Unnamed Meme on Story Titles

[deelaundry]

New meme I just made up because I'm curious:

Pick five (or two or ten) of your fics and explain what the titles mean and/or how you came up with them.

Look Before, PG-13, (spoilers through 4-12): I seem to have this thing for using just part of a well-known phrase as a title, wanting the readers to fill in the rest. In this case, the whole phrase is "Look before you leap," a reference to both the literal jumping House wants Foreman to do, and the figurative leap in the question House is obliquely trying to ask.

Keeper (Agnates in Elysium), Parts 1-10, R: Half of a phrase again; in this case, the end of "my brother's keeper." "Keeper" also signifies that Jack considers Church a "keeper"; someone he wants in his life for a long time. "Agnates" are people related on their father's side, which Jack and Church definitely are, and "Elysium" is "a place or condition of ideal happiness." I could've said "Brothers in Paradise" but what fun is that?

In for a Pound, NC-17, xSGA: This is the worst pun I have ever inflicted on a fic title (barely beating out "Having an Issue"). The title does have a serious meaning: as the second half of "In for a penny, in for a pound," it refers to House and co. making the leap from a foursome evening to a foursome weekend, and to Sheppard's eventual decision to deepen his relationship with McKay. But the double entendre on "pound" is such a groaner.

The Drop of Water, R, (warning for theme): This is a reference to the French proverb, "The drop of water that makes the glass overflow" which is equivalent to "The straw that broke the camel's back." "The Drop of Water" also reflects Wilson's tears in the opening scene.

One Lump or Two, PG-13: Pete Puma is a very minor character in the Bugs Bunny cartoons. Over tea Bugs asks him, "One lump or two?" and proceeds to hit him on the head with a mallet. Heh. Pete is the only famous puma I know of (other than the shoe brand).

The Pier at Caesars, PG: The Pier at Caesars is where the one and only wedding chapel in Atlantic City is located. At the time I wrote the fic, the chapel hadn't yet opened and didn't have a name.

Radiant Terrific Humble, R (spoilers for ep. 4-11): namasteyoga named the Wilson/Amber couple "Wilber." In the children's book Charlotte's Web, Charlotte writes four messages in her web about Wilber: "Radiant," "Terrific," "Humble," and "Some Pig." I dropped the "Some Pig" but kept the rest.

Six Burners, PG: This is a totally obscure reference that nobody got. This chapter of "Aftershocks" features Wilson shopping for real estate. In canon, House had been "shopping" for real estate with Bonnie in "House Training," ep. 3-20, and one of the most memorable lines for me was:

Bonnie: Because sex with James is fantastic. Nobody works harder to give a woman what she wants. It’s got six burners. The chef’s oven.

What a non-sequitur! Hee, hee, hee.

Roses in Clover, PG: The title comes from the lyrics of the song "Mr. Sandman." Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream. Make him the cutest that I've ever seen. Give him two lips like roses in clover, and tell him that his lonesome nights are over.

Snowglobe, PG-13: In the last episode of the TV show St. Elsewhere, it was revealed that the whole series was made up in the mind of an autistic boy looking at a snowglobe. You can see the parallel.

Comments

[smithy161.livejournal.com]

Oooh, that's interesting! May have to steal this meme.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Please do! I started it so people would steal it. : )

[nuclearfootball.livejournal.com]

LOL I'm so terrible with titles. Maybe this would help explain some of them.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I'm godawful with titles as well. I thought if some people on my f-list did this meme, maybe I'd get some ideas on how to come up with titles next time!

[nuclearfootball.livejournal.com]

Your titles seem incredibly well thought-out. I have a few good ones but usually I'm like "UH UH HERE ARE TWO WORDS THAT ARE VAGUELY CONNECTED TO SOMETHING IN THE STORY WHATEVER THEY'RE KISSING DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE TITLE."

This is an incredibly fun meme, though. I am working on it as we speak, though I decided to do *all* my stories since I don't really have that many and well THIS IS FUN. :D

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Ha ha! You see how there's only 10 up there. Most of mine are last minute "whatev"s.

[zulu.livejournal.com]

Eeeenteresting. Going to have to gank this one. You can start a trend!

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Yes! That's why I did it; for y'all to tell me about your titles.

[hibernia1.livejournal.com]

Oh, very interesting, I've been wondering about the "Agnates in Elysium"! Thanks!

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm hoping more people do the meme; titles are so interesting.

[hibernia1.livejournal.com]

Mine are totally unimaginative and boring, so I won't do the meme, but I'm hoping other people will.

[genagirl.livejournal.com]

Wow, you really put a lot of thought into those. I'm the kind of writer who just slaps on a title at the end, usually something that only makes sense to me. And I got Six Burners (one of my fave scenes)but I had no idea about Radiant Terrific Humble (In my mind it was like initials you know when he police say Charlie Tango Zebra or something - don't ask me why).

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Well, those are only a few of my fics; most of the time I'm a last-minute title gal, too. : )

[xaipw.livejournal.com]

This is the worst pun I have ever inflicted on a fic title

But neither House nor Sheppard would ever miss the chance to make a terrible pun, so it's appropriate.

And I just had to click on the link and read it all over again.
Still good the fourth or fifth time around. Still smoking hot. Here's what I think: House and Wilson need to move to the Pegasus Galaxy. House would love the cool new diseases. Wilson can fast track a Psych degree and take Heightmeyer's place.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Thanks. *blushing* Did you read pwcorgigirl's recent-ish crossover? She got House and Wilson to the Pegasus Galaxy in a very awesome way.

[hwshipper.livejournal.com]

Gosh I (almost) always have such trouble with titles, it's really nice to have an insight into some well-thought out ones!

And I don't think Six Burners is an obscure reference at all. Depends what you notice in eps :) And it's the pause after that before she says its the oven that really makes it! (I haven't read the fic though because I haven't read Aftershocks - I'm a NPS reader, & abandoned Bad Company for that reason)

My next fic is going to be called Beauty Spots. I look forward to seeing if anyone picks up on why...

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

The look on House's face when she says "It has six burners"! You can tell he's picturing Wilson's penis. Hee hee hee.

Oh! Somebody put up a picture of Wilson from the "House gets Wilson drunk ep" saying - "This is Wilson's face when he thinks about his penis." They should put that pic up next to the one of House from House Training. : )

What's NPS?

[hwshipper.livejournal.com]

Not Poeia safe (sorry)

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

"Iatroeco-oxyglossophilia", the first House fic I ever posted here, is a word I made up. Most names of phobias, manias or philias (meaning love or sexual desire) are based in Greek root words, so:
Iatro=doctor, medical
eco=house, home
oxy=acid, sharp
glosso=tongue
Therefore, Iatroeco-oxyglossophilia means "love of acid-tongued Dr. House". if any of you has read any other fics I wrote and would like the titles explained, please let me know. (And if you want to read "Infarction-tastic! the House musical, please do, the first two parts are in my LJ)

[perspi.livejournal.com]

This is an awesome meme, and now that I've got a few minutes, I am going to do it. :)