Ack! *flails* 5 weeks seems like a long time on the surface, but then I remember I'd like to leave a week for whoever ends up betaing this thing to have a proper shot at it, and you guys, it keeps growing! Ugh, it would help if I could get anything done during the week, but I'm pretty much a blank brain by the time I get home from work. Grr. Stupid work.

On the upside, after literally months of being totally frustrated (I've probably written and then in a fit of disgust discarded thousands of words before now) I'm finally pretty happy with what's here. It still needs a lot of editing and fussing, but the bones so far are solid.

The way this thing has worked out, I figure I've still got maybe three major scenes that need to be drafted before I have a complete first draft, and then I can go back to the beginning and start fiddling with details. I enjoy messing with the details, polishing stuff up, so I'm keeping that out in front as a reward.