Virtuoso

[warriorofice]

Title: Virtuoso
Description: Zakary Atalo is a musical prodigy who thinks he has lost his touch and his ability to perform. Will taking a teaching job and meeting a certain bright young student be enough to bring his music back, or end his career forever?
A/N: Ficathon 2011 entry -- check Shitennou Forums for reveals and zipfile!
I'm pretty happy with

Comments

[lovelylytton]

I just added this to my memories. Again, I have to say it, must repeat it: I love this fic. I am not even a big A/Z shipper, but between you and Spirit, you make me root for A/Z as if they were M/K, which means: A LOT.

One thing I haven't commented on so far (at least I don't think so) is the friendship between Jaden and Zak. Jaden has Zak's back, even when he doesn't understand his friend. Zak is one lucky guy to have this kind of support.

I like that you took your time to develop the romance between the two of them. It's not that they see each other and bamm! Minds blown, instant attraction, hook up half a scene later. They come together for a specific purpose and over the course of many, many meetings, they grow close and realise that they will miss each other when those meetings come to their inevitable end. The attraction is there from early on, but they don't really act on it.

And you gave Ami a reason for wanting to play an instrument, I like that too. It's so touching that she makes a conscious choice to let music and art into her life despite her father's connection to it.

One of my many favourite parts is this one:
His mouth opened slightly and stayed that way, but no sound escaped his lips. Ami blinked, trying to figure out what could be the matter. His usual scent of lavender and mint wafted towards her from his slightly disordered curls. Lavender - true lavender - had always smelled masculine to her, not at all feminine.
This is great - it's such a clever way to subvert Zoisite's slightly feminine touch. And it's just one of the many scenes were the sexual tension is running high and you push it further and further but never take the easy way out and never go for the clichés. I love this fic, and love the ending, and before I forget it, I love that you had Ami being rejected by Stanford. Gah, this sounds mean, doesn't it?