somewhere i have never travelled

QaF folks, I have a question. It's about episode 308, the first scene in Brian's office, when Brian is all "I don't want to see your face every day when I come in to work because I totally still love you" and Justin is all eyelash-batting, "I had no idea our former relationship was still a problem for you" innocence.

( Clip is here if anyone would like a refresher ;-) )

Obviously Justin wins in this scene hands down, but there's one line of his that I've always had trouble with. It's right at the end of the scene:

Brian: Well, just don't expect any special treatment.
Justin: I never have.

*scratches head* Now. How do you all interpret that line of Justin's? Is he being serious or tongue-in-cheek? Do you believe that he's never expected special treatment from Brian?

I'm asking because I struggle with that line every time I hear it. Perhaps I'm misinterpreting what he's saying, but from where I'm sitting Justin did expect special treatment from Brian -- he wanted and expected to be treated as more than a trick, as someone special in Brian's life. Of course he had a right to want and expect these things, and perhaps in a normal relationship that wouldn't be considered "special treatment" -- so, hmmm, is that what he's saying? He never expected anything particularly special from Brian, just a little everyday affection and love and respect? OR, is he saying he wanted to be considered special to Brian but never actually expected to get that? Or something else?

I guess I've always viewed the scene more from Brian's perspective, and in the context of a relationship with him, what Justin wanted and expected could be considered "special treatment" outside of what Brian was comfortable with giving. I'm not saying this is right or wrong, or that Justin shouldn't have pushed Brian and expected more from their relationship; I also would rather not get into a big old "who's to blame for the breakup" discussion (but perhaps it's unavoidable). I'm just trying to figure out what Justin meant with this particular response and how you all interpret it.

Thoughts?

Up next in my QaF character love series is Jennifer. I'm kinda excited about this one -- I wasn't sure I'd have enough material to do a full-length pic spam about her like the ones I've done for the other characters, but I found that I had more than enough to say. :-) Hope you enjoy!

Previous pic spams:
#1: Brian
#2: Justin
#3: Ted
#4: Debbie
#5: Michael
#6: Melanie
#7: Ben

( See where Sunshine got his balls... )

The nice thing about having two fandoms is that when one gets wanky and unpleasant, you can just hide out in the other one for a while. So, uh, let's turn our attention to HP, shall we? Have some recs.

HP Art: Quidditch Dreams by Anonymous (Percy, Harry/Percy/Oliver, NC-17, rimming)
*brain explodes* OMG, who knew mister strait-laced Percy had such HOT daydreams?? Picture him in a Quidditch-player sandwich, being worshiped by two sweaty, hunky men, and you'll get a good idea why this pic is so delicious. Nnngh. Go click!

HP Art: Fallen Grace by ponderosa121 (Draco, no rating, worksafe)
This is one of the most exquisite portraits I've ever seen of Draco. Just...the skin tones, the lush lips, and that look in his eyes...stunning.

HP Fic: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by nellie_darlin (Sirius/Lily, James/Lily, NC-17)
I have to thank snegurochka_lee for bringing this fic to my attention because I rarely read either of these pairings. And quite honestly, I may never need to read Sirius/Lily again -- this author has written the pairing so definitively, in such a real and believable way, that I can imagine this fitting right into canon. Sirius in particular is amazing here; I've always been a Remus girl myself, but I was seriously smitten by this Sirius. Even if you don't read these pairings, I highly recommend that you give this fic a try. :-)

HP Fic: A Matter of Routine by Anonymous (Remus/Sirius, PG-13)
What a charmer of a fic this is. It's funny as hell -- the banter between Remus and Sirius cracks me up -- but there's a little sadness underneath, just enough to make the story feel real.

As always, please leave the author or artist a comment if you enjoy their work!

Did anyone else watch the men's final at Wimbledon today between Federer and Nadal? That was some of the most amazing tennis I've ever seen! And Rafa WON!! :-D

The happiest of birthdays to mysid! Hope you've had a great day. :-)

And an early happy birthday to freakykat! Hope it's wonderful.

A few quick recs:

HP Fic: The Inevitable Hour by Anonymous (Fred/Angelina(/George), NC-17, canon character death)
Yeah, I don't read this pairing either, but this fic is just beautifully, beautifully done. It's told from Angelina's POV, and she's close enough to both twins (but particularly Fred, of course) that she can see the serious and vulnerable side that they normally keep hidden. The title is fitting; the whole piece has a certain air of quiet inevitability that works well with the wartime setting.

HP Fic: Top Marks by Anonymous (Charlie/Percy, NC-17, incest, underage Percy)
I think it can be difficult to pull off an incest story without some undertone of creepiness or wrongness, but IMO this author has managed it. This fic is sweet, funny and sexy, and it feels right for these characters. I am a shameless Charlie fangirl, of course, and he's wonderful here in the role of sex educator for a young, very eager-to-learn Percy. :-)

QaF Fic: Verbage by dirtylttlescret (the gang, no rating)
This little ficlet absolutely cracked me up this morning. I love stories about the whole gang, especially when the author captures each character's voice so accurately. As you read this, you can just see everybody hanging out playing Scrabble and ragging on each other. And you couldn't ask for a more delightfully snarky Hunter. :-D Love.

See something you like? Leave the author a little love!

Next up in my QaF character love series: Ben! I admire all the characters on the show in different ways, but if I had to pick one of them to be when I grew up, it would be Ben. I have always wanted to be one of those calm, patient, accepting people who aren't easily goaded and don't sweat the small stuff. Maybe someday I'll be that person, but till then, I'll always have Zen Ben. :-)

Previous pic spams:
#1: Brian
#2: Justin
#3: Ted
#4: Debbie
#5: Michael
#6: Melanie

( Large images and my favorite nutty professor under the cut! )

The air conditioner broke at work, so it was EIGHTY-EIGHT DEGREES in the office today. *insert lame/insensitive "working in a sweatshop" joke here*

Here, have some recs:

HP Art: Peace by Anonymous *cough* (Remus/Sirius, G)
Gah, this is just so beautiful, the way these two are holding onto each other, the way Remus's hand is tangled in Sirius's hair...*sighs*

HP Art: Gorecki by Anonymous *coughs again* (Remus/Sirius, G, angst)
This is not only beautifully drawn but also emotionally wrenching; the artist tells a powerful story, particularly through the expressions in the characters' eyes. These two break my heart sometimes. *wibbles*

HP Fic: Benefits by schemingreader (Severus/Harry, NC-17)
Er, yes, I'm a little behind in my snarry_games reading, why do you ask? This fic was posted a couple of months ago now but I only just read it yesterday -- and it was a pure delight! The author has a rather spare writing style that allows the understated humor of this to really shine through. I laughed myself silly, particularly at Harry's bold naivete and at a minor subplot involving Ron, Hermione and Luna. But there's a sweet, serious undertone here too in the relationship between Harry and Snape.

QaF Fic: Another Chapter by xie_xie_xie (Brian/Justin, NC-17, AU, reunion fic)
I'm not sure Xie's ever written a fic I didn't like, but this is one of my all-time favorites of hers. It's a post-507 AU that imagines what would have happened if Babylon hadn't been bombed (a scenario I find endlessly fascinating). This is very painful to read in parts; it's told from Brian's POV, and, as we all know, he's excruciatingly slow at figuring out his own emotions. But it's so rewarding to watch him finally get there. I loved every painful word.

See something you like? Leave the author or artist a little love!

Finally, in non-fannish news, this week's story over at classicshorts is Desiree's Baby by Kate Chopin. I haven't commented on the discussion yet (or even read the fic, meep!), but it's on my list for this evening. Come join us. :-)

*waves* Here's the next edition of my Queer as Folk pic spam series: Melanie! I've gotta say, this one gave me fits, and I'm not quite sure why since I actually love Mel. (Plus I think she's sexy as hell, but that is not the point of this pic spam.) I just had a hard time saying what I wanted to say. *frustrated* But in any case, here it is -- hope you enjoy. :-)

Previous pic spams:
#1: Brian
#2: Justin
#3: Ted
#4: Debbie
#5: Michael

( Large images and hot lesbian lawyer under the cut! )

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who responded to my last post. Your comments made me cry. It never ceases to amaze me how much kindness and support I get from a group of people I've never met. Much love to all of you. ♥

As I briefly mentioned, I had a really nice weekend before the accident happened. On Friday night SO and I went out to dinner and then watched The Princess Bride in this old-timey theater. So fun! Then on Saturday we went hiking in a park we'd never been to. It was about a million degrees out, but we found this lovely mountain stream with deliciously cold water and spent a good hour or two walking barefoot through it, sliding and climbing over the rocks. We had lunch there too, in the shade of the forest with our feet dangling in the water. Here's a pic, taken with a cell phone because we forgot our camera, argh:

( Pic! )

It was the nicest day I'd had in a while!

Have a few recs that have been collecting for a week or two...

HP Fic: Of Comets and Counter-Examples by Anonymous (Remus/Sirius, PG-13, very mild AU)
This fic totally blew me away. The time period is post-Azkaban, and the premise is Remus and Sirius traveling to three European cities to do research for Dumbledore. As you might expect, the travel aspect of the fic is an immediate turn-on for me, and the author does an amazing job of capturing the atmosphere of each place. But the Remus/Sirius is even better -- romantic but in a mature, real way. It's beautiful. I have a teeny hunch about who may have written this, but we'll see.

HP Art: Peacock Dreams by Anonymous (Harry/Draco, NC-17)
This is the most stunning piece of art I've seen in ages. The background is exquisite, Harry is the picture of ecstatic abandon, and Draco couldn't be yummier. I'm sure many of you have seen this one, but if you haven't, what are you waiting for?

HP Art: Last Call by ships_harry (Rosmerta/Lavender, G/PG)
Yes, yes, I know you're not interested in this pairing, but do yourself a favor and go look at the art -- it's just gorgeous. There's such a soft, lush feeling to it.

QaF Fic: Again by tweedygal (Brian/Justin, NC-17)
This is a couple thousand words of the hottest, most beautifully characterized S1 porn imaginable. The characters are spot on, the setting is painted with a number of excellent details, and the smut is just delicious. *licks*

QaF Fic: Intrinsic Motivation by testdog65 (Brian/Justin, NC-17)
Need a fic to make you feel warm and safe and happy? This is it. Brian sneaks into Justin's bedroom at Deb's, seeking someone something he can't find in his own empty bed.

QaF Fic: Paying for Mistakes by _alicesprings
If I say anything about this one I'll ruin it. It's "just" a drabble, but like the best drabbles it has a ton of emotion and backstory packed into every perfectly chosen word. Just read it.

QaF Fic: Age Difference by akintay (Brian/Justin, no rating or warnings)
The author wrote this one from a prompt of mine, and it's adorable. Justin has a little bit of a queen-out, and Brian talks him down. Funny and cute. :-)

See something you like? Please leave the author or artist some love!

Er, hello. I'm here, just in read-only mode, pretty much. Real life has been interesting in both good and bad ways, so I'm not getting much online time lately. I have no recs, I have no pic spam, I have nothing really exciting to say, except:

Happy early birthday to bewarethesmirk, gyzym and sansa1970! You're all intelligent, talented people whom I'm delighted to have on my flist. Hope your respective birthdays are wonderful. ♥

Also, I am currently hosting two different fiction discussions -- one fannish, one not:

Over at classicshorts, we're discussing Tobias Wolff's Hunters in the Snow, a contemporary short story.

And at qaf_coffeeclub over at IJ, we're discussing Licking the Man Upstairs; or, Happy Fucking New Year by ou_topos (Brian/Justin, recced here).

Please feel free to come along and join either discussion. ♥

It was so beautiful here today, you guys! I think it would have been physically impossible to be cranky on a day like this. I hope you're all having a happy Friday too. ♥

I'm headed out of town shortly (see new icon! \o/), but before I go I wanted to clear out my "to rec" folder. A bunch of these are from hd_worldcup and I meant to rec them before the reveal, but oh well. I'm sure all the diehard H/D folks have read them already anyway.

QaF Fic: Untitled by freakykat (Ted/Blake, not rated)
freakykat asked for prompts the other day, and I responded with "Ted/Blake" because it's a pairing I never, ever see on my flist. And she delivered with this sweet little post-513 ficlet. Ted is just so very Ted, and Blake is positively delicious. :-)

HP Art: Guarding Your Sleep by Anonymous (Remus/Sirius, PG)
There's something so beautifully tender about this piece, particularly the way Remus is looking at Sirius as he sleeps. Goodness knows these two need a little rest and peace for a while. *sighs happily*

HP Art: Life in My Hands by Anonymous (Remus/Sirius, PG/PG-13, some mild violence)
Holy crap, the energy and emotion of this get me every time I look at it! The composition is amazing.

HP Art: Busted by Anonymous (Remus/Sirius, R)
Hot undies of love!!!! That is all. ;-)

HP Fic: Aftermath by Anonymous (Remus/Sirius, PG-13, AU, angst)
Talk about a great opening for a story -- this fic (an AU, obviously) starts with Remus and Sirius meeting in the rubble of the Potters' house right after Voldemort has killed James and Lily. The tension and anger and grief of this scene drew me right into the story, and I couldn't stop reading to see how all of that gets resolved. This is also a good fic for anyone out there who likes "Remus and Sirius taking care of Harry" stories.

HP Fic: Weekend Plans by mindabbles (Remus/Sirius/James/Lily, NC-17)
Whee, who wants some porn? Not only is this hot as all hell, but there's also clear love and intimacy between Remus and Sirius (and between James and Lily, for that matter), which is always a nice thing to have with one's porn. ;-)

HP Fic: Lamp in the Cooling Room by sansa1970 (Harry/Draco, R)
This was one of the most original and powerful stories at hd_worldcup. (It has also been recced 600 times so I'm sure all of you have read it, but if you haven't -- go!) It's told from the POV of a little girl whose innocent but very perceptive eyes cast a unique perspective on Harry, Draco, and the choices they have to make. The ending is brilliant.

HP Fic: The Arc of the Pendulum by brummell (Harry/Draco, NC-17, a bit of gore)
I had never even heard of this author before the reveals, but I will surely take notice of her now that I've read this story. The plot -- a clever retake on Beauty and the Beast -- sucked me in immediately and pulled me along with drama, suspense, and some humor too. It's a long one, but it didn't feel long at all as I was reading. Really nice pacing.

HP Fic: DIY Messiah by scoradh (Harry/Draco, R)
You know all those stories where Harry and Draco's kids are adorable, insightful little angels? This is not that story; these kids are brats in the way that most kids are! And there's nothing romanticized about Harry's marriage to Ginny or his attraction to Draco. This fic is quirky and fresh and real...and funny as hell.

Wow, that got long. I was supposed to be leaving for the beach, oh, NOW. And I haven't packed! Have a good weekend, y'all -- and if you see anything you like, please leave the author/artist some love! ♥

This next installment in my Queer as Folk character series is dedicated to the lovely foreverbm in honor of her birthday. Viv, I know you're Michael's biggest fan -- I hope I've managed to capture a few of the things you love about him. Happy birthday! Thanks for being one of the kindest and most generous folks in the fandom. ♥

Previous pic spams:
#1: Brian
#2: Justin
#3: Ted
#4: Debbie

( Large images and our favorite boy next door under the cut! )

I'm sure most of the QaF fans on my flist know this, but anyone who doesn't (or for all those HP folks who are closet QaF readers): there have just been forty-one fics posted over at qaf_challenges on IJ! Some are drabbles, others are longer one-shots, but all of them are based on beautiful works of art.

I spent a good four or five hours reading them this morning and I enjoyed them thoroughly. The master list is here, but I wanted to highlight a few of my favorites for anyone who doesn't have time to browse them all. Here are six not to miss:

Garland, and All Points East by Anonymous (Brian/Justin, Justin/other, NC-17, AU)
This was hands down my favorite, and not just because I knew about two minutes in exactly who wrote it. It's an AU set in the Wild West, but even if you're not usually a fan of AU's, I strongly encourage you to give this a chance. I have already read it three times, and each time I see new, clever references to canon. Just about every major character is present in some form or fashion, from Lindsay the local schoolmarm to "Deputy Michael" to Debbie in a cameo as the most awesome saloon keeper ever. And the Brian/Justin storyline couldn't be more delicious. If you read no other story from the challenge, read this one!

The Ride-Along by Anonymous (Brian/Justin, NC-17, AU)
Must've been a good challenge for AU's, because this one is excellent as well! It features Brian as a detective and Justin as a criminal justice student who tags along at Brian's crime scene investigation. This is flirty Justin at his best, and the resulting porn is truly guh-worthy. Watch for a fun (off-screen) cameo from Carl too. ;-)

He Likes It Like That by Anonymous (Brian/Justin, NC-17, spanking)
And in the "porn that hits secretsolitaire's kinks" category, we have this piece. I really have nothing coherent to say about this one except that it makes me need a cold shower every time I reread it. I have a pretty good idea who wrote this one too.

Exquisite by Anonymous (Brian/Justin, PG)
This is a short ficlet set a year after the wedding that wasn't. Lovely and a little bittersweet.

Witness by Anonymous (Brian/Justin, G)
A gorgeous drabble written from an unusual point of view. :-)

Countertop or Floor? by Anonymous (Brian/Justin, PG-13)
This one is fun and clever and IC, and has lots of love without any over-the-top schmoop. It made me smile.

See something you like? Please leave the authors a little love!

So the other night I was reading some porn, as I do, and I happened upon a fic that I really enjoyed. It had several of my favorite kinks (plus a few other fun ones thrown in), it was creative, it was pretty well written...I was a horny happy fangirl. But just as I was starting to really get into it, I came across a line about one character's tongue spearing the other character's prostate again and again.

*facepalm*

I can only assume this writer has no personal experience playing with prostates, which is totally fine...but please to be doing some basic anatomy research before writing your porn, yes?

Have some HP fic recs. I promise they're anatomically correct. ;-)

Act Five: Deconstruction of an Architect by dacro (Severus/Harry or gen, depending on your definition; PG-13, warnings)
There's been a little controversy over whether this is a "Snarry" story or not -- I'd call it gen myself -- but it truly doesn't matter; this fic is a lovely and original AU that shouldn't be missed if you like Snape, period pieces, or simply good writing. Set in 19th-century London, the story really manages to capture the flavor and the feeling of the period; it's clear that the author did a ton of research. Snape and Harry are wonderfully drawn, and Dumbledore has a marvelous role as a minor character. Best of all, the author manages to create a rich, full universe in less than 10,000 words!

The Line in the Sand by Anonymous (Remus/Sirius, PG-13, AU, angst)
Oh, this fic hurt so good. It starts with Peter confessing to Sirius that he's a Death Eater and spirals in all sorts of interesting directions from there. What I loved most about this was that all four Marauders play an equal role in the story, and that Peter is as intelligent and as important as the others. Do mind the angst warning -- Sirius in particular broke my heart -- but there is a lot of hope here too.

Birthday Boys by floweringjudas (Percy/George, porn)
I thought I recced this when it was initially posted at hp_springsmut, but it appears not. *scratches head* In any case, I'm rectifying that now! This fic combines several of my favorite things: hurt/comfort, Weasleycest, and George dealing (sort of!) with Fred's death. What's great about this fic is that the author handles George's grief without being maudlin at all; there's an undercurrent of sadness, but the fic is also funny and sweet and hot. I dare you not to fall for this Percy. ♥

See something you like? Leave the author some love!

I have emails to answer, laundry to wash, dishes to clean, and fic to read, but instead I've spent all night working on this, the next installment of my Queer as Folk character pic spam series: Debbie!

Previous pic spams:
#1: Brian
#2: Justin
#3: Ted

( Big images and big hair under the cut! )

Happy Mother's Day to the many moms on my flist! Hope you're having a lovely day. ♥

Some miscellany:

1. I was talking about QaF the other day with a gay friend of mine. He said that he wouldn't mind being in bed with Brian but emotionally speaking he was just an arrogant, selfish prick. Naturally I protested a bit, talking about the vulnerability and generosity that go along with Brian's arrogance (maybe I should have just sent him my Brian pic spam, lol), but then I asked my friend who his favorite character was. I was expecting him to say Justin or Emmett or maybe Michael, but guess who he said?

Dr. Dave.

Now, I don't think David was evil or anything like that, and he did have his good qualities, but as a favorite character? It was odd to me. Our conversation went something like this:

My friend: He's my dream man. He's so sweet!
Me: He's so controlling! He wouldn't let Michael pack his own bags or lead his own life!
My friend: Maybe I like that in a man.
Me: Hunh.

2. I had a lesbian sex dream the other night, which isn't entirely unprecedented...but this one featured me and my aunt. O_o Her body had somehow transformed into that of a 20-something woman wearing these hot little boyshorts, and I couldn't stop groping her. I woke up feeling first horny and then very, very dirty. *blushes*

3. Have some HP art!

Homecoming by *cough* Anonymous (Remus/Sirius, PG)
I dare you to look at this and not smile. The happiness and love in these panels are absolutely infectious. ♥

Sweat by ericahpfa (Remus/Sirius, NC-17)
Oh, sweet holy mother of god. *passes out* This isn't rimming art, but it's very close -- and it's almost hotter because you know that's coming next. Plus, Sirius is wearing a collar...and there's tongue...and maybe I should just stop staring at this now. GUH.

Ache for You by melmoe1 (Charlie/Neville, PG)
I find the words on this piece a little bit schmoopy, but the art itself is just gorgeous -- I love the way the artist has drawn the rain, and used splashes of color to make Charlie and Neville stand out. Also, how often do we see Charlie/Neville art? :-)

Untitled Harry/Padma art by tbranch (Harry/Padma, G)
I absolutely love the pose on this one, and there's a sort of pensive feel to it that I find quite appealing.

If you see anything you enjoy, please leave the artist a little love!

ETA: And I forgot to mention -- this week's story discussion at classicshorts is about The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. This story totally made my hair stand on end! C'mon over if you'd like to discuss. :-)

I'm headed off on my trip in *checks clock* two hours! Meep! I took care of a bunch of errands today and I'm just about packed, but I'm still feeling that excited/nervous stress I always feel before a trip.

Before I go, a few very quick recs:

Untitled Weasley art by redheadsarehot (Weasley family plus Harry and Hermione, G)
This little thing totally made me smile this morning, particularly the facial expressions. I think Percy is my favorite. :-)

Beach/ocean icons by letmypidgeonsgo
This is a set of ten icons that the lovely letmypidgeonsgo made for ME! \o/ They're gorgeous -- count on seeing one of them on an LJ near you come summer.

Finally, April isn't over, but since I'm going away this will be my last poetry post of the month. I hope some of you found some poems you liked this month. If not, thanks for indulging me. ;-)

Poetry
by Andy Brown

Poetry reaches here and there by soaring. It points in the wrong direction and heads off there regardless; it directs us to the ossuary, to museum drawers in bloom, to birds and the green facts of nesting.

Poetry is the lesson of the doubtful person, pausing. It is implicit in the life of an expert on things and an authority on nothing. Poetry is a series of controlled blunders.

Poetry is living elsewhere; the city radiant with all of its ideas; the open throat of days we inhabit with abandon. Poetry is an apartment in the north where my story began, filled with the rhythmic ratchets of frogs.

Poetry sits on our cluttered bureau like a choice slab of cheese. A poet is a guest who likes people because they taste good. The poet reveals a trap for forms of magic.

Poetry dances with happiness at the start of the new feast. It is the second spring of our tango across the tundra. Poetry is change, like a chord the tension snaps.

Poetry is Ice Age Man in the cave of himself, making effigies of beasts and killing them before he goes out on the real hunt with the magic of that killing on his side. Poetry is the migration of a herd of animal statues.

Poetry is troubles swapped for something fresh; the monstrance containing the host. The dead, the beloved, the detested -- these are some of its objects.

Poetry stills to a lagoon at low tide. Its dredge hauls yield a final treat we share.

Poetry -- the upturned saw blade of its kiss; its crucial first cut.

So instead of working out tonight, I decided to work on my next QaF character pic spam. My hips won't thank me, but oh well -- it was worth it to bring you...Ted! I must say that he took a while to grow on me, despite the fact that (or perhaps because?) he's probably the character that's most like me. But in rewatching the episodes I've very much grown to enjoy and appreciate him -- hope you all will too. :-)

Previous pic spams:
#1: Brian
#2: Justin

( Large images and our favorite accountant under the cut! )

Various things have made me grumpy in the last 24 hours, but there have been plenty of happy-making things as well, the main one being the simple pleasure of hearing all the birds and other critters chattering away outside my open window today.

I also enjoyed these two fics from remixredux08:

thirteen photographs (the via crucis remix) by Anonymous (Remus/Sirius, PG-13)
This is such a gorgeous fic. I enjoyed it for many of the same reasons I enjoy poetry -- the imagery is so vivid and sharp, the language somehow both lush and understated, and each section a perfectly crafted little gem. The original author imagines Remus as an amateur photographer, and the remixer has played with that by structuring the fic in little sections that serve as snapshots of the Marauders' lives.

Butterfly Casualties (The Time Traveler's Boyfriend Remix) by Anonymous (Teddy/Cedric, R)
This is a remix of a fic I loved, Rise from the Ashes by midnitemaraud_r (previously recced here), and I found the remix to be just as fascinating -- and as compulsively readable! The remix is from Cedric's point of view, and it sheds an interesting light on the events of the original story. I think it will make more sense if you've read the original, but you could probably follow along even if you haven't.

In QaF news, I have been working on my next character pic spam but I am having a little trouble getting the words right. I'm hoping to get it up tomorrow night before I go away on Friday, but I make no promises!

You knew we wouldn't get through poetry month without some Neruda, didn't you? :-)

Sonnet V
by Pablo Neruda

I did not hold your night, or your air, or the dawn:
only the earth, the truth of the fruit in clusters,
the apples that swell as they drink the sweet water,
the clay and the resins of your sweet-smelling land.

From Quinchamali where your eyes began
to the Frontera where your feet were made for me,
you are my dark familiar clay:
holding your hips, I hold the wheat in its fields again.

Woman from Arauco, maybe you didn't know
how before I loved you I forgot your kisses.
But my heart went on, remembering your mouth -- and I went on

and on through the streets like a man wounded,
until I understood, Love: I had found
my place, a land of kisses and volcanoes.

--translated by Stephen Tapscott

Happy Earth Day, everyone! Hope your day was anywhere near as gorgeous as it was here. ♥

So remember the other night when I made that post about jealousy/possessiveness in fic? I talked to my SO about it that night too. The conversation went something like this -- Me: "Do you think it's romantic when I say I'm yours? Or that you're mine?" Him: *snort*. (To be fair, he's not really a romantic about anything. *g*) Ever since then we've been growling "You're mine! No, you're mine!" at each other on a fairly regular basis. :-P

Have some HP recs:

Somewhere, Just Not Here (The Five Months and Thirteen Days Remix) by Anonymous (Remus, Harry, background Remus/Sirius, G)
I haven't read as many stories as I've wanted to over at remixredux08 yet, but this is my favorite so far. It's a quiet, bittersweet little piece that imagines a conversation between Remus and Harry after Sirius's death. It's both sad and hopeful, and captures Remus and Harry's grief quite believably.

A Preference for Dragons by mindabbles (Kingsley/Charlie, R)
I love a good rare pair, especially when it involves two of HP's yummiest minor characters! This is sexy and sweet and really just a pure pleasure to read.

And a poem, which I chose because all the natural imagery seems right for Earth Day:

Blue to Earth in You
by Julia de Burgos

The sky where I have leaned back to dream you
looks like a sea...

If you could see my gaze,
like a bird hunting horizons and stars...

The universe is mine since you made yourself
a roof of butterflies for my heart.

The air is so blue when you move your wings,
that flight is born eternal, in repeated tireless waves.

I don't know if I should open my tenderness in a wave or cloud
to roll myself to the dream where you sleep.

The wind is so quiet,
that I have been able to attain you in the echoes.

I am all daylight to embrace you...

I have seen you with eyes alive like the open eyes of the woods,
imagining myself in laughter and ravines swimming to the ocean.

I have gathered you in traces of chanteys
where you once left hearts of water in love.

I have taken you out of time...

How I have lifted you in a lily of light
that flowered my hand at remembering you!

Why does the sea run in me?

You are a live universe answering me...