The Appetence of the Dead

[ladyofpride]

Title: The Appetence of the Dead
Fandom: Tanz der Vampire (The Fearless Vampire Killers)
Pairing: Herbert/Alfred, and minor Graf von Krolock/Alfred
Rating: Mature (Nc-17)
Disclaimer: The musical belongs to the Germans and the original plot belongs to Roman Polanski. I own absolutely nothing.
Warning: Well...smex, hypnotism, and angst (since Alfred

Comments

[valancystar]

I also found this through your other fic in the musicals_fic community, I didn't have time to read that one yet but I read this and was very impressed. It's hard to find good Tanz der Vampire fic, and good Alfred/Herbert fic, but I really enjoyed this one. Though I do not normally read non-con/dub-con, you don't need to apologise for it, because in this case you made the whole scenario work very well. It's delicious in the twisted and creepy way that Tanz can be if you stop and think about what is actually going on, and the characterisations are spot-on. The difficult thing with Alfred/Herbert is that when you're writing Alfred as a human, then you can't have him be all approving of it or he's not going to be Alfred anymore. At the same time being honest about it can result in non-con that is not so nice... But you handled it beautifully and the vampire-hypnotism works as the method.

I'll be reading the other fic as soon as I have time, too.

(Also, I normally can't stand reading present tense in stories, but it stopped bugging me after a few paragraphs, which is also a sign you're writing well.)

[ladyofpride]

Oh, you're such a darling, you know that? :) I apologize for writing the narrative in present tense --- I've been experimenting with different perspectives and I think I'll be switching back to past tense very soon. It's difficult to like at times and it makes editing a pain when I accidentally revert back to past tense somewhere in the middle of a paragraph (argh). Speaking of which, I just re-read this piece and realize there's just something off about it... (double argh).

As for the non-con/dub-con, it's a love-hate relationship (no pun intended). Somehow, it just writes itself, especially when I love a pairing but I know the conditions of the characters' relationship is a twisted one... Actually, I'm currently in a debate with a friend over Herbert's true intentions. Tvtropes.com notes that, depending on which production you watch, Herbert's either really only after Alfred because he wants to bang him, or because he's genuinely in love with the boy. We can't decide which one suits him better. I just don't know (and now it's killing me).

Anyway, I must be boring you by now. In short, I thank you for your wonderful review and hope that I can continue to entertain the Herbert/Alfred community until I'm out of ideas (all the same, I also hope I don't bury anyone under vanilla fiction). Thank you for taking the time to give me a little feedback. ;)

[valancystar]

You're welcome, as I write myself I know how nice it is to get feedback, and in such a small fandom as this I must ensure that writers whose work I like know I appreciate it. :-)

Heh, I'm in a writing group at the moment and for last week over half of the texts of other people were written in present tense, so I had a little overdose of it. :-D Though oddly enough, since I read this I got a fanfic idea which I think may require being written in present tense. You're corrupting me. ;-) I have to write it and see how it works out. It's not Alfred/Herbert, though, but bizarrely Alfred paired up with his dream self. My mind is strange. I'd like to write some more Alfred/Herbert as well, but at the moment I'm at loss for ideas.

Yeah, it can depend a lot on the actor's interpretation how the Alfred/Herbert stuff comes across. On the other hand, that gives lots of options to play around with!

[ladyofpride]

I'm willing to feed that bunny. I'm shamelessly intrigued with your idea now... Usually I'm not into character/self stories, but yours is just...wow, I can see how that could work. It would work, dammit.

XD

Okay, now you've got me excited. I hope you write it --- but no pressure, 'kay? I know how stressful it can be sometimes when a person consistantly tries to prompt you into writing. The story just doesn't seem to flow...

In any case, I read your other comment and I thank you kindly for all the references! I can't believe I forgot about yuletide...Herbert/Alfred must've fried my brain... ;P

[valancystar]

Yeah, I normally don't mess around with pairing up anyone with themselves, but somehow this bunny got into my head the other day and won't leave. And this might work because Dream!Alfred is different enough from Alfred... Hehe, now that I know there'll be at least one reader for it (probably two, since I have a friend who I think will appreciate it as well), maybe I'll be able to make myself write it. Not that I write for small fandoms or anything. :-D

Any plans to do Yuletide yourself? I don't know if I'll request Tanz this year, but I'll certainly offer it.

[ladyofpride]

Oh, I'll definitely read anything you write. You've already got me hooked on your smooth narration, so I can tell you'll do the plot bunny justice. ;)

As for yuletide, I just signed up this year --- I'm on a waiting list, apparently, but the site's clock says I'll be "in" by the end of November (hm...). Better late than never, I suppose... What will I write/request? Definitely Tanz der Vampire. I'm hooked on it now, and these fetishs tend to last a good long time for me. ;)

[valancystar]

Aww, thank you, sweetie. :-)

Hmm, I guess that means you're on the queue for an Archive Of Our Own invitation to use for Yuletide? If last year's any indication, they probably put Yuletide participants in front of the queue at some point so you'll be able to get it for whatever's in time for Yuletide.

I asked for Alfred fics last year and got three (people wrote some extras after my request turned up on the pinch hit list) so I'm not sure if it would be fair to ask for the same this year. :-D But I'll definitely be offering Tanz.

[valancystar]

Hey, just adding a note that you should probably check out yuletide_admin if you haven't done so already. Seems if you haven't got your AO3 account yet, you should e-mail the admins so they can get you one ahead of the queue for the sign-ups.

[ladyofpride]

You're too good to me, darling. XD Thanks for the tip!

(PS: I've read your other comments, but I just got home, so you can expect my replies a little later...

On a side note, though, I saw your remark on how a Herbert/Alfred fic idea has taken root inside that beautiful mind of yours, and now I'm trying very hard right now to dance around the room. Yay!!!)

[valancystar]

Just don't expect anything too quickly. Originals are crowding my brain these days, and when I revisited that fic idea in daylight, I quickly concluded I'll have to write it at nighttime, preferably after a couple of shots of pálinka (which would be a strong Hungarian liquor). :-P

[ladyofpride]

Oh---no pressure, whatsoever! I know what you mean about needing the right time/environment for writing. I've had quite a long dry spell myself... The muse is the master in my relationship...

;D

[valancystar]

We're all the Muse's bitches, aren't we? :-D I sure am mine.

But I expect it will be written at some point. Bug me if there's no sign of it in a few weeks, in that case I may have just chickened out/gotten busy and be hoping something will bug me into writing it.

[ladyofpride]

No problem. ;P Actually, I'm putting together another piece, but I'll be posting in chapters. I think I'm rushing through my fics too much after having given myself the liberty to write drabbles instead of anything in greater depth. Such is the way of things, I suppose. :)

[valancystar]

Ooh, more fic! I look forward to it whenever you get around to posting it!

(I started the Alfred/White Vampire piece the other day, by the way. Maybe it won't take terribly long to get it written!)

[ladyofpride]

Yay! You've started!!! >.< That brings such a smile to my face. I've been longing for more Tanz fiction for so long...

(And---no pressure. Gotta let the muses sing however they want to sing, right?) ;)