You're Leslie Knope

[princess_george]

Spoilers: through Premiere of Season 4. 
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this. 
PG-13 for some references to sex. 
Ben's POV for the Season 4 Premiere, basically.

Please let me know if you notice any errors; they bug me a lot and I'd rather fix them. Comments are the greatest thing ever.

Comments

[rikyl]

This is a lovely: a little heartbreaking but in an optimistic way. I especially love how you brought the brother back into it as a metaphor. That was very apt.

[princess_george]

Thanks so much! I was thinking about that phone call again, actually - is that maybe the first time anyone has made any reference at all to anyone having a baby on Parks? I can't remember one.

The metaphor is really flawed, of course, because Ben won't wind up with a baby political career he can really share, will he? I am hoping the show lets him have some fun this year, that character. Poor sweet Ben.

[americnxidiot]

I just sat there making a Leslie-when-she-realizes-Ben-got-her-an-eclair face the entire time, reading this. A one-shot like this makes me feel a little less sad (cause it's kind of ridiculous how sad I was after the first day... idek), because I can't read this and not think that, okay, this is more like putting a pause on the relationship. It's definitely not the end. God, this is so rambling. I'm sorry haha.

Even though he begins to see what it means, he can't help it, he's charmed by it. He's inspired by it. He's pleased to hear her talk about fiscal responsibility along with all the grander visions, thinks he can take some small credit for that, maybe.

I love this, and you did such a good job showing how he interprets this whole thing. Thanks so much for writing.

[princess_george]

Thanks for reading and commenting! Yeah, this feels like more of a pause to me, although really the characters don't know that. So it's tough, and sad. I'm glad it made you feel better! I wrote a long rambling comment in the poll post where I said I though Ben was fundamentally ok and I recommend taking that perspective because it's so comforting...

[sullen_aquarian]

Loved all the little details in this, especially the name of the brother : ). An homage to Mr. Rudd, I presume? I also liked Ben's strange habit of eating fruit. Really liked getting to see things from Ben's side.

[princess_george]

Yes, indeed, I believe I was thinking of you when I picked the name! And somehow that made it easier for him to swear, too. As if Ben's brother as played by Paul Rudd would be less restrained than Ben, particularly when sleep-deprived. Thanks for reading!

[ipyngo]

this was gorgeous. loved it.

[princess_george]

Wow, thank you so much. So glad you enjoyed it.

[shornt]

I adore this. I was really aching for more Ben POV through this episode.

[princess_george]

Aw, thanks. It was actually really satisfying to go back and reconstruct it from his point of view, to think through the timeline and so on.