Talk:Our Sole Defense Against the Season

Yuletide Comments

The following are the comments that were made to the original Yuletide post (2005-2008):

From: wildestranger Date: 09/04/2008 Utterly gorgeous. Their relationship is so very intriguing in the book, and you've fleshed out what little details we have and produced a deliciously subtle story. Alec's voice here is wonderful, and the style greatly reminiscent of Renault's.

From: Purna Date: 01/27/2007 Oh, this was fantastic. The Charioteer is an old favorite, and this captured the Renault feel perfectly.

From: mysid Date: 03/03/2006 I'm so glad I found this. I've always wanted to read a Ralph/Alec fic, but surprisingly, this is the first I've found. Usually I'd just write whatever it was that I wanted to read, but somehow I knew that I couldn't do this pairing justice.

You struck the perfect balance. You show what is "right" about this pair while still managing to show that they aren't perfect together. It'll be good while it lasts, but it won't last.

I especially liked the little details which show that "both of them were used to taking the lead": each trying to have the last word on whether or not they would go out, being awkward together in bed (although neither is inexperienced), the "you don't have to" before oral sex.

"Used to taking the lead" is a wonderful euphamism for the pseudo-gender roles that homosexual pairings tended to take during the period. Alec's obviously the "dominant" one in his relationship with Sandy, so I always wondered how that played out when Alec was with take-charge Ralph. Now I know.

From: Isis Date: 01/02/2006 Oh, lovely! The style is very true to the book, I think.

From: my_cnnr Date: 01/01/2006 rereading this for the nth time since cyberducks pointed it out, and like it more each time...Ralph/Alec has always been my favorite dynamic in TC, but mostly ignored in the fandom, so it was a wonderful surprise to find this here... the almost clinical but loving perception of Ralph through Alec's eyes was lovely and bittersweet..." a deep fondness that he was beginning to trust would be permanent, whatever else came of this" - just what I've always believed, too...thanks for sharing

From: True River Date: 12/31/2005 This is a wonderful fic, I really enjoyed reading it. You captured Alec so well, and of course, Ralph was wonderfully Ralph throughout! Thank you for sharing it, what a lovely Christmas surprise!

From: Yonmei Date: 12/27/2005 Oh God, this is just too good. Full of intelligent points of characterisation: I can see Alec and Ralph in this short story. I love The Charioteer, and this is an excellent piece of fanfic for it.

From: Jain Date: 12/25/2005 I'd never been particularly interested in Alec, but this story has gone a long way towards changing that. Such a poignant and lovely view of his relationship with Ralph. Beautiful writing, too; both Renault-esque and yet more direct about emotions and sex than she tends to be.

From: elynross Date: 12/25/2005 This is just charming -- tender and sweet, but appropriately poignant. When Alec says to himself at the end that "this can't last," meaning the moment, within the overall context it means more, but there's that other bit, of the deep affection that will last, and. Yeah. Really lovely. And the style is well-done, softly realistic, if that makes sense, with the awkwardness and very "real" human moments.

From: mercuriosity Date: 12/25/2005 Oh, I loved this! I've always been rather fond of Alec, and I love the dynamic he and Ralph have. The voices and tone in this story are spot-on. Not to mention the hotness. *g* Thank you for writing this!

From: wychwood Date: 12/25/2005 Oh, this is lovely. Your Alec feels spot-on, and I like the slightly different perspective on Ralph. The relationship between them is interesting and believeable, too. And I love your language; it feels very right for Renault.

From: Argyle Date: 12/25/2005 Oh! I can say without hesitation that I've wanted Ralph/Alec fic for years, and this is just divine. All the careful details of Alec and Ralph's early time together, the progression of their relationship, the telling not-quite-banter and sex, and most especially the spot on Alec POV -- wow! I'm really floored, and feel so thrilled that you've written it.

I loved this:

Ralph always seemed to take up a tremendous amount of space, no matter how he tried to tread lightly.

...as well as this:

He wished he were still young enough to write poetry and believe it any good.

Lovely :)

Thank you, Santa! I wish you a very happy holiday, and I promise to leave more coherent feedback soon.

From: cyberducks Date: 12/25/2005 That was very, very beautiful, and felt so true and right of the intimate relationship between Ralph/Alec, while they had a sexual relationship. Both Alec and Ralph are spot on - one of Alec's characteristics is his intuitiveness, he can sense that this is not headed towards permanence, other than the "permanent fondness" he will always have for Ralph. And it's a gift to read a story where Ralph is so totally Ralph.

Thank you for sharing this!

From: Shezan Date: 12/25/2005 How utterly lovely, and how well you capture Ralph's inherent restlessness and cabin-fever! Ralph finally coming undone is SO hot, and the "transitory peace" so close to the mark! You have the dynamic down pat; Alec's "deep fondness" that will, indeed, be permanent. This is wonderfully true to the book, and very elegant. Have of course rec'd this at once at http://www.livejournal.com/community/maryrenault !

From: Shezan Date: 12/25/2005 How utterly lovely, and how well you capture Ralph's inherent restlessness and cabin-fever! Ralph finally coming undone is SO hot, and the "transitory peace" so close to the mark! You have the dynamic down pat; Alec's "deep fondness" that will, indeed, be permanent. This is wonderfully true to the book, and very elegant. have of course rec'd this at once at http://www.livejournal.com/community/maryrenault !

From: Shezan Date: 12/25/2005 How utterly lovely, and how well you capture Ralph's inherent restlessness and cabin-fever! Ralph finally coming undone is SO hot, and the "transitory peace" so close to the mark! You have the dynamic down pat; Alec's "deep fondness" that will, indeed, be permanent. This is wonderfully true to the book, and very elegant. have of course rec'd this at once at http://www.livejournal.com/community/maryrenault !