Freedom's Just Another Word (Rick/Shane, The Walking Dead)

[gravi_girl123]

Pairing: Rick/Shane, mentions of Shane/OC, Carl/OC in future parts. The main pair is my Walking Dead OTP, though, and yes, it’s a love story because I’m a sucker for that.

Rating: NC-17 to be safe. I had no control over how much Rick and Shane wanted to sex each other up in this universe.

Summary: AU twist on canon: Six years after a zombie hoard

Comments

[almadeamla]

It's funny, I checked my flist before going off to do work and saw, to my surprise, a new Rick/Shane fic had been posted! I started reading the summary and immediately though "this sounds familiar" THEN I realized it was yours. HA. Should have guessed from the title, huh? /not observant

I'm not sure how much editing you've done to this chapter since I last read it, but it feels new to me, in its own way. Maybe because your writing is so atmospheric. Scenic, too. I feel like I'm following Rick into this universe for the first time, even if I'm not. It's gorgeous, your prose and perspective. Rick's always been difficult to capture(for me) but this here is Rick. The only Rick I know, at least.

Can't wait to see what you've done with the rest of this. (though, I suppose I won't be waiting too long, as I get to read it before anyone else).

♥

[gravi_girl123]

I was going to send this to you last night, but I wanted to light a fire under my ass to keep working on the story while I'm away for the next few days without a computer at hand, so I just took the plunge and posted part 1.

Your praise just. I can't even. Makes my day =). I can't stress how difficult it is to write Rick for me sometimes, so hard to capture, you're right. Once I get back expect an e-mail full of metaphorical tears about these two really Important scenes I'm trying to write between Michonne and Rick and Carl and Rick. Whoo-boy. Rick's voice, be easier to capture, PLEASE.

Damn straight you get to see it first! I think I've added quite a bit since the last time I sent you a draft. Again, you have been more help than you can imagine. And seriously you don't know how hard you make me laugh in addition to making me want to keep writing this story.

[almadeamla]

I'm glad you worked on the fic, you can talk to me any time. Inspiration comes in bursts, never waste it. Mostly because you should be getting more fic to me as quickly as possible because I want it.

Rick really is kind of a mystery and he shouldn't be, considering he's the lead protagonist/default narrative perspective(more so in season 1, season 2 was wonderfully Shane heavy, maybe even MORE Shane heavy), and I'm really in awe of your ability to replicate him. I don't think I've even attempted his perspective since I wrote a preseries fic forever ago. Rick why do you never let anyone know what's going on in your head?? I eagerly await this email, don't even worry. Remember that Rick/Shane/Lori fic that was supposed to be 2500 words? Well it's double that and not done and we can just cry to each other and it'll be pathetic.

Dude you make me blush, like a lot. You know all those feelings are returned right? Because they are, none of what I've written would exist if I didn't have you Lady Macbething over my shoulder.

[turtlepatch]

Almadeamla sent me here, and I'm glad she did. You actually managed to make Rick interesting, which is a difficult feat even for fics written completely outside the realm of canon.

While this obviously didn't happen, you managed to make it feel like a natural part of the story, a place they could've [and should've] gone. It seems like this is a strong base for what is going to be a powerful story, and I can't wait to read more.

[Also can I just add that I love that this isn't a "Rick and Shane have always been in love and fucking, and Rick never really cared about Lori" kind of fic? It feels like a real, honest progression of their relationship, and I can't express how much I enjoy reading that. Excellent job.]

[gravi_girl123]

To the untrained eye, it may not seem like making Rick interesting is a huge compliment, but oh my goodness it is. Thank you! I try, oh I try. This was almost in Shane's POV because he's just inherently more interesting to me, but I wanted to fall in love with Shane through Rick's eyes. Also wanted to get in Rick's head about Carl and Shane's father-son relationship and how he deals with that. But that certainly comes into play a lot more in the next two parts.

Ug, those kinds of stories would never sit right with me. I'm lucky enough that canon gave me the kind of dynamics that could easily lend themselves to a full on love triangle or OT3 or three separate pairings, but I could never write off Rick/Lori or even Shane/Lori completely. It's there, but it definitely doesn't have to be a barrier to Rick/Shane. Love it.

Thank you for the lovely comment =)

[1_rhiannon_1]

I second what turtlepatch said - this feels like an honest real progression, not just another "I'm going to shoehorn them into what I want, and damn the rest" fic and I love it! :D

[gravi_girl123]

Ahhh thank you so much! I'm really glad you guys are feeling the story and the world I've created. I haven't put this much energy or heart into a story in what feels like a long time. Not that my Rick/Shane/Lori wasn't something I cared about, but it wasn't the same kind of story.

[1_rhiannon_1]

Your energy and heart show, believe me! I have to be honest - I don't even really like Rick much anymore, but this story just feels right. :)

[stormy_mayday]

almadeamla gave me the link to your fic and let me just say -- this was fantastic. I absolutely loved it. This is a really interesting concept, six years in the future but the way you write it makes it absolutely flawless and believable.

I found Carl's character to really be truly intriguing. I feel you wrote him perfectly, especially when you talk about the fact he's blank and emotionless now, showing very few emotions. So good. And Rick and Shane's relationship is so pliable, I love it; you can feel it in the way you write.

Absolutely fabulous!