Wow. SNAFU's almost done. *pant, pant*

[icarus]

The Harry Potter Starter Kit needs more one-shots!

Starter Kit recs are still coming in. I owe people who commented later responses, but don't worry, this project's important to me.

Later in the week, probably Friday, I'll assemble the list.

There have been many good points about knowing the person's tastes, and that's very true. But if we have a variety of stories, people can pick their own entry point from the starter kit (or have friends pick it for them) based on what catches their eye.

I need more one-shots, since bite-size fics are a good way to try out new pairings. Yeah, I know, it's harder to remember the name of that great fic you read six months ago. I'm struggling, too. But it's all in a good cause.

In other news:

I'm writing the climactic scene of SNAFU now. Page 43 of what looks to be slightly less than 50 pages. And once again, Draco is in deep doo-doo.

Holy cow. I might actually finish this thing.

Comments

[tinderblast.livejournal.com]

Her website seems to have disappeared as well, but I think S. was just fading away for the summer as she's busy. Nothing to be worried about.

I like Close Enough, but the Ron isn't very Ron-like, either in terms of canon or an interpretation. Which might be part of the reason why I like it, I don't know, but there's not that sense of ... oblivious, cheerful, underdog, unthinking, joking etc. ETC. Ronnishness. The Ron in the story is interesting and affable and all that, and most of the other characters are recognisable, so it's odd that he's the one who just feels like he could be anyone, anywhere.

I mean, I love the idea of Harry hooking up with guys who look like Ron. That's fantastic. Even if the story had stopped there I'd be happy. Then, Ron noticing and approaching Harry. This is just as great. But there's also this small part of me that wishes there was an alternate universe for this story in which Harry didn't want Ron, he wanted guys who look like Ron. That would be so harsh and funny, all at once.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

there's not that sense of ... oblivious, cheerful, underdog, unthinking, joking etc. ETC. Ronnishness.

That's true. *nods* I interpreted that as a Ron who's grown up during the war. But I'll just have to read it again (ah, such torment...) to check your theorem.

My favourite line in the story is (paraphrased here): They all changed during the war. Neville had learned how to break someone's arm in three places, Draco had learned kindness, and Ron had learned not to take ill-considered action. Almost.

This is like that bit from The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, where the impossibility of it all was resolved by the name of the ship (and the reason for that name): The Improbability. I think this is why I accept this more sober, aware Ron as still being Ron.

But I'll have to read it again, just to be sure. *head bobs*

But there's also this small part of me that wishes there was an alternate universe for this story in which Harry didn't want Ron, he wanted guys who look like Ron. That would be so harsh and funny, all at once.

That would be quite a different story, and perhaps refreshingly mean if you don't like Ron.

Her website seems to have disappeared as well, but I think S. was just fading away for the summer as she's busy. Nothing to be worried about.

Oh, that's good. spare_change is the sort I can end up arguing about the difference between pink and mauve, and only later realise... waitaminute. *Blinks.* Who cares?

Icarus

[tinderblast.livejournal.com]

But the rare and wonderful thing about S. is that she can actually debate without resorting to personal attack or silly straw-person arguments, and that she follows a line of thinking. Too many debates in fandom end with yeah, well, y tu mama tambien! and so I adore anyone who can argue well (but not those pedants who take debating too seriously, lord no - being in a conversation with them is like being stuck in an elevator).

*sighs*

I just wish she hadn't disappared.

But - Ron - and coincidentally, S. wrote a lovely paen to him not that long ago, and I read and thought, yeah, I can see all his good points and still not love him. I don't know what it is. I completely take on board your point about this being a Ron who's changed as a result of his experiences and I think that this is in many respects a good thing in the story. But I just feel that there's no glimmer of schoolboy!Ron through it.

I really struggled to come up with oblivious, cheerful, underdog, unthinking, joking etc. description of Ron, as I really don't know what it is that DEFINES him for me. He's just ... blokey. He can be sensitive about some things (money, clothes, status) and yet be completely oblivious about other important things. He can be loyal and yet biased- saying 'get away from me, werewolf' to Lupin in PoA is one of the worst things he does in the books, as it hurts Lupin so much and is such a great example of an unthinking prejudice that completely undermines any affection he's had for Lupin as a person for the past months.

That would be quite a different story, and perhaps refreshingly mean if you don't like Ron.
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[tinderblast.livejournal.com]

I knew this would happen! LJ always cuts off comments made via e-mail. Okay ...

That would be quite a different story, and perhaps refreshingly mean if you don't like Ron.

Or what if Harry wanted boys who looked like Ron because he liked red heads? Or Ron thinks that Harry likes him, but actually has a longstanding crush on Bill/Charlie/whomever? I think this is such a hilarious and possibly touching idea, for some reason.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

And then Ron would come on to Harry, only to find out, "er, sorry, um... you're a great friend and all but I don't - I can't think of you that way."

"Oh."

Ron scuffs his shoe as they stand in the yard behind the Burrow, quiet a long moment. "Just so you know, I'm not like that."

"Right."

"Just keep that in mind." Ron wags his finger.

"Okay."

There's another long silence that neither of them have the heart to break. Starlings chatter in the trees above them, then scatter across the sunset. Ron squints at the sky.

"Your mom's making dinner --" -- "I think it's dinner time," they say at the same time, and then laugh, embarrassed.

They turn to head inside, the warm glow of the Weasley kitchen beckoning gold against the twilight blue. Fred and Goerge are upstairs, arguing happily as they threw things at each other, and it seems like another world from the outside. Pebbles crunched underfoot.

"I don't suppose you've heard of The Centaur Club," Harry begins, shyly looking at the ground. "Because, um, Saturday they're having a special..."

Ron turns to him with a shocked laugh. "You said you didn't like bars!"

"I didn't think you'd like someplace like The Centaur," Harry shrugs.

"Huh."

Ron stares off into space a moment. Then he nods. "Sure. Saturday's good." He chuckles, nudging Harry's shoulder playfully. "So... Charlie, eh?"


Icarus

[tinderblast.livejournal.com]

Hee. Charlie! Bill has the rock star looks, but Charlie is the real heartbreaker of the family.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Heh. I lopped off the part of the story where it was made clear that Charlie wasn't gay, figuring one disappointment per story was enough.

Icarus

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Heh. I lopped off the part of the story where it was made clear that Charlie wasn't gay, figuring one disappointment per story was enough. Harry can sleep with all the red-heads he wants, but Charlie's out of reach.

Of course this could always go in the direction of Harry and Ron sleeping together because Charlie's out of reach, and that, oh, that would really screw things up between them.

Icarus

[tinderblast.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Now that would be a story I'd love to read. Both, actually, but particularly the second option.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

But the rare and wonderful thing about S. is that she can actually debate without resorting to personal attack or silly straw-person arguments, and that she follows a line of thinking.

Oh, she's quite an excellent debator, and when I stumble across her posts, she's usually one I'm nodding to, "yes, yep." We even have very similar tastes and an appreciation for "guyness" in fics. It's a pity we don't get on.

I can like and respect someone while at the same time understand that our personalities are a bad mix. The two of us get into a debate, and only shift our positions a millimeter to the right or left as needed, not giving any ground.

The discussion remains static and doesn't develop because neither of us will give an inch. So we don't learn anything.

I recognise my part in it, that we just bring out the worst in each other. I get harsh and blunt, and she gets dramatic. Nothing personal against her.

Icarus

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I hear about people who have "fandom enemies" or people who "oh those two hate each other."

But I don't think there's a single person in fandom that I dislike. It's impossibel, for the simple reason that you have to know someone pretty well to dislike them. I don't feel I can make that call in this sort of environment. The best you can do is say I don't like what this person wrote here, or what they did there.

In spare_change's, I don't even dislike anything's she's written or done. It's just a personality issue.

Icarus