#and tbh I've always been too scared to reread digital age and this gave me a good reason to go back

[sofwrites]

Oh my god, I am so blown away that you answered my Qs about Welcome to the Digital Age, Babe so beautifully. It is seriously one of the works I reread every few months because of all the feels. And I love that because it’s a text message tale, we only get some of their relationship. It makes me so curious about what’s happening when Colin and Pen actually spend time together.

I love the context you have with all your answers. I can completely see Colin panicking that Pen told Eloise about what he said - not just because he doesn’t want to get whatever is coming to him from Eloise but because he feels really terrible about what happened and doesn’t like to be reminded of it. And I see Pen panicking post-kiss and Colin wanting to just be close to her without really thinking about the long term implications.

About Colin calling someone by a different name in bed, I totally agree that he stopped sleeping around after he caught feelings (and also partially why he’s so thrilled when he’s messaging Michael after he and Pen finally get together - boy is finally getting some). Also it’s the pandemic, and given all his precautions, I don’t see him going out for random hook ups. I like to think that maybe this was a pre-Italy hook up and he did still call someone by Pen’s name, which totally surprised him and also put some thoughts in his head when they were in Italy.

And I just love all the ways Felicity/the Bridgertons could have found out. I didn’t even consider the Michael way and I love that if there’s one thing that gets Fran to reveal she’s with Michael is when he has info about Colin and Pen. Personally, I think it may be a Felicity and Hyacinth thing when they’re both being a little stalker-ish and stumble upon on overnight date.

Okay, last Q for now. When Colin asks Pen to come over and they finally talk, I have been dying to know what happens. I love the time stamps because I think - okay, so Colin told Pen to come over around 8:15, she said she would be there in 15, let’s say 8:30 she’s prompt and scared, upstairs and awkward small talk down by 8:45, what are they talking about for two hours???

Sorry, this may have revealed too much about how much I fangirl about your work but you really are one of my favorite writers. I just think you get them so well and you’re so beautifully descriptive. I completely treat your scene when Colin tells the mamas that the wedding is being moved up as canon. I’m so excited to see what you come up next and really grateful you feed us so well!

Dude, I'm blown away that you took the time out to ask me questions! I don't think I can really express how honored I am by your messages and the fact that you love Digital Age.

I am such a visible person in terms of my writing - I'm the one who's making all the faces and mannerisms while I write it into the characters. Even in digital age, where we clearly don't see any physical stuff, it's really fun to get to explain what I'd imagined! And about how Colin and Pen are when they actually spend time together... I always think of the book scene where he's holding her hand for 5 minutes the night before the church/carriage/proposal scene, and how they're so obvious without even realizing it!! They're definitely like that in my opinion.

njskfansdjkfn "boy is finally getting some" so true and honestly good for them!! I really love that idea for pre-Italy 🥺 it's finally in his head and he's trying to deny it, but it's there!!

Felicity and Hyacinth are absolutely the leaders of #PolinWatch so I absolutely see them using their stalker skills to know.

Oof, okay. What do they do for 2 hours?

You're right that they get past the small talk pretty quickly, because Colin's ready to really get down into it. He wants to know what happened after Italy and why she shut him down. She beats around the bush for a while, there's some silence, and then they start arguing. They can't agree on Italy or their feelings, whether it was real or just the heat. Penelope insists that what they had was a fleeting moment - Colin says that's bullshit. He tells her that he's never felt that way - she asks how he can be sure. She asks him why now, why his feelings have changed after more than a decade. He demands to know why she refuses to give this a chance.

She says she can't "just give it a chance" because with him, it would have to be all or nothing. Because he could break her to the point of no repair if they can't give it their all. Their friendship is too great to risk over something casual, which they both agree on. Colin tells her that she really is his best friend.

Things start to calm down, and they're less heated. Colin offers to make some food and he stands by the stove cooking pasta as Penelope sits at the kitchen table. They talk about their writing, to distract themselves a bit. He asks her the questions he hadn't gotten the chance to ask before: how she'd done her column for so long in secret, how it felt. She asks him how he feels about his own writing, and if he's going to look into publishing it. They say how proud they are of each other.

And then there's a pause, and he's making the sauce while she's staring at the floor. They're wondering how it would really work. She asks whether he's willing to be in town more often - when the pandemic starts clearing - and whether he actually would. He asks if she'd be willing to leave more often, travel, and write a bit there.

It's a standstill. Are they really willing to take the leap? Then the food's done and Colin sets it on the table and looks at her, hard. Neither of them says anything.

And then, just as the tension's gotten to the point where it feels like the entire room is stifling, Penelope gets up and says, "That's that, then. Night, Colin," and leaves. Colin comes to his senses right as the elevator closes.

God, I hope that all made sense! They honestly do have a lot to talk about, because I imagine that even as they're becoming really good friends, they don't spend enough time really talking. They discuss movies and surface-level things, but it really takes until that night for them to open up. Hope that was all worth the wait!

"you really are one of my favorite writers." I really can't tell you how much it meant for me to see that. I'm crying right now just reading that again because I really have dealt with a lot of self-doubt lately. I'm not as active as I once was, and I know it's easy for people to forget about you, so again, I really appreciate it. No pressure to keep replying, but I'm so thankful for you and your fangirling. Please keep being you. (and honestly, if you'd ever like to see a scene from Digital Age written out, don't hesitate to let me know. As I've shown, I don't mind cheating around the epistolary theme, lol!)

Ahhhh, thank you so much again! These are the things that can really help remind you of the love of writing (especially Colin and Penelope, who really will forever be my true loves). skjdngfjkdsfn I would say more if I could think of the words, but you're just so incredible!! <3

#hi I'm so sorry this took me so long to reply to! #I was overwhelmed by your kindess #these asks have been so amazing your thoughtfulness is incredible #and I'm happy to answer these questions!! it's so fun looking back at what I was thinking #and tbh I've always been too scared to reread digital age and this gave me a good reason to go back #<3 #writing asks #my fics #digital age #polin