Substitute

[maraudermods]

Title: Substitute
Author: starstruck1986
Artists: stubbel and tortugax
Pairing(s): Remus/Severus, secondary Remus/Sirius, James/Lily, imagined Lily/Severus.
Rating and Warnings: NC-17, coarse language, slash, angst, mentions of torture, minor character death, a slightly dark!Severus.
Summary: Two men lost in memories they cannot fight find the perfect substitute in each other,

Comments

[brighty18]

This is truly outstanding on all levels. You managed to capture what is often portrayed as a rather clichéd love triangle with masterful subtlety. All your characters: Remus, Severus, Lily, Sirius (and all) were real and warm and sympathetic and I found myself a little in love with all of them. And, as a Sirius-fan girl, I have to let you know that the Snape-love you’re making me feel is a HUGE compliment.

This passage killed me:
It had been fine when, he realised, he and Remus stood on equal footing. They had both lost, and had come together to eliminate the tension, drink together and in a few embarrassing memories which stiffened his cock and made him shudder, they had made love. Those slow, soul torching times when they melted together so closely that it was impossible to tell where Severus Snape ended and Remus Lupin began, because they were a single unit, haunted him. If he tried hard enough he could still drum up the scent of the man's chocolate-grey hair. It had been nothing when they were at school, almost mousey and certainly unmentionable. But that scent overpowered him every time he considered it, and as such, Remus overpowered him.

I have so many favorite scenes and moments that I want to quote the whole thing back to you. But I will refrain and content myself with just a few: The Snape/Lily parts were especially moving to me, for you showed is Severis’ feelings as being beautifully complex. I also adored the Sirius-asks-Remus-to-move-in scene. And Remus and Sirius being bonded? That was heart-breaking. Oh, and you write sex very, very well!

The narrative structure was also exceedingly effective. I loved the back and forth through time and how you cleverly wove the threads of theme, thought, and motif together. Sometimes that can be distracting, but you played it well and it really made the story sing.

And the ending, depressing as it was, was perfectly fitting for the story.

This was truly marvelous.

Also, cool art and REALLY cool fanmix. Congratulations to everyone for creating a truly beautiful experience.

[starstruck1986]

*blush* Thank you.

And the ending, depressing as it was, was perfectly fitting for the story.

I'm really glad of this. People have said to me before that I'm not afraid of taking a story where it needs to go, as opposed as to where the readers might want it to, and I try to stick by that -so I'm pleased to see this had the same effect.

Thanks for your comments -they're making me glow!