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: high school

[msbrightsidesh.livejournal.com]

I actually really really liked that, because you're right, usually, in high school AUs, one of them has a very different social standing compared to the other, one of them is always so unpopular. Regarding the movie, however, I think it makes a lot more sense to do it this way, to give them a near-equal standing. I just don't see the kind of imbalance in the movie (or in my various headcanons) that seems to be so typical for hgh school AUs. If you make Arthur the social outcast, you ignore his loyalty and his skill and dedication shown in the movie. If you make Eames the outcast, you ignore his charm, his people skills. I get why people write it this way, I get that it would give the relationship an obstacle that is needed in a high school setting, because so many other life obstacles simply have no place in that kind of universe, but I very much enjoy how this story deal with it.

Ok, can we please talk about Arthur and Ariadne in this? Because wow, was it just me or did he treat her like total shit??? He never really talks to her, they don't just hang out in their free time, he presumambly ditches her for lunch without a word but he expects her to pick him p from parties in the middle of the night? I don't know, maybe we just didn't get to see the nicer moments of their friendship in this story because the Author was concentrating on other things, but Arthur and Ariadnes' relationship felt very unequal to me and it's a thing that really bugs me about this story, no matter how much I love it. It just downplays Arthur's loyalty, which I think is a very important trait of his, so much. Ariadne is often The Best Friend in these High School AUs, but Pet, for example, shows Arthur also being there for Ariadne, them relying on *each other* instead of just Arthur on Ariadne. I don't know, it's something that I notice everytime I reread this fic, and I just wondered whether anyone feels the same?

Re: high school

[flosculatory.livejournal.com]

Yes, I definitely think they have a more equal standing in the movie, so it is interesting that there's that difference in some high school AUs. And you're right that it does give the stories another kind of hurdle to overcome, but I'm not sure how I feel about that. (I'm really drawing a blank on high school AUs right now.)

I also noticed that Arthur and Ariadne's friendship seemed unequal and that Arthur asked a lot from her without giving her anything back (or thanking her for any of it, really). And admittedly, he is fairly self-involved in this fic, overcome as he is with his self-imposed relationship troubles. But I didn't really feel like Arthur was treating her like shit, more that we were missing the good elements of their friendship because the author didn't see it as being as relevant to Arthur and Eames' relationship. I mean, there are days that go by between the events of each chapter, so I'm sure there was friendship action happening there. You're right that it would have been nice to have some mention of that though and to see some development/fleshing out of the friendship, so that Ariadne was less a walking, talking relationship coach, and more of her own person. We got hints of it with her sass with Arthur and seeing that she really does care for him. In fact, it was her sass that convinced me that she wasn't just a limp friend who would put up with Arthur if he was treating her like shit or taking advantage of her, so I just naturally assumed that Arthur would do or had done the same kind of stuff for Ariadne (like picking her up from parties and stuff). I'd also like to think that immediately after finally getting his shit together with Eames, Arthur just lavishes praise and thanks on Ariadne for being a great friend.

Re: high school

[earlgreytea68.livejournal.com]

I always thought it was weird that Ariadne's never at any of these parties. Why not???

Re: high school

[okaykatie.livejournal.com]

Same! Ariadne in this fic is on the debate team, and seems friendly as hell. She seems like she'd be reasonably popular.

There is one point where Arthur mentions that she's been a little wrapped up in her own world because of a crush. (But she’s deeply immersed in a hopeless crush on her debate partner) but like. WHY DOES ARTHUR THINK THAT CRUSH IS HOPELESS? Who was it on? Was there an earlier plan to make one of the other chars from the movie show up?

These are the things I want to know.