FIC REC FIC REC (AKA Chrysalis was updated, Chrysalis was updated!)
So, you know how sometimes you find a fic that is just really awesome, because it's an idea you've never seen before, or by a new (to you anyway) talented author, or it contains a rare pairing you like, or it has some scorching smut? And then you leave a comment squeeing to the author about how much you love their fic? And then it's NEVER UPDATED AGAIN?
Being that I'm new to Dr. Who fandom, and they author apparently hasn't posted anything else, I thought Chrysalis was one of those fics. Thankfully, I was just proven wrong as the author has just uploaded 6 new chapters. <3
It's funny, there's a lot of "famous" fics in my older fandoms (the Ante, Azimuth, Pet Project, Parliament of Monsters, etc.) that sometimes update like, once every few YEARS and yet I never think they've been abandoned or doubt that they'll be finished, you know, eventually. But if it's a newer fandom and something hasn't been updated in a few months (okay, 10 months) I automatically put it in the dead pile.
ANYWAY, if you haven't been reading it, Chrysalis is a super neat AU that starts at the end of Utopia where, instead of taking the TARDIS to earth, an amnesiac Master crash lands in Pete's World, where, of course, everyone assumes he's the Doctor. The TARDIS is stuck between worlds, with convinced-he's-the-Doctor!Master and Rose and alt!Torchwood on one side, and frantic actual!Doctor, companions and regular!Torchwood on the other side, both waiting for the universes to line up so they can free the TARDIS. It's got plot and angst and romance that screws with your head. I'm really, really enjoying it, and it just got even more twisty in the new chapters!
However, it looks like the new chapters got very, very few comments, so if you were following it/read it now and find it interesting, please leave some so that the author doesn't get discouraged and stop updating! (or pimp it, or rec it, or whatever.)
The link goes to the first chapter, but if you go to erinlasgalen's page all the newer chapters are posted first.
Okay, so usually I am very wary of any plot where there is even a hint of some romantic interest's magic love/sex making an evil!character "better", but it works for me in this because it's not Rose's love, it's the combination of everyone's expectations of him and what he's supposed to be, combined with the dampening of the crazy due to the Vortex plot. It's all very nature fighting with nuture, which I dig!
He kind of reminds me of Season 5-6 Spike, where, although he is still lacking a moral compass, he is trying to do what he thinks is "right" just because he wants to, and is often very confused about it. I find that really interesting. And although this Master is less "evil", he still is very Mastery, like you see in his arguments with Rose and the brilliant dolphin incident. And I love the tension that runs through every part of this story- will the Master regain his memories and go batshit? Will the Doctor find out what's going on in Pete's World and cry in a stairwell? Will Donna be awesome? (okay, we know the answer to that is always yes.) Will Rose and or the TARDIS be okay?
I can say, though, that I didn't expect the plot to get any more complicated- Journey's end coming to town, what? Prime!Rose? TIMETOT? Unexpectedly (for me, anyway!) cracked Master? WHAT IS GOING ON AGH. I am totally wondering about that last cliffhanger- when we last saw Doctor!Master he was doing so well, so I will be totally disappointed if it turns out the Master just got progressively more evil/abusive over time b/c he is just inherently bad and blood will always out, etc. etc. etc.*
I want a climax filled with brilliant, brilliant angst, where:
the Master realizes that: 1.) He's been living his best enemy's do-gooding life for 14 years 2.) He's been IN LOVE with a human for 14 years 3.) That human is his best enemy's GIRLFRIEND 4.) She never *really* loved *him* (well, if they've been together for 14 years, she obviously did, but that's not what he's going to think!) 5.) He doesn't actually have his own TARDIS so he's been waiting for 14 years for no reason 6.) The only other timelord in existence is someone he despises 7.)His entire existence, regardless of whether he would still want it or not, was a lie 8.) If he loses Rose, the drums come back
the Doctor is confronted with the fact that: 1.) The love of his (tenth) life has been shacking up with his best enemy for 14 years and they were IN LUV 2.) She is that much closer to death and he didn't get to spend that time with her 3.) Her and all her loved ones are now in mortal danger and it's all his fault 4.) the Master was actually a better man without him and he's RUINED it all 5.) And oh yes, when he's done having fun in Pete's World, Davros and the Daleks would like a word
Rose realizes that: 1.) The man she's been in love with for 14 years is actually an evil serial killer and she didn't notice 2.) He is also the Doctor's worst enemy 3.)The Doctor knows everything that happened and is absolutely CRUSHED 4.)the Master is about to go fucking nuclear batshit insane and all of her nearest and dearest are probably in the danger zone 5.)If she leaves him the Master will go even more crazy (C'mon, Rose is a bleeding heart, this will probably cross her mind)
IT WOULD BE GLORIOUS.
I am totally gonna cross my fingers that it plays out like that.
...and I don't even *like* angst!
*(I know we sorta saw this before with the Yana/Master switch, but I'm of the opinion that Season 3 taught us that a fobwatched human ≠ actual timelord in terms of personality, etc.)
Being that I'm new to Dr. Who fandom, and they author apparently hasn't posted anything else, I thought Chrysalis was one of those fics. Thankfully, I was just proven wrong as the author has just uploaded 6 new chapters. <3
It's funny, there's a lot of "famous" fics in my older fandoms (the Ante, Azimuth, Pet Project, Parliament of Monsters, etc.) that sometimes update like, once every few YEARS and yet I never think they've been abandoned or doubt that they'll be finished, you know, eventually. But if it's a newer fandom and something hasn't been updated in a few months (okay, 10 months) I automatically put it in the dead pile.
ANYWAY, if you haven't been reading it, Chrysalis is a super neat AU that starts at the end of Utopia where, instead of taking the TARDIS to earth, an amnesiac Master crash lands in Pete's World, where, of course, everyone assumes he's the Doctor. The TARDIS is stuck between worlds, with convinced-he's-the-Doctor!Master and Rose and alt!Torchwood on one side, and frantic actual!Doctor, companions and regular!Torchwood on the other side, both waiting for the universes to line up so they can free the TARDIS. It's got plot and angst and romance that screws with your head. I'm really, really enjoying it, and it just got even more twisty in the new chapters!
However, it looks like the new chapters got very, very few comments, so if you were following it/read it now and find it interesting, please leave some so that the author doesn't get discouraged and stop updating! (or pimp it, or rec it, or whatever.)
The link goes to the first chapter, but if you go to erinlasgalen's page all the newer chapters are posted first.
Okay, so usually I am very wary of any plot where there is even a hint of some romantic interest's magic love/sex making an evil!character "better", but it works for me in this because it's not Rose's love, it's the combination of everyone's expectations of him and what he's supposed to be, combined with the dampening of the crazy due to the Vortex plot. It's all very nature fighting with nuture, which I dig!
He kind of reminds me of Season 5-6 Spike, where, although he is still lacking a moral compass, he is trying to do what he thinks is "right" just because he wants to, and is often very confused about it. I find that really interesting. And although this Master is less "evil", he still is very Mastery, like you see in his arguments with Rose and the brilliant dolphin incident. And I love the tension that runs through every part of this story- will the Master regain his memories and go batshit? Will the Doctor find out what's going on in Pete's World and cry in a stairwell? Will Donna be awesome? (okay, we know the answer to that is always yes.) Will Rose and or the TARDIS be okay?
I can say, though, that I didn't expect the plot to get any more complicated- Journey's end coming to town, what? Prime!Rose? TIMETOT? Unexpectedly (for me, anyway!) cracked Master? WHAT IS GOING ON AGH. I am totally wondering about that last cliffhanger- when we last saw Doctor!Master he was doing so well, so I will be totally disappointed if it turns out the Master just got progressively more evil/abusive over time b/c he is just inherently bad and blood will always out, etc. etc. etc.*
I want a climax filled with brilliant, brilliant angst, where:
the Master realizes that: 1.) He's been living his best enemy's do-gooding life for 14 years 2.) He's been IN LOVE with a human for 14 years 3.) That human is his best enemy's GIRLFRIEND 4.) She never *really* loved *him* (well, if they've been together for 14 years, she obviously did, but that's not what he's going to think!) 5.) He doesn't actually have his own TARDIS so he's been waiting for 14 years for no reason 6.) The only other timelord in existence is someone he despises 7.)His entire existence, regardless of whether he would still want it or not, was a lie 8.) If he loses Rose, the drums come back
the Doctor is confronted with the fact that: 1.) The love of his (tenth) life has been shacking up with his best enemy for 14 years and they were IN LUV 2.) She is that much closer to death and he didn't get to spend that time with her 3.) Her and all her loved ones are now in mortal danger and it's all his fault 4.) the Master was actually a better man without him and he's RUINED it all 5.) And oh yes, when he's done having fun in Pete's World, Davros and the Daleks would like a word
Rose realizes that: 1.) The man she's been in love with for 14 years is actually an evil serial killer and she didn't notice 2.) He is also the Doctor's worst enemy 3.)The Doctor knows everything that happened and is absolutely CRUSHED 4.)the Master is about to go fucking nuclear batshit insane and all of her nearest and dearest are probably in the danger zone 5.)If she leaves him the Master will go even more crazy (C'mon, Rose is a bleeding heart, this will probably cross her mind)
IT WOULD BE GLORIOUS.
I am totally gonna cross my fingers that it plays out like that.
...and I don't even *like* angst!
*(I know we sorta saw this before with the Yana/Master switch, but I'm of the opinion that Season 3 taught us that a fobwatched human ≠ actual timelord in terms of personality, etc.)