I haven't been keeping up with this series, but I'm feeling depressed tonight and this cheered me up. Which might seem strange. But it did. Webster's right. Nixon's righter. And Argonaut Hotel ftw!
I'll be completely honest and say that I was in a bitter, bitter mood when I wrote this. I kind of cheered me up, too. *chuckle* I'm glad you liked it. And oh yeah, I was researching bits and pieces around San Francisco and fell in love with the Argonaut Hotel. If I ever make it back to the West Coast, I'm totally staying there for at least a night or two.
I think my favourite thing about this (among many!) might be the public service announcement repetition, almost in a 'why weren't we warned' theme. And that Web actually goes and picks Nix up from the airport, no questions asked (because obviously such events are usual in the Nixon friendship experience).
Also, I love this (our?) AU for the fact that these are human, fully recognised characters. There's Nix, who I can see using his 'I'm going to fuck up' almost as an excuse for not trying (I now have plot bunnies for later story about screwing up with Dick and Ella and how that was when he grew up again - he decided to actually make a real effort to not just throw up his hands and run) and yet, he's not a bad guy. And Web, who understands how screwy this is but you can see the seeds of compromise here. Sort of. Mostly, I want to draw happy circles around all the dialogue and the way they both understand each other.
...almost in a 'why weren't we warned' theme. See, I find that to be interesting because that totally wasn't the angle I was aiming for when writing this. If anything, I was coming at it from a far more bitter stance, one more along the lines of, "Goddamn idiots keep thinking this kind of thing is fun when it's not." But I guess that's just the magic of interpretation.
And yeah, Web's one of the few people on the face of the planet who'd turn up at an airport at a strange hour of the day with only a few hours warning to pick Nix up. It's part of what makes their friendship really awesome...well, that and the banter.
Also, I totally give a thumbs up to everything you just commented on in regards to Nixon and the latter stages of the Big Damn AU of Doom.
It's interesting looking at interpretations of ones work (of course sometimes it ends in 'oh god, you think I was writing about WHAT?' reaction to literary criticism but it can be a fascinating thing) which leads me to look at the bitterness and see that too and oooh, this is fun. May I do it again? ;)
Nix and Web = turning up for each other in direst hour of need and snarky banter. Hey, if it works for them ;)
Oh yes, the joys of interpretation. Mucking up the grading of essays and whatnot for generations, so to speak. *laugh* Or something like that. You know what I mean. And yeah, the bitterness. I'm actually mildly surprised that it didn't leap right out at you from the get-go. Mostly because it's basically dripping in bitterness. But then, I suppose that's par for the course when you're dealing with those particular subjects.
And yeah, can't forget the snarky banter. It's one of their hallmarks. Even years later when they're older men, sitting in comfortable chairs talking about the ubiquitous good old days.
Wait, you mean you really liked the inner turmoil on Webster's behalf due to Joe's borderline emotional abuse in their dysfunctional relationship? But...poor Webster. What'd he ever do to you?
I liked how you made the Nixon-Webster relationship work. When I read about them interact is always a little "off" for me, but instead this piece is working. great, simply great
I'm so glad that you liked this piece. I was a little unsure of it when I first started writing but the story wrote itself and the fellas just wouldn't shut up. *laugh* I'm actually really pleased with how it turned out and I'm happy that you think along the same lines.
And oh, the prince without a kingdom line. Yeah, I've got to be honest: that was the quote by Guillermo del Toro. Can't take credit for that poignant phrase.
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I'm glad you liked it. And oh yeah, I was researching bits and pieces around San Francisco and fell in love with the Argonaut Hotel. If I ever make it back to the West Coast, I'm totally staying there for at least a night or two.
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Also, I love this (our?) AU for the fact that these are human, fully recognised characters. There's Nix, who I can see using his 'I'm going to fuck up' almost as an excuse for not trying (I now have plot bunnies for later story about screwing up with Dick and Ella and how that was when he grew up again - he decided to actually make a real effort to not just throw up his hands and run) and yet, he's not a bad guy. And Web, who understands how screwy this is but you can see the seeds of compromise here. Sort of. Mostly, I want to draw happy circles around all the dialogue and the way they both understand each other.
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See, I find that to be interesting because that totally wasn't the angle I was aiming for when writing this. If anything, I was coming at it from a far more bitter stance, one more along the lines of, "Goddamn idiots keep thinking this kind of thing is fun when it's not." But I guess that's just the magic of interpretation.
And yeah, Web's one of the few people on the face of the planet who'd turn up at an airport at a strange hour of the day with only a few hours warning to pick Nix up. It's part of what makes their friendship really awesome...well, that and the banter.
Also, I totally give a thumbs up to everything you just commented on in regards to Nixon and the latter stages of the Big Damn AU of Doom.
;)
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Nix and Web = turning up for each other in direst hour of need and snarky banter. Hey, if it works for them ;)
Yay for that!
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And yeah, the bitterness. I'm actually mildly surprised that it didn't leap right out at you from the get-go. Mostly because it's basically dripping in bitterness. But then, I suppose that's par for the course when you're dealing with those particular subjects.
And yeah, can't forget the snarky banter. It's one of their hallmarks. Even years later when they're older men, sitting in comfortable chairs talking about the ubiquitous good old days.
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I love you.
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Glad you liked this.
:)
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When I read about them interact is always a little "off" for me, but instead this piece is working.
great, simply great
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“A prince without a kingdom,” David Webster murmured under his breath.
Loved it.
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And oh, the prince without a kingdom line. Yeah, I've got to be honest: that was the quote by Guillermo del Toro. Can't take credit for that poignant phrase.
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