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Stacy in Bloom | 5: Say You Will
Title: Stacy in Bloom
Fandom: Kids Incorporated
Universe: Canon (Season 5 – 1988)
Genre: Friendship/Romance
Rating: T
Summary: With her sister and best friend halfway across the world, who else is there for Stacy to turn to…but Ryan? When the consequences of their actions become clear, the two must decide if pursuing each other is worth breaking up the band.
Mega-meta resource thread: http://luxken27.livejournal.com/137711.html
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5873801/5/
I've been really surprised to see a relatively large outpouring of love for this fic, and it really couldn't have come at a better point for the story - as the plot is about to take its first major twist :D
Lots of references this time, so I'll just jump right in...
[+] The title song - is what *I* consider the epitome of this ship, instead of the opening song of the episode this story is based on. Its particularly fitting, not only to title this particular chapter, but also in the general mood of the story. Enjoy ~
[+] Sadie Hawkin's dance/disaster - this is a reference to the season four episode "You've Got the Wrong Date," with an awesome interlude between the leads of this story. One day, if I find the time/get desperate enough to write a ship manifesto for this pairing, I will be pointing out the episodes I feel are pivotal in the development of their friendship - and this is definitely one of them. Season Four is a close second as my favorite season Of All Time, as is probably evident by how much I've been referencing it already :P
[+] Ryan's Julliard dream - It was interesting to look up just what exactly the process is for getting into the country's most exclusive conservatory. Its one thing to handwave your character wanting to go there (on a music scholarship, no less!), but its quite another to actually figure out the plan of how to get them there. Unfortunately, I couldn't look up period-specific requirements for majors, so I'm just *hoping* the composition major has been around since then, and that the requirements haven't changed appreciably in the ensuing 25 years. I love this fic, but not quite enough to write to Julliard and ask them about their standards for entrance 25 years ago, LOL. For more info on the Julliard process (which I'll be exploring a bit in this fic), you can click over to the official website.
[+] The Ryan/Gloria ship - *sigh* Well. If I'm going to be watching these episodes with my shipper goggles firmly in place, it just wouldn't quite do to merely cherry pick what I want to acknowledge, would it? (LOL, why do I get the feeling I do this shipping business all wrong? :P) The vibes of the Ryan/Gloria ship are pretty strong, especially in the '86 season, when they were the oldest kids on the show. I reference one scene in particular, from the 1985 (second season) episode "Ryan Ryan, PI" (which I linked in my last author's note for this story):
Which is, of course, the love scene from his ninth grade English assignment.
Another place where the vibes are pretty strong is during this number, for an episode that is unfortunately not up on YouTube...
I suppose if people can fight over whether Stacy belongs with Ryan or the Kid, then there can be some friction over who Ryan's One True Love is, too :P
...
Suddenly, I'm glad there's not much of a fandom, beyond me o.O
no subject
Suddenly, I'm glad there's not much of a fandom, beyond me o.O
Whatever. Don't you know? No fandom experience is complete without ship wars! (Or so they'd have us believe... =P)
Still, I think it's awesome that you did acknowledge and account for The Other Ship, so far as Ryan and Gloria goes. Way to bend canon to your liking... and use it to build suspense.
no subject
Always welcome, I can assure you! =) Let me just review reply here, it'll be easier...
Oh snap! Did that just happen?
*snerk* See? I can get on with things if I really want to, LOL. Of course, the beginning of a relationship doesn't have to be the end game of a story - but its hard to have excitement this big early on and not have the rest of the piece fizzle out. Hence the introduction of even more plot complications (because apparently my muse will not be satisfied until it finds a way to work in *all* of season five instead of just parts of it, LOL). But we haveta start with the fun stuff, to give everyone something to root for, no? <3
loved the progression from Stacey thinking on her assignment and just being relieved about being able to recognize her own feelings all the way to fun, shippy fanservice~! ;)
Hehe, thanks :) I kinda wanted this chapter to read like an emotional rollercoaster, because, from what I can recall of that particular period from my own life, that's exactly how it was. As I told someone else, I'm glad I'm not a teenager anymore, LOL!!
And that fanservice was a freaking long time in coming, too. OMG. Every single performance from 1988 fed this ship, to no clear resolution. Such teases, those writers!!
I'm excited for them...and apprehensive about what this development means for the band!
Hehe, well, it will be complicated - but what isn't, with me? :P I think this is one reason the writers never explored this particular angle on the show - not because their audience wasn't old enough to know about crushes or kissing or the like, but because *any* of the characters have any sort of relationship, even outside of the band, would've changed the dynamics of the group...and, well, for a kid's show, that's the sort of messing-with-the-formula you totally run away from, not embrace!
But, that's what fanfic is for =) I've read arguments that romance fic doesn't have a place in this fandom because its a kids show and because it never dealt with anything beyond the random, one-off crush (I think all the major characters eventually got their turn with this storyline...), but I think that's missing the point. As fans, we fill in those gaps, however we see fit.
And, you know, yay Julliard!
I'm so excited about this I could burst. Seriously. (And, LOL, how pathetic is that? :P)
Also, I'm ridiculously excited for you that actual Kids Inc fans are coming out of the woodwork to read this fic. :D
Aww, thanks! I am, too ~ I never knew there were others out there who remembered, or cared, or still felt those shippy fires burning. There's nothing quite like finding people to share your nostalgia with, you know what I mean? :)
Still, I think it's awesome that you did acknowledge and account for The Other Ship, so far as Ryan and Gloria goes. Way to bend canon to your liking... and use it to build suspense.
This is part of where having no fandom is a disadvantage. I have no idea if the Ryan/Gloria ship ever sailed or not, but like I said - you pretty much *can't* watch season three without wondering, "...what if?" The shippiness isn't quite as blatant as Season 5, but its there.
Its funny, how I've been thinking about this as I watch episodes and performances and plan out the rest of this fic ~ I can already see myself shipping a ton of different pairings, which is slightly creepy considering these kids are, quite literally, kids o.O Oh, well - chemistry never lies! (And, really, a lot of the fun of playing in this sandbox is that it is so entirely innocent. Its not about sex and complex emotional betrayal and mind fuckery - its about first kisses, and puppy love, and holding hands. And damn if its not refreshing!)
no subject
Oh, not gonna lie, I love it when the romance isn't the end game, because then it's not "will they, won't they?" but "will they make it?" and that's always tasty... and in fanfic especially, a little harder to find. Given what I know of your plotting ability, I don't expect to be disappointed!
I kinda wanted this chapter to read like an emotional rollercoaster, because, from what I can recall of that particular period from my own life, that's exactly how it was.
Oh, I definitely felt that while reading this! At first I was a little taken back at how up and down it was, and thought it was because I was half-distracted while reading (there was a movie going on in the background), but then I reread parts and realized... Nope, Stace is just doing emotional loop-de-loops. Teenage romance. Gotta love it. Or maybe not.
Such teases, those writers!!
How dare they inspire this fanfic! =P
I've read arguments that romance fic doesn't have a place in this fandom because its a kids show and because it never dealt with anything beyond the random, one-off crush (I think all the major characters eventually got their turn with this storyline...), but I think that's missing the point.
...Bwuh? I'd say that's definitely missing the entire point of fandom and fanfic, right there. Fanfic is for precisely that point - to explore the what ifs that canon creates, but doesn't necessarily pursue. If romance fic didn't belong because the canon didn't touch on romance... well, fandom in general would be a lot more boring, IMO.
I'm so excited about this I could burst. Seriously. (And, LOL, how pathetic is that? :P)
TOTALLY NOT PATHETIC AT ALL. (Rather, I am envious. All of my own fic!excitement is lying dead in a ditch somewhere. It needs to come back, dangit!) And also, I want to read this. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOON. *prods you for more*
I never knew there were others out there who remembered, or cared, or still felt those shippy fires burning.
If there is anything about shippy fires I've learned, it's that they do not burn out easily. At all. The fact that people would go looking for more fuel for the fire, years after the fact? Makes me love the internet, so much more.
And, really, a lot of the fun of playing in this sandbox is that it is so entirely innocent.
Haha. Oh, cute T-rated fic, so underrated~~~! ;) All joking aside, both 'kinds' of romance have their draw. I think it can get boring to always write the same genre, all the time, so yay for mixing it up!
no subject
Yeah, I know what you mean - there's fun to be had when watching two characters get together, but there's also something to be said about what happens after that magical first kiss. The second isn't as appealing, I guess, and its certainly a lot more challenging to write, but its what interests me, at least for this story, in this fandom.
And thanks for the vote of confidence in my plotting abilities :D LOL, would it really be a multichapter story by me if it didn't have ten million little side plots? :P
Nope, Stace is just doing emotional loop-de-loops. Teenage romance. Gotta love it. Or maybe not.
Remember what it was like to be 14? Some people remember those days fondly.
I am not one of those people - the transition from junior high to high school was pretty hellish.
How dare they inspire this fanfic! =P
And the dozens that came before me, no doubt :)
...Bwuh? I'd say that's definitely missing the entire point of fandom and fanfic, right there. Fanfic is for precisely that point - to explore the what ifs that canon creates, but doesn't necessarily pursue. If romance fic didn't belong because the canon didn't touch on romance... well, fandom in general would be a lot more boring, IMO.
Well, that fact that fandom tends to be overwhelmingly female accounts for all the romance stories, I think. Even shows chock full of romance and UST have tons of romantic fanfic lapping at the fandom shores (see: any soap opera ever made). I think these people are just taken aback by the fact that others are injecting something into the show that isn't necessarily there, even if it is blatant in the subtext. This show was aimed at the under-12 crowd, but there were plenty of us watching it over that age, who'd grown up with these characters and saw what was there. Looking back on it now, its easier to see how they made the older kids seem younger (I mean, I think all of the kids were supposed to be close in age/attend the same school) instead of vice versa.
But whatever. Fandom is for the fans just as much as anything else - and if I, in all my fannish glory, decide to rewrite the "last" season
though it goes on for four more, those don't count in my head canonto my satisfaction, then I can.I just really, really hope I don't attract the attention of the crazycakes anti-shipper, because I don't want anybody harshing my squee over here. (My IY muse has enough of that.)
And also, I want to read this. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOON. *prods you for more*
Weekly updates aren't enough for you? :P LOL. Besides, its all about the pacing - and the fact that I've decided the other kids need a chance in the spotlight *facepalm* so this might end up being a longer story than I first thought...
If there is anything about shippy fires I've learned, it's that they do not burn out easily. At all. The fact that people would go looking for more fuel for the fire, years after the fact? Makes me love the internet, so much more.
QUOTED FOR TRUTH.
Haha. Oh, cute T-rated fic, so underrated~~~! ;) All joking aside, both 'kinds' of romance have their draw. I think it can get boring to always write the same genre, all the time, so yay for mixing it up!
*nods* There's something about going back and just playing to a straight-up safe rating that's refreshing =) Maybe I'll get to the point where I feel comfortable thinking about these characters in a sexualized way (it took me a few years with IY), but I'm not rushing to get there, by any means.
Its nice to be able to move between the two, and to find folks who appreciate that, considering how much of fandom is made up of pr0n. Some of us don't *want* to corrupt our childhood nostalgia, thankyouverymuch!!