Fic: Keep the Key

[eretria]

Title: Keep the Key
Author: eretria
Fandom: Lewis
Summary: "Why do you hide it?" -- James had always liked Fiona's ability to see through him. Until she did.
Size: ~ 8000 words
Beta-read & Brit-picking: Auburn, Heliona & Wilco. Thank you!
Note: This story is a stand-alone. In another couple of weeks, it will be the introductory chapter to a much longer

Comments

[tinzelda]

I'm completely intrigued and can't wait to read the other parts! Not that this wasn't good all on its own - I found it very satisfying. I laughed when I read your remark about Fiona being the least liked female character, but really, I find her interesting. I think you did a great job with her here, and with Hathaway as well - and I don't think it's easy to get inside his head. The glimpses into their past together were especially interesting to me - sneaking off to London to go to a museum. It seems like they both couldn't completely engage in the relationship. Just all around well done!

[eretria]

HI!

Do excuse the capslock, please, I'm just really excited. And I'm so glad you liked her. Despite her extremely short screentime, she intrigued me, because, well, to get where she got at such a fairly young age is quite an accomplishment, and I have a knack for strong female characters.

And I agree with you - they were never going to work out, and never were a good match as lovers, but, as time and the rest of the story will tell, they take a pretty good stab at being friends.
I think, while they were together, they were in love with the idea of them together, with the concept, but not with each other.

[tinzelda]

You made me smile, but you SHOULD be excited (I like to use caps a lot too). You write a lovely story, and there's more to come, and what better feeling is there than that

[eretria]

There is more to come indeed. You've just seen the tip of the iceberg. The whole story has 23k so far, and, with my co-writer on board, is only about to get longer, because we haven't even got our teeth into the real plot yet. So far, I have mainly written 20 k of fairly emotional scenes. Oh, yeah, and I drugged James and sent him undercover. Uhm...
Auburn is fantastic with plot, so you're in for a treat.

I absolutely agree with your reading of the episode (and how refreshing that is, I cannot begin to describe).

Well, maybe you will have the chance for a re-watch tonight.

[allheadybooks]

This is beautiful! I love this reading of James and Fiona's relationship. I think you're right that Fiona is not much loved in Lewis fandom, partly because she was a two-dimensional one-episode wonder and partly because she stands in the way of Our Boys, and it takes a strong and confident writer to really bring her to life. You've done a wonderful job.

[eretria]

Thank you so much! I have to admit, I had a lot of fun with her. Part of that might be that I just like strong women, and truly enjoy writing about them. I'm very glad that she came across as intended and that you enjoyed the story.
Thank you so much for your kind words.

[paleom]

This flows beautifully and carries rather than drags you along. She is interesting but more so it's interesting to see James with her, how he acts, thinks. It's intriguing to 'watch' and looking forward to the big story.

Paleom
xx

[eretria]

Thank you! Your comment is a particularly lovely compliment, because that's exactly what I was hoping to get across: Not just two characters, but two characters influenced by each other.
And, yay, another reader! I shall let my co-writer know.

Thank you again for your lovely comment.
(And, wow, re-reading this comment now should teach me never to answer comments from my phone. Do excuse the atrocious typos!)

[murron]

Sometimes I want to sit you down in your armchair and hover over your shoulder until you finish a novel because, damn, you'd be so bloody good at it. I read this and my mind boggles at how real your characters are. Your prose flows effortlessly and the dialogues sound more like a recording than something that has been made up. It's impressive, is what it is. Not to mention a pleasure to read

[eretria]

God, darling you're so good for my ego.

Never leave, okay?

Yes. It'll be soon. Have we shown you the new bits?

[cactusonastair]

This was an absolutely well-written and fascinating fic! I don't know that I disliked Fiona McKendrick, only that she seemed like a bit of a skeleton on which to hang a plot point in the actual series, but you've fleshed her out wonderfully, both in the past and the present. James' weakness(es) and her canny understanding of him made this a really intriguing read for me. I am really looking forward to the longer version!