From the Alaskan Frontier

First off, locoexclaimer—don’t read this. It's grimdark as fuck. I'll be cutting myself in the corner right after posting this, I promise. And then I'll try to write something happier.

( Oh God why do I do this to myself...? )

-.-.-.-

Title: Out of Sight, Far From Out of Mind
Author: TheCrazyAlaskan
Fandom / Setting: Quantum Leap (pre-series: New York, 1943)
Characters / Pairings: Al Calavicci, Theresa "Trudy" Calavicci
Rating: K+
Genre: Angst, family
Relevant Quote: [Y]our family's love is unreasoning; you were born into it and are of its flesh and blood…. – André Maurois
Warnings / Notes: Suicide inducer; c.f. "Jimmy" (02 x 08)
Prompt from locoexclaimer: Quantum Leap, no limit on length or rating. Prompt: "from the outside."
Summary: Even back then it stung leaving her behind.

The episode where Al mentions his sister is amazing. It made me cry twice. For your reference, Al's monologue (which is the background for this fic):

There was a girl named Trudy. She was retarded, Sam! Her IQ was lower than Jimmy's. And all the kids in the neighborhood, they used to tease her. Kids can be cruel. They'd call her names, like "dummy" and "monkey face." And I hated it. And I used to get in fights all the time over this. But that's what big brothers are for, right? My mother couldn’t handle it. That's probably why she ran off with this stupid encyclopedia salesman. But my dad tried to keep us all together. He was a construction worker. He went from job to job, and then when it took him to the Middle East, I wound up in an orphanage and she wound up in an institution. When I was old enough, I went back there for her, but it was too late—she was gone, Sam. Pneumonia, they said… How does a sixteen year old girl die from pneumonia in 1953, Sam?

That being said… My God, this is such a suicide inducer. I should not be writing this kind of fic, given my line of work. Why couldn't write my other, happier coda for this episode first?

Oh wait, because this was the prompt. Hey, it invited Al; the suicidal bunny just came up and started working. God I wanted to keep this dark shit outta my QL.

Okay, time to go scrounge up a happier fic. Sorry for the grimdark.

Al, Trudy, Quantum Leap © Donald Bellisario

( England is at war, you see, but... )

-.-.-.-

Title: Moments
Author: TheCrazyAlaskan
Fandom / Setting: Classic Knight Rider, pre-series (England, 1940s)
Characters / Pairings: Florence Miles (see notes), Devon
Rating: K+ (one spot of language)
Genre: General, family
Relevant Quote:

If people would just demand that war be an absolute last plan of action, to be used after, and only after, all peaceful attempts have failed, this world would see far less bloodshed and fewer birthdays missed and more New Years spent together with loved ones and more summer fishing trips. – Rachel L Adams

Warnings / Notes: Prompt from locoexclaimer: Heralded as one of the trickiest styles to master, first person present tense. No introspect or character study because that’s the bitch’s way out.
Summary: Five moments in time—four in war, and one in peace.

Stole the bunny from locoexclaimer, I admit it. Just… for some reason, Flossie called out to me.

Should I be concerned about how awesome I find the thought of Devon being undercover in occupied France as a knife thrower? Y’know, fuck it. I refuse to be ashamed of how awesome I find that because Devon is awesome as FUCK.

I think I met the criteria. Even if I didn’t this is still a good fill. I love writing Flossie and Devon fluff. <3

Devon Miles, Knight Rider © Glen A Larson
Florence Miles © TheCrazyAlaskan

( I am strong when I am on your shoulders... )

~*~*~*~

Title: The Silence of Friends
Author: TheCrazyAlaskan
Fandom / Setting: Classic Knight Rider
Characters / Pairings: Devon, KITT
Rating: T (angst)
Genre: Hurt / Comfort, Family
Musical Inspiration: “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban
Relevant Quotes:

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“Without silence, there would be no sound.” – Justin Bryan Snider
“If you do not understand my Silence, how will you understand my Words?” – Unknown

Summary: Sometimes, KITT just needed to be around someone. Even on days when Michael wasn’t there.

~*~*~*~

FINISHED IN TIME FOR FATHERS’ DAY. 8D

This one kinda jumped up and bit me. I don’t even remember how it got here… OH WAIT, I LIE—I had just watched the atrocity that is Knight Rider 2000 and was still having a mini-emo moment over them dropping a bridge on Devon. ><; I dunno why I took that kinda hard but I did. After that I freely admit to having cravings for some decent Devon-based work, preferably with some good father / son interactions with Michael and to some extent KITT. KITT moreso, because I decided to get it right and do it myself (I’ve since discovered that there simply isn’t any good Devon-fic out there someone please prove me wrong), and I write and roleplay a better KITT than I do Michael. Enter singing god Josh Groban and “You Raise Me Up” and I can’t even begin to tell you how fast this concept gelled in my brain.

I swear to God this started off as straight up Devon and KITT avuncular* fluff.
. . .
At which point I had to wonder why it was just KITT and Devon.
. . .
Then Michael wanders in and is all, “Sorry I’m late—I just got the snot beat out of me and I had to go get patched up.”
. . .
And so this fic was born.

This thing went through sooooo many changes. It went from featuring Devon, Bonnie and Michael, in that order; to Devon and Bonnie, because I couldn’t find a way to work a reunion scene with Michael in; then just to Devon, because I couldn’t find room for Bonnie. Then from there, I had plans for this awesome war story that Devon was going to tell KITT to illustrate his point about how people made mistakes far worse than not getting to Michael in time. It was going to be awesome, and certainly a Crowning Moment of Badass for him, but I couldn’t work it in without shoehorning it in; besides which, a lot of talking contradicted the prompt, so I had to put the war stories on the back burner.

At the risk of sounding like I’m bragging, I write one fuck of a KITT and a Devon. 8D Truly, one of the highest compliments I’ve received since entering this fandom is how IC I roleplay Devon.

* For those unfamiliar with the term, “avuncular” is, according to Merriam Webster, “suggestive of an uncle, especially in kindliness or geniality.” I don’t describe Devon and KITT’s relationship as being father / son—that’s how I see Devon and Michael’s relationship. (The beauty of it? This is confirmed by David Hasslehoff, as he described his relationship with Edward Mulhare (Devon) as being like a father and son, on and off screen.) It’s subtle in season one, but then season two rolls around and holy mother of God. 8D I cite the following line from “Goliath pt. II” – “If anything happens to Michael, I’ll hold myself personally responsible.” And I’m watching this going, “Devon, you magnificent bastard, you do care…! ;w; ”

My final thought: If I made you wibble or want to go hug your dad or another key male figure in your life, I will have met my goal, and this fic will have fulfilled its purpose.

KITT, Devon Miles, Knight Rider © Glen A Larson
“You Raise Me Up” © Josh Groban