New Fic: Appointed Hours (Alias)

[vaznetti]

First and foremost, Happy Birthday SEP! I hope you feel well soon.

Next, a new Alias story. I was bound to start writing about Sloane sooner or later, since he's my new secret boyfriend. Three drabbles over three years.

Comments

[auburnnothenna]

Tight and marvelous. I liked the repeated use of the ashes in each part, Emily's cremation, the villa burning, ashes in the mountain air. I even thought is Sloane's horror at the news she's been cremated not at the destruction of her body, but at the prospect of her ashes spreading on the wind? She'll be everywhere, always with him wherever he goes. He can't compartmentalize his love and grief for her because she's omnipresent.

Though that might be a comfort in the end. Sloane's a fascinating character because he has these elements of humanity, of pain and feeling. Lovely that you're writing him.

[vaznetti]

Thank you. I'm glad you liked this.

I even thought is Sloane's horror at the news she's been cremated not at the destruction of her body, but at the prospect of her ashes spreading on the wind?

I think there are a number of reasons for his horror--certainly, the lack of closure is part of it. Also, of course, because she's been cremated he won't be able to use any Rambaldi magic to bring her back to life. And finally (unstated in this piece) religious prohibitions aside, American Jews are often reluctant to consider cremation, for historical reasons. But that depends on whether or not one thinks Sloane is Jewish--I can't recall whether that was established in canon.

[coffeeandink]

I don't remember this being established in canon, and your comment startled me. But of course you know this canon much better than I do. What makes you think Sloane is Jewish?

It is a lovely piece. I read your other Alias pieces as well as a few weeks ago, and liked them a lot. They're beautifully written, and manage to express complicated relationships with paradoxical clarity.

[vaznetti]

First of all, thank you for the feedback--I'm glad you like the work I've been doing in this fandom. I must say that I enjoy playing with the characters precisely because they're so complicated.

As for Sloane's background--I think I came across the possibility in a fannish discussion. (I don't think it's well-established enough to be considered fanon.) At the time, I filed it away in the back of my mind, and it came to light when I started thinking for this piece. It gave me the ashes and the instinctive recoil at cremation, and I went from there. I assume it here because it's useful to me (and because I don't think the matter of Sloane's religion has ever been established); I'm not sure that's a very good answer for you, though.

For the record, I think that Sloane's real religious connection is to Rambaldi. But that doesn't affect the question of his background.

[cassandre]

Beautiful. You tease out a delicate balance between Sloane's real grief, and his cynical willingness to role-play bereavement.

Like the Italy touch, too.

Just bought the Alias S2 DVDs and am watching like mad. But I don't think I'm going to finish before I leave for Oxford on Fri. Aargh! I really wanted to see them before I try to embark on that Sark fic (am still wondering what was I high on when I said I would do that).

Do you happen to know whether one can play U.S. DVDs on U.K. DVD players? My guess would be no, one can't, because how would that benefit capitalism?

[vaznetti]

Do you happen to know whether one can play U.S. DVDs on U.K. DVD players? My guess would be no, one can't, because how would that benefit capitalism?

That cracks me up, but only because it's so very, very true. I think that if one happens to own a multi-region DVD player, one can, but I'm not really good with that kind of thing. There is apparently some way that really clever people can re-program their DVD players (no, really!) to make this happen. I still can't use my VCR, which should give you an hint about my capacities.

I'm glad you liked this. Have fun with the S2 DVDs. You will be fine. Send me an email if you have thoughts/want to discuss anything.

[selenak]

I found this belatedly on my lonely quest for Sloane stories. It's beautiful.

[vaznetti]

Thank you. I rather like Sloane myself, and there ought to be foction about him. (I do have another Sloane story, but it's an X-Files crossover and not entirely serious--in other words, it may not be to your taste. But it's Free and easy ways to dave the planet.

[vaznetti]

Argh. "more fiction," and "save the planet." I hate my own typos.

[selenak]

It happens to all of us. And thank you for the link - I was only in X-Files fandom for a minute or so, but this was very amusing. At good old Alex' expense, which made it even better.*g*