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Fragments | 4: Tea and Sympathy
Read it at: LJ | MM.org | FF.net
Pairing: Miroku/Sango
Rating: T
Inspiration:
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mirsan_fics Prompt #13 | Luck Based upon: “Sometime Around Midnight” © 2008 Mikel Jollett [The Airborne Toxic Event]
This piece was based on the prompt, but it was not entered in the contest (considering I wrote it two weeks too late, LOL). Hopefully I can get my act together and write the second portion in time for this week's deadline *fingers crossed*
This series is coming along quite nicely in my mind, but I realized that it was time to give Sango a little background; though this is an omniscient world of storytelling, most of it has been from Miroku's point of view...and, well, he (and the readers) can only wonder what's going on for so long :P
Part of the reason this piece didn't get written on time - besides that niggling word limit :P - was also because I couldn't quite decide which possible thread I wanted to take with the actual prompt word. I guess, in some ways, Sango is incredibly lucky here - she's engaged to a caring, loving, incredibly wealthy man; she's young, she's beautiful, and she has a life of endless possibilities before her. But that's all on the surface ~ on the inside, she's damaged, and that's what's driving her behavior. Pushed to the brink, she runs, and by the merest stroke of luck, she bumps into the man who holds the key to her future.
Now, she just has to realize it, LOL :P
Sango is normally difficult for me to write, because I can't really relate to her, but apparently she was the perfect vehicle for my own fleeting angst. I tried my best to portray her dilemma here, in a way that I think suits her core canon characterization: she is fiercely loyal to her family, especially her brother; she's stubborn, determined, and knows how to go after what she wants. But she's also something of a tragedy, broken and haunted by mistakes from her past, which she'll go to any lengths to rectify. Transferring that into a modern-era universe is not easy, LOL. Its too tempting to turn her into a shrew or a prude, but I hope I've struck the delicate balance: her mental fortitude in the face of adversity, and yet her own very acute ability to blame herself for things beyond her control.
She puts up a wall between herself and the world, and when people attempt to breach it (her parents, Kuranousuke, the Takedas), she pushes them away, unwilling to share her anguish with them, more than is necessary. I think that's what makes Miroku so attractive a prospect to her - he's safe, and easy, willing to just be the distracting companion she needs, not pushing her out of her comfort zone. Of course, this will all change pretty soon :P but I thought it an interesting dynamic to set up, in the meanwhile. I think this will become clearer when I write what I have in mind for the "part" prompt, which leads to the climax of the story.
Since this piece is background, technically its not related so much to the overall inspiration song. Instead, one of the old Incubus albums was spinning in the background...which actually led to the title of the next piece, haha. But, some relevant lyrics, for those interested:
I see you in line / dragging your feet / you have my sympathy
The day you were born / you were born free / that is your privilege
Will I ever get to where I'm going? / If I do, will I know when I'm there?
If the wind blew me in the right direction / would I even care?
Yes, I feel emphatic / about not being static
And not buying philosophies that are sold to me / at a steal
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But I absolutely loved the update. It was simply gorgeous. And the song lyrics are very appropriate. And...
... I'm gushing again.
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Thanks for the review! =)
You capture her determination to find her brother and frustration at being pressured by Kuranosuke so well, like a photograph.
I'm really glad this came through for you - that was what I was going for, exactly. Sango has so many different facets to her personality, and sometimes those strong ones can work against her.
I like the way you've slotted the canon characters into your modern AU
The blood I've sweated over this o.O I certainly hope so. I didn't want to turn Kuranousuke into a monster, just because that would've suited my purposes, when in the anime he's gentle in his persistence. The next piece I have in mind actually utilizes him even further, so we'll see if you still feel this way after reading that, LOL.
And the language of the entire thing...
It was a good "writing night" for me, and I have my fingers crossed that this means the muses are allowing me to stutter back to life, LOL.