Comments | lit_luminary: "Changes" post-ep fic.

lit_luminary

"Changes" post-ep fic.

May 15, 2011 21:57

Title: Remade Regrets
Author: lit_luminary
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Chase; past Chase/Cameron; implications of Chase/various women and House/Chase friendship/mentorship.
Summary: A study in remorse and might-have-beens, attempting to reconcile Chase’s behavior this season with his character as established in S1-6. (Set after “Changes” but ( Read more... )

post-ep, ficlet, chase, cameron, character pov: chase, house

Comments 13

cuddyclothes May 16 2011, 03:16:07 UTC

This is so nice...it helps make sense out of the character in a way the show cannot. Love how the fantasy and reality intertwine.

lit_luminary May 16 2011, 13:28:50 UTC

Thank you so much! I've been beyond appalled by what the show has done with Chase this season, because he was anything but a womanizing cad the six years previous. I can accept what he's doing as a self-destructive form of escapism, but certainly not as something he actually enjoys.

What's worse is that House still hasn't noticed any problem, even now that he's no longer afflicted by Cuddy-induced myopia. I don't buy for a second that the man who keeps tabs on everyone in his orbit by means classifiable as stalking simply doesn't react to a major personality/behavioral change: realistically, he'd have staged the kind of intervention in that last fantasy sequence a long time ago.

freddie_mac May 16 2011, 22:21:15 UTC

Well done, thanks for taking the time to explore s7 Chase's behavior. Y'know, I had the oddest thought (pushes bunny forward): Chase feels that he needs to be needs to be punished, he's chosen sex as the vehicle, so why not look up Annette (the bdsm banker)? The state he's in, you expect him to ask for *normal* help?

lit_luminary May 16 2011, 22:49:20 UTC

I was actually thinking along similar lines when I was writing, actually: if the writers had wanted to be somewhat realistic about all this, Chase would have been more likely to turn to BDSM than to sex a dozen different women in the conventional fashion--after all, a scene could be built around his own psychological needs, and the partner would have no illusions it was about anything more than that. Much less exploitative, and that would matter to Chase.

The problem is that canon hasn't bothered to trace this behavior back to its only plausible origins (i.e., Dibala and the broken marriage), but rather painted Chase as a womanizing cad who--until "Changes"--seemed to be sincerely enjoying this behavior. And for House not to notice and call him on the change is taxing suspension of disbelief beyond limits.

freddie_mac May 17 2011, 11:50:24 UTC

Exactly. Chase was the reluctant one when Cameron wanted "no strings" sex; a womanizing cad would have had no problems. And the House who has been appearing lately is barely aware of anything past the end of his (or Cuddy's) nose -- an idiot like that certainly wouldn't be paying attention to his longest-lasting fellow (whom he fired with the words, IIRC, "I've taught you everything I can") who is slowly self-destructing. Keep in mind that Chase was working with house 6mos/1yr before Foreman and Cameron were hired, so there *used to be* some sort of relationship there ( ... )

lit_luminary May 17 2011, 12:46:25 UTC

House's relationship with Chase has always been of particular interest to me, so I've written on it rather extensively: there's mentorship, even something quasi-paternal sometimes; and it didn't escape me that Chase was the one House spent some time with socially when Wilson was wrapped up with Amber, suggesting potential for a friendship of sorts: before S7, House certainly did care about him. But yes, as it is, seeing past the end of Cuddy's nose seems to be about House's limit. (Pardon me while I seethe in disgust.)

As for Chase himself, I agree with your reading: I wouldn't carry this degree of guilt back as far as Rowan et. al, since he dealt with those without going completely off the rails (although undoubtedly they left their psychological scars), but certainly he needs to do something to alleviate those feelings, or there will be some kind of breakdown ( ... )

pinkuro July 10 2011, 21:20:52 UTC

aw, so perfect! I wish this would go in the show! I loved it :)

Chase and Faith. ext_770484 October 18 2011, 23:45:52 UTC

(PLEASE READ THIS PART FIRST) First off, when I read a fic and I can actually hear the actors voices and see their expressions then I know that I'm 'in it till the end'. You capture the characters beautifully. You have an easy style of writing that I enjoy immensely. I've not yet had the chance to read them all,but I fully intend to. I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to add my own ramble and uptake of the Chase character. I believe that after House, he's the most complex. His 'unpsoken' words say so much more than his spoken. I also believe that his turmoil runs deep and stems from an unfulfilled yearning to serve his God. Even when Chase is completely off the rails his faith is never lost. Why do I think this. Well, most write that he's 'lost' his faith - but as the season's have continued, we hear the word of faith in Chase's mouth more and more. From 'Damned if you do' where he is very reluctant to even acknowledge his faith in God.(except to the nun) His prayer for the dead baby before the autopsy was heart breaking in it's ( ... )

Chase and faith - Part 2 ext_770484 October 18 2011, 23:47:00 UTC

(PLEASE THIS PART SECOND)Finally, the whole Dibala arc comes full circle and we see and hear Chase's life echoed back to him when 13 say's "Darrien did the right thing in shooting the kid, but she destroyed her life trying to forget it" The look on Chase's face when this is told to him is beautiful. So finally when he asks 13 if she's talked to anyone and she say's that she's spoken to a therapist and it didn't help. he say's (words to the effect) maybe you should talk to someone 'else' Most people have interpreted this as 'him' being the someone else. Given the blossoming and more assertiveness of Chase's faith, I'm more inclined to think he meant someone more spiritually inclined. It's only after she's say's "Do you have idea what it's like to take another's life", does he invite her for a coffee. (now that's a scene I'd like to see! Maybe in your most capable hands? *hint-hint*) There are many, many more such instances of Chase's views on his faith, but I've not had chance to log them all down, but when they come, if you're paying ( ... )

Re: Chase and faith - Part 2 lit_luminary October 19 2011, 01:11:37 UTC

Thank you so, so much for this insightful analysis: this is the kind of critique I live for, since it's rare for a reader to engage with any of my texts in such depth ( ... )

Re: Chase and faith - Part 2 ext_770484 October 19 2011, 06:30:59 UTC

You're most welcome. I have been a spiritual guidance counselor/adviser for nigh-on 20 years. Having studied Theology for over 3 years after an awakening experience that came out of the blue and knocked me sideways ( ... )

Re: Chase and faith - Part 2 ext_770484 October 19 2011, 06:57:28 UTC

Oh God! I've just re-read this and can only apologise for the dreadful way in which it's written. I'm in a Morphine haze and utterly exhausted. It was meant to read R.C and not R.S. *sigh* (and a whole host of other typo's,grammatical mistakes and bad phrasing. - now you see why I don't write fic! *heh heh* )
One more thing, when Chase talks about his faith,or indeed when he deals with other peoples faith, he lowers and softens his tone of voice. As though giving it reverence. When I'm rested, I'll share with you a true story. Medicine and faith combined. Here in the U.K, we're a couple of episodes behind the States. ( which makes a change than usually a whole season/year) I follow Jesse on Twitter and have noticed that he's off all over the place surfing. Do you know in which episode he returns? Thanks again. ~ Sandra

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