#and also vanessa doesn’t start for the girls she’s gonna run third??

[booksanxietyandsports]

sorry WHAT

[papermoonloveslucy]

THE WILLS

March 19, 1950

“The Wills” (aka “The Coopers Make Their Wills”) is episode #80 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on March 19, 1950.

Synopsis ~  After Liz and George make out their wills, Liz is convinced that George intends to do away with her. Liz is startled to find a receipt for some arsenic and rope in his pocket, but is shocked when George suggests a trip to the country - with a one-way ticket for Liz!

Starting with this episode, “My Favorite Husband” moved from Thursday nights, to Sunday nights. 

Note: This program was used as a basis for a scene in “I Love Lucy” episode “Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying to Murder Her” (ILL S1;E4) filmed on September 8, 1951 and first aired November 5, 1951. For various reasons, it was the first episode of the series filmed, but the fourth aired. 

“My Favorite Husband” was based on the novels Mr. and Mrs. Cugat, the Record of a Happy Marriage (1940) and Outside Eden (1945) by Isabel Scott Rorick, which had previously been adapted into the film Are Husbands Necessary? (1942). “My Favorite Husband” was first broadcast as a one-time special on July 5, 1948. Lucille Ball and Lee Bowman played the characters of Liz and George Cugat, and a positive response to this broadcast convinced CBS to launch “My Favorite Husband” as a series. Bowman was not available Richard Denning was cast as George. On January 7, 1949, confusion with bandleader Xavier Cugat prompted a name change to Cooper. On this same episode Jell-O became its sponsor. A total of 124 episodes of the program aired from July 23, 1948 through March 31, 1951. After about ten episodes had been written, writers Fox and Davenport departed and three new writers took over – Bob Carroll, Jr., Madelyn Pugh, and head writer/producer Jess Oppenheimer. In March 1949 Gale Gordon took over the existing role of George’s boss, Rudolph Atterbury, and Bea Benadaret was added as his wife, Iris. CBS brought “My Favorite Husband” to television in 1953, starring Joan Caulfield and Barry Nelson as Liz and George Cooper. The television version ran two-and-a-half seasons, from September 1953 through December 1955, running concurrently with “I Love Lucy.” It was produced live at CBS Television City for most of its run, until switching to film for a truncated third season filmed (ironically) at Desilu and recasting Liz Cooper with Vanessa Brown.

MAIN CAST

Lucille Ball (Liz Cooper) was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her screen career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the B’s’ due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. With Richard Denning, she starred in a radio program titled “My Favorite Husband” which eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,” a television situation comedy in which she co-starred with her real-life husband, Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was phenomenally successful, allowing the couple to purchase what was once RKO Studios, re-naming it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960 (in an hour-long format known as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu financially solvent, Lucy returned to the sitcom format with “The Lucy Show,” which lasted six seasons. She followed that with a similar sitcom “Here’s Lucy” co-starring with her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined the cast of “The Lucy Show” during season two. Before her death in 1989, Lucy made one more attempt at a sitcom with “Life With Lucy,” also with Gordon.

Richard Denning (George Cooper) was born Louis Albert Heindrich Denninger Jr., in Poughkeepsie, New York. When he was 18 months old, his family moved to Los Angeles. Plans called for him to take over his father’s garment manufacturing business, but he developed an interest in acting. Denning enlisted in the US Navy during World War II. He is best known for his  roles in various science fiction and horror films of the 1950s. Although he teamed with Lucille Ball on radio in “My Favorite Husband,” the two never acted together on screen. While “I Love Lucy” was on the air, he was seen on another CBS TV series, “Mr. & Mrs. North.” From 1968 to 1980 he played the Governor on “Hawaii 5-0″, his final role. He died in 1998 at age 84.

Gale Gordon (Rudolph Atterbury) had worked with Lucille Ball on “The Wonder Show” on radio in 1938. One of the front-runners to play Fred Mertz on “I Love Lucy,” he eventually played Alvin Littlefield, owner of the Tropicana, during two episodes in 1952. After playing a Judge in an episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in 1958, he would re-team with Lucy for all of her subsequent series’: as Theodore J. Mooney in ”The Lucy Show”; as Harrison Otis Carter in “Here’s Lucy”; and as Curtis McGibbon on “Life with Lucy.” Gordon died in 1995 at the age of 89.

Bea Benadaret (Iris Atterbury) does not appear in this episode. 

Ruth Perrott (Katie, the Maid) was also later seen on “I Love Lucy.” She first played Mrs. Pomerantz (above right), a member of the surprise investigating committee for the Society Matrons League in “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25), as one of the member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League in “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3), and also played a nurse when “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16). She died in 1996 at the age of 96.

Bob LeMond (Announcer) also served as the announcer for the pilot episode of “I Love Lucy”. When the long-lost pilot was finally discovered in 1990, a few moments of the opening narration were damaged and lost, so LeMond – fifty years later – recreated the narration for the CBS special and subsequent DVD release.

GUEST CAST

Herb Vigran (Doctor Stephens) made several appearances on “My Favorite Husband.” He would later play Jule, Ricky’s music union agent on two episodes of “I Love Lucy”. He would go on to play Joe (and Mrs. Trumbull’s nephew), the washing machine repairman in “Never Do Business With Friends” (S2;E31) and Al Sparks, the publicity man who hires Lucy and Ethel to play Martians on top of the Empire State Building in “Lucy is Envious” (S3;E23). Of his 350 screen roles, he also made six appearances on “The Lucy Show.”

EPISODE

ANNOUNCER: “As we look in on the Coopers tonight, it's just after dinner, and we find Liz and George settling down to a normal evening's conversation.”  

George has something he needs to talk to Liz about. Liz immediately thinks it is something to do with her household budget, but George wants to talk about their wills. The subject immediately upsets Liz. The idea of living without George sends Liz into gales of tears. George wants her to read it, and threatens to leave everything to his mother if she doesn’t. Liz snatches the will from him. George then tells her that he has had her will drawn up as well. 

LIZ: “What for? You're the one who's going! What are you trying to do, push me ahead of you in line?”

George reminds her of the three acres of Florida beachfront property that her father left her, which she calls ‘Sunken Acres.’  George always assumed it was oil land. 

LIZ: “If there's any oil down there, it's still in a whale. Oh! I see it all now, George! You want me to sign a will leaving everything to you, and then you'll bump me off! You want to get your dirty fishhooks on my oil holdings!

Liz agrees to read and sign the will as the scene fades out.  At the bank the next day, Mr. Atterbury notices that George seems tired. George admits he was up late talking to Liz about their wills. Mr. Atterbury proposes that the Coopers join him and Iris at their mountain lodge for the weekend, flying up, and then leaving the girls there for the week while they fly back for work. The following weekend they will drive up to get them in Mr. Atterbury’s new car. 

Mr. Atterbury has already bought the airline tickets and asks George to go to the hardware store for a few items. 

MR. ATTERBERRY: “I need poison for those horrible little gophers up there. And some rope for a clothesline, and a couple of sacks of cement. Iris wants a patio so she can sunbathe. Come to think of it, that ought to keep the gophers away.” GEORGE:  “Let me make a list on the back of this envelope. Now, poison, ropes, cement...” MR. ATTERBERRY: “Oh, and I need an axe, too.”

Mr. Atterbury tells George that they should tell their wives that they are just going for a weekend, so that they don’t rush out to buy a week’s worth of new clothes.

At the Cooper home, Katie the Maid is preparing dinner. George comes home and tells Liz the good news that they’ll be going to the Atterbury’s lodge this weekend, and he’s got the airline tickets in his pocket. As George goes upstairs to prepare for dinner, Katie reminds Liz that she has a beauty shop appointment on Saturday. Liz wonders what time the plane leaves, and fishes in George’s jacket pocket to check the tickets. She notices that one tickets is round trip, and the other is one way!   Liz immediately assumes one of them isn’t coming back, and reminds Katie that George asked her to sign her will!  She notices some writing on the envelope that looks like a shopping list.

LIZ: “Poison! He's going to take me out in the woods and poison me! Look, at the next item - rope. If the poison doesn't work, he's gonna hang me! Cement. If I live through the poison and the rope, he's gonna put my feet in cement and dump me in the lake! Look what's next - axe! If I able to hold my breath, he's gonna swim in the water and chop me to pieces!” KATIE: “Oh, how can Mr. Cooper do such a thing?” LIZ: “With that list of weapons, how can he miss?“

Liz realizes why George might want to do away with her - they’ve finally struck oil on Sunken Acres!

End of Part One

Announcer Bob LeMond reads a live Jell-O commercial. 

ANNOUNCCER: “As we return to the Coopers, we find Liz in a state of nervous apprehension. After years of having George under her thumb, she's suddenly discovered that he's bout to put the finger on her. Or at least she thinks he is. But right now it's after dinner, and Liz, the intended victim, is in the living room, reading. While George, the killer, is slowly stalking up behind her.”

George kisses Liz on the back of the neck. She screams!  Liz nervously says that she’d rather not go to the Atterbury’s lodge this weekend. 

GEORGE: “What? Why, Liz, you love the lodge. You always say that's your idea of living.”  LIZ: “Well, I want to keep it that way.”

George says that he has a big surprise for her up there. Liz suggests he take his mother and give HER the big surprise!

GEORGE: “Now, don't be silly! You just wait: When you wake up Monday morning, you'll be very pleasantly surprised.”  LIZ: “If I wake up Monday morning, I'll be surprised.”

Liz wonders if George is having money problems. She asks him why he made her sign her will last night. George says that if it bothers her so much, he’ll tear it up - as soon as they get back from the lodge. 

Liz runs to her bedroom and locks the door! George telephones Dr. Stephens (Herb Vigran) to report that Liz is acting peculiar. 

DOCTOR: “Peculiar for Liz, or peculiar for normal people?”

RICKY RICARDO: “Lucy is acting crazy!” FRED MERTZ: “Crazy for Lucy or crazy for ordinary people?”

This joke was adapted for Lucy Ricardo in “Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying To Do Murder Her” with Fred Mertz taking the Doctor’s line. 

Doctor Stephens cannot make a house call because he’s got an appointment with his psychoanalyst, but he tells George to give Liz a sedative until he can get there. 

Liz comes in for a glass of water. George tells her that he’s had Katie prepare them some hot milk. In the kitchen, Katie tells Liz that she saw Mr. Cooper pour a powder into one of the glasses. Liz says she’ll just switch the glasses so that George drinks the one with the powder in it. 

In the living room she distracts George just long enough to switch the glasses. But when George lifts his glass to drink, Liz dashes it from his hand. She says she couldn’t do it to him, even if he could do it to her. 

LIZ: “You put something in my glass, didn't you, George? Well, I fooled you! I switched glasses!”  GEORGE: “I had a hunch that's why Katie called you, so I switched them again while you were out of the room.”

Liz starts to gag as if she’s been poisoned! Liz falls to the floor, convinced she is going to die, trying to make peace with George in her final moments.

LIZ: “If I had my life to live over again, I want you to know I'd do better. I could stay within the budget, if I tried. (coughs) And I'd never buy clothes I need. (coughs) I'd throw away my charge-a-plate.”

The doorbell rings. It is Mr. Atterbury, come to make the ‘final arrangements.’  Liz tells George that she saw the one way ticket, and the shopping list for poison and the axe.  The men dissolve in laughter.  Mr. Atterbury explains that those were supplies for the lodge.  Liz is angry that she’s been tricked, and refuses to keep the promises she made in her ‘final moments’.

LIZ: "I didn't know what I was saying! I was under the influence of warm milk!”

End of Episode

In the live Jell-O commercial, Lucille Ball plays a Mexican spy, and Bob LeMond is interviewing her for a job. 

In the bedtime tag, it is five in the morning and George is reading a suspenseful magazine story. Liz begs him to turn out the light, but then can’t sleep until he knows the outcome of the story. Liz grabs the magazine and reads the last lines.

LIZ: “The huge, shapeless thing crept slowly up behind Mildred, and before she could scream it slipped its bony hands around her - Oh, no!!!” GEORGE: “What does it say, Liz? Around her what?” LIZ: “Around her continued next week! Good night!”

ANNOUNCER: “You have been listening to ‘My Favorite Husband’ starring Lucille Ball, with Richard Denning, and based on characters created by Isobel Scott Rorick. Tonight's transcribed program was produced and directed by Jess Oppenheimer, who wrote the script with Madelyn Pugh and Bob Carroll, Jr. Be sure to get the April Issue of ‘Radio Mirror Magazine’ with the big picture of Lucille Ball on the cover. That's the April issue of ‘Radio Mirror Magazine.’ Original music was composed by Marlin Skyles and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. Bob LeMond speaking.”

[arsenicpanda]

Riverdale for the ask meme!

Ok, the Top Five Favorite Characters meme, coming right up!  You know, this is getting increasingly hard to answer because I’m bad at ranking things, although the top two remain consistent.  Still, let’s jam!

5. Gladys Jones: I love Gladys.  I never thought I would at first because she makes such a bad impression in season 1 and then the complete absence of her when Jughead almost dies left a bad taste in my mouth.  I thought it would be impossible for Riverdale to make me like her, but damn is she charming.  And the second she was like, “Ok, Penny, you cut out my kid’s eye, which means it’s Vengeance O’Clock, get ready,” in a way that was such a great parallel to Jughead’s scene with Penny in 2x09, she just completely won me over.  Of the shady parents, she is definitely my favorite as someone who is clearly Trying at this parenting thing but also failing miserably on like every level.  Also, Jughead is so, so clearly his mother’s son, and I just love their similarities in mentalities and the way they go about things.  And she’s also such a delight to watch, just played absolutely perfectly.  The way she’s such a bad mother but also clearly loves her kids and will fight tooth and nail for them is just so goddamn interesting, she absolutely fascinates me.  Please bring her back in season 5, I want more Gladys.

4. Toni Topaz: Ok, so this is kind of cheating because I’m more talking about Toni as we knew her in season 2 and a little 3a, y’know before she became just a side character to Cheryl, and just as a concept.  Which isn’t fair in terms of ranking, but damn if Toni isn’t interesting in concept.  Her clear and easy bond with Jughead is so interesting because neither of them seem like the type to make friends easily, and yet they were both like, “Ah, someone like me.”  Toni is great as a character who doesn’t take shit from anyone, even her friends (excepting Cheryl, which does and does not work for me depending on the scene), and watching her with Jughead, a character who is also done with everyone’s shit (excepting Betty) but also so full of it himself and indulged by most of his friends (I say that with love), is so fun.  Like, I really wanted to see more of that and more of her friendship with Sweet Pea and Fangs, just more found family, please.  And she wanted to do well in school and get out of Riverdale and I would like more of that!  And also I would love to watch her get to know Betty, just watch this person who clearly hates people wearing masks of any kind get to know this person who is so used to using her masks would be so interesting.  And her brief friendship with Veronica!  I would like to know about that as well.  Vanessa Morgan also just brings a great attitude to Toni that is so entertaining to watch.  So yes, I love Toni, she entertains me greatly when she’s actually allowed to, and I would like more of watching her interact with prominent characters other than Cheryl again.

3. Donna Sweett: My vengeance quest queen, how I love her.  Donna is so conniving and clever and cutthroat, and she’s just amazing.  She has a Mission and a Plan, and it is a very long, very complicated plan (one might even say overly complicated), and I loved watching it.  God, watching her interact with Bret was the best, the way she just shut his shit down and commanded absolutely everything was a delight.  And her position as Betty’s nemesis was the greatest, like what any amazing foe for Betty, just two women on clear missions and elaborate vengeance quests.  And she got away!  I’m so glad she got away, even if she didn’t get everything she wanted.  Please bring her back with another elaborate scheme or as an unexpected and untrustworthy ally, I miss her.

2. Betty Cooper: Best girl, hands down.  Betty is the kind of ruthless, intense lady with a heart of gold and a sweet smile that I’ve been waiting for.  She seems so nice--and is nice, although not as much as she is polite--but has such great hidden depths.  I love watching her journey from someone who is trying so hard to fit into a box to someone who is like, “Yeah, this is who I am,” excepting her worries about her Darkness, although I really want to see her accept that part of herself.  I mean, she accepts that she’s ruthless in her methods socially, but she gets skittish when she gets tempted toward violence, and I find that such an interesting, fine line.  I suppose it’s more a matter of control though; when she gets angry in a fiery, violent way, she gets out of hand, as opposed to her cold fury, which she has complete control over.  Betty has serious anger issues, especially in the beginning when she seems unable to accept that she can get angry, and I love watching her learn to embrace her anger in a way she can control.  Is she still the sweetest to the people she cares about?  Absolutely yes.  Would she completely ruin the lives of anyone who went after those people, especially Jughead?  Also absolutely yes.  Which is so interesting to see in a female character who isn’t also a villain.  Like, she is effectively our real protagonist, occasionally sharing that title with Jughead (I know the show seems to want the protagonist to be Archie, but like...the main plot always goes to Betty, Jughead, or both, and when Betty’s plot is more to the side, it’s given a lot of weight).  Betty is interesting and different, and oh, how I love interesting and different.  I’m so glad she gets as much screentime as she does, although I wish that came with less suffering.

1. Jughead Jones: Best boy, no questions asked.  I love this loner weirdo outsider who just desperately, desperately wants a family, and watching him accept that part of himself has been very interesting for me.  Jughead cares about things very deeply, although he’s also picky about what those things are, and I just love watching him care, whether it’s about people, his community, or Truth in the broader sense.  And once he sets his eyes on something, he, like Betty, is like a dog with a bone, just completely relentless, and I find that so endearing.  Just look at him try to save the Southside and Riverdale!  Watch him try and help Betty find her sister!  See him try to succeed at Stonewall and reclaim his family legacy!  Observe as he tries to solve this great mystery of the Gargoyle King and G&G and all those Shenanigans!  He’s great, I love him.  Jughead is a delight because he has an outer layer of grumpity grump, and then an inner layer of sweetheart, with an undercurrent of crazy person.  I don’t know if I would call Jughead a good person, but he certainly is a caring person.  Also, he’s just absolutely insufferable in the best way, I love him.  I’m so glad that he, like Betty, gets so much focus, although I’m not psyched about the complete downturn in fortune that’s coming with season 5.  Like, he started the show with absolutely nothing--homeless, on the outs with his best friend, his dad drunk, his mom and sister gone, just alone--and now he has come so far--he has a home he shares with the love of his life, he has multiple friends, his sister is home, his dad seems to be on the wagon (I think?  It’s unclear, I think they often forget FP is an alcoholic), he knows his mom loves him even if she has to be on the run or something, and he even has a future outside of Riverdale.  And he’s about to lose a chunk of that and also seem to be in a pretty sorry state, and like...that is a bummer, my friends.  I just want good things for him, y’know?  Still, I assume he’ll start to rebuild his life, but like...it’s gonna be rough to watch him start from the bottom again.  But yeah, I love him and his complexity and also his relationship with Betty and his family and the Serpents and just--I just love him, he’s my third all-time favorite character.

[artificialqueens]

nobody knows where we might end up, chapter fourteen (branjie) - holtzmanns

(read on ao3) | (tumblr: plastiquetiaras) | word count: 4534

AN: Thank you so, so much for the continued wonderful feedback on this fic. I appreciate every single comment so much, they all make my heart so happy. Writ continues to be the most wonderful beta <3

(then)

Dear Miss Hytes,

We are delighted to inform you that you have been accepted to the MD program at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine. In this package, you will find information concerning next steps to take should you accept the offer. We look forward to seeing you in September.

Brooke’s done it.

Gotten into U of T for med school, something that she’s always wanted. On third year entry, so she gets to start a whole year early.

So why isn’t she happy about it?

She flips through the package with shaky hands, flitting her gaze between the papers and the small envelope that is addressed to Vanessa, sitting on the counter. She bites her lip.

It’s unfair. Out of the five schools that she’s applied to, she’s gotten into three, waitlisted at one, and rejected from one. Vanessa’s been waitlisted at two, rejected from two, and the thin envelope on the counter from UofT does not look promising by any means.

Brooke doesn’t get it. They’ve both worked their asses off, gotten similar grades, similar experience. They helped each other edit their personal statements and practiced for their interviews together. Why have they gotten completely different answers from the same schools?  

It feels like some sort of cosmic sick joke, the universe trying to separate them after being able to tell how bad both of them want this.

Brooke’s afraid that it’s going to drive them apart, because how are they supposed to get through this? She doesn’t want to see Vanessa’s reaction to the envelope, she can’t, because it’s the final nail in the coffin, proclaiming that Brooke can go to med school but Vanessa has to be left behind for her to do so.

She almost wishes that the two of them didn’t apply for third year entry. They could have finished off their fourth years and graduated together and truly enjoyed themselves. Starting med school, even a year early, feels stupid now.

Brooke jumps when she hears the key in the lock turn at the front door, biting her lip because there Vanessa is, grinning and with no idea what’s waiting for her on the counter.

“B, there was the coolest patient today on the cardiac stepdown unit. He was there for his third pacemaker. Third! He’s gone through two pacemaker surgeries already and just shrugged when the attending told him he’d need another one, can you believe that?” Vanessa’s eyes are alight with excitement and normally it’s one of Brooke’s favourite sights, because seeing Vanessa talk about something that she loves so much fills own her heart up with love. But today, it’s a reminder of the bad news that Vanessa’s about to get. And Brooke’s going to have to watch.

“What are you holding?” Vanessa drops her bag into the counter, shuffling closer towards her before stopping abruptly in her tracks. “Oh.”

“Let me guess.” Vanessa’s laugh is bitter as she grabs the thin envelope on the table, one that can only hold a rejection letter because it’s too small to hold anything else. “This one is mine.”

Brooke can’t help the way her voice comes out pleading as she comes around to the other side of the table. “Ness-”

“Don’t. I…I have to go.” Vanessa draws in a breath, grabbing her phone and keys from the table and turning on her heels. “I’m sorry, I just. I can’t right now. I need space, B.”

Brooke can see the way Vanessa’s eyes are filling with tears, the hand she lifts to angrily wipe them away before turning towards the door. She feels frozen in place, because she wants to go up to Vanessa, hug her and reassure her that everything will be okay, but she doesn’t even know that herself right now.

And how can it be, when only one of them has actually gotten into med school?

“V-”

“I’ll be back later.” Brooke’s not sure if she’s imagining the sniffle that she hears in Vanessa’s voice before she shuts the door, but the click of the lock as it turns feels final, like they can’t go back from here. Like she can’t go outside and chase Vanessa because there’s a barrier between them now, one that Vanessa’s put up because Brooke’s gone and gotten into med school and-

God. They really just shouldn’t have gone and applied for third year entry.

“Your girl is currently pouting on my couch, eating all of the chocolate chip cookies that I bought.” Silky’s voice nearly makes Brooke sigh out loud in relief.

“Oh, thank god.” Brooke runs a hand through her hair. Knowing that Vanessa’s gone to Silky’s place calms Brooke down a little, because at least she’s somewhere safe.

“So what happened?” Silky’s voice is hushed, as hushed as she can get, on the other end of the phone.

“Wait, she didn’t tell you?” Brooke’s surprised. One of Vanessa’s first reactions when she’s upset or angry is to vent, to let out what’s bothering her. She’d expected today to be no exception.

“Nope. Just plopped herself down on my couch and keeps sniffling. Brought her a box of tissues from my room before sitting down beside her.”

“Ugh.” Brooke feels awful, like she’s the one who’s caused this. In a way, she has. Not getting into any of the schools must feel like an even deeper cut for Vanessa after seeing that Brooke’s got into three. Brooke feels the lump in her throat growing, and has to swallow hard to keep herself from tearing up. She hates being the cause of Vanessa’s pain.

“So? Spill. Did y’all have a nasty fight or something?” Silky’s voice is curious. “‘Cause never seen you two really get into it, other than bickering over stupid shit.”

“We heard back from U of T today.” The envelopes sit on the counter, taunting her. She wants to throw them away and never think about them again.

Silky sucks in a breath. “Oh, shit. So Vanj didn’t…”

“No.” Brooke whispers it. “What do I do, Silk? How can I make it better, at all?”

“You can’t.” Silky’s answer makes Brooke’s heart sink even though she’s expected it, though she needed to hear it from another person. “But at the same time, it ain’t your fault. And you can’t let it dampen the fact that you got into your dream school, either. Which is a big fucking deal.”

“Does it even matter now, though? It’s not going to be the same.” Brooke tries to imagine going through medical school, leaving Vanessa behind. It feels wrong, somehow, like it’s deviating from the plans that they’ve dreamed about for years.

“Who cares? Y’all may be constantly attached at the hip, but you’re also your own people. You’re not one giant ass blob required to do the same thing every time. That’s not how relationships work.”

“I know that, but-” Brooke pauses because Silky is right, and she knows it, but it just feels strange. “I don’t want to leave her behind.”

“You’re not. ‘Cause she’s gonna follow right behind you next year, and you know that. ‘Cause y’all will stay a team, that don’t have to change.”

“It feels like it already has.” Brooke sinks down into their couch that feels so empty without Vanessa on it too, leaning against her or propping her feet up. “I don’t even know what I’m going to say to her, because everything coming out of my mouth feels like it’s going to make it worse.”

“Maybe it will, for awhile.” Silky’s voice is contemplative. “It did just happen. She needs time to heal from it, and so do you. But it ain’t gonna be a fresh wound forever.”

“So what do I do in the meantime?” Brooke feels like a bull in a china shop, about to knock everything over should she take a step in the wrong direction, and make Vanessa feel even more hurt.

“Be there for her. She’s probably gonna be hurt, still a little mad. Maybe take it out on you. Don’t put up with that shit, but at the same time show her you still care.”

“Why wouldn’t I care?” The thought feels so incredulous, so ridiculous in Brooke’s brain that it nearly makes her laugh.

“I know you do, Lord knows the rest of our friends do because you two are obsessed with each other. But who knows if she’ll feel like you’re leaving her behind, or done with her - which you’re not, I know - but she needs to know that too.”

What Silky’s saying makes sense to Brooke. She needs to be proud of her own accomplishments, that she’s done it, while also showing Vanessa that it doesn’t mean things have to change between them. Brooke doesn’t want it to, doesn’t want to lose what they’ve created together over the last three years. Vanessa’s worth too much to her for them to do that.

Their bed feels too empty, too big, as if it stretches out for miles and miles with no end in sight. Brooke feels too exposed, too cold, despite the two comforters that she’s curled up underneath, burrowing herself in further in an effort to get warm. She misses her space heater, the small ball of heat that is Vanessa who loves to sleep curled up in her arms, her waves tickling her face as she dozes off. Except now her arms are empty, and there’s no one to keep her warm, no one to nuzzle into her. No one to accidentally elbow her and make her wake up with a yelp.

Brooke misses her.

She wonders if Vanessa is equally miserable on Silky’s couch, the leather sticking to her skin as she tries to sleep in an unfamiliar place. A small part of Brooke wants to walk over and get her, bring her back home, because this feels too wrong for the both of them.

Brooke presses her face against her pillow, the cotton soft on her cheek. The way that it smells like softness of Vanessa’s shampoo makes the lump in her throat become ever so much more noticeable.

Sleep never quite takes her under as she tosses and turns, watching the clock on her bedside table flip past two, three, four, five a.m, until the sun is beginning to light up the world outside. Brooke’s not sure if she’s imagining it when she hears the soft pad of feet into the room as birds begin to chirp, feels a body climb into the bed behind her. Though the arm that wraps around her waist, the sigh against her shoulder blade is unmistakable, making her heartbeat speed up inexplicably faster despite the sunrise casting a glow along the curtains.

Brooke doesn’t move, wondering if Vanessa thinks that she’s asleep. As if she’s gotten in any hours at all. But then Vanessa’s arm around her tightens, and Brooke can feel the way she murmurs softly against against her back.

“M’sorry.”

Brooke lets out a small breath that sounds more ragged than she wants it to, more revealing of how much Vanessa coming back is beginning to tape her heart back together. “S’okay.”

It’s not. Brooke knows it’s not, Vanessa probably knows that it’s not, too. But what are they supposed to do? How can they fix something that’s been broken by neither of them, something that’s completely out of their control?

Brooke turns slowly in Vanessa’s grasp until she’s facing her, and Vanessa takes the opportunity to shuffle closer, burying her face against her and tangling their legs together, as if any physical distance between them could be considered a crime.

“Didn’t sleep.”

“Me neither.” Brooke runs her fingers up and down Vanessa’s back, and the motion feels like it’s regulating her heartbeat once more, taming the erraticness that has been taunting her the entire night.

Brooke presses a kiss to Vanessa’s hair, hears her sigh softly in response, snuggle closer. “Let’s try now.”

“‘Kay.” Vanessa mumbles the words and Brooke can already hear the way that her breaths are beginning to deepen, the way her muscles are relaxing from their tensed up state. Brooke’s sure that her own body is mirroring Vanessa’s, from the way that she’s finally, finally starting to feel heavier, sleep taking over the edges of her subconscious for the first time all night.

Maybe so much reliance on another person is not the best for Brooke’s heart, making it dependent on the existence of someone who is living their own life, one which may not always coincide with hers. But at the same time, she craves it. Having someone who’s her person, who’s there for her and whom she’s there for too.

Brooke’s going to try and be there. For Vanessa, throughout the next year. She’s not sure what it’s going to bring, with her starting med school and Vanessa starting her fourth year, but she’s going to try. Vanessa’s going to apply again and this time it’s going to be successful, it has to, because Vanessa’s one of the smartest and hard working people that Brooke’s ever met in her life.

She’s going to keep telling her so too, over and over until she starts to believe it again. Though she’ll do so after they wake up in the morning.

(now)

“Hey, D. What are you FaceTiming me in the middle of the day for?” Brooke answers the call as she walks back to her office from the cafeteria, holding the salad that she’s bought because she had been too busy to make lunch the night before.

“Okay, I know that we’re grabbing drinks this weekend, and we’ll properly catch up then and everything, but I couldn’t wait because you know how much I love Jake Gyllenhaal, and his hot ass came for a press stop today-No, Julia, I said a skim latte with half sugar, not full-anyway, a bitch got his number because I’m what? Unprofessional while at my job!” Brooke watches her screen amusedly as Detox lets it all out in one breath, complete with a flourish of her arm behind her.

“You’re unbelievable.” Brooke snorts as Detox barely hears her, scolding another production assistant on screen.

Detox looks back, and shrugs. “Hey, you know me. I rarely get starstruck after having to interview so many celebs that turn out to be terrible people. This man, though? Told me his sandwich made him feel, and I quote, ‘a sense of peace.’ Who says shit like that? Jake Gyllenhaal, that’s who.”

“How on earth did you get his number?” Brooke’s impressed. Being a daytime talk show host, Detox has rubbed arms with her fair share of celebrities, though her finessing abilities are still surprising to Brooke sometimes.

“Told him how my sandwich calmed my own existential dread.” Detox says it with a straight face, making Brooke narrow her eyes.

“You did not.”

“Okay, I did not, but I also wore an incredibly ass hugging skirt on set today, which definitely did me some favours and made sure that he saw before I went up and talked to him. Using my womanly powers for good, baby.” Detox flips her perfectly styled hair over her shoulder, and Brooke shakes her head as she takes a bite of her salad.

“You are truly something else. I’m so proud.”

Detox grins on her screen. “Just thought I’d share because you’ve kept hounding me after Mark and I broke up that I deserved better than him-”

“You do, he was terrible-”

“-and now I’ve found it! Score one for me, and it’s with the cryptid man himself. Gonna get me some celebrity dick.”

Brooke lets out a laugh. “Very happy for you, D. Can’t wait to hear all about him this weekend.”

Detox points a finger at her. “Prepare your sensitive ears, because I’m sparing no details.”

“When have you ever?” Brooke raises an eyebrow. Detox’s escapades are wild to hear about second-hand, and make Brooke incredibly relieved that she’s not into men. Though Detox seems to enjoy herself, and so Brooke’s happy that her friend is having a good time.

Detox pauses. “Fair point. Now tell me how you’re doing, I haven’t seen your cute doctor face in like, two months.”

“You’re right, we’re way too busy.” Brooke sighs because both her and Detox are always swamped at work, their schedules never quite overlapping enough for regular hangouts. Though Brooke always feels like they’re able to lapse back into their old selves whenever they have a chance to talk, as if no time has passed at all, and it feels like they’re back in their first year university dorm once more. “I’m okay, taking a small lunch before a procedure at 12:45-”

“Hold up.” Detox is narrowing her eyes at the screen, and Brooke has to resist fidgeting under her gaze as she takes another bite of her salad.

“What?”

“You’re looking weird.”

Brooke makes a face. “Rude. I’m not looking weird.”

Detox moves her face closer. “Not bad weird, just. Something’s different.”

Brooke’s phone dings with a text message that shows up on the top of the screen, and she has to keep the smile from growing on her face when she sees it’s from Vanessa.

VM: see you tn! i’m excited :) x

“See! That right there!” Detox’s screech nearly makes Brooke jump and drop her phone.

“What?”

“You’re glowing like Rihanna herself gave you a Fenty Beauty makeover.” Brooke watches her screen as Detox leans back in a chair. “Tell me.”

“I dunno? I slept well?” Better than she has in ages, in fact, though Detox doesn’t need to know that.

Detox leans forward, a gasp leaving her mouth. “You’re having sex.”

Brooke sputters. “Okay, first of all, rude, I have a sex life-”

Detox’s face is one of glee. “Nah, B, you’re really having sex like, you’re hella enjoying it and maybe even falling head over heels for the person kinda sex. You got that sex glow.”

“What sex glow?” Brooke subconsciously looks at her reflection in the FaceTime camera. “I’m a little sweaty in this lab coat, that’s all.”

“The happy sex glow. The one people wear when they get dicked down so good that they’re walking on air for weeks afterwards. Or in your case, pussied down I guess?” Detox makes a face. “Though doesn’t have the same ring to it.”

“Well, I haven’t.” It’s true. The last person she slept with was the girl at the bar to forget about Vanessa, not that it did much but it didn’t even matter in the end because-

Detox interrupts her train of thought. “I haven’t seen you looking this stupid since- wait .”

Detox’s gasp make Brooke shift in her seat. “What?”

“You’re not. Tell me you’re not.”

“Not what?”

“You are!” Detox’s screech echoes around Brooke’s office like a megaphone. “Fuck, I knew it, after you said Vanessa moved back here a few months ago I knew it-”

“What are you-”

“You’re sleeping with her again!” Detox is loud enough that the people behind her on Brooke’s screen turn to look at her, and Brooke has to resist a groan.

“Technically, we’re not-”

“I don’t even care what happens for the rest of the day, my god.” Detox fans herself. “You’re back with your ex-girlfriend and suddenly we’re back in university, I love this.”

“We’re not back together.” Brooke pauses on the word, because it seems like everything with Vanessa comes with an asterisk, a note of explanation. “Yet.”

“Yet! Ladies and gentlemen, she said yet.” Detox lifts her arm in a fist pump, one that freezes in the air when a voice behind her shouts out her name. “I gotta go, we’re filming again in a second, but if you don’t give me all the details this weekend, this friendship is over. That’s a lie, but you still gotta tell me everything because I need to hear it.”

Brooke rolls her eyes, but can’t resist the smile that’s beginning to grow on her face. “Will do.”

Brooke makes a mental note to search up Detox’s episode with Jake Gyllenhaal once it airs, if only for the chaos that the two of them are going to exude on screen. Brooke loves her, loves the fact that they’ve managed to stay friends despite the wildly different paths that their careers have taken.

Plus, she can’t help but be excited to talk about Vanessa again.

Brooke thinks back to the day before, where it felt right, and Vanessa said that she missed her too, and she realized that maybe, just maybe, Vanessa wanted something more, too.

Maybe Vanessa won’t cast her to the side this time.

Vanessa had sounded equally excited when they made plans to go out after work, to grab some food and just catch up and talk about the past eleven years that have gone by faster than either of them have been able to stop them. Vanessa had told her to dress up and Brooke’s already thinking about what dress to wear, racking through her closet in her head. It’s really not the best development because she needs to focus on the upcoming procedure that she’s doing after lunch, but it’s hard.

She gets a second chance with Vanessa.

Brooke takes her time getting ready, taking a long shower and exfoliating everything before doing her hair and makeup. It’s more than she does for work, her professional look left behind for a bolder lip, a darker eye, her hair in waves that cascade down her back. She knows it doesn’t matter - Vanessa’s seen her in scrubs, with bags under her eyes for days, with her unwashed hair in a bun for the third day in a row because she’s had long hours and been on call for extended stretches of time.

But the expression on Vanessa’s face when Brooke shows up at her condo, shamelessly looking her up and down with parted lips as if there’s nothing she’d rather do than pull her inside and ravish her? Absolutely worth it.

“Shit.”

“Wow.”

The word falls from Brooke’s lips the same time that Vanessa curses, because Brooke can’t drag her eyes away from her, either. Vanessa’s always hot to her - in her scrubs, in her lab coat, in the business casual look she had on during her first day, but the dress that she’s wearing hugs her curves in all the right places. When paired with the faux fur coat hanging off of her shoulder, it’s enough to make Brooke swallow hard.

Vanessa tosses her hair over her shoulder as she looks over Brooke appreciatively, and suddenly all Brooke can smell is coconut and jasmine and the intoxicating scent of a perfume that Vanessa doesn’t wear at the hospital. Brooke wants to breathe it in, have it linger on her jacket, on her clothes. A mark of Vanessa being there, that this, what they’re doing, isn’t some sort of dream crafted by the deep recesses of her subconscious.

Vanessa steps back once, twice, opening the door further to let Brooke inside. There are still boxes in the corner of the kitchen, unopened packages sitting beside her coffee table.

Vanessa shrugs when Brooke taps her fingers on a box labelled HOLIDAY DECORATIONS. “Haven’t gotten around to putting everything away just yet. Unpacking is so much damn effort.”

Brooke looks at the box underneath it, labelled SHIT FOR THE KITCHEN. “Haven’t you been here for what, three? Four months?”

“And spent most of those at the hospital, bitch, you know that. Feels like that’s my apartment rather than this place.” Vanessa spins slowly, looking around. “Not a home here just yet.”

“I can help you unpack, sometime, if you need it.” The offer slips out of Brooke’s mouth before she realizes, and she wants to clap a hand over her mouth but then Vanessa is looking at her with a tilted head, a smile in her eyes.

“Yeah? You ain’t just saying that ‘cause you’re standing in my apartment?”

“Nah, I mean it.” Brooke does, when she thinks about it. Maybe making Toronto a home for Vanessa again will mean that she’ll want to stick around, not leave.

Vanessa’s smile is uncharacteristically shy. “I’d like that. Thanks.”

“Anytime. You know that.” Vanessa doesn’t know that, Brooke knows, because up until now all that they’ve been is confusing and painful for each other, but-

Maybe this can be a new start. A new definition of what they are. They don’t have to be held back by everything that’s ever happened between them.

Maybe their new normal can be lapsing back into friendship, caring for each other, doing things together, enjoying each other’s company. Some great sex.

Brooke knows that she needs the latter, at least.

They can redefine what they are. Sure, maybe she’s getting a little ahead of herself, seeing as they haven’t even left Vanessa’s apartment yet, nor spent time together so far that hasn’t involved arguing or sex, but they can try it out tonight.

Brooke leads Vanessa to the parking lot outside of her building, towards a Lexus SUV that makes Vanessa let out a whistle.

“Fancy, schmancy. Look at you flaunting that surgeon money.” Vanessa eyes it appreciatively, running her hand along the side.

Brooke scoffs. “Don’t tell me you didn’t splurge on a car, either.”

“Guilty.” Vanessa raises her hands up. “Leasing me a fancy nice new BMW at the moment. Couldn’t help myself.”

Brooke feels powerful as they drive through the downtown streets, the lights of the city illuminating the inside of the car and casting Vanessa’s face in a soft glow. Brooke can’t help the way she keeps looking over at Vanessa, at the way her highlight shines, the purse of her lips. She’s beautiful.

Brooke also can’t help the way she lets one of her hands trail on Vanessa’s knee, dancing patterns up her thigh. The low noise that Vanessa lets out from the back of her throat makes Brooke smirk, only fuels her more.

“You tryna keep us from going to the restaurant, mama?” Vanessa grunts out when Brooke plays with the hem of her dress, the fabric soft in her hand.

Brooke pulls them into an underground parking lot, shutting off the car and leaning over the console between their seats to press a kiss to Vanessa’s neck, feeling the way she lets out a soft gasp. Brooke uses her thumb to wipe at the lipstick print that she’s left on her neck but part of her wants to keep it there, mark her territory. Show that she’s been there.

But she also has self control.

She pulls back, a smile playing on her lips when Vanessa lets out a breath. “There. Think you can sit through dinner?”

“You’re really something else, ain’t you?” Vanessa leans her head back against the seat, letting her eyes trail over Brooke’s face almost lazily, as if her chest isn’t rising and falling enough for Brooke to see how affected she is.

“You like it.”

“Fuck yeah, I do.” Vanessa’s mutter is soft under her breath, almost missed by Brooke but it’s just loud enough, out of breath enough to make her feel satisfied.

Off to a good start already.

[danwhobrowses]

Cobra Kai Season 3 Review

Well this is definitely one way to start the new year

New Season, New Dojo, and the third season of Cobra Kai was definitely something I wanted to binge right away and y’all gonna hear about it.

Spoilers for Cobra Kai Season 3, watch it because it’s definitely good

So yes, I did enjoy it. I mean it’d be hard not to at this point, Cobra Kai remains one of my favourite spinoff shows ever. It’s not without its flaws, or cheese, but when it’s great it’s great and that’s how we’re gonna run it down.

To start, let’s get the downs out of the way first

What wasn’t so great

Circumstances by misinterpretation It’s a general peeve of mine in movies and shows when conflict is made because characters don’t talk to each other properly or they take what someone says another way. In Cobra Kai’s case this annoyed me the most with Miguel and Tory’s conversation in Episode 6, Tory had a chance to be a much more conflicted character but they made her revert to being ‘all angry’ because she thought that Miguel said she was crazy, there’s also Robby in Episode 8 - who himself is in no position to act like he wasn’t snaking in on Sam back at Season 1 - who decides by one look that Sam and Miguel are back together and then angry at her for not letting him punch Miguel. I get that kids will take things the wrong way a lot but sometimes it’s just a lack of creativity, forced conflict and all just to push more characters into Cobra Kai.

Wherefore art thou, characters? Aisha in the last 2 seasons was frankly a symbol of how to work Cobra Kai’s mantra in a healthy manner. So it stung plenty even before Season 3′s trailers to know that Aisha would not be reprising her role. It was a bit of a crude write-off and I have no idea why we wouldn’t have brought her in, she could’ve left Cobra Kai but also struggle to stop Sam’s aggression or even helped Miguel’s rehab. Likewise being without Stingray did remove a lot of comedy elements, they weren’t pivotal losses but considering we brought back minor characters like Brucks, Anthony (who is in like 1 scene, lost a lot of weight though so good on him), Cousin Louie, Sid, Trey, Cruz, Armand and Yasmin does make you ask questions. In the same vein, we didn’t really introduce anyone new, that girl Tory beat looked like she could’ve been decent and we could’ve had more new characters enter via Johnny’s new dojo but it’s not a big deal.

Johnny is a 2 Time Champion too, why do people forget that? Daniel may have the fame, but Johnny was also a 2-Time All Valley U18 Champion, so when the all valley guy goes to Daniel saying ‘we need the two time champ’ it’s a bit annoying, because Johnny is that guy too.

Johnny’s Choice Right so Elizabeth Shue is hot and Ali is ‘the Ali’ but Vanessa Rubio/Carmen is hot too, there is a connection there not only via Miguel but a genuine attraction is still there too. Basically going on a date with Ali the day after sleeping with Carmen was that cliché daft move and it kinda undoes a lot of Johnny’s character progress over the last 2 seasons to be his own man, rather than a reflection of who he was. I mean yeah we got him to realise it right at the end but he was still going in for the kiss and you can’t undo that.

Sam vs Tory While I’ll get into the Sam progression in the good parts, but the feud of Sam and Tory never has clicked with me. I know it was the whole love quadrangle thing but it just feels like in Season 3 they were forcing it a bit much so Sam could have a Karate Kid 3 moment but Tory is not Mike Barnes the Badboy of Karate. She’s an angry girl but it just feels a bit weak to continue with this feud, especially when it’s because...uh...yeah. I mean it can’t be about Miguel anymore, it needed a lot more substance to be a worthwhile feud.

Daniel the Saviour I wanted Johnny and Daniel to team up and beat Kreese, not Daniel beating up Kreese to save Johnny. It was the problem I had with Season 2′s main fight where the Miyagi-Do lot had all the major wins in the school fight, Cobra Kai is not Daniel’s show, it’s Johnny’s, and it just grinded me the wrong way that the big moment that would finally unite the two together was off the back of Daniel defeating Kreese alone, especially since this is the second fight Johnny has had with Kreese interrupted before he could get the win himself.

Thankfully that’s practically all I have, and none of these kill the enjoyment at all, it’s just that if I was reviewing the script, these would be my editor’s notes. So let’s gush about the great stuff

What was BADASS about it Just to preface, this is not all in ranking, some of it just leads into other points and stuff.

The Cobra-fication of John Kreese The Kreese flashback was very well-done in showing the audience how Kreese became the man he is. There’s of course the multiple swerves which we will get to but we almost humanized Kreese at times especially when using it to keep Tory on the side of Cobra Kai.  Kreese in present day too is just, so good. Easily one of the best villains in tv right now, he’s like a supervillain in the real world: conniving, slimy and manipulative, and unlike Johnny and Daniel he has awareness outside the 80s vacuum, as shown when he gets to Amanda too. Kreese will forever be the top villain of the franchise, and every episode he’s in he shows it. I also like to say I like how Cobra Kai’s origins are the other side of the coin to Miyagi Do’s. Both developed from a martial art in a foreign land, brought back to the homeland of the learner, the only difference is that Cobra Kai was born in war and never learned peace, while Miyagi Do was born in peace and had to adapt in war, this can also be the key factor on what could save Cobra Kai: adopting and adapting in peace, but Kreese is never gonna allow that because of how emotionally numb his regret, guilt and torture has shaped him to be like.

Terry Silver is coming back! When I saw the ponytailed soldier not get named I was a tad annoyed, shouting ‘just admit it’s Terry Silver!’ but boy did they swerve me XD Turns out Terry Silver was ‘Twigs’ all along. Not only that but the finale implies that he will return to back up Kreese in Season 4...he better still have that ponytail.

Miguel and Johnny return to their roots While ‘Eagle Fang’ is intentionally a ridiculous name, Johnny going back to zero allowed Johnny to restore not only his character but his paternal bond with Miguel on his road to physiotherapy. The moments of recovery - while a little fast tracked - felt earned and it also restored Miguel to his kinder and softer self, even to the point where Daniel feels comfortable around him to chat and get along with. Overall it’s good to root for the main characters, and between the shenaniganry of Johnny’s obscure methods and Miguel basically training Johnny to be a normal human being leads to some entertaining moments and some nicer character moments, especially when Miguel starts calling Johnny out on his bullshit.

The many faces of Trauma The theme of this season seems to be dealing with trauma, which of course works in line with the show theme of confronting the past. Sam dealt with trauma the most having suffered PTSD from the whole school fight and it was a good display of how the fear can paralyse you. While it does feel a little weird given how she won that fight it was definitely something to give her character. There was also the confrontation of Miguel’s injury by Sam, Tory, Johnny and Miguel himself, Johnny and Daniel’s downfall in the wake of their dojo war, Hawk and Demetri having to re-encounter Kyler, baggage came for every character and they had to handle it in different ways; Sam particularly went from being very aggressive to compensate before returning to focus after having to confront her fear of Tory.

The New Quiver To add to the long list of Kreese’s manipulations, Kreese decided to overhaul his class with people he better liked, which called for the return of Kyler as well as increasing the aggression of Tory and Hawk. His final masterstroke being twisting Robby’s mind and turning him to Cobra Kai, setting up our primary antagonists for Season 4.

Good Character Redemption Several characters get the chance to redeem themselves in Season 3. While some don’t take that opportunity, the ones we do get are Yasmin, Cousin Louie, Chozen and Hawk. Yasmin’s one was a little undeserved I think, but being less of a bitch isn’t a bad thing, Cousin Louie’s was small but his dedication to family was on positive display now rather than his over the top insufferableness in Season 1, we’ll get to Chozen in a minute because it’s Hawk’s redemption that gets the most impact. While he definitely doesn’t deserve instantaneous forgiveness for his actions in this and the past season, seeing Hawk finally wake up and realise that Kreese is using him and that his change has gone too far was a fantastic moment, I wasn’t even sure he would do it until I saw it myself, finally Eli is back.

Amanda falls down the 80s Rabbit Hole One of the common compliments of Daniel’s wife Amanda is that she seems to be the only sane person in the middle of this karate war. She at least tries to keep Daniel grounded to the real world things, but the incident at the Golf n Stuff completely turned Amanda to confront Kreese. So now Amanda is all in, because she’s had to deal with Kreese’s trickery and manipulations, while we will grieve the loss of Amanda being the ‘Straight Man’, it’s cool that she’s now in this whirlpool of Karate 80s Supremacy Wars.

Ali with an Eye for Psychology Elizabeth Shue’s return as Ali provided us with a lovely episode and a bit where Johnny and Daniel got to relive some of their greatest and worst hits over the first Karate Kid film. While I say making Ali not to blame for the break up with Daniel is a bit pandering the fact that she bridges Daniel and Johnny to be civil with each other is poetic, given how she’s technically the lynchpin of their entire rivalry. While I may not have liked how close Johnny was to making moves on her, getting the reconciliation through Ali was a nice touch and does complete that arc.

Daniel’s Okinawa Adventure The Okinawa portion was probably the second best highlight of the season. I’ve stated enough my love of Part II in previous posts but the nostalgia really hit it right. The return of Kumiko was absolutely beautiful (side for a moment where it kinda looked like she and Daniel were reconnecting, because as I said I like Amanda too so there’s conflicting feelings there) and her reading Miyagi’s letters was extremely emotional. The return of Chozen was great too, I was waiting for the part that he broke his stoicism and they picked a perfect moment for it, Chozen showed a lot more humility as an adult especially that lowkey note that he may’ve considered suicide. Also being happy to train Daniel the pressure point tactics and being relieved by Daniel’s forgiveness was nice to see. And it all comes around with Yuna, the girl Daniel saved from a typhoon, who fixes their sales dealership and thus Daniel’s company, thanks mostly to Kumiko. Overall, the Okinawa portion is great and Kumiko is great too.

WE FINALLY GOT DANIEL AND JOHNNY WORKING TOGETHER I almost put the LaRusso house fight as a down point because it didn’t reach the same heights as the school fight, but I had yet to see what the actual final fight of the season was and ho boy. We had already done the ‘false hope’ episode of Daniel and Johnny working together early in the season when they were chasing after Robbie, so having the ‘break bread’ moment near the end meant there was nothing to stop them to continue working together.  Daniel getting the final fight aside - I think the roles should’ve been reversed and we saw Daniel’s reaction to his house and Miyagi’s picture being destroyed, go for Kreese, see Robby and then Johnny for the save for what he did to Miguel - the final third of the last episode was like a straight up video game in the best way. Got that character twist in Johnny seeing Robby drink the Kool-Aid before going straight for the boss fight, and it is like a video game boss fight: Stage 1 of health in the back room, Stage 2 of health in the main dojo having changed tactics and having to fight the side grunt then Stage 3 of Health outside the Dojo with Daniel. It’s all very well done and culminates in the setup for Season 4, Daniel and Johnny working together, the All Valley stage to determine whether Cobra Kai continues or if it disbands forever, that’s the way to end it.

What to hope for in Season 4? Season 4 can go either way because we don’t know if Season 5 will happen. If it does I do see Robby taking the All Valley to keep Cobra Kai alive, while we do have rivalries in Miguel/Robby, Sam/Tory, Hawk/Kyler it does seem like we just need a couple more rivals to get through, we’ll also see if we can set up feuds for Daniel and Silver so he cannot interrupt the Johnny/Kreese rivalry again - I think Johnny is owed that win. Expect to see Tory and Robby get together as the ‘from the block’ power couple and Daniel and Johnny to have some growing pains. I do wonder what their alliance name will be, I am very curious because they dangled it over us, I wonder if it’ll just be something simple like ‘Karate Kid Dojo’ but we’ll only find out next year.

Notwithstanding is the return of Twigs the Ponytail Silver, but I do wonder if Mike Barnes the Badboy of Karate will show up, alongside Jessica (Part 3′s kinda but not Love Interest) and Julie (from the Next Karate Kid). You have to wonder where Johnny and Carmen’s relationship will go to, I want to hope that Johnny doesn’t screw it up considering that like Amanda to Daniel she keeps him quite grounded. I also hope for more mending with Hawk, not only with the Miyagi-Do but with Johnny himself, because there is a lot of Johnny in Hawk. I wanna hope that there’s a chance for Tory and Robby to see sense but unless it’s the final season I would not hold my breath.

In the end the best thing to look forward to is that it will be awesome, given that it was greenlit a year in advance and continues to be a wave of nostalgic joy. Season 3 kicked off 2021 in a good way, striking first, striking hard and giving fans no mercy...but in a good way.

[pika-ace]

ITH Legend of Zelda AU? Maybe???? plEASE??????

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM-

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

YOU HAVE JUST KICKED MY WRITING/FANGIRL BUTTONS INTO OVERDRIVE!!!!!!

Okkayokayokayokayokay, so the only Zelda games I really REALLY know are TP, WW, LBW, OoT and MM but with how different the stories and Links are, I was thinking…what if every Zelda timeline has a different Link and Zelda?? Hell, the regular timeline is just as confusing so WHY THE HELL NOT??!!!!

FIRST UP: Wind Waker! Usnavi (16), Sonny (7-8), and Abuela live on Outset Island when a large bird appears and drops Vanessa into the forest on the island. Usnavi goes to get her since he was just being taught how to use a sword and barely manages to get through and find Vanessa, who’s a PIRATE. After awkward introductions, Sonny appears to meet them, but the bird comes and swoops him away. Turns out the bird has been targeting and kidnapping young people who are Hispanic and have black hair. So Usnavi pleads with Vanessa to take him on her ship so he can go find Sonny. They go to the Forsaken Fortress and launch Usnavi in their (much to his dismay) and after a BUNCH of struggling and sneaking around (Usnavi was NOT made for violence; when he first gets his sword, he can barely swing it straight) he reaches the room where Sonny and a few other young girls and boys are being held in a big cell. But before Usnavi can save him, the bird shows up, grabs Usnavi and just about flings him away. Luckily, Usnavi’s picked up by a talking boat and takes him to three different islands. Dragonroost where he meets Bird-People siblings Nina and Lincoln and help Lincoln overcome his fear of flying and taking charge as the next heir (the boss fight was a DISASTER; Usnavi almost died MULTIPLE times cause he had a little experience but still NO IDEA hat he was doing), Forest Haven where he helps Benny, a trouble making Kokiri when he gets trapped in the dungeon (that boss fight went a bit better; skills were still shaky, but Usnavi got knocked around less), and Usnavi eventually gets to the Temple of the Gods where he gets the Master Sword (that boss fight went better than ANY fight Usnavi ever did)! Now, back to the Forsaken Fortress and things go TEN TIMES better this time around. Usnavi and Sonny have a brief reunion (poor baby Sonny thought his big cuz was dead :( ), Usnavi kills the bird (he’s had three boss fights worth of experience, he’s got this), and comes face to face with the big bad. But, uh-oh, the Master Sword has lost it’s light! It’s useless! After Vanessa tries and fails to save Usnavi, the two are saved thanks to a last minute swoop in and rescue from Nina and Lincoln, and Usnavi’s talking boat takes them to the lost Kingdom of their ancestors, where, SURPRISE! Vanessa’s the princess! And Usnavi’s boat was her father the whole time! So Vanessa stays in the kingdom to be safe (it IS under the sea, after all) and Usnavi goes off to find the two sages to bring power back to the master sword. And as it turns out, Nina and Benny are sages!! So stuff happens, the Master Sword is restored, we get the Triforce pieces and the big final battle ensues and thanks to a tag team effort from Usnavi and Vanessa, the big bad is defeated. Vanessa’s father sacrifices himself to save Usnavi and Vanessa, and they resurface to be met by Vanessa’s ship, her crew, Nina, Lincoln, Benny, and of course Sonny, who’s SO HAPPY to see his cousin again, he doesn’t wait for Usnavi to get on the boat for a hug, he just jumps into the ocean. Everyone goes back home and everything’s good.

NEXT UP: Ocarina/Majora! Benny (12-13) is a Kokiri child living in the care of the Great Deku Tree. Only problem is, he doesn’t really fit in and doesn’t have a fairy companion like his Korkiri brethren. Anyway, trouble eventually strikes, and Benny is given a fairy named Lincoln and the he leads Benny inside the Great Deku Tree where his first boss fight takes place (it goes pretty good, for Benny’s first try; kid is brave). So Benny and Lincoln are told to go to Hyrule and seek out Princess Nina and give her the Emerald of the Kokiri Forest. They do just that and Benny meets Nina and her personal guardian, Daniela. Nina explains that she’s been having prophetic dreams that the big bad is gonna come back and they need three sacred stones to stop him. Benny and Lincoln go off to find the other two stones, leading them to Death Mountain for the Goron’s Ruby, and inside a giant fish in Zora’s Domain for the Zora Sapphire (the Zora princess Yolanda gave it to them as thanks for saving her; she said it was like an engagement ring, but it went right over Benny’s head XD). Benny also comes across a ranch, run by two cousins Usnavi and Sonny (Usnavi’s the same age as Benny, and Sonny’s about 8). So yay, we got the three gems but OH NO! The big bad has taken over the castle, and Princess Nina and Daniela are on the run! Nina throws Benny the Ocarina of Time at the last second and Benny goes to the temple where he pulls out the Master sword and is now magically 20 as seven years have passed and basically, GREAT GOOGLY-MOOGLY IT’S ALL GONE TO SHIT! Hyrule is COMPLETELY overthrown, all the survivors are now living in Kakariko, and poor Usnavi and Sonny’s ranch got overthrown by some asshole. So Benny and Lincoln go around and find the seven sages (They can be anyone, you decide) with the help of a mysterious masked figure, and Benny even lends Usnavi and Sonny a hand in between temples. Turns out when the guy took over, he basically enslaved Usnavi and Sonny, but since Sonny was so young, Usnavi volunteered to do any extra work that Sonny was too tired to do. Unfortunately, this asshole kinda has it out for Sonny due to the boy’s rebellious spirit and attitude and he eventually trapped Usnavi in some underground dungeon to keep him away. Now poor Sonny is staying strong, but he’s hurt physically and emotionally, and wants his big cuz back. Benny and Lincoln do just that and everything’s good. So after the seven sages are awakened, Benny and Lincoln eventually find out that the masked person who had been helping them was Nina all along! But then she gets caught by the big bad, so Benny and Lincoln get to the castle to save her, Lincoln leading the way since he seems to have a feeling where Nina is. When they get to the top where Nina is, it’s also revealed that Lincoln wasn’t always a fairy; he was actually Nina’s brother but the big bad put a curse on him to turn him into a fairy and wipe his memory. Anyway, big battle happens, Benny wins, Nina uses the sages to seal him away, Benny’s brought back to the past where everything’s been just about reset, but Lincoln’s gone. Benny goes back to the courtyard where he first met Nina, but she’s not alone this time; a young boy about Benny’s age is with her. Lincoln has been returned to a human and everything’s good.

And as for Majora, basically the same plot, only Lincoln returns to help as a human and I’m taking the Purgatory theory with this one so all the barrio members are in Termina and they’re all going to die unless Benny stops the moon. Make up all the depressing theories you want here. I’ll start: Usnavi and little Sonny run a ranch like in Hyrule and on the third day, Usnavi allows Sonny to have an alcoholic drink to dull his senses and offers for them to sleep in the same bed so they can be together when the moon falls and destroys them :’(

NEXT: Twilight Princess! Sonny lives in a little town and helps his cousin with his ranch and the rest of the barrio with stuff. But then, as usual, disaster strikes and a bunch of monsters storm in and kidnap a bunch of people from the barrio, including Usnavi, Nina, Benny, Lincoln, and Vanessa. Sonny tries to follow, but he’s pulled into the Twilight thing where he becomes a wolf (he basically becomes Chip XD) Sonny is then helped by a weird little imp that calls himself Pete who is actually the Prince of the Twilight Realm. He was kicked out of his realm by the bad guy and wants to take his land back, and knows that Sonny is the one to do it. So Sonny and Pete go on adventures together, find the kidnapped barrio members and occasionally fighting the leader of the guy who kidnapped them all. Sonny really gets pissed at that guy as time goes on, ESPECIALLY when Usnavi got rammed by his giant boar trying to save Vanessa and got taken hostage. So again, many dungeons and taking Twilight away (also, Sonny gets pretty damn good at fighting; he had been practicing a bit before shit went down so he was kinda shaky like Usnavi, but more confident) and it eventually boils down to them facing off the big bad together and it ends with the Twilight Realm and Light Realm living in harmony (I’m a lowkey LinkxMidna shipper and also, I am NOT separating Sonny and Pete like that X3)

LASTLY: Link Between Worlds! Pete is a blacksmith’s apprentice and he’s eventually called to the castle where Prince Sonny has called him in. Sonny warns him that a great danger is coming, but no one believes him, not even his cousin, Prince Usnavi and the current heir to the throne. But of course, everything goes to shit and a bunch of people are zapped into paintings, including Sonny. So Pete has to use his enchanted bracelet to use his ability to go into paintings to save the seven captured sages (again, take your pick on who they should be) and save both Hyrule and Lorule. (Sorry for lack of story on the last two, I got lazy :/ )

[multiversemuses]

A Sonata for a Root Vegetable ~ A Growing Love Story in Nine GIFs and 1,000+ Words

@darthvoldemaul

“You’re one of my favorite people in the whole wide world; you know that?” Danny prefaces one day while they’re hanging out at Spatola’s.

“Right back at you,” Rhett replies, scratching his chin and leaning back against the green cushion of the booth. “But?”

“But are you ever gonna break the ice and actually talk to her?”

“Who?”

Danny gives him a look and tosses a crumpled napkin at his face.

“You know who, dude.”

Rhett rolls his eyes even though his crooked smile belies this feigned annoyance.

“For the last time, I do not have ‘a thing’ for your lady friend’s best friend.”

“Lies.”

“I don’t. I mean she’s cute or whatever, I guess, but I don’t even know her.”

“You could, if you’d just let me put in a good word.”

“Nah, that’s even worse. I can do my own flirting, man, when I want to.”

“Nola says you just get this really intense look on your face and then sorta walk away all broody.”

“Did she tell her that?”

“No. Nola saw you guys pass each other outside Farley’s.”

“Then she also saw that her friend didn’t even look my way, so it’s all good. Doesn’t matter what my face is doing if it’s just your girlfriend and Butter the Cat watching me through the bookshop window. Her bestie didn’t notice a thing.”

Danny folds his arms and looks away. “I wouldn’t be so sure...,” he mumbles cryptically. 

“Why? What’d she say? Did she mention me to you guys?”

Danny’s expression breaks into a broad grin and he cackles triumphantly.

“Busted! You do give a shit. I called it!” 

Rhett slumps sideways and groans loudly.

“I hate you.”

As the months go by and Danny and Nola start spending more time together, so too do their friend groups. “Groups” is being used a little loosely here since Nola really only has a couple of friends her own age. However, this only means that there are even less people standing as physical buffers between Rhett and The Girl. 

The absence of Rhett’s A-Game is reaching such a level that it is even starting to be noticed by the (albeit unintentionally) oblivious. It took Marty three years to discover her best friend and roommate was in love with her and even she can discern something is up with her shaggy sidekick. 

“You okay, Rhettro Chic?” Marty asks one night at a party, eyeing him over her glass. “You’re being all quiet. It’s weird.”

Vanessa, who is seated at the table with them, follows Rhett’s line of sight and figures out whose gaze has left him flummoxed. Mercifully, she uses her very recent upgrade to girlfriend status to distract the other young woman from this line of inquiry. Nessa presses her lips to Marty’s ear and murmurs what Rhett can only assume is a request to dance, given that they start making their way toward the floor. 

As they cross the room, Vanessa gives Rhett a pointed look over her shoulder and tilts her head toward where Danny, Nola, and her friend are standing. Rhett gives her a grateful nod in return. If he is finally going to do this thing, love her though he does, Rhett really does not need Marty’s encouraging whistles and calls echoing after him. 

He downs a gulp of his beer and strides determinedly toward the far corner. Danny sees his friend’s approach and gets a knowing look in his eye. After a little idle chitchat, Danny uses his best goofy smile and dance moves to coax Nola away with him so Rhett will have his opportunity.

Somehow, just like that, it feels like Danny has found a way to make this all easier on Rhett without directly interfering. Now, if he speaks to Nola’s friend, Rhett will seem like he's sparing her the awkwardness of being left behind as a third wheel. There can even be an unspoken commiseration over their current third wheel-iness. Rhett turns to face this fellow “single Pringle” and manages a smile that almost doesn’t look nervous at all. 

“So, how’ve you been?”

Progress has been made, it’s fair to say, although they're still very much in the friendly acquaintance stage. Even so, it’s nice to be able to exchange subtle nods of greeting across South Main Street. Danny has other ways of reaching the bookshop if he were so inclined, but he conveniently keeps asking Rhett for a ride to make sure his best bud will be in the right place at the right time. Not wanting to be too obvious, Rhett always busies himself afterward by entering other nearby shops as if he’s come this way to run errands. Much to his delighted surprise, there comes one afternoon when Nola’s friend uses this to her advantage. Rhett comes back to find a scrap of notebook paper with seven digits tucked under his windshield wiper. 

Call me sometime - S.

“So your friend Marty always addresses you by a nickname?”

“Sorta. I don’t know if it really counts as a nickname when she tries to steer clear of repeats so it’s never the same. More like name puns? Play on words or whatever.”

“Gotcha. I’m gonna give you one for your contact in my phone. It’s like  Rheumatologist, Rhinocerous, stuff like that?”

“Nah, that’s more like that Benedict guy who played the dragon fr--”

“Got it! I’m texting you a screenshot.”

“...Rutabaga Wickerchair. You’re pretty proud of that one, aren’t you?”

“Taking my bows as we speak. I brought it up a level ’cause your last name’s in it now, too.”

“All right, two can play at that game. Check your messages.”

“Symphony OldMacDonald. That is... something special.”

“Hey, it’s a closer match than Rutabaga.”

“Debatable.”

“A coffee date. Very conventional. And very not you.” 

“What can I say? I’m a man of mystery. Gotta keep you on your toes.”

"Sure, Jan. C’mon, spill it. What’s going on, Scruffleupagus? You’re up to something; I know it. This wouldn’t happen to be one of your collaborative effort pranks, would it?”

“Dunno. Guess you’ll have to wait in suspense and find out.”

“Gonna keep your secrets to the last, huh? All right. But I’m on to you.”

“Scruffle Shuffle!”

Rhett cleans the cheese dust off his fingers with meticulous care, pretending not to hear.

“Rhett!”

He tilts back his head, catching the remaining bag crumbs in his mouth. Rhett gives no indication that he has seen her waving.

“Pardon me... Handsome!”

Rhett smiles in spite of himself but keeps up the act that he hasn’t noticed her prior to this moment.

“Oh hey, Syd.”

“Y’know, strictly speaking, we’re not allowed to bring outsiders back here.”

“Funny, of the two of us, I’d have said you're the one who favors the Ponyboy aesthetic.”

“Har-dee-har. You know the kind I mean.”

“Non-delinquents?” 

“Uh, yeah, something like that.”

“They’re right to be wary, y’know.”

“’Cause I’m such a bad influence?”

“No, ’cause I am. I throw a mean bash, mister. Gimme a box of rinse cups, some AA batteries, and a little dry ice and I could put this place on the social map in a night.”

“A regular Party MacGyver, eh?”

“Damn straight.”

“I’d better not let The Powers That Be know you’re here, then.”

“You’re gonna protect me from your scary headmistress?”

“Yup.”

“Risking life and limb for your lady fair?”

“Yeah or, y’know, like a month’s detention.”

“And they say chivalry is dead.”

“This is where you wanted to show me? One of the piers under the bridge?”

“Yup, this is the one.”

“Interesting. Why this place? What makes it special?”

“I don’t know. It’s quiet, I guess.”

“Yeah. Or it was, ’til you brought me out here.”

“Hmm... The water does seem weirdly still. Even the semis don’t scare off the fish, but they sure heard you coming.”

“Watch yourself, Studly, or I’m gonna help you get intimately acquainted with the Delaware.”

A handful of the academy kids are sitting with Nola and her friends around a bonfire on the shoreline. On a log by themselves near the far side of the circle, Syd and Rhett scuff sand onto the ends of each other’s shoes and make shadow puppets in the flickering glow from the flames.

“Crap, outta juice again,” Marty whines a little louder than necessary and tilts her Solo cup with an exaggerated flip of the wrist. 

“There are a few Mike’s left in the cooler,” Nola points out.

Marty pretends to consider them but wrinkles her nose. “The ice has gotten melted from being too close to the fire.”

“I’ll get you a cold one from the spare supply in the truck,” Vanessa volunteers.

“Aww, thanks, babe. You’re the best.” Marty gives her a peck on the cheek and they discretely exchange a conspiratorial wink.

Things go back to normal for a minute or two until Marty’s cell phone suddenly blares. The ringtone is so loud that everyone around the bonfire jumps about half a foot. 

“Sha la la la la la! Don't be scared. You better be prepared. Go on and kiss the girl!

Marty puts a hand to her chest and gives an exaggerated laugh.

“Oh, that must be my talent manager. Excuse me. I really have to take this.”

She sweeps away into the darkness with the phone pressed to her ear, kicking Rhett’s shin rather sharply as she passes. He winces and rubs the leg of his jeans but, when he sits upright again, Syd is watching him. Did she glance at his lips just then or was it a trick of the light?

[tinybellz-blog]

Running on Glass  ---------> P L A Y L I S T

✘ 01. Numb || Linkin Park

All of Tiny’s life, he’s tried to be just what he figured his father and older brother wanted him to be. He always figured they expected him to follow in their footsteps and take over the family business of selling drugs, and as much as he wanted to make them proud, he felt like he was suffering trying to live up to their standards. 

I'm tired of being what you want me to be Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface I don't know what you're expecting of me Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow Every step that I take is another mistake to you Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow

✘ 02. Big Brother || Kanye West

Although he realized he could never do everything his brother, Tiny still admired and looked up to his big brother Vince. Growing up, he wanted to be just like him and even though he’s in jail now, he still looks up to him and uses him as a source of inspiration in regards to taking care of people and looking out for people he cares about.

My big brother was Big’s brother So here's a few words from your kid brother If you admire somebody you should go ahead and tell em People never get the flowers while they could smell em A ideal in my eyes, God of the game Heart of the city, Rockafella chain Never be the same, never be another Number 1 young Hov, also my big brother

✘ 03. Family || E-40 

Tiny’s new to his aunt’s place and dealing with his her and his uncle. After living on basically his own for years, it’s been a rough adjustment. But he’s come to appreciate them opening their home to him and letting him be apart of the larger family he’s missed out on. His cousins have rub off him as well, and he’s come to apply Vince’s family first method to a larger group of people.

We might argue man, we might fall out 

Might not talk to each other for a long time 

But when tragedy happens, we come together 

We hug each other and start crying

✘ 04. Worst Enemy || Gucci Mane

Ever since Tiny decided to become an athlete, he noticed a lot of his friendships changed. People like Zig who were once his best friends were now either enemies or not trusting of him, and people who he met with disdain now are in a rush to buddy up to him. He’s only got a few people he actually trust, but many of his ‘friends’ aren’t his friends and he knows it.

Tho they say that they my friends I know that these niggas opponent We can joke and laugh and party But I know their smiles are phony But I still pray that the Lord give 'em all the things they wanted All the money in the world cant get the joy I'm felling homie Like the third date with a woman like you and not for your money You can help someone and love someone but still they turn and burn you so hard Want you and revenge watch out cos so called friends And MJG said it best man will I ever know who my friends Through thick and thin cos so called friends will turn to foes.

✘ 05. Cocky || Kid Rock

Tiny’s always been a confident kid, able to charm and sneak his way out of any situation. But now with being an athlete and getting a lot of praise, he’s his gotten a bit cocky. He’s also realized he can have an effect on girls, making him smoother and more confident as time goes by.

They say I'm cocky and I say what It ain't braggin' motherfucker if you back it up They say I'm cocky and I say what It ain't braggin' motherfucker if you back it up

✘ 06. Do You || Ne-Yo Ft. Utada 

Although he realizes he hurt her and that they’ve both moved on with their lives, he can’t help but think of Lola and what could have been. He’ll never truly get over his first love, and no matter how much things have changed, he often considers her when he thinks about his future.

I now what we had is dead and gone

Too many times you made me cry

And I don't mean to interrupt your life 

I just wonder do I ever cross your mind

✘ 07. She’s Too Good For Me || Sting

Tiny knows that Shay’s not a total snob now that she’s a wild one, but he knows her family and her background. He likes her, but he’s not sure if his change in social status will be enough to overcome not only her family, but who she is deep down and he feels that it’s not being a wild girl.

But oh the games we play She's too good for me She's too good for me Would she prefer it if I washed myself more often than I do Would she prefer it if I took her to an opera or two I could distort myself to be the perfect man She might prefer me as I am

✘ 08. Love Song || Big Sean Ft. Suai

Tiny cares deeply for Vanessa, even after his crush on her as kids she still remains his closest friend and one of the only people he can really trust. After their kiss however, he pondered actually getting with her. But what stopped him was her waiting all this time. As much as he cares for her, he doesn’t want to be her fourth or fifth option when she was his number one for so long.

Trying to write a love song I wanted it to be just right Tried to make it beautiful But all I can think about is our last fight I was gonna play it on piano Had the drums come in real bold But I couldn't think of anything good to say So the big ballad strings will never get played Pretty melody I wrote will never get sang Piece of paper that I started with got thrown away A song about our love will never see the light of day Why? cause you made it that way Yea you made it that way

✘ 09. Young Wild and Free || Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg

Tiny’s took to getting high and smoking a lot to ease his nerves and ease his mind as he transitioned to living with his aunt. He still does it frequently, enjoying the high and feeling. He also loves living life to the fullest. He figured he was saved from juvie for a reason, so he feels like enjoying life and the high school experience for all it’s worth.

You know what? It’s like I’m 17 again Peach fuzz on my face Lookin’, on the case Tryna find a hella taste Oh my god, I’m on the chase, Chevy It's gettin’ kinda heavy, relevant, sellin’ it Dippin’ away, time keeps slippin’ away Zip in the safe, flippin’ for pay Tippin’ like I’m drippin’ in paint Up front, four blunts, like, “Khalifa put the weed in a J”

[artificialqueens]

(treat me nice) never let me go [branjie] 7/15 - pinkgrapefruit

chapter 7. i’m powerful with a little bit of tender

previous chapters  1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

A/N - Hi guys, It’s been forever and I am really sorry but I’ve had some rocky times with my mental health recently and I had to take a break from tumblr and from writing. I really hope I can get you another chapter of this in less than three months but I make no promises. In other news we’re almost half way there now! Anyway, I really hope you enjoy this one - it’s an apology <3

ALSO I’VE BEEN DOING ALOT OF READING LATELY AND I’VE REALISED THAT COMMENTING IS SO REWARDING TOO. PLEASE COMMENT. I’VE BEEN ON BOTH SIDES AND IT’S FUCKING LOVELY.

*

When Brooke shakes Vanessa awake, she is already dressed. Vanessa rolls over gently, Brooke’s hand on her lower back as she looks up into the blonde’s eyes, getting lost for a second in her sleepy haze.

“Wake up, time to shop,” calls Brooke, cheery after a coffee and a protein shake. Vanessa sighs with a small giggle.

“You never sleep, huh,” she grumbles, squinting upwards at the ornate ceiling.

“You’re always grumpy in the morning,” Brooke counters goodnaturedly, although without giving anything away as to whether or not she does sleep. She stands straight and appears to dust off the navy blazer she is wearing before reaching into an inside pocket and pulling out her AmEx card. She hands it to Vanessa as if it was a piece of cardboard to be disposed of or something equally as meaningless. Vanessa takes it carefully. “Now, if you have any trouble using it, call the hotel,” Brooke reminds her, hand already on her briefcase. Before Vanessa can say anything, the blonde leans over and places a chaste kiss on her forehead, smiling slightly to herself as she goes to leave.

“So, more shopping?” Vanessa clarifies, causing Brooke to stop at the bedroom door. She turns around, puzzled at the tone.

“Yes,” she confirms as if it is obvious, “frankly, I’m surprised you didn’t buy more yesterday.”

“It wasn’t fun.”

“No?” Brooke drops the briefcase at the door and sits by Vanessa’s legs on the bed, any plans to leave forgotten.

“They were real mean to me.”

“Mean to you? Well then.” Brooke takes Vanessa’s hand and pulls her up out of the bed, her face like a man on a mission, except more pressed and less forgiving. “We’ll see about that,” she mumbles under her breath, hoping Vanessa won’t hear. She doesn’t see the smile that graces the girl’s lips.

*

Vanessa is barely dressed when Brooke comes back into the room. She’s got her hair piled in a bun on top of her head and one of Brooke’s shirts is tied at her waist like a crop top, attempting to bring a modicum more class to the hooker skirt on its third day of wear. Despite looking like a self proclaimed ‘mess on legs’, Brooke still watches Vanessa for a second, eyes raking her soft, toned legs and ass lifted by her red stilletos.

The blonde picks up the AmEx card off the table and slots it into the breast pocket of the shirt, mentally appraising Vanessa’s memory before forcing an iced latte into the girls hand and using the other to almost drag her into the main area. They stand facing each other for a second, Vanessa looking up expectantly.

“Don’t fidget.” Brooke starts, tone clipped. “Drink the coffee.”

“Yes, mami.”

“Ness.”

“Sorry.”

*

By the time they get to the store Vanessa is shaking. It’s in part due to the large coffee she drank in an inhumanely fast time, but mostly the sheer nerves of standing outside a place that managed to make her feel so small. Brooke notices, of course she does, and squeezes her hand comfortingly.

“What’s wrong?” She asks, quietly.

“People are looking at me,” she responds, shifting a little on the spot, hands running along the base of her skirt, nails buried in her palms.

“They’re not looking at you, they’re looking at me.” Brooke’s not wrong. She’s dressed in a white lace bodysuit, tailored navy cigarette trousers and a navy blazer, the outfit accentuating the impossible length of her legs and the gym workouts she does six days a week

“I don’t like stores like these, they’re not nice to people.”

“They’re never nice to people. They’re nice to credit cards,” Brooke counters with a tone that tells Vanessa they are done. She gives her a quick once over, smoothing one side of the shirt. “Quit fidgeting, get rid of the gum,” she commands. When Vanessa spits it out into the nearest street grate, the blonde just sighs.

*

Brooke leads them both into the store with a confidence Vanessa just doesn’t have. It’s been cultivated through years in a competitive field, and it oozes out of every barely existing pore on the blondes skin. Vanessa trails behind, timid and unsure, but immediately feeling the residual anger burn back up in her heart.

This store is painted in taupes and warm beiges, neutrals that extend as far as the eye can see. It even smells expensive, like if you step in without at least a million dollars you will be kicked right back out onto the street. Vanessa’s eyes get caught on the bright reds and golds and the deep sea blues covering the many racks and rails of the store.

They’re immediately approached by a tall woman in her mid twenties, red hair and green eyes that appear to reflect all the greenery Salifornia is missing. She has more conviction behind her eyes than she should when faced with Brooke, but it doesn’t turn Vanessa off in the way it should.

“Scarlet Envy, floor manager,” the redhead says, hand stuck out in greeting. Brooke shakes it in a business-like fashion, but her frown stays put.

“Brooke Lynn Hytes.”

“Ah yes, miss,” Scarlett appeases, acknowledging Vanessa for the first time - even with someone like Brooke she is still overlooked - people still don’t treat her like she has a voice.

“You see this woman?” Brooke gestures to the brunette behind her.

“Yes?”

“Do you have anything in this shop as beautiful as she is?” Scarletts smile falters for a second, her face overcome with confusion as she scans the shop floor.

“Oh, yes.” Brooke’s eyes darken. “Oh, no! No, no, no, I’m saying we have many things as beautiful as she would want them to be. That’s the point I was getting at, and I think we can all agree with that. “ Her face now matches her name and it makes Vanessa chuckle in a way that Brooke definitely banned her from doing earlier that day.

“I think,” the blonde tests, “that we’re going to need more people helping us.” Scarlet nods. “I’ll tell you why. We’re going to be spending an obscene amount of money here. So we’re going to need a lot more help sucking up to us. That’s what we really like. You understand that?” She flashes the edge of her black AmEx card and recognition flashes across Scarlet’s eyes. She nods again, this time with more assertion, and turns on her heels to find the appropriate amount of people to cater to the extortionate amount of money due to be spent.

As Vanessa is fussed and tended to, Scarlet approaches Brooke again, the taller woman with a soft smile and a warm demeanour peeking through her cold front. “Excuse me miss? exactly how obscene an amount of money were you talking about?”

Brooke chuckles softly.

“Just profane or really offensive”

“Really offensive Scarlet.”

“I think I like you.”

At that moment, Brookes phone rings and she sighs. The spell is broken, and she hurries past Vanessa, sliding the card into her hand and kissing her on the cheek. She’s halfway through the conversation before she leaves the store.

*

“Brooke Lynn Hytes speaking.”

“Oh, Brooke. Where the hell are you?” Brooke runs a hand through her loose blonde strands, stifling a yawn as her eyes scan the street for her car.

“Busy, Mr Charles.”

“The words all over the street. Cain’s gonna raise the offer.” Ru sounds more excited than Brooke has heard in god knows how long, but she’s unconvinced.

“She’s countering? God, she is a tough old bird. Where’s she gonna get the money from?”

“I don’t know. She, uh– I think he’s throwin’ in with the employees.” Her hand moves to her forehead, no longer caring about her makeup. She is tired and clinging onto the happiness of Vanessa - hoping she can get through the day and just get back to her.  

“She still needs someone to underwrite the paper. Find out who it is, I’m on my way.”

“Yeah, okay. You got it.”

The line goes dead.

*

Back with Scarlet, Vanessa smiles to herself. She feels powerful in a store full of men and women who listen to her every whim. In the men’s section, she spots a red tie the colour of her lipstick. She taps the nearest woman and gestures to it. “Get me that tie, would you?” She asks - it doesn’t sound like a request though.

“Farrah, get miss Mateo the tie.”

*

She finishes up in that shop and orders a taxi to take her home - arms overwhelmed with the sheer number of bags she has. As they are driving down the street however, she spots a shop she has to visit and calls for the driver to pull up. She grabs four or five bags, and hops out, strutting into the store like she owns it.

“Hello.” She calls out as she steps through the door. She drops her bags on the floor dramatically and watches as two women hurry to pick them back up for her, moving them onto a stand ever so carefully. Carson is scurrying around in the back and she calls for him to come down to meet her. “Do you remember me?” She asks.

Vanessa is smirking because she can. She’s dressed like a rich housewife, and she has every intention of acting like one - all prissy and entitled because she can. She can do all of this.

“No, I’m sorry,” replies Carson and he sounds genuine. It’s a wonder what dressing well can do for you, she thinks to herself, dabbing at her forehead with a silk handkerchief.  

“I was here yesterday. You wouldn’t wait on me,” she states.

“Oh.” This time his brow furrows and she watches as her remember exactly who she is.

“You work on commission, right?”

“Uh, yes.” Vanessa wishes Brooke could see her now. She imagines the blonde would look so proud as she slowly pulls off her white gloves to reveal chipped red nailpolish. With her now unclothed hand, she reaches into the breast pocket of her cream pantsuit and pulls out the AmEx card. She tries to embody Brooke as she smrks.

“Big mistake. Big. Huge!” She beckons for her bags and they are placed back in her hands. She gives them one last look and then raises an eyebrow, lip quirking. “I have to go shopping now.”

She leaves and she does not look back.

*

Vanessa stalks through the hotel lobby looking proud, chest out, head high. She has a few bags in each hand with Courtney carrying the rest up to the room and she feels powerful. She could get used to the way people’s eyes are following her for good reasons instead of bad, and yet the grasp of wealth feels scary. It sickens her to know how differently people treat her because of how she dresses.

Nina’s talking to people when Vanessa walks in and she doesn’t notice her at first, but as her clients’ heads turn, hers does too. She sees the short brunette in a cream pantsuit and a small smile grows on her face. She sees Vanessa as kind of her child now and, damn, is she proud.

Vanessa goes out of sight, but Nina’s smile doesn’t change.

*

Brooke enters her office already done with the day. At her desk sits Ru, her boss, looking unimpressed with her lateness as he slams the phone back onto the desk, shuffling his papers and pointing to the chair opposite him for her to sit in.

“Brooke Lynn,” he says, monotone and with little care.

“Mr Charles.”

His facade seems to drop almost immediately, lighting up like a kid at Christmas as he hands her a sheet of mortgages taken out by Shuga Cain. “You were right about Shuga. She mortgaged everything she owns, right down to her walking stick, to secure a loan from the bank.” Brooke feigns surprise before giving him a raise of the eyebrow that can only be interpreted as ‘I told you so.’ Ru’s face replies with ‘and there’s more’ before he says, “Not just any bank, Visage Banking!”

“Uhuh,” Brooke follows.

“I think it goes without saying that this deal means more to the bank than even to Cain. And we‘ve got an in at the bank…” he trails off, like he wants her to end his thoughts, but she refuses with a stare. “So…..”

“We gotta call the bank.” She finally exhales with a sigh. He looks disapproving and a little curious as to her mood.

“Alright Brooke. What the hell is wrong with you this week?” He breaks, leaning onto her desk like he’s supposed to be interrogating her, but with all the power of a golden retriever. Despite this, Brooke cannot find it within her to withhold much.

“You know what I used to love when I was a little kid, Ru?” She doesn’t wait for a reply. “Building blocks, Kinects.”

Ru sighs and runs a hand over his bald head. “So, I liked Monopoly - I don’t get what you’re saying.”            

“In Canada, I help people build things. You don’t build anything, Ru. You destroy it.”

“I make money,” he counters with a stony disposition. “We’ve worked for a year on this deal. It’s what you said you wanted. I’m handing it to you.”

“You’ve worked for it. You want it. You don’t want your hands dirty.” Brooke gets louder as she says it, standing, hands flat on her desk.

“Morse’s jugular is exposed. It’s time for the kill,” Ru finishes, looking angry.

Brooke picks up her briefcase swiftly and has a foot out of the door when Ru calls after her, “Call the bank!” She doesn’t dignify him with a response.

*

When Brooke comes into the penthouse she is exhausted and frazzled, and cannot wait to relax into the sofa with a large glass of red wine and her Netflix subscription. What she does not expect (although it is not unwelcomed), is to find Vanessa lounged on her favourite armchair nude. The woman’s hair is tied in a messy bun on top of her head, single curls falling down to frame her face. The only item she has on (it cannot be deemed clothing), is a vintage red tie. It covers nothing, sitting perfectly between her breasts, and Brooke would be lying if she said she wasn’t fixated.

“Nice tie,” she gulps out, a little speechless.

“I bought it for you,” purrs Vanessa, tugging at it gently, teeth imprinting on her lip. She holds her hand out to Brooke and guides her through the archway into the ensuite.

*

They lay together in a bathtub full of bubbles, Brooke’s head on Vanessa’s chest as she slowly rubs a sponge over her torso, watching the bubbles lather and dissipate as if entranced. There’s something about bathing together that removes any sense of distance, and Brooke feels compelled to open up about things she’s never considered opening up about. She smiles contentedly before she begins to speak.

“My father always wanted me to be a man,” she states plainly, without preamble or caution. Vanessa’s hands stop briefly before a sloshing can be heard and then warm water is back, rolling over Brooke’s chest. “I suppose that’s why he never had a problem with me being gay - thought I’d make a butch lesbian.”

Vanessa chuckles at that and Brooke can feel the vibrations through her own body too. “You ain’t butch, Mary,” she gets out.

“I know,” responds Brooke with a lilt in her voice. “Anyway, back in my early twenties, I competed in Miss Continental. My dad,” she pauses to consider her words, “he was furious.” Vanessa places a warm hand on her shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “We fought for weeks, he always wanted me to be something, to follow in his footsteps and make something of myself, and insisted that I couldn’t do so if I won a beauty pageant.”

“Bullshit.”

“Exactly. Anyway, he all but disowned me - called me names I’ll never forget and, god, I was so angry.” She sighs and tries to run a hand through her hair, but it’s wet and knotted, so she settles on running her nails up her thigh. Vanessa notices and drops the sponge in the water, settling them both into a position where she can detangle Brooke’s hair easily. “It took me ten thousand dollars in therapy to say that sentence. I was very angry with him.” She repeats with a smirk as Vanessa giggles behind her. “I say that very well don’t I? I’ll say it again. I was very angry with him.” This turns the woman’s giggles into full fledged laughter as she feels her hair become lighter, until Vanessa’s fingers get back to detangling.

“Hi, I’m Brooke Lynn Hytes and I was very angry with my father.”

“I’d be real mad at the ten thousand dollars, boo, but you do you,” Vanessa chips in and Brooke can hear the smile in her voice, glad they’re both enjoying their bathtub rendezvous.

“I won Miss Continental,” Brooke announces finally, deeming it important to finish the story.

“Damn, babe,” she sounds impressed and it makes Brooke flush under the dimly glowing bathroom lights.

“I won Miss Continental and I used the money to put myself through law school. And then I got a job and opened a firm under RuPaul and the first case of his I took on - I helped buy out the company my father was president of. I helped buy it and then I helped sell it off, piece by piece.”

“What did the therapist say?”

“He said I was cursed.”

“Well, you got even, so that must’a made you happy then.”

“Did I mention my legs are about 31 inches from hip to ankle,” Vanessa asks, suggestively wrapping both her legs around Brooke’s waist and leaning to dot a kiss onto her shoulder. “So, basically, we’re talkin’ about 31 inches of therapy, wrapped around you for the bargain price of…”

“Three thousand dollars,” they finish together, laughing. Brooke turns her head so she can lay a soft kiss on the back of Vanessa’s hand, a ‘thank you for listening’ and a 'thank you for still being here’.

[artificialqueens]

Elastic Heart Part 8/10 (Branjie) - Mia Ugly

A/N: Thanks so much to artificialmeggie for the read-over and feedback on this update!!  And thank you to everyone who’s been reading and commenting. Fanfic takes a village, and the AQ village is everything.

We’re getting close to the finish line, and I hope to have it all done and posted within the next week so that I can stop worrying about canon messing with me. Also, if you want to know the inspiration behind this title and lip sync, check out Brooke Lynn Hytes’ performance of “Elastic Heart” on youtube.  Dear God, do it now.

Brock has this thing about winning. 

It’s a mean thing.

An ugly thing.

And it’s worked for him, for countless pageants, for Miss Continental, for Drag Race (for most of Drag Race, anyway.) He knows it’s connected to anxiety and perfectionism and self-esteem and whatever, knows it’s got something to do with that gasping hole in his chest (below the breastbone, left of the third rib) the one that’s always hungry, the one that can never be full. 

It’s a - whole mood.

It’s why he hasn’t had any real relationships, just short breathless hookups that ended in ignored texts and missed calls.

It’s why the thing with Jose was such a consummate disaster. Because it messed up the plan, the strategic and well-designed flowchart that Brock had for his life and the direction it was going to take.  Jose was not part of that plan.  A crown was.

And Brock had chances to change it, to back out, to cut ties. He had so many chances and after the Snatch Game - he tried. Like an asshole, he tried.  It was safer for them to be separate; Brock wasn’t so confused then.  It was safer when Vanjie wasn’t looking at him with those slanted eyebrows and soft smile, it meant Brock could focus. Could feed that part of himself that told him he wasn’t good enough.  

Told him he wasn’t enough, period.

If they had been talking much at the time he would have told Vanessa: I can’t think when you’re near me and I’m not going to put us both in the bottom two and that look on your face makes me forget what I’m doing here.

But instead he said nothing.

He watches the latest episode at a club in Nashville and performs some Ariana for them when it’s over.  As he leaves the stage, he realizes that his knee is throbbing.  It’s an old dance injury that returns now and then (a ghost to keep him company.)  Brock tries to stay and mingle but the pain is making him pricklier than usual; around 1 am he leaves in full drag and catches a cab home. He changes into his usual t-shirt and sweats, and is taking off his paint in the bathroom (leg stretched out on the toilet, icepack on his knee).

Then the phone rings.

When he sees Jose’s name, he almost doesn’t answer it. 

He’s just not in a place to talk to him right now.  He’s too wound up, and he’s in pain, and he’s worried his heart might give out like his knee if he hears Jose’s voice. 

The phone rings. Rings.

Fuck you, heart, Brock thinks and picks up.

At first there’s silence on the other end.  Then a breath.  Then another.

“Hey mama.”  The sound of the other man’s voice is like a lighthouse. “Weren’t you s’posed to call me or somethin’? I thought we’re gonna plan all this shit, all our statements and - then I get the cold shoulder, what’s goin’ on?”

There’s something a bit more musical than usual about the way Jose’s talking. A rolling rhythm, a slight drag on his vowels.

“You’re drunk,” Brock says, and Jose laughs, a gorgeously painful sound. 

Of course he’s drunk. Why would he call Brock if he wasn’t?

“Nah, girl, just - well maybe.  Back from the club, celebratin’ that my ass still on the show. You know. Everyone’s been talking at me about you, thought I better hit you up.”

“What club?” Brock wipes off his lipstick, turns slowly back to his beige-coloured self. “Where are you?”

“I’m in…” Jose pauses too long. “Shit.  Where’m I? Chicago.  That’s right.  Bitch, I’m from Chicago. Where you at?”

“Home.” 

“Damn. You on the other side of the world.”

Brock snorts, peeling off his lashes.  “A seven hour drive is the other side of the world, eh?”

“Look at you, soundin’ all Canadian.”

“I really don’t know what you’re talking aboot.”

Jose laughs again, and the tipsy affection in his voice makes Brock squeeze his eyes shut, as if that will somehow block out the sound.  He doesn’t want to hear it.  It makes him miss Jose like he’d miss a vital organ, his left arm, his tongue.

“So.  So. Why did I - oh yeah, we’re planning. Scheming.  Gonna rob a bank or something.”

“Girl, you are so wasted.” 

“I’d be your getaway driver. You know, Fast and the Furious style.”

“Maybe if the whole drag thing doesn’t work out.” Brock’s smiling stupidly to himself, and he catches that look in the mirror.  It’s the expression he’s only ever seen on the show - the ‘Vanjie smile’, small and hopeless.  Seeing it in real life is a bit terrifying. “You can be Vin Diesel.”

“Shut your lyin’ mouth, ho! If I’m anyone it’s the Rock.” 

“Fine, Jesus. Be the Rock, if that’s your deal-breaker.” Brock leaves the bathroom, only half finished but unable to stand in front of a mirror any longer.  He sits down on his sofa, leg propped out on the coffee table with the ice pack balanced on it.  He smells terrible, like sweat and hairspray.  Christ, he needs a shower. “So. Just a couple more episodes left, and then -”

“Then you burnt it down. Not something I’ma forget.” The laughter in Jose’s voice fades. “How you feelin’ about watching it all?”

“Not great.  I don’t know – how it’s going to look, how they’re going to make it look.” Brock was basically moving on auto-pilot after it was over. There are a lot of pieces missing. “What if I, like, blacked out and did that Celine Dion impression again?”

“I dunno if I’d call what you did an ‘impression.’”

“And the library is open.” Brock winces a bit at the memory, because the reads during that last episode were too affectionate.  He’d been trying to play it cool then, make it clear he was all about the show and not just some sucker for a gorgeous face. But watching the edits, it’s almost like he went too hard in the opposite direction.  No wonder they were both fucked up about it.

“Also bitch, I was there that night. I think I woulda remembered if you went full Celine. Had flashbacks and shit.”

“You might have repressed it. On account of the trauma.”

“Guess we’ll both be in for a surprise then.”

God, Brock hopes not. That whole lip sync against Vanessa still feels unreal.  Some parts are so clear they’re like photographs, and others are like kindergarten drawings.  He knows they’re meant to mean something, but he can’t for the life of him figure out what. 

“So what are you going to say? When it airs.  We’ve got, like, two episodes left.”

“Does it matter?”

It does matter, it matters to Brock so much almost can’t put words to it.  

“Yes.”

“I’ll say… ha, I’ll say I paid you off.  Like boxing and shit. I was betting on the winner and gave you all my meme money to throw it.” Jose’s tone is bright like he’s joking, but there’s something underneath his words that’s a bit sharper. Something that sets Brock’s teeth on edge. “Or maybe I’ll say you’re a damn fool who forgot how to dance.”

“Yeah, you could.”

“Or maybe I’ll say -” Jose suddenly stops talking. Brock hears him rummaging around, hears some sort of movement in the background.  And then there’s silence.

“Hey. You good?” Brock asks after the silence goes on too long.  

He’s only a little concerned that Jose may have passed out, when Jose breathes a quiet laugh in response.

“So good, boo, you got no idea. Just - livin’ my best life. You know, walkin’ backwards.” There’s something tragic in his tone, and then more movement. “Brock -” 

The way he says the name sounds urgent, but then it trails off into nothing. Brock waits for the rest of it.   Waits.  

“Yes?”

“What? Nah, I jus’ like sayin’ your name. Brock.  Brooke. I like ‘em both.” Jose makes an odd choked sound on the other end of the line. “What you doin’ now?”

“Taking off my face. I was working tonight.”

“You get those dollar bills, mama?”

“Of course I did.”

“You got anyone there with you?”  

There’s an intensity in the question that makes Brock hesitate.  

“Anyone as fine as me?” Jose continues, and Brock’s mouth goes a bit dry.  

“No.” He swallows. “Um. Do you?”

“Fuck no. Who’d that be? Ain’t no one -” Jose cuts himself off, and Brock feels something rising inside him, a wave of wanting that started at the first rasp of Jose’s voice on the line.  “That damn lip sync of yours is still all over my pages.”

“Yeah?” ” Brock doesn’t know where this conversation is going, but something feels - too intense.  Too desperate. His heart beats against his chest a bit too hard.

Jose whistles. “Been playing it on repeat just to look at Yvie’s ass.”

“Bitch.” Brock grins, even though he’s starting to feel all blurry around the edges. “I knew it.”

“But damn, girl, you were fine as hell. I remember thinkin’ - watching you dance -”

Heat rises to Brock’s face.  Jose is drunk, there’s no way he would be saying any of this otherwise.

“- like how the fuck did she somehow - how did she end up -”

There is a feeling like electricity running over Brock’s skin and under it.  Through his bones, his veins. He can’t say anything in reply.

“ - with me? Like I get to to look at her, and fucking - kiss her -”

“Jose -”

“Wish I could see you now.  Miss your stupid face, your fucking hands.  I miss your mouth -”

“Jesus,” Brock gasps.  This is not how he thought this was going to go. “I miss you too.”

“Don’t - you don’t gotta talk none, just let me okay? Just let me.” Jose’s breathing is heavy, and there’s another sound like rustling fabric. “Gotta take my shirt off.”

“Jesus,” Brock says again, sweat breaking out over his neck, his chest.  This can’t actually be happening.  He hasn’t had anything but water and energy drinks tonight, he’s not - prepared. He’s entirely too sober.  He’s going to do something stupid, say something -

“You think about me?” Jose continues, voice rough. “You want me?”

What could it hurt to be honest? For fucking once, Brock. “Fuck yes. All the -”

“I think about you, about riding you.  Bet you would fuck like you dance, hey? So damn pretty.  Are you touching yourself?”

Brock wants to but he isn’t, doesn’t know the rules here. He’s hard in his sweatpants, and his free hand has started to travel down his abdomen, trace the fine hairs below his bellybutton.

“I am,” Jose gasps, “Brock, baby - please -”

“Oh my god.” Brock closes his eyes, imagining Jose on some shitty hotel bed, shirt off, pants undone. It’s like he’s there, right in front of him, almost close enough to touch. Brock can smell his sweat, smell his cologne, wants to drag his tongue up the crease between his hip and his thigh. His hand slips beneath his waistband and he - his body wants this, but the rest of him feels -

“Get off for me, baby,” Jose’s voice breaks. “I wanna hear what you sound like, wanna hear you -”

Brock strokes himself, feeling a bit like he’s having an out-of-body experience. He’s never done this before - sent the odd pic, but never - nothing like this. His body feels overheated, every inch of his skin is sensitive. Goosebumps are rising all over his shoulders, and his cock is so wet, like he’s already there, seconds away.  He can only hear Jose’s rasping breaths on the other line, a rhythm that’s rising. Brock wishes he could see him. Touch him.  

“If you were here - fuck,” Jose moans into the phone, “I’d let you do anything you wanted, let you -”

Brock’s hand is speeding up, his hips making tiny thrusting movements into his fist.  He drops his head back against the couch, lets Jose’s voice wrap him up in rough silk.

“ - touch me all over.  Those big hands of yours, I been thinking about them. Want your fingers in my mouth.”

“Jose -”

“I wish you were touchin’ me right now, wish it was your hand. I’m so close just - oh fuck, fuck I’m -”

Brock recognizes the sounds that follow. Recognizes them from that one night in the hotel room during Drag Race, his mouth between Jose’s legs, his hands everywhere and lit up from the inside like all his bones were matches. 

He can see Jose’s back arching from behind his closed eyes and it’s too sweet, too much. Brock’s voice breaks as a strangled, foreign sound forces its way out of his chest. He can still taste Jose in his mouth, and the memory brings everything to a crescendo.  Suddenly Brock is coming in his hand, and he doesn’t know how it happened so fast but it’s been so long and Jose’s voice and his laugh and oh Christ, oh my God, oh - 

He trembles as he strokes himself through it, breathing like he’s just run a marathon. There is silence on the other line and Brock drops his head, doesn’t move. 

He tries to catch his breath, sticky and uncomfortable and boneless with longing. His knee throbs and he realizes that at some point the ice pack slid onto the floor. 

This was not what he envisioned when he thought about his first time getting off with Jose. (But what had he envisioned? Rose petals and champagne? Had there been an ending anywhere in sight or was it just about the show and the rest of the timeline was blank? Had he thought about it, or had it just been a fucking dream?)

Brock’s almost afraid to say anything, break the silence.  What does this mean for them - anything at all?  After everything that’s happened, is there a reason to think this matters? Or is it just something that Jose does on the daily when he’s buzzed and lonely?

“Jose?”

There is no answer.  Brock can hear slow breathing, just barely, on the other line. 

“Have you fallen the fuck asleep?” he says, a bit louder. Nothing.

Unbelievable. Brock would laugh if he wasn’t afraid he’d start crying. He says Jose’s name a couple more times, only to get mumbling in response (and a frankly adorable snore but don’t let anyone know he said that.) 

Jesus Christ.  He feels like an idiot. He feels - feels - 

(“Now the real reason I keep kissing you,” Brooke’s heart is beating like a kickdrum in her chest, be cool, be cool for once, “is to get you to shut the fuck up.”

Vanessa’s smile in response is something to write songs about. It’s shy and proud and embarrassed and everything that always seems to smack Brooke in the face, knock her to the ground. 

“I’ll take that.” Vanjie tilts her head and Brooke forgets all the reasons that she wanted to slow things down, forgets how to count money and block out her eyebrows, forgets the name of her first grade teacher and the smell of her hometown. Forgets why she’s even in this competition, and that - that’s a huge fucking problem.)

“Night, boo,” Brock says to the universe, before he hangs up. He finishes taking off his face, and gets in the shower, and tries not to think about it. Tries not to think about the water running over his skin the way he wishes Jose’s fingers would. Tries not to remember anything about tonight, lets his mind go blank and blissful. Lets his body take over, go through the motions of drying itself off, and dressing itself up, and swooning into bed.

The text he’s expecting comes the next morning (well, morning for drag queens so around noon.)

“Sorry bout last night i was white girl wasted”

“Brock im so so sorry shit im stupid”

“next time i call you late don’t answer :(”

Brock doesn’t text back. 

* * *

And the music plays.

“Oh why can I not conquer love?”

Brooke moves the way she’s born to, feeling each beat of the song in the bones of her hips.  She’s a fucking performer, this is what she does. She tries to focus on making eye contact with Ru, with Michelle, tries to command the stage and dare them not to want her. She glances over to see Vanjie more than matching her, hitting each beat of the music with a punch. 

Brooke looks away before she can get distracted, crossing the stage and posing where the lights hit her just right. She spins, she stretches, she waits for the moment to make her move.

“And I might have thought you’d be the one..”

Brooke glances over at Vanjie again. Girl has dropped to her knees and is crawling across the floor, back arched like a cat. Her skin shines, perpetually glittery, and Brooke can remember the taste of her tongue, the sweet pressure of her mouth.

And then Vanessa rises to her knees, tilts her head toward the stage lights. Brooke’s about to look away (FOCUS) but before she can - 

- she sees a tear runs down Vanessa’s face. 

Just one.  

Black with mascara. Delicate as a line of calligraphy. 

Brooke snaps her head forward.  She doesn’t - she can’t - she won’t think about that right now, she’s not hear to think about that. She’s a drag queen and this is a fucking competition and she came here to win it.

She listens to the music, and it swells, it swells.  Sia’s voice crescendoes and Brooke takes a breath, prepares to slide into the splits and then -

(Once upon a time, in a small Canadian town, there was a boy who wanted to be a dancer.  

He was late to start but he worked harder than the other students, practiced longer.  This boy had a dance teacher, and even though he worked harder and practiced longer, his teacher did not like him. She only saw his flaws, and saw them often.  She was constantly finding something to criticize - the height of his jumps, the strength of his arms.  And though the years passed and the boy learned to dance and dance well, his teacher did not change. She was never satisfied.

When the boy left the small Canadian town at last, at long last, he asked his teacher why.  She waited for a moment before she replied. 

“You dance with your head. Your head is in control of your performance. Technically you have the skills, but a truly great dancer must listen to their body.  Listen to their heart.”

The boy left the small Canadian town, and kept dancing.  And he listened to his head, and he built walls made of brick and stone, and he never looked back.)

Brooke takes a breath, prepares to slide into the splits and then -

She doesn’t move.

NO 

It’s not even a decision, it’s just a moment and the moment is gone. And it’s - fine, Brooke’s a dancer, she can turn it the fuck out, it’s not too late. She can - she’ll just - Brooke spins into the music, prepares to fall flat into a death drop in time with the beat and then.  

And then she doesn’t.

NO NO 

Her body is not moving.  Her movements are stopping (there was a tear on Vanessa’s face, it was black like ink.) 

DON’T DON’T YOU’RE THROWING IT WHAT THE FUCK ARE 

Brooke can’t get enough air, sees fireworks across her vision. It’s not too late, she just has to - move, she has to -

But she doesn’t. She slowly comes to a stop on stage. Why isn’t she moving? What is happening? She can’t even look at the judges, can’t meet their eyes. She clenches her hands into fists, the possibility of winning this moving farther and farther, waves carrying it beyond her reach. 

“You won’t see me fall apart.”

And then all of sudden, Vanjie realizes what’s going on.  Out of the corner of her eye, Brooke sees Vanjie stiffen. It’s like a stutter in her heartbeat, and Brooke can’t help but turn to look at her. She sees Vanessa’s wide, dark eyes, sees her give a horrified little shake of her head, ‘no’.  

Vanjie doesn’t stop dancing, though, and Brooke stands in one place, staring at her, trying to breathe. Vanessa finishes the song with her signature twisty death drop, arching off the floor with her hand out-stretched (“That’s a star, right?”) as Sia half-whispers half-sings the last line.

“I’ve got an elastic heart.”

When it ends, Brooke is shaking.  

Her hands are trembling so much she has to hold them behind her back so nobody notices and calls for a medic. There are applause from the judges but Vanessa is not smiling.  A smudged tear-track still lingers on her cheek.  

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WHAT DID YOU

“Vanessa Vanjie Mateo,” Ru says, not even taking a moment to think it over. “Shantay you stay.”

Brooke hears cheering from Silky and A’Keria, and she nods.  The sounds seem to be coming from somewhere far away, another room.

Vanjie releases a shaky breath, whispers, “Thank you so much” (barely audible, voice breaking) and then is suddenly crossing the stage and in Brooke’s arms. Brooke can’t speak, can’t understand what’s happening, can only hold Vanessa like the world is ending, breathe in the smell of her skin like it might be the last time she gets to. 

She doesn’t know what to say.  She doesn’t know how to let her go.

“Brooke -” Vanjie is shaking like a leaf, pulse racing.

“You -” Brooke searches for words but they scatter like ashes. So she says the only thing she can remember.  “- you want a ring or some shit?” 

Vanjie pulls back, eyes flooding with tears. 

“Brooke Lynn Hytes.” Ru’s voice makes them split apart and the absence of Vanjie in her arms is like a broken bone. 

Brooke tries to get it together. Tries to remember who she was before this whole mess started.  She’s Brooke Lynn Hytes, she was Miss fucking Continental, damn it, she had a plan -

She doesn’t remember how she gets offstage. Ru says something in parting, and she smiles and plays the grateful queen, and as she passes the girls Yvie grabs her, hisses “What the fuck did you -” but it’s all like moving underwater. Somehow Brooke’s back in the werkroom.  Somehow Brooke’s staring shell-shocked into the camera, holding the statuette in her hand.

“Brooke,” a producer keeps repeating, “Brooke, do you need a minute? Are you ready? Brooke, are you okay? Can someone get her some water?”

She blinks, stupidly. 

“I’m - in love with him,” she says to herself.

As soon as she says it, it’s like a bomb going off.  There’s a ringing in her ears, and her mouth tastes like honey and thorns. How can this be possible? The werkroom looks the same, Brooke’s hands and arms are the same shape, but that doesn’t make sense. The whole world should be a different colour if Brooke is in love. There should be fish swimming through the walls. 

Everything should be changed in the wake of this earthquake.

“Oh my god.” Brooke looks at the camera with wide, horrified eyes. “I love him.”

That’s when she remembers she’s on television.