Butterfly Effect: Author's Notes: Chapter 35

[bard_linn]

Kiraya: Hi, everyone, and welcome back!

Bard Linn: Hello all! *ducks from flying objects*

Kiraya: Ohisashiburi desu, as they say!

Kiraya: ...yeah, well, that's partially my fault.

Kiraya: Largely my fault.

Bard Linn: *coughs*

Bard Linn: Well, I sort of kind of drug you into a new series, so I have a /bit/ of the blame too.

Kiraya: This update would've been longer coming if certain people hadn't denied me other fandom enjoyments until I finished prepping this chapter. >.>

Kiraya: Yes, but it's such a FUN new series.

Kiraya: ...but that's a story for a different time.

Kiraya: After we finish BE... whenever that may be.

Bard Linn: And this chapter is also up thanks to my sister, who has been bugging me about it. Because she FINALLY read it.

Bard Linn: Only took her how many years?

Kiraya: ...it'll be 4 in December, I think.

Kiraya: Wow.

Kiraya: ......not that that even begins to compare to some fics, but it sure doesn't feel like it was THAT long ago we started this...

Bard Linn: Well, we've been busy.

Bard Linn: You're in grad school now, I'm full time employed....

Bard Linn: I miss college.

Kiraya: Me too.

Bard Linn: Anyway.

Bard Linn: This chapter is as awesome as it is thanks to kiraya's cheerful ability to add to the descriptions.

Kiraya: Nah.

Kiraya: Most of the good descriptive stuff is yours, this time.

Kiraya: Probably my biggest contribution was Barret. >.>

Kiraya: .........pun not intended.

Kiraya: (Sorry, folks, I'm slightly sleep-deprived and a little loopy at the moment.)

Bard Linn: I love the Rufus scene.

Bard Linn: I LOVE IT TO BITS.

Bard Linn: ....I should probably be slightly disturbed that was the easiest thing to write in this section, shouldn't I.

Kiraya: He's FUN, though.

Kiraya: Not as disturbing as Hojo.

Kiraya: I can forgive you your Rufusmuse far more easily.

Bard Linn: *whistles*

Kiraya: It's enough to make one wish we were doing more with him, but...

Bard Linn: Well, he shows up more as the chapters progresses.

Bard Linn: What else....action, which should make some people happy.

Bard Linn: Also, Aeris-Zack-and-Seph-thing finally coming out into the open, though they won't discuss it in person until....next chapter?

Kiraya: Yeah, next chapter.

Kiraya: ......I can't wait. *cackles*

Bard Linn: *laughs evilly*

Kiraya: ...which means I should probably start working on it before I lose my momentum again.

Bard Linn: ....you know, I can't think of much else important - except NO, Cloud will /not/ be with an OC. That's just called experimenting.

Kiraya: Though I do feel bad for the poor boy... he's batting, what, 0 for 3, now?

Kiraya: Not counting his off-screen dates.

Bard Linn: It'd help if he wasn't so focused on SOLDIER and weapons.

Bard Linn: Anyway, why don't we just wrap this up so we can get the chapter out and you'll all be happy.

Bard Linn: We will /try/ to get the next chapter out ASAP, but well....we'll see what we can do.

Kiraya: We'll try for no later than the end of June -- I'm long done with classes by then, so...

Bard Linn: As far as drafting the next chapter, that was supposed to happen this morning but I played KH: COM instead. >.>

Kiraya: ...this from the one who was threatening me to get me to work on it. *sniffs*

Bard Linn: To be fair, I spent all week cleaning the house and was brain dead.

Kiraya: You did deserve the break.

Kiraya: ...and that section is being prickly.

Kiraya: Well, we'll keep working on it.

Bard Linn: Yup.

Bard Linn: All right all - we'll see you next chapter!

Kiraya: If any of you celebrate spring holidays of any sort, we hope you enjoy them!


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Comments

[dracontia.livejournal.com]

!!! *fails* IT LIVES! *cheers* Here I was thinking it was abandoned. *squishes* And so very entertaining, 'specially with Barrett and Marlene. And yes. I am so not coherent about this. *grins*

[bard-linn.livejournal.com]

Never abandoned, just very, very long waits. :)

[delphae80.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, I was just thinking about this and hoping it hadn't been abandoned. Good chapter, Rufus is so diabolical in it. No I have to go back and re-read some chapters to remeber what is going on!

[bard-linn.livejournal.com]

*pets kitty?*

CLEARLY WE READ YOUR MIND.

Glad you enjoyed Rufus. This is one of our favorite scenes - it came together so well!

[wayya.livejournal.com]

Yay a new chapter! Sorry for my late comment, I've been distracted by... things.

I'm one of these people who like action, so I'm purring like a happy kitten ^^ I also loved Rufus in there.

Cloud will /not/ be with an OC. That's just called experimenting.
That's great. I love how you take the time for the characters to grow up and learn instead of randomly introducing pairings out of nowhere. Keep up the good work <3

[bard-linn.livejournal.com]

I have also been distracted! See how long it takes me to reply to your comment!

We really, really DO try to keep the characters growing and a natural progression. Glad you still like it. :)

Another gem of a chapter

[(Anonymous)]

Once again, you've outdone yourself with both writing style and characterisation in this chapter - well worth the wait. (Though selfishly, I hope it won't be as long to the next part.)

Your brilliant fusion of Cloud's humane and idealistic facets with his thoroughly logical and Turk-like aspects were demonstrated superbly in the early part of the chapter. Such a well rounded, layered, and above all human reading of Cloud's character makes revisting this fic so very rewarding on many levels and through many re-readings. The way you continue to develop him is a constant source of delight, and a powerful part of this ongoing story's appeal.

Cloud's idealism at the reactor, though stemming in part from thoughts of his father, nonetheless made me wonder how much of Cloud's selfless determination to help - threaded through with a steady pragmatism - can be traced back to Vincent's own distinctive brand of honor. (He did get himself shot trying to help Lucrecia after all.)

The gore and chaos of the explosion was a neatly executed backdrop to the demonstration of this aspect of Cloud's personality; while it could have been excessive, it managed not to be by dint of the story-telling necessity of it's inclusion. Looks like Cloud will be getting favorable reviews from the medical staff as well. A good place to have friends and supporters, certainly.

The fight scene at the bar was exceptionally well done. I cannot praise enough the mix of adrenalin pumping action, emotive moments (Barrett and Marlene's exchange was particularly well done.), and - with Marlene's emergence - an excellent demonstration of just why SOLDIERs 'get the job done'. For all that Zack is the consummate 'nice guy' (and Cloud's got a rather distinct and high-brow set of morals), both of them are at the end of the day, highly competent and skilled warriors determined to end conflict neatly and rapidly. The bantering afterwards, with Zack having no doubt that a wounded Cloud would result in a *very* ticked off Vincent (and probably Chaos, Galian Beast and whomever else is hiding in that pretty cranial vault) was an excellent way of re-humanising the characters.

I did so very much love Rufus' scenes. Here, then, is the consummate politician - pragmatic to a fault: If possible, co-opt an opponent rather than destroying them. Utilize their resources to strengthen your own position, or at the very least, set things up so you know exactly who your enemies are, and can control them.(Gotta love that mindset!)

The way you've characterised him, I could see him having the manipulative genius to hold the ShinRa corporation together despite his youth. The ShinRa he runs will be rather different to that of his father, and by making him a Machiavellan master manipulator, you've catapaulted him from relatively minor character to one whose reappearance I will await with a combination of gleeful relish and a certain delighted schadenfreude. By showing, rather than telling, the reader about this side of his personality and his abilities for corporate strategic planning, you've demonstrated brilliantly exactly why it is the Turks are utterly loyal to him. (And it ain't the paycheck, yo!)

That Moonshine has got to be powerful stuff if it can make the normally taciturn Cloud into a blabbermouth! I have to wonder what the fallout from that will be; Aeris certainly has more than a bit of thinking to do. Poor old Cloud, though; he's certainly not doing too well on the 'get over frustration' side of things! I fear though that the 'SOLDIERS stick together' may be foreshadowing of Hojo-related unpleasantness. (Not that that would stop me reading, or even slow me down . . .)

I shall stop here before I get told once again that my comment is too long to post.

Thanks again for a wonderful read; this chapter makes a brilliant addition to an already exceptional story, and I look forward to more.

Nik.

[bard-linn.livejournal.com]

Vincent: *lounges and eats grapes, Roman style*

Linn: *is hit*

We wanted to portray Rufus as INTELLIGENT (far so more than he was in the actual game - I feel like we get more of that in AC) rather than just overbearing. Yeah, he wants to have everyone at his feet - but he's not an idiot while he does it.

We like writing Zack as more of a fail able character but still lovable. He has his darker sides, but he usually wants the best for 'his' people. Glad you enjoyed it!

[kiyoshi-chan.livejournal.com]

Man, I love this story. I'd originally flagged it for reading sometime back, but I finally got the chance to sit down and read it all at once over the past few days. Totally WIN. I am still very very curious about who Cloud's going to end up being paired with, but I am (uncharacteristically) happy to wait and see, because the rest of the story is really interesting too. XD