You're making my Fridays awesome with your updates :-)
This one, in particular, is tremendous. The argument they have, from start to finish, is so on point and well written and very much needed between them. With the set up that there are increasing attacks on mutants (and in Charles' case, those are regarded as sympathetic to the mutant cause) there's this reinforcement behind Erik wanting to keep Charles in the apartment, literally and figuratively compartmentalized as "other" to the masses of humans on the outside. I like that that difference is called into question by Charles though both ultimately understand why it exists -- Charles is one of the only humans Erik knows, has taken the time to get to know (though he had his hand forced at the beginning).
Their argument works in part because it's a culmination of all the events that have led up to the explosive moment, remaining truthful to both men. I can see how Erik's mind is operating the way it is, the way he rationalizes his decisions (even going so far as insisting that the very fact that he HASN'T annihilated all humans proves he's taking Charles' opinions and the well being of humanity into account). The counterpoint is Charles rightfully, forcefully, beautifully pointing out that being unjustly and cruelly hurt does not give one the right to do the same thing to others in return, that the world is not black and white and all those nuances of grey need to be understood and recognized.
Of course Erik, who has always only truly felt like his beliefs are the one thing he has, sees this as an attack on who he is but it isn't. And when Charles offers himself up -- his own confusion and uncertainty, his own desires, his own want to believe that what has been building between them is genuine -- Erik sets aside pretense and drops the walls and they can come together (pun intended or not :-) faults and all.
I love the reiteration in this section that people are flawed. There's no such thing as absolute perfection. No one is without faults. But being flawed does not mean you are unworthy of love. True love sees those imperfections and beats loudly anyway. Both Erik and Charles come across so strongly in your writing -- they're smart, filled with emotion, independent beings utterly intertwined and connected...
And, of course, I like the call back to the previous part when Erik wondered if he and Charles would ever go further (re: penetration). When it happens here it's filled with intent and overwhelming feelings, it's incredibly intimate...and then there's that slightly unnerving ending with Erik unable to ignore the argument that led up to this. He can't play in denial. Points have been made on both their parts. Can't un-ring the bell. They're going to have to deal and the problem that's settling on Erik suffocatingly is that now he truly has something worth losing.
To be fair, however, it also means he has something worth fighting for :-)
Re: FILL: Everyday Love in Stockholm 147/?
This one, in particular, is tremendous. The argument they have, from start to finish, is so on point and well written and very much needed between them. With the set up that there are increasing attacks on mutants (and in Charles' case, those are regarded as sympathetic to the mutant cause) there's this reinforcement behind Erik wanting to keep Charles in the apartment, literally and figuratively compartmentalized as "other" to the masses of humans on the outside. I like that that difference is called into question by Charles though both ultimately understand why it exists -- Charles is one of the only humans Erik knows, has taken the time to get to know (though he had his hand forced at the beginning).
Their argument works in part because it's a culmination of all the events that have led up to the explosive moment, remaining truthful to both men. I can see how Erik's mind is operating the way it is, the way he rationalizes his decisions (even going so far as insisting that the very fact that he HASN'T annihilated all humans proves he's taking Charles' opinions and the well being of humanity into account). The counterpoint is Charles rightfully, forcefully, beautifully pointing out that being unjustly and cruelly hurt does not give one the right to do the same thing to others in return, that the world is not black and white and all those nuances of grey need to be understood and recognized.
Of course Erik, who has always only truly felt like his beliefs are the one thing he has, sees this as an attack on who he is but it isn't. And when Charles offers himself up -- his own confusion and uncertainty, his own desires, his own want to believe that what has been building between them is genuine -- Erik sets aside pretense and drops the walls and they can come together (pun intended or not :-) faults and all.
I love the reiteration in this section that people are flawed. There's no such thing as absolute perfection. No one is without faults. But being flawed does not mean you are unworthy of love. True love sees those imperfections and beats loudly anyway. Both Erik and Charles come across so strongly in your writing -- they're smart, filled with emotion, independent beings utterly intertwined and connected...
And, of course, I like the call back to the previous part when Erik wondered if he and Charles would ever go further (re: penetration). When it happens here it's filled with intent and overwhelming feelings, it's incredibly intimate...and then there's that slightly unnerving ending with Erik unable to ignore the argument that led up to this. He can't play in denial. Points have been made on both their parts. Can't un-ring the bell. They're going to have to deal and the problem that's settling on Erik suffocatingly is that now he truly has something worth losing.
To be fair, however, it also means he has something worth fighting for :-)