(Untitled)

[tawg]

Title: Five Times that Nicholas said Danny’s Name (you know, really said it).
Rating: M.
Characters: Nicholas/Danny.
Notes: Look, this isn’t a happy story. There is angst, and some gore, and some character death (and some sex stuff, but that doesn’t really make up for it). If you’re looking for something sweet and fluffy, go (re)read Zed’s fic

Comments

[alpha_orionis_v]

We really know how to depress a fun fandom, don't we :P

I think what really got me was the whole "growing old together" bit. Bad timing, much?

[tawg]

Nothing say 'imminent character death' like making plans for the future.

[alpha_orionis_v]

Especially in a cop fandom.

[annlarimer]

"Nicholas Angel was three days away from retirement when the call came in..."

[beccavox]

Wow. Okay, it was angsty, but damn, it was so good I didn't have time to fuss over all that before the end.

Your foreshadowing is cruel. :P

"He'd finally learnt what he was allowed to grab on to" -- that one really got me.

[tawg]

My foreshadowing is subtle like a brick :D

I really liked that line too, just a nice and easy way to show that things were changing (for the better) between them. And then I had to go and stomp on it.

(Also: I've been meaning to ask: is it 'learnt' or 'learned'? Because I grew up with 'learnt', but spell check seems determined to prove me wrong...)

[big_twinkie]

There are alternative forms of the past tense and past participle of the verb learn. Learnt is more common in British English, and learned in American English.

These are from a set of words which has two forms of the past.

Example: burned/burnt, learned/learnt, smelled/smelt

Usually, when forming the past tense of a verb, the -ed form is used, while the -t form is used mainly for adjectives, but not always.

Example:

What have you learned? (perfect tense)
It was burnt toast. (adjective)

Clear things up?

[tawg]

I was with you right up until you started explaining things :p

The -t form for adjectives makes sense (running it though my head, and yes, none of it seems weird. Excellent). I think the main problem is that, down here, the -t form seems to be used for verbs as well.
"He's earnt over four hundred this week." But then, I'm wondering if that's got more to do with informal language:
"He's earnt" versus "He has earned".

I'll probably use your guidelines as a rule of thumb, until I get my head wrapped around it :)

[tawg]

That thigh holster... finally, guns and legs are together at last!

Kittens are the win.