The end of Maurice Saldini

[jack]

I've reached the end of Maurice Saldini: Gothique Investigature. I resolved the suicide on the tower with a lot of theology and some quick action. Though I probably should have a christian beta-reader to check my portrayals of sensible chaplain's and hysterical choirgirl's perceptions of the are-vampires-are-soulless-and-damned question?

The last chapter's always hard, but it came quite easily once I started. The secret was to blend between Rat editorializing as he was transcribing the story 'now', and a celebration of the main characters in the time of the story. I left a number of unimportant things dangling, and tried to make things I wanted to follow up on later seem resolved optimistically, but vaguely enough that they could continue to be mysteries in a sequal.

Unfortunately, that doesn't mean I've finished it, as I still need to do chapter 3. I seem to have spent ages on this now, and it's still only 10k words. When it goes well I write a burst of maybe 1k in an evening, and then spend a week or two not having time.

Chapter 3 is the second one I had the idea for. Maurice is trying to check if Baz (jock student) and Prof. Ashmole (college-president-equivalent) might be vampires, though it's fairly clear they're not. The idea was that he'd bespel Baz to show he was human, but overdo it, and end up with Baz half-fancying him, but he'd use this to good effect by using him as a distraction and bait to check out Ashmole. But I could never decide who's point of view it should be from, and it didn't seem to go well. I'm thinking of variations on the theme. Or I could just drop it (there's other evidence) but that seems a shame.

So when I've re-read it, and decided about 3, it might be ready to share!

Comments

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

Anyone w/out a sense of humour? As a devoted fan of BTVS, I would hazard a guess that vampires would probably find anything you might write inoffensive. *tries to find a joke involving vegetarian haggis that isn't too lame, but gives up in disgust*

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

I offend people without a sense of humour by my very existance :)

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I love that! Definitely nicking your line sometime :)

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Wow, I've become quoteworthy. It's sad to feel validated every time that happens, isn't it? :)

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

Yup! But as sad mathmos (former) have to get our validation wherever we can :)

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

Incidentally, does it weird you out each time I start raving over Jack? My Jack, I mean _Sam's_ Jack. *sighs*

He's mine really, I'm just being kind

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

As far as I'm concerned obsessing over fictional characters is entirely normal, though I'm aware that people with different friends might conceivably think it's strange. Sam, being fictional, is like your proxy or something.

It does mean you can't criticize me for, for instance, salivating over Seven of Nine's catsuit, but then I actually think that was over the top and not nice, so it doesn't come up :)

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

criticize

Jack, are we English or American?

How about *thinks hard* Amidala's scary bondage costume in Attack of the Clones?

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

You're american, so of course I spell so as to make you comfortable :) Actually, you're american and I'm sloppy :)

Scary bondage costume? What? I've only seen that once.

Besides a true geek isn't allowed to like the new starwarses, however fun they may be. Try asking me about Leia's costume. Or Uhura, Crusher, Troi, Kira, Dax, Dax, and Janeway. Or any other scifi woman of the last century. Wait, I'm not helping my case here, am I? :)

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

lol! The Leia costume's _way_ too easy - even I thought it was hot and I was only 8!

It's awful, which is why I mentioned it. How about Scully and those latex gloves? ;)

What fascinates me about the Trek-verse is that all the women supposedly wore padded bras so that you wouldn't spend too much time focusing on the difference in their figures in those full-body suits. Since 7of9 was undoubtedly better-endowed, was that natural or did they bring out extra chicken fillets?

*pales* Am I turning into a guy here?

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Easy? What, I'm supposed to think of an obscure example? But then it's going to be someone out of a book you've never read. There's no point asking you not to object because I fancied Susan Calvin, because you wouldn't anyway :)

Funnily enough, I've never actually watched any X-files. Though I'm given to udnerstand she was hot :)

I've never heard that. I think I lost interest in Trek before I got into major geekdoms... That or you're just more obsessed with bras than I am :) I was assuming Jeri Ryan was natural, and chosen to up the sex-appeal of Voyager, but I don't actually know.

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

I objected to Susan Calvin in the film, but we've had that conversation already.

No X-files? My God, what did you used to do all those times when I was cowering in front of the TV screen in fear?

I wouldn't call myself a major Trekkie geek - the only one I watched regularly was Next Gen. I don't know where I heard it, but girls do tend to obsess about those sorts of things - the whole "Are they real?" spoken in tones of bitter jealousy thing. Though I wish the media would get off the Victoria Beckham issue - it's so boring

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Forget the film. I meant the stories.

Um, was being wll-adjusted? :)

I just assumed any woman looked good in a tight uniform. In retrospect, I should have been more suspicious :)

What Victoria Beckham issue?

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

Oh, the stories? Those were so cool. I have a newfound respect for your taste in women.

That sounded much worse than I meant it to... Sorry!

What Victoria Beckham issue?

Whether her breasts are real or not. She claims not to have had any implants, but I've seen at least 2 experts using scary red pens on pictures of her cleavage, trying to prove that she has.

I mean, who cares?

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Oh my f*^&ing god. You thought I might actually have meant the film when I didn't specify? What kind of opinion do you have of me? :)

Well, did they mysteriously change size or shape at some point? That would seem to be the clincher.

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

Well, we were talking about films! I was trying to give you the benefit of the doubt :)

Yup, they've grown, but she claims that she's just using cunning lingerie. You'd be surprised what a difference a push-up bra can make ;)

I'm scared that I bothered, but here's a link:
http://www.awfulplasticsurgery.com/archives/000245.html

BTW, Drew doesn't have any problems with the links I sent him. Interesting...

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

But I was just making the point that I liked both Liea costumes and geeky girls in books, but that there was no point using my leverage over your obsession with O'Neill to make you not object to the latter because you'd approve, it was only useful to buy forgiveness for the former. And I thought it was clear that Susan Calvin was an example of the latter, though I didn't phrase it very well.

I'd best not look at pictures of Posh Spice's tits at work. There are limits :) But surely she can't always wear a superbra. And surely she'd've worn one sometimes before. And being her, doesn't she often wear something revealing enough that it's easy to tell?

Drew? Links? What?

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

I'm lost and my head hurts. I think I understand, but I'm just going to say "You're a good human being. Go forth in peace." Which makes no sense, but I'm lost, innit?

See, I'm even 'inniting'. Definitely a bad sign

I'd best not look at pictures of Posh Spice's tits at work. There are limits :)

ROFL. She _is_ fully dressed in both before and after pictures, but it is your call ;)

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

OK, I'll stop explaining.

I did have a quick look. But I wouldn't trust them not to show close-ups, whcih somehow doens't have the right 'working' vibe :)

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'm feeling faintly disgusted with myself, having spent a good 15 min looking at pictures of bad breast, cheek and lip implants. I'm sick, sick!

It's a good website for mocking other people, though

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Because they're disturbing, or because it's weird to have been looking?

[nakedtoes.livejournal.com]

Um, both? Mainly the latter though. I'm supposed to prefer Terry Prachett to scandolous mags.

No more commenting, I can't take any more! Have a good day

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

OK, you too. Will read chap in a bit.