Comment on Blade of the Chimera

  1. TVTime on Chapter 2 Wed 06 Mar 2024 09:43PM UTC

    I saw your Moon response a bit ago! I was already reading this chapter/story though, so I wanted to continue here first, lol :P

    Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed catching up on this story and getting to see the next stage of Nolan's adventures -- and what adventures he had too! From taking on a powerful, heaving beast to vanquishing an alpha! (Yes, the powerful, heaving beast I had in mind was Ryan's cock :P)

    Very exciting start to the chapter with Nolan going after that werewolf! It was interesting to see the changes that have enshrouded the Rhino's Horn since it's time as Beacon Hills!

    The battle with the Alpha was quite exciting! Especially with the stakes raised knowing that it had just killed Helen. It certainly does demonstrate Nolan's level of proficiency as a hunter and the quality of his equipment!

    Hmm, as Nolan pointed out, Charlie and Dirk were a bit less affected by Helen's killing than I might have thought. Which makes it all the more interesting when later in the chapter Nolan is tarrying over whether or not to stick around with the hunter group and ultimately opts to in part because he has that new sense of belonging, camaraderie, and even the beginning of friendship with them. By contrast, I think I might have reached a different decision given how apparently flippant they were about Helen's death. Although of course, I'm sure there's a crucial level of compartmentalization at play, and perhaps they were never especially close with Helen for any number of other reasons, including perhaps a necessary level of authoritative distance.

    Anyway, it was fun seeing Nolan and Brett reunited as well! Am I remembering correctly that at one point you hinted at possible romance/sex between them in this story? I know awhile back you were saying you really liked the idea of them together, but I don't recall if you'd said this story would provide an outlet to that.

    Regardless of course, I know that Nolan's larger pairings in the story are with Gabe and Corey. And of course I reckon that Gabe is the Resistance leader being hinted at in the final scene. Really can't wait to see how things go when their paths eventually cross -- and indeed whether or not one of them is looking down the barrel of a crossbow when that time comes!

    On another note, I really liked how you used Nolan's hook up with Ryan, and his deliberation about whether or not to stay with this group of hunters, as an opportunity to reference Gabe and their past, and generally show that he still thinks of Gabe and considers him a formative part of his past. Really love that foundation laying!

    Nolan's scene with Theo was pretty fun too -- even if it wasn't entirely clear (in the best way possible) whether Theo wanted to fuck Nolan, eat him, or get him under his knife! I'll be curious to see how/if Nolan rebuffs him again in the future.

    The 69-ing scene with Ryan was really hot -- even though IRL, it's not an activity I'm especially into. I think I've mentioned before I'm just not really into either giving or receiving oral, and generally just view it as a bridge/transition from and into other activities I enjoy more. Something to "suffer through" might be overly hyperbolic, since it's still fine and nice enough in terms in sensation -- but just not especially arousing or erotically thrilling for me. BUT I find it more of a turn on to read about actually. I guess because of the general descriptions and attentional focus. Regardless, I'm looking forward to seeing what these two get up to next!

    Really great chapter all around and such exciting plot development!

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    1. Uthizaar on Chapter 2 Thu 07 Mar 2024 06:56PM UTC

      Hey man, it was awesome to read your comment on this, especially when I'm just getting started on the next chapter so I'm in the mind frame to discuss it!

      From taking on a powerful, heaving beast to vanquishing an alpha!

      Haha, yeah, this chapter really sets Nolan up as a strong hunter with good instincts and equipment. What I wanted to convey, and hopefully it comes through, is that he's had quite the journey to get back here, confronting all sorts of dangers and perils, so this hunt isn't a major deal for him. And fighting werewolves is almost second nature at this stage. It probably helps that the first chapter just sort of started without giving Nolan an expansive backstory and now we can see how much he has changed since Beacon Hills, especially because the canon story essentially stops around the mid-point of 6.1 with Garrett Douglas being there, but no Ghost Riders or the hunters plot line from the second half of the season. So, Nolan and Gabe do have gun/crossbow experience and are junior hunters while BBC III is happening, but they never get to evolve into their final forms before the rise of the Chimera Empire.

      It was interesting to see the changes that have enshrouded the Rhino's Horn since it's time as Beacon Hills!

      I'm glad that part landed, I always found describing the Rhino's Horn quite difficult, it never quite lived up to the epic image I have in my mind's eye for the fortress. But its primary function is as a lab for the creation of new chimeras, experimentation to make better chimeras, and a secure prison for particularly valuable supernaturals or human rebels. It's also Theo's personal playground, but I'll get to that a bit later on.

      I think I might have reached a different decision given how apparently flippant they were about Helen's death.

      That's a good take, I think, for our own reality anyway, lol. At this point, pretty much everyone has lost someone, killed a lot of people, or just seen people die, so I think they're desensitized to it. But the more interesting part, I think, is that Nolan's decision demonstrates how much he's been searching for people who get him and he hasn't felt that way since he "lost" Gabe. I also think there's a little bit of confidence building happening with Charlie and Dirk approving of how he took down the Alpha and just generally praising him. My read of canon Nolan was that he didn't have a lot of that growing up and so got really intense around people that he liked, but that tended to weird people out, so he ended up alone most of the time. Here, he's more used to being on his own, but he still craves that acceptance and recognition. Of course, that's what ends up pulling him tighter into the Chimera Empire as they value his skills and abilities. His meeting with Gabe next chapter will really expose that side of his character, especially with them being on opposite ends of rebel/loyalist divide.

      Am I remembering correctly that at one point you hinted at possible romance/sex between them in this story?

      Hmm, I don't recall, actually, lol. But I don't think so, just because I know Brett's character arc in the BBC story very clearly and he has his own mission to accomplish that might be compromised if he and Nolan got close, even just for a hookup. They have some funtimes in the Moonfic, including a super-hot sequence between him, Brett, and Liam :P

      And of course I reckon that Gabe is the Resistance leader being hinted at in the final scene.

      I better dampen expectations just a bit then, lol. There'll be a time jump in the next chapter to move things along and increase Nolan's hunter rank among the chimeras. Plus, I need to ensure everything happens within the broader timeline of BBC IV and later V. But Gabe is a major part of the next chapter, their reunion and all that goes with it. A couple of more months for Nolan to grow and develop as well as be fully immersed in the constant propaganda of the Empire so he really starts drinking the Kool-Aid.

      Gabe is probably Nolan's biggest social and romantic reference point, since he doesn't mention his family or other friends. And there's conflict between those points with them being hunters and having that familiarity, training together, honing their skills is a social and, to Nolan at least, emotional outlet. Gabe is also the one who told Nolan about the supernatural and got him to stay with the other hunters in preparation for their big plan...before Stiles and the chimeras ruined all that. But Gabe also slept with Nolan as part of getting him to stay and I think that kind of warped Nolan's love map and what he expects from sex and relationships. So them reuniting will have a lot of different aspects to it beyond the "Hey, you're alive!" part.

      even if it wasn't entirely clear (in the best way possible) whether Theo wanted to fuck Nolan, eat him, or get him under his knife!

      Haha, yeah, Theo is a definite terror! And totally a mix of fucking and chimerafication going on. It won't have any bearing on this story, but a plot line in early BBC IV is Connor investigating Theo and the Rhino's Horn for malpractice, widespread sexual assault, and Theo building his own cult of personality over that of the Emperor's. And we're about 6-8 months before the start of that story at the point when Nolan meets Theo here, so Theo is fully into the "fuck anyone he wants" style of leadership. I definitely wanted to convey Theo as a creep in this scene though and it sounds like I got that down, lol. A dangerous creep, but someone who'd make your skin crawl! That was pretty fun though, especially since there's only a few character povs in BBC who view him as a thug.

      Anyway, Nolan will be seeing Theo again in the future as he continues his rise through the imperial hierarchy.

      The 69-ing scene with Ryan was really hot

      I'm glad because, like you, oral is kind of meh to me, lol. There will be full fucking with both his Gabe and Corey relationships though, this was more of a signal that Nolan is willing and able to have sex to the readers, haha. Although, when I re-read BBC, I was struck by the fact that smut happens for one of two reasons; either there's a request for it in the reader feedback; happens with Liam and an OMC as well as a OMC twincest and other OMC that I probably would have just referenced off-screen otherwise. The second reason is that the smut serves a deeper plot purpose, like the creation of a new relationship, the repairing of an old one, or the development of a character. There's a whole arc of desire between Stiles and Connor (that is basically one way from Stiles to him) that continues through all of BBC IV and comes to a head in BBC V where Connor finally rebuffs him and Stiles doesn't get what he wants, unstoppable Chimera Emperor be damned! But it was a lot of fun to see that relationship stretch out across the chapters and then finally have a big payoff against a backdrop of Stiles going back to Theo and not being 100% into it. I probably won't do something so elaborate here, but the Corey/Nolan relationship is slow burning and takes a while before they get properly intimate, maybe even in the second or last chapter.

      Anyway, I've rambled on enough, pretty sure you can tell how passionate I am about this storyverse! I aim to reply to your life update comment tomorrow though. Happy almost Friday!

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      1. TVTime on Chapter 2 Sat 30 Mar 2024 11:09PM UTC

        Hey man, it was awesome to read your comment on this, especially when I'm just getting started on the next chapter so I'm in the mind frame to discuss it!

        Glad the timing of my previous comment was so good! It's fun when that happens.

        he's had quite the journey to get back here, confronting all sorts of dangers and perils, so this hunt isn't a major deal for him. And fighting werewolves is almost second nature at this stage. It probably helps that the first chapter just sort of started without giving Nolan an expansive backstory and now we can see how much he has changed since Beacon Hills

        Yeah, that worked really well! And definitely came through! I always personally really like that sort of approach as both a reader and a writer too. It's nice to just jump right in and see the character in action!

        especially because the canon story essentially stops around the mid-point of 6.1 with Garrett Douglas being there, but no Ghost Riders or the hunters plot line from the second half of the season.

        Ahhh, thanks for that clarification! It certainly also makes sense in the context of the next chapter when Nolan and Corey have their first scene together that they didn't have the baggage that would have gone along with the Anuk-ite plot having been canon to this story! It starts them off on much more nuetral footing!

        That's a good take, I think, for our own reality anyway, lol. At this point, pretty much everyone has lost someone, killed a lot of people, or just seen people die, so I think they're desensitized to it. But the more interesting part, I think, is that Nolan's decision demonstrates how much he's been searching for people who get him and he hasn't felt that way since he "lost" Gabe.

        I see what you mean about how Nolan was searching for a, well metaphorical, "pack" that got him and offered that acceptance and inclusion.

        I also think there's a little bit of confidence building happening with Charlie and Dirk approving of how he took down the Alpha and just generally praising him.

        I certainly see what you mean there too, and I was sorry to see in the next chapter that the trio no longer went on missions together as their talents are now better capitalized upon by separating them. Hopefully the boys will get the band back together a time or two as things play on! :D

        My read of canon Nolan was that he didn't have a lot of that growing up and so got really intense around people that he liked, but that tended to weird people out, so he ended up alone most of the time.

        Oh yeah, for sure! That's very much my take on him too!

        I better dampen expectations just a bit then, lol. There'll be a time jump in the next chapter to move things along and increase Nolan's hunter rank among the chimeras....A couple of more months for Nolan to grow and develop as well as be fully immersed in the constant propaganda of the Empire so he really starts drinking the Kool-Aid.

        Ahhh, YES, that certainly worked and came through effectively! As I said though, I think for me what most solidified his role in the chimera empire as his general alignment was the plot events of chapter 2 itself!

        Gabe is probably Nolan's biggest social and romantic reference point, since he doesn't mention his family or other friends. And there's conflict between those points with them being hunters and having that familiarity, training together, honing their skills is a social and, to Nolan at least, emotional outlet.... But Gabe also slept with Nolan as part of getting him to stay and I think that kind of warped Nolan's love map and what he expects from sex and relationships. So them reuniting will have a lot of different aspects to it beyond the "Hey, you're alive!" part.

        I really like how all that ends up playing out! And without wanting to give any spoilers for readers who might see these comments before reading on, I'll just say I'm generally glad that Gabe isn't still Nolan's only/main reference point for romance, sex, and general social connection by the time they meet again. I think it serves Nolan and the plot well that he's developed beyond that by that point.

        in early BBC IV is Connor investigating Theo and the Rhino's Horn for malpractice, widespread sexual assault, and Theo building his own cult of personality over that of the Emperor's. And we're about 6-8 months before the start of that story at the point when Nolan meets Theo here, so Theo is fully into the "fuck anyone he wants" style of leadership.

        Ohhh, what a fun intersection with that story arc in the main series! I really appreciate this scene all the more with that context around it!

        I definitely wanted to convey Theo as a creep in this scene though and it sounds like I got that down, lol. A dangerous creep, but someone who'd make your skin crawl! That was pretty fun though, especially since there's only a few character povs in BBC who view him as a thug.

        Oh yeah, for sure, that really came across! It must have been really fun having Nolan here as a kind of blank slate to react to Theo with a truly fresh POV!

        I'm glad because, like you, oral is kind of meh to me, lol.

        Right?! There are better things! :D

        There will be full fucking with both his Gabe and Corey relationships though, this was more of a signal that Nolan is willing and able to have sex to the readers, haha.

        It is good to know that Nolan is "open for business," so to speak!

        Although, when I re-read BBC, I was struck by the fact that smut happens for one of two reasons; either there's a request for it in the reader feedback; happens with Liam and an OMC as well as a OMC twincest and other OMC that I probably would have just referenced off-screen otherwise. The second reason is that the smut serves a deeper plot purpose, like the creation of a new relationship, the repairing of an old one, or the development of a character.

        I think those are excellent reasons to do a smut scene! Together with a general personal desire to write the scene for the sake of the lusty expression/outlet itself -- personal enjoyment if you will -- I think that really sums up the best reasons to do one!

        There's a whole arc of desire between Stiles and Connor (that is basically one way from Stiles to him) that continues through all of BBC IV and comes to a head in BBC V where Connor finally rebuffs him and Stiles doesn't get what he wants, unstoppable Chimera Emperor be damned! But it was a lot of fun to see that relationship stretch out across the chapters and then finally have a big payoff against a backdrop of Stiles going back to Theo and not being 100% into it.

        That does sound like quite an arc! I'm curious if Theo realized or cared that he was essentially Stiles' back-up plan and second choice in that situation. It reminds me a bit, and contrasts with, what I was going for with Isaac in Iron Claws where neither Ethan nor Stiles -- nor anyone else he connects with sexually -- is ever really a second-choice, make-do type thing because he's meant to be so sexually and emotionally impulsive that he just gives himself over to the person and experience he's having completely without pondering really anything else. There's a scene I'm planning with Isaac and Liam where Liam essentially says, "I'm sure you'd rather be with Ethan or Stiles right now instead of me." And it's just unfathomable to Isaac because he didn't remotely feel that way.

        the Corey/Nolan relationship is slow burning and takes a while before they get properly intimate, maybe even in the second or last chapter.

        That sounds awesome! I definitely got that slow-burn vibe and potential from their first interaction next chapter, and it certainly does look like it'll be in stark contrast to whatever's about to explode between Nolan and Gabe!

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        1. Uthizaar on Chapter 2 Mon 08 Apr 2024 10:33AM UTC

          It's nice to just jump right in and see the character in action!

          I remember hearing an author giving advice about how to structure your novel and just being like "begin at chapter 3" where all the action starts. Don't worry about the setup and backstory you do in Chapters one and two, the audience needs that hook to start reading. And it's something I've tried to develop since then, especially for a story set in a world where there's already so much lore and is radically different from canon. And speaking of...

          Nolan and Corey have their first scene together that they didn't have the baggage that would have gone along with the Anuk-ite plot having been canon to this story

          Yeah, I think it's important to know that Corey and Mason dated each other briefly during BBC II as the chimera pack began to grow and expand, Mason will be making an appearance in this story, but mostly only to illustrate how he ends up back in Beacon Hills in the main events of BBC IV. One thing that was never super clear in canon is whether Nolan and Gabe are in the same grade/classes as Liam, Corey, and Mason, even when they're introduced in season 6. So, I think it's logical that they only ever spoke to each other in passing or perhaps if they played lacrosse together. But no major incidents or events to define their relationship other than that connection to Beacon Hills.

          I think those are excellent reasons to do a smut scene! Together with a general personal desire to write the scene for the sake of the lusty expression/outlet itself -- personal enjoyment if you will -- I think that really sums up the best reasons to do one!

          Yeah, the desire to write a scene or a pairing is probably my main motivation to write smut these days, and when it's part of a more plot driven story, I prefer to focus on how the smut can show different aspects of the character rather than just putting it there because it's almost "expected".

          I'm curious if Theo realized or cared that he was essentially Stiles' back-up plan and second choice in that situation.

          Oh, he definitely does notice and cares about it a lot. They have this really interesting dynamic (Stiles and Theo) where they obviously care about each other deeply, but also always seem to want to fight. Like, their relationship doesn't work if they're not arguing about something; Stiles' plans and secrets, Theo's abuse of power in the Rhino's Horn, Stiles' interest in Connor, as well as Liam. They just need that "excitement" to keep things interesting between them. What sets the Stiles-Connor relationship apart from the others is that Stiles ends up investing a lot of power into Connor; he's a super-enhanced chimera, different capabilities that Stiles can mimic as Alpha Chimera, and he keeps improving Connor after the initial chimeraification process, which is unusual. Add to that Connor's political power expands rapidly throughout the story to the point that if Stiles is incapacitated, it's Connor, not Theo, who is next in line.

          Scott isn't around at this point, although he will return later, so it's pretty clear to Theo that Stiles is trying to get Connor to fill that Scott-shaped hole in his life, just with someone who is more willing to follow and agree with him. And Theo really resents that, he doesn't understand why Stiles wants/needs Connor when Stiles has him already. A really interesting thing happens in BBC V though, where we have almost a mirrored relationship arc between Theo and Connor. Basically Theo flips and admits Connor is hot after seeing him get absolutely drenched in the blood of their enemies (Theo has a big blood kink). Connor, however, despises Theo, thinks he's the worst example of a chimera. So, you have this dynamic where Theo is forever trying to flirt/impress/force Connor to like him, Connor is like "not in a thousand years". Re-discovering that arc was actually one of my highlights in re-reading the series, that and being happy with how it still held up after all this time.

          There's a scene I'm planning with Isaac and Liam where Liam essentially says, "I'm sure you'd rather be with Ethan or Stiles right now instead of me." And it's just unfathomable to Isaac because he didn't remotely feel that way.

          That's really interesting and cool, and definitely matches Isaac's character in Iron Claws! Most of his personal drama seems to directly stem from that 100% mode for all his friends and also lovers. Plus, it's good explanation for why he's with Ethan and Stiles (and that threesome); he just gives all of his feelings, his emotions, his attention to whoever he's with at that time. I know getting back into that world is challenging, but do you have any estimate on an update? I think you left it in a really interesting, but relatively stable place; a lot has happened, we're on the cusp of more getting revealed, but it's a natural break point, at least as I recall.

          I definitely got that slow-burn vibe and potential from their first interaction next chapter, and it certainly does look like it'll be in stark contrast to whatever's about to explode between Nolan and Gabe!

          Explode is the right word, lol. But yep, Nolan will have to wait a while before he and Corey start to get any traction. I think he might have a few casual hookups in between though, I can use those moments to expose more of his characterization while also reflecting the fact he's surrounded by hot guys!

          The next chapter should be out tomorrow or Wednesday, hopefully!

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