Fic: Domestication (Ivy/Skimmer, The Hollows)

[fembuck]

Title: Domestication
Author: Janine
Fandom: The Hollows
Pairing: Ivy/Skimmer
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don’t own them.
Summary: Skimmer wants Ivy back, and Ivy wants to be wanted.

Author's Note: Ivy's P.O.V.  I don't know how this one turned out!  Ivy's a lot harder to write than Rachel our Bumbling Idiot.  Apparently, Bumbling Idiocy is very easy for me to get my mind around.  Or maybe it's because Rachel's mental process is basically:  Mmm Man  Hump.  Irritation Powers Activate.  Danger Good.  Bite Me.  No Homo.  Bite Me.  No Homo.  Mmm Man Hump.  Mmm Man Hump. Mmm Man Hump. Bite Me.  No Homo.  Irritation powers activate.  No Homo.  I don't know which, but Rachel kind of fits like an old sweat shirt.  Ivy = hard.  So, to end this rambling note, I hope it's okay!  *runs and hides*
 

---

Skimmer’s fingers traced lightly across my cheek, and despite my best intentions I found myself leaning into the touch. Her fingers were warm, and familiar, and gentle, and it was nice to be touched. I’d like to think that I’m stronger than that, that it would take more than fingers on my cheek to tear down my defenses, but I’d like to think a lot of things about myself that I’m not convinced are true, or ever will be.

“What has she done to you?” Skimmer whispered, pain and horror clear in her voice.

“Nothing,” I growled pulling away from her and her fingers. I missed them immediately after pulling away and sighed. I’d hoped the moment would last longer than that.

“Nothing,” Skimmer whispered. Her tone was mocking and incredulous as she reached out for me again. “Definitely something,” she continued, her golden honey voice relaxing me slightly, even though I knew it was a trap. “The witch works quickly,” she purred, “She’s had her claws in you for less than a year, and already you’re positively … domesticated.”

Her fingers were tracing my cheek again and I reached up and yanked her hand away, shoving her arm back down by her side, angry and humiliated. I knew she wasn’t the only person to think that – though most were smart enough not to say it to my face – and the idea enraged me. Mostly because I suspected that there was quite a bit of truth to it.

“The only person trying to dig their claws into me is you,” I hissed at her, squeezing her wrist hard enough to bruise her perfect tanned skin. My comment wasn’t exactly true. Piscary already had his claws dug into so tightly that I was constantly amazed I wasn’t bleeding from it. But to comment on Piscary’s claws in me would have been like commenting on the sky being blue. Not to mention that it would have ruined the effect. The effect was important to me. So much of what I did, so much of who I was, was presentation.

“And since when is that such a bad thing, V?” Skimmer asked softly, the words coming out almost as a sigh as her eyes darkened with arousal. She liked the hold I had on her, and she was softening as desire took her over. A rush of heat spread over me, and I wondered if that’s why I’d grabbed her. “We used to have so much fun digging into each other.”

“Fun,” I muttered darkly releasing her wrist and turning away from her. “Someone died Dorothy!”

“It was an accident,” she responded, her voice surprisingly sincere. I turned around to look at her, not trusting her voice. I wasn’t sure that I could trust her expression either, but perhaps seeing the two of them would give me some idea how she was truly feeling. “I’m not a monster, Ivy,” she continued when I looked at her. “I didn’t want anything like that to happen. I tried to help you save him,” she sighed, her eyes falling away from mine for a moment. “I was sick over it too.”

“You didn’t seem overcome with grief,” I commented still watching her. She seemed genuine, seemed. It was so hard to tell, she was a professional liar and I wanted her to mean it.

“I couldn’t be,” Skimmer said, a little steel entering her voice again. “You were falling apart. Someone had to keep it together,” she continued, a touch of accusation in her voice that made me lower my eyes. “You channeled your guilt into being as miserable as possible without ending it all by walking into the right end of a stake. I channeled mine into you.” She was moving towards me again, and I wanted her to. “Can you really hate me for that, for loving you, and wanting to take care of you?”

Her arms wrapped around my waist and I let them, and when she reached up to direct my head into the nook between her neck and shoulder, I allowed that as well. God, it had been so long since I had been held. My arms wrapped around her as well, pulling her against me, holding her to me with a desperation that would have embarrassed me if it didn’t feel so good to smell her, and feel the warmth of her body against mine.

“I never hated you,” I murmured, needing her to know that. I had loved her, and a large part of me still did. The end of our relationship had been bad, very bad. But the beginning had been gloriously good. She had awoken something inside of me, and I exalted her. She became the goddess of my idolatry, and there was a time when I thought that we would never be apart. I never hated her. I was scared of her, or perhaps more accurately I was scared of what I turned into around her, but I never hated her.

“You left,” she breathed out, a rare note of true vulnerability entering her voice.

“You could only hold me up for so long,” I sighed pulling back from her embrace so that I could see her. “If I’d held on any longer we both would have fallen,” I continued, remaining close enough that we were still touching. I wasn’t ready to stop touching yet. “I had to find a way to deal with it on my own.”

“Okay,” Skimmer breathed out slowly, the exhalation so deep that it ruffled the wisps of blonde hair hanging at the side of her face. I could tell that she wanted to add more, that she wanted to disagree with me, but she held herself back. She didn’t want to fight. “But you don’t need to deal with everything on your own, V,” she began a few seconds later, her gaze as focused as her words were clear. “You don’t have to be alone now.”

“I’m not,” I said automatically, trying to pull back, but she tightened her hold on me. She never let me run. I hated her and loved her for it.

“You are,” she murmured without a hint of doubt in her voice. Her hands went to my face again, and I wilted. “She won’t touch you like this,” Skimmer said, causing my heart to clench at that thought of Rachel. “She’s scared of you. She’s scared of herself,” Skimmer continued relentlessly, her fingers still tracing my face in a way that I couldn’t pull away from.

She was right. Rachel wouldn’t touch me like this. Rachel wouldn’t touch me at all. Rachel was scared of me. She looked at me like a rabid dog. I tried so hard, but she was still … when I got too close, if moved just a tad faster than she thought I should, she flinched. We’d known each other for four years, and lived together for almost one and she still flinched.

“Who do you go to with your problems?” Skimmer asked softly, her thumb at the corner of my mouth. “Who do you lean on when things get rough? Who holds you when your will isn’t enough to give you strength?” she asked, knowing that I could not answer Rachel though I desperately longed to. She had seen enough of us to know how tenuous our relationship was. Rachel and I were continuously balanced on the razor’s edge. She was scared of me, and I was terrified of myself and it kept us apart, always apart.

“It can’t be like before,” I said meeting her eyes challengingly even as I gave in.

She knew before she asked the question that the answer was no one, no one but her. She was the only who had ever held me up, and the only one in my life who cared to now. And I needed someone. I couldn’t stand on my own for much longer, and we both knew it. The stress was becoming too much. I’d already had to start practicing again just to maintain my sanity, and while allowing myself blood and sex again had helped take the edge off, it wasn’t enough. I wanted tenderness too. I needed it. I needed someone to hug me, and tell me things would be okay, even if it was a lie. Sometimes a person needed the lie. It was the hope that was important, not the end result. I wanted to kiss someone without having them bear their neck to me in anticipation or without having to bear my neck to them. I wanted love, God help me, I wanted love and she was the only one offering anything that came close.

“Whatever you need,” she promised, her lips curving up into a dazzling smile as she gazed at me. She could taste victory in the air. “Whatever you want,” she continued leaning in close, her breath warming my skin in the most delicious way. “I’ll bend for you, V. I can change,” she went on softly, her hand grasping at mine. “I just need you to guide me. Help me, and I will follow.”

She was putting the power in my hands. God, she was good, a master manipulator. I’d never had the power with her, or with anyone, only the illusion of it. All I ever had was the illusion of it. The last of the living Tamwood vampires, high-blood, royalty, the envy of thousands … garbage! It was garbage, smoke and mirrors, words, useless, all of it. I was owned. My soul, my blood, my status, the covetous gazes of others, none of those things made me free or safe. It was meaningless, glitter coated nonsense that we used to make ourselves feel better about being slaves and puppets. True power was something I had never known, but Skimmer had always been so good at making me feel as if it was mine. She made me feel strong, and oh how I needed that now. I needed the lie, I needed the illusion.

I reached out for her, allowing my hand to cup her jaw. And then my lips were on hers, kissing her with enough force to bruise as one of her arms wrapped around my waist and the other wrapped around my neck. She allowed her fingers to drift up and tangle in my hair, tugging on the strands with enough force to hurt as my tongue dominated her mouth.

I forced her backwards until her back connected with the wall, the force of the impact jolting us both. I growled softly, and nipped at her lip, clamping it between my teeth and pulling on it to the point of pain. Skimmer moaned, and I released her lip, giving her a moment to recover before I crushed my lips against hers once more.

“Good girl,” she sighed, her fingers squeezing between the denim of my jeans and my skin so that her sharp, manicured fingernails could scrap roughly at the pale flesh that lay beneath.

I moaned and arched into her, biting down on her lip again. Her nails dug into my skin, and I knew that small, bloody crescent moon shaped wounds painted my skin. I bit harder on her lip, puncturing the soft, plump flesh with my fangs and we both moaned as her blood filled our mouths.

“Very good girl,” she panted, her hands moving around to the front of my body to begin undoing my jeans. She worked quickly, and I sighed as long, tapered fingers slipped inside of my pants. I arched into her, and she smiled before leaning forward to nip playfully at my neck. This was just another type of domestication and I knew it, but at least I wasn’t alone.

The End

Comments

[lilgreenimp.livejournal.com]

I didnt realise quite how much I'd been hoping you would write something from Ivy's pov until I read this. It really was breathtakingly beautiful... and I mean that in the literal sense that I actually found myself forgetting to breathe, so mesmerised by your writing... getting to a point which made me gasp and noticing once I had the air just how much I needed it. Just... I dont know how to describe this.

Your vision into Ivy's head was heartbreakingly hopeless. Her lack of belief in herself that you pourtray so well in your other stories is almost overwhelming when it's not from an outside perspective. Seeing the all encompasing hatred she has for herself and the desperation for some kind of validation, despite where it came from...

When I first saw the post for this fic I was slightly dissapointed that it was a pairing with skimmer not rachel, but you've somehow written a pairing which (I think) not many readers of the hollows series likes in an almost hopeful and definately enjoyable way.

I think reading Ivy's perceptions of herself during an encounter with Rachel would be painful. She's so easily hurt by that lil witch... and Rachel doesnt exactly help matters (ever). But with skimmer there to partially mute her self hatred it was bareable, reassuring that Ivy got some form of validation from the love skimmer has for her... even if it isnt really what she wants/needs.

I need to finish this essay soon (sorry... once I start writing it always seems to just go on...), but I wanted to say that for some reason this (in my head as I read it) kept reminding me of the comment at the end of Eyes Wide Shut pt2... it felt like perhaps this was what/where Ivy had been after running away from her kiss with Rachel.

Which speaking of... I need to go review - I came on to write the response I failed to give that (since I fell asleep last night after reading it) and found this instead. I have no self restraint so had to read first.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Your vision into Ivy's head was heartbreakingly hopeless.

I totally didn't realize what a big emo!pants Ivy was in my head until I started writing. I seriously feel like Ivy could be hugged for three days straight (no bathroom breaks) and it still wouldn't be enough. She's so beautifully tragic. I want to have little dramatic emo!babies with her.

I was slightly dissapointed that it was a pairing with skimmer not rachel

As is everyone it seems, lol

I think reading Ivy's perceptions of herself during an encounter with Rachel would be painful. She's so easily hurt by that lil witch...

This. And because Rachel can be so staggering insensitive all the time sometimes, it makes it that much more heartbreaking to contemplate. Like I'm just thinking about the agony Ivy must have been in when Rachel was covering up her bite marks, and it makes me want to smack Rachel until my hand falls off.

But with skimmer there to partially mute her self hatred it was bareable, reassuring that Ivy got some form of validation from the love skimmer has for her... even if it isn't really what she wants/needs.


I totally think this is what Skimmer was. She was a life-vest thrown at Ivy when she was she managing to keep her head above water. Ivy would have preferred a yacht rescue her, but the life vest was better than nothing.

[(Anonymous)]

Stories like this make me ache for Ivy...and hate Rachel just a little bit.

Beautifully written, although seeing Skimmer with Ivy make shudder. From Ivy's point of view I can see why she needs Skimmer -I just really wish she didn't.

I swear if White Witch, Black Curse doesn't have some Ravy in it, I am going to explode...

In the meantime, I'll rely on you for my fix ;D Great job, as always.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

...and hate Rachel just a little bit.

This. Sometimes I loathe Rachel so much in the books, when she pulls a moment of staggering insensitivity towards Ivy. I just want to slap her until my hand falls off. The way she treats Ivy sometimes is the equivalent of kicking a wet shivering puppy.

although seeing Skimmer with Ivy make shudder.

Skimmer's not that bad, is she? lol! Of course, it probably helps that I picture Skimmer kind of like this (http://www.marley-shelton.com/pictures/albums/eleventh_hour/promos/normal_hq_001.JPG) or like this (http://gothamist.com/images/2003_10_stephmarch.jpg).

I swear if White Witch, Black Curse doesn't have some Ravy in it, I am going to explode..

This. I will like throw things. And maybe set things on fire if this happens.

[yukivampyra.livejournal.com]

I think I love you. :D

Don't get me wrong, I love Ravy as much as the next person, but I've been secretly hoping someone would write Ivy/Skimmer since I first found out about Ivy's history with Skimmer. Just because, unlike Rachel, Skimmer's love for Ivy is canon. It's blatantly stated, and Skimmer shows she cares. And I just can't hate Skimmer because she acts like a vampire. I just can't. Not after she risked her life to save Ivy.

I loved Ivy's little internal tug of war. That she should be strong enough to resist Skimmer, but she's not because she still cares for her.

*glances at icon* Maybe it's just my love for badass, blonde vampires, but I actually liked Skimmer.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Just because, unlike Rachel, Skimmer's love for Ivy is canon. It's blatantly stated, and Skimmer shows she cares.

This. When Skimmer lopped off Piscary's head to protect Ivy, I fell for her a little bit. Skimmer's love for Ivy makes her okay by me. Ivy gets shit on so much in this series, it's like the only people who ever display an interest in her are abusive pervs like Piscary and LeDevine, which boggles my mind. I mean, when you stack Skimmer up against Piscary, LeDevine, Rynn, David and even Kisten, Skimmer is the least offensive by far.

And I just can't hate Skimmer because she acts like a vampire.

This. In fact, I didn't really see what Skimmer did that was that evil, other than being Piscary's lawyer (which she did to be close to Ivy, and which she agreed to without knowing about how Piscary how violated Ivy). I think it's that Kisten's warnings about Skimmer being bad for Ivy were so vague. I really have no idea what trouble Skimmer got Ivy into, or what kind of perverted shit they got up to, so it's hard for me to hate Skimmer for some vague things that she may or may not have gotten up to in the past. Ivy didn't exactly seem to be going off the deep end when Skimmer came back into her life either, so ...

I mean, I still think that if Rachel would stop being a fucking idiot that she would be the better choice, that she would allow Ivy to lead the type of life she aspires to, but I don't think Skimmer is horrible.

*glances at icon* Maybe it's just my love for badass, blonde vampires, but I actually liked Skimmer.

heh. Maybe this is why I like Skimmer too. The funny thing is Chase is like ten times as evil as Skimmer, and EVERYONE loves Chase. Actually, Ivy/Skimmer really are kind like Krista/Chase, with Ivy and Krista being emo!pants self-loathers, and Chase/Skimmer being sexy vamp and proud blood enthusiasts. Mmm, Krista/Chase ... much go watch some Blade.

EEEEKKKK!

[(Anonymous)]

Okay, just to start off with, you wrote it so it's basically fan-freaking-tastic. That's no different.

HOWEVER!!!

...it's Skimmer/Ivy. I mean, yeah, it's canon and everything. But...it's Skimmer and Ivy. I understand that Skimmer has an actual past with Ivy, and as much as I hate to admit it, Ivy does on some level need her. Rachel is, well, Rachel. Like you stated, she's too busy gawking at man parts and then trying to resist her attraction for Ivy to understand that she's basically hurting Ivy and herself more than she realizes. And hopefully she'll pull her head out of remission where it's been stuck up her ass to, you know, realize she loves her hot, sexy, vulnerable vampire roommate.

...but I still love me my Rachel and Ivy. And I don't love me some Skimmer and Ivy.

But great writing anyway. :)

Re: EEEEKKKK!

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

...it's Skimmer/Ivy.

Oh, Skimmer's not that bad, is she??? I don't want her to end up with Ivy. I mean, it's like twu!love with Rachel is the answer, but while she's waiting casual!comfort!sex with Skimmer raises some pretty good questions!

to understand that she's basically hurting Ivy

This is what prompts me to want to write fic every so often, where Rachel closet-case ass doesn't get McDreamy pants Ivy and ends up married to Marshall and miserable or something. But, those thoughts only last for a moment, then Ravy loves overcomes me again. It's not Rachel's fault she's slow (it's K.H's, lol)

[queen-bellatrix.livejournal.com]

This is... awesome beyond words. I've been wanting to see something like this since EWWBD, but I don't have the skill to climb in iether of these ladies heads.

You captured Ivy's pov so perfectly. There's a novela in the anthology Dates From Hell called Undead In The Garden Of Good And Evil from Ivy's pov, and this is eerily similar; have you read it? If you haven't, you must go out and get the anthology ASAP. Yeah, it's an insane price tag to pay for one novella, but your Ivy love will go through the roof. She's angsty and broken and she still manages to kick butt in a way that just left me breathless and laughing and cheering like a maniac. And the novella explains so much and made me hate Rachel, just a little, and love Skimmer even more.

And before I wrap this up and get off to bed, this line simply blew me away. "If I'd held on any longer, we'd have both fallen." The depth of love/commitment on both sides, even if it is complicated with all the vamp stuff, left me breathless. Thanks so very much for this; the more you write these characters and world, the better you get, and after reading Wish I May, I didn't think I would say that.
Bella

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

She's angsty and broken and she still manages to kick butt in a way that just left me breathless and laughing and cheering like a maniac. And the novella explains so much and made me hate Rachel, just a little, and love Skimmer even more.

Okay, I've gotta try and get my hands on this. I'd heard Kim had written a short from Ivy's POV, but after this review I definitely have to check it out!

The depth of love/commitment on both sides, even if it is complicated with all the vamp stuff, left me breathless.

I think the Ivy/Skimmer relationship definitely has darker undertones than Ravy, but it's sweet in it's own way. Skimmer is really almost as dreamy as Ivy in her own way. She is the Ivy, to Ivy's Rachel in their relationship really.

Thanks so much for commenting, I'm really glad you enjoyed it :D

[queen-bellatrix.livejournal.com]

Comparing Ivy to Rachel in Ivy/Skimmer is really insightful; I'd never thought of the dynamic that way, but now that I do, you're right.

I'll throw out a bit of advice, since I know you're probably on pins and needles for book 7. Go over to:

www.harpercollins.com/kimharrison

Sign up for author tracker in the blue box. Those who are signed up get the first Six chapters before the book is even out! (The first two were sent out today, but no worries; Kim will post a link to them tomorrow on her website* As long as you sign up within the next couple of days, you should get a sneak preview of the next four.

[narcolepsy-slds.livejournal.com]

I have finally started the first book - damn work - and wow, that book is so full of femslash that I am surprised that they really don't get together over the course of 6? books.
but hey, that is why I read your stories now.

as usual, well done! I reckon that it is easier to write Rachel since she is quite one-dimensional as a character while Ivy is more ... elusive? much more complex. But I think you have captured her POV perfectly.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

and wow, that book is so full of femslash that I am surprised that they really don't get together over the course of 6? books.

I know, it seems kind of impossible doesn't it. Yet somehow Kim finds a way (which mostly revolves around Rachel being a horn dog in all the other books. I mean it's hinted at in Book 1 with her drooling over Trent even as a mink - really Rachel, really? - but it gets much worse once she actually gets a boyfriend. *sigh*)

The femslash doesn't go away, in fact it gets even steamier than in the first book at points, but Rachel's gay-panic and staggering capacity for self-denial has kept Rachel/Ivy from truly happening.

Ivy is more ... elusive? much more complex.

This is a really good description of Ivy. She is very elusive and very complex. You never quite know how she is going to react to situations.

[ex-stanleyt.livejournal.com]

I wasn't sure how I'd like a story written from Ivy's POV, but I really, really like this... Well done! :D

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much, I'm glad that it worked out alright!

[ex-stanleyt.livejournal.com]

Hehe, your userpic made me chuckle

[makkera.livejournal.com]

OMG! This is too amazing for words!
Is it bad that I love this pairing so much more than Ravy?
I mean Rachel is great and everything, but she's SO annoying.. and doesn't really understand the awesomeness that is Ivy..
While Skimmer is probably the one who cares the most about Ivy throughout the all series.
Bah.. probably I just like her better because she's a hot ass vampire in my mind.

Anyway you write them beautifully, especially totally emo!Ivy.
Great job as usual!

[madndizzee.livejournal.com]

this is interesting. it's like it could totally happen in the books between Rachel's push and pull on Ivy. poor Ivy, she definitely needs to be shown lots of love. and Skimmer for all her faults, does love Ivy.

[seriousfic.livejournal.com]

Nice story! You do a nice Ivy voice and this is a fascinating mix of heartwarming, with Ivy getting the girl, and then how chilling it is that there's a level of falseness to their interactions, and how neither of them are quite getting all of what they want. You want to be happy for them, but at the same time... probably not the best idea, is it?