Answering some Near Misses questions.

[flaming_muse]

Anonymous!Jane has asked me some questions about Near Misses, and here are the answers!

Sebastian and Blaine, my relationship to canon, and where the story ends:

Comments

[anonymous]

This pretty much sums up how I feel about you answering my questions, Muse! Thank you so, so much for taking the time to answer, as always, so comprehensively and thoughtfully.

The answer to #1 was so satisfying to read and helped make a lot more sense in my head of how Sebastian and Blaine could get together in the first place and be together for so long. It also makes sense that for Sebastian it wasn't only about physical attraction; but also attraction to Blaine's position of influence and respect in the Warblers and just the fact that he likes Blaine because, as you say, Blaine is so damn likeable.

Sebastian wants what Blaine has - his respect, his power - and wants Blaine, wants to corrupt him, wants Blaine to be his, wants to show the world that they might love Blaine but Blaine loves him, and it gets all twisted in his head. really sums up Sebastian's motivations for me, and explains how things end up falling apart between him and Blaine. And this too: The more Sebastian feels for Blaine, the more Blaine tries to give and please him, the harder it gets for Sebastian. He knows he’s doing something bad to a good person, and that turns him even darker, because he hates himself just as much as he begins to hate what Blaine makes him feel. Oh Sebastian, you are one emotionally messed up dude, and unfortunately Blaine got caught in his line of fire.

I'm so glad canon doesn't filter through to your 'verse (I especially miss seeing Tike in canon!) and I found the following to be very reassuring: Kurt and Blaine broke up in canon, yes, and the things that matter to them and make them act here are informed by their canonical selves all around, but since canon hasn’t fundamentally changed my views of Kurt and Blaine since the writing of the first fic, the break-up just adds data points to support my characterization but doesn’t make me more or less inclined to break them up here. It’s just not relevant to this ‘verse.

But ARGH, they were going to spend the summer in New York together! That would have been so great to read - but I understand your whole "not rewriting canon" sentiment. Is it weird to want to read an AU of an AU - read the Ohio version of their first summer together and the New York version? I'm confusing myself with that thought! I'm so excited for the next installment of this Near Misses 'verse, whenever it comes together.

The answer to #4 made me so happy. Sorry, but I'm just such an endgamer with these boys and want to see them happy, in any 'verse.

As ever, love your work Muse and thank you so, so much once again <3 Anonymous!Jane (seriously, I like that name! I see an Internet identity coming on...)

[flaming_muse]

I'm so glad you enjoyed my answers! <3 <3 <3

I'm always going to be sorry they're not in New York for the summer, just because it's my first canon about them, but I hope this fic will be as satisfying. :)

[hardy1234]

I must admit the Blaine/Sebastian relationship to me seems like it would be the most fascinating (if painful) train-wreck when it was happening in real time.

Since both Blaine and Sebastian are such unreliable witnesses I would imagine that the other Warblers, whether aligned on either camp were exhausted by all the drama at the end. I suspect that Blaine's neediness tumbled out in unflattering large doses despite Blaine's post rationalization that he kept his relationship woes away from the group.

Poor Blaine, it was probably lose/lose by the end of his time with the Warblers. Sebastian's allies had nothing but contempt for him and his own friends were probably aghast/lost some respect for him that he gave in so much to Sebastian and Blaine was too much of a gentleman to completely reveal how badly Sebastian manipulated him.

Some of Blaine's hesitancy to reunite with the Warblers might not be simply because Sebastian would continue to be a jerk but because he would be reminded of his own bad decisions/mistakes. It's embarrassing for him separate from Sebastian but a people pleaser like Blaine doesn't quite like to think of his tarnished reputation as partly of his own doing.

It's easier (if just as emotionally damaging in other ways) to think Sebastian never cared for him at all as the cause of all his woes with the group.

[flaming_muse]

Oh, you're exactly right. Absolutely. Blaine had his part in the whole nonsense, including not being adult enough to act maturely and independently when he should have and also not speaking up enough to defend himself and explain the situation. It's a two-way street, and I bet the Warblers were quite tired of it by the end.