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bard_linnNote: We understand that we are introducing elements that some people are not comfortable with, or do not find to their personal taste. We understand this and are sad to see you go if you decide to stop reading. However, we would appreciate if you would leave without fanfare. Also, we are only going to be warning for explicit material - not certain pairings or certain types of pairings.
BE is a life fic. It has always been lifefic. Life does not warn for pairings.
Bard Linn: Now, with that out of the way... Hello everyone! We hope you enjoyed this chapter of BE - brought to you by Spring Break. :)
Kiraya: Bard Linn's, anyway.
Bard Linn: Well, yes, but isn't that what counts? *ego*
Kiraya: :P
Bard Linn: Well, we get to see more of the ladies this chapter, which was fun.
Kiraya: The ladies need more love.
Bard Linn: They do. I feel kind of bad they come in and out so much, but...well, the story IS mostly about Cloud, Zack, Sephiroth and to an extent, Vincent. The main plot lines, anyway.
Kiraya: *nodnod*
Bard Linn: Side plot lines - that's another story.
Kiraya: Well, not exactly. :P
Kiraya: But not for telling at the moment.
Bard Linn: ....I have the urge to make some sort of "another age, another story" crack.
Bard Linn: Once upon a time, long ago, there was a dashing silver haired prince, who had to go rescue the black, spiky haired princess from the evil witch? XD
Kiraya: Zack: I resent being called a princess, thank you very much.
Bard Linn: Why do you think I did it?
Zack: *sulk*
Sephiroth: *sighs*
Bard Linn: ....you know, whenever we're writing these chapters I can always think of outtakes, then we either have to can them because it'll give something away or I forget it.
Kiraya: ...I'm bad at humor.
Bard Linn: Though my brain is trying to do something with Aeris playing marbles and her materia being her shooter - rather than a materia, she insists.
Kiraya: Well, it certainly isn't doing her any good for anything else...
Bard Linn: Nope. Just sits there and looks pretty.
Bard Linn: This chapter is pretty tame, actually. It's kind of a bridge between plot arcs, plus does some character building.
Kiraya: I love character building. <3
Bard Linn: Me too. It's lots of fun.
Kiraya: More fun than plot. :P
Bard Linn: Kinda weird how little of the core three are in this chapter though. Not intentional but...
Kiraya: Well, the story may focus on them, but it IS about all the people affected by this change in events...
Bard Linn: Truth.
Bard Linn: Anyway...the results to last chapter really amused us - well, at least me. There are so many people crying "not x pairing, please!" I think we got more response to Cloud noticing Tifa was, well, female than Sephiroth going mad.
Kiraya: And to think we originally thought people would be more likely to flip out over the Zack x Sephiroth thing...
Bard Linn: Yeah. Tis very amusing.
Bard Linn: Hm...in other news, we have both been working on furthering the story along. We're almost back up to our "be five chapters ahead" rule, though I go back to school Monday, so productivity is likely to drop again. :( I don't think we'll have another update until after Kiraya gets out of school, at the earliest.
Kiraya: That's only about a month away, though, readers, so don't worry!
Kiraya: ...eesh, just thinking about it makes me a little nervous, though.
Bard Linn: *hugs!* It'll be okay. :)
Bard Linn: And just think....about two and a half months left for me. Blargh.
Bard Linn: Oh well. Should be getting my contract renewal soon, which will be good - especially if I have some of the same preps next year, 'cause that won't take as much time out. Of course, we're both looking at grad school...
Kiraya: Well, we'll try our best.
Kiraya: One thing's for sure, though -- we aren't planning on abandoning BE anytime soon!
Bard Linn: No way!
Bard Linn: BE is our BABY. *cuddles it*
Bard Linn: ...it's growing up rather fast though.
Kiraya: Certainly faster than we originally expected, despite all the unplanned-for stuff that seems to be working its way in...
Bard Linn: *Cough*Chaos*Cough*
Bard Linn: In more ways than one.
Bard Linn: We're definitely over half way done though...its amazing.
Bard Linn: I don't know what I'm going to do when this is over.
Bard Linn: ....oh that
Bard Linn: 's right. The Bunny List.
Kiraya: ...which keeps getting longer, oddly enough.
Bard Linn: THEY'RE BUNNIES. THEY'RE COCKROACH BUNNIES!
Kiraya: .........that is a terrifying mental image.
Bard Linn: It is, isn't it.
Bard Linn: We should probably stop blathering and post.
Kiraya: Yes, probably.
Bard Linn: In that case - we will see you all again when we can and hope you enjoyed this chapter!
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Date: 2008-04-04 11:06 pm (UTC)The rest was enjoyable as always~
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Date: 2008-04-05 01:21 am (UTC)Wordy McWord of the Clan McWord.
This should also go for Cloud and Tifa. Preferably yesterday.
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Date: 2008-04-05 02:41 am (UTC)Zack is, unfortunately, an "out of sight, out of mind" person. Aeris told him she couldn't see him, he took her at her word - and did his best to ignore her memory, and the feelings he had for her, because they upset him, since he couldn't do anything about it. At this point, it's been, oh, around four years since they broke up - and things are VERY VERY awkward. And, whether or not they like to admit it, feelings have shifted some in that time.
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Date: 2008-04-05 02:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-05 04:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-05 06:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-05 09:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-05 10:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-05 10:58 am (UTC)As it is, I just want them to be forced to confront each other without being able to avoid the conversation.
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Date: 2008-04-05 03:07 pm (UTC)Sephmuse is sending Zack out on a mission to The Middle of Nowhere so he isn't in the closet with Aeris. ;)
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Date: 2008-04-05 03:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-05 03:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-05 07:01 pm (UTC)*toddles back to re-read the chapter and then the part of the fic where Sephiroth goes crazy and fights Cloud because the action in this fic is WIN*
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Date: 2008-04-06 02:31 am (UTC)Action is ALLLLLLLL Kiraya's baby. I suck at it. (My sections have stuff like [Kiraya, put some game fighting stuff here, with game references] stuck randomly in when I have fight scenes.
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Date: 2008-04-06 08:54 am (UTC)It's been such a long time since the last update and I felt that you two deserve more that just the usual "LOL! GR8T FIC! WRIGHT MOAR PLEAZE!!!1111!!!" kind of comment.
But before I start, I just want to say that no matter what pairing you decided on I will still continue reading as long as they got together in a believable way.
Romantic Relationships:
I love how you try to make them as real as possible. Like how Zack and Aeris don't stay together forever. And how first crushes don't always follow through, like with Cloud. There are no true loves at first sight popping up all over the place. There are, however, little hints that certain characters that may be interested in each other. But most of all, I love the fact that you show that, yes, in real life, people can date or have sex without being completely in love with each other. However, just in case, in real life, not everyone has to get together with their "one true love". I've seen good fics do that and it seemed so forced that I had a hard time reading the whole thing. Although, like I said before, if you get everyone together in some believable way, I have no problem with that.
Friendships:
Meetings -
It's like everything I said about romantic relationships. You didn't anything crazy like have Cloud somehow run into Sephiroth and, suddenly, their BFF 4EVER. Or until they start having hot sex with each other. Even with Zack, Cloud didn't instantly become friends with him.
Development -
Like I said before, none of the relationships started out as an instant hit. You built them bit by bit. I especially liked the way you handled Cloud's relationship with Sephiroth. You didn't give into the temptation of having Cloud become friends with Sephiroth as soon as he started training with Zack.
Types -
Despite what how hot two guy friends may be, it is possible for them to not be each other's one true love. As your fic shows, you can love someone without being in love with them. Like Cloud and Vincent's parental love. Or Cloud and Zack's brotherly love. I find both of these really cute in their own way. It would be nice if the second of theses loves could stay that way. However, this is your fic not mine, so take it as an opinion and nothing more.
AND IT GOES ON
Date: 2008-04-06 08:55 am (UTC)Cloud -
He's my favorite character, so I might be a little biased, but I LOVE how you characterized him. He can be strong, but he still has his weak points. In other words, NEITHER PATHETIC NOR PERFECT. I read so many fanfics that has such a PATHETIC Cloud that he acts like he would piss his pants if Sephiroth so much as BREATHES. It pisses me even more when a good fic does that.
Sephiroth -
So far, your characterization of not crazy Sephiroth is at the top of my list. However, there was the one birthday scene back in Chapter 22, I think. Sephiroth said something along the lines presents being a Zack thing? I may be reading this wrong, but it made it seem like Sephiroth didn't even understand the whole concept of birthdays and presents. Being emotionally isolated isn't the same as being physically isolated. He wasn't always a famous general and he's not dumb. At most, I can only see him being unsure of how to react. I'm probably just seeing things, but I've seen fics portray him as so socially inept that he might as well have been living under a rock for the first 25 or so years of his life.
Zack -
I have a sort of love hate thing with Zack. I think he is a really nice guy and if I met him in real life, I would become friends with him. However, most fanfics have a tendency to make him seem so perfect almost all the time that it drives me batty. He's the voice of reason, he continues to hope when there's no hope, he can bring everyone together, he is the only that can get through to Sephiroth, and it goes on and on. Through I understand he's like this because of the lack of description about him in the original game and a fans desire to make their favorite character THE BESTEST PERSON EVER, no. Which is why your Zack makes me so happy. He gets mad, behaves irrationally at times, and is flawed. Truth be told, I was kind of afraid that you Zack would end up like so many of the others, but now I'm happy that I kept reading despite my fear.
Everyone else 'cause this is getting to damn long -
It's all good. And you didn't bash anyone, which make me respect you two that much more.
Everything I said here was my opinion, if you happen to disagree or feel insulted by anything I said, feel free to ignore this and continue to do what you do. I wish you two well and hope that you will be able to finish this because there are too many unfinished good fics. *cough*Fusion*cough*
(This is about one and half page long...God I have no life. ><)
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Date: 2008-04-06 01:01 pm (UTC)I will straight out tell you that not everyone (even of those who have been introduced) with have a "OMG TRUE LOVE" or even a lifemate by the end of the fic. Some people are just not going to luck out - some are, but are going to choose something else. Funny thing about our institution; we all assume marriage is for love when it is anything BUT that, historically.
We really tried very hard to develop those relationships over a gradual time. Zack and Cloud are close, but Seph and Cloud are closer than they realize (Going to take something to make them realize that though. -.-).
I will flat out tell you this fic will NOT be Vin/Cloud. I don't have a problem with the pairing in the abstract, but the BE muses get sick even thinking about it in this setting. Cloud doesn't have a parental complex. As for Zack and Cloud...well, can't promise anything there, because Zack LOVES people. :) Of course, even if they DID get together that doesn't mean it would or wouldn't work out...*cackles*
Re: AND IT GOES ON
Date: 2008-04-06 01:07 pm (UTC)On Seph - yeah, he's not that socially inept. The presents thing is mostly because when he was a kid he didn't get any (Hojo thought it was a waste of time) and well, most of the other 'presents' he got he (correctly) interpreted as bribes. Those though wouldn't be bribing him were pretty scared of him, actually. -.-
We really try not to bash anyone, even though we don't like. (I LOATHE canon Tifa but I LOVE BE Tifa - she's much more independent and wanting to find her own place in life.)
Not offended at all, and please, if you see things like the scene in 22 that doesn't make sense to you, let us know so we can either explain ourselves outside the fic (sometimes inserting so many things inside the fic just breaks the flow) or add it in a later chapter. The nice thing about fanfic is that fans do influence it some, if only in telling us how clear we're being!
I do know that Fusion is still being worked on, but the writer is currently in Japan, studying over seas. *makes sad face* Hopefully, however, she will continue soon!
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Date: 2008-04-06 01:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-07 06:39 pm (UTC)The date between Cloud and Tifa was indeed awkward, but nothing we wouldn’t have expected, hmm? *cuddles your characters and their lovely awkwardness* I'm half expecting to see her take over the bar one of these days XD She was great in the scene at the bar, very... in control. It was an interesting side of her.
I saw the rant you wrote about pairings and people being obsessed with them. I don’t feel targeted because I’ve always made clear that I am a dorky plot-lover, but I can surely understand that you can be upset when some rude people disregard a whole part of your work.
Here’s my point of view: honestly, I wouldn’t read a fic so long if it was only about pairings. From my point of view, pairings in BE are intrinsically tied with the plot because they’re a part of the characters’ development (it's particularly obvious with Cloud and Seph, but concerns everybody). Characters grow, they evolve, and creating bonds with others is part of this development (as well as losing bonds).
When I started reading BE, there was no pairings and it was okay, because there was no reason to have any. Now there is one established pairing and plenty of more or less potential pairings, and that’s okay too, because that’s how you conducted your plot, and because you made these relationships believable. For example, I would have never considered shipping Reeve/Aeris before your fic but here, it might make sense, only because of how you made these two characters evolve from the beginning of this story and how you integrated them to the global plot. Then, whether it really happens or not is up to you. And Zack/Seph may be a more popular and familiar pairing, so people clings like crazy on it, but it is your story and you’re free to write it as you wish.
So, to sum up, disregarding the plot to only consider pairings, especially in fics whose timeline spread on so many years, makes absolutely no sense IMHO. I hope you won’t let yourself be discouraged by such comments and continue your awesome work as you’re doing now, because that’s what makes the value of BE. *huuugs*
As for the materia thing, I'm just taking note of it and waiting until it become significant in the plot - I'm sure it will :)
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Date: 2008-04-09 05:14 am (UTC)Thanks for the chapter!
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Date: 2008-04-09 05:22 am (UTC)To add: I'm really hoping that the moment of awkward "to kiss or not to kiss" between Cloud and Tifa was hinting at it not working out (but that could just be my yaoi obsessed mind)...Also, the dynamic between Zack and Seph seems so spot on! The way Zack is *hyperclingy* and Seph just sighing and adjusting his life to better fit the new addition.
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Date: 2008-04-11 10:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-11 10:08 pm (UTC)Tifa will be hanging around the bar for a while, but Bill is holding on tight to the deed in my head.
Aww, Wayya, you'd never get targeted! "pairings in BE are intrinsically tied with the plot because they’re a part of the characters’ development (it's particularly obvious with Cloud and Seph, but concerns everybody)". <- This is love. This is EXACTLY what I meant. I'm glad you're enjoying EVERYTHING - or most everything - about this fic. ^.^
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Date: 2008-04-18 01:45 pm (UTC)*goes to read new chapter*
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Date: 2008-05-18 05:49 pm (UTC)I think everyone who has a strong OTP or OT3 probably always hopes in the back of their mind that any fic with no pairings will end up with their favorite. ( I know I perennially hope that any ffvii fic will be SephirothxZackxCloud) Especially if there aren't a lot of fics for it, but flouncing off in a huff over the current pairings in what is clearly going to be an long ongoing fic where relationships will change over the course of the characters lives always did seem a little over the top to me.
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Date: 2008-05-19 01:25 am (UTC)my 2 cents
Date: 2008-05-21 01:35 am (UTC)(coughs) or at least thats my interpretation.
Hurrah for socialization~