FIC: Inevitable 22 posted!

[mhalachai]

Inevitable Twenty-two: The Things I Ask Of You is up!

At TTH

As always, any comments and questions are welcome.

I'll add more later, but go! read! I'm late for work!

Fun facts: This chapter has four POV changes, and is one of the shorter chapters. I managed to get in some rather riske stuff by the sheer placement of the word "pants". Also, mad props to _calex_ for pointing out something to me, and making me review Harry's inner puppy.

(in other words, plzR&R!!!1!)

Comments

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

Wow, a mentioning. *grin*

Great, great chapter, as usual. I'm constantly amazed at the way you write Anita. You manage to do it so well, that it's kinda scary. I've gone back to re-read some of my AB books and I can see LKH's Anita reacting like your Anita. I love her paranoia about Nathaniel, how she thought she had killed him, then when he spoke to her, her thinking that her necromancing had made Nathaniel come up as a zombie. Good ol' Blake paranoia, and the mounting insanity. But thank god she takes the lifeline that's Jean-Claude. You made me love him all over again in this chapter, despite thinking huffily that he was a bit of a bastard for the way he treated Harry. Okay, understandable, but still. He hardly gave the kid a chance. Yet in this chapter... you brought out all the great things that makes up the iressistably sexy JC.

I love the mentioning of Richard looking at her as though she was a monster. Such a Richard reaction, and yet another Richard reaction that he stays, despite it all (ID almost made me hate him. Until he came and had teh sex with JC and Anita, because that humanised him a little). Jason/Harry interaction was wonderful, the pard and pack's closeness over the pain. I love the way you brought out the were in Harry's nature, love that you showed him to be just a little selfish, again a human trait in him that we all know is true a la JKR.

Loved the coolness that Micah displays to Harry, direct contrast to Jean Claude's apparent acceptance of Harry (which, can I just say, is quite jarring, espcially considering how laid back and cool Micah usually is. But great effect).

Cherry blowing up at Harry. Someone was going to do it, the alphas might have better control over tempers and so on, so I was doubting they would. A beta would be a great idea, though Cherry wouldn't have been an obvious choice for me. It makes sense, especially considering that she is a nurse and part (main) of the reason why she's snapping is because she can't do anything to help. To be truthful, I would've thought Nathaniel, but Nathaniel's in too deep with the Anita situation, so another leopard that's Anita's, not Micah's. Zane, I guess. Or Gregory, though I don't know why. Cherry was a fantastic choice, really.

The feeding of the ardeur scene was fantastic. The panic Anita felt was palpable, would she hurt? Would it pain her? It was great to see her struggle with herself, weighing the decision. Also noted how after Jean Claude had opened the marks, the pain stopped, and yet while she noticed she could touch JC and not hurt she was relieved, she still balked at touching Nathaniel. The last of her men that she touched, and because she thought he was supposed to be under the heading of "people she protected"? Has he reverted his status to that, yet also the person she loves?

Am very interested in finding out what JC told Jason to tell Asher. And he agreed? What was the request?

Interesting that Jason chose to go back to Harry, despite the fact that Richard, Jamil and Shang Da were available. On the other hand, Jason would have to be suicidal to go to Richard. *grin* I don't think he'll be happy to channel his touchy-feely beast when he's angry about the whole Anita situation. And Jason wasn't too keen on Richard in CS and ID in any case. With reason, I have to add.

Also interesting that Harry would choose to stay in Anita's house, despite the fact that there are less people who hate him in the Circus.

Too many things I loved about this chapter, and as the comment's getting pretty long winded... *sheepish* Yay!

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

The Richard reaction has another meaning, as well. At this point, Richard doesn't know *why* she stabbed Nate, or threatened to kill JC. But, as always, Anita's perceptions of what she's seeing may be a bit off...

Anita not wanting to touch Nathaniel right away had more to do with the fact that she just stabbed him, and also some of what happened that morning. I hope I'm not giving anything away, but if you look at this chapter, Anita only ever expressed fear of the pain returning during sex with Nathaniel. This has everything to do with being left to stew with those thoughts all morning in Harry's room. More on this in future chapters.

I'm less interested in what JC had Jason call Asher about, than what Richard and Micah talked outside for an hour over :)

Harry wanted to stay because, in spite of it all, he feels safer with his grandfather and with Anita than with the vamps. He's still not sure where he stands with the vamps.

I could go on, but I've got to head out. Thanks once again for your great feedback!