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The Strongest of All
Link to MM.org
Link to FF.net
Pairing: Sesshoumaru/Kagome
Rating: T
Based upon:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
ebony_silks Week 88 | Strongest (1st Place)
Inspiration: “Shimmer” © 1998 Carl Bell (Fuel)
It took me awhile to figure out exactly what a 'vignette' was, and even longer to attempt writing one. And behold, the fruits of my labor! I guess I did something right, as I managed to somehow win the contest...
The prompt for this week was tough, because it was a superlative. There's a lot you can do with "strong", but throw that -est ending on the end there and you're begging for a comparison or competition of some sort. Though it would be humorous to see Sesshoumaru and Kagome go at it, in hand-to-hand combat, on a matter of pride, I always try to travel a road less taken with these two, and so, I thought...what sorts of comparisons could be made that would favor either character in the other's eyes?
Sess vs Inu is kinda a no-no in my personal book, so I had to take this from Sesshoumaru's point of view. And then it hit me (literally) - there have been many important female characters in his life, even beyond Rin, and each of them shaped his world to some degree. Why not find one major characteristic that goes with each of them and show Sesshoumaru learning some sort of lesson from all of them - and yet somehow tying it all back into Kagome, to show how she'd be the 'complete' package, so to speak?
And thus, a manga exploration was born.
Because I had only 500 words to work with, I knew I had to stay brief, but powerful and to the point. I chose three women who undoubtedly influenced Sesshoumaru during the canon story - his mother, Rin, and Kagura, and then I really mulled over what each of them could be said to stand for, or how they could shape the person that Sesshoumaru became as he observed and interacted with them.
But what was trickiest was picking some value or characteristic that they also shared with Kagome. Not that I necessarily wanted Kagome to 'trump' them in any way, but I needed her to share that same quality. For SessMom, I chose pride; for Rin, love; for Kagura, desperation. The last one, in particular, is quite important for my vision of this pairing in any canon-set piece. I don't believe Kagome would turn to Sesshoumaru of her own volition, not if she returned to the world as she did, into the open, loving arms of Inuyasha and her friends.
And so, in that way, this piece kinda dovetails nicely into Allegiance, both in the justification behind their coming together, and in the way they work together to help each other, heal each other, and eventually find love with each other.
The inspiration for this was a soft, acoustic version of the song "Shimmer", which I've linked in the header info. Some of the relevant lyrics are these:
All that she intends / and all she keeps inside / isn't on the label
Can I be a friend / and we'll forget the past / or maybe I'm not able / and I break at the bend
Here and now / will we ever be again
Cause I have found / all that shimmers in this world is sure to fade / away / again
In other news, I've reached the halfway mark of Chapter 5 on Nihon Idol, and I hope to keep the momentum going so I can finish the rough cut tonight. I hate feeling guilty about this chapter being so far overdue, LOL, but I do!
Link to FF.net
Pairing: Sesshoumaru/Kagome
Rating: T
Based upon:
ebony_silks Week 88 | Strongest (1st Place)Inspiration: “Shimmer” © 1998 Carl Bell (Fuel)
It took me awhile to figure out exactly what a 'vignette' was, and even longer to attempt writing one. And behold, the fruits of my labor! I guess I did something right, as I managed to somehow win the contest...
The prompt for this week was tough, because it was a superlative. There's a lot you can do with "strong", but throw that -est ending on the end there and you're begging for a comparison or competition of some sort. Though it would be humorous to see Sesshoumaru and Kagome go at it, in hand-to-hand combat, on a matter of pride, I always try to travel a road less taken with these two, and so, I thought...what sorts of comparisons could be made that would favor either character in the other's eyes?
Sess vs Inu is kinda a no-no in my personal book, so I had to take this from Sesshoumaru's point of view. And then it hit me (literally) - there have been many important female characters in his life, even beyond Rin, and each of them shaped his world to some degree. Why not find one major characteristic that goes with each of them and show Sesshoumaru learning some sort of lesson from all of them - and yet somehow tying it all back into Kagome, to show how she'd be the 'complete' package, so to speak?
And thus, a manga exploration was born.
Because I had only 500 words to work with, I knew I had to stay brief, but powerful and to the point. I chose three women who undoubtedly influenced Sesshoumaru during the canon story - his mother, Rin, and Kagura, and then I really mulled over what each of them could be said to stand for, or how they could shape the person that Sesshoumaru became as he observed and interacted with them.
But what was trickiest was picking some value or characteristic that they also shared with Kagome. Not that I necessarily wanted Kagome to 'trump' them in any way, but I needed her to share that same quality. For SessMom, I chose pride; for Rin, love; for Kagura, desperation. The last one, in particular, is quite important for my vision of this pairing in any canon-set piece. I don't believe Kagome would turn to Sesshoumaru of her own volition, not if she returned to the world as she did, into the open, loving arms of Inuyasha and her friends.
And so, in that way, this piece kinda dovetails nicely into Allegiance, both in the justification behind their coming together, and in the way they work together to help each other, heal each other, and eventually find love with each other.
The inspiration for this was a soft, acoustic version of the song "Shimmer", which I've linked in the header info. Some of the relevant lyrics are these:
Can I be a friend / and we'll forget the past / or maybe I'm not able / and I break at the bend
Here and now / will we ever be again
Cause I have found / all that shimmers in this world is sure to fade / away / again
In other news, I've reached the halfway mark of Chapter 5 on Nihon Idol, and I hope to keep the momentum going so I can finish the rough cut tonight. I hate feeling guilty about this chapter being so far overdue, LOL, but I do!
no subject
it seems everyone has their own definition of vignette. It can be quite confusing. I like how you compared the three women in Sess's life and explored their qualities. I can see where this fits really nicely in the 'Allegiance' universe quite well.
no subject
Thanks for the review @ MM.org!! I'm glad it worked for you. I had a tough time with the word count, as I always do with these shorter pieces.
no subject
no subject
I really like this piece! As a non-Kag/Sess shipper (LOL), I think it goes a long way in explaining why he might be drawn to somebody like Kagome.
*grumbles and makes a funny face* If you keep making me actually understand this pairing, I may even write it one day...
no subject
Hence my confusion, forever and a day, LOL. I think its one of those "I'll know it when I see it" type deals, you know? To me, its more of a character introspection or reflection, something that isn't driven by a plot or built along a story arc.
But that's just me.
I really like this piece! As a non-Kag/Sess shipper (LOL), I think it goes a long way in explaining why he might be drawn to somebody like Kagome.
*grumbles and makes a funny face* If you keep making me actually understand this pairing, I may even write it one day...
Mwahaha, I'll convert you yet! :D I'm glad you liked it ~ it was a challenge trying to figure out what all the female characters had in common.
And now I want your opinion on the piece I wrote for this week's competition - as its sorta the opposite, giving some perspective on why Kagome might feel drawn to Sesshoumaru. It's locked to the comm due to its rating (darkfic ahoy!) but I'd be willing to send you a copy if you're interested in seeing it before the contest ends.
no subject
^_^
(Oh, and I has officially posted the Mir/Kag in public, LOL. The links and a short blurb has been posted on my LJ.)
Edit to add:
To me, its more of a character introspection or reflection, something that isn't driven by a plot or built along a story arc.
I've always thought of a vignette as a look inside a character's mind - like you said, more of an introspection or reflection. I've met others who say it's just another phrase for "perfect drabble", though... so I guess it's a YMMV situation :P
no subject
I've met others who say it's just another phrase for "perfect drabble", though...
But...it's possible to tell a story in 100 words. I've done it. And it wasn't a slice of life/vignette kinda thing. *scratches head*
Oh, well, whatever - let's just say its a stylistic thing, LOL!