Drabble: Keeper of the Hearth (True Blood; Russell/Talbot)

[the_grynne]

Spoilers up to 3x03 "It Hurts Me Too".

Russell/Talbot. PG. The house is burning.

Comments

[laorion]

me likey!

[the_grynne]

Thank you! Glad you liked.

[caraway_]

Way to make me care about characters I don't care about. What I mean is, that excellent drabble is more than they deserve!

[the_grynne]

See, I find Russell and Talbot so fascinating, both on screen together and also from the backstory and spoilers that the actors have given us in interviews. The image of Talbot I have in my mind is that, unlike Russell, he's a hoarder, and every article and artifact he has so meticulously arranged in his house (like that Celtic tapestry) has a history and a special meaning for him, that it's linked to something in the 700 years he's been with Russell. Every century or so I think Russell has to remind him that there's more to a marriage than things, that as long as they're together there will always be the future.

[withoutcolor]

I loved this! I am so interested in the Russell/Talbot relationship - the dynamic so far has been so intriguing.

[the_grynne]

Thanks! I really enjoy them too.

[fan_elune]

Only you can take these tiny hints and make a perfect drabble out of them. Perfect for the way that it encompasses them all, and the depth and complexity of the relationship between these two. Thank you.

[the_grynne]

Thank you, dear! It's really satisfying writing on the basis of these little clues, like working out a puzzle that you can put your own spin on.

I've read some unfavourable reviews of Talbot that find him an unsufferable queen and can't understand what Russell sees in him, but I think he's ultimately very sympathetic, and handles a unique situation (what is an inescapably unequal partnership, since Russell is his maker) with a lot of grace.

[fan_elune]

Yes! I was oh so surprised when I read a TWOP recaplet and saw that they did not like him. I find him immensely sympathetic. When a vampire seems this shallow, it's not that simple. It's already not that simple with good human characters, but this is a vampire! Centuries old. It's fascinating more than anything else.

[the_grynne]

Right! And the thing is, the TWOP recapper, Jacob, is a gay man himself, so I thought it was interesting that he disliked Talbot so much - but if Talbot is playing out any kind of stereotype, it's one that didn't exist when he was alive, so it has to be interpreted as either an affectation, or an aspect of the hedonistic, medieval Greek aristocrat that Talbot is at heart manifesting in a contemporary way.