Ahhhh, wow, yeah, I can only imagine what it must have been like to write this, but that definitely came across really well, you can rest assured. Stories where you can sympathize with both perspectives even when there's such a huge conflict can be difficult to walk the right line with, but I think you did a really good job. And like, what you said in the other comment about hoping people wouldn't find it hard to sympathize with Harry after he pulled the interview stunt, I found that interesting, because I think I actually sympathized with him first and foremost, if that makes sense? As much as I felt how devastated Louis was, and how awful it was that it was all of his hands - and that part really hit me, the part where Harry realizes how angry Louis must feel because time and time again he just has no agency in any of these decisions that are happening - I really felt Harry's frustration as well, maybe because I tend to have a similar mindset as the one he displayed, but his frustration definitely came across and made me ache for what he was going through as well, feeling guilty but just having wanted to be honest, and wanting to fix things but not able to take it back, and not knowing how to deal with Louis, not recognizing this Louis and just ugh, yes. I love when conflict is written so well and realistically, because it is such a messy thing so much of the time.
And oh god, about management, I was definitely trying to imagine how I could see this happening in real life too, and I really do hope that they would be able to well, firstly come out on their own terms, but if not, if something were to happen, that at least they would able to be honest about it and not just lie more and more, because god I can't imagine having to deal with that, and what it does to you, except of course that's exactly what you explored here, and so well, and it does give me hope that no matter how it would be dealt with, these boys could make it.
I'm really happy about this!! It was one of my main worries, honestly - I felt that I made him more sympathetic as the fic went on but I was just so worried that people wouldn't understand his motives initially, you know? Because the outing bit was from Louis's POV so we couldn't actually see what Harry was thinking, or that he WASN'T really thinking. And I kept thinking, like, is this even in character for Harry? Would he actually DO that to Louis? But in the end it wasn't about doing something to Louis - it was just an impulse, really, it was him reaching breaking point, and I hoped it would come across like that because we do all have a sense of his frustration already. I wanted it to be clear that Louis wasn't even actually on his mind in that moment, because I think if he had been, he wouldn't have done it.
Yeah, I get really stressed out about it tbh because if it's not under their control it's going to be such a MESS and I could really imagine management not handling it well. And even if they DO get to control it somewhat, I can't see management being cool with telling the truth about Eleanor - I think it'd be more likely that they'd have Louis and Eleanor break up and then wait a couple of months before announcing Harry and Louis are together, and pretend it was a recent thing. Which means they would get stuck lying even more. :/ And I get so nervous sometimes because it seems like the plan is just to cover it up for as long as they possibly can, but the more successful they get the more scrutiny they're under, and the more frustrated Harry (and possibly Louis too) will get, and it just seems like the more time passes, the more likely it is that they'll get "caught" somehow or Harry will lose his patience and just out them. :(
And oh god, about management, I was definitely trying to imagine how I could see this happening in real life too, and I really do hope that they would be able to well, firstly come out on their own terms, but if not, if something were to happen, that at least they would able to be honest about it and not just lie more and more, because god I can't imagine having to deal with that, and what it does to you, except of course that's exactly what you explored here, and so well, and it does give me hope that no matter how it would be dealt with, these boys could make it.
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Yeah, I get really stressed out about it tbh because if it's not under their control it's going to be such a MESS and I could really imagine management not handling it well. And even if they DO get to control it somewhat, I can't see management being cool with telling the truth about Eleanor - I think it'd be more likely that they'd have Louis and Eleanor break up and then wait a couple of months before announcing Harry and Louis are together, and pretend it was a recent thing. Which means they would get stuck lying even more. :/ And I get so nervous sometimes because it seems like the plan is just to cover it up for as long as they possibly can, but the more successful they get the more scrutiny they're under, and the more frustrated Harry (and possibly Louis too) will get, and it just seems like the more time passes, the more likely it is that they'll get "caught" somehow or Harry will lose his patience and just out them. :(
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