Man, with it all split up properly, your pacing is amazing. (I mean, it was before. But when you make people wait for the next chapters it ramps everything up.)
I took our conversation about the Albert reveal to heart. Four and five definitely had to be posted together, but all I could think the day before was, "They're going to KILL me."
I'm not sure which I enjoyed more, the laugh from Ianto having to fart on cue to maintain his cover, or the way you so carefully downplayed Jack's grief that you made it even more painful. You just GET how they were played on the show: so much inside, so little actually shown. I love reading your stuff and always have to fight between reading everything as soon as it's posted and trying to string out the enjoyment as long as possible. Instant gratification tends to win :)
I always go for the instant gratification myself. Jam today!
Ianto having to fart on cue to maintain his cover
That bit made me grin, because for all we see him as a GQMF, he's a guy.
Very glad the characterizations ring true for you. I think we have similar versions of the characters in our heads, which is why I'm always excited to see something new from you, too!
I am loving every [torturous] minute of this. I would watch the hell out of this show.
The characterizations in this 'verse have grown on me. I think the general theme of abandonment and impossible distance nearly scared me away at first. The way you've evolved the storyline one bit of reassurance and reconnection at a time is quite compelling; the gradually increasing momentum actually feels like the fog is lifting. I really love the way you write everyone on the team. Not real fond of Albert, however. To have Ianto referred to as an interloper when Albert is waltzing around like he owns the place just offends me. Hmph.
I make it a point never to rush a writer, and in fact I generally make it a point to avoid reading stories until all parts are posted. I have been devouring this story bite by bite as soon as bits were served. I am both anticipating and dreading your posting the last course. :) Thank you. It's delicious.
I have to come in and defend Albert! I'm fond of him.
From Albert's perspective, his boss has just spent weeks irrationally chasing a dead guy around the country based on rumors. And now Ianto is being kept safely at home while Jack leaves the office to spend time with Ianto, Jack is distracted by Ianto, and Ianto keeps getting in the way. Ianto seems like a sort of useless kept man. Who just ruined their sting. (This being from Ianto's perspective, of course, Ianto's resentment of Albert seems more reasonable.)
Hah hah, I don't like Albert at all. Now this is probably because I'm seeing it from Ianto's POV, but what made me so cross was him even thinking Ianto could be the murderer. I was so happy when Ianto told him to fuck off. Which of course is a great mirror to Ianto and Owen, I remember, all those years ago when Owen and Ianto had their big row and Ianto shot him, I went online during that ep and there were all these "Go Ianto" sort of messages. I think Nancy has done a great job of recreating that same sort of dynamic with Albert.
Don't get me wrong. I think Ianto's reactions and interactions with Albert are fantastic. (The "fuck off" make me laugh the first time.) My favorite moment is actually in chapter three, when Albert calls Jack after Jack and Ianto have had sex: "Ianto is proud of the deep drag in [Jack's] breath between words. Let Albert guess what they were doing."
It's so petty and snarky! It's brilliant! ♥
But Ianto isn't necessarily any more in the right. He's wildly envious of Albert, and deeply in Albert's debt and he hates it.
Meanwhile, Albert is watching Jack -- the guy responsible for the last line of defense for the HUMAN RACE -- fall into a crumbly idiot whenever Ianto is concerned. Ianto is obviously a liability at the best of times, and Albert has never seen him be competent or capable.
Watch the sparks fly!
(I also enjoy the analogies to Owen and Ianto. Ianto does well when he has someone to snark against.)
This story is simply amazing. Since reading the initial part of this ‘verse, I’ve found myself unable to stop until I’d caught up to the most recent posting. You really captured the characters quite beautifully, displaying their nuances and emotions in such careful ways. Jack’s sublimated grief and guilt was so expertly teased at, that when it was revealted to Ianto I was overcome with his feelings of dispair and anguish. And Ianto’s own struggle to fit back into his (new) life while longing to be as useful and necessary as he was before his resurrection (is that even the right word for it?) was engrossing and pulled at the reader’s empathy
( ... )
First, thank you so much for your kind words. They really made my day yesterday and today. :)
Jack’s sublimated grief and guilt was so expertly teased at, that when it was revealted to Ianto I was overcome with his feelings of dispair and anguish. And Ianto’s own struggle to fit back into his (new) life while longing to be as useful and necessary as he was before his resurrection (is that even the right word for it?) was engrossing and pulled at the reader’s empathy.
:) I figure Jack has been through several levels of hell by the time he's in this position, and it's honestly a shock he hasn't lost his mind after it all. I'm glad his emotions came through from the other point of view without being over the top.
It would be too tempting to just sweep everything aside and have it be all “happy families” upon Steven’s reunion with his mother, so the fact that you make the effort to explore the more likely real, complex and diverse emotions really enriches this story.This? Is all Eldar's fault, because I was ready to go the "happy
( ... )
Ack! There's another chapter. I thought all of them were up. I have to tell you, it was hilarious trying to get through the first part of this chapter. I was feeling all sorts of second-hand embarrassment for Ianto. I have to stop reading fanfic in coffee shops or people are going to think I'm mental.
Really though, GREAT pacing, and the fact that you can make me feel another character's embarrassment says something about how well you handle the characters. :D
*grin* I remember when I realized where this was going, and that it was a TW operation he was getting in the middle of, and was just, "Oh. Oh honey. You're so screwed."
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Ianto having to fart on cue to maintain his cover
That bit made me grin, because for all we see him as a GQMF, he's a guy.
Very glad the characterizations ring true for you. I think we have similar versions of the characters in our heads, which is why I'm always excited to see something new from you, too!
Reply
The characterizations in this 'verse have grown on me. I think the general theme of abandonment and impossible distance nearly scared me away at first. The way you've evolved the storyline one bit of reassurance and reconnection at a time is quite compelling; the gradually increasing momentum actually feels like the fog is lifting. I really love the way you write everyone on the team. Not real fond of Albert, however. To have Ianto referred to as an interloper when Albert is waltzing around like he owns the place just offends me. Hmph.
I make it a point never to rush a writer, and in fact I generally make it a point to avoid reading stories until all parts are posted. I have been devouring this story bite by bite as soon as bits were served. I am both anticipating and dreading your posting the last course. :) Thank you. It's delicious.
Reply
From Albert's perspective, his boss has just spent weeks irrationally chasing a dead guy around the country based on rumors. And now Ianto is being kept safely at home while Jack leaves the office to spend time with Ianto, Jack is distracted by Ianto, and Ianto keeps getting in the way. Ianto seems like a sort of useless kept man. Who just ruined their sting. (This being from Ianto's perspective, of course, Ianto's resentment of Albert seems more reasonable.)
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It's so petty and snarky! It's brilliant! ♥
But Ianto isn't necessarily any more in the right. He's wildly envious of Albert, and deeply in Albert's debt and he hates it.
Meanwhile, Albert is watching Jack -- the guy responsible for the last line of defense for the HUMAN RACE -- fall into a crumbly idiot whenever Ianto is concerned. Ianto is obviously a liability at the best of times, and Albert has never seen him be competent or capable.
Watch the sparks fly!
(I also enjoy the analogies to Owen and Ianto. Ianto does well when he has someone to snark against.)
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Jack’s sublimated grief and guilt was so expertly teased at, that when it was revealted to Ianto I was overcome with his feelings of dispair and anguish. And Ianto’s own struggle to fit back into his (new) life while longing to be as useful and necessary as he was before his resurrection (is that even the right word for it?) was engrossing and pulled at the reader’s empathy.
:) I figure Jack has been through several levels of hell by the time he's in this position, and it's honestly a shock he hasn't lost his mind after it all. I'm glad his emotions came through from the other point of view without being over the top.
It would be too tempting to just sweep everything aside and have it be all “happy families” upon Steven’s reunion with his mother, so the fact that you make the effort to explore the more likely real, complex and diverse emotions really enriches this story.This? Is all Eldar's fault, because I was ready to go the "happy ( ... )
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Really though, GREAT pacing, and the fact that you can make me feel another character's embarrassment says something about how well you handle the characters. :D
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Hope you like the last bit!
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