#i'm outing myself as having been an anne rice fan as a teen

[foxgloveinthesun]

Get to Know the Fanfic Writer

I got tagged by @hrh-spinach ! I haven’t been long on tumblr and haven’t followed a lot of my fellow fanfic writers yet, so if you stumble on this and want to give it a try, consider yourselves invited to :)

When did you post your first-ever fanfic?

2005, when I lived in the USA (no relation between the two facts, though). But  started writing as a teen in the glorious early 2000s I guess (yes, I’m ancient, ’83 baby you guys!)

First Character(s) you wrote?

Wrote for myself? Louis de Pointe du Lac from the Vampires Chronicles by Ann Rice. I loved Louis – but never hated Lestat though!

For actual online publishing value, I don’t remember if it was a Vision of Escaflowne fanfic (I was an anime dork) or a Michael Lee fic from Witch Hunter Robin. My most serious fanfic was starring Michael though. If you don’t know him he was a poor teenage white hat hacker imprisoned by the shady organization he hacked into for funsies. He was then forced to do computer related tasks for them to be allowed to stay alive. Poor kid even wears dogtags. Little did I know it was the start of my obsession for dog-coded characters that end up paying a heavy price for just wanting to have fun…

Main Character(s) you're currently writing?

Why, Jesse Pinkman of course.

It always sounds a little ridiculous to state it this way but I relate to him on so many levels... I'll keep it at the fact that his character development actually really helped me realize there were some things I owed to myself to refuse…

He is an advocate for anyone who's struggled with addiction, has ever felt inadequate, out of place and belittled for it... I love how so many different people will reinterpret and embrace him thanks to that.

Character(s) you haven't written about before but plan to soon?

Diane Pinkman? It’s the chapter after the one I’m finishing and I’m looking forward to writing her. Two Sides of a Coin has just been a huge excuse for writing from the POVs of many of the characters that are still alive around the timelines of Ozymandias/Granite State/Felina.

My favorite one of these chapters is Andrea’s though.

I'm still surprised I included Walt as a regular POV through the fic, never thought I had it in me to write him (but then I also wrote from Welker's and Kenny's of course Todd's POV, so... I have this need to understand the rationales that sustains assholes and what/who scares me... It's a trauma thing ^^;).

Fandom(s) you're currently writing?

Breaking Bad/BCS mostly. I’m a huge fan of Charlie Broker too - and of whenever Aaron Paul stars in a story that criticizes toxic masculinity, so I have a Black Mirror WIP as well.

Would love to write about some of my favorite French shows (Black Hearts, l’Opéra, very recently Polar Park a brand new series that I just binged, or Engrenages, or the Holy Grail Quest parody Kaamelot… so many of them!) but that would not touch many readers and for fanfics, I’m a comment whore.

Besides, I want to finish my 4 WIPs (I count the post ElCamino fic that will follow Two Sides of a Coin as an ongoing WIP because I’ve started writing it already in order to stay sane while I finish TSoaC!)

I also need to focus on my personal stories, so, not enough time for other fandoms!

Platonic Pairing(s) you're currently writing?

Oh my… I have this silly AU where Walt gets decommissioned and Jesse and Gale get to work together in the Superlab and they develop this silly puppy cute friendship. I was afraid it would be a bit morbid given what happens in canon, but I don’t know… I really think they could have been a support for one another in different circumstances! It's a crack fic this one XD

Next chapter: Gale feeds Jesse healthy food and Jesse is a bit upset that he has been given vegan food without knowing it because vegan food is weird, ok (even though he liked it)! As a retaliation, he will call Gale’s bullshit regarding the “freedom” of addicts to buy and use drugs once they’re hooked – especially when you produce a super pure crystal that is even more addictive.... Hypocritical much, Gale?

Jesse calling out anyone’s bullshit is always a treat to write!

Romantic Pairing(s) you're currently writing?

Cliff and Lana Stanfield from Black Mirror’s “Beyond the Sea”. I really love how the interpretation of the characters’ relationships evolve as you delve into the story. Not going to spoil but there is one scene between them that really turns the table and reveals the truth of their relationship and that really got to me…

Your top AO3 tags?

Character study would be the main, because I take writing fanfic as a character building exercise. A nice sandbox to practice in.

Toxic masculinity is also one of the main topics I end up regularly tackling one way or the other…

Backstory brainrot is another one, I guess? I can’t help falling into interpretative backstory madness…

Current platform you use for posting?

A long time ago, I used to be on fanfiction.net… But the interface hasn’t evolved and feels less user friendly. Nowadays only on AO3. I’m aware of the controversies. I’m ashamed to admit I haven’t looked into them because the platform is convenient and I’ve read some great fics there…Not proud of that.

Snippet of the WIP you are currently working on?

I’m not good at snippets! I tried and was about to share around 2500 words of next chapter ^^; So I won’t!

Regarding Two Sides of a Coin, I would love to publish next chapter soon(ish). I would actually love to start publishing my ElCamino/post ElCamino sequel sometimes at the end of the year but that doesn't seem realistic...

Next chapter is from Todd's POV (the last one normally, I cannot with him anymore but I have to commit to my writing plan no matter how hurtful it is to my soul!). I’m realizing most of the structure of the chapters of Part 4 will be built on the same model: flashbacks that allow me to give into my backstory frenzy and “current events” (we have made it to early July by now I think, September is getting closer!).

This chapter heavily rests on the working theory I’ve developed in the fic that even if Todd and Jesse were not friends per se during the Vamonos era, they had some kind of friendly relationship going on, though Jesse would have kept a bit of distance.

I see Todd as relationship starved and he started projecting more onto his intractions with Jesse than there really was (just always rememer this will never be a Todd/Jesse fic, ty!). Jesse on the other hand, at this point of the series, had been efficiently cut from all his supports - by Walter of course (Andrea, his family…) but also by Mike. The scene where Skinny and Badger stop by to bring the roadie cases and Mike is on the look-out so Jesse kicks them out asap is so sad and kind of infuriating. Full confession, I'm not a Mike stan even though I love him as a character and love what he brings to the story. So… regarding dudes his age that his two “mentors” allow him to talk to… Jesse’d have been limited to Todd at this point. And he needs connection, we know that… which is why I think and explore the idea that they did have some form of camaraderie that meant something very different for each of them until the events Dead freight…

Back to next chapter, Todd is really hard to write, so I take my time… I actually want to go a bit further with his character study and test some of his limits without breaking out of character. Tough ballance! It’s a bit of a challenge right now…

#fanfic author ranting instead of writing fanfics #more than you asked for

[rainbowstrashpile]

It’s a Terrible Habit ch2 preview

I’m having that adhd problem where I have all the chunks I want written out in 3 different places but nothing to make them connect. Anyway, have a little snack of first meeting Nandermo. First chapter is linked under my rainbow writes tag.

The little dumpster boy smiles awkwardly at him, shoulder hunched down just a bit, cupid’s bow mouth turning up into a tight smile. “Oh um, sorry. We’re closed. I just locked up.” Nandor doesn’t quite know what that means. The alley is closed? The trash bin is locked up? He’s not some type of raccoon, digging around for rotting scraps. How terribly impolite, to see a handsome man in finery and think he wants to root around in stinky muck and old bread. 

The little trash boy turns around to the garbage bin again and throws the lid open. Nandor takes the opportunity to silently advance on him, eyes fixated on the boy’s sumptuous neck. He’s just a hair’s breadth away, his strong hands outstretched to grasp his shoulders and spin him around, lips pulled back with fangs bared to bite down; ready to savor the sweetest of meals he’s had in a long time. Suddenly the trash boy takes a step forward, just slightly out of his grasp, rudely causing Nandor to bobble a bit. Thankfully he is a powerful vampire and is able to right himself before anyone notices. He takes a precautionary step back so he doesn’t incur any trash related humiliations. Best to wait until his prey is done with the refuse before he feasts upon him. His victim heaves the trash in one go into the bin, then turns back to look at Nandor, a timid smile on his lips.

“I uh, I really like your outfit. Are you coming from like, a DnD group or something?” he murmurs out shyly. 

Nandor can feel more than see the blood suffuse the boy’s cheeks. And before he can stop himself, he asks, “What is a dee end dee?”

The little human becomes embarrassed, his hands fidgeting slightly at his sides as he blusters out, “oh, um, it’s where- it’s like a game, I guess. Where you pretend to be like, a character that fights monsters. And stuff.” 

Nandor nods along, still not entirely sure what he’s talking about, but also not really caring that much. “Then no, I have not come from the dee end dee game.”

“Oh. Well your outfit is still nice. Especially the cape.”   

Nandor briefly glances over his clothes, trying to distract himself from the sweet blood and the inhuman urge to pounce. He’s wearing one of his nicer fur lined capes over one of his gold brocade nehru jackets, a plain red dress shirt underneath. And in the dark, they look fine. But they’re starting to get just a bit dingy if you know what to look for. The fur lining is starting to mat just a bit, and Nandor doesn't know where the special brush for that is, or where to even procure one anymore. The leather of his boots need desperately to be oiled, and as carefully as he has tried feeding, his vests and shirts always end up bloodstained. That's the downside of not having a familiar. It's all he can do to keep his hair looking lustrous and beautiful. He is coping the best he can, given the circumstances. The trash boy seems to be a cape enthusiast of good taste, though. Perhaps he will know of a reliable washerwomen to clean his things. 

Nandor is just about to ask him if he at least knows the whereabouts of the local furrier when the trash boy speaks again. “You almost look like, well, a little like a vampire, I guess.” It falls from his soft lips clumsily, like it’s an embarrassing thing to say in the first place; like he's admitting to a pleasant but shameful fantasy. In Nandor’s experience, humans tend to very much not like vampires, so he’s surprised to see this tasty little dumpster boy stare at him with unmasked awe. 

“You like vampires?” He's taking a chance now, and as delicious as he looks, the little guy seems to know how to dispose of garbage pretty well. Put it all in a nice big bag and got the whole thing in the can in one go. Very professional. And he acts like he would be...unobtrusive around the house. Maybe it’s the hunger getting to him, or simply his desperation for clean clothes, but this little trash boy could be just the familiar he’s been looking for.

“Oh, I love vampires. I’m a huge Anne Rice fan.” He smiles wide as he says it, his cheeks dimpling and his teeth, luminous and white, are clearly on display. The honest joy is radiating out of him like sunlight; so pure and sincere Nandor feels like it will burn him alive. “I’ve got Interview with the Vampire playing almost on a loop when I’m home.” His eyes dart away as he catches himself getting excited, embarrassed to have apparently revealed a secret. “I mean, for a film adaptation of a novel it’s decently faithful. I don’t wanna talk about the Queen of the Damned movie though,” he laughs as he shakes his head. “The best that can be said of that is the soundtrack is alright.” 

“I don’t know what any of the things you have just said mean. But I think you’re going to be very pleased with what I have to say.”

#rainbow writes #nandermo #i'm outing myself as having been an anne rice fan as a teen #and also never having seen or read a single twilight product #i had to find out the kickball scene was a twilight thing from tumblr