turps

That's not lame at all! I know I've looked back on fics where I attempted to write certain issues and just cringe now that I know better, so feeling validated when people who know whereof they speak tell you that you've done a good job makes complete sense.

concepts that I'd planned from the start

I admire writers who can say this sort of thing, because I can count the number of times I've actually done proper plotting or concepts on one hand. It would make my writing much tighter if I did, but I really struggle with it. How did you decide on the contrast between decay and light? Is it something suggested in canon, or an independent idea that appealed to you?

Also, did you do research? I know talking to callmesandy, she always says that she has an ENTIRE BACKSTORY for every character no matter what she's writing. The thought of which work makes me want to curl up and weep, but I am fascinated that such a diligent and intensive process yields results for her! I lose interest if I have to do too much research.

And since I'm on a roll here with the nosy questions: did you do anything consciously to keep the story from getting melodramatic? I love hearing other writers' tips and tricks for achieving mood/atmosphere/genre and avoiding (like you mentioned in another comment) veering into badfic territory, heh.