idealists are the cruelest monsters of them all.

I'm finding it progressively harder to write, but it was my dearest wish that I write this for romanticalgirl before the end of the year, and after a few false alarms here we are. I hope you like it, L.

Generation Kill
Brad Colbert/Nate Fick
Rated PG-13



It May Be Heart and Fist and Human Voice


( Maybe Nate is Brad's proof that this can be true. )

Many many moons ago, kattiya told me of a legend. The legend of James Dean and Paul Newman. Yes, pause. Breathe. The story goes that Paul Newman and James Dean did a screen test years ago for East of Eden, which you know, is a lot of hotass in one place, but the money shot being that they were involved. I was understandably dubious. And then I saw the clip below.

Whether the shenanigans went down before, during or after this test I'll let you judge, but let me tell you, I can't even call this UST. I know couples that don't ignite like this. In fact, let's call it, as kattiya says, "There is stuff happening." You cannot listen to Paul's nervous laugh, see the way he looks at Jimmy, or the way they mention *kissing* and call this straight.

The only straight thing here is the camera angle. Enjoy, babies.

There's a better version of the second half

So. Where is the slash for this? C'mon folks.

1. I am going to write a story called Fire on the Exhale, which is a shooting reference for those who don't spend too much time watching the Military Channel.

2. I don't think I'm doing yuletide this year, which will be the first year since it started that I haven't signed up, but I just don't have it in me. I am kind of sad about this, but I have to prioritize.

3. Dear White Collar,

The idea is that the shows are supposed to get BETTER as you go along, not worse. Each episode from the pilot has gotten progressively less interesting and more bland. Despite popular belief, you cannot hold my interest on looks alone. Looks are meant to enhance, like a very nice hat, they cannot be the sole substance. Fail, man. You also can't magically exchange one minority for another and not expect anybody to notice.

You are on notice. Clean up your act or we're over.

No love,
X

This once again leaves me with ZERO shows until January 12. Oh my god, Cooper and Ben and Lydia hurry up.

4. I am looking for music. I'm interested in trying out anything by Colin Hay (I have waiting for my real life to begin and I just don't think I'll ever get over losing you) and Iron & Wine (I have Sodom, South Georgia, AB's Song, Flightless Bird, and a few others) so, if you have a favorite, please feel free to share it!

I am also looking for Big Brovaz 'Favourite Things', New Edition's Heart Break album, and the Double CD of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.

I am also looking for a single, straight, hotass, Recon Marine between the ages of 28 and 35, with a brain between his ears, at least one good moral, and who doesn't mind Johnny Cash, Radiohead, Ella Fitzgerald and The Roots on rotation. [Edited for explicit sex acts] Oh, and he needs to be male.

Hey, everybody has to have goals in life.

This deal has been floating around for three weeks. Getting it done was like trying to pry a spliff out of Ben Silverman's cold dead fingers, but at long last the deal has been finalized:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

SOUTHLAND HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN PICKED UP BY TNT!!

I know it's been in the works since NBC dropped the bomb, and you've all been wicked awesome about sending me the trades stories, but I didn't want to say anything until it was officially announced by TNT. Deals have fallen apart with a lot less notice. So, you know, from one fan to another: THANK YOU.

You've all been awesome about the encouragement and the twittering and the phone calls (yes, I called) and the letter writing, so know that YOU did this. Not anybody else, the fans.

Congratulations, people, we are back in business.

Yes, there are stipulations. No, they won't be shooting anymore new episodes until they see how the new six do in January when they air them with the first seven, but this just means that we can experience the series all over again and that all you newbies that didn't get to see it the first time around, now will. Yes, I will be all up in everybody's business right before the premiere. We are going to need to decimate Jay Leno (shouldn't be too hard). I mean he doesn't have Regina King or Michael Cudlitz, right?

I have to say it's kind of freaky seeing half my flist talking about liking White Collar. I'm on the same page as other people? There might actually be things written that I'm not repeatedly beating people over the head to write? serialkarma said it might be the next big thing and I was all, "No way!" Yes way apparently!

Fucking hell is that shocking. (In a great way)

I... am thinking on the story of how Dean Martin was in love with June, and Byron was a friend of Dean's, and June liked Dean, but not like that, and he was sort of crushed when she went off with Byron, but when she meets Neal she kind of thinks of Dean, that smile, that eagerness...it reminds her of being young and being in love.

They flirt.

Neal genuinely means it when he compliments her.

She actually has final say on what he wears and sometimes changes his ties to something more fitting. Suggests a suit that maybe he hasn't seen yet. Makes sure his hat goes just so on his head.

He actively seeks her approval. Her pugs, Sammy and Frank, love him.

To celebrate his first month of living with June Neal makes dinner and she gives him a pair of Byron's cufflinks.

Oh, hey, look, there's the story of Neal and June. Now I don't have to write that -- welcome to the wonderful world of White Collar.

And if you have hesitations about June and Dean Martin. Well, I present the only evidence you will ever need to think this is canon: Diahann Caroll, Dean Martin and Frank Sintra singing together (thanks copracat).

And for you young babies who may need an explanation, Diahann Carroll is June. Yes, this is what June was like when she was young. Wipe up the drool. Now you want to write me June/Neal fabulousness, don't you?

I win.

They've canceled Southland. Before they've even aired any of the episodes they shot for Season 2. Apparently it's too dark and gritty. In short, too smart and real for network TV. Not enough fluff, bullshit, fake tits and bad acting.

I knew this shit was coming. I could smell it when they pushed the premiere date back to October (give it more press, MY ASS), but to not even broadcast any of it. At all. I just -- YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO AT LEAST AIR A FEW EPISODES AND PRETEND ASSHOLES.

All fail NBC. Even now that Ben Silverman is gone.

Fuck, I am genuinely depressed. I don't even...

ETA: Michael has posted some numbers you can call here at the NBC comments line (212-664-2333 -- if the mailbox is full press '0' for the operator and she'll direct you somewhere else) and southland_tv has some execs phone numbers that you can call too. And a twitter. Please call, fill their mailboxes. Let them know this decision is bad, but DON'T BE RUDE. Just, you know, let them know you're disappointed, that you don't approve and think they're making a mistake. Because they are.

So, I'm kind of on hiatus right now. I'm around, but not really, but if you need me I'm sure you can find me. Like today when trolleys was all "the idea of [Brad] being Iceman when it comes to everything BUT Nate and he reverts to 8th-grade-dance awkwardness which Nate thinks is painfully adorable and ten, twenty years later Brad will still try to awkwardly dodge Nate's compliments because let's face it, one doesn't get 100% used to Nate's awesomeness even when you're married to him, and Nate's heart will still feel that pull of overwhelming fondness at the sight of bashful!Brad. and I was like, OMG! WTF! BBQ! <3333333

And then she and I did what we normally do around each other, which that is one of us baits the other and then we babble for a bit and generally something pops out into the world, like a baby, but with a way shorter gestational period.

All this babbling is to say that trolleys IS SO MUCH LOVE because she made art for older!married Brad and Nate with grown-up!Layla and hand-holding and grey hair and blushing and prune juice and v-neck sweaters and then I fucking DIED.

Please tell trolleys how much you love her, because really, I do and you should too.

ETA: I admit that post and the .gif almost makes me want to write some total piece of fluff called like, "My Baby Said I Did a Good Job" or "Dear Mom, I Met the Man I Want to Marry" or something equally embarrassing.

I figure if anybody can help me you lot can. I am looking for some music. In particular the following albums and songs:


Bill Bayliss 'Better Man' (single)
Depeche Mode 'Corrupt' (single)
Jay-Z f/ Alicia Keys 'Empire State of Mind' (single)
The Frames 'Dance the Devil' (album)
Green Day '21st Century Breakdown' (album)
Melody Gardot 'Worrisome Heart' (album)
Melody Gardot 'My One and Only Thrill' (album)


Also, even if you don't have any of the above music, if you're in the market for something new everything above has The hackthis Stamp of Fuck, Yeah!. You know, as an FYI.

You know what I love about Generation Kill fandom? Oh, like, fucking everything. I mean I happen to think I have one of the most awesome, giving flists ever. So, if I have the best flist ever, then I also happen to think that Generation Kill is my best fandom ever. It's small (which I prefer), the writing quality is amazingly high (which is awesome) and because we're all really really really happy to be here, we tend to support each other tremendously. We cheerlead a lot. We will cheer for you if you write, if you draw, if you can string together a coherent phrase. We will even cheer for your ass for contributing ideas and then taking nine months to turn them out. (See Get Some for proof of this).

For further proof of GK's awesome, I submit to you the following recommendations.

#1 -- tevere's Sixteen Days in September, which is an AU story about Nate as a Peace Corps volunteer. But, I'm going to tell you now that that has nothing to do with the story. It's incidental, because this story is about the United Nations and the independence of East Timor from Indonesia. This story is about politics and warfare. IMO, there are Generation Kill characters (personas?) involved but this is not really a GK story, this story is about what happened in Rwanda and Somalia and every third-world nation where, if there's not oil involved, the UN just sort of sits around with its thumb up its ass. This is not an easy story. It is not light. You will not feel better afterwards -- but you will feel enlightened. And then you will be in desperate need of the following…

#2 -- Last week was romanticalgirl's birthday. You might've heard me talk about it once or twice (or three times).

Well, last night alethialia posted This Close to the Real Thing, which she wrote for L's birthday based off of her prompts for the Porn Skirmish, and let me tell you, she got all the good ones: wet dreams, sex toys, dirty talk. I would especially pay attention to the wet dreams part of the equation, since at one point I was threatening her with an injunction on Brad's behalf. It has been too long since the world was graced with an A story. You could tell her that too.

#3 -- And then, once you are done there, I want you all to go and encourage snglesrvngfrend as much as humanly possible because her GK debut Mistakes We Knew We Were Making forced me to climb in the freezer for at least ten minutes. An AU about a Nate who never quite made it to the Marines, but who knows better than to sleep with them… right until he meets Brad. Yeah, Brad is universal like that.

And last but never ever ever least

#4 -- romanticalgirl wrote Johnny Walker Wisdom, which I am totally biased over, because she wrote it for ME! ME! ME! And it features Drunk!Nate, who perhaps is the most adorable drunk you will ever have the fortune to run across. This story is also about the effect of Drunken!Nate on Brad, which is pretty much like causing the collapse of an entire house by pulling out one brick. I just love L's writing madly.


And yes, I do admit to being biased regarding, like, one or two, or all of these stories, but, um, that doesn't mean you shouldn't read them. I'm just saying. You all know how picky I am, would I steer you wrong?

ETA: And! And! Daddy's home from vacation Ahem. I mean tomricks is back for all your military based/war insanity intelligensia, doing the real job the rest of the media just won't do. [plays Eminem's 'Without Me']

Today is the most beloved romanticalgirl's birthday. Yes, she of the sniper-like pornography (one shot to the head and you're on your back) and gorgeous turn of phrase, who I have known through many years and many fandoms, has graced us with another year. I think it's a testament to her character (and mine) that we haven't shared a fandom in many, many years, but after much harassing she has come to the Generation Kill side and I honestly could not be happier about this. In fact, I would write you a story just to celebrate your day of birth... but I already did that. (It is possible there shall be another, I dunno, everybody's being shady... especially John, I don't even know what's up with that. Maybe Slutty!Ben broke him. Which would be really sad).

And I would create a banner of glittering cocks... but amberlynne beat me to it (and I have no idea how).

I digress. Happy Birthday, L, you are a joy and a comfort and one of the most giving, thoughtful people I have ever encountered in fandom. PORN SWAT would not be the same without you. Especially considering that you write sex that involves bacon and syrup. And a gorgeous Lilley POV. And Brad meeting Nate's ex.

Speaking of porn, or not, GK people, get thee to sparky77 LJ and read the very long time coming premiere of her Rudy POV, Rudy's Guide to Auras and Fair Game Play, which guest stars Pappy and Ray and Brad (and Poke! ILU Poke!). Some people Q is just born to write. First Ray, now Rudy. I think it says something about her, but I shan't say what exactly (but you can probably guess).

ETA: Is it possible that any of you lot have the following mp3s:

Babybird 'Back Together'
Shawn MacDonald 'Captivated'
Wyclef Jean and the All-Stars 'New Day'
Irma Thomas 'Break-a-way'
Blue October 'Breakfast After 10'
Steve Earle 'Feel Alright'
Snow Patrol 'We Can Run Away Now They're All Dead and Gone'
The Parlor Mob 'Can't Keep No Good Boy Down'
Sponge 'Plowed'


ETA#2:: WHY DID NOBODY TELL ME ABOUT THE BALLAD OF G.I. JOE?