Time for a kitty update
May. 11th, 2004 11:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
swatkatI'm still thinking about that boy, about myself, and whole lot of other philosophical things, and feeling very disturbed. So I'll talk about kittens indeed. There's nothing like three beautiful kittens to lift your spirits. *g*
That's right. I finally got to visit my grandfather this weekend, and therefore, the kittens. I wish I could do it more often – he's very old, semi-invalid, and doesn't have a lot of time left with us. *sigh*
Anyway, on with the kittens…
There are three kittens, not four – they *thought* there were four. They are beautiful. They're fat and fluffy and run around in a way you wouldn't believe was possible for one month old kitties. One of them is white, with a black spot near his left ear, and pretty black tail. He's the laziest kitten I've ever seen – while his sisters run around and fight and play with each other, he prefers to sit quietly and observe everything around him. He doesn't make a single sound when someone picks him up, just stares at that person with his enormous eyes. The second one is black and white (and I *love* black and white cats), and she's the most talkative of the lot. She starts mewing for no particular reason every five minutes, and loves biting people's fingers. The other one is white, with orange and brown spots all over her body. She's the leader of the gang – very curious, very friendly and eager to explore. It's too early to say if they're evil or not, but they sure have worn out their poor mum. Poor thing has become positively skinny. Nothing a good feeding can't cure, though. *g*
I can't begin to tell you how tempted I was to bring one of them along with me, but they're too young. And when I get to meet them next, they'll probably not remember me. *sigh*
Speaking of memories, dogs seem to have pretty amazing memories. My aunt's new puppy (she's the craziest dog I've ever met) remembered me very well, although she's only six months old, and we've met only twice before. *g*
Even thinking about them makes me smile.
~
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jaybee65, I had a Snapefic by pogrebin recced here and a Riddlefic by moondanger here that you might like. *g*
~
And now, a question for you non-DONs: do you believe that Nikita 'needlessly' made a 'martyr' of herself when she accepted that key from Daddy? (Yes, that's a quote) Why? You already know what I think, but I'm asking it anyway because I just saw someone mention it and it bothered me a lot more than it usually does. *g*
That's right. I finally got to visit my grandfather this weekend, and therefore, the kittens. I wish I could do it more often – he's very old, semi-invalid, and doesn't have a lot of time left with us. *sigh*
Anyway, on with the kittens…
There are three kittens, not four – they *thought* there were four. They are beautiful. They're fat and fluffy and run around in a way you wouldn't believe was possible for one month old kitties. One of them is white, with a black spot near his left ear, and pretty black tail. He's the laziest kitten I've ever seen – while his sisters run around and fight and play with each other, he prefers to sit quietly and observe everything around him. He doesn't make a single sound when someone picks him up, just stares at that person with his enormous eyes. The second one is black and white (and I *love* black and white cats), and she's the most talkative of the lot. She starts mewing for no particular reason every five minutes, and loves biting people's fingers. The other one is white, with orange and brown spots all over her body. She's the leader of the gang – very curious, very friendly and eager to explore. It's too early to say if they're evil or not, but they sure have worn out their poor mum. Poor thing has become positively skinny. Nothing a good feeding can't cure, though. *g*
I can't begin to tell you how tempted I was to bring one of them along with me, but they're too young. And when I get to meet them next, they'll probably not remember me. *sigh*
Speaking of memories, dogs seem to have pretty amazing memories. My aunt's new puppy (she's the craziest dog I've ever met) remembered me very well, although she's only six months old, and we've met only twice before. *g*
Even thinking about them makes me smile.
~
jaybee65, I had a Snapefic by pogrebin recced here and a Riddlefic by moondanger here that you might like. *g*~
And now, a question for you non-DONs: do you believe that Nikita 'needlessly' made a 'martyr' of herself when she accepted that key from Daddy? (Yes, that's a quote) Why? You already know what I think, but I'm asking it anyway because I just saw someone mention it and it bothered me a lot more than it usually does. *g*
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-05-11 06:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-12 04:46 am (UTC)And... iconlove!
Swatkat
Hmm. I don't really think of Nikita as martyr, myself.
Date: 2004-05-11 09:07 pm (UTC)As for needless - well, what were her options? As far as the scene was set up, Michael, Adam or Daddy was going to die.
Personally - I have no qualms that she made the right choice. That this is the choice Jones counted on her making is irritating, but not all that much.
Did the person who asked the question think there was some fourth choice that I haven't noticed yet?
Nell
no subject
Date: 2004-05-12 05:05 am (UTC)Excatly.
Did the person who asked the question think there was some fourth choice that I haven't noticed yet?
I asked, but she backtracked and avoided answering the question. See, this is why I love the FFMB - people aren't afraid of standing by their opinions. *g*
Come to think of it, maybe she actually does think that Nikita is a 'martyr' in accepting the key.
Swatkat
Love your icon...LOL...
Date: 2004-05-12 07:08 pm (UTC)Is she trying to balance out all the Maddy icons?...LOL
Balance?
Date: 2004-05-13 06:00 am (UTC)Swatkat
Hmmmm.
Date: 2004-05-11 10:14 pm (UTC)Now, as a DON, I know that question wasn't directed at me, but I completely disagree. The people who usually think that are the people who think that she doesn't deserve Michael (you know, those MCDATHWALDGDI people) and her decision to take the key from Jones was just another example of her bimbo status (awarded to her solely because she never appreciated Michael the way *they* would have). He decision irritates them because they think she rejected Michael in favour of running Section, and that she broke Michael's heart in doing it. Which, of course, is not how I saw it.
I'd love to know where you saw it mentioned, btw. *g*
Re: Hmmmm.
Date: 2004-05-11 11:06 pm (UTC)(am... er ... fascinated by the new icon, Gen)
hee hee
Date: 2004-05-12 12:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-12 04:19 am (UTC)Me too. They're simply beautiful. *g* Do get a kitten soon. It'll be interesting to see Mr. Spawn of Satan reacting to one, especially if it's a spunky, snarky one. *eg*
Now, this person never really struck me as a MCDATHWALDGI person, but maybe that's because she rarely posts and I haven't interacted much with her in the past. I'm not sure if I should post the link, because then I'd have to lock this - but here's what she said:
I've often wondered how Nikita could justify being so cavalier in some instances. It's almost as if she just thinks for the moment, acting on emotion obviously, instead of weighing the consequences of her actions. Then again, if she was a more forward-thinking person, then perhaps she wouldn't have been so caught off guard in that alley where she was framed for murder. I know if I happened upon someone with a knife in a dark alley, I would be running the other way immediately to get as far away from the scene as possible. But that's just me. Come to think of it, I wouldn't be in the alley at all even if I was a street kid. (Talking about WOB and Nikita trying to protect Jamie)
I definitely agree with you on this. S5 is another instance where Nikita needlessly makes herself a huge martyr to save the world. Yes, you don't want to sentence innocent people to die. And yes, it's important to stay true to your word. But why feel the need to be loyal to someone who was never loyal to you? Family or not, her father really didn't make amends for the years he kept her in the dark and the torture she endured as part of her rise to Section's "savior." But this is a discussion for another time.I definitely agree with you on this. S5 is another instance where Nikita needlessly makes herself a huge martyr to save the world. Yes, you don't want to sentence innocent people to die. And yes, it's important to stay true to your word. But why feel the need to be loyal to someone who was never loyal to you? Family or not, her father really didn't make amends for the years he kept her in the dark and the torture she endured as part of her rise to Section's "savior." But this is a discussion for another time.
You raise a good point. While they are starting to connect again after Michael's total emotional breakdown, I still don't think he's quite over the fact that when he lets his emotional guard down, the people whom he cares about most get hurt. He knows what Nikita will expect of him, and he very likely isn't ready for the kind of commitment she ultimately wants -- at least not at this point.
This annoyed me. A lot. *g* What was even more annoying that when I responded, she just kinda backtracked and avoided the discussion. Don't you just hate it when people do that?
Swatkat
no subject
Date: 2004-05-12 03:51 pm (UTC)So, um, yeah. No 'martyrdom' theory here.
I also think canon fully indicates that Nikita has/had superb skills for planning ahead and measuring the consequences of her actions - she worked as a double or triple agent twice, for extended periods of time, and survived both experiences. That she sometimes also reacted from her gut, damn the consequences - and her gut told her to usually make the worst assumption possible about Section and its likely behavior and motives, based on very sound, hard earned experience - makes her a normal, conflicted human being.
Reading this person's post - my guess is that they do think she could have taken the key, then tossed it over her shoulder and walked away. I don't think that was possible. She accepted command in front of what felt like a score or more of cold operatives from Section, Oversight AND Center. Talk about not understanding consequences! I think the poster hasn't thought through the consequences if Nikita had tried to go back on the deal.
I guess I don't find Nikita all that difficult to 'get' - though, of course, much as I like Michael - I don't think he walked on water, was always right, or deserved more from Nikita than she gave him. Which, after all, was his life, his freedom, and his son. Gee - guess she didn't like him much, huh?
Nell
no subject
Date: 2004-05-13 06:53 am (UTC)It always surprises me how most people seem to forget that Michael had immense faith on Nikita's abilities. Surely SuperMikey wasn't blinded by his love for Nikita? I don't know - I *like* Michael (flashes her super sekrit DOM card), and the suggestion that he protected Nikita only because he had the hots for her is one I find very demeaning. Michael was an excellent operative, and he knew a good operative when he saw one. He had faith on Nikita's skills as an operative because she deserved that.
I also think canon fully indicates that Nikita has/had superb skills for planning ahead and measuring the consequences of her actions - she worked as a double or triple agent twice, for extended periods of time, and survived both experiences. That she sometimes also reacted from her gut, damn the consequences - and her gut told her to usually make the worst assumption possible about Section and its likely behavior and motives, based on very sound, hard earned experience - makes her a normal, conflicted human being.
I agree. I'll even go as far as to say as a lot of the 'rash' decisions that Nikita took (the one to save Jamie in WOB, for example) were not because she was over-emotional and 'cavaliar' about her friends in Section, but because she confident about ability to pull it off.
Reading this person's post - my guess is that they do think she could have taken the key, then tossed it over her shoulder and walked away. I don't think that was possible. She accepted command in front of what felt like a score or more of cold operatives from Section, Oversight AND Center. Talk about not understanding consequences!
I've chatted with more than one person who believes that Nikita could've walked off because no one knew about it. She became *Operations*, and no one knew? I don't know, this is something I find hard to digest.
Actually, I have my own theories on this matter - I don't think Jones would be foolish enough to take such a decision all by himself. If someone today stole that key, then would it mean they'd become Operations? I think Centre knew, and that Nikita would be Operations even if she had said 'no' that day. Michael would've gone free, but I doubt how 'free' he is. Letting him go may have been their way to keep a tight leash on him.
Swatkat
Well I'm not a DON...
Date: 2004-05-11 10:25 pm (UTC)I know, I know
Date: 2004-05-12 04:31 am (UTC)And I don't think Nikita 'needlessly' made a 'martyr' of herself, I don't think she was a 'martyr' - if you can remember what I've said about the character, you'll know why. *eg*
I don't think she was a 'martyr' either, but probably in a different sense than you do. ;)
Swatkat
Muahahahahaha!
Date: 2004-05-12 10:57 pm (UTC)How's tomorrow suit you? Never can pass up an opportunity to torture others.
Hehehe
Date: 2004-05-13 06:07 am (UTC)And do you really think the HRs will be tortured by it? They'll sigh, and weep, and ask for sequels most likely.
Swatkat
Far be it for me to
Date: 2004-05-13 04:50 pm (UTC)As you are quite correct Ms JayBee...
Date: 2004-05-13 10:29 pm (UTC)I'm not even sure I understand
Date: 2004-05-12 03:51 am (UTC)The kittens sound lovely. *Sigh*
Now, time for me to rush off and read those fics! (If I wind up becoming addicted to reading this stuff, btw, I will blame you forever! LOL.)
Neither do I, really.
Date: 2004-05-12 05:00 am (UTC)While I admit to having no idea what motivated Nikita's decision (I often don't "get" her motivation), it didn't strike me as martyrdom.
Well, she didn't really have a choice at that point. What else could she do but say 'yes'? Say 'no' and watch Michael and Adam being carried off by the Collective? Daddy knew what her answer would be, and he used that knowledge quite well. I don't think she thought she was being a 'martyr', and neither do I believe that she actually thought of herself as the 'saviour' of Section. And she couldn't very well walk away from Section *after* accepting the key, although that seems to be the popular opinion. She became Operations, and no one knew? She could throw the key away and walk out, just like that? Maybe she could've found a way to leave, but she made a promise and she chose to keep it, although she knew it very well that she owed nothing to Jones. She was also probably more than slightly intrigued by the challenge.
The kittens sound lovely. *Sigh*
Yes, I wish I could keep one with me. *sigh*
If I wind up becoming addicted to reading this stuff, btw, I will blame you forever! LOL
Please, blame me as much as you want to. *vbeg* Tell me why you liked them, will you?
Swatkat
Swatkat
Re: Neither do I, really.
Date: 2004-05-12 05:38 pm (UTC)Well, she didn't really have a choice at that point. What else could she do but say 'yes'? Say 'no' and watch Michael and Adam being carried off by the Collective? Daddy knew what her answer would be, and he used that knowledge quite well. I don't think she thought she was being a 'martyr', and neither do I believe that she actually thought of herself as the 'saviour' of Section.
I think I used the wrong wording. I guess I *do* understand the "motivation," strictly speaking, but what I don't pretend to understand is how she thought/felt about any of it. I have absolutely no idea whether she thought of herself as a martyr or savior, or really how she thought of herself at all at that point in the series. At that point, she really is rather a mystery to me. I think I understood her in the beginning, in Season 1 and maybe 2, but as the series progressed she traveled farther and farther away from me somehow.
Maybe I should ask the DONs in the house: what do you think Nikita's self-image was at the end of S5? It might be enlightening to hear your answers.
**If I wind up becoming addicted to reading this stuff, btw, I will blame you forever! LOL**
Please, blame me as much as you want to. *vbeg* Tell me why you liked them, will you?
I liked the two stories you rec'd because (1) they seemed rather well-written; (2) they were not primarily about romantic/sexual relationships; (3) they were about characters I found interesting; and (4) the stories were *about* something: in the first instance, about persecution and the choice between capitulation and (perhaps futile) resistance; in the second instance, about the quest for knowledge/power and its transformative effects. If you can find more stories that meet these four criteria, I will scarf them up like candy. And if you find ones that are Bellatrix-centered, well, you will have my undying gratitude.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-13 01:05 pm (UTC)Oh, that was so very well said. *g*
about the quest for knowledge/power and its transformative effects
Yes, I've always thought the quest for knowledge/power to be driving factor for Tom Riddle, and this fic used that very well. Not mention the writing, which is gorgeous.
If you can find more stories that meet these four criteria, I will scarf them up like candy.
I'm on the look out, as always. *g* As usual, there are numerous fics where the grey characters are reduced to black and white, where the authors try to solve the moral problems (and end up messing everything) - which makes the search slightly difficult.
Maybe I should ask the DONs in the house: what do you think Nikita's self-image was at the end of S5? It might be enlightening to hear your answers.
Oh, good question! I'll BRB with that one. *g*
Swatkat
Hey!
Date: 2004-05-13 11:21 pm (UTC)You wanna go ask it at the FFMB? *g*