Discussion Post: Simple Math

[flosculatory.livejournal.com]

Title: Simple Math
Author: foxxcub
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Underage
Author's Summary: "So," Eames says slowly, leaning back against the school wall as he idly taps his cigarette. "We've got a problem here."
or, The Fake Boyfriend High School AU

For this week's discussion, we have this lovely AU that not only incorporates all the emotions and hormones of high school, but also throws in a fake relationship, enemies to lovers, boys being stupid and in love, and a bunch more of your favourite things. I've left some discussion points, but feel free to add your own questions and/or observations and/or general flailing below.

Comments

Re: personalities

[kedgeree11.livejournal.com]

Yes, Arthur seemed very young in his behavior, very teen angsty and defensive in the way he shut down his feelings and acted out with hostility. You could see the seeds of canon Arthur in something like that, though...where shutting down becomes reserve and defensive hostility becomes frowny faces!

One of the things that I thought was VERY high school about this whole fic was the timeline, which I thought was hilarious...like OH MY GOD, we've been going out for TWO WEEKS now, that's FOREVER.

Re: personalities

[earlgreytea68.livejournal.com]

YES OH MY GOD. When they were like, "Obviously we have to break up OVER THE WEEKEND," like that's the only time when anything ever happens. And I did love how quickly gossip spread everywhere. (The timeline of this fic is weird to me, though. Arthur's father dies while he's in summer school with Eames. So how can the anniversary of his death happen during the school year in this fic?)

Another thing that seemed very young to me was how they literally kept physically fighting with each other. I was like, "Boys. This aggression is very misplaced."

RE: Re: personalities

[teacuphuman09.livejournal.com]

I've read this fic five or six times and never picked up on the timeline thing for the father's death. Clearly I was distracted by all the teen angst.

Re: personalities

[earlgreytea68.livejournal.com]

For some reason that tiny little inconsistency doesn't *bother* me, per se (I'd forgotten all about it when I was thinking about this fic for the re-read), but every single time I'm like, "The timeline doesn't make sense!!" Also, at one point Arthur's been named for his father but at another point Arthur's father is called John (I reconciled that he was Arthur John in my head). I think I notice those things because those are the types of continuity errors I make when I'm writing super-quickly and just keep posting. I'm not sure how this fic was originally posted but I get that impression. And far from being bothered by it, I'm actually kind of charmed, because I know how that feels.

Re: personalities

[kedgeree11.livejournal.com]

The timeline inconsistencies have always stood out for me as well, but I feel sort of the same hand-wavy acceptance.

Re: personalities

[flosculatory.livejournal.com]

oh my god the gossip. Like, I remember when I was in high school, I knew little to nothing about the drama in my year, never mind the years above and below me. But in this fic, news of Arthur and Eames' relationship spread to the junior high school immediately, it was hilarious.

Re: personalities

[msbrightsidesh.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly that. One month, huh, now that's a serious, long-term relationship, however will we explain that we BROKE UP after SUCH A LONG time oh no.