Unfortunately it looks like the journal where the original story this is a sequel to has been deleted and purged, so I haven't been able to read it. Livejournal has purged many accounts over recent years.

However, this sequel provides enough of a recap over previous events that I was able to follow the story without any trouble. For a continuation, it works nicely as a standalone since it does cover what happened in the deleted fic.

I think the chemistry between Picard and Q is simply off the charts in this story. I was starting to think Q was going to make good on his threats but the way he suddenly withdrew, frustrating Picard to no end-that was undeniably Q-like.

Q as a mortal is a concept with endless story potential, but Q in his element with all of his powers is also full of fun possibilities to be explored, such as we see here in this story. Great writing and well done!

Tell me there's a followup to this. After reading both the original and this I really, seriously want to see how Picard might redeem the situation in some fashion, because although yes, this isn't "your usual Q," it's a compelling one, capable of playing to different situations as the need arises, and I would definitely enjoy a third foray into this setup, whether it's accepting the relationship and having to make concessions to get to a stable connection, or ultimately admitting that there will never be a relationship and yet finding closure in that admission. Not harming the other by the admission (except insofar as any rejection hurts), but accepting certain realities that will never allow one, if in fact those make sense in this setup.

Regardless, I really do enjoy how this turned out, especially the ending. "I won't be the badguy for you" is one part that ties this to some of your other work so well: Q refuses to let others control or manipulate him, even when it's something he desperately wants, because he considers autonomy to be more worthwhile than pleasure, and I ADORE that reading of his character, especially in contrast to the number of "but I just couldn't help it" fics I've been reading lately where pleasure, arousal, and desire are seen as trump cards to common sense and Will.

Wow, completely hot and intense-on both a physical and intellectual level! You really have down pat the conflict of Picard the captain and Picard the man. Q really exploits that rift in Picard. I truly enjoyed your manipulative Q, as well as the fact that he's simply acting in response to his hurt feelings from the week before (which makes him seem so much more human, an omnipotent being getting his feelings hurt by a human's rejection).

Wow. Now that's a mind fuck if I've ever read one.

This is a very good story. Reguardless of the sex the inner conflict between the two and the resolution by Q is very human. I like this story very much, please keep up the good work.

... omgwtfWOOF. thankyou for this lovely little gem. more plz? :D

This is dark and delicious; and I shouldn't have liked it so much (kinda like chocolate hahah) This is the Q I think he started out as before they decided to make him the not-so-bad-guy. A sequel would be great.

Waah, why am I finding this one just now? This is a great follow-up to Sasha's piece, and you carried out the tension perfectly (you had my full attention). Manages to be both sexy and unsettling, which I adore. Well done.

I absolutely loved this. Very character typical! They're such a great pairing

Love it. I read the drabble that inspired this, and I have to say, I'm glad that you fleshed this out and gave it more life. Very nice to see Q give Picard a healthy dose of reality; of course, that is his forte after all.

And now I'm hoping you'll write a sequel where Picard does, in fact, act nicely.

:)

This is a great adult story without going into to much. Wonder what would happen next?...

O, my my my! HAWT!

I absolutely love that Q wouldn't allow Picard to make him the villein. I would dearly love to see the aftermath of this conversation!

Thanks for the link to that fic- was good times. I like yours, too, though it's fairly apparent you don't write in present tense all that much. It's great to play around with tenses, though, totally keep doing it. I mean, if you can't mess up with writing styles and such in fanfiction, where the hell can you?

I was trying to figure out what it was exactly... There wasn't a lot of falling back into past, though I had to read it a couple times to figure that out. I think the main problem was that you were interspersing the flashbacks into the present without much segue.

Also the way you were phrasing things was very past-tense writing. Eg- "he adds, because he thinks maybe things have gone too far for sheer bravado to work and he’s going to have to humble himself." That's sort of passive, past-y and backwards. If you're going for present, you're going for immediacy, eh? So instead try like 'he realizes that things have gone too far for bravado to save him from having to humble himself.'

Well, actually, the humble himself part probably can be cut out entirely. I mean, that's sort of implied with the whole situation... but that phrase there really stuck out to me as being awkward tense-wise.

Also- hooray for good mental states :)

I realize a detailed critique would probably be of more use to you, but in all honesty my first thought is that you-and this fic-are AWESOME. Completely awesome. More? More more? Please?

this is so goddamn good.