Copy the questions and answer them!
Very well. I'll play.
1. Link and describe the five stories you're most proud of writing!
First of all, I'm most proud that I finished this stories. I have a lot of "needs updating" fics...but these are complete and that's an accomplishment for me!
Rift -- My Valkyria Chronicles fic that won "Best Overall" at Anime North's fanfic contest. It's the "missing scene" from the game after Alicia is gravely wounded in Chapter 14. I just wanted to write something from Welkin's point of view there, and this happened.
Chamomile-- Another "missing scene" fic, this time from Tales of Graces f, where Kerri and Hubert share tea the night before the final fight of the main story arc. I attempted to write it in present tense, and I think it worked for the story. I'm really pleased with how this one came out and I enjoyed writing Kerri, who rarely gets any love.
Brothers -- A Suikoden fic that won an award at Anime North years ago. It's a discussion between Mathiu and Flik the night before the final battle that mostly focuses on their respective relationships with Odessa.
Coda -- Twenty years after Tales of Graces F, Hubert begs his brother for a favor. I'm sorry if this one destroys your soul...but I do love writing the Lhant brothers and their banter.
The Secret Life of Hubert Oswell -- It's meta and humor and I had a blast writing this story about Pascal discovering just how much of a fanboy Hubert can be--plus lots of references to other Graces fics out there.
2. What are the five stories you have that need the most work?
Game On -- This link is NSFW. I think it's a good idea for some Hubert x Pascal smut, but it needs a lot of cleaning up. It started as a 15 minute fic that wound up taking me 2 hours. No plot, just smut.
Rise from Ashes -- My Lunar fic that is already getting a rewrite...and it needs an update. I have fixed a lot of the initial pacing problems, but there are still plot points that need ironing out.
Missing in Action -- A Suikoden III fic I haven't updated in years. I actually had a solid outline and was working on it regularly but then I became distracted with life. I really enjoy writing the Zexen Knights so I need to go back to this one at some point.
Vindication -- Another multi-chapter fic that needs an update. This one is a Tales of Vesperia one that takes place during the Great War Era. I started writing it before the Schwann backstory books came out, so it's probably AU at this point, but I had fun building the world and the characters, especially Casey.
End Game -- This one is actually complete, but I'm still not sure I'm happy with it. It's the discussion/battle between Schwann and Alexei from Tales of Vesperia just before Schwann takes off to battle the party. Again, made up a lot of Schwann's backstory, but I think I let Alexei get over the top, so...yeah.
3. What five things do you feel are your strengths?
Dialogue, romance, pushing a character's buttons, humor in the meta sense, and writing children who behave like children.
4. What five things do you feel you need to work on?
Updating, battle scenes, pacing, plot points lining up in longer works, and characterization/motivation of villainous characters.
5. If you could re-write five of your stories, which ones and why?
Paradoxes -- Good idea, but I've learned more about writing since I put it out and it needs some cleaning.
Secret -- I told Joh I would make him cry in less than 300 words and I did. But I think I could turn that into something longer and better. (Tales of Xillia 2)
Final Chapter -- My Shu and Apple fanfic about Apple's biography of Mathiu Silverberg. The ending bit feels very rushed compared to the discussion between Shu and Apple.
Halcyon Days -- Keterberg kids fic from Tales of the Abyss. I honestly forgot where I was going with it, but I do enjoy writing kids so...it would be something I would like to revisit and rework.
Harvest Days -- This is a Suikoden III fic I wrote from the first person POV of Chris & Percival's eldest son. It takes place in the same "universe" as "Missing in Action," but it has a lot of grammatical problems. I am really pleased with the story and the execution, though. So...it would be worth the time to fix the issues. Plus, writing kids is so much fun!
6. Which five canon characters do you like to write about the most?
This should be obvious from my fics but...
Hubert Oswell (Tales of Graces F)
Welkin Gunther (Valkyria Chronicles)Chris Lightfellow (Suikoden III)
Odessa Silverberg (Suikoden)
Schwann Oltorain (Tales of Vesperia)
(and now I'm gonna add Jude Mathis, Tales of Xillia 1 & 2...and Ludger Will Kresnik, Tales of Xillia 2, but those fics are in the works...)
7. Original characters? Of course! Tell us about five of them!
Brinson & Sabre -- Like all Lunar characters, they come as a package deal. They're a couple from their Prairie Tribes who are forced to work for a guy name Gravitt. Gravitt is bad news and even worse news for Vane.
Torrie -- Louis' girlfriend (and Percival's niece) in Missing in Action. She works as a clerk in a store in Vinay del Zexay and is used as a pawn by Louis' political nemesis.
Gregory Telka -- Distinguished Master Mage of Illusion Magic at the Magic Guild of Vane, and probably the most human member of Mia's council. He's got a few secrets...
Casey -- I wrote her as Don Whitehorse's daughter in "End Game" and "Vindication."
Artie -- The chief engineer and Master of Vane who doesn't use magic. Initially, I had written her in "Rise from Ashes" to be the comic relief, but she evolved into a stronger character on her own.
8. Quick! Babble about five ideas you've had that you haven't acted on yet!
Jude and Milla discuss the outcome of ToX2 and their own relationship
Ludger and Alt!Milla talk about...still working on that because it's so hard to write a dude that doesn't really talk. LOL.
A sequel to "Thin Walls" aka "The Worst Thing Ever" because at some point, Hubert DOES have to wear the dress.
A story about what happened at the top of the falls with Jude and Milla in ToX2. This time, without smut!
More Hubert and Asbel talking because, damn, I love playing them off each other.
9. Quick! Write five lines about something, without any context!
I wrote five separate lines, so...yeah.
He'd never felt more selfish than he did in that instant, but damn, somehow, it felt right.
"You're my best friend, and I've never even heard you say my name."
He looked at the old man and simply said, "I'm here to keep my promise."
"Normally, I'd make minestrone, but in this case, I think clam chowder would be appropriate."
"See, I told you it would be the best party ever--no shoes, no schedules, just fun!"
10. And finally…tag five other writers to do this meme!
atelierjoh sweet-suzume rooftopsrain felques & anamelessknight
Course, anyone can do it if they want...
