New Chapter for Balance of Power
Balance of Power
Bambu12 Reviews | 6.58/10 (12 Ratings, 0 Likes, 6 Favorites )
After the debacle at the Department of Mysteries, finding the solace of sleep isn't easy.
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About Bambu
Author
Bambu
Member Since 2005 | 27 Stories | Favorited by 542 | 117 Reviews Written | 1,029 Review Responses
I have loved the written word since watching my mother’s fingers trace the lines of a book, luxuriating in riveting tales and well-turned phrases. Many a night I read until dawn, a plastic flashlight hidden under the covers to light the pages as I raced the rising sun to finish my latest must-read.
Since joining the HP fandom, I've been privileged to receive more than 50 awards, including Best Author (Quill to Parchment Awards) and Best Classic Author (Most Potente Passions). Among others, my stories have won awards for Best Hurt/Comfort (Spoils of War, Morning Has Broken), Best Novel Length (Calling Card, Guard…Check…Mate), Best One Shot (A Beach in Ireland), Best WIP (Saving a Death Eater, The Summoning), Favorite Overall Story (Complexities), and Readers’ Choice (A Quest of Paladins).
Aside from a judicious polish for formatting and egregious typos, I don't plan on revising my early work. Those stories are the stepping stones of my writing journey. Please note some stories contain adult content. None is more graphic than equivalent scenes in the television shows True Blood or Game of Thrones, and age appropriate warnings are posted.
I no longer write fanfiction prolifically. Like many fanfic authors, my focus has shifted to original work. A member of the Romance Writers of America and the Southern California Writers Association, I write under my name: Lin Thornhill.
My original story Verisimilitude published in Thoroughly Modern Monsters (Story Spring Publishing, 2013) reached the top 100 fantasy anthologies and broke into the top 10 in the UK the first month of release. Ben and Christine’s story will continue in 2016.
Fixation, my latest short story, slated for publication in J. Aldis’ anthology Immanence, with a winter 2015-2016 release, is particularly exciting as it anchors the Messengers of Inari novel series I’ve been developing for the past year.
9/2015
Reviews for Balance of Power
Wow, very ouch, in more ways than one. I am usually not into angst but this was wondefully written. It would have been great to hear it from Snapes point of view as well.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
I didn't really want to develop this scene into something more, but I wanted to play off the anger, grief, and jealousy between them. I don't think it would ever end well.Thanks for giving it a read and leaving me a comment.
Oh wow! I normally don't like angsty ending stories but you wrote it so beautifully, that you can't help but feel for poor Remus. I absolutely love the imagery of the house and how you brought it back at the end.
Now I have to go read something less depressing. ;-p
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
There is an angst warning, really there is. Having said that, I'm very glad you thought the imagery was affecting. That's exactly what I was going for. Thanks so much for letting me know what you think.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
There is an angst warning, really there is. Having said that, I'm very glad you thought the imagery was affecting. That's exactly what I was going for. Thanks so much for letting me know what you think.
oooooo.... I likey! Balance of Power. I would love to see this from snapes pov!
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
Why thank you very much. Snape's POV? Hmmmm. I'll have to think about it.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
Why thank you very much. Snape's POV? Hmmmm. I'll have to think about it.
The only comprehensible thought in this mind was you reap what you sow.Your story is the ultimate example of "what goes around, comes around."Very angsty, very dark! Very getting even...Beth
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
Thank you very much. I thought it was a perfectly plausible, if slightly warped, encounter, and I tried to <i>use</i> their canon characters to good effect. Remus is definitely an Omega, and Snape is willing to pick on someone weaker than him to bolster his own lack of real power.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
Thank you very much. I thought it was a perfectly plausible, if slightly warped, encounter, and I tried to <i>use</i> their canon characters to good effect. Remus is definitely an Omega, and Snape is willing to pick on someone weaker than him to bolster his own lack of real power.
*ouch* You write good angst. :)
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
Sorry, and thank you.
Response from odogoddess (Reviewer)
Oh, don't be. I adore angst. :)
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
Whew! I suspect it's my natural element. Thanks again.
Response from odogoddess (Reviewer)
Nothing at all wrong with that. I knew angst and h/c were my favourite playground since I was about 13, although I didn't know the terms back then. I didn't discover the proper terminology of fic and used within fandom until I was a few years older.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
It's definitely among my favorites, along with h/c, action/adventure, and suspense (all at the darker end of the spectrum.) I like the intensity, and if one can find the right pacing nothing is better to read.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
Sorry, and thank you.
Response from odogoddess (Reviewer)
Oh, don't be. I adore angst. :)
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
Whew! I suspect it's my natural element. Thanks again.
Response from odogoddess (Reviewer)
Nothing at all wrong with that. I knew angst and h/c were my favourite playground since I was about 13, although I didn't know the terms back then. I didn't discover the proper terminology of fic and used within fandom until I was a few years older.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
It's definitely among my favorites, along with h/c, action/adventure, and suspense (all at the darker end of the spectrum.) I like the intensity, and if one can find the right pacing nothing is better to read.
i've always thought if anything happened with these two (and i like the pairing for whatever reason, so i've given it quite a bit of thought) that there would definitely be this sort of power trip involved. given their baggage, how could there NOT be! in the story i wrote about them, i couldn't take it to as dark of a place as you did, basically because i'm a big old softie who loves a happy ending, but i totally respect what you did here.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
I quite see your point about this pairing, and I do think the biggest hurdle any writer for this ship is the plausibility. As I wanted to anchor the vignette firmly in canon, I knew there was no possibility of a relationship or a happy ending, so I let it go as dark as the characters would have taken it.Thank you so much for reading it, even if it didn't have a happy ending (I love happy endings too, but sometimes I want a little more gritty realism,) and I'm thrilled you understood what I was attempting to create with it.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
I quite see your point about this pairing, and I do think the biggest hurdle any writer for this ship is the plausibility. As I wanted to anchor the vignette firmly in canon, I knew there was no possibility of a relationship or a happy ending, so I let it go as dark as the characters would have taken it.Thank you so much for reading it, even if it didn't have a happy ending (I love happy endings too, but sometimes I want a little more gritty realism,) and I'm thrilled you understood what I was attempting to create with it.
Oh, my! Well, well, not only Snupiny-slashy stuff, but DARQUE Snupiny slashy stuff! I liked the description of Grimmauld - it felt very fitting and I found it very easy to slip into the unhappiness and sorrow of that time in canon. Remus' and Severus' liaison was both gritty and realistic. I feel so much for Remus in this, but y'know, maybe it's just what he needed.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
I know. It went dark, hence my poor nerves!I think the overtones of the house tainted everything within, and there was so much room for unhappiness at that time. I really wanted to anchor the liaison in canon, and with their heterosexual natures I wanted the catalytic event to be ... er ... cataclysmic. As far as I see it, Canon!Remus has an Omega quality to him and Canon!Snape has a victim's desperate need to feel empowered and in control because he's the pawn of so many people.Thank you so much for coming to read this. I really, really appreciate it.
Response from HogwartsHoney (Reviewer)
Canon!Snape has a victim's desperate need to feel empowered and in control because he's the pawn of so many peopleThat really is the essence of him, isn't it? *pets the poor thing*
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
I think it probably is, and there is/was so much potential there, and between them Dumbledore and Riddle warped him. Sigh.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
I know. It went dark, hence my poor nerves!I think the overtones of the house tainted everything within, and there was so much room for unhappiness at that time. I really wanted to anchor the liaison in canon, and with their heterosexual natures I wanted the catalytic event to be ... er ... cataclysmic. As far as I see it, Canon!Remus has an Omega quality to him and Canon!Snape has a victim's desperate need to feel empowered and in control because he's the pawn of so many people.Thank you so much for coming to read this. I really, really appreciate it.
Response from HogwartsHoney (Reviewer)
Canon!Snape has a victim's desperate need to feel empowered and in control because he's the pawn of so many peopleThat really is the essence of him, isn't it? *pets the poor thing*
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
I think it probably is, and there is/was so much potential there, and between them Dumbledore and Riddle warped him. Sigh.
You reap what you sow... that was perfect. And even though it was dark, I think it's very realistic for Severus and Remus.I also loved the comparison of the house to an old lady. I could almost hear the creaking in my mind.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
::blushes:: Thank you very much. I was attempting to get the feel of canon realism here, and I'm so pleased you thought it worked.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
::blushes:: Thank you very much. I was attempting to get the feel of canon realism here, and I'm so pleased you thought it worked.
Lately, I am preferring the dark stories to the lighthearted, so I was really pleased to have something to read ... and from you too!The imagery of the house was perfect – how it settled like an old lady with rheumatism. And then the culmination when Remus was compared to the house ... I like the comparison, how they've been abused, are worn out, despondent, emotionally and physically both.You reap what you sow. What indeed had the two men sown ... It definitely wasn't something pleasant.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
NSS, thank you, thank you, thank you.I'm not even quite sure where this story came from, but I could see some plausibility for this encounter, which will leave indelible impressions on each, even as it fuels their self-loathing.I'm so pleased you thought it had an impact and that you liked what I did with the house.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
NSS, thank you, thank you, thank you.I'm not even quite sure where this story came from, but I could see some plausibility for this encounter, which will leave indelible impressions on each, even as it fuels their self-loathing.I'm so pleased you thought it had an impact and that you liked what I did with the house.
Wow!! Okay now this is indeed a powerful story. Though it is very base at the surface it is also very erotic and dysfunctional all wrapped into one. I think Snape just got a bit of twisted revenge.Irish
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
::nods:: Yes, it is indeed fairly crude, but the dynamic is extremely twisted and dysfunctional, and I wanted to build on the only potential moment this might happen in canon (at least as far as I see it, and long past their school years.)Thanks so much to taking the time to read and review.
Response from irishredlass (Reviewer)
Honestly I would not say it is crude...human and elemental yes, but not crude. Sexual assault is crude(among other things). Snape just gave him a pretty severe case of blue balls. And it is true sex is power sadly a lot of humanity abuses that power
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
::nods:: Yes, it is indeed fairly crude, but the dynamic is extremely twisted and dysfunctional, and I wanted to build on the only potential moment this might happen in canon (at least as far as I see it, and long past their school years.)Thanks so much to taking the time to read and review.
Response from irishredlass (Reviewer)
Honestly I would not say it is crude...human and elemental yes, but not crude. Sexual assault is crude(among other things). Snape just gave him a pretty severe case of blue balls. And it is true sex is power sadly a lot of humanity abuses that power
That was extremely powerful. Hard to read, but in the best way, where you know you're watching something very basically human--flawed and true.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
Thanks very much. I appreciate your willingness to read beyond the confines of fluffy goodness (but then again, I rarely write only fluffy goodness.)It's not pretty at all, I'm afraid. Yet, I think it's a plausible interaction considering the potential backstory between all the Marauders, Snape's dysfunction, and Remus' canon weakness of character.
Response from Lariope (Reviewer)
Oh, I quite agree, it's very plausible, in terms of both canon and human nature.And while I like fluffy goodness from time to time, I'm sure you can guess that I prefer explorations of what it means to be human--all the parts. Even the ugly ones. You're a master, Bambu.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
When I first contemplated writing this vignette I wanted to find a canon moment from which to extrapolate their dynamic. To my mind, there are only two: just before the Shrieking Shack incident and the one I ended up writing. Their interactions would be entirely different given the time frame; the first would be merely friendship, which to me would present a potential rival in Sirius Black's ruthless and jealous eyes (regardless of his sexuality, I suspect he was a very possessive friend;) but I'm not really interested in writing Marauder era stories ... and there you have it.Your compliment practically steals my breath,
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
. Thank you more than I can adequately express.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
Thanks very much. I appreciate your willingness to read beyond the confines of fluffy goodness (but then again, I rarely write only fluffy goodness.)It's not pretty at all, I'm afraid. Yet, I think it's a plausible interaction considering the potential backstory between all the Marauders, Snape's dysfunction, and Remus' canon weakness of character.
Response from Lariope (Reviewer)
Oh, I quite agree, it's very plausible, in terms of both canon and human nature.And while I like fluffy goodness from time to time, I'm sure you can guess that I prefer explorations of what it means to be human--all the parts. Even the ugly ones. You're a master, Bambu.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
When I first contemplated writing this vignette I wanted to find a canon moment from which to extrapolate their dynamic. To my mind, there are only two: just before the Shrieking Shack incident and the one I ended up writing. Their interactions would be entirely different given the time frame; the first would be merely friendship, which to me would present a potential rival in Sirius Black's ruthless and jealous eyes (regardless of his sexuality, I suspect he was a very possessive friend;) but I'm not really interested in writing Marauder era stories ... and there you have it.Your compliment practically steals my breath,
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
. Thank you more than I can adequately express.
This is such a brutal - and entirely possible - representation of Snape. I totally believe that Remus and Sirius could have been lovers, and I totally believe that Snape could be as cold and uncaring as you portray him here. It does not mean he would not have pursued other instances of intimacy with Remus, but you're right - in this incarnation, it would never have been about affection or comfort.
Response from Bambu (Author of Balance of Power)
Elements of Snape's character are very dark, and his hatred of Sirius well-grounded, and yet, his feelings regarding Remus would be terribly conflicted. I don't see Snape handling it at all well. I chose to keep this as a one-shot because future interactions could easily be very different than this one, and to me, this encounter was all about Snape's power over an ancient enemy (and I'm not referring to Remus).Thank you, dearest, for giving it a read. I do so appreciate your thoughts and comments.