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 Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 8:55 am
I honestly had tears running down my face as I read that.
It was... phenomenal.
I couldn't have asked for a more satisfying ending.
You stayed true to Crane's character, but were still able to pull out that... understand between him and Jordan. He still terrorizes Gotham City in a seemingly never-ending battle with Batman, but you know that somewhere... he found a sliver of peace with an old enemy.
The piece with the varsity pin really tied things up for me.
The physical fight between Crane and Jordan didn't only make me cringe (ouch) but I also felt it was very emotionally conflicing. At first, I was just so happy that Jordan was able to pull himself together, and defend himself and his daughter against such an awful villan. But then, I remembered that small innocent boy, and even after all he'd done since, it was hard to see Crane beaten again. Then I'd be on Jordan's side again- because he had no other choice if he wanted to save his family! I just kept switching back and forth. The way the Jordan kept having that same conflict not only furthered my feelings, but made the scene more powerful.
When Crane accepted his hand, and his offer for peace, I just cried.
Thank you so much for posting this, it has been so great to read. You have an amazing talent, and you really understand your characters. Before this, I'm not sure I even knew the Scarecrow existed. But now, he's very real to me. You did a remarkable job of portraying him, as well as the characters you created yourself.
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 9:46 am
I had a few tears while writing it.
I actually never planned to have the varsity pin come up again. It just kind of happened, and it fit nicely into place with the ending I already had in mind (Jordan and Crane have a grudging understanding, both go about their chosen lives). The tricky part was keeping Crane more or less unchanged (as they say, status quo is god), but I felt it was a suitable compromise. I did like how the conclusion came to be without having to get Batman involved. It is a rarity in canon, but it happens. This is the part I am most proud of.
The fight was the second hardest part to write out (after Jordan's second fear serum trip...it was difficult to not basically rehash what I did already) because of the emotional conflict involved with it along with the physical. I think the difficult part was not only keeping both sides of the coin in play (Crane is not entirely guilty; Jordan is not entirely innocent, either), but also keeping it in Jordan's perspective. The fact that I had established his guilt earlier made it easier, but finding the right words to express it still proved difficult.
Be it my own characters or ones I am borrowing, I do like to do my homework and be certain I can write them. Also, I am pleased that I was able to introduce you to Crane (and Jordan as well). It was certainly a lot of fun to write them both. ^^
Overall, I am quite glad to have had you for my audience. You have been a good help, a wonderful reviewer, and the swift kick in the pants I needed to actually finish something.
You are most welcome, and thank you for reading. <3
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:33 am
I was more than happy to read it.
I know from personal experience how hard it is to find the right words. Most of the time I don't.
But it seems to me like you did. Jordan's fear trip was very vivid- sometimes even I wasn't sure what was real or not (although not in a confusing way. It was well written).
I don't think the way I described your characters in my last post was adequate, and I still can't really think of the right way to do it. They were just very dynamic and there was more than one factor to be considered when 'choosing sides' (although I still very much see Jordan as the 'good guy' and Crane as the 'bad guy', as far as simple description goes).
For the length of this piece, it seems like Batman would have made things a little too complicated or you would have had to make it longer. I like that Jordan and Crane had that experience without him intervening. It makes Jordan seem like a stronger character, and its a stronger experience for Crane.
Had Batman come in, it would have just been another defeat for Crane, and Jordan probably wouldn't have had to face his guilt.
And I think its a one of a kind fanfic that doesn't actually involve the main character of the other work.
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:58 am
The reasons you stated are precisely why I was glad I was able to conclude it without Batman (which was a goal I had in mind when writing this piece). The ending would not have been as satisfying, neither of the two major players would have been as strong in the end, it would have undermined the theme, and possibly come off as a deus ex machina.
And I do not mind that Crane got labeled as the "bad guy." One, he is a villain, two, as Jordan is the narrator, he is going to be biased. But even villains are people too, which is not only true (and a theme) for this piece, but in-general. I hate it when villains are underdeveloped---and conversely, I hate when they are the only ones that get developed. It works in reverse with heroes.
It was a neat exercise to toy with reality. Which made both fear serum sequences equally fun and frustrating. I actually did worry that some parts would not be as clear, so that is a bit off my mind that you were able to (in some cases, eventually) decipher which was which.
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