This was written as a drabble for sueatducksfoot.  The prompt was something happens in the Room of Requirement.  It's nowhere near still a drabble, but I believe I did manage to keep it to exactly 800 words.

( Enough talk, show me fic! )

Your result for The Harry Potter Spells Test...

Full Wizard

Fineto! You scored 100%!

Take The Harry Potter Spells Test at HelloQuizzy

Wasn't terribly difficult, that one.  Yay regardless. :-)

Hey, everyone. Something a bit different this time, my first complete Doctor Who story. Well, unless you count Seuss. This ficlet was written as a continuation of the last of these three drabbles byladychi. It takes place during the early events of Rose. I've included the last line of Chi's at the start (600 words exactly, otherwise. Hee.) so I think the ficlet will stand alone if you wish, but please do go read her work as well. Powerful stuff. In fact you may notice I started this in the comments at the time, but I thought about it again last night and the rest of the words finally came this morning.

So then, without further ado, here is the Doctor(  Finding Trouble )

I currently have a struggling, half-formed plot-bunny, courtesy of ladychi; the idea was to come on here and post that, but it hasn't quite worked itself out yet, and then the following occurred to me in rough form due to an interesting reinterpretation of the term 'Who-fic'. It amused me, so I figured, hey, why not:

( Doctor...Who? )
Hope you enjoyed!

Breaking yet another journal silence here, and this one's a big one.  The idea was to write this post tomorrow, as I really shouldn't  be up, but it's three AM and this stuff has been rattling about in my brain for over an hour now, trying to get its points in order.  As I expect you all know, the United States finally (!) held its election today (yesterday?) and I clearly have too many American friends, because it's affected my daily life already. :-P

Various things came up while chatting in the aftermath, among them one of those sorts of lovely controversial topics that I'd really prefer to shy away from: abortion.  Now, if you're like me and would rather not get into it, or if you think yourself likely to turn redder than is healthy and/or otherwise snap, please feel free to skip over this post and go look at some of the neat pictures or amusing things from earlier in my journal.  If for some reason you feel an interest in what I have to say, and can confine yourself to one or two line comments or in some other fashion hang on to the modes of polite discourse and sweet reason, by all means read on. 

Warnings: I'll admit right now that I've done little to no research, and have no practical knowledge of the existing abortion laws in either Canada or the USA.  Everything in here is simply musing I've done and what I think about things.  I'll attempt not to generalise, but I very much suspect some will squeak through.

The first point I'd like to bring up that bugs me is how it manages to be such a controversial issue in the first place.  It always seems to come up around elections, and most of the rest of the time no one but extremists on either side or people actually dealing with it think about it at all.  Or it's possible that's just me.  At any rate, it isn't by any stretch a proper debate; both sides have positions and almost always seem to end up talking past each other to no effect.  Just look at the camp names: 'pro-choice' and 'pro-life'.  Now, nowhere in 'pro-choice' does it say anything about 'anti-life' or 'pro-death'.  'Pro-life' may perhaps be 'anti-choice' if you define that particular choice very specifically, but it's certainly not 'anti-will' or 'pro-mindless-sheepdom'.  They aren't arguing the same point.  It's like one person going "porridge and orange juice is a good breakfast" and a second guy coming up and saying "I disagree; strawberry jam is good on toast"--and then making a major political froufrah out of it.  They aren't exclusive; I could easily eat both porridge and strawberry toast in the same week, even the same meal.

In fact, that seems to be where I find myself in the whole debate, relatively pointless though I may think it is, and I sometimes wonder how many others might be the same.  I'm a pro-lifer sandwiched in a pro-choice worldview, or to put it another way, I'm pro-choice by principle, but I believe the right choice is not having an abortion.  I believe very strongly in free will; that we as a species were designed to make choices, make our own way, and in so doing make more of ourselves.  Sometimes that doesn't turn out so well.  I could certainly wish that no-one had ever heard of or invented abortion, but now that it's happened, and it is known, someone, somewhere is going to give it a shot, even if they have no idea what they're really doing.  One of the points I brought up earlier was to say that in my world abortion would only apply when it's certain the mother would die without it and unlikely the child would live.  Even there that has to be a family choice, as that mother may well choose to give her life in the hope of increasing her child's slim chance, but it is, regardless, their choice to make.  Thinking about it further tonight, the sort of situation I was envisioning was almost-full-term grave complications, which might well be a situation for C-section, not abortion.  Nevertheless, just because I can't think of a medical situation that fits those perameters doesn't mean such a thing wouldn't exist.  Life is a very precious thing.  No child's life should be worth less than it's mother's; yet neither should a mother's life be worth less than that of her child.  Every family is different, and so too are the situations with in them to be ataken into account.

I would much prefer there be no abortion.  But I also very much doubt, as I said, that knowing the possibility someone won't try it.  Granting that, I would much prefer it only be tried by licensed, well-trained doctors with a weath of information of the other options possible on hand, access to the adoption and foster-care systems for those who make that choice, and a mandate to discuss those options, help any process along, and provide safe, sterilised, adjudged medically necessary abortions as a last resort to those who choose them.

Does that make me pro-life, or pro-choice?  I really have no idea.  But there I am.

Once again taken from ladychi, if obliquely, though I think I saw its counterpart a couple other places on the friends page as well.

Your result for The Classic Leading Man Test...

Jimmy Stewart

You scored 2% Tough, 19% Roguish, 71% Friendly, and 10% Charming!

Take The Classic Leading Man Test at HelloQuizzy

And hey, just for interest/contrast:

Your result for The Classic Dames Test...

Myrna Loy

You scored 5% grit, 38% wit, 29% flair, and 33% class!

For no particular reason, but why not?  This one's taken from ladychi.

Would​ you like to put last night​ on repea​t,​ and live it forev​er?
Hmm, I don't know.  Possibly, but I don't think it really warrants that.  Get boring eventually.

What’​s the great​est thing​ that happe​ned to you today​?​
Honestly, rereading the ficlets I've posted in here.  I have distance enough now that I can read them and think 'Hey, that one was pretty good.'  I'm almost to the point of finishing the website I've been working on, which will be exciting, but I haven't done it yet.  And being me, I keep finding more things to tinker with.

Would​ you rathe​r get up early​ or sleep​ in?
Mostly, sleep in.  Depends if there's something I'm getting up for.

What are you excit​ed about​?​ Why?
Finishing the website, as I said; doing another podcast; it's rather exciting to have the house to myself today, though I don't expect to do that much with it. ;-)

Would​ you rathe​r smile​ over a lie or cry over the truth​?​
Chi got it: I'd rather be moved to tears by truth.

Ever staye​d up all night​ on the phone​?​
Nope, never.  I've stayed up on the internet, though, and it did include an IRC chat.

Does it take a lot to make you cry?
Usually, yes.

What’​s somet​hing that someo​ne can do that reall​y bothe​rs you?
Hmm.  Most likely there are things, of course, but I can't think of any off the top of my head.  Being hateful and/or obtuse?

Do you wish you were famou​s?​
I really don't know.  I'd be terribly flattered and excited if I were, but also horribly embarrassed.  I would hope it's for something I did well, at the least.

Be hones​t,​ do you like peopl​e in gener​al?
Yes, I do.  Mobs can be terribly stupid, a person can be twisted and dark, but people really are wonderful.

Are you named​ after​ a famil​y membe​r?​
Yes, if my middle name counts.

Have you cried​ today​?​
No, I haven't.

What'​s the conne​ction​ betwe​en you and the last perso​n that calle​d you?
Fanfic, actually.

What would​ I find if I looke​d under​ your bed?
A watch, half a blanket that fell out last night, dust...

How is your heart​?​
Doing pretty well, I think.  And it is an oddly phrased question.

Do you enjoy​ writi​ng?​
I do, when it works. :-)  I procrastinate and set it aside far too much.

Song that alway​s makes​ you sad?
Hmm.  I can't really think of a song that fits that.

One of your stuff​ed anima​ls’ names​ as a kid?
Oh, now, which one?  Noelle the cat (named for Christmas), Natalie dog (named after two of my aunts), Woody T. Bear (named who knows why)?

Did you take piano​ lesso​ns?​
I did.  Wish I'd kept at them and been less bored.  There's all sort of intruments I'd like to play without having to learn how. ;-)

Favor​ite fruit​?​
Hard choice, there's a lot of fruit I like.  Many of them are treats, like grapes for example.  Day to day it'd probably be apples.

Do you screa​m on rolle​r coast​ers?​
Not a whole lot, but then I've not been on real ones much.  I probably do sometimes.

When did you go to your first​ funer​al?​
Hm.  When my paternal grandfather died I think.  I would've been...three? five? somewhere in there.

What all did you do today​?
Slept in, read my book, had blueberries and cereal, worked on the website, had lunch, worked some more, saw off my parents, headed here.

Where​ did you go on your first​ airpl​ane ride?​
Kingston Ontario.

Who was your first​ best frien​d and are you still​ frien​ds with them?​
Ian Hessdorfer, kindergarten.  Sadly, not really.  Different provinces now.

You see a shoot​ing star,​ do you make a wish?​
Most probably yes.

Has it come true yet?
I've yet to see one.

​Are you a big fan of snows​torms​ or thund​ersto​rms?​
Both, assuming I can be warm and dry inside. :-)

When it rains​,​ do you go out and start​ to dance​?​
Haven't yet, no.

Think​ back to your last hug, when and who was it with?​
My mom as they left this morning.

Are you happy​?​
I am. :-)

Meme's as good a way as any to revive this journal a bit.  Tagged with it by sushimonster724.

Rules:

1. If you're on my friends list, I want to know a few things about you. I don't care if we never talk, or if we already know everything about each other. Short and sweet is fine ... you're on my list, so I want to know you better. You don't even have to answer all the questions, because some of them are lame and some just hard to think up.

2. Comment here with your answers and repost the questionnaire on your own journal if you'd like me to respond to it.

01) Are you currently in a serious relationship?
02) What was your dream growing up?
03) What talent do you wish you had?
04) If I bought you a drink what would it be?
05) Favorite fruit?
06) What was the last book you read?
07) What zodiac sign are you?
08) Any tattoos and/or piercings? Explain where.
09) Worst habit?
10) If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride?
11) What is your favorite sport?
12) Do you have a pessimistic or optimistic attitude?
13) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?
14) Worst thing to ever happen to you?
15) Tell me one weird fact about you.
16) Do you have any pets?
17) What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly?
18) What was your first impression of me?
19) Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
20) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
21) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?
22) What color eyes do you have?
23) Ever been arrested?
24) Bottled or tap water?
25) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?
26) What's your favorite place to hang out at?
27) Do you believe in ghosts?
28) Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
29) Do you swear a lot?
30) Biggest pet peeve?
31) In one word, how would you describe yourself?
32) Do you believe in love at first sight?
33) Favourite and least favourite food?
34) Do you believe in God?
35) In one word, how would you describe me?
36) Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?

Comment if you like.  I'll set it to screen so you can answer publicly or privately as you choose.  Just let me know.

Here's yet more; figured I'd split these posts up a bit.

Hunted up a few more of my ficlets to post on here. Pretty much all of them were originally posted over at the PotterFicWeekly forums.

I realised today that I had yet to post this, so I thought I would. The prompt was an open request for Albus/Gellert stories; I haven't before written slash, or romance of any kind, really, but through the judicious use of elision, I think I carried it off. It's almost more a moment between friends than anything, though obviously it's not, quite. If this is at all the sort of thing that interests you, feel free to read on.
( A Moment of Musing )
Comments are welcome, though I reserve the right to roast marshmallows on flames.

Hey, why not. :-)

Reeses Peanut Butter Cups

Very popular, one of you is not enough.

 

I don't think I'll say "it's alive!" again, because you can see how well that worked out.  At any rate, I wrote some things lately, and I finally decided to put them up for you guys to have a look at.  Just a couple of one-shots about some characters we don't learn much about in Potter canon.  They were both created from drabble prompts, but apparently I can't keep things that short.  I did manage to make the second one exactly 300 words, though. :-)

( A Father's Words )

( A Brother's Pride )

There you go.  Hope you enjoyed them.

I got cast as Raoul for an online Phantom of the Opera radio play! This should be fun...

Taken from Kirsten:

You Passed 8th Grade Math

Congratulations, you got 10/10 correct!

And, continuing in that vein:

You Passed 8th Grade Science

Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct!

Your Superhero Profile

Your Superhero Name is The Armadillo Zombie Your Superpower is Supernatural Your Weakness is Frogs Your Weapon is Your Star Rifle Your Mode of Transportation is Scooter

Well, um...no. I do have a scooter, though!

Your Observation Skills Get A B-

Your senses are pretty sharp (okay, most of the time) And it takes something big to distract you!

That, or I made some good guesses!

Well, guess those are enough for now. I really don't post much in the way of anything here, do I? Hmm...I'll have to find something to make a random rant about, or something.

Apparently I'm a genius, at something, at least. 

English Genius You scored 92% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 100% Advanced, and 80% Expert!

You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go! Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it! For the complete Answer Key, visit my blog: http://shortredhead78.blogspot.com/.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 34% on Beginner You scored higher than 50% on Intermediate You scored higher than 83% on Advanced You scored higher than 61% on Expert

Link: The Commonly Confused Words Test written by shortredhead78 on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

You Were a Fox

A good observer, you often watch others while remaining unseen. Cunning and courageous, you also have a gentle side.

Hmm...not quite what I would have thought, but not entirely off, either.

You Are Apple Pie

You're the perfect combo of comforting and traditional Those who like you crave security

Again, I'm okay with that, but it's not jumping out at me, really.

Your Birthdate: December 16

You're incredibly introverted and introspective. You live inside your head. You spend a lot of alone time meditating and thinking. People see you as withdrawn, and at times they are right. You are caring and deep, but it may be difficult for you to show this side of yourself. Your strength: Your original approach to thinking Your weakness: You tend to shy away from others Your power color: Pale blue Your power symbol: Wavy line Your power month: July

Huh, that's actually preety close, though a little more towards extremes. I have no idea as far as the 'power' stuff goes.

You Were Nice This Year!

You're an uber-perfect person who is on the top of Santa's list. You probably didn't even *think* any naughty thoughts this year. Unless you're a Mormon, you've probably been a little too good. Is that extra candy cane worth being a sweetheart for 365 days straight?

Sure, why not? Candy cane....

Ah well, that's enough for now. I should be in bed right now...and two hours ago, come to think of it.
Good cheer to everyone, sweet deams, if it's that time for you!

Well, most of you probably know this already, due to the paucity of my friends list, but I thought I'd post about it anyway. As of last night, I posted a few icons for consideration as default icon at phoenixlanding. As of tonight, they and the other entries are being voted on over at huggscancer, as she's the one who started up the community for us.

I'm searching for a short play to direct for this term; I've got a few possibilities, but nothing concrete. Unfortunately there's not too many people available: large mainstage shows this term. Feel free to give suggestions.

Anyway that's about it. Ciao,
Scott