#* chase lewis | threads.

[heartrendcrs]

SEND ME A ✐ FOR A RANDOM SENTENCE STARTER FROM MY MUSE @knivesdrcwn

❛ I’m hungry. Let’s get a taco. ❜ He smells like ash and roast pork. Both of them know the later is something a lot darker than Sunday dinner. Chase is an odd person. For the longest time only his brother Crash would abide by him. Money made his bizare behaviors tolerable: until they didn't anymore. His arsonist tendencies landing him here, finding friends amongst the murderers and thieves. Since arriving here, he's become more personable. The arsonist puppy, the fire-dog. Terms of affection for the playful cleaner. How a person can be unflinching in such work, and yet just want a simple taco with a friend: is a question for someone with more degrees than sense. Right now though, he's just considering if he wants chicken or beef.

[pickingupmymercedes]

Die with a smile - Lewis Hamilton

Part of 1K Jukebox Event

song: Die with a smile - Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - @carmenred28 & an anon (I combined both of your requests)

pairing: Lewis Hamilton x Reader!

genre: fluff (to make it up for the last one)

wordcount: +1k

As always, I'm open for feedback, come say hi!

______________________________________________________________

The first time they talked about forever wasn’t some grand, sweeping declaration of eternal love.

It was a random Tuesday evening at home. Lewis had been exhausted, sprawled out on the couch, his legs stretched across Y/n’s lap as she flicked through the channels.

He was absentmindedly scrolling through his phone, but his mind was elsewhere, and she could tell.

“Alright, what’s going on in that head of yours?” she asked, giving his leg a playful nudge. “You’re scrolling aimlessly”

He looked up at her, his brow furrowing. “Just thinking…” he said, his voice quiet. “The racing, the travel... sometimes it feels like I’m chasing something I don’t even know anymore.”

Y/n didn’t say anything right away. She just watched him, waiting to see if his thinking would get anywhere.

That was one of the things he loved about her—she never rushed him. She gave him the space to work through his thoughts, knowing he’d get there in his own time.

“And?” when she finally asked, her tone was light although it held a tone of curiosity.

Lewis shrugged, glancing away for a second before meeting her gaze again. “I guess I’m just thinking about what happens after all of this. What happens when I stop? What do I want then?”

He could see the question in her eyes, even before she asked it. “And what do you want?”

There it was, the question that had been lingering in the back of his mind for a while now. He took a deep breath, his heart beating a little faster as he said it out loud for the first time. “I want... you.”

Y/n blinked, a soft smile tugging at her lips. She didn’t need grand speeches or promises—her fingers brushed against his leg, a simple touch that said, I do too.

“Well,” she said, her voice teasing but affectionate, “that’s good to know, because I’ve kinda been banking on forever with you too.”

There was the nights after tough races. When nothing had gone right.

Lewis had been frustrated, angry, and wound up tight. He’d spent the drive to the hotel from the track stewing in his thoughts, his jaw clenched as the weight of the day pressed down on him.

Y/n had been waiting for him when he got back, her eyes searching his face, reading his mood instantly.

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” she said, her voice quiet but firm. “But you’re not allowed to take it out on yourself.”

He had looked at her, caught off guard by her words, but also relieved that she knew exactly what he needed to hear. She always knew.

He sank down onto the couch next to her, fidgeting with his phone in his hands to try and control the turmoil in his head

“What if I’m losing it” he admitted, his voice raw. “What if I’m not good enough anymore.”

Y/n didn’t try to fix it, didn’t try to tell him he was wrong. Instead, she reached for his hand, threading her fingers through his.

“You’re allowed to have bad days, bad seasons even” she said softly. “It doesn’t make you any less incredible. But you need to give yourself a break, Lew. You’re still a champion, and one bad race doesn’t change that.”

She saw him, every flawed and imperfect part, and she loved him anyway.

There was the small things, the little moments that made up their everyday life together.

 Like the way she’d always let him pick what they were watching during dinner, even though he knew she didn’t care about half the stuff he was into.

He had noticed it one night, as they sat on the couch with takeout containers in their laps, a random documentary on space missions playing on the screen.

“You know, we don’t always have to watch what I want” he said, glancing over at her.

Y/n raised an eyebrow, giving him a playful smirk. “Oh, so you do get bored of these documentaries too?”

He laughed, shaking his head. “No, I’m just saying, you don’t have to sit through this if you don’t want to.”

She leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek before settling back against the couch. “I don’t mind,” she said simply. “Besides, watching you get all excited about it makes it worth it.”

It was such a small thing, something most people wouldn’t even think twice about. But She wasn’t just with him for the big moments—the wins, the parties, the glamorous lifestyle.

She was there for the quiet nights on the couch, for the moments when it was just them, being themselves.

And there were the harder times, the moments when life tried to pull them apart.

Like when he had been away for a few weeks, consumed by the demands of racing, and she had been dealing with her own stresses back home.

They had fought—really fought—for the first time in a while. He had been short with her on the phone, and she had snapped back, both of them too exhausted to think straight.

He remembered calling her later that night, after everything had calmed down. His heart pounding in his chest as he waited for her to pick up, unsure of what to say, unsure if she’d even want to talk to him.

But she had answered, her voice soft and tired. “Hey.”

Lewis exhaled, relief washing over him at the sound of her voice. “I’m sorry” he said, the words tumbling out before he could stop them. “I was being an ass, and I hate that we’re fighting. I hate that I’m not there with you.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, he thought he’d messed it all up. But then she spoke, her voice quiet but steady.

“I hate it too,” she admitted. “But I know you’re doing what you love, and I love you for that. I just... I need to know that when all of this is done, you’ll still come back to me.”

Her words hit him harder than he expected. And that’s when he knew—she wasn’t just his safe place. He was hers too.

And of course, there was the night he was sure.

The night he knew without a doubt that he couldn’t imagine a life without her.

They had been lying in bed, the city lights filtering in through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the room. Y/n was curled up against him, her head resting on his chest, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his skin.

They weren’t talking—just lying there in the quiet comfort of each other’s presence.

After a long stretch of silence, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “Do you think we’ll always be like this?”

Lewis looked down at her, his brow furrowing. “What do you mean?”

She shifted slightly, her gaze still focused on the rise and fall of his chest. “I mean... us. Do you think we’ll always be this close? This... in love?”

He didn’t hesitate. “Yeah,” he said softly, his fingers brushing through her hair. “I do.”

She looked up at him then, her eyes searching his face as if she were looking for something. And whatever it was, she found it, because she smiled—a soft, almost wistful smile.

“Good,” she whispered, settling back against him. “Because I don’t ever want to be without you.”

And now, as Lewis sat in the plush chair, staring down at the array of engagement rings designs laid out before him on the velvet tray, all those moments flashed through his mind.

And he realized he wasn’t overwhelmed by the choices; he was overwhelmed by the gravity of what that ring would symbolize.

"Mr. Hamilton," the designer said from across the table, his voice calm, professional. "You mentioned wanting something unique. Something that reflects your relationship with Y/n. I can help you with that, but how would you describe your love, as in one sentence?"

He looked down at the designs again, his mind filled with the memories of their time together— every laugh, every argument, every quiet moment that build on the decision he’d known for so long.  

A delicate twisted band with intertwined diamonds caught his eye, reminding him of the nights she would trace lazy patterns on his skin, their fingers intertwining.

And when he finally looked up, meeting the designer’s gaze, he smiled. “Our love is... my greatest victory.”

And she was his forever.

______________________________________________________________

TAGLIST - @saturnssunflower @xoscar03 @chocolatediplomatdreamerzonk @itsmrshamilton @vicurious28

@0710khj @thecubanator2 @neilakk @bigratbitchsworld @adriswrld

@fearfam69691 @cmleitora @goldenroutledge @timmychalametsstuff @jpgnsf

@priopp123 @strqirlhrts @hmmmmm-01 @bisexual-babygirl-mj @bebesobrielo

@hiireadstuff @f1-football-fiend

If you’d like to be added to my taglist you can leave a comment or send me a dm/ask.

[nrcsfavoriteshrimps]

“Oh? It already wore off!” [Chase tilts his head, somehow being able to sense that the potion’s effects were gone.] “I guess it was only supposed to last for a bit!”

[Shiyuu sighs.] “So, what’s the plan?”

[Shiyuu runs up to your party.] “Aaah! Finally, someone stable!” [they dust off their clothes before continuing.] “Mind if I uh…join you guys? I don’t have much, but…but I can fight!”

[They show the satchel of small rocks with a slingshot, and the broom on their back.] “I also have supplies if you guys need some…O-Oh, and I’m Shiyuu by the way! I-In case you didn’t know that…”

-@nrcsfavoriteshrimp

(not forced ofc :3 -mod!yuu)

*Lewis looks a bit alarmed, but James and Yuna seem relieved*

Thank the Seven there's someone else around here who's normal-

JAMES? How do we know we can trust- wait a minute... Your eyes!!! They're... Not totally loopy...

*Lewis relaxes a bit and Yuna rolls her eyes*

Don't mind them, they're a bit on edge from this whole.... *She gestures around here* situation...

You're more than welcome to hang with us. Even if you couldn't fight, I can't really leave someone to fend for themselves in this kinda situation, y'know?

Anyways. The name's Yuna. The frantic guy in the beanie is Lewis and the guy with the fancy tie is-

And I can introduce myself, thank you very much. James Ratt. It's a pleasure, although I do wish we were introduced during better circumstances

*James presses forward and extends a hand before Yuna sighs*

James, we don't have time for this.

Anyways, he is right that it's a pleasure to meet you but... Also there are way better ways we could've gotten acquainted.

Eh. But there's no use thinking about it. Pleasure to have you with us, Shiyuu.

[its-avalon-08]

lando norris x reader part2

part 2 guys <3 themes- enemies to lovers flirty interactions female Formula1 driver

Chapter 2 - Queen of the Pits

The first practice session crackled with anticipation. Cameras followed Y/N's every move, eager to capture the prodigal daughter's return. As she strapped herself into the RB19, a familiar thrill flooded her system. This was what she lived for, the roar of the engine, the wind whipping through her hair, the world blurring into a kaleidoscope of speed and adrenaline.

The tires met the tarmac, and Y/N was gone. Her driving was textbook perfect, yet imbued with an audacious flair that left seasoned veterans speechless. She pushed the car to its limits, shaving seconds off Lando's time with each lap. In the garage, Max watched, a satisfied glint in his eye. He knew Y/N's raw talent, but witnessing it unleashed against Lando filled him with a strange mix of amusement and…pride?

Lando, meanwhile, sputtered with frustration. His meticulously planned practice was thrown into disarray by Y/N's effortless dominance. His frustration manifested in aggressive maneuvers, borderline reckless, that had even the ever-optimistic Daniel Ricciardo frowning.

After the session, the paddock buzzed. Y/N was the star of the show, swarmed by reporters and rival drivers alike. They loved her – her quick wit, her dry humor, and the genuine kindness that shone through her steely exterior. She signed autographs with a wink, cracked jokes with Sebastian Vettel, and offered encouraging words to the rookies, all while radiating an unshakeable confidence that had even Lewis Hamilton raising an eyebrow.

Back in the Red Bull garage, Max cornered Y/N. "Not bad, rookie," he said, a smirk playing on his lips. "Looks like I might have to up my game."

Y/N grinned, unfazed. "Oh, Max, darling," she drawled, "you already have your hands full. But hey, if you need some pointers, I'm always happy to help."

Their playful banter was interrupted by Lando, storming in, face thunderous. "You think you're funny, L/N?" he spat.

Y/N raised an eyebrow, unperturbed. "Just stating facts, Norris."

Lando opened his mouth to retort, but Max cut him off. "Enough," he said, his voice surprisingly firm. "We're teammates, remember? Lando, work on your line. Y/N, don't get too cocky. We still have a long season ahead."

Y/N nodded, respecting the authority in Max's voice. He wasn't just her teammate; he was, in a strange way, becoming a mentor, a voice of reason amidst the whirlwind of her return.

Later that evening, amidst the neon lights of Monaco, Y/N found herself sharing a drink with Charles Leclerc. They talked about racing, the pressure, the thrill of the chase. In Charles, she found a kindred spirit, someone who understood the language of pushing the limits, of dancing on the edge of control.

As the night deepened, Y/N realized something: amidst the rivalry, the competition, she'd found an unexpected camaraderie. The paddock wasn't just a battleground; it was a community, a tapestry woven with threads of rivalry, respect, and even, she dared to hope, friendship.

The roar of the engines might be deafening, the competition fierce, but Y/N knew, with a certainty that hummed in her blood, that she belonged here. This was her world, and she was ready to race.

[bwoahtastic]

Ohmigod minotaur max au 🥹 I have several thoughts if that's okay.

Little Carlos arriving with Fernando and Jenson and Lewis can't change him back from a werewolf but he can make it easier. He enchants some thread that Nico weaves into fabric and then turns into little mittens for Carlos to wear during the full moon. They can't be ripped or torn off even by his little werewolf claws and it means that he can't hurt anybody else or himself.

Lando climbs trees as easily as breathing. Some of the other children like max and Danny are impressed but Charles is a tiny bit jealous and insists that he can climb as well as lando, finding the highest tree in the forest and climbing all the way up to the top where he promptly realises that he cannot get down. Danny announces that he can get Charles down and Val runs to get Kimi or Seb before they inevitably get hurt. In the end it takes lando and Jenson guiding them down for everyone to arrive back on the ground safely. Charles and lando become friends from that, but Charles is still a tiny bit smug when he beats lando in a running race the next day.

Seb becomes the village school teacher. He's so clever and good with the children and so accepting of everyone's little quirks, whether it's being unable to sit still and concentrate like Danny or being a minotaur like maxy. All of the children love him, and their favourite lessons are when Seb takes them outside to the meadows to learn and they do their classes alongside the flowers and bees.

One extremely hot summer Lewis and Toto create a magical ice rink for the children. Kimi and Nico teach everyone to skate and little Valtteri is easily the best at it, zooming around on the ice like he was born there while most of the others stumble around like deer on ice.

Every time someone new arrives to live in the village, Nico always visits them the morning afterwards with a little hamper of supplies: food, firewood, blankets and candles to properly welcome them and make sure they're alright. Maxy likes to tag along to welcome their new residents and always gives them a gift from him too: a flower crown that he picked and made himself and that Lewis preserved with magic.

Plss!!

Lesis reading up a lot on how to help Carlos and he ends up making the mittens with Nico's help! Carlos is a little confused by them but they help him stay safe and the magic also calms him? Yes he isa little wolfie with mitten paws during full moon but he is basically just a happy lap dog who wants to chase sticks skks

Lando climbing so well! Lewis and Nico both now Lando must be part if not full elf or nymph but when Nando or Jenson don't admit it, they don't push for information! The little thing is sooo fast when climbing and also never falls! Charles claims he can climb too but ofcourse panics once in the tree! Danny climbs up to try and help but gets stuck too while Maxy moo and Val run back to get the adults and a very sleepy Lando for help. The kids manage to come down safe and charles and Dan have to promise not o climb that high again! And pls charlss and lando finally friends but Charles is a little smug winning in a running race (unfair, Lando's legs are tiny ksks)

Seb being such a good teacher 😭 he is patient and kind and understands what pups need. Danny struggles sitting still so momma easily.lets him zoom outside hopping as he does his maths exercise and Maxy needs a little extra love sometimes cos sometimes he will go "but maxy is judt minotaur do maybr maxy can't do this...". When possible the classes are outside or incthe greenhouse and there is a lot of playing too! And when Toto joins the town, he helps sometimes too, mostly by just being the quiet corner so pups snuggle up to him if they need a moment and he helps them read!

Pls the ice rink! It being so hot and tbe littles claim they are all melting! So Lewis makes the enchanted ice rink for winter of judt a day! Val being so natural and zooming around like he was made foe it ksks, and Maxy prefers snuggling with momma at the side and drink hot cocoa!

Pls maybr Toto and Kimi, with the help of others as the village grows, build little cottages just so they are ready for the new families inevitably showing up! Everyone deserves a safe home, they all lived through the insecurity of not having one and they want to help so bad!

Nico always taking a basket with some woven blankets, honey and wax from seb's bees, tools Kimi made, and some enchanted candles thst burn much longer and brighter thst Lesis makes. Maxy always wants to come and brings preserved flower crowns foe all new members. He is a little shy at first alwsys, hiding behind momma's embroidered skirts, but always dares to say hello eventually and is so proud when people like the crowns!

[thingummies-and-whatsits]

Lewis Fic Recs: A Knight's Oath

Stories of devotion, with elements of sworn loyalty, obedience, chivalry, or unspoken, courtly romance-from-afar. Feel free to add more fics to the list!

Six Days by ComplicatedLight

100 Words, James & Robbie, Rated G, No Archive Warnings Apply James muses on the nature of obedience, and finds himself a changed man after working his first case with DI Lewis. An incredibly powerful 100-word drabble that gets right to the essence of James' devotion to Robbie.

Sir Robbie by owlbsurfinbird

428 Words, James & Robbie, Rated G, No Archive Warnings Apply As Robbie's retirement approaches, James adjusts to calling him by his name—and to no longer working together. A thoughtful, understated piece that captures James' character so well by contrasting the everyday with James' poetic inner musings about the life of a squire.

As You Wish by uniquepov

500 Words, Pre-James/Robbie, Rated G, No Archive Warnings Apply While watching The Princess Bride, Laura comments on Westley's undemanding, devoted love, prompting Robbie to have an epiphany about his sergeant and the many ways to say 'I love you'.

Knight at Arms (A Quiet Conquest) by divingforstones

13,486 Words, James/Robbie, Rated T, No Archive Warnings Apply Spanning from Expiation through season 6, moments of devotion, heartbreak, and joy. An absolute masterclass in characterization and capturing that special kind of quiet devotion that is so apparent in Expiation. And to balance out the angst, some absolutely hilarious moments that will catch you off guard if you're not careful. Special mentions go to stolen apostrophes, discombobulated crabs, and Bloody Bertie.

The Gentle Art by serenbach

1,503 Words, James/Robbie, Rated M, No Archive Warnings Apply All the small, unspoken things James does for Robbie in the course of a week, but Robbie knows that loyalty goes both ways. A lovely, understated courting fic, with so must earnest affection and just the right amount of sarcasm to balance it out.

The End of All Our Exploring by hedda62

7,998 Words, James/Robbie, Rated M, No Archive Warnings Apply Threads of fairy tale references weave throughout this story, culminating in a chase scene at the foot of the Glastonbury Tor. The electricity of the storm clouds gathering at the horizon charges the atmosphere between James and Robbie, who find themselves sharing the last room at the inn afterwards. Maybe James will find his Grail after all.

Chance Encounter by Lindenharp

2,108 Words, James/Robbie, Rated T, No Archive Warnings Apply Established Relationship. Outsider pov. Part of a larger series that follows James and Robbie's exploration of a consensual D/s relationship, but can be read on it's own. James and Robbie stop for a quiet drink in a gay pub, and an obnoxious git gets what he deserves. Sometimes the simplest of gestures carry the most meaning.

[loveofcharacters]

"No, you agreed not to do it." She replied in a harsh and whispered tone. As he began his speech, Wren felt herself deflate, and began to roll her eyes out of pure habit. She'd stood up a little straighter simply in shock as he cut himself off simply to warn her against it. Again, hates him for knowing her so well. "For the love of god, Chase, you are overreacting." she turned her body towards the monitor promptly attempting to ignore him.

"He'll be on camera for forty-five seconds, we don't need to do any of that crap it won't matter." she argued. "That feeling is knowing we're about to get good TV. We're about to get ratings that will keep us going another three seasons, don't be a coward and hide behind 'a bad feeling' crap."

Staring into a set of eyes that carried so much hatred in them wouldn't usually turn her on, though Chase was different. He's always been different. They were like fire and dynamite. Every season she promises herself she'll be clean of him, but that promise gets broken by week 3. Moments like these, where she knew if they were alone, clothes would be off in a moments notice. "You want the ratings to get us another season or two? Then help me instead of stopping me."

“For fuck's sake, Wren!”

He raised his fist, held it mid-air, then froze in this position, bowing his head. His eyes closed, his jaws clenched, he inhaled, opened his fist and exhaled.

“We talked about this. We agreed to not do it,” he had lowered his voice, speaking between clenched teeth as he came closer. Leaning down to her face he whispered though no one was close enough to hear them. It wasn’t that he was above such tricks, he’d done worse last season, they both had. But with the network threatening to cancel after this season, they had to be extra careful.

“That guy is a fucking psycho. You saw the interview. He said he was gonna cut any guy's throat who dared to touch her. – Don’t roll your eyes at me!” His voice suddenly loud. He frowned. “You don’t know if it's only talk. Have you done the background check? I swear I’m having a bad feeling…”

And yet, he couldn’t deny that he felt it too, the thrill, the excitement, the chance to do something extraordinary. When looking at her, Chase saw how nervous she was, but also how she was vibrating with that excitement. And, fuck, it was damn hot.

[finishwhatyoustarted-event]

Finished It Friday - October 6

Happy #FinishedItFriday! Here we can celebrate everyone who has finished a project in the latest week of the event.

A little late thanks to a forgetful mind and hectic Friday, but these works can be enjoyed whenever!

Link to the twitter thread for those with tweet promos

in this electric galaxy (we defy the darkness) by moon__goddess

EXO (band) - Kim Jongdae | Chen/Zhang Yi Xing | Lay - Adventures in Space, Canon Typical Violence, Mass Effect AU, No Reapers AU - Rated T "Cartagena Station, the Nemean Abyss, Milky Way 2190 CE Mission: Retrieve information from contact at Fringe. Covert operation. Return information in exchange for target location. (Un)Fortunately, everything does not go as planned."

Turnabout Reprise by HopeStoryteller

逆転裁判 | Gyakuten Saiban | Ace Attorney - Ayasato Chihiro | Mia Fey & Godot, Ayasato Chihiro | Mia Fey/Houzuki Tomoe | Lana Skye, Kidzuki Kokone | Athena Cykes/Morizumi Shinobu | Juniper Woods - Case Fic, Post-Gyakuten Saiban 6 | Spirit of Justice, Fix-It of Sorts, Murder, Mistaken for Being in a Relationship - Rated T "It's time for the retrial of one Mr. Diego Armando, though these days he prefers the name Godot. Athena Cykes is, maybe, a little nervous about how this is going to go—not to mention a little lost as to why Mr. Wright wanted her specifically here. Still, there's definitely something here that didn't get uncovered the first time around, something that will hopefully change everything. (And if there isn't... well, she can at least say that she tried.)"

Longing to Linger With You by blabbyshark

NSFW - Band of Brothers (TV 2001) - Lewis Nixon/Richard Winters - Getting Together, Swing Dancing, Oral Sex, 5+1 Things, Period Typical Attitudes - Rated E "Five times Dick and Nix dance during the war and one time they dance afterwards."

Haemorrhage (Tell me, if I run away, how long will I bleed?) by Edai

NSFW - Naruto - Gaara & Kankurou & Temari (Naruto) - Alternate Universe – Modern Setting, Angst with a Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, Dysfunctional Family, Making Up, Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Depression, Consent Issues, Coming Out - Rated E "Kankurou and Temari’s relationship has been damaged for a while already, but, this time, they’ve reached a breaking point that is going to require much more work than usual to fix, and he’s not sure he’s got it in him anymore. //Content Warnings: There are descriptions and discussions of alcohol abuse, cigarette smoking, addiction and withdrawal/craving in about every chapter. I will add other chapter-specific content warnings as needed, but those are pretty much constant for the whole fic so I won’t be repeating them. Rated E for some sexually explicit moments, though no full smut scene. Some of them are dubiously consensual/partially non-consensual. The chapters will have warnings ahead."

This Genshin meme

Little Reason by heyholmesletsgo

Tumblr promo - 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV) - Sòng Lán | Sòng Zǐchēn/Xiǎo Xīngchén - Fights, Chases, Innuendo, Farce - Rated T "Defending Song Lan's honor, Xiao Xingchen trades insults with a woman of the night, and has his guan of white jade stolen."

[labrats-and-clonetroopers]

"I Won't Bury You Again" Ch. 1 - Leo Dooley & Chase Davenport, Lab Rats [Elite Force]/The Dark Tower (C.S. Lewis) Crossover

Masterlist 

Lab Rats/Mighty Med/Elite Force Masterlist 

Request Guidelines 

Synopsis:

Leo was the one who heard all of Davenport’s confessions in the elevator. He was the one who sought out Douglas, who had been the one to originally break into his and Marcus’ lab. He’s the one who’s been trapped in and escaped from a freaking parallel universe. 

He knows, better than any of them, that all the secrets surrounding their past will never fully come to light. 

But he needs to save his brother. And if that means chasing a ghost from Douglas’ past, then he will. No matter where it leads him.

Story Warnings: violence, minor character death, mentioned drug use, mild horror, moderate blood and gore

_______________

Leo knows. He knows that none of them, not Davenport, not Douglas, nor his mom, or Adam, Bree, Chase or Daniel, will ever know everything. Every part of the complex web of secrets and lies that connect their lives. 

He heard Davenport’s confessions while trapped in the elevator. Heard them, acknowledged them, and stored them away. Donald Davenport’s life before he clawed his way to success read like a nightmare. And while he is still an incredibly flawed man, Leo can respect that some things, some things should be left undisturbed in the past. 

But some things, they just nag, tug at his gut, as if some intuition is telling him that he needs to pull at this thread, that he needs to uncover it. 

Leo had always expected that Douglas had continued to keep secrets, that he would never reveal the full truth. Not intentionally, at least. 

And there’s always been something about Marcus’ story that never fully added up. A comment he made during their confrontation in Giselle’s lab, to Douglas. 

“You created me to betray someone I never could. But you, you I can betray.” 

He brought it up to Douglas one afternoon. Found him sitting alone in the dining hall, hunched over the table, frowning, looking at his phone. 

Leo pulled out a chair, sat down next to him. His uncle barely glanced up, “Oh, hey Leo.” 

“Watcha doing?” 

Douglas stilled. “Just looking through some old photos,” and he deflated, weary. 

It was an odd mood for him to be in. Leo frowned. “What’s wrong?” 

“Nothing,” Douglas dismissed. “Anything going on with you?”

Leo shook his head. “No, just chilling. Enjoying having all the students and Adam gone for the day. Video-chatted Janelle. We have a date planned for Wednesday.”

“Sounds fun.” 

“It will be.” 

Silence settled over them. Leo leaned back in his chair. “So, I was wondering something.”

Douglas looked back up. “Wondering what?”

“About something Marcus said,” and he watched his uncle immediately stiffen at that name, “He said you had created him to betray someone, someone he couldn’t betray. Thing is, that doesn’t make any sense; he didn’t hesitate to betray Adam, Bree, and Chase.”

Douglas had lowered his head, fixated his gaze on the table. “He wasn’t referring to them.”

“Then who?” Leo pressed. “Wait a minute, if he wasn’t referring to them, then you didn’t originally create him to capture your kids…” 

“That was why I built him, technically. The whole situation was just a bit more complicated at the time.” Douglas corrected, then sighed. “Look, Leo, I really don’t want to talk about this.” 

“Well, you never talked about Giselle either, until she just showed up, and we both now how that turned out,” Leo asserted. He leaned over the table, looking Douglas in the eye. “Who did you create Marcus to betray?”

Douglas met the intensity of his gaze. “You need to trust me, Leo. Leave it alone.” 

[mermaidsirennikita]

Barbenheimer review!!

Haha well

First off, I loved the *experience*. I love going to the movies, but I don't know that I've ever done a double feature in a theater before--there just haven't been many movies that would motivate me to do so, and my money is usually kinda tight, and my parents certainly never did that when we were kids because money was DEF tight and I'm one of four children. I suspect studios will attempt to replicate this shit, but it's not going to work (at least, not as well). The Oppenheimer theater I was in (saw that first, thank God) was about 80% full. The Barbie theater was completely packed. I went with a couple of female friends, neither of whom would normally see Oppenheimer, lol.

I should add--I'm not a big Nolan fan. I have seen, SOMEHOW, all but like, three of his movies, so I actually know what I'm talking about with him--and I think I can say I legitimately like Memento, I like things about The Dark Night and hate other things about The Dark Knight, I appreciate Dunkirk as a spectacle but don't think I would have liked it if I hadn't seen it in a theater, I ironically enjoy parts of Tenet (I think it's like... bad, but I really love the dynamic JDW and RPattz created), and the ONLY movie of his that I love is The Prestige. To me, everything else he's done since is chasing the greatness of The Prestige, you will never convince me that isn't his best work. And EVEN THEN. I think The Prestige, like many movies of its ilk including the Good Plot of Oppenheimer, is chasing Amadeus (1984).

I don't think Oppenheimer is bad. I think that Oppenheimer would absolutely be getting shit on for certain things if anyone other than Christopher Nolan did them, as is often the case with Nolan movies because filmbros give Nolan a pass so often; and I think it is grounded and maybe saved by a very good performance from Cillian Murphy (and I gotta say, it's a testament both to issues in the script and the power of the Murphy filmography that this is not Cillian's best work ever, it's still very good and he's set for a nom for sure) and... as much as I loathe to say this... the best work RDJ, a dude I can't stand, has done in years. I think the movie does a solid job of simplifying what is a very complex story and history (.... sometimes too much) and I think it does a decent job of portraying someone who did something really bad and then regretted it in a fairly gray manner. The movie sympathizes with Oppenheimer, but I don't necessarily think it like... lionizes him. It shows that he's a genius, but like, he was; it shows that he realized that he Fucked Up and tried to advocate for a safer usage of nuclear weapons; but he did.

Here's where we run into issues. This movie absolutely did not fucking need to be 3 hours long. There is NO. WAY. This shit needed to be as long as it was. We didn't need that much backstory of Oppenheimer in school, and Oppenheimer becoming a professor, and the bones of the Manhattan Project. The really interesting shit in this movie, I've gotta be real with you, is not the bomb. The really interesting shit in this movie is the aftermath of the bomb, the realization of Huge Mistakes, and the subsequent "betrayal" by a government that never gave a fuck about human beings, including Oppenheimer. The Red Scare of it all, and the creeping resentment Lewis Strauss felt towards Oppenheimer and the scientific community at large, which I gotta say, Nolan could've leaned into even more considering how that thread connects to the resentment right wing politicians especially feel towards not only the scientific community but academic at large to this. There's where the story felt alive--the Mozart and Salieri of it all, the PRESTIGE of it all. What is compelling is not a big bomb or tons of scientists repeatedly going "you're brilliant, Oppy, but you gotta figure out whether or not you're a Commie and plan accordingly", it is THAT. That tension. One of the best parts of the movie was Chekhov's Rami Malek, because it was the culmination of that tension, you know? Also, the FIVE BILLION TIMES we had Strauss flash back to Albert Einstein giving him a bitchy look. That kind of character tension is where it's at.

But Christopher Nolan is perhaps the most aggressively WHITE MALE filmmakers of all time, so it's really not surprising to me that he thought that The Bomb was equally interesting, and that we needed six billion shots of marbles representing uranium, or whatever.

And the thing is, for all that the movie is way too long, it also skips over shit that is incredibly important. I don't necessarily think the movie needed to delve into Hiroshima and Nagasaki on an "on the ground" level, frankly because I don't think Nolan has the range and I also think that the way it affected Oppenheimer was both direct and indirect, and the film communicated that fairly well. But as much time as the movie spent in Los Alamos, as much time as we saw beautiful shots of the area, and Oppenheimer riding horses around there with his wife, we had maaaaybe five throwaway lines about indigenous people? And like, no acknowledgment of the long term physical, financial, and emotional effects the project had on the community there. That is DIRECT. They were literally right there. And again, I don't think Nolan has the range, but when so much of your behemoth of a film takes place. Right there. It just seems insane to ignore it.

Additionally, Christopher Nolan remains incapable of writing women and convincing romantic relationships, even when he's going off of a biography of a guy whose romantic relationships were quite interesting. Florence Pugh is in like, less than 10 minutes of this movie despite having done so much promo. Jean Tatlock is given so little characterization that if you didn't understand what was happening with her before the movie, I don't know that you would fully get that she was severely depressed and not just Kind of a Bitch until she kills herself. And of course, there is like, a vague allusion to her struggle with her sexuality, which contributed to that depression, but it's not explicit. The scene where she makes him read The Line to her while he's inside her is... I wanna know.... is that like something Nolan read as a rumor to have happened or did he just make it up? Lotta questions there on a lotta levels.

I don't mind the nudity in Florence's scenes, obviously; I don't mind the sex scenes, though the second one was SUPER WEIRD (and by the second one I mean the time Oppenheimer and his wife imagined him naked with Jean riding him during his 1954 questioning). But I found the positioning of Jean as the angry whore figure to Kitty's Corrupted Madonna as super odd. Like, why is Jean shown naked so often, whereas Kitty, Oppenheimer's wife with whom he had a colorful sexual history, who in general was known to be kind of a voracious woman... Never depicted in a sexual light? Why is Jean just Kind of a Sad Bitch until she dies, and Kitty is another sad bitch who is drunk in BASICALLY. EVERY. SCENE and like, hating being a mom and little else? And like, Kitty was a known alcoholic who struggled with motherhood and had a volatile relationship with her husband. But lol, with all the fucking run time this movie had, you could've given more time to making Jean and Kitty seem like people versus thorns in his side, while keeping them flawed. Just like you could've mentioned more about the OTHER dark side of Los Alamos.

Also, one of the best scenes of the movie was in fact Oppenheimer crying in a forest over his dead mistress while his drunk wife rides up on a horse (I assume they don't let her drive a car because she literally can't drop her purse without a flask falling out of it) and is like "PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER MAN". It would've been even better if these emotional bonds had been better cemented. Same with the scene where Kitty stepped up during the interrogation and went "THAT'S MY MAN RIGHT OR WRONG. AND MAYBE I WAS A COMMUNIST IDK I WAS DRUNK."

And let's be fucking real, there are so many things about this movie that filmbros would nitpick if it wasn't Nolan. Einstein appearing out of the shadows randomly in the middle of the night in his cozy sweater to be like "shit bro, sucks that they're Red Scare-ing you". The moment in the end where they were like "and a junior senator from MASSACHUSETS didn't like what you did to Oppy" and I held my breath and went "oh my God" and they went "... and that senator? JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY". The "read The Line You'll Say Later When the Bomb Blows Up Right Now When You're About the Blow Up Inside Me" moment. That shit is so cliche, and I don't mind (most of) it in theory, but if ANYONE ELSE did it, they would be getting dragged, and if this movie was made for people other than white guys, it would be getting dragged, but because it's Nolan, it's fine.

So those are my Oppenheimer thoughts.

My thoughts on Barbie are less complex. I think it was a better movie; I think Ryan Gosling absolutely deserves an Oscar nom; I laughed a LOT. It didn't change my life or tell me things I didn't already know, but I didn't need it to. I think the visuals were great, the costume/set/production designers really came the fuck through.

I will say lol.... I do think you can see where Greta was toned down, because Greta is a very white feminist filmmaker. And honestly, she needs a tempering hand. I think this is probably my favorite work of hers aside from Little Women, which also had a tempering hand. Like, in this case, I think that having a surface level understanding of feminism and patriarchy works for a movie like this. Because while the movie is satire, it's also extreme capitalism, and it kind of goes without saying that it can't go beyond surface level.

I think there is something to be said about like... the reality of Barbie versus what this movie was selling as Barbie, and there is something so interesting about the movie both acknowledging that and totally sidestepping it. Like, that's some fascinating shit, when you really think about it.

I would've preferred a movie where Ken and Barbie fell in love, but I guess I'm just a bad feminist (lol and I had no expectation that the movie would have them fall in love walking in--I'd pretty much figured out the plot before I began the film). I also think that the movie didn't fully make me understand why Barbie wanted to be a human, at all. Like, the human world honestly sucks balls (not in a fun way), and it felt like Barbieland was more actualized and real at the end, so. Why leave. Why would ANYONE leave. If I was America Ferrera, I would pack up my dorky husband and daughter and stay there.

I did love the mother/daughter themes; I loved the "you're so beautiful" moment. I loved the Ken War. I was surprised by how it was acknowledged that women being expected to be everything was Bad, Actually and maybe we do just wanna fucking chill the fuck out and some of us want to do nothing and be moms.

So like, I have Intellectual Critiques of Barbie, but to be clear, I did have a great time and I did laugh throughout and the theater was really fun and I want to see it again. It was a totally enjoyable experience, and I think that movie is going to stay in minds and stand the test of time and be something people watch with the future generations.

But. Lol. They Cloned Tyrone was better than either of them.

[f-ferrari-forever]

Your titles are making me laugh. 🤣 Dare I request "Cat Max thing" and "shit series 5"? 🤭

Dare I say I don’t fully remember? Okay, kidding, mostly.

Cat Max thing is a very short beginning to *that* crazy idea we discussed with Aya for the Christmas fic, aka Max can shapeshift into a big cat and Charles cuddles him. Was the polar bear meant to be Carlos? 100% true to this day.

When Charles wakes up, something soft and warm is nuzzling his face.

His bleary eyes can just make out a fluffy, yellow fabric pressing up against his skin. It even makes a faint, buzzing sound, almost like a static lullaby. Charles sighs, content, giving in to that soothing touch. Compared to the dry patches painfully tightening on the left side of his face, his right cheek feels like baby skin; it's possibly the most comfortable pillow he's ever slept on.

Perhaps Andrea slipped it in his suitcase, and Charles, jetlagged and sleepy, tossed it on the bed along with his fuzzy socks. He cuddles up to it, sliding his fingers through the unbelievable fine threads. It feels almost—furry?

Confused, Charles delivers a few hesitant pats.

The pillow hisses back.

Charles leaps to his feet, fumbling for the light switch as images of polar bears and severed limbs flood through his mind. In his haste, he forgets about the stupid wooden headboard and bangs his head so hard he sees stars.

He gets a strangely worried "Meow?" in response.

shit series 5 is actually a very funny story. Back when I first joined the fandom, I wrote a 4-part 4433 series in which they try to get over their problems through bds*, and they fail spectecularly at it (there’s actually zero fun times in it, it’s just angst). Anyway, this was back in the days when my view was really biased. Max is actually more or less based on Kaz Brekker (wtf, 2021 Pi?). Hence, shit series.

So, shit series 5 was born after Aya read the original 4. Spoiler alert: lestappen is endgame even in my 4433 series. It’s meant to explore the relationship between Max and Charles, and how different it is from Lewis and Max, while 4433 become really good friends. Didn’t get that far in this one either, but here’s a snippet:

Taking Jimmy and Sassy for a walk, is frankly speaking, a biohazard in the making. A biohazard for Max’s sanity, that is.

Jimmy tugs on the leash whenever they pass another animal, eager to befriend just about anything that moves and blinks his way. Sassy, his vicious protector, growls and bites at anyone that dares to come within half a meter of her brother. Max wants to claw his eyes out.

He lacks Charles's patience and has no desire to develop it. Holding Jimmy in an honest to God baby-carrier draped over his chest so the cat can’t escape is no way in hell an option. Max may love the kitties to pieces, but he has his limits.

So when Jimmy acquires a new friend, in the shape of an adorable little bulldog, Max wants to scream. Thankfully, Sassy takes care of it instead. What she doesn’t do, however, is chase Jimmy around the park until she is out of breath. That, regrettably, is reserved for Max.

He reaches Jimmy just as the bulldog starts licking his head, clearly smitten by his new feline friend. The Jimmy effect, Charles would joke. Sassy arches her back as soon as her little eyes rest on the scene ahead, her leash still securely clutched in Max's fingers. He pants out a “No,” but it’s more of a wheeze. Sassy hisses back.

“Your cats are crazy, man,” the dog’s owner informs him, as if it’s supposed to be news to Max. He chuckles, and it turns into full-blown laughter when he meets the man’s eyes.

Of fucking course this would happen to me.

Warm brown, filled with the shock of recognition, flanked by finely groomed brows stares back at him. There are blonde highlights now streaking through Lewis’s braids, his outfit a little plainer than Max is used to, but still exuding that carefree, put together air.

Max knows Lewis is anything but carefree.

[fetchmearum420]

Ranking each 1776 character:

John Adams, Massachusetts: 7/10 funny but something quite rude which I don’t like, can be cute like with Abigail. Bill Daniels nails the role.

Benjamin Franklin, Pennsylvania: 28736372818/10 deserves the damn world, Howard Da Silva really should have won an Oscar and Tony for Franklin, such a fun part.

Thomas Jefferson, Virginia: even though he really doesn’t speak much until But Mr Adams and in the second act, I still love him (not the REAL Jefferson) and Ken Howard really was extremely hot.

John Dickinson, Pennsylvania: 198277281/10 yes he’s a dick but he’s my dick and I love him. Always a mood. I respect that he was trying to be civil with England. Both Paul Hecht and Donald Madden nailed the role.

John Hancock, Massachusetts: 172774738/10 such an angry boy but he’s so funny and for what 😀 David Ford should have won an Oscar for his facial expressions.

James Wilson, Pennsylvania: 1938738291/10 idk why I love him so much but I do. He’s so cute and him and Dickinson are so in love and it’s adorable. Emory Bass really nailed the part and hardly smiled at all. Nailed it.

Edward Rutledge, South Carolina: 10/10 this one might be controversial but I LOVE Rutledge. I’m obsessed with his peacock costumes and his hairstyle. (Gary Beach played Rutledge which was his Broadway debut and he’s the reason I’m even into this musical.) Molasses to Rum is the show stopper for me and I bow down to both John Cullum and Clifford David.

Charles Thompson: 10/10 such an underrated king and Ralston Hill’s eyebrows should have won an Oscar. Always a mood.

Dr. Lyman Hall, Georgia: 183873828/10 a cinnamon roll that deserves more love. His first day is so chaotic but he doesn’t complain. Jonathan Moore slayed. (Also fun fact, Jonathan UNDERSTUDIED Adams while on Broadway. What id give to go back in time to see him do that role.)

Richard Henry Lee, Virginia: 182773829/10 a small role, but his number is obviousLEE a stand out and such a bop. He’s so cute and clearLEE fun. Ron Holgate totally earned that Tony.

Roger Sherman, Connecticut: 1273672/10 underrated king that I love. He always has a bowl of coffee with him and it’s so cute and for what 😩 Rex Robbins you son of a bitch why you make Sherman so cute 😭

Samuel Chase, Maryland: 7/10, doesn’t do much for me but he is pretty funny. Phil Polito and Patrick Hines nailed it.

Caesar Rodney, Delaware: 10/10 we Stan a king who was deathly sick but yet traveled 80 miles back to congress to sign the damn declaration and save Delaware.

Col. Thomas McKean, Delaware: 19927382/10 He is so damn funny and for what 😭 he’s always threading Read and it makes me cackle.

Stephen Hopkins, Rhode Island: 1929838291/10 my favorite drunk bastard. Ceo of RUM. Such a crackhead. We Stan Roy Poole for this role.

George Read, Delaware: 0/10 we don’t like this louse in my house. He is a slimy worm. Fuck this bitch.

Andrew McNair: 10/10 SWEET JESUS it’s obvious. William Duell deserved an Oscar for saying SWEET JESUS so many times.

Lewis Morris, New York: 8/10 ceo of abstaining, COURTEOUSLY. We Stan.

Rev. John Witherspoon, New Jersey: 10/10 friendly guy who has a whore of an Aunt. But wtf is up with James Noble’s eyes the entire movie 😭🤭

Robert Livingston, New York: 4/10, the only time he actually says something is during But Mr Adams and he’s singing. Doesn’t do much for me.

Joseph Hewes, North Carolina: 6/10 he’s okay. Doesn’t do much for me.

Abigail Adams: 182772883/10 my wife. Such a damn queen. We Stan Virginia Vestoff.

Martha Jefferson: 182772828/10 only in one scene but NAILS IT. I definitely prefer Betty Buckley but Blythe Danner was good too.

Dr. Josiah Bartlett, New Hampshire: 1/10 literally takes the fun out of Congress. Unfair bitch.

Courier: 4/10, don’t really have an opinion.

[chorusfm]

Liner Notes (June 15th, 2024)

Another week, another newsletter. This week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here. If you’d like this newsletter delivered to your inbox each week (it’s free and available to everyone), you can sign up here. A Few Things * I know there are a lot of media tracking apps, and Sequel gets a lot of justified praise, but for my needs, I’ve grown to like the stock Trakt app. I recently realized how customizable the app was. Being able to customize the bottom tab bar and put all the common places I visit in the app is a nice feature. And it’s got a nice widget that I use on my “Days Over” focus mode. But, the killer feature for me is still the “check-in” feature, which is used when you start watching something and it puts it on the lock screen as a live activity. Then, when, predictably, I need to see who is in the show/movie we’re watching, I can tap it and quickly check the cast section. It’s also updated pretty frequently with new features. Letterboxd has a (much) better community and reviews section, but I think Trakt’s the better app. * Quick note: Blue Sky now lets me auto-post to it, so I’ve set up the Chorus account to pull in our news posts. Hopefully, Threads will follow suit soon. Sponsor Laika Songs has released the new song “Field of Vision” featuring Onelinedrawing. The song comes from the new album Slowly Spiraling Towards the Light available for digital download and vinyl pre-order at Bandcamp. Follow the band on Instagram, Spotify, and Bandcamp. In Case You Missed It * Interview: The Early November * Review: Underoath – They’re Only Chasing Safety * Adam Lewis of Fenix TX Passes Away * Riot Fest 2024 Announced * Something Corporate Tease New Music * Hopeless Records Announces New Compilation * The Used Announce New Tour * Alkaline Trio Announce New Tour * Spotify to Launch New Premium Plan * Albums in Stores – Jun 14th, 2024 Music Thoughts * It’s a pretty fun week for new music. The Early November’s new album is out, and it comes highly recommended. I know this may be blasphemy to some, but I actually think this might be their best album. Exceptional front to back. Just a damn solid alternative rock album that we don’t see much of these days. Great vocals, excellent songwriting, and an awesome entry into the band’s catalog. It’s right up there with In Currents for me now. * Florrie’s new album, The Lost Ones, also came out yesterday. It’s one of the best pop releases of the year so far, and so exactly in my wheelhouse, it’s comical. For fans of Sigrid, Carly Rae Jensen, or just summer’s here let’s dance pop music. I’m over here begging the world to take notice. * The new Said the Sky single featuring Boys Like Girls is a lot of fun. Their last album flew a little under the radar but had a lot of known collaborators on it. * The rest of my week was spent with a whole bunch of old favorites. The news of Adam Lewis’s passing had me returning to FenixTX’s discography. RIP. (Lechuza holds up so well all these years later.) It was also a big week for Allister’s Last Stop Suburbia. That’s one of those albums that screams “summer” to me. A quintessential pop-punk classic. They’re one of those bands where I could never really get into the rest of their discography. While they all had some good songs scattered throughout, I always thought they lacked the same fun vibes as this one. And I also had a fun time re-visiting Unwritten Law’s Elva this week. This one brings me right back to my freshman year of college and blaring this in the dorm with my college roommate. * Other albums that caught my eye this week included Talker’s 2022 release, In Awe of Insignificance, and Carly Cosgrove’s latest. I need to listen to the new Decemberists album, but I haven’t had time yet. The Stats: Over the past week, I listened to 37 different artists, 54 different albums, and 543 different tracks (634 scrobbles). Here is my Top 9 from last week, and you can follow me on Apple Music and/or Last.fm.… https://chorus.fm/features/articles/liner-notes-june-15th-2024/

[parkerbombshell]

From Whispers To Screams - 2008 part 3 // Ghosts

Thursdays 11:00am-1pm EST bombshellradio.com #indierock #neosoul #alternativerock #artrock Repeats Fridays 3am EST 1 The Rip - Portishead 2 Ghosts - Ladytron 3 Kids - MGMT 4 Lights And Music - Cut Copy 5 Paper Planes - M.I.A. 6 Vanished - Crystal Castles 7 Human - The Killers 8 Love Has Left The Room - A Camp 9 Stepping Stone - Duffy 10 Chasing Pavements - Adele 11 Halo - Beyonce 12 Just Dance - Lady GaGa 13 Acid Tongue - Jenny Lewis 14 Caminant - Roger Mas 15 Primer Movimiento: El sueño - Extremoduro 16 Midnight Man - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds 17 Whatever Happened To You? - Madrugada 18 Hold on Hold on - Marianne Faithfull 19 Waving Flags - British Sea Power 20 Flowers & Football Tops - Glasvegas 21 Inside A Boy - My Brightest Diamond 22 Nothing Ever Happened - Deerhunter 23 We Own The Sky - M83 24 At last - The Do 25 Whos Gonna Save My Soul - Gnarls Barkley 26 I'm Crying (Mother's Tears) - Grace Jones 27 Lay It Down - Al Green 28 Threads - Portishead Read the full article

[desertfragments]

@discipulusmaleficus

It’s humiliating, how casually Kai rearranges him on the bed, how easily he picks up his consumptive, bird-boned form. (Bad timing - this is one of those days when Kalmar feels, for no particularly apparent reason, as if he’s been gone over with a meat tenderiser, and it’s only beginning to wear off now. He probably couldn’t escape if he tried.) Worse, because of the way Kai’s shoulders brush the inside of his knees, because of where his soot-blackened hand is resting, the smug little smile twisting his lips. Kalmar’s still half-dressed, still feels too exposed, uncomfortably vulnerable. Worse because it’s not Lewis, because it’s this asshole, this pathetic little bitch ready to pin him like a cockroach. Worse – he doesn’t know if he wants to stop him. For one thing, he deserves whatever he gets, right? Kalmar fingers the knife tucked between mattress and bedframe, the single fraying thread of control he has over any of this. His head falls back, gaze fixed on the ceiling (it sways disturbingly in and out of focus), grin playing over his face. “Let me guess. Your girlfriend got bored of you again.”

Kai pauses, glittering brown eyes flicking up to Kalmar's. His fingers stop their quiet burning trail down bony hips as silence fills the room. "What makes you think she has anything to do with this, hm? I can't just suck a dick? Can't suck your dick? Not everything is some-"

He grimaces. This isn't a thought he wants to chase. He can feel the heat starting to pool in his palms, can practically smell the burning flesh. His fingers toy with the buttons on Kalmar's jeans. "Not everything is a game, and it sure as hell isn't always about you."

He exhales sharply, like he could breathe out the annoyance that's starting to build in his bones. This isn't going to be productive- this isn't going to make him feel better-- isn't going to distract him. And that's what he wants, right? So why is he trying to talk? "Are you going to let me do this or not?" His nails dig into Kalmar's hips, a lurking threat burning in his hands.

[pinsnotsaltpeter]

Okay but now I'm inspired to actually think this through. Aka! 1776 characters at a cricket match:

Adams: is currently yelling at Dickinson and calling him "BATSMAN!" as though it's an insult

Dickinson: is yelling back at Adams, calling him "BOWLER!" (once again, like it's an insult 😂)

Jefferson: is using this battle of wits to admire Adams's cricket outfit (this is pre-white uniforms, so we're apparently talking silk stockings that show off the calves and the like!)

Reverend Witherspoon: surprises everyone with a secret love of cricket. He still has his Bible with him, but he hadn't turned a page until Adams and Dickinson were at it. Now he's back to normal, waiting for the game to resume.

Franklin: is seconds from whipping out the 1744 Cricket Laws (he always keeps a copy) and making up some reason to throw the pair outta there (he was the one who got everyone to play). He is also the score-keeper

Stephen Hopkins: taking a swig of rum every time Adams and Dickinson shout a dumb insult. Finishes his second drink when they're booted out of the game via an irritated Hancock.

Hancock: as referee, his patience has been waning due to Lewis Morris's continued courteous abstentions. He is holding on by a thread. His only consolation is this: as referee, he gets to swap his fly swatter for a bat. He is now contemplating using it.

Thomson: having been waiting to hear another dispatch from the General, he distracts himself by relaying scoring information to the team. He also stays close to Hancock (but not too close, because the man looks like he wants to put his bat to good use).

Lee: Determined to have a good time, Lee swings at everything that comes his way. He unwittingly sends the ball straight at Edward Rutledge's face (despite the man staying "safe" near Hopkins and Franklin).

Rutledge: naturally, he tries to duck but is bopped on the head. He's down for the count (nothing too serious), and his only consolation is that it saves him from having to stand in the heat.

Lyman Hall: foreseeing Rutledge's collapse right before it happens, he stifles a laugh and vaguely offers to help the man. Rutledge would've seen right through the offer, only he's distracted by a headache and a singular grass stain on his white clothes.

Samuel Chase: having been enjoying a quiet meal in the shade, he nearly chokes on his food from amusement. He is a bit concerned when Rutledge actually goes down, but he consoles himself by resigning himself to enjoying the rest of his meal.

Roger Sherman: back in the day, simple cobblers from Connecticut played cricket as much (if not more than) the upper classes. Therefore, he is unsurprised (but rather pleased) when he scores the winning points :)

So apparently Franklin liked cricket (the game) and all I can imagine is him getting the entire congress to play it 😂

Also, here's some fun facts when I looked into the matter: