This part is just so brilliant, I don't even know where to start with comments... The way you hint at Emily/Emma back-story, how, despite Emily's child-related vulnerabilities, she's clearly on firmer footing in her relationship with Emma, how Emma responds to Emily from a place of deep need, thoroughly understood if not accepted... Brilliant, brilliant. I love what you've done with Emma's near-death, must-do-something-with-my-life experience, and I love how Emily represents uselessness, disappearance into normalcy, everything she needs and wants but, ostensibly, should not have... The contrast between this 'I am not worthy' Emma and the self-assured (if still internally fragile) Emma of three years ago is stark.
(I can't imagine how you're managing to juggle so many timelines simultaneously, both established X-Men insanity and all the threads you've created, but you are and it's awesome.)
Didi with X-23 is love. Actually, Didi and *everyone* is love, especially Hank and Logan (lovelovelove her obsession with claws)... And Jean! I love wounded Didi-doesn't-like-me Jean. And we only get bits of Emma-Deirdre in this part, but already it's perfect. Yes! Emma's going to be good at this, despite herself... Well, she *is* an excellent teacher, after all.
That meeting is epic. Gah. The bickering, the biting insults, the Scott-Emma viciousness, the Jean-voice-of-reason, the Emily-Scott smack-down... Especially the Emily-Scott smack-down. I love that you capture each supporting character's personality through dialogue and simple gesture alone. I love Emma all through this — the slavery reveal, the 'hot water bottle' of Emily's thoughts, the realization that AU!Emma/Emily trusted Emily over her, the prospect of being left out of Deirdre's life at Emily's command... (Well, I love her always, regardless, but seriously. You're breaking me all over the place, the way you write her! These little nuances are incredible.)
no subject
(I can't imagine how you're managing to juggle so many timelines simultaneously, both established X-Men insanity and all the threads you've created, but you are and it's awesome.)
Didi with X-23 is love. Actually, Didi and *everyone* is love, especially Hank and Logan (lovelovelove her obsession with claws)... And Jean! I love wounded Didi-doesn't-like-me Jean. And we only get bits of Emma-Deirdre in this part, but already it's perfect. Yes! Emma's going to be good at this, despite herself... Well, she *is* an excellent teacher, after all.
That meeting is epic. Gah. The bickering, the biting insults, the Scott-Emma viciousness, the Jean-voice-of-reason, the Emily-Scott smack-down... Especially the Emily-Scott smack-down. I love that you capture each supporting character's personality through dialogue and simple gesture alone. I love Emma all through this — the slavery reveal, the 'hot water bottle' of Emily's thoughts, the realization that AU!Emma/Emily trusted Emily over her, the prospect of being left out of Deirdre's life at Emily's command... (Well, I love her always, regardless, but seriously. You're breaking me all over the place, the way you write her! These little nuances are incredible.)
Gah. *is in awe*