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benaffleckofcrowdsurfing · 4 years ago

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Star Treatment - 2

TBHC Alex Turner AU

description: an escort; a millionaire; a hotel that breaks the boundaries of technology, time, and space; a flashing red light; and a shit ton of cocaine.

word count: 4.6k

masterlist here

warnings: brief scene of assault

lmk if u wanna get added to the taglist 4 this story or 4 all my works :)

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ok before we get into it, a quick author’s note: hello! long time no see! yes, it is I, returned from the dead. quick life update, I just graduated high school!!!!! which means I have a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders and will have far more time to write and be active!!!!!! so expect more from me from now on. thank you for being patient. xoxoxo

back to your regularly scheduled programming

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PART 2 - THE BASE

“I know you saw him last night.”

Brielle could do nothing but stare down at her phone in fear. She knew that she was, in the simplest of terms, dead.

“I think we need to sort this out in person Princess. someone’s forgot their place.”

She threw her head back in frustration. “God, you’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I swear I didn't plan on seeing him, Enzo.”

“I’m coming over.”

“I’m fucked. I am so, so fucked,” Brielle grunted. One of Enzo’s many favors to Brielle had been an apartment for her to stay in, one directly across the hall from his. This meant that at any given moment he could waltz into her living room, ready to tell her what to and what not to do.

And that’s exactly what he did in the following moments.

Before Brielle could even begin to compose herself, the front door swung open and footsteps thundered through the apartment. Within seconds Enzo stood in front of Brielle, his face red from anger.

shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit

“You've got a death wish, don't you Miss Roux?”

Brielle’s lip began to tremble as Enzo slowly began to inch towards her. She shuffled back to prevent from being any closer to him until her back thudded against her dining table and Enzo placed his hands on either side of her to trap her in. They stared at each other in silence, Brielle shaking in fear and Enzo waiting for her to defend herself for a long while until she gulped loudly and spoke up.

“It was purely coincidence that I saw him.”

Enzo only narrowed his eyes and chuckled. “It was a coincidence that you got into his car?”

Brielle only stuttered for a moment.

“That's what I thought.”

Brielle had no idea what to say to Enzo, she knew he would punish her for this and she was terrified of making him angrier. However, her pride seemed to get the better of her and she refused to let him bully her over something that really shouldn't be any of his business. It took her a long moment to think of what to say, but when she did her eyes went dark and a Cheshire cat smile crept on her face.

“You know, you really shouldn't be jealous.”

Enzo’s eyes widened at Brielle’s snarky remark and he almost immediately shoved himself away from the table.

“You're fucking joking,” he muttered. He expected Brielle to react in fear, as she usually did, but this time she kept her head held high and her arms crossed in front of her.

“Because it's okay, Enzo, Alex and I are just friends. You can still obsess over me if you'd like to.” Brielle kept the smile on her face and chuckled to herself at the last part of her comment. Enzo’s face immediately contorted into a grimace, it was obvious he was livid. Brielle had never stood up for herself like she was, nor had she ever acknowledged Enzo’s obvious crush on her.

He gritted his teeth and approached her once more. “Get out.”

Brielle shook her head and looked up at him, this time the fear apparent in her face.

“We’re through, Brielle. You've pissed me off one too many times. Leave the fucking apartment before I throw you out of it myself.” Enzo stooped down to Brielle’s eye level, his face was only inches for hers, and he spoke in a hushed tone. This, however, only scared Brielle more.

“Where am i supposed to go?” Brielle whispered.

“Don't know, don't care,” Enzo sighed. He backed away from Brielle once more, ushering for her to leave. “Feel free to leave all of the shit I’ve provided you with over the years. I'll give all your dresses to whichever dumb slut takes your place.”

Brielle furrowed her brows. “Dumb slut? Who's a dumb slut? Because I know you're not talking about me…” She stepped away from the table and towards Enzo. “And I’m taking my fucking clothes, no matter how much you don't like me right now I have still worked day in and day out for you and every penny I’ve made has been well deserved. Those are not your clothes to take, they're mine.” She approached Enzo and put a finger on his chest, testing him a bit. “And I hope you do try and replace me. We both know you'll only be sorely disappointed.”

Enzo looked down at Brielle in shock. “Did you just touch me? Did you just lay a finger on me?”

The fear returned to Brielle’s eyes once more. “I- uh-”

“Get out. If you don't leave this apartment right now I’m going to lose my shit.”

Brielle's eyes shifted from the door to Enzo and back to the door again a few times before she crossed her arms in front of her and turned away from Enzo. “I’m getting my things and then I’ll leave.”

Brielle was sure that Enzo wouldn't do anything, in her mind she thought there was nothing he could do, she was just going to shove her things into a suitcase and check herself into a motel room. But, before she could take even a few steps, Enzo grabbed her by the back of her shirt and pulled her back to him.

“That's not what I told you to do though, is it?”

Brielle chuckled nervously and tried to push away from him. “You can't tell me what to do anymore, you just fired me.”

This sent Enzo over the edge. He inhaled sharply and forcefully pushed Brielle off of him, she fell to the floor and before she had the chance to get up he pinned her down and hovered over her. Brielle stared up at him with wide eyes, terrified of what he would do.

Enzo lowered his voice once again. “If you don't leave this apartment the moment I let you up, I’ll fucking kill you. If I ever see you again, I’ll fucking kill you. If I ever hear of you going to the police and ratting me or any of the guys out for anything, I’ll fucking kill you. You and I have bad blood now, do you understand?”

Brielle held back tears and nodded her head shakily. “I understand,” she choked.

Enzo muttered a few profanities at her under his breath. He then puckered his lips, looked down at Brielle with resentment, and spat directly in her face. “That's your warning.”

When Enzo got off of Brielle she scrambled up off the floor and wiped off her face with her sleeve. She stood paralyzed in fear, completely unable to move her legs and leave the apartment, until he yelled at her to leave one final time and she darted out the front door. Fuck her clothes, fuck her wallet, fuck her things, she knew for a fact that if Enzo told someone he would cause them harm he meant it and the last thing she wanted was to end up on the headlines of the Los Angeles Times.

Brielle didn't stop running until she was out of the complex completely, she had practically flown down the stairs and out the front lobby door. Once out and safely down the street, she collapsed onto the sidewalk.

She shivered uncontrollably and could not stop the tears from streaming down her face. She frantically rummaged through her jacket pockets for her carton of cigarettes and yelled out in frustration when she realized that she had left them sitting on her couch. Brielle did, however, find $20 in her phone case, and figured that it would be only right to spend her last few dollars on the one thing she really had regretted leaving. As she slowly made her way to the corner store, still shivering from the adrenaline of her fight with Enzo and the impending anxieties surrounding the idea of what she’d do now, her phone rang.

“H- hello?” Brielle stuttered. The number had been one that was not saved in her phone and she prayed that it wasn’t Enzo trying to scare her.

“Oh, thank God it's actually you,” the voice on the other end sighed. Brielle’s face softened and her body relaxed slightly when she realized who it was, it could not have been further from Enzo.

“Al-alex, hey,” Brielle smiled. “How d-did you get m-m-my number?”

“That's unimportant, where are you? Are you safe?” The voice on the other end asked. He sounded very concerned to Brielle and it made her wonder how he knew she was in trouble to begin with. But, before she could even ask, he answered her questions. “Enzo called me to tell me that you had to cancel. He sounded very strange and it would be very unlike you to cancel, so I knew something had to be up… and judging from the fact that you can't get out even a word without stuttering, I guess I was right.”

Brielle sniffled and let out a shaky sigh. “Enzo got angry with me and kicked me out. I'm not really quite sure what I’m going to do, as of right now I’m walking to the 7/11 to buy myself a pack of reds.”

“The 7/11 down the street from your apartment complex?”

“Yeah. On the corner across from that Italian restaurant you like.”

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes, okay? Go inside the store and don't leave until I come get you. I promise you'll be safe.”

Brielle let out a long sigh of relief into the phone. “Okay. Thank you, Alex.”

The voice on the other end of the phone just paused for a moment and let out a small chuckle. “It's not a problem, Bri. I'm just glad you're alright.”

Brielle muttered a quick goodbye to Alex as she walked through the threshold of the corner store, and when she hung up just gleamed down at her phone. She hadn’t the foggiest idea of what she would do now, she didn’t have many friends that she hadn’t met through Enzo and she really had never worked a real job, but at least in the meantime she knew that Alex was on his way. Oh, and she was going to get her cigarettes. That was very important.

“Hey, can I get a pack of Marlboro reds?” Brielle walked up to the counter with as much conviction as she could muster. The last thing she needed was for the man working behind the counter to sense weakness or unsureness in her and ask for her ID, as it was still in the apartment. Fortunately for her, though, the man only nodded and began ringing her up.

The man asked her if the cigarettes would be all, to which Brielle thought for a moment before gasping, “Oh, and a lighter. The pink one.” She smiled at the man and gave him the bill in her phone case.

Brielle made her way towards the door, but once she placed her hand on the cold metal handle the ghost of Alex’s voice replayed in her head. Don’t leave until I come get you.

Now, typically Brielle would have disregarded the instructions, she was just dying for a cigarette and she thought that no harm would come to her if she was just sitting on the sidewalk, but something about Alex… something about the way he spoke to her… made her want to listen. She slowly retracted her hand from the handle and turned back around to face the clerk.

“Is...is it alright if i wait here for a moment? I’m waiting for a friend and I… I don't feel comfortable being alone on the street in this area.”

The man nodded in compliance and Brielle bid him a quick thank you.

Brelle settled herself next to the door and scrolled through her Instagram for a moment while she waited for Alex, but she soon grew bored and decided she would wander the aisles instead. She did so for a good five minutes, got completely lost in her head while her eyes scanned the shelves of snacks and drinks, until she hit the wine fridge.

Wine. Oh, how I’d love to be able to afford some wine right now. She thought to herself. It had been a long day, even if it was only twelve-thirty in the afternoon, and Brielle prided herself on being quite the wine snob. (It’s my French heritage! she often told people.) Brielle opened the fridge door, picked up a particularly expensive bottle of Cabernet, and lost herself reading the label. “Chateau Montelena. Napa Valley… 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon… hey, Mister clerk guy, this is a really good bottle of wine. I didn't know corner stores carried this shit!” Brielle didn't look up from the bottle as she continued to talk, completely ignoring all other sounds and movements around her. “This winery is world famous, it's like really good even compared to French wine. My mom, she used to go to this spa in the Napa valley and she’d take me when I was little, we’d go for tastings at this Chateau and it was really boujiee. Oh, I didn't taste the wine of course, I just tagged along so I could walk through the castle. It's absolutely beautiful. But now I love the stuff. It's got such an authentic taste, it really is comparable to some of the most prestigious wineries in Fra-”

Brielle was cut off by the feeling of a hand on her back and she clenched the bottle for dear life. The figure behind her gasped when she jumped and chuckled a bit as she attempted to catch her breath. “I’m sorry Love, I didn't mean to scare you. Just didn't want to interrupt your story.”

Brielle’s entire body relaxed once she realized who it was who had approached her, and she turned around to greet him, still holding onto the bottle. “Alex.”

When their eyes met they both let out weak smiles, Brielle's eyes welled up with tears and Alex pulled her in and wrapped his arms around her. She sniffled into his chest, doing her best not to break down in the middle of the 7/11, but Alex’s comforting grip made her vulnerable and she couldn't stop herself. They stood there for a moment, Brielle buried as deep into him as she could be, and Alex just resting his head on the top of hers and muttering sweet affirmations to her. Brielle could have stood there forever, just engulfed in his arms… in his scent… but Alex soon broke the embrace and put his hands on her shoulders.

“Are you alright? Did he hurt you?”

Brielle shook her head. Tears freely streamed down her face and she sniffled loudly.

Alex’s chocolate eyes softened and he beamed down at her. “Is the wine really as good as you say it is?”

Brielle nodded and hummed through her tears.

“Alright then, it's a good thing I brought my wallet. I think we could both use a glass of wine right now,” Alex winked at Brielle and gently took the bottle from her arms, which made her blush, before wrapping his own arm around her shoulders. He didn't move his arm from her as he paid for the wine, or as he opened the door for them, or as they approached the car. It was the same one that they had ridden in the night previous, and to Brielle’s silent delight Nick was waiting for them.

“Miss Roux, we meet again,” he chirped.

Brielle giggled as he opened the back door for the pair. “It's a pleasure to ride with you again, Mister O’Malley.”

Once settled in the car, Alex’s arm found his previous spot around Brielle, and she leaned into him. Her tears had ceased but she still let out the occasional sniffle, to distract herself she began twiddling with the hem of Alex’s blazer (which Alex definitely did not mind.) Alex’s calloused hands soon found themselves in Brielle’s hair, he still continued to mumble words of solace into her and ask if she was alright, to which Brielle only let out soft hums of agreement and nodded her head. They stayed relatively quiet for the car ride, Brielle never thought to ask Alex where they were going or what they were doing, she was just happy that he had been there for her when she needed it.

As the car ride became more drawn out and they left the more urban area of Los Angeles, Brielle drifted to sleep in Alex’s arms. He hadn’t noticed it at first, she had been quiet even when she was awake, it wasn’t until he felt her breathing become slow and heavy under him that he realized. A small smile crept onto his face and when Nick glanced back at them through the rear mirror he let out a small chuckle.

“Is this really what’s best for her, Al?” the driver sighed.

Alex narrowed his eyes and spoke through gritted teeth. “She has no other options. At least she’ll be safe from the outside world at the hotel.”

“Yeah, but what about what’s on the inside?”

“We just can never let her discover what’s on the inside.”

*************************

“Brielle. Brielle darling it’s time to get up… Bri…” Alex cooed. He did his best to wake her without scaring her, but the moment he gently peeled his arm from around her shoulders, she jolted up.

“Wh- oh, hey Alex,” she mumbled. “How long was I out?”

Alex’s eyes crinkled as he looked down at her with delight. “Only about fifteen minutes,” He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear, “You’re absolutely precious when you sleep.”

Brielle blushed and gazed dreamily into his eyes for a moment, still not quite completely conscious, but her facial expression changed to one of confusion when she looked past him and out the window.

“Is that-”

“Welcome to the Tranquility Base, Brielle”

Brielle couldn't speak, she only looked up at the behemoth building in awe. She had driven past the property before, sure, but never had entered its elusive gates. Only the wealthiest of people stayed in the hotel, it put the Chateau Marmont to shame. It was a playground for the ridiculously rich and wealthy; only the most prestigious of politicians, A-list celebrities, billionaires, and world leaders stayed at the Tranquility Base. The casino, which was the only building on the property that actually touched the outside world, was nearly impossible to get access to, it was extremely popular. So popular, in fact, that it operated in a similar way to Los Angeles’s clubs, you needed a reservation or to be on ‘the list’ even to be let inside. If you weren't, have fun waiting in line outside for hours and hours.

No one actually knew how big the property that the Tranquility Base resided on was, it was said that the original owners bought nearly eighteen square miles of land surrounding the hotel and no one, not even regulars at the hotel, knew what existed beyond the hotel and its few gardens. There were rumors that there was something the original owners were hiding out there in the surrounding desert landscape, perhaps something similar to area 51 (it would explain the overall eerie feeling one got when passing by the property), or some sort of giant illegal oil mine.

It was also rumored that there was a series of tunnels underneath the property that connected to the hotel, almost like a series of catacombs, which the most elite of hotel stayers used to get around in an attempt to avoid paparazzi and the public eye.

Now, Brielle thought that these sorts of rumors were bullshit, especially since she knew the owner of the hotel, but now that she was actually on the property, past the gates, about to enter the castle-like hotel, her mind raced.

“I just- I thought we’d go to… you know… your house.”

Alex only smiled softly at the still disoriented girl. “This is my house. Or, my house is here, at least. Not the whole hotel.”

Brielle furrowed her brows. “Oh. Right. I guess I’d live here if I owned it too. It's absolutely gorgeous.”

“Have you ever been inside?”

“Well, not exactly,” Brielle mumbled sheepishly, “I’ve been inside the casino but don't remember much of it.”

Alex chuckled. “Wild night?”

“To say the least.”

“Usually is at the Tranquility Base. That's how I like it.”

“I get that vibe from the casino for sure. It's like stepping onto the Lunar Surface.”

Alex paused at Brielle’s mention of the moon. “You know, that's exactly what I modeled the casino after. It's a place where technology and the unknown can form an almost perfect union.”

“You built the casino?”

“It was my first project after my uncle retired and I took over.”

“Well, you did a lovely job.”

“Do you gamble any?” Alex slowly stepped out of the car and gently took Brielle’s hand to follow.

“I don't like to let luck decide my life,” Brielle ventured.

“Good girl,” Alex mumbled in response.

This caused Brielle, whose hand was in Alex’s and was stepping out of the car, to direct all of her attention from where she was stepping to the sultry words leaving his lips. In return she stumbled a bit, tripped over her own two feet, and was only saved by the hand of a very smug looking Alexander.

“Careful, Darling,” Alex cooed.

A deep red hue crept onto the brunette’s cheeks. “Two left feet, sorry,” she muttered.

Alex only laughed in return and snaked an arm around her waist. “Only teasing.” He then kissed the top of her head -- beckoning for her blush to return -- and gestured for them to continue on towards the hotel. “Off we go then, come along.”

**************

The hotel truly was a haven for everything grand. Upon entering, Brielle was immersed in a very specific frame of mind. The large foyer, which Alex explained that he had redone to ‘efficiently harmonize the classic atmosphere of the building with the more postmodern ambiance we here at the Tranquility Base strive to instill’, was… well… just that. A perfect harmonization between the Baroque inspired interior of the building and the neon dazzle of the 1980’s.

The domed ceiling was spangled in intricate depictions of royalty, sacred events, and mythology. Stone sculptures of all sizes resided in all corners of the foyer, lit up by various colored neon lights at their bases. The front desk was decidedly an 80’s ode to the Art Deco era, it sported trapezoidal engravings on brass walls and a glass counter top, and was also overly saturated in various colors of neon lights. The man sat at the desk, who Alex introduced to Brielle as ‘the man running the show, the face of the Base, Monsieur Mark’, typed away on a suspiciously fast computer that looked fresh out of an 80’s sci fi movie and would occasionally answer a corded phone in the shape of a bat.

As Alex guided Brielle through the main floor of the hotel, he showed her Roman statues, Baroque art, and Renaissance paintings that Brielle thought should be in a museum rather than a fluorescently lit hotel. He guided her through a cherry red dining room which Brielle claimed looked ‘straight out of the shining’; a day spa with a quite peculiar hot tub (“It’s not just bubbling in the water, there are bubbles rising up out of it! How does it do that, Alex? It looks like you threw a bucket of dry ice in it!”) and a lovely view of the hedge maze below; an extremely vaporwave-esque bar with the largest selection of liquor Brielle had ever seen; and once again Brielle found herself in the casino. She hadn't noticed its brilliance the first time around, the mosaic glass ceiling and the dim neon lights complimented the rows and rows of classic slot machines and card tables quite well.

The juxtaposition between hotel and the casino was somehow huge and yet not at all noticeable, it seemed so seamless walking out of the castle and into the neon space age streamline moderne lounge that was the casino.

Brielle’s eyes were consistently wide with wonder as she trailed behind Alex, all of her senses engulfed in the dazzle before her, and yet she also felt consistently… uneasy. The hotel was neither busy nor empty but there was a certain hollowness that followed her, the rooms seemed to swallow her whole as she entered them and spit her back out as she left. A very faint buzz bounced around her head, she assumed it must be from all of the neon lights and 1980’s technology but something about it still made her chest feel tight. The employees, all of which wore bright red uniforms and seemed to go about their tasks like robots, gave her strange stares as she walked by. Alex joked that they were just not used to seeing him with a girl on his side and that they would warm up once they got past the initial shock of having Brielle around, but Brielle still felt off. It seemed as though all of her troubles with the hotel had logical explanations, yet none of them calmed her anxieties. However, seeing as that she had nowhere else to go and was rather enjoying her time with Alex, she shoved them aside and carried on beside him.

“Are you ready to see your room?”

Brielle stopped in her tracks as they approached the glass elevator. “My room?”

“Well, not your room. It's my room. It's- Well- We’ll call it our room.” Alex hesitated for a moment. “That is, if you'll stay.”

Brielle said nothing, only furrowed her brows and began chewing on her lip.

“If it makes you more comfortable I’ve got a rather large chaise that I’d be more than happy to sleep on, I'd get you your own room if I could but we plan on being overbooked these next couple of weeks, with spring holiday coming up and all,” Alex stressed.

Brielle gasped and shook her head frantically. “Oh! No, that's not what I’m thinking about, I'd be delighted to stay in your room, I just really hadn't thought about what was going to happen. I mean, I have no clothes, no job, nowhere to go. I just don't want to be in the way.”

The last part of her comment left her lips in a whisper, she seemed to shrivel up at the thought of being a bother and was reduced to nothing but a mouse in front of Alex and it melted his heart. Without hesitation he drew her in close to him and wrapped his arms around her. He felt warm around her, Brielle’s head rested perfectly against his chest and she could feel his slow, even heartbeat begin to pick up against her cheek.

“I’ll take care of everything. Don't you worry about a thing. You can stay here for as long as you'd like, it's absolutely my pleasure. I’ll take care of you.”

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otherpeoplesheartachept-2 · 4 years ago

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TRANQUILITY BASE

Here’s my @coexchange piece for @that-bi-bliophile!

I hope it’s okay I stretched your prompt to fit an entire album. I listen to the album Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino by the Arctic Monkey a lot and it’s inspired countless daydreams so I figured I’d fit a Snowbaz bullet point fic into this universe. If you don’t want to listen to an entire new album (which is understandable) but want a feel for the album and the vibe I’m going for, I’d suggest listening to the songs Star Treatment, American Sports, and/or Four Stars out of Five.

For some background, in this AU Tranquility is an out of date game from an out of date console made as promotion for the real and still existing hotel on the moon. Simon lives on earth, which is currently a weird mix of waste land and advanced technology. Basically global warming isn’t fixed, all rich people just moved to the moon and left everyone else on earth to do the jobs they don’t want. Baz is the child of some of those rich moon people. They’re both like 18 when they “meet” for the first time.

Tranquility The Game is Simon’s way of escaping the reality of his shitty father and taxing job. The old gaming system is one of the few things he has that matters to him. He’s build up his own imaginary life in this digital hotel, where he’s a successful musician with a band, rich enough to afford stays in fancy moon hotels.

Baz’s dad, head of Grimm Co. is the new owner of the real TBHC. Baz goes to the hotel for a business meeting because Malcolm wants to teach him how to run the company. Baz is bored and finds an old copy of the game and console in some storage closet. He takes it home and boots it up.

He’s surprised to find it works, and even more surprised to find someone else already in the game.

Simon is confused and furious that someone else is in HIS game. He immediately shoves virtual Baz against a wall and demands he leave the game.

Baz is like “what the fuck how does anyone even still play this” but he’s intrigued by the attractive angry game boy so he insults him and keeps coming back to the game.

The relationship is hostile at first (because Simon doesn’t want Baz ruining his virtual world and Baz looks down on Simon for living on earth) but Baz, despite himself, is desperate to get to know Simon, this weird kid clinging to an out of date, boring videogame. And Simon secretly likes having someone to share this game world with, even if he “hates” him.

They get into petty fights a lot and call each other names that are supposed to be insults but are really just thinly veiled pet names. Baz’s favorites are “earthling” and “freckles boy” Simon’s are “fucking posh space boy” and “bastard”.

Baz tries to goad more information about Simon out of him but Simon is very committed to holding on to the fantasy life he’s made up for himself, he won’t even tell Baz his last name.

Despite all their “fighting” they start to warm up to each other.

One day Simon gives Baz a tour of the virtual hotel and Baz explains how different everything is in the real hotel. Throughout the tour Simon starts to open up about his father and his friend Shepard and the crumbling state of planet Earth. (Cue discussion about capitalism and class and how fucked up it is that billionaires just left the Earth and all the poor people to die.)

Baz talks about his life and how isolated he feels because his father and all his “friends” are very emotionally closed off. Simon sympathizes but teases him a little.

Simon: Like you’d rather be anything but a posh moon business man.

Baz: I would. If I could be anyone I’d be an astrologist. What about you, Earthing? Who would you be, if you could be anyone in the universe?

Simon, suddenly somber: My father says dreaming isn’t for folks people like me.

Baz shows up in the game one day to find Simon playing a guitar, he’s quite good at it.

Simon learns Baz can cook after Baz asks if there’s a way to get in to the game hotel’s kitchen (there isn’t). Simon likes Baz about ten times more when he explains how to make the perfect shepherd’s pie. Baz realized he might be in love when Simon starts explaining how good sour cherry scones are and how they should be their own food group.

They go star gazing together on the roof of the hotel. Baz knows a lot about constellations and explains them to Simon.

Baz: You know that isn’t how they look tonight?”

Simon: No?

Baz: No. it takes the light ages to get to us, so what we’re seeing is years behind. Like, look at that star there, it’s been dead for twenty years.

Simon, pointing up: There?

Baz: No, *takes Simon’s hand to readjust it* there.

Simon: Oh… yeah.

Neither of them are looking at the stars at this point. Cue gay thoughts about Simon’s freckles being constellations and some EXTREME pining.

Baz learns they can write in the notepads left in each virtual hotel room. They start leaving notes and little drawings for each other in game when they play and the other isn’t there. Sometimes Simon leaves chords to songs he’s writing. Baz will add lyrics to the songs sometimes. Baz will also flirt in the notes but Simon can never tell if he’s serious or if it’s just Baz being sarcastic and dramatic.

One day Simon’s playing guitar and invites Baz to sing with him. Baz is nervous about exposing his feelings for Simon with the romantic lyrics. Simon gets so wrapped up in listening to and watching Baz sing that he stops playing before the song is finished. They do the classic routine of staring until the other person stares back then quickly looking away and blushing. Again, Major Pining.

At this point they both think the other might be interested romantically, but they’re too nervous to take the next step into actually talking about romance.

One day Baz insists on teaching Simon to dance. They move some furniture in the hotel lounge and figure out how to use the futuristic jukebox in the corner of the room. Simon is clumsy but happy to follow Baz’s lead. (It helps that he can’t physically step on Baz’s toes. However, a few times he does bash into furniture in his real life bedroom). Baz’s hair is loose and falling in his face. Simon can’t stop smiling. Baz is still pretending like this is purely a teaching moment but he can’t hide the faint blush on his cheeks. The music shifts to a slow song. They lock eyes. Simon reaches for a phantom cheek. Baz leans into the imagined warmth of a digital palm. All they hear is their shared breathing and heartbeats until someone speaks.

Simon: If I could be anyone, I’d be someone who kissed you right now.

They can’t really kiss, it’s a videogame. But they finally admit they have feelings for each other.

They daydream about meeting somehow. Simon sneaking onto a cargo ship to travel to the moon. Inventing a way to fully convert themselves into part of the game so the never have to leave. The two of them hijacking a spaceship and enough rations to last years, then flying out somewhere in the Milky Way to live out the rest of their lives together. But they know these are just fantasies. They won’t say it out loud, and sometimes, when staring into pixelated eyes and making elaborate plots they forget the impossibility of it all, but they know they can never make these dreams reality.

Any spare time they have is spent in the digital hotel with each other. Simon starts carrying the game console around with him everywhere, even when he knows he can’t play. Baz has stopped showing up for anything he’s supposed to in the evenings, he just locks himself in his bedroom with the game.

“What would you do if I was really there?” becomes a common question.

“It’s a crisp evening here, so I’d pull you in close, keep you warm. Kiss you underneath the sliver of moon.”

“I’d hold your hand. Kiss every freckle I can find on it until I have to push up your sleeve to find more.”

“I’d mess up your hair. It looks better messy.”

“I would punch that stupid look off your face. You can’t seriously think the sun used to revolve around the Earth, that’s fucking insane!”

“I’d tell you… I- I, I never want you to leave.”

Are some of the answers.

One night they’re in the game and Simon’s struggling to stay awake. It’s adorable but Baz tells him he should go to sleep. Simon says he wants to spend more time with Baz. He asks Baz to tell him about space so he’ll stay awake. Baz knows that will put Simon to sleep rather than keep him awake, but he does it anyway. Simon fights as long as he can but falls asleep “next to” Baz within minutes. Baz realizes he’s sleeping but keeps talking about black holes while stroking the digital version of his boyfriend’s hair. And when he’s sure Simon isn’t going to wake up, Baz whispers about how much he loves him before falling asleep as well.

The next morning Simon wakes up alone in the game. Baz wakes up to the sound of his headset cracking under the weight of his skull.

Frantically he tries to turn on the console, reattach a piece of electronics that came off the headset, plead with a god he doesn’t believe in. Nothing works.

He searches for replacement pieces, a new headset, ways to convert the Tranquility game to newer systems, but there’s nothing. It’s a shitty game on an outdated console that no one cared about. He’s heartbroken.

Simon doesn’t realize anything’s wrong at first. He thinks Baz is just really busy for the first few weeks. Then he worries he did something to hurt him. Then he’s angry Baz never bothers to talk to him about why he left. Then he’s scared something happened to Baz.

For a few years he returns whenever he has the time, searches for Baz, or clues that Baz was there while he was away. But he’s never there, and there’s never any notes revealing he just missed Baz. Eventually he can’t stand to keep coming back to the deserted hotel. Whatever happened to Baz happened, deep down they both knew they couldn’t live this fantasy life in an old game forever.

Baz continues searching everywhere in real life and online for a way to get back to the game hotel, to Simon, but all he can find are parts he already has, or headsets that don’t work anymore like his.

Soon enough Simon can’t stand to even look at the gaming console. And he could use the extra money, so he decides to sell it. A local pawn shop takes it for less than Simon was hoping to get, but they said the name scratched into the side really devalues the piece.

After years of searching, Baz finds a full working console with headset for sale online, from an Earth seller. The interplanetary shipping is expensive, but worth it. When the console arrives Baz finds “SIMON SNOW” carved into the plastic exterior. He cries for days.

He boots up Tranquility The Game but he knows he’ll be the only one there. The hotel looks the same as it was the last time he played. He finds a note from Simon addressed to him, angrily asking why he left without a word, then another apologizing, saying he was just hurt but he knows things had to end at some point. Those were three years old. Simon never left anything else.

Baz decides to leave a note of his own: “Simon Snow. I wish I could tease you for carving your name into an electronic device; it’s extremely childish, and probably quite unsafe. Still, in a way I’m glad you did it. If you even found your way back here I’d hate for you to know the depth of my feelings, even after these long years. But I doubt you will. Knowing that is bittersweet. I will admit sometimes I still fantasize about you, about impossible ways we could still be friends, more than friends, anything other than ghosts haunting each other’s memories. Simon Snow, I loved you.”

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bastillewolf · 5 years ago

Text

The Grand Tranquility Hotel (II)

Pairing: Alex Turner/Reader

Summary: An eccentric hotel owner and an inquisitive writer find solace in each other when they both seemed to be at the edge of rock bottom.

Notes: Most chapter titles are indeed going to be the song titles from TBHC. Hope you enjoy!

Let me know if you’d like to be added to the tag list.

Chapter II - She Looks Like Fun

She’d picked out a darker dress with a wavy skirt. Something comfortable, yet still classy. She could almost imagine her mother squealing with joy, because up until a few months ago she would’ve never worn anything like this.

Her mother used to reprimand her for it, because she’d always said that her legs were far too nice to be covered up by trousers or any of the sort. And if she was being honest, her legs did look rather nice. She’d actually shaved, while it was still the cold season. A season where shaving legs was not necessary. She felt a sense of pride. It quickly simmered down.

She hated the fact she couldn’t tell her mother these things anymore. She supposed that wearing skirts and dresses was her own way of dealing with things. Trying to rid of the guilt of having been gone for so long to find work in all sorts of places. Not calling enough. Skipping holidays and family meetings. She was grieving, and though there was probably some psychological explanation for everything she was doing, she really didn’t care enough to find out.

She was still adorned with her grandmother’s watch, possibly the most valuable family heirloom in her possession. Perhaps not so much in price, because the gold needed a good polish and there were enough scratches and dents to tell a tale of a lifetime or two, but it sure meant a lot to her emotionally. It was the only thing she had left of her mother. And any time she felt a wave of anxiety or couldn’t catch a night’s sleep, she listened to the soft ticking of the seconds hand. It reminded her of where she was, what she was doing, and that everything would be fine. As she now didn’t feel the anxiety anymore of dining all by herself. Because in a way, her mother was with her.

While exiting the room, she didn’t stop to think about the sinister half-opened door at the end of the hallway and quickly made her way downstairs. It was a bit before seven o’clock.

The dining room was really something else. It was a grand open space adorned with golden chandeliers and tables with pristine white napkins on shining plates. It was a symmetrically satisfying sight to behold, and she felt out of place to take a seat on any of the luxurious furniture. She wondered if they were actually expecting a grand feast soon or simply out of their minds. She presumed it was the latter.

When Nick thought enough time had passed for her to take in the spectacular view, he cleared his throat. It made her jump and though it amused him greatly, he quickly apologized. “I’m very sorry ma’am, but I’m afraid all the tables are reserved for our other guests.”

She grinned at him. “Ah, I see. That’s very unfortunate. I suppose I’ll just sit on the floor, then.” When she moved to swat some imaginary dirt away from the varnished wooden surface and was about to sink through her knees, Nick hurriedly stopped her. “Actually, I just got a message through that a reservation has been cancelled. No need to sit on the floor. Now, if you’ll follow me, miss,” he politely sputtered. She could see the relief washing over him when she stood again, and she only now figured it probably would have been a sight to see a guest sitting on the floor because a waiter had jokingly told them all the tables were reserved.

“What a shame they had to cancel their reservation, this table has such a good view,” she told Nick, as he held a chair out for her. He’d seated her beside the central window, overlooking the great view of the well-kept gardens. She spotted Matthew in front of a big fountain, who was struggling to control a rearing horse and she swore she heard Nick sigh and mutter “idiot” under his breath. She decided not to comment on it.

A figure appearing beside Nick made her turn back. “I think I’ll take it from here,” he said, offering a smile to Nick and then to her. Nick nodded, his eyes not leaving the unruly horse. “If you need me, I’ll be right outside,” he muttered, before taking off.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, miss. My name is Jamie, and I’ll be your chef for the time you’ll be staying with us,” he told her. He was adorned in a black kitchen uniform, not a crease or spot to be seen, with a leather apron tied around his waist. His hair was slicked back, in a similar fashion to Matt’s, styled to the sides and back from where his hair parted. He had a kind twinkle in his eyes yet seemed a bit on the awkward side judging from the way he fumbled his hands a bit much. “It’s nice to meet you too, Jamie,” she replied kindly, “I was wondering what the menu is like for today? I fully understand if it’s a limited one, seeing as I’m presumably the only one staying for dinner tonight.”

Jamie’s eyes widened, almost as if he remembered what he was supposed to be doing. He quickly sprinted off and was back in almost the blink of an eye, in his hands a neat menu card. “My apologies. I’m not used to serving people,” he explained, “I used to only be at work in the kitchens and send my own servers out with plates, but since we had to make quite a few cuts…”

She had been intently and quietly listening as to not snap him out of his ramble out of her own pure curiosity to know more about the hotel, but unfortunately, he caught wind of what he was saying out loud and paused mid-sentence. “Anyways,” he cleared his throat, “I can make you anything you’d like. Even if it’s not on the menu.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to bother you with that,” she told him, “I’ll see what the menu has to offer.” “Miss, you could never be a bother,” he replied, a slight blush dusting his cheeks. Her lips quirked up.

“Alright, how outrageous would it be if I asked you to make me a cheeseburger?” He laughed, “That would probably be the least outrageous request I’ve ever gotten from a guest, miss. I’d be happy to.”

As he was about to turn, she continued, “Have you had dinner yet, Jamie?” He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. “No, miss. I usually eat after all the guests are done along with the other staff.”

“Will you and the rest of the staff join me, then?” She wondered. “I don’t think that’d be very appropriate, miss,” he replied shyly. “I insist. I feel like an idiot eating dinner all by myself in this huge room. Please?” She added and tried her best to look as miserable as possible. Jamie looked inflicted, his eyes darting to the entrance of the dining room for a moment as if he was checking to see if no one had heard him when he agreed.

It didn’t take that long for Matt and Nick to show up and take a seat at the table, and though they looked as if the horse had given them more trouble, their frowns quickly turned upside down when they heard Jamie was making cheeseburgers. “I’m starting to like you more and more by the minute,” Matt told the smiling woman. “Thank god, I wouldn’t want you to spend dinner while thinking of me as bad company,” she replied. “Like I already told you, miss,” Jamie said as he set plates of cheeseburgers and chips on the table, “You could never be a bother.”

Conversation was made considerably easy given the fact that she was talking to staff she had only just met, but she was glad they felt comfortable enough to let their guard down around her. “So, what do you do, if I may ask, miss?” Jamie asked. “Enough with the ‘miss’, Jamie. You can call me by my name,” she answered, “and I’m a writer. At least, I try to be.” Nick, who was chowing down a burger, looked up in interest. “Really? Written anything I know?” Matt smacked him across the head. “Speak with your mouth empty, you’re talking to a lady here.”

She laughed, “That’s quite alright. I really haven’t published anything yet except for the article here and there, but I think I’ve recently stumbled across an idea for a book.” “That’s great!” Matt commented, “What’s it gunna be about?”

She hesitated a moment before answering. “I was hoping to write about the hotel, actually.”

They all froze in the spot. She’d expected this response when she’d formed the plan to invite them to dinner and was about to elaborate when she realized it wasn’t just what she’d said that was the cause for their sudden discomfort.

“What’s going on in here? Having a tea party, I see?” A deep voice grumbled from behind her.

Turning around, she was faced with the sharp features of none other than Alexander Turner.

When she had read about him in the papers, she’d always imagined a much older man who was going to retire soon now that his hotel was bankrupt, trying to save his last bit of pocket money. The person in front of her, was the complete opposite of what she’d expected. A young, lean man dressed in an expensive-looking blue three-piece suit was staring at her with striking chocolate brown eyes. His hair was slicked back and his face clean shaven, defining his jawline and cheekbones in an impeccable way. He was an intimidating figure to say the least, and it seemed as though everyone at the table, save for Matt, had shrunken into themselves a bit.

“Miss asked us to join her for dinner,” Matt responded coldly, his hard gaze unwavering. She had to admit that she admired his boldness in this moment. This was not the same Matt who had given her a ride and had been dining with her just now.

“Ah, of course,” mister Turner replied smoothly, “allow me to introduce myself, my name is Alex Turner. I’m the owner of this establishment.” His hand took hers. “It’s nice to finally meet you, miss.” And he kissed it courteously, making her skin tingle. “And you can call me Alexander.” His eyes shot up to lock with hers and she was completely entranced.

“Nice to meet you as well, Alexander,” she managed to reply, as he slowly dropped her hand. “I was just asking your staff more about the hotel. I’m rather interested in writing a piece about it.”

“Ah, a writer then,” he said as his sharp gaze flickered over said staff. “I hope they haven’t told you too much about the hotel. Wouldn’t want to share our best kept secrets, now would we?” The underline of his tone was threatening, and she was almost worried she’d gotten the guys into trouble, when Matt spoke up, “Oh, I wouldn’t worry too much about that, mister Turner. I’m sure those secrets will unravel themselves when the time comes.”

The silence that followed could’ve been cut with a knife as Alex’ eyes turned cold. “I’d like to have a word with you when you’re done, Matthew.” It was all he said before storming out.

Matt sighed. “I’ll best be going, then.” And quickly followed after him.

“What was that about?” she questioned. Nick shook his head, “They’re always this dramatic.”

In the small office behind the entrance desk, Matt leaned against the doorpost as Alex filed through some paperwork. “I don’t tolerate backtalk in front of our guests, Matthew. You know this,” he said, not bothering to look up from the unorganized mess of files.

“She’s our only guest, Alex. You should take it easy for a little while. You know, come and stay with us.”

Alex rolled his eyes at the remark.

“But really though, what did you think of her?” Matt continued.

Alex looked at him and Matt saw a familiar twinkle in his eyes, one he hadn’t seen for a long time. “She looks like fun,” he simply responded.

#Arctic Monkeys #Alex Turner #Nick O'Malley #Matt Helders #Jamie Cook #Miles Kane #TBHC #Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino #AM #Alex Turner x Reader #Fanfiction #Romance #Mystery

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sunshineofyourlove1967 · 6 years ago

Note

1 4 12 14 38 and 50 !

hellooooo thank you so much!!! im so glad you’re back, i’ve missed you so much!!!!

1. name your top three favourite songs: oh jeez alright so i think it’s…… in no particular order because i’m too weak to —- them lmao - ….why even try by hippo campus - i don’t know why is this song so incredibly important to me, i discovered it like, i think a month ago or so? or maybe longer. but i wasn’t at like, the brightest place in my life and i was drawing while listening to it on repeat and kept listening to it for like, four days straight basically without getting tired of it, and it calmed me down so incredibly much, then i listened to it on the bus on my way to exams and back while reading, and i still listen to it every few days and feel so peaceful and transparent and understood, like the lyrics are fairly depressing but i’d found incredible comfort in them, ‘on and on, the feelings burst and then they fall - till later on we won’t get back to patch things up’ like??? and the whole lyrics, what it speaks about, it’s so definitive, conclusive, irreversibly fatal, like there’s no going back but also no need to worry about things anymore, nothing will be the same as it used to be, but somehow the song was what made me cope with the fact and helped me find perhaps a more optimistic approach to it all, even if at the time it was more of a medium which i explored the lost, wandering, searching kind of sadness through. it’s not just the lyrics though, it’s the feel of the whole song, the guitar and bass and the tempo and all those little unique elements (the instrumental part before the bridge!!!!!!) and even if i won’t be listening to it in a month, a year, ten years, i think it’ll always remain special and unique to me and will always speak the same language as the part of my heart that had needed it so desperately at the time!!

god, how do i name my other top favourite songs after this dksfjhkdf

probably star treatment by arctic monkeys - we’d waited so long for the album even though we made peace with the fact that am was the last thing we’ll ever hear, and i lost my shit when i found out about the news that there was indeed another album coming!!! and then the tiny tbhc snippet on youtube aaaah i remember learning the guitar riff to it immediately and playing it over and over!!! and then we listened to it in my room when it came out and i was stunned the second i heard the opening piano and the backing vocals, and then the ‘as we gaze skyward, ain’t it dark early?’ part towards the end RUINED me and i still cry my eyes out every time i listen to it…. so yeah. am still do really own my ass sddfdf

and the third one……… hhhhhh how am i supposed to choose. probably something off everything you’ve come to expect by tlsp. the entire album is Packed with absolute total fucking bangers and it collectively destroyed us (also the whole tour…………..) probably pattern or element of surprise!!!! or aviation or the title track or used to be my girl or the bourne identity ( oof ) or hhhhhh i really can’t choose, let’s just say that the entire album shares the 3rd position lmao

4. favourite album cover: oh i like this ask a lot!!! i rly love the cover of revolver by the beatles, it’s so iconic and i adore the style of it, the cover of tranquility base hotel + casino by am bcs,.. c’mon. (i actually made my own version of the model alex made sdkfjhf it was so fun!!! but my hands almost died) andddd is this it obviously, definitely maybe by oasis, and the cover of cullah the wild by cullah is so cool!! (he’s a practically unknown 28yo artist and he has such cool and creative songs!! it’s a mixture between like, alternative blues and alternative hip hop and something uniquely weird and experimental lmao and he releases an album on his birthday every year for free and i love him so much!! he definitely deserves more recognition)

this is what the cover looks like!! (and ‘where you do belong’ off the album is my absolute all time favourite)

12. what’s your favourite era of music: gotta be 50′s, 80′s, 90′s and 00′s, esp the alternative and garage rock scene

14. do you play any instruments? i do!! i play guitar, (acoustic only but god i want to get an electric one so bad) bass guitar, ukulele and i used to play soprano flute in elementary school lmao

38. what’s a song that has inspired you: i usually pick songs that inspire me, give me certain imagery or provoke certain mood in me and just put them on repeat while i’m writing, so it’s gotta be…………………….. why even try by hippo campus (god this is getting embarrassing how many times am i gonna mention this song sdfdfsdfkdfjf but it’s SO AMAZING and so important to me), to bring you my love by pj harvey!!!! set your arms down, heads up and so good by warpaint, packt like sardines in a crushed tin box, life in a glasshouse, you and whose army?, i might be wrong by radiohead, the entirety of carrie & lowell by sufjan stevens, esp blue bucket of gold and john my beloved recently, and the cmbyn soundtrack by him: mystery of love, visions of gideon and futile devices!!

50 - put all of your songs on shuffle and list the first ten! - alright! so -

daydreaming - radiohead

heavy storm - first aid kit

underneath the sky - oasis

la parisienne - zaz

she came in through the bathroom window - the beatles

we no who y r - nick cave & the bad seeds

blue bucket of gold - sufjan stevens (oh hello!!)

the orange monkey - pj harvey

je hais les dimanches - édith piaf

a place i know - cullah (hmmm)

thank you so much for the ask!!!!! it Really kept me entertained for a while lmao thank you!!!

#god this was a journey #i really didn't expect to get into describing why even try so intensely but yet here we are #ask #flying-overseas #answered #thank you so much!!

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partynthem · 6 years ago

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to expand on my nonsense concert notes from last night (it’s long lmao ya girl has a lot of thoughts)

- i would like to start by just thanking lauren @enthusiasm-paraphernalia for existing

- the keyboard alex plays on stage is literally three feet tall. i’m genuinely not joking it is so fucking short. the actual smallest keyboard in the world for the world’s tiniest man.

- i still deeply miss alex’s hair but his shaved head isn’t that bad in person. it’s alright. his hair is objectively better and he doesn’t look like himself but whatever it’s fine i’m fine

- ahhhh during the view from the afternoon it was just the four OG monkeys on stage and i was and still am crying abt it

- alex announced teddy picker by just shouting ‘TEDDY PICKER!’ into the microphone. thanks. and then during the song when it got to the solo he played maybe three notes and then threw his arms around a bit leading me to believe he forgot how to play the solo

- we were fucking up in arms when they didn’t transition to crying lightning after teddy picker tho like the three of us were just shouting at them as if they could hear us and as if they gave a single shit abt our opinion of their setlists

- during knee socks alex started reaching over from where he was standing to the keyboard and my eyes are bad so i thought he was trying to grab tom’s mic but he was actually just reaching for his sunglasses that he’d put on the keyboard earlier skhjfsdgfd but he was in such a weird position cos the keyboard was slightly out of his reach so he was bending and twisting and it was so extra to witness

- ok they played view from the afternoon, teddy picker, do me a favour, and knee socks all in a row and those are legit my top four am songs so i was Fuckin Sweating it was so much all at once

- also during do me a favour he mimed the ‘well her shoes were untied’ line by fucking stomping????? like i understood he was demonstrating untied laces but he lit just stomped

- before wyocmwyh he was saying nonsense and i may have misheard but i SWEAR he said the words ‘washy going down on a sunday nighhhttttt’ . washy..... alex no

- during wyocmwyh alex was rly feelin it and miming shit like there was no tomorrow and at the ‘get through the gears’ line 1. he said shift through the gears and 2. he mimed shifting gears in a car and it was like watching him try to swim during the line in one point perspective. he doesn’t know how to drive or swim i guess. can he do anything??? anyways. during one of the choruses after he sang ‘why’d you only call me when you’re high?’ he pointedly said matt’s name while staring him down implying matt only calls him when he’s high. casual.

- alex was just yelling so many random phrases during/between songs (which he didn’t do as much the first night he seemed to be having way more fun last night) and after wyocmwyh he said ‘getting to know youuuuuuuu’ and during pretty visitors during the break in the song he said ‘what are you on about?’ and like. what am I on about??? you’re the one that fucking wrote pretty visitors alex what are YOU on about

- THEY PLAYED AMERICAN SPORTS AND LAUREN AND I HAD THE MOST DRAMATIC PHYSICAL REACTION TO IT STARTING WE BOTH JUMPED AS THOUGH WE’D BEEN ELECTROCUTED AND LOST OUR DAMN MINDS I STILL CANT BELIEVE THEY DID IT

- alex screamed so much during brianstorm and not his usual ‘YEAHHHH’ but more ‘AHHHHHHHHHH’ and so many times. like five different times in that 2 min 53 second song

- matt is just so fucking talented and good at what he does and is so mesmerizing to watch i am forever impressed by him

- alex kept taking his sunglasses off and then putting them back on jkhfssd it happened so many times and was so dramatic he just could not make up his fucking mind on whether or not he wanted to be wearing them

- the vox was having issues during do i wanna know and someone (dave i think) came out on stage during the song and was fiddling w it and alex was still trying to play and then once the guitar was fixed he said ‘it’s back!’ and then continued on w the song

- ok.. alex had this fucking TOWEL on stage to keep wiping his sweaty ass face with and every time he would lauren and i would just lose our shit and one time when he went to wipe his face it was the most aggressive use of a towel i’ve ever seen. my skin hurt just watching him attack his face like that

- also alex kept going to drink water on stage maybe every three min i guess the dc swamp humidity was rly getting to him

- towards the middle/end of the set they hadn’t done 505 yet so i was starting to believe they had come to their senses and were gonna close w it but they didn’t and i was mad when it started playing as like the 14th song or whatever

- OH AND AT THE ‘HANDS AROUND MY NECK’ LINE DURING 505 HE PUT HIS FUCKING HAND AROUND HIS NECK

- they did that cool transition between 505 and tbhc again!!!

- he did so much weird shit during pretty visitors i can’t even pick one or five things to mention cos it was just four full min of nonstop antics

- at the start of the second verse of i bet you look good on the dancefloor HE JUST CACKLED INTO THE MICROPHONE AND DIDN’T SING THE FIRST TWO LINES COS HE WAS TOO BUSY LAUGHING

- also during dancefloor poor sweet jamie his guitar was Fucked Up TM and eventually he just kinda sat down on the side and the song was weird without him

- alex randomly stood up from the piano during star treatment and walked around and his mic cord got caught on something (typical) and he softly went ‘shit’ at the end of a line jshdhsjd and then he just squatted at the front of the stage during the verse in the middle of the song. you know. as one does

- also during star treatment they had that ridiculous disco cube thing on stage but the light was rly pretty and there was a moment alex was in the exact right spot and he looked so beautiful. even without hair

- at the end of r u mine before they did the chorus again he would not put his arms down i swear to god they were just floating up in the air for maybe an entire two minutes. i worried his hands were losing circulation

- they (especially alex) took so much time to walk off stage and they all seemed so into it all night and were interacting a ton and i’m just. emotional

- i had to leave early after the show cos my sister arrived to pick me up (my dumbass asked her to come get me so i wouldnt have to spend $40 on an uber home lmao @ me playing myself) so i didn’t get to wait to try and meet them or wait and hang out more which was :( but i love arctic monkeys more than anything and this was truly the best weekend of my life and i’m so so so so so happy even tho i’m sad it’s over i’m so happy i got to have this and i will forever treasure the last 48 hours of my life

💖🖤💖🖤💖🖤💖🖤💖

#sorry to write a 5000 word post i tried to explain everything i wrote in my notes since theyre so cryptic and nonsensical #and there was just a lot to say #txt #dc night two #my show

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alexturner2005 · 6 years ago

Photo

ivanrdrgzm: "Fear not San Diego! The Arctic Monkeys have returned! Oh have we been missed?" - AT ❄️🐒 05/02/18

#😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭#god please...#everything about this #i miss it #arctic monkeys #alex turner #tbhc tour #am san diego #m

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alexturner2005 · 6 years ago

Video

youtube

TBH+C tour: overview

#as i said in an ask #it's weird to relive this whole thing within 7 minutes #i'll forever miss the first half of this tour #it was so different than the 2nd half #feels so fucking long ago #god it was so exciting when they first returned #with new songs and new renditions of hellcat etc #and when they opened with the view from #and played batphone for the first time #and the royal albert hall show...#this made me so nostalgic #arctic monkeys #alex turner #matt helders #jamie cook #nick o'malley #tbhc tour #m

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benaffleckofcrowdsurfing · 4 years ago

Text

Star Treatment - 1

TBHC Alex Turner AU

cowritten with @walkingidler

description: an escort, a millionaire, a hotel that breaks the boundaries of technology, time, and space, a flashing red light, and a shit ton of cocaine.

word count: 3.5k

warnings: mentions of mental illness, light drug use, and assault. I’d rate this chapter PG-13.

THE BEGINNING

**********

“We’re just leaving now. Should only be a few minutes. Brielle is very excited to meet you.”

“Lovely. I’ll step outside and wait for her arrival.”

As Alex stepped outside, the warm Los Angeles air hit him like a swift palm to the face. He took off his blazer and waited, not quite knowing who for. He knew she was young and at least somewhat attractive, he had been quite impressed by the pictures that his friend showed him. Who knew, though. Girls in LA never looked like they did in their pictures.

In only a few moments, a black SUV pulled up to the lavish restaurant. Alex smiled politely when a small brunette girl stepped out. Wow, he thought. She’s actually more attractive than her photos.

“I presume you’re Miss Brielle,” Alex took a step toward her as she strutted up to him, and shook her hand.

“And you must be Alexander,” the girl hummed. The word ‘Alexander’ left her lips like honey, leaving goosebumps down Alex’s spine. She looked up at him with bedroom eyes, her soft green irises twinkling under the moonlight. Alex couldn’t help but stare.

“Come on, Darling. There’s a bottle of wine waiting for us at the table,” Alex muttered, still admiring the petite girl’s beauty. She smiled up at him before putting her hands around his arm and allowing him to guide her to the table.

“So,” Alex pulled out the chair for Brielle. “How old are you, Brielle. You look quite young.”

Brielle thanked him as she sat down, and when Alex returned to his side of the table, she chuckled a bit. “I’m nineteen. I’ve been doing this for almost three years now.”

“Three years? That would have made you sixteen when you started. How did you get caught up in something like this so young?” Alex poured Brielle a glass of wine.

Brielle sighed. “You’re eager, aren’t you? Usually men don’t ask me my life story until at least the third or fourth date.”

Alex’s eyes grew wide and his face flushed. “Oh- I’m sorry. I’ve never actually done anything like this before, I guess I didn’t get the ‘escort manners’ memo.”

Brielle laughed again. “No, don’t apologize. It’s refreshing to sit down and have dinner with someone who doesn’t just want to talk about their tough day at work or their failing marriage or their kids who are probably all around my age.”

“Right. I guess you’re probably used to married men. I forgot about that.”

“Do you not have a woman in your life, Alexander?”

“I’m actually on this… er - date… by recommendation of a friend to help me get over my most recent ex girlfriend.”

Brielle frowned at Alex and stuck her bottom lip out in pity. “I’m sorry, Alexander. I’m sure it was her loss. You’re a very attractive man and from what my higher-ups said, you’re quite the businessman.”

Alex chuckled. “Businessman. That’s a funny one. But - and just let me know if I’m prying, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable - you never answered my question. I want to know how you got here.”

Brielle exhaled and took a long sip of her wine before tucking her hair behind her ears and looking directly into Alex’s eyes; it was like she could see a universe behind them as they gleaned against the dim lighting. “I’m just going to say this now, Alexander. I don’t want pity. I’m a big girl and I’ve worked hard to get where I’m at, even if you may not see it as the most noble lifestyle.”

Alex nodded. “I understand, and trust me I’m never one to judge your lifestyle. I am the one who hired you, after all.”

Brielle pursed her lips into a small smile before continuing. “When I was fourteen, I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. I had been suffering from it for a long time before I was diagnosed, and it really took a toll on my relationships with my family. My parents were never the best people, they’re quite wealthy and are kind of your typical ‘Real Housewives of Los Angeles’ assholes. My mother told me from a very young age that it was more important to be pretty and polite than yourself, and my father never really paid attention to me. So when I was diagnosed, they kind of just wanted to throw me on whatever meds would make me a zombie and would keep me out of their hair, but I wasn’t having it. I deeply understood that I was who I was because of BPD, and even if I was irrational or ‘crazy’ or whatever, that was me. So I never took my meds.”

As Brielle fell into her own little world, painting out the picture of her teenage years for Alex, he watched her. He watched how her soft lips fell when she was speaking about her parents, how her eyes creased in hesitation before going on about her mental illness, how her delicate hands acted out everything she spoke about. He listened to her voice, taking note of the way she giggled through her story and put emphasis on words like crazy and troubled. Alex usually didn’t like American accents, but there was something about hers he couldn’t get enough of. She sounded intelligent, he could tell that there was a lot going on in her brain and it made him want to hear more.

“When I was fifteen, my mom found out I wasn’t taking my meds. She was livid. She screamed at me for hours, that was one of the worst days of my life. She called me a spoiled brat and a fucking psycho and said that having me was one of the worst mistakes she ever made. That day really pushed me over the edge. I couldn’t stand living with her anymore. I told her to take me out of the trust and to never speak to me again, and I left.”

Alex furrowed his brows. “You left when you were fifteen?”

Brielle rolled her eyes. “I know, I know. I was way too young to be on my own. But I had places to go. For that first year or so I stayed with some friends downtown. It was great. I got a job at a decent restaurant, and the friends I was staying with had an in to this club so we were constantly out partying and drinking and all that jazz.”

Alex frowned even more. “You were hanging out in clubs when you were fifteen?”

“Yes, Alexander. Fifteen. I dropped acid for the first time when I was fifteen. I did coke for the first time when I was fifteen. I had sex for the first time when I was fifteen. I was a bad kid.”

“I didn’t call you a bad kid, I just wanted to clarify.”

“Sure you did, Alexander.”

“I mean it.”

“I’m sure you do.”

“Brielle, would you please just continue your story?”

Brielle shot Alex a dirty look before continuing. “One day, I was in the club, and a man came up to me. He told me he liked how I danced. I was like ‘okay?’ And then he told me he’d pay for me to sit with him and keep him company. At first I was like, ‘no, what the fuck?’ because I was a kid and I didn’t realize what he was asking, but I guess one of the guys we knew who ran the club saw and pulled me aside and explained it to me. He told me that if I wanted to pursue that, he could take care of the business side of everything, and promised to keep me safe. At that point I already had no morals for myself so I was just kind of like, ‘fuck it’, you know? Fast forward three years, and I’m still saying fuck it.”

Alex repeated the words to himself. “Fuck it.”

Brielle bit her bottom lip and raised her glass. “To saying fuck it.”

Alex grinned and put his glass to hers. “To saying fuck it.”

They both laughed after drinking their wine, and a waiter came up to them. “What can I get for you two?”

Brielle looked down at the menu and hummed softly. “I’d love the salmon, please.”

Alex handed the waiter his menu. “I’ll do the filet mignon.”

After the waiter refilled both of their water glasses and walked away, Alex looked back over to Brielle.

“I must say, Brielle. I’m absolutely enthralled by you.”

Brielle smirked. “As I am by you.”

Alex cocked an eyebrow. “How so?”

“Well,” Brielle took another sip of her wine. “You’re a lot younger than most of the other men I see. You’re unmarried, extremely wealthy, have a sexy accent, and are insanely attractive. I can’t quite figure out why you decided to hire an escort.”

Alex bit his lip. “So you think I’ve got a sexy accent?”

“You’re missing the point.”

“Well, maybe I just wanted to be seen out with an attractive young lass.”

Before Brielle could respond, the waiter returned with their meals.

Brielle let out an excited gasp at the sight of her dinner, making Alex giggle. “That’s a mighty fine lookin’ fish you’ve got there, darling.”

Brielle picked up her fork in a hurry, and let out a little moan as she took her first bite. “Oh my god, this is insane.”

Alex’s eyes grew darker at the sound of her little noises of delight. This girl was driving him absolutely mad, just watching her lips curl around her fork and smile into the salmon was getting him hot and bothered.

Brielle looked up from her meal and scoffed at Alex. “Are you gonna eat your steak or are you just gonna sit there and drool over me?”

“Wow, Brielle. I would’ve thought a girl getting paid to have dinner with me would be a bit less blunt,” Alex chuckled.

“Jeez, sorry that I’m comfortable enough with you to not be perfect,” Brielle blew a raspberry at the man across the table, and then smiled and stuck her fork out to him. “Would you like a taste?”

Alex cleared his throat in order to keep his composure. “I’d love some.”

Brielle stuck her tongue out slightly as she moved the fork toward Alex, and as Alex took the salmon into his mouth, she averted her gaze from the fork to his eyes. He was looking directly at her, so their eye contact was immediate. Both their eyes were dark, the heat of the moment building up between them. Alex had no idea that such a small gesture could get him going so quickly, and Brielle had no idea that she could feel the things she was feeling for a client. As the two of them backed away from each other and leaned back into their seats, they held eye contact.

“That’s absolutely heavenly. I should’ve gotten that instead of the steak,” Alex raved.

“I’m sure your steak is quite good as well, it looks fantastic.”

Alex lowered his voice a bit. If she was going to be bold, so was he. “Well open up then, have a taste.”

Brielle blushed a bit, the apples of her cheeks lifting when the corners of her lips curled into a grin. She leaned forward, resuming her eye contact with Alex as she took the steak into her mouth. She let out a few moans of delight as she sat back in her seat, nodding as she chewed. Alex bit his lip in satisfaction. He’d hand feed her bites of his meal all night if it meant he’d get to hear those noises.

“Holy shit, that’s a really good cut of meat.” Brielle mumbled. Her mouth was still full, and Alex laughed at her poor table manners.

The eccentric couple sat and finished their main courses, making small talk and getting to know each other better. At one point they talked about their favorite films, having a rather riveting conversation about one particular French film, Le Cercel Rouge. Alex practically proposed to Brielle when she had mentioned the movie, it was one of his favorites and he loved a girl who knew French cinema. They also talked about Alex’s two Akitas, Vesta and Vulcan. Brielle gushed over the pictures he showed her of them, she loved dogs and begged Alex to meet them (to which Alex replied something along the lines of “that can be arranged”).

“Alexander,” Brielle purred.

They were eating dessert now. Alex had ordered a rather decadent chocolate mousse, and Brielle went for banana parfait.

“Please, Brielle. Call me Alex.”

Brielle simpered. “Alright, Alex. You asked me how I got here, but how did you get here?”

Alex frowned. “I already told you. A friend of mine recommended I see someone to take my mind off of my ex.”

“No, silly. Not here, here. How’d you end up in LA? Where did your wealth come from? What do you do for a living?” Brielle pointed her spoon at Alex to emphasize what she was saying.

“Well, alright. I’ve lived in the states officially for ten years now, but before that I visited quite often. I grew up in a little town in the UK called Sheffield, but my uncle owned a hotel here in Los Angeles and I often came to visit.”

“Oh, that’s really cool! Which hotel does he own?”

“Well, actually I own it now. It’s the Tranquility Base.”

Brielle’s eyes widened. “You own that thing?” The Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino was a massive building in the heart of Beverly Hills, and just so happened to be one of the most prestigious residencies in California. It was quite elusive. People were rarely seen going in and out, however it was widely known that this was where the most rich and famous stayed.

“Yes ma’am.”

“So, I’m assuming that’s where your fortune came from?”

“Well, partially. My uncle left me a lot of money, plus the hotel, but I also, um,” Alex paused to find his words. How could he say this without exposing himself? “I’m an entrepreneur.”

Brielle narrowed her eyes at Alex’s last statement. “So you’re a drug dealer?”

Alex’s eyes grew wide. “How did you-“

“Alexan- er, Alex, I’ve been escorting for three years. I know that ‘entrepreneur’ is code for ‘I’m a drug lord’. It’s nothing to be secretive about. I’m trustworthy.” Brielle leaned back in her seat with a sort of cocky look on her face.

“Okay, yes. I’m involved in… that sort of thing. Another gift from my uncle. High standing in one of the most elite drug rings in the country. Both a blessing and a curse, but it is what it is.” Alex let out a breathy laugh and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small bag full of a white powder. “Want some?”

Brielle’s face contorted into a Cheshire Cat smile. “You know, usually I’d decline. I may be dumb but I’m not dumb enough to take anything from a stranger. But I’m feeling lucky tonight, Alex. I trust you.”

“Off to the bathroom we go, then.”

***********

It was only two more days until Alex arranged another dinner date with Brielle, and a few days after that he called upon her for a quick dog walk with Vesta and Vulcan. Alex didn’t stop thinking about her for days. He thought about her in the shower, while he was working, during meetings, he dreamed about her, he had even asked his driver to follow her around one evening to see what she got up to in her free time. She was driving him mad, making him sick. He wanted her - no, he craved her, and at this point he’d pay her every night if it meant he got to spend time with her. She may have been some dirty fantasy of his at first, but in only a month he felt that he had strong feelings for Brielle.

Luckily for Alex, she thought similarly. Every time her “boss”, Enzo, told her that she’d be accompanying Mister Turner, her eyes lit up. As much as she hated that she liked someone as old as Alex, she was fascinated by him. Brielle had even gone to the extent of asking Enzo for his number, so she could see him outside of work, but that hadn’t gone well.

“Bri, you know the deal. No seeing clients outside of work.”

Enzo and Brielle stood against the club’s back wall, looking out over the sea of people.

Brielle scoffed after him and took a drag from the blunt the two of them were sharing. “Enzo, please. I’m not going to go behind your back and ask him for more money or anything. I just want to be able to see him outside of work.”

The tall man looked down at Brielle as if she had lost her mind. “Bitch, that’s the problem. You start fucking your clients for free and I’ve lost all my credibility. People will clown us, and I can’t let you cost me clients.”

“Jesus fucking Christ, Enzo. You’re absolutely impossible. I’ll just ask him for it the next time I see him,” she whisper-shouted and began to walk away. Enzo chuckled before grabbing Brielle by the hair, slamming her against the wall and gripping her arm violently to keep her in place. She looked up at him with a spiteful look, “What gives, Enzo? Can you let me fucking go?”

“You’re forgetting something, Bri. I own you. You’re caught up with me, and there’s no getting out of it. You knew that the moment you started doing business with me.” Enzo bent down so his face was level with hers. He kissed her cheek before letting her go and taking the blunt from her hands. “You’ve got a date with Mister Turner tomorrow night. I’ll be watching you closely. Don’t do anything fucking stupid.”

Brielle nodded her head in compliance, and when he shoved her away, she stormed outside and kicked off her shoes. “I can’t fucking believe him. I cannot fucking believe him. I’m going to fucking kill him. I fucking- I can’t fucking- I-,” Brielle cried. She was warm to the touch, the tears streaming down her face seemed to be sizzling against her hot cheeks. She couldn’t do anything but sit on the sidewalk and cry, she had no one to call or talk to help her calm down.

“Need a cigarette, Love?”

A familiar voice reached from behind her.

“Hey, Alex.”

Brielle sniffled and wiped the tears off of her cheeks before turning around to greet him. Maybe In a different situation she would asked him why are you here, but she was just thankful to have someone there for her - no questions asked.

Alex sat next to her on the curb, and pulled a carton of Marlboros and a lighter out of his coat pocket. He pulled two cigarettes out of the pack, and handed one to her. “What’s going on, Brielle?”

“Just work troubles,” Brielle shrugged. She thanked Alex after he lit the cigarette for her, and laid back on the concrete to take her first drag.

Alex ran his hand over her small arm, a dark bruise was forming from where Enzo had held her against the wall. His voice got quiet. “I can see that.”

Brielle panicked and ripped her arm away from Alex’s soft touch. “Please don’t say anything about this to anyone. Enzo and I just had a bit of an argument. I’m okay.”

“Brielle, I know how Enzo is. If you’re in trouble you can tell me, I’m here for you.” Alex’s voice was low and soft, he seemed genuinely concerned and it made Brielle’s eyes well up once again.

“I can’t escape, Alex. You know how people like that are. If I ever go against his word he’ll kill me,” she mumbled. When Alex put his arm around her and pulled her closer, she burst into tears. “I want out so badly.”

Alex sighed and kissed the top of her head, his beard tickling her forehead. They sat there for a moment, just waiting for Brielle to calm down a bit, before Alex stood up.

“Come home with me, Brielle. Please. You need someone to keep you company.”

Brielle furrowed her brows and stood up to be more level with Alex. “I can’t.”

“Why not?” Alex stepped closer to her, and Brielle quickly stepped away.

“I just…can’t.” She began to tear up again. As much as she did want to go with Alex, she was terrified of what Enzo would do. “Trust me, I’d love to be with you. I really would.”

Alex looked confused, but he let it go nonetheless. He was sure she had a valid reason. “At least let me drive you home. Please.”

Brielle smiled weakly and nodded her head. “Okay.”

Alex put an arm around Brielle and guided her to his towncar. He opened the door for her, and cleared his throat as the two of them slipped in.

“Brielle, this is my driver, Nick O’Malley. Nick, Brielle Roux.”

Brielle said a quick hello to Nick, who didn’t say anything, but rather nodded at her. The drive home was quiet, it mostly consisted of Brielle sniffling away her tears and telling Nick how to get to her apartment, and Alex comfortingly rubbing Brielle’s thigh.

“Here we are,” Brielle muttered as they rolled up to her apartment. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Alex.”

She planted a kiss on Alex’s cheek before slipping out of the car.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Love.”

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