therealdaveofdaves - Tumblr blog

[therealdaveofdaves]

Are you OK?

I’m good anon! I’m here! Just gotta get motivated to do some writing, so hopefully very soon!

[therealdaveofdaves]

He Lives!

Yes, he lives indeed! Anybody still out there?

Well. Ye Writer has been up to his eyeballs in Zoom classes and meetings and is, like many of you no doubt, over the pandemic. Like...over it. So, it’s been a time to say the least.

However, these last few days, the characters in my little world have been giving me a metaphorical kick in the butt, telling me to get back to it because there’s a lot of Maze to go!

So. Not putting a “release date” on things...yet. But I’ll be putting finger to keyboard here once more, and very soon. 

Stay tuned! Clay and Justin are back!

[therealdaveofdaves]

Any updates on Maze coming soon? no pressure

Hi Anon! Yes, updates coming soon, promise! It’s been a busy and weird pandemic semester haha. But it’s coming!

[therealdaveofdaves]

I've been reading all your Maze of Moments works over the past two months (because I needed so many fics to get over season four) and just wanted to tell you that I have loved them! Are you still planning to continue book two? I hope you are because the stuff you've alluded to in the other works all sounds really good and I definitely want to read the rest of it!

Hi Anon! I’m so glad you found my stories and that you’ve enjoyed them, thank you so much!! Yes!! I’ll be continuing them, never fear! Life fit into the way as it usually does with getting ready for classes and all. But now that they’ve started back up I should be able to get back to Maze and all of the plans I have in store. Stay tuned and thank you again!! 😊

[therealdaveofdaves]

CHARLIE ST. GEORGE AND ALEX STANDALL 13 Reasons Why (4x09 - “Prom”)

[therealdaveofdaves]

[therealdaveofdaves]

[therealdaveofdaves]

Do you think that Justin was officially adopted? They never really say if he was or not, and the fact that the doctor said Justin made Matt his medical proxy seems to imply that he wasn’t adopted yet, unless he had turned 18 at that point, but I’m not entirely sure. Just wanted to hear your thoughts on it

Hi Anon!

Hmmm, good question. It’s really complicated and very confusing if you look at everything in totality. While I in my heart, like to think the adoption was finalized, the reality is, it probably was not. For one thing, that’s such a huge point of the story that even with everything going on in the show in S4, I doubt the writers would overlook it. I also think that Justin had turned 18 by the time of the finale, but as you indicate making Matt his proxy implies that he was not adopted. Finally, his diploma says ‘Justin Foley.’ Now, while he would not have had to change his last name, I also like to think that he would have hyphenated it.

In any case, it’s another shortcoming of S4, which I generally liked, that should have been addressed to give some closure.

[therealdaveofdaves]

You've all heard of "Batman accidentally uses his suave playboy voice instead of his intimidating growly one while interrogating a thug" but now I present you: BATMAN ACCIDENTALLY USES HIS TIRED DAD™ VOICE.

I-been-working-on-this-case-for-76-hours-straight-Batman: *sigh* what did you do

Suddenly-guilty-feeling-Riddler: I can explain

[therealdaveofdaves]

When you get this, post publicly (3) things you love about your current WIP! (optional: send to (3) other authors who need some positivity!)

Well, thank you, Anon! Don’t know how I missed this, and I’m sorry it’s so late!

So, three things I love about my current works in progress. Okay, challenge accepted!

1. I love the fact that I have a lot planned out in “Maze of Moments Book Two” that not only factors in some of Season Three, but does so with my own spin on it that I think will surprise readers in a good way! Who did murder Bryce Walker? Hmmmmm.

2. Related to number one, I have a couple of original characters waiting in the wings that will play a big part in the lives of Clay and Justin, and I can’t wait to get to those chapters!

3. I’ve got a Christmas 2019 story to finish (and, boy, do we need a little Christmas right now) that is being worked on as we speak, and I think faithful readers (and, new ones also!) will really like. I hope!

[therealdaveofdaves]

Season Four Thoughts and How It (may or may not...) Impact Maze

Well hello there, Mazers! ‘Bout time I posted over here, no?

So, it’s been just over a week since Season Four of ‘13 Reasons Why’ premiered, and, yes, I did binge watch it in one day, and yes, I have....thoughts. Let’s get right to it. 

The Good: 

First and foremost, CHARLIE AND ALEX. Yes, please, this was the couple I didn’t know I needed, and I did a little squee of happiness. Or, a lot of squees. Either way. I know the Zalex fans are perhaps a bit upset, but I mean, c’mon....they’re just too cute together. Everything about these two characters made the season for me, and I’m a huge Clay and Justin fan, so that’s saying something.

Clay’s mental struggles finally being addressed and therapy sessions - something that was much needed and long overdue.

I...didn’t hate Ani this time around? I got the feeling that the writers learned from some of the criticism last season and deliberately wrote her in a lessened role here. I did like a little of her friendship with Jess, although it got a bit over the top at times. 

Tyler’s continued recovery was also nice to see, and even he gets a happy ending, also much needed.

Graduation and the reception, both highlights.

Drunk!Clay is hilarious.

The Bad:

The lockdown. While the conversations and characterizations themselves were good and (for Clay and “Bryce” and “Monty”) much needed, I’m sorry, I don’t know of any school - not where I am anyway - that goes to such an extreme with shooting blanks, etc. Way over the top.

The riot, sorta. Again, I don’t know of any school or police department that would have let things go that far. Well acted, and the message was important in the context of racial profiling and turning our schools into armed camps, but still.

Winston. Meh. Not that huge of a fan the more I think about it. 

Diego. Meh. Could have done without him. 

They ever gonna explain what happened to Sheri? Huh. Guess it’s too late, now. And a passing reference to Jeff, not even by name?

The Ugly:

Yeah, we know where I’m going with this. Justin deserved so much better. While I have seen some of the interviews and such trying to justify how his story concludes, it really felt like a slap in the face when it comes right down to it, to say nothing of heartbreaking. Kudos to Dylan and Brandon in that last episode, because they did a tremendous job. 

And yet...

It is entirely plausible that Justin could have/would have contracted HIV during his time on the streets. Okay, I concede the point. But there was such a huge opportunity here and a teachable moment that could have played out parallel to Clay’s storyline. HIV is not the death sentence it once was, and this could have been done so much better, while giving Justin the happy ending he deserved. 

As a gay man, and with this being Pride month, this really felt like a punch to the gut. If you want to kill off Justin, okay (well...not, okay, but still...), why not have it be something heroic to close his arc, or for that matter related to his addiction, as horrifying and painful as that would have been to see? It was the most frustrating aspect of this whole season, left a bad taste in my mouth, and it was the wrong damn decision. 

Justin deserved better.

So. Maze, Ye Writer?

Glad you asked. You did, didn’t you? Okay. Good.

I try to keep my little world of fanfiction as close to canon as possible, albeit as an AU. Last year, after Season Three, I got upset as you’ll recall, because the events there punched all kinds of holes in my work at that time and where I was going with it. But, after some thinking about it and introspection, I was okay with it all, and my AU became even more so. No big deal, as it turned out. I figured out ways to incorporate things into my stories, and have even plotted out my version of “who killed Bryce” into it all.

Season Four, on the other hand?

Honestly, I can’t see myself taking too much and incorporating it this time around. Clay’s mental health? Probably. In fact, that’s a major theme of my stories to begin with. Charlie? Oh, yeah. I want to work him in more now (and figure out a way to break up Alex with Cyrus....sigh...). But for the rest? Well, let’s put it this way, if you’re a faithful reader you know where a lot of the characters wind up in my world. Actually, I’ve been thinking about writing some more of Future!Maze. So, needless to say, Justin is alive and well in the Mazeverse, and while I am thinking about incorporating an HIV diagnosis into the storyline, I haven’t made any firm decisions yet. 

I have a lot more to come and a lot more to write, and I think....and hope...you’ll all enjoy with what I’ve got cooking. I enjoy making you laugh, cry (but, like, in a good way!), and hopefully put a smile on your face with what I do with the 13 Reasons Why characters, and I hope to continue doing so for a long time to come.

So, there we are. Let me know your thoughts, hope to see you over at AO3, and as always....stay tuned! Clay and Justin and Alex and Jess and Sheri and Tony and Zach and Cyrus and the parents and Tank and Clay’s Psyche and Camden and Charlie and a whole lot more will be coming to you very soon.

Take care!

[therealdaveofdaves]

"Wait..say all that again? You can't come home yet because...what happened?" Matt asked, a little bewildered. Sanderson University had made the decision to close and began the transition to online teaching the week prior, ahead of the larger state system by a couple of days. This meant a crash course in using Zoom for lectures and meetings, with a little help from Justin, who proved himself to be an apt tutor in such matters.

Clay sighed as he began again. "Okay, one more time. So, we had a...function...at the Sig Ep house last week..."

It’s a one shot in the Mazeverse! Actually, it’s Future!Mazeverse! COVID-19 is declared a pandemic, and students at the University of California San Diego are asked to leave. But Clay and Keaton are stuck for two weeks. Come on over to AO3 and see what happens...and you’ll also find out how THAT ending of 13 Reasons Why Season Four is handeled in my little world. 

[therealdaveofdaves]

Well.

I’ll have to gather my thoughts and post something more substantial a little bit later, but there we have it. Binge watched the season yesterday and into the wee hours.

No spoilers (promise!) but for those of you who follow my stories?

Nothing’s gonna change.

I...yeah. More later.

[therealdaveofdaves]

It’s Season Four day!

Coffee? ✔️

Bowl of cereal? ✔️

Netflix fired up? ✔️

*cracks knuckles* Let’s do this!

[therealdaveofdaves]

“The thing is, I can't help you the way you've helped me unless you let me in and trust me. So, I'm sorry I acted all shitty with you the last few days, but I understand it a little better now. Not much, but a little."

"Well, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. This has been super hard to keep to myself."

"I hate that it was, Zach, I really do. She makes you happy though?"

Zach smiled. "She's like a rainbow."

"Oh my God, that is so cheesy! All right, so who is this mysterious rainbow then?"

We’re finally back in the Mazeverse! Zach’s new girlfriend is revealed! Justin smells...bad. And, a surprise character shows up! Head on over to AO3 for the latest, just in time for Season Four! 

[therealdaveofdaves]

CLAY & JUSTIN → Season 4

[therealdaveofdaves]

Love these guys!!