#Gerard Way is all words and no actions

[chieana]

the punk to capitalist pipeline is kinda insane and makes no sense to me

and yet that is what mcr (and many others who aren't famous) have done

[tintysun]

I got a lot going on today and in the next few days, but the Gerard Way tree goes. 😂🖤

[thequeenofneverland1]

Kol Mikaelson////Bound by Love

Anonymous request: Can I a request a story Kol Mikaelson falling in love with Davina’s little sister and Davina and Marcel not approving of the relationship when they find out that Y/n and Kol ore dating both Davina and Marcel warns Kol and his family to stay away from Y/n but obviously he doesn’t so something leads that Marcel kicks out Y/n you can choose how to end it and thank you :)

Warnings: Betrayal and manipulation by family members, Banishment and exile from a community, Emotional distress and sadness, Family conflict and confrontation,Jealousy and tension between siblings, Betrayal and consequences of actions, Loss of trust and break of relationships, Emotional manipulation and pleading for help, Family members being escorted out of a community, Consequences of betrayal and actions, Tension and conflict between family members, Abandonment and rejection by loved ones

the Mystical town of New Orleans, Kol Mikaelson found himself falling head over the younger sister of Davina Claire. You were kind-hearted and spirited, causing him to fall in love with your infectious laughter and unwavering loyalty.

But when Davina and Marcel Gerard discovered the budding relationship between Kol and you, they were less than pleased. They believed Kol to be a troublemaker, prone to chaos and destruction, and they did not want you to be caught up in his web.

"You know Kol's history, Davina," Marcel warned, his voice filled with concern. "He may claim to love your sister now, but how long before he shows his true colors?"

Davina nodded solemnly, her face clouded with worry. "I don't want her to get hurt, Marcel. We have to do something before it's too late."

Kol entered the room as he waited for you, only to hear Marcel and Davina talking about him. "We need to put a stop to this. Kol can't be trusted."

"You're right. Y/n deserves better than to get involved with a Mikaelson." She tells him.

With a solemn attitude, Kol emerged from behind the door. "I was unable to resist listening in on your talk. I know you're worried, but I'm not going to avoid Y/n. I'm not going to allow anyone to stop me from loving her."

Marcel exchanged a look of surprise with Davina. “You have no idea what you're getting yourself into.”

"Maybe not, but I'm willing to take that risk for Y/n and for our love." Kol states

"How can we be certain that you're not merely taking advantage of her?” He asked, “ We all know how highly your family values power, and she is a powerful witch."

"I can promise you that my feelings for Y/n are sincere, but I do understand your concern. However Her power doesn't pique my attention. I love her just the way she is." Kol states again.

Not believing him, Davina shakes her head. “Additionally, who's to say you won't turn on her when the time is right? Betrayal is ingrained in the Mikaelson family's heritage."

"I know my family has done some terrible things, but I'm not my family. I'm my own person, and I've changed. I want to be someone that Y/n can rely on." Saying this, Kol hopes that they will believe him.

"Words are cheap." Marcel says and Davina nods in agreement

You entered the room, a confused look on your face, you noticed that they got quiet "What's going on? Why does it feel like I walked in on something?"

Marcel and Davina exchanged a glance, unsure of what to say. “Well?”

Kol approaches you while wearing an unhappy face "They were just telling me to stay away from you, Y/n. They think I'm using you for your power."

Your expression turned to anger as you turned to your sister and Marcel. "How dare you? Kol loves me, and I love him. And you have no right to interfere in our relationship."

“Y/n, we’re just trying to protect you.” She tells you.

"I'm not in need of your defense.” You respond, "I need you guys to trust me to make my own decisions and to respect my choices."

You turned over to Kol, "I'm sorry that they're putting you through this. I believe you, Kol. And I trust that your feelings for me are genuine."

"Thank you, darling," Kol grinned. “For me, that is very important. They won't be able to separate us, but I swear to do everything in my power to earn their trust."

“Y/n, we're only thinking about what's best for you. Is it really that wrong that we were cautious about a Mikaelson?" Without attempting to enrage you, Marcel tells you

"No, I can't blame you. But I can ask you to give Kol a chance. He's not his family, and he deserves to be judged on his own merits." You let him know that you understood that his only concern was for your protection

“Okay, all right. However, he will be held accountable to us if he harms you." Your sister gives you a warm smile.

You gave her a smile in return, "fair enough. However, I feel that's not a concern for us."

Kol grinned at you and took your hand, giving it a comforting squeeze before you both left.

"I still don't trust him, Davina," Marcel tells her as they watch Kol and you leave. “He is a Mikaelson, and they are infamous for their deception."

She folded her arms. "Yes, Marcel, I am aware. However, Y/n seems to sincerely love him, and we are powerless to stop her from loving him.”

"I know that but I just don't want her to get hurt. And if Kol does anything to hurt her, I swear I'll make him regret it." He declares

"I feel the same way, Marcel. But for now, we need to give them some space. My sister is a smart woman, and I'm sure she'll make the right decision." She informs him.

"I hope you're right, Davina.” he adds, trying to hide his worries about you. “Because if Kol crosses us, he'll have hell to pay."

“I believe he is aware of it. If he's intelligent, he'll go above and beyond to convince us of his worth." She chuckles as she shakes her head at how theatrical he is being.

Klaus entered the room with a smirk on his face as Marcel and Davina were wrapping up their talk. "Ah, Davina, Marcel. You two were talking about my brother and your beloved sister, and I couldn't help but listen."

"Klaus, what do you want?" Marcel expresses his obvious displeasure that Klaus entered the home without authorization.

Klaus smirks. “Oh stop, I'm just stopping over to say congrats. It appears that my brother has gained Y/n's affection. And he's really in love with her, I have to admit."

"Klaus, you and your siblings don't have our trust." Your sister gives him a furious stare.

He rolls his eyes. “Yes, I'm well aware. But you might be surprised by what Kol is capable of when he puts his mind to it. He may be a Mikaelson, but he's also his own person. But Rather than that, you guys can trust us."

"Klaus, all your family has done is bring suffering and devastation. What makes any of you worthy of our trust?” Marcel declared he didn't give a damn whether he enraged Klaus or not

Klaus narrows his eyes as he walks over to him. "Careful, Marcel. You may be powerful, but don't forget who holds the cards here."

Refusing to back down, He tells Klaus, "I'm not afraid of you, Klaus, You'll have to deal with all of us if your brother harms Y/n”

"Ah, such loyalty.” Klaus began laughing. “But be warned, Marcel. I won't hesitate to protect my family, even from you. And if Kol loves Y/n as much as you claim, I'm sure he won't hesitate either."

“We'll do whatever it takes to protect Y/n, Klaus. Even from you and your brother."

"Very well, then. Let the games begin." He declares.

"We mean it, Klaus. Keep your family away from Y/n. We won't tolerate any interference from the Mikaelsons." Your sister warns him.

"Davina, you really need to get better at picking your battles. You're in no position to make demands of me or my family." He tries to go in front of your sister while telling your sister, but Marcel moves in front of her. “We're not afraid of you, Klaus. And we'll do whatever it takes to protect Y/n."

"Very well, Marcel. But don't forget, I have eyes and ears everywhere. And if I catch wind of any harm coming to my brother or Y/n, there will be consequences."

She shook her head. "We're not the ones you need to worry about, Klaus. It's your family's reputation that precedes you."

"And besides, I doubt Y/n would appreciate you speaking for her, Marcel. She's a strong, independent young woman who can make her own choices. And if she's chosen to be with my brother, it's because she sees something in him that you clearly cannot."

Marcel lashes out, saying, "Klaus, you think you know everything. But take note. you will suffer consequences if your family hurts Y/n."

Klaus chuckles once more. "Oh, Marcel, I've made my share of payments. And if it means defending my loved ones and myself, I'll be happy to repay them. I have to take care of some more pressing affairs, so please excuse me."

“Naturally, by arranging with your brother to take advantage of her and make her go insane.” Your sister yells at him.

"Become insane? Oh, please. Given Y/n's strength as a witch, why would we ever wish to hurt her? She's significant to me and the rest of my siblings because she's important to my brother." He informs both of them.

Marcel chuckles, obviously not buying it. "Klaus, you've hurt a lot of people who were significant to other people in the past. What makes us think you would treat Y/n any differently?”

She gives Marcel a nod of approval "We won't take any chances when it comes to Y/n's safety. She must not be around you and your family, or else there will be consequences .”

His eyebrows shot up. "Davina, is that a threat? If that's the case, I advise you to carefully consider what you say next. You don't want my family and I to become your enemies. Or maybe my brother and my family aren't the source of your issue at all. Maybe you're simply jealous that Kol chose Y/n instead of you. Seeing your younger sister with the man you desire for yourself must be difficult."

"How dare you!" she yells at him, furious. “You have no idea who I am or what I'm into."

He grinned, "I guess I know more than you think. You're not as adept at controlling your emotions as you believe you are. Additionally, if I were you, I would exercise caution when making enemies of people who are able to see right through you."

"Enough, Klaus. You've made your point. Now leave us alone." Marcel leads him to the door

"Davina, there's one more thing. It's fortunate that my brother picked Y/n over you. You're not worthy of him or any member of my family. On the other hand, let's simply say that your sister is everything and you're not." He conveys to her

"Leave!" she fiercely gestures toward the door.

He laughs. "As you wish. But keep in mind that I'll stop at nothing to keep Y/n and my brother safe. My brother loves Y/n. Therefore, don't cross my family or me. The outcomes won't be to your liking."Before leaving, he issues the warning.

“That arrogant, self-righteous, son of a..."she furiously tries to say but she gets stopped by Marce placing a hand on her shoulder. "Davina, calm down. He's not worth it."

"How can I calm down after everything he just said?" she asks, staring at him foolishly.” He essentially threatened me and called me worthless."

"I know, but getting worked up about it won't help. We need to focus on protecting Y/n, not on getting revenge on Klaus."

"But he can't just get away with saying those things!"

"I promise you, Davina. He'll have his desserts. However, let's keep Y/n secure from him and his family for the time being." He smiles and comforts her, "But for now, I'm going to go talk to Rebekah, and hopefully she can help us."

Rebekah nods in agreement with Klaus's statement. “I regret to inform you that my brother is correct in two particular regards. Even though Davina won't acknowledge it, she does feel something for Kol. Marcel, let's be honest. Y/n is more attractive and intelligent than Davina could ever be. It makes sense that Kol choose her over her sister."

Marcel is furious that his beloved agrees with her brother, "Rebekah, that's not fair.Davina has gone through a lot."

She shrugs her shoulders."everyone has. she’s not the only one. But whose fault is that? Davina made her own choices, just like Y/n has. And if she's jealous of her sister, well, that's her problem, not mine."

He sighs. "I don't know what to do, Rebekah. I want to protect Y/n, but I don't want to drive her away."

She rolls her eyes. "Then maybe you should stop listening to Davina and start listening to your heart. Sometimes the best way to protect someone is to give them the space they need to make their own mistakes."

Rebekah knocks on Klaus's door "Hey, big brother. Mind if I come in?"

Klaus smiles "Ah, sister. To what do I owe this honor?"

She sat down on the bed. “Marcel was here and we were talking. And you were right. Davina is jealous of Y/n."

He nods "Of course she is. Davina's always been a bit of a wild card. And Y/n... well, let's just say she's a rare gem, even by Mikaelson standards."

She smiles at the thought of you. "I know. She's smart, beautiful, and completely fearless. It's no wonder Kol fell for her."

"Indeed. And if Marcel and Davina aren't careful, they're going to push her right into our brother’s arms. Not that I'm complaining, of course."

"I know.”

He expresses concern to his sister "Maybe we ought to monitor Y/n more closely. I wouldn't rule out Davina making a stupid attempt."

"You're right," she nods. “It's not like Davina is known for her self control. However, caution will be required. We want Y/n to not feel as though we are suffocating her.”

“I concur. We'll need to keep our distance. However, not even Davina will be allowed to jeopardize my brother's happiness." He informs his sister of the consequences.

She smiles at her brother, "You really have taken a shine to Y/n, haven't you, brother?"

He shrugs his shoulders with a smile."What can I say? She's a remarkable young woman. And she makes Kol happy. That's enough for me."

"What? Davina is envious of Y/n? That's unbelievable.” Kol says, quite unexpectedly.

"Brother, believe it. And we must exercise caution. I refuse to allow Davina or anybody else to jeopardize Y/n's security." He informs him.

Kol declares emphatically, "Brother, neither will I. I'll stop at nothing to keep Y/n safe, even if it means putting my life in danger."

"It's so sweet to see you so smitten, Kol," Rebekah says with a smile. “But maintain your vigilance. Davina is erratic, and we never know what she will do.”

Kol gave a nod. "Sister, I won't. I swear. I'm completely devoted to Y/n, and I won't allow anything or anyone stand in our way."

You were initially skeptical of Kol's claims, but eventually started to see the possibility of your sister's jealousy. “Davina is jealous of me? No way. She's my sister, she wouldn't do something like that."

“I know it's difficult to accept, darling. Klaus and Rebekah are sure And I'm concerned about her potential actions." Kol informs you

"I... I don't know," you scowl. “Although Davina might be erratic, I never imagined that she would feel jealous of me. particularly with a man."

He took your hand. "Listen, darling. No matter what happens, you have to know that I love you. And only you. Your sister doesn't factor into this at all."

You gave a sorrowful smile. "Regards, Kol. You do, I'm sure. I simply never imagined my own sister could be that self-centered, and I love you too."

You decided to confront your sister about her alleged "Davina, is it true? That you are jealous about me and Koi?"

"What? No, of course not! How could you even think that?" Davina asked shocked

You shrugged your shoulders "I don't know what to think, sister. But Klaus and Rebekah seem to think you are."

Your sister angrily tells you. “They're lying to you, Y/n! They're trying to turn you against me because they're afraid of how powerful we are together."

"I don't know, Davina. I just want to know the truth." You said confused

Davina pleaded to you. “The truth is that I love you, sister . And I would never do anything to hurt you. Please, don't believe what Klaus and Rebekah are saying. They're just trying to manipulate you.”

As you recalled Davina's previous attempts to make Kol jealous, you realizes that your sister's behavior aligns with Klaus and Rebekah's claims were true

Davina gazed into your eyes with tears in them. "Y/n, no. You must have faith in me. I'm not envious. You're my sister, please. Nobody knows me as you do."

You shook your head “I don't know, Davina. I want to believe you, but... (you pauses, remembering Davina's previous behavior) …”that's why you asked if I had a guy friend for you to date. You were trying to make Kol jealous, weren't you?"

She was stuttering. "No... no... I….I just wanted to get his attention.It was not intended to be meaningful.”

You cast a somber glance at her. “I adore you, sister, but Klaus and Rebekah are correct. You're envious of Kol and me. And that's unacceptable.”

"Enough, all of you! Can't you see that this is tearing Y/n and her sister apart?" Marcel tells the three of you and he turns to look at you, his face full of anger. "You know what, Y/n? I thought you were better than this. You're not family, and you never will be. Get out."

"Marcel, what are you saying?" you questioned in shock. “I can't just be kicked out!"

He angrily tells you. "I can, and I will. Davina's my family, and I won't have you causing her pain."

Kol intervenes to protect you. "Marcel, stop up! Y/n isn't to blame for this. It was Davina who started this whole thing.”

He ignores Kol and he points to the door. “I don't care, Kol. Y/n's no longer welcome here. Now leave, before I make you."

"Fine, Marcel. I'll go. But you're making a big mistake." You said leaving as Kol comforted you. “Shh darling I’m here.”

Upon arriving at the Mikaelson mansion, Kol and you are warmly welcomed by the Mikaelson family, who make it clear that you are now one of them.

Elijah greets you with a smile. "Welcome, Y/n. We're so glad you're here. Please, make yourself at home."

Klaus smiles at you as well. “Indeed, Y/n. You're family now, and we protect our own."

Rebekah hugs you. "Marcel's a fool for kicking you out. But don't worry, we'll take good care of you here Sweetie."

Kol holding your hand. “I told you, darling. You belong here with us. You're a Mikaelson now, always and forever."

You were overwhelmed. "Thank you all so much. I don't know what I would have done without you."

One year later, Kol and your love for each other has only grown stronger, and the two of you decide to tie the knot. While the absence of your sister and Marcel brings you sadness, your new family is here to support you on your special day.

The wedding ceremony is beautiful, with you looking radiant in your dress and Kol beaming with pride as he watches you walk down the aisle with his two brothers. However, as the ceremony progresses, you can't help but feel a pang of sadness as you notices the empty seats where Davina and Marcel should be

Kol noticed your sadness. “Darling, what's wrong? This is our big day. You should be happy."

You carefully wipe off your tears trying to not ruin your makeup. "I know, Kol. I'm just sad that my sister and Marcel couldn't be here. I miss them."

Klaus stepped in since he overheard you. "Don't worry, Y/n. We're your family now, and we'll always be here for you. Today is about you and Kol, and no one else."

Rebekah pulled you into a warm hug. "Don't let them ruin this day for you, sister. You deserve to be happy, and we're here to make sure you are."

Elijah smiles as he nods. "Indeed, Y/n. Today is a celebration of your love for Kol, and our love for you. Let's make it a day to remember."

You smiled back. "Thank you all so much. I'm so lucky to have you as my family."

Kol takes your hand. “darling like I told you. You're a Mikaelson. And that means you're never alone."

As the ceremony continues, your sadness gradually fades, replaced by the joy and love of your family. Together, they celebrate the union of Kol and you, and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

Months later, you and your family are out in the city when you guys witness a surprising turn of events. Davina and Marcel, who had been absent from your life for some time, are being banished from the city. Despite the tension between them, you feel compelled to confront your ister and former friend.

You guys watched as Davina and Marcel are escorted out of the city, their belongings scattered behind them. Davina catches sight of you and tries to approach you, but the Kol and his siblings step in to protect you

Kol defensively tells her. "Stay back, Davina. You've done enough damage."

"Please, Y/n. I just want to talk to you."Davina pleaded

"It's alright, guys. I can handle this." You told them.

Klaus looks at you unsure. "Are you sure, Y/n? We don't want you to get hurt."

You nodded . "I'm sure. Davina's my sister, after all. I need to face her."

Davina reveals the reason behind their banishment, which involves Marcel's wrongdoing. "It's all Marcel's fault, Y/n. He made a deal with the enemy behind our backs, betraying our coven and putting everyone at risk. When the elders found out, they banished us both from the city."

you looked at him, shocked “Marcel, is this true?"

He defensively puts his hands up in the air. "I did what I had to do, Y/n. They were threatening to expose us to the humans. I had no choice."

You angrily yelled at him." So you sold out your own people? How could you do that, Marcel?"

Your sister pleaded to you as she got on her knees “Please, Y/n. You have to help us. We have nowhere else to go."

You let out a sigh. “I don't know, Davina. You both betrayed me. Why should I help you now?"

Davina and Marcel beg you for help, hoping that your connections with powerful people could offer them a lifeline. However, your loyalty now lies with your family, who have stood by your side when Davina and Marcel didn't.

She starts to cry, “please, Y/n. We need you. You know powerful people. You can convince them to help us."

You shook your head. "I'm sorry, sister. But I'm not going to betray them like you betrayed me. They're my family, and I won't turn my back on them."

Marcel angrily tells you. “So that's it? You're just going to leave us out here to fend for ourselves?"

You firmly back at him. "You made your choices, Marcel. And you have to live with the consequences. Good luck to both of you."

As you walk away from your sister and Marcel, Klaus can't resist a final parting shot, emphasizing the consequences of their actions. "I did warn you, didn't I? But you chose to ignore me. Now look where it's gotten you. You should have listened to me, and maybe things would have turned out differently."

Davina scowling. "Shut up, Klaus. This is all your fault."

Klaus laughs. “Oh, please. You're the ones who dug your own graves. Don't blame me for your own stupidity."

Rebekah turned over to Kol. "Come on, get Y/n out of here. She doesn't need to see any more of this."

Kol nods at his sister."You're right.” And he takes your hand. “Let's go, darling.”

As Kol and you walk away from the confrontation with Davina and Marcel, Kol decides to lighten the mood by revealing a surprise for you.

He grinned at you. "Hey, darling . I know that was a tough situation, but I've got something that might cheer you up.”

You asked curiously. "Oh? And what might that be?"

He teases. you. “Well, you'll just have to wait and see. But I promise it'll be worth it."

You smiled. “You're such a tease, Kol Mikaelson. But I'm intrigued. What's this surprise?"

He laughs. "Patience, Y/n Mikaelson. All will be revealed in due time."

As Kol and you continued walking, you can't help but smile at Kol's playfulness, grateful for his ability to lift your pirits even in difficult times.

Kol leads you to your surprise, keeping your yes covered until the two of you arrive at the destination. When he finally reveals the surprise, it's a beautiful house that he has acquired for him and you. Kol explains his reasoning behind the gesture, which elicits a laugh from you.

You laughed at him. “Oh, Kol. You really think the interruptions will stop just because we have our own house?"

He nods with a smile. "A man can dream, can't he? But seriously, I want us to have our own space, where we can be alone together whenever we want."

You smiled. "That sounds wonderful, Kol. Thank you."

Kol and you shared a kiss. "Anything for you, my darling. Now, shall we go inside and explore our new home?"

Together, Kol and you enter the house, excited to begin this new chapter of yours and his lives together

As Kol and you are about to enjoy the new home alone, Klaus, Elijah and Rebekah unexpectedly show up, much to Kol's chagrin. They continue their playful teasing, indicating that the interruptions might not be over just yet.

Klaus walks in with a smirk on his face. "Hey guys, we brought pizza!"

With Rebekah and Elijah following Klaus. "And wine, of course. Can't forget the wine."

Kol groans. "Really, guys? You're gonna do this here, too?"

Rebekah laughs with Klaus and Elijah. "Yup!"

You smiled. "Well, as long as there's pizza and wine, I'm not complaining."

The five of you all settle in to enjoy the meal together, relishing in the family bond and the lighthearted moments that you and your family share

[randomfandomblabdom]

I think part of what's making the conversations around the casting choices in the live action HTTYD so annoying to me is that for me, it has nothing to do with any of the supposedly controversial casting and more to do with the fact the movie seems to be cherry-picking what it wants to carry directly from animation to live action.

We have to wait to see more but as of right now, it looks like a near shot-for-shot remake. I know the director, Dean Deblois, said it wouldn't be but he was also on record of saying he would never make a live action remake and called them lazy several years ago but here we are so forgive me if I don't completely take his word on that. They did their damnedest to make poor Gerard Butler look as much like animated Stoick as humanly possible even if it means it looks like he just walked out of a Spirit Halloween store. Hiccup looks pretty much identical to his animated counterpart including that late 2000s haircut. It appears that they tried their best to replicate set pieces and props from the animated film. They obviously didn't mess with Toothless's design in very obvious ways because he's so iconic that god knows that would've caused absolute chaos...etc.

But then you have characters who don't look a thing like their animated counterparts - not just regarding race but smaller details like hair color or their costumes - in a movie that already looks to be a direct remake of the animated film where other aspects of said animated film are being perfectly replicated (or at least they tried very hard to replicate them).

If they had decided to do something completely different with this live action adaptation and change up every character in some way, this would be a completely different conversation and frankly, none of it would matter but because they seem to be cherry-picking what is and is not a direct remake/replication from the animated film, suddenly the conversation needs to exist because if they're being so particular about Stoick and Hiccup and hell, even Tuffnut looks like a pretty accurate replication then you can't help but ask... well, then why isn't Fishlegs blonde? Why isn't Astrid blonde? Why is Snotlout dressed in bright fucking orange? Why didn't they cast actual identical twins?

They're picking and choosing and it's adding fuel to a fire that was completely avoidable if they'd just picked one side or the other. They could've gone the historical route, they could've said to hell with it and made it all completely different, or they could've made it exactly the same... instead, they've created this confusing mosh pit that frankly shouldn't even exist that is unfortunately going to spark this so-called nitpicking whether people like it or not because you cannot argue that hair color or costumes don't matter when so much of the rest of the film already looks identical to the animation.

[ash5monster01]

One’s Hour Has to Come

Dead Poets Society Fic

Summary: A story in which you walk through the timeline of each of the Poet’s deaths and how they faced their end and experienced their lives in all endeavors. 

word count: 13.4k

Masterlist

1959

The first time any of the boys experienced a funeral that actually affected them, they were only sixteen turning seventeen. Too young to ever know the unforgiving cold heart of death and how in just seconds it could turn your entire life around. It was seared into each of their brains. How it had snowed that day, how the women cried, how heavy the casket was on each of their shoulders as snow crunched beneath their feet, how the roses already started to wilt due to the cold. 

They had lost a friend, a companion, and worst of all someone their age. It was a wake up call, a notion that life wasn’t as dependable as they thought. That at any moment anything could possibly happen to change that. Life wasn’t guaranteed and the timeline was unknown. Hadn’t that been what Keating had talked about this whole time? To make much of time and experience it as one should. So how come his teachings had played a part in the very death of their friend? It may have not been the reason but now that each of them were aware, it already started to feel like the time was running out. 

Neil Perry was an irreplaceable soul in a world of people who wasted the hours away. So as each of the boys faced the question of ‘why him?’, they realized death didn’t pick and choose. It was required and could not be changed or erased. Whether you were a saint or devil incarnate, your time was your time, and nothing could get in the way of that. Neil was only on this earth for a mere 17 years and that had to be enough, even if it felt like it didn’t. It had to mean something or the world wasn’t as each of the boys had thought. The world was cruel and unforgiving and happiness could be crushed at any moment. So as they faced the death of their friend together, mourned and lost, they realized one day it would be their turn, and there was no telling when. 

1968

Nine years. That was all it took. Barely even a decade before the group had to face another death. Pitts often wondered what it was like for Charlie the day Neil died. The thoughts going through his head as he set his sadness to the side in order to inform all of them. Pitts figured he would never have the answers to these questions until the telegram in his hand trembled. His mind hadn’t caught up with his heart yet. His body reacting as if it had just experienced deep trauma, which in a way it did. 

Gerard Pitts,

The Secretary of War desires me to express his deep regret that Sergeant Steven Meeks was killed in action on Thirty January 1968 in South Vietnam. This confirms personal notification made by a representative of the secretary of the army Major General, USA F48 Adjutant General. 

He wasn’t sure what to think at first. He hadn’t seen Meeks since they had graduated from Yale, he had briefly heard he had been drafted but what he never expected was this. This meant Meeks had listed him in his emergency contacts and now on this very day he had to face exactly what Charlie had too. So dropping the telegram from his trembling hand he reached for the rolodex in search of numbers he prayed would still reach each of the boys despite it having been years since contact. 

That was how they had all ended up here, in a stuffy church among the pews that they once found unbearable in their formative years. The wooden seats have provided nothing but stiff backs and unwarranted lectures in discipline. Now Pitts liked the feeling of it, the pain reminding him that this moment was real as he sat beside Meeks’ parents, who were now worn with age. Mrs. Meeks red hair had now started to fade into white and Mr. Meeks face had begun to sink in. Pitts briefly wondered if that's what Meeks would have looked like if he had made it to old age.  He hated that there wasn’t more family here to grieve, just the three of them, yet when each of the Poets walked through the door the weight on his shoulders lifted more and more. 

Todd had been able to take off of work a few days, leaving his third graders behind with a substitute teacher. He had really come into his own in college and found a love for teaching, but preferred kids much younger. When you're a kid the world is much less daunting and people are much more forgiving, he wasn’t sure he was ready to take on the responsibility of influential teenage minds. The best he could do was teach them young and hope they did what was best as they grew. 

Charlie, now as influential as his father in the business world, left behind the big city and stocks, driving somewhere other than Wall Street to send off a friend. You could smell success on him from the perfect cut of his suit and the expensive fabric. All with a dainty brunette tucked against his arm, the boy had made something of himself whether he wanted to or not. It was comforting to see, not knowing how the boy would end up after he had been expelled.

As for Knox, much to no one's surprise, he came with a still just as beautiful Chris by his side. He had taken over his fathers firm right after college and had been doing well for himself since. He was living the life he always dreamed of having, you could see it in his eyes with the way he looked at the one year old boy in Chris’ arms. They had been married right after college and before he got busy with the firm, it just made sense that babies were on the way. They had eloped, mainly to avoid an over the top wedding provided by his parents, and after their anger subsided they started to live a beautiful life together. 

What shocked everyone the most was to see Cameron walk through the door. Still just as awkward as he was as a teenager, slipping into a pew in the back as if not to be seen. He wasn’t even sure himself what brought him to come today. He hadn’t seen Meeks since High School graduation nor heard from him. He was shocked to hear the boy was even in the war let alone lost his life to it. Something deeper though, more important than even him or the other poets drew him here today and if he was anything, he was a man of deep respect. These were guys he grew up with and it was important to offer his condolences, at least to him. 

In front of them the Pastor starts to speak, a casket covered by an American flag in the front of the room and Pitts can't bring himself to believe that his friend was now inside of there. His body had been shipped back for the funeral and was to be a closed casket for undisclosed reasons. Whatever Pitts imagined made him sick anyway. Steven Meeks, the army hero, who would've thought? He never imagined what their funerals would’ve been like but if you had asked him years ago, the last response he ever would've had was a military funeral. 

When the crowd leaves the church to go to the gravesite, the majority of the boys have found themselves in tears. Todd stands beside Charlie and Knox, their wives behind them as they watch them lower the casket in the ground. Todd flinches when the rifles go off for the Three-volley Salute. This brings Charlie to wrap an arm around his shoulders, tears in Todd’s eyes matching his own. After they all walk through to drop roses on the casket, the group finds themselves off to the side, sharing a moment alone in the memory of their friend.

“Long time no see fellas’ Charlie is the first to say, a prideful arm still wrapped around Todd and his wife. Knox brings himself to smile softly, cradling the small boy in his arms.

“Been too long” he agrees and Pitts finds himself reaching for the child, long fingers grazing along his hairline. It was so odd to him that there could be something so young and safe from the dangers of the real world, that this child was starting on the path of a lifetime with an unwritten ending. 

“Clearly, you have a kid” Pitts chuckles, glancing up at Chris who held the same features as the small boy in Knox’s arms. He liked that there was hope for the short lifetime you were given, that you could be with your one true love and live a happy life. 

“I did, everyone meet Johnny” Knox offered up his arms, showing off the boy who was just starting life at a gathering over the end of a life. Pitts found tears rimming his eyes just at the thought of how much Meeks would've loved to meet him. 

“Hi Johnny” Todd smiled, face a mix of happiness and sadness. He had become quite fond of young life after years of teaching and to see Knox, who once was young, now holding him was unreal. 

“Like Keating?” Charlie said with a nod, half question and half matter of fact and Knox smiled as he removed an arm from the child to wrap around Chris.

“Yeah, like the Captain. The man who made me confident enough to chase after the girl of my dreams. Little Johnny wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him” Knox confirms and Todd steps out of the grasp of Charlie who had oddly taken over the role of Neil, making sure Todd was well looked after. He got a phone call once every two weeks, a lot like a mother hen, just making sure he was still alive. 

“Can I hold him?” Todd asks and Knox smiles, immediately offering up the young boy to his meek and quiet friend. Todd carefully accepted the child into his arms, tucking him against his chest and admiring the softness of his skin. 

“Meeks would've been just as surprised you actually had a kid” Pitts suddenly says and the group freezes, almost not expecting any of them to actually bring up the reason why they were all here. 

“I didn’t even know he was drafted” Knox whispers, ignoring Pitts statement and nods came from each of the boys amongst the group. Charlie had once tried writing to him but had never received a letter back, he just assumed he may have had the wrong address. He had no idea the boy was off at war when the majority of them had been able to avoid the draft due to money or ineligibility. 

“Couldn’t avoid it, he was a radio operator in the field. Doesn’t surprise me that Steven would be able to make a radio work and contact people in the middle of the jungle” Pitts says with a teary laugh and the boys let this sink in, picturing their small red headed friend in army green and deep in the woods fighting a war none of them could truly comprehend. 

“He was too smart for his own good” Charlie says with the shake of his head, remembering all those school years where Meeks had practically carried him on his back though the classes he struggled in. 

“He would've been glad we were all here, even Cameron '' Todd says, eyes never leaving the bright blue ones of baby Johnny, because of this he doesn't see how his sentence makes each of them stiffen. Things with Cameron never got smoothed over and they all went their separate ways. Pitts wasn't even sure why he called him, some deeper force out there brought him to do it. 

When no one responds, Todd finally lifts his head to see each of the boy's eyes cast on the red haired boy who was talking to Meeks parents. It was odd seeing him all these years later. He hadn’t really changed, he was just a touch taller and his eyes weren’t as bright as they once were. That much is true when his head turns to spot each of them, a tight lipped smile crossing his face before turning and walking off in the opposite direction. 

“Feels like a lifetime ago” Knox mutters, not really needing to explain his reasoning for the sentence. Cameron had always been uptight but he was once one of them. A young and innocent kid who thought the entire world was his oyster. They were all going to conquer it together until it all fell apart. 

“It’s nice, that he came” Charlie says with a cough, eyes darting to his wife in order to avoid eye contact with any of the boys who are shocked by this sentence. Charlie had never had anything nice to say about Cameron, they’d just have to chalk it up to grief over Meeks. 

“It’s nice that you all came” Pitts says and the group smiles at him, a sadness in each of their eyes as it finally settled that Meeks was really and truly gone. Charlie is the first to usher them into a group hug, one that each of them welcomes as they accept the embrace of friends they hadn’t seen in a longtime. 

“We always will”

1980

Charlie dreamed of the day he would finally receive a letter from John Keating. With how quickly both him and Keating had been booted from school he was never able to find a way to contact him. He had spent many years exhausting searches for a man that more than likely returned to his life in London, too far for a young boy in the 60’s to ever discover. So he gave up, he met his wife, worked hard at his job, and raised his two kids. So when he opened the mailbox one morning, he never expected to see a letter marked with multiple postage stamps, a return address scribbled on the side of a Keating in London. He never moved so fast, rushing inside in search of his letter opener in order to read the first words he’ll ever hear from Keating after all these years. 

Dear Charles Dalton, 

I’m writing to you on behalf of my husband John Keating who had once teached you for a few brief months back in 1959. I regret to inform you that my husband passed away due to a cancer called Hodgkin's Lymphoma that has been slowly eating away at his life. I want you to know that he did not die in vain and that he was very happy with the life he lived before it was taken from him. He always loved you boys and he never stopped thinking about you once. Up until the very end he would share stories of the best students he had ever taught. Please do not resent him for the distance that he has kept all these years. Despite how much I assured him, he still felt like he took some blame for the death of your friend. Unable to escape that guilt he felt it was best to keep his distance in order to avoid causing anymore harm. My husband was a smart but stubborn man which I am sure you know. 

His funeral will be held here in London in a week's time. I know it is short notice but if you’d like to attend or have further questions I’ll leave my number here. Please do reach out, my husband was very proud of each and every one of you and I’d love to get in touch and meet the boys that changed his perspective on a lot of things. He passed very young and had a lot more life to live but thankfully my husband knew how to seize the day and I hope each of you still are too. 

Sincerely, Elizabeth Keating

Charlie can’t bring himself to comprehend what he has just read. Tears rim his eyes as he realizes all the possibilities he imagined when opening this letter, not a single one included his death. The death of the very man that single handedly changed his life for the better. He always wished he’d have the opportunity to thank him but now that chance is gone. With his eyes trained on the number written at the bottom of the letter he finds himself picking up the phone and making a call he never thought he’d have to make. 

After discussing things with Keating’s wife he went through and called the rest of the poets that he was just realizing now that he hadn’t heard from in almost ten years. He hated that they had all lost touch but that was sadly how life worked. You grew up, moved away, met new people, and as the days go it gets harder and harder to reach out. Charlie didn’t find it hard this time to inform them all of another death yet the part that hurt was how he knew how to do it, He had once broken the news to them all before. When they all agreed to go along with him, Charlie booked the tickets and pretty soon they were off. 

Keating’s wife still looked just as she did in the picture that used to be in his room at Welton. Her hair was lighter but she must've still been dyeing it, other than that only a few new wrinkles covered her face. Charlie didn’t expect the tug on his heart when he saw her, especially since he had never met her in person before. For him though, it was the closest he ever got to seeing Keating again which is why he is the first of the boys to pull her in a tight hug. 

“We really loved him” he muttered into her shoulder and the small woman slowly rubbed a comforting hand over his back which brought tears to his eyes. 

“He loved all of you, the boys that continued his legacy” she fondly says as Charlie pulls back, offering a warm and gentle smile. 

“I thought we rather mucked it up” Todd says and Elizabeth turns to see the young blonde boy she could easily recognize from all the descriptions Keating had given her. Yet she supposed he wasn't so young anymore, nearly forty years old now. 

“I wouldn't say that, John was quite fond of your book” she tells him and Todd freezes, resembling the quiet boy he once used to be. Todd had never planned to write anything worth reading in his entire life but all these years and nowhere to put his ideas they just fell on a page, as if he had to get them out. The last thing he ever expected was Keating to read it. 

“He read it?” Todd asks, voice just as mousy as the seventeen year old boy within him. 

“Of course he did. He kept track of all of you. He was quite proud in knowing his young pupils had paved the way of great lives. Todd not only a teacher but author, Charlie the legend of Wallstreet, Knox the head of his own firm, Pitts the successful engineer, and Cameron the strong politician” Elizabeth proudly says, having developed a sense of pride over the boys her husband never shut up about. All four boys follow the gesture of her hand to find once again Richard Cameron among the crowds and Charlie is unable to stop the anger from crossing his face. 

“What the hell is he doing here?” he seethes, fists clenching at his side. Meeks funeral was one thing, that was a peer, a friend. This was different, Cameron never liked or understood Keating and was the sole reason blame was put on him when Neil died. If anybody shouldn’t be allowed at the funeral, it was him. 

“I invited him” Elizabeth calmly says and each of the boys look to her with shock, confused as to why she would dare do that when she definitely knew it was the boys fault Keating had been fired. Elizabeth laughs lightly at their bewildered faces before deciding to explain. “A few years ago when Cameron first ran for office he found our address and reached out. He apologized to John who never blamed him for what happened. He has been a kind and good friend to us the last few years. It was only right to make sure he would be here today”

“He got to talk to Keating?” Charlie whispers, entire body deflating at the idea Cameron got to speak to him one last time and he never did. It wasn’t fair. 

“Keating would’ve liked that we were all here” Pitts says, eyes darting between Cameron and Charlie, just waiting for a reaction he knew they’d have to stop if Charlie got too upset. 

“He would, he would've liked seeing how well you all grew too” Elizabeth confirms with a nod and Knox smiles at her, feeling a sense of happiness despite the heavy reason for them all being here. 

“My son Johnny, I named him after Keating. I always hoped they’d get to meet one day” Knox tells her and tears well up in the older woman's eyes at the thought. 

“How old is he?” she curiously asks, noticing how Charlie still has a glare plastered in the direction of Cameron as he lets the new information sink in. 

“Thirteen and he is definitely giving me a run for my money. Especially with his two little sisters” Knox says with a laugh, thinking of the twin girls at home, Clara and Chloe. They were only five and guaranteed neither him or Chris ever got any sleep these days. 

“I’d love to hear more about them, in fact I’d love to learn all about each of you” Elizabeth says and the Poets find themselves recognizing Keating in her. That spirit that always made them feel safe. 

So that's what they end up doing, they tell her all about their lives and milestones they've experienced over the last few years. Knox explains they waited a while after Johnny to have their girls and now that they had twins it made sense to wait before having anymore. Todd talked about how he just got tenure and still loved teaching third grade. Yet with the safety net surrounding his job he had more time to write now and that was exactly what he did. It all worked out for the best anyway considering the young publisher had caught his eye and they had now been married for four years. Charlie and his wife Emerson waited a few years before having kids, now they had Elijah who was seven and Nell who was five. The young girl named after Neil because from the moment he held her he just knew that she embodied his spirit. He wasn’t sure they’d have anymore kids but he was quite happy with where he was now. As for Pitts he was unmarried and spent the majority of his time dedicating himself to work, yet Elizabeth could see it in his eyes. He hadn’t found a companion yet because he wasn’t looking, he had lost too much. 

“I better be off to greet some more guests, thank you so much for coming” Elizabeth says once they've all caught up and the boys smile, bidding her goodbye in various ways as she moves across the room. They had learned Keating didn’t want a stuffy and formal funeral, just a wake where people could mingle and discuss their favorite memories of him. It was interesting to see the differences of the people in the room that the man had touched. 

“I’m going to say something to him” Charlie starts, unable to distract himself from the anger held towards Cameron. Yet before he can stomp over there Todd grabs his arm and stops him from making any rash decisions.

“Don’t Charlie, this isn’t high school anymore” he says, voice steady and eyes begging him to not do anything stupid. 

“I know but this isn’t right. It isn’t fair that he got to be in contact with Keating all these years and we didn’t. I tried for years to find him and Keating did so much more for us than Cameron. Cameron is the one who wanted to place the blame on him, he didn’t deserve to be the only one who got to talk to him.” Charlie says, the anger turning into tears, words crying out as he practically pleads with Todd to let him go and say something. 

“Keating forgave him, Charlie one day you will have to.” Knox tells him and Charlie breaks his arm from Todd’s grasp and wipes away the tears that had streamed down his face. He knows they're right but he hates it, he hates it so much and he hadn’t felt this type of anger since Neil died. 

“Let’s pay our respects, '' Pitts says, grabbing his shoulders and guiding him to the casket in the center of the room. It's hard for them to see the face of their old mentor, beat and worn with age. His hair was entirely gray but features were still soft. Charlie always wondered if he’d be able to recognize him if they ever crossed paths and he knew now he would. That Keating hadn’t really changed, not at all, and that fact alone was comforting enough. 

“He got old” Charlie snorts, more tears filling his eyes and the boys laugh as they each stand over the casket of a man that meant so much to each of them. 

“It’s a nice thought knowing they're all together right now” Todd says looking at his friends with teary eyes and they nod, knowing exactly what he means as they think of their lost friends. Enjoying the very thought they were together and experiencing poetry and freedom in the after life. 

“Just like us,” Pitts says, using his large arm span to squeeze the four of them together. The boys smile, now realizing they were depleting in numbers and maybe they don't talk or see each other anymore, but the love was still there. Charlie finds his gaze returning to Cameron one more time who was already watching the four of them say their goodbyes. Cameron slowly moved his hand up in a small wave but Charlie just turned away, not returning the same sentiment and staying in the moment with his friends. 

“The way it should be”

2000

The phone that was once in Todd’s hand lays on the ground, dial tone deafening as the words that he just heard continued to ring through his ears. He’s unable to process anything he has just heard, all he knows is that tears are falling out of his eyes and his body hasn’t caught up with the devastation that has just occurred. The last thing he expected when he sat down in his home office was a phone call from anyone, especially Chris Overstreet. 

“Todd, it's horrible. He was on his way home, he had just left work. I don't know how it happened. They say it was a drunk driver but it can't be true. He had just called to tell me he was leaving, we have Liam’s soccer game in an hour. I don’t know what to do”

That was when the phone dropped from Todd’s hand, disconnecting him and the blonde girl he hadn’t heard from since the announcement of their son Liam in 1983. He had to be seventeen now. Seventeen, the age they all were when Neil died. Now his father is gone. Hit by a drunk driver at only 59 years old, still half of his life head of him. As soon as these thoughts register he scrambles to pick up the phone and redials the Overstreet number, ready to help wherever he can. 

Which is how Todd finds himself on a journey back to Vermont, a series of taxis, trains, and ferry’s, all in order to leave the city and return to a town he hadn’t been in since the day he had graduated. He always wondered how Knox had stayed all these years but as he spots the Fall leaves crumbling off the Vermont trees, he’s reminded of how serene this place really was. It only held bad memories he never wanted to return too, and now sadly he had to add one more. As he stands in the driveway of the Overstreet home he sees geese flying above his head, perfect V formation as they head south for the winter. Todd wishes that was him, flying far far away from here and the sadness he has to face. When the front door opens Chris crumbles to her feet before him and he knows he made the right choice to be here. 

A week later after funeral planning and many tears shed, Todd finds himself standing at the front of the chapel next to Chris, Johnny, Clara, Chloe, and Liam. They had all grown so much since he had last seen them. Johnny was thirty three now, was working with his Dad at the firm, and married to a beautiful young girl named Marie. They had a four year old daughter Olivia, and she was adorable in her little dress and small white shoes. It was comforting to know Knox at least got to be a Grandpa, even if only for a short time. Clara and Chloe were twenty five and had been out of college for two years now, they started their own fashion line and had a small boutique in town. Still just as identical, and still a mirror image of Chris when she was that age. As for Liam, he was seventeen, and eerily looked just like his father when Todd had first known him. 

“I’m so sorry for your loss,” an older woman tells Chris, Todd's arm wrapped around her as her back shudders with the tears that never seem to stop. That's when he sees Charlie and Pitts greeting young Liam, faces looking an awful lot like his when he realized Liam could be Knox’s twin. You could see it made the young boy uncomfortable, knowing how many people here saw his father in him. Saw the Knox that Todd first got to meet. Charlie had opted to leave the family behind to be there for Pitts who still was unmarried and dedicated to his work. He had designed some of the grandest buildings in the world but still lacked any conviction in his personal life. The boys worried, had tried talking to him even, but Pitts was broken. He gave up on love a long time ago when he lost too many people in his life. 

“Chris” Charlie calls out as they make their way down the line of kids and as the blonde girl turns to spot more of Knox’s friends her tears turn to full on weeping, pulling Charlie into a tighter hug then any other guest here. 

“I’m so sorry” he whispered to her, hand rubbing up and down her back and trying to keep his eyes off the urn in the center of the room. Chris cried into his shoulder, body shaking harder as Pitts wrapped his arm around them both.

”He really loved you, you know” Charlie tells her as they pull back and she nods, wiping at her eyes which is useless as more tears come. 

“He loved you from the moment he saw you” Pitts says with a smile, still remembering that day Knox came back completely smitten over a girl he barely talked to. Chris tries to laugh through her tears but it comes out strangled, any memory of her husband making the crack in her heart grow bigger. 

“Thank you for coming guys” Todd tells them and Charlie is quick to wrap the boy in a hug. When Todd had called to tell him the news he wasn’t sure what to think, yet his heart eased when he knew he’d be here for Chris. Once Charlie lets go Todd guides the two boys away to give Chris the space to greet more guests. 

“Is the family coming?” Pitts asks Todd, referring to his wife Anne, and their eighteen year old son. Todd wasn’t sure he wanted kids after knowing all the things him and his friends had been through. So he and Anne agreed on one. Not long after that they had a son named Walter and every time Todd looked at him he remembered the quiet boy he once used to be. 

“No, Anne had a deadline to meet and Walter had exams at school. My son is a college boy if you could believe it” he tells him and the boys chuckle, Charlie himself knowing all too well how surreal it is to watch you kids grow up. Elijah was twenty seven now and engaged, and Nell was twenty five, fresh out of college and just hired as a big time journalist for the New York Times. 

“I can’t actually” Pitts jokes and Charlie and Todd laugh lightly, almost forgetting the heavy reason they were all here. Todd ushers them to the side, allowing more people to shuffle down the line and offer their condolences. 

“I saw Cameron is here” Charlie nods, having spotted the boy right away when they walked in the door. Charlie didn’t give him a second glance but Pitts offered a wave, so many years having separated their anger with him now. Charlie still wasn’t entirely over the Keating thing. 

“Yeah, I figured he should know and considering he’s been to them all, it seemed only right” Todd tells them, leaving out the part he had a good long chat with the boy who had become Governor of Vermont. Made sense honestly, especially with how much of a rule follower he was back in the day. Cameron had made something of himself and was married with four kids. It was surprising at first but then Todd realized it kind of made sense that Cameron became exactly what he thought he’d be. You had to respect it even if he didn’t let himself enjoy life like he should. 

“It’s nice that he comes” Pitts agrees as he spots the once red headed boy who watches them with hope. Dying to talk to them, apologize, reconnect. Yet as Charlie and Todd turn to look in the same direction, their eyes catch another person in the crowd that’s just as surprising. 

“Is that Chet Danburry?” Charlie asks, voice a shocked hush and Pitts turns just to confirm that the once meat head boy was now a full grown man with a wife and kids, offering his condolences to his ex girlfriend. The very girlfriend Knox stole from him. 

“It is, I never would’ve expected that” Todd says with the shake of his head, watching as Chet guides his family to some seats for the service. 

“It’s kinda cool, big of him. Glad to see he isn’t an angry teenager anymore” Pitts smiles, knowing long ago they all cringed at the thought of big ego Chet Danburry. 

“Sorry to interrupt boys but the service is about to start. Would you please sit with us?” Chris asks, eyes glimmering with hope and tears. Todd had already planned on it, knowing how much Chris was struggling with the idea that she has to continue to go on and take care of her kids for many years to come, all without the loving support of her husband. 

“Of course Chris” Charlie agrees, smiling at the line of kids and legacy that Knox had left behind. Once Chris and her children were sitting in the front row, Todd and the boys shuffled behind and took their seats. Charlie fought tears as he watched Todd squeeze the girl's shoulder to remind her they were right here. 

“Sorry, do you mind?” a voice interrupts and the three look up to see Richard Cameron pointing at the open seat beside them. Charlie can’t help but sneer yet Pitts has already shuffled over to allow him to sit. 

“Dad would be happy to see you guys here” Johnny turns with a smile, the four year old girl sitting in his lap and offering them a wide grin. When the Pastor sets Knox’s picture on the easel at the front of the room, the little girl reaches to it, soft giggles falling from her lips. 

“Papa” she calls out and Chris starts weeping again, Clara wrapping an arm around her in a hug as she cries beside her mother. Tears stream down Pitts face, Charlie reaching over Todd to rub his back as he fights off his own tears. 

“Thank you all for coming today to celebrate the life of Knox Overstreet. Husband, father, grandfather, and most of all, friend” the pastor starts, eyeing the large crowd the boy had brought in. Charlie’s own tears break through as it settles in that his old friend is now gone. His friend that once seemed so unwise about life and had become the most successful at it. As the pastor talks the group passes tissues, waiting to see each of the kids stand to give a speech. Johnny was first, smiling out to the crowd of people who also loved his Dad as much as him. 

“My Dad was the best, and I’m being serious. He was always there for me. Never said no when I asked to play ball in the yard, always supported me no matter what crazy thing I told him I wanted to do next. He always let me borrow the car, and was there anytime I struggled at work. He never let life or his job slow him down. If I wanted a treehouse, he’d build it. It didn’t matter that he had no idea how to use the tools and that very treehouse had fallen down a day later with him in it. He just wanted to make sure I was happy. Thing was, he never had to worry about that because I was already the happiest kid for having him as my Dad” Johnny laughs lightly to himself, thankful he had gotten so many years from the man he admired so much. “He will forever be the greatest loss of my life but at least I got to be loved by him, if only for a short time” Chris is in tears, watching her oldest son mourn the loss of her father, trying to manage her sadness and all of her kids' own. As Johnny leaves the stage he smiles at his two younger sisters who stand to take his place. 

“Our Dad could never keep up with us” Chloe started, a light smile on her face as the crowd laughed. “The good thing was at least he tried”

“He never got mad when we would try to switch places and confuse him. One time we even switched at school so Chloe could take a test for me. He was more impressed than anything” Clara adds, smiling at her sister with misty eyes. The crowd laughed again, the majority of them knowing that was exactly something Knox would do. 

“He did his best. He came to every tea party, let us cover his face in makeup, we even got him in a pink tutu once. He was the best at playing Barbie’s and told the greatest bedtime stories. Most people in life aren’t lucky enough to have even one great parent and somehow we got two. Two parents who loved each other more than anything, well maybe except for us.” Chloe is in tears now, words croaking out as she struggles to get them past the tears. Clara wraps an arm around her sister, struggling to keep her emotions at bay as well. 

“We could only hope that one day we get to see him again, dance on his feet like we’re little girls again and laugh when he’d tickle us both. If we had known the last time we saw him was going to be the last, we’d have hugged him just a little bit tighter” Clara finished for them and the two young blonde girls are hugging in front of everyone, tears streaming down. Not a dry eye in the building, attending the funeral of a man who left this earth way too soon. 

As Liam ascends the stage Todd recognizes his body language, mirroring his own when he was that age. A fear buried deep in his gut as he looks out to the intimidating crowd of people he now has to share his sadness with. When he catches Todd’s eye in the crowd, he gives him a nod to reassure him, reminding him that this was for his Dad and nobody else.

“My Parents would never admit it but I was an accident” the crowd laughs despite Chris’ mortified face, yet the giggles from her other children quickly reassure her. “It's true, and it's okay. I know most people who have already had three kids and are in their forties don’t normally have more. Despite all of that, my father never wanted me to feel any less than my siblings. I knew he was tired, he was just beginning to move a little bit slower. The thing about my Dad though was he never stopped trying. He came to every game, helped with my homework every single night, reminded me it was okay to be sad” the boy's head dropped as a fresh wave of sadness washed over him. 

“The worst thing about all of this, is he would be the only person in the world able to comfort me during this, and he isn’t even here. What happened to us is unfair but it’ll get easier. It won’t always hurt this bad and that’s because I had a Dad that showed me it was okay to have a big heart. I got to love him with all of mine just as he loved me, and because of that I’ll forever get to keep him in here” the crowd watches as Liam holds a hand to his heart, tears rimming his eyes and Todd finally breaks out in a sob he is unable to stop. He had told himself he’d be strong but to see someone who reminded him so much of himself at that age struggling with heartbreak just as he did, he couldn’t help but cry. 

The boys turn to face him, memories of the very day they watched Todd breakdown coming back. It was so long ago now that sometimes it felt like a dream, but the old man beside them now looked seventeen years old all over again in the face of grief. Charlie hugs him tightly, crying into his shoulder as he offers any comfort he can. Liam descends the stage just as Pitts grabs onto the both of them too. Cameron reaches a hand out, nearly an inch from touching them but he freezes in place, remembering that it had been a long time since they ever sought any comfort from him at all. With a heavy heart he drops his hand and allows the boys to grieve on their own. 

“We're going to offer up the floor to anyone else who wants to speak on Knox’s behalf” the pastor says softly into the microphone, trying his best to accommodate the heavy sadness filling the room. 

“I’m going to say something” Todd says suddenly, wiping his tears as the two boys release their hold on him so he can stand. They watch with worrisome looks as he navigates himself past Pitts and Camerons legs just to move to the stage in the front of the room. Todd uses the pedestal to ground himself as he faces the large crowd of people that once would have froze him with fear. If only Keating could see him now. 

“For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Todd Anderson. A lifetime ago I attended high school with Knox at Welton. Yes he was just as big hearted and goofy then, he just wasn’t as cool about it,” laughs come from the crowd and it gives Todd the confidence to keep going. 

“When we lost our dear friend Neil, Knox took me under his wing. We even roomed together our senior year. He was there for me in ways I never would've imagined when I first met him all those years ago. You could say he once took care of me just as he did his kids. I loved Knox like family and that's why I’m here with them today.” Todd offers Chris a smile who returns it with a puffy red face covered in tears. 

“We once had a teacher who taught us about Carpe Diem. In latin, that means seize the day. Some of us took that seriously and others not so much, but Knox, he wouldn't have had this beautiful life if it wasn't for that very lesson. The idea of seizing the day brought him to call Chris for the very first time, I should know because I was standing right there. In every moment after that he seized every opportunity he could when it came to love and life. He married Chris, the girl of his dreams, and got to raise a beautiful family. I’m going to miss my friend more than anything but there is something awfully beautiful about knowing there is more of him in this world and he’ll get to continue on in many generations to come” Todds eyes are glassy from the tears but the smile he offers Chris and her beautiful children is nothing short of genuine. In this moment they feel closer to him than ever, knowing there were still people here who knew their father in the intimate way they all did. He was always telling them about the good old days and it was nice knowing there were still people here that could talk about them.

“Thank you Todd” Chris mouths as he descends the stage and Todd nods in acknowledgment, slowly returning to his seat where his friends greet him with prideful pats to the back.

“Knox would have loved that” Pitts tells him and Todd smiles, looking at the picture of their lost friend. Another Poet passed on to a different life and Todd hopes that whatever is out there after death includes something as beautiful as them all being together again. What a comforting thought it was to think that in the next lifetime and others after that, they would all find each other once more. 

“All of them would have”

2007

Charlie sits at his desk at work, readers resting low on his nose, as his eyes scan the computer in front of him. It was odd to think that when he first started in this business, computers weren’t even a thought, and now the entirety of his job relied on it. He hated to admit that it confused him, practically deeming him an old man in mockery. It made sounds and showed things he couldn’t even begin to comprehend. Just as it dings again, a new sound he hadn’t heard before, he groans out in frustration, ready to just give up and call it quits.

“Mr. Dalton, is there something wrong?” his secretary Elise calls from the doorway. Charlie sighs, pulling the glasses from his face to rub a hand down it. 

“My computer just dinged and I have no idea what it means” Charlie feels stupid for saying it, remembering when he was once the cool hip guy at work. Apparently berets were long out of fashion and saggy pants were in, who knew?

“It sounded like a Facebook notification sir” Elise said, entering the room and preparing to assist the man because after all, it was her job. Charlie automatically rolled his chair to the side so Elise could save him from whatever mid life crisis he was experiencing. He wished Meeks was still around, he not only would have loved Facebook but he would have at least taught him how to use it. 

“Anything important?” he inquired, leaning forward to see she had brought up the profile his wife had made for him around the time Facebook first came out. She claimed it was a good way to reconnect with old friends but so far Charlie had only received one flimsy notification from Hopkins and another from Spaz. 

“You have a message sir, from a Mr. Pitts” the excitement of hearing from his old friend nearly has Charlie knocking the girl over as he rolls back in place to see. He quickly guides the mouse over the message button just to see what his old pal had been up to. It had been since Knox’s funeral he had seen him last. 

Charlie, I hope this message reaches you since it was the only form of contact I can find. You should know Gerard passed away two days ago from liver failure. He has been a struggling alcoholic for quite a few years now and never wanted you and your friends to worry. His funeral will be held at the end of the month. Please share with whoever else you think would want to know. Thank you for always being a good friend to my son. 

“Oh God” is the first words to fall from Charlie’s mouth and Elise realizes this is her cue to exit since whatever Charlie just read, was not good news. 

In the next few moments Charlie has Todd on the line, informing him of the message he just received. As the words come out of his mouth he realizes just how real this all was. When Todd finally calms down he tells Charlie he is going to call Cameron and the boy can’t bring himself to sneer in face of the bad news. Letting him off the line he calls his wife next in order to tell her the bad news and that he was expected in Vermont at the end of the month. 

For the entirety of the funeral Charlie finds himself more angry than anything. The anger wasn’t directed towards the universe for taking his friend and it wasn’t directed at Cameron who he sadly had to sit next to the entire funeral. The anger was directed at Pitts himself. Charlie had known to an extent that he was struggling. You could tell since the boy never married or made new friends, devoted his entire life to his work until he ran dry. He was angry that Pitts never told any of them and had chased the bottle for comfort instead. That he had sought a drug to heal wounds that it could only worsen. Pitts killed himself, slowly but intentionally and Charlie was angry. Then he was angry with himself for being angry with Pitts when Charlie knew he could've done more to reach out even if he was busy with his wife and kids.

“I wish I had known,” Todd says, eyes cast over the large lake he hadn’t seen since his Welton days. It was pitch black out, only the moon illuminated the black water beneath them. Charlie chuckles dryly, eyeing the bottle of whiskey in his hands that he can’t entirely bring himself to drink under the circumstances.  

“You're telling me” he sneers, tipping the liquid back and allowing it to burn down his throat. He reminded himself he never abused the substance and he was free to have a drink while facing the loss of a friend. 

“You could've at least shook Cameron's hand” Todd says as he sits beside him, grabbing the bottle and taking a swig himself. Charlie is impressed that the alcohol doesn’t bother him but he supposed there were a lot of things he no longer knew about the boy. 

“I was in no state to play nice, even with Cameron” Charlie tells him, accepting the bottle back but not taking a sip quite yet. He trained his eyes on the soft ripples in the water, the way the wind blew them slowly against the shore. He once used to spend hours rowing in this water and now even just the thought hurt his shoulders and knees. He hated that he was getting old, slowing down, losing his friends. 

“Did you notice he turned all gray?” Todd asked with a chuckle, remembering just a few hours ago he saw his once red headed friend with fully gray hair. Not even a sliver of the youthful boy that once used to be. 

“We all are, I just tell my wife I’m turning blonde. It also doesn't help that he’s a politician” Charlie says with a smirk even though he hates the wrinkles on his face and the deep bags under his eyes that never went away. Sometimes when he looked in the mirror he could picture Nolan and that thought made him angrier than anything. 

“I suppose that's better than getting old” Todd agrees and Charlie sighs, head tipping up to glance at the stars that somehow seem brighter tonight. Brighter than they ever were in all the years he lived here. Tears burn at the back of his eyes as he thinks about his friends. 

“I hate that he did this to us” Charlie mutters, chin trembling at the admission and Todd is surprised to see the sadness within his friend. He’s quick to wrap an arm around his shoulders, pulling him close into his side. 

“He was struggling, Charlie, no more than Neil,” Todd reassures, feeling his own tears building up at the sight of his strongest friend breaking down. Charlie shakes his head, sighing heavily as he leans to rest his cheek against Todd’s shoulder. 

“That doesn't matter Todd, he knew how badly Neil's death hurt us and he still did it anyway. All those years, he was all alone and none of us did anything” Charlie cries and Todd feels his own tears seep out as he rests his head on top of Charlie’s. 

“We didn’t know and he didn't want us to know. Losing Neil was hard for all of us and he lost Meeks right after. Loss like that can do a lot of things to a person. Pitss tried to go on and we can’t judge him for how he handled it. You have to remember he hid it from us, all those times we saw him” Todd says, his own eyes casting up to the sky to keep the rest of his tears from spilling out. Even he hated that today he had to face his friend's 90 year old Dad and offer his condolences for losing his son after already losing a wife. No parents should outlive their child, even Mr. Perry. 

“He deserved more, they all did” Charlie says with a sad sigh, realizing that in this very moment it was just him and Todd. If he was to be honest with himself, Cameron too, and he found himself briefly wishing that he would go before Todd because he wasn’t sure he’d be able to attend that funeral. 

“Promise we keep in touch, I don't need you disappearing on me either” Todd says, not caring if he sounds like a sap or some emotionally unstable old man. His friends were lessening in numbers and the only two left on this earth that understood everything he had been through were too distant for his liking.

“I promise, if not for us but for Pitts who deserved so much more than he got” Charlie says and Todd chuckles even though nothing about this is funny. In reality they were just two old men drowning their sorrows in a shared bottle of whiskey by a lake that once felt like a barricade to a life they couldn't escape. 

“To making the most out of the rest of it”

2012

He had just celebrated his 70th birthday. That was all Charlie could think as he ended the call with Anne Anderson. Just last week he had called to wish the boy a happy birthday and now he was gone. Lost to a broken heart or in other words a heart attack. The strain of which his latest book had put on him and all those years of teaching. Charlie briefly wondered if the damage had begun to start when Neil had died. Either way he was brought back to the night of Pitts funeral and he realized that his wish didn't come true. Todd had gone before him and now he had to face something he wasn’t prepared for. Being the last poet alive.

Then it suddenly hit him that he wasn’t. The dread that fills his gut instantly makes him feel guilty because this was for Todd. The grudge he had all these years should not be stopping him from doing what was best for his friend. So much to his dismay he went into the contacts on his phone, doing exactly as his daughter Nell had taught him when he got this dreaded Iphone. He still remembered when you had to spin a dial just to make a phone call and now something as small as this could fit in your pocket and be with you on the go. If only these had been around when he had received a phone call from God. 

“Hello” the sadly familiar voice picked up and Charlie scowled before loosening his shoulders and responding into the phone. 

“Hey Cameron, it’s Charlie” he muttered and the worn down man quickly perked up because he knew what this meant. There was only one thing in the world that could get Charlie Dalton to call him. 

“What happened?” he instantly asked, tears already flooding his eyes. He’s brought back to the very first time he ever saw Todd, how he called him a stiff. He suddenly cringes at the memory. 

“Heart attack, Anne said it was a long time coming” Charlie said, suddenly reminded of the very reason he was having this phone call. He had lost Todd, they had lost Todd, and none of it was right. Todd deserved to be here longer, he had more reason to be here longer. 

“Jesus,” Cameron said, falling back into his seat. Charlie stayed silent, letting him process the very thoughts he still hadn't come to terms with. Todd was an unexpected friend. They all may have not known him as long but he had been there ever since. In a way he was the last piece of a puzzle that made them all feel close to Neil. That’s when Charlie realizes the two are together again. At least that was a comforting thought during this har time. 

“Anne said the services will be held next week, I can text the information as soon as I have it” Charlie whispers, trying to imagine Cameron sad. It was hard considering the two barely knew each other anymore. At one point in time this was the guy he slept in the same room with for years. The last time he saw him was when Neil died and even then his vengeful actions covered up the sadness pretty well. The only time Charlie ever saw him since then was at funerals and even then Cameron was tough as stone, never breaking down like any of the boys had. Face as still as a painting in a museum.

“Thank you Charlie, thanks for calling me” Cameron brings himself to say and Charlie feels seventeen all over again, innocent and excited to be in the real world. If he had known it was this sad, he might've stayed a kid a little longer. 

“Yeah, sure” Charlie says before muttering a goodbye and hanging up the phone. As he drops the device on his desk his eyes catch the old black and white photo. The gold frame is a stark contrast to the pale faces of the young boys who had no idea what was to come. Despite the fact none of them had ever stayed that close it was heartbreaking to know that all but two were still alive. He once used to look at this picture and only miss Neil, but now, he yearned for all of them. As much as he hated to admit it, a small part of him yearned for Cameron too. 

When the day of the funeral comes Charlie finds himself in the back of a taxi alongside his wife Emerson. He’s wearing the same suit he wore for Pitts funeral and he hates that this had now become his death suit. This was the suit he made Todd promise him to go first in and now here he was saying goodbye to him too. The brunette girl shuffled closer to him in the backseat, streaks of gray now filling her hair. They sadly were getting old too. 

“Are you okay?” She curiously asks and Charlie offers a weak smile, one she knew well after all these years. She fell for a prideful man but even the happiest of them all had to fake it sometimes. 

“I will be” he tells her honestly and she nods, curling her hand into his own and feeling the sadness pour out of him. She had only seen Charlie beam a few times in her life. When she said yes to marriage, their wedding, the birth of their kids, and whenever he talked about the Dead Poets Society. She knew that a loss like this cut deep. 

When they pulled up outside of the funeral home Charlie saved face and helped his wife out. He watched as many people passed and entered the building. He briefly wondered who each of them were. It was odd to him that he once knew all the same people Todd did and now every single one of these people was a stranger.

Anne has him pulled into a hug the minute he finds her inside. Crying softly against him and muttering condolences as if Charlie had lost something more than her. Charlie once used to be an important person in Todd’s life but now none of it compared to her. The only girl Todd ever loved. The only person Todd ever loved since Neil. “I’m sorry Annie”

”Hey, don’t be. It’s life and the doc had been telling us for a while his heart wasn’t good” she assures Charlie as she steps back from the hug but Charlie can see the heavy sadness in her eyes, the desperation for her husband. Now he was wishing he would go after Emerson because he never wanted her to wear this look.  

“Where’s Walt, is he doing okay?” Charlie curiously asks as Emerson pulls Annie into a brief hug, offering her own condolences. The blue eyed girl smiles and nods her head to the side. Charlie turns to find the spitting image of Todd standing beside a young red headed girl, accepting condolences from other guests. 

“He’s holding up, that’s his fiance Ariana. She’s been a big help during this whole process” Anne catches them both up and Charlie wraps his arm around his wife’s shoulders, remembering a time he was once young and flaunting off his beautiful fiancé. 

“He’s so grown” Charlie tells her and Anne nods, smiling at her only child who hopefully pretty soon would make her a Grandma. Yet the excitement wasn’t entirely there now knowing there wouldn’t be a Grandpa by her side. 

“Walter, come say hi to your Uncle Charlie” and the man’s chest constricts as Anne calls him this, suddenly feeling like the worst person alive for never actually getting close with the kid. The kid who was now thirty years old, much expired from the lessons he once learned at seventeen. 

“Hey, thank you so much for coming.'' The boy approached, a smile on his face and Charlie realized just how tall he was, most definitely taking after the bigger side of the Anderson family. He had to have been taller than Todd even. 

“Of course, I loved your father like a brother” Charlie nods, feeling the tears coming to his eyes again and Walter chuckles at this sentence because if there was one thing he knew about his father, it was how much he loved all of them. 

“Yeah I know, he never shut up about you guys” Walter says and Charlie smiles, head tipping back to avoid the fall of any stray tears. Of course Todd would be the one to continue their legacy, even if the rest of them grew old and got distracted. Todd would always be back in that Welton classroom. 

“That’s good to know, especially since there was once a time I couldn’t get Todd to talk” and everyone laughs despite the sadness surrounding them. Two families who had all faced loss and somehow still had each other, even if only briefly. 

“Here, I actually wanted to give you this, '' Walter says, letting go of his fiance's hand to rush over to a small table. The group watched as he dug into a bag there, pulling out a stack of white papers and moving back towards them. “It’s a printed copy of Dad’s book. He had just finished it the day before. I’m pretty sure he wrote it for all of you”

“Walter this is so kind, thank you” Charlie says, ready to cry all over again for something entirely different. Walter smiles and nods, knowing that Charlie and his Dad once shared the same sadness and that things like this could be so healing.

“We better find our seats, we’ll catch you after” Anne says, grabbing her sons arms and offering the pair a smile. Charlie and Emerson bid their goodbyes, watching as they moved into the mass of people. Once they're out of sight Charlie looks at the first draft of the book in his hands. It was heavy and for a moment Charlie pretended it was Todd’s hand in his own, bidding him one last goodbye. Slowly he flips the pages until his eyes finally catch something worth stopping for. 

For my friends, the Dead Poets Society. My life wouldn’t be what it is without any of you. I once thought no one would understand me and in the end I found six people who did. The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse. Thank you for being a part of mine. 

A tear drops on the page, soaking through the paper and Charlie finds himself unable to stop, staring at the black ink. The last thing Todd would ever say directly to him. It was as if he had known. Charlie hates he wasn’t there to say goodbye to him. 

“I’m really going to miss him,” Charlie says, tears streaking down his face. Emerson gives a pressed smile, wrapping an arm around his waist as she watches her husband grieve. She didn’t need to see what Todd had written to know it struck deep with him. 

“I know baby, I know” she comforts and Charlie is quick to wipe his eyes, tucking the book close to his chest. When his vision clears he spots Cameron across the room, already looking at him with a sad stare. For a moment Charlie allows his eyes to lock with his own, looking on with no anger or resentment. This time he looked at Cameron with understanding and peace. Cameron stays frozen, waiting for any possible reaction from his old friend, desperate to grieve alongside him. Acknowledge they shared the same sadness. Slowly Charlie offers him the smallest of smiles in which the boy quickly returns. Comforted by the fact that after all these years Charlie had finally accepted him as he was. 

“Let’s go find our seats” Charlie urges his wife and Emerson nods, glancing at the man her husband just stared down. If she was correct, that was Richard Cameron, and her husband had just communicated with him in a way she would never understand. They shared a moment meant to be healing for them both. 

Charlie and Cameron may always be opposite sides of the same coin but they shared one thing in common that would always tie them together. They once were just boys together. 

2033

Cameron hates the way his hands shake as he tries to read the morning paper at the kitchen table in the morning. The very hands in front of him looked nothing like they once did. He wouldn't even recognize them anymore. He was an old man, a lifetime beneath his belt and not many more years ahead. All he had was this old rickety house that he once raised his kids in. Now they were off raising his grandkids and for some reason he was still here, waiting to join his wife in heaven. 

As he flips the age of the newspaper he finds he's reached the obituary section. Faces old and young littering the page, people who lived lives just as interesting as his own. It’s when his stare falls on a familiar set of eyes does he freeze completely. The picture is of an old man, that much was abundantly clear, but they were the eyes of a child. Very eyes he had looked into a hundred times in his life that always held a freedom Cameron never understood. A childlike wonder he yearned for even as he got older. 

Charles Dalton, 1941-2033. Loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Charles Dalton is a proud alum of Welton Academy and Columbia University. He went on to become a very successful businessman, a proud member of Wall Street. He passed on Thursday December 15th surrounded by friends and family. Services will be open to the public on December 23rd. He is survived by his two kids and their families. 

Cameron sucks in a sharp breath as he rereads the date one more time. Seventy four years ago to the day Neil Perry had passed. Cameron's eyes darted around the page, much faster than his body was these days. He wonders if it means something, if the universe had connected to the two still after all of these years. He once used to be jealous of the friendship the boys shared and the fact they had spent over seventy years without each other and still had a bond stole his breath away. 

Cameron finds his heart stuttering in his chest, trying to comprehend the tears that are coming to his eyes at the realization that washes over him completely. For the first time since 1959 he realizes what a fool he had been. He knew he was somewhat wrong, had accepted the blame, but suddenly all these years later it just clicked. Life wasn’t all about following the rules and leading a path of success. It was about love and friendship, feeling free and tied to the world in unexplainable ways. All these years doing what was thought of him and never enjoying it the way he should. 

“God dammit Charlie, you were right” he mutters through his tears as he drops the trembling newspaper down. He no longer wanted to be reminded he was old now, a shell of the boy he once used to be. A stubborn boy who just now at 92 years old realized there was so much more life to live. 

When the revelation began to wear off Cameron finally decided to attend the funeral. It didn't matter he now had a cane and every step he took hurt. It didn't even matter that he looked nothing as he once did as a boy. Charlie was the one poet that would have sacrificed everything for them, in a way he did. It was Cameron’s turn to be there for him, especially as the last remaining member of the Dead Poets Society. 

“Dad, let me help you” Violet, his youngest daughter of four kids, scolds him as he attempts to get out of the car himself. She was in her 50’s now and the only child of his still willing to help him get around, even if her own kids were now in college. 

“I’m fine Vi, I once was nimble” he tells her, trying to muster as much arm strength as he could to pull him out. He doesn't miss the roll of her eyes or the ‘not anymore’ she mumbles under her breath. He lets her hook under his arm just as he gets close to up right and smiles at the big church in front of him. Only Charlie could manage one of the grandest buildings in the city and have it opened to his adoring public. Cameron was just thankful he was never famous. 

“This friend of yours was a popular guy” Violet mutters as they approach the church steps, taking them slowly up to a line of the recently deceased family. Cameron’s heart races for something entirely different then old age. 

“Thank you for coming” an older boy says when they get to the top and Cameron reaches his trembling hand to shake his own. For a moment it feels like Charlie and he pulls away quicker than intended. 

“Of course, Charlie was my roommate many moons ago” Cameron says and suddenly their eyes light up. Cameron hopes it isn’t from terrible stories Charlie had shared of him over the years. 

“Cameron right? Back in his days at Welton” one of the older girls says and Cameron nods, shaking her hand as well.

“That would be me, and you are?” he inquires, desperate for a glimpse into the life of a boy he once knew like the back of his hand. A hand he no longer recognized as his own, many years between it and the days it once knew Charlie. 

“I’m Nell, and this is my husband Robbie” she says, arm reaching to hook around another gentleman beside them. ‘This is my older brother Elijah and his wife Diane. Our kids are around here somewhere. It hasn’t been easy for them, they really loved their Grandpa” Cameron realizes the boy that had greeted him was a direct extension of Charlie. It was no wonder his hand had reminded him so much of days as teenage boys. He takes a moment to soak them in, noting the features that had to have been Charlie’s and the features that were definitely his wives. “This is my youngest daughter Violet”

“Nice to meet you” Elijah smiles, shaking her hand and Camerons heart clenches in his chest, wishing Charlie was here to see their kids together. Versions of themselves they once used to be. 

“I was so sorry to hear of his passing” Cameron brings himself to say and they smile at him, comforted by the fact there was someone still here who knew him as intimately as they did. Someone his age still carrying life lessons that he did. 

“He was too. You know our Dad. Always claimed he’d go out with some big bang, a great ending like James Dean. He was so disappointed to know it was as an old man in a bed surrounded by his family” Nell says with a chuckle, still able to see her father so full of life and so loud. It used to embarrass the hell out of her how outgoing he was and now it was all she yearned for in the face of his loss. 

“If I knew anything about Charlie he didn’t mind that at all. He was happy to know he had great kids and people who truly loved him as he went out” Cameron says, smiling softly at each of them even though the majority of his face had sunken in with age. “Charlie was good at talking straight out of his ass”

“Now isn't that the truth” Elijah laughs along with him and Cameron laughs hard enough for it to lead into a cough. Violet rubs his back as the group calms. 

“You guys got a good man for a father, I always wanted to be him” Cameron says and they smile, knowing this is most likely a statement their father did not get the privilege of hearing. Cameron smiles anyway, happy the Dalton line would continue to live on when he once wished he could remove it from the world. 

“Thank you, he really would have appreciated you being here” Nell tells him, knowing he needs to hear it, a deep sadness surrounded by regret clear as day on his face. 

As Cameron steps into the church he vows to not waste another day, even if there isn't many left. He’s going to make the most of life and not when he comes to die discover he had not lived. For the first time in seventy years he understands the true meaning of Carpe Diem, seizing the day. For the first time in his life he was actually going to do it. The only thing was he wished the Dead Poets were by his side to finally see it.

Charlie most of all. 

2035

Two years. That was all he got out of a lifetime finally living his life the way he wanted. Cameron passed away as an old man with a big beautiful family and an honorable career. He made his life exactly the way he wanted and in the end died with only one regret. That he did not seize every opportunity at its fullest. 

A funeral was held for not many people to attend. For he was one of the last people his age to die. So the service was not surrounded by loving friends or thankful peers. It was a memoriam for his kids and the people he passed his legacy onto. None of them would know him for the Dead Poets Society or have no idea what it had entailed. 

They had become lessons lost to a lifetime, ones lived in various different ways. Cameron had decided during those two years that if he was not capable of seizing the day, his blood line would. He shared these lessons with his kids and their kids and hoped there was still some chance for them yet. To not lose the people closest to them. No one should watch all their friends die and in the end find themselves with regret. Cameron would always have that, a deep sadness that out of everyone he was the only one to waste it and live the longest. 

On his last day all he could think of was Neil. The one out of all of them who deserved the long and successful life. Cameron had lived triple the amount of lifetimes the boy did and yet he was still the biggest part of him that came to him in his final moments. Neil may not be remembered anymore, a flicker of a lifetime that once existed long ago. A boy who faced tragedy in just a few short months. He had deserved to live but life was not that fair. Neil was survived by each of them and that was all there was to offer. 

Poets who found successful careers, made families, legacies, and shared the knowledge of living life the way it should be. Living life as your own and not as who people want you to be. Boys who once spent their adolescent years in a small cave bursting with big and hopeful dreams. Freedom becoming the very reason for their being. Saved from a life full of resentment and hate. Now survived by lives full of respect and love. They may all be gone now, lost to nothing but memories told through stories they had shared. In the end there was only one thing.

They were now all officially members of the Dead Poets Society. 

Taglist: @octaviasdread @jeantjoque @desire-mona @good--merits-accumulated @theluminoussunflower @pencileraser1 @xxselenite @inamagicalhallucination @ionlycareaboutyou @domorebemore

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Shh <3 (18+)

FRANK IERO x GERARD WAY x FTM!READER

SUMMARY: Y/N has a dream about Frank and Gee. And then he wakes up and they fuck <3

WORD COUNT: ~4.4K

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Y/N wasn't tired; in fact, he was entirely 100% awake. And he could prove it! His words weren't slurring at all and he was standing upright and he wasn't shaking at all. He felt so awake that everything was extra crisp-looking and bright and colorful, and yeah, it did kind of hurt his head and his eyes burned but that's just a sensory overload thing. It's not a tired thing.

So he was a little bit disappointed when Gerard ushered him upstairs and pushed him onto the bed and told him to get some sleep. "But Gee," Y/N whined. "I wan' stay up with you guys." He stared up at the man.

Gerard shook his head. "You've been up for way too long, and you have class tomorrow." What did he mean up for way too long? It had only been, like, two and a half days. It was literally only 10:00 PM. So he whined again, making grabby hands for Gerard's figure, even as the man was turned around and walking away from the bed.

"Gee..."

"Go to sleep, Y/N. You'll feel better in the morning," Gee said gently. He closed the door after dimming the ceiling light, knowing that he didn't like the dark. Y/N finally hummed begrudgingly, rolling his eyes—that kind of hurt, like a pulsating kind of headache—before closing them and trying to get some sleep.

Almost two seconds after his head hit the pillow, he was in a different place, almost as if he teleported there. The hallway was bright, but not nearly as bright as the stairway was two minutes ago. He heard voices, two of them sounding like Gerard and Frank. The hallway shifted in and out of focus, but the sounds of their voices stayed ever-present.

"Hey, hot stuff," Frank said as Y/N emerged from the almost never-ending hallway. He looked him up and down, biting his lip. Things around him continued to shift, but never completely changing scenes.

"Hi," he said curiously, wondering vaguely what was going on. Gerard was looking his way too, and Ray and Mikey weren't in the vicinity at all. He had thought they were, but maybe he was wrong. He had been kind of tired, after all. He stood there at the end of the hallway, wanting to move forward but not exactly sure how to.

Frank and Gerard, however, didn't seem to need any help getting their limbs to do what they wanted. They stood up out of their chairs (hadn't they been standing? Probably not, if they just stood up) and kind of... strode towards Y/N. It was in this smooth kind of way that made his legs tremble a little bit.

Suddenly they were right in front of him, Gerard's hand in his hair. Gerard was kissing him, and he was kissing back, though he wasn't exactly thinking about kissing back. He was in this fuzzy state of knowing what he wanted to do but not being able to perform those actions of his own free will.

For example, he wanted to pull away and tell Gerard that he was confused. Weren't Frank and him dating? What was he doing kissing him? But instead of doing that, his lips kept moving against the taller man's. He could feel hands running down his sides, making his whole body tingle. His legs continued to shake.

Y/N would have choked, had he had any control over his body, when he felt a body grind against him from behind. Now two bodies—presumably Frank's and Gerard's—were pressed up against him. His thoughts were somehow racing and stuck in sludge all at once.

Gerard's hands came up to cup his face as he was pushed gently onto the bed that was suddenly behind him.

Frank was in front of him as well, now. Gerard pulled away from the kiss. They both had a hungry look in their eyes, looking Y/N up and down slowly.

"Do you want this?" Y/N still had tons of questions, most of them revolving around the idea that Frank and Gerard had never expressed interest in him until right now, and how did it go from 0 to 100 so quickly? But instead of voicing these thoughts, he found himself nodding.

His clothes were off, all of them. Completely bare in front of the two men, he shivered, hands and legs trembling nonstop. He hoped he wasn't ruining the sheets but that was quite a request considering how he was gushing out, every part of him soft.

Gerard pushed him to lie down on the bed, his stomach fluttering uncontrollably as their lips attached again, the older man's tongue pushing its way into his pliant mouth.

He hadn't remembered that Frank was there, quite honestly, until he felt a hot finger press into his cunt. He moaned into Gerard's mouth, unsure of what to do with his hands (not that he could even figure out what they were doing at this moment). The finger quickly became two fingers, Gerard kissing him harder when he squirmed; the digits dragged in and out at a painfully slow pace. Y/N would have cried out once they hit that pulsing spot inside of him had he been in control of his own body. But he was not and so he didn't, taking every little thing given to him like a little puppet on strings being pulled either by the two men interacting with him or some unhinged god.

Gerard finally pulled away from kissing Y/N, instead deciding to attack his neck and shoulders with bruising kisses. He could almost sob—the man buried his mouth right under his jawline and bit and sucked hard, licking over the forming bruise in a crude and truly animalistic way.

He felt, vaguely, the ghost of air across his bare legs, but only for a few moments. And then suddenly Frank's tongue, warm and wonderfully shaped, was plunging into him, twisting and stretching more than a tongue should be legally allowed to. This time it happened. A cry ripped across his vocal cords and tumbled out of his mouth.

Gerard stopped his onslaught of hickeys for a moment to hush him. "Shh... you're okay. You're okay." While Y/N was still trembling from the stimulation of Frank's tongue fucking in and out of him at a distressingly slow pace, Gerard went back to sucking hickeys into his neck.

"Come on, pretty boy," he heard Frank mutter, the words filthy. "Cum for us."

At those three words, a full-body orgasm built up, crashing down over him seconds later. It made his shoulders crowd with butterflies and all four of his limbs seize for a few moments before they released.

A whimper of his own making woke Y/N with a start.

Y/N was practically trembling, limbs sticky with sweat and clit pulsing to the same beat as his racing heart. His hair stuck to his forehead. In his bleary state, he didn't think much of his body screaming at him. He just needed to catch his breath and then he'd be fine.

And then everything flooded back into his head. "What the fuck—?" he said out loud, grateful that he was finally in control of his body. He couldn't quite figure out whether everything had happened or not, but that was something to find out later. Right now his only thought was that he really, really needed to get off. Because that was hot... and so was his body.

He glanced towards the door, finding it closed. So he threw the blankets off of himself and shakily stripped down the lower half of his body, leaving himself in just a t-shirt. He would have to be careful; he was already so wet and his thighs were apparently not only slick with sweat but also discharge. If that shit got on the sheets... he shook his head. He'd make sure that didn't happen.

Although the whole room already smelled like sex, which would kind of be really difficult to get rid of.

He slid a trembling hand down his clothed stomach, stopping right below his bellybutton to ghost his fingers over the area, feeling his abdomen tense at the feather-light stimulation. His head tilted back unconsciously the further down his hand traveled, until he reached his clit, rolling it roughly between his thumb and forefinger. A shaky whimper escaped his mouth, and that just wouldn't do in somebody else's house—somebody's guest bedroom—so he clamped his free hand over his mouth as he continued to stimulate himself.

After a few minutes, he slowly slipped two fingers into his cunt, the pads dragging across his walls deliciously. They pulled out, sunk back in, out, in, out. The pace started slow, Y/N nervous that somebody would hear the squelching of wet skin on wet skin, but the longer he went without interruption, the more confident he got that nobody would even knock on the door, let alone open it. So he sped up, pressing in a third finger and stretching his walls just enough to make it burn but not enough for it to hurt.

He held his breath half the time, gasping for air whenever he dared open his mouth, and he kept humming despite his best efforts to keep himself quiet. The slapping of his palm to his perineum was loud, and he couldn't think of any way to muffle it so he just accepted that that's the way it would have to be.

As he added a fourth finger, feeling the stretch burn him just a tiny bit more, tears welled up in his eyes. "Fuck, fuck, fuck..." and he started mumbling curses and empty words under his breath. He felt so close, but also only halfway there, and it was such a frustrating feeling to be almost edged by yourself when all you wanted to do was get off and wash your hands and go back to sleep.

His movements were becoming erratic as he finally felt his orgasm approach, another string of curses falling out of his mouth and his head tilting back just that much farther.

"God fucking fuck... Frank—" he gasped as it finally rolled over him in several waves, his knees kicking up into the air jerkily and the sweet hot-cold of it pouring down his body. He continued to finger-fuck himself through it, his walls sensitive in the best, most stomach-turning way.

Y/N's breathing was heavy as he came down from his orgasm, finally pulling his sticky fingers out of himself. Trembling from ecstasy, he groped around on the bed for his boxers, and when he found them he slipped them on haphazardly. He stood up to go to the bathroom to wash his hands, planning on returning to sleep afterwards because it was still dark outside.

He walked towards the doorway and turned the handle, opening the door, and saw Frank standing in the doorway.

Y/N's eyes were suddenly the size of the moon, and he swallowed dryly. Frank's face was deadpan.

"Were you jacking off?"

"Frank—" he began, but the taller man didn't look like he was taking any shit. Fuck. "I—uh—" He just couldn't spit the words out. So he nodded shakily, breath catching in his throat when Frank's face split into a shit-eating grin that made his cunt start to pulse again.

"Gee, come up here!" He called for his boyfriend. Fuck. Y/N was basically frozen, quivering.

"Yeah, is Y/N okay?" Gerard asked once he reached the top of the staircase. He looked Y/N up and down once, taking in the flush of his face and wide eyes. "Are you... did you have a nightmare?"

Frank cocked an eyebrow at Y/N. Speak. "N-no," he whispered. A whimper spilled out of his throat at Frank's almost imperceptible smirk, and his face grew even hotter at the realization that, fuck, they had both heard that. Gerard's facial expression did a complete 180 in a split second, from a worried look to his own smug smile.

"So what happened, then, little one?" he asked, the smile not going away. The dark flush spread from Y/N's face to his neck and his shoulders. His body temperature was practically boiling at this point. He felt so small, trapped, like a bug under a microscope.

Wetness pooled in his boxers, starting to drip down the inside of his thighs as it soaked through the fabric. "I—please—" he stammered, hands clenching and unclenching in the creases of his t-shirt. His thighs squeezed together desperately for a moment, but he found himself retreating into the dark of the bedroom as Gerard and Frank stepped forward in unison. Another loud moan pressed out of his mouth when he hit the bed and fell back onto it, the two men now towering over him. He craned his neck upwards.

Frank crouched down to his eye level, leaning forward so that their noses were almost touching and Y/N could feel his breath. "So, tell me, Y/N... what were you doing thinking about me while you were jacking off?" he rumbled quietly, but certainly loud enough for Gerard to hear.

Y/N whined, fucking whined, somehow completely unable to form words, his mouth falling open helplessly. Frank reached forward a hand, and for some reason Y/N assumed he was going to caress his cheek, so he prepared to lean into the touch—convince Frank with his best puppy face that it was no big deal and that he should just let it go. The opposite of that happened though: his full tattooed hand grasped at Y/N's face, squishing his cheeks in between guitar-calloused fingers.

"Answer me, pet," he practically growled. Y/N's stomach fluttered at the rumbling sound, the sheets he was sitting on starting to pool with discharge.

Wide-eyed, Y/N attempted to speak through the cracks in his lips, but failed. What came out of his mouth (everything was sinking into horny nothingness, all Frank and Gerard) was warbled and shaky. All he could think was please, but even saying that was an impossible endeavor—believe him, he tried. All that managed to come out was a pathetic "eezs."

"Frankie, poor boy can't talk like that," Gerard said after a billion years passed by with Frank staring him dead in the eyes and his grip tightening around his cheeks. Y/N could see the reluctance in Frank's eyes to let go, but he obliged a short second later. He whimpered at the loss of contact. His face was cold now.

"You can talk now, little one. Now. Tell us what happened." It was almost demeaning, the way Gerard said it, with that deep, usually silky voice of his thundering through the air. Y/N looked down at his hands sitting obediently in his lap, unbelievably embarrassed that he was so turned on by, what, a dream? By Frank's roughness with him?

Gerard tutted. "Look at me." His voice demanded obedience, so Y/N gave in, gaze wandering up the man's body and to his stern but serene face. He seemed unfazed by what was going on, and that felt like a much easier face to look at than Frank's at the moment, who, last Y/N had checked, was still smirking devilishly. "Tell me, pretty boy, what's got you all worked up?"

He took a deep breath. "Dreamed..."

"Speak up, little one." Frank this time.

"Had a dream..." Please don't make him say more, please, please, please. By all that was unholy and damned please don't make him say more.

"Mhm, and what happened?" Fucking shit, Frank, stop it.

"You and..." he gulped. "You and Gee... and I... Gee was kissing me and..." Frank had been eating him out. Say it, they'll never let him live it down but maybe being a good boy will get him somewhere here. "Frank... was..." He couldn't do it. He couldn't spit it the fuck out for the life of him.

Frank rested a hand on his thigh, and he had to resist the urge to absolutely preen at the skin-on-skin contact. "Gonna tell us what else happened, baby? Be a good boy for us?" Jesus fuck, he wanted to be a good boy. He wanted to be the absolute best boy.

He tried to whisper the last part, he really, really tried to get away with it. But Gerard tutted again, leaning down to where his face was inches from Y/N's. "Come on, pretty baby, I know you can be louder than that."

He swallowed thickly. "And Frank ate... me out." He did it! Win! And now was the part where he got called a good boy, right?

Wrong.

"Oh, I see," Gerard said with mock surprise. "And our baby, instead of coming and finding us, decided to just take care of things himself, hmm?" Y/N's mouth went dry. This was not going where he had thought it was going. "Well... I guess we'll just have to teach him what's acceptable."

That sounded... at the very least like his wildest dream of being fucked by The Gerard Way And His Boyfriend was about to come true. Needless to say, he was melting into the mattress, about to become a pulsing, horny puddle of boy.

"Kisses?" he asked hopefully as Frank tugged at his jaw.

"How do you ask?" Sweet Jesus, was this really happening?

"Please..." he began. Frank cocked his eyebrow. "Can I have kisses?" He obliged almost immediately, leaning closer to Y/N and tilting his head, pressing a few chaste kisses to his upper lip before licking demandingly into his mouth. The lip ring felt like heaven on his hot skin. But everything was gone almost as soon as it had started, and Y/N whined, unsure of how to get the contact back.

"Come here, little one," he heard Gerard say. He sounded more behind Y/N now, so he turned around. Sure enough, the man had made himself at home just a few inches behind where Y/N was sitting. He shyly got onto all fours and crawled towards where Gerard was sitting, getting pulled into his lap. "Now, here's how this is going to work, love. You can have anything you want." Sounded pretty suspicious. "All you have to do is ask for it." And there it is ladies and gentlemen, the catch.

He supposed he could sit there in Gerard's lap for a forever and a half. Without saying a single goddamn thing. Just slightly trembling and very, very wet.

"Well, pet, what do you want?" Frank asked coolly, his eyes burning into Y/N's. It dragged another whimper from something between embarrassment and arousal out of his mouth. Damned if he said anything, but...

"Can—can you kiss me?" He whispered. Frank's eyes shifted down and then back up to Y/N's eyes.

"Is that what you want, prince?" His voice was gruff.

"Yes, please."

Frank crept forward at that, rising up from where he was crouched on the floor to sit on the bed. He made little show of tilting his head and leaning in towards Y/N's face, instead making things quick movements. The kiss was sloppy and full of teeth, but it was almost exactly what the boy wanted.

He pulled away, shyly looking into Frank's eyes. "Can you kiss me... harder?"

Frank obliged a split second later, surging forward and capturing Y/N in a now bruising kiss. Their mouths pressed together hard, Frank's tongue hungrily darting into the cavern of Y/N's mouth. He could feel Gerard's boner start to rise, pressing straight up into his cunt. He whimpered into Frank's mouth. Pulling away for a second, he whispered, "Please." And then he was back to kissing Frank, desperately tugging at his hair.

Gerard made them pause, tugging the two apart. "What is it, pretty?" Frank looked a bit disgruntled at the parting, but didn't make a move to go back at it.

"Can..." Y/N was blushing an awful shade of tomato red, he knew it, but he wanted what he wanted. "Can you fuck me and... and Frank... let me..." He couldn't say it, it was absolutely not an option. Please don't make him say it, please don't make him say it.

"You can't get anything you don't ask for, pet," Frank reminded him sternly.

Y/N took a deep breath. Here goes absolutely everything. "Can Frank... put his fingers in my mouth." The idea of tattooed fingers grabbing onto his lower jaw, him drooling all over them... fuck. That was something he needed right now. That was something he needed all the fucking time.

"What a good boy," Gerard whispered in his ear. "So good for us." His boxers, wet and smelling thickly of sex, were already being pulled off. The air was somehow hot on his sweaty skin. When they were gone, completely off his body, leaving him in just a t-shirt for the second time that night, he absentmindedly grinded down on Gerard's cock.

"Ah, ah," he heard the man rumble. "You didn't ask for that." Gerard made his hips still completely, strong hands digging into his thighs. He protested for a moment, but only that single moment, because as soon as he started, he was shut up by Frank's fingers being placed on his lower lip, sinking back behind his teeth. His thumb hooked under his jaw and he squeezed lightly, just enough to remind him that Frank was the one who had the power here.

Soon after, Gerard was lifting Y/N just barely into the air, shucking off his own pants and boxers. "Do you want me to? Gonna ask for it like a good boy?" Y/N was a little bit too dazed at this point to realize that he had no way of asking for what he wanted, so he tried, Jesus, did he try.

What came out wasn't even what could be considered a syllable; just a "ss."

A garbled noise escaped the back of his throat when he was sunk down, completely out of control of the movements of his body, onto Gerard's cock. It was warm and hard and stretched him just right, made his eyes flutter and his mouth go lax. The man began to move, shallow thrusts that dug straight into his cervix and made his vision tunnel, all the while keeping a bruising grip on his thighs, preventing him from grinding down to find his own friction.

If he wanted to he could just ask, he could, but something about Gerard controlling his movements, completely rendering him immobile... he shivered at the realization that, right now, he had no physical control over what was happening. A wave of hot-cold rolled down his body.

He closed his mouth around Frank's fingers, sucking on them lightly, pacifying himself and muting the whines that were escaping him as Gerard fucked him slowly, grinding again and again into his g-spot.

Y/N was getting close to another mind-numbing orgasm, but the friction against his walls just wasn't enough to get him there; it was like he was teetering on the edge of that sensation and Gerard was telling him no. So, despite the best interests of his dignity (where was that at this point, honestly), he opened his mouth and did his best to speak around Frank's fingers.

"Ha' I—" he gasped when Gerard thrust a little bit harder, stretching his opening and pushing against his cervix "—'ush eye-eff?" That was a good as it was going to get, and if Gerard couldn't make it out then he was going to cry. Frank took his fingers out of Y/N's mouth and lifted his chin a little bit.

"What was that, prince?"

He moaned as Gerard rolled up into him again, please, please, please keep going, please. "Can I—" he gasped again "—t-touch myself, please—" Tears were beginning to roll down his cheeks. It hurt, how close he was, his stomach constantly flipping and abdominal muscles spasming and thighs shaking, unable to move. Frank pretended to think about it for a minute, and at this point Y/N was far past having any self-respect. "Please, I'll be good, please, can I?" He hiccuped pathetically.

"Such a patient little boy. So good, so good for us. You can touch yourself." Y/N sighed in relief, tears still dribbling down his cheeks and onto the bedsheets. He took a hand away from where it was tangled in the sheets and reached down. A sob ripped out of his throat as he touched his neglected clit, erratically rubbing it in circles, not even bothering to keep in time with Gerard's thrusts. He was so close, please, please, please.

It crashed down over him an eternity later, his head rolling back onto Gerard's shoulder and his entire body tightening before relaxing. Gerard was still fucking him, pulling him through it. The icy cold burn of overstimulation was already starting to set in, but it wasn't uncomfortable yet, so he decided he would let it continue while it felt good. "So precious, such a good pup, so pretty," Gerard was whispering in his ear. His own thrusts were becoming sloppy and mismatched.

"Please cum in me, please, I'm a good boy—" he hiccuped again.

Gerard's hips stuttered for a second, his pace slowing considerably, before finally coming to a full stop, breathy moans stringing from his lips. The slapping of skin-on-skin that was finally audible with the rest of the noises gone made Y/N bring his head back to be centered with the rest of his body and to open his eyes, where he found Frank leaned back on one elbow as the opposite hand was fisted around his cock, making haste to just get the fuck off.

The two of them watched his facial expression, his eyebrows bunched up in the middle of his forehead and mouth just barely open. Watched as his eyes fluttered when his cum spattered onto his hand and probably his boxers, which had been pulled down just enough for him to touch himself and no farther.

He laid back on the bed, and Gerard and Y/N did the same.

Somehow they ended up in a dog pile of cuddles. "We should do this more often," Gerard said, laughing.

"Agreed."

[anystalker707]

.loving rewards.

Pairing: Gerard x [gender neutral/afab] Reader Word count: ~ 500 Genre: Drabble / Smut Summary: A nice reward for such a loving boy Kind of content: Pegging / Overstimulation / Praising

Requested by anon ["Hey hun, I hope you’re doing well 🩷 I was wondering if you could do a fic with dom female reader and bottom Gerard way, plot along the lines of reader rewarding Gerard for being so loving and caring to her, she just wants go give all the love back to him? Remember to drink water :)"]

MASTERLIST

         “You’re so good, you know that, sweetheart?” Your voice rang between Gerard’s moans as you held onto his hips, your fingers sinking into the chubby skin. They left behind marks that he would probably look back to later and bite his lip at the sight. Your grip was firm to avoid letting your hand slide with the sweat already building on his skin, so you could hold him in place while pushing your hips against his.

Something that resembled your name escaped Gerard’s lips among the lewd moans he released. Gerard had his face half buried into the mattress as he gripped onto the blankets. His thighs quivered under himself, but you did your best to keep his hips up while slamming your hips against his.

“You deserve this, don’t you, baby?” You cooed gently, making sure your hips slammed harder with each word, snatching those pleased groans from him.

There was such a contrast between your words and your actions that just made Gerard melt more and more under you. He really couldn’t help himself from blabbering, his mind slipping away from reality whenever you reached that spot inside him. It didn’t help much the fact he was already so, so sensitive—every little touch felt like it was lighting his body on fire after he already came a couple of times, and you still kept going.

“You deserve it,” your voice cooed every time he reached his high, showering him with sweet words and reminding him how much he was worthy of such a treatment. “C’mon,” you mumbled, “I need to show you how much I appreciate the fact you’re so sweet to me, right? Look at you.”

Gerard liked being treated like that, though. Being handled like that, like a damn rag doll, wasn’t that bad to him. Maybe not bad at all.

You huffed a little, looking down and watching the dildo attached to the strap-on sink inside his puff hole repeatedly. It made you wet just at the sight. It felt so obscene to watch him under you like that, spread open and taking whatever you gave him because he was just so weak for you. Just the thought of it was enough to make your mind somewhat fuzzy, struggling to process any thought aside from pleasing Gerard. Maybe breaking him.

The room was immersed in this thick atmosphere, making everything so dense. Sounds of heavy breathing and skin against skin along with that vulgar squelching were the only thing that reached your ears aside from Gerard’s babbling, and sometimes your own words.

Your words were almost automatic but somewhat measured—you knew how to keep Gerard on the edge, though also how to make him become desperate just by using the right words. Such a pretty thing like that; didn’t even seem like he could cum just because of some sugar-coated words you muttered into his ear while giving him the lightest touches. Or that he enjoyed being reduced to bits on the bed.

 ‿̩͙‿ ༺ ♰ ༻ ‿̩͙‿

[i-heart-emos]

R𝑖ght p𝑙ace R𝑖ght t𝑖me/ Gerard way

Pairing: Gerard way x fem!reader

Warnings: little cussing, nothing really where this is a safe haven today

Summary: while working at Barnes and noble Gerard runs into what he calls “the girl of his dreams”

A/N” I know shit about comics so I’m just gonna to books I’ve read and think Gerard would like please don’t come for me

You briskly walk through the busy city watching all the street lamps start to turn on.

“Crap” you mutter under your breath. You can tell if it just getting darker earlier cause its winter up north or if it’s just late. You really wanna make it in time before Barnes and noble closes.

To say this weak has been shit is an understatement. First your stupid car broke down so you’ve basically been walking everywhere,Then your dog ran away,and you just started your period. So your only solution books.

You round the corner greeted by the bright lights of the dark brown building. Barnes and noble you read smiling brightly. You run to the door to check the sign

“Open yes” you exclaim hearing the chime of the door as it opens up

“Hello welcome” you hear a monotone voice say

You look up to be greeted by a brunette with bangs and glasses nose in a book not paying much attention. You do wanna ask about a book but don’t want to interrupt so you look for another employee.

As you walk the store you see another man he seems a little older than the other boy maybe 3-4 and he has longer black hair. You see he’s not preoccupied so you feel fine going up to him

You walk up slightly tapping on his shoulder.

“Hi don’t mean to be a bother but can you help me find a book” I say smiling brightly

He turns to a small smile adorning his face “oh yes totally what are you looking for” he asks

“The secret history by Donna tart” you ask

“Oh that one’s great right over here” he says guiding you

“Right it is I heard you guys have a new cover in stock so I thought I might as well come see” you smile “maybe it’ll make my week better” I mutter the last part to myself not think he heard

“Sorry you had a bad week” he says sympathetically

“Oh no it’s really fine life’s life” I say laughing slightly

“Yea I get well here’s the book and” he looks at like he wants to say something but the words are stuck

“And” I say smiling expectantly

“Wanna get coffee when I get off in like 20 mins” he says smiling

“Yes sure I’d love too” I say

“Good cause there’s like a Starbucks connected I mean you probably noticed your not blind but we can go there or anywhere else if you don’t like them” he says rambling in you giggle finding it quite cute

“Yes Starbucks sounds great thanks” I respond “is it alright if I just hand with you till you close then since it’s only 20 mins we can talk more about the book” you say holding up your copy

“Yes totally” he say smiling widely

“Alright im gonna go pay for this and ill be right back” I say smiling walking over to the checkout

“Wait what’s your name” he hollers grabbing the attention of some of the customers

You laugh a little “Y/N how about you”

“Gerard” he yells at the same level making you smile widely

Gerard quickly runs to Mikey smiling brightly

“What got you smiling like that you but another actions figure” Mikey say continuing to swipe threw his pages

“No I just met the love of my life” Gerard sighs like a teenage girl

“Wow a female is interested in you” Mikey says suprised

“Fuck you” Gerard laughs knocking Mikey’s book over

A/N: sorry if this is shit I just really wanted to get it out hope you enjoyed and please request for mcr fics I love writing them

[christinesficrecs]

Because of your blog, I’ve read over 500 Sterek fics since April 😂 I have a problem. But! Do you have any super long fics that are your go-to favorites?

That is awesome!!! ❤️ I don't have the attention span for really long fics so there is only one CRAZY long fic here, the rest are around 100K.

This was meant to be a shorter list but they are ALL so amazing!!

Actions Speak Louder than Words by isthatbloodonhisshirt (wasterella) | 434.6K | Explicit

“I apologize.” The cop finally looked back up at his face, seeming thrilled. “It’s just—it’s been so long. And we finally have you.”

That was a bad word. Not found.

Have.

Stiles wrenched his hand free and took a step back, but before he could even think up a gameplan, he felt a prick in his neck and jerked away, reaching up to slap one hand against it and twisting in the same moment.

One of the others had come up behind him while he hadn’t been paying attention, and his vision began to swim even as his eyes caught sight of the half-empty syringe the guy was holding.

a mountain to climb by grimm | 126.4K | Explicit | wayback

“Don’t do it,” he mutters. “Don’t do it, please, don’t do it.”

But there it is, a soft pink line appearing right next to the control. Stiles’ legs give out from under him; he sinks to the bathroom floor, hands shaking, his entire body shaking. It’s hard to breathe, his vision blurring around the edges. There’s a knock on the door behind him and then it opens and Scott sits down next to him.

“I’m fucked,” Stiles gasps, tears prickling at his eyes. “I’m fucked!”

Don’t Savage The Messenger by exclamation | 172.3K | Explicit

There is an uneasy truce between the werewolves in the woods and the humans who live in Beacon Hills, protected by a magical boundary that gives warning any time a werewolf crosses it. Then the sheriff is taken by the werewolves and his son offers himself in exchange.

Stiles promises to serve the werewolf pack, not knowing what horrible use they might have for him. But it turns out his most useful skill is the ability to cross the boundary line between humans and werewolves. Life with the werewolves is nothing like he feared and the werewolves themselves are nothing like the hunters’ stories would have him believe.

The Circus at the End of the World by mikkimouse | 91K | Explicit

Three hundred years ago, the world ended not with a bang or a whimper, but with magic.

Since then, magic has been outlawed, and the world has clawed its way back to some kind of stability, with people and shifters alike divided between living within the walled safety of the Havens, or the small, less protected outposts dotting the frontier.

Derek Hale and his sisters, Laura and Cora, are the proprietors of Hale’s Circus of Magic, Monsters, and Mystical Wonders, known colloquially as the Circus at the End of the World. They and their ragtag pack ride the rails between the outposts and the Havens, performing for those who can pay (and some who can’t). Their circus is a small haven in and of itself, a place of safety for those who have nowhere else to go.

It’s a quiet life…until Stiles Stilinski joins the crew.

Where the Real Beasts Are by kaistrex (weishen) | 109K | Explicit

Crown Prince Stiles is gifted a direwolf on his eighteenth birthday by King Gerard I of Venatia. The only instruction? Never remove the collar.

Stiles never has been one to do as he’s told.

Enemy Lines by qhuinn (tekla) | 149.1K | Explicit

This is the story of werewolf Derek Hale and human Stiles Stilinski: two people who grew up in the same town but completely different worlds, their realities split by the war between men and wolves.

Years later when Derek returns to Beacon Hills, he does it as Alpha of a military pack on a mission to capture those responsible for the region’s resistance. With his main objective, Sheriff Stilinski, out of sight, he settles for the next best thing: his son, Stiles.

Neither of them suspects they’ll need to trust each other if they want to make it out this alive.

Divided We Stand by KouriArashi | 156.7K | Mature

Derek is being pressured by his family to pick a mate, and somehow stumbles into a choice that they didn’t expect and aren’t sure they approve of….

Pack Wars by miss_aphelion | 158.6K | Mature

Scott liked to call it the Great Pack Divide of 2012.

Derek liked to call Scott an idiot.

(Or the one where Derek kidnaps Stiles to teach Scott a lesson, and ends up learning a few things himself)

between the click of the light and the start of the dream by thepsychicclam | 105.1K | Explicit

It’s Stiles’ senior year, and he’s trying to concentrate on normal things - like the lacrosse championship, spring break, prom, graduation (and definitely not Derek) - when he starts having nightmares and waking up in the middle of nowhere. Oh yeah, and he’s being haunted by a hag. Great.

The Hollow Moon by thepsychicclam | 180K | Explicit

It’s the summer after Stiles’ first year of college, and he’s working a crappy job and dealing with nightmares and anxiety - but he’s okay, he swears. He makes it through most days without too much trouble. Then, a certain werewolf comes back into town. Which Stiles doesn’t care about, nope, not at all.

After two and a half years, Derek returns to Beacon Hills with his small Pack. Though he tried to move on, something just kept drawing him back to Beacon Hills, he’s just not sure what. Now, he figures he can start building something like a life - but he keeps getting distracted by Stiles Stilinski of all people.

Fire, Fury, and Flame by IAmAVeronica | 124.5K | Explicit

Stiles Stilinski was never going to be the omega who got knocked up right after high school, and then he’s accidentally artificially inseminated with a stranger’s sperm.Awesome.And the father of Stiles’s baby just so happens to be Derek Hale. Half-feral, quite possibly a murderer, and pursued by a gleefully sadistic band of hunters who are only too eager to use Stiles and his baby to hit Derek right where it hurts.Joy.

Golden Boy by  trilliath | 127.7K | Explicit

Apparently it still amuses his uncle to buy sex slaves for him, no matter how steadfastly he refuses to use them. Derek ducks into his tent with a resigned sigh, prepared to dress and reassign whatever new beauty Peter has bought him. They do make for loyal servants, so he can’t really complain about Peter’s ‘gifts’. But it is annoying to deal with, to have to spend his evening sorting out a slave instead of being able to go right to bed. It’s just something he has to learn to accept as a byproduct of serving alongside his uncle.

But when he lays eyes on the boy laying amid his furs, he finds his breath catching in his throat. His skin is golden with the candle-light glimmering against the sheen of oil that has been slathered on his bared body. His lips are parted, and they work over inaudible words or sounds. His skin is flushed, nipples peaked and pierced with simple but unexpected golden rings. He’s spectacularly beautiful in the candlelight. The many glowing candles that have been added to his usual lighting cast glittering edges and shadows, imbuing an almost unearthly golden color to his skin.

It’s enough that Derek hesitates.

A Desperate Arrangement by  mikkimouse | 115.5K | Explicit

“I’m sorry, I believe there’s something wrong with my hearing,” Stiles said. “Because I could have sworn you just told me you set up a betrothal agreement with the Hales. A betrothal agreement involving me. Me.”

Scott smiled his easygoing smile and nodded, which told Stiles no, he hadn’t misheard a damn thing.

After seven years of lengthy negotiations, the treaty between the Hales and the Argents has fallen apart and the two countries fell into war.

Months later, there’s an uneasy truce, thanks to the intervention of King Scott McCall, but it won’t last. In a desperate attempt to maintain the peace, the Hales sign a treaty with the McCalls to marry Prince Derek to Prince Stiles Stilinski, King Scott’s brother.

In the history of the world, there have been many better ideas.

Home by  TheTypewriterGirl | 167.1K | Explicit

January seventh. Seven days since the start of 2015, and seven days since his father’s death.

The bastard, he thinks bitterly. The past year Derek Hale had made it blatantly obvious that he hated his scrawny guts, taking every given opportunity to shove him up against a wall, growl threats in his ears and roll his eyes whenever he stepped into the room, muttering some snide comment about how spastic or idiotic he was.

So why did he fucking volunteer to take him in?

Stiles’s Story Time by  trilliath | 125.8K | Explicit

Where Stiles is a librarian who is in charge of the kids’ reading hour and such. And Derek is 6-year-old Scott’s adoptive dad. And Stiles has his own take on Stories and Scott loves wolves and Derek tries not to admit that he likes the way Stiles’s face looks in those glasses. Or something like that.

Do Not Go Gentle by  MojoFlower | 195.8K | Explicit

Derek Hale, Beacon Hills Alpha and Dom, wakes up in a dark cell already housing another captive – a mute, traumatized sub with a cruel collar around his neck. His only goal is to get them both free of their brutal circumstances; but even as he tries to get his young companion home, a bond between them grows. Nothing comes easily: danger and harrowing echoes of their ordeal shadow every step they take.

Chosen by exclamation | 99K | Explicit

By tradition, when the Hale heir comes of age, the alpha can choose one boy to serve as the heir’s slave for a month. When Peter Hale chooses Stiles, Stiles expects to spend a month being used and abused. But it seems Derek Hale doesn’t want a sex slave any more than Stiles wants to be one.

Unfortunately, they’re stuck with each other. They have to make it through the next month without killing each other, and without getting Peter Hale to order Stiles’ death.

Meanwhile, Stiles wants to know why exactly Peter picked him.

The Skies Above Are Blue by  Trelkez | 95.2K | Explicit

Derek is a wedding DJ. Stiles just happens to go to a lot of weddings.

Kindred Spirits by  Stoney | 104.7K | Explicit

Stiles is the adopted son of the Sheriff, brought to Beacon Hills to hopefully stay for good. A family, a best friend, school, Jackson as Josie Pye (because who else could he be?) and the mystery of a dark haired, green-eyed boy which leads Stiles to discovering a secret within himself.

Versus by  secondstar | 94.5K | Explicit

At age nineteen, Stiles Stilinski was the next big thing, according to The Guardian. It was surreal, not being able to turn on Sky Sports without hearing his name mentioned along with the names of players he grew up idolizing. Stiles couldn’t believe that this was his life.

Honourable Mention - 61K

[reanbowful]

COMING IN HOT WITH THE AMAZING CONTENT! Thank you for the fantastic stories ☺️ Could I request a prompt for what the boys love languages are? Or how they love you for Ben, Alex, Gerard, and Jake? And Donald and Wolf as well if you’d like! If you’d like a more specific prompt, I can add to this!

Oh sheesh my first request! Thank you so much hihi! And of course you can 🤍

“love languages”

how the boys express their love for you and how they would like you to express your love for them

*slight nsfw on wolf’s part

(ben, donald, alex, jake, gerard, wolf)

ben park / park humin

I don’t think you guys understand how much I love this man. Like he’s so precious aaa

Okay, so I feel like, Ben’s love language would be quality time.

He’s very good at making people comfortable. Plus, he likes to play?

Not playing in a bad way, he just doesn’t like being at home doing nothing. So he’s always gotta be outside at some place before he really needs to get home otherwise he’ll go crazy from boredom.

Overall, Ben just likes to spend his time doing something with you. Anything that is. If you got no plans or can’t think of anything to do, he does.

So, what you will get from dating Ben will be:

amazing dates, absolutely no boring days with him, you won’t ever be lonely because he’s the “be there in 5 minutes” type of guy

Now, for receiving. I honestly think Ben would appreciate a person with an act of service love language.

Someone that he can lean on after a hard day. Or just a dependable person in general.

He might not show it, but there can be days that are tiring as hell with all the problems caused by the Union and what weird people wanting to fight him.

He just wants someone to take care of him when he gets home.

Cook something for him when you notice he’s hungry. It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant, even ramyeon would do. Although, plus points if you are a culinary student since he is a gourmet eater after all.

How to win his heart:

offer to wash his hair, cook for him (or bring him food if you can’t), treat his wounds

donald na / na baekjin

Donald’s love language is absolutely gift giving.

Look, he’s got the damn money for it okay.

He would be the type of guy who would spend an obscene amount of money on his person. You have a literal sugar daddy here.

And it’s not even like he just gets you whatever that’s expensive, no no. He would actually check your interest or notice that you probably need something AND gift it to you the next day.

If you tell him that you don’t like expensive gifts or simply feel like it’s burdensome, then he’ll get you something else.

Expect to receive daily flowers in your front doorstep from that day onwards.

I could also see Donald mindlessly making tissue flowers if you guys are at a cafe together and making a full on mini bouquet once you guys are finished with your drinks.

So, what you will get from dating Donald will be:

a (very) romantic dating life, your room filled with the little trinkets he got you (and you just can’t get rid of them, even the toilet paper flowers he made)

For receiving, I think Donald likes an acts of service person as well.

Donald prefers action over words, so he would appreciate it more if you show him that you love him rather than just saying it.

How to win his heart:

go shopping for him, clean up his office/room, nurse him when he’s sick

alex go / go hyuntak

Alex’s love language would probably be act of service.

He’s very action oriented and a romantic, so expect him to do a lot of those movie-esque things.

But honestly, it’s still hella sweet.

If it’s raining and you guys don’t have an umbrella? Stay there. He would run to the nearest convenience store to buy an umbrella for the both of you.

If you guys were walking home from school, give him your bag. He won’t let you carry them.

If you’re wearing a skirt and you have to tie your shoelaces, Alex would take off his jacket to cover your back.

He also would NEVER let you walk on the outer part of the sidewalk. If you ask him why, he’ll just say he likes to feel the breeze of passing cars.

Another thing is that he would take random pictures of you, but those pictures would honestly come out so well like actually pinterest worthy pics.

So, what you will get from dating Alex will be:

princess treatments, greatest support system, cutest couple pics

Alex would prefer a person with a words of affirmation love language.

He could feel slightly inferior at days with all the fighting and his desire to get stronger. So I feel like someone with gentle, encouraging words could just do it for him.

I feel like a genuine praise or a simple ‘I love you’ would really melt him.

How to win his heart:

tell him you love him and that you’re proud of him, send him handwritten letters, leave him cute little post its in his class or stuck to small gifts (like beverages or snacks)

jake ji / ji hakho

I feel like Jake’s love language would be quality time.

When something has Jake’s attention, he would focus on that one thing for a long period of time.

So if you’re dating Jake, you would have his undivided attention whenever you are with him.

Different from Ben, I feel like Jake would prefer home dates than going out dates.

Some activities I see you guys doing are board games, movie nights, or cooking together.

I could also see the two of you being absolute dorks and would have an existential crisis conversation in the middle of the night and end up not going to bed.

“Babe, what if the government are actually hiding a bunch of aliens underground and working them for fuel in exchange that they can live on earth because their planet was destroyed?”

It would end up in an actual heated discussion where you guys would drag Dean in to file in his opinion. Poor Dean.

So, what you will get from dating Jake will be:

endless home dates (low energy ppl come close), number one hype man, interesting fun facts one after the other

Jake’s preference as a person in the receiving end, I think would be words of affirmation.

He’s a soft hearted guy, so certain words and actions could really hurt him sometimes.

A person who could affirm to him that things are going to be okay, and that it was not his fault could really help him.

Overall, Jake seems like the type of guy who prefers reassurance even if it’s not certain rather than someone who’s so eager to see result and concrete actions.

Especially with all that’s happened with his brother, he just need someone to calm him down and for him to turn to or cheer him up.

How to win his heart:

assure him that things will be alright, visit his brother with him, just be a kind person in general, plus point if you like one piece

gerard jin / jin gayool

Gerard’s love language is most likely acts of service with a hint of words of affirmation.

Like Alex, Gerard is also very action oriented. He doesn’t talk much, but get things done quickly and efficiently.

HOWEVER, one thing to note is that Gerard is very emotionally intelligent. So, he’s good at reading the room and finding the right words to say. When to stay silent and simply hear you rant, and when to actually give his thoughts and advice.

No need for therapy, just vent to him.

He’s also a gentleman, so, like Alex, you can expect he will walk on the outer side of the sidewalk, hold doors for you, and all that.

But his acts of service would be a bit more toned down compared to Alex.

Sometimes you could even miss them.

I can picture him being the type of boyfriend that if you were sitting down while wearing a skirt, he would scoottt over to your side until your thighs close together so that you don’t accidentally flash anyone in front of you. (istg I’m getting butterflies thinking about this)

When you look over to him, he would just pretend nothing happens. But really because he doesn’t see it as such a big deal. It’s just the bare minimum to him.

Probably also the type of guy who would cover table edges when you reach down to grab something so that you don’t hit your head.

Guys istg get yourself someone like Gerard.

So, what you will get from dating Gerard will be:

princess treatment (but in a subtle way), comfortable dates, amazing listener

Now, when it comes to what he wants to receive from his partner. I feel like he’s good with anything, but if he has to choose. It would be physical touch.

I imagine he would be slightly shy in initiating contact, so he never really think that he would like it so much when you hugged him close for the first time.

From then on, cuddling on his sofa or in his bed became one of his favourite past time activities.

How to win his heart:

trace and kiss his scar when you’re lying down together, hold his hand when you guys walk together, kiss him goodbye after every date

wolf keum / keum seongje

Okay, Idk if anyone is going to disagree with me, but Wolf’s love language is probably physical touch.

See, Wolf doesn’t exactly do pretty words.

He’s also individualistic and prefers to spend his time alone.

And while he is action oriented, I can’t picture him to be the type that would be running chores for another person.

I feel like the way he would show his love for you is by how he touches you.

The violent, bloodlusted, Wolf Keum would be stroking your cheek with feathery soft contact.

Whenever he is with you, Wolf would literally turn into a puppy. (why is that so fitting I can’t)

A scenario I can see happening is when you guys are sitting together on a sofa, he will turn your body to the side and lift your legs up his lap to put your heels on for you.

He’s also not shy, so he would initiate almost every physical contact that he could to feel your skin.

If you guys have been dating for a while, he would ride his hands under your shirt when he hugs you from behind and nuzzle his face on your neck.

He thinks the back of the neck is the sexiest human body part.

If you guys are in a long term relationship, he would probably give them a few licks and nips while he’s at it.

But if not, just cuddling and listening to your heartbeat is also fine with him.

So, what you will get from dating Wolf will be:

great intimacy, the softest cuddles, and he smells good (this is very specific but I imagine he smells a bit like a clean baby’s blanket? IDK HOW TO DESCRIBE IT)

So now, is it expected or unexpected that Wolf would prefer someone with a physical touch love language as well.

I don’t think he cares that much about being praised or complimented, he just wants you to be someone he can come home to and hold him after a long day.

He likes it a lot when you stroke his hair as he lays on your chest.

But mind you, while he enjoys intimacy in private. He’s not very big on pda.

It’s not that’s he’s embarrassed or anything, he just wants to reserve those moments for the two of you without any interruption.

So, while he probably wouldn’t mind it if you are particularly touchy in front of a crowd, he would mostly prefer if you would just do it in private.

How to win his heart:

hold him to your chest, play with his hair, forehead kisses!!

[princeescaluswords]

The State Championship

One of the key things I like about Teen Wolf is the way its heroic protagonist, Scott McCall, defined heroism through his compassion. This active compassion is not restricted to simply alleviating suffering; it also extends to the awareness of people as individuals with different abilities, needs, and motivations. In other words, Scott cared for people even when they didn't make his life easy or do what he wanted. It is a defining trait for him, even though he still had to learn several important lessons, including recognizing boundaries, acknowledging failure, and coping with the idea that others would use this compassion against him.

I feel that nothing shows this more than his friendship with Stiles Stilinski. Scott doesn't need Stiles to be perfect, to be always right, to be powerful; he simply needs Stiles to be Stiles. For me, one incident in particular shows the depth of Scott's love for Stiles.

When the episode Battlefield (2x11) starts, it's the week of the State Championships, which the Beacon Hills High School has managed to reach even with two separate serial killing sprees going on during the same semester. At the beginning of the series, Scott's dream was to make First Line. That dream is gone.

Scott: Well, thanks, but I'm not - I'm not going either. Can't even think about playing some meaningless game right now. Isaac: You weren't at practice last week, were you?

It seems that Jackson, who Scott knows has not only been turned by Derek into the kanima but is now under the control of Gerard Argent is going to be playing in the State Championship. Scott decides he has to play, because Gerard is up to something. After all, he always has a plan.

The stakes are raised throughout the episode. Derek is elsewhere, beating the shit out of Peter in a useless expression of self-loathing. Scott's been benched by Coach due to Gerard's manipulation. His mother -- directly threatened by Gerard at the beginning of the episode -- comes to the game. Gerard gives a very menacing speech with serious overtones. Scott doesn't know what to do.

And then, as Stiles and Scott sit next to each other on the bench, both nervously waiting for the game to start.

Stiles: You know what's going on? Scott: Not yet. Stiles: It's going to be bad, isn't it? I mean, like people screaming, running for their lives, blood, killing, maiming kind of bad? Scott: Looks like it. Stiles: Scott, the other night seeing my dad get hit over the head by Matt, you know, while I'm just lying there and I can't even move, it just - I want to help, you know, but I can't do the things that you can do. I can't - Scott: It's okay.

And that's that. Scott spends the rest of the episode struggling with Gerard, who threatens to "have Jackson rip someone's head off right in the middle of the field and drench everyone you love and care about in blood." Gerard threatens Scott's mother, Lydia, Stiles and random spectators. While Isaac comes to Scott's assistance, Scott has to leave the game to save Isaac from being killed by Gerard and his hunters.

But throughout the game, there is not one line of dialogue and not one frame of action that indicates Scott resents or even thinks about asking Stiles for help. Stiles has told Scott that he's at his limit, and Scott won't ask Stiles to give more than he can.

So it ends up that while Stiles is happily scoring his first goal, Scott is fighting hunters in the locker room. He's stressed, he's panicking, he's in over his head, but he doesn't put that burden on a friend who has said he can't handle any more. The production actually lampshades it:

Gerard: You want to play chess, Scott? Then you better be willing to sacrifice your own pawns.

But that's the point: Stiles (and Isaac) aren't pieces on a board to Scott. He won't treat them as pawns (the way Derek and Peter treated him), even for the greater good.

In order to stop Gerard and Derek from killing innocent people, Scott has already given up his lacrosse season and he is in the process of losing Allison. His mother is now in danger. Stiles and Isaac are now in danger. And if he isn't fighting killers armed with wolfsbane bullets and broadswords, he's confronted with a werelizard agent of vengeance.

Meanwhile, Stiles is becoming the MVP of the State Championships, getting the acclaim of the crowd and his fellow players, including his father and Lydia Martin. And this never bothers Scott one little bit. He wants Stiles to play, if that's what Stiles wants to do. He doesn't try to demand or guilt Stiles into helping him. He wants Stiles to be happy.

While the episode ends badly for Stiles, that's not Scott's fault. Gerard takes Stiles because Scott doesn't succumb to Gerard's manipulations on the battlefield.

That makes Scott a good friend. That makes Scott a hero.

[gerardpilled]

Related to your post abt Gerard on social media and stuff : I don’t think Gerard leaving social media has anything to do with him being a celebrity and how he wanted to distance himself from his fans but more to do with how media highlighting news and it being overwhelming (he talked abt this a bunch of times) and it’s a real reason to leave social media. A lot of ppl do. Other than that I don’t think as fans, it was good either. While yeah some ppl are weird it’s always good to see your fav artist being just as normal as any other person. It debunks some weird artist standards. Besides that there were times that he had genuine conversations with fans abt movies, music and comics which again was refreshing to see as an artist because alot of celebrities try to be funny or just an asshole on the net. Personally what made me like him and care abt him out side of music was how he talks abt art in general. He’s an artist with a creative mind and while he wasn’t always talking abt art all the time it was just nice to have that kind of person on the internet. Not alot of celebrities talk like he does.

I’m not arguing with you and I’m not really interested in trying to figure out Gerard’s exact intentions and mindset with his actions. I’m not saying that in a negative tone I’m just saying it neutrally lol!! I based the idea that Gerard hates fame off of an interview he did a few years back. Specially, the part I’m including below. I didn’t mean to word it to make it sound like he was doing it out of resentment of his fans! I just think if someone hates fame but fails to distance themself from it, then they are going to start to resent the people who give them that attention. Just my opinion!

The excerpt:

(Transcribed: But fame isn't for me, and i don't think it ever was, though i briefly found myself welcoming of the attention, being that I felt invisible in high school, though that was largely by design, or the invisibility was something l embraced and fought to retain. I believe that fame is in some ways like a disease, and it either gets you or it doesn't. You either beat it or you don't, and it can be terminal for some people, as we sometimes see people under the microscope of fame succumb to suicide, or meet other tragic ends due to their situation. But there is hope, and there is learning. This is not a "woe is me" observation, and obviously there are comforts and benefits to being allowed to make art for a living, to have an audience, and I am extremely lucky to have that. But I have seen fame run rampant on people's psyche and physicality, and I see people in this situation caught in a loop, a cycle, of needing to feel relevant to feel self value, or to continue having a career, putting yourself worth and livelihood in other people's hands. And sometimes people do things in order to stay relevant, grasping tightly to that relevance, that are unbecoming, and I feel I was at times just as guilty of that. I learned a lot of lessons the hard way. and stepped away from the spotlight as much as possible, in order to take a hard look at myself - and ask myself the hard questions. I learned a lot by doing that. And I don't consider myself better or more evolved than people caught in that Ioop, have empathy for them, and I'm always rooting for them. I know I have gotten slightly off topic,…)

[gghoulishdelight]

"At the End of the World, or the Last Thing You See.."

pairing: mikey x gn!reader x ray

genre: fluff xtreme!!

a/n; based off of a dream i had, except not ghost of u mikey cuz i dont want him to die

/ look at these nerds<33 luv them /

"micheal james way, stop messing with your hair before i pin your hands down!"

mikey jumps at the stern sound of your voice coming from the entrance of his dressing room, a sheepish look on his face as he meets your glare through the mirror he's facing. he couldn't help himself, he was nervous and he didn't feel as if his hair looked like it should, but then again, he wasn't all that interested in costume design like you were. you technically weren't their costume designer, but you were definitely the one who ran around making sure everything looked according to plan when they had photoshoots and videos. his hands drop back down to his sides under your stern glare before you have the chance to make your threat come into fruition, his face turning the slightest bit pink as he heard gerard's giggles echoing from their own dressing room. god, he's never going to hear the end of this.

"if you would stop messing with your hair, you wouldn't have to be teased by your brother and i could finally help ray get his hair into a ponytail before you lot have t' go onstage," you scold the taller way brother while you fix his hair in place again, having to stand on your tiptoes the tiniest bit so you can reach. speak of the devil, mikey thinks as ray pops his head into the room, curious to know what's being said about himself. he grins at mikey through the mirror, silently giggling at how silly the two of you look right now and venturing into the room further.

"i heard my name, what's up?" ray's gentle voice draws your attention away from mikey for the time being, your face softening as you look at him and smile sweetly. ray always had a calming effect on both his partners, no matter the situation.

"nothin', just your boyfriend here can't seem to stop messin' with his costume long enough that i can help you get ready," you tease a little more lightheartedly this time, earning a little grin from mikey. he stays quiet as you trail your hands down from fixing his hair to gently cupping his cheeks, only letting out a little hum of content when you reward him with a gentle peck on the lips.

ray clicks his tongue in mock disappointment as he wiggles his way behind you, resting his chin atop your head and wrapping his arms around your midsection to pull you in close. "let me guess, you already threatened to pin his hands down?" he teases with a grin, only to giggle when you turn your head away from them both to try and hide the blush dancing on your cheeks. mikey takes this as a chance to start peppering soft kisses along the side of your neck, smiling at the way you try to squirm out of ray's grasp.

"guysss, c'mon! you gotta go out in 15, and i still needa fix up ray!" you complain in a whine, yet there's no actual bite behind your words, just soft love and warmth for the two. they end up letting you go after a few more seconds of affection, but only after mikey steals one last kiss from you.

"thank you," he whispers almost silently, taking your hand and tapping thrice on your palm, his silent way of saying 'i love you' when he didn't have the words to say it aloud. you just smile, tapping back and grinning widely at the way his eyes light up at your understanding. you don't think you'll ever get over the way he seems so fascinated with you responding in turn. he and ray share a kiss before you tug ray out of the room, only to be met with gerard and frank mockingly 'making out' (aka pretending to kiss and moan while also giggling their asses off) outside of frank's room, clearly pretending like something unholy had been happening between the three of you. you just sigh and bite back a grin, ignoring ray's noise of protest at their actions as you drag him away from the scene and into his own room, only to blush furiously at frank's shouts of "use protection!".

you don't know what you'd do without these guys, even if they tormented you to no end.

[watermelinoe]

Honestly, hunter schafer’s diary post, the manhunt book by Felken-Martin, and just the general violent and sexual ways TIMs talk about women and wanting to punish women and wanting to be women to be degraded and objectived and treated like a woman in a torture porn is very reminiscent of sexual sadist serial killers who murdered and raped women. Particularly Gerard John Schaefer, the posing as a teenage girl to talk to men, the panty fetish, the fantasies and writings, the torture and rape and outright misogynistic language and pleasure they get from it all

it's the autogynephilia, the ultimate hatred of women, the ultimate power play. because they demand our participation, that we assume the role of oppressors so they can revel in being degraded for fun all from their position of safety and power. it wouldn't be any fun if women weren't forced to play along. we're just talking dolls to them that need to parrot the right words and pantomime the right actions. and males love destroying dolls.

[gillys-isle]

IM SO SORRY I JUST NEED TO EXPEL SOME UNKIND THOUGHTS ABOUT THE HTTYD LIVE ACTION

that trailer was......so uncanny. i don't even have anything nice to say. i could, but what's the point? this is not a movie that should've been remade as a live action.

idc that stoick is still gerard butler. idc that toothless looks the exact same (save for the extra 'realistic' texture pass). idc that they took the exact shots from the animated film.

because those things are EXACTLY what made the preview so uncomfortable to watch. why would i be interested in seeing an actor interacting with a hyperrealistic cg creature for the bajillionth time when the gorgeous and unique stylized designs of the og movie are right there? why would i want to trade the visual of a massive, intimidating, ginger giant named Stoick the VAST for some generic attractive white guy in a sort of bulky costume (no offense to Gerard, I do like him as an actor)? why would i give up the stunning colors of berk and the forbidden friendship scene for the muddy, lackluster lighting that has become hollywood's standard?

yeah, toothless looks the exact same. yeah, stoick will sound the exact same. yeah, the forbidden friendship scene (and other scenes, it seems like) will be a shot-for-shot recreation of the original. but then....why watch it? what's the point, when there's a movie that looks WAY more visually interesting with the exact same dragon, the exact same stoick voice, the exact same shots but BETTER??

this is all a part of the shitty trend of live action remakes, many of which have been bland or pathetic or just entirely unneccessary. but something about this one feels, for lack of a better word, offensive.

anyway go see wild robot instead ♡ or buy httyd on dvd/bluray to let dreamworks know how valued its animated films are ♡ because if they attempt a live action remake of any of their other franchises im going to start burning CEOs alive ♡

[chungledown-bimothy]

It’s not the first time Brennan asked Gerard if he felt closer to frog than prince and then described him becoming more froggy. Elody didn’t „fall out of love“ even more during their conversation. At what point do you think it became less about how she felt about him and more how Gerard feels about himself?

I've been thinking about this and essentially nothing else since you sent it.

I'm not 100% satisfied with the conclusion I came to, even less sure if the way I can think of to phrase it conveys said conclusion, but I'll do my best.

I don't think that there was a concrete turning point in the nature of the change like that. I think it has always been both, to an extent, but it's mostly just the phrasing of the question that leaves that kinda vague.

While the phrase "in love with" can also be used to refer to the love an individual has for another person, the power of the magic that undoes curses in these stories is loving and being loved. It's the connection between people.

We know that Gerard knew he was lying to himself at the beginning when he said everything was fine. He knew that there was something wrong with their connection, and that's what's froggifying him.

I think that another way to phrase the question "how froggy does Gerard feel?" would be "how strong does Gerard think that the connection between him and Elody is?"

It's asking Murph to take the pulse of their relationship.

But circling back to how Gerard's self-esteem factors into this, because that is an EXCELLENT point, Elody falling out of love isn't the only thing that's affecting that connection.

"I don't know exactly where we left off, but if you've moved on, which I would understand if you have, that's all right, and if you haven't, we can figure it out after all of this, maybe."

That's a LOT of ifs and maybes.

Insecurity on his part, while completely understandable, also factors into the weakened connection.

In my opinion, part of what makes a good, strong relationship is confidence in your feelings for each other.

"I have all these issues, how could someone love me?" or even worse, "I have all these issues, I'm not worthy of love" are all too common sentiments. (They're bullshit, but they certainly happen.)

I think part of his wishy-washyness in his conversation with Elody was not just respecting her and not wanting to pressure her but also insecurity that she could ever love him again, now that she knows who he really is. Or was. He's certainly grown a LOT, but I don't think he's recognized that in himself quite yet.

I wouldn't be surprised to learn that she cares far more about him than his low self-esteem would allow him to believe, but it's what he thinks she feels (based on her words actions, not just wildly trying to guess based on pure insecurity) that's making him doubt their relationship even more, exacerbating the frog problem.

This got way longer than I was expecting- I really hope it makes sense outside of my brain and without the other couple of thoughts I have that I couldn't find the right words for lol