Bitter Shade's response to my comment was AWESOME! Something I said resonated with her, and I've never gotten a reaction like that from an author. I definitely need to try to interact more with people in the community. It feels great to be appreciated.
Official Description: One rainy night, two long-time lovers join each other in a dark hour of drugs and primal need. AH, OOC. Dark. Mature. EdwardxBella. One-shot. Twilight - Rated: M - English - Hurt/Comfort/Romance - Chapters: 1 - Words: 5,018 - Reviews: 12 - Published: 6-3-09 - Edward & Bella - Complete
My review:
Follow Me Inside, Ch 1 2009-11-03
Beautifully dark in that souls-twisting-together, codependent need kind of way. Saw this recc'd on Lazy Discerning Ficster. I'm not usually drawn to the dark fics, but something about being able to consume this in a bite sized oneshot chunk made it seem like something I could manage.
It was satiating in that same primal way as the Lou Reed song Heroin. I've never done it, never will, but there's a vicarious pace and darkness to that song that makes you feel drawn into that experience. That's kind of how I felt with this story - drawn into the need in the characters' connection. Well done.
Author, Bitter Shade, replied to my review:
Thank you for that incredibly intelligent, well thought out review. It's surprising--this story has remained fairly dormant, at least views-wise, for quite a while now, and suddenly I've gotten a truckload of hits today, and a couple of reviews. It just made my day. I had no idea that someone had recommended this story elsewhere.
That was a hell of a compliment, and I'm flattered. I struggle with this subject matter--maybe once upon a time this kind of thing came with ease, but like you, I can't really do the dark literature thing much. Every once in a while, though, some idea will strike me and I feel compelled to write it. I've never been a drug user, so hearing that I've sold it fairly effectively is great news; I certainly fretted over posting this for a while. You summed up exactly what I was going for here, and so eloquently and concisely--with vicarious pace and darkness. Though I don't think I listened to Lou Reed the day I wrote that, but his influence kind of seeps in, in retrospect. Heh.
Thank you again. Brightened my day right up!
I got the rec from HourofLead on TLYDF's Dumpster Dive:
http://discerningficster.blogspot.com/2009/11/fic-dive-dark-roller-wheels.html
Check out this fucking review. Now THIS is a rec:
Why I Read This:
I have a hard time finding dark things that I actually find geniunely "dark" and not just cliche or melodramatic. At the same time, no one wants to read something totally dismal, right? Who wants to read sullen, hapless characters going around moping about how pointless life is? Nobody, that's who. And if you do... get some help.
What really drew me in here was the promise of something "primal" in the summary. I interpreted that to mean that something intense was going to be conveyed, and that was enough to lure me. I love the idea of an inexorable need for something, even when better judgment is on the fritz. And that's really what's at the core of this one shot - bad, bad decisions with damaged hearts right in the center, desperately clinging to what they can, scrounging to keep afloat.
The piece undulates between vagueness and elucidation - explaining more to you about the characters and their rainy weather rendezvous as you go along. Drug activity is something I have never read before, and I went into this with a heaping dose of my good friend Pessimism. Shockingly (or not so shockingly - clever author! I see what you did there!), as a reader you actually end up wanting them to give into these mistakes, even though you know all they are doing is ensnarling themselves deeper into their worlds of anguish and guilt.
Ultimately, Follow Me Inside manages to be melancholy yet amorous, tragic yet hopeful, reprehensible yet sexy.
How'd she manage that?
What really drew me in here was the promise of something "primal" in the summary. I interpreted that to mean that something intense was going to be conveyed, and that was enough to lure me. I love the idea of an inexorable need for something, even when better judgment is on the fritz. And that's really what's at the core of this one shot - bad, bad decisions with damaged hearts right in the center, desperately clinging to what they can, scrounging to keep afloat.
The piece undulates between vagueness and elucidation - explaining more to you about the characters and their rainy weather rendezvous as you go along. Drug activity is something I have never read before, and I went into this with a heaping dose of my good friend Pessimism. Shockingly (or not so shockingly - clever author! I see what you did there!), as a reader you actually end up wanting them to give into these mistakes, even though you know all they are doing is ensnarling themselves deeper into their worlds of anguish and guilt.
Ultimately, Follow Me Inside manages to be melancholy yet amorous, tragic yet hopeful, reprehensible yet sexy.
How'd she manage that?
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