Date: 05 Dec 2009 09:36 Title: The Secret Life of Orchids--Transplants
Tolan’s no fool, and he understands that any mission sponsored by Tain is more than a request. Even so, it’s fortunate that their desires coincide where this trip ‘home’ is concerned. Hopefully, it will go off without a hitch… but knowing Tain’s luck and his enemies’ persistence, literally anything is possible.
Having traveled with small children, I had to laugh at your description of the flight with Sleg… yeah, been there. The emotional resonance of Tolan’s return to his homestead was more visceral than I’d expected, and I anticipate more in the coming chapters.
Nice touches here.
Author's Response: No, Tolan pretty much knows on what side of the toast his bread is buttered. It helps that the two have a mutual, if grudging, respect for one aother, and yes, it definitely helps that Lakat is somewhere Tolan wanted to go anyway. Smooth sailing? In THIS story? Hee!!
I can't say I've been on the parent end of it, but I've been on the hyper, bored kid end. Books and games you'd normally be happy to play with for hours hold no appeal when you KNOW they're a bribe to behave. Besides, there's the whole, "Are we there yet?" issue. It takes a while to learn to enjoy the journey instead of just the destination. Tolan will always love the land that spawned him. It's a soul deep connection I doubt he'll ever escape. I'm glad it resonated with you!
Date: 02 Dec 2009 19:31 Title: The Secret Life of Orchids--Transplants
A really compelling chapter this. I find the relationship between Tain and Tolan to be a fascinating one. It strikes as an unequal relationship in terms of power - but actually in ways Tolan has Tain over a barrel regards the little pretnece they are playing out - not to mention the actual affection of Tain's son as his own. However, even Tolan recognises that Tain holds an influence over young Sleg. And deep down this lie has to trouble and perturb both men as both fret about the love and loyalty of young Sleg. I guess that can only be natural and it plays as a continuing subtext to everything that goes on between the two. Already we have recognised that Tolan has skills and other aspects to him. And it seems Tain is aware of certain hidden parts - but Tolan can only assume from the way Tain speaks as he never directly comments or divulges. The disparity in both men's approaches leads to this interesting take and both appear to be able to read the other quite well - despite their efforts to keep parts secret and hidden. So to repeat, I find their interaction fascinating, continually enthralling as they second guess each other and discern one another's motives. Tolan strikes one as very muc being a pragmatist foreseeing this day when Tain would ask a favour. Tain appreciates the directness of Tolan where I imagine he normally probably wouldn't. The ties - Mila and Sleg - are forceful bonds that give both men a common purpose and need to protect and act in defence. I loved reading how Tolan could believe Tain's motivation about family protection, the fragile nature of it and just how precarious Tain's line of work made matters. Tolan could easily appreciate and relate to those circumstances and it serves as anoter bond that links the two rather different men.
Tolan's trip is a glorious little journey, exploring little Garak who comes across as a very hyper and active child - they all do tend to be so on a train journey. The scene before hand with Mila and the kisses goodnight was incredibly sweet and it is nice to think that Garak had some happy memories and days as part of his childhood. Top notch stuff, PSGarak.
Author's Response: It was an interesting mental exercise throwing these two together in a scene, each feeling the other out, feinting and counter feinting. I honestly think one reason my pace of writing this particular story has been so slow (aside from offline distractions) is that it is forcing me to think very hard! Tain is such a formidable intellect, and Tolan is so practical and down to earth that both of them stretch me to the limits in different ways.
I'm also enjoying the situation of two men with little to nothing in common, either in background or temperament, who would normally never have had anything to do with one another or even occasion to meet, having to live together under the same roof, participate in an elaborate lie, and share two important people in their lives, Mila and Sleg. The background situation the DS9 writers set up with this was far too interesting for me not to want to explore and try to flesh out. There was some amazing writing on that show!! Then of course Andrew Robinson followed up with his book, and yeah. Yeah!
I'm glad you liked their trip and the interactions the night before. I know it got a little sweet and cutesy, but little kids are like that sometimes. :D Thanks for the great review!
[Report This]Date: 02 Dec 2009 15:45 Title: The Secret Life of Orchids--Transplants
Another great chapter. You nailed the family interactions so perfectly. The tired mom, the excitable young boy with ENDLESS and I do mean ENDLESS questions, the dad for whom it's easy to be patient and wonder why mom is so exhausted/harsh -- until he's actually forced to deal with the typical behavior for longer than normal, instead of the special "just for daddy" behavior that can only last a few hours, at best.
I also liked Enabran and Tolan's interaction. It's nice to see some mutual respect there. I don't know how that will develop, but right now, I think it's nice.
And once again, the little details sell it. The seasonal differences between Lakat and Cardassia City. The passengers annoyed with Sleg. The threat in the face of such peer pressure to keep him quiet, and the accompanying guilt when a parent realizes they've just broken their child's trust. And then, the easy forgiveness from the child ... this is just all so grounded in reality, and makes it easy to get lost in the story. Well done, as usual.
Author's Response: Thank you! I'm so glad to get that sort of feedback from a parent. Not being one, I always wonder and worry a bit when I have to write family interactions with small children.
I had almost decided to skip over the scene between Tolan and Tain, instead starting after he had been asked, but then I realized that I had never actually put the two of them together for any length of time. The most significant interactions before that scene had been between Tolan and the Tain double. I had a broad, general idea of what their relationship might be like, but I had never seen it in action. Tain does respect Tolan and vice versa. Their living arrangement almost demands such. Otherwise, I think it would be completely intolerable for both men. It's just fortunate that both have enough strength of character that such respect arises naturally and doesn't have to be forced.
I've been one of those annoyed passengers. hehe I'm glad the details rang true. Thanks for the great review!