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

Re: Another Herbert snippet, and backstory

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

“Oh, Herbert,” she said suddenly, turning and looking at him.

With a beckoning gesture, she drew him closer. He looked baffled, as if expecting to hear some warning or other then uttered an indignant squawk when she caught his face between her hands and kissed him squarely on the mouth.

For a split-second, there was a shocked silence then Herbert plummeted off his seat and landed on the floor, shattering the stillness with the same effect of a rock through a window.

William was the first to laugh, applauding as he did so, laughing so hard that his shoulders were shuddering from the force of it.

Half-rising from his chair, Vittorio peered over the table, a small smile playing about his lips as Herbert’s hands appeared at the edge of the table and the blond vampire pulled himself back to his feet, hastily smoothing his lapels and his hair.

“What was that for?” he demanded, turning a wounded look on Dawn.

Delicately sipping her wine, Dawn smiled innocently up at him. “I have the hot lusty feelings for you, Herbert,” she said, her expression utterly serious. “I want you to know so I can jump you tonight.”

“Dawn!” the Slayer squealed, but was – gratifyingly – silenced by her lover’s fingertips, Vittorio’s amused eyes on the vampire and his lover’s sister.

Grey eyes went round. “Have you ever drunk alcohol before?” he demanded. “Is this some drunken madness?”

Dawn’s smile was as wicked as his could be. “What worries you more? Being molested by me when drunk or sober?” She put the glass down and started to rise. “C’mon! Let’s get to the hot monkey sex!”

Back-stepping, Herbert almost tripped, staggering against William’s chair. “You’re bluffing,” he said, forcing himself to stand his ground.

“Oh yeah?” Stepping up right in front of him, Dawn caught him by the front of his shirt. She raised her eyebrows, cocking her head. “You wanna see me bluff taking your clothes off?”

He stared down at her and – by the fire – von Krolock could see how uncertain his son was. As far as he knew, Herbert had taken but one female lover and it had been a disastrously uncomfortable affair and now, the younger Miss Summers was proving her mettle to her sister, her friends and, above all, to Herbert.

Re: Another Herbert snippet, and backstory

[winter]

*imitates her icon*

I'm sure VK's doing that too at the moment, only inside, so as not to hurt his son's feelings ;)

Re: Another Herbert snippet, and backstory

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

He's trying so hard not to smile. Times like this, appreciates the shadows :D I think Dawn might get a kiss on the forehead for this, because not only did she break the tension, but she distracted Herbert enough so he'll stop sniping at Buffy and proved to Buffy that she can take on a vampire and make him run away :D

Re: Another Herbert snippet, and backstory

[winter]

Well, I'm not sure about the advisability of the jump-his-bones tactic on your run of the mill fangy minion, but she has a point ;)

Re: Another Herbert snippet, and backstory

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

*grins* Dawn's smart and sneaky enough to know to find an enemies weakness and in this case, it's girl-cooties :D

Vittorio caught onto what both sisters were up to. He thinks Dawn is far smarter than any other human has given her credit for and thinks its hilarious, especially with Buffy having palpatations beside him :D

Re: Another Herbert snippet, and backstory

[winter]

Gods, Herbert's going to pout for a week :D OTOH, perhaps the utter pwnage will stop further parental retribution?

For some reason I also have the feeling Vittorio treats Herbert like a kid - an adorable but frequently infuriating brat. That might be one of the reasons Herbie never succeeded...

Re: Another Herbert snippet, and backstory

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

*grins* And what's even better is that it means VK doesn't have to do the smackdown himself. He deplores the manners Herbert is showing and Dawn has saved him several hours work :D

Definitely - while VK had time to mature before becoming immortal, Herbert wasn't quite there and doubtless never quite will be and it's the maturity and quiet presence of VK that lured Vittorio to VK :D

Re: Another Herbert snippet, and backstory

[winter]

What I meant is more that Herbert presents as a teenager/early twenties (in my fic he's something like 21, 22 when he's turned), and Vittorio treats him as even younger. Just something about his reaction that says he's thinking "Oh, how precious"

Re: Another Herbert snippet, and backstory

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

*grins* he really does adore Herbert, but just not enough to shack up with him ;D Plus, there's the whole thing of it being VK's little boy, which is enough to make him go 'd'awwwww, your son is so cute! You must have a delightful time taking him to parties'

Bollix. Bunny. VK/Vittorio when Herbert is still a tot...

Re: Another Herbert snippet, and backstory

[winter]

Perhaps not a tot, I think, but very early teenage years would cut it. You never forget your first crush after all...

(Now I have the image of an angelic 13-year-old Herbert trailing Vittorio everywhere and fluttering his eyelashes at him, while VK quietly facepalms)

Re: Another Herbert snippet, and backstory

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

*grins* definitely enough for Vittorio to never take him seriously as a boytoy :D Every time Herbert tries to hit on him after he gets turned, Vittorio just goes "Awww, I remember when you first tried that. You are so adorable.", to which Herbert goes bashful for the first time in decades, shuffles his feet and flees.

Snippet on my way out the door

[winter]

For a moment all was still. Then von Krolock placed his hands under Herbert’s arms, supporting his son’s weight without jarring his wound. The trembling was more pronounced now, a sequence of bone-rattling shudders that ran the length of Herbert’s skin.

“I’m dying,” Herbert said. “There’s poison in my blood, and no doctor can draw it out. I don’t want it to end like this.”

He paused to catch his breath. This close, the smell of decay was sharp, mingling with the blood and sweat.

“I’ve had a week since the poison set in,” he started again. “Nothing to do but think. And what I thought is that nothing – not my blood, not my soul, not any chance at heaven I could possibly have – is worth dying like this, before I’ve seen, lived, loved, anything. You said it’s damnation. Let me be damned, father.”

Re: Snippet on my way out the door

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

*wails* Oh, you wench! I just got in from college (lab closed and kicked me out) and woe! Beautiful, angsty, emotionally-blackmailing woe!

Re: Snippet on my way out the door

[winter]

Emotional blackmail is something Herbert excells in, really. That's why he and VK get along so well.

BTW, just got back and my Japanese class was cancelled, but still I have dinner to eat and plague to combat, so might be around intermittently for the next hour or two :/

Re: Snippet on my way out the door

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Technically, I'm 'doing homework' now, so yes, will be kicking about trying to finish this chapter, then I suspect an early night to try and shake off this worse stomach bout ;)

Re: Snippet on my way out the door

[winter]

I'm hoping that you'll share as you finish, you know ;)

I'll have an early night myself. I think I've caught J-the-intern's plague, and the migraine part is killing me.

Re: Snippet on my way out the door

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

You even have to ask for the finishing stretch? :D VK's actually having to grab Dawn and pull her back from chasing Herbert who is ready to smack her with a stick :D

Re: Snippet on my way out the door

[winter]

Yay :D Can't wait to read!

Re: Snippet on my way out the door

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Moving from the mantle, he approached them, could see the hopeful desperation in Herbert’s eyes over Dawn’s shoulders.

“Perhaps I should excuse you both to more private quarters,” he murmured, terribly amused by the sudden flare of outraged panic on Herbert’s face.

“Father!”

Coming to a halt behind Dawn, von Krolock unfolded his hands and laid them on the girl’s slender shoulders, drawing her back a step. Unresisting, she was all but pressed back against his chest and he could feel the heady throb of her blood through her flesh, thrumming with delighted excitement.

“I think you have proved your point, liebling,” he murmured, lowering his head so no other could hear what he was saying to her. “Now stop scaring poor Herbert, else I fear William may do himself a permanent injury.”

Tilting her head to look up at him, she gave him a thoroughly angelic smile that belied the wickedness he had just seen. His hands tightened on her shoulders briefly, the rush of desire more potent than any he had felt for decades, and he knew that he would have her, if it killed them both.

Re: Snippet on my way out the door

[winter]

Mmm. I must say I didn't expect that :D Good thing Buffy isn't a mind-reader...

Re: Snippet on my way out the door

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

I'm loving the dynamic. Even he can't begin to imagine just how her mind works :D This is at least 7 years she's been helping out with fighting and Slayers and demons and the like, so her view of good and bad certainly isn't quite as black/white as Buffy's. She's impossible to predict.

To be honest, I never saw this coming, especially not with this much force behind them, and it's taking all the restraint of both of them not to actually do something right there and then.

Re: Snippet on my way out the door

[winter]

I think the challenge is more than half the attraction here, at least at this point. She's certainly keeping him on his toes.

I think a large part of that restraint is the fact Spike would have a heart attack, and Buffy would summon every Slayer in the world to dog VK's steps until the end of time. He's got a limited tolerance for teenage girls and prefers them one at a time, I think.

Re: Snippet on my way out the door

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

*snickers* Buffy's behaving now that she's kinda... been shocked into it. Seeing her sister chase a vampire with the threat of nookie made her go o.0, so she's thinking maybe she shouldbe a bit nicer to the snarky one.

Re: Snippet on my way out the door

[winter]

Just in case she's drawn into a battle of wits in which she doesn't stand a chance, you mean? ;)

I kind of regret the lack of a Buffy vs Herbert standoff, really. Though that really depended on how much Spike would share about how she treated him in S6&S7, and I don't see him talking too much about it - maybe a hint or two to VK, but not to Herbert...

Re: Snippet on my way out the door

[fyrie.livejournal.com]

Pretty much, although Herbert's mainly stuck on the "her hair is terrible" thing right now :D

Alas, that his relationship with her is something he wouldn't discuss, save under the most horrific of tortures. He still feels hurt by the way she used him, but he knew it would never be a normal relationship and they did get their resolution at the end of S7, so I think it'll be his secret for a good while yet.

Give it time, though, and it'll eventually come out, I have no doubt.