Beyond the Roundels

As I said, I sort of stopped updating properly for a bit. Just the usual low patch, but I navigated last month's better in terms of posting than this month's.

1. I did manage to do three Fannish ficlets for no_true_pair and still have some rainbowfic ones I'll post for their amnesty, so that is quite good. Although I was quite blurry, I'm not sure how they turned out, really.


2. unconventionalcourtship is back! Time to pick a terrible romance novel and kill it with fanfiction or whatever your preferred approach is. As ever, you can ask the brilliant Unconventional Courtship Generator for ideas if you don't want to personally wade through Mills & Boon's back catalogue.


3. genprompt_bingo is open for a new round!


4. I don't know what is happening with this year, but I received a NYR gift from edwardianspinsteraunt for The Winslow Boy! It is amazing! I need to go comment properly, and will soon, but spent all day finishing off doing the 100 list thingies going around (see point 5.)

At the Threshold (5149 words) by edwardianspinsteraunt
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Winslow Boy (1999)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Robert Morton/Catherine Winslow
Characters: Robert Morton (Winslow Boy), Catherine Winslow, Desmond Curry
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Kissing, Vulnerability, questionable decisions, Confessions (of various sorts), semi-resolved sexual tension, Angst with a Happy Ending, past Catherine Winslow/John Watherstone
Summary: Catherine learns earlier of Sir Robert's sacrifice - a discovery that has surprising results.


5. I've been doing the tumblr-moved-to-Dreamwidth top 100 personal favourite/foundational movies list, plus, because I picked it up from lirazel (who I think was the one that added the other two categories), also 100 TV series, which took the longest. In the meantime, while it moved round my flist, it became solely a book list meme instead, because I suppose that is tumblr vs Dreamwidth for you, lol.

I'm not entirely surely fiddling with things for a week has made my lists any less weird. (You have to bear in mind that my most influential/favourite things, like everyone, tend to be from when I was growing up/younger but then also I have spent the last 15 years having appalling trouble trying to just read or watch anything and at least 5 or so years of that time solving that problem by watching slow-paced Brit TV, some of which was genuinely awesome and then the loss of DVDs for the past 3-5 years has completely scotched any means I had of watching anything not on terrestrial UK TV or the iPlayer. But it does make my list look like it was made by someone whose next words will be muttering about isn't modern stuff too Ruined By The Woke, which is very distressing to me, but that's why. I might mutter that people should write TV episodes like they're one act plays again instead of a soap opera installment and that it honestly doesn't have to cost THAT much to be good, but that's as far as it goes re. the worst effects of all the beige tv on my brain, I promise. It was excellent beige TV! And the bits that weren't, I was looking at James Maxwell's nose or Alfie's face or Suzanne Neve's awesome anyway. And the reading has been even worse, except the few books that worked could at least be from any era, because so far they haven't changed how that works. BUt, still, they had to be old enough to be chanced upon in charity shops so...)

If you want distractions of clicking things and telling me that you also watched/read about 10 of these, here is the film list, the TV List (much beige TV included some of which I had to add manually) and the books list.

No doubt I have forgotten obvious things and would probably make different lists again next week, but I had fun. It had some of the most obscure books and films on it, it just had issues with the TV sometimes.

Another little ficlet for this round of no_true_pair, this one I managed to cobble together with a context-less snippet I scribbled a while back, for the prompt "March Twenty-Eighth - Seven & William Palmer are on a boat."

Merrypool Lake (828 words) by thisbluespirit
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Pilgrim (Radio), Doctor Who (1963)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Seventh Doctor (Doctor Who) & William Palmer (Pilgrim)
Characters: Seventh Doctor (Doctor Who), William Palmer (Pilgrim), Original Characters
Additional Tags: Crossover, Ficlet, Community: no_true_pair, Community: 51pluscrossoverfandoms, Fae & Fairies, Community: allbingo, Community: genprompt_bingo
Summary: Of all the tales told on these islands, few are as strange as that of William Palmer, except, of course, for those relating to another near-immortal traveller - the Doctor.

I'm not being terribly good at updating, but I am mostly okay, so that is good. Last week my Mum sent me a package in the post which, when I opened it, contained a small clear plastic packet with mystery white powder inside it. When I stopped laughing for long enough to read the accompanying note, I discovered it was washing powder. XD

Anyway, fannish things:

1. no_true_pair's four character mini round is open for sign-ups!

The prompts don't get posted till the 17th, so I have to think about which characters I shall put down this time, because I definitely find the four characters one weirder to do than the full-range glory of the eight-characters one, but it does usually kick off something unexpected and worth writing, whether fannish or original. It would only be more delightful if more of us also did it, of course. (No penalties, only fun prompts to use or not use! What is there to lose? ;-p)


2. edwardianspinsteraunt also wrote a little (Modern) AU for The Winslow Boy, which made yesterday evening a whole lot better immediately:

The Facts of the Case (634 words) by edwardianspinsteraunt
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Winslow Boy (1999)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Robert Morton/Catherine Winslow
Characters: Catherine Winslow, Robert Morton (Winslow Boy), Arthur Winslow
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Coffee Shops, Lawyers
Summary: Catherine was well aware that Robert Morton hadn't taken her family's case out of principle.


3. I was thinking about what to do after I finished 100fandomicons. I remembered working through a set for an old icon comm (icons200, I think), doing 20 prompts at a time, but also that it is no fun to do such things alone for defunct comms.

Anyway, the upshot was that it struck me there was no current icon comm that had the kind of thing I was thinking of, so I have now very nearly finished making one!

It is called 20icontables. There are lots of 20 icon tables to choose from and you can suggest more at a suggestion post. There are no deadlines or limits and hopefully it will provide laid back inspiration for when needed, or no-deadline ongoing projects, or the excuse to icon a thing you've been meaning to icon etc. Or whatever. Speedy people who eat icon challenges for breakfast can work their way through every single table if they want. There will be more.

If people, especially any icon-makers, but anyone, want to poke around it and see if it looks okay, that would be great! It's fairly straight forward and I think it's okay, but stupid errors gratefully received as it were...

I need to add a few more tables before I start launching it officially, just because I don't want to be flooding it with tables once it has subscribers.

(So if there are there any obvious omissions in tables, especially technically then let me know here or go right ahead and submit to the suggestion post there already.)


4. I keep linking to SesskaSays's reactions, I know, but she reached Vengeance on Varos on Friday, which people round here with long memories will know I am a tad obsessed with and I was v gratified to see her completely blown away by Part One. \o/ I thought she'd probably like it, given her track record, but you never can tell.

Another fic for this round of no_true_pair, this time for the prompt "September Seven - the Brigadier & Thirteen are temporary neighbors."

weirdest side of the street (1314 words) by thisbluespirit
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Doctor Who (2005), Doctor Who (1963)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Thirteenth Doctor & Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart
Characters: Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, Doris Lethbridge-Stewart, Thirteenth Doctor (Doctor Who), Thirteenth Doctor's Fam (Doctor Who)
Additional Tags: Community: no_true_pair, Community: allbingo, Holidays, Humor, Explosions
Summary: The Brigadier and Doris are enjoying a peaceful holiday - and then they find out who's moved in next door.

Also written for lyricaltitles bingo square "Last line;" and allbingo (Valentine's Bingo 2023) square "The Lady of the Storm."

As I mentioned the other day, no_true_pair posted the prompts for this round, and I'll share mine under the cut, because there are some fun ones. Currently feeling not great yet again, but who knows? Writing could happen before the posting begins in September.

(If you want to sign up, there's still plenty of time - just don't look at the prompt post first. They're very laid back.)

( Cut for length and also not to spoiler prompts )

Has anyone else signed up? Did you get some fun ones?

I said I managed 4 origfic pieces for no_true_pair last month, and these are the other two:

Name: Bitter Fruit
Story: Starfall
Colors: Vert #9 (Courtly love); Light Black #19 (endure)
Supplies and Styles: Resin + Novelty Beads (June 2021 Candy Green - image).
Word Count: 921
Rating: G
Warnings: None.
Notes: Portcallan, 1313. Isiyan Eseray, Leion Valerno, Viyony Eseray, Moren Fioris. Written for no_true_pair's March 2024 mini-round, for March 28th "1 [Leion Valerno] & 3 [Isiyan Eseray] trying something new." This takes place very late in Viyony's visit, so well after any of the other posted pieces. (Isiyan Eseray is Viyony's mother.)
Summary: This is something new. Leion doesn't like it.

---

Name: In the Dark
Story: Starfall
Colors: Colour of the Day - March 30th 2024 (wistfully); Vert #5 (when I return)
Supplies and Styles: Resin
Word Count: 340
Rating: G
Warnings: None.
Notes: Eseray, 1313; Viyony Eseray, Isiyan Eseray. Written for no_true_pair's March 2024 mini-round, for March 30th's prompt: "2 [Viyony Eseray] & 3 [Isiyan Eseray] - titled "In the Dark."
Summary: [Oh, apparently I was not up to a summary that day.]

1. We have another trailer!



(Still generally crossing my everything. I don't trust RTD any more but... it does look shiny still!)


2. In gifmaking, I did make some more s1 gifs of Wish Me Luck and actually did some Liz and Matty ones as well as a bit more Colin:

( Hugging gifs )


3. I did actually write stuff for no_true_pair, so that was good, but only original (rainbowfic). I had ideas for that for the first 3 days, and then hoped to write 1-2 ficlets for the fannish prompts for the last couple, but I just wasn't feeling up to writing this week so much, so it didn't happen. I think the best thing for me to do is to ask for some more 500 Prompts from people again soon maybe. <3 But I did write things! So that was fun. (I don't really think I've found a good fannish strategy for the mini-round; the more random things tend to work better in the larger round.)


4. Other stuff I have forgotten? Please insert topic of interest here. ;-p

I had to go out yesterday (last official appointment for a while, hopefully!), so am all tired/ill again for a bit, but in the meantime, have some things:

1. no_true_pair's spring mini round is open for sign-ups! (It's like the 15 characters meme, except you actually write the random prompts. The mini round is for only 4 characters, but you can have multiple sets of four if you want. I don't know if I'll manage anything, but I shall try and think of some characters sets - there's no penalty and who knows? Better to sign up and see what fun prompts I get than not!)


2. The vidder who made a lovely whole-era First Doctor vid has done one for the Second Doctor's era and it's pretty great and adorable and cheering:




3. Courtesy of persiflage_1 who alerted me to this on tumblr: 1000 radio plays have been returned to the BBC! (They're going to actually broadcast some of them as well over the upcoming months. And, as ever, BBC Sounds is not region-locked, unlike the rest of the Beeb.)


4. ( Gifs of Jacqueline Pearce in Ep3 of the 1974 BBC David Copperfield what I made )


5. As usual, I'm sure there was something else! Ah well... (Tell me what it was in the comments, lol.)

I managed a little ficlet for no_true_pair (doubling up for 100fandoms again, as well)! I don't know if I'll do another, or at least, not before amnesty, but this one jumped up and bit me. There are so many interesting ways a crossover involving Seven and Sara Lance could go, but sometimes you just have to go for the obvious punchline.

House on Fire (331 words) by thisbluespirit
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: DC's Legends of Tomorrow (TV), Doctor Who (1963)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Seventh Doctor (Doctor Who) & Sara Lance, Ace McShane & Mick Rory
Characters: Seventh Doctor (Doctor Who), Sara Lance
Additional Tags: Crossover, Community: no_true_pair, Fire, legends being legends, ace and mick rory are only mentioned, but their work is very much in evidence
Summary: The Doctor, Sara, and yet another trashfire in the timeline.

Last Sunday the prompts went up for this round of no_true_pair, which was fun - and then I immediately was extra ill all week, as you do. I did manage to draft out something in rough before then, but wasn't happy with it. However, today I scribbled down something I liked better, so i'm hopeful of posting something.

Anyway! My lists were (I did two):

1. Seventh Doctor
2. Eliza Scarlet
3. Charles Craddock
4. Sara Lance

1. Lucie Miller
2. Camille Bordey
3. Twelfth Doctor
4. Zari Tomaz

( Cut for prompts because it's still fine to sign up as long as you don't look at them )

Of course, right now, I am writing this post instead of writing, so whether everything will happen in amnesty or nothing will happen at all, idk. I hope something will!

1. no_true_pair is gearing up for its Spring mini-round with sign-ups opening on March 12th! Given that I had such a lovely time with it in September, I'll definitely be giving it another go. I have to decide on my character list - only four characters this time! 8-o (If it's the same as the main round, you can have up to 3 lists, so I'm thinking I might do at least two and then see what I fancy writing the most. XD)


2. hurtcomfortex is still in sign-ups. I don't think I should do it, really, all considered, but I always PINE for it (I could be my own OW tag for it: "Exchange Participant/Unsuitable Exchange They Are Nevertheless Pining Hopelessly For") so I'm keeping an eye on the sign-ups and, yep, as ever with this one, I have like 1 match again. Two, depending what I offer. BUt you never know, what if something jumped out and begged me to write a SHORT thing for it and then I could sign up (but oh no all those tags)...


3. Marginal March, a comment fest for Minor Characters


4. I no sooner said that Craddock and Co had gone from BBC Sounds when I looked, than the BBC decided to repeat it and now it's there again! So if anyone prefers that method, here it is, and they've reached all three eps now (it was still only 2 yesterday): https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/b00d2t72


5. I reached s3 of Death in Paradise (people who know will know what that means XD) but the BBC did compensate immediately because the following three eps have had Peter Davison (grumpy writer suspect), Josette Simon (fearsome judge suspect), and Raza Jaffrey (airline pilot suspect). Raza was a wonderful surprise, because he went off to the US to be in things I don't watch, so I was just: RAZA!!!! (Spooks fans will understand, because Zaf= <3<3<3 Also he is very illegally pretty, it's true. ETA: the motive for murder was basically jealousy over Raza, which, I mean. legit.)

My resolution to stop at this point was therefore broken. I'll see how long this stint of Actors From My All Time Fave Shows continues, lol, and in the meantime, here's a very lovely, fun/cute Richard and Camille fanvid by Odessie I found on AO3.

Another fic for no_true_pair!

Day 21: Sixth Doctor & Annabelle Hurst - "You only live once!" I didn't plan to write this one, but I was watching the Department S episode, "Dead Men Die Twice" and a character says this to Annabelle in the middle of what is probably the most traumatic episode for her in the series, so then this happened. (It isn't really spoilery for Department S, but of course, whether or not it would mean much out of context is always the question.)

Seize the Day (1119 words) by thisbluespirit
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Doctor Who (1963), Department S & Jason King
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Sixth Doctor (Doctor Who) & Annabelle Hurst
Characters: Annabelle Hurst, Sixth Doctor (Doctor Who), Jason King (Department S)
Additional Tags: Community: no_true_pair, Crossover, Episode Tag, Post-Episode: Dead Men Die Twice, mentions of Evelyn Smythe, Sadness, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Vignette, Sunsets, 1960s, Department S being as determinedly and as unconvincingly stoic and professional as ever
Summary: The Doctor watches a sunset - and finds a companion in sadness.

(Btw, I said, when I was watching Sister Boniface Mysteries that in one of the episodes they'd used a distinctive 1960s dress I recognised from an ITC serial - and it's Annabelle's bright yellow knitted dress that she wears in this episode, so I was right! /obv important side-notes.)

Another fic for no_true_pair! This one, for Day 8 – Copper and the Brigadier play a board game.

Because if a random prompt gives you an element and a board game, you're legally obliged to write the near-world-ending time anomaly that must result. Top marks to the randomiser for that one!

Snakes and Ladders (1154 words) by thisbluespirit
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Sapphire and Steel, Doctor Who (1963)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, Copper (S&S), Gold (S&S)
Additional Tags: Community: no_true_pair, Crossover, Serial: s125 Mawdryn Undead, original elements, Elemental Weirdness, Time Skips, Board Games
Summary: The Brigadier is playing a game.