Writing frustration

[winter]

I totally should post something Star Wars related, except for the fact that I didn't realise posting my info in imadra_blue's friending meme would lead to people actually friending me. So. Um. Probably not the right moment to mention the fact I haven't touched Star Wars with a ten foot pole in a long while.

Anyway, spent today trying to fic and failing. Current working-on-them-right-now list, just to motivate me tomorrow at work, because apparently I'm unable to write at home; at this rate I'll be able to write something I want to write around... hm, July?

- 3 Tanz der Vampire stories (trials of a vampire father, very twisted Dracula/Krolock and Herbertfic). All for fyrie *expletive deleted*

- Vlad and Gabriel by the fire, for ariss_tenoh, with sincere apologies for the delay

- Coldfire: Family Ties, possible vignettes, for Gerald Tarrant. Peskiest muse ever

- next set of Dooku drabbles for the 1character prompts, and the Dooku-and-Obi-Wan fic, for imadra_blue

- miscellaneous Dooku and non-Dooku fic for the SW people on the f-list because I'm feeling guilty

Oh, and on top of everything else I may be able to combine my obligations towards fyrie, the Coldfire people and the Star Wars people in one fic. But I've a feeling it might get me a wee bit flamed =^.^=

In other news, GIP. *purrs*

EDIT: *headdesk* Completely forgot. fyrie did it again. The next installment of her Buffy/Tanz crossover killed me even deader. Even if you don't know anything about Buffy or Tanz, if you have the slightest fondness for dominant vampires, for Lucifer's sake read this story.

Comments

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

P.S. OMG I LOVE VITTORIO!1

[winter]

OMG ME TOO!

...now I want a Vittorio icon. And possibly Vittorio/Buffy and VK/Vittorio ones :D

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

He's addictive! I suspect spins off! That line about the bird and wings? I squeaked when I typed it!

[winter]

If I end up writing about him pining after VK, that'll be totally your fault.

Unless, you know, you write it first.

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Rearrange this sentence: Out brain of my get :P

[winter]

Only if I'm allowed to hand over the custody of the bunnies to you :P

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

You sure you don't want to foster? :P

[winter]

I cannot assure proper living conditions. My plotbunny cages are the definition of overcrowding :P

(Night!)

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Maybe it'll suffocate a few of them, then... ;)

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

And alas, now, I flee to bed, chased by said wretched bunnies...

For when you get back: first scene of Herbertfic take two

[winter]

(I need a Herbert icon very, very much. You wouldn't mind telling me where you found that picture in yours?)


Autumn of the Year of Our Lord 1638, Vienna, Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation


The night air already carried the autumn chill, but the ground of the courtyard was still more dust than mud. Kinga was grateful for it as she carried the pail of dishwater to the gutter. Less cleaning to do, especially now that most student lodgers were spending the night outside the city gates at one of the last revelries before the cold chased them back to the wineries and cellars close enough for the boys to drag themselves home once they were kicked out. They would wake her then to open the gate for them, but tonight they’d rather sleep under the stars than chance the long trek.

All except one, she thought. Just one window with the faint light of a candle she’d lit for him before dusk fell. She would have to go there and light another before she went to sleep; otherwise he’d wake and open his wound again trying to do it himself.

Kinga shivered. It was really getting cold at night.

She heard hoof beats, a sharp staccato over the cobblestones. She wondered who it could be, now that midnight had passed. A courier, perhaps, carrying mail from the outer reaches of the empire. She had sent a letter to the boy’s home when he had first been brought to her lodging house, but she doubted he would live to read the answer.

The horse came around the corner at near gallop, pulled back by the rider just as it was about to ride her down. It was a great bay with a dark coat that was almost black in the moonlight. She stepped back towards the gate of the house, out of the reach of its hooves.

Of the rider, all she saw was a swirl of a dark cloak as he dismounted. “Which of these houses belongs to Kunegunde Tiedeman?” he demanded sharply.

Transylvanian accent, flickered through her mind.

“That would be me,” she said, drawing her tiredness and indignation around her. She hadn’t been running a lodging house for unruly students for twenty years without gathering some force of her own. “And I’m not accepting visitors this late.”

The stranger grew still. She had the feeling he was watching her, though his face was in shadow.

“Forgive me, Frau Tiedeman,” he said. “I did not expect the matron of a lodging house to be out on the street so late at night.”

“Usually, I’m not,” she scoffed. She headed back inside the courtyard, heard him following, leading the horse. He seemed to have manners, at least. “I gave the girls the night off – there is a feast outside the gates tonight. I would go myself, but care of the sick comes first.”

“Care of the sick?” There was hesitation in that voice, as if he wanted to say something more.

He really had a remarkable voice, Kinga thought. Deep and melodious, and she was sure the accent reminded her of somebody.

She sighed. “It’s such a sad story. Students duelling – I don’t know why they don’t just settle it with a brawl like normal people. And the boy won’t tell anyone who the other man was, so all I know is that his friends found him in Buchenwäldchen Grove and brought him here. The doctors had hope at first, but now...”

“Now?” he whispered.

“He is dying. One day, maybe two.” Kinga shrugged. “It happens. I’ve done my best.”

For a moment, the courtyard was silent enough that she could hear her own breathing. Then the horse snorted.

“I’m sure you did, Frau Tiedeman,” the stranger said. “Thank you. And thank you for sending the letter.”

She startled. The letter? But it should have barely reached the border of Transylvania by now-

The man dropped his horse’s reins on the ground, as if he were sure the animal would not move without command, and stepped into the pool of light falling from the attic window.

He wore black in the Spanish style, restrained and unembroidered. His hair fell down to his shoulders, straight and thick and dark. His face was pale, but it wasn’t only the paleness that brought such resemblance to the boy.

His eyes were dark as night

“I am Graf Johannes von Krolock,” he said, bowing to her as if she were a princess of the blood, not a simple Viennese bürgerin. “Herbert is my son.”

Re: For when you get back: first scene of Herbertfic take two

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

*wibbles* Oh, poor Johannes! You have made me tear up here! his reactions, the quiet dignity of him! Gah!

(will look for the Herbert pictures at once ;D)

Re: For when you get back: first scene of Herbertfic take two

[winter]

Let's just say that I'm in his POV now, and he's a hairsbreadth from breakdown. He's still so young, the memory of his first loss so fresh, and it doesn't help that Herbert takes a lot after Ilse, his wife, in looks...

(Also, would appreciate fic-poking in return. Due to the time difference between us, I ended up sleeping for considerably less than five hours last night, and I need to keep awake right now...)

Re: For when you get back: first scene of Herbertfic take two

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Am technically skipping a class due to feeling like shit warmed up (pardon my french), so I'll see what I can do to cheer myself to. Barely slept and can't eat again. Am not a happy camper.

Re: For when you get back: first scene of Herbertfic take two

[winter]

:( My sympathies. You really should poke that doctor about the gastroscopy, this is far too long to go with unresolved stomach trouble. Don't feel obliged to write if you're not feeling up to it!

Re: For when you get back: first scene of Herbertfic take two

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

I've got an appointment on Thursday to check for viruses and if not that, then the camera goes in (oh the fun!)

But yes, am up to writing because while I couldn't sleep, muses decided to keep me occupied and basically, the dinner scene? Oh good grief... Herbert is being such a stroppy girl ;) And Dawn gets to prove to Buffy that she's tough enough to deal with the vamps. (I always hide in fic, whether I'm sad, happy, sick, mad, anything :D)

*tweaks* Random added bits for you:

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Squatting down beside him, Herbert peered at the wires. “Do you honestly think that will work if she doesn’t want you in there?”

Sighing, Spike shook his head, but continued to wiggle the wires. “Dunno,” he said. “Never seen her get this way before.” Looking up at Herbert, he frowned. “Weren’t you meant to be looking after Red?”

“The young witch?” Herbert grinned slightly. “Oh, yes. Once fed and watered, she to recover quite nicely.”

“And you’re grinning like you just found a pretty little choirboy because…?”

“I let her into the library.”

Spike groaned. “Lemme guess; spontaneous orgasm?”

“Several, unless I was sorely mistaken,” Herbert’s smirk was thoroughly lecherous, his grey eyes glimmering. “Of course, I have little experience on that front, but one would assume that some sounds are universal.”

“You’re a pig,” Spike said succinctly.

“Mm,” Herbert acknowledged. He leaned over the younger vampires and rapped on the door, tilting his head. “Dawn?” he inquired. “Darling, are you going to sulk in there all day or may I come in and discuss your sister’s boyfriend?” There was no reply and Herbert’s eyebrows rose. “What did you say to her to make her so angry, William?”

Re: *tweaks* Random added bits for you:

[winter]

Muahahaha. Herbie is so much love, it defies description :D

(BTW, my Herbert says he sympathises with your gut situation. Of course, his can be easily traced to the gaping hole left by a dirty bastard's dirty sword, but it's the principle of the thing that counts. Or so he maintains.)

Re: *tweaks* Random added bits for you:

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

VK is so ftustrated with so many annoying people in one place at the moment. Herbert's only the tip of the ice berg ;D His logic is that if dad's keepiong his new girl pet around, he'll be too distracted by her to punish Herbie for his impending misdemeanours. Silly, silly Herbie.

(Aw, bless him! Sometimes, I think a slashed gut would be easier - at least that way, they couldn't bollix the diagnosis half a dozen times)

Re: *tweaks* Random added bits for you:

[winter]

I've a feeling Herbie's generally not above taking advantage of VK's paternal feelings to get away with much more outrageous behaviour than VK's prepared to take from anyone else ;)

Re: *tweaks* Random added bits for you:

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Definitely. Although he's being such a stroppy manbitch about Buffy/Vittorio to the point that VK gets growly and broody :D And I've been trying desperately to work out what Vittorio liked about Buffy. All he keeps saying is that "one cannot help what one feels")

Re: *tweaks* Random added bits for you:

[winter]

I see Herbert's in danger of getting grounded, then? ;)

Possibly her forthrightness, and maybe her broken-ness a bit? Apart from that, I blame pheromones.

Re: *tweaks* Random added bits for you:

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Herbert's going to get his boytoy taken away from him for several days, if not weeks, if he doesn't learn to behave. (Although am tweaking the scene with him and Spike after VK leaves and um... he got possessive and prowly and alpha-male on Spike's ass)

*grins* But he's had any number of gorgeous and messed up women. This is where I'm aboggle, because Buffy = dumb as a post, really. I want to know what was there that made him give up on seducing the rest of Europe.

Re: *tweaks* Random added bits for you:

[winter]

Ooooh. Snippet of that scene? Possessive!Herbert is always brilliant :D That's what I like about him - that he's outrageous and flouncing and still alpha.

I repeat, pheromones. That, or a really nasty Gypsy curse.

Re: *tweaks* Random added bits for you:

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

With a prickle of some kind unease running down his spine, Spike nodded, lowering his eyes meekly and when next he looked up, von Krolock was gone.

Behind him, he felt Herbert rise a moment before an arm slipped around his waist. “He did not look very pleased,” Herbert murmured against Spike’s ear, idly stroking Spike’s stomach.

“Stating the obvious your gift, then?” Spike said more sharply than he intended.

Herbert drew back a little, as if subdued, then spun Spike to face him, gripping the younger vampire’s wrists in a steely hold. “It was friendly observation,” he said quietly, eyes glittering. “He will take care of her, you know.”

“I know!” Spike tried to pull his hands free. “D’you think I need to be told? But if he turns the Bit, so help me…”

Slowly, Herbert started to grin. “It’ll be interesting to see him try it,” he said, then pulled Spike bodily against him. “I think she can play this game as well as he.”

“The Niblet?” Spike stared at the elder vampire incredulously.

“Mm,” Herbert leaned in to claim a chaste kiss then smiled slowly against Spike’s lips. “Why do you think she and I did not kill one another while father was otherwise occupied with you?”

“You wouldn’t have dared!”

Herbert grinned slowly, wickedly. “I did,” he purred. “And she managed to outwit me. A clever girl you have there, and one who does not object to using tricks and cunning where the obvious is not enough.”

Blue eyes blinked several times. “Niblet outdid you?”

“Several times,” Herbert admitted freely. “I underestimated her.” He glanced upwards, as if seeing something beyond the stone of the ceiling and walls then looked back at Spike. “Do you think she likes chains?”

“I don’t need to think about that!” Spike exclaimed, voice rising in pitch.

Herbert laughed wickedly. “Oh, really?” he murmured.

Suddenly, Spike found himself thrown over Herbert’s shoulder. Giving the younger vampire a firm pat on the buttock, Herbert smiled. “Let us remedy that.”