FMA: Circumstances: Sustained

[branchandroot]

Fic post from my archive.

Sustained

When it comes down to action everyone has to find a way to handle the stress. Plot With Porn, I-4.

• Associated fanart: Roy with Violin by Hikariblue

"If you die doing this, the way you think you're going to," Ed growled, lifting Roy's chin until they were eye to eye, "I swear I'll bind your soul to your damn desk, and you'll spend the rest of eternity buried in paperwork."

Comments

[selskia.livejournal.com]

*swoon*
As usual, Raven, you write some of the best drama and pr0n in the world. Great job! And very nice writing!
Hehehe...Love this line though:
"If you die doing this, the way you think you're going to," Ed growled, lifting Roy's chin until they were eye to eye, "I swear I'll bind your soul to your damn desk, and you'll spend the rest of eternity buried in paperwork."
Sounds like something Ed would say! N'ways, great job on the fic!

[scimitarsmile.livejournal.com]

One typo I can recall - I think there was a second one, but now I can't remember (all the words from today, pounding in my head):

"So that's where these came from," he said softly, brushing his thumb across the calluses on Roy's fingertips. Roy only lifted one shoulder, sketching a shrug.

I get the point of what Roy's doing, but this part, it felt like you started to head in one direction, and then dropped it too quickly:

"Sometimes problems solve each other," Roy murmured in such a detached voice that ice threaded down Ed's spine. He couldn't possibly mean...

It seriously felt like, for a moment there, you were willing to let Roy's detachment determine that he would summarily end his (intimate) relationship with Edward rather than risk his own plans. Okay, that's very IC for Roy. Despite the running joke about him being a lady's man in the anime (not so much in the manga), he doesn't seem like someone who would do more than dally, for the most part, and even then would never let the person in. I can see him easily and willingly setting aside his emotional involvement if it stood in the way of his plans.

What that would mean to Edward, though, is the part that feels like it just got cut off, too abruptly. Instead, you switched too fast. Either Edward doesn't jump to that conclusion, but instead determines that Roy's saying he'll be okay (even without Ed around) - in which case, Hawkeye's reassurance holds merit... or, Edward still hears that message, and Hawkeye's reassurance is moot. So she'll keep Roy safe; if Roy's willing to end the relationship to fulfill his plans (if the only option is an annoyed and protective Edward), I would expect Edward to acknowledge but not be reassured. Her assurance doesn't address the underlying issue, after all.

So it comes across less like a mislead, and more like you pulled us too far away from Edward's head, and followed with a bait-and-switch. I don't think a mislead works here. Instead, I'd suggest giving Edward a few sentences - before Hawkeye's move - to separate at least the beginnings of the tangle. 'I'm mad because he's going off, and I can't do a damn thing about it to help or protect,' and 'I'm mad because I think he's willing to ditch what we have if he thinks I'm going to get in his way, that bastard.'

If you at least imply the issues - envy of Hawkeye, for being the one Roy chose (even if it's recognized later as an irrational envy), anger, betrayal, etc - then you can retrace them as Edward stalks the city towards Roy's house. In some ways, it's just that you jump too quickly from the original situation, and don't investigate thoroughly how Ed feels about something that's truly a difficult question. Just suggesting you take the time to explore, is all - at least, that's the part that really left me wanting, as I read. Then there's more of an emotional segue into Ed's willingness to turn the tables, as it were.

"A desk," he reminded Roy without opening his eyes. "For the rest of eternity."

Gotta say: love that line! ;D

Woooo, now revise, polish, wave a rubber chicken over it, whatever, so I can post on the archives! *does the happy dance*

[anruik]

*loves on you* You do have such a way with drama and smut that I enjoy dearly. ^^ But my fav? Besides the Ed/Roy, it has to be the mental image of Roy being stuck in a desk for the rest of his life. The piles of paperwork stacked heavily on him, the stacks of various office stuff inside him, and then there'd be the random I-need-to-fuck-you-now-oh-look-here's-a-desk people. *grins*

[hikariblue.livejournal.com]

http://www.livejournal.com/users/rxn_formation/8547.html

[krichira.livejournal.com]

You demanded feedback. ^_^ Happy to oblige.
I've read through all the other comments...and I thought I caught Roy's intent quite clearly... The words, "Sometimes problems solve each other," after Ed's angry, confused, fearful,
"You think I want to be?" about getting involved... When I was reading that, all I was doing was clutching the keyboard and going, 'ohmygod, Roy is going to let himself get offed during the assassination?!!'
That was what he meant when he said that right? I was wondering if I misread the situation at first, although that might be denial at the deadRoy idea. Then it became clearer and more obvious a few sentences after, especially with Ed's reactions and thoughts. I read it as Roy thinking that Ed would be safe, no longer connected to the entire assassination, and wouldn't actually have to face his lover-turned-murderer (with disgust, in Roy's opinion) if Roy himself died during it.

Though I was wondering if Roy would actually think like that because if he dies during the assassination, and some other horrible person took over Bradley, then all his hard work would be utterly wasted. Hm...maybe he wasn't thinking very much by then...

And now, not to neglect the physical part of the story; sex! Wheee! Amazingly yummy and droolworthy and Ed on top!! Roy in all his relaxed, trusting state! Gawd!
I love the 'turning into desk' threat. LOL! Buried in paperwork! What an appropriate thing for Ed to say to Roy! ^_^
Love the waking up the next day scene too!

Your last author's comments with Ed? About the arc started with humor but ended up here? LOL! It's so true! It's so Ed! Your fic was Edified! *laughs*

[bluedelirium.livejournal.com]

Yay for fic! Although, really, I'm hanging myself. Distracting. I liked- plot and porn, and I'm used to liking your character interactions but it takes really good writing to make me actually read lemons, so. Nice. Liked the ending scene a lot as well.

Vague thoughts. Ed is always very mature in your fics. I don't follow his thought trains exactly, between the "I'm mad at Roy for a host of conflicting reasons" to the sex. Reassuring Roy of something? I'm sorry, I'm feeling kind of dense tonight....

You are planning on filling us in on what exactly happened between Roy and Bradley, right? Not doing so would be sort of evil.

[naanima.livejournal.com]

Damn woman, that was hot, and so perfect. For something that began as a random humour/sex series you've made it into plot, and more plot, and so much character exploration.

The dynamics between Roy and Ed is perfect. Roy is distant when things begins to get serious, and you can just see him being the type to send away the ones he truly love from harm's path. Overprotection much. But then, it his way of dealing. However, Ed's temper will see through all, and when you add him truly caring/loving Roy, well the Flame Alchemist really never had a chance.

Adores Ed's oath about binding Roy's soul to the desk. It's something that Ed would o. Threats, and true love. You've ot adore the boy.

Something I probably didn't mention earlier but should've is that I love the fact you don't put the two of them in a strict seme/uke role. What you depict of their sexual relationship is more real. Sure, everyone have a preference for their sexual position but like eveything there are variation. Somedays you just wanna fuck, and others days you just want to be fucked.

And after much gushing, some more gushing. I love you and worship the ground you walk on.

[sinises.livejournal.com]

uke turned seme XDXD!! oh god....i thought this would never happen~ i wuv the desk humor :D~ again, i bow down at the presence of your great fic :3