Haven't posted in nearly a week

[petronia]

I've been combating unspecified stress by reading fic. >_> If you've written FFXII fic, chances are at this point I've read it [1]; not to say I've commented or anything, since I'm still at the stage where my insights fall along the lines of "LOL, I forgot that happened in the plot!" Mostly I guess sororial unit and I just discuss our thoughts with each other? I did post a couple of times on the topic but in carnet. In retrospect I have no idea why I did that. ^^; (Subdee reposted her end of the discussion here.)

At this point I don't know if/what I'm going to write. I have a history of reading loads of BL fic for FF games and simultaneously failing-to-write complicated personal histories of minor female characters, often someone's mum. (Julia, Hilda, Tidus's unnamed-geez mother.) If the pattern holds it'll be Penelo, I suspect, though sororial unit suggests Larsa!mum. XD Basically in the Ivalice games you get the impression everybody's mother was a beautiful kindly lady who died tragically of consumption and had no interest in politics at all. At some inspired point in the past I may have been cleverpants enough to write Balthier but right now I don't believe it.

I do like how everyone in this game is either a Head of State, an Adjunct to Head of State, or a Pirate... I've just deleted a whole thing re: how this means there are fundamentally only six types of pairing dynamic. KEEP ME AWAY FROM MATH, PLEASE. I think my problem is that I'm arse at probability/combinatorics and am subconsciously attempting to teach myself using fandom.

Also watched a few Youtube cutscenes of the Japanese dub, out of curiosity. This course of action is recommended if you've ever wanted to hear Otsuka Akio breathe menacingly through a helmet. [2] In fact, according to Wikipedia Dr. Cid is played by Otsuka Akio's father. I never knew it was a seiyuu DYNASTY but I guess I'm schooled. ...And he's married to the seiyuu who plays Drace. Um.

I only recognized about 1/4 of the Japanese VAs anyway but the ones I did... like Vayne is the VA who did Akabane and I can't decide whether that's good or bad. I had to look up Basch's because I went nuts not being able to place him and it turns out he was Kuze out of GitS:SAC2. Note that Otsuka Akio does Batou. It's a "resistance, not rebellion" joke all on its own.

Speaking of Basch it turns out Penelo refers to him as "ojisama". I laughed for like ten minutes.

In other news, I wrote my piece for the hail2jojo Sketch or Drabble game, to be reposted here as soon as I clean it up. Then I have to fill my drabble_trade request. So at least January will look barely passable when I compile the 2007 fic meme. XD I did write a scene in "Senza Fine", but now I have a better idea, so I'm going to redo it.

sub_divided, I got the books. ^_^ Also ordered some Steven Brust and that huge Amber compendium so I'm set for months to come, eheh.

O and real life: Igloofest both days, only a couple of sets per, but there is an upper bound to how long one can dance outdoors in -20C weather. Friday was Ghislain Poirier + DJ Food, Saturday Nôze + Mini. All acts I've caught before, counting what I saw of Nôze at MUTEK. They were just as WTF as the first time, in fact more so since they took all their clothes off and as aforementioned it was -20C. XD;

5$ entry, 2$ grilled sausage (real one, not hot dog), ease of booze smuggling. Good times!



[1] Actually, if you've written any fic this month, chances are I've read it. Even if it's Kingdom Hearts or Smallville or something.

[2] Or if it's never occurred to you, but now...

Comments

[motorbike.livejournal.com]

Yazz games tend to dispose with Moms, probably as enhancement to the full weight of vars. HORRIBLE SECRETS OF PAST TRAUMA every character seems to be carrying about, and also to the Bizarre Surrogate Family dynamic (SEE: Drace, Gabranth, and Larsa ♥), and also to the CRAZY FATHER-SON BONDS (See: entirety of FFT) thing. No wonder you enjoy writing Ivalice Moms, there are whole fields of UNEXPLORED FANGROUND there!

I don't think all moms were Nice, though. Balthier's probably ran off to be exotic and foreign elsewhere, as Whitney theorizes. (ALSO if Balthier fic needs to be all Smarty McSmartpants, I think I've made a HORRIBLE MISTAKE in attempting to write him, even at a young(er) and naive(--er) point. RULE OF THUMB SEEMS TO BE: the wordier and the more glib, the better. ... ... ... Crap.)

Please. PLEASE write some Penelo and Larsa. I'd be all over that like a hobo in a corndog warehouse.

stumbling in to ramble

[beeblebabe.livejournal.com]

...I had the realization today, whilst letting cutscenes on youtube play in the background while I worked (WHAT), that, well, I've seen a bit of fuss here and there that Balthier's age seems too young. But watching the beginning bits again made me think, man if that bastard isn't so 22. He's, you know, that guy who's just graduated from college and thinks he's such hot shit.

Had this thought while watching the scene where he's being all Mr. Suave with Penelo and the handkerchief. No wonder Fran spends the entirety of the game basically going 'pfffffft' at him.

Also, as my brief ficcing history for this fandom will indicate, I am in favor of tales about people's mums.

SWEET BONUS!

[motorbike.livejournal.com]

.... If we're going to start nitpicking FFXII ages, Balthier's is hardly at the top of the list. I think the fuss may have something to do with his English VA, who sometimes forgets to pitch it a bit younger.

And yes! The bravado is theatrical! He'd quote Han Solo if he could! It's like he's always watching himself, going, DAMN. I am a ROCK STAR. And then Fran, who "gets" him very well, says things that are either dryly referential, or so un-glib that they make him vulnerable. Anyone who misses this kinda misses out on Balthier and Fran in general.

I dig this, the way the game occasionally reminds us the younger characters are YOUNG. Like when Ashe gets annoyed with Vaan's poking holes in her logic, or Larsa has a big sad shock with news of his dad, and has to go be alone (READ: have a cry) for a while.

[canis-m.livejournal.com]

It is totally his English VA. He sounds much more 22 in Japanese.

Fran OTOH is 1000x sexier in English. In Japanese she sounds sort of stoned.

[beeblebabe.livejournal.com]

Fun fact: Both Balthier (http://imdb.com/name/nm0256297/) and Fran's (http://imdb.com/name/nm0974658/) English VAs are quite attractive people!

And man, I could listen to the both of them talk all day.

[canis-m.livejournal.com]

HAWT

I have yet to see the picture of Yuka Imai where she looks just like Larsa ;_;

[motorbike.livejournal.com]

... I actually think Gideon Emery is scary-looking.

FRAN'S VA, OTOH, OH MAN YES.

This VAs-resembling-characters thing is sort of wigging me out, actually.

[beeblebabe.livejournal.com]

What can I say, I like cheekbones that could CUT YA.

[motorbike.livejournal.com]

OKAY, GIANT PET PEEVE? It's not "Balthier Bunansa," people, he don't have no last name no more. Like PRINCE. Or MADONNA.

Also: shit, spoilers.

ALL SPOILERS ALL THE TIME

[beeblebabe.livejournal.com]

....GOOD POINT!

Whatever, Ffamran, what, the other judges give you too many wedgies?

Conspiculously named after a certain esper; NO WONDER HE CHANGED IT.

[motorbike.livejournal.com]

SNAPE KILLS RAMINAS

GABRANTH WAS A SLED

[motorbike.livejournal.com]

In Japanese Fran sounds very OLDER WOMAN! Which is approproate, given the circumstances, but it takes away from the TIMELESS UNTOUCHABLE FOREST HIPPY ideal, which is best conveyed by Icelandic(?)-accented and generally HOT English VA's.

and then there is al-Cid, who TRANSCENDS AGE

[beeblebabe.livejournal.com]

Yeah, boy, if there was anyone I thought was older than he turned out to be, it was Larsa HE SAID HE WAS EIGHTEEN I SWEAR

I really enjoy the age range in FFXII. It's refreshing after so many FFs that were populated entirely by teenagers and early-twenties kids, with dusty old fogies maybe at the age of 35. FFXII proves you can be in your SIXTIES and STILL HOTASS uh.

Ah, all the 'quiet, the grownups are talking' moments.

[motorbike.livejournal.com]

HELL, I'D DO ONDORE IN A SECOND.

[beeblebabe.livejournal.com]

ESPECIALLY IF HE TALKS THE WHOLE TIME

[motorbike.livejournal.com]

WHERE'S MY ONDORE/AL-CID, FANDOM? HUH? HUHH?

sabina, I'm sorry we've been giant sluts all up in your comments

[beeblebabe.livejournal.com]

oh shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

[petronia.livejournal.com]

(Don't worry, if there's one thing I enjoy it's coming back to find twenty on-topic comments in my inbox!)

Re: SWEET BONUS!

[petronia.livejournal.com]

I'd believe Balthier was 22, easily, but if so how old could he possibly have been when he quit judgin'? Is where I get hung up.

It's not so much the fic needs to be smrt, just that I'd need to be smrt(er) to make up for not having Balthier's type of intelligence, if I were to write him. XD; Also I grok the Balthier+Fran dynamic... almost too well. orz

The more I ponder my personal fanon the more I suspect you don't want me to write Penelo and Larsa. XD;;

[motorbike.livejournal.com]

THIS is why this fandom scares me so much. MOST EVERY CHARACTER IN IT IS MUCH, MUCH SMARTER THAN I COULD EVER BE, IMAGINE, OR SUPPOSE. How do you fic this. HOW DO YOU WRITE VAGUELY ENOUGH TO FUDGE THIS. There's not enough research in the world.

Uhhh... lessee, my bullshit timeline goes:

6 Years to Date: Cid starts hearing voices. (Ffamran is 16?)
~5 YTD: He makes Ffamran get a real job. (17?)
~4 YTD: Ffamran takes off. (18?)
~3 YTD: Balthier meets Fran.

I could buy this, accounting that Balthier is very smart, and that being age 17/18/19 in Ivalice is A-OK for the following activities:
- Settling down to raise a family
- Settling down to rule a kingdom
- Leading an army
- Leading a resistance

... Is your Larsa/Penelo all porny? And here I was kinda hoping for YOUNG SKY PIRATE ADVENTURES IN HIS EMPERORSHIP'S SECRET SERVICE. Vaan's there to keep things clean ... or so he thinks. Basch is Q.

Or never mind, you're not gonna do it anyway because you are trying to sell Kristin on the shota angle. Which I admit I can see.

[petronia.livejournal.com]

That explanation works! I'd go with it - actually, I'd go with never mentioning anyone's age, ever. XD

I was picturing secret service sky pirate adventures too! Heck, I want it with Balthier and Fran (...and Ashe basically as an extremely young Dame Judi Dench). But it would have to have plot, or massive amounts of pretending there is plot. >_>

Like I tell Kristin I am open to suggestions, which at this point is code for "must beat own game" ahahaha*ahem* (also, "according to my research this is rapidly turning into an Everybody/Everybody fandom so I dunno, you tell me"). As for "my" Larsa/Penelo, I've been sitting here trying to type up an explanation but it's too... out there. orz

[motorbike.livejournal.com]

Balthier and Fran working for Ashe would only function properly if a) Balthier and Ashe had indeed shagged and their bizzarre ex relationship (and/or special deus ex machina circumstances) forced them to do busines with one-another, and b) Fran was OK with this total farce. ALTHOUGH I STILL KINDA WANT TO SEE THIS, I ADMIT.

This fandom really IS Everybody/Everybody, because the game is ostensibly Nobody/Nobody (Exception: GABRANTH/DRACE, canon'd!), but NEITHER DOES IT DENY ANYTHING.

My view of Larsa/Penelo is a sweet sort of professional romance wherein she gets to feel like a princess around his courtesies, and goes to balls looking gorgeous and exotic among all the snotty Archadians, and is special and above all of Larsa's many, many impressive and platonic ladyfriends. (Larsa's equally numerous suitors get offered tea, and have pleasant conversations with him, and are politely turned down.) Perhaps something develops, perhaps right under Vaan's nose, but above all Penelo's a sky pirate, and will not let herself be tied down anytime soon, or ever.

[celestriad.livejournal.com]

basch = ojisama?! hahahahahahahaha XD;

[canis-m.livejournal.com]

I support Larsa's!mom!fic. Or, say, FFXII vs. the Yuushi Diaries. If you write heteronormative Penelo & Larsa after luring me into this, though, I'll...I'll...be sad. And alone. 責任とりなさいよ XD;

Meanwhile I've gotten no further than Larsa making speeches and inventing democracy. Wait no, they already have democracy. In a crappy sort of Roman way.

[petronia.livejournal.com]

I thought you were going to say you support DJ Al-Cid. XD

At the moment I'm open to suggestions! Basically I need to finish my own game, by which point I will have had time to concoct several intricate epics set in said gameverse and intimidate myself out of writing them, so finally I will end up scribbling short pieces to spackle (in keelieinblack's parlance) what my brain in its infinite wisdom designates as plot holes. I speak from experience. XD;

...Actually. Did I totally leave all Final Fantasy characters out of Yuushi Diaries? I knew I was forgetting something.

[canis-m.livejournal.com]

Suggestions! D: I thought you had it all worked out. At this point I can't even imagine Basch having carnal impulses, let alone relations, especially not after he gets that damned armor GRAFTED TO HIS FLESH or whatever it is they do. Larsa could be all systems go in short order, but I have bleak visions of Basch failing to buy a clue re: the unspeakable vice of Archades. If I were going to be stupidly anthropological I'd say it depends what kind of warrior culture he comes from, and since we know fark-all about Landis.... orz

Am agreed with Nat, the game is ultimately nobody/nobody and stumps me the same way shounen manga does for that reason. Good luck with finishing, any rate.

(I did find J-fic that errs on the side of waff. Milky Corporation (http://milkycorporation.web.fc2.com/index.html))

[petronia.livejournal.com]

At this point I can't even imagine Basch having carnal impulses, let alone relations

You know, AFAICT everyone in the fandom agrees with this - and yet everyone aims to get him laid anyway. XD Call it "Jones, you deserve a vacation whether you want one or not" syndrome.

(Landis is sort of Germany, I get the impression. Teutonic Knights of the Old Republic, forests, beer, pointy-eared shepherd dogs. I'm totally making this up. XD)

The nobody/nobody-ness is unusual for FF, actually, normally the story is axed on a teen het romance of some kind. :P This one is pretty out there for being about OJISAN ANGST instead of Vaan getting together with Penelo (or Ashe). ...I don't know if there's a complete Youtube plot tape of FFX but if there is you should watch it, for comparison - it's the best of the bunch for character development and likeability, and it has Auron who's like the ultimate FF gruff seme w/ sword (I don't think anyone will gainsay me on this). OTOH you can't really slash him, either. XD

[tongari.livejournal.com]

I'm too caught up in leveling right now to have gone through many cutscenes, but Basch = ojisama HAHAHAHAHA. (seemingly inferring Baltheir = uncle, at the point I'm at she doesn't seem too impressed by Balthier's posturing and/or rainbow rings anyway)

[petronia.livejournal.com]

Vaan and Penelo are totally VER KIDS (and Balthier's raver jewelry deserves a fic to itself).

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

Re: math, it depends whether you think order matters. If it does matter you count permutations and there are 3^2= 9 possibilities. If it doesn't you count combinations and there are (3 + 2 − 1)! / 2!(3 − 1)! = 6 possibilities.

Permutations:
AA
AB
AC
BA
BB
BC
CA
CB
CC

Combinations: AB is the same as BA, etc.

...Glad you got the books! ^_^

[petronia.livejournal.com]

I assumed order doesn't matter, since it's not like I'm trying to be a SEME/UKE NAZI or anything. XDD

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

Oh okay. XD Sorry for busting out the lecture, I got excited about the math since I almost never get to use it anymore. These days it's ALL HISTORY ALL THE TIME. How does anyone manage to major in just this for four years? I wanna graduate already.

Also I forgot to say this before, but I hope whatever it is that's stressing you out gets better soon.