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Reviews for Cross Blades

By : WarlordEnfilade

From DraconicArmagon on April 22, 2009
That was truly the most epic chapter I have ever had the pleasure of reading! A truly ferocious battle between Sumai and Usze that I must say ended rather spectacularly. I liked how Sumai meet his fate, it was a rather just ending to his life. Zhaal I might add is a truly disgusting individual, especially after that one line. Unfortunately the bit involving Piro I saw coming, but it was still a very nice touch. The fight between Rycl and Epse was another stroke of genius although the ending mad my face cringe. I enjoyed that last little bit involving Fil, that was fantastic. This entire Chapter was PURE EPIC, Bravo!
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From Orsinox on April 22, 2009
I have to second everything that has until now been said and double up on the hope that there's another installment to the series in the future. Maybe Fil finally calls in those favors...? ;)

Anyway, that's a story for another time. I always love when I find a genuinely skilled author on these boards. Not only can you write a good sex scene, but your stories keep me genuinely interested. And that's saying alot. Keep up the fantastic work, I will be reading right along with you.

Sincerely,
Hex
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From DraconicArmagon on April 20, 2009
~Bites Lip~ That was absolutely the most intense chapter yet! Oh I due hope those basterds get ripped asunder by Usze and Piro.

Out of curiosity are you going to write more fan fiction involving this particular series?
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From Schuldig on April 06, 2009
Slam! Back went the brick. Gah, now I'm going to hold my breath again. You're bad for my blood pressure, lady. ;)

(On another note, the image of Uzi as a purple lump was endlessly amusing. Now I can't play the game without sniggering all the way through it.)
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From DraconicArmagon on April 02, 2009
Impressive! that completely cough me off guard.

Sadly I believe that I will be wringing my hands with the new found sensations of concern and inpatients.

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From DraconicArmagon on March 27, 2009
Ah truly a wonderful chapter to read, well worth suffering the "what ifs" that where brought forth by the cliffhanger. The ending for this chapter was just beautiful and I was again smiling and very much relieved. =D

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From Schuldig on March 27, 2009
That was _one_ brick off of my chest. Phew! Although I must admit, when reading that Nitro had been skinned, I took it far too literally and thought Uzi had gone mad, somehow. I'm glad to know it was "just" a chunk.

And awwww! at the bonding. Now can I please sleep well at night - at least for a little while, judging what you wrote in the beginning of chapter 13? ;)
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From DraconicArmagon on March 26, 2009
That is an impressive cliff hanger! Causing me to crawl back to this site frequently in the hopes the next chapter will be up. The anticipation to see what will occur is just overwhelming, and yet I fear the out come of these events!

I would like to ask your permission to use certain terminologies and instinctual behaviors, that in all honesty seam to be very natural to the Sangheili.

Again excellent story and I hope to see you write more in the future :)
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From Schuldig on March 24, 2009
Argh!

Sorry about that; it was what first came to mind being left with such a cliffhanger. I have been too busy reading ever since I came across this fic; hence the late review.

When I first started playing Halo, I remember thinking that the Sangheili were seriously scary. Later on, especially during H2, I started liking them a lot (especially the Arbiter, as I always root for the underdog), and after reading this fic, I think they are, pardon for saying it, Usze, downright adorable. :)

I love how you have woven actual canon into the story and delved further into it, giving it a deeper background without the worked-in bits seeming forced in the least. Working on something similar myself, I know how much patience and research it actually takes to get it right, and Lord, have you ever gotten it right. The fact that you have also managed to make it sweet, heart-wrenching (something as simple as N'tho's quiet "I want Uzi" made me ache all over), and, well, downright hot only adds to your cred as a writer.

Please, please don't let these two lose each other - they are so adorable together, and it's evident how much they need and can learn from each other. I'll be waiting for updates with bated breath.
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From KaneKasier on March 23, 2009
Chapter fifteen, and five more to go with an epilogue. I, almost literally, cannot wait for the next one. And the cliffhanger for this chapter in particular... Argh! It hurts, but it's so good at what it does!

I have to give kudos on the whole, though. It's quite literally because of you and this story that I finally signed up. Usually I was just content to read what was posted, but your writing, this story in particular, demanded action. I had to tell you how incredibly epic this story was, and so, here I am.

Telling you that this story is absolutely epic. If this were WoW, your story would be in purple text and give stat boosts only the Game Masters are allowed; that's how epic it is.

Like the first reviewer, I first started out reading as a simple smut-hunt. But, although I didn't find what I was looking for right away, I kept reading. You hooked me, right up past the sinker and to the tip of the very pole, and it pained me to no end that it wasn't finished yet. Don't think that will dissuade me though; I fully intend to read this story, in full, until the bloody end. Although I'm hoping it's not a bloody end, mind you...

Regardless; fantastic work all around, with the only complaint being I can't read it all the way to the end yet.
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From DraconicArmagon on March 13, 2009
And so the plot had thickened and their is trouble about!

I truly dread the chapter that will break my heart and cause me to cry, assuming their is such a chapter.

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From WarlordEnfilade on March 02, 2009
Thanks again for your comments!

On "intentionality": I'm a firm believer that you write what you need for the story, no more and no less. For example: I can't do a PG-rated version of Cross Blades, because the sexual encounters are such a pivotal part of the story. On the other hand, the sex scenes don't include information like how long their shafts are or how many times they get off in every given encounter, because those details don't help to advance the story, which is about an evolving relationship. What you see, needs to be there; sometimes it is to convey mood, sometimes to smooth over a possible plot hole, sometimes for information, and sometimes because it will be recurring later. Anything that doesn't need to be there is cut during edits.

You may consider that a mini-spoiler regarding such things as the sign in Fil's storeroom in chapter one or the introduction of Piro 'Kipaz in chapter four.

I cut a scene where Usze asks Nitro on a date. It was cute, but didn't advance the plot of the story or add anything important. It would have followed Chapter 11. I may release it later as a one-shot, where it can exist for its own sake, instead of being an unnecessary digression from Cross Blades' main storyline. (Conversely, N'tho's SpecOps-party invitation remained in, because I needed it to show how the night on Shadow of Intent was changing their relationship).

On graphicness/explicitness: I write what is called "tight third person." Imagine every scene is filmed by a camera held by a certain character--you see the scene from their point of view, so judgments, the kind of things they notice, etc is what that character would think/notice/etc. The language will express this too: N'tho's scenes, not just his words, are written in a more casual style than Usze's. For example, N'tho tends to think about sex as "fucking" due to his self-confidence issues, whereas Usze would describe the same thing as an "intimate encounter" because he's so exact, polite, and emotionally repressed, and neither of them would use the phrase "making love" at this point, N'tho because he doesn't feel he's worthy of love, Usze because he is not entirely sure what love is. Every scene in Cross Blades is seen from one of these two's points of view, which is why you never get to see inside the heads of, say, Fil Storamy or Ki 'Chaz. We only see how either Nitro or Uzi interpret what the other characters say and do.

Nitro talks/thinks with slang, and Usze talks/thinks very formally, but neither of them talks/thinks in a crude or exceptionally graphic manner. I can imagine a scene written from the point of view of, oh, say, Tartarus, would involve an extreme amount of crudeness, violent thoughts/descriptions, racism/sexism, and other general nastiness. Aj 'Qorop, the fleet's resident Dom, is not going to force himself on anyone, but he does tend to think in a very sexually explicit manner, and if I ever wrote a story with him as a point-of-view character, it would be reflected in what Aj notices in a scene.

And, for the record, Cross Blades' second half is in edits now, with the total ending up 20 chapters and an epilogue.

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From ShagsterP on March 02, 2009
(Chapters 10 & 11)

I really don't know what professional words to use this time. All I can think of is "D'awwww".

But seriously, I still appreciate that the sexual content only serves as a character enhancer and not as the main goal. I've noticed that instead of focusing on great physical detail in those moments, we instead only read the details that affect the characters emotionally. Heh, maybe that was unintentional? But either way, it makes for a much more personal read.

Ah, to understand the enigma of love. Often painful, confusing, and clouded from view, yet tangible and right in front of our eyes. At its epicenter, love is a complex and beautiful beast, and it's nice to see these two experiencing the entire range of those complexities, however daunting it may be for them. Carry on!
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From DraconicArmagon on February 25, 2009
Excellent work, these are some of the best fics I have ever had the pleasure of reading! They are well written and their is so much attention to detail, truly inspirational works! I can only hope that you will keep creating these truly outstanding works of art and display them for all to read. Befor I depart from this board of reviews I must tell you that your magnificent works have brought forth a desire in the very core of my being to write my own fic. I hope it does not bother you to much but as a novice writer I look up to you and your amazing skills, it truly sets my heart ablaze!
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From typhonblue on February 17, 2009
Okay. Bizarre. They have this 'type the two words' function on the re:Captcha applet and my two words were 'gay loving'. Take from that what you will. XD

I wanted to say that this is so sweet. Poor Nitro, he's been the SpecOps' bitch for far too long, about time someone respected him as a warrior.

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