darkslayer83: ASDF CHAPTER 82.
darkslayer83: also, hi :)
nyohah: YES.  I'm not terribly happy about the possibility that Ling, like, threw Greed out of him.  But!  Greed freaks out because Wrath killed the things that belonged to him!  It was awesome.
darkslayer83: *fangirls as a verb.* In my brain he has a habit of calling those three his treasures, which distinguishes them from Everything Else I Own, Which Is Everything. XD
darkslayer83: Gring meltdown is love. <3
nyohah: ^_^
darkslayer83: Yeah, no for a second there I was all "WHUT NOES WE JUST GOT HIM BACK" re: Greed's potential banishment deal. Ling berating him is way, way awesome though : D
darkslayer83: It's so perfectly perfect. *Rolls around in it.* ^_^
nyohah: I knew you would like it.  ^_~
darkslayer83: *Purr purr* bait yes. ^_~ : D
darkslayer83: Sevlow's not half bad. They had a big manly cry together so that was cool. Kinda felt she wallowed in Roy's black eye a bit much, but the arm in the flowers was classic Envy.
darkslayer83: I have been waiting a week to tell you that. *Is sad.* XD
nyohah: Ah.  Well, I didn't say it was perfect, but I enjoyed it.  There's more that focuses on torturing (literally) Roy.  And one with zombies, which was just, well, zombies?  Really.  Anyway.  
nyohah: I have schoolwork tonight.  Bleh.  Gotta finish writing a paper.
darkslayer83: ZOMG ZOMBIE ALCHEMISTS WHUT. XD
darkslayer83: Eeew, paper. :p
darkslayer83: Nah, I like my torture scenes in psychological format. Err. /tmi. 0:-)
darkslayer83: "And then they kicked his head in" just doesn't do it for me. *Shrug.*
nyohah: Well, it's focused on the psychological issues following rescuing from the torture, and you only get like a summary of the torture from some other guy, but yeah.  Don't feel any obligations.
darkslayer83: Hey, how many times did she physically type the word "catharsis" when describing his mindset? ;) And, uh, no. But the other one was nice. Poor, poor dead Gracia. Now Hughes and Roy can move in together! (Yeah, I typed it. The rest of the audience was *thinking* it, anyway. XD)
nyohah: lol
darkslayer83: I think they were together, and she knew, and they were all fine with it because SRYSLY THE HAWT. ^_~
darkslayer83: I mean it, I'm not taking the piss out of anything or anyone, I'm serious. XD
nyohah: I've read several fics like that.  XD
darkslayer83: It makes sense! She's not hard on the eyes and doesn't strike me as Queen of the Jealousy People, and um, to be her and get to say, "You've both been very naughty boys, GO TO MY ROOM," would not be something I think would be at the top of my Minding It list. lol
darkslayer83: It's like, het fic, only better. XD
nyohah: lol!  You know about fma_ot4?
darkslayer83: Ooooh! This sounds like it has either high button-stomping or high laughter potential, or both. Please do enlighten me. *Curtsy.*
nyohah: Oh, it's the lj community for fics about Roy, Riza, Hughes, and Gracia, or rather, any combination thereof.  Would be the place to go to find RoyxHughesxGracia.  
darkslayer83: Oh, right, both it is, then. *Glee.*
darkslayer83: Thank you. ^_^
darkslayer83: What exactly is this paper of yours? *curious*.
nyohah: It's the final paper for our group project for our class.  It's basically a conference paper without actually being submitted to a conference. Though we are extending a paper we had written to submit to a conference.  I got the other two people in my group to write up what needed to be added, so I've got to rewrite/put it in the paper, edit it, and send it back to them.  It's due Sunday, but we all want to finish it asap.
darkslayer83: That's right! I think you told me about this paper before a little. Okay. Makes sense. And hey, you're good at these things, so :)
nyohah: Yeah. I just don't want to do it.  And right now, I'm...not.  But I have to do it tonight.  Right now I'm going to get supper.  Sonic.  Round the block.  Back soon.  :)
darkslayer83: okay np ^_^
nyohah: back
darkslayer83: hi again :)
nyohah: Is school over for you?
darkslayer83: yeah, but actually, it starts again on Tuesday XD
nyohah: Oh, you take summer classes?
darkslayer83: But its Tu-Th school, so nbfd. And thesis reading/scary proposal. Yeah, I figured since I was doing thesis shit anyway I should take another class. (Half-time = grant to offset loans. ;) ) I'm pleased with it, 'cause that finishes out my core requirements, which will just leave me running to complete Thesis and Minor in the same year.
darkslayer83: How hard is it to write a proposal? *Gasp* a type of nonfiction I've never written before! O_o;
nyohah: Hey, how hard you work, that will probably be easy.  :)  And I've, uh, never written one.
darkslayer83: Oh. I didn't know; just made a wrong inference. Ah, see I get these stretches of "LA LA LA HEAD IN SAND LA" about my to do list which then results in having to run around doing insane amounts of things at the same time. I'm not so sure it counts as "work ethic" when it's inspired by blind panic? XD
darkslayer83: Stress makes me procrastinate. Which is SO BAD for finishing things. *facedesk.*
nyohah: I am EXACTLY the same way.  stress -> procrastination -> more stress -> more procrastination -> overwhelming stress -> curl up on bed (more procrastination!)
darkslayer83: YES.
nyohah: This lame-o class I had to take as an undergrad had for one day's lesson certain personality types, and there's a type that has its stress coping methodology = avoidance, and I was like, yeah, that's me.  XD  
darkslayer83: Totally me as well! See, we're commrades in arms and stuff. :) It's awful for like reports especially, because, Wiki and Youtube, they devour my "research" time. XD I've also noticed that, for whatever reason, Leena is more interested in having my attention when I'm trying to do something important with it. *Head to desk.*
nyohah: I oftentimes clean when I should be studying or something.
darkslayer83: Wow come over to my house! I'll write Transposition, and you'll clean, and it's pure winning victory on all sides ;D
darkslayer83: kidding omg
nyohah: !  ^_^  Sounds like a plan to me!
darkslayer83: But hey for reals, if you have off time or something, I will have somewhat more around-time than usual, so...writings? *dangles offer*
nyohah: I am doing the run around like crazy get ready to move thing but really, that will take minimal time out of my day.  So, uh, yeah.  Not tonight, 'cause paper, but I don't have to go to work anymore. : D
darkslayer83: Oh, that's right! XD I kept thinking you had already escaped somehow because you were in St. Louis that one time, and I was like "huh?". Behold, the power of ADHD. lol :p
darkslayer83: How did everything go with that? (Am I allowed to ask?) >_>
nyohah: My advisor was all, "Don't do this!  You're so smart and wonderful!  You need to fulfill your potential and get a Ph.D.!"  And I was kind of flattered, but it just made quitting more difficult.  And, uh, we're saying I'm going away for the summer so I can go back if I want.  And he'll let me work in the lab even if I only decide to come back for a Masters.  But I get to go to Colorado this summer, and I don't have to go back.  ^_~
darkslayer83: Oh, wow. Hey, you could work this into a really good thing, getting the Masters and not going crazy and getting the summer off, AND still keeping him in your Rolodex. If you wanted. Or not, whichever.
darkslayer83: (Since I don't know how that works on the ground, and I want you to stay my not crazy friend. *Nods.*)
darkslayer83: *is protective.* <#
nyohah: I'm going to think about it and see how a couple months off makes me feel.
darkslayer83: Or even <3 and yes, please do.
darkslayer83: I mean, you know, I still like you no matter what, 'cause duh, but like, doors are easier to open the first time, trust me on this.
darkslayer83: *flail* I don't want you to be hurt. Is the not mature yet still honest summation of my viewpoint.
nyohah: I appreciate it.  I'm going to see how things go.  I don't think I'm really in the best mental state to be considering what I should do next year since right now all I want is out so badly.
darkslayer83: Hey, hey, one thing at a time, and whatever you pick I'm here with you. *flower.*
darkslayer83: (Um, if you had stuff you needed to do, I'm trying to clean out from underneath my bed, actually, and I hate cleaning, so it's going nowhere fast, although I did find my checkbook.) /insensitive pragmatism. *is kind of a jerk.*
nyohah: I haven't started working yet, and you won't distract me too much when I do (since I like to be distracted when I'm doing papers :) )
nyohah: But feel free to clean under your bed.  
darkslayer83: Yeah, it's so exciting XD But I can basically promise to be back here and be distracting, because it's not like cleaning is my favoritest thing.
darkslayer83: So I will happily distract you, and myself, and, yeah, if I don't start now it will be 2am. XD
darkslayer83: Done ^_^
nyohah: Awesome!  I've only just started working on the paper, and I'm also playing a video game!  I'm efficient!  XD
darkslayer83: lol multitasking ftw!
darkslayer83: I still have to vacuum everything that's not under the bed, and also make it, and...for some reason there was a bottle of Formula 409. Under my bed. O_o;
darkslayer83: I have seriously no memory of that and zero clue how it got there.
darkslayer83: and, um, did you see Shoebox? Because they're totally like us. ^_^
nyohah: Oh, uh, I saw the "six months ago on the internet' post.  Is there an actual chapter?
darkslayer83: Yeah, no, that's the post. XD No chapterish content.
darkslayer83: I just went "omg this is familiar" and was, like, perversely flattered that BNFs With Fans and Everything have a similar update pattern.
nyohah: Oh, I misread what you said.  I thought you said "they totally like us" (i.e. updating) rather than "they're totally like us" (i.e. too busy to work).
darkslayer83: Oh! Okay. Well, yours would be cool too. *Wants Shoebox.* :)
nyohah: Me, too.  
darkslayer83: I just, I love it. I should probably read the archives and stuff, but I know enough to play along, and it's such a fun ride. ^_^
nyohah: You haven't read all of it?
darkslayer83: Uh. Err. No? I got distracted! There was Greed, and this short kid, and this suit of armor, and GREED, and Roy/Hughes, and well, Greed. XD
nyohah: Ah, well, that's forgiveable I suppose.  But still, it's worth it.  It's a bit rocky in the first couple of parts (except for the beginning of the first, which is letters, and shoebox letters are 180% made of win), but on the whole it is consistently delightful.
darkslayer83: (God, I've already been in FMA fandom for like two years? WHERE IS THE TIME AND WHERE HAS IT GONE.) But yeah that was right about when I started being actually serious about Shoebox, so, it um, got kinda put on the back burner, but well, I do love it. There are parts with happy fluffy illustrations and so dear and funny and. <3
nyohah: Sometimes I wonder how it can be so awesome. When her book comes out, I will have to at least glance at it and see if it seems worthwhile. I actually have this weird aversion to BNFs who go on to be published, but it's probably all because of Cassandra Claire.
darkslayer83: It is pretty...pretty. ^_^ YES I AGREE. She was all "trying to be published!" and I was "Oooh! Where?" and also really want to see the Iron Man fic. I do not share the Complete Fixation on RDJ (he's on the I Would List, but not near the top, and definitely not thermophilic microorganisms level) but I did/do enjoy Iron Man and the movie universe makes me happy :) Oh! God. Cassie Claire. >_< Dear, quoting Bridget of Mordor to hilarious effect does not actually mean you are publishable, and certainly does not mean plagiarism is okay. *Headwall fistpound.*
nyohah: I just really really wish after plagiarismgate that she had disappeared into the void of the internet or at least CHANGED HER NAME. I think her life would have been easier since half the internet wouldn't automatically hate her. Of course half the internet wouldn't know to automatically lick her boots, but what's better, respect or fangirls?  Well, I know where I stand, and I think we know where Cassie Claire stands. >_<  Anyway, one of my sister's friends read her book and tore into it, and it made me rather happy.  PEOPLE NEED TO STOP WRITING BUFFY RIPOFFS.  *ahem*
darkslayer83: Oh, see, I had a good, deep, richly satisfying laugh at her expense, and sorta wrote her off after that. You mean she didn't stop?
darkslayer83: Here is a good time for nonplussed, 'cause I am.
nyohah: Cassie Claire?  Way way way back in the day was the plagiarism scandal.  (When ff.net has forums for the first time.  Dude, I was like thirteen. o_O)  Then apparently because she got kicked off ff.net, she and her friend started fictionalley.org to host her fics. She also did the LOTR secret diaries and then stopped and then got pissy with anyone who tried to continue or did anything similar because they were copying her when she was already copying Bridget Jones. *headdesk* Recently, she's become a real-life published author. Apparently nobody in the publishing industry knows or cares about her plagiarism. It's very sad. And infuriating.
darkslayer83: Yes! All I had ever heard of her was "woes plagiarism!" and assumed it, well, mattered, and that people would quit being her friends. I only knew OF her in that fictionalley incarnation and just assumed she was like all the other fangirls with a domain-devoted-to-an-interest-that-lasts-six-months, except she was A BNF, and then she got published, only it's Chop Sue-y like MAJOR, and, um, I enjoyed it, a lot, her downfall, only apparently it didn't stick?
darkslayer83: That's horrible.
nyohah: I don't think she really had a downfall as much as turned fandom into two camps: those who stood with her through everything, and those who are baffled and horrified.
darkslayer83: Oh, pooh. I really wanted her to burn and stay fallen and get the hell off my Internet. Um. XD
darkslayer83: (so, no. Having never thought her particularly interesting or special, and loving that she got her fingers pinched by the lid of the cookie jar, can't say I have ever or will ever lick any portion of her clothing.)
darkslayer83: Not even when I was eighteen and markedly more servile. XD
nyohah: I've never read her stuff.  I remember seeing the fallout at ff.net when it happened, and then coming across the secret diaries years later and thinking, "Cassandra Claire", that sounds familiar, but suuuurely not, and then finding the sad truth out possibly years after that.
darkslayer83: I tried, once, but, eh, nothing special. I think maybe it was you who gave me the link for the diaries? And I was amused, but also bemused, because it *was* roaringly funny in places, but not the kind of thing I'd erect a shrine of BNF proportions for, and then, well, schadenfreude.
nyohah: That wasn't what she became a BNF for.  It was for the fic she plagiarized on.  Which, aside from the outright narrative plagiarism, also had all its funny lines pinched from elsewhere (like Buffy; I think she put lots of Spike lines in Draco's mouth.  I haven't read it, just read about it.)
darkslayer83: Oh, okay. I was really in Skim Mode for some of that, so it makes sense. (That the fic for which she was well known is the one that I ignored, hence, me entirely missing the boat.)
darkslayer83: I mean, it just was so...not astounding...at all...that I had trouble reading it.
darkslayer83: (I dug around in it at fandom_wank, because they had a copy and I was curious, but. Eh.)
darkslayer83: I was actively *bored*. Which can't augur well for her published work. XD
darkslayer83: Plus, plagiarism is just SO VERY WRONG. :p *intense dislike.*
darkslayer83: Well, I mean, fanfic is kinda plagiarism by default, but I would never seek gainful employment based on a sample of my Matrix slash. XD That's crazy talk and wrong to boot.
darkslayer83: It's pretend! You don't get to use it to make a living! Unless it's YOUR OWN pretend that you invented BY YOURSELF and it belongs to you. *nods firmly.*
nyohah: Yes. Very yes.
darkslayer83: I mean, what makes fandom pretend fun is that it's THAT character. I can't...why would you want Draco to say Spike's lines? They're not Draco's anymore. To borrow a mannerism, maybe; maybe this is one of those AUs where he's had exposure to Muggle culture or something, but if he says Spike's lines, he's not Draco anymore.
nyohah: Well, fandom!Draco's never exactly been Draco, has he?  XD
darkslayer83: lol ferret! XD
darkslayer83: Okay, then, say, like who's desperately always canon, and make them be Spike. How is that even remotely appealing? Does not compute. I guess, I just, if you're going to twist them beyond recognition, do it with your *own* ideas. If it's not a crossover, random Buffy transplants are Bad Things.
darkslayer83: It's totally unfair to the entirety of Buffy fandom. For one thing.
nyohah: Right.  I mean, apparently, she had a game for people to guess where are the funny dialogue she lifted was lifted from. If YOU don't write your funny dialogue, YOU are not a good writer.
darkslayer83: YES. And she had slavering legions of mindless dogs anyway.
darkslayer83: And has, still, apparently.
darkslayer83: I mean, I'm a review whore, but she just fights dirty. XD
nyohah: Average Harry Potter fan?  13.  Not too bright.  I mean my sister's friend said she was a fun until she realized that too many of Cassie's good lines she recognized from somewhere else.
darkslayer83: Yes, I know, but I still, oh, still jealous. *Craves minions, yet cannot stomach Sub/Scorp*.
nyohah: Minions would be nice... And yeah, I think you really have to write popular characters, or better, popular pairings, to get them. 
nyohah: Just think, if you wrote Roy/Ed... *shudder*
darkslayer83: NO I WON'T.
darkslayer83: Um, I mean. XD Maybe Roy/Hughes. I like that, so I could do that, and it doesn't seem ludicrously unpopular.
nyohah: Yeah, that's a fairly popular one.  More popular than Sub/Scorp if only because FMA is way more popular than MK.  You could try it.
darkslayer83: Dude Lust/Scar anime verse COOKS MY BRAIN it is that hot, but, um, there's a possibility that it exists only in my head? XD And um, yeah, I might. :)
nyohah: Um, I seriously doubt that exists only in your head since there was pretty much UST on the screen.  That said, I can't say I've seen fics for it show up on the digest.  It's all Roy/Ed or Elricest.  *weep*
darkslayer83: eww eeew eeeeeeew I ugh, Elricest, NO THANKS. Rughhk and similar half-gagging noises. Roy/Ed just does not register as plausible. It's not...it doesn't fit. And I can't think of a decent, interesting way to make it fit, and if I can't do it, how are they? I mean besides by utterly ignoring characterization.
darkslayer83: And yet it's EVERYWHERE. *shudder.*
nyohah: You're right.  It doesn't fit.  Neither of them fit, and both of them make me want to cry, but Elricest more than anything.
darkslayer83: I just...ugh, dude, even my Greed wants NO part of that, and he's the type who doesn't register "go fuck a stump!" as an insult. *Headshake.* I mean honestly. When they're as perverted as I can make them and they still don't want to play, it's because that pairing IS WRONG, and there's just no fighting core morals.
darkslayer83: In summation: DO NOT WANT.
nyohah: AMEN.
darkslayer83: ^_^ We have seen the light! We have foooooouund the TRUTH. And now, if you will please turn to page 488 in your hymnals...*and there is singing with which to back up our stance. Yes.*
darkslayer83: I just, I was trying to have choir, and it fell apart. BUT IT'S SO TRUE.
darkslayer83: And god doesn't mind, because he doesn't like Elricest either. *Smug.*
nyohah: Yes, god definitely doesn't like Elricest. O_O
darkslayer83: I just, I live in a mental universe where the occasional bout of (is that blasphemy, sacrilege or heresy?) is funny, but then thought "oh shit I may have done something offensive" after I hit Send, and I totally meant it only in a humorous way.
nyohah: I am pretty hard to offend.  Don't worry so much.
darkslayer83: But I like you! And am carefully respectful of your opinions because of this like. Our friendship merits a certain amount of respect, and the more because it's close. <3
darkslayer83: I just mean to edify you by not trashing up the place, basically :)
darkslayer83: Not like, uh, I can't frame it in negative words actually, but I wasn't worried about offending you 'cause of anything bad. But because you are good to me, so to do bad things offhand on purpose would not be good. yes.
darkslayer83: I do tease. Sometimes. But you've never been all "ZOMF QUIT THAT", so. Uh. But yeah generally I would like for there to be happy feelings and try not to stuff that up too bad. XD
nyohah: ^_^  (writing stupid paper)
nyohah: (wishing I understood my labmates equations better, and he isn't going to be around to fix them.  I guess I will just write what I think and let him fix it later.)
darkslayer83: Yes this is a good plan. It's what I did for our statistics project, and we aced that, because I fixed his mu unit thing. *nods.*
darkslayer83: Which, I totally forget what that does actually XD But yeah, put your conclusions and let him sort them out; you
darkslayer83: are probably right anyways. ;)
darkslayer83: (evil evil Enter key :p )
darkslayer83: Huh, I just found the actual resource supporting one of those MSN.com slideshows. (I do not default this page--screaming diet ads and celebrity garbage with makeup tips, and a lot of football stuff back when it goes through periodic bouts of believing I'm a guy--but of course it pops up every time I sign out of my inbox.) And they had a puff piece on honeybees and Colony Collapse Disorder, which resulted in Google, and four results or so down there's the actual article from whence it came.
darkslayer83: I'm pretty sure they had permission, since they weren't shy about shouting "we got it from the ARS", but still.
darkslayer83: Bees. Bees and ants. Adorable, So when things threaten them I pay attention. XD
darkslayer83: (Uh, Colony Collapse Disorder is my "new thing" and has been since I first heard murmurs of it two years ago. Everyone else is doing global warming. XD)
nyohah: Ah.  (Bleh paper.)
nyohah: Oh, for a travel grant for my trip to Greece this summer, I have to write my own recommendation letter and forward it to my advisor for small modifications before he sends it back.  This is the first time this has happened to me, and I have no idea what to do.
darkslayer83: ? Did anyone write a rec letter for you to someone else before? If yes, you're in luck; cannibalize it and put your own spin on it, and presto, work done. :)
nyohah: Yes, but I don't HAVE it. They're usually supposed to be confidential.
nyohah: I also have to write, for myself, a "Personal Statement and Reason for PETRA Scholar (150 words)".  (PETRA is the name of the conference.  Uh, could they get any more vague?  I mean, what the hell?  There's no description.
darkslayer83: Oh! The short word requirement will help there. First: why you want you should be a PETRA scholar? Try to make that the bulk of the words. I'm not sure, but I think personal statement is the usual sunshine-up-their-ass about what you are best at. *nods.* At least that's the impression I get. 
darkslayer83: You're hands-on, thorough, dedicated, production-oriented, are some of your strengths that I have observed, if you would like to borrow them. :)
nyohah: Uh, why do they think I want to be a PETRA scholar?  They're handing out up to $1500.  Duh.  *headdesk*  I have trouble making up pretty sunhiney things even WITH a prompt.  And yes, I will take those compliments and reproduce them. ^_~
darkslayer83: Well, yes, but...okay, try some Googling. What are they known for/why are they distinguished, and what can you admire about that? Focus on what you can actually like about the company (even if Reason Uno is money--they know this, that's why it's there, but they want their egos petted too), and as long as its something you actually feel is praiseworthy or at least good, then that helps :)
darkslayer83: Totally lying is bad. Focusing on what you can live with and playing to it is merely a good performance. *nods.*
darkslayer83: I mean, they don't eat babies or anything, do they? XD It's not like "Yes I love the engine of destruction that is Enron."
darkslayer83: But there's my $0.02. And they're valid compliments! I just framed what's awesome about your writing skills in workplace-ese. :)
nyohah: It's not a company, it's a conference, and it's their first year, so they're not distinguished at all.  ^_~  I mean, I can describe how my interests align with what the conference is about, but I don't know what else to do.
nyohah: Um, not to put down all your advice.  It's good advice.  It's just a new situation for me.  I don't know what an academic conference wants to see in their scholars.
darkslayer83: ? Them not being distinguished does not equal putdown sauce for Jheti this evening. ;) Yeah! No it's good, align your interests with the subject of their conference, that's precisely right.
darkslayer83: We're cool. It just always helps when asskissing to be kissing for a genuine reason. *nods.*
darkslayer83: Also, there's a really good template of a rec letter floating around on About.com somewhere. :)
nyohah: Ah, I will check there.  Thanks.
darkslayer83: np ^_^
darkslayer83: I don't mean to leave you hanging, but I've got the ever popular "shit to do tomorrow" and I've got to do it sorta early. XD Which means both of them are down my neck about getting some sleep. XD
darkslayer83: You're barking up the right tree; just try to see it purely As A Task--that helps with it some. (I used to get hella nervous about resume`s and stuff.)
darkslayer83: You know, all that jobby crap stuff. It Is Only A Task. <---mantra ;)
nyohah: I will try to think of it that way.  :)  Good night.  Good luck with errandy stuff tomorrow.
darkslayer83: Thank you and you too, good luck for you <3 Nite nite.