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beccastareyesYou all can still ask me for something. This one was short.
Original Fic
Author's commentary
This is a short fic, so I don't know how much I can say about it.
by Becca Stareyes
Done for 'Accursed be he that first invented war' for 31_days @ LJ
As I explained in the author's note for the original, the title comes from the song 'Danny Boy'. Our music instructor told us it was about a mother sending her son off to war, aware that it might be years before she sees him again. The full verse is talking about his return:
Izumi had sworn up a blue fit whens he had learned that Edward Elric was now the military's youngest State Alchemist. She had stormed around the house, having to repair several plates before Seig graciously volunteered to handle the dishes. Instead of dishes, she managed to sweep most of their house, not to mention clean the gutters, and take care of a substantial amount of spring gardening. Everyone but the children of Dublith avoided her as soon as the news had hit the town -- and Izumi would only soften to reassure the visiting children that she wasn't angry, especially not at them.
One of the things that makes me enjoy writing drabbles is how much characterization you can pack into a couple hundred words. And one thing I notice about Izumi is that when she's upset, she hides it with anger. It's not that uncommon in FMA characters -- a lot of them seem to bury sadness in things. They're a dysfunctional lot.
That night, when she joined Seig in bed, she slumped down, lying flat against the mattress, and stared at the ceiling. "He's too young. They're going to chew him up and spit him out, or he'll end up as bad as they are. They both will, since Alphonse will be on him like a shadow. I thought I taught them better than that."
"They're growing up," Seig said, placing his arm on her shoulder.
Izumi and Seig have a subtle relationship. I wish I did more humor about them, given the side stories about how they met. They are both physically and mentally strong characters, and support each other tremendously, but Izumi is more outgoing and Seig is quieter. It's a dynamic I've always been fond of -- look at Lina and Gourry.
"I'm afraid they'll never come back," Izumi said.
He had no answer but an embrace.
Here we see understatement used well. A short scene that sets up the conflict and doesn't present a solution, because what can you do when your sons-in-all-but-name head off to war, besides accept that they are adults and have made their decision?
Still hurts, though.
Original Fic
Author's commentary
This is a short fic, so I don't know how much I can say about it.
When All the Flowers are Dying
by Becca Stareyes
Done for 'Accursed be he that first invented war' for 31_days @ LJ
As I explained in the author's note for the original, the title comes from the song 'Danny Boy'. Our music instructor told us it was about a mother sending her son off to war, aware that it might be years before she sees him again. The full verse is talking about his return:
"But when you come,
when all the flowers are dying,
If I am dead,
as dead I well may be,
You'll come and find,
the place where I am lying,
And kneel and say,
an ave there for me.
I must have listened to the song a half-dozen times while typing. It was one of the few folk songs I had about a mother/son, rather than lovers. I can think of a few others now, of course. The death business -- Izumi's death, not Ed's -- also seems to work well with Izumi's poor health.
Izumi had sworn up a blue fit whens he had learned that Edward Elric was now the military's youngest State Alchemist. She had stormed around the house, having to repair several plates before Seig graciously volunteered to handle the dishes. Instead of dishes, she managed to sweep most of their house, not to mention clean the gutters, and take care of a substantial amount of spring gardening. Everyone but the children of Dublith avoided her as soon as the news had hit the town -- and Izumi would only soften to reassure the visiting children that she wasn't angry, especially not at them.
One of the things that makes me enjoy writing drabbles is how much characterization you can pack into a couple hundred words. And one thing I notice about Izumi is that when she's upset, she hides it with anger. It's not that uncommon in FMA characters -- a lot of them seem to bury sadness in things. They're a dysfunctional lot.
That night, when she joined Seig in bed, she slumped down, lying flat against the mattress, and stared at the ceiling. "He's too young. They're going to chew him up and spit him out, or he'll end up as bad as they are. They both will, since Alphonse will be on him like a shadow. I thought I taught them better than that."
"They're growing up," Seig said, placing his arm on her shoulder.
Izumi and Seig have a subtle relationship. I wish I did more humor about them, given the side stories about how they met. They are both physically and mentally strong characters, and support each other tremendously, but Izumi is more outgoing and Seig is quieter. It's a dynamic I've always been fond of -- look at Lina and Gourry.
"I'm afraid they'll never come back," Izumi said.
He had no answer but an embrace.
Here we see understatement used well. A short scene that sets up the conflict and doesn't present a solution, because what can you do when your sons-in-all-but-name head off to war, besides accept that they are adults and have made their decision?
Still hurts, though.
