A Toast to Innocence - Part 1

[jezunya]

Title: A Toast to Innocence (1/4)
Summary: It's been fourteen years since they all graduated, twelve since she got married, and thirteen since she's seen him.
Spoilers: Nothing specific, but assume through 3.10
Rating: PG
Warnings: light swearing and a little alcohol consumption
Word Count: ~3700
Disclaimer: Community belongs to NBC and Wizard

Comments

[na_thalia]

Well... That was... Really depressing. I mean, really well written! But depressing.

I'm pretty excited to see where this is going ;->

[jezunya]

Haha, thanks! (I think? lol)

[na_thalia]

Sorry, I'm sorry! It was definitely a compliment!

It was just so sad! But in a good, well-written way! So even though it's sad, I totally want to read more. So yes, I may have accidentally complinsulted you, but it was by accident and I really like the story so far...

[jezunya]

Oh oh! I was just kidding! I'm sorry! Just, thanks for reading and I'm really glad you enjoyed it, especially since it is so sad. Bwah...

[classicfreak]

Oh lawd. This is amazing.
I really like them laughing for no real reason while in the supermarket. It just seems perfect to the studygroup, that it could happen to any of them. Brilliant!
Sitting in the minivan and talking was just so sad to me, the conversation so stilted. It's sad that that happens more often than not in real life.
The kiss nearly killed me, I loved it even though it seemed to tear them a bit more apart.
I love it, looking forward to the next chapter.

[jezunya]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it :)

The conversation in the van was hard to write, believe you me, the way they're just talking around everything, not actually getting into any of the important stuff. What can I say, I'm just a simple fangirl at heart, I pretty much just want them to make out and call it a day ;)

[nyclove3]

[jezunya]

Aww, thanks! Not to worry, there's more coming soon! Originally, I'd only planned on doing this as a one-shot, but... I just can't leave it on such a sad note like this. I need my happy endings, heh. So yes, there are a few more chapters after this one ;)

[nyclove3]

[wallows]

Wow. That was...wow. I love how the dynamic between them remains unchanged even after so many years, the tension rises quickly and just doesn't go away. It doesn't seem to matter at what point in their lives we catch them, there's always that "look" you capture so well, a certain softness in him when it comes to her.
You paint the picture of their lives so vividly. It's very poignant and real. I may have squeaked out loud when I came upon the part where she named her son after him and his reaction thereafter. And I laughed at the fact that Jeff works for that "evil" law firm.
I'm so glad this isn't a one-off. ; )

[jezunya]

Wow, thank you so much! I was really trying hard to capture that dynamic, so I'm so glad it came through in the writing. It's rusty, but it'll never really be gone.

And, haha, I wasn't sure how many people would get the W&H reference, but I figured it was a fun little Easter egg to throw in there ;)

[rorge]

I really like this. Such a sense of melancholy and of opportunities not taken. The road not travelled.

I particularly like how you show Jeff seemingly having regressed back to the cold, aloof lawyer he was before Greendale, but with a greater sense of what he's losing by being like that. But also that he's completely resigned to it.

I often feel that the show should end with him deciding not to go back to what he was. That I'd be so disappointed if, after this life changing experience, and these people he's come to care for, he just went back to conning juries into letting people off DUIs. He's got so much capacity to be better than that.

I also really like all the hints you dropped at how complicated things between Jeff and Annie might have become. Hope to see more of this soon.

[jezunya]

Thank you! That's just the feel I was going for - opportunities lost, realizing what you're missing out on but unable to do anything about it...

I completely agree with you about Jeff's character development throughout the show and how disappointing it would be for Jeff to just go back to what he was before. With everything I've learned about Dan Harmon, though, I don't think he'll let that happen. Right from the start, this show has seemed to me like a very specific study in characters and the hero cycle, and is just disguised as a sitcom to get it on the air. IMO, Dan Harmon seems like just the kind of creator who'll finally get us the happy ending we want, even if we have to jump through a few flaming hoops to get there first ;)

Thanks so much for reading & commenting!