Really one of the finest pieces of smut I have ever read. And that's saying a lot. Quite memorable. If you get inspired, please come back to Carrie & Quinn. 3

Oh don't mind me just back on a second platform to review this story again because I CANNOT STOP READING IT. I had a flicker of interest in Carrie/Saul way back when I first starting watching the show, but it sort of fell to the wayside as other story lines progressed. Now it is back in full force as a nearly obsessive fascination, and I blame you!

Seriously, this is so, so good. And while not something we'd ever see on the show, as another reviewer mentioned, that's exactly what I'm looking for in my fan fiction. Once again, thanks so much for sharing this lovely and provocative story. Is it too much to hope you might explore Carrie/Saul again in other fics? Do you take bribes? ;)

Thanks for the reviews, guys. I realise it's not going to be the kind of ship or story that appeals to everyone!

To answer pillowdrabbler, I'm not really suggesting there is a potential sexual relationship between Carrie/Saul on the show or that Carrie has an Electra complex. For me, as you suggest, fanfiction allows writers to pick up on a frisson or rapport between characters and expand it in intriguing ways that would be inappropriate for the actual show, movie, etc. I would be very surprised if a Carrie/Saul sexual relationship developed in Homeland, and would probably find it disappointing and unnecessary. I think it's far more likely something will happen with Quinn in Season 3 and quite right, too. However, that doesn't stop me playing around with "what ifs"!

Thinking about the Freudian aspect, the mentor/protege relationship has those elements but is also a thing unique in itself. It's used a lot, if you think about it, Lecter/Starling being a notable example. I had a moment of doubt when I was writing the "call him Daddy" bit but it was the thing that excited me most when I was writing it and I thought it would be untruthful if I then censored it. At the end of the day, my main aim when writing erotic fiction is to arouse the reader and for that, I can only use myself as a template!

I think you're right that some of this story was a little rushed - I knew I was rushing as I wrote it, finding myself desperate to get to Saul! I'm generally pretty keen to get to the action as a reader of erotic fiction so I think there's an argument for occasionally getting right down to it, like a funky sex machine. It's no excuse for skimping on character, though. For me, everything is heightened when the characters ring true so if I've not quite achieved that with this story, that's something I need to address. For that very reason, I've recently decided to write a piece of original erotic fiction next which will force me to take time with scene-setting and character development.

Thanks again for the feedback - I have found it very constructive!

Golden Boots

I've always been intrigued by Carrie and Saul's relationship. I have to say, however, that despite all the craziness their line of work holds, I firmly believe the two have never been sexually or romantically involved. The show's depicted Saul as-correct me if I'm wrong-the sole constant in Carrie's life, the central axis she and everything around her can't veer too far away from. Add how caring and perceptive and judicious Saul is into the mix, maybe even a dash of how Carrie's the single most important person in his life, and what we have is a beautifully platonic dynamic that both characters are, in my opinion, too afraid to change.

Precisely why we have these AUs, though, I guess. But I really can't see Saul marring his marriage (never mind how screwed-up it already is) with infidelity, nor can I see him using sex to "fix Carrie up."

Needless to say, Carrie's a different issue. She's enough of a maverick to be completely unpredictable. Pretty sure that priceless seduction scene in the first season's pilot opened up a lot of possibilities for more than a few fans.

There are things that could make everything shift, however. And I may be wrong. Saul may be repressing lots, as your fic suggested. Things that could decide to unfetter themselves and rush out given the right circumstances and stimuli.

Now you have me dying for a terrorist-attack-thwart-age Homeland fic with Carrie/Saul romance as a B-plot. Ha ha.

So. About your work. A different brand of smut, definitely. It had a riveting quality to it-one that makes you want to read on and look away at the same time. Bed-Saul was a tad idealized. And Quinn, well, can't say I hate the guy, but I would have liked to read a piece that had only Saul and Carrie at its core. Or a piece that had multiple regular cast members at its core but didn't heavily employ a foil or intervention from other characters to help Carrie and Saul work things out.

Or it could be that I'm just partial to exclusive relationships. The not-so-threesome bothered me a bit.

Liked your use of "Elsa" in this one. I also liked some of the glimpses into Carrie's thoughts, which were confused and conflicting and suggestive enough of mental illness.

All in all, I thought the piece was intriguing, but I would have liked a slower-almost languid-pace. Intense sexuality has its place, but I'm not sure this is it. I felt as though the characters weren't quite themselves-Saul and Quinn due to the decisions they made and Carrie due to phrases like "it felt so right" and "clever, clever mature man."

If I'm missing something crucial, please do tell.

Got to admire your boldness, though. You took a relationship people adore for what it is in canon and bent it in spots nobody expects anyone to. The very idea of Saul and Carrie having a romantic relationship weirds a lot of people out, but you chose to go way beyond that and gave everyone who frowns upon age-difference relations a good "fuck you."

Just so it's clear, this story claims that Carrie has Electra complex, right? I'm not a psych guy, so I'm not entirely sure what to say to that. I don't think Carrie has shown signs of having it on the show, though. Nazir and Brody have been the only objects of her obsession, as far as I can remember.

This wasn't meant to put you down in any way. There were lots I didn't like about how you handled everything, but the piece is not without merit.

And oh, I must thank you for broaching the subject of Carrie and Saul, so to speak. This should turn heads and spark further exploration.

I *love* Saul/Carrie! You showed enormous insight into them. I'd love to see more of you writing them, if the muse obliges!