Comments | catsfiction: After the Storm (3/6), Post JE, Rating Gen: Donna, Wilf, Sylvia, Jack, Tenth Doctor, Martha

catsfiction

After the Storm (3/6), Post JE, Rating Gen: Donna, Wilf, Sylvia, Jack, Tenth Doctor, Martha

Jan 19, 2009 13:49

AUTHOR:
sensiblecat

WORDS: 4885

SPOILERS: Up to the The Next Doctor.

CREDITS: picture by fizzling_wizbee

The idea of Donna leaving Sylvia a letter about her travels with the Doctor comes from the BBC DW novel "Beautiful Chaos" by Garry Russell. Italicised extracts are his work. I have taken a small liberty with chronology - in the book the letter doesn't ( Read more... )

donna fic, after the storm, post-journey's end

Comments 24

the_willows January 19 2009, 14:46:52 UTC

Please don't make us wait too long for the next part, I still haven't managed to breathe yet...

*picks jaw up from floor*

And your cut text made me a bit tearful.

The exchanges between The Doctor and Jack were utterly compelling.

catsfiction January 19 2009, 21:48:53 UTC

I'm working on the next bit now. I didn't realise the cliffhangers were quite that evil!

dark_aegis January 19 2009, 15:34:12 UTC

Uh-oh.

And the consequences deepen. As always, I love how you explore the Doctor's psyche. And I can't wait to find out what happens next. *waits "patiently" for the next installement*

catsfiction January 19 2009, 21:50:07 UTC

It's quite an action-packed chapter, the next one. Working on it now.

hence_the_name January 19 2009, 16:28:09 UTC

Gah! Oh no! Donna!

No one is completely wrong or completely right in this situation, and I love how you've brought that out here. Really spot on dialogue between the Doctor and Jack, and I love the section in Sylvia's pov. I think there's been insufficient exploration of her psyche in fic, and I'm glad to see it so well done here. :)

Anxiously awaiting the next!

catsfiction January 19 2009, 21:52:16 UTC

The thing I liked about "Beautiful Chaos" was that it gave both Wilf and Sylvia the benefit of a bit of character building. I'm probably similar to Sylvia in more ways than I'd like to admit. It is quite interesting to write her, and to reflect on how very difficult the Doctor's presence in her life would be for her to accept.

hence_the_name January 20 2009, 03:48:08 UTC

I'm going to have to keep my eye out for the US release of "Beautiful Chaos." :) You've piqued my interest!

I think the Doctor has to be incredibly difficult for all his companions' mothers to accept--he's the epitome of the guy you don't want your daughter to bring home: danger and guaranteed heartbreak all wrapped up in a handsome and charming package. Sylvia is of course her own particular (and particularly compelling) case. I have a few lines of conversation between her and the Doctor scribbled in a notebook in want of a context. :P

catsfiction January 20 2009, 22:38:15 UTC

Go with them! The world needs more Sylvia fic. Maybe we could find her a nice man? Or at least Jack could turn on the charm a bit...

"Chaos" is a good read. It's framed by post-JE scenes before and after and shows Sylvia really trying to get her head around the Doctor, knowing she's not always as open-minded as she could be (although she does slap him on one occasion). And the author even gives Wilf a bit of a love-interest, nicely done though it doesn't end very happily. Oh DW, why do you do this to us?

torn_eledhwen January 19 2009, 19:29:44 UTC

Another great chapter with more spot-on characterisation. I think you succeeded in making Sylvia sympathetic too, which is pretty difficult - she got a hard rap on-screen.

catsfiction January 19 2009, 21:53:45 UTC

Thank you. It was an interesting challenge to write Sylvia but I wanted to explore the fallout for the Noble/Mott household fully and she's very much part of that.

wendymr January 20 2009, 02:01:35 UTC

Another brilliant chapter :) I'm particularly impressed by the Sylvia section, because I really did not like her in the episodes. You've managed to make me sympathise with her, understand her a bit more and believe that she really does love Donna.

So, Martha giving the Doctor a little bit of a piece of her mind - I like it. I also love the subtle shift from that to where Jack takes over. Martha is clearly a friend (feeling a bit slighted) who sees the Doctor still as something of a mentor. Jack, though, seems to see himself as an equal these days, and in many ways (though obviously not in terms of the Time Lord level of intelligence) he is.

Though Martha really did make the most significant point:

“Yeah, well we don’t all have that option, do we?” the Doctor said, bitterly ( ... )

catsfiction January 20 2009, 16:24:12 UTC

Like you, I find Martha much more interesting and likable in fiction, both spin-off professional and fan fic, than I did on-screen. I've come to the conclusion that being with the Doctor diminishes her and she shines brightest without him. Most of the good fics I've read about her do separate them for at least some of the time. I think FA's acting range might have been an issue, too ( ... )