Sweet story

Wonderful story. Long ago I read in the New Testament where the author talked of the different "gifts" people are given - teaching, preaching, hospitality, and so on ... including the gift of encouragement. This story reminds me of that gift.
It takes so little to lift a person's spirits or brighten their day via a kind word or even a smile. I've seen how shocked the window washer or the shelf stocker look when I take a second to thank them for keeping the windows clean or the products available on the shelves.
Jonathan was truly an encourager in this story. Thanks for sharing.

Hello lovely Darkin!

Please accept my review as a token and gratitude/celebration for being Member of the Month! And yes, be surprise I am reviewing a SeaQuest fandom despite me being fandom blind. Well, I will admit I read a couple of good stories on the Archive Madness thread, but nothing like a well entertaining story! Because I was bored and I really felt like it, I really enjoyed this one-shot!

I really love the way you use "letters" as the main element for this one shot! It is simply beautiful and yet, no need for fandom knowledge required as long as there is a strong message that is conveyed behind the words! I favour this very much because it has everything! The best form of writing communication that allows others to better express themselves was the entire point and you did an excellent job for characteristics, friendship portrayal between Jonathan and Ben plus, his commanding officer trying to get a praise from Ben's father to write a letter to his son.

So, I made a few notes for this one-shot along the way and I honestly can't find any criticisms because I was literally like a goldfish slurping on every single word on this story telling and the words are deliciously yummy! There was a sense of humour, family, friendship and a small deck on drama on the side story which was well enjoyed! Do you know they were my favourite genres? *evil grins*

Now, to the official business of the day:

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Plot/Characters:
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*I think I'd figured out correctly on who are the minors and main characters for this one shot. If I could say, there are five characters involved on this story: Jonathan, Ben, Katie, Lucas and Chief Miguel Ortiz.
*Minor characters, Katie Lucas and Chief Miguel Ortiz are slightly featured

I really love the contrast and the friendship you had written on the first scene and the opening on the "mail" day. It is a beautiful start and already, a good sense of humours.
Example: Katie and Jonathan
: I figured they must be a divorced married couple, because along this quote on the dialogue
Katie - "I want to know how my ex-son-inlaw is doing" When she was reading her mail
Jonathan: "Maybe I should have married her instead" LMAO! I love that line of humour!

You'd shown between them that there were definitely flirts going on about there. Whatever had broken them up (my fault for not knowing the fandom), there was definitely a bang up chemistry between them because of the teases that was shown! Jonathan strikes me to be the likable kind of guy. :)

The next best scene was when Ben's commanding officer (Jonathan) ask Lucas to retrieved *coughs coughs* confidential details (naughty commander) on Ben's parents address. I like how he said, "I'll take full responsibility" when Lucas was totally unwilling. Well, Jonathan being the man he is! But, the result of his wish was a golden star! :)

I thought that the relationship between Ben and his father was well detailed. That there was definitely a fierce tension between them.
Quote: "...he wanted to know when Ben was finally going to make something of himself." Yeesh, dad - that was a really bitter yet stinging line. Tut-tut! I winced on that one and felt sorry for Ben very much.

And the conversation between Jonathan and Ben almost sounded like a father when Ben told him all about it and why there was a certain bridge of tension between him and his father. You got the message through to me on the story. Good old Jonathan commander for wanting to do something about it.

Overall, it was a truly remarkable storytelling! I would have chosen other stories on your profile, but, this one caught my interest due to favourite genre on friendship and family.

See ya around, dearie! xx

Very nice.

Finally get to come indulge in a little RW (in a word, homework blah :P) and found that you had this gem, so of course I jumped right on it first.

With the communication system they showed glimpses of on SQ, I admit I never thought of the idea of people getting actual physical letters as opposed to them sending messages to people's personal consoles (email/video-Skype type calls)...it must be the Trekkie in me. But I like the idea of mail day and it would make sense that, like in the real world, people would still send physical letters to their loved ones onboard ships. And who better than Ben to play mailman and deliver to everyone? Fits in with his role as morale officer :)

I like the little contrasts of his watching each person's reaction: Miguel's crack about being related to everyone on Cuba, being awkward around Jonathan, and my personal favorite - him and Katie sharing snippets of each other's letters. How sad that the place he proposed to her has gone out of business...obviously, it would not matter much to most people but it does to them, even tho they're no longer together.

["Don't tell Katie; she'll be crushed."] - oops, LOL. Well, that's what he gets for reading it out loud.

["How is she doing? You'd better be treating well. She always was the best thing to happen to you."] - capital WORD. GO, MOM.

["Have I told you how much I love your mother?" Katie teased. "When you write her back, tell her I'm fine but that she needs to work on you."] - LMAO.

Ouch about his dad...gotta love fathers like that who think it's "wrong" in some way to show affection to children or think that tough love is the only way to show it. Bleh.

["Really? I never would've guessed. He doesn't act like it bothers him."
"Ben acts like nothing ever bothers him."] - THANK you, Katie. Sometimes I wonder how the others don't eventually see this fact. Yea, she knows him better than anyone having been married to him, but c'mon y'all...connect the dots. :P

I like the little implied talk...it's nice to see the possibility of them becoming friends, even in an offscreen way.

["You know I could get in trouble for that, don't you? UEO personnel records are classified."] - oh puh-lease. and when has that EVER stopped you, Lucas? LOL

REALLY like Jonathan's letter...hits all the right notes by explaining how he knows both sides of Ben, but focuses on the important part: that he IS an asset to the crew.

And the ending...oh hell, I almost cried a little. I am a little surprised that he read it out loud to Jonathan but I spose it made sense given that they'd talked about the dad problem. Would have liked to have seen Katie's reaction to dad's letter too but that's just the shipper in me, lol...it is just fine without it. Overall, I loved it!

TL, DR - new favorite Darkin fic! XD

Hiya :) Just as an FYI, while I've learned a lot about the seaQuest universe from your fics and others, I have no idea what happened in "Bad Water" so I'm winging it somewhat :)

I like the fact that you immediately tie the crew in with people they love who are off the ship/submarine... one of my favourite things in fanfiction is seeing canon characters interact with OCs and barely mentioned CCs because it gives them a more rounded character, I feel. the beginning paragraph seems to "tell" a little more than show; maybe you could work in something Ben says or does to demonstrate how happy he is on mail day, or something? It's possibly just me being the greatest nitpicker ever, but there was something about "Ben loved to see" that sat a little oddly with me, and I thought it'd be neat if you could individualise whose face is wearing a smile and who might be crying happy tears.

I hadn't realised Ben and Katie are... exes, if I'm reading that right? If so, it's heartwarming to see them on very good terms. I lol'd about "don't tell Katie." Ooops.

["You see Ben's..."] You're the comma afficionado :) But I would put a comma after "see."

Ohh, the latter half of this just hurt my heart (which is not a bad thing.) I won't spill my life story on your review board, but you capture perfectly the struggle some adults have in a lot of areas just because an emotionally repressed parent refuses to verbalise or otherwise show any kind of affection or pride. It can sound like First World Problems but can be really debilitating. I was so pleased when Jonathan stepped up in defence of Ben, who the crew sometimes treat as if he were a "handful" indeed, and that the father stepped up. I was surprised he did, since expressing oneself comes especially hard to older men, but it was extremely satisfying when he did. Thank you for writing this x

*cracks knuckles* I've been excited for this one!

JONATHAN IS GOING TO BE AN UNCLE! SQUEEEE! That is just the most adorable mental image ever and now I really want you to just write that scene of him getting to hold the little baby for the first time and aaaiii, just so cute! Okay, slightly gone off on my little tangent there, sorry! Just overcome by baby feelz! XD

"...with his toothbrush..." LOL, now I can completely see something like that happening to the poor guy. Really like the way that you're establishing what went on between the two of them here. Writing it from Ben's POV gives you the chance to use a bit more banter and light-hearted lines to describe it, where we know it'd be much more down-to-earth if Ford was the narrator. So, excellent stylistic choices, and I love how this contrasts so much from when you write Nathan or Kristin. Ben gives you so many chances to experiment and play around with the voice!

"...both said in unison..." Nitpicky, but should really be either "both said" or "said in unison" here.

Bahahahaha... I think I totally love Katie's mom. XD

I love the little details about their shore lives that you're putting in the letters. They really add to the characterization that we have from canon, and the background on the Ben/Katie marriage was really sweet. I loved the reaction to the place where he proposed to her being closed down, and it's really such a shame that a place that was important to them was gone. The fact that they still have enough affection for each other to feel that sadness speaks a lot. The relationship didn't work out, but it still had its own merit.

"...lurk outside my door?" LOL, on occasion. Just when the urge overtakes him... -nods-

I love the awkward way that Ford is trying to deal with approaching Ben after so much time had gone by since Bad Water. That old "supervisor realizes that he's messed up his relationship with his employee and oh crap now what" works really well here. Poor Ford!

"...to change that," Aww! They make unlikely friends, but I think they'll be good for each other. -nods-

"...Ben and seriousness 'serious' and your son's name..." I think something needed to get deleted here?

I really love the way that Ford is willing to go so far in helping Ben when he's so down about how family life. The dedication that he shows is really wonderful, and it shows a lovely, brotherly relationship between the two of them. Just so sweet... and the fact that he was able to convince his father to tell Ben about how much he really loves him... really a gorgeous ending to this. Love the way that you showed the relationship between these two! Beautiful job, my dear!

Cheers, dearie!