Ahoy, mateys! I have come ashore for a quick visit!

[exsequar]

I fail so much at LJ, you guys. Fail ever so much. :( I really really miss it, but I also feel like my life has progressed past that phase. I don't have time to lose myself in fic or the details of so many lives, as much as I'd want to. Even though I feel like I'm kind of a shitty grad student, I'm still a grad student, and that means busy. :(

Life updates since June... well, lots! I did a three month internship this summer which was... okay. Not exactly revelatory. I spent half of it writing a grant for my grad school work and trying not to puke because I'm SO BAD AT PLANNING SCIENCE, and the other half trying to figure out what I want to do instead because research is clearly not my destiny. I landed on science publishing, which basically entails working as an editor at a scientific journal, coordinating with authors and reviewers and generally shaping the journal's content and interactions with the world. I obviously need to finish my PhD so I'll do that and then look for editorial positions. I'm really excited about this new direction and hope it turns into a rewarding career.

I also went to Germanyyyyyy :D And also Dublin but that was a short visit, sadly. Still got to see some of my favorite friends though. But the majority of the trip was two weeks backpacking through Germany with my friend Sarah (who I met through the German football fandom!). We went to (in order) München (Munich), Chiemsee, Nürnberg (Nuremberg), Mainz, Karlsruhe, Köln (Cologne), Oldenburg, Hamburg, Fehmarn, and Berlin! The trip was whirlwind paced but I was so glad we got to see all the things we did. We attended four football matches, I met MY BELOVED LEWIS HOLTBY *points at icon and makes high pitched noises* after he scored 2 goals for the German U21s, we watched Germany beat Brazil, Mainz beat Leverkusen, and Bayern beat Wolfsburg. IT WAS AMAZING. We stayed with lots of friends of mine, new and old, some I've known forever but hadn't gotten to meet yet or only met once (*waves at novafairy, nebulein, and maleyka). My favorite city was Berlin (we only had A DAY! I want to spend a week there!) but they were all beautiful and unique. It was truly an amazing trip and only whetted my appetite for travel (and Europe) even further. And I cannot recommend backpack travel enough!! Sure I didn't have many clothes, but we did laundry twice and I only had ONE bag to deal with that I could just sling on my back, easy peasy. Such a freeing experience!

Josh and I fizzled out in September, a little while after I got back from Germany. It was a long time coming, sadly. We burned bright but only for a short while. I learned things about myself from that experience AND I had a hell of a lot of fun, so what more can you ask for? I haven't met a new guy yet, though there's a couple I've been talking to on OK Cupid who are intriguing.

I also moved apartments so now I live with one person instead of four (my current roomie was also one of the four, so no big adjustment there). We love our new apartment and I LOOOOOOVE my room. We're staying here for at least two years.

Fannishly, I have two new major TV loves: HAVEN and THE VAMPIRE DIARIES. To sum up: sdlkfjlsdkfjlsjfOT3OT3OT3!!!!! The triangles on these two shows BLOW ME AWAY. They have some similar dynamics but are at the same time drastically different and I love them *so much*. Some people choose Duke/Audrey or Nathan/Audrey or of course Duke/Nathan... I say why choose? They're ALL amazing and deserve to have each other. Furthermore, Audrey clearly loves both of them, and the *waves hands* nonsense between Duke and Nathan is so clearly ANYTHING BUT platonic, so really it's the only logical solution. Yup. And if you haven't heard of Haven, do yourself a favor! It's a surprisingly incredible SyFy show set in Maine but filmed in gorgeous Nova Scotia on FILM (not digital!). It's a bit like X-Files, with weird goings-on and a great male-female buddy cop dynamic, though they're both believers. There have been two (short) seasons so far and it got renewed for a third so you should catch up before season three starts in April!

And DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON VAMPIRE DIARIES. Lots of people told me they loved it but I was like pffff it's either marginally better Twilight or going to disappoint compared to Buffy. In fact, any comparisons to either vanished after the first few episodes. It starts in a place where it could become either, but really becomes its own thing. I've tried to articulate to myself how it's different from Buffy, and in the end I think the two are fundamentally different types of stories. Buffy is about the girl with a burden who has to fight evil with only love to support her, and it's about doing the right thing even when it's the most difficult. Vampire Diaries, on the other hand, is about loving so fiercely and blindly that almost anything is on the table if it's necessary to save that love. Elena and co. don't so much fight evil as do everything they can to protect their own, at nearly any cost. And the romantic part of Elena's love, at least, is focused on two incredibly dangerous dudes, no matter how defanged Stefan may seem. Um, in conclusion, I HAVE A LOT OF FEELINGS but TVD is really wonderful storytelling all on its own and I highly recommend it. If you've watched it, COME FLAIL WITH ME. CAROLINE. MATT. ALARIC. STEFANELENADAAAAAAMON. <3333 I tend to forget that shipping a OT3 with brothers in it might weird some people out, but uh, veteran of Supernatural fandom here, soooo... yeah that one wasn't such a leap for me. Whoops.

Speaking of Supernatural, I skipped season 6 but I'm really enjoying season 7! I'm afraid to say this because of the rotten tomatoes that will come my way, but it feels so much more like the show I know and love with Castiel gone (not just him but the whole angel nonsense). Dean and Sam are making me clutch my heart again! I have missed my boys everso. <3

SO! My dears! What on earth have you been up to? I'm gonna try to poke around my flist but clearly I have missed so much. (Again.) And if you really want to reconnect with me, I can now be found on Twitter pretty much all the time - I'm exsequar over there too! I'd love if you'd say hi! ♥

Comments

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

Hi, welcome back! I'm compelled to reply to your post, by virtue of the fact that I, too, am currently in love with Haven, TVD, and SPN S7. :) Obviously, we are in tune on the TV front.

TVD is really wonderful storytelling all on its own

This! I was so impressed with the early part of this season. Such a satisfying show, for my money. It's cheese, but only the best kind of cheese.

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Hi! Thank you! I love your icon! :D I'm so cut off from LJ that I only know one other person that loves Haven, but it's great to know it's getting some appreciation! It's really matured a lot over the course of the two seasons and I can't wait to see what's in store. I don't suppose you'd have any fic recs for me? :)

I was warned when I got into TVD that the storytelling is incredibly fast, and whoo boy is it ever! They whip through plot developments and emotional arcs by the dozens, but it never feels rushed, just incredibly satisfying, as you say. I have a knee jerk reaction against calling it cheese, because it makes me feel ALL of the emotions, and are real emotions ever actually "cheesy"? I don't know, I think they've done a great job constructing characters that feel real in a pretty ridiculous context (I mean, how many towns have a celebration of their founders EVERY WEEK?). But yeah, I guess it's cheese - cheese that I gobble up and then ask for more. :D

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

I have a knee jerk reaction against calling it cheese

I thought that when I said it, but you know, I really love cheese. :D It's kind of a strong compliment, for me.

Seriously, I love TVD unapologetically. Such good storytelling.

I sadly don't have many Haven recs, but I can give you one MASSIVE one. It's a pre-series, novella-length Duke/Nathan that I think is virtually canon, in my mind:

ETA: Two more tiny recs. This one was a birthday ficlet by kahtyasofia:

Duke/Nathan ficlet

and a commentficlet by kerithwyn:

Duke/Nathan/Audrey bits
Somebody That I Used to Know by wishtheworst (on AO3)

Go, read it right now. Seriously.

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Alas! I wish the Haven (and TVD!) fandoms were rolling around in fic. I'm so spoiled by SGA and SPN from way back in the day. (Is any fandom that prolific these days?) I have in fact read... at least most of that story! I have a feeling I never finished it because it was lost in one of my many tab meltdowns (I'm a tab hoarder, it's tragic). So thanks for the reminder to finish it if I didn't! There's also a great OT3 on AO3 that I'm sure you've found... it's written as an episode, complete with a great Trouble, but ends with the porniest coda ever nom nom. If you haven't and are interested, I can dig up the link!

(Gosh, I have missed being able to use phrases like "porniest coda". The rest of the world thinks that's weird - I think THEY'RE weird!)

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

gah, sorry, I screwed up the coding on that, and now I can't fix it, but hopefully you can figure it out. :)

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Oh yay, more recs! Thanks! :D

[amnisias.livejournal.com]

I was wondering what had happened to you! I know life moves on and gets increasingly busy but I do appreciate people updating their journal once in a while, even if it's only once or twice a year, so that I know what their're up to. So thanks for taking the time and writing so much.

Funnily enough I'm right there with you for TVD, Haven and SPN. Vampire Diaries are a very happy place for me, with all the OTTness and OT3ness it offeres. They manage to strike the perfect balance between being very tongue-in-cheek and emotionally rich drama. Damon's eyebrows alone have me in stiches, as do most of his oneliners, and his emotional journey has me in tears. What more can a fan ask for?

Great to hear you liked Germany and had lots of fun!

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Aw thanks! It's nice to know I'm missed by someone anyway. ;) How are things with you?

All three are EXCELLENT THINGS. TVD gives me all of the feelings but it's also total unabashed fun - an excellent mix. OH DAMON'S EYEBROWS/EYES. They should get their own billing. Caroline's also a character that's like LOL OH CAROLINE but then she's like OMG Caroline you flawless queen! *___* And yaaaay someone else loves Haaaaven! It's just so darn good. <3

[ariadne83]

Oh man, Haven is the bessssssst! I'm mostly of the Duke/Nathan persuasion because it hurts so good but HOMG OT3!

[novafairy.livejournal.com]

I'm like a month to late, lol.

*waves back*

It was such a crazy (and good and fun) time to have had you here. ♥

Speaking of Supernatural, I skipped season 6 but I'm really enjoying season 7! I'm afraid to say this because of the rotten tomatoes that will come my way, but it feels so much more like the show I know and love with Castiel gone (not just him but the whole angel nonsense). Dean and Sam are making me clutch my heart again! I have missed my boys everso. <3
ME TOO. ME TOO. ME TOO.

I mean, I didn't skip season 6. I couldn't skip. I'm way too much into the show (I'm just realising that again during my rewatch right now) to skip anything. I haven't exactly been head over heels with S6 but I'm already excited to watch it again. Because watching those episodes over and over doesn't take away the magic for me. Quite the contrary is happening.

This little stupid flawed show. Seriously!!!

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Hi darling! It was so amazing to see you and your beautiful city/country. AND our beautiful footballers. ♥♥

I love your love for SPN! :D You're so cute with your rewatching. I wish I had the time! But yes, it's one of those shows where the magic is actually increased by rewatching. I blame Jared and Jensen and their FACES. Yup.

[modillian.livejournal.com]

Hiii! Late comment is late. I too have become sort of all-consumed with my job/job-finding so I've blitzed out for uuuuh, what, a year?

But I've been re-watching Buffy and FLAILING all over it.

Also your explanation of Haven and TVD is EXACTLY what I needed to read. I've thought Haven was interesting but never got around to it and now I might EXPLODE IF I DON'T SEE IT OMG OT3s I LOVE THEM. And if TVD is as you say it is I am very much intrigued and also YAY SUPER-INTENSE OT3 :D :D :D

I tend to forget that shipping a OT3 with brothers in it might weird some people out, but uh, veteran of Supernatural fandom here, soooo... yeah that one wasn't such a leap for me. Whoops.
Hahahaha yes!!! Also there was the ever-popular incesty-relationships in Buffy/Angel fandom too so I think I'm well-heeled enough in fandom to dip into those waters in TVD.

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Job-finding is no fun at all! I haven't had to do that in earnest yet, and I'm dreading the day it becomes necessary. Good luck!!

BUFFY. BUFFYYYYYYYYY. I've also been rewatching (slowly, but oh so satisfyingly!) and it remains the most wondrous show and cast and story EVAR. I know it has issues (what doesn't?) but I still find these characters and their world so endlessly, perfectly, achingly gripping. Gah ♥

YAY! Okay let me expand on both of them for you. Haven: I have no caveats other than it takes a little time to get going. If you love Duke like I do (and HOMG I LOVE DUUUUUKE), don't worry about his relatively small part early on. He eventually becomes just as important as the two main characters and the three of them have shenanigans and adventures and LOTS OF OT3 FEELINGS I MEAN COME ON IT IS RIGHT THERE ON THE SCREEN GEEZ. *flails* It's only 2 short seasons so far, and picked up for a third \o/, so watch! Watch and love and flail at me! Then I will link you to the best OT3 fic ever omg.

As for Vampire Diaries, okay, it basically LIVES on love triangles, and we both know the solution is always PICK BOTH. The entire CONCEPT is that there are these two vampire brothers, and they were once in love with the same woman and she was in love with both of them. (YUP. CANON. Only thing lacking is all-in-same-bed-at-once thing but it happens in my brain.) Then one of them falls in love with a girl in modern day, and over time the other brother falls for her too, and YOU SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING. That will be enough to sustain you I think, but the fact is that the entire show is actually breathtakingly fantastic. I will say that you have to just sort of power through the first 6 episodes or so until it kicks off, but then it just explodes and doesn't stop exploding EVER. The most notable thing about the show is the absolute breakneck pace of its plotting - so much happens in every episode that it feels like a finale, or an entire season of another show. But it's always rooted in fantastic characters. And they're constantly changing the stakes and thrusting new traumas on the characters so nothing stagnates. It's just REALLY GOOD. It took me a long time to give it a chance but then I watched two 22 episode seasons in 3 weeks, so. I highly, highly recommend it!!

I have no relevant icons so HAVE AN MCR PUPPYPILE.

[modillian.livejournal.com]

Ok you have really GOT ME GOING. And I was all pfft, okay, I'll break down and get a HuluPlus account for a month to devour ALL OF THE VAMPIRES DIARIES but I checked it out and even with paying for access you only get the last five most RECENT eps of TVD!!! What is up with that? Did you legit buy your episodes, or Netflix them, or how did you get a hold of the series???

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Hulu only just recently got into business with the CW so I imagine it might be some time before all the eps are online, unfortunately! :( It is on Netflix instant though, I do know that! However, I, uh, *shifty eyes* got it by *other means*, if you know what I mean. I did then buy season 2 though just because it's so wonderful and I found it on sale and there's lots of lovely extras. So I guess Netflix instant would be my best recommendation?

[modillian.livejournal.com]

I see. *twils evil moustache* I will probs use a free trial month of Netflix to devour TVD, I'll let you know what I think. (I'm so excited! New show, new show to watch!)