For potoinspiration's 2nd contest--the only entry

[my_daroga]

Title: Comfort to the Enemy
Based on: Susan Kay
Characters: Nadir, the khanum, Erik, harem girl
Rating: R
Genre: drama, angst
Warnings: sexual scenes, slashy thoughts
Summary: The Persian is but a man.

Comments

[lettered]

Oh, that was incredible. I really really loved the whole Persia section of Phantom, esp. the bit about the bride the khanum gave him--and this took what I loved about it and brought it all out--sexy and twisted and oh so sad.

Liked this element:

I had been foolish to assume he had despite his knowledge and his years and…

That Nadir doesn't realize until this scene that Erik desired the girl. It was a very fascinating (and appealing) element of Kay's Erik: he was so sexually powerful and yet didn't quite know it. It drove the khanum crazy, and I love how you brought all those elements in. Also, loved this metaphor:

this pretty bejeweled box with the adder lying hidden inside.

Most of all, loved this:

It did not escape me that in the midst of my pleasure I had been thinking only of his.

--because whether you go for the slashy subtext or not (I definitely do ;o) this element is still there. The daroga's feelings for Erik consumed him--just like Erik seemed to consume everyone around him. Lovely, lovely piece.

[my_daroga]

Wow, I'm so happy you liked it! I'm surprised; I thought it all a bit far-fetched, but I liked the idea too much to resist.

That Nadir doesn't realize until this scene that Erik desired the girl.

As you know, N is my favorite character. He has his faults though, and one of those is being somewhat blind to Erik (in my little book). He's so observant, so concerned, but ultimately his concern might not make him the most objective.

As you mentioned at the end. I'm glad the subtext read ambiguously. Anyway, thanks so much!

[lettered]

I don't think it was far-fetched. Kay wrote the khanum as a sick bitch obsessed with sex. She (the khanum) wouldn't be above this. And Nadir is obsessed with Erik. Since Kay writes Erik as such a sensual creature, naturally some of that obsession was... a little bit sexual.

[my_daroga]

Hmm. You make good points, which naturally I also believe since I did write the story. Guess I was second-guessing myself. But thanks for the reassure.