LJ doesn't love me either. So sad. :( What do you think of the following:
“Hullo, Logan,” Xavier says. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Free food,” the man says, turning around. “How you doing, Chuck?”
“Fine,” Xavier says. He looks like he’s having the time of his life; his cheeks are flushed from a combination of the heat of the room and the beers he’s already had, and his smile is threatening to take over his entire face. Erik huffs a laugh; of course Xavier would be old school in his use of “fine.” “I wanted to introduce you to Erik,” he continues.
Logan grabs a beer and pops the cap with the enormous metal ring on his finger. “That’s nice. Have a beer,” he says, passing the beer to Erik. He opens two more, passing one to Xavier and keeping one for himself.
Xavier takes it as he completes his introductions. “Erik Lehnsherr, Logan. He only has one name that I’ve been able to discern.”
“Like Madonna,” Erik says, baitingly.
He’s eminently satisfies when Logan bares his teeth at him. “Right. Well, this has been fun,” he says insincerely. “But now I have free food and beer, and I’m leaving.”
“Oh,” Xavier says, startled. It’s probably the first time in his life that someone hasn’t fallen for his charm. “All right.”
Logan waves a hand at them and lumbers off.
“Well,” Xavier says finally. “That was Logan.”
Erik nods, not particularly interested.
“He’s been here for a few years now.” Xavier takes a few pulls from his beer bottle, looking at Erik expectantly.
“That’s nice,” Erik says eventually when it becomes clear that he’s actually expected to participate in the conversation. “How’d you meet him?”
“It’s actually rather fascinating,” Xavier says excitedly. “You missed the meeting on fostering cross-disciplinary work—”
“I deliberately chose not to go to the meeting,” Erik corrects him.
“But there’s some fascinating work that’s going on now, particularly in the smaller programs. And Logan was there as an example of some of it. He’s thinking of changing his thesis a little and devoting more time to the Roman Empire. He started out studying ancient Syrian languages, but he’s recently become interested in the cult of Mithras, both in and outside of Syria.”
“Can he do that?” Erik asks.
“Probably. He did a fair amount of independent research during some personal trips to Rome.”
“Couldn’t he get funding?”
Xavier shrugs. “Possibly. He didn’t mention it. Anyhow, it’ll most likely just mean another year or two of extra work and maybe some more work abroad.”
Erik snorts. “Just. Right.”
“What do you mean?” he asks, blinking in confusion.
“I mean it must be nice to not worry about finances when planning an academic career.” He downs the rest of his beer. “Not all of us have that option.”
“Right.” Xavier laughs shortly. It sounds a little strange; Erik looks over at him, but he’s looking at the ground.
Still hating the "fight," but I can't think of anything better with which to replace it. :(
There are things for me to do! Which I am doing and also trying to Google things to read for title ideas whilst I have to wait on our systems to finish uploading.
One of our recycling bins here is apparently named Melvin. This seems like the kind of vitally important information about my life that I should let you know. :D
Yes it is!!! Vitally important to my health and happiness :) I told you that our car is named Leviathan, right?
I LOVE the suggestion of title but I can't remember what we decided about using Latin in the titles. I might be kind of against it? Though I could be talked out of it? It just seems kind of inaccessible--although if we're writing this for us, I don't know if we care about that :) The bottom like is that I would be happy doing either buy have a slight preference for calling it "Either I shall find a way." and leaving out the rest of the quote because I am pretentious like that. And then using the full quote in latin for an epigram?
What do you think?
(Also meeting is finally over! Will be able to respond much more quickly--until phone dies at least!)
I don't think you did! But I am so glad it is. :D You told me the name of something else though.
I think we decided to go with English? I was just being lazy and went with Latin because I figured you would know what I'm talking about. (I think our decision was based on going w/ English because if we used a Greek title, the Greek fonts would be a problem.) and I am perfectly fine with having it that way. :D
So...we have a title??? I am SO EXCITED!!! Oh my god. It's a real story!!! :D :D :D
I mean it was before but now it's realer! It's the realest!
(My sister was going to be my valentine an she cancelled in me just now because she is sick and I am SO SAD. Clearly the answer is to stare at the AMAZING HEART someone gave me on LJ :D
(thank you thank you thank you!!!)
So in my head their first valentines day (to elaborate on our earlier convo) goes like this:
The morning of, raven texts Charles to say she received six valentines and btw what is he doing with Erik? And Charles completely panics.
So he probably gets Erik flowers (white lilies because they are the only thing left in the entire store and they smell like a funeral home) and somehow manages to get a last minute reservation at the nicest restaurant in town by charming the maitre d' over the phone and so they sit in horrible, awful silence in the candlelight and watch the people around them kiss and three proposals and Erik is sneezing the whole time because he ha allergies he refuses to acknowledge to pollen and it is so awful and Erik says, when they leave, "if you force me to do that again next year, I am breaking up with you now" and Charles says "thank god" and thus the no valentines day tradition is born?
Yay! I hate titling too, you know that. I am so thrilled :)
Hahaha, I would love to be your Internet valentine! (even if it was BOOM in the middle of a sentence!) I would offer to watch football but unless we can start it at around 10:30 I can't do it, as I have an 8:30 meeting the following morning...
Yes! Sparkles and glitter but not in my apt!!!! It's perfect!!
I'm do glad you like! I am adding this to my mental queue of things what need to be written :)
Yay! :D :D I can probably be home by that time, but I kind of want to do more editing? I feel like I'm in edit/write mode and should probably try to utilize that. :D?
Exactly! :D :D
I AM SO EXCITED FOR ALL THE THINGS WHAT NEED TO BE WRITTEN.
but then again, so do i, so i can't blame it all on you :)
so here's where i get thinky again: i think at the end of the day, what it comes down to is that you always want to show rather than tell, and that often means adding more, rather than taking some out. i mean, i'm open to going through it at the end with the intention of shortening it, but i think everything we've added makes it stronger in some way. so i'm not terribly worried :)
1. I feel like Charles and Erik get into these like, really lengthy debates in Irene's class whenever things are open to discussion and that Charles really enjoys this.
2. Is there a reason why Charles wouldn't have introduced Erik to Moira by the time the second mixer is happening?
oh my god yes. they totally would. and irene would try to gently bring the conversation around and then not so gently bring it around and then say, "gentlemen. you can discuss this in your office—or even in your apartment—but we're going to be moving on now." and when charles opens his mouth to say something, because he's totally the type of guy who would keep talking after the professor says no, she says, "really, charles. even though you're my advisee." and then charles finally looks abashed.
two reasons for it, neither of which is particularly good. the first is that it just didn't seem to come up. maybe he'd have introduced erik at the first mixer, but erik is really antisocial there and doesn't meet anyone that i can remember.
the second, from my pov at least, is that i didn't want them to really reconnect until charles' birthday, as i've plotted a lot of that around them reconnecting. because i am selfish and horrible. not a great reason, admittedly.
i don't know, i'm happy to rewrite as needed. i mean, if you think we should ax the entire scene with the "argument," which really isn't working at all, and instead have him introduce erik to moira at the second mixer with a comment about how it's crazy that they've never been in the same place at the same time, i'm okay with that. i just don't think that either of them would be comfortable having moira drop by either the office or the apartment yet, and those are the only places i can see it happening.
yes! I think she would allow it a little since they probably both make good points, it's just when it goes on too long/wanders anywhere off-topic that it becomes a problem. I kind of feel like Charles might be quiet the times when he gets the last word in? but then the other times he still tries to go on to say something.
have we come up with a concrete history for Charles and Moira? because I think we need to if we are going to have them knowing each other prior to the story? there are just a lot of times when I see Moira portrayed as the ex in a way that just doesn't work for me, and while I don't think you'd do most of the things other people do, I do think we need to figure out how they are around each other? (since I was considering having them interact in the first Charles story, but, uh, it sounds like that wouldn't work with what you're plotting?)
haha, yes, the constant wandering off topic would be a problem. but i also just think that she's uninterested in allowing them to dominate a discussion that way. i also kind of love the idea of erik really not talking all that much in class—unless charles gets him started. it's not even the last word, i think, so much as being able to finish his thoughts. i don't see him as particularly intellectually combative in that way. he doesn't care if he gets to talk last; he cares if he gets to express (to the best of his ability) everything he's trying to say.
and oh no, i didn't mean to step on your toes! i have to run out the door, but i'm happy to send you my thoughts in about half an hour, and we can hash out a backstory? and plot the friendship going forward. because i think you're absolutely right: we do need one.
this is a good point, too. you'll probably have to periodically remind me that this is a normal size school and not one where it's like, four people in a class.
no, it's okay! i just think we have completely different ideas about what level of friendship they're starting out at? and we should decide when they dated? (because like i mentioned before i'm more inclined to have them already be where they're kind of fine with each other, because i'm really particular about Moira? sorry! but yes, thoughts would be good.)
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Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-13 09:45 pm (UTC)Still hating the "fight," but I can't think of anything better with which to replace it. :(
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-13 10:42 pm (UTC)(Maybe take out one of the fascinatings?)
:/ Hmm, I will go through the fight more later tonight with how it fits with the story?
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-13 11:03 pm (UTC)How's work going?
Phones are such an amazing invention: I am texting right before my meeting starts :)
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-13 11:09 pm (UTC)Aww, yay! :D :D
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-14 01:02 am (UTC)Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-14 01:13 am (UTC)I LOVE the suggestion of title but I can't remember what we decided about using Latin in the titles. I might be kind of against it? Though I could be talked out of it? It just seems kind of inaccessible--although if we're writing this for us, I don't know if we care about that :) The bottom like is that I would be happy doing either buy have a slight preference for calling it "Either I shall find a way." and leaving out the rest of the quote because I am pretentious like that. And then using the full quote in latin for an epigram?
What do you think?
(Also meeting is finally over! Will be able to respond much more quickly--until phone dies at least!)
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-14 01:17 am (UTC)I think we decided to go with English? I was just being lazy and went with Latin because I figured you would know what I'm talking about. (I think our decision was based on going w/ English because if we used a Greek title, the Greek fonts would be a problem.) and I am perfectly fine with having it that way. :D
(Yay! I hope phone doesn't die soon??)
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-14 01:41 am (UTC)I mean it was before but now it's realer! It's the realest!
(My sister was going to be my valentine an she cancelled in me just now because she is sick and I am SO SAD. Clearly the answer is to stare at the AMAZING HEART someone gave me on LJ :D
(thank you thank you thank you!!!)
So in my head their first valentines day (to elaborate on our earlier convo) goes like this:
The morning of, raven texts Charles to say she received six valentines and btw what is he doing with Erik? And Charles completely panics.
So he probably gets Erik flowers (white lilies because they are the only thing left in the entire store and they smell like a funeral home) and somehow manages to get a last minute reservation at the nicest restaurant in town by charming the maitre d' over the phone and so they sit in horrible, awful silence in the candlelight and watch the people around them kiss and three proposals and Erik is sneezing the whole time because he ha allergies he refuses to acknowledge to pollen and it is so awful and Erik says, when they leave, "if you force me to do that again next year, I am breaking up with you now" and Charles says "thank god" and thus the no valentines day tradition is born?
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-14 01:48 am (UTC)(Awww. I have no valentine? I will be your Internet Valentine? and I realize that's not the way you ask someone to be your Valentine. :D? :D?)
(You're welcome! I was like, THIS CAN SPARKLE WITHOUT GETTING GLITTER ALL OVER YOUR APARTMENT. IT'S PERFECT.)
I am completely good with this being how their first Valentines goes. :D :D Poor Erik. Poor funeral home flowers.
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-14 01:55 am (UTC)Hahaha, I would love to be your Internet valentine! (even if it was BOOM in the middle of a sentence!) I would offer to watch football but unless we can start it at around 10:30 I can't do it, as I have an 8:30 meeting the following morning...
Yes! Sparkles and glitter but not in my apt!!!! It's perfect!!
I'm do glad you like! I am adding this to my mental queue of things what need to be written :)
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-14 01:59 am (UTC)Exactly! :D :D
I AM SO EXCITED FOR ALL THE THINGS WHAT NEED TO BE WRITTEN.
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-14 02:14 am (UTC)I think I am going to head home now so I too can get more editing done! What is this work of which you speak?
Me too me too! That master timeline really does need to be written--sometime in the future. :)
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-14 10:39 pm (UTC)slkrchck: why can't I write medium sized fic like a normal person?
esrafil: because! feelings! things!
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-14 10:57 pm (UTC)I am good with this author note. :)
especially because I keep making suggestions that result in more writing.
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-15 12:04 am (UTC)but then again, so do i, so i can't blame it all on you :)
so here's where i get thinky again: i think at the end of the day, what it comes down to is that you always want to show rather than tell, and that often means adding more, rather than taking some out. i mean, i'm open to going through it at the end with the intention of shortening it, but i think everything we've added makes it stronger in some way. so i'm not terribly worried :)
Re: Logan suggestions
From:Re: Logan suggestions
From:Re: Logan suggestions
From:Re: Logan suggestions
From:Re: Logan suggestions
From:Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-13 11:01 pm (UTC)Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-13 11:06 pm (UTC)Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-13 11:10 pm (UTC)Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-14 01:56 am (UTC)Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-14 11:03 pm (UTC)Random thoughts:
1. I feel like Charles and Erik get into these like, really lengthy debates in Irene's class whenever things are open to discussion and that Charles really enjoys this.
2. Is there a reason why Charles wouldn't have introduced Erik to Moira by the time the second mixer is happening?
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-15 12:16 am (UTC)two reasons for it, neither of which is particularly good. the first is that it just didn't seem to come up. maybe he'd have introduced erik at the first mixer, but erik is really antisocial there and doesn't meet anyone that i can remember.
the second, from my pov at least, is that i didn't want them to really reconnect until charles' birthday, as i've plotted a lot of that around them reconnecting. because i am selfish and horrible. not a great reason, admittedly.
i don't know, i'm happy to rewrite as needed. i mean, if you think we should ax the entire scene with the "argument," which really isn't working at all, and instead have him introduce erik to moira at the second mixer with a comment about how it's crazy that they've never been in the same place at the same time, i'm okay with that. i just don't think that either of them would be comfortable having moira drop by either the office or the apartment yet, and those are the only places i can see it happening.
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-15 12:31 am (UTC)have we come up with a concrete history for Charles and Moira? because I think we need to if we are going to have them knowing each other prior to the story? there are just a lot of times when I see Moira portrayed as the ex in a way that just doesn't work for me, and while I don't think you'd do most of the things other people do, I do think we need to figure out how they are around each other? (since I was considering having them interact in the first Charles story, but, uh, it sounds like that wouldn't work with what you're plotting?)
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-15 12:40 am (UTC)and oh no, i didn't mean to step on your toes! i have to run out the door, but i'm happy to send you my thoughts in about half an hour, and we can hash out a backstory? and plot the friendship going forward. because i think you're absolutely right: we do need one.
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-15 12:49 am (UTC)no, it's okay! i just think we have completely different ideas about what level of friendship they're starting out at? and we should decide when they dated? (because like i mentioned before i'm more inclined to have them already be where they're kind of fine with each other, because i'm really particular about Moira? sorry! but yes, thoughts would be good.)
Re: Logan suggestions
Date: 2012-02-13 11:59 pm (UTC)