rose_griffes | it doesn't feel like the longest day of the year

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it doesn't feel like the longest day of the year

This is what happens when I think I should post but I have nothing to say.

Oh muse. Why did you let yourself get hijacked by Jean Barolay? Over 2500 words so far and she's still not done.

Mmm, coconut popsicles are good. The brand name is "Helados Mexico" and I bought them at Wal-Mart. Yum.

Lunch doesn't make itself for me. Why not?

Dear Leoben,

I'm sorry that Jean's ignoring you. I still think you're sexy, even when you're being tortured.

XOXO,
Rose

I recced two stories by

nwhepcat recently. She has an archive of BtVS & Angel fanfic here. I've read some more of her stories and yup, they're still fantastic. (I almost wrote fangtastic which makes me laugh, but I'm easily amused.)

eta:

nwhepcat's stories are generally written around the lesser characters--Faith, Xander, Wesley, Dawn... if you want Buffy or Angel-centric stories, she's not the author to pick.

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Jean Barolay? Interesting...

Dear Leoben,

Tell Rose about your love of the beach... and how you want to go surfing. And how you really, really want to see Kara in a bikini. And make her write crack!fic (or even real!fic) about it... and how somehow there should be sea turtles involved, because you love turtles so much.

Love,
Me

I could see Leoben into sea turtles. lol.

Jean Barolay? Interesting...

Or just weird. Hm. Guess we'll know soon enough.

Tell Rose about your love of the beach... and how you want to go surfing. And how you really, really want to see Kara in a bikini. And make her write crack!fic (or even real!fic) about it... and how somehow there should be sea turtles involved, because you love turtles so much.

warning: gratuitous PotC 1 reference, ridiculous levels of Kara girliness, kissing (no surfing)

She couldn't believe it. Starbuck never shrieked--at least, not for that reason. She wasn't sure about Kara yet--she was still getting acquainted with this new self. But it was big and green and nothing at all like small turtles she'd seen back on Caprica. (And why exactly were there so many of the same animals? Kara imagined a big ship full of animals, but did it start here or end here? And who cleaned up that mess and kept the kitties from being eaten by the wolves?) Anyway, her embarrassment about screaming like a wuss was only compounded by the fact that of course Leoben (whoever or whatever he was) felt some deep spiritual connection to it. One glimpse of a (very) large turtle and he was blathering about patterns and time. "What?" she interrupted. "The turtles saved you from being stranded an island in another cycle?"

"It was their destiny."

"Well, destiny-boy. You made a promise and you're not living up to it." She pouted--she was good at it; his glance went straight to her lips. Excellent.

"What promise?"

"You said that if I put on this sunscreen crap, which I hate, you'd keep the sand from sticking to me." She pointed to her legs, which were covered in sand. He smiled and started carefully brushing away the small grains. "Up here too," she said softly, pointing to just above the line of her white bikini.

He leaned his face in close to hers. "Keeping promises is important," he whispered in her ear as he pushed away the sand.

"Yes it is. Now shut up." She pulled him closer and touched her lips to his.

oh turtles. lol.

why is it that lately I have been fantasizing about Leoben doing utterly mundane things like shopping or mowing lawns or some such. I'm worried that his creepiness factor is being diminished in my head. lol.

I'm not the only one, right, that doesn't think he's evil. hmmm...I should do a meta on his character. The cylons in general have fascinated me since the beginning, not your typical baddies that's for sure.

Well I'm the queen of Leoben-evilness-denial (if that can be a title), mostly because I find him fascinating and don't want him to be evil. I had to go back to the beginning of the story I'm working on now and add in a layer of creepiness but I didn't wanna do it! Head!Leoben in "Maelstrom" made things even more confusing because he really didn't seem evil at all... ugh. This is the problem--a nice person likes me gets a crush on the TV bad guy so he's automatically reformed in my head to be decent, or at least to have good motives when his actions aren't so great; because honestly I don't have a way to connect with truly evil characters. Good people who do stupid things--that I understand. Genocidal robots with hidden agendas? Not so much.

Wow. I'll stop blathering now.

why is it that lately I have been fantasizing about Leoben doing utterly mundane things like shopping or mowing lawns or some such. I'm worried that his creepiness factor is being diminished in my head. lol.

I love imagining Leoben doing such mundane and domestic things, because it totally ups the creepiness factor. Look at the way he plays house in New Caprica! He loves it. And he loves freaking people out, especially Kara... and while I don't think he's a "good" guy (but who is on BSG? Sam would be my first choice for "good" but he's a Cylon now... so that calls into question EVERYTHING), I don't think he's 100% pure evil, not the way that Doral or Cavil are... but he is a fanatic, which is always frightening, but the way he interacts with Kara - the way they challenge each other's beliefs -- makes him much more accessible, in my opinion.

It'll be most interesting to see them interact post-destiny; now that Kara's different, how will she and Leoben interact? Especially since it wasn't really Leoben who helped her, supposedly, when he thought it was his goal in life to help her. He's not as right as he thinks he is.

someone should write a fic about that

And Head!Leoben is definitely nice.

I love imagining Leoben doing such mundane and domestic things, because it totally ups the creepiness factor.

Well, that's a good thing, I guess... considering the mundane things I'm making him do in this fic (repairing trucks and chopping wood--wohoo!). BTW, I'm now close to 3500 words and still not done. Only the most fanatical Leoben fans (who don't need to have Kara served up with him) are going to have any interest in this. Good thing I like the story, heh. (At this rate it's going to be the longest thing I've written. Sheesh. When Jean takes a muse hostage she doesn't mess around.)

while I don't think he's a "good" guy (but who is on BSG? Sam would be my first choice for "good" but he's a Cylon now... so that calls into question EVERYTHING), I don't think he's 100% pure evil, not the way that Doral or Cavil are...

Finally a reason that resonates with me to appreciate Sam's cylon identity...

It'll be most interesting to see them interact post-destiny; now that Kara's different, how will she and Leoben interact? Especially since it wasn't really Leoben who helped her, supposedly, when he thought it was his goal in life to help her. He's not as right as he thinks he is.

Good point. Also, which Leoben will be on the show? Head!Leoben? The one who held her captive? Some other version of him?

Umm... Leoben chopping wood? Yum. I'm a sad, sad, individual. And it's not gonna be Jean/Leoben, will it? I'm so intrigued by the promise of this story. And yes, Jean is one of those characters that I don't really understand why they have a large fan base, like Racetrack (or Seelix, who I do NOT like... and not just because she slept with Kara's Sam. Or maybe that's the only reason... I admit it.)

But I do like Zak, I admit, mainly because I love what his absence brings to the dynamic between the Adamas and Kara. .. or what it used to, at least, until they forgot he ever existed.

Maybe the love of Jean and Racetrack etc. is because they don't have strong personalities or big storylines, so they're an easy access point for a lot of writers and readers to get involved with their own plots regarding the show and fanfiction.

Finally a reason that resonates with me to appreciate Sam's cylon identity...

I never thought of it that way, but maybe the Final Four are there to show the good side of being a Cylon. Making Doral and Cavil the other end of the spectrum, with Six and Leoben and Sharon somewhere in between... a spectrum of Cylon badassery or some such thing.

Good point. Also, which Leoben will be on the show? Head!Leoben? The one who held her captive? Some other version of him

Yes, please. I will take all of them. A whole episode devoted to Kara and Leobens... awesome.

Leoben chopping wood? Yum.

Yes, and it's absolutely integral to the plot. *nods authoritatively and tries not to laugh*

it's not gonna be Jean/Leoben, will it?

Nope. (stops & thinks... should I have a subtext-spotter built into my word processor? 'cause if anyone's gonna be guilty about accidentally using subtext with Leoben, it would be me. hee!)

I do like Zak, I admit, mainly because I love what his absence brings to the dynamic between the Adamas and Kara. .. or what it used to, at least, until they forgot he ever existed.

Yeah, you're right--because of his connection to the Adamas and Kara he's vital, even though he was only in one episode. And I'm reading an ongoing fic with Zak alive in season two that is quite awesome, so...

Maybe the love of Jean and Racetrack etc. is because they don't have strong personalities or big storylines, so they're an easy access point for a lot of writers and readers to get involved with their own plots regarding the show and fanfiction.

Yup, guilty of that right now. Heh. And the setting is around the same time as the mini-series, so even more room for me as writer--Helo's experience is the only one we see on Caprica until we meet up with Anders in season two. Though honestly, I haven't seen much with Jean and Racetrack as key characters in fics, at least not Jean. Somehow Racetrack has gotten herself established as the woman to use when matching up Helo with someone who isn't Sharon. (And I guess Jean gets used most as a friend/lover of Sam in fics, but I don't think I've seen any written from her POV...)

Two things scare me about what I'm currently writing: am I making Jean into a Mary Sue and is Leoben's voice right. As soon as he enters the story it gets dialogue-heavy, and yikes! He can't talk about streams all the time...

I'm glad you're writing Jean fic. What I like about Jean and Tory are the expressions on their faces, especially when they have little dialogue. Jean just gets this impatient look on her face whenever Kara and Sam get too romancy. It mirrored a bit how I felt about them (I love seeing Kara happy, but hello, we have a war to fight). Jean seems a get-to-business kind of woman and seems to really be loyal to Sam and the cause. I forget she's supposed to be a pyramid player. She seems more hard-core than that.

Ye olde Mary Sue. I am familiar with the problem. *g* Go ahead. Love on Jean. You're right, very little is written about her separate from Sam, it's a wide open field.

As for Leoben, he likes to talk, it's kind of unavoidable . . . Things could be worse, you could be writing the Hybrid. Or you could be writing the Hybrid talking with Leoben . . .

I forget she's supposed to be a pyramid player. She seems more hard-core than that.

Actually we don't know her past. Her first episode was "Downloaded" rather than "The Farm." (Believe me, I've been looking into this!) I'm making the assumption that she wasn't originally with Anders and the team, that she found them later... hopefully what I'm having her experience goes along with being hard-core later on, though.

As for Leoben, he likes to talk, it's kind of unavoidable . . . Things could be worse, you could be writing the Hybrid. Or you could be writing the Hybrid talking with Leoben . . .

The mind boggles at the very thought. Hee! I have trouble writing mystical-Leoben, so I hope that part comes out okay.

Jean just gets this impatient look on her face whenever Kara and Sam get too romancy.

Yay, someone else's impression of her! That's gonna help, thanks!

Hmm . . . your icon is kind of yummy. But back on topic. Yay, for back story about Jean! I think my favorite looks from her were in EOJ when the civilians come into the room. Another favorite look was in the webisodes with Tigh and Jammer. She doesn't say much but I always get her point loud and clear.

Happy writing!

I love imagining Leoben doing such mundane and domestic things, because it totally ups the creepiness factor.

you know i never thought of that, and it's so true too. He played house with her when he really could have just imprisoned her. All these religous cylons have strange notions about love. With no real experience this is how they think they are supposed to express or feel it. i suppose sharon comes closest to normal. six is being played by gaius. d'anna was just baby obsessed.

Umm, you totally spoil me, you know that, right? Seriously, big grin on my face all because of you and the way you indulge my Leoben/Kara beachiness.

I love it. I love that she calls him "destiny-boy" and that she hates sand on her body and he dedicates himself to brushing it off... and that she doesn't like sunblock (though you know she'd be pissed if she burned), and that she's freaked out by giant sea turtles.

And the POTC reference is awesomeness.

You're my favorite person.

Hee! Thanks! And yay for turtle references because I laughed hysterically at the PotC reference myself when it occurred to me. eternal vocabulary love and now favorite person status... my evil plot is well-underway...

my evil plot is well-underway...

You're downright diabolical!

She pouted--she was good at it; his glance went straight to her lips. Excellent.
This line is excellent. So Kara. I love commentfic, it's like hidden treasure, you have to search for it.

My first reaction before I read the rest of the comments was, "I like when Rose writes Leoben as normal." Because the part of Leoben that loves/obsesses/connects with Kara is normal and very human-like. IMHO.

So you're a Leoben apologist. Everyone has a view (and a skill, hee). Maybe if Kara could love him, he wouldn't be so creepy? Maybe each Leoben is different. Like the Sharons. Or the Sixes (except for Head!Six). There are several Leobens, in my mind. F&B Leoben, Ragnar Leoben, New Caprica Leoben(s), Disco Leoben, Head!Leoben, paint!sex Leoben and Rose's Leoben who I first met in Prophecy and he didn't even know who he was. Why can't there be many and each having a thing for Kara, religion and destiny?

Mundane!Leoben is inherently creepy to me because you just don't know when his programming might kick in. How far in with him will Kara be when/if it does? The thing is not that he's evil (though he may be that too). He's a machine. It's who he is. Does one ever escape that?

Apparently you're not the only one who finds him fascinating!

the part of Leoben that loves/obsesses/connects with Kara is normal and very human-like. IMHO.

Ah love, the great equalizer... we're all a bit obsessive about it, therefore Leoben is more human in that aspect. Hee!

There are several Leobens, in my mind.... Rose's Leoben who I first met in Prophecy...

Oooh, can I keep him?

Mundane!Leoben is inherently creepy to me because you just don't know when his programming might kick in. How far in with him will Kara be when/if it does? The thing is not that he's evil (though he may be that too). He's a machine. It's who he is. Does one ever escape that?

I think what makes all of the cylons more interesting is their interactions with humans. Humanity is almost like a taint for the cylons--our individuality is problematic. But yes, at the core Leoben and the rest are still machines... whose existence is owed to/based on humans. And those who were programmed to think they're human--do they ever get over that feeling of betrayal? Boomer is bitter and ready to kill Sharon's child as a result of that mind-game.

Whoa, I could keep talking about this... or go to the grocery store. Talk about mundane...

Oooh, can I keep him?
Long as you keep writing him, he's yours to keep!

And those who were programmed to think they're human--do they ever get over that feeling of betrayal?
Interesting thought. It must be kind of devastating. However, doesn't one always have a glimpse of who one is? Deep down inside? I wonder. Look at Chief in LDYB 1.

I always felt that Boomer was mad because Sharon replaced her on Galactica. Seriously, that could have been Boomer and Chief's child. Boomer spent all that time on Galactica, she was the one they 'knew' and loved and her programming kicked in and she was out. Sharon came, knowing what she was, and she was made lieutenant and got her man. Not that simple, but what could Boomer go back to now?

Humanity is almost like a taint for the cylons.
Yet with a few exceptions (Doral, Cavil) they all seem to want some humanity, badly. The ability to reproduce, to love . . . And a few of them have gotten that. Does that make them human now? Will the Cylons (or Leoben) ever be 'human'?

I could question and chat all day but have a few errands too. I will reward myself with watching episodes later though . . .

damn kitty totally erased my letter to leoben. Now i have to retype (tigh really needs to restrain his kittens)

Dear Leoben,

How's the stream been treating you? I likewise am sorry that you were tortured but you did look pretty adorable the whole time. I suppose you and kara are even now with the weird torture and should really just stick to the messy paint sex or pataka style beach excursions.

Much love to the red pants,
lunar

on a side note, I am intrigued by how many words you have on jean barolay. She is one of those characters that barely register for me, I sort of forget that she exists. Racetrack is another one yet she has tons of fans. Zak does too and that makes me a little confused o_O

I am intrigued by how many words you have on jean barolay. She is one of those characters that barely register for me, I sort of forget that she exists. Racetrack is another one yet she has tons of fans. Zak does too and that makes me a little confused

I KNOW! I enjoy the side characters too, but really, the number of Zak fans is bewildering. Frankly I think it's so people can write more Kara/some guy stuff without writing about Lee or Anders. As for me writing about Jean, I'm having to invent a ton of background to make this story work (who knows if I'll succeed) and that's why it's so long and I'm not close to done. (And no, I don't know why I had to write a story about Jean. Muse is weird.)

pataka style beach excursions

silly beach ficlet in comments to

pataka02 above yours, with honorable mention of kitties for you

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it doesn't feel like the longest day of the year

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