Yamaku Book Club (20220124 Dish Washing)

[dewelar]

I've always liked this one. I think this is the fourth time I've read it, and I still do. I like a lot of FluffandCrunch's side stories, actually. I'm just not too big on his main continuity. One thing that's always bothered me, though, and it's been alluded to already, is that the story requires us to accept that Akira's presence is substantial. It's a weird thing to get hung up on, maybe, but it undoes my suspension of disbelief. Otherwise, a good piece.

[brythain]

Also, it's interesting that Shizune and Misha are a thing. Very rare to see someone actually go that direction, surprisingly.

I thought it might become a thing. In fact, I made it AtD headcanon. After all, who knows what might happen a long way down the line?

[azumeow]

I liked it, as much as I did when I first read it.

Will never forget that Scrubs episode. Fucking hell, did that hurt. Same relationship here, too. Reminds me of the first, and I think the only, time I heard my dad cry. He'd just found out that his brother-in-law from his first marriage died. That did a wonder on me. The reality of the situation didn't hit me for months, till one day I was in class and realized that, hey, I'm never going to see this person again, ever.

Started bawling in the middle of class. Teacher called my house that day and everything.

[brythain]

So, what does everyone think about the role of ghosts and/or the supernatural in KS fan fiction?

Meanwhile, to continue with the Hisao-centric theme, here's an intense short-short from an old friend.

I present to you for further Hisaoish goodness and consideration:

Classroom Game, by Oddball.

Comments on this and 'Hisao and Akira...' are all welcome. This club will take a really good look at our Master of Romance over the next few weeks.

[Blank Mage]

So, what does everyone think about the role of ghosts and/or the supernatural in KS fan fiction?

In a word? 'Ugh.'

That's not to say I don't enjoy a good supernatural premise. I do. The all important difference is that they're plots created to fit these concepts into their narrative. Fics that try to nonchalantly claim that the supernatural exists in the realm of KS can, at best, elicit an eye roll from me. At worst they end up shoving this ridiculous plot forward, and any impact is lost when the intro states 'Okay, so my OC is a vampire...'

Actually, I just realized that having a student attending Yamaku for vampirism is the best idea. No one take it, I call dibs.

[Mirage_GSM]

I think the last fic that included a vampire was one of the very few with the dubious honour of being shut down by SC...

That said I'm not too fond of the premise (of including supernatural elements) as well, though I'm guilty of writing one myself…
The main motivation back then was to see if it was possible to write a fic with those elements that at least does not suck too badly ^^°
Since then I've seen a few such fics that I think did a better job than I did, but I'm still sceptical when ever I come across one and ask myself if those elements were truly neccessary.

As for HaAatF - I remember that I liked it and the twist ending, though I didn't read it since on account of it being such a downer. Reading it again now with a critical eye I realize that it does have its weaknesses - some of the scenes don't work as well with the knowledge that Akira is a ghost/figment of Hisao's imagination/whatever. For example it would be hard for her to throw him a can etc.

Edited for clarity.

[Blank Mage]

I don't know what surprises me most: that that's been done, that that's been done multiple times, or that that's been done by legitimate posters.

I... I still kinda wanna try it...

[Alpacalypse]

Actually, I just realized that having a student attending Yamaku for vampirism is the best idea. No one take it, I call dibs.

I was writing that a few weeks back, but the vampire was Rika (red eyes, man. so obvious). Then I realised that it was never going to work.

It also involved Lilly being a Hellsing agent, so you can guess how well that would have been received.

[azumeow]

Actually, I just realized that having a student attending Yamaku for vampirism is the best idea. No one take it, I call dibs.

I was writing that a few weeks back, but the vampire was Rika (red eyes, man. so obvious). Then I realised that it was never going to work.

It also involved Lilly being a Hellsing agent, so you can guess how well that would have been received.

That actually sounds awesome, as long as it doesn't take itself too seriously.

[dewelar]

So, what does everyone think about the role of ghosts and/or the supernatural in KS fan fiction?

Same as most other tropes -- mostly not very good, occasionally decent, and on rare occasions brilliant (see: Hoitash). Overused, sure, but then we are talking about fanfiction here, 90% of which consists of crossovers, crack pairings, magic and death, so actually it's probably less prevalent than in most 'verses . Also, given the subject matter of KS, it probably lends itself better to stories dealing with ghosts than most, so it surprises me that there isn't more of it.

And, yeah, I kind of want to see a fic that treats vampirism-as-disability seriously now...

[Mirage_GSM]

I don't know what surprises me most: that that's been done, that that's been done multiple times, or that that's been done by legitimate posters.

I... I still kinda wanna try it...

For the record, only the first line of my post referred to vampires specifically; the rest was about supernatural elements in general.

Off hand, I can recall two or three stories including vampires - one Hellsing crossover, one featuring Kenji and... one of the girls, don't recall which as vampire hunters and the one that SC axed. Of those only the second was...okay - I won't say good until I have a look at it again.

I don't think anyone ever wrote a fic, where someone comes to Yamaku because of Vampirism as a disability, so you'd be breaking new ground with that premise

[Gajzla]

I don't think anyone ever wrote a fic, where someone comes to Yamaku because of Vampirism as a disability, so you'd be breaking new ground with that premise

I'll just leave this here.

[Fardels]

A supernatural or paranormal KS is unlikely, but so is turning an incredibly long-winded French novel about a man stuck in a conflict that nobody remembers into a musical. For me, very few concepts can't work if they are executed well. If it's well-written (the KS story, not Les Miz), sure, why not? Execution sometimes is more important than concept.

[BlackWaltzTheThird]

one featuring Kenji and... one of the girls, don't recall which as vampire hunters

It was Rika. Story never got continued as far as I know. See Thirteen Silver Chains by themocaw.

Also this is apparently my 600th post. Yay, I guess.

[Puncyclopedia]

My main thought regarding this story is that while I'm not super fond of the story itself, the writing is pretty good and engaging and I enjoyed reading it. I was fine with the twist, depressing as it was, but just something about the story as a whole fell flat to me. That said, I didn't really come to that conclusion until I was done and had enjoyed the prose and the style of it a lot.

I'll be seeking out some of the author's other stuff, for sure.