Didn't they strike a deal in earlier chapters - wherein Logan would allow the lycan control of his body several days in a month? Or am I remembering wrongly? I thought that's why they allowed Wolverine (and Logan) to live?

Author's Response: That deal ended when Logan chickened out. He felt like he was loosing control completely. Wolverine retaliated attacking Marie, and now our poor Wolvie is quite unwanted person.

Oh, Rogue. She's so unhappy. I think she's finally beginning to see: she can have it all but not everything. Maybe Logan will *always* be closed off to her, will always feel guilty about it when he breaks, because he can't forgive Wolverine himself. Maybe Victor will *always* give his body to her, even control to her, but he'll never quite give himself. She's so unhappy in this chapter, even though she's finally beginning to see all the things she wants. And I fear that there's a lot more heartbreak to come for her. Poor Rogue.

I feel so guilty because - hehe - I feel for Victor next. Because he knew why she came to him. He knows he's second best for her, and tonight, I think maybe in the way he wanted to see her face while she blew him, the way he could see what she wanted, and the way he so easily gave her control, let her see all she did to him - I think he may want to be able to see all that in her, too. But she'll never be quite that open with him, because she's fascinated by him. But she doesn't love him. Poor Victor. Perhaps the hate hasn't begun yet, but I think it will.

I can't quite pinpoint why I feel less sorry for Logan. Maybe it's because I expect more from him as the potential boyfriend role instead of the potential fuck. Maybe it's because he's doing most of the holding-up-the-story as far as I can see. But when he says things like, "You want a man who comes to you after fight groupies?" I just want to smack him. Low. And unfair. And I get so tired when his own fear makes him ask things like, "Does he make you happy?" - because that's low and unfair in a different way. And it tears Rogue apart.

So maybe - poor Logan. Maybe that *is* his tragedy. That he makes his tragedy for himself. *pets him* :(

Great stuff, guys. Keep it coming.

Oh, man. Am humbled. No longer enjoying the doom. You guys! Meanies. Poor Rogue and Logan and poor, poor Victor.

I didn't want it to happen. Was peeking through my fingers the entire time, because I was expecting something like Logan's leaving at the end here. And I knew how very badly that would go. I don't know that Rogue thought it was fixed, but she thought it was fixable. But Logan - he's lacking in a bit of hope, actually, and that makes him act in these ways.

I wonder what their misunderstanding at the end of this chapter says about their relationship. Logan needs to leave. Rogue needs to be able to tell him how much it means before he does. Do they not know each other well enough - because there's a huge difference between friendship (one based more on connection than real confidences) and a romantic relationship? Is it that they don't trust each other enough, or trust themselves? Are they simply in too much pain to register the pain in the other?

Because I'm seeing real doom-y doom now. Because Logan deals with things by going into deep denial and suffering. And Rogue prods and pokes and provokes and puts herself out there until she can't bear it anymore, and she lashes out and seeks comfort elsewhere. That line: "Fine ... how about I make it real easy for you, Logan," she said...ouch. Poor Logan, even if he deserves it. And don't think I've forgotten that a very crushed and wounded (and angry) Victor is still at the mansion.

*sighs* Oh, dear. Is this a greek tragedy by any chance? *lol* *pets them all*

Author's Response: And the sad part is, it is just like Logan to leave to figure things out. It\'s not that he doesn\'t want it, he\'s got to come to terms with it. Rogue only sees the man she wants, the man she slept with, leaving her. Of course that\'s all she\'d see b/c it\'s happening to her. But maybe, after a little time apart, a little reflection for both of them, and a hurt third party that only knows how to give it to people b/t the eyes - they may gain a little insight. Perhaps?

Oh! Hahahaha!! This was too hilarious!!! Just what I needed after all those other very angst-y depressing fics. I love his growl-y voice, but my favorite bit was the judgmental, little, 'oh, yes?' pauses on the part of the interviewer. Hehehe. Or the way she raced onwards to answer when he began to look vaguely threatening. Clever girl.

I like the ending, as well. I can't imagine how else you'd an interview like this, and I like the way you built up to it by having Wolverine freudian-slip his way into confessing his feelings for Rogue throughout the interview.

He's a little pervert, too. Oh, goodie! *licks lips*

If you ever get stuck, please write one again! I can't wait for the fic you're writing, though. Sorry it's giving you trouble.

Author's Response: Hee hee - the freudian slip bit was so much fun to write. I\'m secretly quite proud of that bit *g*. Heh. Or maybe not so secretly now I\'ve just said that! And a little pervert?? Would he be anything else? *g*. I can\'t see him as the straight laced church going type somehow... I\'m glad you enjoyed this. And re my other fic - we\'re getting on ok at the moment - it\'s a kinda off and on, love/hate relationship *g*. One day I\'ll conquer it. One day...

I wish I had your way of writing pithily. 'ears bleed', the repetition of 'screams' makes it very strong.

But it's the 'If he's ever gone too far/ No one's ever told him' - that sounds so lonely. He's not trusting others, and even more, he doesn't trust himself. The 'possibility' that he has and will, almost like there's the wish in him that he hadn't, that he won't, that he hadn't that potential in him, but he knows himself too well.

But the real shocker is the end - killer ending lines. The detached writer is as twisted as Logan is. Maybe that's the greatest tragedy of all.

I don't even usually like poetry. *lol*

Author's Response: i don\'t usually like poetry either. thanks for the compliment. what\'s pithily mean? never mind... i\'ll look it up;)

I think you've got a really interesting dark Rogue in your fics. She's often starkly, darkly passionate, aggressive, domineering, surprisingly easily hurt, and willing to hurt herself and others, but it seems to be a way to offset pain, to feel and touch. That seems to be a theme for her. And sometimes I'm really in the mood to wallow and feel lust and anger and dirtiness like this. *g* Just perfect.

You also have a nice eye for detail, a ripping writing style, and a surprising sense of humor sometimes thrown in - Logan breaking the furniture. *lol*

Author's Response: Can\'t really help it love the darkened Rogue, the aggressive, passionate extremely pissed off at the world Rogue, usually because she\'s so very hurt most of the time. But I love the naughty Rogue as well, the humorous, mischievous girl who can make a guy scream! Thanks for the review, LOL :)

Hmm...you may be right about people growing more like each other after so long. Or they get more stuck in their complimentary contrasts.

I guess what I mean is that I usually read your Rogue differently. In earlier fics like Cravings or Ride or Angel, even 'No fucking place to hide' or the first part of Warrior, I saw her as his opposite - soft, patient, warm, giving, talkative, sassy, able to articulate feelings, marked, touchable, content to wait rather than act. Where they met was passion. She loved; he needed. I saw her more as a less obnoxious Cindy. Maybe that was all youth. In Warrior, we certainly saw her change over time (although I attributed that to necessity, need, and trauma).

Did your view of Rogue change, did time and age change her, or was I wrong all this time?


(And sorry to ramble AGAIN some more. *lol* I'm curious.)

Author's Response: Don\'t really mind, ramble all you like. Most of your ramblings give me new ideas. Has my view of Rogue changed? I don\'t know. I don\'t think I even have any particular view of her. Logan\'s persona feels more like mine, so it\'s easier to \"step in\" to his boots. With Marie it\'s more like I\'m writing about a friend of mine, someone I know, but not close enough to form one, solid picture of her. This fic is my first serious attempt to build her a persona of her own instead of keeping her as Logan\'s shadow and a plot-device.

Still a favorite of mine, Bex. And what's more I admire so much how you create intensity and emotion with so little, the bare mention of words.

And I especially love that you give us characters that aren't perfect, who sometimes make mistakes, who hurt themselves and others and take chances. But you manage to make us root for them anyway. ;) well done.

Author's Response: Wow! *blushes* Thanks for such positive feedback.

There it was again, that need to show at least one of them was unbreakable, that one X-man was invincible, it was so important, everyone in the mansion looked up to Logan, he was their hero in waiting.

Yes, sometimes healing others is much more about ourselves than the person who needs saving. I think it's interesting that, in your fics, different characters see the same action and ascribe different motives and values to it. It makes each character unique, even if I don't yet feel I really know Scott here yet.

The same thing happens with Marie sucking in Logan's power. She had thought she was helping him. She had thought she was giving him a break from Wolverine, and that the Wolverine from her nightmares was really substituting Logan for her. But what if his target, all this time, has been her. He never wanted her to touch him in the first place. Maybe saying 'James' to him was the only way she could reach them both in a happier time before they had these secrets and darkness between them.

And whether Logan is telling the truth about it 'going both ways' or not, it's not just the taking that they both have to accept - but the accepting.

Love the symbolism.

Author's Response: Yep, you got it exactly right, its \'bout the both of them putting asid etheir pride and fear long enough to realise a walk in each others mind is just what they need. Thing is they both have so little of a past left, so little of good memories left that you can almost understand why they\'d guard that part of them so jealously. If it\'s not having them stripped from forcefully, its being asked to give it away willingly. LOL, thanks for a legnthy and insightful review as ever! :)