Homeward Bound for colourmayfade

[zelda_zee]

Title: Homeward Bound
Author: elliotsmelliot
Recipient: colourmayfade
Characters: Juliet, Sawyer, Daniel, Miles, Jin, young Ben, Jacob, early Juliet/Sawyer
Rating: PG 13
Warnings: Spoilers for S5, mild language
Prompt: Happiness for Juliet
Summary: A year in the life of Juliet Burke, circa 1974.
Author notes: When I saw your prompt, I was inspired to explain how Juliet

Comments

[aurilly]

I love this! It's such a sweet and wonderful story. I love that you made happiness for Juliet within the circumstances of canon, and not in a kind of fairytale. More than that, though, I'm always looking for stories about the Left-Behinders getting used to being in the 70s, and this did such a great job of showing their growing friendship. Like Miles's cute line about how if she stays, Sawyer will shut up. And Sawyer listing all the terrible things about the 70s. Love it. I also just loved the idea of seeing what it's like for one of them to go back to the real world in the 70s. And then JACOB!!! Yay! You wrote him so so well and I just adore him. This was such a great story. :)

[elliotsmelliot]

Thank you for these kind words. It's always great to know which parts of the story stood out for you. In particular, I'm glad the Jacob scene worked for you. Thanks for reading and commenting!

[jenthegypsy]

...this is the bittersweet part, and she feels somewhat like Dorothy saying good bye to her friends in Oz. "I guess you’ll miss me most of all, huh." Perfect ~ Dorothy and the Scarecrow ~ great linking reference!

Jacob!?! Creepy awesome and omg excellent! He's very well done. As is Daniel ~ aw, I miss Daniel so much. *sad sigh*

She goes back! *good sigh* Because, unlike Dorothy, she had found that Kansas was no longer home.

Love your story to bits. The characters all ring true as can be, and the decisions made are all in agreement with what 'should' happen. From your pen to Darlton's ears, I say. Thank you and Happy Christmas!

[elliotsmelliot]

I'm glad the Oz mentions weren't too cheesy for you. If Lost hadn't already stolen the title, calling this No Place Like Home, would have been perfect.

I miss Daniel too. Sniff.

Thanks for the awesome feedback. Happy New Year!

[placating]

This is so well-written. It's practically blasphemy in online circles, but I have to admit I thought that the writers did a terrible job with Juliet: sympathetic background, competence, and cool one-liners, but after a good introduction she lost her dimension and was used only to twist plots as necessary.

You've breathed such life into her here, and it's beautiful. It seems so fitting and believable that she, the woman we're first shown as a mercenary when it comes to getting off the island, would finally make it off and perhaps even enjoy it to some extent before realizing her life couldn't be what she wanted it to be that way. This is much more satisfying than the little information canon presented us with.

I'm also a fan of your Sawyer and his ongoing list of reasons to stay. You've done a really wonderful job here.

[elliotsmelliot]

I am totally with you that Juliet's S5 story was terrible. She became a mere plot device. Beyond sticking up for saving Ben, she had no independent thought or emotion all season. Knowing how you feel, I'm so happy that this story connected with you and filled in some potential gaps. Thanks for reading and commenting.

I really enjoyed the story you wrote for this exchange. I hope to see more of you around. Do you mind if I friend you?

[ozmissage]

This is quite possibly my new favorite fic ever. What you did with Juliet, giving her a year to just be herself, to leave that damn island just to prove that she could, traveling from town to town and writing postcards she'll never send, and then winding up in Ann Arbor with Dan---it's seriously everything I ever wanted for her and you pulled it off so amazingly.

And then she chooses to go back on her own terms. Just...so good. I also love the way you sketch the beginning of Sawyer/Juliet. His reasons for her to stay and then the encounter at the end (the pantomime totally reminded me of one of my favorite Doctor Who scenes. This is such a wonderful, well thought out fic and I'm so glad I got to read it (and I'm sure I'll be re-reading it way too much in the future because it's awesome.)

One more thing: Your Miles snark was hilarious. :D

[elliotsmelliot]

After reading your 5 endings fic this week, I'm certain we are of the same mind when it comes to Juliet's stunted storylines and lame ending. When I got this comment two weeks ago, it totally made me squee because it was a reaction above and beyond what I hoped for. I'm glad this imagined past felt right for you. You are the master of Miles snark - so it is also awesome to hear his brief appearance worked. Thanks for reading and commenting.

Happy New Year!

[inthekeyofd]

I love that she made a list of the reasons to stay or the reasons to go back and even though she chose to hit the road, she wants roots, she wants to see her friends again.

I love that you made her so well rounded as well, I could totally see her doing all of this.

And Jacob being there as well. Now that was totally creepy, but it fit, it all fit and that's the sign of one hell of a great fic!!!

[elliotsmelliot]

Thanks so much for this great comment. Jacob totally creeps me out, so it is not surprising he came off that way here. I'm so happy you liked this. Thanks for reading and commenting.

Happy New Year!