Fic: My Unintended and a most wonderful-est present for me (much too belated rec)!!

[my_thestral]

Heeey, it's that day of the ron_draco_fest again - the last one, sadly - buuuuut, it brings the reveals and I'm ready to embrace the one that's mine. This year I came up with a biblically-long story called My Unintended, which was terribly ill-fated in its writing process - I think I had to put the writing process on pause at least twice because the two farts of my sons diabolically decided not to get ill in the same week. In the end I was actually happy that it was finished (though only because of the wonderful mod's extension) even though the ending is a bit rushed. Oh, and it has two 1st person POWs, so if that's not your cookie, then I guess it's not your lucky day to read an overly-lengthy story. :)

Once again, my super-human beta bleedingangel84 did a totally stellar job out of it (I shiver to imagine what would you be submitted to stomach without her priceless input!) and it ended up as a belated b-day present to the fandom's one and only capitu - HAPPY BELATED B-DAY AGAIN (oh, my, at this point I'd be better off congratulating you early for your next b-day, LOL!)
Anyway - I've enjoyed writing it and I nicked the title (but no rights or money) from the Muse's song "Unintended" - it's not my favourite song of theirs but the title fit with what I had in mind. So without much delay - here it is (BUT DON'T YOU DARE RUN AWAY, I'VE GOT A WONDERFUL REC FOR YOU AFTERWARDS!!)

Title: My Unintended (this one goes to AO3 where the story is, but on LJ it was posted on this link)
Word count: 34.256
Pairing(s): Ron Weasley/Draco Malfoy, Ron Weasley/Harry Potter (unrequitted), Ron Weasley/Hermione Granger (non-explicit)
Rating: NC-17, yup, no doubt this time, bring it on! ;)
Disclaimer: Not my characters, not my title, and - what money? Or rights, for that matter? But I did write it, so there's that! :)
Warning: a bit gloomy, self-deprecating Ron, and - technically speaking - cheating, but that can't be helped that Malfoy arse is just too glorious. ;)
Summary: It was supposed to be just a boring Ministry event; Ron's attempt at reconciliation with Hermione after another one of their epic fights. But then Draco Malfoy happened and suddenly nothing was what it was supposed to be. And the moment Ron let those slender hands touch him, he realised not even Draco Malfoy was the way he was supposed to be. Because you can't put a Malfoy and a Weasley in the same place and not expect the bloody world to tilt off its axis.

Aaaaan now to the - much too belated! - rec. I got this super-wonderful story as a present and - reveals or not, I immediatelly knew who it was from and I was literally dying to point y'all to it with a giant neon purple Las Vegas-style arrow "MUST READ THIS!!".

I would have totally recced it before, but I wanted the world to know who wrote this gem, so I bullied my excited, overwhelmed self into waiting for a bit. It's Runway by candamira and it's just absolutely gorgeous. It's a story of Ron, taking a battle for his fragile self-esteem to the entirely new ground: the world of fashion, with all its glamour, breathtaking outfits and scenery and lots of off-camera underlying misery, from starving models - very appropriately called "darlings" - risking their very lives for a moment of fame under the limelight, cut-throat competitiveness and heartless business, the sheer decadence of it all - and one fairly damaged Draco Malfoy. It's all there in the story, and the colour and variety of the world the author created is going to knock you off your feet!

But it's not only the incredibly imaginative scenery that is so stunning: this story of finding and defining oneself is also packed with emotions and sometimes harsh encounters of two persons who are pulled towards one in spite of their emotional baggage - but in the end manage to find each other and be each other's salvation perhaps just because of that very baggage. It's heart-wrenching to watch Ron so desperate for approval of everyone he holds dear - only to discover that he's not going the right way about it over and over again. It doesn't seem like it, but things actually improve once he meets Draco Malfoy. It might seem like he's cursed with his nemesis following him to this unlikely path, but as Ron inevitably finds out more about Draco and the person that the war left behind, his problems suddenly lose their edge and this Molly's son is there to offer comfort to the hurt young man hiding under tons of in-your-face make-up.

They're dead-sexy dancing around each other, not quite willing to trust each other yet, but with this underlying current of awareness that the devil you know... just might be the right type of devil for you. The way their hair ends up plaited together is something that needs art (please? someone?), because it's totally a thing of beauty! As unlikely as their relationship seems in the beginning, by the end of the story they fit like they were made for each other. Their relationship is never going to be flawless and clean-cut - but more like a mad, bad current that finds a way around every obstacle life throws in their way. There's a moment in there where Ron blurts out he loves Draco - and kind of blames him for it - which totally melted my heart because it's just such a Ron thing to say. I loved it to bits. The colourfulness, a small million imaginative details, the honest emotion, the way they grew to love each other (and in Ron's case, grew up) - I just want to adopt this story and live with it happily ever after - and so will you. Give it a chance: and thank you, darling candamira for this stunning present - if it wasn't for me, I would have stolen it! :D

Comments

[nia_kantorka]

Both beautiful works my friend! I had a great time reading your story and I loved Canda's fic from the moment I read the first scene (in an unfinished state mind you).

Hope life has become a bit less challenging and you're having room to breathe (or write). I'm busy with all kind of things, but send a bunch of hugs southeast. <333

[my_thestral]

Canda's fic was such a marvel, she always leaves me in awe with her wonderful narrative and imaginative scenery, but she also did a splendid job portraying the characters and their relationship! I really loved it and I knew it was her right away!
Life is... no less challenging. Just 3 days ago my son had one of his more challenging episodes - he put a knife on his neck, screaming he no longer wanted to live. :/ You can imagine that rocked my boat quite a bit. But on a good note - the manager granted me and the colleague who are up for that legal exam in a week, 3 days off for learning, so there's that! :)
Thank you for your lovely comments, kids are still up and I've had no time to reply, but I'm going there now! :)

[nia_kantorka]

Oh, no. Let me hug you. Your boy shouldn't give you such a fright. I know he's hot-headed, but hope he realises that rash actions only ever gonna hurt everybody.

Good luck with learning for your legal exam!

[capitu]

Ahhhh! I have to much to say about this!!!! But I must run (I hate my work I hate it!) but I will come back!!!! *twirls you*

[candamira.livejournal.com]

O.M.G.! Dear sweet thestral, the world suffered a great loss the day you decided to quit journalism. You have such a way with words, incredible. My Unintended is truly marvellous, which well of strength and creativity you always activate to write beautiful gems like it while your life swirls around you like a tsunami will stay a mystery to me forever! Goodness, the news about your eldest almost gave me a heart attack. I'm sure you handled the situation more than well, my deepest respect! And, as if all that wasn't enough, why not throw a law exam your way? *shakes head at life in exasperation* Fingers crossed, though I'm convinced you don't need it.

Thank you for the fantastic rec, I'm overwhelmed with all the nice things you find to say about Runway! I'm happy about how excitedly it was received, and especially about you liking it so much. Makes me feel warm and glowing like Smoulderwhisky inside! ;) * hugs you fiercely*

[my_thestral]

LOL, take your time, you little speedy person. It won't go anywhere, and I'm mostly super glad that you liked it. *offers hugs and chocolate, because you need positivity and energy*

[my_thestral]

Darling, thanks again for this wonderful present and for the comment and the rec - seriously (or Siriously, LOL), I've got about a million things to thank you for - and the inspiring comment like yours is the kind that gives me the energy to punch they keys on my lap-top late into the night.

The incident with my son was totally scary. He was tired from having to learn for the oral examination date and I guess he was at the end of his rope. Out of the blue - literally - he came downstairs sobbing that nobody loved him, that I loved his brother better, and that he didn't want to live anymore. All that with a giant butcher's knife pressed to his neck. I was just standing there like an idiot, totally disheartened, and I told him: I love you like no one else, little man, but I can't save you from yourself. I can't walk through life that one day you'll take a step too far, that's no way to live. If it happens it happens, but you can't ever think that I don't love you, because I do. You're going to need a better reason than this, so put this damn thing down and come get a hug. And he did, but I was still quite shaken a few days after.
You know, you don't discover how much you love your children until they give you no reason to, and that's a god's honest truth.
He's growing up and towards puberty and he's had a very difficult year behind him, so I understand that he's in a bad place, but you literally can't help anyone that doesn't want to be helped. I get up every day knowing there's a good chance he's either going to hurt someone or hurt himself and there's absolutely nothing I can do about it, so you just try to brace yourself for the moment. I talk to him a lot and I make him tell me his problems - he's not a teenager yet, he still does :) - so that sort of takes some of the pressure off his shoulders, but still. I can't save him, I can only pick him up when he falls, and I hope he makes the right choices.
I called the clinic for autism but they told me he was still too young for pills so he needs to do psychiatric treatment for kids first - waiting line is 90 days, so let's hope that helps.

Thank you again for finding time to lend an ear to my problems - I'm sure you've got plenty of your own to deal with, so I appreciate it. *clings on to you friendliness like a two-year old*

[capitu]

Yes! Oh my god, my work has the weirdest hours! O.o and I started the gym this week because I'm obviously a masochist or something.

ANYWAY! Oh my god, all you went through to write this story! I'm sorry the story itself gave you some problem, or rather the children getting sick, but certainly they didn't do it on purpose. OR DID THEY. :O ;) :D

I just adore it and I know I'm going to be reading it again and again. I love your Ron so very much, and I swear, you have a way with your words because again and again you do this thing when a story is incredibly touching and next thing I know I'm laughing my bum off. Same thing happened here because that whole opening sequence of them drinking together was hilarious and then we know there were all these feelings and history behind. MAN! :D

I'm glad you were able to completely and happy to know you're still writing this lovely pair that you've make me love so so much. Along with Hugo/Scorpius because, obviously. LOL

<33333333

[my_thestral]

Heh, well, it felt like the Universe was playing a number on me when first one and then the other son fell ill, but no, it was definitely not on purpose - I can't see how anyone would want to be violently sick over and over again. Uh, I won't go into gory detail, but I really couldn't work then.
I'm so very glad you like the story! *beams* *massive stone rolls off this thestral's heart* I would have given you James/Scorpius if I thought I could do them justice, but I suspect I would be entirely lost without at least one Weasley in the story, so Ron/Draco it was. *sheepish grin* I might do Hugo next, though, I miss writing that particular scoundrel! ;)
Thank you again on your totally epic triple) comment - it was a definite highlights of the fest for me! *showers you in hugs*