From: vienna_waits (v.waits@gmail.com)
Date: 03/14/2008 |
It's never too late to read and comment, right? I don't know how I missed this before, but wowza, this really packed a punch. You made Stella so real and believable and complex--I loved her chastising Ray about smoking, then asking for a cigarette herself--and the way she poked through Ray's apartment like an intruder before Fraser moved in like he belonged there (which he did). Really wonderful observations and writing. This is an amazing story.
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From: Luzula (luzulae@gmail.com)
Date: 01/17/2008 |
Oh WOW. I am so, so impressed by this. I mean, I have a hard time getting into Stella's head, but this made me understand her. She's so smart and flawed and human, and I love how you show her interactions with people at the party, and then with Ray, and then with Fraser. This rang so true: "But she'd still disliked his manner, the passive-aggressive behavior that she had always associated with a womanish kind of weakness - the kind she had worked hard to be rid of, herself."
Just, WOW again. In case you didn't catch it the first time. : )
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From: malnpudl (malnpudl@livejournal.com)
Date: 01/01/2008 |
WOW. This is absolutely outstanding. Gorgeous, painful, and tremendously real portrayal of all three of them. I love this so very much.
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From: keerawa (keerawa@yahoo.com)
Date: 12/31/2007 |
Outstanding!
This is a totally believable Stella, smart, thinking ahead, slightly fucked up, unforgiving of herself and others. Fraser, quietly staking his claim and waiting for Stella to leave. And that contrast between when she stepped away from Ray, and he didn't even reach for her, but Fraser DID ... oooh. I love this a lot!
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From: Sprat (sprat75@gmail.com)
Date: 12/31/2007 |
Oh, wow, I liked that a lot. The Stella pov was fantastic, fleshed out and intelligent like we rarely get to see her, and the sense of a relationship on its last legs was really well-conveyed.
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From: Eledhwenlin (eledhwenlin@gmail.com)
Date: 12/30/2007 |
This story is so awesome it makes my heart ache. Stella is perfect and I adore her in this story.
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From: akite (akite68163@aol.com)
Date: 12/29/2007 |
Awesome story. I love the glimpse inside Stella's head and to see where she's coming from, and that she sees where Fraser is coming from.
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From: Queue (keeyoo@gmail.com)
Date: 12/29/2007 |
"The next day he'd wake up and buy her flowers, cook her dinner and dance with her, and sometimes it had been good, and sometimes it had been all wrong - and she had never been able to figure the hell out what had made the difference between one or the other."
Yes, yes, YES. This is such a key thing for Stella and RayK - the near misses, the almost-but-not-quite-theres, the balance tipping towards estrangement and confusion by the barest possible measure.
Wonderful. Second story I've read today that made me like someone I'd hitherto found quite unlikable. Thank you.
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From: Zebra (zebra363@livejournal.com)
Date: 12/29/2007 |
I really like that image of Fraser standing still, waiting for Stella to leave.
You've got a lot of interesting description in there, such as:
*The memory it stirred was visceral rather than concrete: a mix of emotions, ranging from being crazy in love and joyously happy to anger, exasperation, contempt.*
*the lust was familiar and slightly frayed by habit and history*
*But she'd still disliked his manner, the passive-aggressive behavior that she had always associated with a womanish kind of weakness*
It was nice of her to give Fraser a tip at the end!
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From: sam
Date: 12/28/2007 |
Nicely done. You made Stella likable which isn't done too often.
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From: mickeymvt (mickeymvt@livejournal.com)
Date: 12/27/2007 |
This is a Stella that I can believe truly does exist. Her focus on her career, then her care for Ray- you get the feeling that she does still love, even just a little bit- and then the way she looks out for Ray at the end, with kind of telling Fraser how to approach Ray. In a twisted way, I love that she kissed Fraser and that she thought, even for just a second, about fucking him, but thought better of it in the end.
And Fraser in this- just quietly and confidently moving into Ray's space and Ray's life- is utterly fantastic.
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From: Nos4a2no9 (nos4a2no9@gmail.com)
Date: 12/27/2007 |
Wow, I love a good Stella story, and this was perfect: it offers tremendous insight into her character and how her relationship with Ray functions, and I love the blend of love, protectiveness and jealousy that informs that final scene with Fraser. That whole sequence was really, really well done.
You did a fabulous job of showing us how Stella had initially dismissed Fraser even as he insinuated himself neatly into Ray's life, fitting better with Ray than Stella herself ever had. You draw some nice comparisons between them, and the writing itself was clean, sharp and really well-observed. Great job!
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From: brooklinegirl (brooklinegirl@rcn.com)
Date: 12/27/2007 |
But, unbelievably, the confused expression on his face told her that he was being earnest. Handsome and wholesome and earnest. And fuck it, she had to hand it to him - he was a strong player.
oh, I REALLY liked this. The moment when Fraser walks in, jacket over his arm, catching Stella unawares - that was really, really nicely done. I LOVE how that throws her off, and I love how Fraser fits in Ray's apartment when Stella does not, and I love the moment when Stella is wondering if Ray was even waiting for her that night.
NICELY done.
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From: justbreathe80 (justbreathe80@gmail.com)
Date: 12/26/2007 |
Oh, yes, yes! So sorry for the delay in commenting!
If there's anything I love the most about Stella stories, it's getting inside of her head and drawing her as a real, complex HUMAN. I totally embraced this smart, sexy, and complicated version of her, and THANK YOU for it. I have never thought her relationship with Ray could be so cut and dry, and I love how muddled this is, in the best of ways.
I'm still mulling over this story - I feel like there's a lot to chew on. I may have to go back and read it a few more times.
Thank you! I couldn't have asked for more!
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From: belmanoir (belmanoir@livejournal.com)
Date: 12/26/2007 |
I loved this! I love Stella generally, and she's too often overlooked or belittled in fic. This fic really worked for me---Stella's impulses fighting with her good sense. Her love for Ray, her urge to fuck Fraser. Yay!
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From: Jesse the K
Date: 12/26/2007 |
Outstanding!
Subtle character studies; you show, not tell.
Thanks.
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From: Ignaz Wisdom (ignazwisdom@gmail.com)
Date: 12/25/2007 |
GOD, this is terrific! I love your Stella, your Ray, your Fraser -- with his "self-destructive streak, his drive towards women that were dangerous to him." This is great writing!
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From: J S Cavalcante
Date: 12/25/2007 |
Some really fine writing, here. I love the atmosphere of this story. Love the description of Stella checking out Ray's apartment. This is a new and fascinating take on Stella. And Fraser--oh, God...that last scene is riveting. I think you made some great choices, especially the one to have Stella tell Fraser just enough... Good for her. :) It's subtly done. And it's going to change everything, because Fraser may put on the naive act, but he wasn't born yesterday. He's going to go for it, I think.
I think he was going to go for it, anyway, even if she hadn't said anything. Well done.
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From: jamethiel_bane (jamethiel.bane@gmail.com)
Date: 12/24/2007 |
*squeaks like a squeaking thing*
THIS IS AWESOME. YOU ARE AWESOME. Seriously, a Stella who is strong and not afraid, and yes, fucked up (I love that observation about how fighting turns to fucking for her. It's the only way she could have lived with Ray) and how strong she is. And completely unapologetic about it.
I love Fraser moving in quietly, waiting for his chance and Ray just not getting it.
I love that she's schmoozing at the Christmas party. That she's thinking ahead and thinking tactically. I love that she's SMART.
WELL DONE YOU!!! *cheers you*
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From: viciouscats (viciouscats@gmail.com)
Date: 12/24/2007 |
Wow. You give great Stella. Absolutely wonderful.
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