The Meme Strikes Back
Oct. 23rd, 2011 01:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lunasariel![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
hamsterwoman has become my dealer-of-choice for memes, and she recently ran one that definitely falls into my favorite category of meme: open-ended, allows for a good deal of 1. Raven Darkhölme-Xavier (X-Men: First Class)
2. Castiel (Supernatural)
3. Amy Pond-Williams (Doctor Who)
4. Thero (Nightrunner)
5. Sibyl Vimes (Discworld)
6. Ianto Jones (Torchwood)
7. Keladry of Mindelan (Protector of the Small)
8. Ser Barristan Selmy (A Song of Ice and Fire)
9. Angela Spica (The Authority)
10. Gandalf (Lord of the Rings)
11. Fleur Delacour (Harry Potter)
1) If #8 (Ser Barristan) was involved with both #7 (Kel) and #4 (Thero), how would #7 and #4 react when they found out about one another?
Thero would feel hurt because he’s not OMGSUPERDUPERSPECIAL, but not particularly surprised, since he would be a little into Kel himself. Kel would just be amazed that the honorable-til-death Ser Barristan broke his vows of chastity not once, but twice! And lied about it! So I could see her being more pissed off and indignant than anything else, because that is not knightly behavior, and Barristan should damn well know better.
2) #2 (Castiel) and #5 (Sibyl) are saying their vows when the doors are thrown open and #11 (Fleur) marches in demanding that the ceremony stop because #11 is in love with #5 and cannot let them marry #2. Does #5 go back to #11 or stay with #2?
She’d probably stay with Cas, because she’s the sensible sort, and so probably had a good reason for breaking up with Fleur, instead of their breakup resulting from some spur-of-the-moment, passionate lovers’ spat. Meanwhile, Cas would be arguing with the priest on whether or not God cares about who loves, honors, and obeys whom. And, if it’s an Ankh-Morporkian priest, which god is God to begin with.
3) #7 (Kel) has a phobia that involves #1 (Raven). What is the phobia?
Maybe Kel would be afraid that Raven could impersonate one of her loved ones and betray her trust (i.e. lead her to a high place and leave her there)? I really see Kel fearing abstract concepts (and heights) more than people, anyway.
4) #9 (Angie) and #12 (Butters) are having a movie marathon night. What movie does #9 pick and what movie does #12 pick? Is #12 happy with #9’s pick and vice versa?
Angie would pick something quasi-campy and action-oriented, like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, while Butters would pick something goofy and science-y, like Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure or Weird Science. Butters watching BtVS would be hit-or-miss, because he sees so much stuff like that in his life (although I do think he’d enjoy many of the less heavy episodes), but Angie would love both Bill & Ted and Weird Science.
5) #10 (Gandalf) is in an unhappy relationship with #4 (Thero) and realizes that he/she should be with #2 (Castiel) instead.
Since I really, really cannot see Gandalf getting it on with anyone, ever, at all, I’m going to take this as a protective/(grand)fatherly relationship rather than a romantic one.
He wouldn’t get on with Thero because of their differing attitudes towards magic (Thero thinks it’s a tool to be used to smooth the life of its user as much as possible, but Gandalf thinks it's a divine and unimaginably powerful gift, and thus only to be used at great need), as well as the fact that Gandalf would strongly remind Thero of Nysander, which would cause all kinds of guilt. Gandalf would gravitate towards Cas due to Cas’ catastrophic loss of faith and need of guidance. Cas would be kind of weirded out, at first, but once Gandalf explained that he’s basically just another kind of angel, Cas would gratefully take his advice.
6) #3 (Amy) is pregnant with #9 (Angie)’s baby. How does #5 (Sibyl) react?
First, she’d be rather perplexed and just ask “how”? Angie would explain with technobabble, to which Sibyl would just nod and smile politely, because secretly she doesn’t get a word of it and just chalks it up to magic. After that, Sibyl would arrange the baby shower, immediately begin the quest for adorable little baby clothes, and just generally take charge.
7) Does #3 (Amy) handle commitments well?
Both yes and no. She can be unwilling to let go of ideals for reality, but once she sees what’s actually going on, she’s loyal to the death. Literally.
8) If #12 (Butters) suffered from a mental disorder what would that disorder be?
Paranoia/chronic nervousness, because he’s basically the only member of the team who has no combat training or magical powers to get him out of sticky situations.
9) #1 (Raven) sees #4 (Thero) with #8 (Barristan) and knows that #8 is involved with #6 (Ianto). Does #1 tell #6 that #8 is cheating or does #6 deserve to find out on his/her own?
Wow, Barristan is turning out to be quite a cheating bastard, isn’t he? I could see Raven not telling Ianto, because she sympathizes with him (since they both love people who are into someone else) and doesn’t want to see him get hurt, but also going to Barristan later and telling him that she knows what’s up, and that either he gets his act together (and Raven will know if he doesn’t), or there’s going to be trouble.
10) #11 (Fleur) is set up, by #10 (Gandalf), on a blind date with #7 (Kel). Does the date go smoothly, and has #11 decided that he/she wants to kill #10 before the date has ended?
Fleur would be kind of politely bemused, as well as disappointed at Kel’s lack of interest in girly stuff. Kel would feel threatened by Fleur’s beauty and magical powers, and probably be pretty uncomfortable. However, this would somewhat diminish over the course of the evening, as they bond over shared stories of kicking the crap out of evil wizards. And Gandalf just wants everybody to be happy! They’d both thank him politely afterwards, but ask him not to try any more matchmaking.
11) #2 (Castiel) and #3 (Amy) have been dating for a year. Where does #2 choose to pop the question?
Cas would probably study human courtship rules to determine an appropriately romantic time and place and then take Amy there on the pretext of some mission or other. It would be somewhere nice, but completely random and with no connection to him or Amy at all, like a random mountaintop or…a roller-skating rink that he just chose because you’re supposed to propose somewhere pretty and/or idiosyncratic. And he would use the word “idiosyncratic” while describing his reasoning when she gets mad.
12) #9 (Angie) wants to end their relationship with #5 (Sibyl). How does #9 choose to do so? Heartbroken #5 has a one-night stand with #3 (Amy).
I could see Angie getting impatient with how prosaic Sibyl’s life is, dragons notwithstanding. Angie would start subtly making preparations to leave, while trying to think of a way to let Sibyl down without hurting her. But Sibyl (who, truthfully, would also be unhappy with the amount of danger Angie gets into) would have seen Angie’s growing restlessness and, as kindly as possible, tell her to go and be happy. Angie would hitch a ride in the TARDIS back to her Earth, and have a rebound shag with Amy on the way. It would be awkward the next time they met, but things would get easier with time, and the next time they all got drunk together Angie would try to engineer a foursome with her, Jack, Amy, and Rory. (EDIT: Dammit, I misread the question! Oh, well, I like my answer.)
13) #11 (Fleur) and #12 (Butters) are married. How does #12 handle #11’s death?
Fleur would have died doing something dangerous and heroic, so Butters would inwardly beat himself up that he couldn’t save her, that he’s a failure, etc. Outwardly, he’d become very quiet and isolated, and probably throw himself into his work even more than usual, in a subconscious attempt to make up for not being able to save her by saving as many other people as possible.
14) If there was one thing #7 (Kel) could change about their life what would it be?
When she was younger, I think Kel would have wished to be born as a boy, but as she got more comfortable with herself, she’d probably wish to be a better public speaker. Of course, this is aside from the obvious choice of having there be more female knights/having people give her less of a hard time.
15) If #5 (Sibyl) could say anything to #10 (Gandalf) what would they say?
She’d probably lecture him about how dragons are an endangered species, and should be protected, not killed. Gandalf would try to explain how Middle-earth dragons are sentient, malevolent monsters, more like the dragon in Guards! Guards! than Sibyl’s pets.
6) A drunken #8 (Barristan) comes home and finds #1 (Raven) in bed with #11 (Fleur). How does #8 react?
He’d read Fleur the riot act over being unfaithful to her husband and kick them both out (but he’d still sleep on the floor until he got a chance to get the sheets cleaned, because he is kind of a prude that way). He’d chalk Raven’s blueness and whatever magical stuff Fleur was doing up to his being drunk. And right before he fell asleep, he’ll distantly wonder what the hell the two of them were doing in the White Tower anyway.
17) Is a sweet love scene between #6 (Ianto) and #9 (Angie) possible?
I think so, especially because Angie is exactly the type of person Ianto goes for (dominant, sexually/physically adventurous, exuberant, extremely smart, slightly enigmatic), although he might have some bad Lisa flashbacks if Angie reverts to her metal form. Also, Angie would like that Ianto is clever and competent, but also slightly damaged and occasionally possessive.
18) #7 (Kel) and #4 (Thero) are bitter rivals. What made them rivals?
Thero’s magic, I think. Kel thinks that Thero uses it as a cheat when there are better, more honorable ways of doing things, and Thero thinks that Kel, as a large, physically competent warrior, doesn’t know what it’s like to be physically powerless, which leads him to him see his magic as an equalizer, not a cheat. So maybe Thero used magic to beat Kel in a duel once, and Kel resents him for it?
19) Is a happily ever after possible for #1 (Raven) and #12 (Butters)?
Honestly, I don’t think so. Butters is 100% pure human, and Raven would feel like he, as a human, is incapable of understanding her, as a mutant. And Butters would think that Raven is just a liiiiitle bit… off, what with being part of an outfit called the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and all. And of course, Harry, being the comic book geek that he is, would know who she is and what she does, and would do his damndest to keep her away from him.
20) #4 (Thero) undergoes a gender-swap. Who would he/she sleep with first? #6 (Ianto) or #5 (Sibyl)?
Ianto, who girl!Theo would have some interesting power dynamics with. Also, Ianto would probably remind girl!Thero of Seregil (keeps secrets, falls for unsuitable men, sharp-dressed), and I’ve occasionally entertained the idea that Thero was kinda attracted to Seregil, in that “so bad it’s good” kinda way.
21) If #7 (Kel) had to be stuck on a island with #2 (Castiel) or #3 (Amy), which would #7 choose? Why?
Cas. Kel is definitely the practical sort, and Amy would probably be better company, but Cas could just teleport them back to wherever they were to begin with.
22) #1 (Raven) and #2 (Castiel) are romantically involved when #1’s original love, #11 (Fleur) returns from the dead. How does #1 handle the person's return?
I really don’t know. Raven is definitely the “until death do us part” type, so I could see her using Cas as a sort of stopgap to ease the pain of Fleur’s death and then dropping him like a hot potato when she comes back. But on the other hand, Raven would work better with Cas than Fleur in the first place. They’re both outcasts, both within the population at large, and within their particular sub-group. Cas would see Raven as a soul in need of saving, and Raven would see Cas as a comrade-in-revolution as well as a BF.
23) #9 (Angie) is forced to choose who will live between #3 (Amy) and #6 (Ianto). Which one does #9 choose to live?
I think she’d have a really tough time with this, especially because, like I said, I think she and Ianto would really get along, but ultimately, I think she’d choose Amy. She knows that Amy is married with a daughter, while Ianto is technically already dead. So she’d choose to save Amy after thinking of Rory, the Doctor, and Melody/River, but she’d still go to Ianto’s funeral and blame herself the whole time.
24) #1 (Raven), #6 (Ianto), and #11 (Fleur) are all told to wait in a room together until someone comes in to get them. Let's say no one does. Who would leave the room first?
Raven would leave first, but Ianto wouldn’t outlast her by much. Raven would probably get antsy and suspect a trap, while Ianto would just have too much to do to allow himself to sit around on his ass all day. Fleur would definitely last the longest.
25) If #2 (Castiel) had to do one nice thing for #8 (Barristan), what would it be?
Definitely re-write some aspect of his past that he regrets. Give him another shot at Ashara Dayne, maybe? Or give him the chance to save one of the Targaryens (Rhaegar? The children? Mad King Aerys, just for duty’s sake)?
26) If #4 (Thero) and #7 (Kel) co-starred in a movie, what genre would it most likely fall under?
Wow, what is it with combining #4 and #7 all the time? Anyway, it’d probably be a quest-based fantasy, where Kel is the sword and Thero is the sorcery. They’d start out bickering, but some plot contrivance would force them to work together, and they’d end up with a grudging respect for each other.
27) If #3 (Amy) was made into a toy, who would be more likely to buy it? #9 (Angie) or #10 (Gandalf)?
Angie would buy it for one of her six zillion nieces and nephews, or possibly for baby Jenny.
28) Would #5 (Sibyl) be likely to consider stalking #12 (Butters) or vise versa?
I’d have to say that Butters would stalk Sibyl, because Sibyl is anything but obsessive (except over her dragons, of course). But I could only really see Butters following Sibyl around against her will if he thought she was in some kind of danger and she didn’t believe him.
29) What would #6 (Ianto) make the better star of? An anime or a newspaper comic strip?
Kind of a hybrid? I know there have been several Torchwood comics in various magazines, but I think these are more along the lines of a comic book than a newspaper comic.
30) If #5 (Sibyl) wanted to dye his or her hair but could not decide on the color, would (s)he rely on #1 (Raven)’s opinion or #4 (Thero)’s?
Oh, Raven’s, definitely! Sibyl would be able to see that Thero has zero fashion sense, and while Raven would probably suggest something like purple, at least she would notice. Thero would just wave a hand and say “Whatever’s the opposite of what you have now,” without even looking up from his books. Actually, doesn’t Sibyl wear wigs anyway?
31) Whose babies would be cuter? #12 (Butters) and #3 (Amy)’s or #9 (Angie) and #2 (Castiel)’s? (If it is impossible for them to breed because of gender or species, just go with it and pretend that it was possible, please.)
I’d have to say Angie’s and Cas’. Butters’ and Amy’s would be really, really short, for one thing. Aside from all the weird superpowers that an Angie/Cas baby would have, they would have uncontrollable-but-really-great, hair, good bone structure, and (probably) the ability to fly.
32) Who would have a DeviantArt account; and if not, what would their reason be?
Raven, Amy, Thero, Ianto, Angie, Gandalf, and Fleur. Raven would post a lot of conceptual, abstract, emo charcoal drawings, all having to do with difference and ostracization. Amy and Angie would both only post sporadically, and then it would be mostly funny doodles of their teammates and adventures. For some reason, I could see Thero posting a lot of architecture designs. Ianto’s account would be his most closely guarded secret, and would contain atmospheric poetry and prose fiction about all the lost, weird aliens he encounters all the time. Gandalf would only post, like, one work a year, but it would always be a gorgeous, amazingly detailed, intricate oil painting that would make something simple, like a drop of dew on a blade of grass, look like the most astounding thing in the universe. I could see Fleur doing a lot of textiles and jewelry-making; a lot of detailed, aesthetically pleasing stuff.
Cas wouldn’t really get the point of fiction. Sibyl might post photos of her best dragons (occasionally with lolcat-like funny captions) from time to time, but eventually she’d just move over to Facebook and post them all there. Kel and Barristan are both too prosaic to get wrapped up in flights of fancy all that often, but I could see Kel writing haiku once in a while as a calming exercise. And Butters might use it as a journal that all his readers thinks is fiction, but with Harry around, his computer would probably glitch too much to upload anything other than text, and that only occasionally.
no subject
Date: 2011-10-23 09:03 pm (UTC)Very happy to be of service! (These are pretty much my favorite kind of memes, too, for the very reasons you mention.)
Kel and Barristan would be quite a cute couple, assuming they were close in age! And probably in a UST way, because I don't see Barristan breaking his vows, rather just sort of pining, as with Ashara. Definitely a better couple than Kel and Fleur, heh. XP
I could totally see Butters watching Weird Science or the like!
After that, Sibyl would arrange the baby shower, immediately begin the quest for adorable little baby clothes, and just generally take charge.
Sounds spot on! :)
She’d probably lecture him about how dragons are an endangered species, and should be protected, not killed.
LOL, I think this is my favorite question and answer! Sybil facing down Gandalf would be very amusing to observe! But I can totally see her being one of the few people able to do it convincingly.
And I like the idea of Kel writing the occasional haiku to center herself!
Also, this Thero character sounds intriguing! (And I've wanted to read Nightrunner for a while now anyway, having enjoyed the first 2/3 of the Tamir Trilogy.)
no subject
Date: 2011-10-24 01:27 am (UTC)Yes. Definitely yes. It kind of broke my brain how many times this meme threw them together, and how fantastically ill-suited they would be fore one another.
But I can totally see her being one of the few people able to do it convincingly.
It is known! She would just absolutely refuse to be intimidated by his whole "I am a servant of the secret fire" schtick.
And I've wanted to read Nightrunner for a while now anyway, having enjoyed the first 2/3 of the Tamir Trilogy.
I met Lynn Flewelling, the author, at Comic-Con a couple of years ago, thought she sounded kind of interesting, and...inhaled the Nightrunner series. Srsly, I think I read all four books that were out at the time in, like, three days. The Tamír books are sort of a prequel to the Nightrunner in the sense that they take place in the same universe, but there's only, like, one character who appears in both series (serieses?). Nightrunner is kind of a guilty pleasure for me, as it does have its rough spots, but it has everything I love in a fantasy novel: sword-and-sorcery-and-lockpick, truly creepy villains, political intrigue and twisty plots, a good gender balance, and a fantastic relationship between the two leads. And, of course, magical nerds *points to icon*. OK, pitch over! XD
no subject
Date: 2011-10-24 03:56 am (UTC)I didn't realize Nightrunner and Tamir were set in the same universe. Not that the thing I loved about Tamir was the worldbuilding -- it was definitely more the creepiness of Brother and the whole setup (and the fact that I'm a sucker for the girl-dressed-as-boy trope, and this was a very interesting, and dark, twist on it).
I clearly need to move up Nightrunner from "should read at some point if I encounter it" to "start actively looking to procure" :)
no subject
Date: 2011-10-24 07:44 pm (UTC)Not yet, but I've heard a lot of good things about it, so it's on my list! For some reason, I was under the impression that it was straight-up historical fiction, but knowing that it's sword-and-sorcery-and-lockpick is definitely a point in its favor. Right now I'm working my way through LotR, all the Witches books from Discworld, Mistborn, and a collection of literary criticism, but I'll get to it, promise!
I clearly need to move up Nightrunner from "should read at some point if I encounter it" to "start actively looking to procure" :)
Squee! It has comparatively little girl-dressed-up-as-boy, but it does have at least one instance of boy-dressed-up-as-girl. A word of warning, though: the Tamír books were only written after the first three Nightrunner books were done, so the characters/scenarios/backstory are only really mentioned in books 4 and on.