"Down the Whispering Well," post 10

[thrihyrne]

Title: Down the Whispering Well

Comments

[veloona]

This is heartbreaking but beautiful in a very tragic way

[thrihyrne]

I'm so glad you've enjoyed this!! Like the prior post, this was challenging to write because I was in canon, which isn't quite as freeing as being nearby, but not directly in a scene that most people know so well. I'm going to go and write the epilogue now; I definitely had another scene in mind for the final, final part.

You're very welcome. Pellaz really surprised me, in the end, and I wondered at the change in focus, but as I kept thinking about Vaysh, and canon, I realized that Vaysh also moves on, and this is when it starts. (((hugs back)))

[heartofoshun]

Thud! Oh, no. This is the last chapter. (I have so looked forward to every new posting of this and sad there won’t be another for a while.) You realize you shouldn’t stop here. Although, I must congratulate your good judgment and taste at choosing this as a logical breaking-off point before deciding where to go next. I surely hope that your engagement with the character of Vaysh will force you to write more

[thrihyrne]

Well, there will be an epilogue; I just need to get away from the computer and go write it! :) But I didn't want to venture too far further into canon; I've really enjoyed (?? mostly enjoyed, but at times it has been so hard being in Vaysh's head and heart) writing this and shedding light on Vaysh at least as how I perceive him. I'm glad that you felt I kept him in character while showing these well-known scenes from his POV. He does have a spine, and he's a very complicated character, which was why I had to struggle before I even started, to know his motivations and how to reconcile everything he's forced to endure. The aruna I framed in that context due to canon, since Pellaz says he sees challenge in Vaysh's eyes, and to me that means Vaysh was daring him not to go. I think fanon would dictate that it was somewhat noncon, but they talk and practically spoon together and I really enjoyed the thought of Vaysh being proactive in that

[elfscribe5]

Thevina - I am overwhelmed. This is just stunning prose - both beautifully written and emotionally true. I think you have done such justice to Vaysh - I completely understand him in ways that I didn't when I read the book. I love his slowly coming to terms with Pell, seeing himself in Pell. His having to face the death of that hope that I think he couldn't even admit was there, that Ash still loved him, was heartbreaking. But, as Oshun said, he is a survivor. Both he and Pell are

[thrihyrne]

Thank you so very much for your kind words!!! I'm thrilled that you felt this was a powerful closing; I'm just ecstatic that it all rang true for you, and that you found so much that you enjoyed within the chapter. It's been such a wrenching journey, writing about Vaysh, and coming to terms with his acceptance of things that he must. Now I want to write about him off in the future post-sequels, with a younger har (or fewer years on him, anyway, since they seem to be somewhat ageless!) and being able to have a meaningful relationship. Just... thank you again. I'm so glad that this story brought me to you, on myriad levels. I've been relatively adrift now that I've finished! Though I had Euclase's name stuck in my head this morning, dream-wise. Urg. Ready to move on to something with less angst and guilt-free rooning. :) ♥

[sexyscholar]

I'm going to read this, and all of the parts, in their entirety later today, I hope. But! I had to respond to something.

I'm now ready to write more Wraeththu PWP

Um? Maybe some Tyson/Moon? Or more Cal/Swift?

I'm greedy. You know this. ;)

[thrihyrne]

Yeah, I know you're greedy. :) Love you anyway!

I'm actually feeing drawn to Ashmae/Seel, before and right as Sell goes to Immanion. It really shows how callous Ashmael is about Vaysh at the time, but I love the idea of Ash being Seel's arunic instructor. ;)

[sexyscholar]

DO IT.

DO. IT.

YES.

[camile_sinensis]

Once again I really liked the way you worked things in so seamlessly with the canon scenes - I admit to having a great fascination with what's happening "off stage" while the main characters are doing their main character thing!

Personally, I'm glad you went for the canon ending - I think it's the braver choice - obviously there's a huge temptation to give them the Joyful Reunion And Happy Ever After ending, but this feels more real, and the bitter-sweet conclusion seems right and natural after all the preceding angst.

Incidentally, I've never been of the opinion that Pell's seduction of Vaysh is in any way non-consensual; when Pell says "I'm going to take advantage of you.." he means it in a sort of joking, cliched sense. For some reason, though, people seem to see a lot of rape in Wraeththu series which I don't really think is actually there. I think it may stem from the fact that there is a lot of - for want of a better word - functional sex, which is what Wraeththu do, after all!

[thrihyrne]

Thank you much! I just thought skipping these pivotal scenes would seem so odd after such a build-up. I'm very pleased that you felt they read true. I did struggle with the canon ending, hence my questions and wibbling over at raythoo. But then I came to peace with it. And I'm totally with you about Pell's comment being tongue in cheek in regards to 'taking advantage' of Vaysh at that moment. Vaysh's eyes hold a challenge, according to canon, but I never had a sense it was of "I dare you to hurt me," but rather "I dare you not to ravage me senseless." So that's how I wrote it from Vaysh's POV. :)