Ficlet: Fire and Flowers (Neal/Peter)

[laesmeralda]

Title: Fire and Flowers (Ficlet)
Author: Esmeralda (laesmeraldaFandom: White Collar

Comments

[winterstar95]

This is lovely. I would love to read more.

[laesmeralda]

Thank you so much. I thought I had 'written out' this thread after the two three-parters. Maybe the boys will have more for me... not sure yet.

[sarcasticcheese]

I really love this whole story/universe you've created. I was excited when I saw another chapter in this saga posted and it didn't disappoint. Fantastic!

[laesmeralda]

Funny, when you think you're finished, and then the characters just start speaking again. I understand there might be medicine available for that. Meanwhile, many thanks for reading on and letting me know.

[coffeethyme4me]

Wow. I just love this! The imagery is lovely, the psychology well-served by it. I really like the dynamics between them and the uniqueness with which that's expressed.

[laesmeralda]

I'm glad it worked for you. I felt shy that the imagery is overblown compared to my usual instincts. But nightmares are surreal and Neal awakening from this one wouldn't have all his walls up right away. His more internal voice came from the artist within even as his speech is more clipped. But Peter hears the internal voice anyway, I think he always has. Thanks for commenting!

[teaboyfan]

I really like the way you showcase Peter's strength and his gentleness in this; both characteristics seem equally prominent in canon. There's something very appealing in a person who reacts to vulnerability with protectiveness instead of moving in like a predator on a crippled deer (like Kramer), and the protectiveness is mutual. And when Neal understood that Peter was speaking from personal experience with the consultant, he trusted him enough to stop objecting. That subtle little exchange really captured the depth of their relationship. It had to be hard for Neal to overcome his catlike self-sufficiency and let Peter take care of him.

[laesmeralda]

This probably won't come as a surprise since you've read this whole thread, but I find Peter at least as intriguing as Neal and I think the sexy edge goes to Peter precisely because of what you've identified. He instinctively protects. And he goes into a life experience completely open, knowing he'll probably get hurt but doing it anyway. Even when he fumbles, his sincerity comes to the rescue. Part of Neal thinks that he's just the manifestation of Peter's shadow self and thus misunderstands the attraction from Peter's side. But sometimes, he gets a glimpse of the real deal, and he can't help but respond.

[sholio]

AWWWWWWW. :D This is sweet and adorable, and I also like El and Neal's relationship as hinted at here -- I think it is very plausible.

[laesmeralda]

Hence the fuzzy bunny warning, LOL! Glad it reads true for El. I enjoy AU but I try to write canon. And seeing Neal's face during that phone booth call El covers in the Burke Seven... that stuck with him.