FIC: Inevitable Twenty-one: Starting to Dig

[mhalachai]

Inevitable Twenty-one: Starting to Dig is posted.

At TTH
(and if TTH is broken:)
At Pomme de Sang
At Skyehawke

As always, any comments and questions are welcome.

I realized that I only posted the last chapter on Friday, but we're in the home stretch, people. HBP on Friday. I need to get as much done as I can before then, trust me.

Comments

[semirose.livejournal.com]

Fuck, what'd you do that for?

haha, no, I was getting seriously sick of the whole Anita thing (love the world, hate the star), and then you pull that twist. I was perfectly content with skimming and then you just had to do that forcing me to go a reread in depth. Lovely as always, even with all the Nitavoice.

Alright, have you always done Anita PoV in first person? I mean I know it's been like that for a few chapters, but did it start out like that? I've been meaning to ask, but I kept forgetting (or not reviewing, sorry about that).

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

In this story (and in Switchback) have always written Anita 1st person POV. In Mind the Gap, she was 3rd person.

I was getting seriously sick of the whole Anita thing
How exactly do you mean? *is worried you don't like the story* *is probably crazy, tho*

[semirose.livejournal.com]

Ahh, that might be why I was confused. I read Mind the Gap in one go after you finished it while reading Inevitable (I was literally switing between stories)

You are crazy, I love the story. I just mean you're whole crazy Anita thing has been really dragging on. I'm sure (I know) that I wouldn't feel the same way if it was a character that I liked (like I just read this Xander/Spike H/C fic and Spike was crazy and insecure the whole way through, but since it's Spike I loved it) I don't know, I mean she's been acting all insecure and stuff for quite a few chapters now, and it's seeming like that's the only thing we're seeing now. Personally, I just want more Harry. :D

This is why I only read Anita Crossovers, I couldn't stand reading strait Anita fic (well, there was one, but it was all about how Jason became a werewolf, so no Anita)

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

it's only really been.... *checks* okay, so eight chapters, but only three of those were really loopy!Anita.

If you want more Harry, you'll simply *love* Part II of this fic. That will be coming up in about 15 more chapters. But they are good chapters, I promise :)

[lizey.livejournal.com]

*whines* Switchbaaaack!

I'm going down to the snow on Thursday. Hope to God they have HBP - they ought to. Jindabyne's not that small. (<--- skiing in Australia. Don't mind the random references to unfamiliar places)

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

More Switchback in a month or so, I promise :)

Have fun skiing. That was the one sport I really sucked at. Okay, that and luge.

[denitta.livejournal.com]

Anita's broken. Like my toys the day after Christmas. And I don't think a Band Aid is going to fix her. *sniff* On the other hand, that leaves *counts* four, possibly six hawt guys all heartbroken and emotionally unstable. And none of them I would toss out of bed for eating crackers. O.o What's a girl to do? Shove Anita off a cliff, that's what!

I kid, I jest. Someone may identify my shoe prints. :D

Seriously, good chapter. The kooky Anita is wearing a bit, but at least the guys are thinking now. They aren't just taking things in stride. And poor Harry is so helpless and fearful for his life. *sniff*

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

There ain't no baindaid big enough for this one, trust me.

The kooky Anita is wearing a bit,

Try writing it. It ends in the middle of the next chapter. (No, I'm not killing her off).

And poor Harry is so helpless and fearful for his life.
This also ends in the middle of the next chapter (No, I'm not killing him off either)

Thanks for reading.

[thymidinekinase.livejournal.com]

Ahhh! I'm glad that I was wrong in my last comment on TTH. You were not simply over-angsting Anita ... it was PLOT via characterization. Nice one. I liked this chapter a lot, in a horrible glad-it-isn't-me kind of way. -CrystalOGrapher

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I wanted to respond to the review, but couldn't figure out a way to do that without spoiling the big reveal in this chapter.

And thanks!

[deepfishy.livejournal.com]

Nathaniel, noooo!
I seem to be using this icon a lot for your chapters. Good to see everyone finally realising the things Anita's been hiding, but...did you have to leave it there?
*frets*
Next chapter soon?
(ah, how soon we get spoiled...)

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Yes, I did have to leave it there, just to torture my readers.
Next chapter soon.

[sabriel-0405.livejournal.com]

I cannot believe you left us like that! This was wonderful. The pain, all of it, is palpable. Excellent job. Thank you!

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

You're welecome. And I never met a cliffhanger I didn't like :)

[goddessvicky.livejournal.com]

Did you hear that sonic boom after I finished reading that chapter? That was my heart breaking in two. You've made me love Nathanial more than normal, and see what you just did? I have half a heart. My other half has a large silver KNIFE in it!

::sigh:: But with how fast these chapters are being pumped out, I think my heart may mend soon?

Maybe?

Please?

::grin:: It was great. I enjoyed every mintue. Except for the last one. That one hurt. But, it was a good hurt? Yes. A good hurt.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I was wondering what that noise was.

And if you look at the wording of the last line, you might start to see what's really going on.

More soon, I promise!

[goddessvicky.livejournal.com]

I saw that it said "above" his heart, but still. ::cringe:: I loves me my Nathaniel.

And your story made me wake up this morning. Thanks.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

You're quite welcome. Thanks for reading (and commenting! I live for feedback)

[krichardson.livejournal.com]

To tell the truth, I had stopped reading this story in the last chapters because I was getting depressed. All that pain and nothing to make it betting it a bit trying for me. But I got my bravado together and read the last chapters I had missed. I can't believe Nathaniel *cries "Nathaniel!"* was stabbed by Anita! He's my favorite character in Anitaverse, too! I definitely hope he doesn't die or anything like that! And the pain remembrances, sheesh. Isn't a standard Calming Solution standard againt the affects of the Cruciatus Curse? *wonders how they will cease the pain remembrances if they don't know that...hmm*

Please, update soon! And also please *begs* stop the constant pain! It's not that I can't handle constant angst, but over and over with no end is draining.

Thank you for the story.

Karone

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

As I said to denitta above, this will stop at the midpoint of the next chapter. There's some angst left to deal with :)

And I'll update soon, I promise. It's the evilest of all evil cliffhangers, I know.

[wonderfulchild.livejournal.com]

I've been following your wonderful fic for a while now. You're evil with the cliffhangers! Keep up the good work!

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I do what I can. Thanks for reading!

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

Oh God. You really do know how to dig in it, don't you? I realise I've been rather lax in my reviewing so...

Anita's vulnerability. Her paranoia. Dear God, you've written a character that's so completely neurotic and just completely paranoid that it's... human. You brought out Anita's biggest weaknesses, played it. You made her craziness work because you put in all the factors that would cause her to be this way. She's still trying to be strong, still trying not to be weak. Still trying so hard to protect everyone, when they don't want protecting, bark and snap at people who want to protect her. Still so skittish over love, over caring. Still so low on self esteem about that. The fact that she can't be touched? Beautiful touch (did I just make a pun? That was wholly not intended, I assure you), especially considering her current circumstances. What is she going to do when the ardeur stirs, is what I want to know. How can she feed lust when she feels none, herself. How can she when the merest brush of touch over her flesh would cause her intense pain. Interesting position that you've put her in, how much she's suffering.

I love the interaction between Anita, Nathaniel and Micah. Their frustration, their inability to see what was wrong at first, their concern and love for her. Seeing how she, in trying to protect them, hurts them. Seeing the dislike of Harry in Micah, the gradual cooling from Nathaniel, which really just shoves at you, considering how friendly he was when Harry first came. I love their helplessness, just them. A real relationship. Micah's stoic strength, Nathaniel's neediness and generosity.

I love the little spat between Damian and Nathaniel, that little flare of jealousy and resentment. The cluelessness of Harry. One thing you really did do well. Your characterisation of Harry is spot on. You've written his cluelessness, his insecurites, his doubts. His need to protect people around him, his need not to hurt anyone around him anymore. His failing to do that. His wanting to believe that nothing is wrong, by wrapping himself in denial. I love the parallels between Harry and Anita, how they are so alike in their pain, despite the fact that Harry seems to be healing, yet Anita grows worse.

The end to that chapter. I have to admit that I'd actually almost yelled out "No!" when I read it. I couldn't believe it. I was almost shaking, and I just had "Anita, oh god Anita what the hell did you do?" running in my head. So hurt, so confused, reality distorting so much for her. All centering around Harry, her pain, the cause of it. Her protectiveness of him. How it becomes worse even as it seems to be better. Poor Anita, poor, poor Anita.

You do realise you've got me on tenterhooks now, right? And I love that word. Tenterhooks. *grin*

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I think I love you. Your comments are so very helpful! (and you gave me the need to clarify a plot point... thanks again!)