Ew.

There's one spectacularly unfortunate series out there that features Daniel actually de-aged to... nine, I think? The problem was that I read the whole damn thing, because the author kept almost pointing out exactly how fucked-up the whole situation was, and then veering off into "isn't it cute!" So I spent all this time thinking "she's building to it... she's building to it... crap, she's not! She thinks this is adorable! ...I feel dirty now."

Come to think of it, I *don't* think true darkfic, in which the characters have their spirits broken and remain that way, is that common in the fandom.

I tend to agree with this. I think of darkfic as fic that ends in a way where things aren't going to get better, and where the (surviving) characters are left bitter, hopeless, and/or psychologically damaged in some irreversable way.

For example, Kat Allison's "The End of the Road" (due South) was painful as hell, but it left me with the feeling that there was some sort of hope for both characters. Even though it was sad, the hug at the airport also left me with a good feeling of closure for both of the characters. Bittersweet is not the same as dark.

Then there came the foster homes, the wild theories and eventual professional disgrace, etc.

Don't forget the living relative who could have taken him out of the foster care system, but thought it would be too much trouble. And of course there's Teal'c, who not only has turned his back on pretty much everything he's known and most everyone he cared about but has to live with the hundred or so years he spent doing terrible things in the service of a sadistic, petty false god.

Although I've got my own issues with the way they portray the Jaffa. Just wanted to add my two cents.

Good points, Emily.

Although I've got my own issues with the way they portray the Jaffa.

I'd love to hear more. Would you like to meet over in "Boxed Set?"

Would you like to meet over in "Boxed Set?"

Oops. Sure! Um, um, on-topicness... No, I really got nothing. Except that I keep trying to psych myself up to write Black Adder, and it keeps not working.

The only constant any of my number running has found is that B/S, in terms of sheer quantity, kicks the ass of all other pairings to the curb.

Yeah, B/S sure seems to inspire some long-lasting loyalty in fans. I can't read it any more, not because I dislike the pairing or anything, but 1) because I've so had my fill of it, 2) that story is over and done with in the season finale of BtVS to my satisfaction. I haven't even read last few installments of Anna's Noir, which is as good as it gets in B/S. Also, I get incredibly irritated at people who keep on talking about how Spike has been mistreated in the show and how *their* Spike is the right Spike. Which is hypocritical of me, because I've said the exact same thing about Cordelia when I was reccing Julie Fortune's Angel fic.

There's one spectacularly unfortunate series out there that features Daniel actually de-aged to... nine, I think?

I hate hate HATE this plot device. The hell? I once tried to read that oft-recced Buffyfic in which a bunch of the Scoobs, Spike & Wes are turned into little kids, but the cutesy-ness of it all made me kind of queasy so I had to stop.

There's one spectacularly unfortunate series out there that features Daniel actually de-aged to... nine, I think?

There's a slash series out there where Daniel gets de-aged to infancy and then re-aged to whatever he is now, over the course of a few weeks.

And Jack's reaction when Daniel re-hits late adolescence and hits on him is, essentially, "Hell no! I spent three days last week putting diapers on you. Gah-euch! Back off and put some clothes on."

Heh. Calli, now I'm curious. You got a link?

I love hurt/comfort. There, I admit it. Gosh, that's freeing. I know, I know, there's a lot of damned good stuff out there that goes from h/c (which for the longest time I thought meant hardcore), but a lot of time h/c gets a bad rep. Maybe because it's such an easy springboard for taking characters into unexpected directions.

Darkfic--bad things happen and nothing is learned, no hope is present, etc. etc. I can take a lot of grief happening to characters if there's some bright spot, even if it's just one character lying at the end of the world with his/her life bleeding out but with them content that it was all worth it.

I once tried to read that oft-recced Buffyfic in which a bunch of the Scoobs, Spike & Wes are turned into little kids, but the cutesy-ness of it all made me kind of queasy so I had to stop.

I made it through, but barely. The writer spent too much time on "Kids! Chocolate! Cute!" for my tastes. I mean, yes, kids and chocolate are cute, now gimme some ANGST.

Jack's reaction when Daniel re-hits late adolescence and hits on him is, essentially, "Hell no! I spent three days last week putting diapers on you. Gah-euch! Back off and put some clothes on."

I know exactly nothing about Stargate, but now I want to read this.