Lifelines: Michiru

by Erin Flynn

(Review after)

Last updated on the 13th of December, 1998.

      Ah-hah! for all of you who have read the fanfic. Wasn't that a good short read? A very nice dilemma presented in a most interesting way that makes it an enjoyable read. Erin Flynn really packed quite a punch in that tiny fist. I suppose the question of what kind of choice Michiru would make has been addressed a couple of times before in the anime, but not quite like this.

     Some parts of the fanfic had a poetic touch that I appreciated, and I liked very much how Erin Flynn just let the events come without having to make complete sense of it all. That's largely how the world is. It doesn't all make a clever sort of sense that is masterminded, or perhaps it is but when we live the world and see through tiny peepholes of own two eyes, it doesn't all fit together in the most efficient of senses. I think that Erin Flynn did a really nice job on letting us see the story through Michiru's eyes alone. Michiru doesn't get to see everything and we don't, and I liked that. Some writers have to be clever and explain everything and tell you it makes sense and have you appreciate their cleverness. Erin Flynn isn't one of them. (I'm not saying that explaining things and having them make sense is bad, but rather, how one goes about it. The real suave and subtle ones are great because then you really can appreciate their cleverness.)

     There was a very nice addressing of issues here. The conversation between Neptune/Michiru and the lady villain was good to read. Made one think. I will say that its style fanfic isn't quite anime-ish, and I don't know if Michiru would actually think in the fashion that she did, but the story still pulled (together). I will say that there was an occassional usage of words that I liked. (See below.)

Favorite quotes/scenes:

1.     The way the youma was telepathic. Not the fact that it was, but the way Erin Flynn went about it was masterfully done in my opinion, making it not too obvious, yet keeping us on the alert.

2.     The villain. We don't know who she is, or why she is doing this in the first place, where she came from or anything, and again this is an example of how Erin Flynn doesn't tell us anything and gets away with it. Things don't always have to be explained. And I liked the villain she conjured up. A nice touch. She wasn't really anime-ish, but she had refreshing manner, in a sense.

3.      That wasn't like Haruka, to give up... she might actually be dead...

     I liked the way the possibility was entertained without making overdramatic. Perhaps it was the usage of the word "might" - brings in the uncertainty that is more realistic.

4.     That scene where Michiru opens her eyes and sees Haruka looking at her. The mouthing between them, that was very nice. I could imagine very much Haruka doing something like that. The smile, too. Happy happy happy - my apologies for that, I just happen to love those two so very much.

5.      Time slows down sometimes...

     A line that had its slightly poetic effect on me. Suddenly brought in a dreamlike quality.

6.      She heard Sailor Moon chanting something behind her...

     This added to the dreamlike effect. Again, I like how Erin Flynn doesn't try to give a reason for Sailormoon chanting, when I don't ever recall having heard her chant before. It works. I don't know, perhaps sheer whim is acting on me again.

7.      As she slumped to the ground, she heard other cries, from other voices...

     This added a realism to the situation, and again I like how Erin Flynn simply lets the even happen. No justification. It's perhaps a little representative of what the world is really like. I know, after going through all these quotes I'm starting to sound repetitive.

8.      Black.

     * * *

     White.

     The effect was so obvious, it was so clear what Erin Flynn was trying to do here with the contrast, and yet it still worked. It didn't put me off (as sometimes such obvious contrasts do).

9.      Unbidden Joy.

     Perhaps I'm being sentimental here, but I thought that was a beautiful ending. Simple and nice. Perhaps lightly touching. There is something about the word, "unbidden." Try and say it, there is something there that holds a magic about it. Maybe it's just me, but I liked the ending.

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