Unnamed Meme on Story Titles
Jul. 10th, 2008 01:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deelaundryNew 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):![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
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.
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.
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Date: 2008-07-10 05:57 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-10 06:11 pm (UTC)