Woo! Poll!

[agilebrit]

Because the Hubby and I are still debating Cold Comfort.

This paragraph:
He still shivers. Vampires shouldn’t shiver. The narrow bed will hold us both, and my high body heat may help him. I tell myself that it is simply out of consideration for his comfort that I lie on the blanket and pull him close. Certainly I have suffered no bereavement this day--these puny humans, with their demanding and confusing emotions, meant nothing to me. I need no solace from this half-conscious half-breed, who grasps my waist as a drowning man would. I rest my cheek on the wild curls that have escaped from their prison of hair gel and tell myself that he is the one who needs consolation; that he is the one whose bonds to his friends were broken by death; that his spirit, as well as his body, is the one that suffers. I do not wish for vengeance, do not feel grief, or rage, or loss.

Yes. That is what I tell myself as tears fall from my eyes.

So, we have commissioned a poll, wording approved by both of us:

Does that section of the fic contain romantic aspects?
	Oh, totally.
	No, it's purely medicinal.
	Sorta, kinda.
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Expand your answer in comments, please. I'm really interested in this. :-)

Comments

[hieispike.livejournal.com]

My answer was "Sorta, kinda." I think the story is mostly about comfort during a time of grief. But if you ship Spike/Illyria and want the romantic aspect, it's fairly easy to see that as well. :)

[kantayra.livejournal.com]

If the woman is Illyria, then yes. That's about as romantic as Illyria gets. :P

If it's someone else, then heaven help us all. :P

[theohara.livejournal.com]

It seemed like the beginning of a connection that could go either in a friendship or romantic direction. So I said sorta, kinda.

[zilly14.livejournal.com]

I said "Sorta, kinda" as well. It's Illyria, she can't really BE romantic, at least not at this point, but at the same time it's like she's almost trying to be.

[alliterator.livejournal.com]

I said "Sorta, kinda," because it's not like Illyria was kissing or having sex with him or expressing any romantic intentions. However, she was feeling an emotion for him, something different then she's ever felt, so it is kinda, sorta romantic.

It also is a very, very good piece of prose.