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sophieswundergarten · 2 years ago

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Oh, S. Q. He's trying so hard and Curtain can't let him grow up, partly because he's a control freak, and probably partly because he still feels horribly guilty about Pedalian, which is interesting and twisted and sad, because he thinks he's trying to protect him, but it's only hurting him.

JILLSON

Oh, Curtain is about to be so wrong about Sticky. I'm excited.

And, of course, he goes right back to trying to gaslight the child.

It's kind of funny, because with the two of them, they aren't actually talking. They're trying to out mental-chess each other, but with their own specific flavour of anxiety.

I know I should probably be analysing the themes and whatever other lovely little details you've snuck into this scene, but I can only feel a really intense kinsmanship and sympathy for both characters. I guess that means you are just a hugely fantastic author (as I've been saying), because I identify with both Curtain and Sticky in this moment. Thank you.

Although the bit about loyalty looping back to Curtain's finally thought about "[getting] his brother back" was so very neat.

Milligan recognizes the hydroelectric turbines!!

I really love how Milligan can read Mr. Benedict in such a kind way. They know each other so well and I adore how you portray their friendship even when they aren't talking.

~~ And the star motif is back ~~

The way you had them both talk about how the thing they're missing is similarly inscrutable and out of reach is so good!!

(I know you're borrowing some lines from the show, but that has nothing to do with how you accentuate them with descriptions and inner thoughts. Astonishing.)

"On the one hand, a part of Nicholas had hoped to see his brother safe and in good health, but on the other hand, if Nathaniel looked scared or weak then maybe… maybe he wasn’t The Sender, at least not really. Maybe someone was forcing him to do this, maybe this had all been some sort of misunderstanding. Maybe Nathaniel was in trouble, maybe he needed him."

"Now Nicholas knew that by hurting his brother, he had created The Sender, and consequently, the Emergency. He had indirectly caused the suffering of millions, if not billions of people around the world. / And he was the only one who could save them."

GAH. You really know how to get into my brain and cause very intense emotions, don't you? Because I have just been destroyed.

JACKSONANDJILLSONJACKSONANDJILLSONJACKSONANDJILLSONJACKSONANDJILLSONJACKSONANDJILLSON

AND MARTINA!!!! THIS IS AWESOME!!!!!

MAY I JUST SAY. The Executives content made me so incredibly fantastically happy and you have no idea how much it meant to me :) I am still vibrating, and there is nothing but serotonin when I go over that passage again. I was trying to restrain myself with the rest of the chapter, (and we saw how well that went) so I can really get into the details here:

Just.

Speed walking is the only form of movement Martina possesses aside from sprinting at people full tilt and tetherball jumps.

The way you write Jackson and Jillson's exchanges is so indisputably perfect and it makes me so happy I am utterly elated this is wonderful my week has been made since I saw the bit in your WIP game and now it has been made again by this chapter

Oh, oh dear. I did ask for Executive backstory but I don't know if this counts because it has also caused me more emotional damage.

They were so alone!! As tiny children!! Why would someone leave them :(

They picked the same birthday. They're twins I don't care what anyone says I'm crying now.

Of course they picked "Jack and Jill". Such an exquisite detail even though I knew it in my heart I was so happy to get to read your specific explanation.

HE THOUGHT IS SOUNDED MORE GROWN UP????? HE'S SIX?????? Someone hug this child, please

And she changed her name too!!! It's so sweet!!!!!

Oh, oh no. That's why you showed us the mirroring scenes with them talking to the Whisperer. They really do need each other, and I can't help but wonder if that's why they can't be the "perfect" messengers. Because their devotion and loyalty to each other is greater than their loyalty to Curtain, in some ways, so they can't be totally brought under his sway. Hmm, I have some thoughts, now.

I want so desperately to know more about their time at the orphanage. Both because I can't believe that no one wanted to adopt them, I mean, come on. They're a bit strange, but they must have been the most interesting and fun kids before Curtain crushed their souls into total blind obedience. Also, what kind of orphanage measures children on their "Social Aptitude"? Do they get locked in a closet when potential adoptive parents come if they fail the social test? Excuse me?

Martina backstory!!!

Aw, she's still so sad and angry. That doesn't give her a right to be a bully, but I wish her parents were more affectionate. That's hard, when you're tiny.

And Jackson and Jillson immediately going "!! Friend :)" as a tiny Martina is stomping around screeching at other children. She really is like another version of Constance.

(But it reminds me of your bit about S. Q. struggling with sarcasm as well, and with them all having black hair, now all I can imagine is a version of events where J & J just kidnap S. Q. so they can all escape from Curtain and start introducing him to people as their third. They change his name to Jephard or Jasper or something and insist he's with them. Okay I'll stop now.)

Martina's only way to express affection is through aggression. I love her so much.

I love that Jackson and Jillson care about her so much that they ask for her to be transferred (and she came!!) but it's also horrible that her parents are so okay with it.

Come to think of it, I wonder how exactly they got recruited into the Institute since it sounds like they weren't outright kidnapped...

Martina wants to earn her worth from being a Messenger and tetherball captain, while Jackson and Jillson want to get it from helping Curtain, but no one is able to get it because their adults and role models are horrible :(

But they know how mean Curtain can be (I hope he hasn't been too mean to them, because that's another thing to add to his list of warcrimes to atone for), and they're trying to protect Martina from it! They're trying so hard to be good friends!!

But Martina is the most determined human ever and nothing is ever going to dissuade her from Tetherball Things

"Jackson and Jillson awkwardly turned to look at each other with panicked expressions, before turning back to Martina, unsure of what to do or say. After all, it wasn’t that Dr. Curtain was a bad person, or that he wouldn’t want to hear Martina’s concerns, it was just that…well… it wasn’t a good time for that right now. Or ever. / “As friends,” Jillson stated, looking at Martina with wide eyes, “we are strongly advising you to please reconsider-”" Paragraphs that had me nearly out of my seat

"Curtain sighed. First, he had to deal with Reynie Muldoon’s incoherent rant about bookmarks, and now, of all things, this was what his day was being interrupted with?" ONCE AGAIN. SIR. WHY. ON EARTH. DO YOU RUN A SCHOOL FOR GIFTED CHILDREN???? THAT'S LITERALLY HALF OF ALL THEY DO. IS TALK ABOUT THEIR INTERESTS DID YOU MISS THE FACT THAT YOU DID ALL THESE THINGS YOURSELF AS A CHILD. >:(

@nobody33333333!!!!

I know I said I'd get this out, like, two days ago, but unfortunately I had a pressing essay that I needed to finish. HOWEVER, I have now dealt with it, and so I get to gush about how much I enjoyed this chapter of "S.O.S."!!!!

(This is also going to be in a few parts, so I do apologise. I wanted to do it justice.)

First off, ten chapters!! A very exciting milestone :)

And I was so happy to see all of the sneak-peaks from the WIP Ask Game slot into this chapter; it's like five different layers of satisfying to see the passages I was really excited to read earlier match up with a piece of writing that I love so very dearly.

There is something so exactly siblingesque that Curtain is extremely angry about his brother "stealing" their joint ideas. I have basically had that exact conversation too many times to count.

Poor Jeeps. He's jeeped it up again.

"How many back-up locations and safe houses can one person have?" How many indeed. I think that either they have a ton, because all of them wanted to be prepared so they just set up like five different back up plans without telling each other, or Curtain's forces are absolutely abysmal at finding their singular safe house.

Curtain thinking about how Garrison is closer to him than Nicholas, even though she's currently brainswept herself is so sad. He had a family, and now all that he can do is compare how deeply their various "betrayals" hurt him.

"The family Curtain had lost" OKAY, WE'RE GOING THERE. OUCH.

But, really, that is an exquisitely crafted line with so much nuance and drama and pain.

It's really interesting that Kate and Milligan's names seem to be at (or near) the top of his list, while Nicholas is purposefully at the bottom. Because he still devotes the same amount of attention and mental energy to thinking about/capturing them. He's just pretending not to care.

" Nicholas, and everyone else that Curtain had ever cared about always fought against him, like disobedient unruly children" Oh, oh buddy. I totally get why this makes sense for his character and everything, but, again, why are you trying to run a school?

It is a skill that you can write Curtain's inner monologue and include such things at “The Endless Burden of Greatness is Mine Alone to Bear.” and still make me feel even smidge of serious sympathy for him. You have a talent, my friend.

You included the bit about Number Two's name!! I find that so funny, and am intensely gratified that you gave him that little thought anecdote about it.

Oooh, the way you included the lights from the shore so early in the chapter gave me shivers. I was brimming with anticipation by the time Curtain fully processed through it all.

It's a tiny bit funny to me that Curtain continually thinks of children and their skills as "pathetic", whereas when he himself was twelve he thought he could rule the world, and still holds that conviction!

"Or maybe Curtain was just being paranoid. Or maybe he wasn’t being paranoid enough." Or maybe you need therapy

His statement about the syllables has always thrown me off, but I reconsidered it here, and while I still have no answers, I have some observations: "Ledroptha Curtain" is 3-2, while "L.D. Curtain" can be considered 2-2 ("Reynard Muldoon" is also 2-2). However, both "Nathaniel Benedict" and "Nicholas Benedict" are 3-3. I wonder if the writers chose "Nathaniel" purposefully because of its syllables, as well as starting with "N". I wonder if it bothers Curtain that his name isn't really balanced anymore (as I can definitely see him struggling with some OCD tendencies; need for control and all) or if he likes it (or pretends to), since it no longer matches his brother.

Curtain's just sitting here judging Reynie for wanting to talk about his Manipulation Salad while pretending to care for more manipulation. I can't believe how irony-blind he is sometimes.

He's so awkward ugh this part makes my insides squirm

It's crazy but also really sad how much Curtain has retreated into his defensiveness since the S.O.S., because he's comparing Reynie to both Nicholas and Pedalian, but he can't get out of his own head enough to recognize Reynie as a person and possibly offer him some grace or even consider why he might be acting so oddly. It's good, because it means that the kids' plan works and their people reading skills have been put to good use, but it's still a little sad.

"who by this point was certain that the backhanded nature of his compliment would undoubtedly be completely lost on Reynie, as he didn’t even seem capable of determining the appropriate time to enter a conversation." Why is he so judgy this is actually hysterical-

Why. Just- Why? What about the Ribbon Interaction was so concerning that nearly ruins Curtain's opinions of Reynie? I mean, it sounds exactly like something Curtain would do but I am dying trying to sort it out in my head because it's so weird

AND HE'S STILL OFF. He has a whole interaction with Reynie, and then goes "Hm, I wonder where the possible spies my brother may have sent are. Truly a mystery." He's such a goofy dork, for all his "Greatness"

MILLIGAN

It's so neat that Milligan loves hiking. I just adore that detail.

Oh boy, Rhonda and Number Two's fighting never really sat right with me in the show, but I am liking the spin you put on it. I think it's probably just because I read the books and I was expecting them to be sisters, rather than colleagues. That said, I am very curious to see where you take it!

The way that you interject the girls' argument with the little descriptions of Milligan is amazing! It really captures the energy of the situation beautifully.

In a way, Milligan is mirroring Curtain in this scene, with his uncomfortable awkwardness and trying to escape the conversation.

Mr. Benedict's whole life sometimes feels like a series of putting off a task until it eventually confronts him and tips over into a domino line of other tasks. Same, buddy.

IS IT CONCERNING THAT I INSTANTLY KNEW WHAT SCENE MILLIGAN'S MEMORY WAS OF AND IT GUTTED ME

You are a beautiful artist and it's like watching a gorgeous quilt come together or someone weaving very fine lace to see you write but also sometimes it feels like you're repeatedly stabbing me in the heart

Oh, oh oh oh dear. It's the Milligan flashback. Still just as emotional the fourth or fifth time around :(

The way you describe his wife is so cool!! It's very genuine and sincere, but you keep the vague, mysterious air as well!! Very good.

Agh, and poor Milligan keeps second-guessing his memories and worrying that they're hallucinations or something, my heart hurts for him. And once again!! He wants to meet her again. I think that it adds a lot to things with how you've been writing him, because while obviously finding Kate again was amazing for him, but he probably had to grieve his wife all over again when he remembered her. (But, of course, we know that he'll get to "see her" in Kate, a little)

The way that Curtain does a full 180 from harshly judging Sticky for being timid and like Nicholas to (correctly) assuming that he's a spy is as ridiculous as it is interesting. Curtain is highly intelligent, he and Mr. Benedict are siblings, after all. However, he is constantly handicapping himself with his distrust of others and unhealthily excessive self-reliance.

S.Q.!!!!

“Not slacking off on your classes, are you?” SIR. What classes????

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trashforgubler · 5 years ago

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Writings On the Wall

Word Count: 1.3k

Summary: You and Spencer are friends, but then you find a giant pile of unsent love letters that he wrote about you stored in his desk

Extra Info: Y’all seem to like Reid - centric fics so here ya go. Song is “Writings on the Wall” by Sam Smith

Inspired By: this really cute post

Requests: Open

masterpost

One more paragraph. Just one more. You could do this.

Well, maybe you could, but your last pen gave up the ghost halfway through the first sentence. Biting back a growl of frustration, you drop the pen and stare at it menacingly as it rolls across your page. Here you were, trying to get some work done for once and that thing has the audacity to tap out..

“Hey Y/N, Morgan and I are gonna go grab lunch. Wanna come?” Spencer’s tall form appeared in front of you, a giant smile plastered on his face per usual. You hated to admit it but his messy hair and wrinkled sweater looked particularly cute today. The offer was tempting, but you were afraid that if you didn’t get through your work now, you wouldn’t ever do it and the last thing you needed was Hotch on your ass about late assignments.

“No, I’m gonna take a raincheck. Sorry pretty boy.” The disappointment flashed on his face only momentarily before he promptly covered it up.

“Okay, well have fun with… that.” He said, gesturing to the never-ending pile of papers on your desk.

He waved goodbye as he and Morgan headed out of the room, before you called out to him, “Could I borrow a pen?”

“Yeah it’s in my desk!” He yelled from the elevators. You flashed him a quick thumbs up as the doors closed before walking over to it. Man, that dude has no right to be making fun of you for your desk. If yours was messy, his was catastrophic. Seriously, there was not an inch of it that wasn’t covered in empty coffee cups, old case reports, or some random paperback that your pretty sure no other human being could possibly have interest in. You eyed multiple books that weren’t even in English. A laugh escaped your lips as you realized Spencer’s desk is the perfect representation of Spencer himself. But, no matter how fun it was to count the number of coffee stains on his papers, you did actually come here for a reason. Unfortunately, Spencer was not to clear on the coordinates of his pens, so you started opening random drawers until you found them. After all, there were only three.

First drawer: More books, mostly overdue ones from the library. God this guy needs an e -reader.

Second drawer: His laptop, a package of expired cough drops, and an old sudoku puzzle book.

Third drawer: Paper. Lots of paper. Actually, so much paper, you could barely get the drawer open all the way. You wouldn’t have thought anything of it, until you saw your name written at the top of one of them.

You felt a tingle of guilt go through your body as you took the top sheet out and read it.

Dear Y/N,

You looked so beautiful today. I wanted to tell you, but I every time I look at you, I feel like I can’t speak. I can hear the words I want to say swirling around in my brain, but by the time I want to say them, I get so nervous that they don’t come out right. On the jet ride home today, I saw you in the back making tea. Only you could look so perfect doing such an arbitrary task. You looked so gorgeous I actually got out of my seat, suddenly feeling confident enough to tell you. I wanted to look into your eyes and say that your smile makes my heart flutter, and your laugh makes me want to cry. Not because it’s a bad laugh. Because it’s a beautiful laugh. On second thought, I probably wouldn’t say that. Its confusing. I wanted to tell you that you are the most exquisite thing I had ever seen. Instead, I asked you what kind of tea you were making. When you said mint, I said “mm caffeine.” After that complete failure at flirtation, I went back to my seat and tried to figure out what about you made me so jittery. I don’t know what it is. But I know that one day I’ll figure it out. And once I do, I’ll be able to tell you all of that, and so much more.

Love, Spencer

What? You had seen the way Spencer sneaks glances at you out of the corner of his eyes when he thought you weren’t looking, but you didn’t think much of it. You were friends. Of course, you definitely had a crush on him. You blushed the first time you shook hands with him, and ever since then you had been secretly hoping he would ask you out, but you didn’t think that he was interested. Guess you overestimated your profiling skills on that one. Setting the letter beside you on the floor, you looked back into the drawer. It only took a moment to realize the entire thing was stuffed with letters to you. One after the other you pulled them out. Some were multiple pages stapled together. Long lines that read like poetry. Others were barely legible scribbles on coffee stained sticky notes.

You said you liked my sweater today and I had to bite my tongue so I didn’t say, “It would look better on you.”

You were so enveloped in reading each and every scrap of paper in the drawer you completely lost track of time. Before you knew it, you heard Spencer’s laugh coming toward you, and there was no time to hide what you had found.

“And then I- nomygod!” Spencer’s carefree tone was replaced by sheer panic when he saw you on your knees, next to a giant pile of paper and a now empty bottom drawer. You knew you had to address it, but you weren’t quite sure how to start this conversation. You had been reading for so long you almost forgot how to speak. Maybe Spencer’s social awkwardness was contagious.

Not trusting yourself to form a coherent sentence, you settled for a drawn out, “Hey, Spence.” Sheepishly, you stared at the papers on the floor, knowing it was beyond obvious what you had done. On the one hand, you felt guilty. It’s his desk, his letters, his privacy was being evaded. But on the other hand, they were all about you, and the man clearly needs help expressing his feelings.

“Did you- ”

“Yep.”

“All of them?”

“Yep.”

“Oh.” Spencer tucked his hands into his pockets and stared at the ground, not knowing where to start. One of his biggest and most embarrassing secrets had just been discovered from the one person he was determined to hide it from.

“Okay,” Derek started. Both you and Spencer jerked your heads up at him, completely forgetting that he was still there. “I don’t know what you’ve gotten yourselves into, but I’m just gonna go hang out with Garcia while you to figure out… this.” He said gesturing to the mess. He laughed and playfully hit Spencer on the shoulder, clearly seeing that he was beyond embarrassed by whatever was going on.

“Spence…”

“I – I’m sorry, Y/N. I know it’s weird and its creepy but I just had all these feelings and I could never talk about them because I didn’t know how so I just wrote them out and hoped that they would help me actually talk to you but it obviously didn’t help and I just kept writing them anyways and oh my god this is so embarrassing.” He turned a shade of red you didn’t know human beings were even capable of. Nothing in life had ever prepared you for a situation like this, so you did what you always do when people you love are upset.

You stood up from the floor and placed your hands on his shoulders, forcing his eyes to meet yours. “I love you too Spence,” you said softly. The smile on his face was indescribable as he wrapped his arms tight around your body.

#writing #writer #fanfiction #criminal minds #spencer reid #criminal minds fanfic #criminal minds fic #fanfic #spencer reid fluff #spencer x reader #prompt #send prompts

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thatbluegibson · 7 years ago

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CH 46

Liz opened the door to the same hotel suite she was in a week ago, clutching a tall cup of coffee and her cell phone.

“Hey, Liz!” Mark called from the couch, not bothering to look up from his phone, “How was Oregon?”

She raised an eyebrow at him, surprised that he was in such a good mood. When she had left LA for Oregon he was furious, yelling that she was throwing away her career and that no one would work with anyone that snubbed the biggest parties of the year. Apparently, he had been dead wrong and her evasiveness was being construed as mysteriousness. The cameras and corresponding photographers had tailed her to the hotel and it took a half an hour to find a safe entrance she could use. Finally, Travis had just thrown his jacket over her head and carried her in the kitchen door, using the service elevator to get her upstairs.

“Very Pacific Northwest… ish,” she muttered, setting her coffee down.

“Good… good. Ready for this?”

“Absolutely not,” she grumbled, turning when the bedroom door swung open.

Josie flew out of the room and into Liz’s arms, squealing like a twelve year old, “You’re here!”

“Josie, it’s six in the goddamn morning. Shhh!” Liz groaned, but was happy to see both her and Sarah, who appeared in the bedroom doorway looking just a little green.

Josie just laughed, “Right, right. Let’s go get started!”

“So then he stayed at my place the next night and after that I don’t really remember, but I just dropped him off a couple hours ago,” Josie giggled from the bed as Sarah ran a comb through Liz’s hair.

“Sounds like you and Rami really hit it off,” Liz said, staring wide eyed at her phone to cleanse her brain of the sex filled novel Josie just rattled off to her.

“It’s like fifty shades of Foo Fighters in here,” Sarah muttered. Liz met her eyes in the mirror and laughed.

“Oh Liz, I’m sorry,” Josie sighed, “I’m telling you all about Rami when things ended so badly with Dave. He said the rest of the guys are super bummed about it.”

Liz coughed into her coffee cup, realizing she hadn’t talked to Josie since the night she left for Oregon. “Buckle up, Josie,” she smiled, “Cause I have one hell of a story for you.”

Hours later, Sarah and Josie stood back and studied Liz as she turned in front of the large mirror. Her dress was a mermaid silhouette, the bodice covered in deep indigo beading that faded down towards the train that ended in bright cerulean sequins. The straps holding the heavy gown up were so thin that Liz was willing to tape or staple or even sew the backless dress into her skin to avoid any disasters on the red carpet.

“You look like a mermaid that sold her soul to the sea witch for a man,” Sarah finally said.

“Damnit,” Liz replied, “I’d rather be the sea witch.”

Josie knelt to adjust the light blue train, “It is very oceanic, isn’t it?” She stepped back and furrowed her brow.

“At least I’m not wearing any pearls,” Liz offered. There wasn’t any time to change if Josie decided she looked too ‘theme-like’.

“No, we’re going to forget the diamonds tonight anyways,” Josie said, still considering the dress, “It’ll look like you looted a shipwreck.”

Liz pouted at the windowsill where a large pile of borrowed diamonds were laid out, sparkling brilliantly in the daylight.

“No, Liz,” Josie scolded, “They’re pretty, but it’s too much. This dress might already be wearing you.”

“Maybe if we pull her hair up? An updo as opposed to beach waves?” Sarah tried. They had already backed off on her makeup, removing the heavy cat eyeliner for a more natural look.

Josie nodded, “Yup, let’s do it.”

Liz scrolled through her phone as Sarah threw a sheet around her and began twisting her hair up when a text popped up on her screen.

How goes it?

“Tell me that’s him!” Josie called from the other side of the room as she tried to clean up a little from their busy morning.

“Yeah, it’s him,” Liz laughed.

Josie grabbed Liz’s hoodie off the bed and shook it, sending something flying out of the pocket and across the room. “What the hell is this?” she asked, rushing over to pick it up.

“Oh, Dave found it on the beach and I forgot it was in my pocket,” Liz replied, more concerned about the photo she was trying to take of her and Sarah in the mirror.

Josie flipped the shell over in her hand a couple times and rushed to the door, “I’ll be right back.”

Dave’s phone buzzed in his pocket just as he slid into the back of the SUV with his guitar.

It’s going! Slowly…

Dave smiled at the mirror-shot picture she had attached of her and Sarah surrounded by coffee cups and hair tools.

What’s your dress like?

He stared down at his phone, waiting for her reply and drumming on his knee.

You’ll just have to watch the broadcast like the other three people that give a damn about what’s covering my ass

Dave thought about the conversation he had with Silva that morning about the media calling to ask if he was Liz’s date to the Oscars. No, he hadn’t been asked to go with her. No, he didn’t know why she didn’t ask him. No, he wouldn’t confirm they were seeing each other. No, he didn’t have any further comment on the matter. Deep down he knew why she hadn’t asked him. Everything was too new and they weren’t ready to confirm or announce to the world what they were when they didn’t even know themselves, but a very small part of him felt a little disappointed that she didn’t want him with her tonight.

I’m not a patient man, Elizabeth.

Her reply was almost immediate, Then learn, David.

At exactly 1:15, Liz, Josie, Travis and Mark said goodbye to Sarah and crammed into the hotel’s service elevator headed to the lobby.

When the elevator chimed its arrival in the hotel’s kitchen, Josie linked her arm with Liz’s, “Once we get to the car, remember to lay down, okay? I’m worried this dress will wrinkle.”

Travis and Mark led them through the bustling kitchen and Liz suddenly realized how hungry she was.

“I think I forgot to eat,” she told Josie as they stepped out of the kitchen and into the hotel bar.

“Well…,” Josie looked around them, “maybe we can hit up a taco truck on the way or something.”

They both giggled at that and leaned against the bar to wait for Travis to bring the car around. Liz felt infinitely better that Josie was with her this time and that she would be near her the entire night ensuring that she looked perfect for the next twelve hours.

“Fuck.”

Liz looked over her shoulder in the direction of the expletive and swore herself, “Goddamnit,” she whispered once she saw Johnny staring at her backless dress while gripping a glass of whiskey.

“Hi,” she gritted her teeth and turned to face him, “Funny seeing you here.”

He tore his eyes away from her body and smiled at her, “I booked a room. It’s convenient to the after party. You look exquisite, Lizzy.”

“Thanks,” she tilted her head as he kissed her cheek and heard Josie quickly order shots from the bartender.

“And how is dear David?” he asked, moving to stand just in front of her.

“Quite well, thank you,” Liz replied, watching the bartender pour shots of high end vodka. “We actually just flew back into LA this morning.”

“Oh?” he leaned his back against the bar to see her face better.

“We spent a few days in Oregon together,” Liz nodded a thank you when the shot was set in front of her.

“Getting your multiple daily doses of vitamin d,” Josie muttered just loud enough that only Liz could hear before tipping her shot back. Liz coughed a little to try and hide her laugh.

“Sounds lovely,” Johnny said miserably, examining her dress again as he sipped his drink.

Liz lifted her shot and smiled, “We just needed to get to know each other without any… oh, I don’t know… interference,” she threw back the shot and winced at the burn in her throat.

“Car is ready,” Travis appeared behind them warily looking at Johnny.

“I’ll see you there, Lizzy,” Johnny smiled and leaned over to kiss her cheek again when she sighed.

“This is stupid, just come with us,” she grumbled.

“I have my own car,” he tried, but Liz noticed he seemed sincere and it really was silly to take separate cars.

“No, there’s enough fucking traffic,” she linked her arm with his and let him lead her out of the bar. “This doesn’t mean you’re my date, though,” she laughed a little, not wanting this tense mood to hang over her the rest of the night.

“I’ll take what I can get,” he replied and stepped back so Liz could brave the media outside the hotel alone.

Dave leaned back on a black leather couch, refreshing the web page phone every few seconds. New photos of the Oscar red carpet would pop up, each of them more boring than the last. So many beige, black and red dresses that the even the famous faces began to blur together. He shoved the phone back in his pocket and sighed in frustration, taking a long drink from his beer as people hurried around him. He watched them for awhile when Taylor appeared and flopped down on the couch next to him.

“See her yet?” he asked, kicking Dave’s knee with his shoe.

Dave only shook his head and handed him a can of beer. Taylor popped it open and took a drink, sizing up his best friend’s mood when Ally weaved her way through the crowd towards them, her phone held high above her head. She shoved the phone into Dave’s hands with a bright smile on her face.

“She was smart to be one of the last on the carpet,” she said, wiggling herself in between Dave and Taylor on the couch. “She looks amazing.”

Dave scrambled to get his glasses off his head and onto his face, squinting at the blue shape that Ally said was Liz. He finally got the picture in focus and cleared his throat to disguise another noise which he was sure wasn’t human. Liz stood in front of a gold and white backdrop, her blue dress cascading behind her like an illusion.

“Down, boy,” Taylor laughed at the look on Dave’s face and Ally threw her elbow into his ribs. “Ow!”

Liz was smiling, but it wasn’t the smile Dave recognized. She seemed relaxed and calm, but to anyone that had been around her for more than an hour would know that she was faking it. Ally reached over and swiped the phone screen to the next photo, this one taken as she walked down the red carpet, her blue dress standing out among all the beige, black and red. Dave spotted a piece of jewelry in her hair and zoomed in to get a better look. His face broke into a wide smile when he recognized the shell he had given her had been tucked neatly into the top of the intricate knot at the nape of her neck.

“Yeah, I thought you had something to do with that,” Ally said quietly and leaned into him.

He zoomed back out and examined the rest of the picture when he spotted Depp just off the carpet, smiling and waiting for Liz. He cleared his throat again and handed the phone back to Ally, forcing himself to smile. “Thanks, Ally,” he said quietly.

“Dave... You know this is all business,” she frowned, seeing right through him, “You knew he was going. You knew they would have to do the press line together.”

“Yeah,” Dave nodded, knowing she was right, but it didn’t stop him from feeling a just little jealous, “I know.”

Liz followed Johnny down the ramp to the front of the theater, feeling more and more anxious the further she got to the stage. The general rule of awards shows was the closer you are to the stage, the more likely you are to win and she was preferring to be in the balcony at this point. An usher finally stopped along a row about five back from the stage and pointed to the two seats next to the aisle. Liz beamed when she saw Josie and Travis already seated and flopped down in the chair next to them.

“You’re here!” she cried, smiling even brighter when Travis handed her a flute of champagne

“Johnny said I was his plus one and Travis is yours, so here we are!” Josie tapped her glass against Liz’s and took a drink.

Liz turned back to Johnny as he settled in the chair next to her. “Why are you like this?” she demanded.

Johnny feigned innocence, “Like what, Lizzy?” he took a sip of the wine he had smuggled in from the lobby bar and smiled at her.

“Infuriating one moment and delightful the next.”

“I just want to see you happy, darling,” he replied, his gold tooth glinting sharply as the lights dimmed and the show began.

Liz uncomfortably sat back in her seat and leaned towards Josie, who immediately held her hand. “This is so exciting!” she whispered.

Liz only nodded, feeling her anxiety spike when a camera man kneeled just beside Johnny and aimed the lens directly at them. Go away, go away, go away, go away. Liz hadn’t thought about a camera being on her during this part of the show and she realized all at once that she had been seated next to Johnny to create buzz for their next film. Quickly reaching to grab her small clutch purse from Travis’s lap, she pulled out her phone and hid it in the folds of her dress while she tapped out a text.

Dave felt his phone buzz and almost flung it across the couch in his hurry to get it out of his pocket.

You up?

He shook his head at the screen, noting it was only six in the evening and quickly replied.

For you, yes.

“It’s starting, dude,” Taylor was still sprawled out on the couch next to Dave, pointing to a TV just to right of them.

They watched the opening montage featuring all the biggest films of the year with the show’s host poorly inserted into each of them when Dave’s phone chimed again.

Good cause I’m stuck next to the wind chime and I feel really bad about it.

“These award shows get worse and worse every year,” Taylor muttered.

The montage ended and the camera went from the host’s monologue to the crowd, pausing on each celebrity the host was desperately trying to make fun of. Liz appeared on screen looking indifferent and unamused while seated next to Depp. She was leaning as far as she could, practically in Josie’s seat, who was oblivious to her friend’s distress and smiling brightly.

“Look at that body language,” Taylor laughed. “She makes Depp look like a trap door spider.”

Dave grabbed his phone, We’re good, Liz. You look beautiful.

The camera remained on Liz as the host made another joke at her expense, something about her effortless leap from playing a politician to a pirate when she jumped a little and looked down at her dress. A happy smile finally spread across her face as the camera flashed back to the host.

“How long do you think the delay is on this?” Dave asked, looking back at Taylor.

Taylor gave him a confused look, “This is a monitor, dude. Real time.”

#dave grohl fanfiction #dave grohl fanfic #dave grohl #ThatBlueGibson

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parkersrevenge · 8 years ago

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Anonymous submitted:

Poe/Mutter Chapter 2

Several weeks go by without incident, Thomas tells his wife, Mary, about Mrs. Poe and she immediately goes to pay the younger woman a visit, the two hit it off remarkably well for being completely different from one another, and so Thomas eagerly sits through his wife’s stories of what Virginia tells them about Edgar during their quilting circle gatherings.

That man is most singular, and to think, such a man, an author? With a disposition like that, he ought to be a detective or a police officer, but the obvious affection and devotion for his wife speaks of a hidden gentleness that is not obvious to the average onlooker. An affection and devotion which Thomas does not have for his own wife. He’s ashamed to admit how he married her for her money and name in an effort to increase the renown of his medical practice, he….cares for her, but not in the way a lover should, why he can hardly consider himself a lover. He can’t even bring himself to give her the one thing she wants, children. Can’t even bring himself to try.

According to Mary’s stories, Edgar is coming home injured increasingly often, and is giving Virginia no explanation other than “writing material, darling.” Thomas, endeavors to make a house call while he’s in the neighborhood, Virginia answers the door with a large smile and a chipper “Mary told me you were coming!” He hears a groan from the other room, that must be Edgar, and then a gruff voice.

“Please tell your quilting ladies that I do not need any of their romance stories for poetry inspiration.”

“Darling, it’s Dr. Mütter, I’ve asked Mary to get him to look at some of your wounds. And in any event it’ll do you good to have some socialization.” An argument has obviously started for formulate in the man’s brain, but Virginia walks over to press a light kiss to his hair. “Please dear, he is our friend.”

“You mean his wife is your friend.”

“I mean, he said he was our friend and I elected to reciprocate the gesture.” Another groan is heard, this time she kicks his chair in frustration. “Edgar, the good doctor wishes to be your friend and by God you ought to let him. Heaven knows he’ll be your friend even if you aren’t his.”

She walks out of the room in a huff and whispers a gentle apology as she passes by the doctor before she’s caught in another coughing fit, though not violent enough to be worrying.

“Come in Mütter.”

“Please call me Tom, or Thomas if you’d prefer more formalities.” Upon receiving an icy glance from the poet he whistles softly. “Or Mütter, that suits me just as well…. How are you feeling Mr. Poe?”

“Angry.”

“Ah, yes, I might have supposed such.”

The poet, is apparently, not a fan of humor, Thomas makes a mental note. “Your most exquisite violet eyes darken when you’re angry.”

Poe frowns, Thomas makes another note. The poet, also, does not like compliments.

“You have lost any sanity I thought you had when first we met Mütter.”

“I shall take that as a compliment Mr. Poe, most men think me completely mad upon first meeting, you, however, thought I possessed sanity. You are far too generous.”

Yet another glare. The poet, it seems, is also not fond of optimism.

“Get on with your purpose here Dr. Mütter.”

“I-uh. Sir, it appears that your wounds exist under your clothes.”

“And?”

“In order to serve my purpose here, you would need to remove them.”

“I refuse. Good day Dr. Mütter.” Poe returns to his poem, and Thomas makes his way out of the house, stopping to pay his respects to Mrs. Poe and wish her the best in health and of luck with her husband.

Upon arriving home, Thomas makes a sketch of Poe sitting as his desk, but he adds a smile, the poet would look most interesting with a smile. Mary walks in as he’s finishing. “There’s a woman here to see you. Says she’s a Miss Lee and you’d remember her from your childhood in Virginia?” There’s an accusatory tone in her voice, but Thomas jolts up and practically runs to the lobby of his practice.

“Tom!” “Annie!” The two friends exclaim as they embrace, Thomas recognizes the Annie of his childhood instantly though she’s been marred by burns.

“My father said your guardian told him that you had studied medicine, and how to put women like me, back together.” She whispers softly, suddenly ashamed despite her earlier excitement.

“Annie, there’s nothing about you to put back together.” He implores earnestly. “Tom, please. I’m hideous, my brothers’ wives can’t even look at me. You’re the only person I’d trust to fix me.”

Thomas almost agrees immediately, but realizes how this must look to his wife. “Mary, this is Miss Annabelle Lee of Virginia, we were childhood friends.” She fixes him a stern look. “She’s engaged Mary.”

“Was, I’m afraid. He can’t bear to look at me anymore.”

“You’re scarring is minimal, that man must not be worth anything.”

“He’s worth several thousand a year. Which is why father wants me to marry him so badly. Oh, but you know how I’ve always loved a good poet.”

“We don’t know any of those.” Mary interjects hastily.

“Any that are single.” Thomas amends.

Mary replies with a harsh. “That man Poe writes garbage, no wonder he has a dispute with Mr. Bob.”

Thomas shrugs helplessly, as Mary stalks away grumbling. “I’ll be sure to schedule your surgery. It really shouldn’t be too extensive, your scarring is minimal, you’ll look as beautiful as ever when you’re healed.”

A tall man with brown hair walks in taking off his hat. “Are you flirting with yet another woman Dr. Mütter?”

“Dr. Pancoast! Will you excuse me Annie? Dr. Pancoast is here to talk about the medical college drama.”

“Drama at the medical college? Are they borrowing your clothes for costumes again?” Miss Lee asks coyly.

“Not that kind of drama, Miss Lee, although I’d love to hear those stories one day.” The teasing was out of character for one who barely knew the first name of the man he was teasing, but Pancoast had always been easy around others.

Thomas flushed, and tried to make it clear to Annabelle that she ought to leave, but she simply sat in one of the chairs in the waiting room forcing Thomas to take Dr. Pancoast back into the cramped examination room, Thomas took his usual seat on the rickety stool.

“You’re a peculiar man Dr. Mütter.” Pancoast begins, although there’s no malice behind the statement. “You have so few patients and yet all who have visited you praise you as a savior of the broken. The powers that be are considering you for a professorship at the college.”

“You can call me Thomas, Dr. Pancoast.” Is all Mütter says in response, making no mention of the job offer, he’s already begun giving some lectures at the medical college, but only because Dr. Harris had insisted.

“Dr. Mütter, your lecturing style is completely unique and the students rave about you. And yet, you don’t have enough patients to warrant the fame that surrounds you by most standards. What makes you so exemplary that the college wants you to teach full time?”

Mütter shrugs. “I’m not sure why they would want me to lecture. I’m more concerned with helping people who are so desperate they come to a doctor with no reputation, who lectures once a week when Dr. Harris can’t be bothered, and who has only been in practice for six years. It is those people I wish to serve, not the men who have continually treated those people like monsters.” He sighs. “And please, Dr. Pancoast, call me Thomas.”

Pancoast is taken aback for a moment, but then smiles. “It seems to me Thomas, that you are exactly the kind of man the medical college needs.”

“Well then, Dr. Pancoast, they’ll have to ask me themselves.” Thomas smiled softly, but he was taken aback by the forwardness of the other man. Pancoast was a surgical legend, and rumors heard from Dr. Harris speculated that he’d be selected for two chairs when the college hired new professors, why he’d seek out Mütter was beyond him.

Pancoast nodded. “You ought to take care of the woman in your waiting room.”

“I’ve yet to schedule her surgery.” Thomas answered softly.

“She seems fond of you.”

“I am married.”

“Then perhaps you should wear your ring.” Pancoast smiled. “But then again, so should I.”

#you have no idea how much I am adoring this fic please please send me more #this is amazing #Poe/Mutter #The Poe and Mutter Fic

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