Reviews For Sine Qua Non
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Title: Justice

You not only wrote an astounding missing piece and story you did it with like 82 words?! I love this fandom even more for the moments like this one. Completely in character Jarod doing what Jarod does best, basically mainlining sugar and caffeine. I can't tell if he intended to kill rapistguy this way. I'm guessing not if he was sending the taped coerced confession to someone and Melissa intercepted it. She must have suspected it was incriminating for Jarod so rapistguy must have died first and then she intercepted the tape and watched it?? and destroyed it to protect Jarod??? So she had to leave her house?? But the only reason she left her house probably is because she found out rapistguy is dead and that death freed her. Happy endings Mirage. I love them too. Congratulations! I love this. Thank you for finally sharing this with me!

 Reviewer: Lacy Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 04/07/22 04:02 pm
Title: Justice

Ahhh yes. You've definitely pegged Jarod and I can tell he's in a little roadside diner ... isn't he? How do you write something this profound with only 80 words? I'm blown away again by your gifts. This needed to be written so badly. Thank you thank you thank you so so much.

 Reviewer: Jami Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 04/07/22 01:29 am
Title: Justice

More. Miss Parker commands it. Love this!

 Reviewer: The Miss Parker Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 04/07/22 12:13 am
Title: Justice

What else are you hiding in the Mirarchives? Hand it over Mirage.

This is magnificent and might be my new favorite. Thank you for sharing your natural talents with us and keeping the pretender alive.

 Reviewer: Melinda Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 03/07/22 05:23 pm
Title: Justice

Nicely done mate. I'm in right agreement with your fantastic twist to this tale.

 Reviewer: Jeremy Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 02/07/22 11:13 pm
Title: Justice

Nicely done mate. I'm in right agreement with your fantastic twist to this tale.

 Reviewer: Jeremy Signed [Report This]
Date: 02/07/22 11:13 pm
Title: Justice

Oh snap! Been wanting this for so many years!! 

I love it. So succinct and poignant.

Thank you so much sweet author. ❣️

 Reviewer: Leslie Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 02/07/22 10:05 pm
Title: Justice

omg I love this. It just isn't fair that Melissa had to go through all of that TWICE and Jarod made her talk talk talk so much and she said she was shattered and there he is someone who can permanently and really stop the guy and Jarod.... just doesn't stop him. So this is sheer perfection to me. Thank you!



Author's Response:

Yeah, I know. I actually sat through the "talk talk talk so much." That was not fun.

 

It's hardly perfection. Thank you for reading and reviewing.

 Reviewer: Cal Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 02/07/22 06:30 pm
Title: Justice

Bloody well done mate! Unexpected treat and I am grateful to you. Stay well!!

 Reviewer: Con-O Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 02/07/22 05:05 pm
Title: Justice

Awesome! You should be the dark angel, what you do is more befitting this name! Beautifully done as always!

 Reviewer: TheDarkAngel Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 02/07/22 04:21 am
Title: Justice

Finally!! I've been wanting this since the 1990s. Hurt my feelings so much that Jarod didn't do more and that rapist wasn't even arrested on the show!! Thank you!!

 Reviewer: Chloe Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 01/07/22 06:35 pm
Title: Justice

Top notch, Mirage.

Cheers!

 Reviewer: Jameason Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 01/07/22 05:30 am
Title: Justice

Brilliant. It took me a minute to put it all together. You're a master word smith and author. I'm so impressed.

 Reviewer: Renea Collins Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 01/07/22 05:26 am
Title: Justice

I took the plunge and registered just so I could review this. I've had long covid thanks to an antimasker and oh, that' such a long story. But I'm here now, and so glad to read you again. Ohh! I love this story! Did you write this immediatly after watching the Risque Business episoode by any chance? It feels like you did, that fresh rawness and some real grit in it despite the subtlety and calm Melissa is feeling and despite Jarod being in decompression mode, and I can see him in a diner half a state away from Melissa. It feels like you were in full rebuttal mode, like, "must. rectify. this. shit. now." I had the same feelings but too much anger and ugh Jarod's "today the porch tomorrow the world" drivel like that's it and everything'll be fine, but what Jarod doesn't understand is the day after tomorrow or the week after she might retreat back into herself again because that's how it really is. It was too pat. And rapists usually don't face jail time. And he was like "people need you" but no, Jarod, she needs to heal herself. Self care Jarod. The rant is coming if I don't stop now.

So, you were just going to dip your toes into fanfic and leave us. I'm glad The Pretender caught you. That might be a not good way of wording it. There is a certain something about this series that grabs hold and doesn't let go. I, too, was unsatisfied with how this episode left off. I'm trying not to rant. It seemed incomplete. But you've had it completed all this time haven't you? This landed with some ooomph for me. Missing pieces drop hard sometimes, and I think in the US some of our friends are going to feel this even harder right now. It's a current mood really. It's cute and cuddly but it has teeth. And the rapist is dead so that's a happy ending all around. I'm happy that Paul Arnett is dead now. From my entire heart Mirage thank kou for this.



Author's Response:

The scribbling isn't a rebuttal. I have nothing negative to say about the series. It's television, fiction. The performances were always solid and written well. I won't even pretend that I can do it better. I would like the answers to all of the questions NOW, however; a post-it note will suffice. OR I'll continue to make up my own answers and torment you all by continuing to post them here.

I wasn't angry. I was simply-- not anticipating the episode to unfold the way it did. I sorta wanted to skip the episode (yes, I'm quite capable of understating) (I'm guessing my must-skipness wasn't related to the subject matter (rape), because must-skipness struck again when Parker and Jarod almosted on the Isle of The Almost---- and, no, it isn't lost on me that some of the scribblings I've posted are about stuff-I-could-barely-watch. That wasn't intentional.)

I think I was a little bit puzzled, too, by the literal and figurative whiplash of Parker-with-a-whip-by-God (fun times over in Centre Wonderland; I would have enjoyed an entire episode devoted to just Parker-with-a-whip-by-God) (a . I was sorta hoping Parker would beat the rapist to death with the whip. She had the whip. She. had. a. whip. And didn't use it on anyone.

Ah, the "family show."

And Parker still didn't capture Jarod; that was always disappointing. It's like she wasn't even trying (because she wasn't).

Yeah, I think I might know what you mean maybe. The process of surviving and healing that kind of trauma isn't linear, I'm guessing, and I imagine it's probably a sorta long-term, and possibly even exhausting pursuit, so, yeah, victims can think they're healed and be perfectly okay for years, maybe decades, but trauma has the tendency to bubble back up to the surface without any warning. Daily self-care is absolutely essential (you know I'm not talking about bubble baths and pedicures).

But Jarod has to be Mr. Positivity and the episode had to end on a high note. I understand that. I love that this old series can still provoke a good rant, although, I found nothing even remotely rant-ish about your review. I enjoy reading everyone's thoughts. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

 Reviewer: Imogen Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 01/07/22 01:18 am
Title: Justice

Succinct and beautiful. I'm used to only seeing poetry this short and you tell us everything we need to know. I'm curious about the arrest. I just rewatched this episode and it fades out with Jarod putting a duck on the tub. Did Jarod walk away and leave Arnett in the tub? The episode cuts from the tub to Parker and then to Jarod at Melissa's house.

Tell us what you think happened in that episode? We all know that the tape of a forced confession won't hold up in court, and if the police saw Jarod sedating, handcuffing, and almost drowning a man they would arrest Jarod for at least assault.

Arnett later dies of what is commonly called dry drowning so Jarod would be arrested for murder. So I think Jarod gave that tape to the guy doing all that "cheery" reading and research, or to Melissa. I thought Jarod said "cherry" stuff the first time I watched that episode and I vomited in my mouth some. She's a victim but.. would she have to report it or tell the police she remembered it was Arnett? Or would Arnett be so afraid of Jarod that he sings like a canary. I think I would turn myself in to police just to get away from Jarod and ducks if I was Arnett.

Can you talk about Arnett's death some, too. I'm just so curious to know what that looked like. I know this story is just about Melissa being happy that she's free and has her life back and that Jarod is also free and justice is finally done and the business is finished and it is what was absolutely necessary. She had to intercept the tape somehow and did that mean leaving her home? I'm so curious.

Just respond please if you can or just say hi if you can have time to do that. You don't have to write some long reply to make me happy. I know life is hard and you're busy. Love you and thanks for not letting this series dry drown.



Author's Response:
Um. I'm going to pretend that you didn't sort of suggest I don't have time for our fandomly or to at least say hi, as if I've gone completely "Owe, peasant, do bring me a spot o sherry and smelling salts teh nerve o teh peasant to dare ask to spake to' mae!"

I'll never be royals (you're singing it now)(praise Lorde). It's. Just. Me. Scribbling fan fic. And the fandom revolves around a series that was canceled back in 2001ish, yeah, so, it isn't just fan fic, mm, no, it's damn near obsolete fanfic. But, damn it, it's an absolutely epic and fucked up helladark obsolete series (we're still here talking about it, after all), and it's the only universe I've ever wasted time scribbling.

I'm happy to answer all of the questions.

One point you talked about was Melissa still needing to report to police. Rather small children are forced to testify in court against perpetrators. If Arnett had lived he would have had a right to face his accuser in court- which is all the more reason to cheer for the Jarod-knew-he-would-die theory. Melissa couldn't leave her home. Why in the hell coerce her to go to court to testify? Maybe Jarod did intend for Arnett to die.

Melissa wouldn't have needed to be present while Arnett confessed (after he'd been threatened and terrorized by Jarod to do so), however.

This is entirely open to any interpretation that falls within the parameters of the story:
1. Arnett dies approximately an hour and half after aspirating/ up to three or four hours following the aspiration; at least mild symptoms should be present.
2. Melissa intercepts a tape that implicates Jarod.
3. No one suspects foul--or, rather, "FOWL" play (little yellow duck).

Jarod could have intentionally kept Arnett under water long enough to confirm he aspirated. Arnett's hydrophobia, the panic, and all of the sobbing would have increased the likelihood of aspiration. It's unlikely that he didn't aspirate. And, damn it, I like the intentionally delayed murder theory, because Melissa wouldn't have to face Arnett in court and, in fact, would never have to face him again- as it should be.

There are no incorrect answers.

However, my interpretation is"

*Jarod didn't intend to kill Arnett.
*Jarod recorded the confession because, evidently, recordings were teaching tools for the institute (Melissa's colleague was listening to Melissa's greatest hits, and that other dude was watching/listening; it's how Jarod learned about the hydrophobia).
*Jarod felt that someone could glean something useful from his recording as well ('fun and amusing ways to accidentally *wink *wink psst psst kill rapists', perhaps), and left it on his/Melissa's desk (he was filling in, right?).
*The roleplayer (?)(aka Nurse PlentAy) saw the tape on the desk (with a note attached), and telephoned Melissa.
*A detective informed Melissa that Arnett died in his holding cell.
*Melissa recalled PlentAy's heads-up about a tape, and rushed over to the soon-to-be-Blass Institute (ha) (see what I did there?) collected the tape, rushed home, watched/destroyed tape, drove to the beach, telephoned Jarod, and "thanked him very sweetly for killing Arnett so completely."

***Melissa collects no one more seashells, however, because it isn't eco-friendly.***

In regards to Arnett's death:
*Prior to sedating Arnett, Jarod asked PlentAY to roleplay cop and drop an envelope (containing information that implicates Arnett) on a detective's desk. 
*Jarod forced Arnett (at cattleprod point) to change into roleplaying gear (leather chaps, police service cap) (risque theme continues)(because Jarod must Jarod).
*Jarod then forced Arnett into a car, and, minutes later, out of a car a few meters from a law enforcement facility.
*Terrified of Jarod, Arnett eagerly ran inside and tearfully confessed, and began experiencing chest discomfort and a worsening cough. He complained, was ignored, Miranda'd, fingerprinted, and shoved into a holding cell.

*While Jarod sped to a middle-of-nowhere diner several cities away, Arnett began cough-vomiting pink sputum. (He would have been okay if the cops had listened and rang for a medic, but, alas, they thought he was faking).
*Arnett suffered acute respiratory distress, lethargy, and died (ding dong, folks).

*Days later, after Jarod was all done with his decompressing, and back in Blue Cove to continue terrorizing Parker because Jarod cannot stop Jaroding (and Parker, evidently, has no desire to stop the Jaroding), the medical examiner, who is married to a cop and didn't appreciate Arnett's "cheeky" (literally) crotchless leather pants and cop cap, conducted a "sort of" thorough exam and concluded after finding traces of benzodiazepines (Jarod's sedative) in Arnett's blood that Arnett suffered an MI and subsequent heart failure courtesy of long time drug use.
*The examiner was confident that the pulmonary edema and pink sputum (both quite common in "secondary drownings" and heart failure) was related to heart failure. No one had any reason to suspect secondary drowning/aspiration. Arnett was dry and half naked when he was arrested. No one had any reason or desire to dispute the ME's findings.

Except me.

I called bullshit on myself immediately (I do this often). To satisfy self: the medical examiner also suspected that maybe one of the cops (probably her husband) roughed Arnett up a little bit (unaware that Arnett had been roughed up prior to the arrest by a strapping and bold criminally-insane lad called Jarod) (and didn't want to look too closely for too long, and besides, the "asshole was complaining and coughing from the moment he walked in and confessed, and no one even rang a medic, and it could be a huge publicity and liability nightmare. Besides, he was a rapist and a drug addict. *shrugs* Was gonna die eventually anyway, and fuck, it's Friday, and I want to leave work early."

But that's just one way the story can go. If that doesn't answer all of your questions email me. Thank you for reading and reviewing.

 

 Reviewer: Gunner Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 30/06/22 11:29 pm
Title: Justice

I was hoping for an update from you. A new story is a pleasant surprise Mirage. I love your stories and I love that I recognize the characters! You do right by the series and keep it alive for me. What else is lurking in the Mirarchives? I want it all! More more! Please.

 Reviewer: twisted Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 30/06/22 08:42 pm
Title: Justice

yeah! now that's what I call justice! plausible and perfect and so profound!!!

 Reviewer: Christoph Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 30/06/22 05:52 pm
Title: Justice

Oh ohhh. Wows. Mirage, this is brilliant. Are you sure you're not a Jarod fangirl? So I love the title and how it means without one thing another thing can't exist, so it means essential. Melissa destroying the tape keeps Jarod off the cop's radar. She makes it so he can continue bringing justice to others. Wow. That's crazy profound. They don't know he had that rapist in a bathtub. And oh, that rapist was under for a little while and being phobic like that would make it harder for him and he was panicking omg this is completely plausible. People do go under water and then walk away and seem fine and then a few hours later... oh, at the rapist's age with those symptoms a doctor would think heart attack. Even if they thought drowning they couldn't blame Jarod without that tape. I think it's also essential that the rapist die. He raped her twice. He wasn't sorry. He was still being smug in the tub. That's one person that Jarod should have killed. So did Jraod mean for this to happen. I know he seems upset, and he stammers. So maybe he didn't mean for the rapist to die. I liked the summary finished business as the episode was risque business and I like the justice parts. Ohh. I love it. Spectacularly done as always. Smooches to you. PLEASE UPDATE OBLIVION AND DON'T FORGET THE RETURN THAT YOU HAVENN'T UPDATED IN MONTHS!!! How do you write a story this brilliant with only 82 words?  omg. amazing.



Author's Response:

(I just accidentally put this in a review-to-self instead of here in the response box where it belongs, and now I feel sixty percent more incompetent than usual). Let's try this again:

Smooches right back atcha. No. No, no, no, of course not. Jarod wouldn't kill anyone intentionally. Thank you for reading and reviewing.

 Reviewer: Lorraina Signed starstarstarstarstar [Report This]
Date: 30/06/22 06:59 am
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