Fic: She'd tried to make them strangers, once

[adrenalin211]

Fandom: Justified
Title: She'd tried to make them strangers, once
Word count: 721
Characters: Raylan Givens/Winona Hawkins
Warnings: Season 2 spoilers

This is for you, sardonicynic. The Dec 3rd prompt was "If I am a stranger now to you, I will always be. The prompt post is here! (If anyone wants to add to that, I just ask that you only request dates after

Comments

[sardonicynic]

SHRIEK.

Oh, A.

I - you - and this. Oh oh oh, what have you done to my brain and my heart? (I am so incoherent it's like I've had a mild stroke. A good thing, in this particular case!)

Your language here, and the way you have stepped into this canon and stolen into its cracks and crannies like a silent witness, is a lot like being a fly on the wall in Raylan's room.

I just keep reading. And re-reading. Because this is motherfucking perfection.

(AND YOU REFERENCED JOHN PRINE. AHHHHHH, BE STILL, MY HEART. When I saw that man last winter when he played Singletary Center here in town, I spent the whole show alternately laughing and crying, because I grew up with his music, thanks to my dad, so there are a lot of ~feelings~ there. And, of course, "Angel From Montgomery" had me a hot mess, man.)

Oh my god. Everything. Helen. Fruit snacks. Headless Scooby-Doo. This conversation that I can hear between Ray-Ray and Winona, and Yoda.

And this:

(Only time he ever likes his own name is when it comes out of her mouth.)White noise, dude. I

[adrenalin211]

Darlin'! (as you would say)! Your response has given me flaily hands!

You have no IDEA how worried I was to write some Kentucky-like headspace. And just. Taking a first try at ANYTHING is always tough, but because this was for YOU and I respect YOUR writing and ease with language so much, it was extra-specially nerve-rumbling to sit down and try to go to Harlan county in my head. So it brings me SUCH joy that this made you all smiley.

Thank you so much for the specific commentary. And John Prine! I don't often find myself liking anything I write, but when I heard Angel From Montgomery the other day, I thought, goddamn, those words are perfect for Winona's feelings towards Raylan's aloof impenetrability. But then, from Raylan's perspective, it's like... he is just all broken-homed and clueless and reluctant to believe anyone would care enough about his feelins to expose themselves to that...darkness, or something! I don't know! Perhaps I'm misreading the undertones

[ws_scribe]

If anyone wants to add to that, I just ask that you do it after the 7th.

You know what I'm going to do if you put that out there. I'm just warning you, here.

Also, this was lovely! I'll have time to make a REAL comment later. Raylan...my heart just beats wildly for him.

[adrenalin211]

Hahaha. I should correct myself and say If anyone NEW wants to add to that.... :-P. Hee. No. I love doing these! I'm just really really busy this upcoming week, so that's all. Just..don't go crazy? Hahahaha.

I'm glad you liked it! My heart beats wildly for Raylan, too. Oh hotdamn. He is so... yum.

[sparkles_mouse]

If I'm being honest I don't get this show. It's no surprise I'm sure. You know me. I like girly soap operas and ships that are so delightfully cheesy. I've seen maybe a total of 60 minutes of this show - various episodes from whatever client was on it. However I missed your writing so I read.

And A, I felt like I KNEW the characters even if I don't at all. You somehow managed a Southern tone and that's incredible because your word choices weren't specifically southern. You, my dear, are better than ever. And it's always a pleasure to read it.

[adrenalin211]

Hi there!!! It's you! It means so much to me that you commented.

Hahaha. This show is sometimes hard to get in terms of character motivation, because it's a whole different culture and there's all this background stuff. But I started watching it because...hotdamn RAYLAN, and then I was addicted. Even to the investigative part of it and watching Raylan shoot people and talk in that voice and... walk. And scare the ever living shit out of most criminals because of his draw time and reputation. So I have it a little bad for him. And she's okay, but he LOVES her and that much is very clear.

Okay so I may have just gotten carried away. I'm so glad you felt you knew the characters when you don't watch. And the southern tone! Thank you. AND, you, of all people, know what my writing was like when I was starting out, so for you to say I've improved means SO MUCH.

Thanks for the comment. :)

[sparkles_mouse]

I love your icon! I need to watch Humbug today since I'm too lazy to get out of bed (at least for the moment)

I think it's the total Southern hick thing that I can't do. But I've also never watched from the beginning. Just pieces of the season 1 finale, season 2 premiere and some stuff from last season when Dewey was up to no good. I do love Timothy though. Ever since he was the killer in Scream 2, lol.

But regardless, you're incredible. Whether I watch the show or not.

[adrenalin211]

Humbug is kinda strange/uncomfortable/fun?

NO WAY. Timothy Olyphantastic was the villain in Scream 2? I have, of course, seen that movie, but I didn't know who he was at the time. Now that he's RAYLAN, I must go back and view. Hahahaha.

You are on a fic-writing kick! So great to seeeeeee!

[century_fox]

So I've never seen this show but I read it anyway because you wrote it and I knew that therefore it would be amazing, and I was correct! ♥

Raylan’d loved fruit snacks. i'll be his fruit snack

He’s in just as deep as ever he can be in me just as deep as ever OKAY SORRY THIS IS NOT A MEANINGFUL OR CLASSY REVIEW AT ALL so i'll stop it with these types of comments. :P

She’d screamed off these ridiculous lyrics in her tear-stained Kentucky ire that had slapped him like alcohol in an open gash THAT is such an amazingly written line and lovely analogy and ksjdhgjakgh your writing is just perfect.

Raylan eating the Star Wars gummies was so adorable and made me smile, and so did the fact that he referenced Winona's rhubarb pie and it made her happy that he remembered.

(Only time he ever likes his own name is when it comes out of her mouth.) I LOVE THIS PLEASE USE PARENTHESES IN YOUR WRITING FOREVER.

He’ll tell her tonight. He’s not gonna make that mistake, not gonna give her any reason to leave again, now that he remembers what it’s

[adrenalin211]

he can be in me just as deep as ever OKAY SORRY THIS IS NOT A MEANINGFUL OR CLASSY REVIEW AT ALL

OMG, CINNA. I am DYING at this review. Ahahahahahaha. You are too funny.

I'm so glad that you liked this! And you read it even though you don't watch the show! That's so sweet.

Thanks for picking out specifics. I'm glad you liked the parentheses and the tear-stained Kentucky ire part. As I was saying above, that was actually something I liked, too, which is SO rare when I write something.

Don't you just wanna be his fruit snack? watch him enjoying some fruit snacks and being all in love with her

Thanks! I think the layout is pretty cool. I like the blue one, so I plan to change it back after the holidays, but for now I will be happily festive!

Thanks again, love!

[leigh57]

Waugh. You're all, "OMG, I cannot write Justified," and then you do this. Now I live even more in trembling fear of whichever date lurks in wait for my attempt at Justified fic. You are amazing:)

Specific things I love:
The way even your language (down to word choice for both Raylan and Winona) sounds exactly like the show. The running theme of fruit snacks. The callback to Helen (waugh, Helen) and how much she just loved him. This: He’s in just as deep as ever, and he almost laughs at himself, silly to believe time and distance could serve to get back the piece of himself he’d just...given to her. Because yep, his total attitude toward Winona summed up in a sentence. ANGEL FROM MONTGOMERY FOR THE FUCKING WIN. All the awards to you for that one man. YODA. Oh yes. (Only time he ever likes his own name is when it comes out of her mouth.) That line, JFC. And your ending, the way he shows he can learn, that he wants to do it differently this time, make sure he doesn't eff it up again

[adrenalin211]

You are like...so kind. I still feel as though the language is not accurately Raylan and Kentucky.

Oh god. I take a break and suddenly it's 1 and my computer starts doing that scanny thing it does for virus protection. Always my sign I should be sleeping. NOT TONIGHT.

ANYWAY, you're so awesome to point out the things that you like. Angel From Montgomery you KNOW I just hear Brandi, man is like... so THEM.

I think it's funny that your reason for liking this Christmas thing and considering it worth it is the exact same reason as yours. Only I'm wanting YOUR fic so bad I can taste it. I wish I had the energy to figure out how to make the red hearts, because I would give you exactly seven of them, along with Kidney. I'd give you a Kidney.

Not if I give you one first!

WHUT?

S, WHO STOLE MY BRAIN?

I need better icons. I need like... 23094823 icon spaces. Or just 30. LOL

[adrenalin211]

I wish I can haz editing skillz like b4.

I meant to say: I think it's funny that your reason for liking this Christmas thing and considering it worth it is the exact same reason as mine.

What do you think happens to brain cells when they're deprived of sleep? I mean, not the scientific answer, the imaginative, literary answer.

Like maybe they have a playpen and all of a sudden they just...collapse from too much play and they snooze and their snores release brain chemicals that makes even the working brain cells funky.

I am shutting up now. Oh, yes. KFC