Alexander the Great: A Challenge (Hephaistion/Thais)

[qaddafi]

Holiday fic request # 1 (others coming soon, I hope)

A Challenge
Author: Qaddafi the Ripper
Fandom: Alexander the Great (original)
Summary: For suesfan, who requested Hephaistion/Thais. Also includes background Ptolemy/Thais.
Notes: Have no idea when this should take place. I am beyond time lines.

Comments

[anonymous]

At first I wasn't too sure about a Hephaistion/Thais, but this is nicely done! While reading, I had the image of Thais from the movie in my head (in the Cleitus murder scene) and it worked well for me. Beautiful, intelligent woman. I can imagine Hephasition giving in to a night's temptation - surely he indulged often while Alexander was similarly occupied. Nothing to do with their feelings for each other - those were different times than ours! I am a little surprised that Ptolemy would be so generous with his beloved mistress and someone acknowledged to be one of the handsomest men in the King's circle.
As for timeline, in my head they are all the palace in Persepolis, a few days before Thais encourages the King to set it on fire!
Looking forward to more!
-CoralDawn

[qaddafi]

Thank you! Actually, I wasn't too keen on the idea of Hephaistion/Thais at first either, but I figured I could have fun with it. Was Thais in the movie? I wasn't paying attention during that scene to anything but Cleitus. (I love movie Cleitus!)

Eh, I didn't want to be mean to Ptolemy because I love him and he's my token straight guy. So I had him be okay with it, for one night at least. I guess the challenge made Thais have more fun with him later or something.

Should be updating pretty frequently, as I'm about done editing the other holiday requests.

[anonymous]

Oh, you were not mean to Ptolemy - rather, he seems extremely secure and broad-minded with respect to his beloved mistress and one of his closest friends! And with good reason! Also, many of those guys were pretty straight! Harpalus with his expensive Greek mistresses, Philotus and his mistress Antigone!

As for Thais in the movie - I caught her in my Nth viewing of the DVD (theatrical version). In the Cleitus murder scene, I think the regal-looking, beautiful, dark-haired woman standing next to Ptolemy during the early part of the argument is supposed to be Thais. I too like movie Cleitus, though I wish he had aged a little more by this scene. There's a LOT going on in that scene!
-CoralDawn

[qaddafi]

Ha, he's a modern guy, ain't he? Yeah, other guys were straight. My icon comment came from the movie, where everyone and their mother - except for Ptolemy - is gay or bi.

I'll have to watch that scene again...

[shezan]

Unexpected, and VERY nice! This does work, and I'd love to see this from Hephaistion's PoV!

[qaddafi]

Thank you. Eh, don't plan on continuing this or anything, but you never know what might happen, right?

[florachan]

Whoa!! I enjoyed this!
Beautifully written, and also very erotic - I must say.
I like the way you portraied Thais - a smart woman, confident with her beauty and power - yet passionate and tender.
Jeez, I missed your stories, that was like a glass of fresh water in the desert, my dear! I'm thirsty for more!!!!

[qaddafi]

Thank you! You're always so sweet.

This didn't feel erotic to me, but then another holiday request (which should be up in a few days, for a different fandom) was very heavy on the kink, so maybe it was just me :)

Glad you liked Thais: she's a regular 20th century woman, isn't she? :)

[florachan]

yes, she really is - that's why we love her. ;)

[alexandria_47]

Once again you take under-utilized characters in the Alexander world ( actually I should say "people" since they were real ) and create small, candid moments to great effect. This is a wonderful story that manages to say reams about the principal players in it ( including Alexander who is only spoken about ) with a spare elegance of word and plot. I'm so looking forward to future Alexander fic from you!

[qaddafi]

Thank you for the comment. I'm glad you liked it. I'm also glad that you liked my brevity: I always feel like I should be saying more. It's good to hear that some people like short :)

Thanks again! Look for more Alexander in the coming week.

Heph/Thais

[suesfan]

Hi guy,
Thanks for your usual good job!
Know you weren't too keen on this idea but I knew you could do it. I too loved Elliot Cowan in the role of Ptolemy...hunky guy...one of the few good things about the dismal effort.
Thanks again. Have a wonderful Christmas. Hope the New Year brings you all good things (maybe some A students?)
Fredericka

Re: Heph/Thais

[qaddafi]

I'm glad you liked it. The idea did work, so thanks for the request.
Have a great holiday!