Men of la Mancha

[tamakito]

Spoilers: Up to 2.06.
Warnings: Bullying, reference to sexual assault (the canon incident), florid excerpts from real romance novels.
Rating: R to be safe, idk broskis.
Word Count: 4, 838
Disclaimer: RIB and FOX own everything ever.

This idea. Reality fails to live up to either Dave’s or Kurt’s expectations

Comments

[lelaro]

this is seriously heartbreaking. i like the fact that kurt compares it to a bad romance novel which was pretty much karofsky's inspiration, details like those tie ins are pretty awesome.

[tamakito]

Thanks so very much! It sounds a little perverse to be glad it was heartbreaking, but hey, I should own my intentions, so... I admit to being pleased that you say so! And that the tie-in there worked; the whole thing feels oddly disconnected to me, so I did go through and make sure that there are tie-ins like that to hold it together, and I'm pleased as punch that one worked.

[falafel_musings]

I discovered you fic last night through a rec on TWoP. Kurt, Finn and Karofsky are my favourite Glee characters to read about so I felt like I'd struck gold here, especially because your writing is absolutely superb. It's up with the best writing I've seen for this fandom; funny, tragic, insightful, compelling and wonderfully detailed. I think I'll enjoy savouring all your stories.

This one was a gem! Such an amazing concept. Of course Dave's mom's porny romance books and Kurt's disney movies gave both boys very different but equally unrealistic expectations of romance. Dave's fantasies about Kurt are sad and needy as they are creepy. Kurt's chaste fairytale visions of romance are sad too, given his limited options and how he is made to feel guilty just for contemplating his hopeless crushes. The idea of Kurt being hysterical after the kiss seemed really believeable to me.

Beautifully written. Loved it.

[tamakito]

Oooh cor blimey, thanks so much for this! I really wish I could thank that person on TwoP; there was another person here from that rec and they linked me to it but it doesn't let me like message the reccer or anything, and I do so appreciate it. Babbling! Stop now. Okay.

So anyway, obvs I am v. fond indeed of Kurt, Finn, and Karofsky as well (I mean really I love everyone on this show but they like ~inspire~ me the most or something), and I'm so unspeakably flattered that you like this and that you say such beautiful things about the writing in it, zomfg I can't even. So yeah, I'm really glad you liked it and felt for Dave and Kurt in it, and gosh, just. Thank you!

[tamakito]

Lol well the difference is deceptive - most of my stories have like fifteen actual comments, really, and then I get talking with people and the discussions drive the count up. Also hot damn, I have to edit this, god my eternal enemy word repetition! *shakes fist at sky*

Yeah, though, that particular kind of romance novel was like the worst thing ever for Dave to read, which is why the idea on the comment thread appealed to me. It's like a bright red bow on all of his worst instincts. As the little fandom thing goes, he should have tried flowers.

OH MY GOD IT CAN THO. God that moment in Tangled, where Rapunzel is like, "what if it's not everything I dreamed" and Flynn is like "it will be" and I'm like, UH NO YOU CANNOT ACTUALLY PROMISE THAT YOU OINK. Even leaving aside the icky stuff ("kiss a girl in her sleep, go ahead!"), a lot of the happy-idealized stuff Disney puts out there can be really damaging. I mean I guess it depends on the person, because yeah, we do need dreams to get us through sometimes. It just depends on how good

[tamakito]

ONE MUST ALWAYS NOTE MY POWERS. They are mystical and not at all, in this case, what everyone else was doing too. Allow me to hide behind my back three quarters of all season one Kurt+sex fic written.

As for Dave and his causing Kurt's sex issues, yeah, that is a good point - a few incidents at seventeen don't magically make Kurt someone who has never watched porn. I think it's fair to say that Dave has something to do with how bad it is now - Kurt was, as noted, previously capable of acting sexy in song, and that he's now reduced almost to tears by the subject... Well, I think it's safe to say that being harassed is in the mix. But overall, yeah, these are issues way further-reaching than Dave could have caused. Honestly I think Finn probably has something to do with it too. Overall, Kurt just doesn't have many positive things to associate with sex.

Although omg omg, okay, you! Yes. Please god explain this to me. I see this all the time and I don't get it and no one will explain it to me! WHERE DOES THIS COME FROM, this thing

[isarn]

Heartbreaking, perfect. So real, too. I loved it.

[tamakito]

Wow, thank you v. much! I'm so happy it seemed real to you, and you know, heartbreaking, I mean I'm sorry, but I'm still glad! Thank you for this!

[t_vo0810]

you totally broke my heart with this one. holy hell. it's just. wow. there is so much about this piece that is subtle and amazing and thought provoking and feels completely in-character. well done /applauds you/. you are seriously talented.

[tamakito]

subtle and amazing and thought provoking and feels completely in-character

NO I DON'T THINK YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEANS TO ME TO HEAR

ahem

Thank you v. v. much for this! It is a lovely thing to say and I am glad you reacted emotionally to the story and liked it and stuff and stuff and just thank you. A lot.