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dechinoboi · 2 years ago

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Love, Bandmates, and The Legend of This Confession: Homecoming (JoanFK one-shot)

(Author's note: just an AU where JFK isn't a jock and him, Ponce, Gandhi, and Abe are in a band. Loosely inspired by The Front Bottoms' Joanie. Enjoy!)

"Alright gang, this is our last year in Clone High and I have planned that in every event, we'll ask Principal Scudworth to have us perform. We'll just have to continue to rock their worlds until we say goodbye to our school."

Kennedy scoffed as he continued to tune his electric guitar. Abe was giving yet another speech about their senior year in Clone High, and despite being band members since 9th grade, Kennedy still can't stand every word that Abe says. "Everyone to your positions. Let's try Teenagers for warm-up".

Gandhi sat behind the drum set. Yep, Good Ol' Gandhisimo was the bringer of the beat. Abe and the rest was also amused that his A.D.D. brought out his talent for playing the drums, thus making him the official drummer of the band. Ponce manned the bass. His large bass hands were always amusing, and he's probably the only bassist who always attracts the chicks in the hallways. Kennedy was the lead guitarist, every girl would always have heart eyes everytime he has his guitar solo. Abe was the vocalist and the rhythm guitarist. The wimp surprisingly has a golden voice that everyone liked.

Joan walked in just as they finished the song. "Hey boys," she chimed as she set down her bag. Gandhi immediately ran to her and asked her if she brought some snacks. "Of course. I'm your designated Snack Bringer, remember?"

Joan was not part of the band, but they would sometimes ask her to be the keyboardist. She became close to the guys because of Gandhi and Abe. She would sometimes stay with them while they practiced, give comments and what to improve. "Thanks for this, Joanie," Ponce said as he took a bite of the sandwich Joan made. Kennedy made his way and when he was about to grab a sandwich, Joan said, "Say thanks afterwards." Kennedy smirked and placed his sandwich between his lips. He then gave Joan finger guns.

After practice, Joan and the boys walked their separate ways. Ponce and Kennedy made their way to the president clone's van. "Tiring practice today, huh?" Ponce asked as they placed their guitars at the back. "Yeah, got er uh tired of Abe's ramblings again." Ponce chuckled. "Damn, Jacky, it's been years since our band was formed, but you still get annoyed by him." Truth to be told, it was not just the ramblings that he hated. He hated the fact that Abe named the band Clones Tones without asking them. It sounded horrible because it was corny. Another reason was that the wimp was too oblivious to notice Joan's big crush on him since 9th grade. That was the reason why Joan keeps on hanging out with them.

"You know why, Poncey." He said as he made his way to the driver's seat. Ponce closed his door as soon as he sat on the passenger's seat. "Jacky boy, it's our last year of high school. When will you even tell Joan that you like her?" Kennedy turned the ignition and slowly backed out of the parking lot. "I'm... planning to." He replied, his voice low. Despite being an electric guitar hottie in school, he was not fond of asking girls out. He was a shy lad, as Ponce would call him. "When?" Ponce asked. Kennedy turned left and kept his eyes on the road. "I er uh wrote a song to tell her about how I feel. I haven't actually thought of uh the title but I swear, it's not that cheesy."

Ponce laughed. "Really? Can I hear it?" Kennedy groaned and he knows that when Ponce asks him to do stuff, he can never say no because Ponce will just keep on asking him. "Sure, uh... let's just play it at home because it er uh sounds better with the guitar."

Ponce clapped as soon as Kennedy finished the song. "That was the most amazing song I have ever heard." Kennedy smiled. "Really? It er uh sounded like it's just my own ramblings though." Ponce grabbed his bass and began to tune it. "At least your ramblings are put into a song! Now, sing it again with the guitar. Let's add the bass."

The next day, Ponce and Kennedy proposed the idea of playing the song on Homecoming. Abe asked Kennedy to play the song, and purposely replaced Joan's name to "Baby" to hide the surprise. Gandhi was then figuring out how to add the beats on the song as soon as Abe agreed that they could play it on the big night. They spent the whole day figuring out how to play it together.

"Sorry, I'm late, you guys. I spent a lot of time preparing your snacks after classes." Their heads turned to the door and Joan walked in, a bit panicky. "It's alright, Joan. We were just figuring out how to play Kennedy's song." Abe said. Joan's brow raised and smiled. "Kennedy's song? That's the title?" Kennedy's face heated up. "I er uh haven't figured out what to call it yet." He answered. "Well, let's figure it out now. Can I hear it, Fitz?"

"I-er uh..." Kennedy looked back at Ponce, who was already giving him a thumbs up. "Sure..." Kennedy strummed the first notes of the intro and as soon as he kept playing and singing, Joan was bobbing her head along to the song. Once the song ended, Joan clapped her hands. "Wow, Fitz! That sounds really amazing. Also.. I think I figured out what to call the song." Kennedy raised his brows, and before he can even ask, she continued. "Let's call it Baby!"

After practice, Kennedy drove Ponce home. "Baby has a good ring to it, if you think about it." Ponce said. Kennedy groaned. "I'm going to keep the title because uh Joan suggested it." Ponce laughed. "Yeah, right Jacky. Why did you even replaced her name with baby in the chorus?"

"Do you want me to tell everyone my secret?" Ponce laughed again. Kennedy cannot even fathom why this is funny to him. "Okay, Jack. I just really like what you looked like when Joan called you Fitz and asked you to play your confession song to her." He had to admit, Kennedy really felt himself heating up every second he played his song to her. It wasn't even ready yet and she's gonna hear it a million times now moving forward. Kenned stopped in front of Ponce's house and before Ponce could even close the car door, he said, "I'd like it better if you would sing the song, not Abe."

School and band practice was not a very good combination. The gang would lack one or two members every practice because of the school requirements and deadlines. While waiting for the others to show up, Gandhi and Kennedy worked on their research in Physics since that they were lab partners. They were sprawled on the floor of their band room that Principal Scudworth had built for them. Papers were all over the room and only the tapping on Kennedy's and Gandhi's laptop could be heard in the room. Gandhi looked up every now and then on the door, waiting for someone to walk in. Finally, Ponce came with his bass guitar over his shoulder.

"Ponce! Thank God you're here. We were really worried no one would show up on today's practice." Gandhi said, giving Ponce a high five as he sat with them on the floor. "Joan also texted that she and Abe won't come today so... it would just be the three to work on the song." Gandhi continued.

"That's-uh-too bad. Abe needs to practice the song because he still keeps on mixing up the words." Kennedy said, not looking up from his laptop screen. "You know, JFK, I would really like it if you would sing the song." Gandhi said, smirking as Kennedy finally looked up. Gandhi knows what's up, he thought. He was already heating up, and before he could say something, Gandhi placed a finger on his lips. "Dude, if I were you, like if I had your looks and skills and voice, I'd totally replace Baby with Joanie."

"We're you spying on us? How'd you know all this?" Kennedy asked. Gandhi chuckled. "No, man. I just know how to read people. I know you liked Joan waaaaay before we formed this band. Homecoming's just a couple of months away, and you have to get your shit together." Kennedy and Ponce were staring at him after what he said. "Wow, for being someone who is being overlooked in the band, you do have a lot of observations." Ponce said, finally breaking the silence. "Pssh, whatever, man. Let's fix this mess up and start practicing. I already figured out what to do with the beat after practicing the song at home." Gandhi replied as he started to put all of his stuff in his bag.

"I also have some suggestions on the first verse, if that's okay with you, JFK." Kennedy nodded. "Sure, it's fine. Suggestions make uh things better anyway."

"Why did Abe even get a sore throat?! Homecoming's just a week away." Kenned exclaimed. Joan brought the bad news and she felt bad about it. "I'm sorry, Kennedy. He really didn't expect this either. He just... ate a lot of chocolate cake because it was his foster dad's birthday."

Kennedy ran his fingers through his hair out of frustration. How careless of him, he thought, he's the freaking vocalist of this freaking band. He breathed deeply to calm his nerves. "It's fine, Joanie. We'll figure this out. If er uh Abe won't be better by Friday, then we'll just have him record his part just in case." He instructed. Joan nodded and started to type a text to their vocalist. "But who will sing the song in case Abe can't sing?" Gandhi asked as he fiddled with his drum sticks. Joan looked up from her phone, and then looked at Ponce. She tilted her head as Ponce was pointing at Kennedy, then she got the hint. "Why don't you sing the song, Kennedy? I mean, if Abe won't be able to sing it. It's your song, anyway." Joan said softly with a small smile on her lips.

Kennedy then again heated up for a thousandth time. He couldn't imagine singing his darn song in front of everyone in their batch, especially Joan. But it was too late because Gandhi and Ponce started agreeing with Joan. "Speaking of Homecoming, do you have a date already, Fitzy?" Joan asked softly. Now Kennedy was aware that he was blushing, but after that question (and her calling him Fitzy), he swears he's about to have a heart attack. "I... uh... I... don't have a date yet...?" Ponce was already snickering behind Joan. She can only give this effect to Kennedy's system. Ponce has never seen him like that, damn, Cleo never even gave him that kind of feeling. He never wrote anything for the Egyptian clone.

"Well, I hope you'll find a prom date sooner." She said. Damn, he thought, her freaking eyes make it so hard to keep it all together. Joan turned her back to Kennedy and asked the other boys to prepare for practice. Kennedy had to excuse himself, and Gandhi and Ponce were chuckling to the scene they saw.

It was already Homecoming, and as much as this was supposed to be the "Best Night of Their Lives", Kennedy just felt like everything in ruined. First, Abe texted everyone in the band that he cannot sing just yet because other than the cake, a lot of shouting happened in the party. Second, he was going to sing the song in front of everyone, and third, he'll definitely sing Joanie in the chorus and not Baby.

Wally was tying Kennedy's bowtie and took a step back after he's done. "Oh my God, my baby is now a man." Wally said, wiping a tear from his eyes. "Dad, come on now. I'm still me, just in a tux." Kennedy gave Wally a hug before stepping out of the room with his electric guitar. Carl was already holding the camera as soon as Kennedy and Wally walked down the stairs. They took a couple of pictures and Kennedy waved goodbye to his gay dads with a promise to be home by midnight.

He picked up Ponce, who was wearing a tux with a purple bowtie. "Wow, you uh didn't wear your purple puff pants " Kennedy teased. "Ha-ha, Jacky. Now let's go so that we can set up before everyone arrives at the venue."

The band was glad that Principal Scudworth gave them a space on stage and made sure that their last performance would be memorable. They began tuning their guitars and made sure to give the recording of Abe's parts to the sound operator. After a while, everyone flooded the venue, taking pictured of each others. Girls with their glittery dresses, boys in their best tux, and Kennedy just kept on scanning the room for the one girl he desired to see. He felt someone tap his shoulder and as soon as he turned around, his jaw dropped.

Joan of Arc, looking beautiful as ever. She was wearing a black, heart-shaped bodiced dress that was perfectly hugging her torso. Her hair was in a mignon with a few stray hair hanging in front of her face. "Wow..." Kennedy said, still in awe of her beauty. "Thanks, Kennedy. You look amazing, as well." She said, fixing his bowtie. "Hey, I'm sorry about Abe. I know it's really unfair that he's not gonna sing tonight. But I'm sure you're gonna kill it tonight!" She continued.

That's what I'm afraid of, he thought to himself, I might kill our friendship with this song.

The night flew by quickly, and every ticking minute made Kennedy uneasy. Ponce and Gandhi did their best to comfort and reassure him that it will all be okay. "Besides, just think that it's a 3 minute song. We'll get through this. And if Joan rejects you after the song, then we got you in the afterparty." Gandhi said.

"And now let us all be entertained tonight by our very own Clones Tones!" Mr. Sheepman announced through the mic. The three of them walked up the stage and the girls squealed. Kennedy swung his guitar over his shoulder and Ponce did the same. He gave Kennedy a nod, and Kennedy breathed in deeply.

"How're you feeling tonight, Clone High?" Kennedy yelled through the mic and the crowd cheered. Despite being such a shy lad, his confidence is all over the place once he steps on stage. "We're Clones Tones, and as may have noticed, our vocalist Abe will not be joining us due to some vocal problems." The crowed aww'd and Kennedy chuckled. "But no worries, our dear clones, the show will go on. Now..." He spotted Joan in the crowd and she waved at him.

"Now we're gonna sing an original song, written and composed by yours truly. Uh, this song may sound cheesy, but this is my heart, and I will be pouring out my heart to this one special girl in the crowd tonight... So without further ado..." Kennedy gave Ponce a nod and Ponce smiled at him.

"Here's our original song, Joanie."

The crowd gasped and Joan was as surprised as they all were. The whole time that Kennedy was singing, he kept his eyes on the red-head in the crowd.

"If only you could hold me, my sweet, sweet Joanie, I know I'd be so brave right now.."

The song ended and the crowd cheered, as if forgetting who the song was for. The band waved at the crowd and as they stepped down the stage, Ponce and Gandhi gave Kennedy a hug and a pat on the back. "You got this, Jacky boy. Go get your girl." Kennedy nodded and made his way to Joan who was also walking towards him.

"Quite a confession there, Kennedy." She said, unable to hide her red face. She sometimes cursed her pale skin for making her blush so noticeable. "Yeah, I uh don't know how I could really tell you how I feel. I... I really like you Joan. You're the only girl I really adored so much that sometimes it hurts."

Joan smiled and pulled Kennedy closer. He was heating up, blushing. She cupped his face and kissed him. Meanwhile, Ponce and Gandhi was watching the whole thing and gave each other fistbumps. After the kiss, Kennedy opened his eyes and Joan was already looking up at him. Her eyes were sparkling under the lights. "I like you, too, Fitzy."

Kennedy smiled widely and started cheering, then kissed the red-head again.

"This is the best night of my life. I swear, I'll make this work for us, Joanie. I will never ever let you go." Kennedy said. Joan smiled and pecked his lips. "I'll count on that, Jack."

The couple spent the rest of the night swaying along to the love songs played in the venue, making sure that it will be the best moment of the night.

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dechinoboi · 6 years ago

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PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS:

there are several posts going around about how to best help if you witness an ICE raid/arrest as a (white) citizen. many of them are filled with extremely bad, LARP-y advice such as screaming at agents and getting physically close to them. in most cases, this is just going to make things worse for everyone at risk (including yourself). you need to stay calm, and avoid getting someone accused of resisting arrest.

to be clear: most of these fascists dont care about the law. “illegal” is not a magic word you can say to make them stop. and, being a white citizen is not an impenetrable shield. you can still be arrested, so be prepared for that. you are, however, less likely to be arrested, and MUCH less likely to be killed or held extralegally.

here is what you should actually do to help:

record, and make sure your phone auto-backups to a cloud. streaming can be problematic because its best to have lawyers look over the footage first. be aware they might also grab your phone, even without a warrant. if they’re grabbing it out of your hands, try to lock it. make sure you have a pin lock, not pattern or fingerprint. here’s some other ways to protect your phone from cops.

if you are able to film, and have determined it won’t escalate the situation, make it obvious you are doing so, because secretly recording is illegal in several states. narrate any violation of rights you see. here is a Q&A about filming ICE.

stay several feet back from agents, because they can claim you’re impeding them. if you’re recording and they claim this, take several steps back, and announce it as you’re doing so, if you’re filming.

ask if they are free to go, if someone is being approached. if ICE insists on the person asking for themself, and they speak spanish*, tell them “por favor repita: ‘am i free to go?’” (this just means “please repeat”) if the agent says yes, tell them “usted puede dejar”. if not..

calmly inform people of their rights if they are being arrested. they do not have to speak at all to agents, answer any questions without a lawyer, or sign anything. they do have to show their paperwork if they have it, but do NOT have to hand over the paperwork/passport, or consent to a search of themselves/belongings, without a judicial warrant (not administrative! here’s the difference). it is crucial that they give as little information as possible to ICE.

if you speak spanish, list their rights in spanish as well, and translate what the agents are saying. if not, keep the google translate app on your phone – it’s not perfect, but it’s quick/accessible and can download languages for offline use. you can also memorize this sentence: “no tiene que responder/dar su consentimiento” - “you dont have to respond/consent”

get their lawyer’s contact info, if they have one and are being taken away by ICE. many people carry a card with emergency contact info on it, including childcare info and loved ones, so you can offer to call those numbers for them.

call for legal help. do not call the ACLU or other big organizations for immediate help, call your local immigration help center (for New York State, contact IDP at 212-725-6422. for California, call the TRUST hotline at 844-878-7801). United We Dream is an immigrant-lead organization that provides aid nationwide, and can be reached at 844-363-1423. please save these numbers in your phone!

know the ICE rapid response network in your town, and keep their number on hand. if there isn’t one close to you, here’s how to make one.

finally, here are some useful toolkits:

comprehensive ICE response guide

know your rights posters for in-home raid readiness, community flyers, and informative videos

ACLU videos explaining what to do in various situations with ICE

*of course not every immigrant speaks spanish; people from south america are being targeted en masse right now, but may speak many indigenous languages as well as portuguese. so ask if you dont know what language someone speaks, and see if google translate can help.

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