"The Affirmation of Self" by Skieswideopen (PG-13, Gen)

[skieswideopen]

Title: The Affirmation of Self
Author: skieswideopen
Beta-Reader: brightknightie
Recipient: malinaldarose
Prompt: Nick & Janette, "Things were slower back then.... People were more content to be who they were. No one wants to be himself, these days. Always trying on different skins, then wondering why they don't fit. It makes for a lot of unhappiness." (Nancy Atherton)
Length: ~1780

Comments

[waltd]

Lovely. I think this story almost defines "bittersweet". The changes that go on, the changes people go through. Even how things change changes. Still, isn't it weeks, perhaps a few months before he even realizes she's gone? Which makes the whole thing even more poignant.

[skieswideopen]

Thank you!

Yes, I think it does take him a while to realize she's gone. Which makes the IB fan in me a little sad, but certainly fits with where he was at the time (and might explain in part why she decided against saying goodbye).

[waltd]

>>and might explain in part why she decided against saying goodbye<<

Oh, yes; oh, yes.

[brightknightie]

>"Still, isn't it weeks, perhaps a few months before he even realizes she's gone?"

Yes. In both "Killer Instinct" (second-season premiere) and "Black Buddha, Part 1" (third-season premiere), we learn that Nick has not been to the Raven for months. It's noteworthy, I think, that both of these episodes happen/aired in the fall, making it Toronto's summer in which Nick did not drop by the Raven. It occurred to me to imagine -- in addition to his other valid canonical distractions -- that the long summer days may limit Nick's options somewhat, such that he has to rush to do his job and his ordinary errands during the safe night hours, and doesn't have much time in the dark to spare in that season.

[waltd]

Interesting, good points. I don't think anyone's evser considered the time restraints on Nick. I know we all enjoy the long summer evenings where it's still light out at 9pm and then the sun rises so early, circa 4 or 5 am. That got to put a real crimp in Nick's workday where he can only work a maximum of 6 hours. Of course, in the Winter, it's not a problem and it seems most stories are set in the late Fall, Winter, and early Spring where they would occur as if at the time of broadcast.

Anyway, time restraints aside, if Nick had wanted to see Janette, he'd have made the time.

[skieswideopen]

I like the point about summer. I hadn't considered that before, but it's true--life in summer would be tough for a vampire! At least at this latitude.