(no subject)

[vaznetti]

You'll be pleased to know that I haven't dropped off the face of the earth. fillyjonk is here in New York with me, and we are alternating between packing and indulging in nostalgia. I tried to explain Alias to her and realized that I've got to replot the current section of the hiatusfic I'm working on--I think I've backed myself into a corner, and it's very frustrating. I also think I need a beta reader who understands Jack Bristow. Or wants to understand him, anyway.

But I did find time to answer gryphonrhi's five questions. Read on for Highlander, X-Files, and my current obsession.

Would you have still gotten into Highlander if you weren't a classics major, do you think?

Oh, sure. I liked the show before the old man turned up, you know. The dippy flashbacks just made it that much more enjoyable. I really liked the movie, too ("Heh. What kept you?"). I think knowing too much about ancient history has kept me out of Hercules and Xena fandoms--I can watch the shows and enjoy them, but I can't immerse myself in that universe. It makes my brain itch.

Now, would I have really gotten into Highlander if I hadn't read Dorothy Dunnett? It's possible that if I had not said "Oh my goodness! It's Jerott Blyth!" and been right the first time I lay eyes on Duncan McLeod, I would have continued to flip the channels (/pimping of Dunnett).

Favorite season(s) of X-Files and why?

Probably Season Four--the mytharc was complex, but not too complex, and I'm a sucker for the cancer arc. I love watching what it does to Scully, Mulder and Skinner. There are things about Season Five that I like better (the Krycek episodes in particular), but I already have the sense that the mytharc is spinning out of control there, and Mulder and Scully are starting to grate on my last nerve in some of those episodes. So I'll go for Season 4 as the one where I find the leads the most tolerable.


Same for Highlander?

Oh dear. I'm bad with Highlander seasons--I tend to conflate them. But you know, the one where Methos is introduced for real, although I could have lived without the whole Zoroastrian demon thing at the season end. It was the end of that season, wasn't it? Up to that season, I was pretty much just watching for the eye candy. But I thought that with the introduction of Methos the show developed some more complexity, as Duncan begins to consider whether or not his urge to get involved and fix things is really the best plan (which is what I think is going on with the "Champion" storyline, much though I mocked it, and with the Methos storyline, because Methos claims that don't get involved" is his watchword, although his actions belie that. But the Horsemen episodes suggest that lazy uninvolvement may be a good lifestyle choice on Methos' part.)


Same for Buffy?

Season Three. I love the build-up the the graduation. There are also a whole lot of excellent episodes only tangentially related to the arc, like Band Candy and The Zeppo. I love the Mayor, and Faith. This is the season in which my love for Xander really took off, although Willow started to irritate me. It has Principal Snyder, and Cordelia and her complicated best, and Wesley (and you know, we all should have realized, when Wesley turned up all geeky in those funny suits and hairgel, that he would one day become an ambiguously evil sex god...), and at the end of the season the students all unite and fight back. It's the season which, I think, encapsulates everything I love about the show. Plus, in the end they blow up the school.

What pairing and/or fandom would you most like to pimp to what writers?

::laughs:: Isn't it obvious? I want everyone I know to start writing Alias fic. I want Ladonna to write me some Krycek/Sark, because it would be hot and not sad--if I wrote it it would be tragic. And Sark is pretty, dangerous and uncaring in a way which ought to appeal to her. I want jennyo to write more Jack and Irina, or more Angel/Alias crossover goodness. I would love to see spican write a Sark/Sydney piece, but I accept that that will never happen. kellykeil might, though. Someday. Oh, who am I kidding? I don't think she even watches the show. I want kristenk2 to write about Emily and Arvin--did Emily ever think she had a normal life? I want deslea to explain this Rambaldi stuff in big words. I want pauraque and muridae_x to write character-driven pieces.

I am doomed to remain largely unsatisfied. Luckily, I've found some extremely good writers who are already in Alias fandom. I ought to go poke them for fics.

From you, though, I just want Connor/Krycek. Relieved? And hey, I'd be honored to be involved in any small way with such a noble enterprise as the resurrection of FitzCairn.

For some reason, I'm having a terrible time thinking up questions for you.


Off to do another box. Or maybe a suitcase. The UPS men are coming tomorrow to take the books etc.

Comments

[themoonbar.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not sure I understand Jack Bristow, but I'd sell my soul for some good Jack fanfic, so if you need a hand, feel free to ask.

And you probably know this already, but did you see that you were nominated in Alias' festival of fic?

[vaznetti]

Oh, would you really be willing to look this over? I have three parts of a five-part story written, and am stalled on four. There's no huge rush, because as you've noticed I'm about to move back to England (temporarily) on Tuesday, and I'd lose my head if it weren't attached. But yes, I need a hand.

The nominations amused me, because as everyone who knows me in XF is aware, I avoid fanfic awards like the plague. I haven't decided whether to ignore the whole thing or not, although I think I might actually break my habit enough to vote.

Also, I adore your icon--I love the colors.

[themoonbar.livejournal.com]

Oh, would you really be willing to look this over?

I would love to. There are things I like better than meaty discussions about my favorite characters, but it's a short list. *g* Feel free to ping me at overthemoonbar if you have AIM or send it to w_squirrel@yahoo.com.

I haven't decided whether to ignore the whole thing or not, although I think I might actually break my habit enough to vote.

I always thought the awards in XF were sort of ridiculous because they led to so much bullshit and it's not like there was ever a shortage of things to read. But, Alias seems like a relatively flame-free fandom and I have to say that it's nice to have a selection of better written stories. So for those reasons, I think I'm going to end up voting.

BTW, I saw in Jo's comments that you liked Evonness' Salvation and I figured you might want to know that she has a new story up at (arrgh) FF.net.

Also, I adore your icon--I love the colors.

Thank you! The screencap was just too beautiful to resist playing around with, and I have to admit that I rather like how it came out. ;)

[vaznetti]

I'm going to send the story to you by email. The first two parts have had light beta, but the third is all new.

And yes, I can think of one or two things that are more fun than dissecting interesting characters, but character-discussion is up there for me too. I find that Jack doesn't lend himself to self-analysis.

[k2daisy.livejournal.com]

I'm gonna ask, even though I'm afraid to find out the answer and fear I will accidentally get sucked into Alias and end up tracking down reruns and tapes and such...

Who are Emily and Arvin?

*cowers*

[vaznetti]

I thought of Emily and Arvin Sloane because Emily is the "normal" character--well, one of them--her husband (Arvin) is the Big Bad, in that he's involved in a big conspiracy, the details of which are frankly too confusing to worry about. Emily is supposed to know nothing about this whole thing, but it turns out that she has known what he's doing for a long time and just chosen to ignore it. (Of course, when it comes out that she knows, the other members of the conspiracy demand that Sloane kill her--she's dying of cancer, and he argues them down to letting her die a natural death, and then a bunch of really complicated stuff happens). But anyway, she interests me because she's not a superspy or anything. She's just this normal woman who had the misfortune to fall in love with an evil genius and decided to make a happy life for the two of them anyway. At least, I think that's what's going on with her. And they were really, really happy together too--it was a real case of lovetruelove, despite the evil genius thing.

So, are my evil plans bearing fruit?

[k2daisy.livejournal.com]

Hrm. Maybe. I might check out an ep. Maybe.

I'm not without my own evil machinations, ya know. *g*

[vaznetti]

The other thing you need to know is that Emily appears in about 6 episodes total. She's perfect for you! (She does have more lines than Kim Cook, though.)

[k2daisy.livejournal.com]

Well six episodes isn't a huge commitment on my part, so maybe if I...DAMN YOU, YOU EVIL VANZETTI!

*fights hard to avoid getting sucked into the Alias madness against her will*

[vaznetti]

You just crack me up. You know that, right? Now, be a good little minion and START WATCHING!!!!

[spican.livejournal.com]

Ha. Are Sark/Sydney the Krycek/Scully of Alias, something like that? He ambiguously evil, and she, comparatively good? You have just increased the chances of me writing it 100% just because I'm so ridiculously flattered that you'd want me to. *g*

(We'll get the channel that shows Alias some time this summer, but of course I'll probably have missed out on the whole first season by then. But I'm sufficiently intrigued by your Sarkmania to give the show a chance whenever it happens.)

Also, when are you moving out? I think I've lost track in that convoluted summer schedule of yours. Is it about time to wish you a good trip to Oxford?

[k2daisy.livejournal.com]

You have just increased the chances of me writing it 100% just because I'm so ridiculously flattered that you'd want me to. *g*

Hee! Me too! See above questioning of WTH those people are. Don't tell Vanzetti, but if the answer is intriguing enough, I just *might* try to watch Alias and try my hand at a story for her. But sssshhhhhh, don't tell her.*g*

[spican.livejournal.com]

I just *might* try to watch Alias and try my hand at a story for her. But sssshhhhhh, don't tell her.*g*

Uh-oh... You know, I get this niggling suspicion that we've been had, and that Vanzetti knew *exactly* what she was doing all along. She's the strategic mind among us, remember...

In other news, I'm writing you an email. As a reply to *your* email. (You eeeevil teeeeeeaaaase!! *whine*)

[k2daisy.livejournal.com]

Vanzetti knew *exactly* what she was doing all along. She's the strategic mind among us, remember...

This is true; we are only minions of her Evil Dictator-ness. after all. We live to serve her. But let's just keep that between us, or she might get a big head about it. 'Kay?

[vaznetti]

Bwahahahahaha! ::rubs hands together in an evil fashion::

[muridae-x.livejournal.com]

Hmm. It occurs to me that right now you're channelling Machiavelli rather than Rimbaldi. But it does seem to be working.

Well, either that or it was just a 47 billion to one coincidence that I spent this evening watching the final three episodes of the season.

Seriously though, I love Alias to all its silly little bits and pieces and Rimbaldi artefacts. I just have only the haziest of notions what the overall Rimbaldi plotarc is up to, because of this evil habit Sky One have of moving it about the schedule so I keep missing episodes. :-(

Sark took a while to grow on me. But you've just got to love a guy who's up-front about the fact that his loyalties are flexible. :-)

[vaznetti]

You know, I bet that you could see every episode in order and still have only the haziest idea of the Rambaldi (Rimbaldi? I've seen both) storyline.

You know, any fic you wanted to write would be fine with me. It doesn't have to be Sarkfic. Really.

[muridae-x.livejournal.com]

Blowed if I know what the spelling should be. And, of course, I don't really expect to ever understand the Rimbaldi storyline because it's just a McGuffin, albeit a somewhat more cleverly constructed one than the X-Files mytharc in that you can pile more and more plotlines on top of it without it collapsing under the stress.

But I missed a lot of continuity-critical stuff in season one - such as Will finding out about Syd's career as a spy, and some of the early hints about Irina still being alive. And any knowledge of the whole feels a little precarious without them. Of course, this little problem will be fixed in September when the season one DVDs get released. :-)

My Krycek muse is very jealous, and insists that if I ever get my butt into gear and write anything, it must be about him. But I think he'd let me moonlight as a reader (or beta reader) of other people's stuff. I'm not sure I have any coherent insights into Jack Bristow's thought processes though. Seems to me that he and his wife were pretty well matched on that front.

[spican.livejournal.com]

But let's just keep that between us, or she might get a big head about it. 'Kay?

sshhh... It may already be too late, I think I just heard someone laugh evilly nearby... *tiptoes away, still feeling tempted by Alias-writing in a manipulated kind of way*

[vaznetti]

Ha. Are Sark/Sydney the Krycek/Scully of Alias, something like that? He ambiguously evil, and she, comparatively good?

Got it in one. Also, very hot together. Let me know and I will steer you to good fic for them. You should definitely watch Alias when you get the chance--it's very silly, but in a good way.

Actually, they're relationship is quite complex even without the romance. They're pseudo-siblings (unless they're revealed to be half or full siblings, which could still happen): Sark is the right-hand man of Sydney's mother, who Sydney hardly knows. So to her, he's the key to her mother, the protege, the person who takes the role which might have been Sydney's; and to him, she's the person who's first in Irina's affections, the favored child, and thus also in a role which might have been his. It's a bit like some the the treatments of Krycek/Mulder that you see.

And I leave for Oxford on Tuesday. Right now I'm busy procrastinating.

[spican.livejournal.com]

Got it in one. Also, very hot together. Let me know and I will steer you to good fic for them.

Let me indeed have links, since I'm a hopeless sucker for a not-quite-devil/good-girl dynamic. (As if you didn't know.) And 'specially if it's very hot. (As if you didn't *know*. Sigh. It's fairly humiliating, to be this predictable.)

It's perfectly okay if the show is silly. For some reason I tend to like the silly shows best, while the superplausible ones have me fidgeting.

Also, I'll wish you a good journey to Oxford now, in case I don't get to talk to you tomorrow.

[vaznetti]

Well, you did ask. Here are a few of the stories I've enjoyed--they're all on Cover Me, which is my Gossamer substitute, but which also sorts fic by ship.

I'd suggest Rez's Home Before Dark and its sequel (Succession, I think, which is Sark/Irina). These reminded me of A Dream of Fools, although I'm not sure why.

Auburn is an excessively talented writer, although I would characterise what she writes as character studies rather than romances. Lying Next to Him comes closest, but Belfast and the new Byzantium: Iterations of Burn are better, but I think that they may require a lot of knowledge of the show to really understand. Try Belfast.

There are a set of good stories by Rach--the ones that spring to mind are Pomegranate and Sakura; she also wrote Technicolor Splendor and Fourteen Days

We have very little evidence, I ought to say, that Sark isn't in fact a devil. This "not as bad as he seem" thing might just be wishful thinking.

[spican.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the links. I did read "Home Before Dark" last night. The reason it reminded you of ADOF was probably just because Sydney was tipsy and angsty and Sark was faintly smiling and masterful. But I definitely liked it, the writing was very good and the characters very much to my liking. Hmm. It wouldn't be the first fandom I've been sucked into via the fanfic, either. Going to try "Succession" and "Belfast" next.

As much as you (and Krycek) hate airports, I really love it when you're flying somewhere because then you use that icon (I think I've told you this before.)

[pauraque]

::looks up in surprise at the mention of his name::

Who, me? I've never seen an episode of Alias, I don't think... Wait, I may have seen part of one while I was on vacation in Canada. I'm not sure. But at any rate, I could give it a try. Like I need another fandom. ;P

[vaznetti]

Despite Kristen and Spica's claim that I am a manipulative evil genius, you are under no pressure--this was really just wishful thinking. I don't expect people to take up my new fandom just because I stamp my foot about it.

[pauraque]

Yeah, I know, but when writers I like run off to a mysterious new fandom, I get curious what all the fuss is about.

[k2daisy.livejournal.com]

DON'T LISTEN TO HER, EO! Run, run away from her evil clutches before it's too lat---

*aaaaaaaaaaah, flails hopelessly in the face of Vanzetti's Evil Genius*

;-)

[pauraque]

::laughs::

Oh, it's far too late for me -- I'm already writing XF/HP. Save yourself!

Just teasing, Van. ;)

Buffy Season 3

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

The reason it should be your favorite is because I am in it!!! :)

And I happen to be in The Zeppo, I'll have you know! :)

Re: Buffy Season 3

[vaznetti]

We should do a season 3 marathon, and you can keep pausing the tape, saying, "There I am! Look, it's me!" and I'l be all, "What? Wow!" etc. ad nauseam.