Days of Becoming, Chapter 10

[talktooloose]

Title: Days of Becoming, Chapter 10: "Shivering with Anticipation"
Author: Talktooloose
'Verse: X-Men movieverse
Warnings: Kitty says a naughty word, but that's about it.
Series Summary: This novel focusses mainly on the paths Iceman and Pyro take on their way to adulthood and how they discover and deal with their love for each other. It is a novel about what Joni Mitchell calls "the dream's malfunction" and how we can learn to make our own dreams when our heroes fail us. Other X characters and OC's play prominent roles and the action begins before X1, continues through the events of X2 and X3 and concludes in the aftermath of that movie.
Chapter Summary: The first day of school in Westchester! Exhilaration and chaos! More mutants than you can shake a stick at! Lust. Meanwhile in Boston, Mike meets the faces of fear. St. John, where are you?
Betas: kuriadalmatia, lux_apollo and mofic. Thanks as always.
Disclaimers: Marvel and 20th Century own this stuff but they need us to make sense of it.

Here's the chapter!

Here's the DOB homepage for earlier chapters!

NOTE: revised version with minor changes uploaded March 30.

Comments

[nat-dimension.livejournal.com]

...Seriously, it's too good. I'd go insane waiting for the next part if I wasn't working 12 hours a day.

But still, write it quickly.

This chapter has the perfect blend of each set of characters' stories, which is all, you know, good and everything. It's just too good to form a coherent sentence. I'm going to write about THIS in my English Lit exams if I can get away with it.

Keep up the good work.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see whatever you write about DOB! Of course, if you do, your teacher will also have to read it. hee, hee!

I have essay topics for you if you want.

Next part shouldn't be too long in coming. I've got about 1/3 written, though I'm afraid I'm going to run into problems in the last third. It gets complicated then.

[nat-dimension.livejournal.com]

Hmm, the temptation to start a series of essays (it's VALID work, my theme this year is American Literature...and ok, it's meant to be 20th century but most people forget that we're in the 21st) during my upcoming break from school is quite alluring. My teacher's always interested in reading non-curriculum pieces that I write, so I'd be able to get essay feedback on it *finds hundreds of reasons to back up shameless self-indulgence. But it IS better than most of the stuff I study at the moment*.

...And also, you're from Canada. But still. Same continent.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Be very careful in CanLit circles in suggesting that it's just a branch of American lit...

Very touchy subject!!!

(I'm personally not offended, just letting you know).

And actually, the literatures of the countries are significantly different, although then you have to get into the messy business of definitions and I'm an artist, not an academic.

Of course, I'm writing DOB in American spelling... but that's because the fandom is American in origin. The one great Canadian X-fic seems to be in permanent hiatus which makes me sad because it was brilliant.

[nat-dimension.livejournal.com]

Rofl, all I meant was that I'd forgotten that you personally were from Canada, but I could lie to myself to justify writing about it even though my theme is American lit. The syllabus I do makes a good distinction, so people over here always talk about the two different literary cultures separately.

[nat-dimension.livejournal.com]

And interestingly, I hadn't thought about the American phrases in DOB before, but a lot of the Canadian vocab and spelling I've come across is way more similar to what we use in England. It's funny how the smaller details in books don't pop up until someone points it out.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

We are saturated in American culture here so using American idioms doesn't feel like a stretch. I just listen to the character in my head and write how he/she speaks. Maybe I'll have some fun with Logan when we get to X1.

I know, I know, you are also saturated with American culture, but your national rememdies are more potent than ours.

Here is an icon of America taking Canada's ass. Canada only pretends to object.

[nat-dimension.livejournal.com]

Hee! I was about to say 'nice analogy' but then there's the unfortunate word-association. Disturbingly, I also just noticed that 'association' has its own problems.

Still, I am pretty tempted to write something on DOB, which which will then be looked at by a highly respected teacher, something I imagine you and I will both enjoy. This way, I can develop my critical skills while still getting to read your work ;)

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Of course, you'd have to educate your teacher in fanfic a bit. It is a genre with some peculiar features. The most important is that it relies on a ur-material on which it is expanding and/or subverting, partly by means of slashing.

There's also the small problem that the work is still incomplete. BUT I would be honoured and pleased if it you're into it. I think the idea of fanfic in the halls of academe is a hoot.

[nat-dimension.livejournal.com]

My teacher is a fanfic writer herself. I have shown her fan fiction of my own before, and I can assure you that she would understand the complexities of expansion/subversion by slash. Given that my lit course ends in roughly 9 weeks, and it is unlikely that I will be studying it again for about another three years, I think that I have earned the right to write about a piece that I love as something separate from an exam system. Especially after 17 or so years of dreadful, dreadful books that contain no literary devices to be deconstructed in the first place.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

heh. I doubt that I'm the only writer using "literary devices" but your enthusiasm is appreciated. I'm currently reading Tom Robbins and he seems to be nothing but literary devices.

What fandoms has your teacher written in? How wonderful!

[nat-dimension.livejournal.com]

As far as I know, she's dabbled in dozens of fandoms, but written extended pieces mainly in the Buffy/Angel fandom. Despite my not having any major interest in the fandom itself, her writing does, as a good fan fic writer's should, add depth that evokes the interest of the reader without creating something that simply isn't there.

[train-diskense.livejournal.com]

LANCE! <3. Ahhh Bobby. *pets him* ^___^ This was an excellent chapter. You get like a million points for having Roberto, Rahne, Doug and Lance in here.

Noooo Mike. ;___; Poor Mike and Jubilee. He's just trying to do what he thinks is right. But Jubilee has a good reason to not like what he's doing.

I also liked the IM conversations at the beginning and the end of the chapter, those added a nice touch.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

psst. I think Mike and Jubilee are in lurrrrrrv.

Thanks for the points! Lance? Bobby? Lance/Bobby?!!!!!

[train-diskense.livejournal.com]

*gasps theatrically* NO! Say it isn't so! Lance/Bobby?!?!?! *shocked face*.......: ) Of course if you absolutely must, I won't object.

*giggles* Yes they arreeee in lurv. ^^ They worry and get angry when the other does something potentially stupid *coughMikecough*. : D They're so cute.

cnat wait for more

[(Anonymous)]

love it i tried to find my way back to this story onece but i only recently found it again

Re: cnat wait for more

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Glad you're enjoying! Keep on reading.

[ayumie.livejournal.com]

I'm a happy, happy woman. Only, could somebody please tell John that a dark mysterious stranger is stealing his future boyfriend while he is turning tricks in an as of yet unknown location?
I like how you are still doing the chatroom thing. Whee, Derek! There's one tiny mistake, though:

She stood up and shot an around his waist, startling Bobby who seemed unable to find the right words for the situation. There's an arm missing, I think.

Can't wait for the next part!

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Uh, she's missing an "arm" because she's my Venus de Milo?

heh.

Fixed! Thanks so much. John? I'll let him know... next chapter I'll let him know.

[stand-ford.livejournal.com]

this is too good. missed John though. but i like to read about mike and jubilee. and bobby is really cute. can't wait for john to arrive there, if he ever does? i don't know what your plan is but sofar it's been awesome. Post next chapter soon enough!

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the nice words. Next chapter is coming along nicely. John? Did you say John? Yeah, he seems to be in it.
And of course he arrives there eventually! It is a movieverse fanfic!

Hot icon.

Ideas for the Next Chapter

[(Anonymous)]

Bobby and Lance need to boink somehow, someway, if it involves that chick Kittie then its ok with me!!

Re: Ideas for the Next Chapter

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Suggestion noted. See foreshadowing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreshadowing).

Re: Ideas for the Next Chapter

[(Anonymous)]

when are you releasing it? I cant wait to read it!

Re: Ideas for the Next Chapter

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Chapter 11 ended up so long (19,000) words that I've split it into two parts. I just sent Part I to the beta readers--in the last hour, as a matter of fact. So, next week some time, I assume. Part II will follow a week later, I'm thinking.

Amazing

[princechrismoon.livejournal.com]

Wow!!!!

this just keeps getting better and better. There were a lot of subtle things in this chapter where I almost died of laughter. Scott's speech, Kitty's moment of "I wonder if Jean ever does that...", Kitty's flirting with Lance and then straddling Bobby, Kitty's ackward laugh, Xavier's "Let's talk about respecting people's privacy..." just to name a few.

I have a few questions. Was Sam high? Are Bobby and Lance going to hook up or are Kitty and Lance going to hook up? Is there any significance to the random reports in the instant messages? that's about it.

Thank you for putting Neal Shaara in this chapter. I usually don't have a thing for cartoon characters, but he's so hot. I was also happy to see Doug and Roberto and Rahne. Keep it up.

As always, your torturing me by not giving me any Pyro. St. John...... how I miss you... I beg you, saturate my burning need for the love of my life, PLEASE!!!!

Keep up the great work.

Chris

Re: Amazing

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Thanks for bringing up the small comic moments. I enjoy those myself. They usually just occur to me as I'm writing, with the characters whispering in my ear.

Sam was not high when he crashed. he was high on endorphins (which are naturally occuring pleasure chemicals in the brain that are produced when we're in pain). Jean was psychically stimulating his brain to produce them.

Bobby/Lance? Lance/Kitty? These are fine, fine questions.

There is no specific significance to Knifeinthehead's individual reports. He is the conduit through which we see the situation changing and worsening and in America in for mutants.

I've gotten a lot of reactions to the various student characters including from my betas. I don't plan for many of them to be significant characters, but they may surprise me by demanding their place in the sun. I warn everyone that I consider movieverse carte blanche to reinvent characters, though I try to respect some core canon features. The only canon that rules here is movieverse.

Pyro...? Just hang tight; I will be torturing Pyro instead of you soon.

oh yeah

[princechrismoon.livejournal.com]

MIKE AND JUBILEE!! I can't believe I forgot to mention that. That was great. THEY ARE SOOOOOO IN LURVVVVV. I love how you had to explain the fireworks thing in the beginning. that also made me laugh.

Tell John that if it doesn't work out with him and bobby, I am always here as a rebound or in-between guy or whatever he fucking wants.

Chris

Re: oh yeah

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

If I were you, I wouldn't get in between Bobby and John. Didn't you see X3?

Yeah

[princechrismoon.livejournal.com]

I didn't think about that. Very Valid point.

Chris

[tanyasassysweet.livejournal.com]

wow. this is such an awesome fic!!! seriously, i cant wait to see what happens with everything.... more soon?? plz>?? i'll go insane if i dont find out whats next.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Chapters 11 and 12 are written and delivered to the beta readers. I'm expecting to have 11 posted next week unless they tell me I've written complete nonsense.

Thanks for reading; I'm glad you're enjoying it!