FIC: Portions For Foxes (Part Three)

[bottle_of_smoke]

Title: Portions for Foxes
Part: 3/3
Fandom: Brokeback Mountain
Rating: NC-17
Genre: Post-canon
Pairing: Ennis/Jack, Ennis/OC
Words: 10,400
Warnings: Some mild horror, violence, consensual rough sex, animal death (not abuse)
Disclaimer: With the exception of original characters, the characters and places portrayed here do not belong to me and I do

Comments

[gilli_ann]

You know, I don't really know what to say. This was absolutely incredibly bloody fantastic. (Even the "bloodsport" that normally would have made me a tad uncomfortable).

All of this just pulled me right into their space and their place... I was there. Your writing is very powerful. I winced at Ennis's sad drunken brawls, the pain and misery and embarrassment of it all. But once that was out of the way, and poor Whiskey Rose's death too, - there were so many highlights. What I liked best about the detailed sex scene was the description of Jud once post-coital bliss set in. "He looks a creature in its native environment, resplendent in his own debauchery." Mmm-hmmm. Setting such a glorious example - and representing such a contrast - to Ennis! Jud knows who he is and what he likes and he isn't one bit ashamed.
Oh, and Ennis telling Jud about Jack - about the story of the shirts - and learning the truth about Jack's passing in return! I choked up. And I *really* choked up at Ma Twist's fortright talk about Ennis and Jack - giving her blessing - calling Ennis her son and all. The photo of Jack! And the ashes!! Not to mention Ennis hugging the memory of Jack up on Brokeback, and ending up hugging himself. That one paragraph was the best depiction of self-acceptance that I've *ever* read, in all its beautiful simplicity.Loved it!

So completely good, all of it - while I was reading a slow feeling of happiness and hopefulness settled over me. Thank you very much for sharing your talent with us.

(Re-posted to get rid of spelling mistakes etc)

[gilli_ann]

I've now also looked through the images you link to. What breathtaking yet peaceful landscapes! Now I want to visit Yorkshire. :-)

[bottle_of_smoke]

I'm so glad you liked this, and what a lovely comment to receive too! I'm glad you liked the "post-coital bliss" as you described it; I myself rather like the moment not just for the reason you mentioned, but because I like the idea of non-physically attractive people being sexy anyway. Haha.

I'm glad the ending left you feeling happy and hopeful, because that's exactly how I wanted the reader feeling. I sense of "this is just the beginning" as it were. Ennis doesn't need a partner to feel complete, but to accept and love himself. This is just the first step to a happier, better life for him.

Glad you liked it, thank you for reading it!

[gilli_ann]

Huh - I didn't just "like" it. I loved it. There's a difference.

It's had me thinking and squeeing long after I left the comment, just basking in the joy and pondering the symbolism of various elements - trying to understand it all. (The names of the horses, the firetruck-red house, the image of Jack in the sunlight and so forth).

It's long since a fic left me quite this elated and enthusiastic not just over the actual plot but also all the parts that combined constitute the quality of the writing. I will maintain that the little riff on canon where Ennis here *can* embrace Jack face-to-face and so therefore ends up embracing himself at last is the loveliest bit of the whole fic.

Not that I intend to go on and on at you about it, but I figure you won't mind happy comments, with all the care and effort you've very obviously put into this. :-)

[bottle_of_smoke]

Well, forgive my ill-thought sense of modesty then ;)

It's so lovely that this fic has stayed in your mind. I love that feeling when I read myself, so to receive a comment telling me that my fic has caused the exact same response is truly flattering. I spent quite a long time planning this fic (I started a few days after I finished The Horse Whisperer) so I'm glad it's inspiring thought, and definitely appreciate all your comments, happy ones especially!

Can I also say thank you for reccing me (repeatedly!) on the Dave Cullen forums? I stick my nose in the slash thread every so often, though have never elevated myself above lurker status, and it's lovely seeing people like yourself talk about my fic there. I really do appreciate it, and I think you were responsible for a good bit of the traffic I had to this fic.

[gilli_ann]

Ooops! Didn't mean to criticize your modesty! I should have ended my like/love diatribe with a wink.
I do *hope* I did make someone check out this fic! :-)
You probably do know you've got several things working against you in gaining a wide readership despite the quality of this fic; - canon, and especially canon involving Ennis moving on to another guy (even just for a brief time) will unfortunately lead a goodly number of Brokies to giving a fic a pass. Which is all their considerable loss, in this case, so I'll continue to sing your praises when I may.

[bottle_of_smoke]

Oh don't worry, I'm fluent in internet irony ;)

I'm not heavily involved in the BBM fandom but I have noticed that MO!Ennis and canon-fic is actually rather taboo. I find that very strange, but so long as everyone keeps to their ends of the sandbox and play nice then I don't mind. I myself am not a fan of AU!AU so each to their own, I guess.

[bottle_of_smoke]

I have just noticed that there appears to be some debate over my fic titles. I could elaborate, but I almost think that would destroy the discussion!