Substitute

[maraudermods]

Title: Substitute
Author: starstruck1986
Artists: stubbel and tortugax
Pairing(s): Remus/Severus, secondary Remus/Sirius, James/Lily, imagined Lily/Severus.
Rating and Warnings: NC-17, coarse language, slash, angst, mentions of torture, minor character death, a slightly dark!Severus.
Summary: Two men lost in memories they cannot fight find the perfect substitute in each other,

Comments

[remuslives23]

I've always been intrigued by the parallels in Remus and Severus' lives, and this showcased them beautifully. Two broken and grieving men coming together. I really enjoyed the present/past switching and the alternating POV. The scene where Severus kicked Remus out and Remus heard the sob... *sniffle* Well done!

The art was also lovely! I really loved the use of colour. :)

[starstruck1986]

Thank you! Sorry to be so long in replying, have just come back from holiday.

Like you I've always been interested by the parallels in Remus and Severus' lives and in my mind they logically soothe the aches together, even if they cause more -which is what this fic was.

Very glad you enjoyed, and to be honest more than a little bit chuffed to have a comment from you on this! xx

[brighty18]

This is truly outstanding on all levels. You managed to capture what is often portrayed as a rather clichéd love triangle with masterful subtlety. All your characters: Remus, Severus, Lily, Sirius (and all) were real and warm and sympathetic and I found myself a little in love with all of them. And, as a Sirius-fan girl, I have to let you know that the Snape-love you’re making me feel is a HUGE compliment.

This passage killed me: It had been fine when, he realised, he and Remus stood on equal footing. They had both lost, and had come together to eliminate the tension, drink together and in a few embarrassing memories which stiffened his cock and made him shudder, they had made love. Those slow, soul torching times when they melted together so closely that it was impossible to tell where Severus Snape ended and Remus Lupin began, because they were a single unit, haunted him. If he tried hard enough he could still drum up the scent of the man's chocolate-grey hair. It had been nothing when they were at school, almost mousey and

[starstruck1986]

*blush* Thank you.

And the ending, depressing as it was, was perfectly fitting for the story.

I'm really glad of this. People have said to me before that I'm not afraid of taking a story where it needs to go, as opposed as to where the readers might want it to, and I try to stick by that -so I'm pleased to see this had the same effect.

Thanks for your comments -they're making me glow!

[ladyannikaa]

Snape/Lupin is something I never read, but I was glad I read yours anyway. It was brilliantly done. The pain was almost tangible. Great job!

[starstruck1986]

Everybody needs more Snupin! *grins*

Thank you very much, and thank you for reading! ♥

[acanismajoris]

I really loved this piece, especially the first part with the switching back and forth as they reminisce on their own, even while together. The structure of that section worked incredibly well. I've read very little Snape/Lupin (though I probably ought to read more, lol) This was so wonderful! The emotions of both of them, the needs they have and just the development their characters go through.

I loved the art work too. I like way the window is so bright and overbearing, and the way the floor breaks away underneath them. Very striking :-)

[starstruck1986]

Definitely, you need to read more Snupin. It's my 'warm slippers and tea' ship, the sort that you dip into when you need something particular from a fic and you get it because their characters just gel together so brilliantly, even if it is depressing.

Thank you for reading! xx

[wwmrsweasleydo]

This is very powerful writing. It all fits perfectly with canon. It feels very believable that these two would seek some hollow solace with one another - and that they would be unable to acknowledge that it was anything more.

The sex was well-written and not gratuitous smut, but absolutely integral to the plot and characterisation which is rare and very difficult to do.

I love the structure - the playing with chronology in increasingly complex ways. I love the way it is rooted in real history. I remember the summer of '76. Just like that.

The artwork is arresting, too. The bold colours and shapes mirror something of the smallness of the characters within events. Also, it feeds my book fetish!

I'm afraid I don't have the technical ability to experience the fanmix, so I'm not able to comment on that.

I love the atmosphere most of all I think. That is what will stay with me.

Lovely work. Thanks.

[starstruck1986]

Thank you *blush*

I berated my friend for 70s titbits and such and really enjoyed making it authentic. (Being a History graduate, that's important to me, lol!)

[wwmrsweasleydo]

I am really glad that you did. Not many people bother with historical accuracy in Marauder fics. I think that annoys me more than the Americanisms. The occasional use of a mobile phone or something like that leaves me open-mouthed, but it's more usually slang. Nobody said "That sucks" when I was a kid. Things like that just blow the reality for me. Your story brings that fagbutt-and-dogshit aroma of the '70s back to me. (Maybe I was just nearer to the ground then, but that's how it smelled to me).

My 7th birthday party was in June 1976 and it was fancy dress. Three of the girls came as 'beauty queens' so they could wear just a swimsuit and sash and not swelter as badly as the rest of us. I remember the shots of dried up reservoirs every night on the news.

[starstruck1986]

I'm really glad your appreciated it, because that makes it all worth it.