FF: Escape Hatch (April/Ben) - 2/2

[cypanache]

Title: Escape Hatch 2/2
Fandom: Parks and Recreation
Pairing: April/Ben (seriously) with some background April/Andy and Leslie/Ben (but no cheating, see author's note)
Word Count: ~11,000
Rating: R (for sex, language, and screwed-up people)
Timeline: Up through 3x05 "Media Blitz"
Summary: “I don’t remember you being such an asshole in Pawnee.” ~ “

Comments

[under_crisis]

wow. if before i was already in awe of your work, now i just believe.

it's wonderful that you kept this intricate balance of being detached from canon yet strangely grounded in it. to be sure the characters's actions and motivations were how we would imagine them to be, if in that situation, yet there are the aspects that are like hidden treasures, such as ben's innermost thoughts. i think that balance is what made this time out of "reality" so believable, that could have even the most ardent leslie/ben and april/andy shipper get on that train and leave our home ships in the dock while we go on a little excursion (sorry for the mixed up metaphors btw). i think many will agree with me that you could have had them end this relationship in a totally different way and we'd still be applauding in the end, but using andy as the catalyst - and leslie as ben`s very own kansas - is like the encore to an already great performance. truly wonderful.

[cypanache]

Thank you so much. I am certainly one of the more ardent leslie/ben april/andy 'shippers in this world (serious Andy's face during fancy party? There was squeeing high pitched squeeing and maybe the start of tears), so I really did want to do them justice. And I of course can't write Ben's character without addressing his feelings for Leslie, they're too incredibly integral to who he is for me.

I think that's what I love about fanfiction. How if you do it right, you can veer off from canon at any point and as long as you don't ignore those core pieces, those things that make that character who they are and what they've been to up to that point, you can construct entire new worlds of possibilities. So I'm really glad you felt that I did it right here.

[under_crisis]

"I think that's what I love about fanfiction. How if you do it right, you can veer off from canon at any point and as long as you don't ignore those core pieces, those things that make that character who they are and what they've been to up to that point, you can construct entire new worlds of possibilities."

I never read fanfic before this whole pnr hiatus, and this is exactly what I am loving about reading so many fics here. It took me a while to get into AU - to develop enough trust that it wouldn't fuck up the characters for me (some things you can't unread, you know?). But now I appreciate it so much in terms of appreciating what might be possible, what the logic puzzles of the characters are.

I so adore your stuff in particular. I was horrified at the concept of Patchwork Heart and now I can't wait for more...

[myr_soleil]

Wow, this is... there are no words! I just read it at work and it appears I'm crying, haha, I never knew I had such deep feelings for this ship. Just - the fucked-upness and everything turning out so well, I love it. (Also hot, but that's just obvious.)

[janeausten4ever]

I'm really just posting a comment because I feel it would be unjust if I didn't because this was so damn good, but I wish I didn't feel that obligation because I honestly have no coherent words. Even though I shipped both Leslie/Ben and April/Andy in this story, by the end I actually wanted April and Ben to end up together...kind of. It's hard to explain. I really loved how he brushed his finger along her shoulder and how she touched the small of his back (maybe). It was just heartbreaking. I loved this so much. That's all I have to say. Fantastic job!

[ashisfriendly]

I wanted to throw up with Ben. Guh. So heartbreaking and honest and real and amazing and thank god for that ending otherwise I may have just curled up and cried on my bed.

[bowlsohard]

Oh good Lord. I have been avoiding this fic becauase I am a Leslie/Ben enthusiast. But wow. I should have known you would suprise me and that I would love it. I just can't even deal wtih how awful the situation was in this for Ben and April. And you did such an amazing job. I don't know what else to say really. Damn, that was good.