The Crucible (PG 13) - First Line Challenge 114 5/2/10

[darkstarrising]

Karen

I just reread this intense, thoughtful look into the world of sacrifice and secrets.

Beth has made a choice to protect Mick and the vampire community, and stepped into darkness to do it. Josef understands the meaning of her actions better than Mick, and I only hope that Mick can appreciate that they were motivated by love and the desire to protect him.

Thank you!

Jenna

Thanks, Jenna always appreciate a re-read. I know when I re-read stories, I always find things I missed the first time around.

I love your description of Beth 'stepping into darkness' to protect the vamp community. I think she'd been on the 'fringe' since she learned what Mick was....and now that she's in love with him, taking that next step didn't seem so hard to do.

[allegrita]

I love it when an old favorite bubbles up, and your take on the aftermath of Beth's agreement with Josef is definitely one of my favorites. I guess it's no secret that I love Beth, with all her faults. And heaven knows, she's got plenty of faults on display in this tale. But her love for Mick, her loyalty to the vampires, and her innate decency shine through here so clearly. Beth's in a very difficult spot, and she does her best, her damaged best, to handle the situations that arise. The fact that she makes the wrong decision isn't all that surprising. The fact that she is still keeping a huge secret from Mick makes lots of sense to me... as is the fact that Mick's keeping a secret from her as well.

I happen to think that they will eventually tell each other the truth, and work through all the pain that truth brings out. And that they'll be stronger for it in the long run. But then again, I'm a total optimist where Mick and Beth are concerned.

[darkstarrising]

I love it when an old favorite bubbles up, and your take on the aftermath of Beth's agreement with Josef is definitely one of my favorites. I guess it's no secret that I love Beth, with all her faults. And heaven knows, she's got plenty of faults on display in this tale. But her love for Mick, her loyalty to the vampires, and her innate decency shine through here so clearly. Beth's in a very difficult spot, and she does her best, her damaged best, to handle the situations that arise. The fact that she makes the wrong decision isn't all that surprising. The fact that she is still keeping a huge secret from Mick makes lots of sense to me... as is the fact that Mick's keeping a secret from her as well.

I happen to think that they will eventually tell each other the truth, and work through all the pain that truth brings out. And that they'll be stronger for it in the long run. But then again, I'm a total optimist where Mick and Beth are concerned.

Thanks, alle I agree that down the road, all will be worked out, but the path to that day is going to be bumpy. Beth is human, and like the rest of us, imperfect. She's also impetuous and passionate, a sometimes dangerous combination. On the plus side, she's gone to the one vampire who can make a potentially dangerous situation go away, even though she's selling her soul to do so. On the negative side, she lets Ben fall, thinking he was a threat. In her defense, it was a split second decision, but one she'll have to live with for a long time.

[jen]

I've been rereading some wonderful 'First Line Challenge' fics and the previous comments I have left still hold true.

So, 'see previous comments'.

This is absolutely wonderful.

Thank you

Jenna

[darkstarrising]

I've been rereading some wonderful 'First Line Challenge' fics and the previous comments I have left still hold true.

So, 'see previous comments'.

This is absolutely wonderful.

Thank you

Jenna

thanks, jenna, Always appreciate a re-read. Glad you still enjoy the story!!

[coco]

dsr, this is brilliant. It felt like I was reading a continuation episode of the show itself. You've tied up all the aspects of the Foster story and highlighted Beth's struggle with the things she now does to protect Mick.

[darkstarrising]

dsr, this is brilliant. It felt like I was reading a continuation episode of the show itself. You've tied up all the aspects of the Foster story and highlighted Beth's struggle with the things she now does to protect Mick.

Thanks, coco Calling this piece a continuation episode is high praise indeed. With all the loose ends they left us (Talbot with the files, the black envelope and Foster's messy end), I just had to tie some of them up. But the beauty of the piece is how it all affected Beth and how she changed because of her love for Mick and her need to protect him. While not a vampire, she is well on her way to becoming one.

[cassysj]

This story is outstanding. I've been revisiting old challenges and this story is perfect. It does show how Josef and Beth are cut from the same cloth just born several centuries apart.

[darkstarrising]

This story is outstanding. I've been revisiting old challenges and this story is perfect. It does show how Josef and Beth are cut from the same cloth just born several centuries apart.

Thanks, carol Indeed, Josef and Beth are kindred spirits with a common link - their love for Mick. Throughout the series, we saw Beth 'bend the rules' when it came to protecting Mick and the community, but when she approached Josef about 'taking care' of Foster, that was her first step down a path that I believe would have led to her turning. In this story, she has taken another, yet tragic, step on that path.

[jen]

Karen

This is outstanding.

Dark? Yes, absolutely but I got a slightly different take this time. Vampires are, by their nature dark. Predators by nature and by necessity. Here, Beth has not been Turned by she has willingly stepped into that darkness. She does not regret her actions...exactly, yet she understands the ramifications of her actions.

A wonderful, thoughtful look into something we would have seen by now in Season 6?

Thank you!

Jenna

[darkstarrising]

Karen

This is outstanding.

Dark? Yes, absolutely but I got a slightly different take this time. Vampires are, by their nature dark. Predators by nature and by necessity. Here, Beth has not been Turned by she has willingly stepped into that darkness. She does not regret her actions...exactly, yet she understands the ramifications of her actions.

A wonderful, thoughtful look into something we would have seen by now in Season 6?

Thank you!

Jenna

Thanks, Jenna This really could have been a scene in a later season of Moonlight, if we had ever had one. Yes, Beth has stepped willingly into a dark world, but being human, she carries the weight of her actions and will for a long time to come.