Reviews for Dark Despair Around Benights Me
grapeseedy chapter 1 . 10/17/2012
I am always intrigued to know more about Matthew's emotions and you write him so well that it is truly a delight to read your fics about that side of him, no matter how bleak or depressing the story is. I adore the parallel to 205 and Mary comforting him.. Now it's him that has to be strong for her, just as she was for him.. *sobs* Beautiful story!
Chickwriter chapter 1 . 10/17/2012
Beautifully written depiction of what must be going on inside his head.. I imagine he witnessed death after death on the battlefield, and now to have seen two more in that house... and what a wonderful way to bring back the dog! well done!
GhostIsland chapter 1 . 10/17/2012
Absolutely chilling - Matthew's terror is palpable here, and the war imagery is so vivid. How awful for him to have a nightmare on that night, aww! :( I was really struck by the idea of the trunk that Alfred asks questions about, but Moseley never needed to - that just said so much right there. The image of Matthew contemplating suicide after he was paralyzed, but Mary stopping him is just wrenching (his guardian angel and his stick! :( ) Loved the return of the lucky charm and the nod to 2x05, as well. Such a harrowing story - keep writing! :)
thorteso chapter 1 . 10/17/2012
Love the imagery of Matthew locking away his feelings and closing up the trunk.
Thanks so much for sharing!
unpredictablemary chapter 1 . 10/16/2012
I love this- love the idea that he would give the lucky charm back to Mary now, and that Matthew's scars from the war would be torn open again after Sybil's death. Thanks for sharing!
OrangeShipper chapter 1 . 10/16/2012
Aaaahhh that was wonderful! Dark, but very real - I loved the sort of trance-like nature of it. Because I don't think that he'd perhaps consciously entertain those thoughts, now, but it makes so much sense that they'd come back to him.
Ach and I LOVE that Mary came to him at the end, and that as ever, they don't need to say anything - she's just there, and holding him, and that's all that matters. Wonderful!
Belle of Books chapter 1 . 10/16/2012
Damn. I love it. I wished someone would bring up the effects of the war. It dictated his life. This was perfect, the way you used the death as a catalyst.
Willa Dedalus chapter 1 . 10/16/2012
*flailing*
The trunk story! You wrote the trunk story! *whimpers*

Oh how I jumped up in joy when I saw you have written this post 3.05...because my dear it was quite the quagmire you sunk dear lamb Matthew in following Sybil's death. But it couldn't have made any more sense. It was seamless. Such a vivid transformation of his thoughts. Because of everyone in that room when Sybil died - he has seen the most death. Even more so than the doctors - and Matthew has always been powerless to help. Hence his grabbing of the bedpost, such desperation and the way he closes his eyes. I do think it would cause this crippling fear and panic in him as you describe. It would be a trigger.

And the gun scene. *gulp* Matthew!? I can't even lecture him though because you made it all so clear what he was thinking and how bleak it was for him. And then Mary. Always Mary. And Bates the career soldier, Robert's batman, who carries his own limp from war time service. Ugh. The feelings!
"Red was the lie."
Oh that line really stung me. Bravo. Round of Applause.
And finally when he was sick again and he couldn't tell the difference between a waking fit, nightmare or a memory... oh lamb darling Matthew. Thank god for Mary... that they are a united front together. They have each other. And yes this was quite cathartic. Beautiful prose. Magnificent!
Everything you described and more. I feel shackled to you in gratitude for sharing this story!

:)

*hugs*
Ultrahotpink chapter 1 . 10/16/2012
So sad, but very well written! I liked that you chose to delve into Matthew's darker side. Well done!
R. Grace chapter 1 . 10/16/2012
Wow. I don't know where to begin. This was wonderfully, tragically beautiful, and exactly what's missing from Matthew's character this series. Thank you for taking this on. It needed to be done, and you did it perfectly. The parts of him remembering the wheelchair days, of course, especially moved me. All just so feelingly and powerfully done. Just superb.