Test of Tranquility
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| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Test of Tranquility |
| Author(s): | Charlotte Frost |
| Date(s): | 3/09/04 |
| Length: | 195k, 88pgs |
| Genre(s): | slash |
| Fandom(s): | The Sentinel |
| Relationship(s): | |
| External Links: | online here |
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Test of Tranquility is a Jim/Blair story by Charlotte Frost.
Summary: "Jim and Blair are on the run after Blair helps Jim recover from an ordeal. Post-TSbBS but has little to do with that ep."
Author's Comments
I wanted to hurt Jim, but in a way where Blair was still very much a part of the story. What I liked about writing Jim recovering in the cabin was that it showed his complete trust in Blair -- not protesting being cared for and that sort of thing. It was so refreshing to have him as the hurt one, and Blair quietly caring for him. I also liked the opportunity to inject my belief that Jim’s senses are, ultimately, Jim’s business, and it’s not for Blair to demand when Jim should and shouldn’t use them. I like it that Blair has that realization. I also liked writing about them as two close friends, without Jim’s senses being a factor.I also like how the sex comes about in this, though (like most of my stories) I made it up as I went along and didn’t know it was going to come about with a somewhat “primitive” Jim. What I had in mind from the beginning was simply an impotent Jim wanting to please Blair sexually because “ it makes me feel powerful”. I stopped reading sex scenes a long time ago, including my own. But the first time intercourse scene in this story is one I will read, because it’s so raw and has minimal narration. (Over-narrating is a common problem in my stories.)
I have sometimes seen this novella referred to as a "torture" story. I don't agree with that at all. The details of Jim's torture are only mentioned briefly in dialogue. It's a recovery story, which I find much more appealing than a torture story. For the 20+ years I'd been in fandom, the comfort aspect of h/c was always far more important and desirable to me than the hurt. If there's too much emphasize on hurt, then I'll "skip on down" to the comfort part (which often, in such cases, isn't enough of a balance for the hurt.) [1]
Reactions and Reviews
Jim has been damn near broken by military testing when Blair and Simon find him, but he's a survivor, and he struggles back to find himself and rediscover Sentinel abilities that first vanish and then mutate out of recognition.[2]
I love everything by Charlotte Frost, she writes refreshingly original sex scenes, which are also hot and her characterisations are spot on. I particularly like this story because Jim is the one hurt and Blair the one doing the comforting in it. Has the aforementioned hot sex scenes and is an interesting possible future for the boyz. I don't want to say more, for fear of spoiling the story, but I think you won't be disappointed if you give this a go. And check out her other stories too.[3]