Enough to Go By

The visuals from the lastest T&B: The Rising trailer are really striking… and suggest some really interesting things about the movie plot, about Stern Bild itself, and the world’s backstory.

( Beneath the cut, screenshots, the trailer itself, and some analysis. )

A bit late, and by the time anyone reads these (even on Tumblr) they'll no longer be anon, but I felt like getting them out there before reveals.

First, my three amazing gifts, all for FF6:

Armor (1126 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Final Fantasy VI
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Terra Branford/Locke Cole
Characters: Locke Cole, Terra Branford
Summary: Locke took a few moments longer than the others to leave Terra behind in Zozo.

In The Nuclear Season (14575 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 2/2
Fandom: Final Fantasy VI
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Terra Branford/Locke Cole
Characters: Terra Branford, Locke Cole, Katarin (Final Fantasy VI), Duane (Final Fantasy VI), OC - Character
Summary: Terra in an uncharted world.

That Which Was Beside You All The Time (805 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Final Fantasy VI
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: Author Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Terra Branford/Locke Cole
Characters: Celes Chere, Relm Arrowny, Setzer Gabbiani, rest of ensemble cast, Kefka Palazzo
Summary: Terra and Locke: allies, friends...more?

And then the rest: FF6, Justice League/JLU, Northern Exposure, Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero, Incredibles...

Ace-Queen Blackjack (100 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Final Fantasy VI
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Daryl/Setzer Gabbiani
Characters: Daryl (Final Fantasy VI), Setzer Gabbiani
Summary: It's nice to keep an ace up your sleeve, but watching her fly is even better.

Perdendosi (2336 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magika | Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: Major Character Death
Relationships: Miki Sayaka/Sakura Kyouko, Kamijou Kyousuke/Miki Sayaka, Miki Sayaka/Tomoe Mami
Characters: Miki Sayaka, Kamijou Kyousuke, Tomoe Mami, Sakura Kyouko
Summary: Or: Three people Sayaka loved and one she never managed to

New York Is a State of Mind, but Cicely Is a Way of Life (6005 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Northern Exposure
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Joel Fleischman/Maggie O'Connell
Characters: Joel Fleischman, Maggie O'Connell, Ruth-Anne Miller, Ed Chigliak, Chris Stevens, Marilyn Whirlwind
Summary: In which Joel and and various Cicelians meet in a dream, a moose gives advice, Maggie's in denial, Ed visits the Big Apple with a purpose, and Joel makes his long-awaited return to the great state of Alaska.

walking in babylon (8449 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Fate/Zero, Fate/stay night & Related Fandoms
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Waver Velvet, Rider (Fate/Zero), Tohsaka Rin
Summary: In which Waver Velvet goes on vacation, pays his so-called debts, and forms an unlikely alliance.

Rub-a-Dub Dub (A Bunch of Capes in the Tub) (1156 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Justice League & Justice League Unlimited (Cartoons)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: Author Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, Wally West, Gorilla Grodd, The Joker, Amanda Waller, Oliver Queen, Diana (Wonder Woman), Shayera Hol, Selina Kyle, Alfred Pennyworth, Lex Luthor
Summary:
“Holy cats!” Oliver said, dropping the sponge. There was still conditioner in his beard.

“I think you mean, holy bats,” Bruce intoned.

A bunch of times Batman ambushed people in the shower, and a time or two someone ambushed him.

The Head That Wears a Crown (2863 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Justice League & Justice League Unlimited (Cartoons)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Audrey/Diana (DCU)
Characters: Audrey (DCU), Diana (Wonder Woman), Bruce Wayne
Summary: It is not an easy task, rebuilding one’s country, but Queen Audrey of Kasnia is up for the challenge—especially since she has Wonder Woman as a confidant.

Still As Sweet (100 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Incredibles (2004)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: Author Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Violet Parr
Summary: Violet goes by the codename Invisigal for exactly two weeks.

The Birth of an Empire (1093 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Incredibles (2004)
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Edna Mode, Original Characters
Summary: Edna Mode makes her first super hero costume.

AKA "OMG OMG THIS IS THE BEST XMAS EVER"
(and not just because I went an entire year without setting foot in Oklahoma)

I just.  FICS.  Omg!  What did I do to deserve so much awesome?  There's even a Madness treat waiting for me!  Tomorrow or the next day?  I don't remember how things work anymore!  It's nearly three in the morning!  Usually I can brain at this hour but not right now!


In The Nuclear Season (14575 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 2/2
Fandom: Final Fantasy VI
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Terra Branford/Locke Cole
Characters: Terra Branford, Locke Cole, Katarin (Final Fantasy VI), Duane (Final Fantasy VI), OC - Character
Summary:

Terra in an uncharted world.

Armor (1126 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Final Fantasy VI
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Terra Branford/Locke Cole
Characters: Locke Cole, Terra Branford
Summary:

Locke took a few moments longer than the others to leave Terra behind in Zozo.

Yuletide!

General preferences: There are always exceptions, but in general, I prefer hopeful endings; that doesn't mean everything needs to be tied up neatly into a bow, just that I'd prefer my fic not to end on a dark note.  Angst is fine, despair isn't.  Genre-wise, just about anything other than darkfic is fine by me; domestic fluff, plotty whatever-you-want, plotless character study, PWP smut, explicit sex of the "this is more awkward than sexy" variety (the only kind I write!) or whatever else.   Any rating is fine! 

Note: Updated as of Sunday, Nov. 4th.  In the wee hours of the morning, Pacific time.

( On holiday fic )

( Final Fantasy VI )

( Tiger & Bunny )

( Justice League/JLU )

( Suikoden III )

My Yuletide nominations have all been approved, and are as follows:

Final Fantasy VI

• Terra
• Locke
• Setzer
• Cyan

Justice League (DCAU)

• Hawkgirl
• Green Lantern
• Flash
• Wonder Woman

Suikoden III

• Chris
• Salome
• Percival
• Borus

So, Brave, the first thing I watched today.

( I liked it a lot. )

It'd be nice if it did well enough to steer Disney/Pixar movies to more of a middle road, so you don't have the Girl Movies with princesses, ballgowns and weddings and the Other Movies with toys, things to do, and "gender-neutral" appeal with no female characters to speak of; as we were leaving I noticed a little Merida in her Official Disney Princess Dress and bow.  (Like... archery bow.  Not hair bow.)  I don't know if it'll work, but it'd be nice.

Still trying to catch up with Young Justice and OH MY GOD could Captain Marvel be ANY more perfect?  I am reduced to giggling like a loon whenever he's onscreen.  I just want to buy him ice cream and and a puppy and hug him. 

And just when I thought I couldn't love him more, the episode where the world of kids and the world of adults get split comes along, and he's pwning as a kid, too! 

"Doesn't she have the power to enthrall most men?"
"And some women."

Nice. :D 

I'm more and more impressed with the show as it goes along, and I think it got off to a much stronger start than my beloved Justice League did.  I'm really enjoying Conner and Megan's relationship, both the problems - poor feral Conner, completely freaked out at the idea of anything happening to her and unable to express it except through caveman snarling - and their teenage cutesiness.  I also appreciate the fact that both Wally and Artemis handled their romantic disappointments without all the overblown heartbreak Legend of Korra is throwing around!  I mean, Bolin had plenty of reason to be so upset - the girl he likes kissing his brother - but both he and Korra have been getting way too invested for the level of relationship development that's happened to date.  I mean, come on, Korra, "I think we're meant for each other"?  You barely know him!  

Err, sorry.  I just feel like "aww, man!" or "ugh, I'm going out and beating up criminals" are far more appropriate responses to romantic disappointments at that age than "I WILL MAKE THAT BOY MINE" or "I WILL GO GET DRUNK ON NOODLES."  ....at least beating up criminals is appropriate in the context.  Not so much in real life.

I've finished up through episode 23 - which explained a lot about Megan, daaaaaamn - and hope to finish the first season and be caught up shortly. 

Also saw Avengers for the second time - never take an elderly aerospace engineer to a superhero movie, btw - and could not ship Clint/Natasha harder if you paid me.

Mostly cross-posted from Tumblr.

In Tiger & Bunny, the superhero anime about which I will not shut up, a young, good-looking blond hero and an older, dark-haired, bearded superhero are forced into a reluctant partnership in which the blond man repeatedly addresses the dark-haired, bearded one as "old man."  In Avengers, a young, good-looking blond hero and an older, dark-haired, bearded superhero are forced into a reluctant team-up in which the dark-haired, bearded guy repeatedly refers to the blond one as an old man.

It was just sort of freaky, that's all.

I got to see it this morning (I'm on the West Coast) as a perk of the spousal unit's employment.  Despite it being limited to employees, or "cast members" (guess where he works!) the lines were around the block, but they started the movie only about 40 minutes late.  No trailers, just straight into the film.

 

( ALL THE SPOILERS. )

 

Also the first time I've spotted the Stan Lee Cameo unassisted, which means I'm starting to doubt I got it right, but meh.

I'm watching Young Justice on my brother's relentless recommendation.  I wouldn't call it "enthusiastic" because he tends to recommend things in terms like "It doesn't make me want to vomit."  

First two episodes: Only the late introduction of Miss Martian (oy vey) kept this from being completely devoid of female speaking roles. Cripes, show.  I mean, Wonder Woman's onscreen, but she's not talking... I'm enjoying the writing quite a bit, but they better get on the introduction of the token women.  At least they promised Black Canary as trainer.  

My entire knowledge of DC comics comes from cultural osmosis and the DCAU, especially the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited cartoons, which I loved SO MUCH and which have done so much to shape my view of the DC-verse that I can't actually read the comics.   So I'm glad they'll be focusing on the kids, because the big hero lineup at the end made me all sad. Green Lantern was white, and Hawkgirl seems to be accompanied by a Hawkman, and did I mention Green Lantern was white?   I don't know which one he's supposed to be, but he's not John Stewart, MY GL.  I will accept no substitutes.  At least Kid Flash seems to be Wally, and some characterization seems to be the same across all continuities.

I think I may be shipping Aqualad/Superboy a little.  I hope they start using civilian names soon, as the sidekick names are unbearably dumb.

ZOMG Tumblr has made me aware that there are new Twelve Kingdoms books coming out!  Apparently re-releases of the older books and a new one as well?  Artists on Pixiv are certainly very excited.

Speaking of Tumblr, doujinshi scans uploaded a couple of days ago. 

The Great Unfucking has resulted in calling tech support for both my laptop and desktop (laptop won't turn on, desktop had been BSODing on me - and yes, it's new, that shouldn't be happening,) yet more laundry, and attacking the garden in an attempt to remove many unwanted and itchy plants.