Actually... [excerpt]
Dec. 10th, 2004 10:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tocryaboutAll right, I'm going to post an extremely small excerpt from the fic I just wrote, just because right now I like it and want to make some notes on it. It introduces the original character and sets up a bit of the plot -- it's your usual "new student comes to the mansion" story.
Title: Untitled, as yet
Author: Alex (to_cry_about)
Email: surlybird at gmail dot com
Fandom: X-Men, movieverse
Draft: First
Gilles Visineau had professional differences with Xavier, all right -- at the last conference they had both attended, a debate on methods of care-giving had devolved into a shouting match. Visineau believed that non-mutants could provide the same quality of care as non-mutants, and had called Xavier's Institute "elitist" and a barrier to understanding between mutants and ordinary humans, and Charles had responded with...
Well, better not to dwell on that incident. Visineau had as good as apologised, with this letter. Charles was intrigued by the details of the case study he had read; was the invisibility a telepathic effect, or a physical manipulation of photons? Naturally a young man with such a power, poorly controlled, would find socialisation difficult and sink into depression. Charles was confident that with better command of his powers, young Downie would eventually overcome his emotional problems.
But obviously he would have to meet with the boy first. Charles sent out a silent call to Jean Grey.
1. Setting: Much of this is set in Ottawa, my hometown, because (a) I will be introducing some politics and want to contrast Canadian and American attitudes on certain issues; (b) Joel's father is a Senator; (c) characterisation of Canadians in X-Men is always so wack. Also (d), because I love Ottawa. Beautiful, uptight, bilingual, PC to a fault, with wild and bitter winters. Joel's family live out in Manotick, of course, because they're rich.
2. Religion: I'm including this element because (a) faith, surrender, and the problem of pain are going to be important themes; (b) Ottawa is a very Catholic city and a Jesuit-run home for troubled mutant children is not unbelievable; (c) I think it's often under- or misrepresented in fan fiction.
3. Original Characters: Except for the most blatant Mary Sues, I love 'em. Joel is cannibalised from two characters in pieces I wrote that went down in flames. I'm not particularly happy with his last name, but I want it to be Irish (I think I was thinking of Gord Downie here, actually). Dr. Visineau is important to the story, although right now I'm not sure if he ever appears in a scene.
4. Mental Illness Issues: I'm drawing on my own experience, and fudging what I don't know, which is mainly the caregiver end of it. Presumably with mutant patients, and between colleagues who know each other, rules and conventions might be bent. I had a much easier time once I started writing from Joel's perspective.
5. Canon: Bores me, honestly. I guess we could suppose that this is set sometime before the events of X1, but then I'd have to not mention Wolverine, so perhaps we should say before X2, instead? Damn, now I'll have to think about this.
Title: Untitled, as yet
Author: Alex (to_cry_about)
Email: surlybird at gmail dot com
Fandom: X-Men, movieverse
Draft: First
Dear Dr. Xavier,
Despite our professional differences, you know that I have the utmost respect for you and your work. I am, therefore, writing to refer a patient of mine, a resident at St. Rita's. I have the utmost confidence that, with your expertise, you will be able to make considerable progress with him.
Joel Downie, 17, was referred to me by his family physician, and was seen at the clinic as an outpatient for 8 months before a suicide attempt necessitated inpatient care with the residential program. His powers are invisibility (poor control) and a better-controlled phasing power, similar to that of the anonymous student you described in your last article for the American Journal of Mutant Psychology. Those of my students with telepathic powers report that he is insensible to them while in his invisible state.
Downie suffers from severe depression, avoidant personality disorder, and generalised anxiety. He is resistant to therapy and medications have had limited effect. Since his arrival at St. Rita's, his suicidal ideations have worsened. Due to his powers, guaranteeing his physical safety here is impossible. Further details can be found in his file, which I am forwarding to you.
The patient's family have reluctantly agreed that sending him to Westchester may be the only option left at this point. It is my sincerest wish that you will be able to accept him there.
Sincerely,
Gilles Visineau, S.J., M.D., Ph. D.
St. Rita's Residence, Ottawa
Gilles Visineau had professional differences with Xavier, all right -- at the last conference they had both attended, a debate on methods of care-giving had devolved into a shouting match. Visineau believed that non-mutants could provide the same quality of care as non-mutants, and had called Xavier's Institute "elitist" and a barrier to understanding between mutants and ordinary humans, and Charles had responded with...
Well, better not to dwell on that incident. Visineau had as good as apologised, with this letter. Charles was intrigued by the details of the case study he had read; was the invisibility a telepathic effect, or a physical manipulation of photons? Naturally a young man with such a power, poorly controlled, would find socialisation difficult and sink into depression. Charles was confident that with better command of his powers, young Downie would eventually overcome his emotional problems.
But obviously he would have to meet with the boy first. Charles sent out a silent call to Jean Grey.
1. Setting: Much of this is set in Ottawa, my hometown, because (a) I will be introducing some politics and want to contrast Canadian and American attitudes on certain issues; (b) Joel's father is a Senator; (c) characterisation of Canadians in X-Men is always so wack. Also (d), because I love Ottawa. Beautiful, uptight, bilingual, PC to a fault, with wild and bitter winters. Joel's family live out in Manotick, of course, because they're rich.
2. Religion: I'm including this element because (a) faith, surrender, and the problem of pain are going to be important themes; (b) Ottawa is a very Catholic city and a Jesuit-run home for troubled mutant children is not unbelievable; (c) I think it's often under- or misrepresented in fan fiction.
3. Original Characters: Except for the most blatant Mary Sues, I love 'em. Joel is cannibalised from two characters in pieces I wrote that went down in flames. I'm not particularly happy with his last name, but I want it to be Irish (I think I was thinking of Gord Downie here, actually). Dr. Visineau is important to the story, although right now I'm not sure if he ever appears in a scene.
4. Mental Illness Issues: I'm drawing on my own experience, and fudging what I don't know, which is mainly the caregiver end of it. Presumably with mutant patients, and between colleagues who know each other, rules and conventions might be bent. I had a much easier time once I started writing from Joel's perspective.
5. Canon: Bores me, honestly. I guess we could suppose that this is set sometime before the events of X1, but then I'd have to not mention Wolverine, so perhaps we should say before X2, instead? Damn, now I'll have to think about this.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-12-11 07:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-11 11:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-11 11:19 am (UTC)(And of course Jean and Scott!)
no subject
Date: 2004-12-11 06:39 pm (UTC)Nitpick:
"Visineau believed that non-mutants could provide the same quality of care as non-mutants"
Hmmm. I'd have to agree with him there.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-11 11:25 pm (UTC)I expect Charles would argue that non-mutant care is good as far as it goes, but it would be difficult for an ordinary human to teach a mutant to control his or her powers, and lack of control would be a pretty significant factor in that mutant's mental health.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-11 11:32 pm (UTC)No, I was pointing out what I believed to be a typo:
It says "non-mutants" both times.
That is an intriguing issue, though, and Charles's opinion seems in-character. I'll be interested to read more about it.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-12 01:16 am (UTC)