... Oh. Oh oh oh oh. That was beautiful. I love how Zhou Yu is preparing himself for death by secluding himself, removing himself from the living and preparing to meet his (dead) beloved. And the qin, not the sword is the bridge between both worlds. I like how SQ's insecurity is also less self-destructive and more self-reflective - it's hard to find the difference between the two but you do it so well.
That last image, of SQ leaving will stay with me for a long time.
*sniffs* Oh, now how am I going to follow something as beautiful as this? :P
Initially I struggled to think of how ZY would react to his impending death - or from what I figure would be his impending death given that he didn't die on the spot, bless him - but I suppose even the strongest of generals are still humans and it would be terrifying to most knowing that they're dying.
I have to put in the qin. I swear it's an addiction. *facepalms* Ohh SQ is very cooperative with this fic - I find it so much easier to write him here than the SQ/ZL I intended to write D: Oh why, SQ dear?
Oh you can, c'mon I'm waiting for more epicness from you ;D Remember, micro fandom is micro and you can make a difference! *makes it sound like a World Vision ad*
Oh my, this is so sad. I was really caught by the symbolism of the peony - made me think of Peony Pavilion and the separation of the lovers, ZY has been holding on to a dream all this time.
It's a really earthy piece, the turning of the seasons, time moving on, loss and regeneration - and the ants scurrying around like the only army ZY commands now.
I really like SQ here - the events he's witnessed really make him grow up (I think we see this change in RC2) and suddenly he's faced with another loss. His father, his brother, his sister (since he married her off!), and now ZY. So he's treading a fine line between being a ruler and being a lonely young man. I loved the line where ZY tells him to g to ZL and find his happiness there... wow I got all teary at that point.
And I loved that last line. Because it's so true. Sometimes you think you're doing something to be selfless, but it only makes the difference to yourself. SQ gets his closure, I hope.
I wasn't thinking of the Peony Pavilion but you brought up a very beautiful point there! I was using the peony only because when it blooms its really beautiful, and ZY's life has been quite the peony itself - the contributions he made, etc, yet eventually he has to go, just like the peony, and just like all things living.
SQ is a brilliant character in the RC series, admittedly - the sort of struggles he face really makes him so human. ZY is being nice to him by telling him to spend more precious time with ZL ;D Must be the dawning of his death reminding him how time is most often short.
Thank you! I'm most happy to know that you think this fic is powerful - that's such a compliment. :D
Peonies are really fragile flowers - I know they're often used in Western literature as a metaphor for aging, but I'm not sure what they mean (if anything) to the Chinese. But Peony Pavilion came to mind because there's a dreamlike quality to the fic, ZY knows he's dying so he gather all these transient things of beauty around him and turns his back on reality (XQ, his child, SQ) and faces death.
You're right - SQ is probably the most human of all the Good Guys just as Cao Cao is the most human of the Bad Guys. Oho, SQ/CC!!!!
They are? I certainly learn a lot about those flowers from you today. *laughs* I know peonies aren't easy to take care of. They make really pretty Chinese New Year decorations but given the fragility of the flowers they don't usually import it to Malaysia - then again it's too hot, and they would've withered in tropical temperatures. :S
SQ/CC oh my god so wrong. :P You certainly do have a thing for CC, don't you. I could imagine it in a most sadistic, one-sided type fic... but oh damn, poor SQ. :P
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That last image, of SQ leaving will stay with me for a long time.
*sniffs* Oh, now how am I going to follow something as beautiful as this? :P
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I have to put in the qin. I swear it's an addiction. *facepalms* Ohh SQ is very cooperative with this fic - I find it so much easier to write him here than the SQ/ZL I intended to write D: Oh why, SQ dear?
Oh you can, c'mon I'm waiting for more epicness from you ;D Remember, micro fandom is micro and you can make a difference! *makes it sound like a World Vision ad*
Glad you like this much! *squees* XD
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It's a really earthy piece, the turning of the seasons, time moving on, loss and regeneration - and the ants scurrying around like the only army ZY commands now.
I really like SQ here - the events he's witnessed really make him grow up (I think we see this change in RC2) and suddenly he's faced with another loss. His father, his brother, his sister (since he married her off!), and now ZY. So he's treading a fine line between being a ruler and being a lonely young man. I loved the line where ZY tells him to g to ZL and find his happiness there... wow I got all teary at that point.
And I loved that last line. Because it's so true. Sometimes you think you're doing something to be selfless, but it only makes the difference to yourself. SQ gets his closure, I hope.
Very powerful fic.
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SQ is a brilliant character in the RC series, admittedly - the sort of struggles he face really makes him so human. ZY is being nice to him by telling him to spend more precious time with ZL ;D Must be the dawning of his death reminding him how time is most often short.
Thank you! I'm most happy to know that you think this fic is powerful - that's such a compliment. :D
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You're right - SQ is probably the most human of all the Good Guys just as Cao Cao is the most human of the Bad Guys. Oho, SQ/CC!!!!
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SQ/CC oh my god so wrong. :P You certainly do have a thing for CC, don't you. I could imagine it in a most sadistic, one-sided type fic... but oh damn, poor SQ. :P
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Heartbreakingly beautiful.
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