Condition of Release, 1/5

[cblj_backup]

Sam's fanfiction archive has moved. The story formerly found here may now be found at:

http://sam-storyteller.dreamwidth.org/142935.html

Thank you for your patience!

Comments

[tree00faery.livejournal.com]

Oooh, what an interesting take on the Cyberman/woman thing. I'm very excited to see where this goes!

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Hope it stays intriguing :D

[guestyperson.livejournal.com]

This is a really cool concept. I'll definitely follow with interest.

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[capulet-rose.livejournal.com]

You are way too good at this.

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

Thanks :D

[deadcat-vagrant.livejournal.com]

*awed look*

This is so totally NOT WHAT I EXPECTED AT ALL. And it is so freaking awesome that I think I need new underwear.

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

LOL, if I can ask, what did you expect? :)

[zanetun.livejournal.com]

Oh my God, you are WAY too good at writing stories that make canon stories actually make sense. *shivvers* So creepy, and awesome, all in one.

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

LOL, thank you!

[(Anonymous)]

Huh. You got my attention this morning... :)

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear it! :)

[sqyd.livejournal.com]

I love you. Your fics are always rare treats, but I didn't think there would be a new one so soon after the last. I also worship you for the fact that you don't make us wait a whole week (or more) for a new chapter. If I was smart I'd wait till it's all finished and read it, but I'm not.

This is a most intriguing take on the cyberwoman events. I can't wait to see where this is going.

I also like that you get Owen right. He's made into a two-dimensional villain too often.

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

I wrote them nearly concurrently -- towards the end I was starting to mix them up a bit, which was funny :) Glad you're enjoying it!

[kallaneboi.livejournal.com]

Creepy creepy creepy.

That being said, you write a spot on characterization of the Torchwood team. Can't wait for the rest!

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

DUDE!

I am really looking forward to seeing where this is going to go. I love Tosh and Owen's humanity here. Gwen is sweet as per usual.

Creepy, creepy Jack/Ianto dynamic.

Also, thank you for dealing with the trauma. It's a narrative that Torchwood (and Doctor Who) kind of suck at.

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

I really worked hard on featuring Tosh and Owen a bit in this, because I tend to default to Jack-Ianto-Gwen. Glad it's working!

[rosy5000.livejournal.com]

This is a very different and interesting version of Cyberwoman. Can't wait to see more.

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[anyjen.livejournal.com]

Nice! That's definitely a new take on the cyberwoman thing.

and just a tangy hint of Myfanwy's enzyme sauce.

Uh... but I thought it was a protein sauce?

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

Just double-checked -- it is protein, not enzyme. Good catch!

[louiex.livejournal.com]

This is my very, very excited face :D Loving this so far~

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

Glad you're enjoying it!

[robling-t.livejournal.com]

Oh, god, this is so chillingly plausible it makes me want to smack the production crew around for not rising to this level...

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

Well, limited time and resources :D And Ianto wasn't supposed to be a main character. Still, it's fun to look at ways it might have gone down...

[rabecka.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is brilliant. It's rather amazing to see a Cyberwoman story with a completely new concept. Great characterizations like usual - Owen's mix of anger and caring, Tosh's gallows humor, Ianto's programming manifesting in various ways, and this:

"There's no way you're getting home tonight," he said. Ianto was staring at Jack's knuckles. "You can sleep here."

Ianto's lips curved upwards. "I can, can I?" he said, looking up at Jack slyly.

Oh, no. Oh, god, no.

This little section just really drove it home for me. Also love the mixing of old and new Who, though my knowledge of the former is pretty non-existent (looked up Victoria on Wiki). I'm really going to have to catch up to the old series.

And now I'm going to attempt to wait til you've posted the whole thing, cause I love to dive into long stories and not come up for air for awhile.

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

I was really itching to post this, 'cause I'm not sure anyone's done a story quite like this before :D

The classic series is great but I'm kind of hoping people won't need it to enjoy this -- I've tried to be as obvious as possible with the Classic Clips in the story. :)

[clodia-risa.livejournal.com]

When did Jack brief the rest of the team on his thoughts that Ianto was being controlled? When they left, it seems they didn't know that Cybermen could do that, but when Tosh and Owen showed up they seemed to grasp that Ianto was responding by rote almost at once. Could you clarify that?

Beyond that - I am thoroughly enjoying the premise and execution.

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

I may have skimped on that a bit :D I hate writing explanations over and over, so I think I just repressed that. But I imagine Jack told Tosh when he phoned her back, and she told Owen :D

[wynkat1313.livejournal.com]

this is frakkin awesome! I love the premise and the set up so far is brilliant. Looking forward to the rest.

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it.

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

As others have said, a new take on Cyberwoman is a rarity and all the more welcome for that. Ianto responding by rote is just...creepy to the max, especially as we see how the Ianto of the first three episodes both is and is not the "real" Ianto.

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

The rote-response to my mind was the eeriest part, yeah; inappropriate reactions that still "seem" normal out of context are pretty unsettling, I think is what it is.

[lanarien.livejournal.com]

First, you own my heart for the old film clips. The description, combined with my love of old 8mm film, just blew me away. I could hear the spinning of the reel and muted-bleeding quality voices get morphed into, while I read the dialogue.

Second, well, everything everyone else has mentioned before me. :) This is such a great concept and I want to parrot another commenter: I WISH we could have followed this storyline a bit in the series. It's scary as hell.

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

I have to admit I didn't love old film half so much as I used to until I watched a bunch of classic Who. :D

[droolfangrrl.livejournal.com]

Dang but I love how you work that crazy fanfic voodoo you do so well.

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you!

[neifile7.livejournal.com]

Since I haven't said so yet, must add that I love the premise of taking up the Old Who Cyber-canon and making it work with TW. Very few of us are that conversant with how the canon enemies developed over fifty years, and there's so much rich stuff to be mined there (all the more because it's contradictory).

Also, strongly seconding the kudos about what you've done with Tosh and Owen. The UNIT conference call scene is great, too.

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of riches in old canon, in amongst the reconstructions and the Yetis and the bubble-wrap monsters :D

[marynyu.livejournal.com]

Oh Christ!! As if the original Cyberwoman story wasn't heartbreaking enough. Poor Ianto.

As always, I LOVE the way you write everyone on the team!! *sigh* I miss Tosh and Owen so much.

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

Aww, thank you!

I miss Tosh and Owen too. More than I thought I would.

[silentstep.livejournal.com]

Okay, wow, um, Sam? How are you so awesome?

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

Lots of effort, I suppose :D

[bare-bear.livejournal.com]

Oh, oh this is brilliant! How the heck do you do this? Man, can I borrow your brain for just, like, a day. Seriously, a day would be perfect! I'll even trade you a large pizza for it! LOL!

I'm quite creeped out and feel so sorry for Ianto. Can't wait to see how you (and the team) help him become himself again.

Oh crud, I have to wait until tomorrow for an update? *le sigh* :D

[bare-bear.livejournal.com]

BTW? Blue screen of death? *dies* That's awesome.

[penny-sieve.livejournal.com]

What a fascinating take on the events after Cyberwoman. I enjoy all the attention to little details you add to the main plot, it makes the story stand on it's own so that even a non Torchwood watcher can read this and not be lost.

Can't wait to see where you take us on this journey :)

ETA: I'm glad you don't have Jack and Ianto involved in a sexual relationship yet. I'm not a fan of stories that have Jack pouncing on Ianto almost on his first day on the job

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

I think it can be interesting to put Jack and Ianto into a relationship early on, pre-Cyberwoman, but there are a lot of consent issues and it has to be handled pretty carefully. With this fic in particular, given Ianto literally could not consent of his own free will, I definitely didn't want them in a relationship yet.

[durayan.livejournal.com]

OOoh....this *is* disturbing! Lovely intro, and I am totally hooked! Poor Ianto! I love how the team are circling the wagons to help Ianto, even though they can't really know how much of him they've actually seen. Owen is amazing. Love this line:
"Jack glanced over his head at Owen, who looked deeply creeped out."
Hate UNIT. Could kick UNIT. Wow. Jack has issues that just run deep, doesn't he?

Can't wait until tomorrow!

[sam-storyteller.livejournal.com]

I'm really pleased with Owen in this -- edgy, but not the flat villain he can sometimes end up as :)