Joining the Little Black Dress Meme

[therealsnape]

Which is as good a means of procrastination as anything.

I must admit that my own contribution in the daring pairing stakes is pitifully small. I've written a couple of Snape/Minerva friendship stories, and - surely that must count for something - a Snape/Slughorn.

Funny thing is, I had meant that as a story in which Slughorn sees Snape as the son he never had. And I thought I had made that perfectly clear; I even worried I had insulted my readers by making it too clear. But there's the wonderful bit about freedom of interpretation: I've had reviews turning that story into all sorts of things, from deep friendship to slash. And no-one mentioned Father/Son bonding. Which means that I'm now officially allowed to offer this up as a Black Dress and Velvet Jacket pairing.

I must say that I tend to agree with r_gravejoy in that LBD's do have their limits, and Luna (Gravejoy calls her a pair of glittery, bright purple combat boots,) doesn't accessorize well. Nor does, to my mind, Trelawney. But then I don't want to write Trelawney, period.
And I do love to write Snape/Minerva being good friends and being sarcastic together. One of these days I'll bed them, and that's a promise.

In the meantime, I'd like to point you towards two of my absolute favourites. The first one is the perfect metaphor for my attitude towards Little Black Dresses in Real Life: I love them, I think they're marvellously stylish, I'd love to fill my closet with them, but I can't. Black doesn't suit me. I look like I'm attending my own funeral when I wear black close to the skin. Hence my obsession with black pumps - I can wear those.

Well, here's the story, and I couldn't write anything like it if my life depended on it, but I love reading it: Minerva is a slash-fangirl. And she has her birthday, so she should have a special treat, her friends and well-wishers think. Or do they? The ending is tantalizing. The bit in between is outspoken and surprising. And it's Albus/Severus. And at some point Minerva/Severus. And (from top to bottom) Albus/Severus/Minerva. Enjoy Dinner and a Show, by the fabulous purplefluffycat.

The other one isn't so much Severus in a LBD, but Severus in the black turtleneck and black trousers once so beloved by Left Bank Existentialist groupies. It's a marvellously clever take on Sartre's Huis Clos (No Exit), with undertones of Waiting for Godot. Severus, Remus, and a carpet with an attitude. It's brilliant.
Do treat yourself to A Way Out by shiv5468

Comments

[kellychambliss.livejournal.com]

One of these days I'll bed them, and that's a promise.

Oh, and don't think we won't hold you to it!

Great recs, both of them. Fluffycat's fic even gave me a chance to use my Albus/Severus/Minerva "OT3" icon when she posted this to IJ. (I don't use my limited LJ space for this icon, because A/S/M aren't really my OT3, except in delightful stories like this one. /g/)

And the idea of Snape in Left Bank black garb...if I had the slightest bit of art talent, I would so be drawing this.

Black Dress and Velvet Jacket pairing

Perfect! (I have to confess, I saw a bit of un-fatherly feeling hidden in Horace's reflections, too.)

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

I have to confess, I saw a bit of un-fatherly feeling hidden in Horace's reflections, too. That's what I loved about that story: the way people saw so many different things in it, but still liked it.

Couldn't you commission the Snape in Left Bank black garb to that talented young artist you know? I'd love to see it, too.

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

Oh I think Luna works. Severus is essentially bewildered by the world so Luna's oddness wouldn't feel that odd compared to say bellatrIx or voldemort's insanity. And she's quite sharp beneath that purple glitter. She's just very difficult to write for me.

I'm glad you like that story but I find snupin very hard to write. Snapey holds grudges. I just can't see him as being mature enough to ever move past them. It takes really very good writing to convince me.

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

When well-written, Luna can work - but so could practically any pairing. And I can see Luna getting through some of Snape defences.
I just don't think Snape is the kind of man who likes to hear about seven impossible creatures during breakfast - I might, however, like to read a fic where his reaction in just such a situation is depicted.

And I agree about Lupin. That's why I love your story so much: I don't think Snape would get quite over his grudges, and you keep him believably grumpy.

[tetleythesecond]

Mmmmhhh, thanks for the recs! Will bookmark those for later because today I'll be reading springtime_gen -- but how great is it to have an HP take on Huis Clos...?

(Makes me think that Snape/Hooch/Rita would make for a nice Garcin/Ines/Estelle.)

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

(Makes me think that Snape/Hooch/Rita would make for a nice Garcin/Ines/Estelle.)

Oh, yes. Only I think I'd like to cast Irma Pince as Ines. For social position mostly: Hooch is, after all, a former star player and a Hogwarts teacher. Irma could do snarkiness about just being the librarian ... Library!Irma is a bit closer to Postal!Ines to me. But that may just be because I have Irma on my mind, right now.

[the-winterwitch.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recs! I wanted to read them yesterday in bed, but fell asleep over them - too worn out. We needed some bricks for our catproofing-the-fence-process, and could get them cheaper from my brother-in-laws company, but had to load and unload them ourselves on my father's trailer. We need 230 bricks, and now my arms are each 5cm longer *g*. So I'm going to read them tonight.

Black dress and velvet jacket! *g* Delightful description. Your SSHS-story is really lovely.

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

and now my arms are each 5cm longer *g*. So you won't need reading glasses for some time to come, then. Great, extra arm space.