Reading Room Theme - V?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Tomorrow's Reading Room rec will be the last one in our Older Lads theme, so it's time to decide whether we want to carry on with the Reading Room, and if so what themes we'd like next!

There was one more theme suggested amongst the original discussions way back in January, and that was Time Travel, which could be ve-ery interesting indeed. I'm not sure if it was originally meant as literally time travel, where our 1970/80s lads were moved to another time (eg, Pam Rose's Time Out, Past Tense) but I'm not sure how many of those there are, so I think we could include any fic that takes our lads to a different time - ie, AU historical fic too.

I came up with another idea too - partly because I'm desperate for a break and haven't had one for ages - Holiday fic. The lads away from London, purposefully on holiday, because there's some gorgeous stories around that theme (plus it's a bullet-proof kink of mine... *g*)

I'm sure there are other themes we could do too, so I thought I'd see what ideas people had - unless you'd rather have a break from the Reading Room? And so - a poll! *g* What theme would you like to see next, and what other themes would you like to see in the future? (Suggestions are welcome in the comments as well as the poll, but it'll make it easier for me to find them if you don't mind putting them in the poll too!)
[Poll #1761343]
And of course any other thoughts/comments welcome as well... *g*

Comments

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Holidays are a theme that I love, too. But I'm not sure you should take any notice of me because I might well be away and offline. If I'm around I'll read/comment but there are no guarantees!!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

That's okay, you jet-setter you, you get a say too! *g*

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure a white van and Brittanny Ferries count as jet setting, exactly, but thanks for the vote of confidence!!

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

Gah, LJ has eaten my comment. Here it is again. With added rambles.

I like both themes. I will read (and comment on!) either.

New themes.. well, what else have we had? I arrived just in time to miss undercover-as-gay (waah), so there were another two before that.

It's a pity there aren't enough to do "told through letters" stories. I like those. Hmm. Third-party views? Stories which are in pairs, each telling one side? Stories where It All Comes Out? (ie, one or both of them are outed. Not just "one friend/boss finds out, keeps quiet", really outed. There must be some). Stories taking place entirely in one room? (I throw this one with no idea whether there are enough)

Most of the above (except outing) are probably more about technique than theme, I suppose.

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

Here's another: Elements.

I initially thought "four weeks in a month, four elements, an element a week". Rain, swimming, canals; scary explosions or lying on a rug by the fire; down a mine, the Underground; and.. erm.. aeroplanes, flying, parachuting?"

But thinking about it, I think for a couple of them there may be enough for a month.

The rain reminds me: weather. Snowed in is always a good one, but are there any baking hot days? Lost in fog on exercises?

Night-time sleeping bag conversations?

These may not be at all what you want, but the only way to stop me will be to suggest other things.

[rosie55.livejournal.com]

I like both, too though I opted in the end for time travel.

My sluggish brain can't come up with any other ideas at present but I will ponder over my lunchtime sandwich!

Thank you for your gentle chivvying, keeping us all interested! And don't forget your upcoming weekend in the West country....

[starlite876.livejournal.com]

I like both themes: the holidays fics because it's winter here. So reading stories where the lads are away from London and are at some place warm and sunny would just be lovely. I like the Time Travel theme if it covers AUs (historical / Regency romance) stories.

I like the idea of the supernatural and the "told through letters" stories as suggested already (and I totally agree with moonlightmead that there are not enough of "letters" stories available online).

In terms of other themes, what about "fusion" stories? As defined from the ProsLib CD, these are "stories that aren't crossovers but were inspired by other media". An example being your story "Two on a Treasure Island" being inspired by "Five on a Treasure Island."

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

Are we okay to discuss ProsLib and zine stories? I have the CD (though few zines), and if we included the CD, there are probably just enough to do epis-- epi- letter fictions. But only just. Perhaps we should wait a year and hope for more!

[nypagan.livejournal.com]

Have AU and crossovers been done? How about lads with kids?

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

MPREG?
*ducks and runs* :-)

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Holiday is fine, but I'm also thrilled and excited by the ideas in comments above.

[merentha13.livejournal.com]

We're just finishing up 'older lads, so how about 'younger lads' - stories that reveal a bit of the lads past and the angst that follows. (I just re-read "Painted Angels", that's where the idea came from.)