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Every Heart: Notes for Chapter 14
Link to MM.org
Link to FF.net
Woohoo! I'm always happy to publish a new chapter in the epic fic. The current point in Sesshoumaru's storyline is one I've been planning since first contemplating seeing this plot bunny through to the end -- playing with SessMom! :)
This is a relatively short chapter, but there is a lot of development. Not only is the final original character introduced, but some speculation about Sesshoumaru's relationship with his parents, and their regard for each other, is given.
Want to know more about the Russian snow youkai? Check the spoiler post directly above this one!
Link to FF.net
Woohoo! I'm always happy to publish a new chapter in the epic fic. The current point in Sesshoumaru's storyline is one I've been planning since first contemplating seeing this plot bunny through to the end -- playing with SessMom! :)
Sesshoumaru's mother has only appeared once so far in the manga, during the "Hell" arc, while the meidou zangetsuha is still Tenseiga's attack. She is one of the most-speculated-about characters; her appearance caused quite a frenzy among the fans. Her character is still underdeveloped. This can be a blessing or a curse when it comes to fanfic; it's definitely a challenge, either way.
There is little to go on, with regards to her relationship to Sesshoumaru's father, the rest of her family, etc. She doesn't even have a name, interestingly enough. There is a bit of interaction between her and her son, but there's no real history between them to build on. So, essentially, you're creating a new personality for an existing character. I've seen many interpretations of SessMom, from wild and crazy to heartless bitch. I've tried to play it somewhere in between.
There is little to go on, with regards to her relationship to Sesshoumaru's father, the rest of her family, etc. She doesn't even have a name, interestingly enough. There is a bit of interaction between her and her son, but there's no real history between them to build on. So, essentially, you're creating a new personality for an existing character. I've seen many interpretations of SessMom, from wild and crazy to heartless bitch. I've tried to play it somewhere in between.
This is a relatively short chapter, but there is a lot of development. Not only is the final original character introduced, but some speculation about Sesshoumaru's relationship with his parents, and their regard for each other, is given.
This developed out of writing the dialog for this all-important conversation. Not until the final draft of the chapter did I find the right words for it. Basically, the Inu no Taisho's marriage to SessMom was arranged, but he was actually of a lower class than she, since she is absolute royalty. He didn't really like her, and resented that she held all the literal might (in the form of the House of the Moon) in the relationship. They did what they were supposed to do in conceiving Sesshoumaru. After said child was born and oogled as the literal perfect offspring of their union, and he saw how much she loved and adored him, the Inu no Taisho finally figured out how to really hurt his mate. It was an emotional manipulation from the start, but Sesshoumaru himself was never the true target.
Basically, he used the mother/child bond to manipulate SessMom by cutting down her precious son.
I've never bought into the theory that InuPapa sexually/physically abused Sesshoumaru, but it's obvious there was some sort of strain in their relationship. I think it was emotional indifference. Sesshoumaru has always wanted his father's blessing, and it seems at every turn of the canon, he has more and more tests to pass before gaining even a fraction of that.
Sesshoumaru's relationship with his mother is very interesting, in light of these speculations. They were hardly the warm, fuzzy types. Some of this I put down to not having the same depth of emotions as humans. The rest...well, it's kinda obvious from the manga chapters that she's pretty manipulative in her own right. Though ultimately Sesshoumaru grew for the good at the end of the "Hell" arc, it was all in a pretty fucked-up way. Maybe all that work that InuPapa put into hurting her finally wore her down, or maybe she was always a little bit sarcastic and jaded.
That's why the dialogue was paramount to get right in this chapter. It was hard, but I'm satisfied that I've struck it just right; you can feel the coldness in their tones with each other, Sesshoumaru's resistance to his mother's plans, and the logic in what she is suggesting. With so little canon fodder to go on, it was a bit like going out into unexplored territory. Am I keeping her in character? I hope so, since that's the whole point of writing a canon-inspired fic :)
Basically, he used the mother/child bond to manipulate SessMom by cutting down her precious son.
I've never bought into the theory that InuPapa sexually/physically abused Sesshoumaru, but it's obvious there was some sort of strain in their relationship. I think it was emotional indifference. Sesshoumaru has always wanted his father's blessing, and it seems at every turn of the canon, he has more and more tests to pass before gaining even a fraction of that.
Sesshoumaru's relationship with his mother is very interesting, in light of these speculations. They were hardly the warm, fuzzy types. Some of this I put down to not having the same depth of emotions as humans. The rest...well, it's kinda obvious from the manga chapters that she's pretty manipulative in her own right. Though ultimately Sesshoumaru grew for the good at the end of the "Hell" arc, it was all in a pretty fucked-up way. Maybe all that work that InuPapa put into hurting her finally wore her down, or maybe she was always a little bit sarcastic and jaded.
That's why the dialogue was paramount to get right in this chapter. It was hard, but I'm satisfied that I've struck it just right; you can feel the coldness in their tones with each other, Sesshoumaru's resistance to his mother's plans, and the logic in what she is suggesting. With so little canon fodder to go on, it was a bit like going out into unexplored territory. Am I keeping her in character? I hope so, since that's the whole point of writing a canon-inspired fic :)
Want to know more about the Russian snow youkai? Check the spoiler post directly above this one!