Can't rain all the time

I haven't done this in ages, but I can't resist. :D

If you could resurrect/bring back five characters, who would they be?

( Spoilers for DH, also Buffy, Firefly, Babylon 5, and DS9 )

God, I haven't done this in ages...

List 5 storylines that were never really resolved to your satisfaction


HP:
( Spoilers for the last book especially )

Others:
( Spoilers for Forever Knight, Quantum Leap, BSG and Star Wars Episode 3 )

But I have an excuse!  I just got back from vacation! :D

Name five songs (or whole playlists, if you want to get ambitious) that you associate with particular fictional characters.

So...I was listening to my player at work while I made this list, and some are better than others, and some charries have more than others, obviously...

Rabastan:
1. I Can't Decide by Scissor Sisters "I can't decide/whether you should live or die/Oh, you'll probably go to heaven/Please don't hang your head and cry/No wonder why/My heart feels dead inside/Its cold and hard and petrified..."
2. Sympathy for the Devil by GnR or by the Rolling Stones "Please allow me to introduce myself/I'm a man of wealth and taste/I've been around for a long, long year/Stole many a man's soul and faith."

Severus:
1. Solitaire by the Carpenters (though if you can find the If I Were a Carpenter version, I like that one much better...) "There was a man, a lonely man/Who lost his love through his indifference/A heart that cared, that went unshared/Until it died in his silence"
2. This Boy by the Beatles "That boy/Took my love away/He'll regret it someday...."

Draco:
1. Tears of the Dragon by Bruce Dickinson "Where I was, I had wings that couldnt fly/Where I was, I had tears I couldnt cry/My emotions frozen in an icy lake/I couldnt feel them until the ice began to break"
2. Bring Me To Life by Evanescence " How can you see into my eyes,/Like open doors?/Leading you down into my core,/Where I've become so numb./Without a soul."
3. Going Under by Evanescence "Don't want your hand this time/I'll save myself"

Remus:
1. Down by Suede (no video, sorry) "Theres a sadness in your eyes, theres a blankness in your smile,"
2. Fear by Sarah McLachlan "But I fear/I have nothing to give/I have so much to lose/Here in this lonely place/Tangled up in our embrace/Theres nothing Id like/Better than to fall/But I fear I have nothing to give"

Sirius:
1. Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy by Queen "Ooh love ooh lover boy/Whatre you doing tonight hey boy?/Everythings all right just hold on tight/Thats because Im a good old fashioned lover boy"
2, They by Jem " Who made up all the rules/We follow them like fools/Believe them to be true/Don't care to think them through"
3. Under the Scottsman's Kilt - this one's not so much a song that *is* Sirius, but one that I think he would have loved to death.  No lyrics on this one because of it, but feel free to look it up if you'd like.


That enough? :D

God, I haven't dont this in so long...

Name five minor characters whose lives and histories you'd like to see explored more (in canon or fanfic).

Course, that depends what you mean by minor, but...  Here goes:

Blaise Zabini.  I know, you're all shocked, right?  But seriously.  Tell us his mother is basically a black widow, and leave it at that?  I don't think so!

Regulus Black.  So underused.  We should have seen more about the brothers' interaction.  And more from Sirius about Reg in general.  And much much more about Reg's fate.

Padma Patil (I'd say her and her sister, but Parvati in the books always annoyed me).  I'd love to know what makes her different from Parvati, and what their home life was like.

Susan Bones.  Never ever got enough screen-time, as it were.  I often wondered if she was sort of a female version of Neville before Book 5...

Kingsley Shacklebolt.  Hot black man?  Shall I count the ways this man is underused in canon?  No?  I know I have at least a few people on my list who agree with me... :D


I'd say all of those are well minor enough.  Wouldn't you? :D

I haven't been interested in these in ages, but I quite like this one:

What are your five favorite canonical friendships?

Harry Potter

• Sirius, Remus and James.  I'd add Peter, but JK totally screwed him over to make sure that no one would ever like him.
• Severus and Lily.  Aaaaaw...  :D
• Harry and Neville, though more movie-canon than book-canon.  I love that Neville actually gets to help him and talk to him in the movies.
• Severus and Lucius, even though it's never explicitly stated.
• Albus and Gellert.  A fascinating idea.  I can't wait to see what the fans do with it. :D

Star Trek

• Geordi and Data.  Not just symbiotic because Geordi was an engineer, but also honestly good friends.  I always loved their jaunts on the holodeck.
• Ben and Dax.  I have a huge soft spot for Dax, and I always loved this.  How it grew from a male/male friendship to a male/female friendship with only one hint of romance the entire time Jadzia was host.
• Tom and Harry.  These two were so fun together...  Little kids on a big ship. :D
• Kathryn and Tuvok.  Everyone needs a Vulcan friend.  To tell them when they're being an idiot
• Kirk and Spock.  Oh, all right, yes.  It's one of the things I hope this new version gets right.  They were each others' support, and I want them to show it, damn it!
  

Others

• Sam and Al, Quantum Leap.  They were really so great together...
• Knight and Schanke, Forever Knight.  Ditto.  I can't express the number of times Schanke's stupid antics and Nick's reaction made me grin.  And yet, they were still always there for each other.
• Buffy and Willow, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  Only the best of friends can get away with calling each other such horrid things and smile about it while they're doing it.  "Quitter."  "Whiner."  "Bailer."  "Harpy."  "Witch."  "Bad seed..." 
• Cutter and Skywise, Elfquest.  God, I can't believe this wasn't at the top of my list.  These two are so perfect together.  Cutter the brawn and Skywise the brain.  They compliment each other so well...
• Brian and Michael, Queer as Folk.  I know some prefer the romance between them, but if it had ever happened?  It would have destroyed everything between them.  They were never meant to be anything more than friends.  Though they were excellent at that.  They understood each other almost better than anyone else.  And put up with each other more than most of the others in their lives did.
  

( HP Friday Five )

( Fannish 5 )

( HP Friday Five )


( Fannish 5 )

( Fannish 5 )

( HP Friday Five )

( HP Friday Five )

( fannish Five )

1. How do you feel about Dumbledore's avoidance of Harry in OotP?
Sounds like he was either losing cohesion already, or like he really didn't get it.  Someone needed to tell Harry it wasn't personal, at the very least.  It was stupid.
2. Name a favorite crackpot Potter theory.
I'm an absolutely huge fan of the Evanses as squibs.  Though I also really love the idea of unrequited love between Sev and Lily, even if one-sided.
3. Do you think Sirius (consciously or not) mistaking Harry for James actually caused more harm than good?
Depends what harm you're talking about.  I think it gave Harry the wrong ideas on occasion, but I also think it let him feel closer to his father, which was important.
4. Tonks: Love her, hate her, or somewhere in-between?
She was my new favorite character right out of OOTP, but I really hate what JK did to her in HBP.  It didn't even feel like the same character.  At all.  And took any remaining respect I had for Remus/Tonks away, too.
5. What Hogwarts house would you definitely NOT belong in?
Gryffindor.  Not brave, not a go-getter.  For me, the order is: Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor.



Post a list of your top five favorite fics you've written, regardless of fandom or the reason you love them. This isn't about the BEST things you've written, but what you LOVE most.

( Mine )

1 - Didn't like hp_fridayfive or fannish5 today, so no entry there...

2 - Huge hugs to littlecup, who had her baby yesterday.

3 - Job news--went to an interview for a temp job today.  I'll be working in the tallest building in Seattle (formerly known as the Columbia Center) on the 34rd floor.  I'm working for a real estate insurance company.  A bit nervous about it, because it could be stressful, but we'll see...  Means I'll be more available during the weekends now.

Mods for hpficlist, I'll still be available in the evenings if there are problems.  But I'll likely take Saturdays or Sundays for my day until this is over.

RP people, particularly those of you outside the states, I'm afraid this means most of my gaming will be in the evening as well, or weekends.  If there's a particular plot you would like to do, just let me know, and we can talk it out in emails at the very least.  I will try to stay active as much as possible.

4 - Speaking of hpficlist, it's been kind of quiet the last few days, but there are lots of links to follow, and I'm about to go add a few more ships I saw that could be added...  Please come check us out?  It won't be much of a resource without links to follow, right?

5 -*whines* I want season 4 of QAF, already!  And Sims: Seasons, too!  Oh, well, at least I'll have job money I can use for it... :D

6 - Still planning on doing a book review, just not sure what and when.  But it is coming.

( Fannish 5 )

( HP Friday Five )

( HP Friday Five )

( Fannish 5 )

( Fannish 5 )
( HP Friday Five )

Also, I still have that Ship poll still going on, if you haven't voted yet...

Name five books that could be great movies.

Oh, dear.  This one I'll have to think much harder about.  Usually, the books I like don't make good movies, because the subtleties wouldn't come out too well.

One of my all-time favorite books, Lady Blade, Lord Fighter, ends in a cliffie, and though she wrote a sequel, the story is still unfinished after (OMG) 20 years.  And even if it were, it's rather...adult.  Lotsa smex.  So, a less-than good choice for a movie.

My other all-time favorite book, Dragon Prince, is so complex and so long that it would take two movies to do it justice.  And it's only the first part of a series of what ended up being six books.  My major worry there is that it would get dumbed down too much and turn into swords and sorcery, which was so not the point.  Never mind that I already cast Miranda Otto in one of the leading roles in my head...

So, let's see:

1. Princes in Amber.  I'm still waiting for the Sci-fi channel version of this one to actually be shown, though it scares me that it hasn't.  If it's not even up to their standards... *shivers*
2. The Vampire Lestat.  I would love to see this properly done.  It's my favorite of the series.  Yeah, the smex content is a bit heavy, but it's all implied.  And as much as I loved Stewart in the Queen of the Damned, that was NOT the Vampire Lestat.
3. The Myth Series.  Now, here's a series that they could take from in any number of ways, and I'd still be pleased by the outcome.  It would be fabulous.  And they've got the effects to do it now, too.
4. The Belgariad.  You'd have to find a company that was willing to do all five books, though.  Or at least merge them into three movies.  Yeah, it could be done, and it's not quite as complex as Lord of the Rings.  I'd love to see a cast-list.
5. Good Omens!  OMG, how could I forget!  This movie NEEDS to be done.  And done right.  Give it to Gilliam, and let him play, damn it!  This one has been just past the rumor stage for about a decade now.  I want to see it.  Now.

Wow.  That wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

But, just for balance, I present:
My 5 favorite books-to-movies (aka those movies I knew canon before I saw the movie) No, I'm not going to link them.  If you don't know what they are, go to IMDB, then get them from the library or the store, and watch them.

1. Lord of the Rings series
2. Chronicles of Narnia (granted, we've only seen the first, but it was fantastic)
3. The Handmaid's Tale
   
4. Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood
   
5. James and the Giant Peach
   

What five nitpicky things do you wish writers in your fandom(s) would get right?

Beware - what passes below is snarky and soapboxy, and not directed specifically at anyone on my flist.  Just gripes I've had over the years about various fanfics.

1. Lucius Malfoy was at Hogwarts with the Marauders and co for 2 years.  That's it.  No more.  Granted, this one is fading, but every so often, I still come across fics where people have decided that it would be cooler if he was there longer.  Or just never checked the Lexicon.  I know it's fun to pair him with those boys, but there are other ways to do it.  And explaining it would give you a more interesting story.
   
2. While I'm at it...any character in Hogwarts when they shouldn't be, or who is in a story as other than stated in the books - Seamus being a pureblood or Muggle-born, for instance.  Drives me up the walls.  Speculating when we don't have the facts is fine.  Hell, it's okay to fiddle with these things a little bit.  Just not too much.  Particularly when certain facts have been clearly stated in the books. 
   
3. Neville is not a squib.  Never has been.  Never will be.  A squib is someone who has no magical ability.  Neville has tons.  What he doesn't have is confidence.  For example: the first flight lesson.  Neville took off just fine.  What he couldn't do was control his broom.  That doesn't show a lack of power at all.  If anything, it shows an excess.  Please, before writing the character, read into his character a bit?  Thank you.
4. Rich does not mean middle-class.  And a Manor isn't just a big house with extra bedrooms.  There are expectations there, both in manners (how to act around others and in large gatherings) and clothing (rich people, particularly wizarding rich, would not wear jeans...not without good reason), among other things.  If you're going to write about a wealthy family, please decide where on the scales they fall, and find out what that means.  This also follows that Purebloods would not have Muggle things in their homes generally.  Malfoys would have no clue about most Muggle gadgets, unless they had access to magiked ones.  Yes, there are exceptions to every rule, but if you're going to have exceptions, decide why and how, and show the reader why.
5. Remus Lupin is not a wimp.  No man could survive on his own for 12 years who was.  Yes, he lets people push him around, but it's like Superman pulling his punches.  He's scared to let go.  He knows he could be deadly if he does.  He is quiet, yes.  And studious.  But none of that makes him a wimp.  If anything, it makes him stronger than the average Wizard.  As for the way he dealt with James and Sirius...how would you deal with stuff like that, if you were certain you'd lose the two best friends you ever had, who accepted you regardless?  Give him a little slack, please?
   

Just for good measure, if you don't already have it linked, please consult the Lexicon when you write.  It's a great resource.  Even Jo uses it.

Leave a list of fictional characters in your journal that you would love to get a message from. It is your friend-list's mission, should they choose to accept it, to write you an in-character note from a character on that list. Then they post their own list in their journal and the process continues!


Love this one. One of my all-time favorite memes. :D

( My (long) list )</li></ul>More than enough, I think.

What five scenes from fanfic (yours or anyone else's) would you like to see illustrated?

Mine:

1. F!Draco checking himself out in the mirror and Harry comes in, Draco's Draught, chapter 9
2. Draco meets his "twin" Silver, Tarnished Silver
3. Harry on Lucius's lap as Narcissa knocks, Hooked
4. Lucius and Regulus walk in the Malfoy gardens or Lucius comes to Narcissa after Regulus's death, What's Done Is Done, chapter 6 or 7 respectively
5. Draco and Blaise and Lucius, any part from the point Lucius sits on the couch forward, but showing all three, Seduction's Prey

Others' works:

1. Harry and Vamp!Draco on the dance floor, Clearly an Idiot by dacro 
2. Draco sitting on Harry's lap, Impossible Girl by catrinella 
3. Remus discovers who he's really sleeping with, Blood Brother by snapelike 
4. Remus shows Severus his new tattoo, Proof of Ownership by arionrhod 
5. Draco watches Harry hold someone else's hands in the Quidditch stands (focus on the wrist-strap), Drawn by Oliva Lupin

Seriously, I would adore seeing any of these pictures...

What five characters would you want working for you if you were a supervillain plotting world domination?

HP:

1. Severus Snape.  So long as you can get him really on your side, he's a major asset.  Highly intelligent, and apparently willing to do a great deal, so long as he feels it is his duty.
2. Scrimgeour.  In this case, he'd have to be manipulated very carefully, so as not to realize what he's really doing, but the man seems to excell at causing more havoc even when he's on the "good guys'" side.
3. Barty Crouch Jr.  Fanatics are always welcome.  Especially when they're so willing to put themselves on the line like that...
4. Rookwood.  Such an asset.  A Ministry man willing to betray the Ministry and the Wizarding world for his Master.  I think he'd be made a leutenant.
5. Dolohov.  A dangerous man.  Every evil plan needs an assassin, right?  He'd be perfect.

And one I wouldn't take, unless I was exceptionally stupid: Lucius Malfoy.  Because he's too cunning and clever.  He got caught twice, but as an asset, he's dangerous, because he's always working on his own plots.  He'd undermine everything he could so that he could find a way to become the leader himself.

Name five fanfic cliches you hate.

Herm...

• Harry-as-Quidditch-Captain always bugged me, actually.  It was even more annoying when it became canon...
• Quick-change Malfoys.  Seriously.  When people give no apparent reason for the Malfoys to suddenly switch sides, just so that Harry and Draco (or Draco and whoever) could be together.
• And the reverse - Evil Malfoys for the sake of being evil.  There's a reason for everything, even if it's mental illness, okay?  I want to know why.
• Non-canon Blaise.  Even before HBP, I couldn't handle Girl!Blaise.  Hell, I couldn't really handle it before it was confirmed he was a boy.  Just makes me frustrated as all heck.
• Mixing up the Quidditch Schedule.  The Quidditch Schedule is the same in every book.  Granted, it was changed in POA, and cancelled in GOF, but it's always the same schedule when its there.  Even when it's shifted.  And it's never before Halloween, okay?

Bleh.  I didn't like that.  So I'm going to reverse it and be positive.  The top five I love:

• MPreg!  Yes, I like it.  Sue me.  I can't help it.  I couldn't even tell you why.
• Veela or other creature fics.  I love them when done well.  Not a frequent occurrance, but when they are, omg...
• Bonding.  Another, that when done well, is really lovely.
• Sex-god Slytherins.  Particularly Draco, Severus and Lucius.  You know they've got no morals.  So why the hell not? :D
• Letter fics.  Want to pull me in?  Write a fic composed completely, or almost entirely so, of letters.

So, there you go.