~~ mrar. not again.
Dec. 18th, 2003 01:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
reenkaOh man, I'm a champion at wasting time. I don't know -why- the bloody hell I'm so obsessed with making lists. I should just avoid all lists everywhere, just so they don't give me ideas. I -did- have a semi-fresh mind before writing this entry, but now it's completely and utterly -gone-. Ahem.
So. I had randomly stumbled across a list of![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
poetic_licence's favorite Harry's and Draco's in HP fic, and it had explanations as to why, etc. You can see where this is going, can't you. Yes. The horror. The horror, indeed. Because I don't have "just a few". Oh, just 2 or 3. Nooooo, of course not. *cries!!*
See... I keep thinking about what is it exactly that stays constant for me, in terms of what I'm always looking for in every incarnation of a character. Problem is, of course, I already know the answer to that. And I've thought about it a zillion times before. So there was really -no- bloody reason to do it again. Except I looked at Amy's list and was like... "um... no".
Mind you, I love Ishuca's writing and -adore- Amalin's writing and hey, I enjoyed `Resolution' too, but it's funny, because even as much as I obviously have a high tolerance for fanon, I've never actually liked their writing because of the -characterization-. There's a clear demarkation in my mind between liking something for style & plot & theme and liking it for the characterization. Usually, I can't really say I love a characterization if I think it's unrealistic, whereas I'm not big on realism in general, actually. No matter what happens to them, I like the gritty side of things when it comes to characterizing people. I like 'em dirty and sweaty and pathetic and lost. And painfully human.
So. That's where I'm coming from, really. That's the problem with fanon!Draco for me-- I can't dig a Draco that has no chinks & ugliness to him-- or a Harry, for that matter. I've always latched onto the vulnerabilities in characters-- and people in general, I guess. Give me their anger, their need, their frustration, their hope, their insecurity. Give me their bitter hearts.
~~
- HARRY.
+ Origins, Haven, Belong [& Ivy's Harry in general]
No one else writes about Harry's gentleness and ordinariness and sensitivity and need like this. The way he's just Harry, and that's heroic sometimes and befuddled most times and vulnerable underneath it all, so vulnerable and real and easy to love. He's might be innocent, but he's not weak and he always makes Draco have to reach higher in order to have him. He doesn't ever just settle or betray himself, and he's always doing what he thinks is the right thing. This will always be my favorite pre-OoTP!Harry.
+ Sins of the Father, by Ali.
The thing I love about this characterization is how unassuming and free of melodrama it is. It really does feel like reading gen, and that tends to be my favorite sort of characterization. This is a recognizable GoF Harry-- sensible and unpredictable at the same time, somehow. There's a common sense quality to him, and yet there's still that neediness and loneliness. Mmm, yes.
+ To Rule in Hell, by Antenora.
Woo. My favorite wartime!Harry, eheheh. He's such a goddamn badass. Mmmmm. He's toughened up and become jaded and bitter and all that, but he's still recognizably Harry-- just with a punch. A lot of punches. And snarling. I picture him snarling and being precariously in control-- sort of like if Harry grew up to be in the Matrix. All right, -fine- shut up, I know! I love it, anyway. Mmmmm, bitter rage. What, what??
+ Draco Veritas, by Cassie Claire.
Well, this is Cassie's Harry, and to me he's almost like his own entity, whatever his relationship to canon (sort of like Maya's Draco). There's that gorgeous play on strength and loyalty coupled with vulnerability and half-assed cock-suredness and careless bravado, again, that makes Harry Harry-like to me. He's so messed up and desperately trying to hold together 'cause he -has- to, and he's not doing too well and omg when he needs someone he really needs them, and he's still going to do what he set out to do no matter what the cost. OMG THE LOVE.
+ You've Got Nothing, Harry Potter [& Thess' Harry in general]
The thing about Thess' Harry is-- he's such a boy. He's all insecure and vulnerable and yet with all that bravado and determination and fire. He's not heroic except in a reckless boyish sort of way where he just does things because he has to and wants to and he's got an ego, oh yes. Maybe that's it. I think Thess has a great handle on Harry's ego-- the everyday things that are important to him (his friends, his parents, winning, Quidditch, getting through classes, not thinking about Voldemort any more than necessary). I just want to cuddle him and give him kittens. And Malfoy. He could use a Malfoy, too. Heeee <333
+ Artful Facade, by Sky [honorable mention]
Wah, this is still probably my favorite Harry in a dark scenario. I love the way she plays on his self-destructiveness and fascination with death and fear/need for some sort of power or control. I found it believable, especially pre-OoTP, the gradual growth of darkness in him and the way everything disintegrates-- but he remains semi-opposed. I love the teetering on the edge-- and of course, since it's a WIP, he's forever teetering, now. And that's Harry, to me. He still wasn't sadistic or mean, because I don't think Harry could be. My Harry couldn't be. I am very prejudiced about this, too :> :>
- DRACO.
+ Beware the Fury of a Patient Man, Red [& Miss Breed's Draco in general]
To me, Draco's pretty defined by his anger and envy and sense of powerlessness, however he chooses to deal with these things. Draco is angry. Draco is Very Very Angry. And yet he's so juvenile and easily flustered and he flushes and he stomps off and he breaks the head of that stupid action figure because STUPID SODDING POTTER!! >:O (OMG THE LOVE!!1) Because Draco Malfoy -hates- Harry Potter. He hates him. He Really Really Really Really hates him :D :D :D!!
In `Red', he's being a bit more subtle, of course. The awful, horrible, inexplicable attraction messing with Draco's mind. It doesn't sit very easily. It doesn't bring out the best in him. He's spiteful-- and yes, okay, he's got style, 'cause no matter what-- the snark, baby. The snark lives on. He's such a complete bumbling prat. Also, he was almost coming in his pants from snogging Harry even at age 13, clearly setting a great example for the rest of his sorry little life. Obviously, <33333333333
+ Underwater Light [& Maya's Draco in general]
To me, there's Draco & then there's Maya's Draco, and it's almost irrelevant at which points they do or do not coincide, because UL!Draco just has this force of personality, I guess. Sometimes he does seem too perfect (through Harry's eyes), but I don't love him for the obvious things. I love him for the things underneath, for all the rage and insecurity and desperate fear and loyalty bubbling barely under the surface. I love the way Harry just cuts through him, and the way he's got his certain sort of pride, and the way he refuses to believe in love but he doesn't stand a chance. And well, okay, the snark. <333
+ And I Get By, Double Dare [& Silvia's Draco in general]
I love Silvia's Draco beyond all reason, so we'll just start with that. I don't love him for anything-- I love him for everything. I adore him beyond all others-- he's just. Perfect. So yes, horribly biased, okay, moving on. Silvia makes him lovable without a single apology in sight. He's awful, he's completely stuck-up and deluded and childish and selfish and mean-- and Harry is his. Completely his-- and Silvia makes it work.
Also? Silvia's Draco is hilarious, but never in a too-good-to-be-true way like Maya's Draco sometimes seems to me, because one's usually laughing at him as much as (or as well as) laughing with him. He says (and does) the most nonsensical, wild things-- and it's not so much witty one-liners or snark as being completely insufferable as well as slightly mad. The boy's a complete menace-- to himself! I LOVE HIM SO MUCH, YOU HAVE NO IDEA >:O
+ The More Things Change, by Dee.
This is a great, great characterization of Draco-- not particularly witty, not particularly subtle, just spoiled and confused and resentful as ever. He's not particularly brilliant or outstanding in any way, but he's human and understandable and a little lost, and that goes a long way with me. He's angry enough to take what he wants, even if it's (shock!) Potter, and that's as much as I would hope for. I never gave Dee feedback for this (wah), and this isn't it, but this is a pitch-perfect extrapolative fic for Draco at the very beginnings of finally growing up.
+ Beasts and Butterflies, by Riddle [honorable mention]
It's been a very long while since I last read this, but I have a soft spot for maddened, dark Draco, drowning in himself and his Malfoy legacy and everything going the worst possible way. He's sort of been stripped down to need and despair, with his usual compass awfully twisted. It's not so much that he's IC, exactly, as I like the sheer emotional drive here, whereas so many people make Draco reserved. Riddle's Draco is pretty much a wreck, and hey, I like him that way.
+ A List of Draco Malfoy's Faults [& Trin's Draco in general]
My extreme preference for characters more than a little unhinged and actually somewhat pathetic strikes again. Malfoy is a freaky albino spider. Harry is a pervert. Hey, works for me!
~~
- RON.
+ Screwed, by Slytherlynx.
+ The Pop Goes The Weasel trilogy, by Durendal.
+ A Series of Definitions, by Silvia.
+ His Belongings, by Penelope.
- PANSY.
+ Loved Those of Great Ambition, by Maya
- CHO.
+ 6 Ways of Unpinning a Butterfly, by Serious Black.
+ Veela Magic, by Lasair
- REMUS.
+ Drawing Down the Moon, by Ailei & Khirsah.
+ Nightswimming, by Rave.
+ Coin Tossers, by Sloane.
+ Parting, by Bow.
So. I had randomly stumbled across a list of
poetic_licence's favorite Harry's and Draco's in HP fic, and it had explanations as to why, etc. You can see where this is going, can't you. Yes. The horror. The horror, indeed. Because I don't have "just a few". Oh, just 2 or 3. Nooooo, of course not. *cries!!* See... I keep thinking about what is it exactly that stays constant for me, in terms of what I'm always looking for in every incarnation of a character. Problem is, of course, I already know the answer to that. And I've thought about it a zillion times before. So there was really -no- bloody reason to do it again. Except I looked at Amy's list and was like... "um... no".
Mind you, I love Ishuca's writing and -adore- Amalin's writing and hey, I enjoyed `Resolution' too, but it's funny, because even as much as I obviously have a high tolerance for fanon, I've never actually liked their writing because of the -characterization-. There's a clear demarkation in my mind between liking something for style & plot & theme and liking it for the characterization. Usually, I can't really say I love a characterization if I think it's unrealistic, whereas I'm not big on realism in general, actually. No matter what happens to them, I like the gritty side of things when it comes to characterizing people. I like 'em dirty and sweaty and pathetic and lost. And painfully human.
So. That's where I'm coming from, really. That's the problem with fanon!Draco for me-- I can't dig a Draco that has no chinks & ugliness to him-- or a Harry, for that matter. I've always latched onto the vulnerabilities in characters-- and people in general, I guess. Give me their anger, their need, their frustration, their hope, their insecurity. Give me their bitter hearts.
~~
- HARRY.
+ Origins, Haven, Belong [& Ivy's Harry in general]
No one else writes about Harry's gentleness and ordinariness and sensitivity and need like this. The way he's just Harry, and that's heroic sometimes and befuddled most times and vulnerable underneath it all, so vulnerable and real and easy to love. He's might be innocent, but he's not weak and he always makes Draco have to reach higher in order to have him. He doesn't ever just settle or betray himself, and he's always doing what he thinks is the right thing. This will always be my favorite pre-OoTP!Harry.
+ Sins of the Father, by Ali.
The thing I love about this characterization is how unassuming and free of melodrama it is. It really does feel like reading gen, and that tends to be my favorite sort of characterization. This is a recognizable GoF Harry-- sensible and unpredictable at the same time, somehow. There's a common sense quality to him, and yet there's still that neediness and loneliness. Mmm, yes.
+ To Rule in Hell, by Antenora.
Woo. My favorite wartime!Harry, eheheh. He's such a goddamn badass. Mmmmm. He's toughened up and become jaded and bitter and all that, but he's still recognizably Harry-- just with a punch. A lot of punches. And snarling. I picture him snarling and being precariously in control-- sort of like if Harry grew up to be in the Matrix. All right, -fine- shut up, I know! I love it, anyway. Mmmmm, bitter rage. What, what??
+ Draco Veritas, by Cassie Claire.
Well, this is Cassie's Harry, and to me he's almost like his own entity, whatever his relationship to canon (sort of like Maya's Draco). There's that gorgeous play on strength and loyalty coupled with vulnerability and half-assed cock-suredness and careless bravado, again, that makes Harry Harry-like to me. He's so messed up and desperately trying to hold together 'cause he -has- to, and he's not doing too well and omg when he needs someone he really needs them, and he's still going to do what he set out to do no matter what the cost. OMG THE LOVE.
+ You've Got Nothing, Harry Potter [& Thess' Harry in general]
The thing about Thess' Harry is-- he's such a boy. He's all insecure and vulnerable and yet with all that bravado and determination and fire. He's not heroic except in a reckless boyish sort of way where he just does things because he has to and wants to and he's got an ego, oh yes. Maybe that's it. I think Thess has a great handle on Harry's ego-- the everyday things that are important to him (his friends, his parents, winning, Quidditch, getting through classes, not thinking about Voldemort any more than necessary). I just want to cuddle him and give him kittens. And Malfoy. He could use a Malfoy, too. Heeee <333
+ Artful Facade, by Sky [honorable mention]
Wah, this is still probably my favorite Harry in a dark scenario. I love the way she plays on his self-destructiveness and fascination with death and fear/need for some sort of power or control. I found it believable, especially pre-OoTP, the gradual growth of darkness in him and the way everything disintegrates-- but he remains semi-opposed. I love the teetering on the edge-- and of course, since it's a WIP, he's forever teetering, now. And that's Harry, to me. He still wasn't sadistic or mean, because I don't think Harry could be. My Harry couldn't be. I am very prejudiced about this, too :> :>
- DRACO.
+ Beware the Fury of a Patient Man, Red [& Miss Breed's Draco in general]
To me, Draco's pretty defined by his anger and envy and sense of powerlessness, however he chooses to deal with these things. Draco is angry. Draco is Very Very Angry. And yet he's so juvenile and easily flustered and he flushes and he stomps off and he breaks the head of that stupid action figure because STUPID SODDING POTTER!! >:O (OMG THE LOVE!!1) Because Draco Malfoy -hates- Harry Potter. He hates him. He Really Really Really Really hates him :D :D :D!!
In `Red', he's being a bit more subtle, of course. The awful, horrible, inexplicable attraction messing with Draco's mind. It doesn't sit very easily. It doesn't bring out the best in him. He's spiteful-- and yes, okay, he's got style, 'cause no matter what-- the snark, baby. The snark lives on. He's such a complete bumbling prat. Also, he was almost coming in his pants from snogging Harry even at age 13, clearly setting a great example for the rest of his sorry little life. Obviously, <33333333333
+ Underwater Light [& Maya's Draco in general]
To me, there's Draco & then there's Maya's Draco, and it's almost irrelevant at which points they do or do not coincide, because UL!Draco just has this force of personality, I guess. Sometimes he does seem too perfect (through Harry's eyes), but I don't love him for the obvious things. I love him for the things underneath, for all the rage and insecurity and desperate fear and loyalty bubbling barely under the surface. I love the way Harry just cuts through him, and the way he's got his certain sort of pride, and the way he refuses to believe in love but he doesn't stand a chance. And well, okay, the snark. <333
+ And I Get By, Double Dare [& Silvia's Draco in general]
I love Silvia's Draco beyond all reason, so we'll just start with that. I don't love him for anything-- I love him for everything. I adore him beyond all others-- he's just. Perfect. So yes, horribly biased, okay, moving on. Silvia makes him lovable without a single apology in sight. He's awful, he's completely stuck-up and deluded and childish and selfish and mean-- and Harry is his. Completely his-- and Silvia makes it work.
Also? Silvia's Draco is hilarious, but never in a too-good-to-be-true way like Maya's Draco sometimes seems to me, because one's usually laughing at him as much as (or as well as) laughing with him. He says (and does) the most nonsensical, wild things-- and it's not so much witty one-liners or snark as being completely insufferable as well as slightly mad. The boy's a complete menace-- to himself! I LOVE HIM SO MUCH, YOU HAVE NO IDEA >:O
+ The More Things Change, by Dee.
This is a great, great characterization of Draco-- not particularly witty, not particularly subtle, just spoiled and confused and resentful as ever. He's not particularly brilliant or outstanding in any way, but he's human and understandable and a little lost, and that goes a long way with me. He's angry enough to take what he wants, even if it's (shock!) Potter, and that's as much as I would hope for. I never gave Dee feedback for this (wah), and this isn't it, but this is a pitch-perfect extrapolative fic for Draco at the very beginnings of finally growing up.
+ Beasts and Butterflies, by Riddle [honorable mention]
It's been a very long while since I last read this, but I have a soft spot for maddened, dark Draco, drowning in himself and his Malfoy legacy and everything going the worst possible way. He's sort of been stripped down to need and despair, with his usual compass awfully twisted. It's not so much that he's IC, exactly, as I like the sheer emotional drive here, whereas so many people make Draco reserved. Riddle's Draco is pretty much a wreck, and hey, I like him that way.
+ A List of Draco Malfoy's Faults [& Trin's Draco in general]
My extreme preference for characters more than a little unhinged and actually somewhat pathetic strikes again. Malfoy is a freaky albino spider. Harry is a pervert. Hey, works for me!
~~
- RON.
+ Screwed, by Slytherlynx.
+ The Pop Goes The Weasel trilogy, by Durendal.
+ A Series of Definitions, by Silvia.
+ His Belongings, by Penelope.
- PANSY.
+ Loved Those of Great Ambition, by Maya
- CHO.
+ 6 Ways of Unpinning a Butterfly, by Serious Black.
+ Veela Magic, by Lasair
- REMUS.
+ Drawing Down the Moon, by Ailei & Khirsah.
+ Nightswimming, by Rave.
+ Coin Tossers, by Sloane.
+ Parting, by Bow.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2003-12-18 12:59 pm (UTC)I've always latched onto the vulnerabilities in characters-- and people in general, I guess. Give me their anger, their need, their frustration, their hope, their insecurity. Give me their bitter hearts
Now I'm thinking of my favorite poem by Stephen Crane about the bitter heart...
no subject
Date: 2003-12-18 01:12 pm (UTC)The bitter heart is a great visual to describe what I long for in life & in fiction~:))
no subject
Date: 2003-12-18 01:58 pm (UTC)Okay, I'll just say I like how your brain works.
(Note to self: avoid the scary stalker comments.)