Fic: Trading Rescues

[philomytha]

This is another fic from the department of Sleep Deprivation Makes Me Write. I started this fic when Cryoburn was published, but I couldn't figure out what it was all about, so I abandoned it and it has been sitting in my stalled WIP pile until I reread it the other day and suddenly worked out how to solve the puzzle. So here you go

Comments

[philomytha]

*passes tissues*

[sahiya]

God, that is just such a perfect description of how it is when you lose someone you love, with everyone trying to grieve and support each other and take care of practicalities, all at once. I'm crying now.

Great fic.

[philomytha]

Yes, that mixture of practicalities and looking after each other while also dealing with your own grief was exactly what I was trying to show. I'm glad it worked for you.

[laleia]

I finally reconcile myself to the tragic end of Cryoburn and you break my heart all over again.

[philomytha]

Sorry! That's what happened to me when I reread it, so I had to go on to write more fic about it.

[squishydish]

They were all roped together by their love for Aral, like explorers crossing ice, and when one fell, the others could pull them out.
Beautiful.

[philomytha]

I'm glad you liked that line, it took me ages to figure it out! Thanks!

[anonymous]

This is beautiful. I loved the small glimpses we got at the end of Cryoburn, but I desperately wanted detail. This is exactly how it would have happened -- Simon and Kou drinking together (why does everyone always forget about Kou?), Simon's explosive reaction to the mere suggestion of not being a pallbearer, Alys comforting Drou, Ekaterin's quiet strength, subtle insults from the Cetagandans, Alys not letting herself break down until the practicalities and everyone else were all taken care of.

This does make me think though -- how did the armsmen react to his death? Or to Poitr's? After all, I imagine the switch between Counts is pretty world-changing for them, and it's impossible to guard someone day and night for years without growing to care about him.

[philomytha]

Thanks! Kou does need to show up more in fic - I keep wanting to know more about what he was up to all those years. I'm glad all the details worked for you. As for the Armsmen - well, Dira had a lovely fic about Roic at the end of Cryoburn here, but there's plenty of room for more about Aral's Armsmen. Who probably were just as heartbroken as everyone else, I'd expect.