Thoughts Aren't for Thinking (You only Think They Are)
Written at work yesterday:
A month ago I sent myself the first two chapters of Shoebox to re-read at work when things were slow/between jobs/waiting for wafers to process/etc.
Yesterday I read the last two chapters, and today I finished up with the last little bits (the retrospective & Deathly Hellos). I had lots and lots of fun re-reading the whole thing - I hadn't in a really long time, at least not all the way through. I'd re-red a few chapters here and there, or Sixth Year, or something, but then I'd always get distracted by some other shiny, or I'd remember that it left off on a somewhat depressing note, and kinda just... not finish.
It feels a bit odd saying this, but I almost wish Rave & Jaida would have just left it at Chapter 25 like they did for ages. Everyone is all happy, the wonderful, agonizing UST is finally gone, replaced by amazingly adorable and relatable couples. And it ends on a positive note. Chapter 26 is just kind of sad (in the emotive way, not in the pathetic way), and I alternate wanting to hug and slap Peter, but there are some good James & Lily and Remus & Sirius bits too. I mean, it's a good chapter, and necessary because of how the story has to go (unless massive AU happens), but to leave it there... I WANT TO HUG ALL THE CHARACTERS.
And I really, really want more. And I'll admit that I'm still sad that they never finished it properly (especially since they promised it wouldn't get abandoned), but I totally, totally understand why it happened the way it did. Life get's in the way of our creative projects sometimes.
And in a way they do give Shoebox a happy ending, of sorts, with Shoebox Potter and the Deathly Hellos. The exceedingly crack-y kind, and therefore the Shoebox kind. It's not really a proper chapter though, is it, but it is the last bit, and there are some spectacular photos too, so I have to love them for that.
Also, I kind of have an AU headcanon in which Shoebox andcopperbadge's Stealing Harry Universes are sort of squashy merged together. Certain events would have to be ignored/timelines tampered with a bit... largest bit being that in SH, Remus & Sirius aren't involved in a Mutual Slurping until Harry is 8 or so. Like I said, timelines and all that jazz can be shuffled around a bit. But I really do love how Jaida & Rave and Sam (copperbadge) all characterize them - and they're so similar too - I could totally see SH's R & S pulling the same shit the same ways SBP's did, and having the same sort of talks and awkwardness and everything. Sam had even mentioned once talking HP with his friend Jaida, and I was all, "Wait,ladyjaida of Shoebox fame? You guys know each other? Sam, does this mean that you've read SBP?!?" Yes, they know each other, but Sam has never read SBP (sadly). Either way, they all have an amazingly similar view on the characters and how they write them, and damn, I should totally re-read all of the SH universe too.
...Why do my fave HP authors never finish their shit? I mean, really. At least Sam came out and said it was going to be left unfinished (and I think he completed the section/Year he was on), and posted the random bits and scenes that he had for the unfinished parts.
Curses. Sometimes I really hate not having any internet most of the day. Emails are just about it, other than on my breaks. Possibly it's a good thing, knowing how easily I get sucked into things. But I really, really want to start re-reading SH, like, right now.
Totally investigating on break. :D
(I totally did, and it's still so good. ^___^)