Unpopular Opinions

Rec - Doctor Who

2018-01-21T19:22:08Z

It is with considerable delight that I offer a recommendation to those friends who, like me, embrace all things Seven/Ace. We may be a small, select group, but by goodness we seem to attract quality.

An author whose work has already wowed and entertained me in Buffy and Potter fandoms has begun to post a series of drabbles featuring Seven and Ace. They are funny, evocative, poetic and entertaining. Often all at once.

It is my great hope that the four drabbles currently posted will be augmented as the muse deigns to visit. In the meantime, if you love Seven/Ace then please go and have a look.

100 Words of Seven by DHW

comments

Fic - Doctor Who - "Hair of the Dog"

2017-11-03T20:32:35Z

Fandom: Doctor Who
Pairing: Seven/Ace
Rating: PG15
Timeline: Post-Series
Disclaimer: The BBC owns Doctor Who.

Part Nine of "The Moment of Awakening" series.

Summary:

Ace's emotions have been on a roller-coaster ride of late, but those adventures in time and space continue regardless. A distress signal has led the TARDIS to mid-21st-century Kent. Something has happened that seems to link a meteorite strike, a vegetable garden and a spaniel. The Doctor and Ace investigate.

Read the story on AO3:

Hair of the Dog

comments

Fic - Sapphire and Steel - "Time's Transients"

2017-06-25T20:45:47Z

Fandom: Sapphire and Steel
Pairings: Sapphire/Steel, Silver/Jet, with mentions of past Sapphire/Silver and Steel/Jet
Rating: PG-15
Timeline: Post-series, beginning straight after the end of the final episode.
Disclaimer: Sapphire and Steel belongs to PJ Hammond.

Note: This story contains a scene depicting an attempted suicide.

Summary

The Transient Beings have escaped from their prison in the past. Through a sequence of distractions and deceptions they have imprisoned Sapphire and Steel in an impossible cafe, adrift in the lonely expanses of space.

The universe is about to become the plaything of the Transients: somewhere to indulge their insatiable capacity for cruelty and malevolence. All life is at risk, now.

Fortunately, there is still a glimmer of hope: a Silver glimmer...

Read the story on AO3:

Time's Transients

comments

Fic - Doctor Who - "Risk Assessment"

2017-05-24T15:28:54Z

Fandom: Doctor Who
Pairing: Seven/Ace
Rating: PG15
Timeline: Post-Series
Disclaimer: The BBC owns Doctor Who.

Part Eight of "The Moment of Awakening" series.

Summary: Forced into an uncomfortable honesty, Ace tries to work out what to do next. She needs the answers to certain questions. Unfortunately, they are the questions she can't risk asking.

Read the story on AO3:

Risk Assessment

comments

Fic - Hi-De-Hi! - "All the Things That He Is Not"

2017-04-27T23:18:41Z

Fandom: Hi-De-Hi!
Pairing: Jeffrey Fairbrother/Gladys Pugh
Rating: PG-15
Timeline: Set after the final episode of season 5, at the very end of Jeffrey's season at Crimpton-on-Sea. Departs canon.
Disclaimer: "Hi-De-Hi!" is the property of the BBC and the creators of the show, David Croft and Jimmy Perry.

Summary

Jeffrey Fairbrother is a study in contradiction.

Read the story on AO3:

All the Things That He Is Not

comments

Fic - Doctor Who - "Of Colour and Confrontation"

2016-12-24T16:48:20Z

Fandom: Doctor Who

Pairing: Seven/Ace

Rating: R

Timeline: Post-series

Disclaimer: The BBC owns Doctor Who.

Part Seven of "The Moment of Awakening" series.

Summary: Ace finds herself unable to equivocate any longer. The situation is made no less uncomfortable by the presence of a fainting couch.

Read the story on AO3:

Of Colour and Confrontation

comments

Fic - Harry Potter - "Cold Hearts and Muddy Understandings"

2016-12-22T20:35:17Z

Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairings: Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger/Severus Snape
Rating: a cautious R
Timeline: Set in the aftermath of the Battle of Hogwarts. AU, in that Snape lives.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling.

Summary:

When the dust has settled; when the spent curses in the air have faded to a prickle; when the sounds of pain and terror whimper their way to silence–

When the battle is over, what happens next?

Hermione Granger has been active in the fight against evil since she was twelve years old. With victory comes the opportunity to take stock of the more ordinary aspects to her life. She can finally consider the choices that most young women get to make: lifestyle, career, romance.

But the trauma she has known has left its mark. And even before her life took a turn towards constant life-or-death, Hermione was far from ordinary. Her friends are looking to their own futures. Her parents don't remember her. Her surrogate family is in mourning. The Wizarding World has always viewed her as an outsider. Hermione realises she is, in many ways, alone.

It does not take long before she finds herself wishing fervently for the welcome distraction of another dark wizard. Life was so much simpler when priority number one was keeping Harry Potter alive...

Read the story on AO3:

Cold Hearts and Muddy Understandings

comments

Fic - Doctor Who - "Colonis"

2016-08-09T23:07:25Z

Fandom: Doctor Who
Pairing: Seven/Ace
Rating: R
Timeline: Post-series
Disclaimer: The BBC owns Doctor Who.

Part Six of "The Moment of Awakening" series.

Summary:

Colonis: the first planet to be colonised by human beings outside of Earth's solar system. It's all drizzle and mud, prefabricated shelters, make do and mend. The whole place makes you feel like you're on an ill-equipped camping trip, only there's no chance of chucking it in and going home.

The Doctor and Ace show up alongside a boatload of new arrivals, to witness a colony about to tear itself apart. There are rival political factions among the colonists, an unhappy indigenous species watching from the wings, and a killer eyeing up a population that is isolated, vulnerable and continually distracted.

The Doctor is adamant that their presence here is necessary. Ace is soon convinced, however, that there's something he's not telling her...

Read the story on AO3:

Colonis

comments

Fic - Doctor Who - "We Are Stardust"

2016-03-09T15:44:23Z

Fandom: Doctor Who
Pairing: Seven/Ace
Rating: R
Timeline: Post-series
Disclaimer: The BBC owns Doctor Who.

Part Five of "The Moment of Awakening" series.

Summary: The Doctor and Ace enjoy a weekend of music, friendship and unexpected philosophy at the Woodstock festival.

Read the story on AO3:

We Are Stardust

comments

RIP Bowie

2016-01-12T15:31:32Z

Lost a day, yesterday. Couldn't do anything: couldn't write, couldn't edit, couldn't think straight.

How can David Bowie have died? He was not just a man, he was a force of nature. He was elemental, I think. Some kind of power of earth or air.

It's been a rough winter for losing iconic musicians. By all accounts, Scott Weiland was finished off by serious addiction issues that had plagued him - and pained those closest to him - for a long time, but I just loved his voice and the music he made with STP. I remember seeing the Pilots at Leeds T&C in the mid-nineties, when they were touring on 'Purple'. They pulled most of the plugs halfway through and did an acoustic set, with Weiland sitting in a big old rocking chair. One of those perfect live-music moments.

And of course, last month I raised a glass to our own beloved Lemmy (it was ginger beer - I haven't drunk alcohol since 1996, and Lemmy would surely not have approved, but I think he'd have approved even less of someone changing their lifestyle due to the opinions of others...) and felt very sad. I saw Motorhead at the Hammy-O about 25 years ago. They were true to their maxim: everything louder than everything else. They were a joy to behold.

I never saw Bowie live. By the time I was old enough to get to see him, he was doing infrequent stadium gigs. I like things more intimate. Now I wish I'd made an exception for him, the same way I tend to do for Maiden.

Honestly, I think I figured he'd just always be around. Forces of nature tend towards ever-presence, do they not?

Times like this, I wish I believed in the concept of afterlife. That'd be some heavenly open-mic night, wouldn't it?

comments

Fic - Doctor Who - "Of Anger and Ardour"

2015-11-19T19:29:24Z

Fandom: Doctor Who
Pairing: Seven/Ace
Rating: R
Timeline: Set around one year after 'Survival'.
Disclaimer: The BBC owns Doctor Who.

Part Four of "The Moment of Awakening" series.

Summary: The Doctor and Ace argue. Afterwards, Ace is forced into some introspection.

Read the story on AO3:

Of Anger and Ardour

comments

Fic - Doctor Who - "Penalties"

2015-10-12T15:22:04Z

Fandom: Doctor Who
Pairing: Seven/Ace (UST)
Rating: PG
Timeline: Set several months after 'Survival'.
Disclaimer: The BBC owns Doctor Who.

Part Three of the "Moment of Awakening" series.

Summary: Ace goes to Wembley and makes some friends. The Doctor finds this worthy of comment.

Read the story on AO3:

Penalties

comments

Fic - Doctor Who - "If You Go Down to the Woods Today"

2015-09-15T15:24:27Z

Fandom: Doctor Who
Pairing: Seven/Ace (UST)
Rating: PG
Timeline: Set several months after 'Survival'.
Disclaimer: The BBC owns Doctor Who.

Part Two of the "Moment of Awakening" series.

Summary: The Doctor and Ace picnic. (There are no trees, and they are uninterrupted by teddy-bears, in spite of the title.)

Read the story on AO3:

If You Go Down to the Woods Today

comments

Fic - Doctor Who - "Of Passageways and Pursuit"

2015-08-20T14:33:58Z

Fandom: Doctor Who
Pairing: Seven/Ace (UST)
Rating: A cautious R
Timeline: Set several months after 'Survival'.
Disclaimer: The BBC owns Doctor Who.

Part One of the "Moment of Awakening" series.

Summary: The Doctor and Ace are pursued by a monster, with some disconcerting repercussions.

Read the story on AO3:

Of Passageways and Pursuit

comments

Fic - Hi-De-Hi! - "The Debating Society"

2015-07-26T15:29:54Z

Fandom: Hi-De-Hi!
Pairing: Jeffrey Fairbrother/Gladys Pugh (UST)
Rating: PG-15
Timeline: Set during the season 4 episode "Eruptions"; departs canon.
Disclaimer: "Hi-De-Hi!" is the property of the BBC, and the creators of the show, David Croft and Jimmy Perry.

Summary:

Jeffrey and Gladys are trapped in the Three Bears' Cottage overnight. It's cold, and it's very uncomfortable. Will common sense win out?

Read the story on AO3:

The Debating Society

comments

Fic - Hi-De-Hi! - "World Enough, And Time"

2015-07-14T21:16:26Z

Fandom: Hi-De-Hi!
Pairings: Jeffrey Fairbrother/Gladys Pugh, Clive Dempster/Gladys Pugh
Rating: PG-15
Timeline: Post-series.
Disclaimer: "Hi-De-Hi!" is the property of the BBC, and the creators of the show, David Croft and Jimmy Perry.

Summary:

Professor Jeffrey Fairbrother is enjoying life in Wisconsin. He looks back with affection on his time at Maplins, but he knows that Entertainment Management was not for him. The USA is shaking loose some of those inhibitions. He's even making friends.

Gladys Dempster knows she has a lot to be thankful for. She has an exciting new life in Australia. She has a handsome and charming husband, a lovely home, and weather that puts the British Isles to shame.

Clive Dempster is very happy with his new wife, and glad to embrace the role of devoted husband. Almost all of the time.

Happy endings all round, then...

...so why does it feel so wrong?

Read the story on AO3:

World Enough, And Time

comments

Fic - Doctor Who - "The Taste of Peanut Butter"

2015-05-15T00:41:36Z

Fandom: Doctor Who
Pairings: Ace/Hex, Seven/Ace (UST)
Rating: NC17
Timeline: Big Finish universe, while Hex is travelling with the Seventh Doctor and Ace.
Disclaimer: The BBC owns Doctor Who. Big Finish owns the audio adventures.

Summary: Ace and Hex and the Doctor. Sex and love, fear and friendship, all in the still of the TARDIS night.

Read the story on AO3:

The Taste of Peanut Butter

comments

Fic - Doctor Who - "Denial (Is Not Just...)"

2015-05-04T16:30:13Z

Fandom: Doctor Who
Pairing: Seven/Ace
Rating: PG-13
Timeline: New Adventures universe, after Ace has left the TARDIS. Seven is currently travelling with Bernice, Roz and Chris. Departs canon.
Disclaimer: Doctor Who belongs to the BBC. Virgin Publishing owns the New Adventures.

Summary: An underground laboratory, a nefarious villain, and a TARDIS crew that are having an off-day. Just as well that the Seventh Doctor likes to keep an Ace up his sleeve...

Read the story on AO3:

Denial (Is Not Just...)

comments

Kate Bush plays live!

2014-03-28T13:43:22Z

Kate Bush is one of my musical heroes. She last played live in 1979. I was convinced I would never have the privilege of seeing her play.

A week ago, she announced - to the astonishment of pretty much everybody - that she'd be playing fifteen shows at the good old Hammy O.

A few days ago that number of shows grew to twenty-two, due to the demand for tickets.

Tickets went on sale this morning at 9:30am. I was ready, but hardly dared hope I'd be lucky enough to get tickets.

I was right to be cautious. Even after being thrown from the waiting room to the booking site proper, every date I clicked immediately came back as sold out. I despaired. Yes, I wept.

The tickets had all sold out within less than fifteen minutes, according to the BBC.

So it was with a vague sense of astonishment that my 'one last try' resulted in me finally being offered a transaction screen.

Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.
Unbelievable.

I am going to see Kate Bush in September.

Yes, still weeping...

comments

Happy Birthday, Doctor Who!

2013-11-23T19:19:40Z

Oh Doctor Who. You were my first love. You are my most abiding love. And today you are fifty years old, and that is rather wonderful.

In 1988, the 25th anniversary was celebrated by a 'special' episode (that I suspect would have existed, whatever the season). I watched the Seventh Doctor whizzing down a rope into a Dalek shuttlecraft like he was trying out for the Krypton Factor, and I watched a Dalek actually floating up some stairs, and I was in fangirl heaven. And then, of course, I remembered that the BBC felt nothing towards my show but contempt and embarrassment, and I sighed and longed for the days when a landmark anniversary was celebrated by a super special episode, preferably with multiple Doctors and lots of hype.

Sometimes I wonder whether I fell asleep some time in the nineties and this is all my fangirl dream...

So happy birthday to you, show. You've been innovative and magical and exciting and thought-provoking and utterly incomparable for fifty years, and you are the only television show in the world that can say that. (Quite probably, you're the only show that will ever be able to do so.)

I love you, Doctor Who. With all my (sadly singular) heart, I love you.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a settee to go and get comfy on, and fangirl squeals to contain...

comments

Fic - Buffy the Vampire Slayer - "The Ties That Bind" (20/20)

2013-02-23T14:38:45Z

Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Pairing: Buffy/Giles, Dawn/OMC, Willow/OFC
Rating : Adult
Timeline: Post-series. Set almost one year on after the Sunnydale collapse.
Disclaimer: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" belongs to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.

( The Ties That Bind - Epilogue )

comments

Fic - Buffy the Vampire Slayer - "The Ties That Bind" (19/20)

2013-02-20T23:06:11Z

Fic - Buffy the Vampire Slayer - "The Ties That Bind" (18/20)

2013-02-19T01:07:01Z

Fic - Buffy the Vampire Slayer - "The Ties That Bind" (17/20)

2013-02-15T18:47:54Z

Fic - Buffy the Vampire Slayer - "The Ties That Bind" (16/20)

2013-02-14T16:32:52Z