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 Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:50 am
Christa clicked her pen against the desk, chin resting on an open palm. It was raining that day, a Saturday no less, and her homework was mostly done. Since she didn't want to patrol that night (damn Nega with the spear, damn her.), Christa opted to stay indoors and work on her writing. She was apt to join chatrooms to discuss the latest trends in literature, but most of the active chatters were interested in the hottest yaoi Naruto pairing or something. Somehow, writing became synonymous with fanfiction these days. Sighing, Christa knew her work straddled the line between fanfiction and original work, but she felt hers was different. Perhaps more mature if only judged by the subject matter alone.
She was known as GrayCitadel in chatrooms, named after her favorite piece of architecture in her works and the color of her hair. She wasn't actively chatting at the moment, but she was growing bored. She didn't watch anime and wasn't interested in it, so she made an offering for anyone willing to take it.
GrayCitadel: Anyone want to have a real discussion on writing? Ping me if interested.
Christa sat back in her chair and waited to see if anyone would bite.
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 12:04 pm
A few moments later there was a "Ping" as requested, but probably not from an expected source, since the username read "KitsuneTrick". "KT" was relatively well known among a few fan fiction communities, and had a moderate reputation... mostly for making some fairly blush worthy fanfictions, though unlike some authors, KT (presumed to be female), did attempt to keep some level of actual character personality and semi plausible scenarios.
Not a bad author, but not the first person someone might have expected on the list of people looking to talk 'seriously'.
KitsuneTrick: Technically we're all having a 'real' conversation. wink (Yes I know you're angling for something deeper.) I'm up for a chat if you want.
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 12:29 pm
Ah, now that was more like it! Leaning back in her chair, Christa smiled and typed up a response. She's seen KitsuneTrick around various chatrooms, and she (presumably 'she') had written some pretty good fanfiction. Christa had reviewed a handful of them even if she didn't know the source material. The characterizations, from what she researched, were true to form and there wasn't a Mary Sue in sight, which made KT's works much more valuable in Christa's eyes. Too often there was a self-insert character in someone's fiction to live out the author's fantasies. Christa thought it was utterly ridiculous.
But now she was speaking to a fairly well-known author. This would be interesting.
GrayCitadel: I'm glad someone else out there understands. I haven't read too much of your work, but you're pretty good I'd say. I hope you don't mind chatting. I'm working on a short story in the vein of H.P. Lovecraft. I guess it could be considered fanfiction, but a rather far stretch. I'm using his ideas, but making my own setting without using C'thulhu. What do you think? If someone were to use a metaverse but conceive something completely unique within it, is it still considered fanfiction?
Nothing like getting theoretical in a fanfiction chatroom!
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 12:39 pm
KitsuneTrick: That's a tough question. I know other works have been produced within the universe, and have even been published... I think if you definitely made it a part of the C'thulhuliverse, as it were, it might be considered a derivative work. I mean arguably every book on the shelves for Star wars is 'technically' Fan Fiction. Derivative work kind of gets a bad name from the fact it's so prolific, much easier now that we have the net.
Also technically a lot of Lovecraft's works didn't include Cthulhu directly, he tended to have a generally more indirect influence, with idols and stuff, and there was a pantheon of other creepies too. What's the plan with the story? Are you going to imply the machinations of one of the Dark Gods?
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 1:11 pm
GrayCitadel: I don't believe I'll include any of the Great Old Ones or anything of the sort. Perhaps some implicit influence of some lower being like a Mi-Go or something like that, but I'd rather play with insanity's effects on the human mind rather than the human place in a great cosmoverse. I find that more interesting, and it's a great excuse to do more research, wouldn't you say?
And I very much agree on derivative work and its place in society. Many people don't realize all those Star Wars and the like books are derivative work, yet they sell like hotcakes. It's silly.
Whoever KT really was, she was quite well-versed in literature outside of the typical anime fandom. Points for her. Christa smiled as she stretched out her fingers for more typing.
GrayCitadel: What all are you planning to work on? I heard you may be delving into original works at some point in time. One of your fans mentioned it in another room. If that's the case, what are you plans for the next publication? I started off dipping my toes into science fiction a few years ago, but I find I prefer the horror genre the most. What about you?
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 2:12 pm
KitsuneTrick: MiGo would definitely be a change up, they don't get a lot of attention, unless you count that mug out there that says "My other Mug is a MiGo Brain Cylinder". I think I need that mug.
Somewhere on another computer, Jaimie Leontyne stretched his arms over his head and quirked his head in an amused smile. It had been a while since he'd really dusted off "KT", and he was sort of enjoying the demi-anonymity. KT didn't have to worry about being a senshi, having a rocky relationship, or anything else.
The psych research would be a blast, plus you could always go controversial and challenge Lovecraft's stance on the primitive mind as being more susceptible. The MiGo are a great one for that because they're after something totally different than the Mythos, who tend to have a fan club full of crazed New England Cannibals.
Why couldn't English class be this much fun?
...Not sure what to do next. I've got projects kicking around. Was working on some fantasy and high intrigue stuff, but I don't think that's for net-consumption. Not unless I go all arrogant and put it out on Lulu with vague conceptions that it'll sell. I haven't been writing as much lately. Too much stuff IRL.
Man that was the truth...on levels he couldn't even begin to explain.
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 3:17 pm
GrayCitadel: I love that mug. Got it for Christmas last year. But you are right, Mi-Go need some more attention. I have my Lovecraft encyclopedia around here somewhere. No doubt there's a lot more angles I could use on this piece. I could also play on his rampant racism in there, though racism isn't something that necessarily goes away with time... Sad state of affairs, I think.
Now this was an excellent distraction! Schoolwork and senshidom was one thing, but being able to go all out with someone else about literature was a rare pleasure in the world today. She couldn't even find someone else this interested if she was in the library itself! Nodding to herself, Christa started to take some notes on a pad beside her.
GrayCitadel: Who doesn't love a good crazed New England cannibal? We probably have a few in Destiny City no doubt. Things like high intrigue don't fit too well in most places on the net, though I can think of a handful of places that would carry it for you. You'd need to aim it at more mature audiences, though. No offense, but the anime fans probably won't understand the gist of it.
That's what was so bad about the internet - most of the people on it weren't interested in thinking, which was what made this sort of connection unique. Christa shook her head, took some more notes, and kept writing.
GrayCitadel: Too much IRL stuff? Same here. Between schoolwork and extra circulars, I have hardly any time to myself. It's a damned shame too. My writing keeps calling to me, but I've got too much to do.
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Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:47 am
KitsuneTrick: Amen to that. School, looking for a job... you name it. *sigh*
Jaimie propped his chin on his hand and grimaced. Real Life, it hit everyone, even when they looked to the comfortable, unreal world of the Internet, which, of course, only made the net look that much more appealing.
Speaking of which, have you actually read any of Howard's work? There's some overlap and even a few crossover details between him and Lovecraft, even if they never agreed on which was better, The Noble Savage or the Cultured Mind.
I took a long time to get around to it because I wasn't sure about being caught reading Conan or Kull, but it's pretty much nothing like that horrible stuff in the ancient Schwarzenegger movie.
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Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:09 am
GrayCitadel: Boy, you have looking for a job on top of that? I couldn't handle a job with my workload. I'd probably fail out of all of my classes. Gah, and then thinking about college in a few years... that's brutal stuff right there. RL is overwhelming sometimes.
Isn't that the truth? Christa didn't have much time these days to even think about college until it was brought up by her Aunt and Uncle a few days ago. After being awakened, college was the furthest thing from her mind. She leaned back to stretch before typing again. It felt good to have a distraction, but she knew it wouldn't last for long. It would be too soon when responsibility came knocking on the door again.
GrayCitadel: I admit I haven't read anything from Howard, though my younger brother is a huge fan of the movie, no matter how bad they were. *laugh* He even dressed up as Conan for Halloween one year. I was torn between embarrassment and pure entertainment.
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Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:24 am
Kitsune Trick: Well College is a little closer for some of us, and it's not going to pay for itself... so. I figure it's better to graduate a little later and try and pay for as much of it now as I can than wrack up loans I'll pay off for the rest of my natural life.
Especially now, he figured. It looked a hell of a lot more expensive from this side of things, and he was pretty sure he'd never get any scholarships, though he should, now that he thought about it, look and see if he qualified for anything.
Kitsune Trick: You should give it a try, I think you'd be pleasantly surprised! Costume sounds hysterical though. I hope you took pictures for posterity.
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Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 1:02 pm
GrayCitadel: Loans are terrible, especially for younger people. It's insane how expensive schooling can get, but the local community college is pretty reasonable. Have you looked into scholarships too? Does your school offer classes that count towards college credit?
Christa herself was trying to put it off as long as possible while she sorted out the senshi business. That was much more complicated than trying to find a scholarship or find a job. At least those things didn't get you killed if you made the wrong decision. She sighed and shook her head.
GrayCitadel: Naturally, I have lots of pictures of the ridiculous Conan outfit. I'm going to show them to his girlfriend once he's past the "girls are gross and have cooties" stage. Isn't that funny? We all go through a stage like that when we're younger and all of a sudden, poof! The opposite sex is suddenly appealing and amazing. My brother hasn't hit that stage yet.
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 5:16 am
Kitsune Trick: I'm starting the legwork on checking to see if I qualify for any scholarships, but I'm not holding my breath. Although the price tags on some of this stuff make me think someone should try and get a look at the books to find out what's really going into who's pockets. wink
Haven't tried any College Prep stuff, but I've had my hands full and figured I'd just have to deal with the headache instead of adding to my load.
Ah... sibling evil, apparently it was universal, even if it was kind of amusing, partially since in this case he wasn't the subject of it. Amazing how a little perspective changed everything.
Oh GOD. Did Tallulah still have those damn photos?
.... Screw it. Let her keep them if she had them. Pft. "Your nose is bigger." Gee thanks. He still felt self conscious over that line, like it had the power to magically transform him into Pinochio. Or Jimmy Durante. He'd rather be Jimmy Durante. That guy at least was funny, and he didn't get turned into a donkey or have to listen to an obnoxious bug.
She probably hadn't meant it that way, or... well... he hoped she hadn't, but the little things kept coming back to bug him at the moment.
KitsuneTrick: Well I can tell you one thing, I don't think the opposite sex ever gets any less confusing! Maybe thats why people keep having relationships. It's our innate human curiosity trying to figure out one of the great mysteries of life. "What the Hell Is Going On In Their Head?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:16 am
GrayCitadel: I've been taking college qualifier courses and have credit, but my problem is that I don't know what to do with myself when I get there. Definitely see what you're getting at - whose coffers are we lining with all this tuition? Still, I don't have much time left to decide either. At this rate, I'll be a sophomore in college when I graduate high school, and they expect you to have a major. Ugh.
College was a headache Christa wasn't sure she was prepared for. Not with having to save the world and all that, would she even have time to finish her schoolwork? College was supposedly more intense than high school. And on top of that, how would she find work to pay for somewhere to live and clothes to wear and food to eat? It was overwhelming.
GrayCitadel: Some people are easier to read than others, opposite sex or otherwise, though you have a point. Sometimes it's impossible to really know what someone is thinking because, even if that person is honest, there are some things you just can't explain accurately enough. It makes me glad I don't have a relationship on top of everything else I'm doing.
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 12:07 pm
Kitsune Trick: I've been given to understand by the relative success of the institution of marriage that some people find that it works out, but I think that's a ways off yet, if ever. *laughs*
Honestly he wasn't laughing out loud, especially not now.
Kitsune Trick: Perhaps that would make a good paper, investigating the budgets of a major university. It might be a real scandal! I guess we'll make it though, I mean people do this all the time I understand. I anticipate roomates. And Ramen. Not easy Mac though, I have some digestive standards!
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Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:33 am
GrayCitadel: Speaking of the institution of marriage and it not working out for everyone, I just found out my parents are getting a divorce. Mom was foolin' around with some guy at work. How sad is that? You can't even tell your partner straight to their face... Saddens me, I guess.
It felt good to tell someone, no matter how anonymous they were. She couldn't possibly tell her cousin Melinda, not after the tragic news of her brother. That would just add to the stress her cousin didn't need. The divorce proceedings are halted while the family deals with the funeral, and Christa was proud of her parents for not making the occasion about them. There were more pressing matters to attend to.
GrayCitadel: Haha, Easy Mac is disgusting. If anything, we could save money and live at home, but I'm not sure I want to do that. Getting out might be a really nice taste of freedom. Maybe you could find a boyfriend to live with, or a relative. I've got my cousin who might be interested. I guess I should ask her. But seriously, better to know the person you're living with than to room with a complete stranger and find they're utterly disgusting, yeah?
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