I know every mile will be worth my while; I would go most anywhere to feel like I belong...

[chaineddove]

Clearly, the moment blind_go comes around, I become extremely prolific... as long as what I'm producing has no relevance to blind_go whatsoever. So, um... have some pretty shoujo-ai? Feel free to ignore the song I used in the post title, REALLY. YES I KNOW I SHOULD BE ASHAMED.

Title: Beginnings From an Ending (The Lost Years: Part 1)
Fandom: Final Fantasy X/X-

Comments

[dior_anghel]

This is fabulous. I seldom find a fic with such perfect characterization. Especially your Rikku - “I’M NOT SCARED!” she says, nearly screams, to the unwelcoming landscape, challenging it, challenging herself. I’m the best, she thinks, remembering Tidus, his grin, his spinning sword, his easy confidence. Try and stop me. - this is so much more than perfect.

This is going on my memories.

Wonderful.

[chaineddove]

Wow, I am so flattered by this comment, I can't really express it. When Rikku-muse moved into my head and took over, I was hesitant--my fic tends to be rambly and melancholy and all the things she is not, so it is such a relief to hear I've done her justice!

Thank you thank you thank you! I'm sure this will not be my last foray into this fandom, or into this pairing, for that matter. I think I'm addicted. XD

[ex_karasu511]

Wow, this was really beautiful! Rikku's feelings are so palpable, and you've written her so well. I can really see her going through that kind of thing, and I love the way she meets Paine and even though that half is short, the relationship feels developed. Plus, the ending was great. :D Nice work!

[chaineddove]

Thank you~!

As far as the relative lengths of the sections go... the way I saw it, it took half the story for Rikku to find herself and the other half for her to find happiness in someone else ^_^. I'm glad it didn't feel rushed, though there was certainly a lot left out of the relationship development. When I do the companion piece from Paine's POV, I imagine there will be a lot less innocence and a lot more, "Want but must not touch" vibes XD

[skeletal504]

I love this pairing... great job!

[chaineddove]

I love it too... and thank you~!

[she_universe]

That is when she begins to learn the true meaning of silence.

i fell in love right there. and, oh, what with the backstory you gave me? this is win. *oogles*

as always, the language? so lovely. ♥

[chaineddove]

Thank you~! ♥

*finally gets around to reading*

[spiralstarfall]

You know, I've never been much of a fan of this pairing, but I think I am starting to be swayed. c:

This is lovely and I'm somewhat jealous that you managed to make your Rikku more grounded in her thoughts, because that's the way I think she really is. XD She's not as spazztic in FFX as she is in X-2 and the giant gap between the two has made me twitch for a while, but I like the way you filled in the gap. It makes things make sense.

I'm probably going to start adopting some of this as headcanon for my Rikku. I love how restless she is, and it's not rooted out of ~*~oh noes my sekrit luvr went awayyyyyy~*~, but instead in the fact that she's still a kid and doesn't know who she is. She's lost the people she's defined herself by -- Home, the guardians -- and that leaves her with nothing and, since she's naturally energetic and can't sit still, she drives herself nuts burning a candle at both ends (in her own words) because she doesn't know what else to do