(no subject)

[lls_mutant]

Been a nice weekend. I've gotten three runs in- seven miles on Saturday, three yesterday, and three today. The Saturday one was the best- I went around noon today, and HOT. Wow. We also had company last night, which was really nice. Today we're going to my in-laws for a BBQ, so I need to finish making dessert.

Speaking of dessert, I have been on a real kick this weekend. Two of the desserts are from this cookbook: Chocolate Days. I made a bundt cake that promised you did not need frosting. For once, the promise was fulfilled (and this is from me, who will dip chocolate into chocolate ganache, okay?) The cake was super-moist and super rich and very tasty. I also am making a tri-chocolate pie, although it's really more like a cheesecake. It's got a chocolate cookie crust, milk chocolate cheesecake, and a white chocolate cheesecake mousse crown. And for last night, I made white chocolate and lemon mousse parfaits with strawberries. The lemon mousse is very strong and kind of overwhelms the white chocolate one, but aside from that, this dessert is amazing. I also think you could stretch this recipe to 10-12 servings by adding more berries, and think it would be delectable with blueberries or raspberries. (I wouldn't use a mix- I think it would be too many flavors, unless you just make one mousse.) If anyone wants the recipes for either chocolate dessert, let me know.

TV meme!

Day 16: Your guilty pleasure show



The Big Bang Theory. This is the closest I've got to a guilty pleasure show. I say that because I've seen many people point out various issues about the show that they don't like on a deeper level than "I just don't think it's funny." Personally, I'm not bothered by the show and I adore it, but I have become very, very aware (especially after sticking my foot in my mouth) that other people are, and that can make me feel awkward about confessing my love for it. So, yeah, it's the closest I've got to a guilty pleasure, I guess.

And because they're the ones going around my list right now:

Mini-DVD Meme: Pick a paragraph or any passage less than 500 words from any fanfic I've written, and comment to this post with that selection. I will then give you a DVD commentary on that snippet of what I was thinking when I wrote it, why I wrote it, what's going on in the character's heads, why I chose certain words, what this moment means in the context of the fic, and anything else you'd expect to find on a DVD commentary track.

Icon meme: Pick one of my icons and I'll write you a ficlet based on said icon. (Although not my boys or the Dixie Chicks, please.)

Hope everyone has a good Memorial Day!

Comments

[daybreak777.livejournal.com]

Yes, BBT is a guilty pleasure show! Sometimes I just need a 22-minute show to laugh with. It does have issues but there isn't a single show that I've ever watched that's been issue-free. If it ever gets too bad, I'll stop watching. But for now, I just enjoy the boys and Penny. :-)

I'm looking for that bundt cake recipe. Sounds like YUM.

[geekbynight.livejournal.com]

I really need to start watching more TV series instead of documentaries because I'm not even familiar with half of the shows people name with the meme :\

Icon Meme: The "I Will Not Play WoW on the Dradis" I love it XD

DVD Meme:
"Felix is finally asleep," Dee sighed, collapsing into a chair in Joe's. "Thank the Gods."

"Is he crying a lot?" Racetrack asked, a furrow of surprise between her eyebrows.

"No, that's the thing," Dee said. "Except for when it happened, I haven't seen him cry yet. I wish he would. But he just… he just stares bitterly."

Cally exchanged glances with Danielle. Danielle smiled at her encouragingly, like she thought the outburst in the Raptor had helped. The thing was, it hadn't. Cally looked down at the table. She wished she could say that it had.

Caroline sighed heavily. "That's rough on him, though. Gods, can you imagine? I mean, I get that Hoshi broke. Half this frakking ship- hell, half this frakking fleet is ready to break. But to know that you aren't enough to live for-"

"It doesn't work like that," Cally interrupted sharply, looking up. "He didn't do it to hurt Gaeta."

"I didn't say he did," Caroline retorted. "But it's got to feel that way to him anyway."

"You know it does," Dee said sourly. "Felix basically said as much in his eulogy."

Cally saw the airlock in her mind, as clear as if she was back in there. She shook her head angrily. "It's not what he meant," she insisted viciously.

"Cally…" Danielle said carefully.

Seelix cleared her throat. "The thing is," she said, "whether it hurt Gaeta or not, Gaeta was right about one thing. Hoshi should have felt like there was something else- like we could find some other sort of future."

"What sort of future?" Caroline demanded, taking a deep swallow of her drink. "Even if we find a habitable planet, the Ones, Fours, and Fives could come along and…" she made an explosion noise, expanding her hands. "Earth was the best shot we had at having a defense against that."

"They should have had another plan, rather than just some fake-"

"Earth wasn't fake! It was real!"

"Stop," Dee ordered tiredly. "Come on, guys. It's been a long few days for all of us. Let's just… can we just not talk about it?"

The Only Difference Between Men and Boys

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

The disk that came over from the Pegasus was in an envelope with a lot of names crossed off, indicating just how much service it had seen. Felix wondered if someone should write those names down for a moment, and then shook his head and opened his mail.

The disk was small, unassuming, and unlabeled, except for a small WoW written in black marker. The note that came with it expanded on the writing a little more, but not much.

You're going to love this one. Just make sure you use the F5 key. -Hoshi

Felix grinned in anticipation.

***

There were busy days in the CIC, and then there were the slow shifts. This was one of them. Felix glanced around the room. Dee was half asleep, even as she directed the occasional call. Tigh and Adama were caught up in some quiet conversation, and when Felix sharpened his ears enough to listen he heard snatches of Ellen and other men and I told yous. Kelly was trying not to be obvious about the fact that he was doodling instead of writing a report, and Timmins over at the helm had glazed over eyes. No one would notice. Felix stuck the disk in.

It was meant to be hooked up to a network and played within a community, but Hoshi had said he'd modified the game so it could be played single player. Not as much fun, he'd explained, but these days, you took what you got. But maybe if Felix liked the game, they could figure out how to play it in a two-player mode. He had nothing but time on Garner's watch, apparently. The last had been said in such a condescending tone that Felix could hear Hoshi rolling his eyes over the wireless.

The graphics weren't great, Felix thought a bit morosely as the game began. In fact, they were flat out primitive. He worked his way through a few screens. Apparently it was some type of role-playing game. Hoshi obviously favored the sword and sorcery types, instead of the more realistic ones where you robbed old ladies and stole cars, like Felix used to play. But as he worked through, he admitted that okay, maybe this one was decent. Then he remembered Hoshi's note and hit the F5 key. Immediately, everything disappeared and his work screen came back up. He hit the F5 again, and the game returned.

Felix smiled. Perfect.

***

"All right," Felix said into the phone, glancing around, "I've gotten past the Red Orb guardian. Are you sure there's gold around here?"

"How many times did it take you to get past the guardian?" Hoshi asked, not answering the question. Felix could hear him trying not to laugh.

"Seventeen. Why? How many tries did it take you?"

"Twenty-three," Hoshi admitted. "He's a bitch."

"Yeah. Now, where's the gold?"

"It's not gold you're after. It's the Sword of- sir, I've got Raptors docking at two seven six. The Sword of Damociyonus."

"Ah. Okay." Felix glanced at the DRADIS screen. Still nothing, like it had been for the past however many days. He sighed in boredom and tapped the keys until he managed to find the sword. "Got it."

"Call me back when you get to level 17," Hoshi said, a warm, teasing note in his voice. Felix found himself wishing he could remember exactly what the lieutenant looked like.

***

Felix thought he was getting extremely good at hiding his game. After all, it wasn't hurting anyone. He was still watching the DRADIS, still getting all his work done, and it was a hell of a lot better than drinking on duty, like some people he could name. So it was a surprise when he felt a presence over his shoulder. He switched the game back to the work screen, but apparently not in time.

"Switch back to that screen," Tigh commanded.

Felix sighed. "Yes, sir," he said resignedly. He hit the F5 and showed the game in all its glory, and then braced himself for Tigh's tirade.

"For frak's sake, lieutenant, this isn't an arcade. If I see this on duty one more time, you're not gonna like what comes next. You got it?"

"Yes, sir."

Tigh nodded stiffly. But as he turned away, he glanced once more at Felix. "And for the gods sake, would you just find the bag of holding already? It's back three rooms ago."

Felix just stared as Tigh walked away.

Re: The Only Difference Between Men and Boys

[geekbynight.livejournal.com]

This was adorable! Love that Hoshi gave Felix WoW because he SO would have it XD And then Tigh at the end, so awesome.

Thank you for this!

Re: The Only Difference Between Men and Boys

[safenthecity.livejournal.com]

This made me giggle. Out and out giggle.

And then Tigh! Of course Tigh plays WoW. xD

Re: The Only Difference Between Men and Boys

[kappamaki33.livejournal.com]

Oh, boys, please don't ever change. I love it when Tigh surprisingly has a sense of humor. ;)

Re: The Only Difference Between Men and Boys

[puszysty.livejournal.com]

Oh boys. I love them and their nerdiness.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Oooh, hurty scene, right after Louis's suicide.

"Felix is finally asleep," Dee sighed, collapsing into a chair in Joe's. "Thank the Gods."

I need to stop capitalizing gods. I'm horribly inconsistent about that.

"Is he crying a lot?" Racetrack asked, a furrow of surprise between her eyebrows.

I think Racetrack's surprise here was because of Dee's "thank the gods." It's not she doesn't expect Felix to cry or even look down on it- I mean, Louis just shot himself. But she's surprised that Dee sounds like her patience is running out, and that's the most trying thing that Racetrack can think of. I can see Racetrack not being good with people crying.

"No, that's the thing," Dee said. "Except for when it happened, I haven't seen him cry yet. I wish he would. But he just… he just stares bitterly."

Cally exchanged glances with Danielle. Danielle smiled at her encouragingly, like she thought the outburst in the Raptor had helped. The thing was, it hadn't. Cally looked down at the table. She wished she could say that it had.

I liked Danielle a lot. She was very... nice, I think. She was sort of a less-bubbly Kaylee in her way, and I think she knew Cally wasn't feeling better, but she sure wished that Cally was.

Caroline sighed heavily. "That's rough on him, though. Gods, can you imagine? I mean, I get that Hoshi broke. Half this frakking ship- hell, half this frakking fleet is ready to break. But to know that you aren't enough to live for-"

Caroline wasn't happy with me for doing this, I think. She's right, though. Talk about a mindfuck on Felix.

"It doesn't work like that," Cally interrupted sharply, looking up. "He didn't do it to hurt Gaeta."

"I didn't say he did," Caroline retorted. "But it's got to feel that way to him anyway."

"You know it does," Dee said sourly. "Felix basically said as much in his eulogy."

Heh. Felix's eulogy for Hoshi was... I hate rereading it, because Felix's bitterness and anger comes through it so hard, and it's really not one of his better moments. A lot of the Pegasus people who knew Hoshi were not happy with Felix for that eulogy, even if it was very honest. People don't like to speak ill of the dead.

Cally saw the airlock in her mind, as clear as if she was back in there. She shook her head angrily. "It's not what he meant," she insisted viciously.

This was a hard part about incorporating Louis and the suicide into Cally's storyline. Because Cally DID try to kill herself. Granted, in BSG that's a trope in itself. Seriously, is there a character we didn't see think about it? Maybe Helo, I forget. But not to many of them skipped it. But Cally's attempt was more recent, and she still hasn't completely worked through it, so she gets why Louis did it, even as she's furious. This was so freaking complicated- I hope I did it justice.

"Cally…" Danielle said carefully.

Seelix cleared her throat. "The thing is," she said, "whether it hurt Gaeta or not, Gaeta was right about one thing. Hoshi should have felt like there was something else- like we could find some other sort of future."

And we start bringing up seeds for the mutiny.

"What sort of future?" Caroline demanded, taking a deep swallow of her drink. "Even if we find a habitable planet, the Ones, Fours, and Fives could come along and…" she made an explosion noise, expanding her hands. "Earth was the best shot we had at having a defense against that."

"They should have had another plan, rather than just some fake-"

"Earth wasn't fake! It was real!"

"Stop," Dee ordered tiredly. "Come on, guys. It's been a long few days for all of us. Let's just… can we just not talk about it?"


Poor Dee. If there was time during a challenge, I would LOVE to see a remix of this from Dee's POV. A lot of what was going on in her head had to go unsaid because this was a Cally fic. Maybe some day, in all that nonexistent free time, I'll write it myself. (Yeah, right.)

[aome.livejournal.com]

If you're willing to step away from the BSG and write a fandom I know, I'd love to have a ficlet/drabble for the "white rose" icon.

Would love the cake recipe!

White Rose

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Neville breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of damp earth under the sweet scent of flowers. It was quiet in here, and peaceful. He sat down on one of the benches, looking at the plant next to him. It wasn't anything exceptional- it just looked like a white rose.

"Neville?"

Neville stood up. "Oh, Professor Sprout. I'm sorry. I just... I wanted to-"

"It's fine," Professor Sprout said, smiling. "You know you're welcome in here any time."

"Yeah, well." Neville's feet seemed to shuffle on his own.

"Did you have a good holiday?" Professor Spout asked instead. She was using her wand to water the plants.

"It was all right," Neville said noncommittally. He reached into his pocket, unconsciously fingering the gum wrapper his mother had given him. "I did some studying for my O.W.L.S."

"Already?" To his surprise, Professor Sprout didn't look exceptionally pleased by that. "Did you do anything else?"

He shrugged. "Not really."

"Hmm." She didn't push, and the silence that descended between them was companionable.

"Do you need help?" Neville finally asked.

"If you'd like," Professor Sprout said. "The plants in that bed need watering."

"Okay." Neville pulled out his wand and began to water. The sound of the water falling on leaves and earth was comforting, and he felt the tension between his shoulders easing. The greenhouse was the best place at Hogswart, Neville was sure. "What's this one?" he asked Professor Sprout, pointing to the plant that looked like a rose.

"That one?" Professor Sprout smiled. "Believe it or not, Neville, it's exactly what it looks like. It's a white rose."

"What is it used for?"

"Well, there are some magical uses for roses, but to be honest, I don't want to use this in anything. It's too beautiful, don't you think?"

"I guess."

"Not all value comes from functionality," Professor Sprout said.

Neville flushed angrily. "It's not that way," he snapped.

"Excuse me?" Professor Sprout seemed very surprised.

"She's functional," Neville said, the tears springing to his eyes. "Saying she's not... that's a horrible thing to say!"

Professor Sprout blinked. "Neville, what are you talking abo... oh. Oh. I see." She sighed. "Neville, I was talking specifically about the plant, not speaking in metaphors."

"Oh." Neville looked away.

"If you want to talk about your parents, we can," Professor Sprout said gently. "Just tell me."

The plants became a green blur. "I know," he said quietly. He began watering again. "If you've got time...."

"I've got all evening," Professor Sprout said.

Re: White Rose

[aome.livejournal.com]

That was lovely. Thank you!

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

I'll give you choices!


or



I may have to steal this meme. Next week, though, not this week. *sigh*

Anastasia's Secret

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Okay. I could not resist this idea. Also, sorry for the telling rather than showing!

It was going to be a great day; Dee was sure of that. And she was right.

The Pegasus was becoming familiar to her now, and she walked the corridors with an authority befitting an XO. Her shoulders straight, her expression stern, and her steps authoritative, she began to see people scramble back to their work when she approached. And maybe she was turning into Tigh, but damn if she didn't like it, just a little bit.

"What do we have today?" she asked the lieutenant who brought her the morning report.

"There's a meeting on New Caprica that someone needs to attend to," the lieutenant said. "The supply rations-"

"I'll go," Dee said, leafing through the reports and filing their contents in her mind. "I feel like taking on Baltar today."

The lieutenant seemed skeptical, but Dee ignored him. He didn't understand.

And taking on Baltar proved to be far from a disappointment. Dee relished any chance she had to give the President of the Colonies a good tongue lashing, and him wanting to cut the rations to the military ships proved as good a reason as any. She left the office with a signed form and a glint in her eye, and Felix laughing at her. "What got into you today?"

"Just on fire," Dee said, winking at him. "You look like you enjoyed it."

Felix shrugged, but the way he stared at her was like a kid brother worshiping an older sister, not like the man who'd been her superior officer for the past two years. Dee smirked and saluted him goodbye.

She yelled at the pilots, took on the deck crew, and chewed out the mess crew. The crew needed discipline, she knew, and damn it, they were going to get it.

It wasn't until they were alone that night that anyone identified the difference in her. Lee was on his back, wearing only his boxers, with Dee straddled over him when he laughed. "Let me guess," he said, his voice laced with submissive seduction, "you've got on your favorite pair of underwear today."

"What makes you say that?" Dee asked, leaning over and pinning his wrists to the bed.

"You always go on a power trip when you've got them on."

"No. I always put them on when I need to go on a power trip," Dee said, leaning over and kissing Lee. "After all," she murmured, "they are my lucky rocketship underpants."

Re: Anastasia's Secret

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

*giggles* This is awesome! Power-tripping, rocketship-wearing Dee is too adorable!

Re: Anastasia's Secret

[safenthecity.livejournal.com]

*snerk!*

Oh, I did not see that coming! I love you for this.

You know those rocket-ship underpants get Lee hot and bothered. :)

Re: Anastasia's Secret

[kappamaki33.livejournal.com]

Now, that's funny. Lucky underwear FTW!

Re: Anastasia's Secret

[kappamaki33.livejournal.com]

Ha! I get the title now, too. I'm a little slow on the uptake, apparently.

[safenthecity.livejournal.com]

I'm curious- what about BBT bothers people? I can see maybe one or two issues, but nothing big enough that I get worked up over it. I mostly sit back and enjoy how many references I get. :)

Icocn meme:



Since we're both squicked by River/Simon, I'd like to see some adorable siblingness from you!

And for commentary, I had a hard time deciding on whether to ask for the first or second half of this scene, but in the end, the Adama interaction won out as my favorite.


Tom half-expected that Laura would come in to gloat, but instead, it was Adama. He entered bearing two documents, the ink barely dried, Lee Adama in tow. Tom put his feet up on Adama's sofa. Hey, if the man was going to kill him anyway, he might as well.

"What, no President?" Tom asked. "I would have thought Laura would be salivating at the thought of pushing the airlock button."

"The President is not a particularly good shot," Adama said sourly, putting the documents in front of Tom. Tom idly pulled them forward, seeing that they were execution orders for himself and Felix. Firing squad. He also noted that the date, time, and place listed were the same, and that made him breathe a little easier.

"Well, that all appears to be in order," Tom said. He would not show fear or regret to this asshole in front of him. "You do realize, only ten ships were willing to follow her. Ten out of thirty five. The rest were coming with us. You've got your work cut out for you."

"Shut up."

Tom shrugged, and then glanced at the clock. "So I've got an hour or so to kill, I see?"

"Funny," Adama said. "Do you want a priest?"

Tom shook his head. "Not at all."

Adama nodded, and stood up to leave. "There are guards posted outside, but I assume you knew that." He glared at Tom. "And I hope you know that I am holding you responsible for the fact that I have to execute my Senior Officer of the Watch."

Tom sat back up, putting his feet on the floor. "You think that I recruited him," he said slowly. Adama nodded, just a little, and Tom let out a little chuckle. "No. No, Admiral, Felix Gaeta came to me.

"You think they're all your kids. Your family. That they all look to you as a father, as a surrogate parent. But they aren’t, and they don't. Felix Gaeta wasn't your son… he was mine. And I couldn't be prouder of him, and of the sacrifices he made for what he believed in, if he was my own child by flesh and blood."

Adama stared at him, and then made a disgusted noise and turned away and left the room. But Lee lingered. "Do you want me to stay?"

"If you want," Tom said, shrugging. "It's your decision."

Lee settled across from him. "My father would have executed Gaeta no matter what you said," he told Tom. "He was just hoping to get under your skin."

"I know," Tom said, but he couldn't deny a shiver of relief that passed through him at Lee's words.

Lee gave a wry smile. "You know, there are ways I almost wish you had won. You're right about a lot of things."

"Well, bear that in mind when you assume the throne."

[kappamaki33.livejournal.com]

I love the icon meme! I almost wish I had enough icons to participate. But it's not like I need any more bunnies at the moment. Well, except for a ficexchange one. Anyway....

"Idealists" or "Cheers"

Helo, Goodbye

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

(Okay, so I couldn't work the booze in, but I hope you enjoy it anyway!)

"I don't know how you talk me into this," Timmy complained, lying down on the couch and putting his head in Donald's lap.

"Easy. I told you about hot guys in armless shirts."

"You did do that," Timmy sighed. "You'd better not be lying."

"Jamie Bamber," Donald said, in the tones of a promise. "James Callis."

"All right," Timmy relented. "Let's start it."

***

"Heck with Jamie Bamber," Timmy said. He'd long since abandoned his comfortable spot on Donald's lap, and was sitting on the edge of his seat. "The guy who plays Helo is much more attractive."

"You think?" Donald asked, slightly jealous.

"A muscular guy with a moral streak, even if not everyone sees it yet? I'd say yes, he's extremely attractive."

"Oh. I guess when you put it that way... I still don't get it."

Timmy laughed, hit the pause button, and leaned over to kiss Donald. "He is fictional, you know. And you're quite real."

"True enough." Donald wrapped his arms around Timmy's waist, pulling him across his lap. "And real has certain advantages over fictional any day. I bet Helo can't do this."

"Probably not," Timmy gasped. "But ten bucks says that guy Gaeta could."

Donald laughed. "Bet you're right," he said, his lips near Timmy's. "But you know, we could stop talking-"

"And roll the hard six?"

"Or something hard," Donald agreed.

Timmy leaned in, his hips against Donald's. "So say we all," he agreed. "So say we all."

Re: Helo, Goodbye

[kappamaki33.livejournal.com]

Can you hear me squealing with glee half way across the country? :D

LOVE THIS so much I'm incoherent!! How much I love this: before I commented, I had to PM puszysty about it to tell her to get over here so I wasn't the only one squeeing like crazy. Funny, sexy, sweet--everything I love about Donald and Timmy. And I totally see what you did there with the couch and the watching DVDs... ;)


EEE! Thank you so so much!!

Re: Helo, Goodbye

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

LOL!!! I'm so glad you squeed :) I could resist this one. Donald and Timmy are just... ::squishes them:: (And I'm glad you caught the couch and DVDs. I would have liked to have their reaction to Gaeta/Hoshi for good measure, but Hoshi doesn't appear until how long, and the webisodes aren't on DVD :P )

Are you on AIM, btw?

You're welcome- thanks for prompting me with this one :)

Re: Helo, Goodbye

[kappamaki33.livejournal.com]

I would have liked to have their reaction to Gaeta/Hoshi for good measure, but Hoshi doesn't appear until how long, and the webisodes aren't on DVD

That sounds like a sequel to me.... :)

I'm not on AIM. I'm tempted every now and then to get it, but I'm afraid of it adding to the already too much time I spend with my computer.

Re: Helo, Goodbye

[puszysty.livejournal.com]

Eee, Donald and Timmy watching BSG!

(I can only imagine what happens when Narcho shows up...)

Re: Helo, Goodbye

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Heee. They both agree that he is incredibly handsome, but would look better with glasses :)

Glad you enjoyed it! :)

[puszysty.livejournal.com]

I'd like to see what you'd do with this one:

(By the way, the BBT icon was made by htbthomas