Numb3rs fic: Out in the Cold

[izhilzha]

Look at me, writing more het fic. (Well, sorta. *g*)

Title: Out in the Cold
Pairing/Characters: Larry/Megan
Rating: G
Spoilers: “Mind Games," “Tabu”
Summary: And now he had lost track of Megan, in this house of carven wood and wine-dark wallpaper.
Notes: Written for the numb3rswriteoff challenge; angst; prompt: bitter.

ETA: D'oh! Beta'd by my lovely friend feliciakw

Comments

[irena_adler]

Very vivid and evocative description of her standing at the railing, saying so much without any words.

[izhilzha]

Thank you! I'm happy it worked for you--I was a little nervous about not having put in many clues as to exactly why Megan is so upset.

[spikedluv]

I felt so bad for Megan, that her trip home didn't live up to her expectations, and for Larry, for not being able to help her.

The other entries in this challenge should be safe for you, gen friendslist readers, but caveat lector on the rest of their archives.

Actually, out of the 6 rounds we've had so far, 4 of them have been (or included the option of) Het. *g*

[izhilzha]

Well--not to kill my own angst--but I assume (from her and Larry's attitudes on the show in later episodes) that the trip did get better from there. *g* But I'm very glad you felt their frustration.

Heh. I'm a picky one--I don't even usually write het, and the only OTP I've ever had in any fandom is Larry/Megan. I'm far more interested in writing gen, usually, and I don't read or write slash at all (especially not incest, which hits every single DO NOT WANT button I've got). So I might feel it wasn't fair to the other participants to join in a slash-or-het challenge, because I wouldn't want to read the slash submissions.

However, I would certainly be open to het-only or gen challenges. I'll probably keep the group, and watch it.

[valeriev84]

Wow, this was gorgeous. I loved how you drew on all that we've learned of Megan's past and tied it all together so beautifully. Your descriptions are also terrific.

I'm glad you joined this round. Will you be participating in other rounds?

[valeriev84]

Oh, I just noticed your little comment on Numb3rs Write Off at the bottom of your entry. Although it is very slash friendly, there have been ample het opportunities. I have participated in three previous rounds with het fics. Namely the Coop het/slash round, the Edgerton het/slash round and rare het pairing round (ie. anything but Charlie/Amita & Larry/Megan). So that's 4 out of 6 rounds in which the author could have written het. There is also talk of a gen round soon.

[izhilzha]

Oh, thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it--I've been wanting to write something touching on Megan's past for a while, and this may have only been a little bit, but I had fun putting it together.

I may participate in other rounds; see my reply to spikedluv's comment for what I like and don't like. Gen rounds or het-only might pull me in. I'm definitely going to keep an eye on this community.

[valeriev84]

Oh, I see. Personally I just don't read the fics that have pairings I can't see happening. This round was rare in that I read everything posted. I think there has only been one other round like that.

[mistraltoes]

Well, that was worth the time to read it. :) I particularly like the way you evoked the house using so few descriptors. And this bit:

He had not planned to say this, to grant any credit to the insensitive clod back in the warm sitting room. “Give him a chance.” Not for him, my sweet one. For you. For the laughter I watched go out in your face tonight, because of one thoughtless word. For the woman you are, whom he does not know, nor know how to approach. “It’s only been one evening.”

Also, I like the way that it leaves me wanting to know what happens next. Rather like a good fandom should do. :)

[izhilzha]

Thank you!

I particularly like the way you evoked the house using so few descriptors.

Oh, good; I knew I wouldn't have a lot of time to work on this story, so I made it my goal to keep it as short and clean as I could without skimping on what I wanted to do with it.

I take it the bit you quoted did sound enough like Larry? I'm so nervous about getting his voice right, and technically this is the first time I've written anything (postable) in his pov.

Also, I like the way that it leaves me wanting to know what happens next.

I could tell you what I *think* happens next, but I keep wondering if canon is going to give us more about this visit. I dunno. I may have to write a follow-up fic at some point.

[mistraltoes]

I take it the bit you quoted did sound enough like Larry? I'm so nervous about getting his voice right, and technically this is the first time I've written anything (postable) in his pov.

It did indeed sound like Larry; not precisely the way he speaks, but the way I would expect him to think. None of us speak to others exactly the way we speak to ourselves, so I sometimes find internal monologue quite difficult to write, or to believe when others write it. This section really worked for me.

[Also, I like the way that it leaves me wanting to know what happens next.]

I could tell you what I *think* happens next, but I keep wondering if canon is going to give us more about this visit. I dunno. I may have to write a follow-up fic at some point.

Never let it be said that I discouraged fic. :) But my point was that I think leaving the audience wanting more is a good thing! Stop before you run out of things to say, as it were. Though I'm sure that when you have something else ready to say re Megan/Larry, it will be worth reading.

[izhilzha]

None of us speak to others exactly the way we speak to ourselves, so I sometimes find internal monologue quite difficult to write, or to believe when others write it. This section really worked for me.

Ah, I know what you mean! Thank you, I'm glad that worked.

But my point was that I think leaving the audience wanting more is a good thing! Stop before you run out of things to say, as it were.

Hee! I promise, I won't write a sequel unless I do indeed have more to say about Megan/Larry, in this context. (I was directly asked for sequel by someone on ff.net, which amused me.)

[kalquessa]

Oh, poor Megan! *clings* And Larry being so understanding and so awesome. What I love about this pairing is how genuinely adult the both are. Megan doesn't try to pretend she's fine but she doesn't rail and rant or wibble, either. Because she's Megan and she kicks ass. And she knows herself and knows Larry well enough to just say "Don't" when she doesn't want to be comforted or advised.

I hope that when they got back to the hotel or once they got home to CA there were hearts and flowers and cuddling, though. Because dude. Ouch.

(Larry is going to wait out in the cold for her because she doesn't have a jacket so why should he need one?? Larry!! How are you the most awesome boyfriend ever??)

[izhilzha]

What I love about this pairing is how genuinely adult the both are.

Me too. They're grownups and behave like it, even when they're all giggly over each other (as in the diner scene in "Spree").

I hope that when they got back to the hotel or once they got home to CA there were hearts and flowers and cuddling, though.

I think there were. I think they were both in need of warming up after this, and once Megan got over her need to process alone, she would be fine with some serious cuddling. :)

I want Larry to be my boyfriend.