I said last chapter how glad I am that you gave them time apart, but at the same time, I'm glad you brought them back together before too long. I'm a casual Kurt/Blaine shipper as far as the show goes (mainly just because Blaine's character hasn't been overly developed yet), but a good fic can turn me into a raving one, and in this fic I really, really thought they were excellent for each other. We've talked about how much I respect Blaine for being willing to give Kurt that space, but watching it play out was even better. And seeing those tentative steps... lovely. And while there was space, I felt like the timing was good as well. Because if Kurt had kept Blaine away too long, it might have eventually been too hard to put things back together.
As much as I loved Kurt's recovery, I loved that you addressed Blaine's recovery (and to a lesser extent, Burt's, although that was harder because POV) as well. Because yeah, what Blaine saw and heard and had to deal with was a lot, and he really seemed like an overwhelmed kid now that all the action was gone.
And what Blaine told Kurt- that he just wanted his best friend back- I totally teared up at that point. One thing I liked is that you really rationed out Blaine saying exactly the right thing, because you only do say exactly the right thing on lucky occasions, but you saved that for when it mattered the most. Because that feeling- that the friendship mattered most and that Blaine just wanted his best friend back- is exactly what makes me love them as a pair in this and think that, in this timeline, they will stay together forever. (In the actual Glee universe, I prefer that they either eventually break up and always have a special sort of friendship, or that they break up and eventually (after Kurt has actually had the chance to date a few other people) get back together, this time for good. Anyway.) But yeah- I'm a big believer that partnership is built on a strong basis of friendship, so seeing that from Blaine in this universe- not that he was just saying it because he thought it was what Kurt wanted and needed, but because he really felt it- just made me adore them together.
Another little detail I really liked, btw, was Mercedes being the barista, and Kurt's burgeoning friendship with her. That was a neat touch, especially since we know their friendship from canon, and it's another measure of how much Kurt's life is changing and how much Kurt is recovering that doesn't relate to Blaine. That he's able to open himself up to new friendships and take emotional risks like that, even if they aren't as big.
Anyway, I absolutely, completely adored this fic, and you did an amazing job on it! So. Much. Love, and than you so much for writing it! My only disappointment is it had to come to an end (although it definitely needed one and I adored the ending ;) But you know what I mean). Looking forward to reading more of what you write!
I'm so happy that this fic was able to convince you of the viability of my Kurt and Blaine. <3 It's so funny that you mention Blaine's character development, because I will say that as an author Blaine is one of my very favourite characters to write simply because I get the opportunity to flesh him out in the ways I want. I get to add depth, and tweak things, and explain things, and it's all a jolly good time. :) I'm so glad you thought they were excellent for one another here. Even though both of them can be complete fuck-ups at times, they -- especially Blaine -- managed to handle the distance thing very, very well in the end. Again, I totally agree with you timing-wise. Space was necessary, but too much of it would have ruined any possibility of rekindling their friendship.
I really do wish I could have had more of a chance to deal with Burt in this, but the POV just wasn't going to let it happen. Because we only saw him through the eyes of Kurt (who was mostly dealing with his own shit above all else, and who Burt was really trying not to pile stuff on top of) or Blaine (who doesn't know him very well), so it just wasn't going to happen as much. :( But I'm glad it was there, at least a little bit. And oh, Blaine. He really had been through a lot, and he was really just waiting for a chance to completely fall apart. He was only holding in there for Kurt, Kurt leaves, and boom. Floodgates. (Especially when his mum comes in, because really, if you're maybe about to cry and your mum comes in feeling sorry for you, YOU ARE GOING TO CRY FOR SURE.)
Oh, I'm so happy that their phone conversation worked for you. Honestly, I think that was the most emotional I got writing this chapter, and the "I miss my best friend" revelation is perhaps my favourite part of Chapter Five at all. Most of the time in this story? Blaine says completely the wrong thing all the time -- as most of us do, most of the time, in a situation where we have no idea what's going on. He mentions his friendship with Kurt to Dave, talks about court cases when he shouldn't, and the police, and mentioning that Kurt hates Dave during the confrontation in the woods. Blaine makes a lot of mistakes in this, but he's always coming in with the best possible intentions. Writing their phone conversation was so organic, because I hadn't actually planned out what they were going to say. I ended up just getting into character for each of them, going back and forth, because it was one of those 'almost-ideas' where I knew they were on different pages but I wasn't exactly sure specifically what they were misunderstanding. And oh, there it was. That's what Kurt was assuming, and that's where he was wrong, because all along in this fic Kurt's been Blaine's best friend before anything else and that's what's killing Blaine about all this. Honestly, such an emotional scene to write. I love their relationship in this too for that very reason, actually: there's a strong, strong connection of friendship before anything else. There just has to be. I'm so, so glad that worked for you. <3
And aha, barista!Mercedes! :D I wanted an aspect of Kurt branching out his relationships that didn't relate to Blaine at all, and Mercedes seemed a great chance to do that. (After I decided that it was like, where do they meet...? Wait, Emiliana, she can just work at the coffee shop, derp derp derp.) I didn't want all of Kurt's recovery to be Blaine-centric: and besides, I think that Mercedes and Kurt would gravitate towards one another however they met. <3
Thank you so, so very much for this amazing response. <3 I really wanted for you in particular to enjoy this Chapter, so I'm COMPLETELY over the moon that you did. Thank you so much; I'm sad that this had to come to an end, too, honestly, because writing "Body" has been the most amazing fandom experience I've ever had, and I don't know if I'll ever be able to replicate it. So thank you so much for being a part of this amazing experience. <3 There should be something fun and short by my standards coming fairly soon! :D I'm excited for a brief break from angst, and I hope to see you there, bb!! Looooove!!!
As much as I loved Kurt's recovery, I loved that you addressed Blaine's recovery (and to a lesser extent, Burt's, although that was harder because POV) as well. Because yeah, what Blaine saw and heard and had to deal with was a lot, and he really seemed like an overwhelmed kid now that all the action was gone.
And what Blaine told Kurt- that he just wanted his best friend back- I totally teared up at that point. One thing I liked is that you really rationed out Blaine saying exactly the right thing, because you only do say exactly the right thing on lucky occasions, but you saved that for when it mattered the most. Because that feeling- that the friendship mattered most and that Blaine just wanted his best friend back- is exactly what makes me love them as a pair in this and think that, in this timeline, they will stay together forever. (In the actual Glee universe, I prefer that they either eventually break up and always have a special sort of friendship, or that they break up and eventually (after Kurt has actually had the chance to date a few other people) get back together, this time for good. Anyway.) But yeah- I'm a big believer that partnership is built on a strong basis of friendship, so seeing that from Blaine in this universe- not that he was just saying it because he thought it was what Kurt wanted and needed, but because he really felt it- just made me adore them together.
Another little detail I really liked, btw, was Mercedes being the barista, and Kurt's burgeoning friendship with her. That was a neat touch, especially since we know their friendship from canon, and it's another measure of how much Kurt's life is changing and how much Kurt is recovering that doesn't relate to Blaine. That he's able to open himself up to new friendships and take emotional risks like that, even if they aren't as big.
Anyway, I absolutely, completely adored this fic, and you did an amazing job on it! So. Much. Love, and than you so much for writing it! My only disappointment is it had to come to an end (although it definitely needed one and I adored the ending ;) But you know what I mean). Looking forward to reading more of what you write!
Reply
I really do wish I could have had more of a chance to deal with Burt in this, but the POV just wasn't going to let it happen. Because we only saw him through the eyes of Kurt (who was mostly dealing with his own shit above all else, and who Burt was really trying not to pile stuff on top of) or Blaine (who doesn't know him very well), so it just wasn't going to happen as much. :( But I'm glad it was there, at least a little bit. And oh, Blaine. He really had been through a lot, and he was really just waiting for a chance to completely fall apart. He was only holding in there for Kurt, Kurt leaves, and boom. Floodgates. (Especially when his mum comes in, because really, if you're maybe about to cry and your mum comes in feeling sorry for you, YOU ARE GOING TO CRY FOR SURE.)
Oh, I'm so happy that their phone conversation worked for you. Honestly, I think that was the most emotional I got writing this chapter, and the "I miss my best friend" revelation is perhaps my favourite part of Chapter Five at all. Most of the time in this story? Blaine says completely the wrong thing all the time -- as most of us do, most of the time, in a situation where we have no idea what's going on. He mentions his friendship with Kurt to Dave, talks about court cases when he shouldn't, and the police, and mentioning that Kurt hates Dave during the confrontation in the woods. Blaine makes a lot of mistakes in this, but he's always coming in with the best possible intentions. Writing their phone conversation was so organic, because I hadn't actually planned out what they were going to say. I ended up just getting into character for each of them, going back and forth, because it was one of those 'almost-ideas' where I knew they were on different pages but I wasn't exactly sure specifically what they were misunderstanding. And oh, there it was. That's what Kurt was assuming, and that's where he was wrong, because all along in this fic Kurt's been Blaine's best friend before anything else and that's what's killing Blaine about all this. Honestly, such an emotional scene to write. I love their relationship in this too for that very reason, actually: there's a strong, strong connection of friendship before anything else. There just has to be. I'm so, so glad that worked for you. <3
And aha, barista!Mercedes! :D I wanted an aspect of Kurt branching out his relationships that didn't relate to Blaine at all, and Mercedes seemed a great chance to do that. (After I decided that it was like, where do they meet...? Wait, Emiliana, she can just work at the coffee shop, derp derp derp.) I didn't want all of Kurt's recovery to be Blaine-centric: and besides, I think that Mercedes and Kurt would gravitate towards one another however they met. <3
Thank you so, so very much for this amazing response. <3 I really wanted for you in particular to enjoy this Chapter, so I'm COMPLETELY over the moon that you did. Thank you so much; I'm sad that this had to come to an end, too, honestly, because writing "Body" has been the most amazing fandom experience I've ever had, and I don't know if I'll ever be able to replicate it. So thank you so much for being a part of this amazing experience. <3 There should be something fun and short by my standards coming fairly soon! :D I'm excited for a brief break from angst, and I hope to see you there, bb!! Looooove!!!
Reply
Leave a comment