SMACKDOWN (Raoul): The Other Man, PG (FINAL)

[Lisa]

Title: The Other Man (XXII)
Rating: PG
Length: 129
Competitor: Raoul
Fight/Round: 1/C
Summary: She doesn’t think she can find happiness, but maybe there’s something to be said for openness.


“And it’s just going to end like this?” he asks, stopping her before she leaves the room.

She looks up at him, afraid to say what’s in her heart. “I-I have to.”

“You know how much I care for you, Keladry.”

Nodding, she takes his hand. “And I love you.”

“Something’s altered.” She sees, for the briefest moment, pain cross his features. His eyes grow distant.

Kel swallows thickly. “I can’t do it anymore. I can’t listen to empty promises of a future that can’t be. I want honesty.”

“Things will change—”

“No,” she says, cutting him off uncharacteristically. “I’m in love with someone else.”

He sighs, his expression weary and cold. “Goldenlake?”

She doesn’t understand how he knows, but she’s not surprised. “It’s different with him, Baird.”

[Kit]

heartbreaking and yet flail-inducing at the same time. You have a gift. Also, you're a mad genius writing machine, this round. Love you.

[Lisa]

::hugs:: thanks, kit! And while *you* say I'm a mad genius writing machine, I'd point out that you wrote more words than I did, and chose more meaningful ones a that!! Love you!

[journeycat]

Baird?! Now that's a twist! I'm glad Kel finally came to her senses, and decided that Raoul was the way to go.

[Lisa]

Thanks, Mandi. As much as my heart bleeds Kel/Wyldon these days, I thought we needed a preview for the NEXT fight!!

[Rowena]

It's over! *sobs*
Well, I am glad it's Baird instead of Wyldon...it's a trifle less distrubring. Of course I would have said Kel/Raoul was disturbing before Smackdown. Amazing fic, in total, I loved it! Amazing writing!

[emberrose]

The last bit where i found out it was Baird the whole time blew my mind away, I was definitely expecting Wyldon.
But i like this Kel/Baird thing that i feel came out of nowhere and is blissfully awesome.

[Lisa]

@ Rowena - I'll admit that Wyldon/Kel is one of my pet pairings (and highly encourage everyone to read through the retired Wyldon-fics, because some were *amazing*, and it might shed light on a different side of it) - but that said, I'm glad you're glad at how it turned out, and I'm thankful for all the feedback.

@ emberrose - yeah, K/W is where it wanted to go, but I had to steer it back to Baird to get us all ready for next week!! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[PeroxidePirate]

Hmm. Interesting twist! And probably less cruel than making poor Kel choose between Raoul and Wyldon...

[Lisa]

Definitely less cruel on my heart. It was initially going to be Wyldon, but then I thought Baird needed some sort of intro before his week.

Thanks for reading & commenting!