Date: 04 Aug 2010 21:02 Title: The Empty Chessboard
Wow. This was among your first fics! Time to bow out gracefully for me then! To hell with that - I'll not do it gracefully! But seriously, that was a powerful and well constructed piece. The ending was perhaps more rushed considering the build up to it.
And waht a build up, first, the perspective from Kirk engaging the reader and drawing them in and making us wonder at his want to alone when it is something he maybe has feared seeing as how he imagines himself dying alone. Then we switch to Spock concerned for the captain and stillquite the Spock we know.
Interesting concept that Kirk was 'damaged' as such by the loss of the link and needed Spock to 'heal' him. The bond as such making them closer than friends. I can see why it might be considered Slash but I personally think it reads much richer and more satisfying to read it as a friendship forged, tested, broken, repaired and more than just friendship or a brotherly connection. Very good.
Date: 10 Nov 2009 04:40 Title: The Empty Chessboard
Yeah...while I can definitely see where some might interpret it as slash, I would say that our society also does not know how to deal with the strongest of platonic friendships between men, and especially if there is a telepathic link involved, it definitely does not have to be some sort of sexual interest.
I actually had something like this happen once with one of my own stories, "The Exile," where some people said they were sure that the two characters were interested in each other romantically. I got pretty mad because this wasn't the case--and boy did THAT get misinterpreted (it wasn't the idea that they could be interested in each other that was ticking me off...it was the fact that they were not).
My one question is this. What does t'hy'la mean? I've never been able to get a good definition of that...
Date: 07 Apr 2009 01:52 Title: The Empty Chessboard
I read this before somewhere else, and it was just as touching then as it is now. If this was one of your early works, you are a gifted writer, indeed. It was bittersweet and sobering and joyous all at the same time. A beautiful piece - thank you.
Date: 06 Apr 2009 20:48 Title: The Empty Chessboard
I liked it the first time I read it, and guess what? I liked it again. LOL Some hot cocoa for the heart (with marshmallows...) is always welcomed.
Date: 06 Apr 2009 13:02 Title: The Empty Chessboard
I had to smile at the story notes, I admit, but not in any bad ways.:) I think the beauty of this story -- and the beauty of the relationship itself -- is that it does not have to necessarily be defined to be appreciated. It's beautiful, it's complex, and it doesn't need any labels. There is so much pain between them in the movie era that moments like the one you're describing here must be treasured. I know that I'm using this word way too much here, but this story is beautiful. Painfully so. Thank you for sharing.