epilogue

[owlmoose]

My epilogue to "One More Confessional" is posted.

This piece effectively ends Paine's portion of the Quartet. (I have two related vignettes in the works, though, and who knows what my mind is brewing without my knowledge or consent...) But as for the journal-style writing, I'm pretty sure that is finished, at least for now.

Comments

I

[kunstarniki.livejournal.com]

I have read the work and shall leave a review as soon as I can find the words to use. This was so heart-breakingly stoic in its unflinching look at reality, I had a hard time getting through it. This is Paine in all her courage and clear-headedness. Ah, KJ, I am still inside her mind and trying to be as brave as she. It is stunning.

Re: I

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

It wasn't easy to write, either. The one about the coeurl is going to be a relief if I can get it to work...

Thank you.

[iamleaper]

Once again, FFN is refusing to allow me to leave reviews, though I did read it this morning.

One thing which struck me in a particularly different way than it probably struck you -- when she says she is cordial with Baralai, for Gippal's sake. Did you envision them back together romantically? Because... yeah, I can't see that really happening. Gippal hates it more than Paine does that Lai went back to Yevon, and now that Lai's gone there and grown up a lot, suddenly Lai's going to be the, err, dominant one in a relationship with Gippal, and this Gippal can't possibly have that. But, at any rate, post-Confessional Gippal and Baralai, I don't think, are romantically together.

However, your statement struck me as true in a different way. Gippal calls himself the 'peacemaker' in Al Bhed all the time... and I can see him as that friend. You know the one -- the guy who tries to keep a swiftly-breaking-apart group of friends together, even though their differences are too much to manage. Paine and Baralai are probably cordial for Gippal's sake because, if he were to see them be nasty to each other, it would severely depress him.

Or maybe you meant it that way all along and I'm late in having my epiphany here. ;)

Anyway, the sad, bittersweet feeling you left us with at the end of this was so well done that I couldn't believe I was reading it. You know that feeling? Like... "I can't believe this is happening!", I thought, like I believed it to be an actual, real life telling of the events. That's how clearly you brought your Paine out to be, and with what authority she tells her story. It was like it was her voice right there, instead of having it translated through you.

Most excellent. ;)

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

You were right the first time; I was imagining B and G still (or again) involved. But you make a convincing case otherwise. I guess I just couldn't stand to break both couples up. ;) I like your other interpretation, though, that Gippal has this image of the three of them all still being good friends, and Paine and Baralai recognize this and so preserve the illusion for his sake.

So weird that FFN won't let you leave reviews. I've heard you mention that before; it's not a problem I've ever had.