And that would be the end of that

[drakyndra]

And so endeth my Internship. Last day and all today.

At least it ended on a good note. If by "good note" one means "had very little work to do, so spent most of the day messing around on the Internet and chatting with people who came up to ask how I liked my time there. And to compliment my haircut."

(Yeah, I got my hair cut the other day. It is now... much shorter than it used to be. Possibly the shortest I have ever had it. I was going to take a picture to show you guys, but I couldn't get a decent one - as always, I Do Not Photograph Well - so no camwhoring for you.)

Anyway, back to Interning. My supervisor gave me what sounded like a decent enough write-up. And we had an ice-cream party for my last day. No, really - at afternoon tea, someone brought in ice-cream and mini cones, and we ate that. Which was very nice of them.

So now I just need to do the reflective essay, which will be easy. Huzzah!

Also: Have a meme.

Leave me a comment saying "UNICORNSICE-CREAM!"
I'll respond by asking you five questions so I can get to know you better.
Update your journal with the answers to the questions.
Include this explanation in the post and offer to ask other people questions.

I grabbed this from robotlove, and she asked me the following questions:


1. All the countries you've been to so far and the one you like best!
Excluding Australia ('Cos I live here), I've been to New Zealand, - I was like a year old, so I don't remember it - Thailand, Egypt and Jordan. And technically Singapore, though I never left the airport.

As for my favourite... While the competition is probably down to between Thailand and Egypt, which both have very, very good points, Egypt most likely wins out on the basis that it's got a wider range of cool stuff. Including resorty beachy things if you go to the Red Sea.

2. Favorite color
Hot pink. Not the pale or salmon pinks, though I still like those, but the really bright, bold hot pink. Yeah, it's one of my particularly girly moments.

3. Least favorite Geass character
Kinda grateful this was phrased as "least favourite" rather than "most disliked", mainly because I don't really hate any of the Code Geass characters. There's characters I love, characters I like, characters that amuse me, characters that interest me (without liking them), and characters I don't care about/find mildly annoying.

Anyway, it depend if we are talking about overall opinion, or at a specific point. The closest I came to hating any Geass character is when the Suzaku-Lelouch meet-up got interrupted just as they were about to work together. I had a moment of ARGH RAGE at Schneizel over that. Overall, though, it's probably... Rolo. Not because of any actual dislike for him, I just didn't care about him at all, and I spent most of the time that was focused on him wishing they'd focus on characters I actually cared about. I appreciate what his death meant in terms of Lelouch's development, but as a character in and of himself, I am just profoundly apathetic to Rolo.

4. Favorite subject
FFFFFF...

No idea. Creative Writing classes are the most fun, even if in educational terms they are probably the least productive; sociology and psychology tend to have interesting lectures, but dull assignments. That class I had a few years back on Cybersocieties was great though. And anything about Media and Culture is good.

5. Why vegetarian, and which of all veg food do you like best? :D
I'm not vegetarian for any particularly moral reason, I just don't like the taste of meat - even before I became a vego, I never ate much red meat - and the idea of eating something's flesh kind of squicks me out. A lot. But because my reasons are so subjective, you'll never hear me try to convert others or anything.

And as for food... maybe a curry. Actually, probably definitely curry. I remember out last day in Jordan, when I'd been away from Australia and my Indian take-away joint for three weeks, and I went to the hotel restaurant and had a veggie curry for lunch. OM NOM NOM! I still don't know if that place actually made amazing curries, or if it was just the joy of having one after living off the somewhat small range of tour vegetarian options for three weeks.


I reserve the right to ask people exceedingly stupid and/or random questions if they respond to this meme.

Comments

[robotlove.livejournal.com]

Ahaha, I was watching everything while Japan/the fandom was about halfway into R2, and yes I also went right ahead to watch R2, though I only caught up with real time at around Turn 21 or 22.
All I remember are some reactions of shock when Suzaku smashed Lelouch's head into the ground. I'd heard vaguely about it before I watched that part but it was still a major YIKES!OUCH when it happened. BUT I LOVE THAT PART. SO MUCH RAW EMOTION AND ANGST OM NOM NOM.

Kallen is my favorite female character from the series, as she was from the start. I've always admired her fire and her ability to choose her beliefs over her feelings for Lelouch (another thing which contributed to my liking for the pairing besides the trust they had, and its whole overall dynamic). What's annoying is Sunrise's tendency to use her for fanservice, as well as how most Kalulu fans appear to behave rather distastefully. In terms of character development, I see her as the least complex of the main 4; she seems to be a simple girl at heart to me. I do, however, enjoy all her interactions with Lelouch and with Suzaku, as well as all that delicious postR2 SuzaKallen fic.....

I just wanted him to be happy again
Same here ;_; WHICH IS WHY I'VE GOT SOME CRACKFLUFF CHAPTERED FIC PLANNED, but all plans and progress have ground to a halt for now thanks to school. ...edit: bleagh grammatical typo

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

LOL, I first heard about Geass in the latter parts of R2, vaguely was aware of assorted flipping out over different spoilers, and decided I might try and catch the series if it had a decent ending, since endings can be make-or-break for me.


...Then it took me six months before I got around to watching it. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THERE. While I love that scene, I tend to not really focus on the face-stomp itself much. But yes, SO MUCH EMOTION AND ACTUAL HONEST INTERACTION GOING ON. Stupid Kanon and Schniezel.

Weirdly enough (warning: This is sort of tl;dr, because it's a bunch of thoughts I've been having for a while on why I found a lot of characters more likable in R2, despite plot issues), I think the reason I didn't like KaLulu for the first season is probably the same reason Lelouch himself took a while to grow on me. It basically comes down to the fact that, while large chunks of fandom may go in raptures over it, I wasn't really fond of the way Lelouch and the Black Knights interactions went. Not with Britannia, but with each other. Because, for the most part Lelouch saw them as tools to be manipulated rather than people (which, given how kind he is to his friends, is an incredibly dick move). And the Black Knights, after some initial doubts are just... completely blindly loyal to this guy when they must be aware talks a lot of utter bullshit. Kallen, being an exemplar of the BK, most of all. And for most of R1, this pattern of interaction made Lelouch look like a dick, and the BK (and Kallen as their most central character) look like idiots for their blind loyalty.

...Now, in R2, things change a bit. Lelouch begins to care for at least some of the BK as individuals; the BK are more skeptical and questioning of Zero's actions, and Kallen is a lot less blindly loyal and willing to call Lelouch on his shit. And so consequently, I liked all of them more, and their interactions - including the KaLulu stuff. (Choosing her beliefs over Lelouch is I think a really good moment for Kallen there) Basically, one of the things I find Lelouch and Kallen are both very willing to go to extremes to fight for what they believe. The problem is, they both also have a tendency to go somewhat overboard in these fights, and so I find I prefer their interactions with people who will actually call them on their shit. Hence why C.C./Lelouch and Suzalulu grabbed me quicker, and why KaLalu only really worked for me in R2. And why post-R2 SuzaKallen could totally work.

I agree that Kallen is the least complex of the main four; I still think she's underdeveloped in comparison. Mainly because Suzaku and Lelouch - and C.C. to some extent - are all brought face to face with their own personality flaws and how they have royally screwed up, and from this realisation manage to learn from and progress past them. Kallen, aside from smaller moments in R1 about her mother and Shirley's father, never really has that moment. (Which is why I like post-R2 Kallen, because realising how badly she misjudged Lelouch and Suzaku and what they were doing could be that moment for her, and I like seeing her move forward from that.)

I look forward to this fic, huzzah!

[robotlove.livejournal.com]

Dear me, I think I love this little discussion. You've got some very good opinions there (lol dick moves) - I can certainly see your point on the BK being blindly loyal too (LOL TAMAKI).
PostR2 SuzaKallen DEFINITELY WORKS. THERE IS NO ARGUING WITH THIS

aaah now I want to work on it.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

One of the things that frustrates me a bit about fandom is that very few people seem to point out a great big flaw of Lelouch's: The fact he treats people he loves very differently than he does everyone else. Yeah, it's an understandable and sympathetic thing to do. But it's kind of horrible that for all his talk about "those who kill should be willing to be killed", he's willing to kill other people's loved ones but not have his own be killed. It's sympathetic and understandable, but it's still an ultimately selfish act, insisting other people live to a moral standard he himself doesn't keep. (I really love the part in the Zero Requiem arc where Suzaku actually calls Lelouch on this Re: Nunnally. And he proceeds to realize and overcome his flaw.)

As for the loyalty... Zero is so blatantly theatrical, so blatantly playing to the crowd with his superhero act, it just bugs me that so few questions are asked within the Black Knights. Yeah, he gets results, but it's so suspicious, I'd expect a catch.

Some of this has been floating around in my head for a while (One of the results of having unpopular fannish opinions is that - for me at least - I tend to do a lot of analysis as to why I have these opinions).

WELL OF COURSE IT DOES. It's showing up on FF.net in increasing amounts, too, though it's still a very minority opinion. Though to be fair, it's about the only time those two could have a relationship that wasn't entirely hate-sex.

[robotlove.livejournal.com]

This is true. I remember wondering if the death of Shirley's father would change the way he did things, but it appears that... well, to get the rebellion done, SACRIFICES MUST STILL BE MAAAAAAAAAAADE. And of course since Lelouch is orchestrating the whole thing, he'd arrange everything to his 'convenience'... Then again, that's another reason why I love this show so much. As others have said, no one is fully wrong or right here. It's a show made up completely of shades of gray. Suzaku, while striving to be a good person, still isn't perfect, and Lelouch... goes without saying. I think it's probably why fans love him though, what with the whole byronic/machiavellian hero thing. (add that to his CLAMP good looks and potential gayness and poof! your miracle formula!)

Actually, in less serious moments, I more or less view the whole BK thing as a bunch of LOLs. I don't think I took them very seriously as an organization - sure, they successfully caused havoc many times, especially during the Black Rebellion, but they were always just under Lelouch's command - and I highly suspect this lack of srsbzness attitude with them is all down to THAT DARNED GAY COSTUME AND MASK. DARKLY DAWNS THE DUCK 8D I mean don't you agree that Zero's costume makes the whole thing ten times more... idk, CARTOONY? The only time this Zero-outfit thing got more serious for me was during the Requiem, and by that time, it was the END OF THE SHOW, so~ I must say though, bless them for having enough brains to revamp it in R2. The one-piece body suit thing in season 1 just served for endless lulz.

Tell me about it. I'd take postR2 bantering and relationship development over the hatesex any day.

[robotlove.livejournal.com]

oh, and also, my list of recommendations has made its way to your inbox! Let me know if you have any questions, or if the formatting came out terrible, and so on, yeah? ♥

EDIT: AAAAAAAAAAAAAND in a spur of the moment, I clicked to your ffn favorites and I AM *BEGIN FANGIRL DRAMA* SHOCKED TO DISCOVER THAT PRIMARY GAIN IS NOT ON YOUR LIST.
THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST OF ALL CHAPTERED GEASS FANFICTION I HAVE SEEN SO FAR (which isn't a lot, but well when you read it, you'll probably see what I mean). I am probably biased because it is a fabulous SuzaLulu AU which starts out with VERY deliciously fun and well-done SuzaKallen, but pairings aside, the plot is marvelous (I shan't spoil!), the characters well-handled, and the scenes simply terrifically orchestrated. yinake would recommend it too, and I'm sure many others will. (I even have a guy friend who proclaimed, "THIS SHIT IS BETTER THAN GEASS ITSELF" despite his :/ at the yaoi, lol)

It's going to take you a few hours to plow through what there is thus far though, so provided you haven't already read this, I suggest you settle down with a nice mug of your favorite drink and some snacks when you find the time. If you have tons of paper, PRINT IT TO READ DURING THE FLIGHTS! 8D *end fangirl drama*

asfhajghag sorry for multiple edits! ^^"

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

Oh, I totally agree with you about the shades of grey thing; for all it's flaws I have found that the show itself did a really good job making most of the characters in some flawed or morally dubious whilst still being sympathetic. Which is why I tend to get a bit >:( at the large chunk of fandom that doesn't seem to get this, and insist on painting [character they hate] as pure evil. Because... No.

(I actually came up with this theory in one of Yami's recent posts that a reason for Lelouch's ridiculous popularity - and the tendency for his fans to white-wash his flaws - is that Code Geass is, to some extent, basically a Draco in Leather Pants fanfic of a stereotypical shonen villain. It's not completely there, but the show has a number of aspects, and so fandom has a distinct tendency to completely fill in the rest of it)

Agreed on the one piece body suit. And, yeah, the BK and Zero are basically proof that the show isn't that far removed from Saturday Morning Cartoons. Which is why complaints about the unrealistic end or surprise that Lelouch and Suzaku ultimately teamed up makes me LOL. It may be darker and edgier, but it's still a freaking cartoon.

LOL, I put off reading Primary Gain, because it was a long WIP and I have been rather busy. And I like reading stories in one big go. But I have time now, so I will probably read it some time this week!

And your list is lovely and I can't see any formatting problems, so thank you very much for that.