Hello!

How are you? I hope this letter finds you well. Can I just start off by saying that you are an awesome person with impeccable taste! How do I know this? You have volunteered to write in one of the teeny fandoms that we both love. Ergo - awesome.

Just before we get to the nitty-gritty, just be aware that whatever you write, so long as you've enjoyed it's crafting, I am bound to enjoy it too. So, no pressure on you;)

And if you're here because you are a pinch-hitting superstar - then the above goes for you with bells on.

NB - apologies for not getting this finished for the release of assignments - life has been all flavours of crazy recently. But have at it and most of all, enjoy yourself.

My fandoms are: Sunshine (2007), The Wolverine (2013), Alien (1979) and Indiana Jones Series

These are my previous years letters - 2012, 2011 and 2010 - so you can have an idea what you're letting yourself in for;) And yes, I keep asking for one of them as one year, it's going to happen!! (ahem;))

Feel free to have a nosey around my journal - I've not been as 'present' this year as I have been in years past - but hopefully you'll get a flavour of what sort of weirdo I am.

Okay - onto the Likes and Dislikes portion of the letter.

The 'Yes Please!' list includes - Plot, character-led stories, friendships, alternative realities where one thing changes, hugs/cuddling, women characters being awesome and competent, teams equaling families, happy(ish) endings, conversations/banter, films, kisses, laughter, humour, science, teamwork, adventures, slice of life, dancing, joy, life...

If you want to go down the sexyteims route - sensuality is key as is emotional engagement and consent among adults too. My strongest leaning is towards m/m, quite happy with het but I'm afraid that f/f does nothing for me. Be far happier with female friendships, if that's okay with you.

The 'No Thank You' list - Character death*, kink, humiliation, partner betrayal, character bashing (especially women characters) porn minus plot, dark themes*. Fluffy monster is so *fluffy* you're gonna die (Despicable Me quote ftw!)

*With Alien feel free to give yourself some wiggle room, although, please, no darker than the film went as that film pretty much encapsulates my limits for gore/blood.

A Quick Word From Our Sponsors Re Ratings - Note – if you, awesome writer, can’t ‘do’ romance (het, slash or poly as the prompt suggests - or not) I would lovelovelove (more than cake!) Gen fic.

( Details and Waffle for Sunshine(2007), Alien (1979), The Wolverine (2013) and The Indiana Jones Series )

Needless to say, whatever you write for me in any of the fandoms I've requested, I'm sure to love more than cake!

So - there you go!

Trundling forward - or at very least, trying to trundle forward. In a literal sense on Friday as I go to Edinburgh for the Edinburgh Film Festival. They're showing Brave, which, is not released in the UK until mid-August. We may have gotten Avengers and Prometheus a week before the US but this is taking the urine somewhat.

Even so - it's going to be a weekend in one of the loveliest cities I can think of, so there is that.

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In other news - work is undergoing one of it's periodic 're-structures'. Usually the ones who get 're-structured' are the pay grade above me. Not this time, not so much, but the main thing is that I will still have a job and I will get on and re-apply for my professional exams as this time I need to have the paperwork as of my qualifications for my job.

My main reasons for not getting them done before has been that I have had no incentive to get them done (what can I say? I'm goal orientated;)) but now? I have. So, consider this fair warning that there will be whining ahead.

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Mr Spock (my much beloved car) went in for his first MOT test last week. And true to form, for me anyway, he failed. But in comparison to other failures, it was relatively minor (brake pads were worn down - which is a *good* thing!) and not as 'expensive', I've had to buy new cars before!

Could have done with a little more notice regarding the failure - the garage didn't phone and if I hadn't called and just gone to collect the car.... I would have been stranded 20 miles from home, having missed the last bus. Thankfully, the crisis was averted but the meltdown would have been spectacular, mind.

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In more 'fannish' news - currently working on a story for xmenreversebang - I've not finished it but I am over the lower limit, so it's a goer. The art is a thing of *joy* - it's just a shame that the muse decided to go on a monumental walkabout at the same time. Still - it's words on a page and I'm hoping that more will follow.

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So, that's me. How are you guys?

Which it is - yes, I came that close to binning over 2,000 words of my secret_mutant story again. Also? the yuletide mantra of 'Optional Details Are Optional' should apply to all the damn ficathons!

In happier news - Written? Kitten! is hewn from 100% *awesome*

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If you have been having issues with LJ - they are aware of it

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New Promo images from John Carter (of Mars). This is being directed by Andrew Wall.E Stanton. Which, trust me, is more than reason enough to watch this film. Having read the (first) book, I am glad to see this guy made the cut. Zie is awesome.

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When the 'official' announcements were made regarding Bond 23 aka Skyfall, the characters that some of the actors would be playing were not noted. Even so, it was teased that these would be known to people who had read the books. In that vein, Ben Whishaw will be 'Q'. If he says *that* line, made famous by the late, great Desmond Llewellyn, I will be a very happy monster indeed.

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20 of the Muppets greatest hits. Let's not discuss how much I envy everyone who has gotten to see this so far. February is too damn far away. < /sulk>

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I've only seen THREE movies this month. Which by my standards is appalling But I have finally met my nephew - warning: cute baby. So, there is balance (and also Wednesday).

Also, I have written over 100 words every day and blogged every day. The new 'high-speed' (i.e. the damn thing goes and I can watch trailers in almost real-time) t'internet may not approve but hey!;) Need to keep going until, yes, you've guessed it... WEDNESDAY!

In other RL news - I have nearly all my Christmas presents 'sorted' bar one. And by 'sorted', I mean, I either have purchased them/know what to buy them and will purchase as soon as funds/time become available. This is nearly unheard of.

Next thing you know, I will be posting my 'manoeuvres' for December/January and by manoeuvres I mean what I am going to see at the BFI and when. Consider that a warning;)

So, beloved flist - Any good news to share?

tw_bigbang - quota - 15,000 words (draft hand-in is 15/8)

18745 / 20500 words. 91% done!

Admittedly - this is all guestimating on my part. The draft will be as long as it needs to be - but bloody hell... I'm nearly there.

So either, that light is the end of the tunnel or...

Meme teim!

Ask me for five things about a particular character, and I will (attempt to) respond with a list or ficlet. (You know the drill: "Five missions Jack Bristow prefers to forget" or "Five times SG-1 acquired super powers".)

Fandoms I'm happy to write for: Doctor Who (2005-), Torchwood (S1 and S2 - CoE is just one big nono!), Being Human, Star Trek (2009/The Reboot). Quite simply anything I've shown an obsession with recently!;)

I can't promise to deliver - but given that my muse needs a good kick up the hiney - it can't hurt!

As I've already warned mentioned, I'm doing mini_nanowrimo this year (again!). 100 words a day for 30 days - which should mean about 3000 words written on sundry stories. I have about four on the go: one DW, one TW and two which are varying degrees of crossover between the two shows.

Today's total? - 819 words. Nothing like getting on with it is there;)


Someone at Buckingham Palace has a very *warped* sense of humour. On the day before Hallo'ween, Christopher Lee, star of Hammer Horrors, Lord of the Rings, Tim Burton movies and Star Wars prequels, is knighted.

Did you also know that (through his mother's side) a real life Count?


A week after the clocks went back - the weather has decided to get it's act together and change *big time*. No morning frosts yet but it's certainly getting chillier. Good job I've gotten the winter coat and scarves hung up on the back of my door.


I'm hopelessly behind on my telly it's no longer funny. Saw the first part of the Sarah Jane Adventures featuring 'hisself'. ( No real spoilers but... )


Other than that - work is just busy (not crazy busy as of late),life is bumbling forward and I am scarily behind in my movie watching. More details available on request.

I can find the *exact* term that describes what I'm trying to say in my story... in the words of one of my characters. And I can't find any information about how long that someone would get for stalking/attempted murder!

*Sigh*

On the plus side... said story is nearly finished. That will be two stories in one month (is gobsmacked). So can I have a volunteer on standby?

Story details...
Title: Three Edges
Fandom: NCIS
Characters: Abby Scutio, Jethro Gibbs, Ducky Mallard
Genre: Gen (mentions of a 'canon' het relationship 'encounter')
Word count: 2000-2200
Synopsis: Episode tag for 'Shariff Returns'. After the events of that episode, Gibbs, Abby and Ducky converge at Gibbs' place that night. Each has their own reasons and their own needs. (Which sucks as an explaination - just look up 'cuddlebuddy' at Urban Dictonary 'kaythanx!)

I really need someone to look over this as I'm using three different POVs over and using a fractured timeline too. I really know how to make life difficult for myself don't I? Not to mention that I'm working with episodes I haven't clapped eyes on yet (and won't until June at the earliest?) So a better knowledge of canon would be good too!

Oy!

So - may I have a volunteer from the audience?

In other news... Doctor Who Season 1 is utterly wonderful. I'm trying to be caught up for the beginning of the new series. 'The Doctor Dances' is just perfect in every way. Especially the last ten minutes.
As for NCIS Season 1 - 'Dead Man Talking' is proof (like it was needed) that Gibbs and DiNozzo are so doing it! That is when Gibbs isn't doing either his ME or his Forensic Specialist either... or dare I say both?. Your mileage may vary regarding permutations of the aforementioned!

First up - a belated happy birthday to both amanda_is_wacky and celandineb

- I iz not dead (duh!;))

- S3 Doctor Who starts on 31/3

- S4 NCIS starts on 13/4 (on UK telly)

- Picking up a skirt that I had my eye on at both £25 off and a size smaller than I was used to. Did I mention that it can work from spring to summer and possibly autumn too? And it's purple *manic grin*

- I don't care what anyone else says - 'Rose' ('Doctor Who') is a damn fine first episode.

- Am concocting meta about Director Sheppard (NCIS) but I feel I need to watch the relevant episodes from S4 before I open my trap. Not only that but by the time that I do get to see the episodes... the series would have ended in the U.S. Um...

- The bunnies are multiplying like... well, bunnies;) Out of nowhere I got an idea for a NCIS casefic where the vic had been at a tango night where Ducky and Abby had been also... (Ducky knowing how to tango from his time in Argentina - as mentioned in 'Meltdown' and Abby being a fan of Dancing with the Stars and having asked Ducky to teach her how to dance...). Yes, my brain is a very weird place!

- I have signed up to rec NCIS at crack_van. At least I have six months to gather up recs/change my mind;)

Thing that doesn't
- I have a story that needs to be finished and beta'ed by next Sunday. The muse just does not want to know. ARGH!

- Happy birthday surrealphantast May it be a great day and a wonderful year, filled with lots of wonderful stuff

- I'm not sitting up for the Oscar ceremony this year. It will be the first time in 5 years that I haven't sat up. Mainly because I have a meeting in the morning and because there is nothing I'm really rooting for. Apart from Marty Scorsese for Director and Pan's Labryinth for Best Foriegn. 'Sides, I'll catch up on all the 'best' (the fashions darlink!) stuff over the week.

- Have written nearly 800 words today. Might need another 800 words but I'm kinda pleased with what I've gotten done so far. This is for the twdw_ficathon that has a deadline of 11/3. Only one problem. The next 800 odd words are going to be the troublesome ones!

- I have drunk faaarr too much diet coke. Am currently in 'Abby' mode. Alas, without gorgeous boss kissing me on the cheek and equally lovely friend/co-worker calling me his 'lotus blossom';)

- Abby rules. But... y'all knew that didn't you. Her 'Mommy and Daddy fighting' routine from 'Twisted Sister' is just comedy gold. Not to mention that she sounds deeper than Gibbs when she impersonates him;)

Memo to self - no more ficathons!

Or at least until the next one catches your eye;)

Um... yeah, my entry for the twdw_ficathon is proceeding. I'm nearly at the mininum word mark - which is good... and I know where I want to go... which, I'm sure you'll agree is even better. Just hoping that it'll be a) good, b) my recpient enjoys it and c) that I make the deadline. Not that I can forget the deadline, it's the day before my birthday!

Then, I'm going to write a story purely for little ol' me. Mainly because everybody else will just run screaming in the opposite direction! All I will say is that this story is privately titled "The NCIS 'Special Hell' story". I'll explain why after I've written the bugger!

Trust me - it's a damn good reason;)