#Charley my FUCKING BELOVED

[frmulcahy]

EightCharley walked so NineRose and TenRose could run don’t boo me I’m right

[broadwaydivastournament]

Broadway Divas: Obscure Sondheim

To highlight how vast and varied Sondheim's roles and shows are, these five Divas have a singular Sondheim credit to their repertoire that are a little more obscure than most. So obscure that my dream of finding pictures to dazzle you all with was quickly shattered.

Bebe Neuwirth as Cinderella's Stepsister, Florinda, in a reading of Into the Woods for a 1994 movie that never came to fruition. This reading took place at director Penny Marshall's house and had a truly breathtaking cast: Robin Williams (The Baker), Goldie Hawn (The Baker's Wife), Steve Martin (The Wolf), Danny DeVito (The Giant), Carrie Fisher (Lucinda), and fucking CHER as The Witch. Bebe Neuwirth and Carrie Fisher as catty sisters tormenting Cinderella and getting their eyes pecked out. And then Cher trying to feed them to Danny DeVito. We were robbed of a masterpiece.

Judith Light as Joanne in a Reprise! presentation of Company at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. Though not known for her singing abilities, Judith was nevertheless part of an all-star cast for this two-week run in 2004. The only review I could find was...not favorable. It's been twenty years, and I, for one, think Judith Light deserves her chance at redemption.

Linda Emond as Mary in Merrily We Roll Along, 1988. The Seattle-based ACT company produced Sondheim's biggest flop musical through the month of May in 1988. Linda, then in her late twenties, played the female lead in a rare musical role for her. And I do have a picture thanks to ACT's fantastic archival system.

Pictured: Linda Emond (Mary) center, surrounded by Joseph Dellger (Franklin Shepherd) and Joseph McNally (Charley). And no, I cannot tell which man is which...

4. Susan Blackwell as The Giant in a 2019 one-night-only staged concert of Into the Woods. If you thought the recent Broadway revival was bare-bones, it had nothing on this staged concert at the Town Hall in NYC. There is one singular photo that includes Susan, and without knowing she was meant to be there, you'd never be able to identify her.

Pictured (L to R):

5. Paula Leggett Chase as Stella Deems in Follies, a one-night-only special event in Tangier, Morocco featuring a transcontinental cast of Divas. Since 2013 (excluding pandemic years), Rob Ashford has staged fundraising productions of shows such as A Little Night Music, The Crucible, and Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. Confusingly, though Paula sang Stella Deems' song "Who's That Woman," she was credited in the program as Emily Whitman (presumably they just combined the roles for this production and gave them to the dancer in the cast?)

Pictured (L to R): The late Haydn Gwynn (Phyllis Rogers Stone, my beloved), Marisa Berenson (Solange LaFitte), Harolyn Blackwell (Heidi Schiller), Jenna Russel (Sally Durant Plummer), Paula Leggett Chase (Emily Whitman), Harriet Harris (Hattie Walker).

[thetisming]

zombie saga opposite deaths tumblr simulator!

🌹 beautiful-rose Follow

i want my boyfriend. i miss him so much that i feel like i'm going to die. and my brother died too and i have my best friend but i literally just can't talk to anyone right now i need Francois or Romeo i cant... i need my boyfriend.

🇫🇷 frenchbastard Follow

Aw, it is truly sweet how you're blogging about me. Because surely you could never mean any other Francois, correct? And I do not like the fact that you miss your brother, or that you have a best friend. I am right here. I am all you need.

🌹 beautiful-rose

right! um, yeah, sorry, i'll just- of course you're all i need. yeah

2 notes

🎨 depressed-artist Follow

I can't do this. I can't fall in love, I can't, that's not fair to Caroline. I could never fall in love so soon after losing her. I can't. I can't date him.

🟦 croptopman Follow

you're so correct you cant do that in fact i think you should never even consider dating anyone

1 note

🎶 yesimautisticstopaskingme Follow

FUCK FUCK FUCK WHY DID I DO THAT OH MY GOD THAT WAS SO STUPID HOLY SHIT I'M AN IDIOT

0 notes

🐯 hearmeroar Follow

why won't they talk to me? why are they leaving me? they only talk to that horrible fucking man, and i miss them and my fucking boyfriend just died and he was their brother, you'd think they would care!

0 notes

💙 francois-dubois Follow

Gosh I just love them so much, they're so perfect and beautiful and I don't think I could even live without them <33 I want to marry them one day

🌹 beautiful-rose Follow

aww, Francois! i love you too, I'm never leaving you my darling! and for future reference, if you proposed, i would say yes 💖

💙 francois-dubois

Asdfghjkl May!! I love you, I really do you're so amazing and magical and I can't imagine living without you. I'm never leaving you and I'm never letting anyone hurt you, my beloved 💙

🌹 beautiful-rose

you're so sweet, where are you so i can kiss you??

💙 francois-dubois

I'm just out the back! See you soon, amore 😘

🌹 beautiful-rose

fuck i just found this while scrolling his blog there were so many posts ljke this i miss him so fuckjng mych og mg god i need him back or i think i'll die her was the best boyfriend ecer i need him plwase just kjll me so i can be with him fuck

#he was so perfect #i cant even believe hes gone #he was my everything i mjzz him so much i cant do this anymore #i wish i had just killed myself that day #i cant go on like this i havent been talking to juliet because of my new boufriend #and romek is gone #and i havebt besn talking to anne either #i need him so bad holy shit i cant #i didnt even gst to marry him #at the very least couldn't i have done that #i miss gim so much i need him i need to hold him i can't. i nedd hiim #i love you my darling frankie

12 notes

🟦 croptopman Follow

I NEED TO STOP BEING IN LOVE WITH PEOPLE I CANT HAVE. first i stayed in love with Gregory after we broke up and now i love Charley and he's in love with some OTHER GUY NAMED RICHARD!

#gay #mlm #queer #vincian #unrequited love

1 note

🇫🇷 frenchbastard Follow

There is a truly beautiful woman at this camp. She is friends with my boyfriend. I must persue her, she is so gorgeous and her husband recently died.

💚 notthatone Follow

May is non binary stop calling them your boyfriend and STOP TRYING TO CHEAT ON THEM! They've been through so much, how fucking dare you try to hurt them?

🇫🇷 frenchbastard

You are so beautiful, sweet Anne.

🐯 hearmeroar Follow

you're a terrible fucking person and i hope May kills you because if they don't i fucking will.

🇫🇷 frenchbastard

So many marriagable women at this camp... You are simply gorgeous

🐯 hearmeroar

KILL YOURSELF

💚 notthatone

KILL YOURSELF

🎶 yesimautisticstopaskingme Follow

KILL YOURSELF

🦅 eaglegreetings Follow

KILL YOURSELF

🎨 depressed-artist Follow

KILL YOURSELF

🇮🇹 aromantic-annie Follow

KILL YOURSELF

🟦 croptopman Follow

KILL YOURSELF

🛸 inspector-abed Follow

kill yourself.

🇫🇷 frenchbastard

@.beautiful-rose, May, my darling, please tell these people to stop.

🌹 beautiful-rose Follow

please be nicer to him, he's been through a lot...

🇫🇷 frenchbastard

Good boy.

🐯 hearmeroar

you are the fucking worst and i genuinely hope you die.

22 notes

🛸 inspector-abed Follow

Troy, i know you can't see this, but i have a boyfriend now. his name is Del. i think you would have liked him. i miss you a lot. it's been a while since you died. i havent been happy at all since. Del makes me happy. i love you.

0 notes

[raspberry-gloaming]

I'm currently at a point where because I've got into Gallifrey, I follow or have at least browsed people's blogs who love other dweu stuff. And I thought it might be fun to say what I currently think and know about eu characters/companions so when I have in the future delved deeper into the eu I can look back and compare and laugh and see how much is accurate! There's gonna be a "read more" here because this gonna get Long.

Also please let me know what I've got right and not and also tell me more about these characters if you are fans of them!

Benny: starting off strong i know some stuff about her! she's an archeologist from the future (wonder if she ever met River) and she travelled with... one of the doctor(s)? Possibly Seven? She is besties with Brax and sometimes works for him and his collection. Probably must be able to put up with bullshit because of those last two points. Has a husband called Jason and at least one kid, which, iconic, female adventure and action protagonists should get to be mums more often its always the childfree so big up Benny for that. made a cameo at the end of Gallifrey IV.

Evelyn: I have heard her. A little. I basically skipped through the apocalypse element because I wanted to understand some of the reasons that Romana is the way she is in Gallifrey, but didn't listen properly because I got bored. Is an old lady, which is great - its great to see ages mixing it up a bit, instead of the 19-25 year old girl primary companions we consistently get in nu-who. Travelled with Six and is/was a professor at a university. Not sure for which subject though.

Fitz: Canonically bisexual and wears a leather jacket. I've seen A Lot of shipping him and Eight, and these shippers seem to have a similar vibe to Two/Jamie shippers. I don't know much else, except that his time with the doctor is probably fucked up because from what I have gleaned, Eight's companions Go Through It like big time.

Compassion: Faction Paradox which I believe is in an alternate universe (also the faction paradox timelines seem to have have a different vibe of names to the main universe ones, every time I'm on the "Individual Time Lords" category on the wiki and see a name that seems out of place it turns out to be a character from Faction Paradox.) Is a person (human i think?) but is also a TARDIS? Like you can go into her and travel? Where tf is the door this is very cursed. Also used as a breeding machine to make more TARDISes as well? By Romana? Idk but this seems pretty fucked up in an icky way. And fucked up in a non-icky way too. I'm just confused tbh. Not sure which doctor is involved in this one.

C'rizz - Possibly people can't say his name right? Is that him? Alien boy, travelled with Eight and Charley. That's about all I know.

Chris Cwej: I know even less about him, hes the other possibility for people mixing up his name or something. Think he travelled with Seven. Idk why but he gives me dick vibes.

Hex Schofield: Travelled with Ace and Seven. Is from 2021 or something and says "sus." Which yh that was a thing but he was made before among us existed that's a cool coincidence that it turned out like that.

Liv and Helen: They exist. That's it I know nothing more.

Molly O'Sullivan: Also exists. Travelled with eight?

Charley Pollard: Has a Nazi for a sister - Blind Eye my beloved. Calls herself Edwardian even though she's from the 1930s, idk if its like a character point or an accidental fuck up by the writers. Has a romance with the doctor in some form. And also a pretty messed up relationship with him i think. Actually just a pretty messed up time. Especially because I think she was in Scherzo which I hear Wild Blue Yonder was inspired by. So good luck girl you're gonna need it.

[denimbex1986]

'From February 29th in Italian cinemas with Searchlight Pictures Italia and Walt Disney Estranei (All of Us Strangers), a feature film written and directed by British director Andrew Haigh (“Weekend” and “Charley Thompson”). The film, inspired by the novel of the same name by Taichi Yamada (1987), is a personal and painful journey through time starring two of the most beloved Irish actors of our time: Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal, recently nominated for an Oscar for his performance in “Aftersun”.

One night, in his nearly empty apartment block in contemporary London, Adam (Andrew Scott) has a chance encounter with a mysterious neighbor, Harry (Paul Mescal), that disrupts the rhythm of his daily life. As a relationship develops between the two, Adam is haunted by memories of the past and is driven to return to the suburban town he grew up in and the house he lived in as a child, where his parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell) seem still alive, with the same appearance they had on the day of their death, thirty years before.

Strangers – The soundtrack

*The film's original music is by composer Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch (Only You, Living, The Forgotten Battle, Censor, Rocks, The Strays). * The film's soundtrack includes the songs: The Power of Love by Frankie Goes to Hollywood / She Who Dares (Big Band Original) by Colman Brothers / Johnny Come Home by Fine Young Cannibals / Is This Love? by Alison Moyet / Build by The Housemartins / I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire by The Ink Spots / I Want a Dog (2018 Remaster) and Always on My Mind by Pet Shop Boys / Promised Land by Joe Smooth / Death of a Party (12″ Death) by Blur / If I Could See the World (Through the Eyes of a Child) by Patsy Cline .

Director Andrew Haigh on using the song “The Power of Love” from Frankie Goes To Hollywood : The idea that I loved that song when I was an 11-year-old queer kid living in suburban England and that I could put it in a movies years and years later, and now being very open about my sexuality, is something I never thought was a possibility. And I get to make a film with queer content – ​​again, something I never thought was a possibility. And I'm in a relationship, which is, again, something I never thought was a possibility. I was like, “Fuck it, I'll do it at the end of the movie.” I absolutely couldn't not do it. I wouldn't even care if no one liked it.

Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch – Biographical notes

Levienaise-Farrouch is a London-based composer and artist, Ivor Novello Award and BIFA nominee and HMMA awardee. Emilie composed the score for the BAFTA, Golden Globe and Oscar nominated film Living , starring Bill Nighy and Aimee Lou Wood, distributed by Sony Picture Classics...

1. Overture (1:50) 2. Harry (2:02) 3. Childhood Objects (1:53) 4. Park (5:25) 5. Come Back Soon (2:45) 6. Remember to Breathe (2 :37) 7. You Were Just a Boy (3:42) 8. Always Running Away (3:40) 9. Drifting Over the Edge (5:09) 10. Can I Hug You Now (2:08) 11. Parents' Bed (8:13) 12. Where Would We Go (2:14) 13. Sleeping in Their Bed (2:35) 14. Always Be Alone (3:35) 15. Whose House Is This (1:40) ) 16. Don't Say It (2:26) 17. Diner (4:22) 18. Harry's Flat (8:06)

The “Strangers” soundtrack is available on Amazon .'

[patricia-von-arundel]

I've started a class on US history ( particularly around the colonization ) and it's fascinating! Do you have any period you would recommend to look more into?

You picked an interesting time to ask me about US history, through absolutely no fault of your own! (I haven't studied US history since high school, and my AP US History teacher has spent the last 20 or so years in jail for, uh... having relationships with little boys that were 100% NOT OKAY. And I recently found out he's out of prison and has been attempting to track down some of the boys involved [who are all now in their 30s and 40s]. I only know because one is one of my old roommates, and he was dating my best friend, and... well. I saw his name on the list and was just like "okay, this has to be a parole violation of some sort. Also, dude, what the actual fuck?! Several of the boys you hurt later committed suicide. One was found dead by his little sister and her best friend. They were nine. Nine years old. You are a fucking monster. Jesus christ.")

Aside from that... I'm not super well-versed in US history as a whole, but I have enjoyed some books dealing with it, so okay if I mention those? I particularly loved A People's History of the United States (Howard Zinn) and Lies My Teacher Told Me (James Loewen), both of which were seminal in presenting less "whitewashed" versions of US history. I've also enjoyed in recent years The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson (about the disapora of Black Americans from the Southeast into the Midwest during the 20th century), The American West and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, both by Dee Brown (classics of the expansion of settlers into the West in the 19th century, the "cowboy" years), and White Trash by Nancy Isenberg (looking at class in America). Other good, popular writers of US history: David McCullough, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Ron Chernow, Candice Millard. There's some awesome fiction that tackles US history in interesting ways - my favorites are A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith), The Little Friend (Donna Tartt), Forever (Pete Hamill), The Jungle (Upton Sinclair), and basically anything by Steinbeck.

I find the great migration periods particularly interesting, especially the Asian arrivals in the West in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Early Hollywood is fascinating. There's a wonderful book about it called Silent Stars by Jeanine Basinger. The US also has some honest really good classics in True Crime, especially Truman Capote's In Cold Blood and Norman Mailer's The Executioner's Song. (Truman Capote is also interesting in that he was a very good friend of Harper Lee, who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird.) There were some writers in the mid-20th century who took travel writing and turned it on its head: try Travels with Charley (Steinbeck again!), On the Road (Jack Kerouac - not my personal style, but I understand why it's an American classic!), and Roughing It (Mark Twain). (Honestly, all of Twain's stuff is great, and fucking hilarious. Twain and Wodehouse - in England - had no business being as brilliantly hilarious as they were.)

Also, a weirder rec?

Stephen King's 11/22/63.

Just trust me. And yes, it's that Stephen King.

Again: trust me.

(Other fictional creepiness built around or dealing with North American history [I say North American because I'm including Canada and Mexico]: Alma Katsu's The Hunger, Dan Simmons' The Terror, Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic [and I just got her Velvet was the Night, but haven't read it yet!], Toni Morrison's Beloved, basically anything by Cormac McCarthy. [Content warning, some of these are a little stomach-churning to get through. Reader beware!] I've also recently been recommended S. Craig Zahler's Westerns, but haven't read them yet, so be warned there that he's the guy who wrote Bone Tomahawk! If you know... you know. If you don't... not recommended viewing while eating. 🤷‍♀️ And speaking of Westerns, Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove is absolutely wonderful. And not stomach-churning!)

Hope that helps! If there are any specific periods that catch your interest, I can dig into recommendations for further reading/watching. US history isn't always my personal cup of tea, but my mother's been writing books and articles about it for 30 years, so I can always ask for recs! 😁

[geronimomo-spd]

INVADERS FROM MARS LETS GO!!

i finished Invaders from Mars and ok that was really fun!!

gotta say it was nice to have the doctor finally going shit i was separated from Charley and i gotta find her right now instead of going wa ill find her soon :), so that was nice!

this one overoll was pretty nice. more spoilers under the cut!

CHARLEY MY BELOVED SHE REALLY PUNCHED SOMEONE WITH A WHOLE ASS CHAIR GOOD FOR HER GOOD FOR HER, FINALLY SHE KICKS SOMEONE'S ASS LIKE I ALWAYS WANTED

the sound ques and the radio feel of this one really got me i really enjoyed it, this is one of these episode where i wish to have the soundtrack of but meh

they really used the setting so well!! i was so excited when we startred to hear the boys on the radio i was very nervous when we focused so much on the mafia in the beginning and when Charley was kidnapped and fucking drugged again i was like hmmmmm but then she was… happy drugged so that's nice at least, then SHE REALLY CAME UP TO HIM WITH THE CHAIR LIKE YES QUEEN FINALLY, then i knew this was good

i gotta say the ending was the best part, this is one of my fave endings of doctor who is when they do shit like this, i assumed they were gonna use the invasion on the radio but the fact that they used the whole mass hysteria to trick the aliens as well???? omg i was grinning the entire time like HELL YES THAT'S HOW ITS DONE. also them recording it themselves as well??? and the doc himself got to be the "we are angry aliens who are invading waaaaa" was so funny and smart to me like holy shit

i could have had more Charley and doc together shananigens but the way she told the mafia about the tide thing was funny

i was very excited for this one and it got there in the end!! i really like this doctor i really doooo, and Charley is finally living to her potencial in my brainnn the way she, the adventurer who goes exploring even if it kills her type, was the one who told the doctor to do the decent thing and remember that the girl just lost her uncle was good character growth i like her

overoll i was very excited for this one and it was fun! not any fave qoutes this time, maybe next time!

(also @samallmon you were right! i really feel they got like a good hold of the quality now!! thanks for encoreging me onwards!)

[thecringefailintherye]

“my child is completely fine!”

your child bawled her eyes out over aunt millicent adopting slightly in the 2003 adaptation of peter pan, she is not okay

[sunflowerharrington]

♡ idiots ♡

Part One: Just because it won’t come easily, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.

—————

summary: jubilee wasn’t planning on playing cupid today, but sometimes; two idiots need a little help falling in love.

wc: 3210

warning(s): none i think! (that’s a first) well actually there’s a tiny bit of bad language.

notes: i chose the oc’s name to be parker, you know, cause… peter parker? and he, like quickie, is also a superhero?! haha i’m so funny, i know! this oneshot is dedicated to my beloved charley, @quickiesgirl, who is just as, if not more in love with pete than i (didn’t know that was even possible but it is!). love ya and hope you like this!

— featuring the shirt from this amazing gif :)

—————

Parker drags her feet behind the group as they walk up the drive to the mansion. She’s hot and mentally exhausted from the most recent mission, ready to try getting a wink of sleep on her break before she has to teach the kids. The evening sun beats down on the group, mixing with her already splitting headache, making her want to curl up in a ball and disappear. She’s having a truly shit day.

Jubilee looks back to see her walking alone behind the group and hangs back until Parker catches up with her. She grabs Parker’s hand and they walk together, with Parker throwing her a sad smile, unable to hide her bad mood.

“Did I tell you I adore your shirt, Parks?” Jubilee chirps up in the silence, taking the hem of the purple and blue fabric in her hands. “Feel like I’ve seen this before…”

She swings their arms, trying desperately to brighten up Parker’s mood. Parker looks at her, instantly feeling a little better. Nobody knows how to make a bad mood vanish like Jubilation Lee does. Parker nods, grinning back at her best friend. The pair ramble on for a few moments about how their day has been, and how funny Scott looked with his shirt on backwards, as nobody told him it was.

“Oh my God!” Jubilee gasps. “My favourite part of today was this morning in the kitchen, I heard your sweet singing voice, Parker. You sound like a nightingale.”

Fuck, it felt so good having Jubilee around to keep Parker sane. She keeps walking ahead and laughing along with the rest of the conversation. She spins on her heels and walks backwards to face Parker. She brings a fake microphone up to her mouth, lyrics exploding from her mouth.

“Sweet Dreams are made of this!” She sings, her shoulders bopping along to the words she’s singing. Parker immediately joins in, bringing her own fake microphone to her mouth. She dances towards Jubilee, draping an arm around her shoulders.

“Who had a mind to disagree?! I travelled the world and the seven seas!” Parker yells.

“Everybody’s looking for something!” They scream in unison, noticing everybody else had made their way inside, leaving the two girls all alone. They hum the rest of Parker’s favourite song together as they open the door and head for her bedroom to take a nap.

Jubilee kicks off her shoes, sitting down next to Parker on the latter’s bed. She watches intently as the look on Parker’s face changes to one Jubilee knows so well. And it means she’s thinking about one thing, and one thing only… The x-men had split up into two groups, one with Jubilee, Parker, Scott and Jean, and Erik (after he stopped terrorising them) leading them. And the other had the rest, with Charles leading and giving the rundowns and orders. Fucking hell Parker just wanted Xavier and Lensherr to get together already. Only Parker, Jubilee, Scott, Jean and Erik have made it back to the mansion so far, so that gives them time to do whatever the hell they want. In Parker’s case that’s having a nap, and in Jubilee’s case that’s playing matchmaker. Jubilee wasn’t planning on playing cupid today, but sometimes; two idiots need a little help falling in love. And idiot #2 is still out there, so she has to wait for him to get back, which obviously doesn’t take too long.

“You like Peter don’t you?”

Parker whips around to look at Jubilee, a confused look written all over her face. She goes to speak but closes her mouth.

“It’s your face, Parks. You always have a look on your face when you’re thinking about him.” Jubilee laughs, placing her hand on Parker’s arm.

“I do?” Parker asks. “Is it a dumb face?”

“No! No,” she says. “It’s kind of like you’re daydreaming and shocked. Like you’re on the edge of a cliff and you don’t know if you want to jump or not.”

“That’s oddly specific, Jub.” Parker raises an eyebrow at her and chuckles.

Jubilee just shrugs, waving it off. She gets off the bed and leaves the room, coming back a few moments later with a small bag of makeup. Parker watches her rummage through the bag, pulling out some products and a sponge.

“I’m gonna make you look so hot, he won’t know where to look tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“We’re all having dinner together tonight, order in. Charles’ treat.”

“Oh fuck! I’ve got nothing to wear!”

“You can wear something of mine, Parks. Something… silver,” she squeals, taking some product on her sponge and dabbing it on Parker’s face, until they both hear shouts coming from outside.

Parker gets up and looks out her window just in time to see the others getting back, and there he is, with the most adorable little grin on his face, through all the pain nobody else can see. These back to back missions are beginning to take a toll on him, and on top of that he’s also a professor. As is everybody else, but nobody else in that mansion, other than Jubilee, is as precious as Peter is to Parker. And he’s holding his arm, like it’s been hurt pretty badly, so Parker immediately runs down the stairs as fast as she can to tend to him. If she has to nurse him back to health, then of course she will, any excuse to get close to him.

She finds him laying face down on the sofa in the teacher’s lounge, whimpering in agony. She kneels down next to him and daringly runs her fingers through his hair once. He lets out a guttural whimper when he turns his head to look at her, surprised she’s there, after all he’s been acting so cold and distant towards her for the last two weeks for whatever stupid reason he can think of. Truth is, he was falling in love with her but didn’t know what to do with his feelings, so he pushed both Parker and his feelings away.

As soon as she sees the cuts on his beautiful face, she rushes out of the room and comes back with a first aid kit, wondering how fucked up the rest of his body is if his face is that bad. She doesn’t care about her own cuts and bruises right now. Peter’s her number one priority.

“Let’s get you cleaned up, hmm?”

The energy in the mansion had switched drastically since Erik came back. Peter and Parker talked and joked like normal. She flirted a lot, knowing Peter loves it. He loves knowing he’s the only one she has an interest in and he soaks up every ounce of her he can get. And yet… Nothing. Absolutely nothing. No quick hugs when he runs past, no tucking her hair behind her ear while they talk. If she caught him staring over at her one more time without saying anything she was going to flip. Or beat him up. She doesn’t know which.

She kneels back down next to him and asks him to sit up, which she has to help him with, the skin to skin contact between their hands electrifying the air around them. But all that was once there is now gone as they let go of each others’ hands, Peter resting his in his lap as Parker turns to get a wooden spoon out of the first aid kit. “Bite down hard on this, okay?”

Parker placed the spoon in his mouth and he bit down, letting out a scream as Parker popped his left shoulder back in place. “The rubbing alcohol might sting a bit too, just warning you.”

“I’m fine.” He shrugs as best as he can with his dislocated shoulder.

“No you’re not.”

“Yes I am!”

“Stop being so stubborn,” she says, dabbing the cotton wool over his cuts to clean them, the alcohol working its magic in seconds. He’s thankful she’s doing this for him, but he isn’t about to tell her he has a large cut across his chest. No way would he make her even more worried than she already is.

Parker can’t suppress the smile that tugs on her face, her cheeks turning that bright pink colour that Peter loves. She tilts her head, smiling at him as she finishes cleaning his wounds, placing a bandage over a gash on his right arm and fuck she forgot how nice his hands are. She knows it’s wrong to think about that right now, but she can’t help but think about how he would use them on her, if they ever got that far in their situation-ship.

“I’m worried about you Pete,” she finally says. “You never sleep, and fucking hell you could’ve died out there today!”

“But I didn’t die. And you’re worried about me?” He teases, his mouth pulling up into a small smile. He rests his hands on his things and starts patting a beat, nothing in particular, just something to distract him from the increasing tension in the room.

“Always,” she says, lacing her fingers together to also take her own mind off the tension in the room.

They stay quiet for a little too long, just basking in each other’s presence. Peter goes to say something but stops, closing his mouth and furrowing his eyebrows. She would lean in to kiss him right now if she could, but she’s not entirely sure how he feels about her, so she doesn’t.

He hops to his feet and tells her he’s going to the store and he’ll be back in a minute before speeding away, not bothering to listen to her reply. He has better things to be doing, like body slamming into Jubilee, apparently—a woman on a mission.

“Can we talk?” She asks.

He nods, following her into an empty room. They stand at the door on the inside of the room with the door closed. “I shouldn’t be telling you this, bubs, but I do need to talk to you. But… Parker… She really likes you.” She breathes out. “She really really likes you.”

“I really like her. Really really like her,” Peter admits, running a hand through his hair.

“I think you’re tiptoeing around it,” she says bluntly, thoughts coming out of her mouth before she even has time to process. “She doesn’t know you like her. She’s been moping around all day because she thinks you hate her! And she told me how you were being really ungrateful when she was trying to help you earlier.”

Peter nods, staring off into space, uncertain of what to say next.

“Just tell her how you feel. Show her. That’s all she wants.” She pats him on the shoulder, and he unexpectedly pulls her in for a hug.

“Thank you.” He gives her a tight squeeze.

“You’re welcome.” She rests her hands on both of his shoulders. “You’re so gonna owe me, Maximoff.”

Peter splutters a laugh, blushing, and Jubilee laughs as they walk to the teacher’s lounge together. The food has now arrived, and Jubilee has left the room, in search of her best friend.

At the table set up in the room, crammed with everyone, probably isn’t the best place to be gawking over somebody, but Peter can’t help checking the doorway every two seconds.

He almost lets out a loud gasp when Parker walks into the room, her arm linked with Jubilee’s, dressed in his colour. She doesn’t look at him, instead going over to help take out plates and cutlery for everybody, turning her back to him as she talks to Jubilee.

“You’re practically drooling.” Scott nudges his arm.

“I’m hungry.”

“Mhmm, not for food.” Scott says quietly enough for nobody else to catch what he’s saying.

“Fuck you,” Peter laughs. Yeah, he can’t believe he’s thinking this but Scott is right. He’s just not admitting it yet.

He feels like he hasn’t fully picked his jaw up off the floor after seeing Parker walk into the room, dressed to the nines in her sparkling, silver dress, and a silver ‘P’ necklace around her neck. Parker sits opposite him after dinner is dishes up, her glittery dress clinging to her as she settles into her seat at the table in the lounge.

Peter’s heart races in his chest just looking at her, the way she’s smiling as she pours curry over her rice. Dinner is amazing, but there’s that tension in the air again as they all tuck in. He can feel her gaze on him as the others converse, they are the only two not talking to anyone, which to hear Peter not talking is a fucking miracle and a half. Their eyes never meet, her eyes locking with Jean’s when he tries to catch her gaze. She looks down at his plate, completely licked clean, and she blushes ever so slightly, wondering what his tongue could do in other places.

She can’t help but like him a little more. Peter’s joking with Kurt, well, Peter is speaking and Kurt is just nodding along, pretending to be interested, when Peter jumps suddenly. Her foot rests against his calf under the table as she crosses her legs for a most definitely innocent reason. He sits there, speechless and kind of, sort of in love.

Everyone stays at the table, talking late into the night. Parker’s attention is completely focused on Peter under the table, brushing her foot against his leg, watching the way he blushes, until someone says her name.

“Parker?” Logan questions her. Everyone else at the table is looking her way. “We’re playing; would you rather, you in?”

“Sure.”

“Okay, would you rather… Kiss me,” he says, flexing his arms. “Or Peter?”

"Oh, don't flatter yourself, Howlett. I'm not impressed." She replies, instantly. A chorus of 'Oohs' echoes round the room as the boys laugh. Hank punches Logan on the arm, laughing, and he hits Hank back. “I’d much rather kiss Peter.”

His stomach drops onto the floor, as does his jaw. “What do you think of that, Pete?” Somebody asks at the table, but he’s not quite sure who.

Everybody looks over to Peter as he starts talking. He’s speaking so quickly he’s not sure the words are coming out of his mouth in the right order, all jumbled up like the colours on a Rubix cube as he explains that he’s truly flattered she would pick him over Logan. He can’t resist looking over at Parker as the next question is asked.

She, to Peter’s surprise, looks kind of down. She’s laughing along to the answers but her heart isn’t in it, her laugh never reaching the loudness that he falls harder and harder for every time.

Parker gets up instantly, walking out of the room as everyone else starts clearing the table. He watches her trying to run away in her sparkly heels, and he wonders what just happened. He speeds up to Jubilee, who’s wiping down plates in the kitchen.

“Can you, um—“ He breathes out, eyes watching Parker disappear. “Keep everyone downstairs? Or at least away from Parker’s room?” He rushes out, looking at the girl with pleading eyes.

“Sure, but you really owe me now.”

Peter beams, wrapping her up in his arms before speeding away. “I mean it, you owe me!” She tells as he leaves from her sight.

Parker’s already in her room when he catches up to her, her chest heaving. He leans against the doorframe, and she still has her back to him.

“Are you alright?” Peter asks, chuckling to himself at how hard she’s breathing from just running up a few stairs. She turns around and looks him in the eye for the first time that night, smiling and catching her breath. He smiles back, taking a nervous breath before asking. “Can we talk?”

“You’re talking right now.”

“Haha, you’re very funny.”

“I live to entertain, Pete. Thank you.” She grins. The light in her room is soft, and weirdly romantic. He doesn’t know how to continue the conversation so he blurts out the first thing that comes to mind.

“Nice shirt.”

She looks over at the purple shirt she was wearing earlier, now hanging back up on her coat rack. That's meant for coats but she doesn’t follow the rules. She chuckles, biting down on her lip. She prays he’s far enough away so he can’t see her blushing. But he can, and he loves it.

Peter and Parker are still watching each other, completely in the dark as to what’s going on downstairs, hearing crashing and loud, off-key singing coming from Logan, Hank, Scott, Jubilee and Jean since the rest have gone to bed. They can practically hear Charles’ eyes rolling.

“Wonder what kind of lecture we’re going to get off Charles tomorrow morning…”

Parker bursts into laughter after hearing some more wild shouts coming from downstairs. God, he fucking loves her laugh. And she loves his laugh. And they both swear if the other doesn’t say something else they’ll burst.

“I really like you,” Peter blurts out, unable to hold his words in. His heart races in his chest, unsure what to do in the silence as she watches him for a long time, their stares not breaking.

“I— I like you too, Pete.”

He feels like he’s shaking from the pure happiness running around inside him. He soaks in the moment for a second, just smiling at her.

“So, what does that mean for us—?” Parker starts, before getting interrupted by Logan and Jubilee skipping down the hallway.

“If that’s not the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen…” Peter whispers, and they both erupt into laughter, both feeling a spark as Parker holds onto Peter’s arm.

Parker sits in front of her desk, wiping Jubilee’s makeup off her, her eyes scrunched together, and Peter thinks she’s the most adorable person he’s ever laid his eyes on. He watches from the doorway, arms folded over his chest, waiting for her to be done. She catches his gaze in the mirror and sticks her tongue out. He smiles and makes a face at her reflection, and she laughs quietly, smiling back at him.

Parker sighs as she gets up, walking over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his chest, careful not to hurt his aching body. She cocks her head, looking up at him, and he looks down at her lips, stained from the lipstick she was wearing. She moves in first, cupping his cheek, pulling him down for a kiss. He swears he feels a shock shoot down his spine as she presses her lips against his.

He pulls her closer, holding her as if she would disappear if he let go, his hands gently cradling her waist as they continue to mould their lips against one another’s. His hands travel slowly up to her hair, singers slipping between her locks.

Shit, he really fucking likes her. It could be love, he doesn’t know.

She’s laughing as she pulls back, noticing Jubilee standing in her doorway. She raises an eyebrow at Peter, smirking at the both of them, shaking her head as she leaves the room with one word and a laugh. “Idiots.”

—————

taglist: @xxlangdon @sympathyforher

want to be added or taken off? dm or ask me and let me know, my inbox is always open <3

[thoughtless-gay-frog]

have you played the tgaa games? if not I will ask you about mia fey and your General Thoughts (I don't want to end up spoiling you if you haven't experienced them)

I played the first case of tgaa and just. Haven’t gotten around to the others? Eventually I will! But not yet. Thank you for keeping me spoiler free, that was very kind of you!

So about mia fey. Oh, mia fey my beloved. I really do love her character. I’m watching my dad play through the games for the first time and honestly it’s such a treat to re-experience mia knowing all of her backstory and what happens to her. Starting with the basics here, I absolutely adore her relationship with maya. As someone with a sibling I usually don’t enjoy most of the sibling dynamics I see in the media, but this one? Beautiful. 10/10. Mia leaves kurain village to study to become a lawyer and so easily could’ve cut contact with maya and her spirit channeling past altogether, but she stays in close contact with maya, going as far as to invite her out to dinner with her newest rookie lawyer apprentice. The way maya and phoenix always ask themselves what mia would do when they’re unsure because she’s just such a supportive person to everyone she meets and she genuinely wants her colleagues and family to succeed in life. She supports them even from the grave.

And I am so glad she didn’t fall into the trap of just being the smart supportive girl trope. You know the one, where their only character traits are that they root for the protagonist and are smart. Mia? She’s a sassy little shit. You get a glimpse of that in the first game, shes just constantly done with phoenix’s bullshit and makes little jabs at him in between her sage advice. I love that she named her office plant Charley, I love that she never learns Larry’s actual name. God one of my favorite cases in all of the trilogy is the terry fawles case because getting to see a younger mia is SUCH a treat!!! She’s so much more smarmy than she appears when you first meet her! “We know whose milkshake brings all the boys to the yard” is an actual line of dialogue she says!! Who else would have the balls to think that in court??

Apart from her wonderful personality, I really like the justice they gave to her. Specifically with her death. It would have been easy to have phoenix and maya solve the case, for them to avenge her and carry on her legacy, but NO, in the end it’s mia herself that catches redd white and intimidates him into confessing his crimes. She had a goal, and even death couldn’t stop her from completing it. She’s who tells phoenix to turn over the receipt, she’s who gets channeled and stares down redd white. Her ending is entirely her own and I absolutely love that for her.

I also really enjoy her relationship with diego. Like this was such a healthy couple before all the dahlia stuff happened. It’s tricky to build chemistry between two characters when they’re only in one case and only pictured in a courtroom, where the goal is focused on the court plot, but it’s so clear they were incredibly in love. Godot’s dialogue later supports that but this ain’t about him. Mia hadn’t seen him in years and he looked nothing like himself, but she still managed to recognize and get through to him, across a courtroom, after so many years of anguish and being apart. Like that’s love babey. It’s just really really cute. She and lana definitely fucked but I will never not love the diego relationship.

Her dynamic with phoenix is one of my favorites in the game. It’s so obvious what traits of hers rubbed off on him, the determination, the mottos, the way they carry themselves in court. The raw, unbridled relief they have in their clients until the very very end. Like it’s so clear how close they were. Still are, technically, considering how much mia has to come back and help him and maya out. I also really love the plothole of how her spirit channeling works? Like officially the lore is that when the spirit is channeled, they think that they’ve just died and have no recollection of the afterlife. There’s no lore that states they can hold consciousness and be able to watch over the living world even after they’ve been channeled. They’re supposed to just. Be suspended in death. But not mia! Mia somehow knows everything going on, she’s not fazed at all during her channeling. Maybe it has to do with being in maya's body most of the time? Maybe maya and pearl are sharing their thoughts with her? But like that’s not how it was when maya was kidnapped, maya had to leave a note for mia to understand what was going on. So what I like to imagine is that mia’s bond with her living friends and family is just so strong that is breaks the barrier of death, it shatters the suspension spirits are left in so that she may watch over her dear legacies and be ready to help them when they need. She’s just that cool.

Thank you for the ask!!! I love mia I love her backstory I love her huge continuous impact on everyone throughout the games this woman doesn’t go away and that is SO good for her skfjdbdbdk anyway if y’all want to send me more ace attorney asks please do!!! I will answer them :))

[geronimomo-spd]

fuck yeah it really is great!!

Y’all weren’t kidding Caerdroia slaps

[thetisming]

zombie saga tumblr dash simulator

🏳️‍⚧️ its-super-dope Follow

hey guys how the fuck am i supposed to live now that Juliet is gone

🌅 peshtigo4ever Follow

maybe she would want you to?

🏳️‍⚧️ its-super-dope

okay she wanted me to last time as well did that stop me from killing myself??

🌅 peshtigo4ever

what do you mean last time

3 notes

💙 francois-dubois Follow

I think there should be support groups for people who get ripped to shreds and then see their partner again in the afterlife before being put back together like a puzzle and having them be cruelly taken away again.

📖 writinganddreaming Follow

where's that comic of the virgin Mary starting a support group for her very specific situation where nobody shows up

70 notes

🌹 beautiful-rose Follow

ughhh look at my boyfriend <333 hes so cute i love himmmmm

💙 francois-dubois Follow

Aww, May! You're so sweet 💙 I love you too my dearest

🌅 peshtigo4ever Follow

wow, this was like... before everything. before we even met. it's weird to see stuff like this from so long ago...

43 notes

💙 francois-dubois Follow

Maybe I should stop looking through their blog.

0 notes

🐶 little-guy-fifi Follow

SWEENEY TODD IS THE BEST!!!! SWEENEY TODD MY BELOVED!!!!!!!

💙 francois-dubois Follow

Hey, maybe we should watch it all together tonight?

💙 francois-dubois

I'm killing you I'm killing you I'm killing you-

6 notes

📖 writinganddreaming Follow

#steven sonheim #musical husbands #charley kringas #franklin shepard #good thing going

7 notes

⚜️ slur-de-lis Follow

Hello, everyone. It is me, yes, Lance, better known on here as slur de lis or the Penis King Of France. I would like to inform you that I will no longer be posting as I am about to become a zombie. My beloved wife seems to be pretty upset that I am using my last moments to post this, so goodbye.

Live laugh love Penis King. Forever.

Signed, The Penis King Of France

💙 francois-dubois Follow

I don't know how to feel about the fact that this was his last post

#or the fact that he posted at all #this is pretty tame compared to everything else which feels even worse #what the fuck was wrong with my dad

8,904 notes

yeah

[221bsunsettowers]

Buck/Eddie: I Can’t Get Enough of This Kind of Love (Part 2 of the Good News on My TV Screen Buddie AU series)

In just a few days, Buck has been in his second helicopter crash, been rescued by his boyfriend and their friends, witnessed people almost dying at a bug eating competition and the largest charley horse possibly ever, seen a woman with a high heel through her face at a child's beauty pageant, and had his beloved Eddie tell him he loves him for the very first time while tripping on laced brownies.

So there's that.

In which news reporter Buck is an integral part of the events from the episode 2x06 "Dosed".

(Amazing fanart poster by the amazing @jemmalynette! )

(Thank you so much to everyone who left love and kudos and comments for the first story in this series! In my head, the first story was a one and done that I had a lot of fun writing, and then all the requests to make this a series inspired me to do exactly that!

If you haven’t read the first story in the series, I would recommend doing that first, so you get the background of news reporter Buck and firefighter Eddie, and how they first meet and get together. You can read the first story here )

I Can’t Get Enough of This Kind of Love (can be read on Ao3 here)

Carefully placing the box labeled Dishes on the kitchen counter, Eddie immediately went back outside, bending down to grab the next box. "You really want me to like you, don't you?" Maddie's voice came from behind, and Eddie spun around, meeting her stare with a hopeful smile.

"Honestly, Maddie, I really like your brother, so yes please," Eddie answered promptly, and Maddie's gaze softened. She stepped forward, and patted Eddie on the shoulder as she walked past him and into her new home.

"Excellent answer!" Maddie called back, and Eddie felt arms wrap around him from behind. He leaned back into his boyfriend's embrace, smiling as Buck planted a kiss behind his ear.

  "Evan!" Maddie yelled out the window, "you can make googly eyes at your boyfriend later, he wants me to like him and my furniture isn't going to move itself!" She smirked as Buck blushed and walked over to the couch, bending his knees and grabbing one end as Eddie dutifully grabbed the other.

"Googly eyes, maybe when you stop making googly eyes at Chim," Buck muttered under his breath, and Eddie laughed as they moved in tandem up the stairs.

"I'll tease Chim relentlessly at work if that helps," Eddie promised with a wink, and Buck grinned mischievously, nodding his head.

"We've got a helicopter crash, a news station was doing a traffic report," Bobby explained as the fire truck screeched to a stop and everyone quickly hopped out. Eddie noticed the rest of his team shooting worried glances at him, but he waved them off with a grateful smile.

"Buck never does the traffic reports," Eddie assured them, as Bobby called them into a quick huddle. "He told me he paid those dues a few news stations ago."

"Um, Eddie?" Chimney said hesitantly, facing the helicopter and extending a finger to point at the back window. Turning, Eddie met Buck's gaze, could see from even this distance how he was working hard to keep his breathing even and his body still.

"Fuck," Eddie breathed out, feeling his heart stutter in time with the still-spinning rotors.

"Eddie, you going to be okay on this one?" Bobby asked softly, laying a comforting hand on Eddie's shoulder.

"Buck needs me, Cap, I'm on it," Eddie promised, forcing his focus onto the job at hand. "We need to watch for dynamic rollover, when we start getting them out the weight of the copter could shift."

"Okay, Chimney, you're going to pull Buck out first, make sure you're keeping an eye on the balance," Bobby ordered as they moved towards the helicopter.

 "Eddie, can you shut down the helicopter?" Eddie opened his mouth, about to argue that he should be the one to get Buck out, but then he sighed, nodding, knowing he needed to trust his captain to get Buck out of there quickly and safely.

  Still, Eddie couldn't keep his eyes off Buck, lunging forward as the helicopter rocked, but then Chimney had Buck back on solid ground, and Eddie was next to the pilot, stabilizing the balance and shutting off the engine. The second he had the pilot out and in Hen's capable hands, Eddie spun around and grabbed Buck in his own grasp, pulling him into his arms.

Eddie gripped onto the back of Buck's shirt, tugging his body as closely as possible. Buck nestled his face into the crook of Eddie's shoulder, and Eddie swayed them gently from side to side, pressing his lips against Buck's temple. "You're safe, sweetheart," Eddie murmured into Buck's skin. "I've got you."

He could feel Buck nodding and pulled back just enough to see Buck's face, running a gentle finger over a small cut on his boyfriend's cheek. "Let me check you out," Eddie insisted, leading Buck over to a bench and kneeling in front of him.

"You can check me out any time," Buck bantered back with a mischevious smile, and Eddie laughed, shaking his head as he squeezed Buck's hand.

"Sounds like he's just fine!" Chimney called out with a smile, patting Buck's shoulder as he made his way over to where the pilot was sitting.

"No comments about how you're hotter than just fine, or how much you like me kneeling in front of you," Eddie commanded, pointing a finger at Buck, who shrugged and grinned,  Eddie smiling back in relief. "You scared the shit out of me," Eddie whispered, leaning in to cup Buck's face in his hands, laying a soft kiss on his lips. "Let me make sure you're okay, please?"

"Yeah," Buck whispered back, resting his forehead against Eddie's, "yeah, of course." Pulling out his penlight, Eddie shined the beam into Buck's eyes.

 Nodding in satisfaction, he took Buck through the rest of concussion protocol, checked for any other injuries, and cleaned out the small cut and bandaged it. Next to him, Chimney and Hen were finishing checking the pilot, assuring Buck he was completely fine.

"What were you doing on traffic anyway?" Eddie asked, sliding up to sit next to Buck, wrapping an arm around his shoulders as Buck leaned into Eddie's side.

"Oliver called in sick last minute, so I offered to sub in," Buck answered, sighing in relief as Eddie moved a hand to the back of Buck's neck, rubbing at the tense muscles. "I definitely didn't expect to be in my second helicopter crash." As Eddie's hand suddenly stilled at Buck's words, Buck bit his bottom lip, meeting Eddie's wide-eyed gaze. "If it helps, I clearly survived that one too?" he offered up hesitantly, and he heard poorly-concealed laughter coming from the rest of the team's general direction.

  "Can't say I didn't know what I was getting myself into," Eddie sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose and shaking his head, before leaning in to kiss Buck softly. "Let's try to keep helicopter crashes off the agenda, yeah?"

"No subbing in for traffic again or chartering a romantic copter ride for the two of us, got it," Buck recited with a smirk, and Eddie rolled his eyes, nudging Buck in the side before hopping off the bench.

  "Any chance I could get you to come back with me to the fire station so I can keep an eye on you?" Eddie asked hopefully.

"I would love that, but I have to get back to work," Buck said ruefully, gesturing at the news van that was already pulling up.

  Eddie sighed, leaning forward to rest his forehead against Buck's. "Text and call me when you can, please? Just let me know you're doing okay?"

"Of course," Buck promised, sneaking another quick kiss in before heading towards the van. Grabbing the door handle, he turned around. "Be safe out there, babe! And thanks guys!"

Eddie had gotten a myriad of selfies from Buck in the hours after the helicopter rescue. One at his desk, captioned I promise I'm watching out for papercuts. Another getting ready to go in front of the camera, Taking proper electrocution prevention steps. The pictures continued rolling in, Eddie laughing fondly at each one, saving them to his photos because he couldn't resist. Any picture of his boyfriend was one he wanted to have, even when said boyfriend was being a glorious little shit.

His phone trilled out "Breaking News!" again and Eddie quickly clicked on the new picture, a smile spreading across his face as the photo revealed Buck standing in front of the fire station, captioned Practicing fire safety. Shoving his phone in his pocket, Eddie hurried down the stairs, skipping the bottom step in his haste.

"Surprise!" Buck called out with a grin, hurrying forward to meet Eddie, throwing his arms around his boyfriend's neck before leaning in for a kiss. Eddie's arms looped around Buck's waist as he held him close, both men smiling broadly.

"This is a great surprise," Eddie proclaimed, brushing a curl of hair away from Buck's eye. "Did a story fall through?"

"Actually, a new story came up," Buck grinned, grabbing Eddie's hand and interlacing their fingers. "C'mon, let's go upstairs, I want to talk to everybody about it."

"Hey Buck!" Chimney met the two at the top of the stairs, grabbing Buck's hand and pulling him in for a quick hug. "Since we have a chance now, what kind of wine does your sister like best? I'm going over to help her move more of her stuff after work."

"Red, and make sure you bring some popcorn too," Buck answered with a wink, patting Chimney on the shoulder. "Maddie could eat popcorn all day every day and be very happy about it."

"Thanks!" Chimney called back as Buck made his way around the kitchen, greeting everyone else before moving to the coffee maker. Placing a filled mug in front of Eddie, Buck sat down holding his own mug (the one Eddie had brought from home for Buck to use whenever he visited the fire station). Leg brushing against Eddie's, Buck took a sip of coffee.

"Before I say anything else, I just want to make sure you guys know you can absolutely say no to this," Buck began, meeting the eyes of everyone else around the table. "You don't have to give me a reason, and I won't take any offense, I promise." Turning to Eddie, Buck interlaced their fingers. "Including you babe, okay?"

  Waiting until everyone had nodded, Buck continued. "My boss knows I'm dating someone from the 118, and after that helicopter rescue this morning, he came to me and told me he wants a story done on a day in the life of the LAFD heroes of the 118. I told him I have to be the one to do it, because I don't want anyone else twisting up the story in any way, and that you guys have to be okay with it or it isn't happening."

There was silence for a minute, and then Bobby spoke. "You know, normally I would absolutely say no to this," he said with a sigh, leaning back in his chair, "because a reporter could get in the way, could create their own narrative that has nothing to do with the truth, or could even use someone's pain or cause harm themselves. But Buck, you also know I trust you. I believe that you will do this truthfully and put the safety of others above the story."

"I will, absolutely Bobby," Buck vowed, blushing at Bobby's words. "I would never spin anything to make you guys look bad, and I would never put anyone in danger or show them suffering, I promise."

"Of course you wouldn't," Eddie said proudly, slinging an arm around Buck's shoulders and pulling him in close. Buck beamed up at him, leaning into his side.

"We all trust you, Buck," Hen said, and Chimney nodded, and Buck smiled bashfully, glancing down at where his and Eddie's fingers were now intertwined on Eddie's thigh.

"So it's okay to start tomorrow?" Buck asked hesitantly, and Bobby let out a gentle laugh, nodding.

"Absolutely, Buck, we'll see you then," Bobby responded, just as the alarm sounded, and the rest of the team leapt to their feet.

  "I especially like the part where you'll be at work with me all day," Eddie grinned, leaning in for a quick kiss, which Buck eagerly returned.

"Me too," Buck grinned back, squeezing Eddie's hand before letting go. "Stay safe, sweetheart."

The next day saw Buck arriving hand in hand with Eddie, each balancing a carryout tray of coffees in their free hand. "You know we already love you two, right?" Hen teased, plucking the coffee with her name on it from the tray and taking a grateful sip. "But please feel free to keep the caffeine coming."

"I'm ready for my close up!" Chimney announced, dramatically leaping into the room, arms flourished. He grinned as everyone laughed, before taking his coffee as well.

"Since you're so ready, Chim, why don't you come for your interview first?" Buck gestured downstairs, eyes twinkling mischeviously as Chimney followed him. "We can start with you telling the story about how you got  your nickname..."

By the time the round of interviews was over, Buck was near tears. He would swear he heard his cameraman sniffing as well. Every story the 118 had told him had broken his heart and lifted him up, all at the same time, and when his friends and boyfriend shared what were the best things about being a part of the 118, Buck was honored all over again that they had welcomed him into their family.

A sudden alarm jolted Buck out of his emotions and back into the present, and he quickly followed the team as they raced towards the fire truck and flung themselves in, settling into their seats.  "You mean I can't just ride on your lap?" Buck pouted teasingly, as he ran to the driver's side of the news station van.

"You've taken a ride on my lap plenty of times, Buck," Eddie murmured into Buck's ear, "and I'm sure we can arrange another ride when we get home tonight." Smirking, he planted a quick kiss on Buck's lips before joining the others in the truck.

"You gorgeous bastard!" Buck yelled at Eddie's retreating back, Eddie's snort of laughter making Buck smile as he buckled his seatbelt and started the car.

"Whoa!" Buck's jaw dropped as he took in the crowd, and particularly the monitor lizard, in front of them. "Did you know monitor lizards have long forked tongues just like snakes?"

"Ah, a fan!" the woman nearest the lizard exclaimed, clapping her hands as Chimney darted out of the way. "His name is Claude, and the winner gets to take him home. Do you want to give it a try?"

"I'm okay over here, thanks," Buck responded quickly, as he took in the rest of the scene before him, namely the man struggling to breathe. As the 118 made their way over to the man, Buck made sure he and his cameraman stayed out of the way.

Chimney and Hen both flinched as they knelt down beside the man. Buck had the cameraman swing the camera away as soon as he realized the patient was in clear medical distress, instead having him film the other competitive eaters at the table, which unexpectedly included the woman with live cockroaches crawling back up out of her mouth.

  As the man began breathing again (and consequently began throwing up live crickets), the camerman got footage of the saved patient and the 118 loading him into the ambulance. "Did you know Joey Chestnut once ate seventy four hotdogs in ten minutes?" Buck piped up eagerly, and Eddie grinned, giving Buck a quick peck on the lips as he hurried towards the truck.

"You are so smart, babe," Eddie said proudly, Buck beaming as he slid back into the driver's seat of the van.

  "Even live bugs erupting out of people's mouths can't turn you two off from kissing, huh?" Chimney called out as he started up the ambulance. Eddie shook his head, offering Chim a proud grin and a wink as he drove off.

After rescuing a body builder from the largest charley horse anyone there had ever seen, the fire truck and news van pulled back into the station, Buck hopping out to join the 118 as they headed towards the kitchen.

"You did good, kid," Bobby said with a smile, squeezing Buck's shoulder as he passed. "You put the people above the story." Buck ducked his head, blushing, as he did a pleased little hop on his way towards Eddie.

"He's right, babe," Eddie grinned, tugging Buck into his side, planting a kiss to the top of his head. "Just like the day we met."

"Thanks, baby," Buck said with a bashful grin, turning his head to steal another kiss from his boyfriend, before squeezing his hand and pulling away. "I've got to get in a call to Taylor and give her an update before the next call."

"I'll be waiting on the couch," Eddie promised, and Buck winked at him before striding away, already pulling his phone out as he headed towards the bench right outside the station.

"Want a brownie?" Hen asked Eddie as she walked over, holding out the last brownie on the plate.

"Thanks, I'm starving," Eddie answered, grabbing the brownie and taking a bite. "Are there more treats on the table for Buck? He's just calling in to his boss."

"There are plenty of delicious snacks left," Hen promised as she settled into a chair. "Just not any more of these between you, me and Bobby."

"As  long as there's sugar," Eddie laughed, looking fondly over towards Buck, who had now hopped up onto the bench and was skipping back and forth across it as he talked into his phone.

The next call brought them all to another unexpected venue, this time a child beauty pageant. "Is that..." Buck asked, trailing off as he stared at the reason the 118 had been called.

  "A woman with a high heel stuck in her face?" Chimney responded, shaking his head as they made their way towards her. "Yes, yes it is."

  The little girls were all swarming around Buck, who had crouched down immediately and was now occupied giving out smiles and high fives to the giggling children. So it took him a bit to notice that Eddie and Hen were definitely not acting like themselves. Eddie was staring down at the kids surrounding Buck with a look of shock and some terror too, his eyes wide and his body frozen.

"Eds, you okay there?" Buck asked, carefully rising to his feet and laying a hand on Eddie's arm.

"Are we giants, Evan?" Eddie asked, dragging out every syllable, before getting distracted for a minute trying and failing to see his own tongue. "Or are these the tiniest ladies ever?"

"Um, they're definitely kids, babe," Buck responded, eyes squinted in confusion even as he couldn't help but let out a laugh. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Your hair is glowing," Eddie breathed out in awe, holding his hands out over Buck's curls. "It's making my heart warm." Buck blushed, reaching for Eddie, who just kept making grabby hands at Buck's head. Buck quickly gestured to his cameraman to stop filming, before turning to Chimney.

"Hen's doing it too," Chim answered, just as confused, as he finished up with the injured woman and watched her be taken out on a gurney. Both men turned to see Hen poking a balloon, giggling with delight each time it bounced back at her.

  "They are definitely tripping," Athena said matter-of-factly, coming up from behind them, having finished putting the high heel attacker in handcuffs. Hen hurried up, beaming as she took in Athena's face before delightedly informing her she smelled like love. Athena calmly nodded her thanks before radioing in for RA backup.

"The brownies," Chim said suddenly, turning to Athena. As Athena pressed him for more information, Buck heard Eddie start loudly crying, and ran to his boyfriend's side.

"I don't like this," Eddie blubbered as a police officer gingerly handcuffed him.

"Hey, hey sweetheart, it's going to be okay, I promise," Buck promised, cupping Eddie's face in his hands reassuringly, Eddie leaning into the touch. "Just breathe, I've got you."

Eddie sucking in air and puffing out huge dramatic breaths was definitely a sight Buck was tucking away for later, to tease his boyfriend with when it wouldn't make Eddie start crying more. Athena shook her head and sighed, exchanging a fondly exasperated look with Buck before explaining to Eddie and Hen what had happened.

"We don't want you to hurt yourselves or anyone else," Athena finished, as Hen was beginning to reach for her for another sniff and a hug.

"Yeah, yeah I like that idea," Eddie choked out. As Athena helped guide them towards the door, the backup RAs rushing in, Eddie tugged back towards Buck.

  "I've got you, let's get you somewhere you feel safe," Buck said gently, squeezing Eddie's arm in reassurance.

"I love you, beautiful Buck," Eddie whispered into Buck's ear, before planting a sloppy kiss on Buck's cheek and letting himelf be led away, a stunned Buck following silently behind him.

Stumbling out of the bunkroom a few hours later, Eddie blinked at the bright lights, sighing gratefully as Buck pressed a large glass of water into his hands. After Eddie downed the entire glass without stopping, Buck refilled it and joined Eddie on the couch.

  "Are you feeling okay now?" Buck asked softly, as Eddie placed the now-empty second glass on the table and leaned his head onto Buck's shoulder.

"Just got a headache, dry mouth, and an overwhelming sense of humilation," Eddie huffed out, burying his face in Buck's shirt. "I can't even imagine what came out of my mouth."

"You don't remember, huh?" Buck sighed softly, and Eddie quickly lifted his head to look at him.

"Buck, please don't tell me I said something horrible to you," Eddie said quickly, grabbing at Buck's hands. "I was out of my mind, I had no idea what I was saying."

"That's what I was afraid of," Buck mumbled, staring at the floor. Eddie tugged at his hands until Buck looked at him again, and Eddie's eyes grew wise as he took in the pained look on Buck's face. Reluctantly, Buck pulled away before responding. "Eddie, you told me you love me."

"Shit, that's what I was afraid of," Eddie sighed, scrubbing his hands over his face. The whimper that slipped past Buck's lips, the sharp intake of shaky breath, and the footsteps quickly retreating had Eddie snapping his head back up, yelling "Buck!" as he saw his boyfriend's back moving further and further away.

Sprinting, Eddie reached out and grabbed Buck's hand, planting his feet and refusing to budge an inch as Buck tugged half-heartedly. "Eddie, please," Buck whispered, fixing his gaze on the floor. "I can't watch you walk away, okay?"

"And you think, what, that I want to watch you walk away instead?" Eddie was fully aware how much of himself he was putting on display, but he kept going, fingers under Buck's chin to tilt his head up and meet his eyes. "I meant I didn't want the first time I said it to be while I was out of my mind on laced brownies surrounded by tiny beauty queens."

  "Wait, Eddie, what..." Trailing off, Buck's breath hitched, his wide watery eyes staring into Eddie's.

"Turn the camera on," Eddie said firmly, gesturing to where the cameraman had left his equipment while he went to grab food with the crew. Buck opened his mouth, but Eddie gently lay a finger across his lips, shaking his head. "Please trust me, and turn the camera on. Point it right at me."

Buck nodded, shaky, picking up the camera and resting it on his shoulder, turning so the lens faced Eddie, who was now sitting down on the couch. As soon as the light switched on, Eddie looked straight into it. "You once asked me what was the best thing about being a firefighter with the 118," Eddie said, voice strong even as he wiped the fresh tear on his cheek. "And I said it was the comradery, that that was what I missed from being in the military, and I had found it here, again, with this team."

Lacing his fingers together, Eddie rested his chin against his knuckles, keeping his gaze focused on Buck, who appeared frozen, all breath and words caught up in his throat, eyes glued on Eddie's face. "But that's not true. I do care deeply about the people here, the family I chose, but that's not the best thing about being a firefighter here."

"Then what is?" Buck whispered, hands gripped so tight around the camera his knuckles had turned white.

  "The best thing is that I met the love of my life," Eddie said, making sure his voice was loud and clear, that both the camera and Buck couldn't miss a single word. Eddie shrugged helplessly, letting out a watery laugh as he bit his bottom lip. "This gorgeous man refused to air someone else's pain to gain viewers, and suddenly I was watching the news way more than I ever had before, just to see his face and learn his name. Turned out his name is Evan Buckley. And he's the bravest, smartest, kindest man I've ever known. And I am so, so in love with him."

Buck sniffled loudly, and Eddie knew his own voice and face were full of the degree of emotion he only ever really showed around his son...and now around Buck. There wasn't any point in fighting it, especially not if it ever made Buck doubt how much he was loved.

"So Buck, you can use this video in the story, you can keep it for yourself if you ever need a reminder of how very loved you are, you can do whatever you want with it. I know I don't always say how I feel, and I'm sorr-" His words cut off on a surprised huff as Buck suddenly put down the camera and ran to the couch, bouncing onto the cushions and tackling Eddie onto his back, immediately wrapping his arms around him.

"I love you too, Eds, so much," Buck sniffled, wiping at his eyes, "and if this is you keeping your emotions hidden, I don't think I would survive having you turn them on full force." Eddie laughed, grinning up at Buck full force, before reaching up and pulling him down into a slow, tender kiss, one that Buck eagerly reciprocated.

When the special on the 118 aired, Eddie and Buck watched it snuggled up on the couch with Christopher, all three in their pajamas and surrounded by empty pizza boxes and popcorn bowls. Christopher giggled and clapped his hands every time he saw his dad, and patted Buck's cheek with a grin every time he heard one of Buck's voiceovers play over the images on the screen.

The special concluded with a montage of the 118, all explaining why they joined the station and what it meant to them. Eddie heard his sound bites about the military and comradery interspersed with the others, before the camera focused in on him again. "The best thing is that I met the love of my life," Eddie heard himself say, the image on screen changing to a video clip of Eddie hard at work on the scene of a car crash, the very first day and the very same place he and Buck had met.

"The best thing is that I met the love of my life too," Buck's voiceover rang out over the footage, before the video faded out to a wideshot of the fire station. "And he is a hero, surrounded by heroes. The 118 never hesitate, never put their safety over the well being of others. They spend long days and nights in harrowing conditions, helping people through horrific experiences, and these brave men and women never ask for anything but to know where the next emergency is. We all owe the dedicated members of the 118 far more than we may ever know. So next time you pass by a fire station, think about saying thank you, even though they will never ask you to."

Eddie couldn't stop smiling, pressing kiss to Buck's temple, who grinned up at him from where he was nestled into Eddie's side.

The video shifted to one of Buck, hanging off the fire truck by one hand, grinning mischeviously. "Just please, please don't bring brownies. Try a nice gift card instead. Trust me on this. This is Evan Buckley, signing off, thank you for watching."

Eddie's laughter rang out over the closing credits.

If you would like to be added to my Buddie fanfiction taglist and/or my Good News on My TV Screen taglist specifically, just let me know!

@dancer-me @buddie-buddie​ @perfectlynervousbeard​ @i-had-bucky​

[mwolf0epsilon]

Spin the bottle with Sammy and Norman story?

Summary: In the immortal words of Bowling for Soup, high school never ends.

---

[[MORE]]

"Ok so, just to make sure, we're all adult men and women." Sammy shifted uncomfortable as he sat among a circle of coworkers on the floor of the breakroom.

"Yep." Grant looked just as uncomfortable, picking at his bowtie and adjusting his glasses as he glanced around.

"Then why, pray tell, are we playing spin the bottle like a bunch of college kids?" Sammy asked, glancing down at the empty licor bottle in the middle of the circle of people.

"Cuzz it's fun!" Shawn grinned. "Ya ever heard'o it? Fun?"

"Don't you sass me... And when has spin the bottle ever been fun? If memory serves right, it was more of a tool for blackmail and humiliation when I was finishing my studies." The exasperated music director pointed out.

"That's half the fun." Norman smirked. "Yous use it t'be smart. Get some good information on your peers. Have a good laugh outta someone's expense. End up playin' just as much o'the fool as 'em."

"Figured the guy twice our age with a thing for snooping would like spin the bottle." Mel snorted. "Can't say I see the appeal."

"Enough blabbering, let's get to it! We have one hour to ourselves and I wanna have fun!" Susie called above the chatter as she reached over and spun the bottle. It went for three full loops and half an arch, landing on Wally. "Ok, we're starting with Wally. Truth or dare?"

The Brooklynite looked surprised before humming in thought. He gave her a cheeky confident smile before crossing his arms.

"My ma didn't raise no chicken. Dare me!" He proclaimed proudly. "Dare me good."

"Bold! I like it." Susie smirked. "Well Wally, I'll have you know my mom didn't raise no gentle little lady that doesn't like irony. I dare you to behave like an actual chicken."

".... What, like an impression?"

"Yep. Walk, flappy wings, clucking. Heck if we have any eggs in the fridge you better go sit on them." Susie waved at him to get to it.

"Well I did ask for a dare... Erm, I mean...Bawk Bawk Bawk, ba-gawk!" At her command the young janitor began to shuffle around like a chicken. Arms tucked in and head bobbing as he moved around. That got a quick chuckle out of everyone.

"Nice..." Mel snorted "Pity we're out of eggs."

"That's good enough, your turn Wally." Susie pointed to the bottle, which the Brooklynite eagerly spun. It stopped on Shawn.

"Truth or dare?"

"I ain't enough o' a muppet t'take dares from you. Truth me." The Irishman glared.

"Hm... Is it true Joey was makin' fun o' you when he made Charley?"

"Yep. He's a god awful depiction o' a leprechaun that's greedy an' mean spirited an' I hate him." Shawn deadpanned before smirking. "But joke's on that damn racist, everyone thinks the fuckin' Butcher Gang boss is a chimp."

"Which he isn't!" Mel sounded offended.

"Anyway, takin' it for a spin." Shawn took his turn and watched the bottle intently. He looked a little dismayed when it landed on Jack. "Aw dangit... I wanted t'mess with Johnny..."

"Fucker." The organist glared. Jack looked a little nervous.

"Right Mr. Fain, truth or dare?"

"Erm... Truth?"

"Is it true ya speak three different languages?" It looked like Shawn was taking it easy on the nervous lyricist.

"Oh thank god... Yeah. English is my first, but I know Mandarin and Spanish too. Not uh, not fluently though... The Mandarin that is." He reached over for the bottle and spun it. It landed on Mel.

"Dare me."

"I haven't even--"

"Well I already picked. Dare me."

"I err, dare you to be nice to Norman?"

".... Nah. Not in my nature to like creepy snoops. First punishment of the night!" The voice actor got up. Everyone knew the two did not get along, so it was silly to think he'd accept such a dare, still Jack tried.

"Oh... Well uh, your punishment is to stand inside one of the toilets in your socks then."

"... That's nasty. You drive a hard bargain Mr. Fain..." Mel clucked his tongue in displeasure.

"Its not hard to be nice..."

"It is when it comes to Polkadot there. Goodbye my beloved striped socks, I'll have to burn thou once I'm done!" And off the man went to do the walk of shame to the bathroom.

"I don't get him..." Jack sighed "He's usually nice to everyone..."

"We just don't like each other. Ain't too hard Jack." Norman chuckled. "Someone take his turn."

Johnny took it, smirking evilly when it landed on Sammy. The blond growled slughtly. Everyone knew the two butted heads constantly, just as Mel and Norman did.

"Well well well... Look who's at my mercy." Johnny chuckled.

"Do it you bastard. Dare me."

"I dare you.... I dare you..." Johnny thought before grinning cheekily. "I dare you to french Polk for a full minute."

Sammy stared while Norman blinked in surprise. Both men exchanged looks before looking back at Johnny. Did he really just...

"Chicken out, and I'm having you kiss Joey on the lips instead. I hear his mustache tickles." Johnny's grin widened.

"Fuck no! Norman over Joey, always! The man's a sleazy creepy son of a bitch!" Sammy practically vaulted over the circle to stop in front of Norman. "And you, Brokeheart, are a bastard for pitching this at other people. Writing you out of the next bits."

"Worth it!"

"Right..." Sammy swallowed drily as he noticed Norman watching him quietly. "You ok with this?"

"I don't want yous to go off kissin' Drew either. No person deserves that sorta punishment."

"I'd probably catch something... You're a lifesaver."

"Stop with the foreplay an' kiss already!" Shawn called out.

The blond hesitated again before sucking in a breath and going for it. It wasn't like he'd never frenched anyone before... Just not a man. Especially not one twice his age that was married with kids. Still... As soon as lips connected there was... Something there.

Like an electrifying spark that only intensified when both of them parted their lips to complete the full dare.

Eyes fluttering shut, the music director and projectionist deepened the kiss, taking in the other's taste and gentle exploratory tongue movements.

Sammy noted the light taste of chapstick, cream and coffee. Norman had been lightly snacking on a box of filled donuts Susie had brought for the music department that morning, and the taste had lingered.

Norman meanwhile couldn't help smile as he tasted chocolate and peanut butter, knowing fully well that Sammy had been sneaking sweets in between recording sessions to keep himself going. It was nice. A much better taste to associate with him than the whiskey he favoured.

"Time's up." Johnny snapped his fingers. "Hey Romeo, your minute is up!"

"They are really goin' at it!" Wally marveled.

"I think it's cute." Susie smiled.

"I don't!" Mel looked appalled from all the way in the doorway "Just came back from contaminating my socks and I find the two most obnoxious jerks straddling each other and sucking face! I'm gonna have nightmares!"

"Let the love fill you with rainbows an' unicorns Melvin!" Shawn called, barely keeping himself from laughing.

"No! I am darkness incarnate! A lone wolf that needs not bare witness to the power of homosexuality!"

"Don't be dramatic you big baby!" Johnny laughed.

"You torment me so!"

"Guys they're still going at it, should we leave them to it?" Grant asked.

"Yeah let's just play without them."

And so the game carried on, until Joey came in to break up the fun. At least three people left the studio different from when they'd come in that morning.

Sammy and Norman having a lot to think about what they felt between one another, and Mel now without a pair of nice socks.

[snippychicke]

Charley, I don't know how the fuck you got to my little corner of our beloved hellsite, but welcome! Have some refreshments 🧃, a little snack🍏, take a rest 🧸, before you continue your adventure!

🦔

This is Charles. He wants to go on a journey around tumblr. could you show him around?

[queenofcats17]

Submitted by @magicalmonsterhero

-“Damn, Joey’s really upset about this,” Henry remarked. “Then again, if I found out someone was kidnapping Drew World guests and turning them into ink monsters, I’d be furious too.” “You’d think Drew would have been the one behind it,” commented ____. “At least that lunatic didn’t try and use any of the park workers. Or anyone here, for that matter.” “Now I’m really glad Joey said no when ____ suggested we help out there,” Wally agreed. “Never thought I’d say it, but I feel a lot safer working in the studio.” -“It’s impossible to have more than one on-model instance of a character at a time,” Alice said. “Their soul gets split between different bodies, with one being in proper shape while the others…not so much.” “An’ that copy of Alice was usin’ our clones to keep herself stable,” added Barley. “If she ever got ‘er hands on Alice, she’d prob'ly try and absorb the rest of ‘er soul and take ‘er place.” “But if everyone here is a creation of the machine, then who or what are the Prophet and the Projectionist supposed to be?” -Glee club/A Capella group AU

Let’s see what I can do.

Joey had opened Drew World less than a month ago and already it was plagued with scandal. Some sick fuck had been kidnapping Drew World guests and turning them into inky abominations, resembling the beloved characters from Joey Drew Studios. Joey was absolutely livid about this. At the moment, he was on a call to the police department in his office. Even in the music department, his yells were clearly audible. It was break time and a good portion of the studio employees were gathered in Sammy’s office to have lunch. 

“Damn, Joey’s really upset about this,” Henry remarked. “Then again, if I found out someone was kidnapping Drew World guests and turning them into ink monsters, I’d be furious too.”

“You’d think Drew would have been the one behind it,” commented Sammy. “At least that lunatic didn’t try and use any of the park workers. Or anyone here, for that matter.”

“Now I’m really glad Joey said no when Susie suggested we help out there,” Wally agreed. “Never thought I’d say it, but I feel a lot safer working in the studio.”

“Crowds make me nervous anyway.” Norman rumbled, shrugging slightly. A moment or so later, the yelling from Joey’s office stopped. They all listened as stomping footsteps made their way down to the music department. Joey stormed into Sammy’s office. 

“Sammy, I need a cigarette.” He muttered. 

“Weren’t you quitting?” Henry asked. 

“Yes, I am. But not today.” Joey slumped into a chair opposite Wally. Sammy dug out a cigarette and handed it to Joey, who lit it with a match and took a satisfied drag. 

“This has been a shitty week.” The studio head sighed. 

“Have the cops caught the guy?” Wally asked. 

“Not yet,” Joey said. “Although they keep telling me they’re days away from making an arrest. I’m starting to think I might have to institute some…security measures.”

“Is that why you asked for my blood last week?” Norman raised an eyebrow. “Because I ain’t givin’ up my soul for this, much as I’d like to see this guy caught.”

“No soul required.” Joey waved a hand in a comforting gesture. “I just need a mindless bruiser for this.” The character of the Projectionist wasn’t a particularly violent individual, but he’d have to be in this situation. Joey would get started on that tomorrow. 

“Well, at least the toons are doing well.” Henry pointed out. 

“This whole thing has Alice spooked, though.” Susie stuck her head in, not one to be left out of the conversation. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to go comfort her.”

“Thank you for that, Susie.” Joey smiled tiredly towards her. “I don’t know what we’d do without you.”

“Well aren’t you a charmer?” Susie snorted. “Anyway, I’m heading over to the park with Allison.”

“Stay safe.” The men in the office chorused as she left. Joey took another drag from his cigarette. One way or another, there would be an end to this. Even if he had to catch the culprit himself. 

.

.

Henry had seen a lot of things since he’d arrived at the old studio. He’d thought he’d seen it all. Then the elevator crashed and when he woke up, be was being tended to by an on-model version of Alice Angel. Behind her were on-model versions of the Butcher Gang. Edgar was helpfully holding the bandages, passing them to Alice every so often. 

“What on Earth?” Henry mumbled. 

“Looks who’s back in the land of the living!” Charley grinned and folded his arms. 

“We were getting worried about you.” Alice smiled a tad nervously. 

“Didn’t you drop me down the elevator?” Henry asked, moving so he was sitting up properly. 

“Oh no, that was the other Alice.” Alice shook her head. “I would never do something like that!”

“How are there multiple versions of you? And why doesn’t she look like you?” Part of Henry wondered if this was some sort of dream, brought on by the fall. But he could feel Alice’s hands as she wound the bandages around him. They were cool to the touch, and a bit rubbery. 

“It’s impossible to have more than one on-model instance of a character at a time,” Alice said. “Their soul gets split between different bodies, with one being in proper shape while the others…not so much.”

“An’ that copy of Alice was usin’ our clones to keep herself stable,” added Barley. “If she ever got ‘er hands on Alice, she’d prob'ly try and absorb the rest of ‘er soul and take ‘er place.”

“But if everyone here is a creation of the machine, then who or what are the Prophet and the Projectionist supposed to be?” Henry asked. 

“Well, we think part of Sammy and Norman’s souls broke off and got resurrected as those…things,” Alice explained. “Joey’s been trying to stabilize them, but they only have soul fragments so there’s not a lot we can actually do.”

“Wait…Joey? Joey’s here?” Henry immediately sat up straight at that. 

“Papa Drew’s been hiding, just like us,” Edgar said. “We can’t get caught by the others or they’ll absorb us.” 

“Except Bendy went chasing after the other me.” Alice huffed. “He’s going to get himself hurt! I just know it!” 

“Hey, it’s not your fault.” Charley put a hand on her shoulder. “We all told him that she didn’t take the real Boris.”

“Bendy’s always been a hardhead.” Barley agreed. “Never listens to anyone.” Henry’s mind was reeling. He could hardly believe this. He’d been so sure Joey had been the strange Bendy creature chasing him. He shook his head, trying to calm his mind. 

“We should probably get him back.” Henry got to his feet, wincing a little bit. 

“We can’t just take you to get Bendy back!” Alice shook her head. “It’s too dangerous!” 

“I’m already in danger.” Henry smiled wearily. “Now let’s go get my son back.”

.

.

“I look so stupid,” Sammy muttered, adjusting his tie for what felt like the millionth time. He wasn’t even sure how Joey had convinced him to do this. Joey had started a glee club freshman year and had recruited a surprising amount of people to join. Half of them weren’t even musically inclined. Hell, they were all pretty sure Thomas didn’t even go to their school. Sammy wasn’t technically a part of the glee club, but he’d been roped into their regional performance because Grant was out sick and the two of them had similar vocal ranges. 

“You look lovely!” Joey slapped his back. 

“I look so stupid,” Sammy repeated, running a hand through his long hair. 

“Tie your hair back.” Susie handed him a hair tie. “You need to look nice for performance.”

“Fine fine.” Sammy sighed and took the tie, tying his hair back with one deft motion. 

“Hold still, Wally!” Allison said. She was currently trying to tame Wally’s mop of curls, with very little success. Everyone was in the dressing room backstage, trying to get their appearances in order. Joey had, naturally, shown up already dressed to the nines and perfectly in order. Of all of them, Wally was the one most in need of a makeover, which Allison had taken upon herself. 

“Maybe leave the hair,” Susie suggested. “We have to go on in ten minutes.”

“Alright, everyone!” Joey clapped his hands together. “This is it! This is the culmination of all our hard work!”

“Thanks again for doing this,” Henry whispered to Sammy. “This means a lot to Joey.”

“Yeah yeah. I know.” Sammy shrugged slightly, trying to hide the flush that was entering his cheeks. 

“Ink Machine? You’re on.” An organizer stuck his head into the dressing room. 

“Right! Thank you!” Joey gave him a big grin. 

“Remind me why we’re called Ink Machine again?” Wally asked, taking a hair tie from Susie and forcing his hair into a ponytail. 

“Because Joey likes drawing,” Thomas said flatly.

“That makes no sense!” Wally insisted as they left the dressing room. 

“It doesn’t have to.” Shawn said brightly.

“I stopped questioning it a long time ago.” Norman slapped the smaller boy’s back. “You’d do well to do the same,” Wally grumbled to himself but didn’t bring it up again as they headed to the stage. Sammy found himself suddenly struck with a sense of terror. He’d never actually sung in front of people besides the glee club. He abruptly stopped moving, unable to force his legs to go forward. 

“You can do it.” Susie put a hand on his shoulder and smiled. “We’re here for you.” Then she joined the others onstage. Sammy forced himself onto the stage, taking his place beside Thomas. This was it. Then they began to sing.