Story 251: "Your Platonic Relationship: An Owner's Manual" by Nanda

[wendelah1]

I'm still going back through the older comments at the nomination post. Way back when, someone nominated "Syncopation" by Lilla Vaughan, which I wasn't that crazy about to be frank. I don't remember why. But then I remembered she'd written this fic, which I do like a lot.

In her summary Nanda writes, "I think the title speaks for itself. Oh, and there are rocks falling from the sky, too."

The link is to AO3 but this fic can also be read at Gossamer.

Read Your Platonic Relationship: An Owner's Manual

Comments

[wendelah1]

"The "owner's manual" should have been less lovestruck and more clever."

Sorry it didn't suit you. Now that you're a fic writer, maybe you should write your own "owner's manual."

"I suspect the writer is capable of a sophisticated do-over."

Again, sorry it wasn't to your taste. I hope I'll find something you'll like better for next time.

"But she's probably hung up on Benedict Cumberbatch now."

No, actually she's not, not as far as I know. She wrote the bulk of her fanfic for Stargate SG-1 (Sam/Jack shipper) after she moved on from TXF, and has dabbled in a few other fandoms.

[estella-c.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Guess I should step up here. But it's hard, because I really don't want to tell people not to enjoy what they enjoy.

I see where amyhit and you, Wendy, are coming from with the subtle "sketching together of a core group of tropes." I wish I could consider that enjoyable. The fact is, though, that I wouldn't read any of the thousands of characteristic shipfics it presumably encapsulates (might have, once, years ago) because they are really dull. An outright parody--which this is not--might have been fun. But this is just sort of a...melancholy, colorless day-in-the-relationship that is as dull as whatever it is imitating.

Too subtle for me.

amyhit, your explication should focus on something worthy of you, because you have the makings of a scholar. Wendy, I can't "write my own" Owner's Manual because plagiarism. Plus, never say you're sorry I don't like something. I love not liking something, and I really am amazed at the worth-discussing stuff you keep presenting.

I don't think Scully is a Marysue, nor Mulder. In my opinion a Marysue has a distinct and interesting personality of her own--like that bisexual woman in Dith's Dance. Well, the GOOD Marysues.

I suppose not everyone is hung up on Cumberbatch. It just seems that way.

Insulted everyone, have I? Right. Moving on.