brilligspoons | Friends, foes, god only knows (Reply)

Normally the first day back to work after vacation is terrible, but today is terrible magnified 1000 times. I'm pleased that things seem to have gone smoothly while I was gone, and it's relieving to know that most people managed to do what I needed them to without a lot of problems, but it's those few who just can't get their shit together no matter what that are bugging the shit out of me. Just do what I tell you! Don't argue with me! Those are the rules!

Ugh.

Anyway, vacation was mostly great. The kids were well-behaved 99% of the time, the museum was awesome (except for the panic attack I had), and the private suite we had at Yankee Stadium spoiled me for everything ever. Also we went for manicures on Saturday, and my nails are all glittery and wonderful.

I worked on my big bang a little by repurposing a piece of a Teen Wolf story I'd started last summer and never did anything with. I was bummed that it was just sitting in my gdocs gathering dust, so I'm happy that it was easily editable and fits with what I want to write. Still need to outline the rest of the story, but it's nice to have a beginning at least, you know? (Of course, everything I write now will be jossed by the start of season 3 in a few weeks, but whatever, it can be AU as of season 2, it's cool.)

Uh, I also started watching Vikings. I didn't expect to like it quite so much, but it's pretty great, and I want all of the fic for it immediately. I even wrote a little fluffy thing last night for

pearl_o. :D? And there's another story I have in the works as of this past Thursday. I don't really know where to begin speculating about Athelstan's life pre-monastery and Ragnar and Lagertha's courtship - like, I totally want to, but I want other people to write it? Because whenever I try I just curl up in a ball of feelings and giggles, so I'm sort of useless.

But I want to write the story where Ragnar frees Athelstan and none of them know what to do with themselves after. I almost think Ragnar wouldn't really want to at first - but Athelstan does something superbly heroic or whatever, and the only appropriate gift is his freedom? And Athelstan only HAD Lagertha and Ragnar and the children, and he thinks the Right Thing to Do is go back to England and rejoin monastic life.

So he goes, reluctantly, and he finds another group of monks in the same order he was in. But his heart's not with them anymore, not entirely, or he still believes but in such a different way that he can't reconcile who he is now with who he's supposed to be/who he was. He experienced too much with Lagertha and Ragnar, found so much fulfillment and happiness in life that he didn't think possible. So basically he says "fuck it" and finds his way back to his Actual Family.

Like, he totally finds boats anchored off the coast somewhere and camps out until the raiders go back to them, and it turns out Floki is with them. Floki fucks with him a little but finally is all, "Yeah, there's room for you on the boat. Ragnar hasn't been any fun since you left, you know? Even Bjorn misses you."

So then they get back and Lagertha's the first person to see him, and she just goes right up to him and punches him in the face. Athelstan being Athelstan, though, he just sort of collapses.

(AND THEN WHEN HE WAKES UP HE'S IN THEIR BED AND THEY'RE STANDING OVER HIM, AND RAGNAR IS ALL GIDDY SMUGNESS AND LAGERTHA TELLS HIM THEY'RE NEVER LETTING HIM OUT OF THEIR SIGHT AGAIN. Yes, this totally happens, shut up. #ot3)

...that may end up being longer than a ficlet. Balls. But yeah, that's a thing.

I suppose I should get back to work now. Hmph.