Fic -- I Left a Small Town for the Apple in Decay 2/2

[emoryems]

Author:emoryems
Rating: R
Pairing/Character(s): Kurt, Blaine, Mr. Schuester, OCs, New Directions.
Spoilers: 2.22: NY
Warnings: possibly triggering for anxiety; talk of past non-con (flashback detail as well)
Word Count: part two (7,122); total (12,219)
Summary: a follow up to Your Sins Into Me and In The End based on THIS angst meme prompt. While it is

Comments

[alter_alterego]

I put off writing an immediate review because I knew I was going to reread this story and find even more things I wanted to comment on. Thing is, I could do that forever (read again, find more stuff), so at some point I'm just going to have to buckle down and pick out a few highlights to discuss.

I love that you don't make this easy -- for the characters, OR for the reader. I don't think it's any big secret that Schue frustrates the hell out of me. The best of intentions can't make up for self-centered, contradictory teaching. He has moments of true caring, but so, so many moments of pure obliviousness. I was all prepared to hate Schue in this. And I do... kind of. You DON'T make it easy. He won't budge. He seems less worried about Kurt leaving than how it will reflect on him. But Kurt doesn't tell him. When he knows, he's willing to be accomodating. Should Kurt have had to reveal that part of himself to Schue? Shouldn't it have been enough that he was clearly upset -- upset enough that this normally well-mannered student would risk directly disobeying a teacher? I'd like to think that should be enough. But you made Schue feel sorrow. You showed a bit of that humanity. And you made it that much easier to out and out hate him.

On the other hand, you made me love some characters even more with subtle description. I'm all about the Furt brothership, but I seriously could have leaned into the screen and hugged Finn during his interactions with Kurt in this half. I love that while he may question Kurt's plan, he doesn't once question his very real need to leave. And his outburst, his "I hate him, you know,” just made me feel things, dammit. It was so real and unprompted and he's just unconditionally on Kurt's side and yeah, I kind of loved this entire scene.

I also loved Blaine in this. His response to what Kurt needs, whatever it may be (an ear, idle conversation, a solution) is immediate and unquestioning. He told Kurt things that Kurt may already have logically known (it's not his fault, he's not weak), but still most definitely needs to hear.

I love Mr. Anderson's passive-agressiveness (clenched fist, anyone?) and unwillingness to back down.

And I truly love how you are moving this verse forward, letting us see a Kurt that is working towards "okay."

[emoryems]

I've read this response SO MANY times... and I always end up grinning.

Schue is... not my favourite character. Trying to write from his POV was bit odd, but I kept thinking "he's always got these good intentions, so he must care" and then I'd be all "but then what the heck was he thinking when he did *this* or *that*" and so on. He frustrates me so much as a character. I just cannot wrap my head around him.

I really want to see some Furt moments in S03. Their interactions have such great potential and I love the Hudmel family far too much seeing as they are fictional. :)

You honestly make my day with your feedback. *hugs* Thanks!!