The Old Commandments Stand, Part II
Title: The Old Commandments Stand
Author: pristineungift
Beta: brontefanatic - With much thanks!!
Rating: NC-17. Please do not read if you are below the age of majority in your country of residence.
Warnings:
( Cut for spoilers )
Author: pristineungift
Beta: brontefanatic - With much thanks!!
Rating: NC-17. Please do not read if you are below the age of majority in your country of residence.
Warnings:
( Cut for spoilers )
Comments 22
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I was really very nervous about this story, and realized as I was writing it I would probably have to resign myself to it being universally hated - but I decided that this was the story I had to tell, and dammit, I was going to tell it. So I'm just really super thrilled you liked it, especially because I admire your writing. <3 ( ... )
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Serena confessing Richard and Zedd is like HOLY SHIT, but it's totally in character and believable, because she's that hardcore. Confessors have to believe in the ends justify the means, otherwise they could never justify the use of their powers, so yeah. Any means necessary.
I see them as sort of two points in history - Kahlan is the woman Serena used to be, and Serena is the woman Kahlan will become - and then they both die.Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh. The implications for this in the context of the theme you're going for is like omg though. The question the story poses is your title: do the old commandments stand? Serena is old testament, but Kahlan wanted a different way. And yet they both die. What does that mean? That the whole structure is nonviable? You can't make a new way that's ( ... )
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Confessors have to believe in the ends justify the means, otherwise they could never justify the use of their powers, so yeah. Any means necessary. Serena in Part I of this fic: Sometimes you have to destroy something to save it ( ... )
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Again I'm just so thrilled you like it, and thank you so much for the SUPER AMAZING TIME CRUCH BETA. It was really awesome to be on AIM with you as you read it, getting your reactions in real time!
I love that you love Salindra, and I just. Sldkfjsdf. FROTHING OVER YOUR SUPPORT RN!
<3 <3 ILU
And I'm so glad you like the cover! I had a lot of fun making it. :3
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The characterizations are so perfect, and the situation for everybody is so tragic and inescapeable. This story almost seems like an alternate canon to me, which, I guess, in a sense, it is.
This fic has given me so much to think about, and it's also inspired me. There's are so many ideas here, but one in particular, that I really want to explore if I can just find the right words to do it. If I manage it, I will certainly credit you for the inspiration.
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Thank you so much, Bex! And thank you for holding my hand before I posted it - I was so very nervous about this fic, and your confidence in the characterization went a long way toward convincing me it was ready.
I love that everyone keeps saying "tragic" and "inescapable", because I really do think of this as my own personal MacBeth.
And I am thrilled to death you are inspired. If you do write something for it, make sure to PM me so I don't miss it! I'm very interested to see where you go with whatever idea it is. :3
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LOL at Salindra out to steal Kahlan's jewels - you have to love her :D
Nicholas's death - I understand that he might grow up evil, but I'll never be able to condone that. But I see Serena's point of view, too. Actually I think this is better than canon at getting into all the squicky Confessor issues.
And I love that Kahlan took the Sword for Darken, even though he was Confessed so his feelings weren't real, and yet I can't help but hope he'll at least be conflicted remembering her...
And Richard. The little we see of him is nonetheless so perfectly IC, and the last lines are chilling.
I do wonder where Cara ended up, though...maybe in the sequel?
And Dennee and Zedd, of course, for whom my heart also broke. How do you do that, make everyone so sympathetic and yet evil/misguided/conflicted? I'm in awe.
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The key to a well drawn character is knowing what drives them, and I think a sympathetic person can't help but feel at least a little for each character so long as the writer has made the reason for their actions clear. No one does anything just to do it - they have reasons.
This is really a brilliant description of an important reason I feel driven to write. Exploring the characters' motivations can be really rewarding. And once that part is clear, the plot just flows from their actions all perfectly - as it does here.
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This is really a brilliant description of an important reason I feel driven to write. Exploring the characters' motivations can be really rewarding.
( ... )
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*FLAILS OVER THIS REVIEW. FLAILS.*
Yeeeeessssss join the Salindra love! I feel like I almost can't take credit for Salindra. She just sort of writes herself. I didn't even have plans for her beyond the first scene she's in, but then she just wandered off and informed me she had a storyline.
Looooool I already know what happens to Dennee. Between you and Twig, hazy plans for the third installment have taken shape in my mind, but I'll wait for the next pornbattle since it's like tradition for them to be porn battle fics XD.
I'm glad I didn't wimp out on anything too. I wavered at times, but in the end this was what the story was supposed to be, so it's what I did. And you are exactly right about Richard. I have some ideas about the beginning of the third one. <3 ( ... )
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I like the Darken knowing the Seeker has been named while this time Kahlan is with him. And her response shows she's in so deep now that she no longer knows what she wants or can be certain what she thinks is right.
Dennee wept with her, holding her as they both sobbed - mourning for their children, their lives, their Sisterhood. A nice sisterly moment, and its true that their lives hold too many of the same tragic events.
Richard ships Zedd/Serena :D
Also I just realised that this AU means George Cypher is still alive and Michael doesn't hate Richard though he probably still resents him a bit, and Richard could go home again if he wanted, to his family and it makes me very happy.
Zedd started in about prophecies and how anyone could kill Rahl, but only the Seeker could truly defeat him and they went in circles until Richard’s head hurt. Yes, Richard, we feel the same way.
Serena confessing people when she's pissed off with them is so completely her MO.
It was ( ... )
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