Author Commentary for Kat_nano!

[said_scarlett]

This fic actually has a lot of backstory behind it.

It all started in my garage, way back in the beginning of the year. I was showing lennaofmidearth Fullmetal Alchemist for the first time. We'd watch it and we'd discuss the episodes, and often got off onto tangents.

After careful fact-checking with Lenna, we've determined that this fic was born when she had only seen up to episode 17, maybe. We're both kind of fuzzy on the exact episode, but it was before the lab five arc.

I had seen the FMA movie at this point. And I think we all know my opinions on the movie. Anyway, I was trying to convey to Lenna just how many outlandish and bizarre things happened, so I was basically just making stuff up. So she chimed in, with her limited knowledge, and uttered the words: 'When did Riza have a baby? And how did Scar end up being the father?!?!'. Because that was one of the crackiest things she could come up with. It was then mentioned how that scenario could never be done seriously.

Well, me being as I am, I took that as a challenge. And Lenna knew it. She told me flat out that she didn't believe I could write that scenario - Scar fathering Riza's baby - without it being OOC or cracky.

So I went to work. And it took me a damn long time to come up with the scenario, since I knew that Scar made his exit before the end of the series. I couldn't set it post-series and I couldn't set it during the series. So I went back. I set it before the war in Ishbal actually started.

I've had a couple of criticisms of Scar's (or Caleb's, as he's known in the fic, because that's the pre-Scar name I gave him) characterization. That he's not hard enough, he's not cruel enough, etc etc. And I know he's not. This is before he sees his home and people destroyed. This is before there was actual conflict. He hadn't yet been chisled into the hard and stony man we see in the series. He still retains a lot of that boyishness we see in early flashbacks. There's a sadness to him, because his brother is mad and he did lose the woman he loved, but he hasn't been broken yet.

Riza is pretty much the same. She's not softer, she's not much different than how I write her in post-series fics. She's still tough and kick-ass and doesn't really fall for Scar until near the end of the fic.

Then came the 'okay, so she clearly has no kid in the series, what do I do?'. So the kid - who never got a name - went to live with Grandma and Grandpa, and Scar never knew and Riza felt it was better that way.

There was a kind of dark and desperate feel to the fic, I think, and that was because I felt the time in which it took place - and the events - were desperate. In the summary, I said 'two soldiers on opposite sides share a life changing moment'. Because that's all it was. Just a moment. In the midst of growing turmoil and political unrest, both of them were just reaching out for one good thing.

And I think, looking back, that there was a real sense of hope at the end of the fic. Even though it does end on a pretty depressing note. Because something good did come out of that moment.

On names: choosing a name for Scar was difficult. It was commented that the Ishbalans in the fic seemed very Biblical, and that was on purpose. When writing them, I do draw from Biblical lifestyles and whatnot, because so much of their culture does seem to stem from there. So when choosing a name, I looked through Hebrew names, and settled on Caleb for a couple of reasons.

1) It has a hard sound to it, but it doesn't sound too harsh. It's a strong, masculine name, one suiting a warrior. But it doesn't scream 'GAH DEATH KILL KILL!'

2) One of it's meanings is 'hand of God'. And because Scar calls himself the hand of God in the series, I couldn't think of a more perfect name. (It also means 'lover of dogs', but we'll ignore that.)

This fic is proof positive that I never, ever back down from a challenge!

Comments

[anat-astarte.livejournal.com]

I LOVED 'Sharp Tongued-Woman of Central'!! I so love Scar/Riza that I started writing my own fic about them (I have to get back to continuing that soon before my readers hex me) and to this day your fic is still one of the most awesome Scar/Riza I've read!!! Thank you!!

XD

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D It was an interesting pairing to write. :D

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Could you provide a link, please? I really like your commentary, but I like to have the fic fresh in my mind, and it would be easier for me if you could maybe put a link at the top of each piece of commentary? I just spent fifteen minutes trolling the memories of 100 women (not necessarily a bad thing, but still...) to find "Barely Cold In Her Grave."

Also, this fic sounds really interesting, and I'd love to read it.

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

Oh, sure! Sharp Tongued Woman Of Central (http://theladyfeylene.livejournal.com/545511.html), for this fic. And I need to get to updating my memories section. *is ridiculously unorganized*.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I really enjoyed it.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Don't ignore the "lover of dogs"! Paired with the "hand of god" thing it totally fits are provides support for Scar/Riza! *gigges over the irony.*

[imagines.livejournal.com]

One thing I loved about that story was the name you chose for Scar. But I didn't think about how well it fit until you explained it just now. "Hand of God," just...wow. It's perfect. tee hee lover of dogs! :D

And I enjoyed seeing a slightly softer Scar. I know there was a time in his life where he wasn't so stony, and I always wished I could see it.