Not While I'm Around

[tamakito]

Spoilers: Up to 2.06.
Warnings: Claustrophobia, mentions homophobic bullying.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 3, 984
Disclaimer: RIB and FOX own everything ever.
Or on Tumblr: Here.

This prompt. Kurt, having been tossed in dumpsters every day for years, suffers from claustrophobia. This is especially unfortunate for everyone involved when he gets stuck

Comments

[some_stars]

I really, really liked this. It's so satisfying in that slightly shameful way of fic where the favorite character gets apologized to and comforted and taken care of, but unlike most of that fic (which, don't get me wrong, I read A LOT of) it's really good. It's not over the top, it feels realistic and emotionally true, all three of them feel exactly like themselves, and just saying things out loud doesn't magically make everyone get over them. The ending, and the switch to Finn's POV, is really well-done.

[tamakito]

Oh, wow, you're like my new favorite person. Thank you so much! And - yeah, that... in general. Fn. What I'm trying to say. Pretty much everything I've been writing for Glee fandom is based on a prompt from either the fluff or angst meme, which by its very nature means that whatever else I do with it, it's essentially there to fill an emotional need. Which, as you say - satisfying. Its entire function is pretty much just that, to satisfy. It's emotionally masturbatory and while it's very fun to read and write and I have no intention of stopping, it's not, you know, ~quality~, as such

[some_stars]

I think one reason I liked the ending so much is that it fully shifts the story from being a wish-fulfillment piece about Kurt (though like I said, it had already moved beyond that) to being about how a situation affects and reveals these particular three people and all the fault lines there--it's not just about Kurt plus The Guys, it's about Kurt and Finn, Kurt and Puck, Puck and Finn, Kurt and the somewhat different people that Puck and Finn are when they're together--all of it.

The idea of Kurt's trauma serving as a catalyst to expose some painful suppressed issues between Finn and Puck--while still being focused on and respected as HIS trauma--is so fascinating, and done so well here. I don't want to be the kind of person who is all "YOU SHOULD WRITE THIS" but it's definitely an idea that I think you or anyone could build a longer and very good story around. Kurt is like this walking symbol of the consequences of who they were so recently, and in many ways neither of them has moved past or dealt with that behavior--and of course

[tamakito]

"...it's not just about Kurt plus The Guys, it's about Kurt and Finn, Kurt and Puck, Puck and Finn, Kurt and the somewhat different people that Puck and Finn are when they're together..."

You are just full-time committed to making all my dreams come true, aren't you? IDEAL PSYCHIC AUDIENCE FTW, is all.

Also, you really don't have to worry about seeming request-y with me; I am kind of a plot-bunny whore. Plus that sounds like intense fun - for me, less so for the characters - to keep the ball rolling that way, keep exploring what they've done to Kurt and where they are with him now... and Artie, too, since Puck has apparently PUSHED HIM DOWN STAIRS and now they're bffs... Shit I am totally saving this in my Things to Attempt to Write file.

[some_stars]

fucking SHIT, i did not know that about Artie--I've watched the show in a very half-assed way because I knew going in that there would be SO MUCH that would offend me, like, seriously make me ill, so I kind of read episode summaries and then skipped around while paused a lot until Kurt or someone else i liked was onscreen? so...yeah. I did not know about the pushing down stairs thing, and I kind of...almost wish I didn't because Puck is suddenly much, much less easily redeemable in my mind. (did the show play it as a joke? they totally did, right?)

ANYWAY what i meant to say was: I am SO PLEASED to have given you an idea, I'm glad you liked it :D

[tamakito]

OHYES, okay, to be fair to Puck, you're totally not supposed to take that line seriously. It's just, Kevin McHale is slightly too good an actor, and I was sitting there there like "fffffffffffffffffffffffff." And they did it in the context of an episode devoted, Puck-wise, to humanizing him and pointing out that bro seriously has some issues, so I came out of it still in favor of Puck overall, just. What, dude.

(Although overall you were probably right not to be watching because Puck is now Artie's bromantic bud because he was avoiding real community service because "that shit is ghetto" which is giving me serious flashbacks to my uncles refusing to do, well. The work of those they considered their social inferiors due to the color of their skin. Which, Puck's thing was played as funny Because It's Wrong, but.

(Also I like you and your deeply conflicted relationship with Glee - I totes went over and stalked your LJ - and you remind me of me before I hit this total Zen place where I am convinced Glee is just a prettier, more

[some_stars]

I mostly liked the "Puck secretly fears going back to juvie" thing because I loved seeing him get to have emotions about something besides that unbearable love rectangle/pregnancy mess, but it was seriously undermined by the fact that i kept thinking "so swallow your dumbass pride and go pick up some trash, you idiot, it's better than losing another nipple!" I feel like the writers could have worked a lot harder on giving Puck an actual meaningful conflict there instead of inventing a bullshit excuse to pretend that he really was trapped and frantic. Of course, "I feel like the writers could have worked a lot harder" is kind of the OFFICIAL GLEE MOTTO, so