Yuletide meta

[meteordust]

Notes on All the Colours of Rain (The Goblin Emperor)

The Goblin Emperor was one of the books I read and loved this year. But it was also a canon I was a little nervous about offering, because of the distinctive language and detailed worldbuilding. Fortunately, my recipient had lots of great prompts, and shared my love for iron woobies, loyalty, self-sacrifice, and "all the terrible things happening to my faves, but they're still awesome, and it all turns out alright in the end".

It was fun to write about Csevet - who is one of my faves too - being brave and imperilled and suffering nobly, and then getting recognition for all of it. It was also interesting to get to touch on the idea of Csevet's rapid rise to power being looked at askance by others, and him struggling with his own doubts in that area.

Csevet is described as having "eyes the color of rain", a striking image that I wanted to reference in the title.


Notes on Changing Ends (Tennis RPF)

It's been a while since I last dipped into this fandom, but I'm still very fond of it. I also love bodyswap fic - I think the first I ever read might have been Switch by rivkat in Smallville fandom? - and I've always hoped to see more of it in tennis fandom. My recipient not only shared my faves and prompted bodyswap, but also encouraged starting in media res - a brilliant suggestion that solved a lot of my doubts about tackling this idea. (Who do they tell? How do they hide it? Do they suddenly know other languages or not?)

There were two videos that were inspirational. I haven't been able to dig up the first one on YouTube, which was Jim Courier interviewing Roger at the 2008 Australian Open (maybe I can upload it myself sometime). But the second is Jim Courier interviewing Rafa at the 2008 Australian Open (the relevant bit runs from 1:27 to 3:10):

COURIER: "I talked to Roger Federer earlier in the tournament, and a lot of you players enjoy playing tennis videogames. And in those videogames, you're in there as a player, Federer, Roddick. And Federer said something I thought was really funny. He said that sometimes, when he's playing the videogames, he likes to play as you, to see what it feels like to have the muscle. So my question to you is, do you like to play as Federer in those games sometimes?"

RAFA: "I always like to play with Federer, because if I play with him is impossible to lose."

COURIER: "But Federer said he's not that good at the game because he's all-round in the videogame and it's boring. He likes to have a big shot like your forehand. You don't lose when you play as Federer?"

RAFA: [apologises for his English] "Maybe I didn't explain very well. I want to be Roger, when I play the videogame. Because if I play with Roger - I am playing with Roger, but not me against Roger, no, me with Roger -"

COURIER: "You as Roger."

RAFA: "Yeah, I feel impossible to lose."

COURIER: "Okay. Well, you know, you've never lost in Roland Garros, but in the videogame, if you play as Roger at the French Open, does he win?"

RAFA: "I don't know. Maybe we can try one day. But better in the videogame."

COURIER: "Yeah, better in the videogame for sure."

The swapping hands thing was a late addition, but as soon as it occurred to me I had to include it. (Yay, Princess Bride!) That Rafa is actually right-handed but plays tennis left-handed never fails to delight me.

I have to confess, one reason I was determined to finish this treat, was so I could use that title.


Notes on Bold Strokes (Hamilton)

"The Room Where It Happens" is one of the standout songs in Hamilton, but one thing about it puzzles me - Burr's emphasis on "No one else was in the room where it happened" and "We'll never really know what got discussed". I mean, I thought they traded votes for Hamilton's financial plan, in exchange for hosting the nation's capital? What are you saying happened, Burr? My recipient shared my interest in these questions:

"The Room Where It Happens" is totally about sexual favors, yes? When Hamilton recited all his assets he forgot to include his body. Jefferson reminds him. Hamilton is outraged. In the end, Hamilton loves his country enough to do whatever it takes to get his plan on the Congress floor. Burr would like to be in the room when it happens.

I was pleasantly surprised at how many sexy Hamilton song lyrics there were this Yuletide, some featuring epic ensemble orgies, historical footnotes, or musical compositions. It looks like I am not the only one aspiring to the proud tradition of Shakespeare and Chaucer (ie dirty poetry and dick jokes).

I also want to acknowledge the book Hip-Hop Poetry and the Classics by Alan Sitomer and Michael Cirelli, a classroom guide for teaching students how to understand poetry and write their own, using parallel examples from hip-hop and traditional poems.

This fic almost got titled "The Other Side of the Door" or "The Hamilton Sextape", but fortunately LMM's own lyrics provided much better inspiration.