Thank You for Breaking My Heart (Part 1)

[concupiscence66]

Title: Thank You For Breaking My Heart
Author:  Concupid
Pairing: Howard/Vince
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Bob Fossil making homophobic comments in English AND English
Summary:  The first time Howard breaks Vince’s heart.
Author’s note: Maybe two years ago, Bluey mentioned the idea of a Boosh fic based on Ben Folds Five “Thank You for Breaking My Heart

Comments

[bluestocking79]

Eeeeeeeeee, thank you! I need to say that first. Because that song was on my mind yesterday and I was remembering that conversation, and then today--! I have often felt you are psychic, but you might actually in fact be psychic. :D

But this is all the right kinds of sad and sweet and lovely and adorable, even the awkward and hurty bits... I see what you're doing. You've lured us all in, and then you're going to destroy us when we're hooked! Well... that will work. Because this is already addictive. Vince is already clearly infatuated with Howard but is, of course, much too young to make a lifetime commitment, as he's been forced to realize. But he WANTS to. He wants to be able to answer yes to that question in the future and not have to take it back. (And, of course, we know that he DOES end up being Howard's life companion anyway... but Vince has no idea yet! Just a hope.) And his reluctance to admit that he isn't ready for that yet, along with his anxiety about potentially disappointing/letting down Howard, is a bit heartbreaking. He's so prepared to be mocked and crushed! And Howard is so kind and gentle, in his Howardy way, about the way he responds and defies Vince's fears. Is it any wonder Vince wants to fall in real love with him? Let's leave aside the fact that the way Howard's handling him there is more like what you'd expect from a dad or beloved older brother...

I think that one of the things I love most about this is that, despite his youth and naivete and lack of experience, Vince actually seems relatively clear-eyed about who Howard is as a person. (Aside, of course, from not realizing that Howard wouldn't take advantage of that vulnerable moment to kick him when he's down--though maybe that says more about Vince's life experiences than about what he understands Howard yet.) Howard assumes that Vince has romanticized him as a "dashing man of the world" (probably because that's HOWARD'S ambition, and the way he desperately wants to see and shape himself), but no, Vince mostly knows who Howard is. He just happens to think he's genius as he is!

And your young!Howard...! He's perfect. You can see how young he really is, and the way he's really struggling to try and find his niche and how to gain some gravitas. He aspires to be that dashing man of the world, but right now he's an overgrown boy with a skimpy mustache, trying to fake the sophistication and authority until he makes it. We can already see the seeds of the man he'll become! I kind of love that he's not in love with Vince at first sight and in fact isn't even sure of whether he even likes Vince, because it's refreshing and pretty believable. He loves the idea of somebody being so in love with him, and Vince is offering his heart up on a platter... we can understand Howard's temptation! But his thought that he would at least love Vince for loving him is a good clue that he's really not any more ready for a relationship than Vince is.

Lots of other stuff I love, of course, particularly your uncanny talent for getting Bob Fossil's voice right (I can always hear Rich Fulcher in my head!) and his "English to English" dictionary. And the first paragraph from Vince's perspective, with him contemplating the boots he worked so hard to customize already falling apart and feeling the first depressing pangs of adulthood... that's a feels-bruising work of genius, because it's both terribly in-character and so universal. We've all felt that way! Somehow it's especially affecting when it's somebody as optimistic as Vince realizing that reality and adulthood kind of bite.

[concupiscence66]

I planned my morning around your review. I dropped the Vincess off at school and went to the Y to relax with a cup of tea and your review before working out.

So I am happy to make you happy! I have been thinking of another story for a while but I couldn't figure out the set up and then imashambles dropped it into my hands! It was so easy to see them as a couple of awkward teens but Howard seeing himself as so very mature.

I remember being young and thinking that I would like any guy who liked me because I was so desperate for someone to think I was special. Of course, it doesn't work like that! You can't force those feelings.

Vince's poor boots. He's learning that if you want something to last, it takes a bigger investment than something temporary. Message!