This thread is for the discussion of the Spring 2007 Anthology story "Never Mine" by B1ue (Gabriel Cruz).



*** SPOILER ALERT ***

This thread contains details about the story. Be forewarned, in case you haven't read it yet.

"Never Mine"

By Gabriel Cruz (B1ue)

Satar, Khayyam and Mason are back. The trio that captivated us in Gift Of The Ice Queen takes us on another emotional journey. This time, as Spring Break approaches, Khayyam is faced with the prospect of spending a week in the same house with his former best friend, Mason, who’s supposed to be coming to visit with Satar.
What I like about this story is the fact that we get a closer look at the family dynamic in Khayyam and Satar’s home. We meet their parents, who, at best, are concerned about the upbringing of their sons but seemingly unwilling to act on that concern. Also, we learn that Satar continues to attempt, and may have succeeded, in seducing Khayyam in recent months.
I was amused by Khayyam’s plot to avoid Mason altogether by escaping with his cousin Marcia, all the while knowing that he’d have to defy his parents to carry it out. When he walks to the front door with his suitcase in hand, he has an almost casual confrontation with his mother, who then tells him to be safe before he proceeds to leave. That scene conjured up scenes of a young child who tells his mom he’s running away, and she tells him, “Well, goodbye,” and lets him go, knowing that he wouldn’t get far.
Of course, the ending was just sugary sweet. Khayyam and Mason have taken another step towards rebuilding their broken friendship, and in the process, we’re all treated to a first class story.

I'm still trying to work out Satar. He's obviously more complex than his brother tries to make him out to be. Does he really know Khayyam better than he knows himself? And why did Khayyam think his younger brother was in love, and with Mason?

I'm also interested in the parents' reaction when they learn that Mason has arrived. Will he be staying at their place, or will he be staying elsewhere? They have, after all, indicated that they don't want their sons associating with Mason.

Another interesting glimpse into a very real family. Thanks!

Thanks for another chance to get to know more about Khayyam and Satar. I'm hoping this won't be the last time we see them.

Thank you for a great read! I enjoyed the story as much for its unusual perspective and insight into the lives of these fascinating characters as for its happy ending storyline - I love a happy ending!

Sinbad

Thanks for the comments, all.

To answer Camy's question, in the next couple weeks I'll be putting a couple other stories I wrote for Khay and Satar into eFiction. But beyond that, I think I'm letting these characters rest for a bit. At least long enough that Khay won't be so moody and angry. He's a lot more fun to write when he's been, as my favorite webcomic puts it, getting "Treasure type O" regularly.

I like the same things about this story as I did about The Gift of the Snow Queen. There is nothing fully resolved, no instantaneous flash of complete comprehension and forgiveness. There is “real life” in this story.

There are a couple of things I really liked because of the images they created in my mind:



I love “the brief kiss of a scowl.” I love how you set that up with “the tips of her lips” curling down. That was a great image.




That is beautiful, just beautiful.