Comments | downton100: new beginnings - 'the way a puzzle might'

alemandine in downton100

new beginnings - 'the way a puzzle might'

Mar 19, 2012 12:05

Title: the way a puzzle might
Author: alemandine
Rating: pg
Character/s: Thomas Barrow
Word count: 263

( The dawn is sharp, frost picks out the corners of the yard; )

challenge 06: new beginnings, character: thomas barrow, author: alemandine

Comments 14

nixmom March 19 2012, 01:42:19 UTC

I think you've captured Thomas quite well here. I especially liked this.

Thomas isn’t sentimental. It’s about remembering the way the world can open up, about knowing and cataloguing those chances, and the importance of keeping those chances in view, because the future is something to be interrogated for chances.

That's sort of exactly how I see him, always keenly aware of who and what he might need to get to his next goal. Slimy, selfish, cheeky bastard. Well done.

BTW - I'm gonna get with Aussie on the tag thing. I could add the character tag but for some reason LJ is spitting author tags back at me. We'll get it squared away though.

alemandine March 19 2012, 03:37:56 UTC

Thank you so much! While I don't always like what Thomas does, the way he sees the world really intrigues me. I do adore his constant scheming and the occasional glimpses we get of the chinks in his armour.

Thanks so much for sorting out the tags, I appreciate it.

northeto March 19 2012, 01:59:30 UTC

The imagery in this quite vivid-nicely done. I agree with nixmom that you've captured Thomas well- his calculating practicality, his selfishness, his attempts to deal with the fact that he's lost another man he could have loved. And still he's looking to his future, to the new thing that will allow him to rise above where he is..

alemandine March 19 2012, 03:39:18 UTC

Thank you so much for reading! I'm really interested in the fact that despite none of Thomas's plans really work out properly, he keeps at it, in his own, twisted sort of way.

haikitteh March 19 2012, 02:14:32 UTC

Such an interesting look into the workings of Thomas's brain. I like the lack of sentimentality - feels very true to his character.

alemandine March 19 2012, 03:40:06 UTC

Thanks so much for reading and leaving a comment! :)

I actually really enjoy getting inside Thomas's brain... it's a pretty interesting place to be!

jadeandlilac March 19 2012, 02:40:06 UTC

I don't generally go for Thomas fics, but the imagery here is gorgeous and you have some beautifully constructed sentences. I can't wait to read whatever else you share with us! :)

alemandine March 19 2012, 03:40:58 UTC

Thank you so much for the comment, I really appreciate it!

I'm just feeling my way into the fandom, so I hope to write and read lots more. :)

jadeandlilac March 19 2012, 04:24:16 UTC

It's a wonderfully supportive place, so don't hesitate to dive right in! :)

What other characters and pairings are you interested in?

alemandine March 19 2012, 04:45:44 UTC

It's nice to be so encouraged, thank you! :)

As for characters and pairings ... I imagine my list will probably expand now I'm exploring the fandom. I'd like to spend a lot of time in both Mary's brain and Thomas's brain - so I think they're probably the two characters I'm more likely to base fics around.

I'm a massive sucker for Mary/Matthew, though I'm not sure if I could write them.

I did really like Branson/Sybil ... but that's sort of gone off the boil for me now.

Really, though, I'm pretty excited to read most fics. I adore the way fanfic can really get under the skin of cannon, and make it more alive.

What about you? Who are your favourite characters/pairings?

Thread 6

bsg_aussiegirl March 19 2012, 10:59:45 UTC

Amazing first paragraph. Really captures the audience straight off.

Unlike so many of my friends, I quite like Thomas. I really feel empathy for him, and I think your empathy for him also came out in this ficlet.

My favourite thing in this fic was the detailed description of the smoking.

Thanks for giving the comm a go! :)

alemandine March 19 2012, 23:59:00 UTC

Thank you so much for the comment!

You've hit the nail on the head, I do feel empathy for Thomas, and I'm glad it came through in this piece. I don't always agree with what he does, but I really appreciate the time we get to spend with him, as a viewer. And I did feel genuinely sorry for him when his 'business' plan went south at the end of S2. He's a survivor in his own way, and that intrigues me. I like that he never stops moving forwards, with whatever he's got.

Thanks so much for reinvigorating the comm and making it so welcoming - I'm so looking forward to being a part of it.