everything but the girl

Don't read unless you've seen Avengers, or are willing to read spoilers for two major plot points, including one that comes in the last five minutes of the film. If you'd rather read my not-very-spoilery review at Hypable, it's here.
( Now for the spoilers.  )

A FLOCK OF NUNS CROSSED THE ROAD, THEIR CRISP WIMPLES
fluttering about their heads like the wings of large sea birds.
As they floated through the large stone gates of the town,
chickens and geese scurried out of their path, flapping and
splashing through the mud puddles. The nuns moved through
the darkening mist that enveloped the valley each morning
and, in silent pairs, headed toward the sound of the deep bell
that rang out from the hills above them.

They called that spring le Printemps Sanglant, the Bloody
Spring. The cherry trees had bloomed early that year, long
before the snows had melted from the high mountain peaks.
Their fragile branches bent down to earth with the weight
of the wet red blossoms. Some said it was a good omen that
they had bloomed so soon, a symbol of rebirth after the long
and brutal winter. But then the cold rains had come and
frozen the blossoms on the bough, leaving the valley buried
thick in red blossoms stained with brown streaks of frost.
Like a wound congealed with dried blood. And this was said
to be another kind of sign...

Happy EIGHT Day!

If you still haven't read it, the first chapter is up here.

Originally posted by pinkfinity at Announcing the Eric Bowling Scholarship for Ascendio

Tomorrow's the deadline for programming submissions! Check out the Call for Proposals, and tell us what you want to talk about!

As at past HPEF events, almost all of our formal programming sessions are attendee-generated, which means that we ask you, the Ascendio attendee, to host discussions, lead round tables, and, if your academic or fannish interests lie in that direction, even present a paper about a specific Harry Potter-focused or -inspired topic. Past programming sessions have included Creating a Byronic Hero: Severus Snape and the Gothic Fathers of Harry Potter; Creating Without Canon: Writing Next-Gen Fanfic; Norm-Formation, Inconsistency and the Rule of Law in the Wizarding World; When Fans Become Activists, and more.

We've also been talking about possible Ascendio programming sessions here; topics people are tossing around include a session on Regulus Black, Snape/Hermione, Draco/Hermione, writing about the Next Generation, JK Rowling's women, telling stories and sharing feelings through icons and gifs, and how people are keeping the Harry Potter flame alive.

Gacked from aome


First TV show I had self-insertion fantasies about:
None, really? But the first thing I started thinking about additional stories for was probably The Secret Garden or maybe The Tomorrow People

First fandom in which I interacted (online and in person) with other fans:
Crowded House, circa 1993; there was a mailing list called Tongue in the Mail - it's still around. But before that, I looked up episode lists for Tomorrow People and Twin Peaks using ARCHIE and LYNX; just, no interaction with other fans.

Pairing in the first slash fanfiction I read:
Other than Paradigm of Uncertainty where Justin Finch Fletchley is, iirc, paired with an OC, I think the first slash fic I read was Boys Own Camping Adventure by GrimSlasher. Remus/Sirius!!!

First RPS/RPF I read:
Most likely Jared/Jensen sometime in 2008?

First fanfiction I read that made me think, YES, this is exactly the kind of fanfiction I'd like to write...
To write? Um, maybe in 2003, when I first read copperbadge's Stealing Harry? But I could never write like Sam, so I just content myself to occasionally send over prompts and requests.

Pairing in the first fanfiction I wrote:
Hee! Draco/Hermione!

First OTP:
In Harry Potter, Remus/Sirius
In a tv show that I was fannish about, Audrey/Cooper in Twin Peaks
In my life, Jo/Laurie in Little Women!!!

First RPS/F OTP:
Um? Jared/Jensen, I guess? Although I think Milo & Adrian may have pre-dated J2 for me.

First fannish friend I met in person:
I'm not sure if it was Keely, Tracey or Lisa from The Zone, then it was Deb from Frenz.com, and from HP, Cassie in Santa Monica on January of 2001.

First character I formally roleplayed:
First and only - Eloise Midgen in Nocturne Alley, for about two weeks.

ALSO, so many thanks to everyone who gave me D&D tips! Red Box ahoy!
Off to spend pretty much the whole day at a bar mitzvah......

We're having a great discussion on Ascendio programming sessions that people want to present, be on a panel for, see others present or otherwise encourage here on our LJ. Please join the discussion - you can use OpenID, Twitter, Facebook or your Google ID, or post anonymously if you wish.

Remember, Ascendio's formal programming comes from our attendees, and we showcase what you want to see!

Comments are turned off for this post, so we can keep the discussion going over there!

Bid here if you want to win me! I'll make a vid for you in any of these fandoms:
Harry Potter, Avengers (but not Hulk), current Batman, XMFC, Sherlock, White Collar, Supernatural, Doctor Who (9-11), Torchwood (S1-2), Heroes, Chuck

Support Planned Parenthood & get something supercool for yourself!

Originally posted by pinkfinity at Submit to Ascendio by Leap Day!

Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples. The Constitution simply does not allow for laws of this sort.

From today's 2-1 decision by a panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court.
The Supreme Court is not likely to rule before the November election, fwiw.

ETA and in a total coincidence, the Whomping Willows' Luna/Ginny song & vid went live today on YouTube (it's their counterpart to their "Draco & Harry Secretly Want to Make Out (that clip is from their Infinitus performance, btw, and they'll be back for Ascendio)).

In support of Planned Parenthood, you can bid on a vid-commission by me here! Support! Bid! Offer! Pimp it!