Days of Becoming, Chapter 16

[talktooloose]

Title: Days of Becoming, Chapter 16 - “Pumpkin Stew”
Author: Talktooloose
'Verse: X-Men movieverse
Warnings: Swearing, extreme fatigue, bad telephony and explict sex.

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 (including ones from comicverse and elsewhere) 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 night of changes continues as Bobby rushes to answer the call of destiny.
Betas: mofic and lux_apollo. Invaluable input on brownstones and drugs.
Disclaimers: Marvel and 20th Century own this stuff but they keep messing it up.

Notes: A big, fat glacier of a chapter named '16' calved off this smaller chapter and renamed the rest of its mass '17'. Yes, that means Chapter 17 is already written and should be posted very, very soon.

I LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. Please use the comments link at the end of the chapter to bring you back here or drop me email to talktooloose CAT toothdemon FRAUGHT net. That oughta fool the spambots for now.

Here's the chapter!

Here's the DOB homepage for earlier chapters!

Comments

[nat-dimension.livejournal.com]

Excellent! A beautifully-written piece that paves the way for a forthcoming (yay!) extension. It's amazing to think that I first read chapter one almost two years ago, about as long as I've been working on my medical school application, and when the last extract of this year is published I'll (fingers crossed) have an offer from one of my first choice universities. Which would make for two very good pieces of news at once! Keep up the amazing work.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

I'm crossing my fingers for you, too, Nat!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_profiterole_/]

OMG! It's the first time I've seen the fire and ice image not being used only as an image, but as an actual physical/magical attraction. It was so so hot!

And poor baby Johnny, I want to cuddle him and rock him to sleep, but yeah, I'll let Bobby handle that for me. ♥

So much love for this chapter! You rock!

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Yeah, as I wrote it, it occurred to me that the powers might call to each other, complement each other at a deep, almost psychic level. Metaphorically, it seems to me to ask the elemental question of why two people are attracted to each other in the first place.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_profiterole_/]

I adore stories that deal with telepathy/empathy. It can be such a powerful link between two people that are already attracted to each other. And it doubles up the hotness!

I'm looking forward to the evolution of Bobby and John's relationship even more now that you've added such a delicious element to the story.

[ayumie.livejournal.com]

New chapter! Yay! And finally the boys are together, which, hot!
This chapter feels a bit disjointed, though, like you're experimenting with a different way of writing, or different techniques, perhaps? It's still a great read, but a bit too much and not quite on par with your usual work.
I'm looking forward to see what chapter 17 looks like.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Hmm, interesting. I feel pretty satisfied with the writing. Maybe it's just because of the brevity? My chapters are usually long and you can really immerse yourself in them. This one just gets going before it's over.

Or maybe I've lost it! It's gone!

[ayumie.livejournal.com]

Noooo!! You most definitely haven't lost it. It probably really is the brevity. Don't worry about a thing.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Wow, I totally did an ego-driven passive-aggressive bullying thing to make you say something nice to me. I'm sorry. It was an off day.

[ayumie.livejournal.com]

Again, don't worry about a thing. DoB is my favouritest fic ever and I'll say nice things about it any day.

[mandlebars.livejournal.com]

You're awesome. Since 16 and 17 were one I'll comment on the whole thing on 17 mmkay?

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Whatever works for you! I'm just juggling pieces of 18 around today. I have a bunch of scenes, but no spine for them to hang on yet.

[mandlebars.livejournal.com]

Ok I lied.

Bobby and John are made for each other everyone knows that much; but you write it like they have some spiritual connection or something along those lines-like an ancient elemental need to be together. Again since the only visible connection between to two is given mainly in the movies and nowhere else it's pretty amazing the deep back story you give the two, since you really don't have that much to work with. I think that's the most impressive thing abut this fic considering it's one of the more AU ones out there-yet one of the ones that somehow manage to keep very true to the X-Men story.

I'll admit this one isn't one of my favourites, mainly because f the brevity not that I'm complaining, it's just that it was unexpected, and it's the only one I had to read through twice to really feel comfortable with-though I don't know why. That said, the ending of this chapter has got to be one of your better efforts.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you and Ayumie both expressed some discomfort and I can see why it's a strange chapter. I usually whip my froth up much higher before the payoff with multiple scenes and POVs competing. This time it's one through-line and very possibly too brief. There's also the weird structural flaw that, in a way, this is where Book 2 should have ended, so there is a hiccup feeling to my structure.

In real novel land, I would have reworked that in the second draft, I guess. Anyway, I'm back to long and involved in Ch. 17. heh.

I'm glad the ending works for you! I like all the individual pieces of this chapter; maybe they just aren't a chapter when put together.

I don't consider this an AU. I try to do nothing that contradicts canon (except Kitty, to a certain extent, but only because she's so unformed and contradictory until X3). it's just really, really expanded. I owe a lot of my backstory to the other writers in this fandom who have fleshed out B and J in their own ways. I've taken some of what they've written and reinvented it and I've created my own paths, too, but fic by Kuriadalmatia, Ashe_Frost, Lux_Apollo and others certainly inspired me.

Holy shit, I just realized that my boyfriend and I also have the initials "B and J". Weird, man.

[lux-apollo.livejournal.com]

:-)

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Thank you. You are my rock!

wow.

[whitepanther16.livejournal.com]

Holy crap. That is one powerful chapter. Beautiful. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment.

~Panther

Re: wow.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

*pats the panther*

[eros494.livejournal.com]

Wow, I've been missing out. *points at self- Maybe I shouldn't have started reading this fic at chapter 16, but it made me want to go back and read it from the beginning which is an awesome thing. XD

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

I am hypnotizing you....

Forget what you just read... go back to chapter 1 (http://toothdemon.net/ttl/fanfic/dob/chapter01.html)...

Also, hella hot icon.

[sendthewolves.livejournal.com]

Oh man, this chapter was absolutely beautiful! I especially loved the last few paragraphs, they have this wonderful dream-like quality that just works so well with this moment in the story.

And one day I will actually comment on a chapter of this on time. I always seem to do it a few days after that chapter's been posted because I like to make sure I can read it without being disturbed (not easy in my house lol).

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Pish and tush. There is absolutely no need to comment immediately. I'd rather you read when it's a good time for you to read.

In fact, comments that dribble in over a month or even longer often arrive just when I need a shot of love.

I'm glad the chapter worked for you. Look for 17 shortly.

[princechrismoon.livejournal.com]

So, let me start by saying that I have been away from DoB for awhile, and this chapter makes me want to comeback with a vengence. The last few paragraphs were pure poetry like I have never read before. It was so original and primal, and I have always been a believer in elements connecting. It made me want to read it again and again. That's the way I want my connection with my special someone to be like (whenever he decides to show up).
I thought this chapter was incredible. I liked how you wove dream states and reality seemlessly. I felt like you really nailed the sense of need that Johnny and Bobby have for each other, especially while they were in the car and in the end. They both feel for each other, and that element is missing from other Johnny/Bobby stories I have read in the past. The only complaint that I have is that it was so short. It got to the point a lot quicker than your other chapters. I both really liked that, but felt like some of the character development was missing.
Lastly: You truly have a gift. Your writing is honestly some of the best I have ever read, and your writing is on calibre to what I aspire. I look forward to the your continuation of this and any other story you choose to share. Thank you.
Prince Chris

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Your first paragraph made me think about real connections with special someones and made me wonder if this is a romance novel. Is it reflecting reality? Have I experienced that kind of connection? The answer is yes and no. Bobby and John's romance is heightened but not, I think, idealized.

The funny thing about that scene for me is that emotions were at an almost instinctual fever pitch but the sex was kind of perfuntory. I think I would have trouble writing actual sexual mechanics in bullshit romance terms. To me, it is the interesting intersection of the sweaty, sticky real-life mechanics and their resonance within the mind/body of the individual and the emotional connection of the couple. If you get what I mean.

In other words, you aren't about to read, "John's anus opened like a flower for the implacable certitude of Bobby's dauntless prick. 'Oh, I feel you in my core, in my soul, Roberto!' John murmured, fulfilled at last."

Thank you for the blush-inducing compliments.

[evil-lillith.livejournal.com]

They finally meet again and John is at the mansion! YAY for explicate sex but seriously the last part was so beautifully written. I thoroughly enjoyed that chapter. I’m glad your back and I’m happy that the story continues. Thank you!!!

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Back? Was I away? Oh yeah, I guess from your end it must feel like that. I'm never far from the novel, either writing or working in my head on it including during the long wait for the snowbound subway this morning. Very exciting stuff ahead!

Thanks for reading.