Swamped in Writing

[amarie24]

So, uhh...yeah, as the title says, your Amarie is just up to her eyeballs in work to do! Sorry I haven't been around lately.

Ummm...so how 'bout an open thread, loves? Talk about anything and everything you like! Happy (or not) Mother's Day? Been to see a movie lately and, if so, how did you like it? Any new recipes to threaten each other with? Summer plans? Any changes in temperature (I can smell the humidity a'comin', fuck my life)?

Or none of the above and maybe something else?

Whatever you like, it's an open thread! Love you all and see you soon!


--Amarie

Comments

[redsixwing]

Hi Amarie! :D Hope you're going well.

OMG, saw Avengers and am conflicted. Anyone want to chew on it with me?

[amarie24]

Red, my darling friend! Hello there!

You know, I haven't seen AOU myself, though I want to. But from what I've heard/read about it? FUCK YOU, TONY STARK. :)

[redsixwing]

PRETTY MUCH. And... dammit, because Tony is one of the better depictions of PTSD we've got right now. (Even if he swears up and down he isn't.)

Fury is at least not being a supervillain this time around? That's cool.

And if they actually DO the thing at the end... oh man. I'd love that.

[amarie24]

You know, the PTSD angle in MCU!Tony's characterization is actually really, really well done. I've read a lot of good words written about it. But I wonder, especially as someone that has yet to see AOU, but has seen all three Iron Man movies*, would you say that you can also argue that Tony suffers from narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)?


*Note: I enjoy all three Iron Man movies just fine. And I especially ship RhodeyXTony. But all three of those fuckin' movies (and, really, you could argue this about damn near the entirety of the MCU) are racist, imperialist, neo-colonialist, violent American-nationalist pieces of shit. Hence why, at best, I often just like to pretend that MCU!Tony's arc ended with the 1st movie.

[redsixwing]

Re footnote: Yeah, not gonna argue. I'm enjoying them - because pretty explosions and superhero snark - but it's the sort of 'handle with care' enjoyment that I extend to, say, porcupines. Or someone's pet scorpion.

This is part of why I like fandom: my favorite fic is still every bit as American-nationalist, but has toned the rest of it way way down, ascribing the worst aspects to the internal villains. (I think the author got burnt out on this after watching some Agents of Shield, though, particularly after abbreviating that to Agents of Secretly Hydra In Every Last Department. Haven't seen it, can't comment, but... yeah, that'd get old.)

Also: yes, I think you could make that argument and make it well. Tony's got the incredible flash and charisma - and also the incredible speed to drop someone who's not useful to him, and also the hoovering people back into his orbit, and also the feeding on attention and coaxing people past their own boundaries and... yeah. And in this last movie, with the whole EVERYONE MUST LISTEN TO ME ONLY ME BE PROTECTED DESPITE THEIR OWN WISHES thing - loud and clear. *sigh*

Which puts a whole different spin on a lot of his actions, tbh.

I like Rhodey. I really like Sam Wilson (partially he's just fun, partially: Anthony Mackie is smokin', partially I could totally ship Sam/Steve) and I'm really, really looking forward to the two of them working together.

[amarie24]

Oh, I hear you on the "handle with care" warning. Yep, yep.

And see, that's the thing: You could think MCU!Tony Stark struggles with a lot of things and each of those things, whether combined or not, puts different spins on his actions. Alongside the PTSD and NPD, I also see a potential for co-dependency, if for nothing more than how he acts around Rhodey and Pepper. Although, uh...I may be the only one who sees that codependency-haven't seen much of any words written about it.

And Rhodey and Sam forevaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D

[redsixwing]

Edited because I totally forgot to reply to the main point of the comment. ^^;

Yeah! That's one of my favorite things about fandom - the interpretation and reinterpretation of characters through derivative works just makes me happy. Explore ALL the motivations for ALL the characters! With random capslocking!

Another possible interpretation is, rather than full-blown NPD, a picking up of narcissistic traits - people who were raised by at least one narcissist tend to do this as a matter of both self-defense and just...soaking in it. And given Howard Stark's A+ parenting, I think it's plausible.

Of course, Tony-the-narcissist is just as plausible and has a ton of canon support. ^^ He's one of my favorites, so I gotta admit... thinking of him as a narcissist is really hard.

I've seen Tony codependency in one fic! (Or fic series, more like.) "Love is for Children," by ysabetwordsmith. It's on AO3 and also on DW in her journal. Involves fluff, hurt/comfort, a variety of GSRM, not a lot in the way of racial diversity, and platonic ageplay. I highly recommend it. The author goes some dark places, but generally comes out the other side into comfort written every bit as well as the hurt.

(I'm losing tolerance, the more I'm exposed to life, for h/c that isn't as strong on the comfort side as it is on the hurt.)

Yuuuus.

I just realized I have no Rhodey fic at all. I should fix that!

[amarie24]

Ohhh! Is this the series you're talking about? :O

http://archiveofourown.org/series/42722

Umm...I WOULD read it. I really, really would. And I love you, Red, but...just about all the summaries lead with Agent Coulson and I, like, give less than two shits about Coulson. Like, I care about Loki more than I care about Coulson (Translation: At least Loki MILDLY piques my interest VERY, VERY RARELY). Also, it deeply disturbs me how the racist part of fandom (we call it "Klandom") will write fic after fic after fic of Coulson while ignoring Rhodey and Sam. Uhhh...but, uhh...thanks for the recommendation anyway!

[redsixwing]

That is the very fic! And it has a ton of Coulson in it, yes.

...Oh noooooo. D: I'm sorry - that's awful!

This ups the need to go out and find some good Rhodey and Sam fic, like, yesterday.

[amarie24]

Oh my...yeah, see? I couldn't care less about Coulson, OMG. Sorry, but thankies so, so, SO much, Red!

And you need more Sam & Rhodey, you say? Well...I just might make a post that can help you out. If I do, it'll be all your fault, just to give you a head's up.

And look at me! I forgot to reply to the possibility of Tony's narcissism, too! I think...yeah, you're right. Your interpretation is much, much better. That is, that pretending to be/projecting a narcissist is what he just gets from his Daddy. Yep, yep. I see that.

[redsixwing]

No problem! :D And, thanks to you, too - I suspect I'd never see that side of it, seeing as I tend to stay mewed up in a teeny little corner of fandom. I need to get out of it more often.

Ooooh! I'll take that blame, if so - and regardless I've got my research cut out for me tonight. This is the -fun- kind of research. xD

The RBN (raised by narcissists) community has been a good influence on me. (Mostly on Reddit, which site I mostly avoid like the plague, but /r/raisedbynarcissists is actually pretty good.) They call it FLEAS- not actually an acronym, but a callback to "lay down with dogs, get up with fleas." Why it's in all caps I suspect I may never understand.

Given your background, this may be not news to you!... but even so, it may be a useful PSA to some of your other readers.

[amarie24]

Ohh...so THAT'S what's wrong with Reddit. Always had a feeling that it's best to stay away from that place...

And yes, my next post will be all your fault. All of it.

I...don't know if FLEAS is actually an acronym, but it'll be cool if it is! Yes, yes, yes, on that interpretation of Tony too!

[redsixwing]

xD

You're bang on. It's a sewer.

Mmmmm now I want to find FLEAS!Tony fic! This is going to be a hard search and I'm blaming youuuuuu.

[amarie24]

OMG. FLEAS!Tony fic is really, really, really, REALLY hard to find, I hear. You'll actually find a lot of Stony (Steve RogersXTony Stark) fic where, uhh...both of those characters are wildly misrepresented. BUT! You'll also find things that you'll like, too!

And since I'm blaming you for revealing that I'm a fanficcer, so I shall take this blame from you. Fair is fair..../throws a Carebear at you

[lonespark]

I have things to say!

First, MVmedia is having summer special sales and I want to buy ALL THE THINGS and thought you might also: http://www.mvmediaatl.com/summer-specials.html

[amarie24]

HOLY FUCKING SHIT, LONESPARK!!!! OMFG, YOU FOUND ME YET ANOTHER JACKPOT!

I LOVE YOOOOOOOOOOOOU!!!!!!

*calms the hell down*

You know, I have neither money nor a car at the moment. But! Imma save those links to my favorites and keep browsing to keep up which ones I want! Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, THANK YOOOOOOOOU!!! :D :D :D

[lonespark]

YAYS!

[lonespark]

Second, there is planning happening for State of Black Science Fiction Con in Atlanta in June 2016, (Juneteenth weekend) venue TBA. I found out about it from the State of Black Science Fiction Facebook group; couldn't remember if you are a member or if the announcement was public and/or on Sword and Soul, too...

[silveradept]

On standby with one conference for speaking, the other will let me know this week. And I got a contract for another article! So things are going good do far this week.

[amarie24]

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!! Oh dearest Silver, I am so, so, so, SO very, very, very, VERY happy for you! OMFG, so, so happy! :D :D :D :D

I didn't know that you speak & write professionally, OMG! I hope you don't have to travel too far, though! Gas is hella expensive. @___x

Also, be sure to go as a human, not as a ghost or book dragon. You might scare people. :P

[silveradept]

Well, professionally, I'm a librarian. The speaking and writing are in relation to that. And they are only really happening because I decided this year I was going to go after it as professional goals. I've done some pretty good stuff so far, surprisingly.

[amarie24]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh, I see! Speaking of which, if you don't mind me asking...are you ever appalled at how many people don't know and/or don't use the Dewy Decimal System? I remember once having a librarian back in grade school. If you asked her how to find a book, she'd gnash her teeth and be so indignant about it, po' thang...

And yes! Good stuff so far! I am so, so, SO very happy for you, Silver! :D :D :D

[silveradept]

That librarian is a product of the past, when we expected our students to learn it and be self-sufficient.

...well, okay, we still expect students and others to remember how it works, but these days, the OPAC will tell them where to look and they just need to be able to read the signs and determine which shelves to go look at.

Sometimes that doesn't happen, but we're in the business of helping people where they are, not where we wish they would be.

[amarie24]

D'aaaaw! I bet you're such a nice, helpful librarian, Silver! :D

[mime_paradox]

Working on finals for all three classes. Upon completing them, I'll be done with all coursework and will be able to just focus on the thesis. Also, completing said work means I'll be able to never think about just what an [expletive]-ing waste of my time my one elective course this semester was. Just about the only thing I learned in it was to never take a class on a topic that interests you, because a bad teacher will kill that interest stone dead and then decide to tack on thirty additional minutes to an already unbearable three-hour class because glob-darnit, he still has more inane things to say. Just one final 12-page paper to vomit, and I'm done.

[amarie24]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY FOR IAN! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! :D :D :D :D

It's so, so wonderful that you're almost done with these three classes! Good luck to you and may the stress not be too bad! I myself am just three summer classes away from finishing up my degree...unless a job comes up, and then it's off to work, haha!

And I hear you so, so, SO much. It's always horrible when you have a subject that you luuuuuuuuurve, but a teacher that can't (interestingly) articulate it to you for jack shit. I am so, so sorry. That's the absolute torture. And, at least in my experience, it can be bearable when it's a subject you hate & a teacher that's not good anyway-that's just two sides of the same bad coin. But it can be a wonderfully pleasant surprise when the inverse of what you're going through happens; that is, when you have a subject that you usually hate and/or are bored by (for me, that's always been social studies/history), but you end up with a teacher that's very, very, VERY good at teaching it and so you end up enjoying the class. Oh, that's always a more-than-pleasant surprise.

But again, I'm so sorry you got a THREE HOUR torture (plus he keeps you all even after that time is over? Ohhh, no...) with that shit and a 12-page essay to vomit. Eek.

[mime_paradox]

Well, it's done now, at least. There's no school stuff to stress me out except for work, and that's mostly great and won't be a factor for much longer. Then it's just finding out ways to fill time for the summer. Too bad there's not a million shows to catch up on, or essays / fanfiction to write. ;)

Also, I went to Puerto Rico Comic Con this past weekend, which was great fun. Not only did I get to buy some comic books I'd been searching for, and some I wasn't, I got to chat with some creators, take pictures of some awesome cosplayers, and spend loads of money on impulse buys.

[amarie24]

Oh wonderful, wonderful all around, Ian! So very, very happy for you! :D

[lonespark]

Also an art list thing, via Blavity:

http://blavity.com/8-afrofuturist-artists-who-are-out-of-this-world/

[amarie24]

Oh goodie! So, so many more goodies! Thankies oh-so much, Lonespark! :D :D :D

You know, I heard/seen of the first author/artist listed there, Mr. Joshua Mays. First encountered his work on Tumblr and it's oh-so good to see him featured again! Again, thank you so, so, so much! :D :D :D