Maybe their car will break down and they'll have to steal a motorbike........ *YUM*
I really am enjoying this new story, Lori, and I think it's a testament to your talent as a writer that you can write such heartwarming stories as Human Interest and Two Crows Joy alongside such a dark, brooding tale like this one. Like many of the other readers here, I am on tenterhooks to find out how D fell into this way of life and now that he's finally met Jack, how the relationship between them as fugitives will develop.
Thanks for a fantastic new story :)
Thanks, merro! there is actually a big-ass clue about what might have pushed Ennis into his life as a contract killer...it's in the part where he's talking about the speedboats, and how Jack got bowled over by one and at one time he did, too.
Maybe their car will break down and they'll have to steal a motorbike........ *YUM*
only because I read someone else discussing it. I'm not big on Emily Dickinson and didn't know this poem.i do like emily dickensen, a lot but im not familiar with this particular poem...very interesting lori...i am very interested in your new story as i have been all the rest.. thanks for the job you do..a loyal reader janice
And the part in the motel room when D really wants to tell Jack his name, and wants Jack to keep talking so that D can see his "big blue eyes".
Ample make this bed.
Make this bed with awe;
In it wait till judgment break
Excellent and fair.
Be its mattress straight,
Be its pillow round;
Let no sunrise' yellow noise
Interrupt this ground
-Emily Dickenson (anyone remermber :"Sophie's Choice?".
More likely Jack would've given D a big shot of penicillin in his butt...which would have given Jack an excuse to look at D's butt! LOL
Jack being so doctory! I liked that a lot!
QuoteNothing like a good case of sepsis to throw an unlikely pair together! I am inevitably reminded of the scene in "The Fugitive" where Dr. Kimble sneaks into the hospital to find the One Armed Man, reads an X-ray and changes the orders on an emergency patient before getting found out and chased from the hospital. Dr. Jack Twist - The Fugitive!
I was inspired a bit by that movie, although not that scene specifically...more the earlier scene, right after the crash,w hen he sneaks into a hospital, steals an old guy's food and clothes, shaves and treats his own wound.
Although Jack won't need to steal anyone's clothes or food.
i am liking this tale more with each chapter...the scary stuff is getting thick, and hard to shake. i am however leery of jack just waltzing into a hospital and trying not to get caught, whilst snatching some illegal drug supplies....what about feed and grain store, they always have that stuff on hand for animals, and if you get them there its easy. no jail involved..
Chapter 6 is up:
http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/66656.html
SPOILER:
Nothing like a good case of sepsis to throw an unlikely pair together! I am inevitably reminded of the scene in "The Fugitive" where Dr. Kimble sneaks into the hospital to find the One Armed Man, reads an X-ray and changes the orders on an emergency patient before getting found out and chased from the hospital. Dr. Jack Twist - The Fugitive!
i am liking this tale more with each chapter...the scary stuff is getting thick, and hard to shake. i am however leery of jack just waltzing into a hospital and trying not to get caught, whilst snatching some illegal drug supplies....what about feed and grain store, they always have that stuff on hand for animals, and if you get them there its easy. no jail involved..
you can get penicillin for horses, I know, without it being prescribed, but . at a feed store? No... I never saw it there.i have bought dog medicine there and my daughter has despensed it to the animals...so yes they have it here...but maybe not everywhere. it wasnt tetanus, but yes on the antibiotics. for sure
And... while I am thinking about it - since I am allergic to about 12 antibiotics: shouldn't Jack have asked D if he was allergic to any specific antibiotics before he stuck him full of what he had in his bag? If he had done that to me it would be the last chapter of the story. And a LOT of people are allergic to the penicillin/ampicillin type.
The drugs in a hospital aren't illegal, but stealing them is. The feed and grain store is an interesting idea, but I don't believe that animals get vaccinated for tetanus, so I am not sure tetanus toxoid would be available. And are prescription medications (such as an antibiotic) sold at feed and grain stores? In my experience, the vet has all medications needed on hand. I had one time where she wrote a prescription and I had it filled at the drug store (this was for my dog).
Leslie
I read somewhere that she is planning to update on New Year's day! 2 more days! It's a great story isn't it?
I read somewhere that she is planning to update on New Year's day! 2 more days! It's a great story isn't it?
It really is. I don't think of it as a BBM story, just a good old fashioned thriller. Can't wait to find out what happens next.
L
I love this story, the tension between D & Jack is riveting, and the build up of their relationship is so well-done. I check her journal everyday for update.
Update? Update? Update? Update? :o
Anybody?
Yeah! Where is it?? :'(
Ik hoop dat ie vandaag komt maar ik ga er niet op wachten! LOL! Ik ga slapen..... :-*
I'll take a stab at translating this:
I am going to go shoot hoops until this chapter updates! LOL Or maybe I'll slap her [referring to MadLori]....
L
Ik hoop dat ie vandaag komt maar ik ga er niet op wachten! LOL! Ik ga slapen..... :-*
Slaap lekker Mel :-*
Now you are going to slap me? LOL
Actually, speak Dutch all you want, just be prepared for some fractured translations since my knowledge of Dutch words ends at "Edam Cheese" and "Schiopol Airport." LOL
L
Sorry, won't speak Dutch anymore... it's just so tempting sometimes! ;D
It is! ;D
Speak Dutch all you want. Maybe I'll learn something!
L
Want het is zo leuk en Nederlands is zoveel cooler dan Engels en wij zijn zo cool dat wij allebei spreken....!
See there I go again... sigh.... :-\
Weet je Mel, dat het mij nu ontzettend veel moeite kost om Nederlands te schrijven! Ik schrijf nu al bijna een jaar heel intensief Engels op alle forums en op LJ en dat gaat mij nu heel wat makkelijker af dan Nederlands! Gek he?? :D
Het is wel super cool dat wij het allebei spreken! Maar ik vind Engels wel cooler dan Nederlands! ;D Ik ben er dan ook mee opgegroeid en heb ook de Engelse nationaliteit. Maar geen van mijn familie woont in Engeland hoor, ze wonen allemaal in de buurt van Den Haag. Jouw Engels is ook geweldig! Hoe komt dat?
Gezellig dit geklets! LOL :-*
Ween MaadLoorrij arriivees und reeeds jhis farkiiing nooonseeense, jil theeeknj weeeve alj looost ourr farkiiing meeeends.
L
Well we're losing our minds waiting for her new chapter, so we might as well do it in a language she doesn't understand!
LOL :laugh:
Tha mi trang!
Ween MaadLoorrij arriivees und reeeds jhis farkiiing nooonseeense, jil theeeknj weeeve alj looost ourr farkiiing meeeends.
L
God, Leslie! You seriously cracked me up with this! LMAO!
;D ;D ;D
Uhm, what, H?? ;D
We're not restricted to Dutch are we?
This is why I love you, June. You always laugh at my jokes!
Hugs,
L
I wonder why Lori doesn't post here, I'm sure she has a lot of readers on this forum.
Hello everyone...I'm sorry I haven't been around, but I barely have time to READ all three forums let alone post to each one, and I'm not used to my threads being this active here on BM!
I'm a bit short on time AND mental energy these days. I'm just glad I'm still keeping up with READING everyone else's fics! I've got some good time carved out this weekend to work on new Zero, so fingers crossed.
Hello everyone...I'm sorry I haven't been around, but I barely have time to READ all three forums let alone post to each one, and I'm not used to my threads being this active here on BM!
I'm a bit short on time AND mental energy these days. I'm just glad I'm still keeping up with READING everyone else's fics! I've got some good time carved out this weekend to work on new Zero, so fingers crossed.
well dear lori, we have tried to be the non whining crew over here on bettermost,
occupying ourself with checking for zits and giving our legs a proper shave.
mmbut we are ready now to start reading...dutch notwithstanding,,,we are now
SCREAMING,,,OUT LOUD,,,,get to damn writing on those poor boys,,,/you are going to
give the bad guys more time to find them.... janice
We should do a raindance or something to make Lori update sooner........
what the hell am I talking about?
:-X
Seems like a good idea to me!
I can't bear the waiting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's really becoming too much, I agree. I think we should expect that the update will be there on Monday, if it comes earlier than that, it will be a surprise...
Same with Nobody's angel, when was that one's last update? Saturday?
NA will update over the weekend, Mel. So that will be very late Saturday or Sunday evening for us, if she sticks to her usual posting time.
:) Are you feeling better today? I hope so :)
Is it update-day?
(*excited smiley*)
No update yet!!!! :'( :'( :'( :'(
Lori, do you have any idea what you're doing to us??????
Heard through the grapevine that Lori might update her time tonight. But nothing is definite :(
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO JUNE? I'M DYING HERE!!!
(oooohhhh drama queen strikes again!)
LOL Mel!! Pleeeeease don't forget to keep breathing! ;D
You know what? I've decided to just put it out of my mind and just wait and see when she updates cause I don't feel like stressing out about it anymore :D
I know what you mean..... I NEED CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!
Sorry, I will just focus on writing chapter 8 of my story...
Ohh Mel, I NEED that too *sigh*
YEAH!! GOOD IDEA!! Other people should just update their wonderful stories and put me (and you) out of our misery!! ;D
:-*
Lori, you are a rascal for leaving us hanging like this !!!! Update soon dear.
Karen
Lori did say in her live chat the other day that the next chapter she would be updating is Two Crows Joy. So we'll just have to wait for Zero...
Leslie
:'( (*goes off to sulk in the corner)
Although a new chapter of TCJ is not bad either...it's just that Zero has such a mean cliffhanger!
Lori did say in her live chat the other day that the next chapter she would be updating is Two Crows Joy. So we'll just have to wait for Zero...
Leslie
Any news from Lori? We miss you Lori and I hope all is well with you. 8)
Also, I have to admit that I have no clue whatsoever about what is going on with D and X and...everything else.... I will have to reread it all once I it is finished...
In case anyone missed it, chapter 17!
http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/82404.html (http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/82404.html)
And I believe I read in the comments, that there may be a sequel! Yay! "D' does something to me that's hard to explain.
Marie
Yeehaw!!!
Update!
http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/87314.html (http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/87314.html)
SPOILERS
This is like sitting on the edge of your seat and watching a movie - a really intelligent, top-notch thriller/love story. Awesome and amazing. Both these guys are so damn smart, but, yet, so damn human.
That wouldn’t do for Jack. He’d have better. Someday.
That killled me. And I'm scared. Really scared. There are bad, bad people after them and I can't help but believe that bad, bad things are going to happen before everything gets worked out...eventually.
But I'd rather think about D's gift to Jack:
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z196/mariez65/chocolate-covered-cherries.jpg)
Marie
........
Didn't you just love the last lines of this chapter?
I just heard through the grapevine that Lori has another update planned for THIS WEEKEND! Yeeeeeeh!
Yes, indeed! You're right.
Here's chapter 21
http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/88440.html (http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/88440.html)
Yeehaw!!
Yet another update.
Here's chapter 22
http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/88920.html (http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/88920.html)
It's such a good chapter! I hope you enjoy it. :)
And with lightning speed... here's chapter 23!
http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/89690.html (http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/89690.html)
Yeehaw!
8)
Once again, this update is just unbelievably good! :D Yikes!
..Lots of no dont do thats, and holy craps...
If the "evil lawyer" frequently made use of the "what colour are my eyes" ploy, and everyone knew it, why hadn't the DA and the people prepping Jack warned him of that beforehand?
Now that Jack's testimony is on record, why didn't the hitman just kill Jack in the bar, or outside the bar? Why the intricate plot to abduct him somewhere first - risking the hitman's life up close and personal, and involving hidden helpers, and syringes and whatnot - much that could go wrong? I thought at this stage the whole point for the brothers would be to kill Jack to show other potential witnesses what happens to anyone who don't keep mum. And if so - they'd want the death as public as possible, wouldn't they? Shooting Jack in the bar would be perfect to get that point across. And if Jack could have a note pressed into his hand, he sure could be killed. (Eeep!! :o )I believe Janice is right - they wanted D, not Jack - they know Jack has a personal relationship with D because of Jack's own testimony that he was involved with someone while in hiding (it had to have been D - they were on the run together) so they were counting on the fact that Jack would risk his life for D. I did understand why Jack went outside, I thought his internal dialogue and the way he argued with himself was great, but I don't think we know yet whether the two separate bad guy groups are communicating - we don't even know yet exactly why the second group wants D.
I believe Janice is right - they wanted D, not Jack - they know Jack has a personal relationship with D because of Jack's own testimony that he was involved with someone while in hiding (it had to have been D - they were on the run together) so they were counting on the fact that Jack would risk his life for D.
I did understand why Jack went outside, I thought his internal dialogue and the way he argued with himself was great.
I don't think we know yet whether the two separate bad guy groups are communicating - we don't even know yet exactly why the second group wants D.
I am so anxious for the next chapter!
After he's done his damage, his death is primarily useful to the brothers as a deterrent. Therefore they'd want to make it as long, drawn-out and painful as possible...and that is Petros' speciality, and the entire reason they brought him into this situation. They obviously can't do that in a bar and would need to remove him to a secure location to torture the hell out of him before dumping his body somewhere public and letting everyone see what had been done to him and over how long a time. The message being "See? THIS is what you're in for if you testify."
Thanks for stoppng by and answering some questions, Lori. I'm glad Brad's not one of the bad guys!
Yeah, I knew Petros worked for the brothers - but the people who beat up J.J. are the second group of bad guys and they want Jack dead, too - only for different reasons, right? ....and the scary message about making D kill Jack made me think that maybe Petros was working both sides of the fence....they could kidnap Jack and get D for whatever reason...that there is some connection between the two groups somehow?......well, I'll stop because my head is spinning and I'll wait patiently and see how this all plays out. Really compelling stuff!
Marie
They don't want Jack dead so much as they want D to kill him. Does that make sense? Way back when at the beginning, Jack was just a convenient target. Their blackmailing of D wasn't about Jack, it was about D.
...Yeah, that's very clear! And I just have to repeat what Mikaela said. GULP - really scary stuff.
But now that D and Jack have a relationship, one imagines that they might exploit that relationship to inflict as much harm on D as possible, for whatever reason.
I keep having this notion rattling around inside my head...The fact that D said there is nothing theyYeah, that thought occurred to me too, Janice - which is why I was thinking there was some connection between the groups, some way they could use each other to the advantage of both - but that doesn't really make sense either because the second group prevented J.J. from getting to Jack - they have their own agenda because of D......I have to stop thinking now! LOL!
could do to make him kill Jack... I can think of one scenario...The torture scene from Shades. If D saw they
were torturing Jack that way, he would kill him before he let that continue....UUUUUUUUUgggggghhh. I cant
bear the thought...
Yeah, that thought occurred to me too, Janice - which is why I was thinking there was some connection between the groups, some way they could use each other to the advantage of both - but that doesn't really make sense either because the second group prevented J.J. from getting to Jack - they have their own agenda because of D......
I have to stop thinking now! LOL!
Perhaps the best we can hope for is that the two groups trying to get at Jack and D end up fighting each other in all-out war because they deem the other bad guys are in their way.I like your way of thinking!
For some mysterious reason - probably because the tension of Zero makes me crave a little comic relief - the idea of the bad guys' in-fight brought to mind a scene in "Monthy Pyton's Life of Brian". The one where two competing Judean Peoples' Front groups accidentally meet on their way to kidnap the wife of Pilate (I think it is) and end up fighting each other like crazy (literally) because both want to take honour for having thought out the plan and performed the kidnap. ::) Well, fingers crossed for something similar happening in Zero, but I doubt there's much of a chance of that - the people hunting J&D are too evil. too determined and too persistent to be thusly distracted - and they might even form an alliance, seeing that their goals *could* be combined to horrifying effect.
....And the only cure will be the next update, and the one after that! ;D
Chapter 24:
http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/90486.html
Hooray! Something to look forward to for when I get home from work!
:D
I'm dying to hear what people think about this recent update!
**Spoilers and questions**
Do you really think that there's no realistic chance for D and Jack to be together beyond this one weekend? I still keep wondering why D couldn't go into witness protection with Jack. I liked Jack's suggestion to Megen about actually just staying with D rather than going into witness protection.... But, I think she's right that it would put too much stress on D to feel like he was constantly responsible for protecting Jack as well as figuring out his own problems. But, still... wouldn't D entering the same type of protective program as Jack help him in the same way that it would help Jack?
And, this chapter really brought up all sorts of interesting, scary questions about who they can really trust. I'm very curious about Megen's role in knowing about the initial contract for D to kill Jack. I got really curious when she was remembering that scenario and thinking that she would have been ready to kill D if he looked like he was going to go through with the initial assassination of Jack.
I'm constantly amazed and impressed by how complex this plot is.
:)
Well, I think Churchill (and by extension witness protection programs, etc.) are already breaking the rules when it comes to D. They're already extending protection to him by letting him stay in the guarded-room with Jack. So, yes, he's not a witness... but the authorities seem to be treating him as a figure worthy of protection even now. And, yes, both D and Jack are targeted and are both in danger... which is why the witness protection program would seem like at least an OK option for both. I would guess that Jack would prefer to live with D even if D is a target than to live without him in relative (or in increased) safety.
I don't have any ideas at all how this can be resolved! D seemed to have some sort of a plan before, but now with this Josey complication - I don't know....there's just so much against them. But I keep holding on to the idea that there will be a sequel! :)
Marie
SPOILERS
But it's pretty clear that things are gonna get really, really ugly. And whatever resolution takes place won't come without some kind of sacrifice, somewhere along the way.
Okay, I'm ready for the next chapter. ;)
There will be. :-)
I just hope that the actual unfolding of the story's events live up to your expectations!
Then again he had some further reasons in the previous chapter why he couldn't go into Witsec - something to do with his military record and keeping his identity and the fact that he is alive under wraps.... But I guess that is not at all relevant anymore, given this chapter's surprising and scary development. D's cover is blown big time anyway.
I do think it makes sense though for D to want Jack to go into as safe a situation as possible, and for them to keep apart - two separate hidden and moving targets more difficult to track down than one, and more "freedom" for D to solve the current mess somehow without focusing his energy on protecting Jack. And it makes sense that Jack realizes that too - D needs all his resources on handling this situation without any Jack "distractions". Still you gotta admire the two of them. They sure do love each other to go through with this. Personal sacrifices all around.
I'm thinking that when D tells Jack his real name, it'll be the "ultimate" moment of this story.
Hot off the presses - Chapter 26!
http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/91742.html?view=2177886#t2177886 (http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/91742.html?view=2177886#t2177886)
SPOILER
OH.MY.GOD.
Chapter 27!!
http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/92354.html
I wonder which fandom she is writing in.... :D
**Spoilers**
I'm not surprised that D didn't show up... but somehow it almost feels like he was behaving like a "tease" by going to the house just before Jack shows up. Somehow I feel like it would have been better if he hadn't gone at all. I am glad that he conveyed the note to Jack (but maybe he could have done this via a note from Megan and some other venue). It's also nice to know that he says he's kept his promise to Jack and hasn't killed anyone. It's hard to imagine just exactly what his plan/ strategy is... still at this juncture.
This definitely felt like a transitional chapter to me. It'll be interesting to see how this complex plot is brought to a conclusion in just a few chapters as seems to be Lori's goal now.
**possible plot spoiler**
I admit I have been struggling more than a bit with the plot point of Jack and D not meeting up again for 3 years (which I think has been mentioned previously in Lori's comments)
New chapter up-perfect timing with all the craziness happening (again :( ) at LJ
What's happening at lj, Roux?
Can't wait to come home and read this...
Huge devisiveness over Jake. It is all so stupid-but everyone is so over the top emotionally I have to cut them some slack. I just wish folks could disagree without getting so flipppin' superior and nasty. So many people have a need to be validated by having others agree with them and that's what is going on over there.
Anyway, back to the topic-I'm home sickish so I can't wait to finish reading Lori's latest installment.
(http://bestsmileys.com/birthday1/8.gif)
Madlori!!
That was a terrific epilogue, as well as a terrific prologue to the sequel. I'm glad Lori will be completing the sequel before she begins posting it. I can see that they're going to have some tremendously frustrating issues to deal with, and if I have enough willpower :-\, I think it will be something I'd like to read all at once.
Marie
:D
FYI, Lori posted a second One Shot continuing the Zero story!!
http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/97720.html (http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/97720.html)
:D
SPOILERS
I thought this one-shot was particularly well done and it confirms my feeling that the sequel may be an even "darker" and more complex story than Zero - but on different levels and in different ways.
Did anyone else think that Jack's resolute handling the muggers was a foreshadowing and trial run of the "Action Dentist" activity he'll have to engage in in the sequel proper, in order to help or protect D....?
I really don't know enough about the sequel's topic to be sure of anything, which is good of course - but it has me speculating nevertheless! :)
Exciting news for Lori about Zero:
Here's the beginning of what she posted at the Human Interest community:
Okay, folks.
*deep breath*
I can now tell you the real reason why I am not continuing writing in the Zero universe.
And that's because IT'S GOING TO BE PUBLISHED. Yeah, baby ....
and the link to the remainder of her post.
http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/99701.html (http://community.livejournal.com/humaninterest/99701.html)
Congratulations to Lori.
Marie
... Will she change the characters' names? Will the "secret" of D's real name have to be changed? And will Jack still be Jack?
Can't wait to learn more about these developments.
She certainly has a lot of readers for it and a lot of interest. I couldn't buy the premise of a contract killer having a romantic liaison with the man he's hired to shoot to death, or having him be a romantic lead.
I couldn't buy the premise either for a long time, which is why I had never read it before now. Until recently I avoided AU fanfiction because I just couldn't accept Jack and Ennis in a story like "Zero at the Bone" where one is a hitman for hire, and the other his target. I think what changed for me was to accept the characters of Jack and Ennis a archetypes. In an AU story you'll find they generally retain certain defining character traits: Jack is more open and accepting of his sexuality. He seeks and hopes for the sweet life with Ennis. Ennis in these stories is the more stoic and troubled character. The one who feels deeply, but is afraid or too repressed to show it. What character traits of Jack and Ennis are emphasized in a particular story depends upon the author and how they were inspired. Additionally, it helps to imagine Jake and Heath in the roles. I would encourage you to give ZATB and others a try. How one character became a hitman is well explained I think, as is how and why he falls in love with his intended victim. Like me you might be pleasantly surprised. Some of these stories are really very well done.
Ian
I did read it, at least the first half of it. And I've read many AU's. That wasn't the problem. The problem is the lack of romantic quality in the character she made out of Ennis, and the fact that he is a coldhearted killer who escapes punishment for his crimes. Nuh-huh. No way, never. I won't accept a fictional universe in which a hero is a man who escapes punishment for murder. Many murders. They weren't accidents, they weren't defending the innocent, they weren't war. They were murders, and a universe of order does not permit murderers to go unpunished and become romantic heroes.
Ok. I see your point. There are a few fanfic's I didn't like either. Like you I started reading them and just couldn't finish. I don't even remember which they where now. It's all a matter of personal taste. I think the author was trying to show how far Ennis had sunk, how completely dehumanized he had become because of personal tradgedy and loss, and how he is redeemed.
I could have bought the dehumanized hitman finally being redeemed by doing a good turn and getting on the right side of the law, but it isn't a straight-up crime drama. It's a "love story" and a love story hero has to be on the right side of justice. Being a romantic hero and getting away scot-free is not justice in my world. And I think it was a poor choice in a romantic/love situation, and just because it provided pre-packaged high drama and action isn't adequate justification for the moral compromise necessary to accept the hero.
I read Zero and it's entertaining enough. I think HI is a much better story, although I didnt like TCJ as much. I didnt even finish reading it.
What is HI and TCJ?
Re: Zero at the Bone...are you guys reading the original fanfic? It has been originalized and published as a book. It came out in April.
Here's a link to buy the ebook at All Romance eBooks. It is available in a variety of formats.
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-zeroatthebone-15783-153.html
You can also buy it in print at Amazon, and in a Kindle version, also at Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Zero-at-Bone-Jane-Seville/dp/1935192809/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246117917&sr=8-1
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41MrwpdEGAL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
"Human Interest" and the sequel, "Two Crows Joy" - madlori's other fics:
http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,1188.0.html (http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,1188.0.html)
Wow. Good for her! It must be wonderful to see ones work published! I'm glad she's been getting 5 star reviews at Amazon.
Thanks for the link, Leslie!
The objection to the premise of Zero is an extremely fair criticism and one I obviously can't refute nor would I try. It's just one of those things where the reader will either buy it or not, they'll come along or they won't. Some things are just dealbreakers.
In my early fanfic reading days I was not much interested in AU!AU but once I opened my mind I jumped right in and it become one of my favorite genres. I didn't have any trouble accepting the premise of ZATB because, I think, I read it, and I read most stories, without judgement or preconceived ideas of how something "should" be.
I don't see ZATB as some kind of morality play so the fact that Ennis "gets away with murder" doesn't enter into my judgement of the premise. I guess many people do buy the romantic quality in Ennis which just shows to go ya that one man's ceiling is indeed another man's floor.
Thanks for the link, Leslie!
The objection to the premise of Zero is an extremely fair criticism and one I obviously can't refute nor would I try. It's just one of those things where the reader will either buy it or not, they'll come along or they won't. Some things are just dealbreakers.
In my early fanfic reading days I was not much interested in AU!AU but once I opened my mind I jumped right in and it become one of my favorite genres. I didn't have any trouble accepting the premise of ZATB because, I think, I read it, and I read most stories, without judgement or preconceived ideas of how something "should" be.
I don't see ZATB as some kind of morality play so the fact that Ennis "gets away with murder" doesn't enter into my judgement of the premise. I guess many people do buy the romantic quality in Ennis which just shows to go ya that one man's ceiling is indeed another man's floor.
Since Zero is getting some posts, I figured I would ask a question or two concerning the plot. I just re-read the book version (yay! for good stories getting published!) and I realized I didn't understand some points.
The first has to do with those guys who at one point kidnap Jack to "get to D". They seem prepared to let Jack go if they can get hold of D - at least they pretend to let Jack go - and I assume those folks were Josey's goons. But she wasn't out to just "get hold of" D - nor to blackmail him once more. She was out to make him kill Jack, and I don't see how that could be achieved by the whole kidnap scenario. Can anyone explain this?
Also I realized that the initial set-up of Josey blackmailing D was a little iffy IMO - she has half a year's worth of photos of him doing various "jobs". Granted those weren't murders of witnesses, but they nevertheless *were* premeditated murders for financial gain. Surely D would very likely have received the death penalty if she'd just handed him over with all that evidence against him? So really the whole witness-killing set-up wasn't really necessary?
And if Maria (the woman Jack saw killed) was about to testify against her hubby and the Dominguez clan, why wasn't she in protective custody too?
I think too much, I guess. My objections to the lack of logic in the bad guys' behaviour actually took away some of my enjoyment of Shades of Grey. Zero is much better, it has me wondering over some points, but never makes me roll my eyes.
And "Angel" totally used to be one of my favourite TV shows, FWIW! 8)
Good questions! I don't know the answers either. ;)
What were some of the questions you had about "Shades of Grey"? I really enjoyed that story too.
Since Zero is getting some posts, I figured I would ask a question or two concerning the plot. I just re-read the book version (yay! for good stories getting published!) and I realized I didn't understand some points.
The first has to do with those guys who at one point kidnap Jack to "get to D". They seem prepared to let Jack go if they can get hold of D - at least they pretend to let Jack go - and I assume those folks were Josey's goons. But she wasn't out to just "get hold of" D - nor to blackmail him once more. She was out to make him kill Jack, and I don't see how that could be achieved by the whole kidnap scenario. Can anyone explain this?
Also I realized that the initial set-up of Josey blackmailing D was a little iffy IMO - she has half a year's worth of photos of him doing various "jobs". Granted those weren't murders of witnesses, but they nevertheless *were* premeditated murders for financial gain. Surely D would very likely have received the death penalty if she'd just handed him over with all that evidence against him? So really the whole witness-killing set-up wasn't really necessary?
And if Maria (the woman Jack saw killed) was about to testify against her hubby and the Dominguez clan, why wasn't she in protective custody too?
I think too much, I guess. My objections to the lack of logic in the bad guys' behaviour actually took away some of my enjoyment of Shades of Grey. Zero is much better, it has me wondering over some points, but never makes me roll my eyes.
And "Angel" totally used to be one of my favourite TV shows, FWIW! 8)
It's not perfect, plotwise. But the real point of the book is the relationship, and D's journey back to the human race, and if the reader can buy the plot enough to hang the relationship on it, it gets by. I hope.
What were some of the questions you had about "Shades of Grey"? I really enjoyed that story too.
I guess that belongs in another thread and would require a really long post. But it mainly had to do with the numerous reckless and irrational things Hinestroza and Madrigal do once Jack calls to give himself up. I could not believe a chief mob boss and his main henchman of many years would be so stupid and still remain in their "positions" year after year, couldn't believe the Feds or the mob competitors hadn't taken them out a long time ago. And since Madrigal is supposed to be the scary near-untouchable menace and Hinestroza is the big Guy who's been smarter than the feds (and Ennis) and is a weird surrogate father figure to Jack; - once the two bad guys come across as utter morons too much of the plot (past and present), and some of Ennis's and Jack's related motivations, fell flat.
Mind you, Shades of Grey is still a wonderful, beautiful, high-quality fic - the prose and the description of the developing relationship between its Jack and Ennis are close to being unrivalled.
I absolutely love SoG - I guess I was expecting perfection all the way, and that was why I got so disappointed when the bad guys started behaving irrationally in order for the plot to reach its climax. Because really, my objections could have been removed with some relatively minor plot changes. I've always wondered who beta'd for Amy and whether they raised any of my objections.
Hi Mikaela! These are all good points. I can't claim that absolutely everything in the story hangs together perfectly...it's a bit of a hazard of writing something serially. In fact, I seriously considered deleting the entire "kidnap Jack" scenario from the story for just the reason you cite, but it's such a key moment in their interpersonal relationship that I decided to let it slide.
Josey's plan, by her own admission, changed a couple of times, by necessity and as a response to D and Jack's involvement. You're right in that any of the other kills D performed could have gotten him the death penalty, but that wasn't enough for her. What she wanted was for him to break his own personal code against killing the innocent and THEN to be executed for THAT. That element of poetic justice was really what she was after.
When the initial plan went awry, when D refused to kill Jack, the plan had to change. She tried to reacquire them at the gas station...at this point she probably just wanted both of them dead. Remember that there still was a contract on Jack's life in which she was financially invested, so she would have wanted him dead as well.
Then they vanished for at least a week. During this time she would have been able to regroup and formulate a new plan. My imagining was that she staged the kidnap scheme to get D back under her control, then planned to reacquire Jack, either right then and there or a little way down the road. Then she'd either force D to kill him or kill him herself and frame D for it. Taht didn't fly thanks to Megan's interference and the boys disappeared again. And so on.
It's not perfect, plotwise. But the real point of the book is the relationship, and D's journey back to the human race, and if the reader can buy the plot enough to hang the relationship on it, it gets by. I hope.
I'll tell you, writing the sequel is proving much easier because I can write it all in one shot and make these things more clear at the outset.
I think Joaquin Phoenix could do a fine job as Jack. As E I´d cast Gary Oldman.
It's very difficult to not envisage Heath and Jake as the leads.
But if I had to come up with someone...
Daniel Craig as D andJoseph Gordon-Levitt as Jack
Problem is they're too far apart in RL, age-wise. Perhaps a good make-up dept. could make them "meet in the middle".
Wow, one year only....
Sometimes you're real quick, Monika!! :laugh: :laugh: :-*
Yeah, it's a great story!for sure
I think it's one of the most beloved stories in the fandom.
Although there's noting in the published version that gives away that it's originally written as BBM fanfic,
but we know it is! :)
for sure
Dr Jack and D are great characters. I´d love to read a sequel (no that I will hear about it until a year after it´s come out, but still O0)
I'm sure the sequel will still be worth the reading after a year! ;) ;Dno doubt
Dr Jack and D are great characters. I´d love to read a sequel (no that I will hear about it until a year after it´s come out, but still O0)