somewhatinvested

ao3

links to fics & primers under the cut <3

8. What is your favorite line/section from first tracks?

I love how Jupiter opens with Will being extremely judgy on the cost of everyone's coats. From the beginning, I've thought it was interesting to play with snotty rich kid Will Smith. You'll also notice throughout the series he has opinions on townie/local/vacation home owners/vacation home renters, example below like don't you want to punch him....

Then, finally, there are the locals. The kids in their twenties, clearly visiting mommy and daddy, leading a pack of their friends up the icy, steep street with the confidence of people who see this place in the summer. You can recognize them from their expensive black jackets, true winter coats like a Canada Goose or Moncler, not ski coats and never fur. The locals in Stowe don’t look like they do, more townies than the illusive local. Will doesn’t know how much money your parents need to transform living in a ski town from townie to local, but he bets it's a few million more than the townies in Stowe, Vermont. 

but also throughout the entire series (i hope) it's clear he's very insecure about his place in the world as he navigates normal college kid anxieties like unexpected crushes, maturing and changing and freaking about how that impacts your self image/place in the friendgroup, etc.

also honorable mention to this bc i really do believe these freaks would share a toothbrush

Mack enters the bathroom and starts to brush his teeth. When he’s done, he hands Will the same toothbrush he was just using, looking expectant. It’s totally gross, and also not the grossest thing that’s happened tonight and Will desperately needs it. 

25. Are there any moments in first tracks that feel "blurry" to you? Is this a stylistic choice, or would you go back and clarify the descriptions if you were given the chance?

god there are so many things i would retool on the basis i published jupiter in november 2024 and so much has happened since; but i think most of all is some of the dialogue but also it's very much a moment in time characterization and i think most of it holds up so.

5. What’s something you learned while researching a fic?

fortunately/unfortunately i have a lot of preexisting thoughts and opinions new england so i've done very little research. i did have to double check santana row has residential units above the retail; i was pretty sure given i've been there many times but it was worth double checking

8. What is your favorite line/section from caught up in it?

okay so my true favorite thing about this verse is it allows me to make up a ton of fun ocs (my passion) and they are all way out of will's league and he's lowkey evil to many of them but it's fun writing. for example,

The date is going well, if well means boring. Will’s being perfectly pleasant, but the conversation drags. Will asks her about university, he remembers her being something of a nerd, and watches as she lights up. It was the right thing to ask, but he wishes he asked about her summer instead. Julia’s going into her junior year at University of Chicago and is studying applied mathematics. Will has no clue what that means—what the fuck is the math applied to—but he just sits and lets her talk. He has a feeling asking for clarification would only make her dive deeper into duller explanations. She shares about her competitive math club and how she’s fighting this girl named Stella to win the honor of being the thesis advisee of some esteemed professor. Now he gets why his mom went oh, her? about Julia.