DPP: It's Curtains for You!
May. 6th, 2011 10:30 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
callmeonetrack.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no_takebacksI'm using my most domestic icon today because we have a challenge for you shippers. Prompt or write us some CURTAIN FIC.
Hey, look at all those curtains behind them!
But what is Curtain Fic, you ask? Allow TV TROPES to explain:
Curtain Fic
Fan Fic that has a domestic chore as the plot. The classic situation is shopping for curtains, hence the name. Other sorts of shopping also work.
This can also mean just a fic of a couple, either Het or Slash, spending the day at home.
This is a variety of WAFF, a fan-created Breather Episode; the point is showing the characters doing something quiet and mundane together. Interestingly, this genre is popular even (especially?) for fandoms where the work itself (including official Breather Episodes) is action-packed. The phenomenon of Fan Fic written about characters shopping for curtains was first noted in an on-line article about fanfic for The Sentinel.
True Curtain Fic rarely contains sex; the trip to IKEA rarely ends with IKEA Erotica. This is all about character study, or else about getting as close to an Excuse Plot as someone who doesn't want to write lemon fic will get.
This can also be played for laughs when a character with No Social Skills acts like a Fish Out of Water for something as "simple" as buying toilet paper; see also Villains Out Shopping.
Yesterday I wrote a fic about Kara and Lee that ended with them at a cookout, flipping burgers. Belatedly I realized it was (sort of) curtain fic and ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sci_fi_shipper and I got to talking about how domesticity is so unnatural for pilots that it seems exotic and exciting in a weird kind of way (because the trick is to keep them in-character of course) and is weirdly satisfying and happy-making to read. We both wanted to see more, so she suggested it be the topic of today's DPP. So here you go!
sci_fi_shipper and I got to talking about how domesticity is so unnatural for pilots that it seems exotic and exciting in a weird kind of way (because the trick is to keep them in-character of course) and is weirdly satisfying and happy-making to read. We both wanted to see more, so she suggested it be the topic of today's DPP. So here you go! 
Pilots just having some dinner together
A few Curtain!fic prompts to get you started (as I write this list, I am a bit shocked to realize how many of these prompts I have worked into my fics. I am a total sucker for domestic!pilots apparently!):
Grocery shopping
Yardwork
Buying Curtains together
Paying the Bills
Cooking together
Attending a kid's event (dance recital, pyramid game, etc.)
Working a mundane job
Buying/caring for/playing with a pet
Parenthood
Squabbling but not going to bed mad
Washing the dishes together
Fixing things that break
Assembling furniture (or anything that requires instructions)
Vacationing
Dealing with the in-laws
unexpected house guests
Knitting (kdbleu, this one's for you! ;)
Using terms of endearment
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no subject
Date: 2011-05-06 04:32 pm (UTC)Baking cookies
Snow ball fight/play
Other possibilities
Mending socks
Window washing
Car washing/minor maintenance
Vacuuming (with a dog grabbing the vacuum)
Something Pink
Date: 2011-05-06 05:53 pm (UTC)“Is she deaf or stupid?” Kara purred. As she spoke her mouth flattened in a flat line of utter distain.
Holding his face as still as possible without making eyes contact with either Kara or the poor salesgirl, Lee took a deep breathe. “You know she’s not deaf or stupid. You need to give her a moment to figure out which of the seventeen pink lipsticks you’re vaguely waving at. Maybe you could try being a little more specific.”
Returning her gaze to the small brunette behind the make-up counter, Kara replaced her saccharine smile and pointed randomly to just one pink lip stick. “That one.”
“Oh, ok,” the girl stuttered. She lifted a tester from the tray and twisted up the tube of color. “I’m not sure this is going to be the best look with your complexion. Why don’t we try this one?” The girl proudly held out the lip stick to Kara’s cloyingly unamused face. “See.”
“Yes,” Lee answered quickly. “I think that one will be fine. With the eye shadow.”
“And the free gift-y thing,” Kara added with forced chipper tone to match the now huge, fake grin across her lips.
“I’ll ring that up for you.” The girl spun toward the register and scurried away.
“See the things I do for you, Lee Adama.”
“Torture make-up counter salesgirls?”
“Agree to your pretty little wedding day.” Her smile softened into something real. Lee knew by the glint in her golden hazel eyes.
“You are loving every minute of it,” Lee cooed back.
“Maybe,” she winked.
“Definitely.” He leaned in to kiss her forehead, and Kara blushed. She wasn’t sure she was enjoying it at all right now, but maybe… Maybe when she finally saw Lee’s face standing in front of the temple altar. Then it would be worth it.
Re: Something Pink
Date: 2011-05-06 05:56 pm (UTC)Re: Something Pink
Date: 2011-05-06 06:16 pm (UTC)Re: Something Pink
Date: 2011-05-06 06:25 pm (UTC)Re: Something Pink
Date: 2011-05-06 06:41 pm (UTC)Lee Adama is a brave soul!!!
(Well done, bb!! And, now that I think about it, I refuse to discuss what color lip gloss I may or may not have worn to my last job interview. It couldn't have been pink. Kara girls do not wear pink.) ;)
Re: Something Pink
Date: 2011-05-06 07:00 pm (UTC)Re: Something Pink
Date: 2011-05-06 07:05 pm (UTC)Plus, Lee is clearly insane. ;)
thanks, luv.
no subject
Date: 2011-05-06 07:30 pm (UTC)She wasn't really talking to anyone in particular. Lee had abandoned her at the aisle with the blinds muttering something about decor.
Kara didn't care what he picked, as long as it did it’s job(especially on the master bedroom windows). She wanted to get busy finishing off the basement.
Lee got to decide what the kitchen looked like, as she never planned to actually use it.
But the basement, it was hers. She wanted a man cave, like she'd seen on all those home improvement shows.
That's why she'd dragged Lee out to Home Depot.
They needed the basic tools and equipment for at least home maintenance.
As she was checking out table saws, Lee reappeared at her side with a handful of paper squares and a cart full of window coverings.
“What do you think of this color for the kitchen?” He held up a paint swatch.
Kara glanced over at it. “Fine by me.”
She didn’t see his eyes narrow slightly.
“And this for the basement?”
Another square of color appeared in her light of sight.
It was purple.
“What?” Kara turned to him. “Are you crazy?”
“No, but I got your attention.” He grinned. “Can we try that again?”
She crossed her arms and waited for him to continue.
He showed her the kitchen color again. “With this granite.” A square of it joined the paint sample.
Kara had to admit it was nice looking. She squinted at the name.. ‘mushroom’. “Yeah, okay, I like that.”
“Okay, and I asked the guy about colors for the basement, because it’s pretty dark down there. He suggested something light, like one of these.” He handed her several choices. None of which were girly colors.
She probably surprised him by picking the light mossy color.
“Okay, I’ll go buy paint then.” Lee leaned in and kissed her briefly. “Don’t clean out the power tools.”
Kara laughed as he left to make his purchases.
She wouldn’t go crazy. Maybe just this saw.
And the nail gun...
And the sledgehammer.....
no subject
Date: 2011-05-06 07:36 pm (UTC)Re: Something Pink
Date: 2011-05-06 07:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-06 07:55 pm (UTC)Re: Something Pink
Date: 2011-05-06 07:56 pm (UTC)hee. Gotta get the boys riled up.
*hugs*
Re: Something Pink
Date: 2011-05-06 07:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-06 07:59 pm (UTC)"Kara stood in front of racks and racks of power tools. "I like this place!"
...Lee had abandoned her at the aisle with the blinds muttering something about decor."
It's like me and my husband in B&Q but with roles reversed :D
no subject
Date: 2011-05-06 07:59 pm (UTC)Re: Something Pink
Date: 2011-05-06 08:03 pm (UTC)Re: Something Pink
Date: 2011-05-06 08:15 pm (UTC)Also agreed that you have their voices down, K!! :)
Re: Something Pink
Date: 2011-05-06 08:19 pm (UTC)Oh, and of course Lee is insane!! Beyond insane even. Hee!
Thanks for writing the happiness, bb!!
Re: Something Pink
Date: 2011-05-06 08:20 pm (UTC)thank you. :D
no subject
Date: 2011-05-06 08:25 pm (UTC)Re: Something Pink
Date: 2011-05-06 08:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-06 08:49 pm (UTC)Re: Something Pink
Date: 2011-05-06 08:51 pm (UTC)Re: Something Pink
Date: 2011-05-06 08:55 pm (UTC)You had me wondering how they chose the eye shadow.
That is a very good question. lol