Okay - uh, renaming ain't gonna work after all...for myraid of reasons. I sure wish some coding goddess would figure out how to have mutiple journals combine.

So, this journal will be going stale 10 seconds after this post. Heh. I have already begun friending the flist and my comms with my other journal -

zagzagael

so if you see that name pop up - it is moi.

Over and out. Godspeed. And fare thee well.

As soon as my rename token gets delivered to my inbox - this journal is going to be combined with the other journal I keep here. Sigh. I had no idea how...time consuming...running two ljs would be. It's been an utterly fantabulous "experiment" and I'm glad I started this writing journal! Thrilled, actually.

According to the process, the new name zagzagael will be added to the flist and this will become ex-skull_theatre. Fingers crossed that that works. I will be using the dreaded filters and can only assume that everyone already here is here for the fic - BtVSAts and HP. If you're interested in tattoos, alternative music or my mountain life, please comment and I'll add you to the respective filter. I seriously doubt anyone on this flist is into abjds. ;) No worries.

I've got to dig in and get to working on the novel. Kidlings go back to school on the 14th of this month...wedding season is drying up...and I'm going to resign my huge and unweildly community volunteer jobs after the MusicFest this coming weekend. So...August may be tumultuous for me...and the journaling might be affected. It all remains to be seen.

Slainthe!

Spent two glorious days in the Castro at the tail end of this week - caught Grinnerman at GAMH and it was mind-shattering. So wonderful to have followed this group of musicians over the course of twenty-five years...and be perfectly understanding of how they've come to this astonishing place of grown-man-garage-band music. Even if I am reduced to tears today for the inevitable press of time on all our shoulders...

Working today on "catch-up" - I've got 99 digital images to sort. Sigh. These clients who want portraits for internet dating are becoming more and more common...and although I wish them the very best of luck in such endeavors, there's a distinct sense of...well something or other...from my end of things. 'Nuff said.

I'm mentally arcing the Sirius Black fic. And that's quite nice.

And on my long drive home from the Bay Area...I became smitten with the idea of a collection of short stories - not a form I would have ever dreamed of for myself BF - before fanfiction. But it is a viable form and I have....found extreme enjoyment in playing with it in fandoms...the trick will be to see if I can make a short work with original charas. The bane of writing fanfiction, of course, is the huge reliance we have upon the fact that the charas are already so well known by the reader.

Happy Sunday!

Now that I’ve had a few days distance from my Official Harry Potter hols – I think I’ve found a place for everything and everyone and all is good in this world and in the HPVerse.

I am of the camp that considers the Harry Potter novels to be Young Adult books and Rowling to be a writer of YA sensibilities. However, that is not to say that she hasn’t created one of the most amazingly entertaining series ever to be published. Although I still laud AS Byatt’s the-emperor-is-naked “Harry Potter for the Childish Adult” essay, certainly four years later – I think Rowling has grown exponentially as a writer. She’s an extraordinarily gifted plottist and imaginative creator. She is unquestionably the “real deal” and the woman is no slouch when it comes to work. I am impressed beyond words by her tenacity, her spinal strength and her vision. Brava!

For me, the lure of the HPVerse has always been the fandom. And on that score, I must give a huge SHOUT OUT to Rowling for having graciously allowed so many of us to play freely in her secondary world. I do not “see” the charas or the “world” of HP through Rowling’s eyes, but rather through a half-decade’s worth of digital reams and reams of fanfiction. Ultimately, she finished her series the way she wanted to, wrestled the Beloved Fandom character of Severus Snape back from us rabid fangrrls and gave him the story she wanted him to have. Who knows how intended it was from the beginning or if it was affected by fandom musings and characterizations – SS got a Starring Lead the last two books and that pleases me immenseley. As to the rest…I believe she surpassed everything she set out to do and as the mother of children who adore her books and her characters, I am thrilled that my children were some of the lucky generation that got to “grow up” with Harry. It’s been a wonderful adventure and I can’t think of a better Guide than Rowling has been.

Thank you, JKR.

Now...onwards and upwards to the numinous...

Nine hours and it's done. Phew. Marathon reading but certainly a time when I'm pleased to be on the further end of fast reading. I don't think my life could have been on hold much longer than that - as it is I'm dreadfully discombobulated...and will have to work extra to catch back up tomorrow on things set aside today.

No spoilers here, besides which...I'm still...too immersed to think conversationally about it.

Went to a single-malt party yesterday and now am craving - as in addictive longing - a dram of Edradour or Double Barrel. Mmmm...I adore scotch.

Friday bought a wondrous BPAL order - Brisingamen (Go Vikings!!!) and Nephilim (Yes Angels!) - I'm thrilled with both of them. Amber = good! I think I've finally outgrown my patchouli phase...

Spent a bit of time this morning whipping out my ficlet for maleslashminis. I wish I had realized what weekend this weekend was...before I signed up. But I'm pleased with the way it came out, flexed a bit, I don't usually write humour.

But I am still...feeling very much the Oldman!Sirius love and have now plotted out a mid-sized OotP-era fic.

Hope everyone else is enjoying their Hallows jaunt.

Slainthe.

Title: Out of the Alleyway
Author: skull_theatre
Rating: PG
Fandom: Angel (mid S5 Ats)
Pairing: Spike/Angel
Assignment: maleslashminis Round 14— Spike. Written for elementalv. Things they want in the fic: "One of them against a wall at some point, a 24-hour mini mart, and fluffy kittens"
Things they *don't* want in the fic: "Angst, declarations of undying (undead?) love"
Notes: I’m incapable of writing NC-17. Really. And I tend towards the angst-filled which was explicitly not wanted. Hope this serves. ;)

( Out of the Alleyway )

Yes, it's the *swoon* Oldman!Sirius icon again. I am lovesick beyond measure. And I think...I'm going to continue with my Sirius ficlet I began yesterday. Thanks to my *ahem* two readers on that bit. ;) Quite obviously, the problem, if one can call it such, is that I skipped the long boring erotic tension parts to get to the beginnings of the boy-on-girl part...and now I'd have to backtrack and set up some Sirius/Hermione encounters at the Black house...prior...I don't know. Why is fanfic so much damned work? You start out wanting to get a cat laid and the next thing you know, work is required and the dishes don't get washed up and the laundry grows and kidlings whine and the husband actually wants to know why there's no supper...

But...for Oldman!Sirius, I think I'll do it! *leers*

And I've got other fics that need attending -

maleslashminis due on Sunday
still_grrr don't want to miss this last prompt, which means that needs to be written today
My Davy Jones fic is getting grumbled about now - one or two last chapters and I can call that one a day
And of course, the original...

It's raining and that is wonderful. The forest smells like something out of a wooded dream. But it's curtailing my two-mile morning constitutional and I despise the treadmill.

And I am back on my Wolfhound kick - Sam the Weimeraner is looking worried.

( An incredibly self-indulgent meme jacked from kyra. If you post your own, I promise to read it! )

A quick, hot little prose sketch for the Oldman!Sirius fangrrls -

SB/HG - OotP

( Come Into My Sleep )

Just got back from the ten am showing of “Order of the Phoenix.” I am a happy, happy woman.

First, please allow me to swoon over this beautiful, beautiful male creature –



AND his animagus form is a Wolfhound?!?!?! *dies*

( When Adults Play )

Combining my Big D fics in one post. Just watched "Hell's Bells" again and I'm telling you...this demon just...makes me....gah!!! Why won't anyone write hawt D'Hoffryn ficcy goodness for me? *wails*

Title: Exquisite Heat
Word Count: 437
Rating: PG
Prompt: 021 - Heat at still_grrr
Characters: D'Hoffryn, Dark Willow

( Exquisite Heat )



Title: Final Goodbye
Rating: G
Word Count: 548
Prompt: 011 - Sunnydale Crater for still_grrr
Character: two demons


( Not Forgotten )




Title: A Pair of Glittering, Black Eyes Redux
Rating: R
Word Count: 250
Prompt: D’Hoffry/Willow for btvsats_love
Pairing(if any): D/W/T
Disclaimer: If only D’Hoffryn would find his way to me….not mine.

( Ohhhhhh…. )



Title: Inebriated Wishing
Written For: xlivvielockex
posted at facets_of_faith
Prompt: Big D/Faith sentence
Rating: G
Author's Notes: BtVS S7

( Don't Drink and Derail your Destiny )



Drabbles posted at open_on_sunday

( Angel/Demon )

( In His Nature )

In which I switch allegiances entirely, but stay true to the Flying Dutchman.

( At World’s End )

Yes! Friday the 13th is proving to be a very good day for me! *avoids black cats, tosses salt over shoulder and knocks on wood*

I finished my summer_of_giles fic mid-day yesterday and that was a huge relief. Clocked in at just over 5,000 words and its here if you’re interested –

http://community.livejournal.com/summer_of_giles/69026.html?#cutid1

I’ve also been writing ficlets that are generating more and more ideas. Here’s Spike/Angelus – souled!Spike/Angel

( ”Ats )

I really ended up falling in love with those two characters by the end of Angel. I mean, I was mad for them seperately before – but to see them interacting with one another throughout the last season…really had me considering their Hero’s Journey in a variety of ways. Slash being just one of those ways.

AND - *drumroll here* - I took the kidlings to see Pirates of The Caribbean – At World’s End last night. Wanted to catch it on the big screen before it left. I was just thrilled. Totally and compltely thrilled with it. I will pen another post about my thoughts and let the DavyJones fangirling loose in that one.

Now…to get down the hill early enough to take in the 10 am showing of Order of the Phoenix. One thing I’ve noted is that Gary is looking mighty delicious – at least to these aging eyes – but he’s got his Dracula mojo working it would appear. And I find that endlessly amusing – in the same way I find it amusing every time I sit through the Lord of the Rings trilogy. THAT look is what melts the pavement wherever Gary walks – why doesn’t he massage it into his day-to-day life? Same for the delish Bloom – that’s a cat who just looks good as a blonde? And James Marsters – yummy no matter what the coif – but the platinum look is good for him. Ah…I could go on…it should be a meme – what look/character embodies your favourite male actor??? Rickman and that nasty facial hair as the Sheriff…omfg.

Hmmmm….you know – I could make that a meme. I’ll try to be back this afternoon with it and the recap on AWE.

Sharing the love - gods I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Found an incredible, incredible artist online yesterday. I’m both more excited about the prospect of my “angel sleeve” but also terribly…concerned about how I’m going to find the right artist out here on the West Coast. In my mind’s eye, I can see exactly what I want, but to have that translated onto my skin is feeling like a huge undertaking of trust. I know that the parlor who did my Eliot tatt isn’t capable of this. I do think that being committed to black-and-white only work may make the search a tiny bit harder, colour really can be used in place of good shading to “flatten” an image and I want mine to be very dimensional and that requires…a tremendous amount of skill. And that is NOT to suggest most artist’s aren’t skilled, but rather to suggest that NewSkool requires a different “eye” than b/w shading/line work does.

And here are his angels that had me sitting stunned - exactly what I envision, exactly –

( inked angels )

I suppose I'll just have to commit to the large Durer calf piece locally and see how that works out. We've also got a large show scheduled in the area for the end of September...I may just have to wait...and check out attending artists there.

And I've got two more ideas for text!!!

*dramatic groan*

Okay, okay - I wanted everyone to prompt me for Big D ficlets - and now I'm...uh...writing crack!drabbles. And I'm supposed to be working on my summer_of_giles fic. But *whistles & looks innocent* one of this week's pairing promts at btvsats_love is...uh...D'Hoffryn/Willow. ;)

http://community.livejournal.com/btvsats_love/325152.html

*complexified*

I just, an hour ago, finished the last disc of my Angel box set.

( That’s it folks. )

Too much fun! Thanks for the prompt pairings and words! I've begun hacking away at them. Here's the first batch - more later today.

One thing I learned - I'm not good at drabbles, these are for the most part, ficlets. Also...jossverse demands a kind of irreverance especially in regards to canon demons and that's a helluva lot of fun to write.

( Big D/Faith, sentence )

( Big D/Willow, witchy woman )


( Big D, Spike, refreshments )

Something I've noticed and ENJOYED tremendously on the flist - something I hadn't seen in the other fandom I was in several years back - is the calling out for prompts. I dig this and always enjoy reading the drabbles. So much fun can be packed into a drabble with an off-the-wall prompt or pairing.

Even though I AM working on my G/W summer_of_giles fic and incubating original winged fiction...I thought it would be fun to try the flist prompts.

So...I'm wanting to read D'Hoffryn and there isn't as much out there as I would like - in the interest of buoyig up smexy demon fic - prompt me with D'Hoffyrn - pairings or such.

Working on my summer_of_giles fic and realized this morning that my opening chapter needs…clarification. I’m penning a G/W post-Grave fic…and little bits and pieces of canon are strewn about like a fanfic writer’s jigsaw puzzle. I don’t mind trying to put it together into a picture that pleases me…but as with all fanfic…it needs to ring true or at least be plausible to the reader.

And isn’t that just part and parcel of putting one’s writerly shoulder to the wheel of a fic anyway – making the reader “see” pretty much the same thing you’re seeing? Once you’ve set the stage, positioned the lights and costumed the characters, the audience is free to partake in the play from their own box seat…but they still need a semblance of plot, character and set design in order to immerse themselves in your unique creation.

But back to the BtVSverse. As a reader of fanfic I have a HUGE allowance in which I will allow a writer creative expression in regards to canon and fanon – I want to be entertained and as long as the piece stays true and in voice to that particular writer’s interpretation, I’ll read along quite happily. But it’s always a bit nerve-wracking when fanon becomes gospel…And usually that happens with good reason, something so obviously connects to canon pieces together that it just becomes a “given” that the fanon is true to canon. But as the writer, one must take a step back and analyze the two canon bits and squint a mite and wonder…about the missing piece….its form is there, its shape discernible…but the image on it may not be the same image that everyone else sees.

How did Willow get to England immediately following Grave? How much recuperation did Giles require? Based on “canon” Willow did not attend any sort of funeral for Tara so she must have been whisked out of Sunnydale pretty damn quickly. There really was no reconciliation between her and the Scoobs before she left…

I’ve already arced out what I think happened and written the bulk of it into my fic – but feel free to hold forth. And if you’ve got a piece of fanon/canon that just is spot on and I hadn’t considered – I would certainly credit you if I massage it into my fic!

Mmmmm....I love my Muse. Love him. He's fierce and he's a drunk but there's this side to him...that knocks me sideways every single time he appears. He is SO my animus that it frightens me sometimes.

He helped me to "solve" a plot arc problem I was having early early this morning as I lay in bed and watched him cavort in that long-meadowed grass meadow inside my skullbone. Not sure exactly how it works, and even holding forth this much may have him trotting away on his goat feet in a small pique. So, I'll stop, but I'm pleased. Inordinately so.

The Viking has left for town because, well, why yes, we do need another four-wheel drive vehicle - nineteen isn't enough. Quite obviously. *dramatic sigh*

But...I will use this purchase to my power *evil married woman cackle* seeing as how I'm coaxing this badly crippled old Dell down the weed-choked shoulder of the internet highway. I'm going to buy a new desktop - something shiny with a 22" HD widescreen monitor...and Vista...and mahjong...and even though my *cough* rather ridiculously expensive PhotoShop suite isn't going to play nice with that OS...I can still use the Dell for photographic clients...until I can put aside a cool 1K to upgrade the software.

And I've thought of the most insanely cool shoulder tattoo...but need to find the right image. Yes!