InstaRec + a plea for help

[sirona_fics]

You guys. Stop what you're doing right now and head over to this place I'm about to tell you all about. I just. I'm all sniffly and teary and there's this enormous grin on my face and HEARTSEYES FROM SPACE, OKAY.

If you love Canton Everett Delaware III, or if you've never heard of him but you love men in love forever, and romance, and wonderful fic, this is the place for you. Fifty-five years later, Canton and his beloved are finally getting that which he wanted bad enough to quit the FBI for once upon a time.

It's Only Time, Canton/David, PG, by pocky_slash.

My comment to her included the phrase "I'm reccing this to everyone I love", because this, this is pure joy. SO LOVELY, OH MY GOD. I am pretty sure that no one will ever love me like these two love each other, and yet that is okay, because I get to back in their incredibleness. This story, I am still sniffling, you guys. ♥________♥

And now for the help. Please, please save my sanity. I have been reading rather a lot of X-Men Charles/Erik fic, and I keep seeing German-speakers leaving comments on the language Erik uses, namely the use of the terms Liebling and Schatz. People keep saying they're old-fashioned, but see, here's the thing. All the research I've done (mostly on internet sites, admittedly, hence the plea for help), says that those two in particular are acceptable terms of endearment. Moreover, when I was on holiday just now, there was a German couple next door and I distinctly heard them call each other Schatz.

So. My question is this. Is what people are saying a legitimate grievance? Or is it just people's personal preference? Because if I see one more person say that, and I quote, "no one would use language like that", I may just scream.

And another thing. Thinking of Erik calling Charles Liebling -- well. IT DOES THINGS TO ME. SUCH THINGS, SUCH DIRTY, FILTHY THINGS, OKAY. And I want to make sure no one is going to fire off one of these comments at me. And also, if this is a legitimate complaint, then obviously I don't want to be a twat, either.

SO, PLEASE HELP ME, YOU GUYS. Three ways of Erik to call Charles 'darling'. Go!

I would be ETERNALLY GRATEFUL. This thing is eating at me something fierce. Also, that cop!Erik modern AU fic? 21K and juuuust nudging over half-way. WHAT HAVE I STARTED. Also, work is a NIGHTMARE today, and I think I shall be doing as much writing as I can fit in, to make myself feel better.

Comments

[alba17.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm going to read that pocky_slash fic. I know of her(?) fic from Torchwood. (how funny to see you rec'ing it when I know you from H50). I found Canton kind of fascinating.

I'm really looking forward to your cop!Erik AU. Where does it take place?

Er, know nothing about German. I've only read a bit of XMFC fic here and there, not jumping in wholeheartedly. I seem to prefer AUs that have nothing to do with the movie, or take place earlier in the movie. I'm not really into comics or superheroes, that's probably why.

[altri-uccelli.livejournal.com]

Oh, Sirona, thank you for this rec. I have no idea who Canton and David are (although my kids are big DW fans so I know about Rory, Amy, the TARDIS, etc.) but that didn't prevent me from turning into a misty-eyed pile of goo at the love and affection and familiarity. I wouldn't have come across this without your rec so ♥thank you♥

Returning the favor, I read a fic last night that I can't stop thinking about and even though I have Things To Do (did you know I'm writing for a fest? O_o ) I think I'm going to put it on hold and devour all 61K words again right now. It's The Eagle fandom but it's modern AU and it reads (or can read) like orig!fic. Except that, you know, it's better than 99% of published romance out there. It starts with a short kinkmeme fill here and then frackin_sweet continued it with One Percenters.

I know you have tons on your plate with reading and writing in multiple fandoms, but put it on your 'to read' list. I really loved it. And, as with the best AUs, I learned about a world--professional motocross racing--that I barely knew existed before.

Hugs to you, darling!

[gothikmaus.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure about Liebling, as I've mostly heard and used it in compounds (like "Lieblingsband", which means "favourite band), but I've heard people say Schatz or Schatzi quite often. The only other word that comes to my mind right now is "Mäuschen" or "Mausi" (literally "little mouse"), but I don't know how often it's actually used.

Here, this link may help you?

http://german.about.com/library/blliebe2.htm

Also, according to this page, the most popular German term of endearment is indeed Schatz.

[demiana-kassio.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not on your friends' list, but I just scrolled passed this and I'm German so I figured, why not.

>So. My question is this. Is what people are saying a legitimate grievance? Or is it just people's personal preference? Because if I see one more person say that, and I quote, "no one would use language like that", I may just scream.

I seriously don't understand why people would say that those terms are outdated. "Schatz" is probably THE most frequently used term of endearment amongst couples.
"Liebling" is, I guess, slightly less frequently used and possibly the teensy-tiniest bit old-fashioned, but that depends very heavily on your personal point of view.
To me, these are perfectly fine, and now that I think about it, I "Liebling" is probably the most used translation of "darling". So, it's all good.

And now I'm trying to think of other ways to call someone "darling" in German, but I'm somewhat at a loss. There are endless numbers of (mostly rather ridiculous) petnames, but I'd always go for "Liebling".
There are variants, like "Liebster", but that one I would definitely call old-fashioned.

I hope that was of some use to you.

[theellibu.livejournal.com]

There's nothing wrong with using Schatz or Liebling, I'd say both are quite common. I'd use Schatz, purely down to personal preference.

[kaiserkuchen.livejournal.com]

Another random German-speaking person cruising by randomly and chiming in here: not only do I agree that Liebling and Schatz(i) are some of, if not THE most common German endearments, they are just about the only ones I can legit believe Erik actually using both as a man and as a man born in that era. Other common ones mostly are cutesy versions of animal that are often used for children too like Maus(i), Schnecke(snaiiiil!), Spatz, Hase/Hasi, ueber ridic and "modern" ones like Zuckerschnute ("sugar-pout/lips") or idek SCHATZIPUTZIMAUSI and outside of crack comic art or fic, I sure as hell cannot see Erik ever seriously referring to Charles in such a manner. It would be interesting to research regional endearments back in the 60s though...

Also mainly I always mentally raise my eyebrows a bit when the endearments aren't capitalized, but that is mostly more of a quibble.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I looooove Mark Sheppard! *bookmarks rec*

[silmanumenel.livejournal.com]

Alright, you already got some great comments, but I guess the more the merrier, and as I'm German too, I just thought I'd add my opinion as well. I really don't know what kind of people would say Liebling and Schatz are old-fashioned.
Schatz is THE most used endearment here, almost everyone I know calls their partner that, even my brother. Liebling is not as common, but it's still used and certainly not outdated.

There are of course other petnames, but I find most of them rather silly and wouldn't use them. Things like "Mausi" or "Bärli" or "Schneckchen" (why would I want to be called snail?) or "Hasi". What I still find acceptable are for example "Spatz" (sparrow) or "Schnucki" (which I honestly can't translate, I don't think it's even a real word).

So if you want to use Liebling, do it. It's perfectly fine, and anyone who gives you grief over it is a schmuck (as Danny would say).

[gehirnstuerm.livejournal.com]

Yup, like the others said: "Schatz" is veeeeery common, for all ages. Even couples who don't like pet names start calling each other "Schatz" or "Schatzi" sooner or later :D

In my opinion, "Liebling" is a bit old-fashioned or at least less common, though. I often hear it on TV (like someone else said, it's the most common translation for "darling"), but I don't really hear it from younger people in RL. Or maybe the term just isn't en vogue in my circles, I don't know :D Either way, "Liebling" is definitely great in a 60s setting, but I wouldn't mind it in a modern setting either.

Anyway, I love you for asking! I wish more XMFC writer would do this. I may be slightly traumatized by reading cringe-worthy dirty talk in awful German ;)