Fic: Aral Vorkosigan's Dog 15/15

[philomytha]

It's done! I have finished the story! *dances* I feel--well, about 70,000 words lighter, now that I've dispatched them all off into the world. So here you go, the last chapter. And thank you all very much for reading

Comments

[laleia]

It's over! I don't know if I'm more sad that there's no more, or happy at the happy ending! :) There were a number of things I enjoyed in this chapter. I loved Illyan's assessment of Cordelia, of course, that nobody in ImpSec would be able to coerce her. (Poor guy's only real impression of her so far is as the PERSON WHO STOOD OVER A DEAD GES VORRUTYER and so of course he is suitably impressed, as he should be.) I also love the way ImpSec subtly engineers for Cordelia to show up, and the way Illyan has become Negri's and Ezar's "Vorkosigan expert", and how Negri is very much aware of the changing of the guard ... Perfect ending to a perfect story!

[philomytha]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it! I had so much fun writing it.

As for Cordelia, there's a passage somewhere about how Cordelia is the only person Illyan really fears, and the reason is given as 'the lasting impact of vivid first impressions'. I'm pretty sure that when you first meet someone you were intending to rescue covered in blood with her enemy dead at her feet and a dangerous madman doing what she tells him - well, you aren't inclined to underestimate her thereafter! So yes, the manipulate the other Betans instead--if there's anything Negri and Ezar are good at, it's pulling people's strings.

[sheffsfic]

That was just lovely! Thank you so much. (You're sure you're not Lois incognito? Because this could easily be canon) I'll say to you what I would say to Lois: write more! Write faster!!

[philomytha]

Thank you for commenting! I'm glad you liked it. And there certainly will be more Vorkosigan fics, and more Illyan-and-Aral fics, once I catch my breath after this one :-).

[rogerstening]

Very, very, Very, very, very, very, VERY, good - nay, most noteably and absoutely excellent, even!

I loved the line "But, if you must know, you're an absolute bitch to carry." - darn near choked on a Pringles chip there, which means that it's time for yet another mental note - never eat crisps when reading a fic, lest one choke in laughter ;-)

Marvellous backstory, marvellous tie-ins with canon, frankly, marvellous in all respects - BRAVO! ENCORE!

[philomytha]

*beams*
I'm glad you enjoyed it, glad you didn't actually choke (that line made me laugh when I came up with it too), and thank you for commenting!

[tritanus]

Very nice ending)
Thank you for the story)

[philomytha]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[gwynnep]

What they said.

This is a marvellous piece of writing. I love the whole story arc, how we see Illyan grow from puppy to the Illyan we see later. And the action when Grishnov was brought down, that was so intense.

You also show us Aral's charm, even drunk and miserable there's so much power in the man.

Loved it all, I'm just sorry it's over!

[philomytha]

Thanks! I'm pleased you've enjoyed it. I wrote it very much as Illyan's growing-up story, so I'm glad that worked for you. And, of course, Aral is always fun to write!