Yuletide Reveal!

[thefourthvine]

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:

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 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.

Comments

[kass]

Oh, wow, awesome, you wrote that Real Genius story! I loved that story. It was one of my favorites from this Yuletide. Go you.

[thefourthvine]

*beams*

You wrote a story I loved, too. I JUST THINK IT BEARS REPEATING.

[sporky_rat]

Why am I not surprised that you wrote a Real Genius story that I fell in love with? It was fantastic and I want to say you got Jordan right, too.

[thefourthvine]

Thank you! And I'm glad you think I got Jordan. I love her - she is, hands down, my favorite character in the movie - but she is HARD to capture in text, turns out.

[kimboosan]

I loved this story. I'm a huge Real Genius fan (and maintain the only Delicious record of ALL RL FIC EVER WRITTEN, which is tragically not much) and this story hit all my buttons. I love Chris being so damned mysterious and persistent, and Chris going whole-hog into the world of "Information wants to be FREEEE!!!" just makes so much damn sense to me. Really well done fic!

[thefourthvine]

I have only read my recipient's Real Genius stories and rivkat's; is there more? What I'm saying is: your Delicious, show it to me!

And I'm delighted you liked my story, since you are clearly a connoisseur. Thank you!

[kimboosan]

Sadly, it is a short list! All the Real Genius fanfic EVER. The first fic I ever read and still a favorite is Ana_grrl's SGA/RG crossover, "The Marines Love Her" which has Jordan pretty much saving the galaxy and getting the Marines hot for her guns. ;) We need MOAR!!!!

Also, there is a also a very dead comm: Real Genius Fic. *sad!face*

[rhi]

Oh, God, yes, that SGA/RG crossover is a thing of beauty and a joy forever!!

[ilyena_sylph]

No, not always. Tombstone he's very much not the top. And his character in Willow is also very much not a top. Also his Bruce Wayne would also be a total pushover in bed (his Bat, on the other hand, would be a hell of a top.)

But mostly? Oh lords, gods, and minor demons he plays a fantastic top.

[thefourthvine]

...I have not seen any of those movies. (My movie knowledge: shallow. Also limited.) Now I am SO TEMPTED, just to see Kilmer when he's not being Mr. Dominant, Dom of Dominanceville. (I watched some clips from the movie out of context recently, and I was RIVETED, because I realized where my mental image of Kilmer's dominance comes from. His body language is the most dominant EVER. Amazing.)

[ilyena_sylph]

Heh.

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.

[(Anonymous)]

yeah! The Saint is mostly the most unbelievable movie ever (i love it anyways! /shame) but the way he plays mr-i-don't-have-a-real-sense-of-self is mesmerizing. He makes me happy!

teogli

[laurashapiro]

Re lemon yellow: yeah, me too. (:

Hooray for this story, which I continue to love and admire! I'm so glad I got to help with it.

[thefourthvine]

I have a lemon yellow sweater that I do not wear. Every time I catch sight of it in my closet lately, I crack the fuck up. You have the best stories.

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.

[laurashapiro]

It was a great experience! You need not worry on my account -- and I'm happy to beta for you anytime.

[elynross]

I would love to see you work for an additional data point from Thunderheart.... (although I suspect Graham Greene's character wouldn't put up with too much toppiness...)

[thefourthvine]

I - is that the movie where Tom Cruise plays a race car driver? Because without even having seen it, I know this: Val Kilmer can top Tom Cruise with one finger. It's not even a contest.

[(Anonymous)]

No, that's the one where Val Kilmer is part-Native American FBI man in the 70s, investigating murders at a reservation (loosely based on real events). It's not too bad actually.

...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

[thefourthvine]

Okay, I admit that gave me a turn, because I instantly pictured Val Kilmer topping Graham Greene the author (as opposed to, I now realize, Graham Greene the actor). I - I think that is a Crossover Too Far.

Way, way, way too far.

But, oh, interesting - I had not even heard of that movie. Is it any good?

[(Anonymous)]

Well, I think so, yeah, it's not too bad. It has its flaws but it's a pretty good story. I could go into more detail if you don't feel strongly about spoilers (some do)? I mean if you're on a mission to see all the Val Kilmer movies...this one has Graham Greene (the actor) so... yeah.

Lin

[thefourthvine]

I am entirely pro-spoilers! Feel free to go into detail. Although it would take me the rest of my life to see all of Val Kilmer's movies, probably, but I want to know if I should put this on the Must See (Eventually) list.

[indeliblesasha]

HAHAHA No lie, I was once in a philosophy class in college with a guy who I SWEAR TO GOD stepped off the Real Genius screen and into my classroom. He even sounded like him. He invited me out for coffee and cigarettes once, and I was a moron who went to hang out with my shitty boyfriend instead.

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?)

[thefourthvine]

You missed the opportunity to have coffee with a Chris Knight clone? I AM NOT SURE I CAN SPEAK TO YOU AGAIN. Although, actually, that was probably a good choice, since Chris, while fun, is not exactly stable or safe. So I guess speaking is still on the menu. But - but - think of the STORY you'd have to tell your children! (Although, again, Knight may not be the BEST role model.)

A Query

[greyeyes]

I LOVE your other Val Kilmer fics, but I've never seen Real Genius. I do watch Eureka. Am I going to be totally lost if I read this? Or is it ok to read it, like it, watch the movie, reread, love it?

Re: A Query

[thefourthvine]

Eureka is a very minor element, so that's probably not going to help hugely. I - I'm not sure? But I can tell you this: 50% of the beta team hadn't seen the movie (this happens a lot in YT fandoms, I find), and they still seemed to get the story, at least well enough to leave useful feedback and suchlike. So probably. The one thing that might happen - or, at least, it happened to the betas - is. Okay. The dialogue may seem somewhat stilted or overblown? But, trust me, Chris just talks that way.

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

[greyeyes]

Thanks for the info! I'm going with plan B to read it and will hopefully hunt down the movie soon!

[kellyfaboo]

Thank you btw. Chris/Mitch Real Genius fic always makes my Yuletide.

[thefourthvine]

Thank you! I am pleased to hear it. (Writing it certainly made my Yuletide.)

[jcalanthe]

Oh that was yours! I loved that story so much it prompted me to watch Real Genius for the first time since the 80s. Thank you!

[thefourthvine]

*beams*

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.)

[jcalanthe]

What was especially weird was he was 15, but Val Kilmer was 26 - a heck of a lot more than 3 or 4 years older!

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!).

[thefourthvine]

It really is noticeable, the age gap between Mitch and Chris. (I also felt kind of weird about Mitch hooking up with Jordan, as an Official Old Person and Parent - he's just SO YOUNG and, just.)

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.