Donald Strachey: Couples meme...

[fajrdrako]

Part 2 of (so far) two parts.

I was reading the LJ of atheneunknown and I saw that a couple of weeks ago she had a 'couples survey' meme. It was meant to be about one's real life, but I thought it would be more fun to apply it to slash couples of one's choosing. Imagine your favourite slash pair as a couple living together, or long-term lovers living apart, and fill in the blanks.

I wanted to do this one partly because it's fun and I've started writing Donald/Timmy slash, and partly because I wanted to see whether (and to what extent) maaseru agrees with my answers. Or anyone else - I'm quite eager for Donald/Timmy discussion.

So, secondly: Donald Strachey and Timmy Callahan.

1. Who eats more?
Donald. Timmy is much fussier about what he eats. Donald eats on the run, lots of fast food, donuts, pie. He's more active and needs the energy.

2. Who said "I love you" first?
Timmy. Donald says it, but isn't quite as comfortable abut it.

3. Who is the morning person?
Donald. He's good with mornings, probably because he works for himself. He even works out in the mornings,sometimes.

4. Who sings better?
Timmy.

5. Who’s older?
...I don't remember. I think they're close in age. One is two years older - ? Donald?

6. Who’s smarter?
Donald has the street smarts, Timmy has the Jesuit-honed book-learning. About equal, in the end.

7. Whose temper is worse?
Donald's. Timmy tends to hold things in.

8. Who does the laundry?
Timmy. Donald intends to, but forgets, and his schedule is more irregular.

9. Who does the dishes?
Timmy, usually. When Donald is home, he makes him help, but he doesn't think Donald does it very well, and he's afraid he'll break things. Especially the nice crystal.

10. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
Timmy sleeps on the right.

11. Whose feet are bigger?
Timmy's.

12. Whose hair is longer?
Timmy's, usually.

13. Who’s better with the computer?
They're about equal. Timmy has more patience with the computer, Donald has more savvy.

14. Do you have pets?
One dog. Dr. Watson. A West Highland Terrier.

15. Who pays the bills?
Shared equally. Well, as equally as possible. Sometimes when Donald is between jobs, Timmy helps him out. Sometimes when Donald's been paid well, he pays more than his share to compensate for the lean times.

16. Who cooks dinner?
Timmy.

17. Who drives when you are together?
...?

18. Who pays when you go out to dinner?
Depends who suggested it. And/or the state of Donald's finances.

19. Who’s the most stubborn?
Timmy.

20. Who is the first one to admit when they’re wrong?
Donald, because of Timmy being stubborner. But it doesn't always happen this way. Each values the relationship too much to let a fight go on indefinitely.

21. Whose family do you see more?
...?

22. Who named your pet?
...? Timmy.

23. Who kissed who first?
...? Timmy.

24. Who asked who out?
Donald asked Timmy. After they'd been at each other's apartments many times.

26. Who’s more sensitive?
Depends what kind of sensitivity is being discussed. Donald is probably quicker on the psychological uptake most of the time. Timmy's better with in-depth analysis.

27. Who’s taller?
Timmy.

28. Who has more friends?
They tend to have the same friends, except those Donald has met on the job and Timmy has met in the legistlature. Most of their good friends are from the Albany gay community.

29. Who has more siblings?
...?

30. Who wears the pants in the relationship?
Toss-up!

Comments

part 1

[maaseru.livejournal.com]

1. Who eats more?
Donald. Timmy is much fussier about what he eats. Donald eats on the run, lots of fast food, donuts, pie. He's more active and needs the energy.

Yes, he eats all that, but frequently when alone he'll eat a bagel and a plain yoghurt.

2. Who said "I love you" first?
Timmy. Donald says it, but isn't quite as comfortable abut it.

I think Donald says it seriously very, very seldom.

3. Who is the morning person?
Donald. He's good with mornings, probably because he works for himself. He even works out in the mornings,sometimes.

Agreed. Also I think the army training has stuck with him.

4. Who sings better?
Timmy.

Agreed.

5. Who’s older?
...I don't remember. I think they're close in age. One is two years older - ? Donald?

In the movies, Timmy seems to be older, and in fact the SS is older than CA. In the books, Donald is about two years older than Timmy.

6. Who’s smarter?
Donald has the street smarts, Timmy has the Jesuit-honed book-learning. About equal, in the end.

Donald graduated from Rutgers before the army, and I agree that they're equal, but have different strengths.

7. Whose temper is worse?
Donald's. Timmy tends to hold things in.

And when it can't be held in?

8. Who does the laundry?
Timmy. Donald intends to, but forgets, and his schedule is more irregular.

I don't even think he intends to. The division of labour seems to be that Timmy gets all the 'inside' jobs, and to quote "Laundry was his job, not mine. Whenever the subject of household chores came up—had come up—I'd say, "You wash and clean, and I'll keep the windmill oiled and the hogs fed." A cushy deal I had. Had had."

9. Who does the dishes?
Timmy, usually. When Donald is home, he makes him help, but he doesn't think Donald does it very well, and he's afraid he'll break things. Especially the nice crystal.

Timmy again.

10. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
Timmy sleeps on the right.

In this house. Wonder if they switch over if the door is on the other side of the bed when they are away from home?

11. Whose feet are bigger?
Timmy's.

Agreed.

12. Whose hair is longer?
Timmy's, usually.

Agreed. He leaves the military cut for Donald.

13. Who’s better with the computer?
They're about equal. Timmy has more patience with the computer, Donald has more savvy.

Agreed.

14. Do you have pets?
One dog. Dr. Watson. A West Highland Terrier.

Yes but I think they had to give up Dr Watson to Timmy's mother after they had to spend too much time away from home.

15. Who pays the bills?
Shared equally. Well, as equally as possible. Sometimes when Donald is between jobs, Timmy helps him out. Sometimes when Donald's been paid well, he pays more than his share to compensate for the lean times.

Agreed. Timmy does the household accounts.

16. Who cooks dinner?
Timmy.

Who else?

17. Who drives when you are together?
...?

Donald, always, no doubt at all.

18. Who pays when you go out to dinner?
Depends who suggested it. And/or the state of Donald's finances.

Agreed.

19. Who’s the most stubborn?
Timmy.

Yup.

Re: part 1

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Donald - when alone he'll eat a bagel and a plain yoghurt.

Yup - again, quick, plain food, but fairly nutritious. Probably also peanut butter on bread, or a glass of juice. I suspect he is fairly careful to keep in shape.

Re: I love you - I think Donald says it seriously very, very seldom.

Yes, but with a certain emphasis on "seriously". When he says it, he really, really means it and feels a need need to say it.

the army training has stuck with him

Good point - and this fits also with the keeping in shape. Food is fuel, not pleasure, unless Timmy is involved in it.

In the movies, Timmy seems to be older... In the books, Donald is about two years older than Timmy.

Ah! This explains my confusion. So. For fictional purposes, which do you prefer? I think I like Timmy being older.

7. Whose temper is worse?
Donald's. Timmy tends to hold things in.

And when it can't be held in?

I'd say we've seen him lose his temper very seriously twice - once in Shock to the System (in the bar) and once in the book when he was angry with Donald and had that wonderful Proust quote. I'd guess that it's easier for Donald to get angry about small things and get over it, while Timmy doesn't get angry until it's uncontrollable. And then it takes time for him to simmer down. But he'll always end up forgiving Donald. Always.

"You wash and clean, and I'll keep the windmill oiled and the hogs fed." A cushy deal I had. Had had."

I love that quote. But I was postulating that after that point, things changed a little, he was less inclined to take Timmy for granted, and tried harder to be fair. Without much success, I imagine: Timmy is neat and precise, Donald isn't, and even with the best of intentions Donald can't keep up his end. But even so... when he pushes himself to think about it, I think he has intentions of doing better.