["Kaleidoscope" update] Breaking Point

[shimotsuki]

Believe it or not, this fic was originally inspired by the last rt_challenge ficathon, back in March (although I've forgotten what prompt it was supposed to be for). I've been working on it off-and-on ever since. Tonight, I decided to celebrate the end of a nastily busy work week by hauling it out and polishing it up to post.
Title: Breaking Point
Author: shimotsuki

Comments

[gilpin25]

I always like a different take on R/T by seeing them through another character's eyes, and it works so well seeing them through Andromeda's here. I love the way how, as we progress through the story, she gradually warms more and more to Remus, and is more and more impressed, until he undoes all that in one moment by doing about the worst thing a mother could observe - turning away from her daughter when she needs him.

I think your title works very well as this is kind of a 'breaking point' for them all? If you're going to do more from Andromeda's POV - yes, please :) - I'd love to see you tackle when Ted leaves and a few other things! I'd especially like to see how the relationship between Remus and his mother-in-law progresses before Teddy's born; it's fascinating here to see her take his closing in on himself initially as sullenness while we're all thinking it's pride and humiliation before she considers that possibility. I like the idea of how hard she finds it to read him and his motives as a man (but the werewolf word never comes into it), and how a mother would naturally want the reassurance from an undemonstrative man that he loves her daughter. Which echoes what JKR did with Tonks staggering off the broomstick into his arms in DH?

I also thought it was genius having Poppy's Patronus be a St. Bernard, especially as she dished out reviving potions. And I think you have to come up with appropriate lyrics to that Celestina hit. ;)

Thanks for a highly enjoyable late night read and I'm glad you've got through your week!:D

[shimotsuki]

Thanks so much for the thoughtful comments!

I've really come to like writing Andromeda. I haven't entirely figured out how I'm going to flesh out the Ted situation, but I've had a plotbunny for a long time for Andromeda's pre-Teddy reconciliation with Remus, and (this is sort of cheating but) I think I'll rewrite my old pair of "meet-the-parents" fics for DH compatibility too. I'm imagining it's not the werewolf issue per se that is the major sticking point, but Tonks's parents worrying whether this marriage will let their daughter live a happy and comfortable life. (I think it's likely Remus only saw "disgust" from Ted and Andromeda through the lens of his own shame and self-disgust.)

I'm glad you liked the St. Bernard, and I'll think about trying to channel Celestina. ;)