and that's better than a plan?

[hth]

So here's the dish on Alpha Centauri, for those of you (and I can't believe how many of you there are! yay for my OT3, earning all the lurve from fandom!!) who are following the series closely and really want to know what the hell I'm doing: I've settled on what I'm doing.

There will be two more official chapters to AlphaCen; this seems reasonable to me, because my original concept was three stories with the three pairings and then one with all three of them -- which I did -- and then See What Happens. However, I don't want to be dragging it out for the rest of my natural life into, into Part 144 while people have long past reached the point of, "oh, just work it out already, for Christ's sake!" But what felt like the right thing to do after Prime was to really deal with Ronon's place on/relationship with Atlantis outside of the other two guys, so that was a whole huge story unto itself, and then a lot of people were very wtf? about Sheppard and what was going on with him, so I knew I needed a story that would burrow into this whole backstory I had for Sheppard, and then "Epiphany" happened and was pretty much exactly the entry-point I needed, so that became a whole huge story unto itself, also. Therefore, as I mull things over now, the logical approach is to do a seventh story that's long and character-driven for Rodney (although it'll be a bit peculiar, since it's late in the day to throw in a Rodney POV, but what the hell), and an eighth story that can put some resolution to what the hell they think it is they're all doing together.

Now, I have to admit, I *love this series with a fiery, all-consuming passion,* so the chances that I will take any opportunity to stick in missing scenes and later little appendices and whatnot -- the chances of that are *very good indeed.* If nothing else, I still LONG to do the big OT3 Goes to Earth bonanza that I've been cherishing ideas for almost since I started the series -- no plot, no angst, just tons of food and sex and OMG, Rodney's KITTY! The chance to write that is a big, big incentive for me to end AlphaCen happily (although I have to admit, I still haven't totally settled on that in my head yet; it was always meant to be a difficult relationship, but I hope not a totally impossible one).

Comments

[dustandroses.livejournal.com]

I can totally see your point about needing to resolve it at some point, whether it's a "semi-happily ever after" ending or not. But I'm glad to hear you may delve back into it from time to time once you have it where you want it, because I've really enjoyed reading this series, and have rec'd it (http://www.livejournal.com/community/dustyrydersrecs/8908.html) to people every chance I get.

So good luck resolving it, however you decide, and I'll just be waiting over here in the corner for the next part, okay? *g*

Hmmm...looks like I need an OT3 icon, doesn't it? I'll have to work on that.

[hth-the-first.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the rec(s)! Sometimes I can't wait to end something I've started, and sometimes I think I want to keep at it much longer than I should -- this series falls into the latter camp! I'm hoping that I can strike a happy medium, though *g*

[thisisbone.livejournal.com]

The chance to write that is a big, big incentive for me to end AlphaCen happily (although I have to admit, I still haven't totally settled on that in my head yet; it was always meant to be a difficult relationship, but I hope not a totally impossible one).

I'm so glad to hear you say that. Anything worth having is worth working for, as I think John himself has figured out in your stories. :)

[thisisbone.livejournal.com]

PS -- I'm sure I'm not alone in saying I'd love to see what was happening with Rodney & Ronon when John set them up at the end of Commitment.

The rollcall was a *brilliant* idea, and a beautiful one.

[hth-the-first.livejournal.com]

I'm SO glad you liked the rollcall! I dithered with it for a long time, because I loved the idea, but I was afraid it was ooc for Rodney, who's such a pragmatist, I thought he might not be willing to waste the time that could go toward a Profound Universal Breakthrough instead. But the story had this recurring idea of meditation, and what they all do or don't do or try to do to find peace, and I decided to go ahead and do it anyway because I loved the idea that Rodney's found a way to meditate that *looks* to the untrained eye like Very Important Work. And then when I was totally stuck for a visually interesting way to end the story, I had that idea of John doing it in his place, and I was so glad I kept it in there, because that worked on so many levels. But I still worried people would think it was ooc -- so I'm glad you didn't! *g*

[poisontaster]

As someone who also writes, I understand the...duty? to bring a story down to a given resolution before it becomes a bloated and sprawling monster (which, WOW, this is NOT)...but... *wibbles* I just feel in need of reassurance that this isn't the end of the OT3 love, because there's NOT a lot of really good Ronon out there, nor much else in this particular threesome which I adore.

[hth-the-first.livejournal.com]

Trust me, I don't plan to stop writing Ronon anytime soon *g* In fact, one of the benefits (to me, at least! hopefully to y'all, too) of capping AlphaCen at some point is that it frees me up to go different directions with Ronon's character in other projects. And I know I'll want to go back and play b/c YES, with the OT3 love -- I adore them, too, and I don't know if I could write them as a threesome but different after this, it's so set in my head now, so I have to keep the door cracked at least a little bit *g*

[2am-optimism.livejournal.com]

Can I just say that the possibility of this:

I still LONG to do the big OT3 Goes to Earth bonanza that I've been cherishing ideas for almost since I started the series -- no plot, no angst, just tons of food and sex and OMG, Rodney's KITTY!

makes me happy beyond all reason :)

[mecurtin.livejournal.com]

one image: Rodney's kitty playing with Ronon's dreads. I look forward to my future Death By Cute.

[hth-the-first.livejournal.com]

They keep him 48 extra hours at Cheyenne Mountain, under guard and under quarantine, and every instinct he has says run, but Sheppard says, "Hang in there," and Rodney says, "I can't take you home until you've had all your shots," so he obeys.

They give him dogtags like Sheppard's, and a military ID card. "Cool," Sheppard says when he comes to pick Ronon up, looking exactly like he does back home, slouchy black off-duty clothes and funny too-big sunglasses. "Now you can buy beer." Ronon plays with the tags in the airport, and on the plane. They're like Sheppard's. They say he's Ronon, D. and Airman 1st Class (Sheppard says it's like a Specialist) and Buddhist. He asks what that means, and Sheppard says, "Close enough for government work."

He's too tired to do anything but fall into bed when he gets to where they're going. It's unfamiliar and he should be afraid of it, but every inch smells like Sheppard and Rodney and pizza, and that's enough.

He wakes up yelling, because something is ripping his hair out. He sits up in bed and his hand goes right away for his gun, because there's something moving fast, shooting almost across the walls of the room, something small and dark that attacked him. His gun isn't there; he remembers they made him take it off, and it's strange that he -- not that he let them, because Sheppard said it was safe, but that he felt relaxed enough to sleep without it. He doesn't know what this planet is doing to him, or how it's happening so fast.

The thing that he can't shoot comes to rest in Rodney's arms, still half-climbing his shoulder, long tail twitching in clear agitation. "What's the matter?" Rodney asks it -- low, sweet tones that Ronon has never heard from him, not ever. "Did the mean giant scare you?"

"He scared me," Ronon reminds him.

Rodney waves his hand dismissively. "Well, your whole head is covered with cat toys; he can't help it."

Ronon touches his hair instinctively, still eyeing the animal. It cranes its head around and eyes him back, evil yellow slitted eyes. "Does it have to be in the bedroom?"

"Of course he does! He's missed me!" Rodney rubs the top of its head, and it tips its head way back to expose its throat. Rodney strokes its throat with two fingers, and it growls at him. No -- it -- purrs at him, like a jautin. Weird. "Stop glaring," Rodney orders him. "He's perfectly friendly, and you'll learn to love him."

Rodney and fuzzy things. Ronon shakes his head and rubs sleep out of his eyes. "What if I get John to grow the beard back?" he suggests.

"John's not growing the beard back," John calls from the next room over.

"Don't worry about him," Rodney says to the animal, who rubs the top of its head under Rodney's chin, still managing to keep one demonic eye on Ronon. "I won't let him eat out of your bowl."

[mecurtin.livejournal.com]

Dead! From! Cute!!!1!

your whole head is covered with cat toys

"Don't worry about him," Rodney says to the animal, who rubs the top of its head under Rodney's chin, still managing to keep one demonic eye on Ronon. "I won't let him eat out of your bowl."

omgded from cuteylaughs.

If I could manip, I'd be making you an icon right now, but I can't so I am *sad*. But oooooooooo, this is the final, definitive word on CUTE.

Dead now from the adorable!

[namastenancy.livejournal.com]

Rodney and kittens and Ronon's hair. Hilarious and very sweet.

awww . . .

[logovo1.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, this is way cute :)

[tikiberry.livejournal.com]

I am totally all *over* that plan. Especially the little missing scene ficlets, McKay fic, the resolution fic and the happy ending fic... Ok, I love them all equally. But maybe I am partial to McKay and the happy ending fic. *g*

I am a big romantic at heart (like Rodney!) and I'm leaning towards 'they can all work it out!' camp.

[opprobrium.livejournal.com]

Oh man, this makes me so incredibly happy. I love this series too. Like, A LOT. I am very, VERY excited that you are going to continue, it just keeps getting better and better. Plus a Rodney POV would be so beyond super. Man.

[cranberryink.livejournal.com]

My vote is for happy ending! I feel like you can end it both happily and honestly, you know? You don't have to sacrifice one for the other, especially with the set up you have going here. I'm definitely looking forward to more!

[namastenancy.livejournal.com]

I vote for the happy ending as well. However, this is such a good series and you are such a good writer that *I* wouldn't mind if it spun out to 144 chapters. I'm a total sucker for angst, problem relationships and sex.

The kitty totally works for me as well.

[soho-iced.livejournal.com]

Hooray! Seriously, I can't wait.

[tingler.livejournal.com]

"John's not growing the beard back," John calls from the next room over.

Bwah!


And this!

It cranes its head around and eyes him back, evil yellow slitted eyes.

Of course it would look evil to Ronon.

And this!!

"What's the matter?" Rodney asks it -- low, sweet tones that Ronon has never heard from him, not ever. "Did the mean giant scare you?"

"He scared me," Ronon reminds him.

Rodney and his puddy tat. Awwww.

Oh, oh and *this*!!!

They give him dogtags like Sheppard's, and a military ID card. "Cool," Sheppard says when he comes to pick Ronon up, looking exactly like he does back home, slouchy black off-duty clothes and funny too-big sunglasses. "Now you can buy beer." Ronon plays with the tags in the airport, and on the plane. They're like Sheppard's. They say he's Ronon, D. and Airman 1st Class (Sheppard says it's like a Specialist) and Buddhist. He asks what that means, and Sheppard says, "Close enough for government work."</I. I *loved* that!!!! Okay, stopping now before I just quote the whole thing back at you. (But I liked it. I really, really liked it!!)