Keep Hoping Machine Running (
thefourthvine) wrote2012-01-01 09:43 am
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Yuletide Reveal!
This year, my story was in the fandom I most hoped to be assigned. Why I most hoped to be assigned it - I mean, okay, obviously I thought I could write a story in it, and I wanted to write a story in it, and all of that. But it is also a true and actual fact that I had, before this Yuletide, written two stories featuring characters played by Val Kilmer. (Basically, the one where Val Kilmer tops Robert Downey, Jr. and the one where Val Kilmer tops Tom Cruise, not that that is challenging or anything.) And I had noticed that any characters portrayed by Val Kilmer tended to, um. Feature in the kind of sex scenes that had my betas saying things like, "Wow, he's really toppy!" and "I love how toppy he is!" (And, once, "Did you mean him to be this toppy? Because I'm just saying, he's really, really toppy. Like, a lot.")
There was one more Val Kilmer movie that I'd seen, and I had to know. Does Val Kilmer just always play the top? Always?
Well, this year I was lucky enough to be assigned the marvelous
omorka, who wanted a story that could answer that question. (Uh, for the record, my interest in Kilmer's topability rating was entirely my own, although her prompt fit with it perfectly. I don't want to impugn her good name or anything.) And I got my final data point, though I'm not going to spoil you with the results. Instead, I'm going to say that once again I had a terrific time writing my story (and creepily stalking my recipient's journal for clues about things she might like in a story). It was a Very Fun Yuletide. I'm sad I'm out of Val Kilmer movies to write for Yuletide, to be honest; he's been good to me. And to his various co-stars.
Etch out a Future of Your Own Design (13741 words) by
thefourthvine
Fandom: Real Genius (1985), Eureka
Rating: Explicit
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Mitch Taylor/Chris Knight, Mitch Taylor/Jordan
Characters: Mitch Taylor, Chris Knight, Jordan
Summary:
This story only exists because of an incredible writing support team. (I was writing much faster than usual, and also outside my comfort zone - there were feelings involved - so I needed lots and lots of help.) I would like to thank:
The Supportive Alpha-Readers: Best Beloved, who provided help every time I got stuck, gave me some very key suggestions, and took care of the earthling so his Mama could write smut, and
norah, who has no spare time at all these days, but still found the time to alpha-read my story and provide much-needed orientation, advice, and comments. (Her: "It isn't that bad. No, really, it isn't. You just always hate your Yuletide story at this point in the process." Me: "Really? Because this year seems different." Her: "Every. Single. Year. At exactly this point. In exactly this way." Me: "...Oh.")
The Team of Intrepid Betas:
cathalin,
dine,
laurashapiro,
mecurtin, and
queue. They gave freely of their advice, support, and corrections. They looked for anachronisms. They answered questions like "What kind of underwear did cool dudes wear in 1985?" without blinking (and, I might add, with some highly amusing stories that will, for example, forever change my view of the color lemon yellow). They forced me to fix my feelings arc. They pried semicolons out of my clutching, desperate hands. They made my story so much better. And they were all really, really damned fast. I needed them, and they came through.
And, finally, Special Yuletide Consultant
xenacryst. He summarized twenty-five years of internet history in AD&D terminology on 24 hours' notice, and I was so stressed I forgot to thank him (until now).
You are all awesome, and I could not have done it without you.
There was one more Val Kilmer movie that I'd seen, and I had to know. Does Val Kilmer just always play the top? Always?
Well, this year I was lucky enough to be assigned the marvelous
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Etch out a Future of Your Own Design (13741 words) by
Fandom: Real Genius (1985), Eureka
Rating: Explicit
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Mitch Taylor/Chris Knight, Mitch Taylor/Jordan
Characters: Mitch Taylor, Chris Knight, Jordan
Summary:
Chris keeps in touch.
This story only exists because of an incredible writing support team. (I was writing much faster than usual, and also outside my comfort zone - there were feelings involved - so I needed lots and lots of help.) I would like to thank:
The Supportive Alpha-Readers: Best Beloved, who provided help every time I got stuck, gave me some very key suggestions, and took care of the earthling so his Mama could write smut, and
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
The Team of Intrepid Betas:
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
And, finally, Special Yuletide Consultant
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
You are all awesome, and I could not have done it without you.
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You wrote a story I loved, too. I JUST THINK IT BEARS REPEATING.
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And I'm delighted you liked my story, since you are clearly a connoisseur. Thank you!
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Also, there is a also a very dead comm: Real Genius Fic. *sad!face*
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But mostly? Oh lords, gods, and minor demons he plays a fantastic top.
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Go with either Tombstone or one I didn't mention, The Saint, wherein he flips his body language back and forth, but mostly he's so not the top.
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(Anonymous) 2012-01-07 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)teogli
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Hooray for this story, which I continue to love and admire! I'm so glad I got to help with it.
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And thank you so much for your help! I really, really hope this was a better experience than your first round in the YT beta ring with me.
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(Anonymous) 2012-01-03 08:28 am (UTC)(link)...re the question of interest, it's partly a journey of self-discovery, so he...probably starts out not very toppy and gains, uh, toppiness later on along with confidence? maybe? but if it's a question of the co-star, I have to agree that no one tops Graham Greene.
Lin
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Way, way, way too far.
But, oh, interesting - I had not even heard of that movie. Is it any good?
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(Anonymous) 2012-01-09 06:43 am (UTC)(link)Lin
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I adore that movie and love you forever for writing fic. :D Now I must go read it.
(Also, does this mean you have written fic for Top Secret? Srsly?)
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A Query
Re: A Query
The movie is totally worth watching, though. Both for the ZOMG '80s factor and the actual, you know, MOVIE. (And Jordan. Oh, god, I love Jordan. She is the BEST.)
Re: A Query
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Yay! (And, wow, isn't it a weird feeling seeing a 15 year old play a 15 year old? Gave me a TURN when I first re-watched it, two years ago.)
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Interestingly, when I originally saw it, I sort of identified with Mitch, and thought Chris was hot (the latter was of course pretty much mandatory). Seeing it now, I was more interested in Jordan than anyone else. That, and spotting actors I recognized (the dude who played Lazlo has been in EVERYTHING!).
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And when I first saw it - okay, when I first saw it, I was a teenager with no visual processing skills to speak of, so my experience was not ideal, but I identified with Jordan. I loved Jordan. I don't know if I wanted to be her or just wanted to be with her, if you get my drift, but she was SO AWESOME I LOVED HER THE END.
That, uh. Did not change upon re-watching it two years ago (or for YT this year). I never really identified with Mitch or Chris. I grew up surrounded by Mitches and Chrises, though, so that is not a huge surprise.