I can't even handle how much the socialite lifestyle horrifies me, and how damaging it is to everyone involved in it, and everyone who isn't but who reads about it in the tabloids and watches it on reality TV and gets self-image complexes because of it. But it exists, and there is the reality that it often intersects with bandom, so it's neat you chose to write about it, and I really enjoyed the creative turn you took with this.
I definitely disliked Audrey, but also felt a bit sorry for her (for feeling like everything in her life is about winning, about appearances) and respected some of the more hidden parts of her -- the part that sought true happiness and felt honestly sorry about Brendon and Ryan. I like that she wasn't a different person by the end of the story - she didn't suddenly stop caring about what other people thought, she didn't stop being selfish and a bit insensitive... but she was being more honest, more understanding. That seemed much more real.
Maybe one thing I was curious about, however, was why the taboo of being gay/bi/whatever didn't really pop up. There was that one time at the restaurant where Audrey didn't want to look like a fag-hag but that was it. I was sort of expecting the boy-on-boy dynamic of the threesome to collide with the obvious heterosexuality of the socialite world. Did Brendon and/or Ryan feel any hesitation, at any point, about the boy-boy part of this triangle? I understand why you didn't describe the sex in detail (although with this writing it would have been hot), but I was wondering how it worked - some threesomes can happen without the guys ever really doing anything "gay" with each other, so I wasn't sure with this one. Maybe Brendon and Ryan and Audrey are all comfortable with it, and don't see it as a big deal, and I could buy that. But if Audrey is worried about the tackyness of going to a movie theatre or being seen at a concert, wouldn't she worry at any point about what people might think about Brendon and Ryan together? Just thoughts.
It's a hot, peachy kind of day. Somewhere nearby Audrey can hear lawnmowers and sprinklers, every garden being polished and perfected, and they're nice sounds. As familiar as her mom's perfume and carefully arranged magazines on a coffee table
Great, clear and concise writing throughout this whole story. Like here, in just a sentence or two, you reveal so much about Audrey's upbringing, her values and comforts in life.
There was also beautiful, poetic writing - the reflection of pool lights on Brendon's face, the lines of Ryan's body when he squared his shoulders or the bike chain grease on his legs... And I was especially impressed that you pulled that off, because the story is somewhat from Audrey's POV but she doesn't seem the poetic type. Instead you wrote it more like they were observations she made, that gave a certain sense or feeling, without getting into metaphors and purple descriptions. Those moments made me feel like for all her horrific atittude and bitchiness, she could be pretty attentive about the things in life that she cared about.
An honestly gorgeous story. Well paced, painful and beautiful and hopeful all in one. And a bit of a daunting/complex AU to navigate too, and you did it so well that I am all the more impressed. Thanks for a great read!
Obviously I can't speak for yellsurprise, but hopefully she won't mind if I reply to this here.
And my honest answer on your question about the taboo is that I'm not totally sure. I'm slightly ashamed to say it never even occured to me to go down the line of addressing any homophobic issues there might be. Partly, I guess, that's a result of the fact that through the entirety of the writing, this story never really felt like a serious investigation or examination of the workings of the relationship - it was much more an oh hey, we like this idea, let's do that sort of deal. As such we were much more interested in the raw glamour of things as opposed to the controversial issues they related to. On the other hand, I think throught writing the entire story I (we?) had a slightly surreal, and exagerrated view of the characters, to the point where the social barriers were nowhere near as important to Audrey as the need to be better or at least as impressive as Alicia, and the general thesis of I am rich, I can do what I want.
(Another reason, of course, is that to address the taboo would have been complicating and would have added a newer, less romantic and more realistic aspect to the story. I think fandom, myself included, has a tendency to ignore issues like this because they get in the way of our fun. Again, though, I can only speak for myself, especially since me and yellsurprise never even really discussed this while writing. Her opinions may be completely different. A relationship of the sort that b/r/a shared wouldn't be a huge deal in the social environment that I live in, and I'm fairly sure that was a factor in my lack of exploration of the reactions they might have reached.)
That aside, thank you for all the compliments as well! It means a lot that you liked the writing and the story. Especially that you felt that it diden't get too lyrical or overly poetic - that was really nice to hear. <3
Thanks for explaining this! I hope I didn't give the impression that the story was missing something, because it felt so well-paced and treated... I was just curious! I will also admit I have a personal preference for fic that deals with the taboo of non-heterosexuality, heh. I absolutely see how that sort of thing, in this story, was not quite as important (or relevant) to Audrey as doing what she wants, and what she feels she needs to do. Man, it is hard to wrap my head around Audrey's priorities because I am so so removed from a lifestyle like that! Again, you two are amazing for being able to write so well about it.
takkatakkatakka already replied, but whatever. I had a half-formed response to this question when I read it first, but I never got around to replying, so here we go.
The first thing you should know [which takka already mentioned] is that we never discussed the whole gay/bi/sexuality issue. That's probably because this whole story is mostly a self-indulgent AU that somehow formed a story I'm proud of, and there wasn't any deep thinking going on here, if that makes sense.
However- just because I am picky about these things, I'll try and explain this the way I think these characters would think about it.
I think sexuality in the socialite circles these characters live in would be another element of their life style. Like, their thinking of bisexuality would be that it's ~~glamorous, that sleeping with people of both sexes [or rather, appearing that you would be willing to sleep with people of both sexes] adds something to your status. It gives you that slight edge that Audrey was looking for with her poly relationship, in a way. That's probably how Audrey and Brendon thought of the Brendon/Ryan issue, as well as Alicia and Pete and Mikey and every one else. Ryan, I think, would have had more problems with it, just because he lives in the 'real world' where sexuality is a personal thing and everything isn't just another way to make you... well, more. I think Ryan probably felt uncomfortable when Audrey mentioned them and another person getting together, at first, but he might have thought about it or been attracted to Brendon and been more willing to let it just happen.
Or I can just say that we didn't really think about that and we'll ~move on.
I'd also like to thank you [like, a lot] for everything you said about Audrey and her upbringing and just her general personality, which was my favorite part of this. Just, thank you in general for your amazing comment. ♥
That's really interesting! I wouldn't have thought about it, but I can totally see that bisexuality could be "glamorous" in those circles, and I see that in the tabloids for sure. The contrast for Ryan is an interesting thought! I liked that element in the story, what Ryan has to deal with daily that Audrey and Brendon don't (and vice versa of course).
I can't even handle how much the socialite lifestyle horrifies me, and how damaging it is to everyone involved in it, and everyone who isn't but who reads about it in the tabloids and watches it on reality TV and gets self-image complexes because of it. But it exists, and there is the reality that it often intersects with bandom, so it's neat you chose to write about it, and I really enjoyed the creative turn you took with this.
I definitely disliked Audrey, but also felt a bit sorry for her (for feeling like everything in her life is about winning, about appearances) and respected some of the more hidden parts of her -- the part that sought true happiness and felt honestly sorry about Brendon and Ryan. I like that she wasn't a different person by the end of the story - she didn't suddenly stop caring about what other people thought, she didn't stop being selfish and a bit insensitive... but she was being more honest, more understanding. That seemed much more real.
Maybe one thing I was curious about, however, was why the taboo of being gay/bi/whatever didn't really pop up. There was that one time at the restaurant where Audrey didn't want to look like a fag-hag but that was it. I was sort of expecting the boy-on-boy dynamic of the threesome to collide with the obvious heterosexuality of the socialite world. Did Brendon and/or Ryan feel any hesitation, at any point, about the boy-boy part of this triangle? I understand why you didn't describe the sex in detail (although with this writing it would have been hot), but I was wondering how it worked - some threesomes can happen without the guys ever really doing anything "gay" with each other, so I wasn't sure with this one. Maybe Brendon and Ryan and Audrey are all comfortable with it, and don't see it as a big deal, and I could buy that. But if Audrey is worried about the tackyness of going to a movie theatre or being seen at a concert, wouldn't she worry at any point about what people might think about Brendon and Ryan together? Just thoughts.
It's a hot, peachy kind of day. Somewhere nearby Audrey can hear lawnmowers and sprinklers, every garden being polished and perfected, and they're nice sounds. As familiar as her mom's perfume and carefully arranged magazines on a coffee table
Great, clear and concise writing throughout this whole story. Like here, in just a sentence or two, you reveal so much about Audrey's upbringing, her values and comforts in life.
There was also beautiful, poetic writing - the reflection of pool lights on Brendon's face, the lines of Ryan's body when he squared his shoulders or the bike chain grease on his legs... And I was especially impressed that you pulled that off, because the story is somewhat from Audrey's POV but she doesn't seem the poetic type. Instead you wrote it more like they were observations she made, that gave a certain sense or feeling, without getting into metaphors and purple descriptions. Those moments made me feel like for all her horrific atittude and bitchiness, she could be pretty attentive about the things in life that she cared about.
An honestly gorgeous story. Well paced, painful and beautiful and hopeful all in one. And a bit of a daunting/complex AU to navigate too, and you did it so well that I am all the more impressed. Thanks for a great read!
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And my honest answer on your question about the taboo is that I'm not totally sure. I'm slightly ashamed to say it never even occured to me to go down the line of addressing any homophobic issues there might be. Partly, I guess, that's a result of the fact that through the entirety of the writing, this story never really felt like a serious investigation or examination of the workings of the relationship - it was much more an oh hey, we like this idea, let's do that sort of deal. As such we were much more interested in the raw glamour of things as opposed to the controversial issues they related to.
On the other hand, I think throught writing the entire story I (we?) had a slightly surreal, and exagerrated view of the characters, to the point where the social barriers were nowhere near as important to Audrey as the need to be better or at least as impressive as Alicia, and the general thesis of I am rich, I can do what I want.
(Another reason, of course, is that to address the taboo would have been complicating and would have added a newer, less romantic and more realistic aspect to the story. I think fandom, myself included, has a tendency to ignore issues like this because they get in the way of our fun. Again, though, I can only speak for myself, especially since me and yellsurprise never even really discussed this while writing. Her opinions may be completely different. A relationship of the sort that b/r/a shared wouldn't be a huge deal in the social environment that I live in, and I'm fairly sure that was a factor in my lack of exploration of the reactions they might have reached.)
That aside, thank you for all the compliments as well! It means a lot that you liked the writing and the story. Especially that you felt that it diden't get too lyrical or overly poetic - that was really nice to hear. <3
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The first thing you should know [which takka already mentioned] is that we never discussed the whole gay/bi/sexuality issue. That's probably because this whole story is mostly a self-indulgent AU that somehow formed a story I'm proud of, and there wasn't any deep thinking going on here, if that makes sense.
However- just because I am picky about these things, I'll try and explain this the way I think these characters would think about it.
I think sexuality in the socialite circles these characters live in would be another element of their life style. Like, their thinking of bisexuality would be that it's ~~glamorous, that sleeping with people of both sexes [or rather, appearing that you would be willing to sleep with people of both sexes] adds something to your status. It gives you that slight edge that Audrey was looking for with her poly relationship, in a way. That's probably how Audrey and Brendon thought of the Brendon/Ryan issue, as well as Alicia and Pete and Mikey and every one else. Ryan, I think, would have had more problems with it, just because he lives in the 'real world' where sexuality is a personal thing and everything isn't just another way to make you... well, more. I think Ryan probably felt uncomfortable when Audrey mentioned them and another person getting together, at first, but he might have thought about it or been attracted to Brendon and been more willing to let it just happen.
Or I can just say that we didn't really think about that and we'll ~move on.
I'd also like to thank you [like, a lot] for everything you said about Audrey and her upbringing and just her general personality, which was my favorite part of this. Just, thank you in general for your amazing comment. ♥
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Such a great read, again! Thanks!
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