Oh, oh. Beautiful, heart-wrenching. I was sure there could be no perfect resolution in the one part remaining (if ever, for them), and you play out the angst of the aftermath so artfully.
(On a quick action/plot note: you've really merged these two worlds seamlessly and found a way to balance emotional drama with the linear workings of the case; the take-down scene was fantastic: quick-paced, tense and vivid!)
I love how you use JJ both as a perceptive outsider to the Emma/Emily dynamic and as a perpetual misreader of it, how she understands that Emma will hurt Emily, but cannot actually comprehend the why. I love JJ's observation of Emma's transformation from active, feeling diamond to cold, impassive flesh, and I love the parallel between their 'cold brittle connection breaking,' the representation of both women as irreparably broken, and Emma's vessel metaphor, her understanding of herself as almost disgustingly stronger, fated to picking up the pieces. I love that Emily both understands and rejects that interpretation of their relationship.
Emily's whispered admission of need, followed by her admission of brokenness, met only by silence, mute acquiescence on Emma's part... Gorgeous. How you manage so much with so few words, so little surface motion, is a mystery to me.
The last scene between Emma and Emily tore me to pieces. Every barb, every vulnerability. There had been too many lies spoken, every word had been a lie. But the one truth unsaid was that this was over. Utterly painful, but stunningly phrased.
I love their separate reflections on their respective planes, Emma's absorption into self-loathing negating the fact that, unlike everyone else she's tried to save, Emily is still alive, still accessible, still potentially knowable. I love Emily's admission to JJ, how you've juxtaposed it with the aftermath of their initial parting (being marked vs. marks disappearing in time).
So, yeah. Thanks for this. I'll have to go off and cry now, but I'm so glad you ran with this story the way you did. I almost never comment on stories (I'm such a recluse), but this is so unique and brilliant, and I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate it.
Of course, bleeding-heart romantic that I am... Dare I hope for more?
Because Emily's not dead, after all, and Emma's story is changing, whether she likes it or not, and no one else is going to tackle this world, with these characters in tandem, the way you do... I don't care if it takes you years to get them to a space where they can freely admit their need to each other. Even if it's just perpetual breaking for a long, long time, I'll read every word.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2009-05-17 08:31 pm (UTC)(On a quick action/plot note: you've really merged these two worlds seamlessly and found a way to balance emotional drama with the linear workings of the case; the take-down scene was fantastic: quick-paced, tense and vivid!)
I love how you use JJ both as a perceptive outsider to the Emma/Emily dynamic and as a perpetual misreader of it, how she understands that Emma will hurt Emily, but cannot actually comprehend the why. I love JJ's observation of Emma's transformation from active, feeling diamond to cold, impassive flesh, and I love the parallel between their 'cold brittle connection breaking,' the representation of both women as irreparably broken, and Emma's vessel metaphor, her understanding of herself as almost disgustingly stronger, fated to picking up the pieces. I love that Emily both understands and rejects that interpretation of their relationship.
Emily's whispered admission of need, followed by her admission of brokenness, met only by silence, mute acquiescence on Emma's part... Gorgeous. How you manage so much with so few words, so little surface motion, is a mystery to me.
The last scene between Emma and Emily tore me to pieces. Every barb, every vulnerability. There had been too many lies spoken, every word had been a lie. But the one truth unsaid was that this was over. Utterly painful, but stunningly phrased.
I love their separate reflections on their respective planes, Emma's absorption into self-loathing negating the fact that, unlike everyone else she's tried to save, Emily is still alive, still accessible, still potentially knowable. I love Emily's admission to JJ, how you've juxtaposed it with the aftermath of their initial parting (being marked vs. marks disappearing in time).
So, yeah. Thanks for this. I'll have to go off and cry now, but I'm so glad you ran with this story the way you did. I almost never comment on stories (I'm such a recluse), but this is so unique and brilliant, and I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate it.
Of course, bleeding-heart romantic that I am... Dare I hope for more?
Because Emily's not dead, after all, and Emma's story is changing, whether she likes it or not, and no one else is going to tackle this world, with these characters in tandem, the way you do... I don't care if it takes you years to get them to a space where they can freely admit their need to each other. Even if it's just perpetual breaking for a long, long time, I'll read every word.
<3! Thanks for making my week.