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sunlightmurdock · 2 years ago

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All this Time | Bradley Bradshaw x Maverick's Daughter Reader

Based on this request, part of the Rooster x Mav's daughter mini series <3

Some fluff / longing to get us through the trouble in paradise angst parade x

…

Bradley thought he would have longer.

He wasn’t an idiot, he knew the school year had ended and that the plan was always for you to go back after graduation. He just hadn’t expected it to all come around so quickly.

It was Friday. Five days since the night up by the cliffs. Two days until you left for good.

He was waiting for you by his bronco, sitting on the hood and toying with the bracelet on his right hand.

“Hey, Bradley.” He looked up, eyes widening slightly to find Alice standing in front of him. He cursed himself mentally, pushing himself down off of the hood. He had promised to call her to set up a date.

“Alice, hey.” He breathed out, shoving his hands into his pockets without meaning to. She furrowed her eyebrows slightly at him — every time they had talked before now, he had been outgoing and confident.

“I, um… I was just wondering if you still wanted to do something this weekend.”

Bradley glanced up and saw you headed toward them. You were leaving the front entrance, busied with talking to the girl at your side. You didn’t even notice him staring over.

“I’m really sorry, but something came up. Maybe another time?” Bradley felt bad. Alice was a sweet girl, and she was pretty too. But he just felt like spending his last forty-eight with best friend. Alice glanced back over her shoulder to see what he had been looking at, finding you.

She got the message, nodding softly and shrugging her bag closer to her, “Sure. I’ll see you another time.” Bradley bowed his head as she walked away, mad at himself for not calling and explaining sooner.

“So, when’s the date?” You asked playfully as you reached him, not spotting the deflated look on Alice's face as she crossed the parking lot, sliding into the passenger seat and tossing your backpack into the back. Bradley let himself in on the driver’s side.

“She cancelled.” He lied.

You glanced over at him, scrunching your brows. He looked ahead as he pulled out of the parking space.

“My turn to pick the movie anyway.” Bradley offered you a small smile as he spoke. You grinned at him, kicking your feet up on the dash,

“As long as it’s not Rocky Three again.”

Bradley glared over at you, watching as you narrowed your eyes back at him defiantly and left your feet where they were. He grabbed your ankle and tugged at it. Your cheeks flushed as his finger's curled around the top of your high top converse, remembering the way they had done the same whilst he was between your legs a week ago.

You gave in and dropped your legs into the footwell.

“It’s a masterpiece.” He answered matter-of-factly. You were reminded that you had been talking about movies.

"If you loved me you'd pick Pretty Woman." You muttered, only half joking. He shot you an amused look and rolled his eyes like it was out of the question. An hour later, the two of you were in his bed and Richard Gere was blazing along Hollywood Boulevard in a borrowed Lotus Esprit.

It's hot and he ditched his shirt a while ago. You were both laying on your backs, paying a little too much attention to the movie. Anything to not admit how different things are now. You were picking at your nails, cursing yourself mentally for ruining things. He had been acting a little weird all week - quieter than usual.

He had just been searching for the right thing to say.

“You could always come visit.” You just put it out there. Ball in his court. He looked across at you, nose practically grazing yours from how close the two of you had shifted.

“Visit Arizona?” He asked softly. You nodded your head just a little. “Would your mom be okay with that?”

You nodded again, “Sure. She knows who you are.”

“You told her about me?” He sounded surprised. You weren't sure why. Any stories that you could’ve possibly told your mother about your time in San Diego, he was in all of them. Plus, she had known his dad once upon a time. She knew how important Bradley was to Mav.

“Well, yeah.” You answered, like it’s obvious. Bradley’s lips quirked slightly.

“What did you tell her about me?” He tucked an arm behind his head and looked back toward the movie. You smirked. You knew this move. He was trying to act casual.

“Y’know… that we’re friends,” You watched him to gauge his reaction. “That we hang out and stuff.” He nodded.

“Just hang out?” It was the first time either of you had brought it up out loud in the week since it happened. Bradley wasn't even looking at you when he mentioned it. He was watching the screen, biting the inside of his cheek.

You hated this game of cat and mouse that you had wound up in. This was Bradley. The one person you could trust to be straightforward with you about everything. You decided to end the game there and then.

"Oh." You raised your voice dramatically and tapped your forehead with your palm. Bradley furrowed his eyebrows as he turned his head to look at you, confused. "Well, duh, I obviously told her that you fucked me in the backseat of your truck!"

His eyes went wide. His lips parted as he pushed himself up onto his elbow, furrowing his brows at you like you've lost your mind, "What?" You hit his chest and scoffed. He sighed in relief, visibly relaxing as he realised that you were joking.

"Fuck you." He muttered playfully, shaking his head as he pushed his fingers through his hair. You glanced over at him. His cheeks and ears were burning red.

You settled back down beside him and looked back towards the screen. “Did… did you tell your mom?”

“No.” He answered quickly, shaking his head.

You nodded. There’s a pause in the conversation filled with the sound of montage music. You fiddled with the ring on your finger, shooting him a curious look,

“Have you… told anyone?”

“No,” Bradley turned his head to look at you. He’s the epitome of puppy-dog eyes as he met your gaze. “Have you?”

“No.” You realised now how close the two of you are. You shifted slightly closer again, playing it off like you were just trying to get more comfortable.

Bradley understood this move. He turned onto his side and pushed forwards, his lips just about grazing yours. Before you were broken apart abruptly by a knock at his door. You were grateful that you were at his house. Mav didn't knock.

"Y-yeah. Come in." Bradley retreated to the other side of the bed and sat up fully. You pushed yourself up and tucked your knees up to your chest.

The door opened and Carole entered the room like she always did. She was smiling, her lips parted and ready to ask a question. Then she found herself in the middle of your moment.

Carole looked slowly between the two of you. Back and forth, eyebrows furrowed slightly as she looked each of you over and went back to the other to examine further.

She was used to you coming over. She had never ever had an issue with you hanging out in Bradley’s room, even with the door closed. She had seen the two of you in his bed many times, just hanging out and watching movies. You had even stayed over before.

But now, Carole squinted her eyes slightly as she looked between the two of you again. Bradley’s adam’s apple bobbed in his throat.

In all the times she had seen the two of you hanging out in here, she hadn't ever had reason to think that something may have been going on. Even when she had brought up to Bradley that you’re a pretty girl, Bradley had always defensively rejected the sentiment that anything could ever happen between the two of you.

Usually, when she entered Bradley’s room, the two of you remained exactly as you had been — you both partially ignore her presence in true teenager fashion, and remain side by side in bed, playing whichever game or continuing to watch whichever movie you had picked that day.

Now, she examined the differences.

The red, embarrassed flush on Bradley’s cheeks that has spread down his neck and onto his bare chest. The distance between the two of you, clearly having just leapt apart. The fearful look in your eye that Carole understood to very much be a ‘please don’t tell my dad’ look.

“Hey, mom.” Bradley speaks first, shifting to try to look more natural. Carole’s lips quirk up into a smile.

“Hi, kids,” She’s practically grinning, finding this entire ordeal just adorable.

She thinks back to your mother’s pregnancy. Bradley was a couple of weeks old, your mother had just found out she was having a girl. She had joked to Goose that the two of you would fall in love some day and make him and Mav family for real.

Goose would have found every moment of this just as hilarious as she did.

“Just checkin’ to see if either of you wanted pizza?”

Bradley looked over at you. Carole watched the way that you wouldn't meet his eye with her standing in front of you and wondered when this happened. When had she missed this happening under her nose? - She wished she could discuss this with Maverick.

She knew he wouldn't take this as well as she was.

“Sure. Thank you.” You spoke quickly, cheeks burning.

“Thanks, mom.” Bradley agreed.

Carole smiled at the two of you knowingly before she left the room. You sank back against his pillows. The two of you shared embarrassed glances, but didn't mention what you both knew she knew.

Then, the two of you finished the movie. You ate your pizza and he drove you home.

As Bradley led in his bed that night, he just stared at the ceiling. He barely got a minute of sleep. He kept himself up until the sunrise just thinking of how to fix this. Of how to just spit out what he had been holding in. His father's watch was on his bedside as it always was. Bradley watched all night as it counted down the hours until your flight.

For you, it was already over. You knew he wasn't going to profess his love for you in front of your dad. His last chance had been in the car ride on the way home, and all he had said was 'see you tomorrow'. You were disappointed.

Your flight was in the morning. Carole drove you there. Mav rode up front, anxiously going through your flight paperwork and making sure everything was in order. You were in the backseat with Bradley. Your knees were tucked up to your chest and you were watching him. He had been looking out of the window for the whole drive.

You glanced down at his palm resting on the middle seat and back up at him. You slid your fingers across and squeezed your hand over the top of his. He turned his head, surprised. You watched him soften slightly as he slid his fingers between yours and squeezed your hand back in response.

He held your hand maybe a little too tightly. You willed him to just look at you. He wouldn't. He was wearing a baseball cap to cover his messy curls, which he had pulled down to shield his eyes slightly. He refused to cry in front of you today.

You had seen him cry many times before - hell, you had seen him tear up at a rock ballad from the 80s once - but he had sworn you to secrecy about that. Today was different. He didn't want you to see him cry over you.

At the gate, you hugged Carole first. She kissed the top of your head and told you to be safe. Then you hugged Maverick, he squeezed you tight and told you that he loved you and that he'd see you soon.

You paused as you got to Bradley. He shifted awkwardly before you, still avoiding your gaze. You wanted to grab him, shake him and tell him to stop ruining this. Instead, you slid your arms around his waist and buried your face against the soft fabric of his hoodie. His arms wrapped tight around you as he rested his head in the crook of your neck.

Carole had no idea how clueless Maverick was until that moment. The two of them had stood and watched your goodbye. To Maverick, there was nothing out of the ordinary about the full fifteen seconds of eye-contact you and Bradley had held after pulling apart.

Oblivious as ever, Maverick had patted Bradley on the shoulder as they watched you walk towards your flight. He had sighed softly and said, "I'm sorry, kid. I know how close you two were."

Oh you have no idea, Carole had thought to herself. He had no idea of any of it.

She had dropped Maverick off at home and driven Bradley back home in a grief-filled silence.

Bradley had gotten out of her car and slammed the door, pulling his cap down lower on his face as he had stormed towards the house. He was furious with himself. You were gone and he had ruined it.

"Honey!" Carole had sighed softly as she had caught up to him. He had turned and sniffled. All it took was for her to finally catch his gaze, the first time someone had been able to look him in the eye all morning, for him to break.

She wasn't sure when her baby boy had gotten so big, but she held him like he was small again as he had cried that day. She had taken his cap off, brushed his hair down softly and promised him that he was going to be okay.

He hadn't been so sure that he would be.

Not until he had caught your eye across a bar a decade later.

…

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tinyboxxtink · 4 years ago

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“Return To Sender” *Part 5*

What what whaaaat? TWO chapters in one day?! Well, I had the day off and literally went nowhere, so I sat here and wrote. ALL day. Yup. So enjoy!

Also-- did anyone else catch the Pretty Woman rule? 😉

---

Tag List

@dumauier

@chasingeverybreakingwave

@word-scribbless

@wanniiieeee

@objection-argumentative

[Am I missing anyone?? Or does anyone wanna be added?]

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 6

Barba slammed you on the couch, wasting no time in getting to work. Your now ruined shirt was quickly coming off, the both of you grunting and moaning as he explored your body with his mouth.

Then his fingers found your thigh, and your mind went blank as they skated up, up, up. You shivered as he nipped your earlobe, your neck, his breath hot on your skin, you had to bite your lip to keep quiet.

One hand dipped to the small of your back, pulling your body flush against his as he nibbled on your ear. You surrendered a moan once his wandering hand found your underwear, your fingers dug into his shoulders as he traced the dampened center seam.

His lips trailed lower, lower, until your neck tilted back to the ceiling and gravity ceased to exist beyond his arms. Then you were flat on her back, his fingers tearing through the fabric of your panties, and you would have been angry if his hands weren’t slowly sliding them off and tossing them to the floor, all while tugging the cups of your bra down—Until he paused, his breath ghosting over your nipples.

“Now say it,” he growled into your ear.

“Say what?” You moved your neck up a bit, to meet his eyes.

“Say I’m better at this,” He smirked.

“You haven’t even started, counselor,” you snorted. “Sex with my gay boyfriend was more exciting than this,” You did your best to keep a straight face as his breathy laugh against your nipples caused you to shiver.

“Gay boyfriend? Ay dios..THAT’S the only time you’ve had sex?” He laughed more, now playfully twisting your nipples.

“Carino...you might want to brace yourself,” He grinned devilishly, ripping off your bra and tossing it over the couch. He engulfed one of your breasts in his mouth as he shoved two fingers into your opening, making sure it was nice and wet for him. It was, of course. Hell it probably had been wet the moment he picked you up.

“I love it when you’re wet for me,” He growled again, unbuckling his belt, releasing his erection.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” His green eyes looked into yours with a devious stare.

“God could you be any more cocky…” you rolled your eyes.

“Oh, you mean cocky like THIS?” He thrusted into you roughly, causing you to gasp very audibly.

“Do we need the pillows again, sweetheart?” He whispered, causing you to flash with rage and ecstasy at the same time.

“No I think I can keep it down, honey,” You tried your best to be flippant but his dick against your walls was making it very difficult.

“We’ll see about that,” He began thrusting harder and harder, until you had to finally concede and grabbed a pillow, screaming into it wildly.

“Ah, see? Good girl,” He panted against your ear, now moving his mouth down your neck. The pain of his teeth and the pressure of his hips was giving you sensations you never thought possible.

"God you are so tight, it's like you're brand new Cariño," he purred into your ear, thrusting harder and massaging your breasts.

"Ah... Barba…" You muttered.

"Rafa baby, I think you've earned the right to call me by my first name. Especially if you're screaming it," He chuckled.

"R-Rafa…"

"Yes, Cariño?" You could hear the lust in his voice.

"I'm….gonna…" you couldn't form words, there was no blood left in your brain. It was everywhere else.

"You gonna come for me, detective?" He whispered, to which you nodded a huge YES.

"Me too, you're so beautifully tight, we're going to come together, yeah?"

You bit your lip and nodded another vigorous yes, as you let go. Your hips vibrated erratically against his, and you felt him twitching wildly. He pulled out quickly and unloaded on your stomach with a satisfied moan.

After a moment of enjoying the warm glow inside you, you were painfully aware of the cold liquid all over your stomach. You let out a disgusted groan.

"Seriously?!" You hissed, but he was lost in his own orgasm.

"You love it," he chuckled, not opening his eyes. That gave you an evil idea.

"Really? Do you love this?" You swiped your fingers across your stomach and moved them towards him. He opened his eyes right before your fingers were on his face, he grabbed your hand and twisted it back towards your own face.

"Ah ah ah, naughty girl. Now swallow," He commanded you, forcing your fingers into your mouth. You swallowed reluctantly, then got up and began to put your clothes back on.

"And how was that, sweetie? Better than a gay boyfriend?"

"Well at least he never ruined my clothes!" You griped, turning around as you held your broken shirt.

"And how exactly do you expect me to walk out of here, papi?" you asked rather sassy, and hearing you speak spanish got him weirdly excited.

"Mmmm…. that is a problem," he walked towards you, running his hands up and down your exposed stomach. He then seemed to have an idea-- he walked over to a closet next to his desk and opened it to reveal jackets, dress shirts, and ties.

He pulled out a white dress shirt and motioned for you to turn around. You obeyed, and he put it on you. You turned back around and he helped you button it up, fixing the collar and rolling the sleeves up.

"Mucho mejor," he gave you a half smile. When he spoke spanish it drove you wild-- but there's no way you'd let him know that.

"You don't think me walking out of here in your shirt isn't gonna raise red flags?" You raised an eyebrow.

"Just walk out of here quickly, and don't ruin my shirt," he smiled again, pulling you closer--- and closer?

His lips ALMOST touched yours, before he realized what he was doing and IMMEDIATELY pushed you back.

"Ahem," he cleared his throat loudly.

"That will be all, Ms. Y/N"

Was he kidding with this bullshit?

"... Unbelievable." You said under your breath.

"Yeah, alright counselor," you scoffed with a bitter laugh and walked out the door.

What a dick!!!

------

“UGH! The NERVE of that…” You slammed your front door, causing Hunter to pop his head out of his room.

“...Where’s your shirt?”

“Oh, he gave me one to wear. AFTER HE RUINED MINE,” You huffed, sniffing the shirt unconsciously. It smelled like him, that made you miss him, and that pissed you off even more.

“He ruined it? Oh god did he…?” Hunter made a grossed out face.

“Oh no, he did that all over my stomach,” you rolled his eyes.

“So it wasn’t good then,” he leaned against the living room doorway.

“Oh...it was AMAZING,” You huffed, throwing down your things.

“Then why are you so pissed off?”

“BECAUSE IT WAS AMAZING!!!!” You were now pacing the apartment angrily.

“Did I miss something--”

“And And And AND THEN,” You laughed sarcastically. “And then he ALMOST kissed me on the mouth,” You scoffed. “AND THEN HAD THE AUDACITY TO GET MAD AT ME!!!”

“Wait wait wait back up….” Hunter put up a hand.

“You two have had your mouths in each other’s business, but not in each other’s mouths?”

“No, he has this stupid ‘no kissing on the mouth’ rule,” you rolled your eyes.

“Wha...Like Pretty Woman?” His question made you stop in your tracks.

“What do you mean, like Pretty Woman?” Your eyes narrowed.

“You’ve never seen Pretty Woman?”

“You’ve known me my ENTIRE life, Hunter! When have I ever had time to watch rom coms?”

“You have a point,” he chuckled.

“Okay so Pretty Woman: Julia Roberts is a hooker who falls in love with Richard Gere after he hires her for a week,” he explained, and your blood began to boil.

“And she has a rule: No kissing on the mouth, because it’s--”

“Too intimate,” you finished for him, and it was his turn to look shocked.

“Did he actually say those words to you, boo?”

“YES,” You threw your hands up and started pacing the apartment again.

“So I’m a hooker,” You growled. “I’m his fucking HOOKER?”

“I mean, technically he’s the hook--” he started.

“This isn’t funny!” you interrupted him.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry babe but-- there is a bright side,”

“HOW is there a bright side?” You gave him an angry confused look.

“Well, you said he almost kissed you on the mouth, right?”

“Yeah and then he FREAKED out about it and acted like I was the problem!”

“Well of COURSE he did, idiot. He’s falling for you and he doesn’t like it!!” He flicked your head.

“Oh please,” you rolled your eyes.

“LOOK,” he took you by your shoulders. “In the movie, when Julia Roberts starts falling in love with Richard Gere, they finally kiss on the mouth!”

“...I’m sorry, I can’t get past the ‘I’m a hooker’ thing,” you scoffed.

“Look you need to talk to him about this,”

“And how do you expect me to do that, Hunter? You think he’s gonna call me back to his office NOW?” You threw up your hands.

“...He will if he wants his shirt back,” He smirked, gesturing to the shirt you still had on.

“And what am I supposed to say-- ‘Hey so I figured out your crazy rule is from a movie, and I think you’re falling in love with me’?”

“I mean, not in those exact words,”

“I can’t…” You started off towards your room.

“Where are you going?!”

“Somewhere NOT to think about this!” You called back, slamming your bedroom door.

“Jesus...it’s not like I came all over her stomach,” He rolled his eyes and went back to his room.

---

You ripped off the shirt and tossed it across your room, falling back onto your bed and putting your hands over your face. Your eyes were stinging again, and this time you felt why. Hot, big tears were dripping down your face for the first time since-- you really couldn’t remember when. You REALLY didn’t do emotions.

But that bastard got under your skin.

He made you cry.

HE MADE YOU CRY.

And he was gonna pay for it.

#rafael barba #rafael barba x you #rafael barba x reader #rafael barba imagine #law and order special victims unit #law and order svu #law and order svu fanfiction #smut #law and order svu smut #rafael barba smut #warning #Return To Sender

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crowdvscritic · 4 years ago

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round up // NOVEMBER 20

Hi, I’m tired. Actually, my friend Celeste created a piece of art that puts the emphasis needed on that sentiment:

I’m very tired. November felt like it was three years and also felt like it went by in a blink and also I’m not sure where October ended and November began—how does time work like that? (I’ve yet to see Tenet, but maybe that will explain it.) But like Michael Scott, somehow I manage, and lately it’s been like this:

Late-night Etsy scrolling. Browsing beautiful, non-big-box-store artwork is very calming just before I go to bed. I’d recommend Etsy stores like Celeste’s chr paperie shop, which I know from experience is full of great Christmas gift ideas.

Taking a day off of work to do laundry. I’m not sure if it’s more #adulting that I did that or that I was excited to do that.

Eating Ghiradelli chocolate chips straight from the bag. I actually don’t recommend this as a healthy option, but this is also not a health blog.

Watching lots and lots of ‘80s movies. One day I’ll ask a therapist why this decade of films is so comforting for me despite its many flaws, but for now I’m just rolling with it.

Reading. Have you heard of this? It’s a form of entertainment but doesn’t require screens—wild!

Memes. All good Pippin “Fool of a” Took jokes are welcome here.

Leaning into the Christmas spirit by ordering that Starbucks peppermint mocha, making plans to watch everything in that TCM Christmas book I haven’t seen, and keeping the lights on my hot pink tinsel tree on all day as I work from home.

This month’s Round Up is full of stuff that made me smile and stuff that sucked me into its world—I think they’ll do the same for you, too.

November Crowd-Pleasers

Sister Act (1992)

If in four years you aren’t in an emotional state to watch election results roll in, I recommend watching Whoopi Goldberg pretend to be a nun for 100 minutes. (Though, incidentally, if you want to watch that clip edited to specifically depict how the results came in this year, you’ll need to watch Sister Act 2.) This musical-comedy is about as feel-good as it gets, meaning there’s no reason you should wait four more years to watch it. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 7.5/10

Nevada Memes

Speaking of election results, Nevada memes. That’s it—that’s the tweet. Vulture has a round up of some of the best.

youtube

SNL Round Up

Laugh and enjoy!

“Cinema Classics: The Birds” (4605 with John Mulaney)

“Uncle Ben” (4606 with Dave Chappelle)

RoboCop (1987)

I’m not surprised I liked RoboCop, but I am surprised at why I liked RoboCop. Not only is this a boss action blockbuster, it’s an investigation into consumerism and the commodification of the human body. It’s also a critique of institutions that treat crime like statistics instead of actions done by people that impact people. That said, it’s also movie about a guy who’s fused with a robot and melts another guy’s face off with toxic sludge, so there’s a reason I’m not listing this under the Critic section. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 8/10

Double Feature – ‘80s Comedies: National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) + Major League (1989)

The ‘80s-palooza is in full swing! In Vacation (Crowd: 9.5/10 // Critic: 8/10), Chevy Chase just wants to spend time with his family on a vacation to Wally World, but wouldn’t you know it, Murphy’s Law kicks into gear as soon as the Griswold family shifts from out of Park. The brilliance of the movie is that every one of these terrible things is plausible, but the Griswolds create the biggest problems themselves. In Major League (Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 6.5/10), Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, and Wesley Snipes are Cleveland’s last hope for a winning baseball team. Like the Griswolds, mishaps and hijinks ensue in their attempt to prevent their greedy owner from moving the Indians to Miami, but the real win is this movie totally gets baseball fans. Like most ‘80s movies, not everything in this pair has aged well, but they brought some laughs when I needed them most.

This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens (2020)

They’re born a minute apart in the same hospital, but they don’t meet until their 30th birthday on New Year’s Day. So, yes, it’s a little bit Serendipity, and it’s a little bit sappy, but those are both marks in this book’s favor. This Time Next Year is a time-hopping rom-com with lots of almost-meet-cutes that will have you laughing, believing in romantic twists of fate, and finding hope for the new year.

Double Feature – ‘80s Angsty Teens: Teen Wolf (1985) + Uncle Buck (1989)

In the ‘80s, Hollywood finally understood the angsty teen, and this pair of comedies isn’t interested in the melodrama earlier movies like Rebel Without a Cause were depicting. (I’d recommend Rebel, but not if you want to look back on your teen years with any sense of humor.) In Teen Wolf (Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 5/10), Michael J. Fox discovers he’s a werewolf.one that looks more like the kid in Jumanji than any other portrayal of a werewolf you’ve seen. It’s a plot so ‘80s and so bizarre you won’t believe this movie was greenlit.

In Uncle Buck (Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 7.5/10), John Candy is attempting to connect with the nieces and nephew he hasn’t seen in years, including one moody high schooler. (Plus, baby Gaby Hoffman and pre-Home Alone Macauley Culkin!) This is my second pick from one of my all-time fave filmmakers, John Hughes (along with National Lampoon’s Vacation, above), and it’s one more entry that balances heart and humor in a way only he could do. You can see where I rank this movie in Hughes’s pantheon on Letterboxd.

Lord of the Rings memes

This month on SO IT’S A SHOW?, Kyla and I revisited The Lord of the Rings, a trilogy we love almost as much as we love Gilmore Girls. You can listen to our episode about the series on your fave podcast app, and you can laugh through hundreds of memes like I did for “research” on Twitter.

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson (2019)

Most adults are afraid of children’s temper tantrums, but can you imagine how terrified you’d be if they caught on fire in their fits of rage? That’s the premise of this novel, which begins when an aimless twentysomething becomes the nanny of a Tennessee politician’s twins who burst into flames when they get emotional. The book is filled with laugh-out-loud moments but never leaves behind the human emotion you need to make a magical realistic story.

An Officer and a Gentlemen (1982)

Speaking of aimless twentysomethings and emotion, feel free to laugh, cry, and swoon through this melodrama in the ‘80s canon. Richard Gere meanders his way into the Navy when he has nowhere else to go, and he tries to survive basic training, work through his family issues, and figure out his future as he also falls in love with Debra Winger. So, yeah, it’s a schamltzier version of Top Gun, but it’s schmaltz at its finest. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 7.5/10

November Critic Picks

Double Feature – ‘40s Amensia Romances: Random Harvest (1942) + The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)

Speaking of schmaltz at its finest, let me share a few more titles fitting that description. In Random Harvest (Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 8.5/10), Greer Garson falls in love with a veteran who can’t remember his life before he left for war. In The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 8.5/10), Gene Tierney discovers a ghost played by a crotchety Rex Harrison in her new home. Mild spoiler: Both feature amnesiac plot developments, and while amnesia has become a cliché in the long history of romance films, Harvest is moving enough and Mr. Muir is charming enough that you won’t roll your eyes. You can see these and more romances complicated by forced forgetfulness in this Letterboxd round up.

The African Queen (1951)

It’s Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn directed by John Huston—I mean, I don’t feel like I need to explain why this is a winner. Bogart (in his Oscar-winning role) and Hepburn star in a two-hander script, dominating the screen time except for a select few scenes with supporting cast. The pair fight for survival while cruising on a small boat called The African Queen during World War I (in Africa, natch), and the two make this small story feel grand and epic. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 9/10

Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

A young man’s (Dennis Price) mother is disowned from their wealthy family because she marries for love. After her death, he seeks vengeance by killing all of the family members ahead of him in line to be the Duke D'Ascoyne. The twist? All of his victims are played by Sir Alec Guinness! Almost every character in this black comedy is a terrible person, so you won’t be too sorry to see them go—you can just enjoy the creative “accidents” he stages and stay in suspense on whether our “hero” gets his comeuppance. Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife (1937)

What would you do if you found out you were to be someone’s eighth wife? Well, it’s probably not what Claudette Colbert does in this screwball comedy that reminds me a bit of Love Crazy. This isn’t the first time I’ve recommended Colbert, Gary Cooper, or Ernst Lubitsch films, so it’s no surprise these stars and this director can make magic together in this hilarious battle of the wills. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

The Red Shoes (1948)

I love stories about the competition between your life and your art, and The Red Shoes makes that competition literal. Moira Shearer plays a ballerina who feels life is meaningless without dancing—then she falls in love. That’s an oversimplification of a rich character study and some of the most beautiful ballet on film, but I can’t do it justice in a short paragraph. Just watch (perhaps while you’re putting up your hot pink tinsel tree?) and soak in all the goodness. Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 10/10

The Third Man (1949)

Everybody loves to talk about Citizen Kane, and with the release of Mank on Netflix, it’s newsworthy again. But don’t miss this other ‘40s team up of Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles. Cotten is a writer digging for the truth of his friend’s (Welles) death in a mysterious car accident. Eyewitness accounts differ on what happened, and who was the third man at the scene only one witness remembers? 71 years later, this movie is still tense, and this actor pairing is still electric. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 9/10

The Untouchables (1987)

At the end of October, we lost Sean Connery. I looked back on his career first by writing a remembrance for ZekeFilm and then by watching The Untouchables. (In a perfect world I would’ve reversed that order, but c’est la vie.) In my last selection from the ‘80s, Connery and Kevin Costner attempt to convict Robert De Niro’s Al Capone of anything that will stick and end his reign of crime in Chicago. Directed by Brian De Palma and set to an Ennio Morricone soundtrack, this film is both an exciting action flick and an artistic achievement that we literally discussed in one of my college film classes. Connery won his Oscar, and K. Cos is giving one of the best of his career, too. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 9.5/10

Remember the Night (1940)

Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck in my favorite team up yet! Double Indemnity may be the bona fide classic in the canon, but this Christmas story—with MacMurray as a district attorney prosecuting shoplifter Stanwyck— is a charmer. I’ve added it to my list of must-watch Christmas movies—watch for some holiday cheer and rom-com feels. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

Photo credits: chr paperie. Books my own. All others IMDb.com.

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djemsostylist · 4 years ago

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An Arthurian Film Adventure, Part 3: Lancelot

Today, we are tackling Lancelot. Arguably the most famous knight of the Round Table (besides Gawain), the story of Lancelot and King Arthur and Queen Guinevere is a timeless one. Forbidden love, broken friendships, civil war, downfall of a kingdom. Plus, he’s great with a lance. Throw in a child who achieves the Grail Quest, and you’ve got yourself a pretty great story, and a pretty easy character too, right?

Nope, wrong again. Firstly, because he doesn’t even exist in one of them, and secondly because he fucking sucks in the other ones.

I should point out, before I begin, that there are several versions of Lancelot which exist. Depending on whether you go with de Troyes, Malory, Vulgate, or Post Vulgate, you get some different characters. Universally he is kind and brave and selfless, devoted to Arthur but also damned by a love for Guinevere. He also can be prideful, angry, a touch selfish, and ultimately fails at achieving the Grail Quest. Anyway, onto the ratings!

1. Knights of the Round Table

This Lancelot is, by far, the best Lancelot. Here, Lancelot follows the post Vulgate version (he is just a wandering knight who wants to join the Round Table, rather than having grown up with the Lady of the Lake). He is sort of the ultimate knight--kind, brave, selfless, great with a lance or sword. He and Arthur get along immediately, forming a fast friendship built on mutual respect, understanding, and trust. Lancelot is brave and selfless and kind, but he is also an individual with his own wants, needs and desires. He can be prideful and arrogant, but he is fiercely loyal.

Here, Lancelot is close friends not only with Arthur and Guinevere, but also Gawain, Gareth and Percival, the latter of whom he takes under his wing. He and Arthur quarrel and reconcile, he goes knight erranting (is this a verb?) and lives in the castle Joyous Guard. He also marries Elaine, whom he loves in his own way, and fathers Galahad. Here, his love for Guinevere is acknowledged and central, though never consummated, but it is his connection with Arthur and the other knights of the Round Table which sustain his story.

The downfall here is tragic, both because though he and Guinevere love each other, they have not actually committed treason, and because his estrangement from Arthur leads to an actual splintering of the Round Table. Also, he has a horse named Beric that he loves a lot, his relationship with Elaine is honestly really sweet and sad, and he also wears beautiful surcoats and has a huge red feather on his helm.

Attractiveness: Honestly number 1 easily. He has some slightly weird facial hair, and he’s not big enough, but he’s hot. (Fun fact, Robert Taylor also played Ivanhoe in the single best Ivanhoe of all time, so).

2. Camelot

So, this Lancelot is pretty good. My main problem here is that this Lancelot is more Galahad than Lancelot, in that he is super pure almost the point of ridiculousness. Like, he is so pure his purity actually brings a man back from the dead, which could be the whole “healing of Sir Urry thing” but is mostly just strange. Here, we get a post-Vulgate Lancelot backstory (he is supposed to be French is this version but he is played by the most Italian Italian I have ever seen and it’s great). He and Arthur meet and are super close almost right away (“did we just become best friends?!”) but surprisingly and refreshingly, Guinevere is actually deeply annoyed by him when they first meet. (She has been going a-maying and Arthur shows up and she just wants to fuck him but he just wants her to meet his new best friend, and she is like, wow ur friend is deeply lame, come have sex with me instead pls.) She eventually falls in love with him when he cures a dead man from death, and then what follows is a tragic love story of friends who are sort of stuck in this terrible situation and just trying to make the best of it.

The downfall here is that Lancelot has literally no other friends at court, so while his betrayal is tragic for him and Arthur and Guinevere (like in the 1953 version, he and Guinevere never actually commit treason), it doesn’t really affect any other friendships or relationships. He also doesn’t ever get married or have a baby here, and his purity can be grating, though the earnestness offsets it well enough.

Attractiveness: Number 2 tbh, but mostly because he is so damn earnest it’s endearing. Also he wears beautiful armor.

3. King Arthur

So, this Lancelot is from Sarmatia, which is both weird and never really explained. Also, he is neither Arthur’s best knight or actually even a knight at all. He doesn’t have a relationship with Guinevere other than throwing what I assume are supposed to be longing looks in her direction (tbf Arthur didn’t have a relationship with Guinevere in this movie either beyond aborted heavy petting). He also doesn’t bring about the downfall of Arthur’s kingdom, mostly because Arthur doesn’t have a kingdom. He also doesn’t have a son who goes on the quest for the Holy Grail, but that is mostly because this Arthur isn’t Christian and neither are his knights. Also, he fights with two swords and there are no lances in sight, which is a weird thing for Lancelot, since riding around and knocking people off horses is like, literally his favorite thing in the world.

Attractiveness: Number 3, mostly because I know they tried to make him hot here with the mop of curly hair and etc, but he will also be Mr. Fantastic to me, and Mr. Fantastic was honestly the worst.

4. First Knight

The thing is, Richard Gere should be last, except that Excalibur Lancelot was literally the dumbest person alive ever, so I guess that means since Richard Gere wasn’t literally just living in the forest stabbing himself with his own sword, he sucks less. (Look, I said this was a rough journey.) This Lancelot is just terrible honestly. Firstly, he’s not a knight, he’s just some dude who rides around hitting people with his sword. He meets Arthur when he helps rescue Guinevere who is on her way to marry her dad’s old friend bc he is old and sad and lonely. His introduction to Arthur comes during a tournament. And by tournament, I mean an extremely 90s, wacky, American Gladiator style wooden obstacle course thing that involves swinging knife things, swinging wood things, and just...it’s bad.

He doesn’t want to be a knight, mostly because he thinks Arthur’s knights are boring squares (he is not wrong, but I hate him so-). He agrees only after he saves Guinevere from Melegraunce, which involves more wacky obstacle courses and swinging bridges. Also, he and Guinevere here give Arthur the horns, and also both suck. He doesn’t learn anything, he is genuinely terrible, and also he is played by Richard Gere.

Attractiveness: I’m gonna say last, mostly because his whole 90sness just irritated me and also because he was very moist through this whole movie and also I hated him a lot.

5. Excalibur

Look, this Lancelot was like, literally actually stupid. He showed up, tried to beat up Arthur and failed, then went to live in the woods. No like, he literally lived in the woods. He would tell Arthur he was leaving Camelot to go adventuring or whatever, ride six feet out into the forest, strip naked, and sleep in the roots of a tree. Also, he for some reason not only slept completely naked, but he also didn’t keep his sword in his scabbard so one night he rolled over and stabbed himself clear through the side. Also, he and Guinevere had sex is his tree thing, and I saw way too much of his side ass. I was honestly rooting for Gawain to kill him, and I didn’t even like this Gawain bc he was genuinely awful.

Attractiveness: I mean, better than Richard Gere. But, and I know I have said this before, I cannot express how ugly this movie was.

6. Legend of the Sword

This one was easy to rank, because he did not exist. This was an origin story, and Lancelot isn’t really a part of Arthur’s origin story so I guess we can give them a pass, except that I love Lancelot so this was a tragedy to me. On the positive side, his lack of existence means that he can’t be worse than Richard Gere, so I guess I should rank this nonexistent Lancelot in like, 3rd place.

Part 2: The Arthurs

#an arthurian film adventure #arthurian legend #arthuriana #lancelot du lac #lancelot

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ajoblotofjunk · 5 years ago

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Top 7 Comfort Movies

As tagged by @pretty--thief

Listen, these are COMFORT movies so like. Back off.

1. Ever After - I’ve seen this whole movie so much I could probably recreate it, including blocking, from memory.

2. Music & Lyrics - Most of these are going to be Drew Barrymore romcoms because if I’m upset and want comfort, that is where I turn. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Hugh Grant is actually really charming in this and except for the entirely unnecessary subplot about her sister’s weight loss company (which...sigh), the rest of the movie is genuinely delightful. (Also I’m kind of into the age difference okay?) (Also this would translate SO PERFECTLY into a Jaime/Brienne AU and I literally only realized that this second, um.) (Now I’m gonna spend the rest of the today thinking about Jaime as an aging pop star who performs at county fairs.) (And Brienne comes and helps him write this beautiful love song.) (And they pick on each other but work together so well until the fall in love.) (Oh no.)

3. The Wedding Singer - the most charming I have found and will likely ever find Adam Sandler! They’re friends! He helps her plan her wedding! It’s set in the 80s! Billy Idol makes a hilarious cameo! This one is always good. Just pure happiness.

4. Never Been Kissed - Look. I KNOW that the premise of Michael Vartan’s teacher being even R E M O T E L Y interested in Josie as a pretend high schooler is wrong on eight thousand levels but. I have watched the last ten minutes of this movie more than most things and every time I’m caught up in the ~drama~ of “will he arrive in time???”. I just have to overlook a lot of problematic stuff to get there (David Arquette’s character actually hanging out with a high school girl is so unbearable I do have to fast-forward through anything with him, though. I cannot.)

5. You’ve Got Mail - I just fully adore this movie. Meg Ryan is so cute and they have such a great chemistry and I love Tom Hanks being kiiiiind of a dick, it’s something he was really good at in a way that isn’t offputting.

6. Galaxy Quest - This movie is good EVERY SINGLE TIME. Everyone is funny, it’s eternally quotable, the story is fun. Speaks to my fannish heart.

It’s impossible to choose the last one; I want to shove five different movies in here. (No dance films?? No Disney films?? No Princess Bride??? Who AM I?) But ultimately I had to go with a musical, because I’m always happy watching musicals.

7. Singin’ in the Rain - There is no scene in all of cinema that makes me happier than Gene Kelly’s dance in the rain. The ULTIMATE pick-me-up.

Honorary shout-out to Richard Gere’s remake of “Shall We Dance” for this list, too, because the tango scene in that movie is scorching hot.

OOPS I was supposed to tag people. I don’t know how many. Hee. Uhhh: @ladyinredfics @samirant @it-may-be-dull-but-im-determined @slipsthrufingers @nossbean @bethanyactually

And of course anyone who wants to do it! Just say I tagged you, I’ve got your back!

#meme #gif set #long post #comfort movies #pretty--thief #feel like i'm exposing myself here #for my utter lack of refinement #but like #you should have realized that about me by now

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atths--twice · 5 years ago

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Chapter 10

Seventeen Again

Seventeen years after the night on the pier, the kids Mulder and Scully met, reminisce about the past, what they are up to now, and how much that night meant to them.

April 2017

Meredith sat at her work desk typing, when she was interrupted by Roxanne, the floor receptionist, carrying a box and smiling.

��Mrs. Northern, a package arrived for you,” she said, setting the box down on Meredith’s desk. “There are some flowers too, but I couldn’t carry both. Be right back, hon.” She walked away and Meredith stared at the box.

“What is he up to now?” she whispered with a smile, reaching for her letter opener and the box. Popping it open, she found raffia in a rainbow of colors. Shaking her head, she moved it aside carefully, finding quarters, prize tickets, and then at the bottom, a large stuffed, squishy, swirled ice cream cone. “Jeremy …” she said with a smile.

Her phone rang and she knew it was him before she answered it. “Yes, dear?” she said staring at the ice cream cone.

“Did you get your surprise?” he asked, and she could tell he was smiling.

“I did. Where in the world did you find this?” she asked with another shake of her head.

“A magician never reveals his secrets. Did you find the note?” His excitement was palpable even through the phone.

“The note? No, I didn’t find a note. Just quarters, tickets, and the ice cream cone,” she said as she looked in the box again. “No note here, honey.”

“Psssh, look inside the ice cream. Double Dare style, my love,” he said as if it were obvious. She laughed and began to feel for an opening of some kind in the squishy ice cream cone.

Finding a hidden zipper, she opened it and found a small scroll of paper inside, tied with a rainbow ribbon. Good God, she loved this weird amazing man. Untying and unrolling the scroll, she discovered an invitation.

“Hello? Did you find it?” she heard him say.

“You are cordially invited to attend the annual Double F festivities. This year, however, there is a twist. The arcade has been rented for the evening and there will be a private screening of the truly horrendous movie, “The Lazarus Bowl,” at the end of the evening. Replica bowls, popcorn, and beverages will be provided. Bring this invitation to the door and remember the password,” she read, a huge smile on her face. “Jeremy, really?”

“Oh yes, I got some of the group together, some of the original gang of twelve, and we will be there tonight,” he said, and she could hear the happiness in his voice. She shook her head as she looked at the stuffed ice cream cone, excited for tonight.

“So that’s why your mom is taking the kids tonight,” she said, as Roxanne walked back, and set the flowers on her desk. Meredith smiled at the priceless look on her face shaking her head at the bouquet, confused as to why Meredith was laughing. “The flowers, Jeremy,” she giggled and he laughed too.

They were not exactly flowers, but a bouquet of the main movie characters heads on floral sticks. There were zombies and a few different ones of Garry Shandling, Téa Leoni, and Richard Gere. The faces he chose were hilarious and she laughed as she looked at them closer.

“You are too much,” she said, so happy with this man who loved her and celebrated days like this and in the ways he did. “So tonight, huh? I can’t believe it’s been seventeen years since that night.”

“Me either, Babe,” he said quietly with a sigh. “It was a great night.” She smiled and nodded although she knew he could not see her.

“So, we’ll head home, change and meet the others at what time? Oh yes, I see now, 7:30. Okay, let me get back to work, you big weirdo, and I’ll see you at home later. I love you,” she said, moving the bouquet back and setting the ice cream cone back in the box.

“I know,” he said.

“Stop Solo-ing me,” she said and they both laughed. Hanging up, she looked at the things again and got back to work.

The day dragged on, but finally at 5:00, she grabbed her things and left. Setting her items from Jeremy in the back inside Anna’s car seat, she shut the door before getting in and heading home.

Traffic, as usual, was awful at this hour, but it could not stop her smile or the happy excitement inside her. Today was Double F Day and as always, her mind drifted back to when it was not a celebratory day, but an ordinary night …

________________

April 2000

Seventeen years old, she stood in front of her bedroom mirror, ready for the evening, and sighed. Sometimes she hated the way she looked. All the other girls she was going out with tonight were so different than her.

Karine and Kelly were both so beautiful and sure of themselves. Tiffany and Jessica were like peas in a pod and they did everything together. Both of them were the life of the group and made everyone laugh. At least her best friend Laia was coming.

They had known each other since grade school and Laia was the only one who knew the extent of her crush on Jeremy. How she had fallen for him in third grade when Marcus Tolan took her show-and-tell stuffed animal and Jeremy demanded he give it back. He stood between them and pushed Marcus when he did not listen the first time. That was all it took and he dropped the animal. Jeremy picked it up and handed it to her, saying he was sorry. Only Laia knew Meredith then renamed that stuffed bear after Jeremy. She still had that ragged “Jer-Bear” in a box somewhere, unable to throw it out.

Over the past couple of years her crush on him ramped up, but remained unspoken. He was always kind to her: offering to help carry her science project into the gym, giving her a ride home when she missed the bus, dropping off notes and homework the week she was sick with the flu. Even though he did all that, she knew it was only as a friend. He would never consider dating her when the other girls he dated were so different than her.

But, God, she wanted to be with him.

Laia arrived a few minutes before seven and they headed to Karine’s house. All the girls got along well, though there were times of strife. Meredith tended to clam up when they were all together, still slightly unsure and insecure in her own skin, but loved being with them, this random group of girls.

After hanging out for a bit, they all double checked their makeup, hair, and clothes, before piling in Karine’s mom's van which she was borrowing for the night. Laughing and singing along to the radio turned up loudly, they drove to In-n-Out to meet the boys and get burgers and fries. Laia nudged Meredith and slyly gestured toward Jeremy, as if she had not noticed him the second they pulled up. He smiled at her and her heart raced, try as she might to stop it.

Food eaten between fits of laughter and screaming jovially at one another, they went to the beach before heading to their final destination, the arcade on the pier. The boys were all ridiculous: seeing who could run the fastest, the furthest, or jump the highest. They found rocks and saw who could throw them the furthest into the water, or try to skip them in between waves.

Kevin picked up Kelly and pretended he was going to throw her in the water. She screamed and laughed before he put her back down. Karine sighed beside her and Meredith knew that she had a crush on Kevin. She empathized with her as she knew Kevin only saw Kelly when they were all together. Catching her eye, Meredith smiled at her and Karine sighed again.

Continuing on down the beach, the boys were still being a bit silly, but Meredith was not paying attention to them. She was watching Jessica, who radiated beauty without even trying. A star athlete, she always looked like she was walking into a modeling job. Tall, poised, and self confident, she had everything Meredith wished she possessed. Sighing, she shook her head knowing she could try forever and never be like Jessica.

“OWWWW!!” She heard and looked up to see what the scream was for and who did it. Kevin and Derek had been the culprits, if the shoving and laughing had anything to do with it. A couple was apparently mid-embrace and the boys felt the need to interrupt them. Everyone was laughing and then they heard the man yell back “Thanks!”

Kevin laughed harder and yelled back, “She’s hot,” much to the other boys amusement. Meredith felt secondhand embarrassment at their actions and glanced at the couple as they walked closer. The woman seemed embarrassed, but the man was smiling and quite handsome. Meredith smiled and continued walking down the beach toward the pier.

Of course, before they actually made it, the boys began pushing at each other again, and wrestling around. Even Jeremy was acting up and she sighed. Boys were so ridiculous at times. She glanced up and saw the couple from earlier again. She watched them, fascinated by their interactions. Seeing her wearing his coat made her smile, it was so romantic.

“I thought you said we were going to the arcade? Going to play some games?” Tiffany said, and Meredith looked away from the couple to see Tiffany rolling her eyes at the boys.

Meredith smiled and the boys actually started to settle down and walk toward the pier. They did not get far when they heard a voice call out to them. “Hey! Did one of you say something about an arcade?”

Meredith turned and saw the man and woman coming toward them. She did not pay attention to his words, but watched him as he came up to them. He was handsome indeed, with a very nice smile. The boys started chattering away, and Meredith watched the woman. She was stunning and seemed embarrassed to be standing with a bunch of teenagers.

She wore a different expression as she looked over at her boyfriend, open and seemed to be having an intense silent conversation. Walking to the stairs and waiting at the top, Meredith watched them again, how he took the time to clean her feet of the sand they had been walking in and it made her feel butterflies in her stomach.

The other girls clamored around the woman as she got to the top of the stairs, but Meredith simply watched her and how she behaved. She seemed to feel the way Meredith did at times, unsure and a bit uncomfortable. She was even more stunning up close and Meredith had to stop herself from openly gaping at her.

Going into the arcade, the couple introduced themselves as Mulder and Scully, no first names, as they paid everyone’s way to play for the next hour. It was very kind and completely unexpected. Meredith took her quarters and she and Laia went to play some games. They joined in with the “Fuck Federman” rally cry and it was fun to watch the others win or lose the game before they yelled it out.

Not earning enough tickets to get the prize she wanted at the end of the evening, Meredith stepped back flustered and ready to leave. Suddenly, Jeremy was there and handing over his tickets without a word, making her blush as he smiled at her. She stepped back up and got the rainbow colored flower pillow she had wanted.

________________

Meredith grinned as she pulled up in front of the house, her memories cut short for the time being. Turning off the car, she sat there for a minute wondering where that pillow was now. She never got rid of it, so it had to be somewhere in the garage. Tomorrow she was going to look for it.

Leaving the car, she went into the house and found Jeremy eating chips at the counter, a bottle of beer open beside him. He raised his eyebrows at her and she walked over and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him rapidly and repeatedly on his cheek.

“Happy Double F Day,” she said with a grin. He swallowed his mouthful of chips and kissed her on the lips before slapping her ass and laughing.

“And Happy Double F Day to you as well. We need to hurry and get changed. I laid out our outfits on the bed, let’s get a move on,” he said, kissing her once more.

“Wait, what do you mean outfits?” she asked, highly suspicious. He had a tendency to go bigger than big at times. “I didn’t see outfits on the invite.”

“No? Hmm that’s odd,” he said with a shrug and wide eyes. She narrowed hers at him and he shrugged again, pushing her toward the stairs.

Walking into their room and seeing the clothes he laid out, she burst out laughing. Wide legged jeans, a baby doll t-shirt, and flip flops. She shook her head at him and then looked at his outfit. Oh dear God. Athletic pants, a white undershirt, and a button shirt- his Eminem phase. Rolling her eyes, he laughed and she shook her head again.

“Tonight, we’re seventeen again,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist. “We have to look the part.” She laughed again and went to take a quick shower while he changed his clothes.

Clothes on, hair and makeup done similar to that night, she slipped on her shoes, and presented herself to him. He looked her up and down and shook his head. “There’s something missing,” he said and took out a pair of lens free black glasses and put them on her. She scoffed, but he smiled. “There. Now it’s perfect.” Kissing her quickly, he grabbed her hand and pulled her downstairs.

Arriving at the pier, he paid for parking and they walked hand-in-hand to the arcade. She grinned as the memories of the night came back. The ice cream cone Jeremy brought to her before any other friends had been served, his shy smile as he did, and how she felt when he walked away. She squeezed his hand and smiled at him.

He opened the door to the arcade and a chorus of “Surprise!” rang out and she gasped. Everyone was there, all the friends from that night seventeen years ago, and dressed similarly to her in the fashions of the millennium. Karine, Kelly, Tiffany, Jessica, and …

“LAIA!!!” Meredith shouted as she grabbed her in a crushing hug. “How are you here?! I’m so happy to see you!”

“Hey, seventeen years is a big deal. We are all double the age as that night. It’s like a Double Double F Anniversary,” Laia said hugging her back tightly. Meredith pulled back and held her friend's face in her hands, grinning like a fool while Laia did the same.

She had been in Spain for the past three years, and while FaceTime and emails were wonderful, face-to-face was even better. Hugging her again, they moved to talk to the other people at the party.

Jessica and Tiffany, married to each other now and expecting their first child in a couple of months, had driven down from San Francisco. Jessica was as beautiful as ever, pregnancy agreeing with her. After graduation, the two had gone to college together, and come to realize they were in love with each other. Their wedding and reception was the most fun one Meredith ever attended. Maybe a bit too much fun, as nine months later Anna was born.

Karine and Kevin were also married, him having admitted he went for Kelly because he thought Karine would never like him. Kelly was upset at first, but understood, and eventually married a super rich, super down-to-earth divorced father and they were happy together. They only had his daughter part time, and Karine and Kevin had two boys. Rambunctious, sweet, and smart boys who kept their parents on their toes.

Derek and Mike were still bachelor’s and in no hurry to settle down. Derek traveled a lot for work and felt it unfair to ask a family to be a part of that life. Mike had been hurt in the past by a woman he loved dearly, and now had a sour taste in his mouth from it. He still dated, but kept it casual and loose.

Ryan and Isaac, the two guys Jeremy considered his closest friends, were now married to amazing women. They all often got together for barbecues or to watch a football game. Ryan was the coach at their old high school and Isaac owned a consulting firm in Beverly Hills.

Meredith looked around at the people gathered together tonight to celebrate this day, people coming from far flung places around the globe and she smiled. These eleven other people shared a memorable evening that lasted seventeen years, and she was immensely grateful to know each and every one of them.

“All right!” Jeremy yelled above the noise of laughter and catching up. “We all know what today is and why we’re here, but it’s also special for a couple of reasons. First of all, we are, as Laia said, double the age we were on that night. How different life was then, right?” They all cheered and groaned in equal parts. “Also, it’s mine and Meredith’s anniversary of sorts, but that’s just for us, so keep your groans to yourselves.” Everyone laughed and Meredith smiled at him as he winked. “Lastly, a bit of sad news. The reason we’re here tonight instead of a restaurant or some place else, is for the anniversary yes, but also because the arcade is going to be closing. This will be our last chance to be here, all together before it does.” It was quiet among them as his words sunk in, but then Derek spoke up as he shook his head.

“Fuck Federman! You know this is somehow that asshole’s fault.” They all laughed and the sadness was broken. He nodded and they all walked to the counter to grab their cups of quarters.

“We all know what we’re doing here,” Derek said, shaking the quarters in his cup. “Every game will be a challenge, loser moves on, winner stays for the next challenger, if desired. The winner of Skeeball or any other ticket giving game will be determined by the amount of tickets at the end. You know what to do, good luck and …”

“FUCK FEDERMAN!” they all yelled in unison. Laughter rang out and challenges were issued immediately.

Jessica and Tiffany went to play air hockey, Karine and Kevin went to play a zombie killing game, Derek and Kelly began a game of vintage Donkey Kong, Ryan and Mike ran for the pinball machine, Jeremy and Isaac went for the table Asteroid game, and Meredith looked at Laia with a grin and they ran for Rampage.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” Meredith said, putting a quarter in and starting the game. “It’s just so weird to be here, doing this at all, and you’re here.”

“Wanna hear something crazier?” Laia said, glancing at her with a smile. “I’m moving back. I’m not just here for a visit. And also.” She turned and held out her left hand, showing off a beautiful engagement ring.

“What?!” Meredith said, completely forgetting about the game. “When? And who?” She held Laia’s hand and exclaimed over the beauty of it. Looking in her eyes, Laia smiled and looked over toward Kelly and Derek.

“Derek? What?” Meredith said, her eyes huge. “How in the world?”

“Well, he came over to Spain for work for a few weeks and I thought I’d show him around and we could hang out. It was fun and we had good chemistry, but then he left. He called every day and then he was back for a couple of more weeks and we …” Laia said, her cheeks reddening. “Anyway, we started hanging out more. I traveled for work and met him in Italy and Greece, and it was amazing. Mer, I love him so much.” Meredith grinned as she wiped her eyes and then hugged Laia. The woman who felt she would never find the love she deserved, was going to marry the man who thought he would never settle down, it was perfect.

“FUCK FEDERMAN!” someone yelled and they broke apart. They all answered in kind and Laia and Meredith laughed.

“I’m so happy for you Laia, but it won’t stop me from kicking your ass at this game,” Meredith said, putting in another quarter as the last game had ended.

“Oh, it’s on,” Laia said, grabbing the joysticks and getting ready to rampage the city.

Two hours later, after numerous FUCK FEDERMAN’s were shouted, everyone was out of quarters and heading to the prize counter. Meredith’s pockets were bulging and she was feeling emotional about her last prize pick as she again remembered her first.

Jeremy sidled up next to her and slid his arm around her waist, kissing her temple. She put her head on his shoulder and sighed. “This has been a great night, honey. Thank you for arranging all of this and getting everyone here.” She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Happy anniversary.”

“Mmmm,” he said, with a smile, gesturing with his chin. “It’s your turn.” She smiled and turned around, stepping up to empty her pockets and see what she could get.

“You have eighty tickets,” the bored worker said with a sigh.

“Okay, let’s see what I can get,” Meredith said with a look around.

“Add these to it,” Jeremy said, putting his tickets down and looking at her with a small smile.

“One hundred and thirty,” the guy sighed again.

“I’ll take the rainbow heart spinny thing,” she said, pointing to the prize hanging from the ceiling.

“Nah,” Jeremy said, stopping the guy. “The photo box would be better. Get that one.” He pointed at it. Pink and fuzzy, she shook her head, but he was insistent. The worker took it down and handed it to her.

It was a four sided photo holder that spun around and was very pink and fuzzy. She shook her head and he nodded. “Open it,” he said, smiling at her. She looked at him and he nodded again.

Opening it, she found an envelope and underneath it, a triple scoop rainbow colored ice cream cone shaped jewelry box. She smiled as she picked it up and took it out of the box. Lifting it open, she found a single diamond necklace on a silver chain. She gasped as she looked at him.

“Happy anniversary,” he said quietly, taking it from her and putting it around her neck. “You make it look beautiful.” He kissed her and she smiled as he pulled back, thanking him before looking down at the envelope. She picked it up and opened it.

“Tickets to see Cher in Vegas?! Jeremy!” She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. He laughed and spun her around, before humming Walking in Memphis in her ear. She laughed and he set her down, kissing her again.

“I love you, Mer. So much,” he said, cupping her cheek and staring in her eyes.

“I know,” she said cheekily, her eyes full of laughter and love. He laughed and grabbed her hand, scooping up the items and putting them back in the photo box, before walking to the room where they would watch the movie.

Sitting down, she looked at the tickets again and smiled. She touched her necklace and shook her head; such a sweet man she had married. He was setting up the movie, in discussion with Mike. Meredith looked around and her heart was happy. Seeing all the couples and friends ready to watch a movie they all loved to hate, she had to laugh.

A bowl of popcorn and a beer was handed to her and the lights went down. Everyone cheered and clapped as the credits began. Groans, boos, and popcorn was thrown when they saw Wayne Federman’s name on the screen. For the next hour and a half they said the lines with the characters, laughed at the ridiculousness, questioned the story line, and groaned at the kissing in the coffin.

“No way she was in love with Skinner,” Tiffany yelled out. “Not our Scully. That woman only had eyes for Mulder.”

“Hell yes! And who could blame her, he was hot hot hot.” Kelly answered and everyone laughed.

“She was hot too, damn hot,” Mike said. “But yeah, no way any other man stood a chance. They got it so wrong.” Everyone nodded and soon the movie was over, popcorn thrown and boo’s heard again when Federman’s name was shown.

They cleaned up the mess they had made and then walked back into the main arcade room. Derek asked the worker if he could take a picture of them. He sighed and agreed, waiting for them to arrange themselves. A few different poses, and Derek was taking his phone back, sending everyone the photos. They laughed when they looked at them and with sighs of their own, they said goodbye to the arcade.

Walking out the doors, Meredith took a few pictures of the arcade sign and the building itself before putting her phone away. “Ice cream!” someone shouted and they all laughed, heading for the ice cream stand.

Mike ordered swirl cones for everyone and soon they were at two tables, laughing and eating their treats together. Jessica was rubbing her belly and exclaiming how much the baby girl was kicking. That started a conversation about pregnancy and the guys tuned them out, instead discussing football and then Game of Thrones.

Jeremy stood up as they were finishing and cleared his throat. “I just wanted to say again how much I appreciate everyone taking the time to be here tonight. Having the past, but especially the night we all spent here be what kept us together, well, I don’t think we could have asked for a better time.” Wolf whistles and cheers erupted as he sat down.

A few minutes later, they all stood and tossed their dirty napkins before standing in a huddle, smiling at one another. They all nodded and shouted one last time “Fuck Federman!” and then began to say their goodbyes. Hugs and kisses were given and plans were made to get together soon. Meredith watched everyone walking away, especially Derek and Laia. She saw the way he looked at her and she was so happy they reconnected and were now engaged. Life truly worked in interesting ways.

Jeremy took her hand and laced their fingers together. Smiling at her, they began to walk down the pier toward the car, the photo box held in his other hand. She sighed and stopped him, taking her phone from her pocket. Finding what she was looking for, she turned on their Cher song, and Jeremy smiled at her. He set the photo box down and she put her phone in her pocket.

Pulling her close, they held each other as they swayed slowly to the song they first danced to so long ago. “Thank you for tonight, it was a wonderful Double F Day,” she said quietly.

“Hmm, it was,” he said, kissing her forehead.

“Do you ever wonder about them?” Meredith asked him, thinking of her past conversation with Scully and the way she and Mulder looked at one another.

“I have in the past, but they’ve definitely been on my mind more tonight. I wonder if they still work for the FBI, or are still together. I hope so. They were definitely very much in love, and no way was Skinner on her mind.” Jeremy said with a chuckle. Meredith laughed too and then sighed, an idea forming in her mind.

The song ended and he pulled back from her, smiling before kissing her. They both looked at the arcade one last time before he picked up the photo box and they headed for home.

______________________

The next morning, Meredith stood in the kitchen staring at the phone, wondering if this was an absolutely crazy idea. She felt nervous and sure this would be a waste of time, but also knew she would never have the courage to do it again if she did not do it right now. Taking a breath, she picked up the phone and dialed the number she had written down.

“Federal Bureau of Investigation,” a woman’s voice said.

“Uh … hello,” Meredith said, her mouth suddenly dry. “I uh … I was looking to locate an agent there, but uh … I’m not sure she, or he, is there anymore …” she trailed off now, convinced this was indeed a stupid idea.

“I can connect you, I just need a name, ma’am,” the woman said kindly.

“Um, Agent Scully? Or Agent Mulder? I don’t know if they still work there …”

“Hold please,” the woman interrupted.

Meredith’s heart was pounding as the phone rang in her ear. She had no idea what exactly she was going to say and she was very nervous. She began to pace the kitchen.

“This is Agent Mulder,” came a voice she had not heard in seventeen years. She smiled and inexplicably felt tears in her eyes. “Hello? Is anyone there?”

“Yes, hello. Agent Mulder. Sorry,” she said, wiping her eyes.

“Hello. Can I help you?” he asked her, his voice lowering a bit.

“Well, I was … I … you probably won’t remember me, but I met you a few years ago. It was in California, um … I was with a bunch of friends and we met you on the beach?” she said, hearing her voice go up and hating the way it sounded.

“We went to an arcade,” he said after a few seconds. “Yeah, I remember that, but I’m sorry I don’t remember your name.”

“Meredith,” she said, feeling sweaty all of a sudden.

“Meredith, right. and … it was Jeremy? The boy who was watching you as we got the ice creams?” he asked, amusement in his voice. She flushed even though it was silly to do so.

“Yes, Jeremy. We’re actually married now.”

“No shit?” he said with a laugh.

“Yeah. We’ve been together since that night, but married for the past nine years, and we have two little girls, Molly and Anna.” She knew she was rambling, but did not know how to stop it.

“That’s wonderful,” he said and then paused. “Is there something … did something happen to someone you know?”

“Oh no! No, nothing like that, Agent Mulder,” she said, feeling more flustered. “I just … this was a silly idea.”

“Nonsense. What’s going on, Meredith? And please, just Mulder is fine,” he said kindly.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Last night was our annual celebration of that night on the pier.”

“Annual celebration?”

“Yeah. So … all those years ago, we obviously didn’t know who you two were other than Mulder and Scully. We had no idea you were FBI agents. We knew your names and Federman’s, of course …”

“That fuckin’ guy …” he muttered, making Meredith laugh.

“Yes. Well, that was all we knew and about a month after that night, we went to see a movie called The Lazarus Bowl …”

“Nooooo, please tell me you didn’t,” he groaned and Meredith laughed again.

“We did and imagine our surprise when it was you, well not you, but … “ she said, remembering their collective faces of surprise. “We were stunned and ended up staying to see it again, to be sure of what we saw. We all shook our heads at the ridiculous plot, the love interest, and how you both were portrayed. It was a truly awful movie.”

“Tell me about it,” he grumbled. “I didn’t even stay for the whole thing. Please don’t tell me how it ends. I’ve lived without finding out all this time, I can continue on with not knowing.” Meredith laughed and she heard him do the same.

“That movie, and the night we shared with you and Agent Scully became something we celebrated every year. Jeremy started it for just him and I, but it quickly became a group activity. We got together to watch the movie, complain about it, drink, and have fun. Some of our friends still live close by, and others have moved away, but we remain close. We were good friends before, but that night on the pier, cemented us together. Eight of the twelve of us have found love within our little group. The three remaining ones have married others and one seems to be set on being a forever bachelor,” she said, once again feeling she was rambling.

“That’s great,” he said and was quiet again.

“I … like I said, last night was our celebration night, but this time it was a bit different. We went back to the arcade, all of us, for the first time since that night with you two. We met, caught up, and shouted Fuck Federman many times. He is definitely our villain,” Meredith said and she heard Mulder laugh again. “We also watched the movie for probably the hundredth time and … well the whole story is so ludicrous, and not the people we met that night, that we all just shook our heads at how wrong they got it.” She heard Mulder sigh as she stopped talking. A heavy sigh, that she knew carried a lot of weight.

“Yeah,” She heard him say quietly. “They got it very wrong.”

“I hope … I … my plan wasn’t to call and bother you, I hope I haven’t,” she said, feeling like she did exactly that with her words.

“No, you haven’t,” he said, his voice low. Both were quiet for a few seconds and then he spoke again. “That movie … it was not an accurate portrayal of the work Scully and I did while working for the FBI. It was mocked and made to seem schtick-y. I kind of expected it to be silly, but … it was embarrassing and not something I would have agreed to if I knew how it would be presented. Not just the … love story side of it, but the actual case that was investigated. I was … properly horrified by it and like I said, the ending will continue to be a mystery to me.” She laughed and heard him exhale, both of them quiet for a few moments.

“The arcade on the pier is being shut down,” she said quietly. “That’s why we met there last night, a final hurrah of sorts. It feels like we’re all losing a piece of us in a way, but last night helped to alleviate it a bit. We played games, had ice cream, danced, and it was like the past night, but … different. Time doesn’t stop, as much as we may want it to at times,” Meredith said wistfully.

“No. No it doesn’t,” he said with another sigh.

“My mother-in-law will be here soon with my daughters, but I just wanted … is Agent Scully there by any chance? I wanted to tell her something,” Meredith asked.

“No, I’m sorry,” Mulder said. “She isn’t here right now, but she should be back soon. She had to check on some lab work. I could have her return your call.”

“No, no. That’s okay. I … don’t want to be a bother.”

“Meredith, you wouldn’t be, trust me.”

“Thank you. I just … I was thinking last night as we were eating our ice creams, about the conversation Agent Scully and I had so long ago,” Meredith said with a smile. “Jeremy brought her her cone and then he brought me mine. Agent Scully seemed to think it meant he liked me and I was shocked, sure it was not the case.” She laughed and then sighed, remembering how her chest pounded in her ears.

“She’s very good at reading people,” Mulder said, and she could hear a smile in his voice.

“Yeah, she is,” Meredith agreed. “But it was how she knew, what she told me about her own experiences, that got to me and made me think differently than I had been. She said you both worked together, that you were partners, but above anything else, you were friends. You were the one person she wanted to see and speak to every day and even if you fought, you were still friends, still close. She said the things Jeremy had done that evening were his little ways to show me what he couldn’t say just yet. I was seeing it as him just doing what he’d always done, but she saw past it and made me think differently. I would’ve dismissed and denied it if she hadn’t spoken to me. I just wanted to thank her for her words and taking the time to speak to me.”

She fell silent remembering how she felt when Jeremy asked her to dance, how he looked in her eyes, and the way he quietly said her name as he pulled her closer, was enough to prove what Scully said to be true. Maybe it would have happened regardless, but Meredith was sure her words had been a catalyst, the push she needed to have what she wanted for so long.

“Thank you, Meredith,” Mulder said quietly. “Thank you for telling me. I appreciate the phone call and for the news from the past. I’m sorry to hear about the arcade, that was a fun night. You take care of yourself and your family. If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to call. I’ll pass your message along to Agent Scully, she will be happy to hear it. And Meredith, fuck Federman.” She could hear the smile in his voice again.

“Fuck Federman,” she echoed with a chuckle and he laughed with her.

“Goodbye, Meredith. Thank you for calling,” he said once more and hung up.

She stood with the phone to her ear for a few seconds longer before she heard the dial tone and placed the phone back on its base. She felt happy and also sad. Things did not remain the same and she wondered if the tone she heard in his sighs meant anything. Were they still together? Still befriending teenagers and dancing on piers? She hoped so, everyone deserved to have that kind of happiness in their lives.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts and she glanced at it. Her girls had their faces pressed the window next to the door, grinning at her. She smiled back, walking toward the door, but her mind was on a pier, the smell of the ocean in the air, and Jeremy’s arms around her.

________________

Almost 3,000 away, Mulder sat at his desk, his hand on the phone, but his mind elsewhere. He was remembering the feel of the sand between his toes, Scully’s hand in his, her smiles before she kissed him, and dancing on a pier. Even the thought of that goddamn rainbow haired troll doll brought up good memories. They had been so happy, no idea of what the future would hold in a short amount of time.

Abduction, pregnancy, his miraculous return in all sense of the word, the birth of their son, being forced away from them and in hiding, finding out about William’s adoption, their time on the run with danger lurking everywhere, and then their semblance of a normal life, settling down at the house. So much abnormalcy happened to them, while others lived regular lives: finding a mate, getting married, and adding to the population of the earth. All while he and Scully tried to fight the darkness and keep it from seeping in every corner. He sighed, knowing he had failed in that regard.

“Mulder. Did you hear me?” Scully’s voice cut into his thoughts.

“Scully? When did you get here?” he asked, realizing his hand was still on the phone. He moved it and locked his fingers together on the desk. How long had he been sitting there lost in his head?

“Well that answers my question,” she muttered as she set down the bags of food she had in her hands. “I decided to get lunch on my way back. I figured you hadn’t eaten yet, so I stopped at El Sol and got you a burrito and rice and beans. I was going to go for fajitas, but wasn’t sure how well those traveled.” She handed a container to him from the bag and he made no move to take them. “Mulder, are you okay?” She looked at him and he shook his head. “You’re not okay?” She set the food container down and stared at him.

“Mexican food,” he said, shaking his head again.

“Yeah,” she said, drawing out the word and staring at him. “You like El Sol, right?”

“It’s … I just had a phone call. It was Meredith, one of the teen girls we met on the beach after the movie premiere,” he said looking up at her. She furrowed her brow at him and then raised her eyebrows. “You remember her?”

“I do remember her. She was a cute girl and that boy ...”

“Jeremy.”

“Right, Jeremy. Whoa,” she sat down and stared at him. “Is she okay? How … how did she even know how to find you? We never said we were FBI agents. How did she know yo … no, please don’t tell me …” she groaned.

“Oh yeah, they saw it,” he said with a nod.

“It’s so embarrassing,” she whined, closing her eyes and making a face.

“Apparently, it’s like a cult classic with them, although, she said they like it for the terribleness of it, not because it’s good,” he explained, smiling slightly.

“Well, no shit. That movie was god awful. At least they have good taste,” she huffed and he laughed softly. “So, just out of the blue she called to chat? That seems kinda odd.”

He nodded, looking down at the food container on the desk. The aroma of it made him think of that night. Margaritas, shots of tequila, fajitas, and the taste of all of them mixing with the taste of Scully when she kissed him. He ached for the past, the ease at which he was able to love and touch her.

We’re here though, he thought, raising his eyes to look at her, the blue of her eyes pulling him in and steadying him, as they always did. We’re here together again. Friends and partners before all else.

“She said that the arcade is closing, the one we all went to,” he said and she sighed, sticking out her lip. “Yeah. And she said every year at this time they celebrate the day we were there, usually just watching the movie again and hanging out, but this year they went to the arcade. She said it was a fun night, but different than the past and that time doesn’t stop, even if we want it to.” He stared at her and she nodded, her eyes thoughtful.

“She wanted me to pass along a message to you, one of thanks. You told her that we worked together and were friends and partners above everything else,” he said, trying to stop his smile and failing. “She also said you told her, I was the one person you wanted to speak to and see every day.” He watched her swallow hard, look down, and then back at him.

“Still true,” she said softly, a small smile on her face. He smiled back and nodded.

“Well, she wanted to thank you for speaking to her and helping her to see that Jeremy, whom she’s been with since that night, and now married to for nine years with two daughters, was trying to get her attention,” he smiled and she grinned.

“Seventeen years? Married and two daughters? That’s wonderful. Good for them,” she said, her grin slowly fading as she looked down. He knew where her mind wandered and wanted to bring her back to happier thoughts.

“You had it so bad for me,” he said and her head snapped up. He winked at her and she shook her head.

“And you didn’t?” she asked, her eyebrow arching up. He shrugged and lifted his hands in the air, then opened his food container.

She reached for the bag of food and took out her salad, placing it on the desk. Taking out the utensils, she handed a set to him and half the stack of napkins. As he reached for them, she held tight, forcing him to look at her.

“I wouldn’t describe how I feel in the past tense,” she said quietly, holding his gaze. He tilted his head and slowly grinned. Her cheeks reddened and she let go of the items in her hand.

She kept her head down as she opened her container and stabbed hard at her salad. He cut his burrito in half, putting one portion on the lid of the container, and reached for her salad. Lifting it up and away from her, he scraped some of it onto his plate and then put half the burrito on her plate. Handing it back to her, he grinned as he began to stab at the salad.

She stared at him, but then picked up the burrito and took a bite. Chewing it, she smiled back at him, a bit of sour cream on the side of her lip. He was about to reach out and wipe it off, when she stuck out her tongue and slowly licked it away, her eyes on his the whole time. His breath caught and he remembered feeling the same way seventeen years ago, eating a meal similar to this one. She smiled at him, a small knowing smile, and took another bite.

He closed his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath, and heard her humming. He opened his eyes and found her looking at a magazine on her lap, burrito in hand, and humming Walking in Memphis. She glanced at him briefly and then looked back down at the magazine.

The past was great, hell, it was amazing, but she was right, he would not continue thinking of them in the past tense. They were moving forward, at their own pace, and while the past was a part of it, the future was where he was looking.

Humming along with her, he took another bite of salad, grinning when she caught his eye, as the scent of the ocean, and all the memories it held, seemed to inexplicably and suddenly invade both their senses.

___________________

Notes:

Oh, this was fun to write. I love the thought of the kids being so affected by a specific night spent with our favorite agents, they would celebrate every year. How cool would that be? 😊

So as I mentioned, I wrote this as a continuation of the story for my fanfic anniversary date. I adore this story and I hope you enjoyed reading it. it just makes me feel happy and a bit weepy all at the same time.

#reunions #getting back together #fun and good times #friends #xf fanfic #the xfiles #msr fanfic #friends and partners always #cant live in the past have to keep moving forward

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aion-rsa · 4 years ago

Text

Director Mike Figgis Talks Trading Licks with Ronnie Wood

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Before becoming a filmmaker, Leaving Las Vegas director Mike Figgis was a musician and performer in the experimental group called The People Show. Before that, he played trumpet and guitar in the experimental jazz ensemble The People Band, whose first record was produced by Rolling Stone drummer Charlie Watts. He is also the founding patron of an online community of independent filmmakers called Shooting People. You can say Figgis is a People person, which makes him the perfect director to capture Ronnie Wood in the documentary Somebody Up There Likes Me.

One of rock and roll’s most iconic guitarists, Wood is good with people. He plays well with others. He is the Stone who’s never alone. Before he began weaving guitar licks with Keith Richards in the Rolling Stones, Wood helped shape the British rock sound in bands like The Birds and the Creation. He was the bass player to the guitar maestro in The Jeff Beck Group, which featured the distinctive voice of Rod Stewart at the front. They put out two albums, 1968’s Truth and 1969’s Beck-Ola, before splintering just as they were to appear at Woodstock. Wood and Stewart inherited the Small Faces from Steve Marriott and dropped the album First Step in 1970. They realized they were too tall for the diminutive moniker and renamed the band The Faces. They released the albums Long Player and A Nod Is as Good as a Wink…to a Blind Horse in 1971, and Ooh La La (1973), before splitting up in 1975.

Wood guested on albums by David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, the Band, Donovan, B.B. King, and on Stewart’s solo albums. He spent so much time flavoring other performers’ works, he didn’t put out a solo album of his own until 1974 which he aptly titled I’ve Got My Own Album to Do. Wood also went solo for 1981’s 1234 and collaborated with Bo Diddley on Live at the Ritz in 1988, Wood’s seventh solo album, I Feel Like Playing (2010), featured guest spots from ex-Faces bandmate Ian McLagan, as well as The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, Guns N’ Roses’ Slash, Billy Gibbons, Bobby Womack, and Jim Keltner.

Somebody Up There Likes Me isn’t structured like most music documentaries. It is primarily a conversation, and it veers from much of Wood’s vast output. The hard-partying musician beat lung cancer and candidly blames his excessive indulgences. He saw bandmates, contemporaries and friends, like Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and John Bonham push past the lethal limits of chemical reactions. Wood himself remembers telling Keith Moon to take pills, not bottles of them. Richards remarks in the documentary how the two Rolling Stones guitarists share strong constitutions. Wood began recording with the Rolling Stones when they were halfway through their 1976 album, Black and Blue, and has been steady even up to their recent pandemic live stream.

The documentary also captures Wood’s visual artistry. He was an artist before he was a musician. His drawings were featured on BBC TV’s Sketch Club when he was a child, and he studied at the Ealing Art College. Wood did the cover artwork to Eric Clapton’s 1988 box set Crossroads. The two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee continues to capture visions like Mick Jagger’s dancing in a Picasso style, as well as the shots in Somebody Up There Likes Me of him capturing the grace of a ballerina on canvas.

Born in northern England, director Mike Figgis was raised on jazz and Jean-Luc Godard movies. The inventor of the “fig rig” knows when to experiment, such as he did in Timecode (2000) and Hotel (2001), how to get drama out of romance, as he did with One Night Stand, starring Wesley Snipes and Nastassja Kinski, and The Loss of Sexual Innocence. He is adept at crime dramas, directing the “Cold Cuts” episode of The Sopranos in 2004 and Internal Affairs, which starred Richard Gere. He also mines deep emotional schisms in films like Mr. North and Leaving Las Vegas (1995) for which he was nominated for Best Directing and Best Screenplay Oscars. Figgis spoke with Den of Geek about cinematic jams and studio sessions with Ronnie Wood.

Den of Geek: Over the course of the film, you produced a song using nothing but your backings and an orchestra of Ronnie Woods. How was he to produce?

Mike Figgis: He was a delight, actually. We did most of the interviews and everything where he was painting, he was in his own space for that. Then the dialog, he’s very very witty and so on. But at the end of the day, the man’s a musician. Quite later on in the process I said, “Let’s go into a studio and do something.” I think the minute we got into a studio it was different. For both of us because I’m a musician too. It’s just a different kind of reality and the language becomes much simpler between musicians and understanding the equipment, the whole vibe.

Originally Mark Ronson was going to do a soundtrack for us which would have been fantastic and then he just got very, very busy because we got late. I presented him with a kind of template of how maybe could make a nice soundtrack, which is basically what we did anyway. So we did it without Mark and Ronnie was very comfortable with that.

He very much left it to me. He added a lot, obviously. He said, “I’d like to do this as well,” and so on. So, we had a pretty full couple of days in studio time. But he was great to produce.

There are a lot of musicians working on this besides you and Ronnie. Rosey Chan did the score for a painting scene.

Rosey’s my wife by the way. She’s a phenomenal concert pianist and composer and musician in her own right. She’s releasing an album now. She’s an amazing pianist, I just needed something to take us into a different zone, so I asked her to compose some piano pieces for that. Then I did some score myself. Just when he’s talking about drugs. I put a little bit of a weird score on that one.

So is this film more of a cinematic jam that you just edited in the mixing room?

Yeah, I think so. I think that’s a good way of putting it, actually.

Ronnie also worked with Bob Dylan, Prince, David Bowie, Aretha Franklin. Did you allow the interviews to determine what parts of his career you were going to include?

I actually wanted to avoid anybody else. I said, “Let’s just make it about him painting and us talking.” I wanted to make it as simple as possible. That didn’t happen because as soon as you sort of uncover one little stone, you kind of say “Oh, well obviously we should interview the Rolling Stones.” Then he started thinking, “Well, Rod’s around, we can use Rod.” When I discovered about Damien Hirst, “Actually that would be an interesting, unexpected one. That would be good, yeah.” So yeah.

It was kind of organic, really. It was all sort of scheduled based in a sense that, “When are you available?” And, “When am I available? When are these people available?” So, getting the Stones was actually the trickiest thing. You had to go to Berlin and get them between gigs when they were watching the World Cup. In between World Cups actually. Very specific.

I know you’re in the People Band which had an album produced by Charlie Watts. So, were you in the same periphery of the Stones as Ronnie Wood back then?

No, the connection with Charlie was very interesting because the People Band was a free music ensemble. I mean really experimental. Really way out. The drummer was this phenomenal percussionist, still is, called Terry Day. Terry Day went to art college with Charlie’s wife and he knew Charlie because they were both drummers, so they got on really, really well. Charlie Watts has always been a huge jazz fan. Through Terry, it was one of those moments where Charlie says, “You know, we can record you. We got a mobile studio. We can either send the mobile to you wherever you’re playing.” I’m talking about in those days, in ’68 or whenever it was, the idea of a mobile multi-track was pretty amazing. “Or you can come to Olympic Studios,” which was where they recorded Beggars Banquet and everything. It was an amazing studio. And, “We’ll just give you the studio and the engineer, and you guys do what you want.” That’s how that came about and it was really lovely.

Over the years, once in a while I would see Charlie and just catch up, talk about drumming, really. And jazz. So it was really nice interviewing for this one again.

When you were asking Rod Stewart about Peter Grant, he sort of cut back and he became the young man that was bullied.

He did, didn’t he? When he said, “I’m protecting my hands and my face.”

The gangster aspect of that mid ’60’s period, especially with Peter Grant, how did that affect the musicians and the working? Do you think it actually in some ways was good for it?

Well, you know that comes about from a very strange coincidence which was sort of touched on in the film. But, quite a few years back, Malcolm McLaren was wanting to produce a film. A feature film about Led Zeppelin and as a result of that, he and I went and interviewed Peter Grant which is where that footage comes from. I did a huge amount of research into Led Zeppelin and Peter Grant at the time, and spoke to and interviewed a lot of the people who were involved with their success. I didn’t interview Johnny Bindon, but he was a key figure. Johnny Bindon was a kind of very violent criminal. In London. Very good looking. He became an actor for a while. Had amazing sexual legends built around him involving royalty and all kinds of things, and was part of a kind of fashionable gangster scene. The craze and all the rest of it. The London gangster scene.

Sort of became fashionable because people went to all their clubs, and hung out with them, and David Bailey photographed them and all that. So there was a kind of a zeitgeist about gangsterism. There’s an incredibly good book written about it called Jumping Jack Flash which came out two years ago. Bindon became one of the agents for Led Zeppelin and famously beat up somebody so badly on one of their tours that was hospitalized. He was a very mean individual.

The whole association with Led Zeppelin was very much gangsterish because of Peter Grant and his associates who had those stories and so on. So that was a kind of one aspect, and also a lot of the management were fairly crooked in London at that time. There’s a bit of a gay mafia and all the rest of it, so part of the folklore of that period of British rock and roll is very gangsterish, and very much part of the story.

Whenever I think about gangsters and British rock I think of the movie Performance. When you’re filming conversations in the moment, are you saying in your head “this is filmic?”

Not consciously, no. I accept it as being part of the fabric, actually. I try to make everything filmic anyway, so I’m always trying to get as far away from any kind of documentary feel. I like things to have a live element to it.

I loved Peter Grant’s Gene Vincent story. In the Beatles Anthology, George Harrison tells a similar one. What did Gene Vincent mean to young British rock and roller’s that everyone’s got a story about them?

Oh, because he was there, he was around. A little bit like the stories about everyone remembers Big Bill Broonzy and everyone remembers Sister Rosetta Thorpe. Main reason for that is they were a part of a very small group of musicians who were allowed to visit the UK during the Musician’s Union ban on touring. We were basically deprived of a lot of American musicians after the war, and the only reason Broonzy got in and Sister Rosetta Thorpe, was folk musicians were allowed in as opposed to, say, Louis Armstrong.

They all came in as folk singers even though they weren’t. I mean Broonzy was a fully-fledged Chicago blues musician and so was Sister Rosetta Thorpe. But everybody knows that. Anybody that was anybody around at that time would know those names. And Gene Vincent has become a kind of UK legend.

Do you see Ronnie as a very varied painter?

I wanted to capture a certain aspect of his art which was the line drawing. When we first started talking, I looked at all his art books. He does huge canvases with a lot of color, featuring the Rolling Stones, et cetera, et cetera. I was less interested in those. Those sell for a lot of money apparently and people really like them.

But when I saw his line drawing, his very quick drawings. Line drawing is very, very important. Sketching is very important in the same way that when you hear a very basic demo from a musician, there’s a certain truth about that. Then you can produce it and over produce it, and you can make it super sophisticated. I was interested in the bit that leads up to the way that he started producing. I wanted to set up situations where I would just see his line drawing. His ability to control lines, that was amazing.

Then physically watching him do that is fascinating. I love filming people playing their musical instruments. There’s a certain truth about that, they get into their thing. And watching him draw I thought was fascinating. His concentration, absolute. Even in the interview with Damian Hirst. He’s so focused on what he’s doing that he doesn’t really pay much attention to Damian Hirst. Sort of answers the question. He doesn’t pick up on any of the jokes. Because he’s really focused on what he’s doing.

Watching his live stuff, Wood is a different person. While he’s playing guitar, you see him and Keith joking around.

I think that has something to do with the eye. Because I think it’s about blues guitar. You can see the finger memory is really, really strong so I mean in that early footage he’s smoking at the same time, right? He’s smoking, joking around, getting to the microphone, late usually, for the backup vocals. And moving around and having a great time. He doesn’t have to look at the guitar to do that. However, if you are drawing something, either you make that contact with your eye, so creating the triangle between the subject, the canvas, and your eye. And you’re quite right. Radically different body language, and that’s interesting. There are two physical sides of him demonstrated on film, which you don’t really have to explain. There it is.

Is Somebody Up There Like Me a flip side to Leaving Las Vegas?

Maybe. You know, people have had a life, have had experience and come through darkness and coming to light and so on. For me, it just becomes 10 times more interesting than people who’ve just had a nice life and behaved well. Look a little puzzled that they’re not sort of 70 or something because it’s all been quite peaceful, you know? So there’s a kind of turbulence there which I think he says quite well when he says, “I see a fork in a road I take it.”

Like he says, “I would do it with my eyes more open now if I did it again.” I kind of admired that. It’s not like me. I’m much more protective. But I also loved the way he talked about the drugs. He talked about, “I would never get to the point of losing control because I always knew.” Because he’s very ambitious. “I always knew where I had to be next and I never wanted to be at the place where I couldn’t control where I wanted to be.” I’m sure there were a few exceptions to that, but in general, that was quite truthful.

You’re known as a very experimental filmmaker and I was wondering how you keep coming up with different ways to look through the camera?

I got sort of bored with 35mm and started going back to 16mm and then when video got more interesting, looking at video. Then as video got smaller and XLR happened, that radically changed the possibilities. Then as the world changes, like with at the beginning of this conversation we talked about the coronavirus effect. And how the Timecode principle, how that then ties in with what is possible in terms of filmmaking, really.

When you were making Timecode, did you know that you were predicting pandemic filmmaking?

No, although looking back I can think where it’d be really useful now.

The Rolling Stones streamed their performance early in the pandemic, is this the future of entertainment and is it an imposition?

I think in a way it is. Obviously at some point we will get coronavirus under some kind of control. But there are dire predictions about what’s coming next in terms of the unleashing of the demons that come through global warming, et cetera, et cetera.

On the one hand, maybe these variations of these conditions will continue well into the future. But I think even if it was just coronavirus, I’m talking about making films with various people right now, it’s almost like unless you actually acknowledge the world as it is today and has been for the last six months, any film that you make is going to have an air of unreality about it because this is quite definitely a global reality now. The way we’re communicating now and so forth.

I’m doing a masterclass in London at the film school next week and I’m going to be talking just about that to young filmmakers. The best ways to go about making films now.

As a jazz musician, what did you make of Jagger’s classification of jazz from back then?

It was pretty accurate, actually. I’d done the blues documentary with Martin Scorsese, the history of the British Blues, Red, White, and Blues. So, I covered that period and I was fascinated by that unique British period anyway, which is why in a way Marty and I got on so well too was because unlike America, the post war British music scene was heavily into traditional jazz and then bebop. Then folk music, and skiffle, and all those things. They all combined. If you talk to anybody, Eric Clapton, anybody, they’ll all make the same references. Big Bill Broonzy and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and then Woody Guthrie, and so kind of everybody was listening to all those influences and people were coming out of traditional jazz and then making quite dynamic decisions about this, that, and the other.

But the Trad boom was, the commercial aspect of the British jazz movement was very commercial, and immediately commercialized. There are some great musicians, but not the hippest genre in the world, so Jagger’s commented quite rightly if you want to be a young, sexy, happening musician, you’re not going to base your style on your grandfather’s taste and the rest of it. It was a kind of nice point of view. I loved it when he said, “I like the MJQ because of the way they looked and the way they played. I’m not sure I was crazy about the music or something like that.”

And I loved that he said, “We can be like that or we can be something different.” I love that moment in the film where you actually suddenly see the Stones kind of go, “Yep.” That’s pretty different from those two choices. That was, you’re creating a new genre there. And I have to say, my respect for the Rolling Stones went very, very high in making this documentary. I always like the Stones. I preferred more basically a blues band and I was listening to a lot more complicated pop musicians and jazz musicians.

I read that you’re doing a K-drama about the #MeToo movement. Would that be in the K-pop industry?

Yeah, I became interested in Korean film of course like most filmmakers. And then on an impulse, two and a half years ago, I bought a ticket to Seoul and I went and stayed there for three or four weeks, and just went around meeting people and just trying to get a handle on their film scene, initially. Then, I kind of got hooked on K-dramas as well and started to meet the actors. That’s turned into a project that’s been in development for about a year now. It’s going really, really well, but coming up with this series of scenarios. Sort of loosely around the #MeToo movement, really but just to do with the Korean social pop entertainment scene. And that’s what that was there.

I didn’t know that the Stones had originally thought about asking Ron Wood to replace Brian Jones. As a musician, you said they stuck to their guns. Do you think that would have been more true had they skipped over Mick Taylor and gone straight to Ronnie Wood?

It was interesting because that period, because obviously Jagger comes from a very much blues background. But by that time he was a megastar and the Stones were very much “Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones.” He was making movies, he was hanging out at the clubs, he was the hip guy. So obviously his horizons were expanding and he said that having Mick Taylor in the band really expanded his horizons as a songwriter because the voicings that Mick Taylor used. Mick did incredibly lyrical runs as the guitarist. Not a straight down the line blues player by any stretch of the imagination. A great blues player, but that’s not all he did.

So, I can imagine at that period, it would have been totally understandable if they’d continued to go in a different direction. I think what happened when Mick Taylor walked out, there was a kind of obvious cause of action to go to Ronnie. That probably then put Keith in a more comfortable zone in terms of the two-guitar thing because I would imagine that with Mick Taylor in the band, Keith’s role must have been definitely not so much the two-guitar thing because they are functioning at different levels. Probably in a way, back to a kind of grassroots level by bringing Ronnie back in.

Also, he looks like them. They were like brothers at that point. There’s a kind of a, suddenly a cohesiveness to the band as a band in a different way. Mick had a wider range in terms of songwriting and performance. A different way to go, but I think he was more than happy to go back into the kind of grassroots journey that they’d been on.

It’s very interesting how one musician can radically alter the destiny of the band, the longest lasting band in rock and roll history basically now.

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Ronnie Wood: Somebody Up There Likes Me will be available as a Virtual Cinema release at www.ronniewoodmovie.com starting Sept. 18 running through October. It will be released on DVD, Blu-ray and deluxe hardback book release on October 9.

The post Director Mike Figgis Talks Trading Licks with Ronnie Wood appeared first on Den of Geek.

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theycallmebeccawrites · 6 years ago

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One Shot: Crossing Lines

With Tumblr holding my original writing blog @beccaheartschrisevans captive (aka flagged as explicit), I have made a secondary writing blog and may end up closing the other all together. In the meantime, I am reposting all of my stories on my new blog.

Title: Crossing Lines

Pairing: Chris x reader

Rating: NC-17

Warnings: language, descriptive sex scenes

Summary: Chris’s best friend comes over to his place following an awful, ended early, first date

Disclaimer: This work of fiction is not to be reposted, used or translated without my permission.

18+ Disclaimer: This work contains sexual material that is for those over the age of 18. By clicking the keep reading link below, you are agreeing that you are over the age of 18 and are not offended by sexual content.

This story can also be read on AO3

You’re bored out of your mind as you sit across the table from another awful date; this time with a guy you met on a dating site. You’d found him funny online, but there is nothing funny about the cocky asshole now.

“Excuse me,” you say, standing up, suddenly. “I need to visit the lady’s.”

You tuck your wallet purse under your arm and make your way across the restaurant to where the restrooms are. That’s when you run into her; a woman dressed in all black and wearing large black sunglasses the hide her eyes.

“You should leave,” she says, stepping in front of you. “That man you’re with is my husband.”

“What?” You’re taken aback by her words, but then you realize it gives you an out from the worst date of them all. “Sorry, he didn’t say anything. Consider me gone.”

You pass her and go into the kitchen, hoping the fact that the owner’s cousin is one of your best friends will allow you to slip out through the alley. You bypass the dish pit and are almost to the alley door when the owner of the restaurant calls your name.

Turning around, you expect him to be mad, but instead he is holding a pizza in a to go box. “You looked miserable out there,” he says, holding out the pizza box. “I don’t blame you for ditching him.”

“Thanks,” you reply, not wanting to reveal the real reason you’re sneaking out through the kitchen. Judging by the loud voices and a sudden sound of breaking dishes from the dining room, he’ll figure it all out soon enough.

While he leaves to find out what’s going on, you exit the restaurant and walk around the block to your car, very glad you hadn’t taken the asshole up on his offer to pick you up for your date.

After getting into the car and starting it, you tell Siri to call Chris.

“Hello?” his voice greets you seconds later.

“You busy tonight?” you ask, thankful once again for the Bluetooth enabled stereo he’d given you for Christmas last year.

“I thought you had a date.”

“Ugh, I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Just tell me,” he says. “You went to my cousin’s place, right? I’ll hear about it anyway.”

“I’m certain you will,” you reply with a sigh. “Fine. The short version is his wife showed up.”

“What the fuck! That bastard was married!”

“And boring as hell,” you reply. “I left the table to go to the bathroom and his wife met me in the hallway to tell me to get lost.”

“Fuck,” he says again. “This is why you shouldn’t go on those stupid dating sites.”

“How the hell do you suggest I meet guys then?” you ask. “The guys in Boston won’t date me, my dad, my brother and my grandfather are all cops.”

“Maybe you should add that to your profile then.”

You choose to ignore his suggestion and return to your original question, “So, are you busy tonight?”

“Nope. Just hanging out in my apartment.”

“Can I come over? Your cousin gave me a pizza.”

“I’ve got a fridge full of beer and other stuff.”

“I’ll be there in five,” you reply then hit the ‘end call’ button.

A few minutes later, you arrive at his building and take the parking spot of someone leaving. You grab the pizza box and then head up to his apartment, where he is waiting for you in the doorway.

“You look hot tonight,” he says not even trying to hide the fact he is checking you out.

“You’re looking pretty good yourself,” you reply, taking in his relaxed look of a black t-shirt and a pair of dark wash jeans.

He takes the pizza box from you and then leads you into the large, loft apartment that he owns even though he usually spends his time in Boston at his mom’s house.

“So how did I get lucky and find you here tonight?” you ask as you kick off the heels you’d worn.

“My oldest nephew is having a sleepover,” he replies. “I was there earlier, but it was just too much for me and I told my mom I was staying here tonight.”

“Just wait until your niece is old enough to have sleepovers,” you tease.

“I grew up with sisters, I plan to be far, far, far away when that happens,” he states as he puts the pizza box on a kitchen counter. “I have no interest in being tied to a chair so girls can give me a makeover. Been there, done that, don’t need to do it again.”

“Your mom would have pictures of that hidden away somewhere, wouldn’t she?” you ask innocently as you open the box and grab a slice of pizza.

“Probably, but she won’t share them,” he says giving you a ‘don’t even think about it’ glare before opening the fridge and grabbing two beers.

“Maybe not with a stranger, but I’ve been your best friend for -”

You stop talking when you find yourself pressed into the counter by his hard body. Your lick your lips and swallow as your eyes move up his chest and to his handsome face.

“We’ve crossed certain lines in our twenty-five year friendship,” he says, his voice lowering in tone. “But there are still others that shouldn’t be crossed.”

“You’re right,” you say, trying hard to ignore the hardness that is pressed against your lower belly.

He remains pressed against you for another second before he backs off and grabs the pizza box.

You follow him over to the black leather couch and take a seat. He puts the pizza box on the coffee table then drops into the spot next to you. He grabs the bottle opener off the coffee table and pulls the lids off both beers then holds one out to you.

You finish your first slice of pizza and grab a second as he turns on his TV and quickly navigates through different menus. You don’t pay much attention until you see him hit play on “Pretty Woman”, one of your favorite movies.

“We can watch something else,” you tell him.

“You’ve had a shitty night,” he replies as he leans forward and grabs two slices of pizza then stacks them on top of each other.

Having had your fill of pizza, you lean against him and smile when he wraps one of his arms around you. You stay interested in the movie until the scene where Julia Roberts’ character goes down on Richard Gere’s character. It is then that you feel the heat of Chris behind you, feel the way his body feels against yours and remember the hardiness you felt in the kitchen.

“Are you dating or almost dating anyone?” you ask, turning your head to look at him.

His eyes meet yours and he shakes his head then verbally answers, “No. No one.”

That’s all the invitation you need since you two had decided last Christmas that you could handle being friends who occasionally fucked. No longer interested in the movie, you turn your body towards him and bite your lower lip before leaning in to him.

His mouth meets yours halfway and he wraps his arms around you, pulling you into his lap. You love kissing him, because he treats it as an artform; one in which he is well-skilled, or rather, well-practiced because, if you’re being honest, the first kiss the pair of you shared at age 12 was a sloppy mess.

You feel his large hands slide down your back to grab hold of your ass and you allow him to guide the slow, rocking movements of your lower body into his. Then his fingers grab the bottom hem of your dress and pull it up so you’re panty covered sex is pressed directly into the rough denim covering his hard cock.

Pulling away from him, you lean back and locked your eyes to his as you take control of the movements of your hips. He smiles back at you with dilated pupils before shifting without any warning.

You find yourself on your back and staring up at him as he pulls his t-shirt over his head, exposing his sculpted torso to your hungry eyes. You can’t help but reach out to touch him, but quickly find your hands being guided, by his, down to the fastenings of his jeans. You quickly undo them then watch as he pulls them down, freeing his hard cock in the process.

As he stands up to remove his jeans, you hurriedly take off your dress and drop it onto the floor, leaving yourself in a black push-up bra and lacy black panties. Your eyes meet his as he lowers himself onto the couch and you bite your lower lip as you undo the front clasp on your bra. His eyes drop to your breasts as you unveil them to him. He licks his lips and then leans down over you.

You arch your back, offering your breasts to him as his mouth finds one and his large hand finds the other. The little hairs of his beard tickle your sensitive skin and his velvety tongue quickly soothes the occasional irritation. He proves his mouth and tongue are skilled in more than just kissing as he makes his way from one breast to the other, showering the skin of your chest and torso with the same attention he does your nipples and breasts.

Heat pools between your legs as he continues his journey down your body and you ache to feel him buried inside of you, but you know he’s going to make you wait. You jump as his fingers touch your through the fabric of your panties and you press your body against him. You glare at him as he smirks back at you while teasing your through the lacy material.

Finally, you feel his fingers on the waistband of your panties and you lift your hips to allow him to remove them. Your eyes follow his hand as he drops the offending fabric on to the floor and then you cock your eyebrow as he grabs the edge of the coffee table and pulls it your direction. Then he places one of your feet on the table, effectively opening your most intimate parts for his viewing.

And view he does. His eyes study your folds and you blush. He licks his lips and then bounces his eyes up to yours to wink at you. Then he begins with delicate, irritatingly deliberate touches to your inner thighs, teasing you.

“Chrisssssss,” you whine.

He teases a little longer before those long, slender fingers finally touch you where you need it the most. Your eyes close as he works you over, slipping his digits through your folds and you arch you back as one of his fingers, slickened by your juices, slides into your sex. Your hips naturally rise and fall in sync with the movements of his hands and you cry out in disbelief when he pulls out.

Then his mouth is on you and your grab hold of his strong, muscular shoulder as his tongue becomes intimate with your sex. Your cries fill the loft as he brings you to the edge of your release and then over the edge, leaving you panting and jello-limbed.

You open you eyes and see him smiling cockily at you as he licks his lips. He’s leaning back on his knees and palming his hard cock, his intentions clear. He gives you another minute to regain your composure before he moves his pointer finger in a circle motion, signalling for you to roll over.

Smiling, you lower your leg from the table and then sit up. You slide your bra off your shoulders, dropping it onto the floor and then you turn around, positioning your knees on the edge of the couch and facing the back of the couch.

You feel one of his hands grab your waist as his other guides his cock into your folds in a single thrust. He gives you a moment to adjust to his girth before his other hand grabs your waist. Your hands cling to the back of the couch as he slides in and out of you, each thrust increasing with speed.

At some point his hands end up on your ass, clinging to your soft cheeks as he slams into you repeatedly. His grunts mingle with your cries and you find yourself biting the throw blanket that is draped over the back of the couch as another orgasm tears through your body. You feel him stiffen behind you and his body jerk as he cums inside of you.

Weak kneed, he pulls out of you and collapses on to the couch, pulling you into his arms in the process.

You wake up sometime later and find yourself enveloped in his arms. The TV has long since turned itself off and at some point Chris has covered you both with the blanket. You snuggle yourself into his chest and breath in his scent that both turns you on and makes you feel at peace and, most importantly, at home.

With your ear pressed against his chest, you can feel his heartbeat and you can’t help but wish that the two of you couldn’t change your “friends with benefits” status into a boyfriend/girlfriend one. You’re not sure when it happened, but you’ve fallen in love with your best friend.

“You think too loud.” His low tone sends vibrations through your body. “Go back to sleep, we’ll talk in the morning.”

You’re not sure you can go back to sleep and then you feel it, his hand on the small of your back. You feel one of his fingers drawing something, but you can’t tell what it is at first. Then he repeats it.

He draws a horizontal line then a vertical line and followed by a second horizontal line.

The letter “I”, you realize.

Your heart pounds as he redraws the second object and you quickly recognize as a heart.

Then he draws a horse shoe like shape that you interpret as the letter “U”.

Then he draws on final thing, two vertical lines in rapid succession. It takes you a minute and then you realize he’s drawn the Roman numeral for the number 2.

“I love you, too,” you whisper.

You pull your head away from his chest and look up at him. He stares back at you and then winks at you before closing his eyes. You resettle yourself against his chest, doubting that sleep will come, but you find yourself drifting off as you listen to his breathing slow.

Want to find me off tumblr? I’m @beccatheycallme on twitter. I also post my stories on AO3.

My tag list is always open, just let me know if you’d like to be added!

#chris evans #theycallmebecca #beccaheartschrisevans #theycallmebeccawrites #chris evans fanfic #chris evans fanfiction #chris evans fan fiction #chris evans x reader #chris evans x you #chris evans x y/n #reader insert

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offtothepictures · 6 years ago

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chicago (2002)

chicago is the story of two murderesses (velma kelly and roxie hart) set in 20s chicago (duh). it’s a musical so bye everyone who just checked out!! the songs are sexy, smoky vintage jazz and the cast BANGS (auntie tanya from mamma mia anyone?) it’s funny and showy and bursting at the seams with glamour but most importantly it doesn’t take itself too seriously. also catherine zeta-jones got an oscar for this movie so if that doesn’t sell it to you i honestly don’t know what will

allow me to preface this review by saying: if you haven’t seen chicago yet, get in the bin

seriously go watch chicago

it will make you want to kill a man with a stiletto whilst dragging on a cigarette

okay now that we’ve got that out of the way, chicago:

can we PLEASE talk about how hot catherine zeta-jones is?? even with THAT haircut. she is the only person on god’s green earth who can pull that off

DOMINIC WEST I LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE PAINFULLY UNDER-UTILISED IN EVERYTHING (also in my head he is andrew scott’s husband and nothing can unravel that connection) (also side note could he not be dominic cooper’s dad. like they have the same face. and name. sorry distracted)

ahh. renee Zellweger. she’s cool! she’s fine! she’s bridget jones! she just…….. has a very tense face. are we meant to be rooting for her in this? because roxie is low-key a bitch.

‘and all that jazz’ is SUCH a banger. and is interestingly one of the two diegetic songs in the film (idk if we count ‘but I can’t do it alone’)

on that note, let’s talk about the film’s use of diegetic music! lindsay ellis did a really interesting video on diegesis in film so check that out for a MUCH better explanation but essentially, diegesis is anything that happens within the premise of the film (i.e. ‘and all that jazz’ actually is sung by velma kelly in the film at the club). on the other hand, non-diegetic music is any music that does not actually happen within the confines of the story. this is the default for music in film – most soundtracks are non-diegetic as there usually isn’t ACTUALLY a 50 piece orchestra sitting camera right (sorry, titanic).

chicago uses the theory of diegesis pretty uniquely, as most musicals do operate on a non-diegetic system (the musical numbers are usually metaphorical and don’t tend to require explanation within the film). by contrast, chicago does provide an explanation for the non-diegetic musical numbers: they’re happening in the protagonist’s head as her way of coping. this really WORKS because it not only makes the film both stand out and make more sense, but also adds another layer to roxie’s character and reaffirms her obsession and dreams of stardom. go movie.

john c. reilly is that dude that has been in every film under the sun and you still have no idea what his name is

okay let’s address the elephant in the room:

the SINGING

catherine is killing the damn game holy calzone triple threat who???? hot damn

renee zellweger! okay i see you girl! doing The Most™! we get it calm down you’ll pop a damn vein

queen Latifah could push me into a volcano chanting ancient cult hymns and I’d climb out again just to hear her finish that woman has a VOICE (also how gorgeous my lord she just glows)

richard gere is a sexy, sexy man. i don’t care what you say about his singing i’ll just stare at his face and pretend i can’t hear

who else sings um

oooh the CELL BLOCK TANGO

okay but like?? none of those characters ever come back again?

byeeeee

also 5 of them literally caught their husbands cheating or whatever and the first lady shot him twice for CHEWING GUM

like i get it’s annoying but overkill?

anyway I think between chicago and moulin rouge we’ve proved that every good movie needs a tango (honestly could have saved tlj don’t @ me :) rian johnson u listening?)

in ‘all I care about is love’ how does he get those boxers off in one swipe?? get u a man like that

remind me why billy took the case for less than half his asking price? what changed his mind?

i love the aesthetic of this film but i feel like they really could have pushed it further and made it sexier and smokier and glitzier soz

that LUCY LIU cameo yum

czj’s accent omfg she’s WELSH GUYS she’s actually magic

i actually really liked how every set looked like a set (let’s face it the prison looked as real as a £3 note) – it really tied in to the whole performance and entertainment and just general SHOW vibes of the film. good job

roxie u SNEAKY BINCH with that pregnancy story

‘we both reached for the gun’ is high key super creepy (giant puppeteer richard gere anyone) but such a cool concept

ohh that was a BOOB GRAB

RICHARD NO

... richard yes?

you know what’s sad? this film was nominated for thirteen oscars in 2002. it won six. including best picture. and you just KNOW that it wouldn’t even win like…… hair and makeup now. why do pictures have to be arty and subtle to win oscars?? like i get indies are often better quality and more original but you can still get amazing big budget studio movies. just a thought.

the closing number is an absolutely perfect ending for this film – it’s satisfying and slick and cut throat

anyway chicago is an absolute riot and makes for super fun viewing so I’m giving it:

8/10

(it was well made, good acting, fun story and just an absolute blast to watch and listen to!! loses points for not giving dominic west enough to do (your problem not mine) and for roxie being just the most annoying goddamn ‘’’’’protagonist’’’’’ ever)

SPOILERS (it won’t let me put two cuts ffs tumblr what are u doing)

can we please talk about the seismic tonal shift that was the execution of the innocent hungarian lady? it was an incredible sequence but felt really out of place and i wasn’t 100% sure why it stayed in? i guess it was to strike fear into the audience that that could happen to roxie buuuuuut…… let’s be real we couldn’t give a flying MONKEY’S about what happens to roxie (to quote demi: sorry not sorry)

#chicago #renee zellweger #catherine zeta jones #john c reilly #richard gere #dominic west #film review #long post #musical #chicago (2002)#dance #2002 #movie #film #critic

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equinoxparanormal · 7 years ago

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Map of the United Monsters of America

The natural world is losing up to 2,000 species a year, and that's a low estimate. Fortunately, one corner of the animal kingdom is immune from extinction: the monsters that thrive in our imagination. This map unites America's most famous cryptids on one map, from Caddy, a Northwestern sea serpent, over Nebraska's Alkali Lake monster to the skunk apes of Southern Florida.

There's a whole discipline dedicated to the study of beasts unknown to science: cryptozoology, literally 'the study of hidden animals'. Although frowned upon by mainstream science, some of these 'hidden animals' have actually been proven to exist. The giraffe-like okapi of Central Africa was confirmed only in 1901. Indonesia's komodo dragon seemed too fantastical to be true until 1912, when its existence finally could be documented. These two species share the questionable distinction of having their existence threatened (by us) so soon after being discovered (by us).

Until science discovers evidence for the Loch Ness monster, the Himalayan yeti or any of their fellow cryptids (i.e. 'hidden creatures'), these monsters will have the good fortune to be as uncountable as they are unaccounted for, free to roam and multiply in our campfire stories and our folklore. The United States has quite a few of these cryptids, some famous, like the Mothman or the Chupacabra, some perhaps only known (and feared) locally, like the Beast of Busco or the Pope Lick Monster.

As shown on the map, which brings them together for the first time, most cryptids are concentrated in the eastern third of the US. Perhaps not surprising: that's where most people live, thus presumable also an agreeable environment for monsters (as notable for their attention-seeking as for their camera-shyness). Further west, monsterdom is spread more thinly, with just 15 out of 32 cryptids mentioned on the map occurring in the two thirds of the land mass west of the Mississippi. So, which are America's favorite monsters?

1. Alkali Lake Monster

A 40-feet horned reptile said to inhabit Nebraska's Walgren Lake (formerly Alkali Lake). Favorite treat: livestock and fishermen. Stinks to high heaven. More at American Monsters.

2. Altamaha-Ha

A 30-foot creature navigating the mount of Georgia's Altamaha River with seal-like movements, blending in to its surroundings thanks to its green skin. A.k.a.: Altie. Possible footage of the monster here.

3. Bear Lake Monster

Although the person who first reported the Monster of Bear Lake, on the Utah-Idaho border, later admitted it was a “wonderful, first-class lie,” his tall tale has continued to generate numerous sightings, turning the 30-foot 'water devil' into a modest tourist attraction. More at American Folklore.

4. Beast of Busco

In 1949, inhabitants of Churubusco, Indiana reported seeing a giant snapping turtle which, despite a month-long turtle-hunt, managed to evade its pursuers. The town now boasts a statue of 'Oscar the Turtle', and annual Turtle Days, held in June. More at Unknown Explorers.

5. Bessie

Loch Ness has Nessie, Lake Erie has... Bessie. Snake-like and between 30 and 40 feet, Bessie was first sighted as far back as 1793. A.k.a.: South Bay Bessie. Has its own comic book series.

6. Bigfoot

Perhaps North America's most famous cryptid, this large, hairy ape-man is said to inhabit the forests of the Pacific Northwest. Bigfoot (a.k.a.: Sasquatch) has left an aptly large imprint on American popular culture, figuring in countless TV series, movies and even a musical. The famous picture, claimed by some to show a genuine Bigfoot, by others a man in a gorilla suit, can be seen here.

7. Big Bird

A giant, ape-faced bird that terrorized the Rio Grande Valley. First spotted in 1976, it has blood-red eyes and a 12-feet wingspan. After a few months, the monster disappeared as mysteriously as it had emerged. Could it have been a jabiru, a Central American stork, as claimed by the Brownsville Herald?

8. Caddie

Named after Cadboro Bay in British Colombia, Caddie is a sea monster said to frequent the coasts of Washington and Oregon. A.k.a.: Cadborosaurus willsi. More at The Cryptid Zoo.

9. Cassie

Maine and Oregon both have a Portland, and also a sea monster. The Pine Tree State's Casco Bay is home to Cassie. Sea serpents were reported in the area as early as 1751, but have tailed off in the last couple of decades, says Maine Mysteries.

10. Chessie

Chesapeake Bay has its own sea monster – unavoidably called Chessie. Reportedly 25 to 40 feet long, it was sighted most often between the mid-1970s and mid-1980s, and as recently as 2014. Ranked #8 scariest sea serpent by Animal Planet.

11. Champ

The champion among American lake monsters, Champ's habitat is Lake Champlain on the New York/Vermont border. As with many monsters, the numerous contemporary sightings are supported by Native American traditions – in this case, the local Abenaki tribe's stories about a creature called Tatoskok. Last year, the Daily Mail reported on audio recordings presented as evidence of Champ's existence.

12. Chupacabra

The original sighting of the Chupacabra (Spanish for 'goat-sucker') was in the mid-1990s in Puerto Rico, and apparently influenced by a creature in the sci-fi movie Species. A rash of sightings (and mutilated goats) in northern Mexico and the southern US has been linked to mangy dogs. Yet the legend lives on, reports the Huffington Post.

13. Flathead Lake Monster

The Flathead Lake Monster is that Montana Lake's version of Nessie. Strangely, nobody thought of calling it Flessie. More at NBC Montana.

14. Honey Island Swamp Monster

Seven feet tall, with gray hair, red eyes and a foul smell, the Monster of Honey Island Swamp, Louisiana is a hominid cryptid seen since 1963 (but also linked to older Native American myths).

16. Jersey Devil

Winged and hoofed, the Jersey Devil would probably look like a devil, if it could be coaxed out of its lair in New Jersey's Pine Barrens. More info (and t-shirts) here.

17. Kipsy

Or the Hudson River Monster. Could also be an unusually large (and very lost) manatee? See also Cryptid Wiki.

20. Loveland Frogmen

Humanoid frogs about 4 feet tall, first sighted in Loveland, Ohio, and from 2014 stars of their own musical, named Hot Damn! It's the Loveland Frog! More at Who Forted?

21. Mogollon Monster

A Bigfoot-like creature sighted along the Mogollon Rim in central and eastern Arizona. No attested sightings confirm its existence, but the monster does have its own website.

22. Mothman

'Couples See Man-Sized Bird...Creature...Something', titled the Point Pleasant Register on 16 November 1966. The sightings continued for just over a year, popularized by the book The Mothman Prophecies (1975), turned into a 2002 movie starring Richard Gere.

25. Paddler

Is Paddler a real monster in Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho, or is it just a cover story for secret Navy submarine tests? More on Cryptomundo.

26. Pukwudgie

A three-foot humanoid from Wampanoag (Massachusetts) folklore, with enlarged noses, fingers and ears, able to appear and disappear at will, transform into a porcupine, and lure humans to their deaths. Hence best left alone.

27. Pope Lick Monster

The Pope Lick Monster is part man, part bovine, lives under a railway bridge near Louisville, Kentucky, and kills people either by luring them onto the tracks, or jumping down on motorists beneath the bridge. Quite disappointingly, no actual popes were licked in the making of this urban legend. More at the Louisville Ghost Hunters Society.

28. Shunka Warakin

An Ioway term meaning 'carries off dogs,' the Shunka Warakin is said to resemble either a hyena or a wolf, or both. One such animal was shot and mounted in 1880s Montana, was displayed in a local store until it mysteriously vanished in the 1980s. 'Ringdocus,' as the animal was named, was found again in 2007, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

29. Skunk Apes

A.k.a. Florida Bigfoot, the skunk ape, according to the US National Park Service, does not exist. However, some mysterious photossent in by an anonymous source, seem to indicate otherwise.

30. Tessie

Another Nessie spin-off, Tessie swims in Lake Tahoe, on the California-Nevada border. After a few dives in the mid-1970s, famed French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau reportedly said: “The world isn’t ready for what is down there.”

31. Thunderbirds

Large bird-like creatures with enormous wingspans, associated with Native American myths, but sighted (and shot) in modern times; as in one famous (but apocryphal) case in the early 1980s. A picture of a dead thunderbird nailed to a barn in Arizona is one of the many cryptid clues that have 'mysteriously' gone missing. Or is this it?

32. Wampus Cat

A cougar-like cat stalking eastern Tennessee, not unlike the Eewah, a half-woman, half-cougar, from Cherokee mythology. Legend has it that when you hear the Wampus cry, someone will die within the next three days. The Wampus Cat also steals children, and smells awful. More here.

[Frank Jacobs, Big Think / Map by Hog Island Press]

#cryptids #cryptozoology #United States #paranormal #maps

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frangipanidownunder · 7 years ago

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4! Msr of course :)

Photo prompt of a luxurious shower. Post ep for Hollywood AD. Fluff and nonsense.FogFor every motel they’d stayed in, for every flat pillow,every lumpy mattress, every copper-stained sink, every dusty lampshade, she’dalways dreamed there’d be a pay-off. And Hollywood was certainly providingriches beyond her imagination. A luxurious hotel room with a walk-in shower andclaw-foot bath, a four-poster bed the size of her childhood bedroom dressedwith the silkiest sheets and the softest duvet. A pillow menu named afterfamous Hollywood icons. She had no doubt that Mulder had chosen an Elvis – deep, sensuous and slightly on the largerside.

She had hesitated over the MerylStreep – solid and reliable with theability to take you to unexpected places with its depth or the Marilyn – our sexiest pillow dressed in form-fittingwhite with a flair for the dramatic. In the end, she opted for one of each.

A coupleof drinks and the arrival of a plate of oysters had Mulder laughing at themovie now. He swallowed his humiliation with the champagne, he’d loosened histie and rediscovered his smile.

“It’llflop, Mulder. There’s no way anyone would part with their hard-earned cash towatch that garbage.”

Downingan oyster he shook his head. “People paid good money to watch Spice World,Scully.”

Shegiggled and pressed her hand over his. She loved this Mulder. Delivering hisglib one-liners. Relaxed and social. Happy. Looking hot helped too. Muldercould really rock a tux.

“Do you wantto go to the casino later, Mulder? I have a mean poker face.”

Helaughed. “Well, I know that.”

“But?”

“But I’dreally like to take you dancing.” His eyes fall to the plate of lobster infront of him and she could swear that he started to blush.

Shechuffed out a laugh. “Oh, Mulder. I can’t dance. You remember my singing? Well,my dancing is even more off pitch than that.”

Underthe table, his knee brushed hers and stayed there. “I liked your singing,Scully. Indulge me.”

Her feet buzzed and her neck ached from holding her hands upto dance with him. Not that she’d ever tell him. It had been such a blast towaltz and sway around the floor in his arms. He was more than competent and heled her in a way that meant she didn’t trip over his feet or miss her cues.

Sheslipped her shoes off on the way back and he looped his arm through hers.Alcohol softened the edges of everything and she hummed ‘I could have dancedall night’ as they strolled.

“Favouritemovie scenes, Scully? You clearly love the dance scene in My Fair Lady.”

“It’ssuch a classic trope, isn’t it? Two opposites eventually finding a way to worktogether.”

“A bitlike Han and Leia in A New Hope. Butwork, Scully? Is that what they were doing?”

Shelaughed. “I also love the scars scene in Jaws.”

Helooked down at her, mouth open is surprise. “Why have we never watched thismovie together? It’s up there with Planetof the Apes for me.”

“It’s aclassic take on working class toughness and the fight against a menace wherethe victims are universal. I particularly love the science versus spiritualismvs common man theme.”

They walkedon and he shook his head. “I just love the tension that carries the whole movie,Scully.”

He ordered brandy and they sat in a booth in the darker endof the hotel bar.

“Midnight Lace is an underrated classic thriller. Doris Day is wonderfulas the tormented heroine. The shower scene in Psycho, Rear Window. Any Hitchcock movie. It’s the suspense,Scully. It’s always about the painful anticipation.”

“The barn scene in Witness. Sam Cook singing Wonderful World,” she said. “It’s soromantic.”

“I seepattern emerging here, Scully. You and dance scenes.”

“Guiltyas charged, Mulder. And here I was imagining that you would be choosing all thebest sex scenes.”

He stretchedout and looked wounded. “Some things are best left to the imagination.”

“So nosteamy Richard Gere movies, then?”

“Nah,”he said, “although that shower scene in Breathlessis pretty hot.”

Shetucked a yawn into her fist and laughed to try to hide it. “And the night isyoung, Scully.”

Shechecked her watch. “It’s 3 o’clock in the morning.”

“Andwhat were you planning to do for the next three hours, Scully?”

Awellspring of arousal surfaced as he shucked off his jacket. She found herselfdraining the rest of her glass and reaching out for his hand. “Take advantageof the facilities in our rooms to reduce the painful tension?”

Steam fogged the glass panel as he lifted her onto the shelfthat ran around the middle of the shower space. Supporting herself against theside panel, her fingers pressed into the glass and left a pattern of prints inthe fog.

After,Mulder whispered sweet kisses across her face and turned to see the evidence.He laughed and reached out, drawing a heart and adding their initials eitherside.

“Bestshower scene, ever, Scully.”

#txf fanfic #my fanfiction #msr fanfic #prompt #post ep Hollywood AD

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suzannebyrne · 8 years ago

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How Sylvester Stallone’s Marriage to Jennifer Flavin Was Nearly Doomed by ... FedEx?!

Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin almost didn’t make it down the aisle. The Rocky star broke up with the model at one point via a six-page handwritten letter that he had delivered via FedEx. (Photo: Getty Images. Image: Imma Almourzaeva)

Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin mark their 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, May 17, but there was almost no wedding — and no Sophia, Sistine, or Scarlet (aka their model daughters).

Back in 1988, the Rocky star, then 42, had a chance meeting with the aspiring model, who was just 19, at a Beverly Hills, Calif., restaurant, and they started dating. Now, Sly wasn’t a choir boy — he was twice divorced with a roving eye — but a May-December romance was in full swing. Until it wasn’t.

Special delivery … not!

Fast-forward to March 11, 1994, when Flavin received a FedEx package with a “Dear Jennifer” letter in it. Instead of breaking up with her face-to-face — or even over the phone — the actor sent a six-page handwritten letter unceremoniously dumping her after more than five years together.

Yes, years before the rude Post-it parting, insensitive 27-second phone call castoff, or horrible text divorce, the two-time Academy Award nominee (and grown man!) dumped Flavin via overnight delivery. People magazine interviewed Flavin during the height of the drama, and she talked about receiving the sloppily written letter. “I cried a lot… You can’t just write somebody off in a letter after six years. It’s not like I was going to try to beg him to come back to me or anything. I just wanted to talk.”

Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin met in 1988 — and by 1991, they were hot and heavy. But his idea of committed was different from hers. (Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage)

However, Flavin’s interview got more interesting than talking courier companies. She went on to tell the mag what she later learned from her agent was the real reason behind Sly’s lazy breakup letter: Sly was having an affair with another model, Janice Dickinson, and she had given birth to a daughter, Savannah (Sly loves those S names), who was widely reported to be his. He wanted to be free to pursue that relationship. Flavin called the drama “every woman’s worst nightmare,” especially after Sly had recently gushed about her to the Toronto Sun, saying, “Jennifer has made all the difference” in his life.

For the record, Sly had also described his romance with Flavin in another interview as one with “no strings attached” — and Jennifer herself told Cosmopolitan, “I’m not naive about what may go on when I’m not around — he’s a 45-year-old man — I can’t change the way he is.”

Their year apart (whew!)

Now, we know that Sly and Jennifer ended up back together the following year and had a very happy ending, but his “lost weekend” — in between their March 1994 breakup and reunion in the summer of 1995 — was action-packed. For starters, whatever he had going on with Dickinson was over by July when DNA tests proved he was not the father of her baby. But there were other models for Sly to date — and he did, starting with Austrian model Andrea Wieser, 22. That was followed by a public war of words with Richard Gere, who accused Sly of romancing his then-wife, Cindy Crawford. (Yes, that Cindy.) Oh, and there was an engagement: After seeing Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Angie Everhart, then 25, on a magazine cover, he had his people call her people (as celebs do!), and they were betrothed by April 1995, but it obviously didn’t last. Yes, this all happened in just over a year.

Sly’s busy year apart from Jennifer Flavin (from March 1994 to the summer of 1995) included a brief engagement to Angie Everhart, who is pictured with the actor at a Planet Hollywood event in 1995. (Photo: Jim Smeal/WireImage)

Perhaps exhausted by his own shenanigans or realizing it was time to grow up, Stallone reconciled with Flavin in the summer of 1995. Suddenly a changed man — People magazine noted he had become an “impeccable” partner to Flavin — they quickly started their own family, welcoming daughter Sophia in 1996. When the baby needed heart surgery, they grew even closer.

Back together and going to the chapel

The pair decided to make things official on May 17, 1997, when they tied the knot in London — and it was a fancy affair. They first exchanged vows — with their healthy 9-month-old daughter in attendance — in the Penthouse Pavilion of the Dorchester Hotel.

Jennifer Flavin and Sylvester Stallone were married on May 17, 1997. (Photo: John Carter/Rex/Shutterstock)

A car then took them — with Jennifer rocking an Armani dress — 60 miles away to to Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, where their marriage was blessed in a chapel. They spent their first night as newlyweds at the palace before jetting off to Ireland for their honeymoon.

youtube

“I have had two great things happen to me in the past year: the birth of our beautiful daughter Sophia Rose, and now my marriage to Jennifer, who is a great mother and I know will be a wonderful wife,” Sly said in a statement.

Surrounded by women — and loving it

Scroll through Stallone’s Instagram and you’ll see that today he is a family man. Now 70, the star often documents the school pickups, sporting activities, and at-home silliness of the pair’s three girls, who all followed in mama’s footsteps and are models. (He lost a son from his first marriage, Sage, to heart disease in 2012, likely making him even more of a doting dad. He also has a son, Seargeoh, who is autistic, from that relationship.)

Sylvester Stallone and his ladies — Sistine Stallone, Scarlet Stallone, Sophia Stallone, and Jennifer Flavin — celebrating the girls’ Harper’s Bazaar cover on April 26. (Photo: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Harper’s Bazaar)

He opened up about his marriage in a 2010 interview with the Telegraph, saying that his family life and home are the opposite of his testosterone-heavy upbringing — and movies from Rocky to Rambo.

“Everything in the house is female. The toys, the housekeeper, all the dogs. The one dog I have that’s male is neutered. I’m next,” he joked. “But I’ve never had more fun. I learnt that from my wife… It took me 19 years to realize she’s always right. I realized that women have a knack, at least Jennifer, for making incredibly erudite, wise, smart decisions. I always leap without looking. She always looks and never leaps. She’s incredibly safe. So now finally, I say: ‘Honey, you make all the decisions. Done, done, done. I trust you.’ I never had that before. Ever.”

After the interviewer brought up some of his past relationships (including his brief marriage to second wife Brigitte Nielsen), Stallone shared his outlook on his life and love, saying, “I consider my life 10 percent on target, and 90 percent mistakes.” After a beat, he added, “But those 10 percent counted.”

And these past 20 years of marriage have counted too.

yahoo