That "love at first sight" tag was actually for what happened with me and this fic. WOW. The summary drew me in immediately, and the writing is GORGEOUS. Some people tell a story, but this is written MAGIC. The scenes are painted so vividly, and you get such a sense of being inside the world and experiencing it yourself. There is just such a natural ease to the characters personalities. The chemistry between everyone is so organic and real and BEAUTIFUL that while I was reading, I really didn't exist anymore, it was just Thorin and belladonna and bungo and Bilbo.
The pacing is also something I am having giant heart-eyes about bc there is a perfect amount of introduction and build up, but none of it feels like "oh this is what I need to know before I can enjoy the story". It is very much a part of it and it fills me with the satisfaction of being in the MIDDLE of a great story while fulfilling the need to understand who these characters are in this fic and why.
The sex scene do not get me STARTED. do NOT. okay well you did already ig so here we go. THANK. YOU. The most satisfying, beautiful, and impactful sex scenes are ones where the characters don't suddenly lose themselves (as characters) in favor of being horny. They feel like REAL PEOPLE. Talking during sex and being real with each other like this makes it so much more intimate. I've read some filthy filthy sex scenes that, despite being more focused on the sexual nitty gritty details, weren't as intimate as this. It doesn't feel like an act that just so happens to take place bc they are horny, but an actual part of their relationships and expressions of themselves as people. It's perfect. I'm usually more of a slow burn guy myself partly for the reason that I don't want sex to feel casual and without meaning (personal preference no shame to those who do enjoy that), and I don't think I've EVER read something that was both somehow love at first sight AND the most intimate and loving and REAL sex I've read in a very long time. You were able to put the characters own feelings of "it's like I've known you for years" into the readers'. It feels like I've read 10 chapters, not 2. My own writing and reading preference for sex scenes is very much the same as yours and I'm just extraordinarily happy to see it.
Man, I usually put a fic in what I call my "reading queue", and get to a story after I've read the others that were "first in line". But. Love at first sight for ME, I'm telling you. 'm enamored. And I cannot wait to see what you're cooking.
Congrats on the Masterpiece. I'll never be the same again.
I know I already thanked your for your comment, but truly, thank you. It really lit a fire under me and I don't know if it'd have come so quickly if it weren't for your comment. I've always loved writing, but this is the first time the words simply flowed from me the way they did, and I honestly loved it. I like what I write, but never have I re-read what I've written with such enthusiasm. Like 'dayum boy, did I really write this? Good job me, high five!" Ya' know?
I hate summary writing, hate it so much. I cannot summarize things in a way that satisfies me to save my life. I literally typed it up, hated it, but figured it sums it up well enough to do the trick...so knowing it drew you in immediately is a huge relief! Yay!
Pacing is also my worst enemy! I'm always asking my beta for my main fic how to get from scene A to scene B, and she just tells me "just...skip the in between if you don't want to write it!" but it pains me to not explain what happens in between. I'm always so concerned someone is going to want to know what happened in between (at best) or leave a rude comment about missing information (at worst)...Like...my main fic (Chosen Horizons) has 4 chapters of prologue...I have a problem. So I'm near tears of joy to know that the pacing is good. Thank you <3
As for the sex, don't get me wrong, I can definitely enjoy a good, filthy scene that's just pure carnality...But like I wrote in the notes, I love more realistic sex? For some au's, scenes, characters/pairings, maybe losing themselves to horniness works better...but for Bagginshield? Especially in this au? It needs to be intimate. Now, don't get me wrong, I've read some goldsick-Thorin works where it is absolutely feral sex...but when Thorin is in his right mind, I can't help but write him as constantly communicating (sometimes even to a fault for Bilbo) and being gentle until he's completely convinced that his hobbit can handle him.
And I agree, no shame for anyone who enjoys casual sex, good for them! But both reading, writing, and in life, I need sex to have meaning for it to feel right. Even if it is a one time thing, I need to read what brought those two (or more, who knows) people together for it to be a good scene to read. I fully believe that lust at first sight can be meaningful (irl and in stories) but as a reader I want to know why. I could rant about this topic for hours. I'm just glad that what I wanted to get across (that Bilbo and Thorin aren't just jumping into it...that there is something there, and even if it is sudden, they truly feel like they've known each other for years) came across that way for at least one reader, so thank you <3
I'm honored, truly, to know you let my fic jump the line. I'm completely chuffed.
Comment on Finding My Way Back To You
Belalubroski on Chapter 2 Thu 26 Dec 2024 06:31AM UTC
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Wolfsbane_and_Nettles on Chapter 2 Thu 09 Jan 2025 07:07PM UTC
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