That first-lines meme

[blamebrampton]

I am still sick to the point of brokenness, which is very annoying because there were any number of things I wanted to do this weekend. My brave but foolhardy friends from Tasmania came to visit, I look forward to hearding about the inevitable flu outbreak that will follow them home. Since functional thought is beyond me, I am indulging in the first lines meme. Except half my friends did last lines, and I couldn't decide which I preferred. So I did both for the stories that have endings.
 
The Fettered Wand
“Can you see them, Granger?”

Snatched
“Is that it?”

A few laughter-filled seconds later, Scorpius’s door followed suit.

Beneath Boundless Skies
It was, without doubt, the strangest Owl that Harry had ever received.

“Come on,” Harry reached down to him. “Let’s go home.”

Decline and Fall
“Where is it this time?”

And whether she would haunt his bed as surely as he haunted hers.

Pushing the Envelope
Percy stared at the parchment in front of him. His lower lip bore the imprint of teeth, between his brows a furrow wore deep.

He wondered if Penelope Clearwater was really back from Italy, as rumour had it. There were a lot of good words that rhymed with ‘water’.

An Act of Simple Devotion
You see him there, in the arms of his mother, his father leaning down over both of them. She looks about, perhaps she is looking for you. Later you will thank her, but not now.

And with that he reaches behind Draco and pushes the papers off the table and the pair of them onto it, and Draco is forced to agree.

It's a Blunderful Life
It was not the worst day of Draco's life. There were too many contenders for that day as it was, all filled with screams and death and fear.

With great care, he climbed to his feet and toddled over to the tree, where there were at least eight bells within his reach.

Fathers Who Could Do With A Spot of Sinning
Harry Potter closes the door and leans back against it for a long moment, looking down at the rug, a smile glimmering at the edges of his mouth.

Sins of the Fathers
When Scorpius Malfoy is five years old, it occurs to him that he should have four grandparents, not three.

Al laughs, picks up two of the towels that are kept by the garden door and together they walk out into the sun and down towards the willows swaying in the breeze.

These Fragile Bonds
It was cold here. But he knew not to complain, because cold was better than dark, and anything was better than dead.

What has the exercise taught me? That I could possibly do with a bit more intellectualism and depth, and that I should really finish a few things. (It's worse than you know, I've omitted Shiv's birthday fic and there are two fests. And I need to speak fluent Italian by November ...)

Comments

[absynthedrinker.livejournal.com]

I hope this whole flu business ends soon. I hate you being sick. Sending lots of positive Chi in your direction. The Tasmanians will probably suffer from glowing good health for the next six years due to contact with you. One of the only perks behind being Tasmanian. f you need a little help with your Italian please don't hesitate to ask.

Peace,
Bubba

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I am an appalling convalescent, but have forced myself to stay warm and eat loads of vegies and get lots of sleep. So I am bored as well as manky.

And you're right about Tasmanians and their rude good health, they are the Swedes of the Southern Hemisphere.

I will definitely start asking you some difficult questions as soon as I can think again. The positive chi is warming and supportive!

[absynthedrinker.livejournal.com]

"I find the remarkably good health of these Tasmanians tedious. What a dreadful lot". A quote from one of my friends' mother.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

A wise and eloquent woman. I'll be sure to mention it to them when I see them off in the morning.

[absynthedrinker.livejournal.com]

Lady Crownley went on to say " With their impossibly tan skin, those picket-like straight,white teeth. and those cloying accnets, they are like Anglo-American rednecks. Truly not our kind dear. You would adore her. One of the funniest women I know. Also thought the whole Edwina Currie/John Major thing was a hoot.

Peace,
Bubba

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

We could talk for hours!

[grey-hunter.livejournal.com]

This is so much fun. First and last lines are IMO the most important things in a fic. Of course, it is also important what's between, but, you know what I mean, right? I'm almost tempted to do it, too. :)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Do it!

[grey-hunter.livejournal.com]

I haven't written much this year. But...ack! Okay. I know it won't interest anyone but I will. :D sometimes I'm afraid of how easily I can convince myself to do stupid things

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Well, I'll be interested ...

[grey-hunter.livejournal.com]

Ok. Done. :D

[libby-drew.livejournal.com]

Wow, I really like reading the very first lines along side the last ones. Now I wish everyone had done it that way.

Sorry you're still under the weather.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I was really surprised to see how many of my last lines were about homes. I suspect I may have the odd issue ...

Eh, it's the flu, it takes a week to feel vaguely human again. J is my guinea pig, as he's two days ahead of me in this one. Off to comment on your last lines which I loved this morning, then fell asleep before I could say anything sensible ...

[libby-drew.livejournal.com]

Damn flu! Please don't push yourself, rest, and get well.

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

I'll nag you when you're better. Mercilessly.

Are you ready to face me in person with incompleted birthday fic?

It looks like I should be able to get the Friday off as well.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

That is VERY good news. And you know that it will be done before then for that very reason ;-)

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

Snerk

You should see the list of fics I owe people. Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge.

[uminohikari.livejournal.com]

:( *pets*

Hah! I missed a few fics; will have to read now~

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Some of them are a tad deranged. Oh what am I saying, they all are ...

[pushdragon.livejournal.com]

Yes! Finish more stuff so I can read it without breaking my rule against WIP. I love the closing line of Sins of the Fathers especially. And the opener for These Fragile Bonds. And all the others are very promising indeed!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It is my plan. For some obscure reason I have also signed up for two fests, but one of those stories seems to be writing itself, so I foresee a majority of WIPs no longer IP by the end of the year. The ABC is playing Sting playing Dowland for me, they are so thoughtful!

[tomatoe18.livejournal.com]

Nice meme. Maybe next year I'll do it... when I have some lines to display. :P

And if you need help with Italian, I might be able to help. Just returning the favor, since you've been so generous with your knowledge of the English language with me. :D

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I may very well take you up on that. I can see myself needing lines that none of the phrasebooks contain, such as 'is there a free wireless hotspot near here' and 'do you have any linen straight-woven tape, in twill or plain weave?' (I imagine I'll just look for that latter myself in the passmenterie shops.)

[tomatoe18.livejournal.com]

Yes, bring it on. :D

Sorry for being ignorant - again! *sigh* - but what's 'linen straight-woven tape'? I can't imagine what the object looks like. :O

And...

Avete servizio di connessione ad internet senza fili? = do you have wireless internet connection (here)? (Internet senza fili = wireless. Or just say 'wireless'. The Italians understand this.)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

A fabric tape made of linen in a plain or straight weave, usually an inch or half an inch wide.

And thank you! Into the book that goes!

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

I love that you did both first and last and you included links! Aren't you clever? Now everyone must re-do their lists to follow your example.

Also, I have quite a few of your fics to catch up on... :D

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Well, it was only because SOME people didn;t include links and I was sitting there thinking 'I want to read that!' all the way through theirs.

I have so many fics to catch up on ... yours, Push's, even a couple of Sansa's ...

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

i may be forced to do this meme-age (although i'm not sure anyone will read it as people seem to have fled from my journal, which is somewhat disconcerting as i didn't think i'd done anything evil. [*ponders*] still it is rather cool, and i'll see it).

am v. v. sorry to hear the illness has gotten the better of you. am doing fairly well fighting off mine still. though it is encroaching. [*sighs*]

[*sends chicken soup*]

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I am still reading your journal! Though I am not commenting much this week as it takes me five minutes to compose a coherent, correctly spelt sentence. But I would make a supreme effort to comment on a lines post! I hope that you win the fight against your plague, mine is hideous. Why do I travel? I never get sick when I stay at home!

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

was so going to do this tonight, but have only just finished the hp_tarot drivel of a story and it's past midnight, so must to bed instead. will attempt to post tomorrow.

and totally understand about the commenting. you (and many others) are busy and have every right to not comment (i haven't been doing nearly as much myself this past month) it's just rather disconcerting to have my last two posts with no comments. that hasn't happened for almost 3 years i don't think. i mean i never get the kind of quantity you get, but i usually have three or four at the least. makes me feel as if i've done something really horrid and just haven't realised it yet. [*shrugs*]

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I think it's just that everyone has the plague or is miles late for hd_inspired (at least half my flist ...) Don't take it personally! I'll go and improve your stats now ...

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

i don't take it personally as in the everyone-hates-me-i'm-gonna-eat-worms way, but it do look at it and say, gosh, somethings changed. i wonder if the universe is telling me i need to alter the way i spend my time. and yes, i leave open the possibility that something else is taking everyone's attention, too.

in anycase, you are a doll for popping over to comment ♥ ♥

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

And now fest season has begun, goodbye sweet flists, we barely see you!

I still have the plague. Grrrr. XXX but with no virus attached.

[jamie2109.livejournal.com]

It's amusing reading the first lines and seeing how they match the story. The last lines always sound like last lines...funny that. lol. Perhaps I will go have a look at mine. I think I tend to start a lot of mine of with dialogue, though which isn't nearly as interesting. I don't think I'll have many anyway - was too caught up in a couple of WIPs this year.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yours are fascinating! I've just started reading through a few I missed!

I actually like stories that start with dialogue, you're instantly in the characters' headspace. You do that very well.

[oddishly.livejournal.com]

I... kind of really hope that I'm catching your flu, because I just spent a good 5 minutes staring at your (deviant!) first line/last line list and thinking She's gone wrong somewhere; it should be first and last, not first two. And they really don't make sense. ...oh no, wait.

*headdesk*

*sends soup*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Hope you don't have the flu, it's ghastly. And also, heh! Thanks for the soup, it's very welcome!

[who_la_hoop]

Are you feeling any better? *sends healing vibes and hugs and fantastic invisible hats for you to wear in bed*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Have I told you that the Monster kitten likes to sleep on our heads? She is our bed bonnet, bless her mad furry heart. Feeling a little better tonight, though.

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

I think what it should be telling you is to finish more fic, woman! *pokes nicely with a wry grin of shared guilt*

Bugger for the bug - what is it with disease in this country this year? I swear, next year I'm going back on the flu shots, and they tell me there's one for pneumonia as well. Yep, I hate needles, and the after effects, but this might just have to happen. :(

So sorry you feel like crap. I have resigned myself to not seeing you before we go - this makes me uber sad, but at least I'll stop nagging you. If you do decide to get well (sorry, that's not meant to be snarky) and make a sudden flash visit next weekend, you will be more than welcome. I'm afraid diseased people are left on the doorstep with directions to the nearest tram stop. :D

Wow, I sound like a bitch today. I blame rockband. I've discovered it is possible to do serious neurological damage playing it for several hours in an evening; now my brain feels like mush and I have Bowie stuck in my head. Could be worse.

On a 'trying to sound like a friend' note - please may the powers of nature let you get well, and I hope you have a lovely sunday despite the dreadful illness. And in case I haven't told you lately - I love your writing.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It is definitely telling me that!

I think I will turn to flu shots next year, since I seem to have turned into a flu magnet. And alas, yes, this does mean that we will be pretty much out of weekends, since I can't imagine getting any acts together in the next week beyond dressing, perhaps working, and sleeping. Makes perfect sense to not let diseased people in, I am startled that my Tasmanian friends decided to come, and they have only themselves to blame if they are struck down.

And Bowie in your head is a fine internal soundtrack. Thanks for the vote of confidence, I will concentrate on getting well and finish more chapters, including emails to you of where you can find them when you return from your jaunting about the globe.

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

How are you feeling today, honey? I hope better than yesterday. It took most of the day for me to start feeling 'normal' - well, for a given state of normal that is mine, and probably far different to most humans.

I went to the gym this morning - I cannot see how this is a good thing. The kitties have new new plants in their atrium (which will probably suffer the same fate as all those who have gone before them). Loki even managed to knock one off the shelf before we even got to plant it. The cat grass clumps have already been chewed into limp green stubble.

I honestly think dressing and working are overrated, whereas sleeping is essential, and often needs to be done to the extreme, and should be interspersed with eating, reading and kitty cuddling. Please consider this a recipe for the week ahead.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Spent most of the weekend in bed. Bleagh. Lucky kitties! Mine have had to make do with a selection of cushions and legs for their lounging and climbing pleasure.

Would love a few more days in bed, but the budget won't allow it. Sigh.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Consistently, authors I like have great first lines. You included!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Oh you flatterer. I liked reading yours because I have discovered Lucius-involving fic! Colour me intrigued!

[bryoneybrynn.livejournal.com]

I love this meme. I want to say something witty and clever but I'm very tired - Ben has the flu too, poor kid - so just pretend it was clever instead of being so dull, yes?

I hope you feel better soon, my dear! *sends you virtual hugs and happy thoughts*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I send the same back to Ben. Flu is poo. My big success today was putting on clothes and having a meal. And I combed my hair. Small successes ;-) Get well, Ben, give my dear BB some much-deserved rest!

[aldehyde.livejournal.com]

this first lines meme is quite wonderful! definitely interesting to read.

get better soon! *tries to drag your flu away*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the dragging, but the bugger is hanging on with teeth! I have taken the staying home in bed approach, so if nothing else I am catching up on some sleep ...