capeandcowl | 022 ♍ video ♍ yes this is during school hours

[ the scene opens on the desk in kanaya's room, with her sitting behind it. on top of it is a book turned upside down, the cover showing a large man caressing the leg of a woman mostly out of the frame. loose ends, by c.m. guarde, and kanaya seems to be already halfway through it. next to it is a water bottle half-full of a thick, red liquid.

the curtains are drawn, and the only light in the room seems to be coming from her. she has her chin propped up in her hand, and her eyes are heavily lidded, not as made-up as usual. she hasn't left her room all day except to buy this book. ]

It's funny, isn't it. The things one will do out of a hope for love. How much one will ignore, and agonize over, and consciously blind herself to. It comes to a point where you have to wonder whether Kristof is even worth the effort, but nonetheless, Nora makes no sign of relenting. She believes because she has to, and maybe if it should end in the worst possible manner, she will find a way through it still, to remain with the one she loves.

There's something beautiful in that. Tragic, perhaps, but still meaningful. And maybe it that which keeps drawing me back to the series. If Kristof could have someone to love him so much, could there be hope for the rest of us?

[ she turns the book back over, raising an eyebrow at the text. ] But it's still only fiction. That may ultimately be an unfair expectation of the world.

[ she slides over her bottle to take a quick sip from it. ]

Is anyone else reading these?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, uh, maybe. At least I have read others who would describe Nora's experiences in it much differently.

So the author doesn't have any idea how to write the female end of a sex scene.

Odd. Normally these writers are middle-aged women. You'd think they'd be able to write the female perspective because of that.

That, or they could always read other attempts to make some kind of attempt. Of course, the author's name is ambiguous enough that it really could go either way.

You'd think that with all the fiction like that out there that the author would have done some research beforehand. [sorry Nelson, but Xanatos is now convinced you're a middle aged housewife.]

But still, point taken. That being said, I'll have to swing by the bookstore later today to pick this one up.

I do still feel that it has enough qualities to be worth my attention, even if there are portions handled with some clumsiness. Are you going to read it yourself this time?

Who knows, I actually might. I've got a plane trip coming up and definitely need an airport read.

If it's a long enough flight, you may even finish them both! I doubt I shouldn't be through my first review by the time I'm expected at work.

Well, I'll make sure to ring you up for a discussion once I've read them.

And I'll be glad to provide it! Hopefully it will distract you from anymore irresponsible undertakings.

Believe me, I haven't done any 'irresponsible undertakings' in months. [there is a small note of tension in his voice, but he's sounding relatively good natured.]

Good. [ her tone falls flat for just that moment, terribly serious. ] Really, I think we'd gotten off fairly light the last time, and I really wouldn't like to tempt fate on the matter.

This place already tempts fate enough as is, there's no need for us to tempt it as well.

See, that's what I would have said, but it isn't quite as meaningful well after the fact, is it?

Precisely.

Nonetheless, it is at least somewhat reassuring that you'll be spending your time more productively.

[ because reading smutty novels is totally productive yes. ]

Or, I'll at least be spending my time in different ways.

[cause yeah, it ain't productive.]

Well, of course. One can't simply ignore their duties for a book.

[ unless it's school. that doesn't count. ]

[to his credit, Xanatos DOESN'T say 'pot, kettle, black'.]

How many books are in this series, anyway?

[ some pages rustle as she flips to the back, very careful not to read the text itself and spoil herself. ]

It seems there's a third still upcoming. Trilogies tend to be the standard in these affairs.