Eight Days of Happiness: Old Self, Meet New Self

[thefourthvine]

A long time ago, I was in a creative writing class with a person named Kelly. (And, seriously, why isn't there some service for finding fangirls if you only have their RL names? If she's not in fandom, she should be. And if you're reading this and you're named Kelly and you're a librarian and you once took a poetry class from a professor named Pat, I want to talk to you.) She wrote a poem about wishing she could send a videotape (See? A loooooong time ago.) back to a younger version of herself. I thought about that a lot. I still do.

And in these two stories, it actually HAPPENS. Sort of. In both cases, a reset (or Retcon) button gets pushed, and younger versions of Ianto and Rodney get inserted into the lives of current Ianto and Rodney. I cannot tell you how much I love this. I want this to happen to everyone. (Okay, not everyone. In Teal'c's case, lots of people would die, because younger-Teal'c would likely not be behind this whole killing-the-gods thing. And some people are so young already that it would be more like a de-ageing story - Clark, Merlin, I'm looking at you. But Depot-era Benton Fraser, oh my god. Ronon Dex before he was a runner. Jim Ellison before he joined the military!)

So, on to the specific stories.

The One That Demonstrates Why People Should Not Plan Like Action Heroes Unless They Happen to Be in an Action Movie. (If You're Not Sure, Assume You Are Not in an Action Movie.) Rewind, Reboot, Restore, by Rheanna, aka rheanna27 and rheanna. Stargate: Atlantis, Rodney McKay/John Sheppard.

This story - well. If I had to pick just one character who got to see his new life as his old self, it would have to be Rodney. Because - okay. I used to complain that the Gateverse canon writers did not exactly get this novel concept we call "character development," but in Rodney, they totally prove that they do get it (they just mostly don't like it, and try to avoid it when they can, sort of the way some people are with cilantro). Rodney of pre-Atlantis really is a very different person than the Rodney we know and love, and that makes for quality drama when the two Rodneys meet. And in Rheanna's hands, it is quality indeed. If I had imagined how this might work, well, I don't think I could have imagined anything as wonderful as this.

Also, this story has one of Those Lines. The ones that stay with you and define the story for you, and that you think of often. (I cannot be the only one who has these. I refuse to believe it.) I am not sure if I should include it or not, so here it is, behind the cut:

Rodney let out a long, low groan. "I hate myself," he said. "I literally hate myself."


For one thing: hurray, a use of "literally" that actually means literally, and if you don't think that's something to celebrate, I would like to live where you do, please.

But more - that line is the story. Except the story is so very much more. And if I listed all the things I love about this, I would spoil every last plot development, so instead, how about you just read it?

The One That Proves That If You Spend a Lot of Time near Jack Harkness, You Should Plan Like an Action Hero. It Might Be Fun, and It's Not Like You Could Make Your Odds Worse Than They Already Are. The Theory of Two Centres, by sam_storyteller. Torchwood, Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones.

This one fascinated me. See, I have never seen Torchwood, and I don't read huge amounts in the fandom (although that is changing, especially since people keep writing nice long stories for me to put on my Kindle, and TW folks, I will totally take any recs you might have for those), so I really don't know much about Ianto. I know he wears suits. I know the entire fandom seems riveted by him. I know he's the guy who did right by Jack after the Master knocked him up. (Okay, maybe that isn't canon, but it should be.) Beyond that - well, I have a seriously hard time telling the Torchwood people apart, and they seem, from the posts I see on my friends list, to spend most of their time having massive team orgies, so it's not like there's been a pressing need in my life to know who's who.

In this story, though, Ianto is awesome. He seems kind of like Giles, except a) he went through his transformation from Ripper to the Librarian with the Core of Steel in four years instead of twenty, and b) it's not magic and demons, it's the Rift (and excuse me if I have some difficulty telling the difference sometimes). I - I have a weakness for characters who had wild youths and grew up to be staid individuals, for reasons that might be apparent to those who know me pretty well, and this makes me like Ianto so much. I just really admire those who, sure, they could have the sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll and dangerous leather outfits, but they'd rather have this spreadsheet. After all, it's an awesome spreadsheet.

So I love that, and I love the point of view factor here. (Rewind, Reboot, Restore is from the loved one's point of view, and Theory of Two Centres is from the actual rewound person's point of view, and it is fascinating to me the difference that makes in the tone of the story.)

And, most of all, I love that this story gave me the chance to get to know both younger-Ianto and, by the reactions of people around him, canon-Ianto. For people who don't actually know the canon, this story really cannot be beat. And that is very happiness inducing for me.

Comments

[norah]

I - I have a weakness for characters who had wild youths and grew up to be staid individuals, for reasons that might be apparent to those who know me pretty well, and this makes me like Ianto so much. I just really admire those who, sure, they could have the sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll and dangerous leather outfits, but they'd rather have this spreadsheet. After all, it's an awesome spreadsheet.

I heart you so much!!! OTP!!!

[amalthia]

I love Doctor Who Torchwood fandom...so many LONG stories. :) And many of them in single file format. I read a lot on my Sony PRS and it's amazing how many more people in fandom are getting Kindles and other e-ink devices. I was worried for a while there that the technology wouldn't really take off.

Um, I may track this post to see if anyone has other Torchwood recs.

[rheanna]

Awww, man! Unexpected Rec is Unexpected. What a lovely way to start the day! (And it's even better because I've just been off work for a week and this is my first morning back, so I'm in need of cheering.)

The One That Demonstrates Why People Should Not Plan Like Action Heroes Unless They Happen to Be in an Action Movie. (If You're Not Sure, Assume You Are Not in an Action Movie.)

John Sheppard, we're looking at YOU.

It pleased me a lot to be able to use 'literally' in its, um, literal sense. Incorrect use of the word 'literally' bugs me hugely.

[rokeon]

If you're in the mood for long Torchwood fic that continuously skirts the edge of crack but somehow never quite goes over completely, even when it seems like it should have to, I recommend the series Yours, Mine, and Ours. Three main arcs complete, with side stories, and a fourth that's just started posting.

Starring your regular cast of orgy-participants (not an exaggeration; of course Torchwood archives the alien sex pollen in easily breakable jars) plus the Doctor, Martha Jones, PC Andy, John Hart, and the occasional alien and/or human baby (birth control in the rain; not nearly as effective as Jack was hoping). In which the Chameleon Arch works both ways, sleeping with Owen is an occupational hazard, and there is a truly amazing amount of screwing with the timelines.

[tevere]

they just mostly don't like it, and try to avoid it when they can, sort of the way some people are with cilantro

HMMM. I don't know about this! I thought people generally fell into two camps: those who like (or passionately love) coriander, and those who HATE IT WITH THE PASSION OF A THOUSAND FIERY SUNS. On coriander, the most divisive (yet delicious) of spices, there can be no in-betweens!

Or maybe I only know extremists.

[cupidsbow]

I have already read and loved both those stories -- good choices! I'm mainly commenting because TW is totally my new fandom and I'm happy that we seem to be on collision course for sharing it (it is addictive, I tell you).

Also I may be writing in it (and for "may" read "omg yes"), because I share your love for Ianto's spreadsheets. It is proving to be extremely happymaking. For me that is; so far there are no epics for you, so I will just point you to my recs instead. :)

[queue]

But Depot-era Benton Fraser, oh my god. Ronon Dex before he was a runner. Jim Ellison before he joined the military!

John Cooper at twenty - son of a murderer and newly a cop, married to a woman and gay and closeted. (Southland. Which probably you are not watching, all things considered - but oh, is it good.)

Actually, Jack Harkness would be interesting to send a retcon videotape to, too.

WORD on the "literally" thing. I hear that from surprisingly intelligent and word-conscious people - the sistergirl, for one thing - and it makes me want to choke puppies.

[jadesfire]

Ooh, The Theory of Two Centres may just restore my faith in Torchwood canon. Lovely, thanks.

You've also confirmed my thought that we need to make this years TARDIS Big Bang stories into single files somehow (probably .pdf, but I think research will be required to ensure maximum compatibility) so that people can read them on Kindles and similar. Hopefully we can arrange that from the website once we go live in [a worryingly short period of time]. The average story length looks to be about 25k (based on drafts), so hopefully some of those will keep you going for a while :)

[aldanise]

Can I just say, excellent idea for a recs pair? I don't even read in these fandoms much any more, and yet I still have them both open (during finals week) because the idea is so awesome.

Torchwood Recs

[strina]

Get Loved, Make More, Stay Alive - Kidfic! Timetraveling kidfic! It is amazing.

Shades of Ianto - Massive and wonderful. Ianto has bigger secrets than Lisa. I love this fic so much (psychics! time travel! family secrets! creepy alien puppetmaster things!), but there is one spot that makes me cringe. Skip the eulogy. You will know it when you see it.

Parts of the Process - Ianto goes traveling with the Doctor.

[laura47.livejournal.com]

I know he's the guy who did right by Jack after the Master knocked him up. (Okay, maybe that isn't canon, but it should be.)

He would! he's a stand up guy, that Ianto Jones!

[macey-muse.livejournal.com]

No clue if you've read these, but my Torchwood (http://delicious.com/macey_muse/torchwood) (& my epic (http://delicious.com/macey_muse/torchwood+epic) & long (http://delicious.com/macey_muse/torchwood+long) Torchwood) tags ^_^ (although some are split over an annoyingly large number of posts. viva la dw revolution!)

[villeinage.livejournal.com]

after the Master knocked him up...

This? *points*

This is what I love about fandom---that I didn't even have to click on the link in order to know the vid you're referencing.

[margueritem.livejournal.com]

Cilantro is good with fried rice!!!

*wanders off to be random somewhere else*

[mchanjchild.livejournal.com]

Heyo!

I'm one of the lurkers on your FL, I have an Ianto!rec for you if you haven't read it already - Shades of Ianto by Sarcasticchick http://www.whofic.com/series.php?seriesid=910

Lovely and epic and just a brilliant read.

I love getting a rec post from you - there is always at least 2 stories I really enjoy!

Catch ya round

M

Slightly OT

[wiseoldwol.livejournal.com]

but you may like this real life example. Stephen Fry to his 16 year-old self.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/apr/30/stephen-fry-letter-gay-rights

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

Hi! I meant to drop by days ago and say thanks for the recc (I'm sam_storyteller in a parallel universe). I'm glad you enjoyed Two Centres!

We don't have much actual canon for Ianto before he started work in London (indeed, before he came back to Cardiff), but what we do know does tend to suggest a rather Giles-ish existence: he had a likely working-class childhood, was arrested on misdemeanour theft as a teen, didn't go to university, "drifted" for two years after leaving school, got picked up by Torchwood London, and then came back to Cardiff after Torchwood London fell.

And yeah, the Rift is basically the Hellmouth, except instead of attracting the occult it attracts aliens and spits out random time-and-space-traveling junk. :D

[gwynevere1.livejournal.com]

it's not magic and demons, it's the Rift (and excuse me if I have some difficulty telling the difference sometimes).

I use Anomaly/the Hellmouth/the Rift/Stargate interchangeably, no matter what show I'm watching.