"The absurd idea came to him that it would have been perfect for a campfire" I got to this line and just went 'oh no' out loud, please tell me he's not going to— oh, yep, he is. Fuck. Ouch 😭
Won't lie, I kind of kept postponing reading this fic because you're incredible at writing angst and I knew this is going to hurt, but I didn't expect it to hurt THIS MUCH 😭 Holy shit, Verso's pain is just palpable. Him literally setting himself on fire for the sake of the others is just the perfect description of him, he is very much the person to do something like that, despite the pain and the fear 😭 And I just can't stop thinking about Renoir seeing this, this must have been so fucking painful for him — he is blaming himself already for 'not being there when it mattered' with the real Verso, and now it's the painted one and Renoir trapped him there himself, and OUCH. He definitely needs a hug at this point, yeah.
The way Verso is maneuvering between lying and half-truths and this respect/awe/fear of his father in the beginning is incredible, I adore how you write their dynamic. And that “Make me.” when he's done talking and following orders, oof. Also, the description of the fight was awesome (and the way Verso was defeated because of his love for his family, “What about us?”, ouch), but the fact that the scars were the result of the strikes they both didn't mean to aim at each other — it makes me feel the feelings 😭 Verso protecting the expeditioners and getting in the way of Renoir's attack — and Renoir trying to comfort him with Verso lashing out blindly 😭 Just the way they still clearly love and care for each other while being on the opposite sides, alllll the pain.
That hurt very much, thank you. Gotta go cry somewhere in the corner now. Thank you for your amazing whump!!
If it can help. When i was brainstorming this story. This is also more or less the thoughts that ran in my head.
I was like. I want verso to go in the chroma shield, but if he goes in the chroma shield how does he get out— Verso no what are you doing with that lighter, don’t add more trauma to Renoir don’t—
(The concept that the author control their character is a lie. Sometimes your own characters traumatise you.)
I almost feel sorry to have wounded you so much with the heavy angst— though it also feels like an amazing compliment. Sometimes it’s hard for me to see wether my angst is good / well written or not, so hearing that from you is very heart-warming in a way 💜🎶
(Yes both Renoir and Verso highly traumatised themselves with that fight. To be powerless when someone dies, while being painted as ’the brother who never saved Alicia’— To see his son burn again—)
The beginning was like the steps of a dance in my head. And also those two wanted to talk and not fight, and talk a lot. So. Couldn’t refuse them if i did want them to fight eventually xd. (The make me sounded cool to my ear when i wrote it, i’m glad it made its effect!)
Verso and Renoir’s scars are such a key point of their relationship and story, i wanted to do it honour! I thought so long and hard about how it would come to be - when Renoir is so reluctant in canon to attack any of his children first. This ended up being the scenario I found the most satisfying! (Though who knows, it could have happened during Renoir attacking the gestral village too. I still struggle to wrap my mind around that one).
Here are tissues, scented candles and blankets for your corner 💜
Thank you for reading and commenting!! 💜🥰🎶✨️
(I’d say the coming chaps will be more lighthearted, but— uh. Well. I’m maybe sorry? There will be lighter stuff in the future, eventually, probably more tiny shoulder angel verso side though bcs the tiny size make me want to poke him with crack)
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VerenaKauer Thu 06 Nov 2025 08:46PM UTC
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Sinvulkt Thu 06 Nov 2025 10:39PM UTC
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