MFU Fanfiction: Third (Part III - Palme d'Or)

[saki101]

Part III has been a very long time coming, so everyone's patience probably ran out ages ago. If, by some miracle, it has not, then here is a further expansion of Third, an Easter Egg I posted at MFU Writers Survival School in April 2010 and continued in May. Some readers wanted to know more about Illya's mysterious friends. Palme d'Or starts the

Comments

[avery11]

I will have to sit with this chapter for awhile -- it's remarkably rich, subtle with meaning. At times, it felt as though it belonged to another world entirely, a world far away from UNCLE, and from Napoleon. And then that lovely bridge at the end, bringing the story home.
I look forward to the next installment of what promises to be a love story for the ages.

[saki101]

I had concerns over inserting the flashback material in this way, particularly because it is so different. A scene of an earlier mission or time at UNCLE in another city would have been less awkward to incorporate. I'm reassured by your feeling that the ending tied it back into the flow of the narrative.

Thank you so much for commenting!

[reapermum]

Everyone else has said the hows and whys of their liking for this story, so I'll just say, "Yes, this is good. More please."

I think you're breaking in places that prevent it feeling too much like a WIP that causes resentment when the next part doesn't appear promptly.

[saki101]

I am really relieved by your view on the break points! Thank you so much for reading and commenting!

[elmey]

No one does lounge against a wall like Illya, do they *cough* icon *cough* ;) I like the added pictures!

As always, this is beautifully written, and Illya and Sasha's relationship is so interesting, open and loving, but still not filling all the holes in their hearts; perhaps, as they say, they are too much alike. A different world from Illya's world with Uncle--a different relationship than the one he would have with Napoleon. I doubt he can have both...

The glimpses of a young carefree Illya in love are really charming.

[saki101]

You know how I love your icon! An especially beautiful example of the technique Illya employs so often (as do some of DMC's other characters)! The end of Strigas and Fiddlesticks come to mind.

I'm afraid this bodes to be another long story and it is questionable as to whether the best way to present more of the backstory is in a frame or as an independent story.

a young carefree Illya in love

Thank you for that. (It is such a pretty thing to contemplate. *sigh*)

[elmey]

whether the best way to present more of the backstory is in a frame or as an independent story

I think that's difficult to judge when you're still working on the story. Depending on how you structure it, a place may open up for that in the evolving story, especially if it gives us an insight into Illya that we need. At the same time, if the backstory starts to take over completely, you may well want to just write a separate story for it. How unhelpful is that :)
I'll read either though.

[snailbones]

I'm sorry to take so long to comment - I have this terrible habit of saving your writing to reward myself with *g*

How lovely that you've written a little more of this, thank you! I love Illya's backstory, and the subtle tensions pulling at all three of them, and how adult he and Sasha are. And as always, I love your writing - I always feel as though you know every single detail of each character and location. It's always pure pleasure to read. ♥

[saki101]

I'm having one of those weeks that you write about so vibrantly on Fridays, so it was an especially wonderful surprise to find your lovely comment here when I got home! Really helped me put all the aggravations out of mind for a while.

I very much appreciate that you were willing to read about these characters again. It has been such a long while since the last bit and I am tickled that you found Illya and Sasha's interaction mature. *big grin* Thank you so much!!

(Now we all just have to make it through tomorrow!)