The "limits of acting range/ability" theme is something my psyche wants to spend more time exploring, it seems. In particular, I love what you did with it in the most recent updates to "Unmasked" -- i.e., Kenzaki thinking he could act normal with Yoshizumi, and then not getting away with it -- so that was already on my mind when you commented on "Just Desserts." I read something a while back about Hugh Grant making peace with typecasting -- that is, recognizing that there are genres one is naturally better at (in his case, romantic comedy) and that there really isn't any shame in sticking to what one does best rather than trying to prove to critics one has the acting chops to play other types. (It may be on my mind because I'm still making my own peace with what I am and am not skilled at writing, not to mention what I (don't) seem to be willing to make time to produce and submit/post.)
Kenzaki's observations on giving and ego = one of those things that made me go, "WTH, fic? You were never supposed to go in that direction or get this deep!" before writing it out anyway. So it's especially rewarding to hear that that part clicked with you. :-)
which nicely ties in with your "Present Understanding" story
I hadn't consciously made the connection, but you're right - it's a canonical blind spot, even, what with his not taking Katou's jealousy seriously. (I need to revisit that scene, because it still makes my brain itch -- the first time I read it, I thought it was a dick move on Y's part, and trying to reconcile that with how both Iwaki and Katou trust and confide in him -- well, it's still making my brain itch, now that I'm remembering it. (That, and Yoshizumi's comments about his own masculine pride. Which could be an argument for him being canonically gay? *need more coffee, need to go back and revisit that volume in both English and French*)
and, to Yoshizumi's amusement, so had Kikuchi Katsuya.
Kikuchi getting a shout-out is all you, babe: I originally had it as just Katou, but when I got stuck on a later line of dialogue, I took a break and reread Strictly Business, which reminded me that Kikuchi would have his own reasons to applaud anyone reckless enough to give Mochimune an overdue dose of what-for.
(It is, after all, the mellow ones who lose it most spectacularly when they finally let push meet shove. So perhaps the question for Unmasked!Y is what's going to be the film in the fire where his relationship with K is concerned...)
And yay--Ninomaya did not get fired! (I felt sorry for that poor guy, even if he was just an offhand mention.)
I did pick up on that. *amused*
And just as I was wondering who Mochi would cast in Kenzaki's role
When I started writing this fic as a response to you, I didn't have anyone in mind. 2000 words in and two days later, I still wasn't intending to address it, but I did have in mind coming up with a couple lines of dialogue to acknowledge Kenzaki's protective instinct, since that was specifically one of the scenarios you'd brought up. And then when I was chopping things for dinner, it dawned on me who Mochimune would cast, and I about near took my own fingers off. (Yes, shades of Onozuka in Iwaki's kitchen. Real life chasing fictional tail, that's me...)
Kenzaki's observations on giving and ego = one of those things that made me go, "WTH, fic? You were never supposed to go in that direction or get this deep!" before writing it out anyway. So it's especially rewarding to hear that that part clicked with you. :-)
which nicely ties in with your "Present Understanding" story
I hadn't consciously made the connection, but you're right - it's a canonical blind spot, even, what with his not taking Katou's jealousy seriously. (I need to revisit that scene, because it still makes my brain itch -- the first time I read it, I thought it was a dick move on Y's part, and trying to reconcile that with how both Iwaki and Katou trust and confide in him -- well, it's still making my brain itch, now that I'm remembering it. (That, and Yoshizumi's comments about his own masculine pride. Which could be an argument for him being canonically gay? *need more coffee, need to go back and revisit that volume in both English and French*)
and, to Yoshizumi's amusement, so had Kikuchi Katsuya.
Kikuchi getting a shout-out is all you, babe: I originally had it as just Katou, but when I got stuck on a later line of dialogue, I took a break and reread Strictly Business, which reminded me that Kikuchi would have his own reasons to applaud anyone reckless enough to give Mochimune an overdue dose of what-for.
(It is, after all, the mellow ones who lose it most spectacularly when they finally let push meet shove. So perhaps the question for Unmasked!Y is what's going to be the film in the fire where his relationship with K is concerned...)
And yay--Ninomaya did not get fired! (I felt sorry for that poor guy, even if he was just an offhand mention.)
I did pick up on that. *amused*
And just as I was wondering who Mochi would cast in Kenzaki's role
When I started writing this fic as a response to you, I didn't have anyone in mind. 2000 words in and two days later, I still wasn't intending to address it, but I did have in mind coming up with a couple lines of dialogue to acknowledge Kenzaki's protective instinct, since that was specifically one of the scenarios you'd brought up. And then when I was chopping things for dinner, it dawned on me who Mochimune would cast, and I about near took my own fingers off. (Yes, shades of Onozuka in Iwaki's kitchen. Real life chasing fictional tail, that's me...)