for Matched5/15/2013 c1 Inu
May I ask, who is Harvey Overfield? A few reviewers here have said things like "Oh, so Harvey was the computer" but I don't know who it is.
Really amazing story, by the way. I love it! :D
May I ask, who is Harvey Overfield? A few reviewers here have said things like "Oh, so Harvey was the computer" but I don't know who it is.
Really amazing story, by the way. I love it! :D
3/23/2013 c1 Tiffany
Aw, this story is adorable, too bad we don't have a machine like that now, life would be so much simpler.
Aw, this story is adorable, too bad we don't have a machine like that now, life would be so much simpler.
3/23/2013 c1 
6Veneya
I like the unusual concept of this story - pairing matched according ot the machine...loved the characters too:D
6VeneyaI like the unusual concept of this story - pairing matched according ot the machine...loved the characters too:D
12/11/2012 c1 Its all the same
Oh my gosh I love and I want another chapter so bad this was beautiful!
Oh my gosh I love and I want another chapter so bad this was beautiful!
10/12/2012 c1 3theauthor94
OH MY GOSH! That was really good! I'd love to read more about HArvey, unless that already happened and I'm jsut here late lol.
3theauthor94OH MY GOSH! That was really good! I'd love to read more about HArvey, unless that already happened and I'm jsut here late lol.
8/22/2012 c1 Guest
Hello Mist of Shadows, and thanks for your review! I will try to answer some of your questions here although to be completely honest there is a lot of background information in this story that I haven't really even considered.
1. It was kind of answered in the story but shouldn't they be reluctant to have sexual relations with someone who isn't their soul mate?
Reason #1: These two characters WERE each other’s soul mates, and by the time they had sex they had started to become (consciously or unconsciously) cognizant of this. That, and the fact that they’re teenage males with undoubtedly raging hormones.
Reason #2: This story is a little old and, admittedly, a little bit of a PWP. At the time I just wanted to write smut. So that’s pretty much why the characters were so gung-ho about getting it on. Sorry if it was a bit too soon for some!
2. If someone is unmatched they remain single forever?
Being 'unmatched' is not the same as being single. You can have a relationship while unmatched, it just would not be sanctioned by the government... as I said of unmatched individuals, “they’d never be legally married or legally allowed to procreate.” Further, I mentioned instances of dating and sex occurring (perhaps even same-sex couples?) before people become matched, so it’s not a completely restrictive society in that sense... and it is probably the case that ‘unmatched’ people would simply carry on with their legally unrecognized relationships.
3. Why does the match have to be approved by the government if they almost religiously follow the supercomputer?
I imagine it goes hand-in-hand. The government approves of the matching process, so whatever it is that the computer spits out ends up being a match that the government approves. I do mention that “the whole point of the matching process is procreation.” Perhaps it was initially set up as a means of control over- or under-population. It’s a bit of a dystopian society, as you are well aware, and strong government involvement in personal affairs is a key aspect. Hypothetically there could be a lot of things the government controls, and exerting their ‘approval’ (however unnecessary) over the matching process is just another way of showing their dominance.
...I don’t know if this is a satisfactory response in any way.
4. How can the computer call out a name of someone who hasn't had their papers read?
THIS is an excellent question. Plot hole, perhaps. Although, Harvey is meant to be powerful in a very unique way, so I don’t doubt that he’d be aware of Indigo and Aleck and their preferences before the matching process even took place.
5. Whatever the answer to that question is by the same means can their soul mate not be in another part of the country or world?
This was completely left out of the story but... I didn’t intend the matching process to be a world-wide phenomenon, but rather restricted to an area that was generally self-sufficient and governed under a totalitarian system (think A Handmaid’s Tale). So conceivably yes, a more appropriate ‘soul mate’ could have lived elsewhere (and been a different age, if we want to get specific). However, there was a reasonably large pool to choose from and their devotion and utter belief in the matching process would undoubtedly influence their preference regardless of who they were matched with.
Thank you for your thoughtful questions!
TheAtrophyOfDarkness
Hello Mist of Shadows, and thanks for your review! I will try to answer some of your questions here although to be completely honest there is a lot of background information in this story that I haven't really even considered.
1. It was kind of answered in the story but shouldn't they be reluctant to have sexual relations with someone who isn't their soul mate?
Reason #1: These two characters WERE each other’s soul mates, and by the time they had sex they had started to become (consciously or unconsciously) cognizant of this. That, and the fact that they’re teenage males with undoubtedly raging hormones.
Reason #2: This story is a little old and, admittedly, a little bit of a PWP. At the time I just wanted to write smut. So that’s pretty much why the characters were so gung-ho about getting it on. Sorry if it was a bit too soon for some!
2. If someone is unmatched they remain single forever?
Being 'unmatched' is not the same as being single. You can have a relationship while unmatched, it just would not be sanctioned by the government... as I said of unmatched individuals, “they’d never be legally married or legally allowed to procreate.” Further, I mentioned instances of dating and sex occurring (perhaps even same-sex couples?) before people become matched, so it’s not a completely restrictive society in that sense... and it is probably the case that ‘unmatched’ people would simply carry on with their legally unrecognized relationships.
3. Why does the match have to be approved by the government if they almost religiously follow the supercomputer?
I imagine it goes hand-in-hand. The government approves of the matching process, so whatever it is that the computer spits out ends up being a match that the government approves. I do mention that “the whole point of the matching process is procreation.” Perhaps it was initially set up as a means of control over- or under-population. It’s a bit of a dystopian society, as you are well aware, and strong government involvement in personal affairs is a key aspect. Hypothetically there could be a lot of things the government controls, and exerting their ‘approval’ (however unnecessary) over the matching process is just another way of showing their dominance.
...I don’t know if this is a satisfactory response in any way.
4. How can the computer call out a name of someone who hasn't had their papers read?
THIS is an excellent question. Plot hole, perhaps. Although, Harvey is meant to be powerful in a very unique way, so I don’t doubt that he’d be aware of Indigo and Aleck and their preferences before the matching process even took place.
5. Whatever the answer to that question is by the same means can their soul mate not be in another part of the country or world?
This was completely left out of the story but... I didn’t intend the matching process to be a world-wide phenomenon, but rather restricted to an area that was generally self-sufficient and governed under a totalitarian system (think A Handmaid’s Tale). So conceivably yes, a more appropriate ‘soul mate’ could have lived elsewhere (and been a different age, if we want to get specific). However, there was a reasonably large pool to choose from and their devotion and utter belief in the matching process would undoubtedly influence their preference regardless of who they were matched with.
Thank you for your thoughtful questions!
TheAtrophyOfDarkness
8/22/2012 c1 Mist of Shadows
WHAT!? Harvey Overfield is the supercomputer? That's pretty cool and it reminds me of an episode of Warehouse 13 that I recently watched.
The premise for the story was very interesting but I have a few questions. It was kind of answered in the story but shouldn't they be reluctant to have sexual relations with someone who isn't their soul mate?
I had to chuckle when I realized that your story reflects reality. Meaning that some time back it was mostly malefemale relationships and marriages but now things are different.
If someone is unmatched they remain single forever? Why does the match have to be approved by the government if they almost religiously follow the supercomputer?
How can the computer call out a name of someone who hasn't had their papers read? Whatever the answer to that question is by the same means can their soul mate not be in another part of the country or world?
Thanks for the read I greatly enjoyed it. :)
WHAT!? Harvey Overfield is the supercomputer? That's pretty cool and it reminds me of an episode of Warehouse 13 that I recently watched.
The premise for the story was very interesting but I have a few questions. It was kind of answered in the story but shouldn't they be reluctant to have sexual relations with someone who isn't their soul mate?
I had to chuckle when I realized that your story reflects reality. Meaning that some time back it was mostly malefemale relationships and marriages but now things are different.
If someone is unmatched they remain single forever? Why does the match have to be approved by the government if they almost religiously follow the supercomputer?
How can the computer call out a name of someone who hasn't had their papers read? Whatever the answer to that question is by the same means can their soul mate not be in another part of the country or world?
Thanks for the read I greatly enjoyed it. :)
8/5/2012 c1 saywhattt
Love love love love! Very refreshing in the world of slash with the same formula "boy falls in love with his best friend".
Thank you so much for writing this!
Love love love love! Very refreshing in the world of slash with the same formula "boy falls in love with his best friend".
Thank you so much for writing this!
7/17/2012 c1 3Sayure
Good story but short. It can be longer but maybe it will lose what made it interesting.
Thank you for your work.
3SayureGood story but short. It can be longer but maybe it will lose what made it interesting.
Thank you for your work.
6/28/2012 c1 Guest
I've never read anything like this before. It's a really sweet story. You're amazing. :)
I've never read anything like this before. It's a really sweet story. You're amazing. :)
6/21/2012 c1 Malulie
I wish this had been longer and more thorough, it's a very interesting concept, though admittedly the idea of sex upon introduction makes me uneasy. Thanks for the fun read!
I wish this had been longer and more thorough, it's a very interesting concept, though admittedly the idea of sex upon introduction makes me uneasy. Thanks for the fun read!
3/1/2012 c1 Slashyme
I really like this story. Very clever!
I really like this story. Very clever!