Hi! I'm Riselike-BreakofDawn, formerly PumpkinSnitch. Welcome!

I'm just a girl who loves to read and write. I started living on this website freshman year of high school, but didn't begin publishing stories until a year later as an outlet for my issues. (And as a way to improve my writing skills.) Now, as a (more or less) mature, healthy-ish girl in college, I thank everyone who ever took a moment to read, review, and help me improve my writing, which, even though it started as "just a hobby", has helped me immensely in my education, my personal life, and my confidence.

HERE IS THE PLAYLIST FOR MY FIC: THAT 70S CHICAGO

(I want to give credit where credit is due, since all of the chapters are titles of rock songs):

1.) More Than A Feeling - Boston 2.) House of the Rising Sun - The Animals 3.) Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac 4.) I Get Around - The Beach Boys 5.) Walk This Way - Aerosmith 6.) Night Moves - Bob Seger 7.) Changes - David Bowie 8.) Turning Point - Tyrone Davis 9.) Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley 10.) You Should Be Dancing - Bee Gees 11.) I Want You (She’s So Heavy) - The Beatles 12.) Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen (Alternate Title: Purple Haze -Jimi Hendrix) 13.) Don’t Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult 14.) Nowhere Man - The Beatles 15.) What Am I Doing Hangin’ Round? - The Monkees 16.) Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones 17.) Pleasant Valley Sunday - The Monkees 18.) Do I Have to Do this All Over Again? - Peter Tork/Head (Alternative Title: What’s Going On? - Marvin Gaye) 19.) Let It Be - The Beatles 20.) The End - The Beatles 21.) Come Together - The Beatles

Here’s A List of Artists That Were Referenced Throughout:

Bob Dylan, Creedence Clearwater, KISS, Ted Nugent, Jimi Hendrix, Alice Cooper, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, ABBA, Pink Floyd (the concert Eric goes to actually happened, it was part of the Pink Floyd “Animals” tour, which was performed in Soldier Stadium in Chicago)

NCIS RANT (NOT FOR FANS OF SEASONS 11-NOW):

I just want to get this opinion out in the open, to explain why I really don't write fan fiction for recent NCIS episodes all that much. Obviously, since Cote de Pablo left the show, there have been some serious changes. Most forums I have perused simply lament the loss of Cote and blame all of the show's issues on her departure. I consider these to be false claims. Don't get me wrong, I love Cote de Pablo and Ziva; however, it would be unfair to the other actors, and characters, to insist that she carried the show on her own. NCIS existed before her, and it could have remained a great show, despite her departure. It is the writing that has seriously gone downhill since the start of season 11. The show hardly addressed Ziva's decision to stay in Israel, and simply left a broken Tony to put himself back together, after years of "will they, won't they?" tension. The characters hardly mention her, and the audience didn't even get a glimpse of Ziva's new, tranquil life. For god's sake, Kate was referenced to more times in Seasons 11 and 12 than Ziva! Furthermore, the audience, the characters, and the show, all were rocked by Ziva's decision to stay behind, but the writers left a shockingly small amount of time between Ziva's leaving and the introduction of her replacement, to recover.

Which brings me to my next point...

I don't like Ellie Bishop. It isn't her fault, or the fault of Emily Wickersham. This is just my opinion, but it isn't unfounded. I think the writers tried to introduce a more "hip" character to even out the more grown-up dynamic that made the team so special, but they were very misguided in doing so. I tune in to the show to watch complicated characters solve crimes and issues within their real lives. When I want to absorb some quirky, gentle moments, I tune in to New Girl, or something else. I don't watch NCIS for quirky, unless it comes from Abby. I originally thought that Ellie would be a great addition to the team. She is intelligent, kind, and generally level-headed. And even better, she's married! Finally, a character on NCIS who isn't completely hopeless or unfortunate when it comes to relationships. A perfect straight-man, or straight-woman, for the team. At least, that's what I thought...Was I ever wrong...because she's a Mary Sue. The writers made her a Ziva wannabe (when they sent her into the men's room after Tony on her very first episode, I thought I might have a heart attack). Then, when she tried to "figure out" Gibbs, I thought, "man, this kid is dense." The writers tried to make her out to be some sort of genius, with this overly-logical personality, and gave her all the perks that fictional geniuses are allowed: no one seems to mind when you sit in odd places, perched on desks or the ground, and eat nothing but junk food, because it helps you think. However, her thought process is hardly revealed to the audience, so we get the impression that if Tim or Tony were allowed to spread out all over the bull-pen floor, they'd come up with similar results. Even now, well over a year after her introduction, I find her a poor match for the complicated lives of the other team members. There is a difference between a "straightman" character, and a two-dimensional character. For several seasons, Palmer, or McGee could be considered the resident straightmen at NCIS. Now, of course, when they first started on the team, both characters were awkward, young, inexperienced, and unsure of themselves. But the actors never looked out of place. Emily Wickersham does. Again, it isn't her fault, it is the fault of whatever writer came up with such a half-formed, half-baked character.

My biggest qualm with her may be that she has somehow eclipsed every other character on the team. For most of season 11, she walked over Gibbs. He solely depended on her for cases, and easily excused her mistakes. Now, this may be seen as character development from the rugged, brusque, seemingly uncaring man he was in season 1, but it begs the question...where is that thoughtful, deep, vaguely alcoholic former-Marine, who lost his (murdered) wife and child, along with several other lovers and friends over the years? Character development is good, but abandoning little quirks and tropes that made us fall in love with the show and its characters- that is the trademark of a waning show. Gibbs is still a strong figure and leader, but he isn't as potent. He's like a knife that has dulled over the years. And he needs to be sharpened. Let's not forget this was a man who, against his own wishes, shot through the body of Agent Lee several times in order to kill a dangerous criminal. Yes, Lee was going to prison for the rest of her life anyway, but Gibbs overrode every instinct he had and shot and killed one of his own former agents. But to add to his complexity, he's also risked his life time and time again for his kids- Tony, Ziva, McGee, and Abby. This is a character who is made to fiercely love and protect his own, but also a highly driven man who will do whatever it takes to bring justice to criminals. Remember that explosion that almost killed Tim and Delilah- Gibbs, instead of going to find his agent, went to catch the criminal first? At first I was furious about that, but realized that this is a more honest representation of Jethro...It's the kind of interesting, complicated stuff that I love about Gibbs. Yet in the past few seasons I've watched him tolerate and coddle Bishop as though she were his greatest legacy- as if that weren't Tony, his golden boy, or McGee, the man he trained and basically molded from scratch into the agent he is (was). (Or even Ziva, the assassin who became a second daughter to him.)

McGee, who had matured into a strong, confident agent over time, is suddenly rendered obsolete by Ellie. Remember when he was the nerd? Or even the wealthy, successful author? Where did that guy go? Tim started out on the team as the awkward computer genius, and later budded into the accomplished field agent. Ellie is supposedly the genius now, and the straightman, and the valuable field agent. Where does that leave McGee? If he's not a straightman, then he needs many more angsty moments. The writers gave that to him with his father's death and a few other recent events, but angst is supposed to be followed either by depression, conflict, or a hero moment, the last being the most exciting, especially for a TV drama. Remember when Tony encountered a near death experience at least once a season? It's what spurs character development on procedurals of this nature, which is why it's upsetting that Tim has never had a moment in which I was genuinely worried for him. He's had so few hero moments on screen, which may be why he has so many in fics on this site.

I don't know how i feel about Season 12 Tony, just...in general. I don't even have the time to discuss my feelings about him here. Also remember when Abby was a cool goth with lots of "hinky" interests, but also was a kindhearted person with interests involving the less fortunate? Where is the cool goth, who not only slept in a coffin, but went bowling with nuns?

Finally, i would like to note that the episodes themselves are lacking. I love exploring the lives of characters on TV shows, but to let the actual cases suffer because they have become the B plots...it is wrong. Emphasis on the case is what differentiates a police/crime procedural from a straight-up drama like Grey's Anatomy or The West Wing. Also, any time there needs to be a dramatic moment that worries the audience for the life of a character, they throw in the same thing: an explosion. I can name so many bombings and explosions that have happened since season 9, that I won't even bother listing them. But the explosions themselves have lost their potency. Even if an important or secondary character dies (trying not to reveal any spoilers- do you all know who I'm talking about?) it seems ridiculous. I can gladly suspend disbelief about a lot of things in NCIS, but the sheer amount of bombs that the team has to deal with seems like a bit of a stretch.

Please don't think that i don't still love NCIS. i just have a serious problem with the way the writers have reduced the show's quality. I don't think I'm the only one who feels this way, but i also do not mean to offend anyone who feels differently. I will support the show for its entire run, even if don't enjoy certain aspects of it. I still haven't given up on NCIS, and especially not NCIS fan fiction, I promise.

ABOUT MY WRITING:

My favorite NCIS character is Tim McGee, but I love them all. I write mostly Tim-centric fics, with lots of Tony-Tim bonding moments.

About my stories...

NCIS

Constant: Just a short friendship fic between Tony and Tim, what happens after Ziva stays in Israel.

Closure: Ziva and McGee friendship fic (could be McGiva if you want) about Tim getting to say goodbye.

Conversations: My first fanfic. McGee is shot, and the others hold conversations with the hurt agent, in the same way that they did with Kate after her death.

Getting Into Character: Tony gets assigned to a new undercover mission with the mob, a case Gibbs had to drop years ago, and this time McGee gets to come along.

Flashback: Tim's harrowing past comes back to haunt him and his friends as a killer goes after them. In this story I explain a lot of McGee's odd habits that have come up in the series, and how he came to be who he is as we know him. Warning: several character deaths and OCs.

I'm Not Going to Apologize: Tim/Tony bonding story. Tim is struggling with life, and his self-preservation goes down the drain. Tony isn't having it. This was supposed to be a two-shot, but my muse pushed me down, took the reigns and ran off with the plot, so now it is a full-fledged fic. Depression, mentions of suicide.

Fight or Flight: Tim-centric story. Gibbs hunts creatures unknown to most of society. It was his secret until McGee gets hurt during a case, and the team is thrust into this new version of the world they never knew existed. Lots of OCs.

That 70s Show

That 70s Chicago: Eric runs off to Chicago after Love, Wisconsin Style, makes some friends, and learns about himself. He grows up a lot, but when he returns to Point Place, no one is happy with these changes.