FIC: Sum of the Parts (Lie to Me)

[starfirefic]

Title: Sum of the Parts
Author: Starfirefic
Characters: Cal, Sophie, Zoe (albeit only in Cal's memories)
Rating: NC-17 for general nastiness and ugliness, language, semi-graphic violence (both consensual and non), and consensual humiliation-play.
Betas: ladym, atatteredrose
Wordcount: Approx 4,000
Spoilers: 2.01 (trust me, like 'A Rock and a Hard Place', it won't make any

Comments

[topaz_eyes]

Hi again. :-)

This--is like a sucker punch. And I mean it in a *good* way. After watching the last ep I think it dovetails nicely with what we know about Cal. (Dunno if you've seen the ep yet. Don't want to spoil you if you haven't.) How you show Cal's regret and revulsion with himself is wonderful--it's definitely needed after seeing how far the Bastard in him will go.

I'm still a little shaken, TBH, so I think your fic is a success. Well done.

[starfirefic]

Hi, and thank you so much for commenting on this one as well. I haven't seen the latest ep yet - I just watched Lack of Candor last night, and I have Black Friday cued up and waiting, but I don't have anything after it yet.

My feeling is that 2.01 was Shawn Ryan saying "hey, guys, everything you thought you knew about Cal? Feel free to adjust your expectations from here on in", and then subsequent eps have been exploring different bits and pieces of Cal's past and the lengths he's willing to go to to get things done.

One of the things I'm ambivalent about in myself is that I really like that darker edge in "good guy" characters, so part of my ambivalence always comes through in the way the fic characters whose viewpoints I write from see themselves.

You've definitely got me curious about the latest ep though... I'm looking forward to getting to watch it when I can!

Thanks for commenting again - I really do appreciate it!

[debxena]

Oh, you're right - that was nasty! It was also hot. And real. And hot.

it feels right, it feels so goddamned perfect. And it's bullshit that he doesn't want this. Bullshit that he doesn't need it. And that's the realisation that hits him like a spiked uppercut to his kidneys.
- Gorgeous. Realising that it's not a 'suit', or a personality, but part of him.

[dimac99]

Yeah, that would be *very* dark, but oh-so well written. I have to say, I don't think I'd find Cal half as interesting *or* half as attractive if it wasn't for the darker parts of his past and personality. (Although I think the property flips thing with Terry in Gevious Bodily Harm was a retcon too far. When's he got time for three year jungle trips in that universe?)

I like the fact that he's prepared to be a bastard whenever he sees it as necessary, in fact, I think he sees himself as duty-bound, at times. Doesn't mean he has to like it or respect any part of himself that does.

[starfirefic]

Thank you so much for the feedback, and apologies that I haven't logged in recently to reply to your comments

Yes, absolutely - that simmering-below-the-surface darkness has always been part of my attraction to the character, even back in s1. In s2 though, with the way Shawn Ryan has been shining a spotlight on those aspects of Cal? Heh... it's twisted-little-Starfire-heaven, that's what it is ;-)!

[photoash]

I was left wondering at the end of this episode too. I like how you answered the question about what could have been going on in Cal's head -- I especially like how you worked the idea of kink from his relationship with Zoe -- that's not something I had considered!

Powerful writing - thanks for sharing :)

[starfirefic]

Thank you for the feedback - it's very much appreciated.

The Cal we see in this episode was quite a shock to come to cold after s1 (not a bad shock, I hasten to add, but it was a bit of a surprise!), so I really did want to get inside Cal's mind and work out what could have been going through it that would account for what we see on screen.

And since I *am* a twisted little bunny, this was - eventually - what I came up with ;-) I'm really glad you enjoyed reading - thanks again for commenting

Sum of the Parts by starfirefic (NC-17)

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User topaz_eyes referenced to your post from Sum of the Parts by starfirefic (NC-17) saying: [...] r layer of understanding to Cal's psyche. Please heed the warnings on the fic. Sum of the Parts [...]