Comment on Hollow Boy

  1. uhhyeah on Chapter 2 Mon 16 Mar 2026 06:53PM UTC

    I'm so emotional about Mike's mentality in this chapter, how he is so lonely and unsure of himself. He's standing outside the imaginary gay club looking in, wishing to be part of the crowd. Mike ;____;

    I just find it like heartbreaking how focused he is on the moments where he does manage to do something or say something to Will, how much he longs for those moments of bravery. It feels realistic that Mike would compare himself to the only other gay person he knows. And maybe because being openly gay is already this huge act of bravery to Mike he doesn't see that Will is actually really unsure about other things? It's interesting because it's obvious to me in the text that Will is not as confident as Mike thinks he is. Will offering to let Mike borrow the sex manual feels like a big step for BOTH of them.

    I love that we're getting the actual poems too! What resonated with me was this feeling of being removed from one's true self and longing for connection. Idk if that's the idea, it's just what it made me think of while reading! It's really pretty.

    Fun bits! I love it when the rest of the Party are here too. I love Mike's little reflection on Will and the phrase "light in his loafers", it was cute. Also laughed at the image of him pouring a glass of oil like he was about to chug it. If I can be honest about the sex, I think bottom Mike is very unfairly under-represented in this fandom and I'm happy he's making an appearance here.

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    1. Indybaggins on Chapter 2 Mon 16 Mar 2026 07:59PM UTC

      Mike really does long for so much here that he can't let himself have... But the first bits of change are showing, even asking that question to Will was such a big step for him to take.

      maybe because being openly gay is already this huge act of bravery to Mike he doesn't see that Will is actually really unsure about other thing Yes! He's projecting so much onto Will here, how Will is the strong one, the knowledgable one, the openly gay and therefore brave one, while actually Will is quite shy and would NEVER have dared to ask a sex question like that to Mike. And Will is going out on such a limb doing this for Mike, I am so proud of him too actually because that is a massive thing to offer.

      The poem is a way for Mike to explain what he's feeling, how he's always double and never whole, how he consists of the parts of himself that he's showing and the parts that he isn't, which is a feeling that I myself remember well from before I was out.

      Bottom Mike - I find it so hard to understand how fandom seems to be convinced that this man would never play with his ass! Like, that's so sad, that Mike would never be allowed the pleasure because... some strange heteronormative idea that Mike's the 'manly one'? That Will is the only one in touch enough with his body to ever do that? Nope, not happening here, I refuse that narrative. They both will get to explore in this story. Of course people have preferences, but how would they know without ever trying?

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      1. uhhyeah on Chapter 2 Tue 17 Mar 2026 12:43PM UTC

        Thanks for sharing more about the poem. I'd be interested in reading your thoughts about the poems, maybe as a coda when the fic is finished or something on your blog.

        And yes, especially since they are complete beginners it's strange to assign them preferences without them having experienced any type of gay sex. Honestly what are we doing as a fandom, let Mike get his ass played with!

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        1. Indybaggins on Chapter 2 Tue 17 Mar 2026 12:56PM UTC

          I have written way more poems (as Mike) than what I will be able to use in the story itself. But I always do that, I always have a massive folder of cut scenes. So maybe? But I don't know how interesting that will be. I'm always happy to elaborate in the comments :)

          Right?? Why not? I find it so strange. I completely understand headcanoning Mike as too uptight to want to go there etc, but once he'd with Will and they're having all sorts of sex, then why not? Why would Mike not be allowed to explore? It's this strange kind of censorship of Mike's queerness. Like, he's allowed to be bi or gay as long as it's in a 'manly' enough way, which is just crazy considering it's 2026.

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