Gift for thirdblindmouse by Jetpack Monkey (Star Trek - Next Generation)

[fv_poster]

Title of vid: The Ballad of Wesley Crusher
Recipient: thirdblindmouse
Vidder: Jetpack Monkey
Fandom: Star Trek - Next Generation
Music: In a Sweater Poorly Knit by mewithoutYou
Summary: You set out on a journey that wasn't your own. Now, it's time to find a path that is truly yours.
Content notes: Physical triggers (e.g., epilepsy or migraine: strobe lights, bright lights, "stuttery" cuts between 2-3 stills), Brief strobing between 2:37-2:41, otherwise fine.
Signed length: 03:30
Signed URL:

Link to signed vid post.

Lyrics
In a sweater poorly knit and an unsuspecting smile
Little Moses drifts downstream in the Nile
A fumbling reply, an awkward rigid laugh
And I'm carried helpless by my floating basket raft
Your flavor in my mind is back and forth between
Sweeter than any wine and bitter as mustard greens
Light and dark as honeydew and pumpernickel bread
The trap I set for you seems to've caught my leg instead!

Go plow some other field and try and forget my name
We'll see what harvest yields, and, supposing I'd do the same
I planted rows of peas; by the first week of July
They should have come up to my knees
But they were maybe ankle high
Take the fingers from your flute to weave your colored yarns
And boil down your fruit to preserves in mason jars
And the books are overdue and the goats are underfed
The trap I set for you seems to've caught my leg instead!

You're a door-without-a-key, a field-without-a-fence
You made a holy fool of me and I've thanked you ever since.
If she comes circling back we'll end where we'd begun
Like two pennies on the train track the train crushed into one
But if I'm a crown without a king, if I'm a broken open seed
If I come without a thing, then I come with all I need
No boat out in the blue, no place to rest your head,
The trap I set for you seems to've caught my leg instead!

I do not exist
I do not exist
I do not exist

I do not exist
Only you exist
I do not exist

Comments

[thirdblindmouse]

I was bowled over by this vid. To the extent that I am having difficulty putting together the words to describe my feels about it. I will be back with more words once I have recovered. In the mean time, thank you, festividder! This is an amazing gift.

[thirdblindmouse]

So, here's the thing. The first rule of festivids is Do not ask for an epic seven season character study vid because you will not get one. The second rule of festivids is, um, sometimes you get one anyway!!???

This was truly epic. I get shivers watching this vid. Wes going onto the bridge for the first time, becoming acting ensign, growing up while exploring the wonders of the universe, getting a real uniform, resigning... :,)

[jetpack_monkey]

That was unexpectedly angsty, but also unexpectedly appropriate! Nice song choice.

[thirdblindmouse]

Ahahaha, you sneaky bastard!

[jetpack_monkey]

I am the sneakiest.

[seekingferret]

Wow, I didn't know I had Wesley Crusher feelings. This is great at tracing his arc.

[colls]

That was stunning and utterly nostalgia-making

[espresso_addict]

You've made me see Wesley differently! Thanks.

[franzeska]

Whoa, epic.

[cosmic_llin]

Wow, this was so unexpectedly feelingsy! I loved it!

[leanwellback]

What a wonderful character study! Brilliant.

[sasha_feather]

This was unexpectedly emotional for me! Oh Wes.

[gorgeousnerd]

Stunning. Just stunning.

[condnsdmlk]

Oh my God this was amazing. I have so many Wesley feelings right now! This is the most perfect character study and the song is absolutely spot on. Amazing.

Things that really stood out for me (stood out even more than the ENTIRE VID):

The whole interwoven Traveller story arch but especially that first look of wonder on the Traveller's face when he looks at Wesley (01:04).

Tasha Yar - :'(

01:39-01:52 Navigation montage

02:46-02:56 - I do not exist (so good)

I'm going to rewatch this vid into infinity. You are awesome anon!!

[opusculasedfera]

Wow. I admit, I giggled at the first clip/lyric pairing because of course, yes, that's a perfect joke, but you turned it into such a fabulous character study and really dealt with Wesley's character arc. I'm blown away.

[odessie]

Oh wow - I'm going to echo the rest of these comments, what an unexpected vid but in the best possible way. You really drew me in and made me feel for Wesley, brilliant job.

[lunabee34]

Poor Wesley. They did dress him in some terrible sweaters. LOL

I really liked this coming of age vid for him.

[metonymy]

So good. SO GOOD!

[d_generate_girl]

Count me among the "I DID NOT EXPECT THESE WESLEY FEELINGS" crowd. You've definitely highlighted some of the tragedy of his character, and brought his story full-circle in a really lovely manner. What a fantastic vid.

[wealhtheow]

I liked Wesley when TNG was on, but I definitely missed a lot of what this vid reveals about his experiences and character. There's one moment when a ship is hurtling toward them and Wesley swallows when I realized, abruptly, what an impact going through these kinds of dangers and tests must be like for a young teen without all the training and maturity of his shipmates.

[giandujakiss]

oh my gosh! it was so ridiculous at the beginning but then I got genuinely verklempt by the end!

[luthien82]

All my Wesley Crusher feels have suddenly resurfaced again. This was truly great!

[valoise]

This vid makes me like Wesley Crusher!