Drabbles: Illusion (AB), Better Now (FF)

[mhalachaiswords]

As a follow-up to yesterday's drabble, I present Judith's side of the story. It's about as depressing as you can imagine, the missed chances. I'm going to go have a good cry now.

Title: Illusion (A follow-up to Card)
Fandom: Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter (master list here)
Characters: Judith, Anita
fanfic100 Prompt: 99 -- Writer's Choice
Word Count: 200

Comments

[uforeah]

See I don't know if that clears up Judith's thoughts for me or makes them worse. Because on one hand you see where she is coming from but on the other, did she really try or did she just stand there and hope?
Because little Anita is going thru hell in her head and did Juduth ever just walk into her room look at her and say "I know I am not your mom, I could never be, I don't want to replace her but I do want to love you and I would like it if you loved me to. I know it will take time but I think it is worth it. I am here for you if you need me." Because that's what my step mom did and it freed me to love her as well as my real mom.

I know, I am putting way to much thought into fictional characters but it just makes me wonder. And what I saw of Judith in this one makes me think that she just didn't tell Anita where she was coming from, but expected her to come to her.

[mhalachaiswords]

I see what you mean about Judith's motivation, but from what we've read of Judith in the books, she didn't seem to be that interested in understanding Anita. It seems like she just gave up on Anita at some point. Your stepmother made the effort of dealing with a child; whereas the drift I get from the books is Judith was too busy with Andrea and later Josh to devote a lot of time to Anita. Poor kid.

So yes, I'm not sure if I clear things up here or vilify Judith more, myself.

[practical_puss]

I think that your views on Judith depend on what you think is an excusable level of self absorption. I think she should have made a greater effort than what we can see in the books. If she didn't actively reach out to Anita, as it seems, she's... not a bad person, but you can make a case for a pretty bad mother figure. You can't reasonably expect a kid that age to take the first step.
And I firmly believe that if you marry someone with kids, you had damn well better make an effort. Doesn't matter if you love them, if you're not willing to try with the kid(s) don't get married.
Maybe that's one of the reasons I like Edward so much.

[mhalachaiswords]

I think that your views on Judith depend on what you think is an excusable level of self absorption

Exactly. Her problem here, from what I'm gathering off about five sentences of screen time in the books, is she was too intent on herself and her kid (and later Josh) to try and crack that shell Anita put up around herself. Then the latent necromancy kicked in and probably terrified Judith (and maybe gave her another reason to not try and get close to Anita).

And I firmly believe that if you marry someone with kids, you had damn well better make an effort

Testify.

And it's scary, isn't it, that *Edward* would make a better step-parent than Judith.

[deepfishy]

Ow. Ow. Ow-ow-ow. Goodbad mhal for making me cry!

Have you ever heard the song Mr Tanner by Harry Chapin (same guy who wrote "Cat's in the Cradle")? I get a similar emotional feeling from that song as I get from both of these stories - missed opportunities and crushed dreams. Those themes always get me. *wibble*

[practical_puss]

Awww. :sad: Poor Mr. Tanner. Mean New York...

[mhalachaiswords]

Yeah, I had that sort of feel in mind when I wrote these. It tied my stomach into knots and I hated it. (That's why I wrote my fluffy Anita/Nathaniel fluff, to cheer myself up.)

[anonymous]

Oh no! Judith came so close to getting the family she dreamed of but she gave up! Some things are worth never giving up on, despite the pain that may come from failing. Of course, this could go for Anita too, but Judith was the adult.

[alydhe]

Sorry, that was me! I didn't realize that I wasn't logged in.

[mhalachaiswords]

Oh no! Judith came so close to getting the family she dreamed of but she gave up! Some things are worth never giving up on, despite the pain that may come from failing. Of course, this could go for Anita too, but Judith was the adult.

I think that would explain some of the anger that Anita feels toward Judith; Anita hates that she had to be the grown-up with her father (after word of her mother's death), and with her powers, and all of it. She has Issues that need to be addressed, at the root, but by now she's built up so many layers of defence around herself, it'd be all but impossible.

[catherinecookmn]

((((hug))))

[anmkosk]

Again with the 'ouch' :) You write some touching pieces...