like to see. If you're interested in more Ishida slash pron, please fire away!

View Poll: Ishida Slash Poll

If I failed to put anything on the poll that you'd really like to see, just comment. No promises, but I'll give due consideration to anything that isn't a major squick.

Two New Bleach Fics

2008-03-11T00:26:01Z

Just in case you missed them, I posted 2 new Bleach fics to the appropriate communities.

The Renji x Ishida/Ishida x Renji is here: Lucky Shinigami

The rather darker (but happily ending) Mayuri x Ishida (sorta), Ichigo x Ishida is here: More Than Nakama

If Bleach in general or these pairings are your cuppa tea, enjoy!

Most Fun I've Ever Had Voting

2008-03-05T04:46:00Z

Reporting in from Texas: I Caucused, Baby!

I've been voting for ohh, a whole lotta years, and this is the first time I ever felt I actually made a difference. I voted in the primary -- for the first time ever, my card is stamped with a party name. (Yup, it says "Democrat".) Then, I went back for the caucus.

It was a small exercise in good natured chaos, because honestly, no one's ever *done* this before and even the election officials were basically reading off the "how to" sheets. So anyway, 37 people showed up from my precinct -- including my darling ex-roomie, so it was fun to have someone to chat with. And guess what: those 37 people decided who got what percentage of five whole delegates.

OK, in the grand scheme of things, five delegates is probably not going to win or lose someone the nomination, BUT... for the first time ever, I can point to five specific people and say that I influenced how they are going to cast their votes at the Democratic Convention. And I did it pretty much by just showing up.

It was actually pretty fun. I got to meet people in my area, and was kind of astonished at how many Democrats were out. Honest, I didn't know there were that many of us in my whole zip code! (Red state, pretty conservative city, live on the edge of a fairly wealthy and traditionally Republican area.) Even with all the confusion, it only ended up taking about an hour and a half, and afterwards my ex-roomie, his bf and I went out to dinner and talked about our voting experiences and weird-ass Texas politics* in general. (His bf voted in a different precinct.)

So, I'm kinda stoked about local politics now, and will probably look into getting more involved. Really, it was pretty fun.

*For those of you who haven't been listening to the experts weep on NPR about the Texas Two Step (as our primary/caucus voting system has been dubbed) it goes like this:

1) First, you vote in the Primary. The Primary votes determine who gets 2/3 of the available delegates, and it's winner take all. For example, my precinct has 15 delegates. 10 of them went to Clinton because she got 57% of the primary votes, and since she had the majority, she got 100% of the two-thirds. (Confused yet?)

2) The final 1/3 of the delegates are decided by caucus held right after the polls close -- so yes, you have to vote, then go back to the place you voted to, well, basically vote again. (I said it was weird-ass.) Now *those* delegates are apportioned by percentage of the caucus votes. Again, in my precinct, there were 5 remaining delegates. Of the 37 people at the caucus, 10 went for Obama, and 27 went for Clinton, so Obama ended up with 1 delegate, Clinton with 4 (because percentage wise, she had the edge for that fourth one.)

Anyway, I should have been home working on my 7 page paper (due on Thursday) or even finishing up my Trading Places fic, but sometimes, other things take precedence. I consider it an evening well spent.

Fan Fic Survey

2008-02-29T16:09:32Z

A student completing her masters degree at Georgetown University is doing her thesis on fandom and fan fic. Please help her out by completing the survey linked below. It's easy, and you get to show your love for your favorite fics and authors. You don't even have to answer all the questions if you don't want to. Help a struggling college student out, and give it a go.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=v1WJ94SEl3lKgsi5hFy1xQ_3d_3d