Beholder, Ch. 5, NC-17, RPS, AU, Jensen/Jared

[sandymg]

Comments

[sadritsuka12]

JENSEN FAINT... POOR HIM.. .THANK GOD JARED THERE.. O,0

[sandymg]

Yes. Jared is very good for Jensen in this story. Thanks for your ongoing comments.

[pleasantsarcasm]

Hm, I can't quite decide whether I should think that Jensen thinks he's a beast because of long term emotional abuse or because of an actual curse. Usually I can guess in a fic which way it's going, but this is keeping me intrigued... Touché author!

[sandymg]

Thanks again. Yep. You hit on my major challenge and goal for this story. I'm looking forward to seeing if you are pleased with the resolution.

[mixligs]

Ok, this chap is the essence of this fic for me (tho I haven't finished reading): how Jared realises how beautiful Jensen is inside and falls for him before he even sees his physical beauty. In most fics and in real life its usually the other way around. This way the connection is so much deeper and what a bonus to discover the person whose essence/heart you've fallen in love with looks like a god, a model ;p

[sandymg]

This chapter is crucial, you are right. And it does hit the story's theme. Which is partly from Beauty and the Beast. Although, as you'll see in future chapters. I took the metaphor a bit further than Disney did.

[twirlycurls]

That opening scene so sad. Poor Jensen.

“Have you ever been in love?”
Jared felt eyes upon him for a long moment before Jensen turned away. His answer was barely a whisper. “Who love Beast?”

This is so lovely; you write poignantly paired lines so well.

I also loved the scene of them in the sleeping bag. It read as being written effortlessly even though I'm sure that it wasn't. And it was very hot!

“You wanna know why I wanted you?” he asked more slur than words.
Jensen snuggled closer and Jared felt his head nod. Jared didn’t have one answer and his mind was a swirling fog. “How could I not?” he asked finally before sleep pulled him in.

So much "awwww" there.

I kept going back and forth about what I hoped Jensen would look like. Part of me wanted him to be deformed in some way and for Jared to love him anyway, but by the time I reached your reveal I'd decided that I preferred that he was only ugly in his own mind. (That's true for many people, too, even uncursed ones.)

Maybe Jensen was a model that had some sort of accident

[sandymg]

Thanks! The fact that Jensen was beautiful (the true Belle of the story) was always part of this. I didn't want to go literal on the Beauty and the Beast interpretation. So the Beast was symbolic. But also true. Because Jensen absolutely believes it. In fact, he sees a 'beast' when he looks in a mirror. So the mystery continues on why Jensen believes this. Is he mentally ill? Did something happen to him? And if so, what?

The "Who love a beast?" line is the closest I came to the Disney line ... as it's a direct play to the opening narration of that film.

Thanks for catching Jensen's return to animalistic. He clearly has something going on that make others also be able to 'see the beast'. But Jared has always been special and has always been able to see past it.

In the end, this story really is about the redemptive powers of love.

[twirlycurls]

In the end, this story really is about the redemptive powers of love.

What more could a girl ask for? :)

[aurora999]

You are quite brilliant. I am on the edge of my seat, emotionally involved and addicted. I have no idea what's coming... it's incredible!

[sandymg]

This reveal is my fave of the entire story. I'm glad you liked it. And I'm also glad the story's conclusion is not yet telegraphed. I tried to keep it twisty.