--dedicazione--
For Ellen, aka eretria. Because she's become a dearest friend very quickly, and because she has one of the most generous hearts in the world.
Close to six months ago Ellen interviewed Sark of "Aflame". She asked him: "Are you planning on seeing Agent Bristow again, now that you're both free agents?"
Sark answered, taciturn, "I have seen Agent Bristow since then, yes. I believe Joanna is planning on telling that story as well, however, and so I'll leave it to her."
"Like
Time" is the story of which he speaks.
--grazie--
There are sereval people to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude for this piece.
Ellen, who bought me a thesaurus only to get me to write, and whose questions, when she feedbacked "Aflame" sparked the idea for this little story: I know that I have a burning desire to see what happens afterwards, to see how they will react when they meet again. Will he drop his cocky mask around her? Will she ever let him this close to her again? I hope I answered at least some of these.
Rez, who let me whine and bitch and, instead of slapping me silly, listened and supported. For that, and for showing me how to battle the demons of the POV, as wells as helping when words escaped me.
Karen, for her beta and advice. I am lucky to have you.
Also, the countless Live Journal friends, who pried, and prodded, and encouraged, especialy Amy, for the best cheerleading job I've seen. You all cannot imagine what your support meant to me.
Lastly,
to all Sarkney writers, who showed me what quality, imagination and brilliancy
is, and that we don't have to look for it on New York Times' bestseller
list. You are all fabulous, and I'm proud when you count me as one
of you.
--la storia--
"Like Time" is a sequel to "Aflame", but it was never meant to be. It was originally part of a much larger story arc, one that has gone awfully awry, first when Sydney and Sark insisted that they last saw each other in the burning Ukrainian forest, and then when they started behaving in ways that were completely unfitting for the original concept.
"Like Time" was merely a flashback chapter which took us out of medias res, and clarified how we got there. But it grew and grew and grew, and soon became longer than all other chapters of the story altogether. It was also much better than everything else, and, thus, emerged as a stand alone.
The
rest of the story waits to be told and eventually will be, and hopefully,
I won't have you wait another year.
--crediti--
The title of the story is taken from a verse of a song. The song is performed by a Polish artist, Lzy, and is entitled "Oczy Szeroko Zamkniete" ("Eyes Wide Shut"). I have listened to this song constantly while writing the second half od the story, it was a great inspiration. The line, translated, goes as follows:
like time, charmed into a drop of amber gold
I thought it was a wonderful metaphor for the Osteria and its timeless atmosphere.
The quote at the end of the story (i have been through mire and confusion/i am free/as far as I can see) comes from the lyrics of the a song by Dishwalla. The song is entitled "Nashville Skyline". Mire and Confusion were the original title of the story when it was still a flashback chapter of a larger whole.
The
message
Sark left Sydney (Since you're reading this, I'm hoping you'll save
my life.) has been worded by Rez, when I was at a loss for new ideas.
The original message was much more awkward.
--i luoghi, etc.--
Since the bunny started bouncing, I knew this story would be set in Milan, Italy.
Osteria dei Binari, the trattoria that is such a favorite of both Sark and Sydney, does exist in Milan and really is located near the Porta Genova railroad station. It really is habituated by the eighty year olds who live in the neighborhood, but, is hardly a neighbourhood's secret. It's very famous in Milan and suit-and-tie businessmen come from miles away to try the regional cooking it features. Pumpkin soup is one of its trademark dishes, and if the sun is out you can challenge the cook to a game of bocce - and the rules are the same: if you win you will eat free, if you lose you pay double.
The interior of the actual Osteria doesn't match my desription, it was first inspired by the photo you can see in the corner of this page.
All dishes and foods mentioned in the story are Milanese specialities, including the cheeses Sydney is so fond of. Dolcetto d'Alba is one of the most popular wines in the area, its wines are planted on tens of thousands square meters of local vineyards. Its name does translate into "little sweet one".
The
Rossis, however, are entirely my invention. But I like to think that there
are restaurateurs in Italy that would match the description.
--le parole.--
The story utilizes some Italian, which I left untranslated, since I felt that the phrases were so generic and/or similar to English, you wouldn't have trouble understanding the meaning. In case you did, here's a small dictionary:
giovani
persone – young people
stranieri
- foreigners
forse
-
perhaps
il
giovane signor – young mister
E
cosí inizia – so it begins
molto
buono! – very good
Che
la sorpresa! – what a surprise
sì?
–
yes?
buon
giorno – good morning
belle
- beautiful
Che
è successo? – what happened?
per
favore – please
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