fic not-writing meme

[waterscroll]

::glares angrily at pile of drafts that somehow don't write themselves::

Since I seem not to be in a fic-writing headspace right now, let's have a meme: You give me a prompt and I'll tell you about the fic I'm not going to write based on it.

Alternatively, give me a description of a fic you're not going to write and I'll tell you about the squeeful comment I'd have written on it if it existed.

Comments

[scytale]

Those are great summaries and a lot of fun to read, thank you! I love what you did with the prompts, and I'm impressed by the complex structure of them! :)

[waterscroll]

Thank you! Want to do the other version and tell me about the fic you're not writing so I can squee about i?

[scytale]

Sure! <3

This got a bit long (not-writing fic is so easy and fun), but:

It's SLBP, Hotaru's shadow route, but not about Hotaru. Mostly MC & Kenshin, maybe established relationship Kaede/MC for the ANGST.

MC serves Kenshin and everything is happy -- until he dies. Kagekatsu inherits and makes everything awful, because he's a less competent leader (and also feeling inferior to his brother). Kaede decides to take the Mitsuba away from Echigo because it isn't safe any more. There is a very angsty scene in which MC decides to stay, because even if she doesn't like Kagekatsu or trust him, she wants to help preserve Kenshin's legacy and maybe guide him to become a better leader.

Kageie gets executed for treason, and it's left ambiguous whether he actually tried to overthrow Kagekatsu. Hotaru ends up getting captured by Iga (might as well go full angst?). Something bad happens to everyone.

MC gets to meet other SLBP characters (Yukimura, Mitsunari) as part of the setup for Sekigahara. Ieyasu is awful and terrifying. Finally, MC dies on the battlefield at Sekigahara, and her last thoughts are of her first days in Echigo and how bright the future seemed then.

Fast-forward to the present! Kaede and MC work together in a restaurant in Tokyo and are probably dating. MC has always felt like something is missing in her life though...and finally she meets reincarnated!Kenshin, who sought her out just to make sure she's doing okay (he's checking on everyone in his route).

But she's drawn to him for some reason she can't explain, and so she seeks him out... and then she remembers her past life, and the Echigo gang is together again. They all live happily ever after together (including Kaede, since hanging out with Kenshin is no longer a matter of life or death for their clan) and...do something to make the world a better place, in accordance with Kenshin's ideals.

[waterscroll]

This imaginary fic is great!

Finally, MC dies on the battlefield at Sekigahara, and her last thoughts are of her first days in Echigo and how bright the future seemed then.

I'm sure this part would make me cry.

and finally she meets reincarnated!Kenshin, who sought her out just to make sure she's doing okay (he's checking on everyone in his route).

::nods:: Kenshin would do that.

and...do something to make the world a better place, in accordance with Kenshin's ideals.

I really like this. A lot of the reincarnation endings are just...they got together, yay. But I think you make a case here for why the reincarnation matters, they have something to do together that they didn't manage to accomplish in their first lives together.

Thank you!

[scytale]

Thank you for the squee! And this was a lot of fun to think about and not-write, if it wouldn't take so much effort and historical/political knowledge, I would want to try.

Thinking about it some more: the last arc at Sekigahara should definitely draw parallels between Yukimura -> Shingen, Mitsunari -> Hideyoshi, and MC -> Kenshin. And nobody -> Ieyasu, which he's pretty upset about that (though I think he gets the Mitsuba to serve him and MC's father to make Dragon's Tears, which of course means she has to make Dragon's Tears too, and it becomes a big brutal Thing). And probably contrasts with an earlier scene where she makes healing!Dragon's Tears as part of diplomacy for Kenshin.

And Yoshitsugu would clearly be the second of Echigo to die (after Kenshin), which may or may not be the reason Kageie betrays Kagekatsu.


I'm sure this part would make me cry.

:D

A lot of the reincarnation endings are just...they got together, yay. But I think you make a case here for why the reincarnation matters, they have something to do together that they didn't manage to accomplish in their first lives together.

I think this is what appeals to me about reincarnation plots -- that things will work out better the second time around, either because the characters have Learned Something or because they have unfinished business.

SLBP definitely rushes some of the reincarnations! Though I feel like characters like Hideyoshi or Mitsuhide would 100% reincarnate with Goals.