[Vorkosigan fic] Testing the Waters

[shimotsuki]

I've been meaning to post a nature picspam from my trip north, and all kinds of things ... hopefully I'll get to it soon.

One reason why I haven't yet, though: I was unable to resist the lure of this week's ficathon over at bujold_fic. I wrote a Vorkosigan story, since that's what I've been reading for the last few weeks, but I will note for the record that there is a dearth of Chalion entries (only one so far), and some very interesting-looking prompts. How about Ista and Cazaril, after "Paladin of Souls", the humour of the gods? Or, for the adventurous, Cazaril and Severus Snape (Harry Potter); endurance. Hee.

Anyway, the official prompt-claiming period is over, and the prompts are day-specific throughout this week, so some have been passed by -- but I've learned that the comm doesn't mind late prompt-claiming, and any of the prompts (including the expired ones) can be posted on the free-for-all day on Sunday. And the minimum length is only 500 words. Just sayin'. ;)

• Testing the Waters
  (1100 words | PG | minor(?) spoilers for Komarr and A Civil Campaign)
  Cordelia is the first to congratulate Ekaterin on her, um, impromptu oration from the gallery of the Council of Counts.

Also -- I'm still in the middle of reading at metamorfic_moon (running off to write about Cordelia and Ekaterin didn't exactly help me stay on schedule), but as usual there are some wonderful stories over there.
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Comments

[tegdoh.livejournal.com]

I finally picked up a copy of Curse of Chalion at our local bookseller, but haven't had a chance to read it, yet. I did read Bujold's Falling Free, and really wish there were a sequel! Apparently she never wrote the second half of the story. :(

[shimotsuki.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm glad you've caught the LMB bug! :)

Falling Free is the one book in the series that I actually haven't read yet. I always figured I would get to it someday, but I wasn't as urgent about it since it wouldn't have anyone I "knew" in it.

Except that a couple of weeks ago I read Diplomatic Immunity, the latest (so far) book in the series, in which Miles has to go solve a problem in the Union of Free Habitats. The quaddie culture was absolutely fascinating. I've bumped FF much higher up on my list.

Apparently she never wrote the second half of the story. :(

Rrgh, that's a shame. Maybe she will someday?

By the way, is there some important plot thread involving a downsider named Leo? If so, then two hundred years later there's a zero-gee ballet about him!

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

I'm averting my eyes from fic reading temptation, and fic writing temptation (the latter - I owe so much to so many already. Aagh!), but I'm egging you on with the picspam. Because I'm like that. ;)

[shimotsuki.livejournal.com]

Do avert your eyes, lol. All considerations of actually getting work done aside, if you don't already know who Ekaterin is and why she matters, this story is a spoiler. ;)

I'm in relatively heavy work mode since yesterday (despite being parked at my guy's parents' place for the annual visit) -- my official summer ends next Monday -- but maybe I'll treat the picspam as a carrot for getting things done today? Ahh, motivation.

I'm using my new-and-improved Vorkisigan icon again because this quote, in addition to capturing what I think is a major theme in all of LMB's writing, is my official motto for the new school year! I'm seriously thinking about sticking it up over my desk at work...

ETA: Parenthesis fail. If this were a computer program, it would not have run.

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

If I think July and August have flown by, you must feel it so much more. :( But I hope the motivation carrot is working for you; personally, I think I'm just amassing tempting carrots I can't get near, lol. Perhaps I ought to give reverse psychology a go sometime, and make the most of all the carrots before attempting the work!

That icon is definitely a theme of LMB's writing. And very appropriate for Hufflepuff Tonks and you. :) (With a large dose of Gryffindor.;))

No promises (ha! As if!), but a few thoughts on Ursula may arrive soon.

[shimotsuki.livejournal.com]

Well, here's me having a carrot, lol: I just finished slogging through a rather dreadfully organized article that I have to peer-review (it took me nearly three hours to read it and make notes). Now I have to write up my comments for the author and editor, but I thought I deserved an LJ break first. ;)

a few thoughts on Ursula may arrive soon

I will look forward to them! But, whenever, heh.

Also, I meant to tell you: I'm about halfway through Nine Coaches Waiting (Linda has just met Mr Blake for the second time) and am enjoying it very much. I can't decide if "Rowl" (hee) will remain the love interest, or Blake will turn out to be the one. Either one of them could also turn out to be the villain, of course. And I was quite disturbed (even before the shot was fired) to learn that Philippe has his own special sugar tin for his cocoa. But I regret to say that I can't finish the book until I'm back home, because on this trip it got bumped out of my luggage by The Oxford Handbook of Japanese Linguistics!

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

I'm about halfway through Nine Coaches Waiting (Linda has just met Mr Blake for the second time) and am enjoying it very much. I can't decide if "Rowl" (hee) will remain the love interest, or Blake will turn out to be the one. Either one of them could also turn out to be the villain, of course.

Glad you're enjoying it! It is one of my all-time favourites of hers (you should see my copy, which I've had since I was fifteen, and gives a whole new meaning to 'well-loved' and totally 'dog-eared'), though I did kick myself a bit afterwards for not choosing one of the ones she set in Greece, which would have been something of a tie-in with The Thief. Duh.

Obviously, I'm saying nothing about romantic developments or possible villain surprises, but you can always trust these Brits who pronounce names to unromantically rhyme with 'trowel'. ;)

it got bumped out of my luggage by The Oxford Handbook of Japanese Linguistics!

Am impressed by your dedication, but I hope that means you get some teeth-cleaning time when back! Enjoy the rest of your time away. :)

ETA: Never worry about Parenthesis fail when faced with someone having html tag failure...