Okay, here we go...

[nos4a2no9]

Title: Quiet in Drowning
Fandom: Wilby Wonderful
Characters: Duck, Buddy, OMCs
Rating: NC-17
Length: 8,495 words
Author's Notes: Many thanks to zabira, ignazwisdom, secretlybronte and isiscolo for hanging tough and completing a very difficult beta. You're all troopers, and I promise to send you something warm and fluffy next time.
Warnings: This story contains graphic, violent and

Comments

[viciouscats]

I really, really liked the story (seriously, Nos, you are some kind of genius, cute angst-producing genius), but right now I don't know what exactly to say, except that I think I need to go lie down for a bit.

[nos4a2no9]

Thank you kindly, V! I think, "I need to go lie down for a bit" is pretty much all you need to say in response to this story. *hugs you*

[revbiscuit]

Well done. Stuff like this is hard to write. It's a harsh, yet interesting take on what Duck's early life on the island might have been like.

[nos4a2no9]

Thanks Rev! It was damn hard to write - it sort of poured out over the course of the day, but the beta/editing process took three weeks. It is tough to get this kind of material right, and I'm still not totally sure I managed it, but I'm glad you found it interesting and (hopefully) a realistic look at Duck's early life on the Island. *snuggles poor Duck*

[revbiscuit]

I think you did get it right. Like lamentables said, the horrid bits were suffocating; nothing felt romanticised or overcooked. And I don't know if the initial premise of rain and drowning put me in that frame of mind to start with, but the whole thing had a realistic feel of hopelessness and confusion (typical of many victims of rape) that makes me quite believe he'd have had enough of it all to want to leave with just a ticket and a tenner in his pocket.

[nicci_mac]

Ohhhh that hurt so good. Non-con is tricksy, but I've always sort of assumed that this very scenario, or one simlilar could have been the reason Duck left so it felt sort of canon to me. Not gratuitous at all but a just more of the background for these two guys.

Thanks so much for sharing

[nos4a2no9]

Hooray! I'm glad the non-con didn't feel gratuitous or overblown - that was a real concern when I composed the story, and it's a big relief to hear I dodged those bullets.

Thank you for your feedback!

[sansets]

I have two very disparate reactions to this story. As a fan, I pretty much just want to sing your praises from the tops of every mountain for giving me EXACTLY the type of Duck back story that I didn't know I wanted. This just took together all of the wonderfully intriguing strands of Duck's past that are hinted about in Wilby and just wove them together in such an insightful and complex way. And the Buddy and Duck relationship! *flails* I was reading your response to hurry_sundown and I LOVE how you picked up on that weird aspect of their relationship that is one of my favorite parts of the movie! They always seemed friendly enough, and yet they had NOTHING in common, which is why Duck coming to Buddy to ask him about the publishing of the names in The Sentinel always seemed a bit off. I am REALLY in love with your explanation for it, and also your development of Buddy's character. He is actually a pretty OK guy, but only in doing things that suit him. He couldn't have stood up for Duck while Duck was being picked on, because that would hurt his

[nos4a2no9]

Wow, sansets, this was incredible feedback! I love both your disparate reactions! :-)

They always seemed friendly enough, and yet they had NOTHING in common, which is why Duck coming to Buddy to ask him about the publishing of the names in The Sentinel always seemed a bit off. Heh, yes, I know exactly what you mean! And I'm glad that "Buddy does what works for Buddy" - I don't want to go so far as to suggest he's an opportunist in the same way Tommy is, but he probably had a large degree of elitism breed into him at an early age, and I think that greatly affected how he sees the world and his role in it. He's an interesting character, and Gross gave such a layered performance that you can see a lot of these different elements at play. *hearts Paul Gross

[akite]

I read this at work this afternoon, and just as I was trying to formulate a comment, my boss came in. /o\ Wow, this must have hurt more to write than it does to read. You know what really pissed me off? When Tommy pushed Duck into his painting and ruined it. I thought it was really cool that Buddy made Duck take his coat and slicker with with the money it in. Bravo, on the whole story.

[nos4a2no9]

Ack! Thanks for coming back and commenting after you were so rudely interrupted :-) Silly employers! Don't they understand we have priorities?

Wow, this must have hurt more to write than it does to read.

It was quite a process, I don't mind telling you. And the worst part was trying to decide if I should even post it. Despite all apperances to the contrary, I really don't like upsetting people, and I know Wilby fic is, for many fans, a place of comfort and security. I'm going to have to make it up to folks with a great Duck/Dan snippet, I think.

You know what really pissed me off? When Tommy pushed Duck into his painting and ruined it.

Heh, me too! That BASTARD! Thank you so much for your comments, akite! I'm glad you liked the story!