Fic: The Flashpoint of Ice

[myrebelcat]

Title: The Flashpoint of Ice
Author/Artist: Rebelcat
Pairing: None, sorry!
Warning: Honest to God, I don't have a foot fetish! While I'm sure Napoleon has lovely toes, I have no idea how his feet came to play such a significant part in my last three stories.
Feedback: Yes, please!
Archive: Sure!
Beta: Thanks go to EH for the inspiration

Comments

[theladyrose]

I love how you contrast the muddy, dangerous reality of the mission with their little quirks - NS's fastidious attention to his clothing (both for his vanity and practical reasons - taking care of your feet as a lesson learned from the war struck me as so true to character) and IK's pryomaniac tendencies. Your banter between the agents is always such a delight to read - it's fascinating to see how they cautiously talk around their trust issues (IK focusing on being hungry and his literal physical state, NS joking about Carla and paperwork) before one seemingly generic remark about Survival School and the unquestioning care that Napoleon administers opens up their relationship. What a great look at the early days of their partnership.

[myrebelcat]

Thank you! I'm really pleased you enjoyed my story, and especially that you picked up on the fact that there are trust issues on both sides of the partnership. :-) I really enjoyed having a chance to work in a hint of Napoleon's soldierly past. I'm glad you found it convincing!

[vysila]

What a perfectly wonderful chronicle of developing partnership, the essentials of trust and friendship slowly emerging from the press of danger, a diamond in the rough.

Great title, too, serving a dual purpose. Don't you just love it when the title works on multiple layers?

I really enjoyed the action scenes in particular, the very real sense of confusion, urgency and desperation. Phrases like "a bullet spanged off the rear of the jeep" and "gray static was pushing in" give a wonderful visceral sense of being in the middle of it all.

The dialogue is great, the initial sniping foreshadowing their later take-no-prisoners banter. And Napoleon running on instinct is a thing of beauty - securing the empty gun before stowing it away, combing his hair in the swamp, worrying about suits and shoes - and then letting it all fall away to focus on important issues.

Poor innocent Illya, what a strange coincidence that is, things catching fire and then blowing up. I'm glad Napoleon saw the wisdom in having a man like that at his side. :)

[myrebelcat]

Oh, what lovely feedback! You have me looking at my story with completely new eyes, thank you!

The fact that you twigged on the phrase containing "spanged" made me laugh, as I had to prove to EH that it was a real word and that I was using it correctly before she'd let me leave it in. I only danced a *little* victory dance over the dictionary...

I've now managed to watch all of the first two seasons (and selected episodes from the later ones) and I am completely in love with these characters. I love the way they move - that little finger thing Napoleon does when he surrenders, the way Illya smirks when he thinks no one is looking - and the way they talk, and the complete insanity of it all.

I'm so glad you enjoyed my story!

Flashpoint of ice

[ivadel]

I came here via a Flash Van recommendation and loved this story. It's good to know the proper order of the world - first it catches fire and THEN it blows up. Thanks for sharing.

Re: Flashpoint of ice

[myrebelcat]

Oh, thank you so much for commenting! Yep, the proper order of things is very important. It ruins the whole flow of things when stuff blows up and then burns. It's just anti-climatic. ;-) I'm glad you enjoyed my story!

[ktbean]

Catches fire then blows up? Yay!
I love love love this story. Actually I love all your stories. You write Illya and Napoleon so well.

[mayamaia]

Brilliant!