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brightknightie) wrote2020-04-26 04:03 pm
brightknightie) wrote2020-04-26 04:03 pm
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Some thoughts on the stories of FKFicFest 2020 ... come read?
FKFicfest 2020 has revealed all 6 of its new stories. Here are some personal reflections on them to help you identify which you may most enjoy reading...?
All the stories chose either “cold case” or “do over” as their explicit challenge prompts. But the third elected prompt — “can’t trade your heart for your heart’s desire” — seems implicitly present across many of the stories. Maybe that speaks to a place at the thematic heart of FK, which is so much about longing, wants, needs, and their conflicts and reconciliations.
If you do choose to read a story, please consider sharing a comment or kudo. Interaction is always important! This year, perhaps, especially?
"Appetency" by Dlyt (Mature, m/m) (1,786 words) (“do over”)
If you might be put off by the “major character death” warning, reconsider. It’s referring to Nick’s death circa “Last Knight,” which is approached but not depicted in flashback, while this story is set circa now-ish (before or after the pandemic). Lacroix takes Uber.
From the tagging and first few paragraphs, I was initially wary of this story for my own personal reading. Yet this turns out to be an engaging reflection on what Lacroix thinks he wants and why, with a whiff of buddy adventure, a thread of bittersweet, and a new twist on Nick’s death via a wholly canonical loose end from first season.
"What Lies Buried" by PJ1228 (Teen, gen) (7,192 words) (“cold case”)
With excellent plotting, this story throws out canonical points as a glittery breadcrumb trail. There’s apt use of the recognition that Nick actually does have a past in Toronto (“Forward into the Past”) which could theoretically have caught up with him at any time from multiple angles.
The tone and scope are faithfully second-season, emphasized between the uses of Schanke and Janette. And there’s a slight twist of the knife in a tag scene that’s especially second-season.
"Knight of the Rose" by Greerwatson (General, multi) (1,451 words) (“do over”)
This reflection pulls the unknowns of the “Dance By the Light of the Moon” flashbacks through the knowns of the “Be My Valentine” flashbacks to synthesize a consistent, coherent set of motivations for Lacroix. Around a few direct script dialogue quotations, the entire narrative is Lacroix’s own thoughts.
And given that it’s Lacroix’s own perspective, there are some revealing turns of phrase — repeated and built upon, so as not to be missed — and strong conclusions.
"The Case of the Missing Book Thief" by Nicholas_lucien (Mature, gen) (6,369 words) (“cold case”)
This story draws an insightful straight line through the points of Nick’s academic work, finding of the Abarat, and police work. So obvious (once pointed out by someone else who cleverly noticed it first)! There are pieces to put together, which the reader and Nick assemble one way, and Schanke another way, equally plausible with the available evidence.
The tone aligns with the energetic layer of second season, characterized by passing references to Schanke and Myra’s situations and plans, and humor accents for Schanke.
"Knight's Tally" by Dlyt (General, gen) (5,904 words) (“cold case”)
Many of the stories this year are satisfyingly episode-like — I personally enjoy episode-like constructions! — but this story is the most episode-like of all this year, fully outfitted with a fresh case to solve in Toronto, a flashback elsewhere, and personal parallels and progress for Nick binding them together. A notable theme here is the kind of guilt directly earned by wrongs willfully committed versus the kind of guilt taken to heart for wrongs beyond one’s intention, much less control.
Also like several other stories this game, this story is distinctly second-season.
This story was specifically gifted to me. Thank you, Dlyt!
"Still Breathing" by Brightknightie (Teen, gen) (4,175 words) (“cold case”)
This is the one that I wrote. Other than thanks to my wonderful, generous beta-reader, Skieswideopen, what should I say?
This piece happens mostly during the long hiatus between first and second seasons. It caps off with a tag very early in third season. There’s no fresh case and no flashback, only between-the-scenes work on a cold case and an effort between to treat Nick’s vampirism.
First-season Nick is not only more able to wait for his cure than second or third-season Nick, he’s also more able to thrive without it. “For me, it’s a better life,” he tells Janette in “Cherry Blossoms,” speaking of his own current existence being better than living like most vampires, not of his future cure. I hoped to revisit that element and give it back to him.
Thank you so very much to everyone who wrote, beta-read, and read this year! (What a year.)
Thank you for playing FK with me, always.
All the stories chose either “cold case” or “do over” as their explicit challenge prompts. But the third elected prompt — “can’t trade your heart for your heart’s desire” — seems implicitly present across many of the stories. Maybe that speaks to a place at the thematic heart of FK, which is so much about longing, wants, needs, and their conflicts and reconciliations.
If you do choose to read a story, please consider sharing a comment or kudo. Interaction is always important! This year, perhaps, especially?
"Appetency" by Dlyt (Mature, m/m) (1,786 words) (“do over”)
If you might be put off by the “major character death” warning, reconsider. It’s referring to Nick’s death circa “Last Knight,” which is approached but not depicted in flashback, while this story is set circa now-ish (before or after the pandemic). Lacroix takes Uber.
From the tagging and first few paragraphs, I was initially wary of this story for my own personal reading. Yet this turns out to be an engaging reflection on what Lacroix thinks he wants and why, with a whiff of buddy adventure, a thread of bittersweet, and a new twist on Nick’s death via a wholly canonical loose end from first season.
"What Lies Buried" by PJ1228 (Teen, gen) (7,192 words) (“cold case”)
With excellent plotting, this story throws out canonical points as a glittery breadcrumb trail. There’s apt use of the recognition that Nick actually does have a past in Toronto (“Forward into the Past”) which could theoretically have caught up with him at any time from multiple angles.
The tone and scope are faithfully second-season, emphasized between the uses of Schanke and Janette. And there’s a slight twist of the knife in a tag scene that’s especially second-season.
"Knight of the Rose" by Greerwatson (General, multi) (1,451 words) (“do over”)
This reflection pulls the unknowns of the “Dance By the Light of the Moon” flashbacks through the knowns of the “Be My Valentine” flashbacks to synthesize a consistent, coherent set of motivations for Lacroix. Around a few direct script dialogue quotations, the entire narrative is Lacroix’s own thoughts.
And given that it’s Lacroix’s own perspective, there are some revealing turns of phrase — repeated and built upon, so as not to be missed — and strong conclusions.
"The Case of the Missing Book Thief" by Nicholas_lucien (Mature, gen) (6,369 words) (“cold case”)
This story draws an insightful straight line through the points of Nick’s academic work, finding of the Abarat, and police work. So obvious (once pointed out by someone else who cleverly noticed it first)! There are pieces to put together, which the reader and Nick assemble one way, and Schanke another way, equally plausible with the available evidence.
The tone aligns with the energetic layer of second season, characterized by passing references to Schanke and Myra’s situations and plans, and humor accents for Schanke.
"Knight's Tally" by Dlyt (General, gen) (5,904 words) (“cold case”)
Many of the stories this year are satisfyingly episode-like — I personally enjoy episode-like constructions! — but this story is the most episode-like of all this year, fully outfitted with a fresh case to solve in Toronto, a flashback elsewhere, and personal parallels and progress for Nick binding them together. A notable theme here is the kind of guilt directly earned by wrongs willfully committed versus the kind of guilt taken to heart for wrongs beyond one’s intention, much less control.
Also like several other stories this game, this story is distinctly second-season.
This story was specifically gifted to me. Thank you, Dlyt!
"Still Breathing" by Brightknightie (Teen, gen) (4,175 words) (“cold case”)
This is the one that I wrote. Other than thanks to my wonderful, generous beta-reader, Skieswideopen, what should I say?
This piece happens mostly during the long hiatus between first and second seasons. It caps off with a tag very early in third season. There’s no fresh case and no flashback, only between-the-scenes work on a cold case and an effort between to treat Nick’s vampirism.
First-season Nick is not only more able to wait for his cure than second or third-season Nick, he’s also more able to thrive without it. “For me, it’s a better life,” he tells Janette in “Cherry Blossoms,” speaking of his own current existence being better than living like most vampires, not of his future cure. I hoped to revisit that element and give it back to him.
Thank you so very much to everyone who wrote, beta-read, and read this year! (What a year.)
Thank you for playing FK with me, always.