#also the cameo from the MC of the silent patient made me roll my eyes so hard

[ijustreadthisbook]

The thing about Alex Michaelides is that he's not good enough to be Donna Tartt but not brave enough to be Campy Donna Tartt and so his books just leave you feeling confused.

[thearcana-junkie]

ALRIGHTY! @genderless-plant-likes-thearcana Requested this a long while back, and while i did in fact finish the request; an error or something happened and i lost all my progress. Thankfully SOME of it saved (Albeit i can’t access it) they were a complete doll and sent me screenshots of what saved so i could finish it!! I want to sensearily express my gratitude for them helping me and being so patient! Thank You! Now after SIX times of writing this for it to all get deleted for stupid reasons— ONE HEADCANON COMING UP!!!

Main Six With An MC Who Can Do Great Impressions

—Nadia—

It took her aback when she heard you do a snooty impression of the chamberlain. For two reasons— One; You ever normally remarked anyone or showed obvious anger or agitation towards someone. Two; You did a near perfect impression!

“Darling that’s amazing! Do it again for me? I do believe my ears are deceiving me.” Nadia hummed.

You blushed at her compliment but nonetheless granted her request. “Oh I’m the chamberlain!! Oh, countress Nadia!! There’s a disaster that requires your imidient attention during this very unconvient time!” You dramatically threw an arm across your face as you leaned back in you chair, only dilaing back the drama when you heard Nadia giggle from across the table. “I do see what you mean my dear.”

From then on you’d do dramatic impressions of anyone who interrupted the two of you durning the day once they left the room, if for nothing else to make Nadia smile throughout the day.

Then she got curious— Could you do an impression of her?? Of course you could, in fact it was even better then the others.

She thinks of your impressions as impressive party tricks.

—Julian—

Julian found out in a rather bizzar way.

He was trying to teach Malak how to say new phrases, of course the bird refused to cooperate with the doctor. Both of their paients running thin in the kitchen while you sat in the living room listening in. You had to admit in some cruel way it made you crack a smile.

“Malak, Please I’m begging you. SAY GOOD AFTERNOON!!”Julian yelled at the bird who was tossing his plastic toy cups off the counter into the floor. “NO!” Malak yelled back at Julian who yelled in frustration. Juan’s yelling just made Malak even for frustrated; “SaY GoOD AfTErNooN MaLAK!” Malak taunted Julian while he picked up the cups the raven had thrown about in his fury. “Oh har har, Is that supposed to be your impression of me? That’s pretty low even for someone as low to the ground as you.” Julian huffed. “I’M jULIan I’M DrmAtIc AnD NeEd AtTenTiOn!!” Malak squawked. “I do not sound like that!! Who taught you that anyway!?” Julian hissed in defense.

You had moved to stand in the kitchen to watch the circus not long before Malak started doing impressions of Julian. “(Y/n)!!!” Malak cawed cheekily. as quickly as you came in you were trying to discreetly return to the livingroom, until Julian glanced at you. “Hold it right there!” Julian called, when you turned you had the biggest shit-eating grin on your face. “Yesss?” You giggled. Julian crossed his arms and leaned against the counter, his eyebrow cocked up in a playful manner. “So— You do Impressions of me with Malak when I’m not around??” He questioned. “Mostly when I’m mad because your late for dinner— but yes. Yes i do.” You cheekily smirked. “Do it then.” Julian mused.

In a matter of moments you had your hands planted firmly on the counter behind him to pin him in, You were trying to reenact a very specific scene where the roles were reversed.

“Oh. If we had the time, the thing’s I would do... Who know’s if we’ll get another chance? I want it all now. Ugh, How I’d like to ravish you...”

You quoeted Julian in his voice— The same julian who was a blushing and laughing mess above you. You had to admit you had to cover your mouth to keep your giggle fit away. “When have I ever said that??! And i most certainly DON’T make that face.” Julian barked with laughter. You did dramatic exaggerate the face you remembered him making. “Oh no you deffinately did. remember, we were in the library and you shoved us into a sight corner because a bird scared you.” You recalled with a smile.

Julian’s face dropped to a smirk as he leaned in close. “What else have I said before?” He hummed.

Let’s just leave it at; Julian deffinelty enjoys it.

—Asra—

Asra remembered you used to do goofy impressions of people way before you ever died and lost your memories. In fact it was something you both used to do together; A customer with a dramatically-fancy hat would come in, or A very grumpy client would come in. Either way when they’d left you and Asra would crack jokes and do stupid impressions of the person. It made the day feel less long, after all everyone talked about people behind their back it was just a normal thing humans do.

But after you died and came back he had to teach you everything all over again— granted he’d forgotten about those happy moments in the shop mainly from the lack of it. That is until the day you once again started commenting on goofy people who’d just left the shop, then the bitter sweet memory of laughter and stupidly inaccurate impressions came flooding back to him.

He eventually got up he courage to ask if you could do impressions or if you remembered ever doing them with him. He knew it was a long shot since even though you got your memories back you’d told him before it was very fuzzy and had hardly any details before you died, but he couldn’t just not ask even if you didn’t remember and he’d just be hurting himself he wanted to at least have a solid answer so he wasn’t speculating. You knew the basics from before your death— You remember doing the impressions of people but not any specifics other than that.

“Could you try?” Asra asked softly. “I don’t know who I’d do an impression of.” You laughed nervously. “You could do me!” Asra seemed to solve all the problems you had.

After he gave you a line to say you granted his request if for nothing else then to smooth his aching heart, your aching heart.

Asra laughed. That was a good sign. He even cried a little, “It’s even better then i remember!! Fantastic!!” He smiled.

Now— Just like before, You and Asra do impressions of outrageous people who come into your shop throughout the day.

To say Asra was happy is a giant understatement. You could feel your shared heart lighten with happiness at the fact that though you cant remember everything, there’s still a chance things could be like how they were before you died.

—Muriel—

He caught you in the act.

He walked in on you talking to Inanna about something (He really wasn’t paying attention to what was being said) when you started answering yourself with a voice you used for Inanna— officially making it a two party conversation. Inanna didn’t seem to mind, in fact, she seemed pretty interested.

“...Inanna doesn’t sound like that...” You jumped out of your skin at Muriels sudden appearence. You figured he’d think you were crazy but instead he was more concerned with the face you got her impression wrong. “Well what does she sound like the? I can’t exactly hear her talk.” You hummed after a moment. Muriel thought for a silent second.

Both him and you sat there for almost 10 minutes, he tried his best to describe Inanna’s voice to you while you tried to copy what he meant. Eventually he was happy with the results.

Now that you had Inanna’s voice down to a T, you sat behind her and outstretched her arms to Muriel while waving them around. “GIB ME CHICKENNNN!” You whined in her voice. At the mention of food her tail wagged, selling it all the more. Muriel just rolled his eyes.

Suddenly you were behind him, his arms outstretched like with the wolf habeen before. “NO! YOU CAN NOT HAVE THE CHICKEN!!!” You mimicked Muriels voice so well his brain had to take a second to process that he himself wasn’t saying it but you instead. “Your pretty good at that...” Muriel said quietly.

He did think you were really good at it! But he had To ask you stop, it made him feel uncomfortable; Like a doll being voiced. After all impressions could be dangerous when you could make literally anyone say what you wanted them to.

This didn’t mean he didn’t like you doing them, The opposite, Muriel enjoys when you make Inanna talk, or tell a story about the day you spent with your friends and did impressions of them to quoet.

—Portia—

Portia LOVES doing impressions! She’s claimed the crown of the ‘Impression Queen.” Her’s are so good (So she says.)

Now its not secret that when Portia gets excited she tends to repeat herself or even forgets she told you something. So being told the same stories a hundred times is something your used to. Enjoy even! You remember every detail of every story she’s ever told you because she has told you so often.

One day she was telling you a story she had told you already 30 times in the past month so you knew the story fairly well. In fact she was coming up to your favorite part. “Oh! I remember— And then you said ‘Ilyushka you have less brain cells than a plank of wood with a face drawn on it by a child’s crayon.’” You said word for word what she had said that day while also dong an impression of her.

Portia stopped in her tracks. “OH MY GOD THATS SO ME!” She exclaimed

Now she brags on you to the staff and your officially known as the new “Impression King/Queen”

—Lucio—

Much like Julian, Lucio found out from his bird. “Oh I’M LUcIO AnD I hAve MorE ImPorTanT ThiNgS To DO ThEN HaVe DiNNer WiTh My PatNeR!!!” Cameo copied, “Who taught you to say such a thing!! Who dare imply i don’t love my belov—“

“(Y/N)!!!” Cameo Ratted.

well then.

Lucio confronted you in your bedroom in a slightly agitated way. “So a little birdie told me you do impressions of me.” He grumbled. “Once or twice, why?” You hummed as you remembered the latest; Lucio had canceled a dinner date you and him had set that morning to have late meetings with the courtiers. Of course you were mad and did an impression of him on the balcony to make yourself feel better before promptly going to bed without him. Apparently Cameo over heard.

You cleared your throat. “Oh I’m lucio and I have more important things to do then have dinner with my partner, like galavant around with an alcoholic and his minions.” You huffed out in Lucio’s voice while finishing what Cameo had not. Lucio couldn’t decide if he should be mad or impressed. He chose the latter.

“Do another one!” He smiled, you rolled you eyes and continued on doing impressions of him and the courtiers.

Now whenever there’s some party, he pulls you out to do Impressions as a party trick. It’s become very popular AND you get to let out some of your anger by making people sound stupid.

He also doesn’t skip dinner dates anymore, if he has meetings he simply tells them he cant make it. Your the most important thing to him— Plus the thought of you being able to use his voice against him keeps him in his place.

[the-nazario-chug]

The Shallow

Author's Note: Hope you guys enjoy this! I've been wanting to make a Raleigh fic forever lol I'm actually really proud how this turned out, which does not happen often.

Summary: Leraine Young, AKA Raine, has returned to the Madison Square Garden. This time not as the opening act, but the act. However, her notorious fake-ex crashes the party (in the best way).

Pairing: Raleigh Carrera (M) x MC (Leraine Young)

Word Count: +2,100

Disclaimer: Pixelberry owns Platinum and Raleigh Carrera. A Star Is Born and all the rights belong to Warner Bros. Pictures.

The energy of the concert hall is on fire. When a crowd of twenty thousand people is stomping their feet and chanting her name like she just won the world series, it's hard not to get nervous. And excited. Also nauseous.

With that in mind, she should try not to puke on stage in front of thousands of her fans, a jumbo-tron, and just about the entirety of the American press.

So no pressure, as usual.

Raine! Raine! Raine! Raine!

Needless to say Zadie and her team had gone all out for this show. Raine is all dolled up in a gorgeous purple and blue gradient leotard, covered in sparkling rhinestones and flashy tassels, complemented with rhinestone fringe ankle-boots. Her black wavy hair dyed with a dark red ombre and her makeup neutral with a dark lip (though with a sprinkling of blue eye-shadow glitter). She's clutching Raleigh's guitar which he had given to her the day they met, something she now considers her good-luck charm when the man himself isn't present. (it also goes well with her outfit, which is a plus.)

Speaking of her handsome as sin, totally not fake ex-boyfriend, he did say he'd be here to send her off tonight. Raine's seen hide nor hair of him, but she didn't want to take it personally. If he’s busy she knew they could meet up later and celebrate. Unfortunately, it is a sacrifice commonly made in their line of work, so they both tried their damnedest to not let it get between them.

As Raine tries to sneak a peek through the curtains, she feels a tap on her shoulder and turns (definitely hoping for it to be Raleigh) to see Fiona grinning at her. Looking suspiciously like the cat that just caught the canary.

"There's been a change of plans. Open with your rendition of 'Shallow' from A Star Is Born. It'll be our little announcement for your cameo in the movie."

This is a little odd, it wasn't often Fiona changed plans last minute. It didn't really make sense how eager her manager looked either as she was hardly easy to please.

It also happened that song was supposed to be a duet.

Though as the cheers rose to a roar, the thought was swept from Raine's mind. It wasn't so unusual to go solo for a duet, and she has a long performance to ready herself for. So, she takes deep breaths as Fiona gives her a thumbs up and hurries off to the wings.

Despite the cacophony out on the stage, Raine can still hear the echo of her heels beat in sync with her thumping heart. And when she grins wide and gives a cheery wave, they become even louder than she thought possible. Raine laughs in delight.

The lights blare down and she can hardly see a face in the stadium.

"What's up MSG! How are we feeling tonight?" Raine yelled into her microphone as she yanked it from the stand, and turned it to the screams from the audience.

"I'm thrilled to be here for all of you. I know you're as hyped as I am for the new movie 'A Star Is Born' coming out this fall. So tonight I'm happy to start off with the premiere hit 'Shallow' as the cherry on the cake! I hope you all enjoy!"

In the excitement, Raine adjusts her guitar and readies herself to strum the melody. A lilting acoustic intro filters through the speakers.

Only thing is, Raine hadn't started playing yet.

Her chest constricts as the cheers rise again in intensity. In the din, Raine can hear footsteps against the floor of the stage, and when she turns she can't hide the way her jaw drops.

"Tell me somethin' girl,"

Raleigh is sauntering towards her, all bow-legged swagger and strumming his own guitar. He doesn't even bother to keep that cocky smirk off his face 'cause he knows he got her good.

"Are you happy in this modern world? 

Or do you need more?"

Looking up at her through his lashes, eyes bright and his hair tousled to perfection. He's wearing a tank top with a suspiciously familiar rhinestone design and how dare you level tight denim jeans. Suddenly her heart is racing for an entirely different reason than just the thrill of performing. This had been planned since the start and she was none the wiser. Last minute change of plans, her ass.

Raine decides not to bother getting lost in all the details though. Any surprise that includes her man serenading her while looking fine as hell, she isn't going to complain about.

"Is there somethin' else you're searchin' for? 

I'm fallin'"

He was close now, real close. The soft timbre of his voice rolling over her in waves, tempting Raine to close her eyes and appreciate the soothing tones. The only thing stopping her is Raleigh's eyes, piercing hers with an intense honesty and longing she had only recently gotten to see in earnest. A gaze she was starting to adore. Her own stare, meanwhile, wanders down to his arms that are looking too good in that top, the muscles tensing with a light sheen of sweat reflected from the packed stadium and lights. She'd be embarrassed from her ogling, if his survey of her in return wasn't as shameless.

And as sure as Raine is that they are not supposed to be seen together like this in public, she should have guessed that Raleigh would be this ostentatious while breaking that rule.

"In all the good times I find myself longin',

For change,

And in the bad times I fear myself."

While Raleigh continued plucking the instrumental, Raine finally registered some fans talking in her periphery.

"Oh my god, didn't they break up?"

"He's trying to win her over! That's so romantic!"

"They still look so good together, are they gonna start dating again?"

Taking another breath in, Raine knows her part was coming up. So she gives into her temptation and takes a step closer to him. Close enough that she can feel the heat of his breath against her cheek. She raises the mic between them.

"Tell me somethin' boy,

Are you tired of tryin' to fill that void?

Or do you need more?

Ain't it hard keepin' it so hardcore?"

Filling the space between them with her voice, she thought about how fitting this is for them. Though she didn't doubt it was intentional. Now she understood why Fiona would have this change of heart, allowing them to be seen like this. It was as dramatic as their faux break-up for sure. Generating hype for her upcoming cameo and therefore, her royalties.

But Raine didn't care about that. All she cares about is the man in front of her. The spotlight is shining a halo around his perfect-messy hair, and she finds herself wanting to run her fingers through it. For a brief moment, she wonders if her urge would give their game away somehow. (Not that she already had with that lean in.)

Screw it. Raleigh can surprise Raine at her own concert, she's allowed to have some surprises up her rhinestone encrusted sleeves too.

"I'm fallin'," As Raine continues the chorus, she reaches up strokes her free hand through his dark locks. She holds in her own giddiness while Raine swears she can hear squeals erupt from the crowd, but Raleigh is all she wants to keep her attention on. A surge of satisfaction and affection grows in her chest when she sees the shivers that course through him, and how his eyelids flutter in pleasure. The almost inaudible rumble from Raleigh's chest that she can feel from their short distance apart. Pride that she's the one who can do this to him.

"In all the good times I find myself lo-ongin'

For change," Her hand drifts from his hair to his ear, and cheek. Restraining a shiver of her own as her thumb rubs the stubble along his jawline, then glides to his mouth and grazes his bottom lip. Raleigh's eyes are dark and the electricity of the connection between them sparks with vigor. God, she wants to kiss this man already.

All good things to those who wait, she decides, especially when Raleigh Carrera is concerned.

"And in the bad times, I fear myself-"

Her voice echoes throughout the Garden, and as Raine reaches up again to brush a stray lock of hair from his brow, it feels like they're the only two in the world. In the silence of thousands holding their breath, and the air crackling with unspoken tension, she's never felt so connected to a single person.

In that moment they both grin, their hearts zinging with that knowledge. Raine tilts her head back slightly and serenades the hell out of her beau. When her belting voice reverberates, the tension cracks and their fans cheer unabashed again.

"I'm off the deep end, watch as I dive in

I'll never meet the ground!

Crash the surface, where they can't hurt us, we're far from the shallow now."

High off the thrill of the stage, and each other, Raine and Raleigh lean closer and sing together. Practically nose to nose, Raine can hear the cheeky intrusive thought in the back of her mind that he is so it for her, now.

"We're far from the shallow now…"

As the crowd's cheers reach their peak again, they both stay in each others space. For a second it feels like they're in their own little bubble again, like no one could hear them.

Until Raleigh mutters something that is very much heard by everyone.

"Be my girl, Leraine."

Raine's eyes dart to his, to find him already looking up at her with a soft smile.

"Raleigh… ?" Right now that's all she can squeak out, she knows he's aware how close the mic is to their faces. And their audience is almost unnervingly silent. Raine supposed some part of her knew they'd get back together in public after the concert but she wasn't expecting it to be so quick.

He smiles patiently, and steps back before going down on one knee. Thousands of voices gasp and mutter amongst themselves. But Raleigh's only looking at her.

"I know I messed up big time, and I didn't realize it until it was too late. I never meant to hurt you. And I never expected how much that would hurt me. 'Cause you make me want something real, Leraine. You make me want to be real. What's between us is like nothing I've ever known before, and I was an idiot for not seeing that sooner. Do you wanna give this another chance?" Raleigh's voice is soft but sure, like he's been waiting to let all of that out forever.

Some of it is for show, Raine isn't naive enough to think otherwise. So no one suspects their first go around was fake. But what Raine does know is his feelings are real and just for her. What the public knew didn't matter as long as she had Raleigh Carrera in her life.

Pulse hammering, Raine smiles and whispers into the world.

"Yeah, I'd honestly love that."

Raleigh grins and surges up to meet her, and all of the sudden he's holding and kissing her finally without anymore waiting necessary. And all she can think is woah. Their guitars and the microphone who knows where now. Hopefully not smashed on the ground.

Still, she doesn't regret what just happened in the slightest.

In the elated screaming around them, Raleigh mutters against her lips, "I'm totally gonna spin you."

"What? You are not-!"

He's got that shit eating grin on that she knows means, I've got a great idea everyone else knows is bad but none of you can stop me.

"Yup, I'm doing it. This is happening."

"Raleigh, no it's-!! Auh!"

Even with her protests, she's still laughing when Raleigh lifts her by her thighs and spins her on the stage. Much to the delight of everyone in attendance.

When they're both out of breath and Raleigh's put her back in his arms, the words he whispers in her ear Raine knows are meant for her alone.

"I'm glad I've got you keeping me honest, love."

Lights flash around them as he keeps holding her close, no doubt the paparazzi and fans alike capturing every moment. And just like the song from their impromptu duet Raine can see with clarity how crazy her life has now become. How deep they both are in this sea of stardom.

Well, so long as Raleigh’s there with her, she can’t bring herself to mind.