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wowbright · 2 years ago

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Fic: Prodding

Klaine Advent 2022: recast

Words: ~ 3000 words

Rating: Teen and Up

Summary: Kurt gets surprising news from Mercedes.

I’m back with more vignettes from my Mormon!Klaine universe for Klaine Advent 2022! This vignette takes after Philosophies of Men.

My Mormon!Klaine Masterpost.

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“No!” Kurt shrieked from the kitchen at such an ear-splitting volume, Blaine almost cut himself with the razor. “This is not happening!”

Blaine went into emergency management mode. His heart pounded, but he made himself take deep, steady breaths. If Kurt had hurt himself, it wouldn't help to have both of them panicking.

“What happened? Are you okay?” Blaine asked as he rushed into the kitchen. Kurt sat at the table, staring at the letter from Mercedes. Ah, not a physical wound then, but an emotional one. That might be even worse.

Kurt looked up at Blaine, his cheeks flushing a ruddy pink. “Sorry. I didn't mean to say that out loud.”

Blaine sat next to him. “It's OK. Is it something you want to talk about?”

“You still have shaving cream …” Kurt pointed vaguely to Blaine’s neck.

“That's OK. I was almost done. If it's uneven, I can touch it up later.” Blaine grabbed the face towel that was draped over his shoulder and dabbed at his skin. “Presentable?”

“I'm not the right person to ask, Blaine. I always think you're presentable.”

Blaine felt the edges of his ears go hot. This felt like flirting. Was this flirting? No, of course not. Kurt was in the middle of having strong emotions. That's why Blaine was here. “Um, so I'm guessing Mercedes said something that upset you?”

Kurt set the letter down and buried his face in his hands. “It shouldn't. I don't know why it does.”

Blaine tried to think of situations in which that phrase could apply. He wondered if Mercedes was having a once-in-a-lifetime event—a wedding, a Broadway premiere—that Kurt couldn't be there for because he was here in Germany. Kurt would deny himself the right to feel sad about it, because missionaries were supposed to be happy to make sacrifices. “So, good for Mercedes, but bad for you?”

“No.” Kurt muttered through his fingers. “Good for me, and bad for Mercedes.”

Blaine drew a blank. "How so?"

“It’s … I swear, if I had any other mission companion than you, I wouldn't be able to share my disappointment with this. And maybe you won't get it, but ... I'll give it a shot.” Kurt had uncovered his face by now, but was looking away from Blaine, his gaze set on the kitchen window. His voice was full of foreboding. “She's meeting with the missionaries.”

Blaine didn't understand the sentence at first, it was so far removed from any of the terrible-type news he might have expected. He had to play it over in his head a couple of times before he processed it. “Wait. That's good, isn't it?”

“She's black, Blaine.”

“Right.” Blaine still wasn’t following.

“You're the one who woke me up to the church's problems with racism. How can I, in good conscience, support her investigating a church that sees her as less?”

Oh. Blaine knew the things he had told Kurt about Brigham Young had shaken him, but he hadn't realized how much. For Blaine, the racism of the second prophet of the restoration was disturbing, but it was part of a larger picture. Because Blaine didn't have blind faith in the leadership, even their worst actions couldn't harm his faith in the goodness of the church or its ability to bring people closer to the truth.

Blaine suddenly understood that, for someone like Kurt, who had spent his whole life thinking Brigham Young was as perfect as Joseph Smith or Jesus Christ, learning he wasn’t would make him question all his beliefs.

It was like those looms Kurt had shown him at the Deutsches Museum. There were ones that made fabric by weaving many different strands together, and others that did so by knitting a single strand into a sweater or an enormous piece of cloth. Blaine’s faith was like woven fabric—if you pulled out a single thread, the worst that could happen was a small gap in the fabric. And this wasn’t always a bad thing—sometimes clothmakers did this intentionally, to create texture and beauty in an otherwise monotonous design.

But Kurt’s faith was like a knitted fabric—if you pulled too hard on a thread, the entire thing would eventually unravel. There was no upside.

Blaine have never meant to damage Kurt’s faith like that. He'd meant to enrich it.

“I'm sorry, Kurt. I didn't realize how much that affected you. But Brigham Young's been dead for more than a hundred and thirty years. He said and taught horrible things and, yes, a lot of our members believed them far after they should have known better. But that doesn't mean the church is inherently racist—just that it’s made mistakes. Our leaders have flaws. That’s why we have the guidance of the Holy Ghost—to confirm or disaffirm the things they’ve told us.”

Kurt looked skeptical. He broke a cookie into quarters, but didn't put any of the pieces into his mouth. “It’s not just Brigham Young. Black members were kept out of the temple until 1978. The temple, Blaine. The place we need to go to be with our families forever.”

“And that's awful. But I think of those leaders before 1978 the same way I think of Brigham Young. They were wrong. And the thing I hold onto is that they eventually came to understand they were wrong, and they repented. Do you know about Bruce R. McConkie? As an apostle, he taught that black people were spiritually inferior to everyone else on earth. But when the revelation came ending the priesthood ban, he said, ‘Forget everything that I have said, or what President Brigham Young … or whomsoever has said in days past that is contrary to the present revelation. … We have … a new flood of intelligence and light on this particular subject, and it erases all the darkness and all the views and all the thoughts of the past. They don’t matter anymore.’”

“But they do matter, Blaine. Because those policies hurt real people. And racism is still a problem in the church. All these pasty missionaries from the Mormon Corridor who want to pretend they can't see color, the fact that we can't sing gospel music in sacrament meeting because it’s too ‘ethnic’—”

“Yes. And that’s bad. Of course it’s bad. But it’s a problem everywhere, Kurt, inside the church and out of it.” Blaine spoke from experience. He'd been made to feel inferior for not being one-hundred percent white by some church members, but he'd also been made fun of for it at school and in playgrounds, too.

Kurt scoffed. “Not in Mercedes’ church! Everyone there is black. At least, almost everyone. The first time I went there with Mercedes, after I got over feeling out of place, I started noticing how comfortable she felt there. Just—safe, you know? In a way I hadn’t seen anywhere else. She wouldn't get that at one of our wards. She'd be surrounded by white people, just like she is everywhere else.”

Blaine was struck with a sense of longing. He wondered what it would be like, to be in a place like that. He often passed as white, but that still didn't mean he felt one-hundred percent safe in groups of white people. There was always the risk, even among the seemingly nicest folks, that someone would start making ethnic jokes or ranting about immigrants. And while he didn't have to worry about that as much when he visited the Philippines, there were so many cultural nuances he didn't understand, besides the fact that his Tagalog was terrible and his English was so obviously American-accented. It left him feeling like he did much of the time in his early days in Germany, on constant alert.

If a sense of belonging was so hard to come by, it couldn't be the only thing you considered in choosing a church. “Look. If she feels a pull toward the gospel, then she feels a pull toward the gospel. I've been a minority in every ward I’ve ever attended. But the church still works for me. What did she say in her letter about it, anyway?”

Kurt looked down at the letter and huffed. “Not much. Just ‘In Chicago for an entire month! Met a pair of female missionaries on the L train and have talked a couple times. They gave me a Book of Mormon—sorry, Kurt I didn't bring the one you gave me in high school on tour with me.’ Then she put in a smiley face. ‘It’s interesting. I like the story about the tree of life. We should talk about it when you get back! We’ll be in Columbus…’ et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.”

“OK. Well, that doesn't sound like she's on the verge of converting. Maybe she's just bored. I understand those national theater tours can be grueling.”

Kurt scowled at his scuffed CTR ring, twisting it back and forth over his finger. “I don't even know if that's what I'm upset about. Maybe I'm just angry at myself. You know how much time I spent trying to convert her in high school? Because I thought this church was the best option for everyone. And because she was the only girl I could remotely see myself marrying, and if that was the case, she had to convert. I wasn't going to go through the sacrifice of marrying a woman unless it was a temple marriage. Which, honestly … how many lectures did we get in priesthood quorums about not objectifying the sisters? But isn't looking at a woman as a ticket into heaven objectifying, too? I never considered her feelings about it. If it was good for me, it was good for her. But now, thinking about her reading the Book of Mormon and reading some of the stuff in there—It makes me feel queasy, Blaine.”

Blaine thought he knew what “stuff” Kurt was alluding to. “You mean about the Lamanites been cursed with the skin of blackness? If she's talking to the missionaries, they'll explain it to her the same way we explain it to investigators. That it’s a metaphor, like when we say someone is having ‘dark thoughts.’”

“Do you really believe that, though? Because if Brigham Young was a racist, then maybe Joseph Smith was, too. Maybe he put some of his own opinions into the Book of Mormon.”

“No. First of all, Joseph Smith wasn't a racist. He ordained black men. Second of all, God’s not a racist, so the Book of Mormon can’t be racist, either. It’s the one that tells us God ‘denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male female.’ Even the Bible doesn’t say that.”

Kurt studied Blaine dubiously, then picked up one of the long-abandoned pieces of cookie he'd left on his plate and popped it into his mouth. He chewed it completely before speaking. “I just can't stop thinking about when Elder St. James told me about the doubts Elder Thompson was having. It wasn’t just vague, generic doubts. Elder St. James went through this whole list of specific passages in the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price that Elder Thompson said were racist. And I've been reading over them since and … Blaine. If I take my believer goggles off, if I really look at the passages and take what they say at face value, without trying to find a reason they can't be as bad as they sound—they really do sound racist. I mean, the ‘skin of blackness’ passage sounds even more literal in German. In English, it says ‘because of their iniquity … the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them,’ which—I mean, now when I read it? Interpreting that as dark thoughts seems like a real stretch. I've heard the theory that ‘come upon’ means the same as ‘drape upon, and so ‘skin’ actually refers to ‘clothing’, and it all means that they were no longer allowed to wear the white temple clothes and were forced to dress in black once instead. But in German, it says ‘their skin became black.’ There's none of that idea of being clothed in something. And the German translation is approved by the brethren. So the whole idea of ‘skin of blackness’ being about clothes goes out the window.”

Blaine felt a little queasy. He grabbed one of the German Books of Mormon from the bookshelf and flipped open to 2 Nephi 5. “No, Kurt, that's wrong. It says ‘their skin became blackish.’”

Kurt sat back in his chair, his arms crossed. His mouth was closed, but Blaine could see his tongue moving under his cheeks and lips, probing his teeth. “And how is that any better?”

“Well, schwärzlich could also mean darkish instead of blackish, so maybe it just means their skin got dirty or … OK, it doesn't sound better. But it could still be a metaphor. Joseph Smith was translating from Reformed Hebrew. All languages have idioms that don't translate well. Maybe this is one of them.”

"Sure, maybe. Except that it keeps getting repeated over and over in the book of Mormon. Not just Nephi, but Jacob in Alma talk about good people’s skin being white and bad people’s skin being dark, and if skin means clothes in Reformed Hebrew, then why didn't Joseph Smith translate it that way? Or if it means countenance or spirit, then why doesn't Joseph Smith translate it like that?”

Kurt stood up from the table and began pacing, fidgeting with his CTR ring the whole time. Blaine hoped the jeweler would be done with his new ring soon. It would be much easier to fidget with. “When you or I translate the word ‘in’ from English into German," Kurt continued, "we pick a different word depending on the context. Sometimes it’s in, and sometimes it's im, an, auf, hinein, or unter. Der Hahn can be a rooster or a faucet, but if you're talking about a sink, you should translate it is faucet, not rooster. If Joseph Smith had the gift of translation, then he should have been able to translate things correctly. So either what was written on the golden plates was racist, or Joseph Smith translated it badly and in a way he knew would be interpreted as racist, because he was an American living in the 1830s. Which means he wasn't using his gift of translation to its full extent. Because I'm not gifted, Blaine, but I know that if a German says, ‘My grandparents live where the fox and hare say goodnight to one another,’ I can't translate it that way into English or nobody will understand what I'm saying. I have to say that their grandparents live in the middle of nowhere.”

It was a lot to take in. Blaine was all for Kurt questioning things. He'd been trying to get Kurt to do that for most of their time together, prodding Kurt to recast the beliefs that constrained him into ones that would lead to his liberation. But now, instead of Blaine being the one doing the prodding, it was Kurt. Blaine wasn't so comfortable being poked.

Maybe he could chide Kurt for spending his personal scripture study time scrutinizing passages that gave him doubts, instead of focusing on things that would help them with investigators. But that would be hypocritical, since Blaine had been spending his personal study time fawning over Song of Solomon and anything in scripture vaguely resembling a gay love story—not particularly useful for helping with investigators, either.

“Fine,” Blaine said defensively. “Maybe those passages really are racist. But that would still be a matter of men inserting their beliefs in place of God's teaching. Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon was the most correct book of any book on earth, not that it was perfect. And yes, Brigham Young was a racist and tons of our leaders have been racists. It was racism that kept the church from letting black members into the temple until 1978. And there are still people in the church like my granddad who lean on those false teachings, and people in the church who are well-meaning but insensitive, and maybe the leaders could do more to denounce teachings of the past.”

Blaine took a deep breath, gathering up the courage to prod back. “But I still don't understand why you think all these things make the church an unacceptable place for Mercedes. Because you’ve found a home here, despite all the terrible things the leaders have said about gay people, despite the cruel expectations they put on you. And I'm not saying you shouldn't be concerned about racism. What I don't understand is why the church’s racism is so bad that Mercedes shouldn't even be taking lessons with the missionaries, but the homophobia is so hunky-dory you can give your whole life to the church, no questions asked.”

Kurt stopped pacing. He looked like a deer caught in headlights. “That's different. Being gay is …” Kurt drifted off.

“A sin?” Blaine asked, even though it raised his bile just to speak the words. He didn't know if he was gay, but he knew what it was like to love another man. And it was the opposite of sin.

“No. Being gay isn't a sin.”

“But thinking gay thoughts is?”

Kurt shook his head. “I don't know. I don't think so.”

“Doing gay things?”

Kurt sank back into his chair and contemplated the surface of the table. “Maybe? I'm not sure. If you asked me a few weeks ago, I would've said ‘definitely.’ But if the church can be wrong about other things ... I don't know.”

“So,” Blaine said gently, “is it different at all?”

#klaine advent 2022 #klaine advent: recast #wowbright writes fic #mormon!klaine #klaine fanfiction #racism #homophobia #Long discussions about scriptural minutiae #And probably some typos #I still need to do the last valentines one #Also yes I know you can take prodding as a double entendre but I'm using it as the title anyway #Blaine may not like to be poked in this way but he sure like to be poked in some other ways

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spaceorphan18 · 2 years ago

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Scenes From December : Complete

A complete listing of all the chapters and links for where to find them.

Day One : Team; December 1993 (Kurt Age 7 Mos.) AO3/Tumblr

Day Two : Cork; December 1999 (Kurt Age 6) AO3/Tumblr

Day Three : Detailed; December 2006 (Kurt Age 13) AO3/Tumblr

Day Four : Bat; December 2009 (Kurt Age 16) AO3/Tumblr

Day Five : Oval; December 2010 (Kurt Age 17) AO3/Tumblr

Day Six : Type; December 2011 (Kurt Age 18) AO3/Tumblr

Day Seven : Grind; December 2012 (Kurt Age 19) AO3/Tumblr

Day Eight : Thunder; December 2013 (Kurt Age 20) AO3/Tumblr

Day Nine : Value; December 2014 (Kurt Age 21) AO3/Tumblr

Day Ten : Overt; December 2018 (Kurt Age 25) AO3/Tumblr

Day Eleven : Education; December 2022 (Kurt Age 29) AO3/Tumblr

Day Twelve : Converge; December 2025 (Kurt Age 32) AO3/Tumblr

Day Thirteen : Pat; December 2031 (Kurt Age 38) AO3/Tumblr

Day Fourteen : Dispose; December 2035 (Kurt Age 42) AO3/Tumblr

Day Fifteen : Pump; December 2039 (Kurt Age 46) AO3/Tumblr

Day Sixteen : Maintain; December 2045 (Kurt Age 52) AO3/Tumblr

Day Seventeen : Taboo; December 2051 (Kurt Age 58) AO3/Tumblr

Day Eighteen : Nose; December 2057 (Kurt Age 64) AO3/Tumblr

Day Nineteen : Roomy; December 2060 (Kurt Age 67) AO3/Tumblr

Day Twenty : Recast; December 2064 (Kurt Age 71) AO3/Tumblr

Day Twenty-One : Give; December 2068 (Kurt Age 75) AO3/Tumblr

Day Twenty-Two : Red; December 2076 (Kurt Age 83) AO3/Tumblr

Day Twenty-Three : Mistake; December 2082 (Kurt Age 89) AO3/Tumblr

Day Twenty-Four : Burst; December 2083 (Kurt Age 90) AO3/Tumblr

Happy Reading!

#klaine advent 2022 #s.o. writes things #klaine #klaine fic #oof what a month

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gleekto · 2 years ago

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Full Fic: Chemistry Sucks

Summary: Nerd!Kurt/ Popular!Blaine high school AU - Kurt joins Glee club in his junior year to please his dad, though he’d rather just hide out in the library until he can graduate and get out of Lima.

Turns out he’s not the only gay kid in town. Too bad the other out gay kid is cocky and popular senior, Blaine Anderson. Sure of himself, gets all the solos, things served to him on a platter. Kurt finds him shallow and infuriating.

Blaine finds Kurt square and irritating.

Yet at a party one night, they promise to sleep together if they don’t have other opportunities by the end of the year. A dare. Naturally competitive spirits.

Words: 11,108

Now on AO3

Last and long awaited part 17 is on there (at the end of the last chapter obviously and yes, it includes all the rest of the advent words). Go read with easy commenting!

Thanks for reading all!

#gleekto writes #chemistry sucks #klaine advent 2022

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gleefulpoppet · 2 years ago

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Now Complete

A Secret Affair [NOW COMPLETE] 8119 Words, 90+ Graphics 3 NEW Chapters (22-24) (This is from Chapter 22)

"I hope I can find a boy like you two. You've set the standards pretty dang high, though."

"I'm sure you'll find a boy worth all the effort a relationship takes," Blaine replies, leaning over and kissing her on the head.

"Can we look inside the book?" Sophia asks.

"Absolutely!"

Written for Klaine Advent 2022. You can read it from the beginning on AO3 [Here].

#gleefulpoppet writes #a secret affair #klaine advent 2022

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klaineadvent · 2 years ago

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Hello Everyone!

The 2022 Klaine Advent has come to a close!

We know there a a bunch of you (including me) still working in entries, so reblogging will continue over the next week (probably longer) over at the @todaydreambelieversfic blog, and we’ll be working on wrap up posts here at the advent.

We here at the Advent wish everyone a peaceful holiday season, however you choose to celebrate (or not).

Thanks to all the authors, volunteers, readers, reblogged and cheerleaders, without whom these events couldn’t happen.

#klaine advent 2022 #the end

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slipping-through-my-fingertips · 2 years ago

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Klaine Advent 2022

Christmas Crush

AO3

Burst

The bus ride back to McKinley was loud. Cheerful chatter and singing from the tops of their lungs. When they arrived back at school, they quickly parted ways and got in their cars. School had already been let out. Only the glee club’s cars were left in the lot.

Blaine hopped in Kurt’s car.

“No Lima Bean stop today,” he said, “we have a dance to get ready for.”

“Yea, sir,” Blaine replied.

His mom wasn’t home when Blaine got dropped off. Hopefully she would be home before he left. Blaine was sure she’d want photos. He could see her now bursting with pride and instructing them on how to pose.

Blaine’s suit jacket was a crisp navy blue, his white button drop was stark against it. He was deciding between two bow ties when his phone went off.

A text from his date.

Kurt: on my way!

Oh god, he needed to do his hair still! Blaine hopped in the bathroom and gelled down his curls. Not too much, just in case…someone wanted to run their fingers through it as they kissed at the end of the night. That was a fantasy and he knew it might not come true. But…

He heard the front door open and his mom call up the stairs, “Blaine, I’m home!”

“Be right down!”

He grabbed the two bow ties off his bed and headed down stairs for a second opinion.

One was solid light blue and would likely match Kurt perfectly and the other matched Blaine’s jacket and had little snowflakes on it. After all the dance was a Winter Wonderland theme.

“Which one?” He asked, holding them out for inspection.

“Hmmm, I think the navy.”

“Me too,” he agreed.

Although he usually tied them himself, he held it out for his mom to put on.

“You look very handsome.”

“Thank you.”

Another car pulled in the driveway. Kurt was here. As Blaine went to get the door, his mom ran off to get her camera. Despite having a camera on her phone, she still loved getting photos developed.

Kurt looked beautiful. There was no other word for him. Baby blue ensemble that maybe his eyes sparkle.

“You look stunning,” he told him.

“So do you,” Kurt said.

“Oh, look at you both!” Blaine’s mom said, “you must be Kurt, shame we haven’t met before today. I’m Pam.”

“Nice to meet you,” Kurt said.

“Okay, enough diddle dallying, get together.”

Blaine allowed her to take a dozen or so before calling it off.

“Mom, we gotta get going.”

“Fine, fine,” she said, waving them off. “Have fun, be safe!”

“We will!” They both chimed.

~~~

The gym was silver and blue. Snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, puffs of fake snow littering the ground. Balloon arches at exits and entryways.

“When they said Winter Wonderland, they meant it.”

“Yeah they did,” Kurt agreed.

Rachel ran up to them.

“I find it lovely they used Hanukkah colors,” she told them.

Kurt nodded, but as an aside to Blaine said, “always about her.”

“Let’s get some punch,” Kurt suggested, “see you later, Rach.”

Kurt grabbed Blaine’s right hand and led him over to the buffet table.

“I’m really glad you asked me,” Blaine commented. “I had been working up the courage all month. Guess I failed on that front.” He shrugged.

Kurt handed him a plastic cup of punch.

“I think we both won big time. We’re here together and that’s what matters.”

Blaine couldn’t argue with that.

They found the rest of the glee club had commandeered two tables to sit at. Everyone was snacking and still talking about their win at sectionals.

Just when Blaine had finished his punch and cookie offered to him by Sam, Winter Christmas began to play.

“Come on, let’s dance,” he suggested, “it’s our song.”

And dance they did.

#klaine advent 2022 #klaine advent: burst #klaine fanfiction #klaine fanfic #my fics

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1908jmd · 2 years ago

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Klaine Advent 2022 - day 22 Red

When Blaine’s first music tour was live in LA, Cooper was a proud older brother standing in the wings with Kurt. He was sporting a red sparkly jacket, just like Blaine’s.

“I used to tease him a lot as a little boy, but really, I could see how talented he was and how he was going to be a big star. And he married you, and you are both such stars now, and so happy together. I might still wind him up, but he knows I love him, and am so glad to see him at least once a year.”

#klaine advent 2022 #Klaine advent: red

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cerriddwenluna · 1 year ago

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The Diary of Kurt E. Hummel (23/24)

Please do not read this without my express permission. (Yes, that includes you, Finn.)

***

Have you always wanted to find out what Kurt writes in his diary? Now is your chance! But, ssssht! Don't tell Kurt we stole it... ;)

We're almost there! =D

You can read chapter 23 now, on AO3 and S&C!

Read from the beginning

#Klaine Advent 2022 #Day 23: Mistake #epistolary #gwen writes #glee #klaine #klaine fanfiction #klaine fanart

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forabeatofadrum · 1 year ago

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Ljubim te (24/24) - complete

Notes: And here we are, almost 7 months late! The Klaine Advent 2022 is complete! Time for cheese 🧀!

AO3 | S&C

–

BURST

“I love you.”

Blaine’s looking at Kurt with a shocked look on his face. Kurt, on the other hand, isn’t surprised.

“I know,” he says back and Blaine relaxes, “I love you too.”

It’s been known for weeks. They even loved each other before they started dating, but it’s the first time they’ve said it out loud. Kurt knows it is a big deal for Blaine to say it, though.

“I love you, I love you,” Blaine repeats with a smile and Kurt can’t help but giggle. It’s adorable how Blaine just revels in the fact that he can say that he wholeheartedly loves Kurt.

“And I love you too!”

“Now go,” Blaine basically pushes Kurt away, which is fine. Kurt needs to get ready for the first performance. Blaine, Tadeja, Sunil and some people Kurt’s met during classes and during Metelkova parties are in the audience. Blaine is also making a lot of photos to send to Kurt’s family and friends back home.

Kurt knows that he doesn’t have the biggest part in Ulica, but he’s worked hard on it and he’s proud.

Later, after the show, it’s a whirlwind of people. Everyone comes to congratulate Kurt. It is exhilarating. He knows his time at the University of Ljubljana isn’t over yet, but this feels like such a final moment. Kurt celebrates with his castmates, crew members and teachers. He answers Tadeja’s questions about the show and Sunil gives him a congratulatory hug as well. Even his dad is here in some way, since he’s calling through FaceTime. Blaine holds the phone with a huge smile.

Kurt also feels amazing every time he watches Blaine and his dad interact. They like each other a lot, which is great. Since Blaine is still semi-closeted, Kurt hasn’t told anyone else back home that he’s dating again, but he’s happy that they told Kurt’s dad.

After a lot of post-show talk and celebration, Kurt and Blaine can finally leave. Kurt reaches for Blaine’s hand and Blaine lets him.

Together, they walk to Blaine’s apartment.

“I love you.”

Kurt kisses Blaine as a response. It’s Pride in Ljubljana and it feels so great to be able to kiss Blaine like this. The queer community has emerged from the shadows and it’s taken over the city.

People cheer and hoot when they see it. It’s freeing. It’s validating. Fuck, Kurt loves Pride and Blaine’s also growing to love it. It’s more low-key compared to Pride in New York, but that doesn’t matter. All that matters is that they’re here.

“I love you too,” Kurt says against Blaine’s lips, because he cannot resist the temptation to say it back, even though he doesn’t have to. Blaine knows Kurt loves him.

Blaine slings his arm around Kurt’s shoulder and they go back to watching the parade. There are so many people here and one of the many beautiful things of Pride is that it showcases the diversity of the community. Kurt and Blaine wave their small rainbow flags to the passing parade. Pride is a party and a protest, and it’s cool that it can be both.

“Thank you, by the way,” Blaine says in Kurt’s ear.

“For what?”

“For showing me this.”

“Oh Blaine, they are hard to miss,” Kurt laughs.

Blaine nods.

“True, but I am not certain I would be standing here if I hadn’t met you. I would probably cower in my apartment.”

It’s weird to think what would’ve happened if Kurt and Blaine hadn’t met, since this life that they have right now is the life they want.

“Well then, you’re welcome,” Kurt says and he squeezes Blaine’s hand on Kurt’s shoulder. Together, they enjoy the rest of the festivities.

“I love you.”

Kurt leans against Blaine. They’re watching the sunset from the Ljubljana castle. Tadeja had recommended it, and she was so right.

“I love you too,” Kurt says back.

He holds Blaine’s hands and together they wait for the sun to go down. The sky is especially beautiful today. It’s cloudy, but the clouds reflect the sunlight so the sky has a red and orange glint to it. Kurt and Blaine are high up, since the castle is situated on a hill, appropriately called Castle Hill.

There’s a lot to see at the Ljubljana Castle, so Kurt and Blaine will definitely come back for more, but right now, sitting on a blanket in the grass, against the castle walls, watching the sun go down is enough.

“I love you!”

It’s become an easy thing to say. Blaine just told Kurt that he loves him because Kurt chose the right flavour of ice cream for him.

“I love you too,” Kurt says as he hands the glass with the ice cream to Blaine.

Blaine was waiting for him outside, together with Tadeja. Kurt and Sunil got the ice cream. The location of VIGÒ is perfect, since they have a view on Prešeren Square.

“Here’s to the end of the academic year,” Sunil raises his glass.

“Cheers!”

“How do you say cheers in Slovene?” Blaine asks Tadeja.

“Na zdravje, which translates to ‘To your health’,” Tadeja answers.

“Na zdravje!” everyone says and Tadeja smiles through the mispronunciations.

“To be fair, we’re eating, so we should be saying-”

“Dober tek!” Kurt cuts in. He knows that one. You can learn it at DA BU DA.

“Correct, but cheers sounds so much more celebratory,” Sunil adds, “And that’s what we’re doing. Kurt and I are celebrating another successful academic year, and Blaine and Tadeja can celebrate a great first year of business.”

It’s true. Blaine’s shook enough hands to make great connections throughout Europe. Kurt knows that Blaine is still a bit bummed that he didn’t get to do more, but it’s a start. Once Blaine leaves, Tadeja will take over and Blaine’s incredibly happy with it, especially since Dejan was also aiming for the job.

Kurt and Sunil have also submitted their final grades to their home institutions. The academic year isn’t officially done yet, since in Ljubljana, the academic calendar goes from October 1st to September 30th, but most internationals try to finish earlier in order to get everything in order..

Therefore, Sunil is right and they can all celebrate.

“To Ljubljana,” Blaine adds to the little celebration, and everyone cheers to that.

“I love you.”

“Well, Blaine, Paris is the city of love,” Kurt says with a laugh.

Kurt still cannot believe that it is so easy to travel to other countries. Blaine convinced Kurt to use the interrail, which means you can visit many big cities in Europe by train. It’s a big and extensive trip, but it is so worth it.

They’re in Paris now. Kurt’s always wanted to see it and he’s happy to have Blaine by his side. As Kurt said, it is the city of love.

“Ljubim te z vsem srcem.”

Kurt was about to take a bite of his pizza slice, but now he gives Blaine a curious but confused look. He knows Blaine just spoke Slovene to him, but the two of them never properly learnt the language. They’ve picked up some words here and there, but Kurt’s not certain that he’s ever even spoken a full sentence in Slovene.

Blaine gives Kurt a knowing look. He likes that he gets to puzzle Kurt.

“Do I get a hint?” Kurt asks.

“I say it all the time in English, kind of,” Blaine says.

“Kind of?”

“I added something,” Blaine says, “Or actually, Tadeja added something. I asked for her help.”

“You did?”

Blaine nods happily.

“I’ve been practising this sentence for a while!”

“And why tell me now?” Kurt asks, fishing for another hint.

“Because this is where we first met,” Blaine says. They’re indeed at Ljubljanski dvor. It’s been a while since they had pizza. Even without Boni, Ljubljana has a lot to offer, so they’ve been going to a lot of other places.

“So, it’s a sentimental saying?” Kurt asks, “Am I warm?”

“Warmer, I think, but also not. I mean, I don’t think it is inherently sentimental. Sentimental means that it’s something from the past.”

“Okay, it’s a current thing?”

Blaine nods. He looks like he’s about to burst into laughter from happiness and that’s when Kurt realises. He feels silly for not realising sooner, but really, he doesn’t know Slovene.

“I love you too,” Kurt says with a smile. This man is ridiculous. “What did you add?”

“It means I love you with all my heart!”

“Yeah?”

“My heart and my brain and my everything!” Blaine says, “I didn’t ask Tadeja for translations for those things.”

“I love you with all my heart, brain and everything too.”

Kurt puts his hand on the small table. Blaine gets the hint and he puts his over Kurt’s. Kurt loves that Blaine is such a cheesy romantic. Blaine’s said before that he didn’t realise it either, but to be fair, he’d never been in love before.

It’s a good thing that Blaine came to Ljubljana.

Studying here is already the best choice of Kurt’s life.

Speaking of the city.

“Did you know that some believe that Ljubljana is named Ljubljana after the Slavic word ljub, which means to love?” Kurt says.

Blaine looks pleasantly surprised.

“Really?”

Kurt nods happily. He found out when he first moved to Ljubljana. Someone at the university mentioned it during a tour of the city. Kurt didn’t really think much of it back then, but he’s always remembered it, because he thought it was cute. He still thinks so.

Kurt really didn’t expect to find love, but he did.

“Fitting, isn’t it?” Kurt says, “How do you say I love you in Slovene again?”

“Ljubim te,” Blaine answers.

“Well, I ljubim te you too!” Kurt says back.

Blaine laughs.

“You know, I don’t think that’s how you say it, but the sentiment is the same.”

It is. This city has given all of them so much and Kurt knows it will always have a little place in his heart. Only a little bit, though, because most of it is reserved for Blaine.

End notes: Hooray! We made it! 🇸🇮

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it, and I hope you guys will have a chance to visit Ljubljana one day. I also want to go back, but alas. In the meantime, let me redirect you to the Slovenian Glossary, which discusses all the places that were mentioned in this fic. Here’s also a masterpost for this fic.

Thank you all for following along, or if you’re reading this after I’ve finished, then hi, hello! Thank you for reading. See you for the next Advent!

#klaineadvent #klaine advent 2022 #klaine advent #klaine #glee #holy fuck I wrote #2023 #multichaptered #klaine advent: burst

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spaceorphan18 · 2 years ago

Text

Scenes from December (24/24)

Klaine Advent 2022 Day Twenty-Four : Burst

****

December, 2083

Beth leaned against the archway connecting the dining room to the living room. She folded her arms across her chest, thinking that she should have worn another shirt under her sweater. Demetri’s Aunt Katharine always the heat cranked, and with the fireplace going, it felt more like the middle of summer than late-December. Still, she didn’t mind so much. Demetri himself was a raging furnace and between that and the pregnancy, she had just accepted being warm all the time.

Besides - the holidays were her favorite part of the year.

Beth was used to a much bigger family -- Great Aunts and third cousins twice removed always popping up around the holidays was the norm. Demetri’s family was much smaller, but that didn’t make them any less enthusiastic a family. And the house was as cozy and welcoming as any on her side of the family.

The sleek, modern-designed house was fully decorated; the faux silver and blue Christmas tree perfectly decorated with gold and blue ornaments and bright, white lights stood in the corner next to the fireplace, where the stockings - plenty of them, each embroidered with a family member’s name, hung from the mantle. The mantle itself had a cute, little display of Santa, Mrs. Claus, and a bunch of Elvin figurines depicting Christmas at the North Pole. And hanging on the wall was a gigantic wreath that framed the oversized photo of the family - one taken just as she and Demetri had begun seriously dating.

The photo featured Demetri’s grandfathers, sitting on chairs, looking dapper in their suits, as the rest of the family surrounded them. Beth, herself, was barely visible in the back - she assumed (humorously) in case they needed to crop her out. She remembered that day fondly, as it was mass chaos, and the only one who could get them all to focus was Demetri’s Grandpa Blaine who, unfortunately, had passed away the previous year. Despite the cheery nature of the family, his absence was felt. Though when Beth looked at Demetri - and noticed the same ridiculously shaped eyebrows, over the most loving of hazel eyes, she didn’t think Grandpa Blaine was entirely gone.

Demetri didn’t notice her watching him. He was too busy on the couch, discussing the old Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer claymation kids movie that was playing on TV with his cousin Abby and her wife. On the floor were his brother's kids, taking turns with a gamepad, oblivious to the bizarre film that was playing in front of them. The movie was drowned out by the sound of the electric piano in the back corner - Demetri’s uncle getting schooled in piano by his daughter Emma. Meanwhile, over in the kitchen, Beth’s brother-in-law Arnold and his wife were in the kitchen - attempting to make dinner. If she had leaned back far enough, she could have seen them arguing about the turkey possibly not being ready in time with everything else.

In the dining room behind Beth was her mother-in-law, Tracy, and Aunt Katharine, setting the rarely used, large oak table with the fancy silverware. Beth assumed she wasn’t supposed to be hearing the conversation happening, as it was in all hushed tones, but she couldn’t help but listen anyway.

“I still can’t believe they said only three-to-six months,” Aunt Katharine was saying. “He was just diagnosed. That doesn’t seem right.”

“Well, they won’t operate because of his age,” Beth’s mother-in-law replied. “They’re afraid of any aggressive treatments, which, I guess is what he needs.”

“Have you told him yet?”

“No, the doctor told us that it might be easier to wait until after the holidays. I figured we could sit him down and ask him what he’d like to do.”

“Well, you know him. He’s stubborn enough that he’ll make it a hundred on sheer willpower alone.”

“Katie, you haven’t been around the past couple of years. He wasn’t doing great before Dad died. But after last year… I’m amazed he made it to this Christmas. I don’t know about next year’s.”

Aunt Katharine didn’t continue, as they both noticed that Beth could hear them. Not wanting to intrude, Beth turned her attention to the subject of their conversation.

Grandpa Kurt sat in the lounge chair on the other side of the room, snug with a knit blanket (with little bow ties) around his shoulders. He seemed to be in good spirits. Someone, earlier, had placed reindeer antlers that had little bells on them on his head, and he was using them to entertain his seven-month-old great-grandson, her sweet little baby boy, who sat on his lap. There was a burst of laughter as the baby reached for the antlers, and at the last second they were pulled away. One chubby arm reached out, trying to grab it, as both of them laughed at the game.

Endeared, Beth made her way to that side of the room sitting on the ottoman next to the chair. Demetri had always said he had been intimidated by his grandfather. But Beth adored him for his quick wit and intelligent conversation. She knew that underneath all those rough edges was a soft and sweet inside. Maybe she saw that legacy in her husband, too.

“Glad you guys could make it out to Ohio this year.” Grandpa Kurt continued to play with the baby as he made conversation with her. “The snow makes it hard to travel.”

Beth smiled. “Yes, but family’s important. We wanted to make sure we came this year.” She rubbed her baby’s back, the little boy seeming quite at home on his great-grandfather’s lap.

She didn’t need to elaborate on why she wanted to make sure they came this year. As much as he seemed to be enjoying the moment, there was a weariness in his eyes that she had never noticed before. She had a hunch that her mother-in-law was probably right. This would be their last Christmas with him. But at least they had this time together. At least he would get to know her little boy, even if it were for only a short time. At least that bit of love shared would be passed down and remembered and cherished.

Grandpa Kurt leaned forward, finally letting the baby grab on to the antlers, making the shake and jingle. The baby laughed gleefully.

“Are you having fun, Kurt?” Beth asked.

Grandpa Kurt was quick to reply. “Why yes - I’ve been known to steal focus at many a party.”

Beth chuckled. “You know I was talking to the baby. But I’m glad you’re having fun, too.”

“Clearly, the mix-ups were bound to be inevitable. Why on Earth would you name a baby Kurt, anyway?”

Beth reached out her hand to give his a loving squeeze. “Well, it was a pretty easy decision to name him after you.”

#klaine advent 2022 #s.o. writes things #klaine #klaine fic #in memory of my own grandfather - who just passed away #thank you guys for reading - i'm glad to finally put this one behind me

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gleekto · 2 years ago

Text

Klaine Advent 2022: Chemistry Sucks (16/17)

Blaine finds Kurt square and irritating.

Yet at a party one night, they promise to sleep together if they don’t have other opportunities by the end of the year. A dare. Naturally competitive spirits.

Day 1, Day 2,Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12, Day 13, Day 14, Day 15

Chemistry Sucks (Day 16: Recast and Give)

Blaine first sees Kurt walking down the McKinley hallway, flanked by two new glee club members on either side, apparently enraptured by the tour he's giving them. Blaine's early for meeting him after the homecoming game, which Kurt unsurprisingly chose to skip.

"Speak of the devil," Kurt spots him. "It's none other than our former fearless leader, Blaine Anderson, who has come back to ensure we're off to a strong start this year."

Blaine approaches them. "Hi Kurt," He pauses. Kurt looks even better than he remembers. He's always been put together, scarves and broaches and too tight jeans that are perfect. But he has an air of command about him now, like he knows who he is.

"Hi Blaine." They smile at each other while the new kids on either side just stare silently. "Madison, Mason, this is Blaine. Our key to the big nationals win."

"Oh we know who you are and it's so nice to meet you," Mason shakes Blaine's hand enthusiastically. "We read the showchoir blogs - recasting a straight girl-guy duet with two guys. Your duet was groundbreaking."

"Novel," Madison adds.

"Fresh," Mason finishes.

"Kurt was our secret weapon, actually. You're lucky to have him." Blaine smiles quietly at him and the air feels heavy. At least to him.

"We're sure you guys have lots of catching up to do," Madison says after too long a moment. "So we're just gonna-"

"Yeah, okay," Kurt nods.

And then they're alone in the McKinley hallway. "So do you wanna-"

"Yeah, okay," Blaine agrees.

"I haven't said what yet."

"Whatever you want, wherever you want. I just want to see you."

They end up at the Lima Bean, at their usual round table in the corner, sipping a mocha and a medium drip, like nothing has changed.

"So, tell me," Blaine doesn't even know where to start.

"Tell you what?"

"Oh I don't know. I get a text one day that you're going on a third date and being an understudy and then a phone call a month later about breaking up and I mean, what happened?"

"The usual chorus understudy was sick, and they asked me," Kurt says. He's being coy.

"You were with Matteo." Blaine starts. He wants to be a good friend. A best friend. He's trying.

"I was," Kurt nods and looks down at his mocha and then back up. "And now I'm not." Blaine nods but doesn't say anything. "It was good, I think. I mean, he was not super happy that I ended it but we had a good time. We'd usually go out once or twice a week to a movie or bowling or-"

"Bowling? You?"

"I know. Obviously his idea. Anyways, we'd hang out," Kurt pauses meaningfully. "But the school year is busy and like I said when I called you, I just didn't have the time." Blaine nods, waiting. "Because I wasn't feeling enough." Kurt bites his lip. "I guess I'm still just a silly romantic, and the truth is I already know a better kisser." Blaine almost chokes on his coffee. He has to clear his throat. "Sorry, I shouldn't-"

"No, no. It's fine. Coffee just went down wrong." He takes another sip.

"Your turn," Kurt says quickly. "So how is living la vie boheme?"

"Hardly," Blaine dismisses but knows he has to give more than that. "I do like dancing at all those gay clubs though."

"Of course."

"And I went home with someone exactly twice." He sees Kurt take a gulp of his mocha.

"Same guy?"

"No. Jeff and Parker. Jeff and I just made out. He was kind of boring to be honest. Parker, we did a bit more but I didn't want to call him after. It was fun, but," Blaine knocks Kurt leg under the table deliberately.

"But." Kurt repeats.

"I also knew a better kisser," Blaine doesn't stop himself. Neither did Kurt. The pause is too pregnant and he is still going back to New York in two days.

"Can't all have legendary chemistry," Kurt smiles quietly.

Blaine shakes his head. "Guess not. So tell me about how you became the lead of the Glee club," It's a total non-sequitur but Blaine switches topics deliberately out of the danger zone. Chemistry sucks.

They close the Lima Bean down talking about the glee club, the new kids, the way to win nationals, what Kurt will like in New York, whether he should also apply to NYADA or stick with NYU. When Blaine walks Kurt to his car they hug for what feels to Blaine like five minutes straight. "It was so good to see you, Kurt." He doesn't want to let go.

...

It's almost midnight and Blaine is staring up at his ceiling in his old room in his parents house, unable to sleep. The problem is that he really does not want to see Jeff or Parker or Jeff-types or Parker-types again. There is only one thing he wants. He picks up his phone and texts.

B: I missed you.

It only takes Kurt a minute to respond.

K: I missed you too.

B: I wanted to talk to you today but I was too afraid.

K: Of what?

B: Screwing up our friendship.

K: And now?

B: Do you wanna meet somewhere and hang out while we can? The 24 hour diner near Scandals?

K: No.

B: No?

K: No. I wanna go to your house.

Blaine closes his eyes, relief and excitement washing over him.

B: Okay.

#klaine advent 2022 #klaine advent: recast #klaine advent: give #gleekto writes #chemistry sucks

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