Ficathon 2011: Traffic

[charliechaplin2]

Title: Traffic

Comments

[apsaraqueen]

Jebus, this is morbid. What the heck was I on when I wrote this?!

i don't know, but can i have some?

i couldn't possibly list all of my favorite parts in this story; it's just beautifully (and brutally) composed and written from beginning to end. i don't remember the last time i read a sen/shi fic that moved me so deeply, and the more i read it, the more it affects me. this would be equally compelling as an original work of fiction, so i really, really, really have to commend you for doing what so few sm authors can, charlie!

you capture minna's voice perfectly - the choice of words, the rambling feel of her thoughts, the frank and unsparing way she communicates her story. i love the history you've given us about her world, not to mention the extensive background of all the other characters. the authenticity of this story is just unreal!

i'm particularly fascinated by amelia's background, since we know so little of it - how did she get involved? what - if any - relationship does she really have with zahkar? i also find all of the guys in this very intriguing and i love how you portrayed them as complex, imperfect villains, not just monsters - i would love to know how they got into this world, too, but i have a feeling i'm not going to see more of this 'verse, so maybe i'll just have to poke you online to get your thoughts :P oh! and did you leave rei out for a specific reason? another thing i was curious about :D

so throughout you have a way of contrasting the beauty and innocence of minna's idyllic childhood with the inhumane reality she's living now, and you do it without an ounce of unnecessary sentimentality, which makes that contrast all the more horrifying.

another amazing contrast you draw is the indifference minna feels with her other clients as compared to the far more sensual and vulnerable way she reacts to konstantin. with them - and with everyone, really - you keep thinking what could have been if they weren't destined to be unhappy, and in a really weird way this kind of parallels actual sm universe as well (bear with me here), in the sense that there's always this relentless external force - duty of one kind or another - keeping these two apart.

forgive the rambly and unfocused nature of this review, as i'm at work and about to pass out from coffee deprivation. sigh, i know i'm basically incoherent, so just know that i LOVED everything about this fic so so so much, it's brilliant, charlie, seriously, i can't tell you that enough! how you wrote THREE fics of such outstanding quality this year is still a mystery to me, but i'm grateful nonetheless :)