Outdated price tags and the Worst Season of All Time
This was a request from caruso. She wanted Drew Henson/Drew Stanton, 'Smoke green! Snort white!'For those who are unaware, Drew Henson went to the University of Michigan and Drew Stanton went to Michigan State. These are rival schools. State's colors are green and white; one of their fan chants is, "Go Green! Go White!" Naturally enough UM fans have
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I really liked this. Henson seems so beaten down here, in a few different ways: failing at baseball, failing at football, not even getting to play for the worst team in NFL history. I can't help but feel bad for this guy who had it all in college and now doesn't really have anything.
And Stanton! He's so . . . I wouldn't say morally bereft, exactly. Maybe more like carefree? And kind of a tool? He makes a good contrast against Henson here. If all you know is football, then you don't know to be unhappy about all the possibilities that are not football. Exactly. Henson does know, Stanton doesn't. That's the hugest difference between them. In that context, Stanton seems naïve too.
I looooove the bits of baseball that get in, and wasted potential and the missed opportunities for Henson. It as if, despite his long litany of failures, people still can't get past all that potential. This is where I went, "YES. YES, THIS. ALL OF IT." Also? I appreciated the scene with the baseball uniform very much.
Man, was this supposed to be as depressing as it seemed? I couldn't even comment immediately, after I finished it, because all I wanted to say was: OMG POOR HENSON WHY DOES YOUR LIFE SUCK SO BAD AUUUGGHHHHH. Haha. Henson's helplessness kind of ripped my heart out a little bit. Much like the '08 Lions did that entire season. Painful to read, but also painfully good.
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING THIS ONE OUT OF MY MANY PROMPTS. \o/ When you mentioned you were writing this one, I had no idea what you were going to do with it. I figured maybe something lighthearted about the U of M/MSU rivalry or whatever, but this exceeded my expectations. So much stuff to think about here! I love that even more than porn. :D :D :D
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I had to get baseball in! Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to write about football during baseball season? Lord.
I didn't really intend for it to be depressing... but I didn't really intend for it to have any particular tone at the outset, I just went with where it wanted to go, if that makes sense. Honestly I think any story about that season and the people directly suffering through it has to turn out at least a little bit depressing. And it was interesting to write about someone who completely sucks. Usually we write about the stars, you know?
I actually started writing one of the other prompts first ('Brandon Inge/Dustin Pedroia, boarding school AU, first encounter') and got about 2000 words into it, but I wasn't feelin' it. Eh. So you get this!
I'm glad you liked it! Obviously.
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Actually, I think maybe bittersweet is a better term? Because it had moments of levity, but I think Henson's mental state colored the narrative, if that makes sense?
Can I throw in a vote for an Armando Galarraga appearance in a future fic from you? :P
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