Days of Becoming, Chapter 8

[talktooloose]

Title: Days of Becoming, Chapter 8 - "Measured Response"
Author: Talktooloose
'Verse: X-Men movieverse
Warnings: Swearing, I think. It means nothing to me, so I don't really take note. Bubbling sexuality. Implied use of hand lotion as a sexual aid. Bad puns.
Series Summary: This novel focusses mainly on the paths Iceman and Pyro take on their way to adulthood and how they discover and deal with their love for each other. It is a novel about what Joni Mitchell calls "the dream's malfunction" and how we can learn to make our own dreams when our heroes fail us. Other X characters and OC's play prominent roles and the action begins before X1, continues through the events of X2 and X3 and concludes in the aftermath of that movie.
Chapter Summary: The characters react to the shooting in Pasadena. At the mansion, they plan action; in Boston, a disillusioned Mike meets an interesting girl; at the mutant youth meeting in New York, Bobby makes a bold (or is it foolish) move. Bobby and Kitty wonder what's up with all the spandex.
Betas: kuriadalmatia and lux_apollo. My betas' feedback really pushed me to clarify both the action and the character intentions here. Humble thanks.
Disclaimers: Marvel and 20th Century own this stuff but they need us to make sense of it.

Here's the chapter!

Here's the DOB homepage for earlier chapters!

Please use the link at the end of the chapter to return to LJ and comment on the post.

Comments

[nat-dimension.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for posting this just as my exams ended. Perfect way to wind down.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Hope your exams went well. I hope my story winds you up as well as letting your wind down.

[nat-dimension.livejournal.com]

Thank you, they did. And indeed it winds up as well as down ;)

[ayumie.livejournal.com]

New chapter!
*does happy dance*
I love all the shirt straightening going on in this one. Bobby is very in character - meaning to do well and a bit slow on the uptake. His dream was very interesting. Looks like somebody left a lasting impression...
Also, I'm glad you didn't drop Mike completely. And now there's Jubilee. You do make me very happy.
No John in this one either. Dare I hope for a quick follow-up? I totally forgot to ask that the last time and having no idea when to expect the next chapter has been hell. Uhm, I'll shut up now.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

LOL. Shirt straightening, yes. Bobby and Andi are both easily embarrassed. I love writing the dream sequences. I never know what I'm going to write until it comes out. I'm contemplating a Charles dream but I think it might give away too much of the last section of the novel.

It's funny how things go; I never expected Mike to have so many fans. So in looking at ways to keep him in the story, the Jubilee plot emerged and now the two of them are going to play a big part in the tumultuous events of Hallowe'en. I'm glad it worked out this way!

I haven't started writing 9 because it's been a bit tricky to get the direction, but now I think I have it. I'm planning on it being the shortest chapter so far and, with luck, it will only be about three weeks till I post it.

Thanks for commnenting.

[mofic.livejournal.com]

Hey, I finally caught up on this and I'm really enjoying it! I love your Kitty - very realistic. And you handled the whole bit about Kitty and Bobby figuring out what Xavier is doing so well.

I also thought you did such a good job with Bobby's disillusionment when he realizes Scott is with Jean and his crush has no chance of turning into reality. It was so vivid. I really ached for him.

Oh, and I giggled at
"The Iceman felt a cold satisfaction"

So when do Bobby and John get together? ::taps foot impatiently::

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Bobby and John are god-like forces; they don't get together easily and their way is tumultuous. Like Titania and Oberon. Nice to make you giggle.

I'm getting ready for NY. Are we looking at getting together Friday? Saturday? Sunday? I'm busy Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

[mofic.livejournal.com]

Saturday afternoon would be fine. What would you like to do?

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Well, we could just sit and chat. In terms of NY activities, one thing I'm wondering is if there are any good galleries devoted to photography (an increasing passion). Even small ones (which tend to be free, so YAY!)

If you know of such and would be interested, we could go and do our chatting around that event.

My sister will be coming in to the City after Shabbes and we will eat together and go see The Little Dog Laughed.

[mofic.livejournal.com]

A little photography viewing and some coffee and chat sounds divine. There's ICP but they do charge. http://www.aperture.org/store/events-artist.aspx?id=736 looks kind of interesting and it's in Chelsea so easy to find somewhere to hang out.

Whatever you'd like, though, is fine. And you set the time - since you're the one with the schedule. Other than shul that morning and a lecture at 7:00 I've got nothing on.

[ginalin.livejournal.com]

I read the first parts months ago and you finally updated! yay!

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

I've been pretty consistent! The last part was December 24th! Heh, but I'm not fast, that's true. I'm picking up speed, though. I'm really glad you're reading this, Gina!

[ginalin.livejournal.com]

Good is better than fast...I started reading it and got interrupted (and emergency trip to go buy Nyquil and Coke for a sick kid!), and will go back to it. But, I like what I've read so far.
You've got a good grasp of characterization and your narrative goes right along without getting bogged down in too much detail.
The dialog sounds like them...which is very important, at least to me. I like it when the dialog I read matches well with the character's voices in my head. There's none of this "Would he or she really say that?" kind of thing going on.

I'm not the most patient person with narrative, so if you keep my attention, you're doing pretty well.

[train-diskense.livejournal.com]

EW HETROSEXUAL KISSING. I CAN'T LOOK! *hides face in hands*......*peeks through fingers with wide eyes*

Jubilee! Omg I love that woman with every fiber of my being that isn't already dedicated to Bobby. Or John. Or Jean Paul. Or Rogue. Or ....well. x_x Jubileeeeeee. And Mike still makes me happy.

oO Yeah, Xavier's mission kinda sounds creepy when you explain it like Kitty did. ^^; Lovely chapter.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

I know! Those bloody hets are everywhere! And in Chapter 9, I might have as many FOUR het couples kissing. Where is our society heading? But Chapter 10... boy on boy noogie. Get out your fans.

I'm happy to be writing Jubes. I didn't realize I had a Jubilee in me until I started writing her. She is, IMHO, just what Mike needs to knock the starch out of him.

Xavier has always teetered between inspiring and creepy. Ultimate Xavier is downright Machiavellian and movieverse finally tarnished his halo in X3 with his decisions around muzzling young Jean. If you don't read mofic's X-fic, you should. Her most recent series made Scott do a lot of hard questioning about X.

[train-diskense.livejournal.com]

*mumbles like grandfather* Bloody hets ruin everything. In MY day hets didn't exist! *mumblemumble* :) Yay boyonboy. Wheeee.

Jubilee is just the best. And I'm all for Mike getting the starch knocked out of him *triesnottothinkofthatinapervertedway*......*failssomehow*

Yeah Xavier can be so misleading sometimes. o_o I'llcheckthatoutmmkay.

[lux-apollo.livejournal.com]

Yay it's up!

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Thanks in part to you, monsieur.

[distorted-tact.livejournal.com]

Hey, just found this on x_slash and thought I'd comment on how much I'm liking it. None of it feels forced, the characterization all works really well. The plot's progressing smoothly-- it's all just really great.


(Using only X-Menish icon)

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the kind words. Keeping the characters natural is always my goal and making the machine of the plot tick along is my greatest pleasure. Actually, the characters are the engine of the clock, so both aspects are intricately intwined.

I like your icon a lot. Thanks for reading. Here's my fave X-icon.

[judas-denied.livejournal.com]

I am a lot later than usual with my review, but here it is. :)

A lot of build up and tension out the wazoo with this chapter. I love Mike and Jubilee's intro was well done and spot-on, too. I have tons of questions after this chapter and may, just a weensie bit, want to slap Kitty for kissing Bobby. He's John's, damnit! lol

Which, ok, I can never help myself, I have to ask a couple of my gabillion and one questions:

Where is John and what's he up to?
When will he and Bobby meet again?

I am so anxious and excited to see the next part of this. Keep it coming! *pets DOB*

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Thanks for taking time to write in detail. It is appreciated whenever.

Heh, you slap that Kitty! Go on!

It must be frustrating waiting for the OTP to finally show up, but things need to happen in the right order. Sorry. It would be worse if I compromised the story to speed things up.

Want to know something? I had absolutely no intention of bringing Jubilee into this book but suddenly, there she was, waiting to waltz into Mike's life. Demanding little character she is!

[mandlebars.livejournal.com]

Now I'm not one to shudder at Het. But Bobby/Kitty makes my heart weep.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Honest, Mom. It's just a phase!

[(Anonymous)]

Your story is awesome! I personally have no problem with slash, but am a het fan at heart. Bobby, Andi, Scott, Ororo, and Xavier all have wonderfully devolped and accurate personalities and feelings. Kitty is getting there- show she has faults and she'll be on her way. I am really enjoying your story. Keep up the good work- I am really excited for the next chapter!

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the praise! I'm glad you have no problem with slash but this is, ultimately, a Pyro/Iceman fic. LOL. Of course, I'm over 80,000 words and they've only met once so far.

Hmm, I think Kitty's faults lie in her belief that she's got it altogether and how she'll dive in without thinking or blurt out her feelings without regards to those of others'. I hope I've not made her to much a Mary Sue. I'm sure her mother doesn't think she's perfect.

[(Anonymous)]

So, I really liked this chapter. It was funny, yet creepy in a way

Still, looking forward to getting my boy back in the story, but I am a patient man. Absence makes the heart grow founder (or some crap like that.)

Still the best story I have read. Keep it up.

Looking forward to next chapter.
Chris

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Sightings of the elusive John-beast have been reported in Chapter 9 though reports are not conclusive.

[lunatunalover.livejournal.com]

This story is absolutely amazing! I just found it the other day and devoured all parts posted thus far! I haven't looked yet to see if more has been posted beyond this though... I'm hoping I will be pleasantly surprised! But truly, your writing is amazing and perfectly in-tune with the characters. Thank you so much for sharing this and I can't wait to read more!! <3

~ Alicia

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Hey, thank you very much fo the kind words. As you've probably discovered, you've read all there is to read so far. Chapter 9 will be up in a few days (I'm editing right now) and then you join the waiting world. heh. I'm averaging a month per chapter now, compared to two months per chapter last spring, so it's not so bad. And no, I will not abandon this fic.

[asm613.livejournal.com]

Now i don't feel so bad for calling Bobby a drama queen last chapter; since kitty just said the same thing to him. I was also shocked like Bobby about the elite fighting paramilitary training. and then the team name x-men. I just assumed it was already known; but when Kitty said that stuff i realized that it hadn't been said in the story yet; so why should he know. I just figured x-men story and took it for granted. But recruiting students without being absolutely honest is a terrible thing to do. Wonder how you're going to handle that and the giving out of the phone number at the support group. Looks like Bobby's bi. Dreams about st John and gets hard kissing kitty. I thought it very interesting Mike meeting Jubilee. You sure have brought up a bunch of more interesting subjects to write about. I'm also still disappointed that Bobby and St. John didn't meet while at the youth center again. You could have started a 3 way with kitty, bobby and st. john.