*sighs with satisfaction* Min, this is lovely and sad and tender and harsh and all the things I love about Minerva/Severus. As always, your style is so well-suited to the characters and situation. The first three paragraphs in particular are just right. I love the precision of Severus's thoughts, how he searches for -- and finds -- the right words. "Co-exist." Of course. And it's both sad and typical that for him, reality is always something "brutal."
I find myself wishing, as he does, that Minerva would speak again during sex; I can see why he might find that her silence, however well-intentioned, stresses too much all that he's lost.
He's never been lucky and he's not often been happy, but at the moment he can honestly say he's feeling, at least not unfortunate, and almost content. This line is both heartbreaking and comforting. Vintage Severus.
The ending is also just right, bringing us back to the original. You do such a good job of recreating the feel of that first story, with your careful attention to detail and tone. Thank you for giving the first such a close reading.
Finally, I can't close without noting that the sex is hot! and well-characterized. Delicious.
Thank you, dear Mindabbles. It may be DD's birthday, but I'm the one who received the best present!
I find myself wishing, as he does, that Minerva would speak again during sex; I can see why he might find that her silence, however well-intentioned, stresses too much all that he's lost.
He's never been lucky and he's not often been happy, but at the moment he can honestly say he's feeling, at least not unfortunate, and almost content.
This line is both heartbreaking and comforting. Vintage Severus.
The ending is also just right, bringing us back to the original. You do such a good job of recreating the feel of that first story, with your careful attention to detail and tone. Thank you for giving the first such a close reading.
Finally, I can't close without noting that the sex is hot! and well-characterized. Delicious.
Thank you, dear Mindabbles. It may be DD's birthday, but I'm the one who received the best present!