Ok, I can’t stay away. Now that I have an excuse to write about *myself* – oh hell, here goes the avalanche… So, on the subject of “I saw something fine” – I hope that you have all bookmarked RAFrenzy’s temporary RAflash site for this week at RAflash.com. Even if you have read all the posts via your reader already, hop on over – the site’s design makes for a lovely sight…
I could’ve should’ve left it at checking out the TV oeuvre of A___. I could have just enjoyed Sir Guy lusting after Lady Marian, being tormented by Vaisey and engaged in a rather fruitless mutual chase with Robin. I could’ve made my way through the rest of Spooks, my gateway. And I could’ve popped in the N&S DVD again to re-consider my previous dismissal of the man.
But as with most of you sisters-in-RA out there, I could not resist finding out more about the man. 
Cue Google. No, I actually did not check whether he was single – at least not straight away *ahem* – I just wanted to know his background, career details, credentials as an actor. Yeah, right. Which of course led me to RAOnline and the collected messages from Richard to his fans as they were known then.
I saw something fine. I saw an actor who was engaging with his fans. Admittedly, most of the messages were all fairly old, going back right to N&S when his career really took off, and they had become much more infrequent over time. But there was *tangible* evidence then that the man was not only real, but he was actually funny, witty, self-depricating, good-humoured, modest, self-aware, eloquent. I think it was the friendly tone of his messages that made the biggest impression. Here was someone who was breaking the fourth wall in an attempt to give back the attention that he received. Of course I was aware that there can be strategy behind that. But so what? He simply came across as a fun guy, the type of person that you have within your circle of friends. Remarkably normal *despite* his exposure on (inter)national TV and his successful career and his dashing looks.
He seemed like a “nice guy”. All of that made me more curious about the guy. And *that* is when the serious web search started. It coincided with my inception into the world of fanfiction through a friend who was writing fantasy fanfic. Up until then I had never even *heard* of fanfic. And lo and behold – there was Sir Guy fanfic. Plenty. Hell fire beckoned. I delved in. Web search also brought up the wonderful world of RAblogging. I read. And lurked. And wondered about the people who were openly writing. And wished I was part of it.
Little did I know…
[Harry Kennedy mode] There you go. [/Harry Kennedy mode] Still not quite at the end of the saga. I am drawing it out – over the celebration of fine-ness that is RAflash 13th to 18th January. Keep reading all the posts on participating blogs and comment your heart away if it hasn’t already been given away to Mr A!
Guylty Pleasure 
Between Mr. Nice Guy, fanfiction and fellow well-wishers, you didn’t stand a chance. 😀 By the second paragraph I found myself nodding vigorously…
LikeLike
IKR. The universe has really thrown him at me (and you and everyone). I will admit, though, that I was quite happy with the universe intervening. It chose wisely for me…
LikeLike
Yeah. At least we chose well. *sigh*
LikeLike
Our path was so similar… each of us “discovered” RA watching a particular character of his, being moved, hit, stunned by it. Each of us then surfed the net to find the man… and here we are. “Doomed” for eternity. But is a sweet damnation… 😉
LikeLike
Sweet indeed. I am at a loss to really explain why it hit so hard… or maybe not. I think it was the fandom that came with the man.
LikeLike
I agree. We found more than a star and his fans. We loved the reasons why we gathered in his “Army”. As I’ll never get tired to say: I love him for his attitude, nature, mind, determination, general behavior. I consider him a model to aspire. Oh, he’s also handsome beyond any standard but this is only the icing on the cake 😉
LikeLike
That’s usually my sledgehammer argument when I get into conversations about my fangirling over RA with an outsider. “He is just a nice man!” Basta! Is there a bigger compliment anyone could make?
LikeLike
Of course. But it’s hard to convince outsiders, sometimes. I’m proud of my sister that saw the “light” and was “converted” after watching N&S while I was pestering & telling her everything I knew about him 😛
LikeLike
Bonuspoint for making a conversion. I am working hard on my daughter. She is still unconvinced. (A Kili-fan…)
LikeLike
you need to work harder! 😛
I consider my sister’s conversion a +1 in karma (for both of us) 😉
LikeLike
Is that for you and RA or for you and your sister?
LikeLike
me and my sister… but why not? for RA too 😀
LikeLike
win-win!
LikeLike
😀
LikeLike
It never ceases to amaze me that people wonder what we see in a man who doesn’t wear what he found under the bed, around his knees, chase off fans, not allow fans to look him in the eye, and loves his parents. Oh, and hasn’t been in jail at least a dozen times for beating someone up or breaking their camera. I guess it’s us. We’re the weird fans. We have class, and taste, and it’s not all lower or just in our mouth. Long live the Army! OOOH Rah!
LikeLike
*chuckles* – yeah, we are weirdos. But hey, I like being weird.
I don’t even think that people refute that a man who displays all the qualities you mentioned is worthy of admiring. But they reject the notion that it is “normal” to do so in public.
But hey, I am a weirdo – I can do abnormal things 😀
LikeLike
Harry may have bowled me over, but it was the information and blogs I found online that made it hard for me to ever really regain my equilibrium where RA was concerned. How was this man even real?! I confess to sometimes feeling quite smug at my excellent taste in choosing him for my crush, but then maybe I never really had a chance once the “universe” decided it was my turn. 😉
LikeLike
Hahaha, love that little confession in there, Mezz. Yes, absolutely agree with you. I feel smug most of the time. Hell, what do the others know? Nothing! But if they can’t see the light, I will revel with you and the rest of the fandom in the knowledge that we have excellent taste in actors (and men).
LikeLike
I am in sync with what’s been said here. The ability to share feelings with like-minded fans is a huge part of the fineness.
LikeLike
It is. I found that hugely attractive (and I must say, it does enhance RA’s attractiveness, too…)
LikeLike
Absolutely…and the collateral interests I’ve found since diving into this circle of amazing people orbiting around another pretty special person just keeps expanding! I can’t wait to see what comes next 🙂
LikeLike
“collateral interests” – yes. I already find that a lot with RA himself. Lookoing up Proust, for instance ;.)
LikeLike
Oh definitely…I *might* have copies of “The Master and Margarita”, “The Sunne in Splendor” and “Stiff” in my Kindle reader right now….maybe. 😀
LikeLike
😀 – I actually don’t. Bad fan.
LikeLike
Well to sum up…Sunne in Splendor …just could not get going on it…Master – requires more concentration than I have at the moment. Stiff…love it, will eventually review on AncArm before miving on to “Bonk” another Roach title 🙂
LikeLike
Sunne in Splendor sounds as if it is right up my street – I am just skimping on the money, tbh. Master and Margarita is in the house (Mr Guylty a fan). Stiff? I mean, really? IDK… But well, if I ever have time I might…
LikeLike
I usually love his. fic. I read all of Colleen McCollough’s Rome megaliths in a snap, so I’m not sure what the issue is..probably just timing
Stiff? I was premed once…then organic chem happened, but I’ve always had an interest in things medical. It is a really interesting book…I had no idea the wide array of impact cadaver research has enabled, and it’s written in a humorous style that is very engaging
..for me anyway 🙂
LikeLike
I hear ya, Guylty! I have always danced to a different drummer. Usually on a different street. Mainly in a different city. Traveling through space on a different planet. Weird? Look it up in the dictionary. My picture is next to the definition.
LikeLike
Pingback: The Descent to Hell | I Saw Something Fine
Well, then – let’s all be weird together. 🙂
Hm…I thought I didn’t have anything to contribute to the RAflash Fan Event, but maybe I do. My comment here just got so lengthy that I deleted it. It was basically my story – and I didn’t want to clutter up your blog with my weirdness. So, now I am a (non-)blogger in search of a blog. *winks*
LikeLike
Wanna use mine?
LikeLike
Hehe, seems like Arkie was quicker too reply. Otherwise I’d also be happy to post your road to hell-story 🙂 i am glad that my post made you commit it all to writing!
LikeLike
Oops…I never saw this yesterday. 🙂 Thank you so much for the kind offer. Once I’d decided to send the story of “my road to hell”, as you so fittingly put it, out into the world, I simply asked Arkie. Didn’t see her offer here, either. I am still blushing at the lovely intro she wrote for me there.
So, thanks again to the both of you, and, yes, Guylty, you can plead guilty of it all. 😉 *starts looking for the soap to wash her hands*
LikeLike
😀 Oh, I accept the guilt. Guylty is my name *ggg*. And no worries – I stupidly did not reply to *your* comment but to Arkie’s, so the notifications didn’t reach you. Doesn’t matter where the story appears!
LikeLike