Uncooperative Muses

[awanderingbard]

I would really like to write a story with adult Mycroft and Q interacting together, sans Sherlock. All my stories seem to have them very briefly interacting, and only once in person. I'd like to do something more.

But they won't let me.

They are too freakin' competent, it is ridiculous. I keep trying to put them in dangerous situations or a dramatic setting, and they just sort of deal with it in the first two paragraphs and move along. Without Sherlock there to be a source of drama to work around, they just grit their teeth and do what they need to and carry on.

I think it's because both Mycroft and Q are quiet. They make a point of not drawing attention to themselves, and deal with things without being noticed. So, where Sherlock instantly wants the attention and makes a noise and throws a spanner in the works, Mycroft and Q just get on with things, and even if they don't get along, put that aside and carry on. Which is great for them, but absolutely rubbish for a story. They are boring together, and I can't even manufacture drama.

Dammit, functional relationships!

Comments

[joonscribble.livejournal.com]

They are boring together, and I can't even manufacture drama.

For this reason I can't imagine writing an entire story that only features Mycroft and Q. Their total competence and level-headedness makes them a bit dull. At best they can do some dialogue exchange. Maybe chat a little about the latest political upsets in various countries. But the action portion would be done and done in under a page.

[awanderingbard.livejournal.com]

I even had them bloody kidnapped and tied up and they just freed themselves calmly. Then, for science!, I wrote the same scene with Sherlock and Q, and bam!, instant entertainment,

I am making a bit of headway into a fic by concentrating on how they interact and view each other, rather than trying to make them work together. I don't know how it'll end up, but I figure it's good practice anyway,

I also managed to find a Bond narration voice of some functionality. Turns out I have to go a bit more crude and dark than I usually write. Unfortunately, I have yet to think of a justification for said fic, and I don't know if I want to introduce the changes that it would make into the verse I've established. But again, good practice,

So, basically, while you've been gone, I've accomplished nothing of actual use. Huzzah!

[joonscribble.livejournal.com]

So, basically, while you've been gone, I've accomplished nothing of actual use. Huzzah!

Shush! You've written scenes to get a hold of characterization. That's use!

So far on this 4 hour train ride, I've managed to write a scene of Mycroft and Q talking for this fic that I hate to say is looking to be in two parts rather than one. Now I'm stuck writing Q and Bond talking. I wish I had a copy of Skyfall on me so I could rewatch a few things. I've written their dialogue with Bond being in a good mood, bad mood, and neutral mood...they all sound the same to me but I'm sure if filmed Daniel Craig could indicate some variation with a blink or facial twitch.

I even had them bloody kidnapped and tied up and they just freed themselves calmly....I wrote the same scene with Sherlock and Q, and bam!, instant entertainment,

I giggle at the idea of Q being all, *SIGH* "This was so much more productive when I was tied up with Mycroft."

[awanderingbard.livejournal.com]

Shush! You've written scenes to get a hold of characterization. That's use!

Oh, that makes it sound so much fancier than 'screwing around for no purpose'. Thank you! I actually did also manage to hack out a quite long Christmas With the Holmes Family fic that needs some smoothing out. Q is more of a wordy narrator than I would have expected. He likes to describe things. He's not as fond of run-on sentences as Sherlock, though. I always have to break up his sentences when I'm done.

I've written their dialogue with Bond being in a good mood, bad mood, and neutral mood...they all sound the same to me but I'm sure if filmed Daniel Craig could indicate some variation with a blink or facial twitch.

This is true. I don't think Bond would change his choice of words whatever mood he was in. Which is why I don't get why people were saying he was so unaffected during Severine's execution. This is Bond. He could be literally going insane on the inside, and you'd only have a finger twitch to show it. Dude is a robot, that's why he's good.

I giggle at the idea of Q being all, *SIGH* "This was so much more productive when I was tied up with Mycroft."

Hahah! Poor Q. It comes down to the fact that Mycroft is very politely going 'can you escape?' and Sherlock is 'why haven't you escaped?!'.

[joonscribble.livejournal.com]

Dude is a robot, that's why he's good.

He's good for the screen but not so much for my writing sanity.

It comes down to the fact that Mycroft is very politely going 'can you escape?' and Sherlock is 'why haven't you escaped?!'.

I imagine Mycroft actually discussing a plan while Sherlock just does. Kind of like how when he and John were handcuffed together and John finally pointed out they had to coordinate.

I actually did also manage to hack out a quite long Christmas With the Holmes Family fic that needs some smoothing out.

Is this them as children or adults? I have one going where Q is still quite little that I'm having trouble ending.

[awanderingbard.livejournal.com]

I imagine Mycroft actually discussing a plan while Sherlock just does. Kind of like how when he and John were handcuffed together and John finally pointed out they had to coordinate.

Yes, and that is exactly why it's so boring. They were even discussing why it might be prudent to wait for help, which is not good action at all. I even had trouble convincing them it was better to try and escape. Whereas Sherlock is already out the door and trying to get himself killed.

Is this them as children or adults? I have one going where Q is still quite little that I'm having trouble ending.

Adults. Set during the Hiatus, with Sherlock having sneak in to get there.

I hate ending stories. The best advise I've heard is cut off your last paragraph and see where it leaves you. You might have already ended and not realized it. Or see if you can echo something from earlier in the story to bring it full circle. That's helped me sometimes.

[joonscribble.livejournal.com]

Hm, okay I'll try that. It's mainly from Q's POV as a small child so he's sort of endlessly thinking or prattling on about various things. Plus it's angsty and I'm trying to find fluffy things to pepper in the story so it concludes on a not depressing note.

[awanderingbard.livejournal.com]

Is this the angsty story, or have you devised yet another one? :p

It sounds very cute, at least! I love writing them as children, because it's before all the crap happened and they get along much better. Which is sort of sad, actually. But a nice change.

[joonscribble.livejournal.com]

Is this the angsty story, or have you devised yet another one? :p

This is the only kid!fic angsty story I have. The other one I'm writing with them as adults is also angsty because that's apparently all I can write.

I love writing them as children, because it's before all the crap happened and they get along much better.

You also write their family unit itself as being so happy which I love. My Christmas fic goes off a throwaway comment from Gatiss which sort of breaks that but I kind of don't want to do it. I want Mr. and Mrs. Holmes to be happy forever.

[awanderingbard.livejournal.com]

You also write their family unit itself as being so happy which I love.

Yes, that's apparently all I can write. :p

y Christmas fic goes off a throwaway comment from Gatiss which sort of breaks that but I kind of don't want to do it. I want Mr. and Mrs. Holmes to be happy forever.

I remembered that in a sudden jolt the other night. It's not strictly canon, though, and I think Gatiss said they're never going to go into detail about Sherlock and Mycroft because they felt it would be deviating too far from canon.

It's an AU, after all. I can do what I want, and so can you!

[shadowfireflame.livejournal.com]

While I'm sorry you haven't been able to get a scene with just the two of them, Mycroft and Q, it is very interesting to see your reasoning and have a peek into your writing process. This is probably why Sherlock is my favorite character ever. Maybe they can work together to save Sherlock from something. :)

[awanderingbard.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you found it interesting, at least.

Maybe they can work together to save Sherlock from something. :)

That's a really good idea. I shall keep that in mind. :-)

[rodlox.livejournal.com]

maybe have that be the point nothing (dangerous) happens in the fic, because they're both so good at their jobs.