Feedback Chapter 41
I'm surprised that Max didn't suspect before that their bond was merely paused. Obviously he would have been thrown off given that she shouldn't be able to control it
at all. But if
pausing a connection is possible in their society I'm curious as to why that wouldn't have crossed his mind prior to this chapter. You would think he would want to hold on to the hope that they
did have an unbreakable bond. If that were the case he could keep her safe without sleeping with her prior to her being ready.
Can you imagine how difficult it would be for Max to not force himself on Liz like Sean intends to do? Technically it wouldn't be forcing himself on her since she wants him just as badly but for him (as stubborn as he is) it would be unless she initiated it. Which, really, he's been encouraging her
not to do. He says one thing but knows the answer is another.
Still, for him to be pushed into even
thinking of going against what he's been saying all this time... He's getting desperate because he knows that their time is limited. And it's running out. Either option is sickening to him but he really doesn't have another choice between either letting her go or strengthening their bond.
I agree about any potential bond between Sean and Liz being much weaker than the one that does/would exist between Max and Liz. But would the potential strength of bond between M/L be as strong as it could be if she were forced to be with Sean before she and Max were able to create a bond in the usual way? I'm hoping that's something we never discover one way or the other first hand. Given that Max has promised to look over her and not let Sean do anything that couldn't be undone - that includes sleeping with her.
On a side note - I think there's more darkness in Max than we've seen previously. He is still half-alien after all and with the training he's received and the walls he's had to put up to survive in that society... You don't carry that much strength, authority and respect in their community without being able to tap into that darkness many of them seem to carry. It would be even more important for him to be able to harness it given the ongoing feud he has with Sean
in addition to Max's position in the alien society. After all his position puts Max closer to those who would be more comfortable with their darkness than without it (even Michael is a good example of this). So in some ways it
would make sense that he'd want Liz to be 100% sure before making their bond unbreakable. Especially if after doing so she loses her free will. She wouldn't get a follow-up choice on whether she still wanted him. At some point he's going to have to let her in and see that dark side. And she's going to have to realize the kind of people she'd be around for the duration of her life. (But given that she's going to be pulled in anyways I'd say she has a better chance of happiness with Max than any other person).
And Max is right. Even if he managed to commit the perfect murder and get rid of Sean someone else (possibly more violent) will just be assigned to use Liz. So he has to accept the fact that his darkness is somewhat controllable. He can't control the darkness that someone else carries though. He could only fight it and he can't fight an entire army without being fully bonded to her. It'll be hard for him to accept that
she would accept him - even his darkness - but if he doesn't than he's going to lose her.
Side note over, if Max steps in again as Sean attempts to bond with Liz his punishment is just going to be more severe. And I doubt Isabel would be able to stand in in the same manner as Max would during Max's absence. (At least not without giving away her support of her brother.) So the time frame is basically coming to a head between M/L/S. (And I have a feeling we're going to have a lot more cliff hangers before the bond between M/L becomes
truly unbreakable.)
Beyond that he's finally realized that Liz is at her breaking point. In a way she's right though. If she were to be killed it would spare her a lot of pain and he wouldn't be punished any more. (Outside of the fact, of course, that he'd probably be killed for killing a gaea.) I so wanted to see what was going on in his head when he shut his walls down around his thoughts and emotions. I'm surprised he didn't have a panic attack after what she (all but) requested of him. In some ways he
is killing her though even if his intention is the exact opposite. Allowing her to go through this is killing parts of her that could be saved. By not being completely honest with
all their options he's playing a dangerous game of roulette. One wrong move and Sean could very easily kill her (body and soul) and Max knows it.
Especially once their current bond is discovered.
I can't imagine how hurt and angry Liz is going to be when she finds out that Max kept another option from her - regardless of his intention. I'm hoping that (for once) he'll be able to put the breaks on his emotions as they clash with hers through the bond. She's always been the one to get them off the angry train (so to speak) when they feed off one another's emotions like that. Let's hope he'll control his emotions enough - without shutting her out.
And Jo! He
finally said he loved her! The heartbreak that she felt was just palpable. I could see why she felt like it was a goodbye. The fact that she would have to pause their connection again coupled with the fact that he's still insisting they have to find a way to close it completely... It would be just crushing to hear it under those circumstances.
I tend to look at it from a different perspective though. She's only able to look at it from a perspective of loss right now since she feels like she's about to lose everything she has left that she holds dear. But I think he meant it more as a declaration. A promise. He's not willing to let her go any more. He
can't let her go. And he's going to do everything in his power to keep her
because he loves her so fiercely.
The fact that he didn't push the issue when she took it as a goodbye - he knows that she needs him to be strong while she can't be. But I have a feeling that he's come up with some plan to buy them more time until she's ready to be with him (or, rather, until he
admits that she's ready to be with him). The fact that he admitted he loves her
out loud shows that he's closer to accepting that fact than he has been before.
So a question I have (getting tired of hearing that yet?

) is how bad is it going to get
after their bond is completely unbreakable? The rest of the alien society isn't going to just be all "Well, we weren't happy but since you've bonded so strongly now - congratulations! Would you like a wedding cake during our weekend celebration for you?" In all honesty if Liz thought the law was being strict before just wait until she encounters it after fully bonding with Max.
The heartbreaking part where Max begged her not to forget him - it's like he wanted to ask her so much more but couldn't (or wouldn't). It was just such a loaded request. And then to let his emotional walls down between the two of them... He's putting more and more of
himself out there for her even as his society is trying harder and harder to take her away from him. Allowing her to feel him all the time (just like he feels her) is what they both need right now.
So... I almost want to ask for the next six chapters just to avoid cliff hangers. And hopefully get to a much anticipated chapter... or three (you, know, if you wanted to stretch it out since it's going to be a long fic and all).
Or you could just post
everything you have now! And then we could pump you for info by giving you milk chocolate.

I think if we get you on enough of a sugar high we could get you talking.
Okay... Your turn!
