Oh, yuletide, how I love you!!

[lady_sarai]

SQUEEEE!!!!!

OMG. yuletide makes for the perfect Christmas. I mean, yes, the family is also perfect-making. ;) But yuletide is pure joy.

And the fic written for me is BEYOND perfect. It is absolute, utter brilliance and the writing is gorgeous. The format is one I particularly love--several connected vignettes, with lots of repeated phrases--and they're all subtly different.

It's The Beginning of All Things Are Small, and I can't stop re-reading it! =D

I asked for something introducing Dick Grayson into the Batman Begins verse, and oh, this does that. It's so perfect. This is the fic I've been looking for since the movie came out. THIS is how Dick will come to live with Bruce and Alfred. It's got enough comic canon in it to make me squee with glee, and there's even RACHEL, who I admit to liking well enough. =D And Rachel fits in perfectly, and has her place, as she should. Her characterization is better in her brief appearance in this fic than in many other Batman Begins fics I've read.

And OH, Dick. ::snuggles him:: It's even his POV! They're such a wonderful disfunctional family, which is why I love them. But oh, this fic. They're trying. Even Bruce is trying, and they're all so perfectly in-character. I really see Michael Caine and Christian Bale when I read it, and Dick is everything Dick should be. Oh, this is how it should be done.

But, oh, Bruce. He's so awkward and formal and trying even though he probably doesn't know why he's trying. The Batman/Bruce dichotomy is BRILLIANTLY done.

Then there's Alfred. I adore Alfred. He is my hero. I ♥ him.

"Alfred, he's just going to need to deal with this on his own terms, just like I did."

"Well, I certainly hope that doesn't mean he's going to run off for seven years without telling anyone. I don't think I'm up for going through that twice."

That would be my heart breaking. =D

I have such insane love for this fic, and it was written all for ME!! =D

This is the best Christmas EVER. I am SO doing yuletide again next year! (I've also gotten very nice comments on my story, which makes me squee! =D Although, like all the others, what I wrote will remain a secret until New Years. Hee!)

The whole yuletide experience was fantastic, and getting the most perfect story ever for Christmas just put me over the top. I'm spouting glee. =D

Merry Christmas, everyone!!

PS: By the way, scribophile, I got Twilight and New Moon for Christmas! I started Twilight and so far, I'm really enjoying it! Currently, Edward is trying to switch out of Biology. ;) I *did* just start it!

Comments

[three-nails.livejournal.com]

I got Twilight and New Moon for Christmas! I started Twilight and so far, I'm really enjoying it! Currently, Edward is trying to switch out of Biology. ;) I *did* just start it!
GUUUUH, I loooove those books! You will greatly enjoy yourself while reading them ;). I can't wait to read your reaction to their awesomeness!

Merry Christmas!

[lady-sarai.livejournal.com]

Hee, I thought of you, too! Isn't your layout Twilight based? =D scribophile's been after me to read them. (And by after me, I mean that in the nicest way. ;) Of course.)

I'm enjoying it thus far! I hope you've had a lovely Christmas! :)

[three-nails.livejournal.com]

Hee, yup, my layout is of the Japanese print's version of Bella =D.

Get ready to fall in love with Edward. Seriously. *day dreams about his perfect, beautiful face*

I've indeed had a lovely Christmas =).

[scribophile.livejournal.com]

OMG!! *flails* I'm so glad you're liking it. Edward just melts me. But really, after you're done? Go to Stephenie Meyer's website, because she's got a ton of extra scenes. They're depressing and terrifying and should probably scare me, but just make me love Edward more.

I would totally read your gift-fic, but I know nothing about the fandom. =)

*squees some more and expects updates & thoughts as you read!*

[lady-sarai.livejournal.com]

::laughs:: I really AM loving it so far. I'm on page 195, just finished Chapter 9 and guh, finally getting some answers. I'm a sucker for the "don't love me, it's bad for you!" romances anyway, but yes, Edward is melting me. =P

And Bella? Is an AWESOME heroine.

You should read it anyway. ;)

[scribophile.livejournal.com]

I've decided that the reason everyone loves Edward - and I do mean everyone who reads these books - is because he fulfills every fantasy of a Romantic Lead: he's dark and dangerous, yet sweet and the perfect boyfriend.

Isn't she?? I think it's so easy to relate to her because of all her flaws.

I need to go look up in my copy of Twilight how far you are so I know what I can and cannot say. =)

'kay, I'm off to read your Yuletide fic!

[lady-sarai.livejournal.com]

::giggles:: He's also so snarky at times! It's fun. Bella is quite kick-ass. I love how she was trying to remember her self-defence when those goons were cornering her in Port Angeles.

♥!

[scribophile.livejournal.com]

And he can say the silliest, sweetest things, stuff that would be so cliche anywhere else, because he was born so long ago.

I've been trying to figure out what the twist will eventually be, concerning Bella - she's so unlike her stereotype, and it's awesome.

[scribophile.livejournal.com]

*has read Yuletide fic*

I loved it! I sort of assumed Dick became Batman's sidekick (was his name Robin?), because I've never read a comic in my life. But it was cute and sad and I really liked the author's style.

When's the big reveal?

[lady-sarai.livejournal.com]

Heee! =D Dick is indeed Batman's first Robin (there have been four, I think, but Dick's the original and BEST!). His parents died Just. Like. That! when a mobster sabotaged their trapeze ropes (Dick was in the circus!). I have an especial love for this boy. It wasn't until Batman Begins that I really began caring much for Bruce (Batman) himself, really.

See, yeah, Bruce took Dick in because he witnessed the circus accident and because HIS parents were shot to death in front of him in a mugging at the opera when he was eight. (Dick was also eight, although that's unclear in the fic.) Dick becomes Robin Just. Like. THAT! when he tracks down the man who killed his parents and gets the crap kicked out of him, and Bruce reveals his alter-ego to him and gets pestered into taking a sidekick, really. And oh, *Alfred.* Alfred's Bruce's butler who raised Bruce and then helps raise Dick and who is all-around fantastically COOL. Alfred can do NO wrong, as far as I'm concerned. :)

So, yeah. There's your quick Batman history, which doesn't really cover anything, but there you are. ;) I have such insane love for that disfunctional little family. =D

And WHY do I not have a Batman icon? (Here's the thing: I've loved this superhero since I was 8 and we would play Batman with the kids in the neighborhood; I always wanted to be Robin. I had a crush on him. Heh!)

And this is all far more than you wanted to know. ;)

The author reveal is New Years Day! :)

[scribophile.livejournal.com]

Four Robins?? So is Batman immortal or something, or do all his Robins die in a couple years?

Anyway, that's so cute. Alfred seems like one of those side characters that fandom just adores.

(And to be totally random, that icon is so. adorable. I really really need to see that movie.)

[lady-sarai.livejournal.com]

::laughs:: No, Bruce isn't immortal. He has no superpowers either! :) So human it hurts.

But Dick quit when he and Bruce had... well, differences. Father-son issues, of a heavy duty nature. He made a new identity for himself, calling himself Nightwing and moving to another city, but still keeping in touch and helping out. The second Jason was violent and angry and just... not a real Robin, despite going by that name. (The most vital thing about Robin is that he keeps Batman from being too dark and crossing the line between hero and villain; this is why Batman needs a Robin, and this is what Jason was not good at.) Anyway, the Joker killed him. It was Not Good. The third Robin is the current one; he is good. I don't know much about him, but he and Dick have a fun big brother/little brother relationship. :) I know virtually nothing about the fourth, except it is a girl and I think she died. And was possibly being a Robin with no connection to Batman. But no clue, really.

And honestly, it's Dick that counts. ;) Good lord, you're going to regret asking me questions.

And Alfred is made of WIN.

(You so should, it's so cute!)

[scribophile.livejournal.com]

OMG, Batman confuses me. It's sucking me in. I've added them to my 'must-see movies' along with Happy Feet.

But really, I have even more questions: I think you said Dick was only 8 when his parents died, right? So he became Robin when he was eight years old? Or did time pass, etc. etc., before he ran away and discovered the Batmobile and whatnot?

[lady-sarai.livejournal.com]

::dances:: YES! You will love. =D

I think a few weeks/a month passes, but yeah. Still eight when he discovers that Bruce is Batman, and it's not long after that he convinces Bruce to start training him. Although his age might vary according to WHICH version of his origins you read. =P (There have been several. It's always somewhere between 8 and 12. I lean toward 8, although I agree it's ridiculously young to be chasing villains in tights. Never let it be said Bruce was perfect in his decision-making.) :)

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that was a nice fic. And now I want to play with this idea in the Batman Beyond-verse...hmm...

[lady-sarai.livejournal.com]

You so should. There needs to be more Batman fic. ;) (Not that I have any clue about Batman Beyond. The simple lack of Dick Grayson made me avoid, although I also never saw it on TV to avoid in the first place!) =P

Oh, Batman, you ARE my favorite Superhero. ::squishes:: Aside from Robin, of course. ;)

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

Oh! You should totally watch it! It's true that Dick isn't in it, but Eric from "Boy Meets World" does Terry (the new Batman's) voice. It's a really, really good show. I gushed about it here if you'd care to take a look.