director's commentary for the party section in "start, acceleration, then take it back to square one" because there are so many interesting character interactions that go down during the party! anything really, but was there something you knew had to be included there or some dialogue you're proud of writing?
ooh, okay, yay! we'll start with devi's short exchange with paxton. i know i didn't give a whole lot of information about what their relationship was like in the 'verse of this fic and, like, i also didn't decide too much about how it went down. the only thing upon which i am certain is that devi never felt cool or deserving enough of the relationship, and that those insecurities were constantly exacerbated by the way paxton's constantly surrounded by people who adore him. so i like how this beat -
And there he is. Paxton Hall-Yoshida. In the middle of the hot tub, surrounded by all the girls it would have made more sense for him to have spent the year dating than Devi.
- couples with devi's discomfort around the 'swim groupies' to set the stage for how she understands their relationship now that she's out of it.
as for paxton himself...before i wrote a whole fic in his pov, i was always really daunted by the prospect of writing his voice, both internal and external. but i really like how this one line turned out, how much it feels like something paxton would believe.
“Yeah, but that’s different,” he says, reaching out of the tub to tug at the hem of her tank top. “People are more their real selves over the weekend.”
also really like this devi line. i can hear the exact way she'd say it so clearly.
“I don’t know if I agree with that.”
“I guess that makes sense.” Paxton rests his chin on the edge of the hot tub and stares up at her from under his eyelashes. “You do like school.”
“I was thinking more because I always keep it real, but sure. I’m also a big, honking nerd.”
the way she's still tempted by him, by the easy way he makes her feel more important just by merit of being worth his time, is something i really enjoyed writing. season one devi is so preoccupied with the fantasy of paxton, and having her unable to let go of that fantasy even after she's dated him for real...it just feels right, y'know?
He grins like she just said the most charming thing in the world, and it makes her want to crawl into the hot tub after him. Hell, if she didn’t know how that move would play out in the long-run, she’d probably already be in the water.
on the whole, it pleases me how sweet and casual the whole exchange turned out. they didn't end on bad terms, they're still kinda friends, even. but there's a distance now that devi knows the fantasy lives primarily in her head. that the reality of being paxton hall-yoshida's girlfriend isn't nearly as glamorous or personality-altering as she'd hoped.
not gonna spend a whole lot of time on ben and devi coming up with the bet, but i am smitten with the fact that devi made such a big deal about wanting to be at the party only to spend it just hanging out with ben. and, like, specifically pouting a little when she's not spending it with ben. she just wanted a different setting in which to snipe at him and i love her for that
and now i'm obviously gonna geek out about shira/zoe
casual touching casual touching casual touching
“It’s not everyone,” Shira says, leaning into Zoe, arm resting on her shoulder. It looks hella uncomfortable, given Zoe’s the taller of the two of them.
i love the way devi cannot allow zoe and shira to be right but is secretly so so pleased at the idea that ben never shut up about her
Unexpectedly, though, she looks up and pins Devi to the spot with a piercing gaze. “But yeah. He was, like, obsessed with Devi, and it was super annoying.”
Ignoring the way her traitorous stomach flips at Shira’s words, Devi says, “I wasn’t staring at Ben.”
shira/zoe toying with devi together brings me so much joy. they're the WORST but they're a TEAM about it.
“It’s weird,” Shira says. “You’re, like, this huge nerd, and yet you kinda stole guys from both of us.”
“Whoa,” Zoe says. “That’s true.” She looks Devi up and down. “I think that means we hate you.”
first of all, 'putting on a really convincing show of someone who hates Devi' is peak background jealous zoe in catty fic content and, like, i know i wrote it but im kind of obsessed with it.
secondly, the ~undercurrent~ devi's picking up on is absolutely shira challenging zoe to just admit she's jealous already so she can stop making out with randos for attention because they're also the WORST individually and making it each other's problem.
Zoe scoffs. “Wait, you’re not serious.”
“Why not?” Shira repeats, an undercurrent of something Devi finds intriguing in her voice.
“There are better ways of making this party interesting than making out with her of all people,” Zoe says, putting on a really convincing show of someone who hates Devi.
finally, we have some peak humanization of shira content (lie- that probably is the last scene from birds do it, bees do it but still, this is top shelf if i do say so myself)!! she's not jealous, exactly, but kind of wistful over the fact that the kid she dated for so long was so obviously into someone who wasn't her. and she had a front row seat to exactly how those feelings manifested, and getting to participate, if even in this roundabout way, is fun for her! i'm fond over it.
Shira pulls away, sweeping her thumb along the curve of Devi’s mouth. “I’ve always wondered what it’d be like.”
“Huh?” Devi blinks, pressing the impression of Shira’s fingers into her skin as she turns instinctively toward where Ben’s anchored in the crowd, staring directly at them with an intensity that makes Devi’s legs go even wobblier than they already were.
“You guys seem so into your weird, little game. I always kinda wanted to play for myself.”
Maybe it’s because Shira sounds so wistful, or maybe Devi simply doesn’t know how to kiss someone without going a little soft for them—but whatever the reason, she decides she owes it to Shira not to pretend she doesn’t understand exactly what she’s saying. “And?”
Shira nods, a smile inching its way onto her face. “I get the appeal.”
fic director's commentary game
