fic (sja): what mates do

[averita]

Title: What Mates Do
Author: averita
Summary: Before Clyde met Luke, he really didn't pay attention to how many celestial bodies came plummeting towards Earth on a regular basis. (Post-The Lost Boy.)
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~2140
A/N: My first Yuletide fic! Written for philote_auctor, who requested Luke/Clyde friendship. It was a great exercise because I don't think I'

Comments

[petitfilou]

Oh, this is lovely. The Lost Boy is one of those episodes that has so many great developments that are never followed up on (like how the heck Sarah convinced the country she wasn't a child abductor), and you tied them all together very neatly. Clyde is my favourite of the kids and it's great to see fic that really does him justice. It's easy to go over the top with him, but you write him very deftly.

And your Sarah, Clyde and Luke are a perfect storm of abandonment issues! Sarah's presence is very heavily felt, despite not actually being in the fic. One of the interesting things about SJA are the hints that the kids are becoming gradually disillusioned with their lifestyle, and you really expanded that realistically while still evoking the atmosphere of the show. The way Clyde simultaneously wears his issues on his sleeve while trying to keep them locked down tight is so very well written, and Luke is equally excellently done. The switch from his factual, unemotive persona to that sudden outburst is almost painful to read. Your fic always has such an interesting take on the characters, and totally seconding that Alan + Maria fic you mention above!

[averita]

Thank you so much for your lovely comment! The Lost Boy really is such a wonderful whirlpool of character angst, and though I love the happy family ending, there's so much to explore in the missing scenes. As much as I love SJA as a kid's show and can't picture it any other way, I really, really wish we'd had a chance to see some of the consequences of their actions/lifestyle play out in a more adult and realistic way. (I guess that's what fic is for - certainly most of mine!)

I'm really glad that you thought Clyde felt natural, especially given that he's your favorite :) He's such a wonderful, steadfast character, and as remarkably fleshed out as he is on the show, there's still a lot to explore. I confess I'd never really thought about his role in this story very deeply, but in retrospect it seems obvious that he'd have his own issues to work through! I think that's one reason I love him and Maria so much - they enter this strange new world where Luke is essentially an infant Sarah Jane is meant to be the grown up and mentor figure; she does come into that role, but for a good bit of season one Maria and Clyde have to play the adult roles in terms of being the more emotionally/socially mature ones. That's a hard thing for a kid!

We'll see. My friend is pushing for that one, so I have a feeling it'll get done eventually - I just need the right inspiration (or a deadline!).

Thanks again for reading and commenting!