Hello. I'm Lena.

I am now a PhD student studying all the coolest things in the world -- math, physics, chemistry, biology, computer science -- bioengineering is a wonderfully all-encompassing field of study! I believe in the power of science to save lives and regenerate bodies, and am incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to research the things I love.

I also like to dance.

The novel-length first fanfic I ever wrote has been deleted, but I don't regret writing it, because there is nothing like pouring out hundreds of thousands of words to help you improve. Indeed it was such a learning experience that it became unrecognizably awful by the end. Hence the deletion.

I haven't written much recently, but I'm happy with the stories I've worked on here, and I hope you are too!

for the authors:

Regrettably, I don't review as often as I should -- partly out of laziness, partly out of unwillingness to just say "I liked your story" without another few paragraphs of constructive criticism, usually because if you're on my Favorites list, I don't have enough criticism.

If your story is on my Favorites list, I'd like to let you know that I truly enjoyed it and hope other people read it too. Why? Perhaps because they've sucked me in and continue to do so through re-reads, even as I experience more writing and hopefully improve my taste. As a general rule, all of these stories have lovely or bearable mechanics, since I am unfortunately easily distracted by too many errors.

Good job, all of you, and thank you for some of the greatest procrastination in the world. If you would like a review, PM me!

My deepest, most sincere thanks to tropers Aegnorosto and Progeny Ex Machina for recommending my work on ! Having found so many fantastic stories through Fanfic Rec pages, it's a shock to see As the Sun and Insensate up there alongside some of my favorite pieces. So cool!

stories that would be on my Favorites list if they were on FanFiction:

Swim
Avatar. Zuko, from his banishment to Crossroads of Destiny.
At least he's stopped thinking about how much he can't do this, how much he wasn't meant to do this, how much no one ever taught him to do this, somewhere in the midst of the clawing, crawling struggle that is doing it.

Should Old Acquaintance be Forgot
Good Omens. In which Crowley starts over. Again. And again. And again.
Resolution #1: I must accept that Super-Gluing valuable coins to the sidewalk and then watching events from a nearby café is not proper demonic activity.

Once More With Feeling
Good Omens/Harry Potter. History has a funny way of repeating itself. A really, really funny way of repeating itself.
"The Apocalypse is coming," said Crowley quickly. "Again," he added, in case, like many of the players involved, she didn't properly remember the last go ...
"I got that part, thanks," snapped Anathema, twisting a stray piece of artificial pine garland around her hand. "What I don't get is the rest of it. Who is Harry Potter?"

Be Ye Therefore Merciful
Good Omens. Aziraphale and Crowley, and an idiot who blessed the ammunition.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Da Capo Aria
Good Omens. Aziraphale takes Death's place for a day.
God had the appearance of being transposed onto the surface of a world that was not nearly colorful or strong enough to hold Him for long. The needles on the pine trees seemed to bend in towards Him, while the ground concaved slightly beneath His feet and the snow piled an atom’s width higher in a circle around the dip.

Here I Dreamt I was an Architect
Harry Potter. Over a month had passed, but Hogwarts still smelled of blood and dust and smoke.
The remaining shards of glass twitched, then slowly -- very slowly -- stretched toward each other, until a single, unbroken pane filled the window frame. Minerva felt a lump build in her throat, burning sharply as she tried to swallow, the closest thing to hope she'd had since she'd first aimed her wand at the crooked front doors.

Small Fish
The Sandman. Death and the new Dream meet over a bowl of goldfish.
She should perhaps have expected it, but the truth is that she has not been able to think about Dream without pain, and so she has tried not to think about Dream at all. Unsuccessfully, of course.

Portal 3
An dramatic, humorous mix of writing, comics, and animation that takes off from the ending of Portal 2 with hysterical aplomb. Mad scientist Chell tries to rescue Wheatley from the moon.

Things Have Changed Since You Left the Building
Following her escape from the Aperture Science Enrichment Center, Chell enters a world ruled by the Combine, meets new allies and enemies, and learns that sometimes it's not enough just to escape. (ignores the new ending and Portal 2)

It Feels Like Home When I'm With You
Sherlock (BBC). John still gets nightmares about Afghanistan. That's the worst part of it all, he thinks -- he still has dreams about sand and drowning to death in his own blood. But they're more memory than nightmare. Ghost!John.

The Paradox Series
Sherlock (BBC). Where Sherlock is much less human. A terrifying mix of creepy and heart-touching. Beautiful characterization. Romance (even unhealthy codependent sociopath romance) is absolutely not my thing, but the rest of it is so good, it merely can't be helped. Sherlock/John.

Watch me put a gun to my head with only one bullet in the six chambers and pull the trigger. I'll probably be fine, and I'll see your face when I'm all right, that sweet harried sagging beautiful face of yours, witnessing me remain alive. It'll look like you love me. Even if you don't just yet.