Name: dreamshadow (Signed) · Date: 26 Aug 2020 08:53 PM · For: Existence

hey, lily! i'm finally here to judge entries for my challenge :) 

so i was definitely excited to read a scorbus from you, and this one didn't disappoint. i really feel for scorpius, though; from the very beginning it seemed like he wasn't enjoying his birthday, and that every little thing was irritating him because he kept thinking about his feelings towards albus. and i find that to be so true and relatable; getting irritated because anxiety can be overwhelming, especially when you can't really sort your feelings out and you feel like you need to because you've reached a certain point in your life. 

it was so endearing, though, that he wanted a muggle birthday. and that albus was very supportive of him throughout it, even though they were at odds for most of the fic. and then, of course, scorpius has to go and sprain his ankle, because what else could be worse than panicking about your feelings towards your best friend? i loved that you had a reason for why they were stuck, too - like, they went through every solution and albus can't apparate, they didn't bring their wands, they don't have phones. and it was very smart that scorpius told his dad where they were going to be, in case something happened - which it did!

and then, ugh. the silence between the two. and then they decide to go to the lake and albus drops the bomb about taiwan - and tbh, i thought he was going to drop the bomb about something else :P but i think what i loved most about the last scene was that they didn't really focus on labels; they just knew how they felt about each other and didn't try to define themselves for the other person, they just knew that it felt right. and i'm still shocked (in a good way!) that scorpius just went out and kissed him like that, like, "oh my god, enough is enough", and it was great. and then later in the tent, when they were asleep and albus held scorpius' fingers, it was very adorable. and soft and romantic. as was their love confession.

i think you did a great job with this fic and i'm glad i got a chance to read it; i'm glad scorbus got a happy ending and that they're going to venture off into taiwan and begin the next phase of their life together.

thanks for entering the challenge!!

Name: page thirteen (Signed) · Date: 18 Jul 2020 10:30 PM · For: Existence

Hi! 

 

I read this b/c I saw it linked on TDA and thought the summary sounded so cute, I should see what it was about -- and honestly, I'm really glad I did! I really love the characterisations of Albus and Scorpius here- like, I really love that Albus seems like this super confident, very caring sort of best friend, and Scorp is the one who's always thinking ahead and planning for (almost!) every possibility (me too). Scorpius had such a strong voice throughout, it was so easy to get to know him and really empathise with him and his struggle through the whole thing, so I thought that was lovely! 

I really think you did a great job portaying Scorpius' struggle to come out to his apparently straight friend, and also, something about the dark comedy of Albus having a confession and then that confession being that he's moving to Taiwan really got me. I was there like, "Oh my God, it's coming, Albus is going to come out before Scorpius- wow, really, Al? There was no need." But I do love that they managed to figure it out and especially that the usually nervous Scorpius has just jumped straight in with a new adventure. I think it has this great mix of closure and excitement for their future, and it just really made me super happy to click and read this! (: 

Name: TidalDragon (Signed) · Date: 14 Jul 2020 03:16 AM · For: Existence

Howdy!

 

For most of this story I thought you were going to execute my soul, irrespective of my feelings about the ship because Scorpius was just suffering so hard and Albus was just not 'getting it'. And then he was going to Taiwan and...ahhh...and doom.

 

But then the caring Albus thing turned out to be what Scorpius wanted it to be. He meant more to Albus like Albus meant more to him - enough to break up with his girlfriend over. Which in the scheme of things, I imagine would be a very difficult decision to make especially if you're basically coming out with your best friend (or probably will be, though technically that's completely open).

 

I thought the best part of the story was the way that you wrote the varying emotions Scorpius went through though. It was difficult to make flow back together after a story full of Scorpius angsting the hell out of everything, but you did it!

 

Thanks for sharing! 

Name: magnifique (Signed) · Date: 12 Jul 2020 07:19 PM · For: Existence

so I've been reading a lot of angst lately and I was looking for something fluffier to add to my review relay on the forums and THIS WAS SUCH A GOOD CHOICE I'm so glad I picked it. I haven't read a lot of Scorbus, but I think the way you chose to write this with both of them kind of pining and then coming on this trip to figure it out (with opposite motivations obviously) was so??? touching and really lovely. 

I especially really liked how we were in Scorpius' head for the entire time and how there was a lot of conflict there and also the very real "I love my best friend, but he has a girlfriend and is (seemingly) straight so I have to respect that but it really sucks" because I don't know a gay/queer person who hasn't felt that way at least once in their life unless they were lucky enough to not grow up around many straight people (lol). So I really felt it when Scorpius' was going through it and trying to preserve those boundaries for both their sakes.

But then when Albus reached over to hold his hand in the tent I was so!! Because it was such a sweet and soft and romantic moment? And I feel like sometimes in fiction gay/queer men don't get that kind of romance which is really disappointing and also unfair to them imo, so I loved that and I loved how touching it was, and how obvious it was that this was kind of awkward as it always will be when you're entering a new kind of relationship with someone, but they were still so comfortable and loving with one another. It was just very feel good and I enjoyed it a lot so kudos to you. <3

Julie