FIC: Lullaby (1/?), A Tokyo Babylon / X/1999 story

[thetwotrees]

Title: Lullaby (1/?)
Series: Tokyo Babylon / X/1999
Author: Sephy
Genre: Drama
Rating: R-ish
Archive: Fallen IconsWarnings: Major character death, eventual blood, gore, even more death, AU timeline-ishness, creepiness, and anything else I can think to add later

Comments

[sephyelysian]

Thank you. Knowing how exacting your tastes are, I'm more than pleased. *glomps* Now I just have to keep you intrigued. Or possibly bribe you with chibis to say you are. ^~

[sephyelysian]

First, thank you. ♥ To hear you say that means a great deal because I know how much you love Setsuka and I wanted to do right by her.

Seishirou's death was a little surprising and I'll admit to feeling teary over hearing that.

I will say that this is not the last we're going to hear of Seishirou and he will still have a place in this story because honestly, I don't think you can write anything with Setsuka without having Seishirou at least mentioned because the two are so entwined.

but when babies die...it's just heartbreaking. I agree. Part of what took so long on this was the research, first on Setsuka and then on infant mortality. I really had no idea that even in the United States it was still so high and that most infant deaths are boys. Because they go through so much more than girls do in the womb. I don't know...reading up on it made me really sad for those parents who have children die from SIDS which they can't find an actual cause for and how so many parents blame themselves for their child's death because usually

[sephyelysian]

LOL. Well, I do research but there's also a fine line between that and capturing the character. It's nice when you can actually find that thread, that voice that leads you to them. I think if Setsuka hadn't wanted to talk, this might have sounded a lot more forced.

Oh no. I don't think you could do anything with Setsuka without Seishirou being tangled given how entwined they were. He'll have a continuing presence, for both her and Kamui.

I agree. I have to admit I got lumpy throated just writing this out. It's one of those things that you know happens but contemplating such an end for someone who was just born...it hurts. And it's even worse for the ones left behind.

*snerks* Seishirou was probably a handful. It's really too bad there wasn't more exploration of the Sakurazukas by CLAMP. I know they wanted there to be an air of mystery there but I'll admit the tidbits that were thrown out made me very hungry for more.

Thank you. &heart; Am very glad that you enjoyed it.

[luminaire]

Ooh, I liked this. I agree with Shi about how you've really brought Setsuka to life. She's a difficult character for me to relate to, but you did a good job of making her human.

I was also really sad to hear that Seishirou died. That line was just a shock. ;;

You have some beautiful descriptions in this, and the last line was really gorgeous and really painful at the same time.

So yes, a very strong start and I'm curious to see where this leads. ♥

[sephyelysian]

Thank you very much. Coming from you this does mean a lot. ♥ Setsuka is a difficult character in her own right because there are so many emotions and facets that have to be balanced and done justice. Otherwise she'll come across as cartoony or just ... lame.

Seishirou will continue to have a presence in this story; I don't think you can do anything with Setsuka without having Seishirou tangled in there. If anything, I think he and his death will bring Setsuka more into focus. At least that's what I'm hoping for.

Thank you again. Very much. ♥

[sakanagi]

That is good. I don't like Seishirou being killed off (it sounds so sad!), but the reaction that evoked from Setsuka was beautiful. Setsuka gets such little time spent on her in the manga and the drama CD that it is very nice to see something which handles her so well without being OOC. I'm looking forward to seeing the next chapter. If Kamui is going to come into Setsuka's possession, I'm curious as to how that will be done, because if she was to kidnap him as a kid then Tohru might prove quite an obstacle, since she's no ordinary magic-user herself.

[sephyelysian]

Thank you.

I will say that just because Seishirou is dead, he isn't not going to be there/ have a presence in the fic. So much of Setsuka is wrapped up in him, I think that it'd be impossible to do that. I'll admit though I poured over that chapter in X16 and over the transcripts for the drama cd because Setsuka as a character requires a balance that I think it'd be very easy to trip over and screw up. I was just praying I got it right in this case. As for Kamui...well, you'll see. ^~ I'm already prepping to write the next part so you probably won't have to wait long.