Twi-Fic I love: Clipped Wings & Inked Armor by Hunterhunting

Before I give you my first twific recommendation, I have to explain something.

I am a split personality, sort of. Whenever I listen to music, read a novel, watch a movie there are the two halfs of my mind struggling against each other: my analytical Inner Artist, and my average Inner Fangirl - namely: Artsie and Fanny. (learn more about them here)

While my Inner Artist is always busy, which is irritating sometimes, my Inner Fangirl had a rough ride most of my life, because Artsie has always been pretty dominant. Just lately, Fanny made up some ground on her. I decided to unleash them on the twific and leave the "reviews" up to them. So go ahead reading at your own risk.

In order to call them out, I have to use the red type font... wait a sec.

So there. Artsie? Fanny? 

Please say hi to our readers and introduce yourselves.

Artsie: Hello. Glad to meet you. And nice to see you too, Betti.

Fanny: Hi everybody!! (waves with both hands)

Artsie: Well, yes, I'm very much into the arts and culture. I'm helping Betti with her music and such. And I didn't like Twilight, just saying.

Fanny: Well, I LOVE Twilight and I'm helpful too... I think. Artsie just can't get over the fact that I totally overruled her, when Betti read Twilight. That's what she didn't like. Ha!

Artsie: It is just Not. A. Good. Book.

You both promised to behave, remember?

Artsie: I'm a pro. I can do that.

Fanny: No problem. If Artsie stops bitching at Twilight.

Ok. Can you just hold on to yourselves a few moments longer? Thanks.

Don't worry, folks, I picked a twific that both Artsie and Fanny liked for a start. Here is the basic information:

• Title: Clipped Wings and Inked Armor
  
• Author: HunterHunting
  
• Genre: angst/romance
  
• Centered around: Edward & Bella (no surprise, huh?)
  
• Rated M: content suitable for adults and mature teens age 16+
  
• Status: not finished yet, but updated in short intervals. 17 chapters written

Artsy? Fanny? Your turn...

Fanny: Can I start, please? Or would you...? I want to start!

Artsie: (mutters under her breath) Surprise, surprise...

Fanny: Yeah, ok!  So...  mpf.

Artsie: What's the problem?

Fanny: The story is so awesome - I don't know where to begin!

Why don't you just tell us the first thing that comes to your mind?

Fanny: Ok - I want to sleep with Tattward!!!

Artsie: (rolls eyes) That was, uhm... brilliant, Fanny. Really...

Fanny: But it's true, ok? Tattward is hot!

Maybe we should enlighten our readers... 

Tattward = Edward in this story, right?

Fanny: Yes, Edward. And he really kicks ass here, because he has all these piercings and tattoos, and every tattoo has a certain meaning - about his past and shit, you know - and not to forget his real huge...

Artsie: Uh-oh!

Fanny: ...anaco... What, Artsie? It isn't a spoiler  if I say that, is it. Betti?

I'm not sure, Fanny. Let's just better be safe than sorry. 

So... you like tattoos, hu?

Fanny: No, actually I didn't - before I read Clipped Wings & Inked Armor, that is.

Artsie: Betti has a tattoo too. Do you like hers?

Fanny: Well, I don't mean to be rude, but... (shrugs)

Ok girls, focus! Hot Tattward aside - both of you wanted me 

to recommend this twific on my blog, so: Why is it good? Artsie?

Artsie: First of...

Fanny: Why is it good? WHY IS IT GOOD? Are you kidding me?! (snorts)

Artsie: ...all, there is a extremely good rhythm and tempo in the writing, a natural flow as if written without any effort at all. Every chapter has a satisfying dramatic composition in itself which draws you in and carries you along, feeling to witness it all like in realtime.

Fanny (fake-yawns): Bla bla bla... are you through now? Rhythm and tempo - fuck, who cares? You had better mention all the Cullens are in it, the Cullens! All of them! Well, sort of.

So, are we already at the point of judging the 

Twi-Fidelity of Clipped Wings & Inked Armor?

TWI-FIDELITY 

How much Twilight is left?

Artsie: Right. That's another thing about Clipped Wings & Inked Armor that has turned out very well. It's an all-human story. But HunterHunting nonetheless created an original plot which actually mirrors the vampires-among-us universe of the Twilight Saga in a clever way. The Cullen characters are all there, their personalities perfectly translated, though relationships were shifted - often quite surprisingly.  The "youngsters" are running their own... oh, Betti - can I say that?

I think it's no spoiler. More a teaser. Just go ahead.

Artsie: Ok. So they are running a tattoo and piercing studio together, which is a world of its own. They're are all kind of outsiders, due to their looks alone. 

Fanny: Yeah, kick ass looks! Yummy...

Artsie: And they have things to deal with from their past, dark secrets too. They kinda keep to themselves. They might look dangerous and  a little scary in the eyes of "normal" people, but at the same time they are beautiful and alluring and kindhearted all together. This is ought to sound quite familiar to the average Twilight fan. (smirks) And there is Bella of course - pretty, shy, vulnerable, wounded Bella...

Fanny: That is sooo awesome. When you read it, it's like meeting old friends. I love it!

Artsie: But that's pretty much it. Generously, I'd say. I think, it's a big win to be introduced into this new convincing universe invented by HunterHunting. Still, the characters are all there, if not actually appearing, at least mentioned as conclusive part of the story.

Fanny: Yeah. No big celebration for Team Jacob here, though. Sorry, puppies... (giggles)

Artsie: I loved the way how some Twilight keywords were integrated. With a wink, so to say.

Fanny: Actually THE Twilight keywords. But we won't give it away, right Artsie? It is too much fun to find that out by yourself.

TWI-FIDELITY SCORING 

2 out of 5 Wettest Places in the Continental US

Fanny: So can we come to the anaconda-part now?

Artsie: Oh gawd... Fanny! (rolls eyes)

I think, Fanny wants to talk about the lemon qualities

of the story now. So let's go: 

TWI-LECHERY 

How hot is the plot?

As I said before, I missed some good sex in Twilight. Badly.

Fanny: (snorts) Tell me about it!

Artsie: I assume you didn't miss anything in Clipped Wings & Inked Armor? *raises brows*

Fanny: OMG... you have NO idea! It's just... ROAR! I-love-it-because-itleavesnothingtobesiredand...

Artsie: Breathe, Fanny!

Fanny: ...there are all kinds of loverliest porn...

Artsie: I wouldn't call it porn, really. The sex scenes are just, uhm... (clears throat)  descriptive.

Fanny: Oh yeah? C'mon, Mrs. Cool-and-Cultural, I can't wait to hear you review THAT. I bet you were all wet in your cultural centre, hu? (laughs)

Artsie: I'm not going to vouchsafe a reply to this. But I admit, the erotic passages did affect me in the way they're supposed to. There's no narrator in this story, so you experience everything from either Bella's or Edward's point of view. And additionally to the strong lustfulness, there is...

Fanny: Fess up, Baby! You were drooling like a dog in heat, I know it!

Artsie: ...all warmth and wonder, along with fragility and confusion in their minds and hearts. And this is why it is no porn. It is all about love in the first place, and despite of explicite language and unbridled lust, the reader is aware of this every second - even though the couple in question is actually not. Not yet, at least - which adds to the thrill of it. It's fascinating and heart-warming and enchanting. I think, Hunterhunting has accomplished an amazing authorial feat here.

Fanny: Oh yes, the lemons gave me both wet panties AND butterflies in the stomach!

Artsie: Agreed!

Fanny: So then why don't you just say that? (shakes head)

Artsie: Because I... och... Jeesus! Fanny?

Fanny: Yeah?

Artsie: Forget it!!

TWI-LECHERY SCORING 

5 out of 5 Wet Panties

Ooh - seems we do have a winner here, don't we?

And I totally agree with Fanny on the panties-and-

butterflies part. Which brings us straight to this:

TWI-LOVELINESS 

How about romance?

Fanny: Oh...! (puts both hands on her heart) It brought me to tears, honestly.

Artsie: You won't miss a thing: love, friendship, mystery, drama. It's all there, and nothing of it sounds put on. And the constant contradictions - like gutter-language vs. loving thoughtfulness, badboy-apperance vs. wounded soul, pure lust vs. deep devotion - only adds to the impact of emotion.

Fanny: I swear I wanted to hug Edward and Bella all time and tell them they'll be fine. Sometimes I wanted to yell at them or even hit them, telling them to not fuck it up because they are just ment for each other, and...

Spoiler-alarm! Please get a hold of yourself, Fanny,

before you give away to much! 

Fanny: ...I wanted them so badly to be healed and... oh, spoiler. Yes. Sorry, Betti. (pretends to lock mouth and throw away imaginary key)

No prob! Anything else? Artsie?

Artsie: Since this is about the heart and I'm your analytical mind, it's not really my field, I'm afraid, so... no, nothing to add on my behalf. (shrugs)

Fanny: Wow - Artsie's got nothing to add? Rare thing! I'm impressed...

TWI-LOVELINESS SCORING 

4 out of 5 Wet Paper Tissues

So - we're almost done. What's not accounted for yet?

Oh yes, your fave quotes and the three-word-thing.

Remember, I told both of you to pick three words from

Clipped Wings & Inked Armor - a sad one, a happy one 

and a romantical one?

Fanny: Oh yes... that was fun to do.

Artsie: I've done my homework...

FAVOURITE QUOTES 

Something to remember...

Artsie: 

(Edward's POV:) I was used to being stared at. You didn’t cover your body in ink and invest in facial piercings if you wanted to blend in, besides I have a nice face, even with all the tats and steel I know I’m easy to look at.But this was different. It wasn’t the usual bad-boy eye-fuck. It was something else entirely. She was looking at my ink as if she were studying a map and trying to pinpoint a specific destination, or trying to work out a complicated math equation. She was trying to read me though my art. 

Fanny: 

(Edward to Bella:) "Well aren’t I your fucking boyfriend? I’m supposed to take you out and shit."

THREE SINGLE WORDS 

One sad, one happy, one romantic

Fanny: Bleeding Heart. Anaconda. Mine. (giggles)

Artsie: Eleven. Cupcake. Hoodie.

Thank you, girls. And now shoo, shoo...

back into the opposite corners of my weird 

brain where you belong. Both of you.

Fanny: But I...

No, Fanny, we're done - shut up!

Artsie: It's been my pleasure, Betti.

Fanny: Byebye! (waves)

-----

LINKS:

• Read Clipped Wings & Inked Armor on fanfiction.net
  
• Visit the author's profile (lots of info there about the tatts and more)
• Check in on HunterHuntings blog for teasers and fictional interviews with naughty Edward & Co.
• Discuss the story with author and readers on twilighted.net