kaffy_r | Dept. of End of the Weekend

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Crossposts: http://kaffyr.livejournal.com/330404.html

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Dept. of End of the Weekend

Very Quick Things

Cold on the way out, back spasm threatening. I will threaten it back, and frighten it way the hell out away from my muscles.
BB's thyroid biopsy came back negative for cancer. Since the tests indicate some thyroid problems, there may still be a connection to his ongoing fever, etc. We will find out when we talk to his doctor later this month. In the meantime, we are glad it isn't cancer. If that sounds less than ecstatic, it's only because we still don't have an answer to what is making his life miserable. Sometimes you can get so desperate to find out the reason for an illness that you begin to eye something definite with something uncomfortably close to approbation.
Saw the first half of the Who finale, Dark Water. I am willing to wait to see what the second half brings; I enjoyed it more than BB did, and he didn't not enjoy it. Was not surprised by the reveal, since I (and practically everyone else) had spotted that one from, oh, the first episode of S08. I'm reasonably pleased by it although I have never had the great affection for the character in question that others have. (Fascination and appreciation, yes, and some thoughts on the character's evolution, but not affection.) Why am I being this obtuse when everyone on my list who wants to see it has seen it? Because some of them may not have, so I'm trying not to be spoilerific.
And, out of nowhere, and thanks to posts elsewhere, all the scattered thoughts I've been having, the "I know there's a meta inside me waiting to get out" thoughts, the ones that have been swimming around aimlessly and without direction throughout this season (one I've regarded as extremely variable in quality, one I've been surprised to see viewed as a near masterwork by a lot of people I respect), have finally started coalescing. Mind you, that could be a mistake on my part. I thought they were coalescing around episode 3 and they didn't. So I shouldn't promise anything ....
Tomorrow, I get to go down to the legendary and fearsome Tribune Tower, to meet my new owners. Yes, it's on a deadline day, but they did at least apologize for making the mass meeting a last minute thing. More, after that happens.

Gosh, I just wish we could have coffee. For, like, three days. <3

I know, right? I had so many thoughts that I wanted to share with you on your posts about love, and so many things I wanted to say to you, just in general, and spoons, lack thereof, kept me from doing anything but the most generic posting or responding. Anything heavy, or even just substantial, was impossible to form and write.

I'm thinking of you, my dear.

But yay no cancer! I hope you get some answers for BB soon, but still, no cancer!

I had to bail on Who. I tried! I tried so hard but I got too mad. *le sigh* I will try again when it's all over.

I'm focusing hard on the "no cancer" and almost equally hard on the "maybe it's goiter" because that, like the cancer, at least has a treatment protocol.

You bailed on the episode, or the entire season? I'm sorry that whichever it was, was a negative experience for you. I hope you're able to start enjoying the show again sometime soon. It does always have the promise of change, something most shows don't have.

Wishing you a speedy recovery from the cold, and success in threatening away the back spasm!

Sometimes you can get so desperate to find out the reason for an illness that you begin to eye something definite with something uncomfortably close to approbation.
I understand, and I hope you find out the cause soon so that he can get on his way to feeling much better. Feeling miserable sucks enough without the added problem of not knowing what it is or how to fix it.

Thank you - I'm working on glowering balefully at the spasm, at least in a properly placed mirror. That should work, right?

Feeling miserable sucks enough without the added problem of not knowing what it is or how to fix it.

Too right, too absolutely right, especially when, as has been the case with BB, this has been going on for months.

Why am I being this obtuse when everyone on my list who wants to see it has seen it? Because some of them may not have, so I'm trying not to be spoilerific.

I definitely appreciate it! Didn't watch the episode until this evening (Sunday). And we won't be watching the finale until four or five days after it airs. But I'd like to browse my flist! I was not surprised by the reveal you are talking about, obviously, but I didn't know that [redacted villain] would be there and it was thrillingly exciting. Great to not be spoiled!

Oh, I'm glad you weren't spoiled! I was in the "come on, come on, say it now, now NOW!" camp because of my suspicions, but there were a lot of other theories out there. And I know how it sucks to be spoiled, because it's happened to me.

back spasm threatening. I will threaten it back, and frighten it way the hell out away from my muscles.
Kick its arse! If you can successfully locate a back spasm's arse. More seriously, I hope it gets better. ♥

Oh, it's such a relief to know it's not cancer. ♥ I get you though. I hope you get an answer soon. *hugs and sends you both my best vibes*

Fingers crossed on the meta thoughts happening, I would love to see that! :D Completely getting you about the variable quality. Personally, I thought the second half picked up quite a bit (and got a better feel for Clara).

I hope that meeting goes well, and everything after that…

Completely getting you about the variable quality. Personally, I thought the second half picked up quite a bit (and got a better feel for Clara).

I'll definitely agree with you on finally being able to get a better feel for Clara. And the more I get a feel for her, the more I like her. She's one of the most fallible of recent companions, and that's being explored in what I think is a respectful and thoughtfully adult way. I don't see a lot of what she's done as either out of character or JUST HORRIBLE OMG! It's showing me how surprisingly human and three-dimensional she is; she was The Impossible Girl, and now she's finding it impossible just to be A Girl, without screwing up. Just like so many people who have come out on the other side of impossible situations.

Whups - going to have to come back to this response as I write the meta, because I think I just stumbled across another facet of of Clara that feels very much like some version of PTSD. Hmmmm....

Yes, I completely agree with that. She just feels layered and deeply relatable—again! ;) For instance, just now I was thinking back on her reaction to Danny's death, and I suddenly remembered the loss of her mother. It hasn't been handled very directly, but it sheds so much light on her reaction in the finale: she isn't only going through grief and at the denial stage, which is already something enormous to deal with, she is losing a person she dearly loves and who was central to her life again. It makes it all the more understandable that she would just completely refuse going through such a loss for the second time, and would ask for the impossible instead of accepting it. Your PTSD comment just reminded me of that consideration, though it was likely not what you were thinking about at all, since you were on the Impossible Girl. However, PTSD-like symptoms would also be interesting and very believable, we never did see direct consequences of the breaking-into-echoes and the timestream events but there had to be!

Edited 2014-11-03 15:15 (UTC)

though it was likely not what you were thinking about at all, since you were on the Impossible Girl.

Even though it wasn't what I was thinking about, you make an equally good point; the loss of Danny has just echoed the loss of her mother. When you consider that the PTSD I was thinking about has to do with a) being splintered across multiple timelines - being a good soldier to save the Doctor - and put back together (who knows how well), is akin to Danny's, or any soldier's, situation of being taken apart by war and imperfectly put back together. (I think all soldiers risk this, although many, thank god, do not suffer. Others, sadly, do.) And I think all Companions also suffer, or run the risk of suffering, some weird type of PTSD. Think about the things she has been through just traveling, even on the "successful" adventures!

In fact, I've been comparing her in my head to Tegan, at least in terms of the problematic relationship she has with the Doctor.

It seems to me that, even for people who’ve never met the Doctor, that sort of PTSD must be very common. Just on Earth alone, there are endless weird events, alien invasions, and more; not all of them will have been dealt with by him, his companions or various government agencies. I’ve read extended universe stories where the day is saved by random people who’ve just wandered into a situation and have to deal with it alone. The Whoniverse in general is a barking mad place which is wondrous and dangerous in equal measure; even if someone hasn’t got a single adventurous bone in their body, the chances of having an encounter with the fantastic are very high, as are the chances of that encounter being fatal.

Diona the Lurker

Good point as well. :)

Hi, Diona!

You've got a point about the Whoniverse - the sad thing is that, whether it's in our world or that world, there are far too many ways to become a victim of post-traumatic stress. Famine, war, domestic and sexual violence ... aliens, soul-sucking horrors, murderous invaders from two-dimensional universes - at least in the Whoniverse, we can hope for the Doctor.

Here, it's up to us to fix it.

When you consider that the PTSD I was thinking about has to do with a) being splintered across multiple timelines - being a good soldier to save the Doctor - and put back together (who knows how well), is akin to Danny's, or any soldier's, situation of being taken apart by war and imperfectly put back together. (I think all soldiers risk this, although many, thank god, do not suffer. Others, sadly, do.) And I think all Companions also suffer, or run the risk of suffering, some weird type of PTSD. Think about the things she has been through just traveling, even on the "successful" adventures!
*nods* I agree with all of this…

In fact, I've been comparing her in my head to Tegan, at least in terms of the problematic relationship she has with the Doctor.
Ah well, that is one I won't be seeing before a while ;)

I was just looking at the paragraph I wrote there, and realizing that it was completely ungrammatical. I'm glad you were able to decipher it, missing objects, subjects, clauses and all. Heh.

Tegan is a fascinating character, at least I think so. She can wear on one, but she's memorable.

Yes, that happens when you start sentences a certain way and then finish them with a completely different phrasing because you got sidetracked by the content in the meantime XD No worries, it was still very understandable!

I think I'd heard about her before. Can't wait to get there—but I'm starting the Third Doctor right now and I think that he, Liz Shaw and the Brig could keep me content forever ;)

Oh, the Third Doctor is amazing, and I'm not at all surprised that you could be content with that fantastic trio!

As for the run-on, incomplete, and meandering sentences, I'll probably doing that again and

*g*

I really adore them! :D I loved One and Two, but this… *flaily hand moves* :D

Oops! ;)

I do hope you find out soon - not knowing is always very hard, even if it is, of course, good to rule out that particular thing. ♥

Good luck with work!

not knowing is always very hard, even if it is, of course, good to rule out that particular thing.

It's so darned frustrating (but I'm saving my curses and fishmonger language about it, and trying to be polite. It's very difficult.)

Thank you for not spoiling anything! I won't see Dark Water until tomorrow at the soonest.

Hope your back feels better soon, and that BB finds out the issues with his thyroid--with luck, something easily treatable.

I won't see Dark Water until tomorrow at the soonest.

I'll be looking forward to what you think about it!

With regard to the thyroid, there's a possibility of some other things that could be quite treatable, so we're crossing fingers, although we're trying not do so as we walk. Heh.

I enjoyed Dark Water. Partly because of your post back circa Deep Breath, I was expecting the Big Reveal, but I still got a kick out of it. I'm sure certain segments of the fandom are imploding over this, for various reasons. I personally enjoy that Moff is willing to tweak canon (and I think said character is not going to change all that much in a female body, though the sexual subtext might shift around in interesting ways). I love how Moff likes to take things established by RTD and put his own spin on them. The whole thing with the skeletons in the tanks was a direct steal from a similar thing in Army of Ghosts, only IMO infinitely more creepy. I was simultaneously LOLing and shuddering at the throwaway line, "Oh, there's one who donated to science."

Also, poor Danny. I hope he's able to escape from wherever he's currently stuck.

I really hope the thyroid thing is treatable. I have family history of thyroid problems on both sides, and I suspect it's just a matter of time before mine blows out in one way or another and I end up on thyroid medication for the rest of my life. My father did, and so did a couple of my aunts, and I'm sure there are far-flung family members I've never met who have also had issues. As I understand it, thyroid problems are a huge thing among people of English/ Irish/ Scottish descent, and "Hello!" ***waves hand***

Partly because of your post back circa Deep Breath, I was expecting the Big Reveal,

Heh; sort of chuffed to know that my guess turned out to be right!

I love how Moff likes to take things established by RTD and put his own spin on them. The whole thing with the skeletons in the tanks was a direct steal from a similar thing in Army of Ghosts, only IMO infinitely more creepy.

Yup - and I think Rusty probably is sitting back in gleeful anticipation of what his colleague is going to do next. They may not always agree on things, but they respect each other and, most importantly, they both loving pranking the fandom from which they sprang.

And if the BBC hadn't frakkin' spoiled us on the Cybermen, that reveal would have been mindblowing, instead of only pretty cool.

I was simultaneously LOLing and shuddering at the throwaway line, "Oh, there's one who donated to science."

Dear lord, yes!!! I'm amazed that I haven't run across more discussion of that particular little bit of Masterish horror, right up there with some of his worst past efforts. She's outdoing herself now. I truly hope that Danny gets out of the nethersphere, and I'm wondering if Seb is going to turn on Missy, enabling at least some of the dead to return to their bodies, if that's healthy or possible ... speculating, speculating ....

Regarding to

Hoping things went well when you got to work - and hoping you and BB feel better soon. Sending extra hope and healing for the thyroid mystery.

Hubby missed most of this season, but got spoiled for the last episode. A friend showed it to him and he's pretty displeased all around. *Sigh* I rather love how Missy 'mirrors' Eleven in many ways. But hubby said he'll skip 12. Arrrghhh.

*HUGS*

I rather love how Missy 'mirrors' Eleven in many ways.

Ooooo. Interesting thought - go on!!!

I'm sorry that Hubby doesn't like this season. BB is somewhat disenchanted. I, a complete fool for the show, am still determinedly un-disenchanted.

Thanks for the hope and healing thoughts, too, my dear!

Outfit, speech, mannerisms, the wait-for-it cleverness. She seems to have deliberately patterned herself after Eleven. I'm supposing there is a good reason for that.

I will love Who no matter what. Some seasons may not be my favorite or the best, but I will love it. I have my favs though, no doubt. Thus my unparalleled adoration of my two Es and their foes. Need to get an icon made of Eight and Eleven, really...gahh, and I likely need to be quiet because I can see their similarities and I'm quite sure no one else can, lol!!

Always, dearest...always...

*HUGS*

Outfit, speech, mannerisms, the wait-for-it cleverness. She seems to have deliberately patterned herself after Eleven.

*Hmmmss thoughtfully*

I shall think on this. To me, she was radiating an awful lot of the insanity to which her former incarnation fell prey, so I didn't see the parallels. I shall watch with an eagle eye and an open mind now! The bit about the outfit, yes, I can see that. The wait-for-it cleverness could mirror both Eleven and Saxon!Master.

Incidentally, I'm rolling my eyes at some of the people who are ranting that Moffat was OMG homophobic! because "we've only seen the Master exhibit a sexual interest in the Doctor after he became female, it's obviously because Moffat Hates Teh Gay!!1!!" Nope. Not the case. It's been obvious since Delgado, for heaven sake, and with all the head- and body-holding between Tennant and Saxon - that RTD didn't bother to make anything but almost-on-the-surface subtext, by the by, bless his heart - it was inescapable. Moffat is simply exploring something else and specifically saying Gender Doesn't Matter to the Doctor.

Oh, FFS, don't get me started. Wait. I got me started. Oh. Well, then ....

Edited 2014-11-04 00:08 (UTC)

She did. Reminded me of a (nuttier than usual) Iris. Though i figured that wouldn't pan out. I didn't expect my Master theory to pan out either. I also thought maybe 'Mr Clever revisited' and seeing the Cybermen made my jaw drop - but when Missy was 'Master' (still would prefer her to call herself that instead of Mistress, but that's just me), I was pleased but somehow...not surprised? I mean, he's worked with Daleks...but the Cybermen? I thought he burned them too badly to ever work with them again. Then again, there is double-crossing getting ready to happen everywhere here, lol!!

OH FFS, REALLY?!?!?! Moffat is a SLASH-MASTER. Ye gods!! We all know Sexual Interest has always been there!! They've been exuding that tension at each other since Three-Delgado!! Really?! Hell...Missy offered to 'Welcome' Clara. Oh never mind. Same haters will have something snotty to say about that as well, I'm sure.

Gender has never mattered to either of them. Though I think the Doctor (in my mind) prefers the Master as...well...a dude. Tis a lifetimes long thing, lol!!

Then again, even if 'he is she' right now, won't stop me from madly slashing the hell out of them. In my little world, Eight and Eleven have met their Master again and again. Fanfic for the win!

*Laughs* Actually, Irish said a line about the Doctor owning her hearts reminded her of my ficlet 'Did You Miss Me?'...hell, I didn't even catch it. Which shows you how much I pay attention. Irish was utterly convinced (in a joking way) that Moffat Was On My Ceiling Reading My Fanfic. (As if, lol!)

Then again, the haters can come after me if they want, cause as awesome as this reveal was, to me the Master will always be Master not Mistress. I'm a kneejerk slashaholic though, so we can put my 'prejudice' down to that.

Jaysus and there I go!! Yeesh.

*Stuffs a sock in*

*hugs*

I hope that you manage to chase that spasm to somewhere far away. Preferably another planet.

the not-spoiling is appreciated. Because of how I access the episodes, I don't usually get to view them until at least 24 hours after they've aired.

I don't usually get to view them until at least 24 hours after they've aired.

I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of the episode once you see it!

Right now, the back spasm is in orbit; not fully scared out of the solar system yet, but I'm glowering at it enough to keep it from settling in. She said hopefully.

I actually saw this one late last night. I'm not certain if I liked it or not, but I was certainly entertained by it, which is the main thing. The Malcom Tucker reference amused me probably more than it should have done.

The Malcom Tucker reference amused me probably more than it should have done.

Augh; I missed it. I really need to see that show, don't it?

I enjoyed it considerably more than I thought I would given it's a political satire (not my favourite) with an exceptional amount of swearing (again, not something I seek out). But the writing is hilarious and Capaldi delivers the profanity with an artistry that has to be seen to be believed.

RE: DW and the big thing: you called it back on August 24, so congratulations! : )

I just went back and checked, and you're right. Mind you, I think half of fandom made the same call. Still, it's nice to be right, once in a while! Heh.

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