New Wraeththu Fic: Along the Line, Cal/Orien, R

[thrihyrne]

Story Notes: Written for the Forever Wraeththu songfic challenge. Initially mentioned by Cal to Swift in Bewitchments (I think that's the first time it's mentioned!) and then described in more gory details in Wraiths, Cal's murder of Orien in cold blood, after taking aruna, to me remains one of the most inexplicable things Cal ever does. So… I

Comments

[calanthe_fics]

Interesting that you say Cal's murder of Orien was something inexplicable to you. To me it's one of the things that defines him most; it's a byproduct of his passion, if you like. I think what puts Cal on a pedestal over other Wraeththu is the way he steps over the line, and does it with such finesse that instead of judgement, most onlookers find themselves wishing they'd been brave enough, strong enough, powerful enough - whatever. I really like the death scenario, and especially the closing of the circle, whether he knew it or not at the time - Pell for Orien.

:)

[thrihyrne]

It's definitely a defining moment for him, and a byproduct of his passion; well put. ;) most onlookers find themselves wishing they'd been brave enough, strong enough, powerful enough - whatever.

That's quite true- what makes him still approachable is that he is so fallible. I just find his murder of Orien and not just that, but the whole stringing him up in the Nayati, as so sinister. Later, he acknowledges that even he can be baffled by the depths of duality and demonic, manipulative tendencies he has- at least in the initial trilogy.

Hope you enjoyed my take on this! Thank you for your insights and thoughts into Cal's motives and Cal as a character.

[erfan_starled]

'kay, this is hard to get the words in order. 'note plucked' I liked your enjoyment of words there, and the picture the ideas gave of his state. This bit He had no idea what Orien would see if they pressed their lips together and his breath swam in, what images might swallow him whole. for some reason I cannot explain balanced the whole paragraph, again, fitted his experience or put it into words in a sideways fashion I think you are good at, as if you are feeling the characters?

His madness, and him watching, his talking to himself, the mirror; disturbingly pitched - spoke to me. Thought this whole fic worked well for its theme. It's a pleasure to read writing that includes plot with spiky interest and language I like.

(A more general note on concrit, since we've only met recently: I don't do concrit unless I know for a fact from the person that they would want it (most don't). But there are people who value it - and I do it, if it's wanted. If that makes sense?) Thanks for the story.

[thrihyrne]

I did have a lot of fun with imagery and words in this! Thank you so much for your comments, and letting me know that you enjoyed reading it. As for concrit, are you offering that up to me as a resource in the future? If so, I may well take you up on that, depending on how long the fic is and what kind of time frame I have for submitting something. Thank you!

[erfan_starled]

Concrit? If people take things up with me about something in a story of mine that they questioned, I rather like that kind of discussion. I can learn from that, I can see how things strike a reader, and so on. I think I came as an experiment to fanfic because writing itself interests me. I was throwing out a feeler for your preference in fb for your stories. No need to answer here. Or to answer at all.

[thrihyrne]

My apologies… I think I misunderstood what you meant at first. I very much appreciate feedback and insight to my stories, so please continue! And thank you for feeling that my work is worthy of such discussion. :)