Hi! I just wanted to share that I started reading ‘Bend but not Break,’ earlier this year, during a roadtrip, and was UTTERLY delighted! One of the stand out moments for me was the piano scene at the party. 😳😳😳 I used to not get the whole, “persons A and B did a thing together and now A is upset B did it with someone new,” but omg that felt like a whole new level of adultery and I was BESIDE myself 💀💀💀💀💀
Anyways, I also wanted to share how reading Bend + Two Masks gave me perspective on how Jane Eyre was such a groundbreaking character. Your works made me realize how much agency and independence she had for a woman in her era. (Which was something that didn’t register in my mind when I first read Jane E. but shhhhhhh I was 14 y/o at the timeeeee)
Anyways, thank you so much for sharing your writing with us! Your updates are always a happy surprise! 😊🤍🤍🤍
Firstly, I must apologise for not replying to this since you sent it in July. I haven't written a word in months and have been embarrassed to respond to comments and such. I haven't been here much and haven't logged on to AO3 in months. Being overworked and underpaid makes me less sociable and definitely less creative, and I've disappointed readers over the last two years due to a lack of story updates. So, I've been avoiding SM in general.
I LOVE this scene so much because Silco is trying so hard to make Reader jealous with Blanche by using her at the piano. The piano was something special between them, and using it to rile Reader/Jane up is something Silco would do because he can't confess his feelings.
"Did you feel nothing?"
Oh, he is sooooo smitten and can't handle the idea of her rejecting him the night of the kiss. So, he decides to see if she cares for him by using jealousy. Silco is an asshole, but that's why I love him.
The time period is cruel to women. They are essentially the property of their father to be sold to the highest bidder (dowry), the property of their husband, and virtually no agency of their own. Women usually didn't or couldn't own anything of their own.
I love Jane because she knows she doesn't have much of anything, but what she does have is entirely her own and refuses to let anyone try to control her.
She and Silco find comfort in each other because, in the beginning, they don't want anything from each other. Silco is always on guard and rarely lets anyone in, except Jinx. But he sees the Reader wants nothing from him, so he begins to find trust and companionship with her. It's only when they start to realise there is more under the surface, and those pesky feelings get in the way of their logic and analytical modes of thinking. They're both similar creatures in many ways.
God, the remaining chapters left are so good. So much happens where the shit hits the fan. High drama, tension... and it's killing me not having the time I need to be creative and write it.
I cannot express how grateful I am that you read any of my stories AND were kind enough to leave me such an excellent comment.
