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youngerdrgrey · 7 years ago

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might know my soul, but not much else // a queen sugar fic

about… Ideally, after the opening of the mill, Charley would’ve been clinking wine glasses with Remy in the barracks. Instead, she’s texting him, telling him, “The next time you want to hurt me, keep my father’s name out of your mouth.” — or, a response to 2x07, I Know My Soul

also, tumblr user @loco4scandal said, What about Remy siding with Rah on this will/farm & Charley feeling betrayed? I started filling this before 2x07 aired, but once I Know My Soul aired, I knew the prompt needed the weight and love of that episode too. SPOILERS through to 2x07 below.

+ on ao3

[Anyways, also, prompts are always welcome. Timelines are ambiguous. I have a lot of feelings. // feedback and critique definitely welcome]

you cannot remain a war between what you want to say (who you really are) and what you should say (who you pretend to be) your mouth was not designed to eat itself

— split, Nayyirah Waheed

“When you decided to buy this place and stand up for the farmers that made sense to me, ‘cause it was both smart and considerate of your community. It was thoughtful. But now I wonder if I misunderstood your father. Yeah, maybe, maybe thoughtful meant calculating.”

— Remy Newell

Charley circles her jaw twice before she sends the message. Her therapist likes to make pointed reminders about her channeling her aggression properly. She says that Charley needs to ease into conversations rather than coming in so hot that she scorches all hope at mending fences. But, if Remy had wanted a conversation, he should’ve known better than to come at her like that. He should’ve known better than to insult her in the same breath that he praises her. He just… he shouldn’t have wielded her father’s name as a weapon.

To Remy Newell // Today (3:12 pm) Charley: The next time you want to hurt me, keep my father’s name out of your mouth. You want to tell me how disappointed you are, or question my character? Do so directly. I have enough to deal with between Ralph Angel disparaging his legacy so just save me the mental gymnastics in the future, alright?

She sets her phone down on the table once it’s sent. Rests her hands on the wood too. Micah’s typing in his room; his laptop keys sound from over there. He types just about as fast as she can, though his comes from a sort of generational understanding of technology. He’s never known a world that couldn’t hear him. Never wanted for a space where he could both be heard and be invisible at the same time. He’s never wanted for much of anything.

At least, she remembers his life that way. Remembers huffing her cheeks to help him blow out his birthday candles. And whispering with him in movie theaters before he was old enough to know better. What will she remember from this time in his life? The silence? It’s not quite quiet though; there’s always noise in the barracks, just not aimed at her. It’s his laugh coming in from down the hall, or split seconds of his voice when he first gets on the phone and talks extra loud before he puts his headphones in. The FaceTime ringing for somebody else.

Her phone lights up with a speech bubble. Three dots blinking before they disappear. Remy composing his apology. Remy doesn’t understand how she could be anything other than cold if she is calculating. If she is thoughtful and deliberate, then where do emotions factor in? If she is the strong woman who needs no help, has no fears or doubts or pain, then why do the rest of them even exist?

To Charley Bordelon // Today (3:13 pm) Remy: Honestly, Charley, I meant no disrespect. Not to you. Not to your father. I was just thinking aloud.

That’s it? He means no disrespect?

He chooses his words just as carefully as she does. He practically thinks in fully formed sentences and anecdotes. Yet, she’s calculating. Maybe he should keep his thoughts to himself.

Well, maybe not exactly. If he kept it all in, he’d just stop talking to her. Join the line of people who seek to find solace in someone else rather than ever actually bringing her in. Be like this new version of her son, or any version of the rest of her family. She and Nova didn’t start speaking again until they lived in the same state. Even then, even now, the honesty’s something Charley has to reach for. Strive to accept and acknowledge her own emotions without projecting them onto her sister. Assume kindness rather than an attack. Remy could deserve that same sort of opportunity.

To Remy Newell // Today (3:14 pm) Charley: Then why mention him at all?

Her father should’ve been proud of her. He was. She is an amazing business woman, a great mother to Micah through everything. Her daddy would’ve been proud of her, and for Remy to question that — to imply that she is somehow less than deserving of her father’s love is the very definition of disrespect.

To Charley Bordelon // Today (3:17 pm) Remy: Because he’s a part of this, Charley. At least to me. I started working with your family out of respect and love for him above all else. His stories about you convinced me that you could handle what all this work could do to you. But his stories also come from a different place than what it is that I’m seeing. He saw the victories, not the process. Seeing the whole picture is a little disconcerting, at times.

To Remy Newell // Today (3:20 pm) Charley: You knew before any of this that I wasn’t someone who could be steamrolled or short-changed. Yet now you’re acting like this is the first time you’re seeing me. Like you didn’t know what you were getting yourself into.

To Charley Bordelon // Today (3:22 pm) Remy: Honestly, I don’t know if I did.

But he’d been there when Davis first came to NOLA and she ended her marriage. He’d been there when she fought with Nova during the hurricane. He’s been stood up for business deals and carted out to family dinners. Remy’s seen her at her most vulnerable and inconsistent. These decisions aren’t all that she is, but they are who she has to be. To get the job done. He had no problem with that when she decided to take a chance on his sugar cane. No problem when he got to officially sign on as a consultant and reap the benefits that entails.

Does he even know what the last few days have been like for her? Does he even want to?

To Remy Newell // Today (3:24 pm) Charley: What does this mean? Moving forward?

Professionally, he should appreciate having a contact who is willing to make the hard choices in order to do what’s best for the business. She cares about the farmers and their legacies and wants to offer them fair opportunities. She doesn’t want to give free passes and chances for people to walk all over her, but she will do her best to keep everything above board and honest. It’s more than she can say for her brother so, it’s something.

To Charley Bordelon // Today (3:26 pm) Remy: I don’t know if this is a conversation we should be having over text messages.

Personally, he’s seen her crumble at the loss of her life. He’s seen her claw her at every opportunity for failure until her hands shake. He’s seen her when she needs someone, and it’s still not enough.

To Remy Newell // Today (3:27 pm) Charley: This way, you can finish your thoughts and I can finish mine.

Maybe they’ll finish their whole relationship.

She settles back into her chair, pulls her legs up onto the cushion with her. Keys keep clicking in the background while the typing bubble animates on her screen.

To Charley Bordelon // Today (3:30 pm) Remy: Fine. It’s hard, Charley, knowing that you can leverage pretty much anything for the right price. How do I know that our whole relationship (because we do have a relationship whether or not it’s an official one) how do I know it’s not just another pawn to you?

Maybe they should be on the phone. She could let him hear the way her breath shatters before it can leave her lips. Let her jaw shift against the microphone as she struggles with the right way to form her response. Her chest folds in on itself. A pawn. For the last two decades, she’s cared about one man. One. And she’s loved him, been in love with him, and hasn’t wanted for anything else until Remy. But sure, he’s a pawn.

To Remy Newell // Today (3:31 pm) Charley: Why would it be? Because of Davis? Charley: What do I owe, Davis? What says that I have to still account for his feelings when he spent at least three years ignoring mine? Charley: The news of my divorce is mine to share when I see fit and how I see fit. Whatever is happening between us is a completely different conversation. All I can give you is my word, Remy, and if that’s not enough, I don’t know what else I can do.

If all he sees are the worst parts of her, then this will have to be it for them.

To Charley Bordelon // Today (3:33 pm) Remy: Not to be that guy, but I asked you to take my word yesterday and you refused.

She shakes her head.

To Remy Newell // Today (3:34 pm) Charley: That’s business.

To Charley Bordelon // Today (3:35 pm) Remy: What isn’t with you? Your divorce is business. Your family’s farm is business.

To Remy Newell // Today (3:36 pm) Charley: Ralph Angel’s* farm apparently

Not that he deserves it. Charley’s got two degrees, but Ralph Angel should have the farm.

To Charley Bordelon // Today (3:37 pm) Remy: Nobody said that

To Remy Newell // Today (3:38 pm) Charley: Apparently Daddy did. Ralph Angel showed us a letter that he says Daddy wrote, changing the will and leaving the whole farm to him. As if he could run it without my help.

To Charley Bordelon // Today (3:39 pm) Remy: Why couldn’t he run the farm alone? I mean, he needs more experience, sure, but he understands farming in a way that’s part training and just part instinct.

She almost swipes into a phone call the second she reads that.

To Remy Newell // Today (3:40 pm) Charley: You can’t be serious

To Charley Bordelon // Today (3:41 pm) Remy: Why can’t I be serious?

To Remy Newell // Today (3:42 pm) Charley: Ralph Angel can barely take care of himself, let alone eight hundred acres.

To Charley Bordelon // Today (3:43 pm) Remy: I thought you were passed this

To Remy Newell // Today (3:44 pm) Charley: He nearly loses the farm every time he’s left to his own devices, but I’m supposed to trust that he won’t ruin our family's legacy? He barely got approved for that young farmers loan. There’s only cane in the ground because I could pay for it and because you lent it to us.

To Charley Bordelon // Today (3:46 pm) Remy: He’s doing better than a lot of other farmers when they got their starts. Your brother has a gift for this work, and the sooner you all actually allow him to do it, the better you’ll all be for it.

To Remy Newell // Today (3:47 pm) Charley: Oh that’s what you think?

To Charley Bordelon // Today (3:47 pm) Remy: That’s what I said, isn’t it? Remy: The tone, I’m sorry

To Remy Newell // Today (3:49 pm) Charley: Don’t be. Honesty’s what we need right now. If everyone would just stay honest, we wouldn’t even be in this mess.

She could have her feet wading in her pool, eyes set to the mountains.

To Charley Bordelon // Today (3:49 pm) Remy: Which mess?

To Remy Newell // Today (3:51 pm) Charley: Any of it. I’m only here because of Daddy’s farm. If I’d known it wasn’t mine, I would’ve stayed in LA with Micah. But instead I got sucked into this world. Your world

No speech bubbles pop up for a whole minute. First time the screen goes static in the whole of the conversation.

It is his world. He lives this farming business just as much as Ralph Angel, even if Remy’s more on the academic side of it all. He bred his own type of cane for christ’s sake.

To Charley Bordelon // Today (3:53 pm) Remy: Now you regret staying down here?

She sinks into her seat before it feels too stagnant, too much like giving in. She’s not giving in. She doesn’t — She sits up.

To Remy Newell // Today (3:55 pm) Charley: I regret trusting Ralph Angel not to make everything about him. I regret not speaking out sooner about my own needs in this family. I regret not being there when my father needed me and winding up with nothing but this

She hits send too soon. Mid-phrase means he’ll build his own end to that sentence. She barely has an end herself. If she hadn’t left LA, she’d be dodging questions from fake friends who want to know what comes next for her and for Davis. He’d been suspended, so he probably would’ve gone to New York with Felix. Lena would be there too, probably actively fighting for her reality show to still happen. Micah wouldn’t have an easy time getting into another school, but they would’ve figured it out. Or simply fought to keep him where he started. Micah never would’ve had a run in with the police. Charley never would’ve moved into the barracks, or spent so much time at Violet’s house. Couldn’t’ve offered Darla a new job or any professional advice. Honestly, Charley wouldn’t have really gotten a chance to know Darla at all. Or Hollywood. Or Blue.

Staying down south might not be the issue. Staying silent might be.

To Charley Bordelon // Today (3:57 pm) Remy: “but this” ? Remy: Charley just because you can’t get your way doesn’t mean you storm off and take your money with you. You’ve pledged your support to your brother and all of these farmers.

To Remy Newell // Today (3:59 pm) Charley: I’m not going anywhere.

To Charley Bordelon // Today (4:00 pm) Remy: But you want to

Every word she doesn’t say hammers at the inside of her ribcage. She types so fast her nails practically scratch her screen. Her lips move with the words, voice rising as she goes.

To Remy Newell // Today (4:02 pm) Charley: I want a choice! I want to get a say in what happens rather than getting sucked into helping everyone else. I’ve said it before, I could sign a check from anywhere. I thought aht for once, we could do something together, as a family. But Ralph Angel decided he doesn’t want the rest of us around anymore.

Nevermind the fact that without her, he could be in jail right now for having Daddy’s gun in the house. Blue would be right back at Vi’s. Or at the trailer park with Darla. The farm would go untended. The whole Bordelon legacy wiped out just like that.

To Charley Bordelon // Today (4:03 pm) Remy: When have you ever taken what he said at face value rather than questioning it?

She didn’t fight him on the white flies.

Remy: You never consult. Never ask for permission. You tell people what’s up after you’ve already done it.

To Remy Newell // Today (4:05 pm) Charley: He’s the one who lied to all of us.

To Charley Bordelon // Today (4:06 pm) Remy: God Charley who raised you to see every omission as a lie?

“Everyone!” Her lips crack when she speaks. Throat croaks. She sets her phone down on the table, but her fingers pulse without the screen beneath them. She tries scanning the barracks for some sort of peace. A few breaths could get her pulse back down. But it’s just — he’s asking about omission, but wasn’t he mad about her omission? Wasn’t he — you know what, he wants to talk, then they can talk.

She hits the information button and the call symbol. Forces herself to take three breaths before she puts the phone to her ear.

“Charley—“

“You just finished snapping at me for omission, you get that, right? For not sharing my plans, I am calculating. And stubborn. And in the wrong. But when Ralph Angel does it, it’s just a little misstep. Am I hearing you correctly?”

“Charley—“

“Am I?”

“I’m not trying to fight, Charley.”

“Well, a fight’s what you got.” What else can she do but scream until someone hears her? ��God. I don’t get it. I honestly don’t understand what I have to do to get anyone in this family to even look at my side. The only one who even tries is Violet.”

“I’m trying.”

“You’re accusing.”

“No, I’m not. I asked. In your office, I asked how the same woman using her divorce to further her business plans is the same one who-who I heard about for years. I wasn’t accusing you of anything. I’m trying to understand you, Charley, and you are making so damn hard to do it.” He huffs. “I have never known anyone like you. But I want to.”

She’s spent the last two days begging for someone to listen. Or not listen, during the whole choke fiasco. He saw that, right? He sees more than any of them give him credit for.

She shifts lower in her seat, so she can rest her head against the back of it. He says he wants to know her. “I never thought anyone liked me down here. I was always too California for New Orleans, so I always had to be the best so they wouldn’t ignore me. Be smarter than the rest of my family. More put together. Early acceptance into college, a future NBA player for a boyfriend, and even when I had Micah, I nearly killed myself trying not to be another young mother cliche.”

But college is hard enough without a newborn, so then came needing help. Needing professional help, not just what she could get from friends and the other basketball wives. Davis’s money went straight to childcare costs and living costs and textbooks that her slipping scholarships wouldn’t pay for. But she didn’t falter. She just found a way to make it through. Now here she is, tired but here.

“You made it,” Remy says.

She nods. “I did.” She can’t hear the keys anymore. Micah’s probably watching something at this point. “But Daddy still left the farm to Rah. And I don’t want to say anything bad about him. He loved me so much. He never let me forget it, but…. I made him a promise, and for the first time, I’m wondering if he even cares.”

“What was the promise?”

Her throat itches. She swallows around it. Circles her jaw. “To make things right.” But fixing everything for the farmers doesn’t mean everything’s okay. She’s not. Her family’s not. Rah and Nova haven’t been in bad shape since he first got out, and even then, they just swept it away as best they could. They never unpacked all of that. And if he’s mad at Nova for not being around, then he must be furious at her. And Micah….

He watches her sometimes like he’s trying to see which one of them will break first. Like if he starts talking about his own weaknesses, then she’ll have to do the same, and then they’ll never stop. Like he’ll cry so much that she’ll cry right with him. He’s not wrong, just not ready, she guesses. Not ready to talk about people who can’t see their humanity or why the Range smelled like urine for days.

Remy says, “You don’t have to do it all. Nobody’s asking you to be perfect but yourself.”

She laughs, despite herself. Light wrestling its way out of her chest. “My, uh, my therapist said the same thing.”

He laughs too. “Maybe I’ll add therapist to my resume. I’ll be an irrigation specialist, a professor—“

She nods into the familiar rhythm. “You cut hair.”

“I make a mean pie.”

“And a great friend.” She picks at the polish on her nails. She should probably apologize, for snapping, even if he had crossed the line with his story. If they’re ever going to have anything, they have to be able to communicate freely. Without fear that every sentence, or action, that the other disapproves of will mean the end of what they’re trying to start up. “I—“

Her phone buzzes against her ear. She pulls it back to read it.

To Mom (Charley Bordelon) // Today (4:15 pm) Micah: Wanna try out the ice cream maker?

“You…?” Remy prompts.

She blinks back to the moment, brings the phone back to her ear. “Sorry, text from Micah.” It’s so easy to make simple apologies. For a missed moment, or overreaching, but for actually hurting someone? “He wants to make ice cream.”

Remy gives a tiny groan. “Homemade’s always the best. Go. We can talk later.”

Once this conversation ends, though, so does the honesty. “You can’t question my character every time I make a choice you don’t like. You can’t use my father against me. You can’t side with Ralph Angel and expect me to just be okay with it.”

He clicks his tongue. “You can’t just kick me out when you don’t want to talk. You can’t shoot down valid business ideas without an explanation. You can’t expect me to choose your ideas just because they come from you.”

But she has good ideas. And her explanation for shooting him down was reasonable and necessary with the drama going on at Vi’s. And if they’d stayed in her office, she probably would’ve said something she couldn’t take back.

“That’s asking for a lot,” she says.

“So were you.”

“I’ll think it over.” She lets her feet down to the ground again.

“There you go being thoughtful again.” He drums on something on his end — knuckles to a desk maybe. "Tell Micah hi for me.”

“Will do. Bye, Remy.” She waits for his goodbye before clicking off the line. Takes another beat before calling out, “Remy says hi!”

Micah shuffles over without missing a beat. “That’s nice of him.” Charley hums rather than responding. Micah’s shoulders hunch, his ear are a little too red, so he must’ve been listening in. She didn’t say much out loud that she wouldn’t have wanted him to hear. Still, he should know better than to eavesdrop. He glances over at her though. “Are you two okay? I know you work together, so I wouldn’t want it to get weird.”

Oh. Micah stands up straighter, chest open for a second. Was he worried about her?

She swoops out of her seat. “We’re good. There’s just a lot to figure out with the farm and everything.” Micah doesn’t move, so she forces up a smile. “And what if we weren’t? You gonna fight him?”

Micah rolls his eyes. “Yeah, Mom. That’s the plan.”

She gasps. Rushes across the kitchen to him. “You wouldn’t fight for me?”

He ducks his head. “I’d be so bad. You need someone to fight for you get Ra—“ His grin slips the same time hers goes wooden. Rah’s the main one she’d need somebody to fight. “Just don’t get any fights, Mom. Come on, I want to see how this thing works.”

He heads to the cabinets to get the box down. She follows, watches him take it down and unpack the ice cream maker. She doesn’t have to be perfect. She doesn’t have to do it all. She doesn’t have to be right.

“Clean it first,” she tells him.

“I’m going.”

She doesn’t have to be perfect. She doesn’t have to be right. With help, maybe she can do it all.

notes: tell me what you’re thinking, be it about the fic, or the show, or the fact that the midseason finale is about to air and put us on hiatus again...

#queen sugar #loco4scandal #charley bordelon #remy newell #charley x remy #queen sugar fic #mine #qs: s2 #qs: 207 #micah west #charley x ernest #qs: fics #filled

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queensugardaily · 7 years ago

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dawnlyen #QueenSugar #BTS #momentofbeauty Last day of shooting on the farm... Feeling Ernest's spirit everywhere. Missing you, Daddy. May we continue to make you proud. Xo. Charley. (x)

#dawn lyen gardner #queen sugar #charley bordelon #bts #2.16 #instagram #p: dawn lyen gardner

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allbestnet · 8 years ago

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markpauldaphotography · 5 years ago

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37 Books Every Gentleman Should Read

World Book Day is tomorrow as it is every 23 April. Commit yourself to reach back to the classics, then begin reading. Some book titles included in this list are expected, though there are a handful of surprises. And, if you're thinking what to read during a general free time on the sofa, or by a pool or an ocean, I've got you covered. A well-read gentleman is also a good conversationalist. It's the perfect excuse to get lost in a good book. Self-Control: Its Kingship and Majesty by William George Jordan The turn of the 20th century was the golden age of personal development books. In contrast to the self-help books of today, which are filled with flattering, empty, cliche platitudes, they’re direct, masterfully written, and full of profound and challenging insights that centre on the development of good character. Even in this golden age, one author stands supreme: William George Jordan. His Self-Control is full of beautifully written wisdom on self-reliance, calmness, gratitude, and more.

How to Be A Gentleman: A Timely Guide to Timeless Manners by John Bridges Being a gentleman isn’t just being a nice guy, or a considerate guy or the type of guy someone might take home to meet their mother. A gentleman realizes that he has the unique opportunity to distinguish himself from the rest of the crowd. He knows when an email is appropriate, and when nothing less than a handwritten note will do. He knows how to dress on the golf course, in church, and at a party. He knows how to breeze through an airport without the slightest fumble of his carry-on or boarding pass. And those conversational icebreakers―“Where do I know you from?” A gentleman knows better. Gentlemanliness is all in the details, and John Bridges is reclaiming the idea that men―gentlemen―can be extraordinary in every facet of their lives.

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole A Confederacy of Dunces is one of my favourite books of all time. This New Orleans-based novel won author John Kennedy Toole the Pulitzer Prize. Its perfect comedy of errors is centred around the character of Ignatius J. Reilly, a lazy and socially ignorant, but very intelligent man, who still lives with his mother at the age of 30. A Confederacy of Dunces serves as a guide for what a man ought not to be while providing sound entertainment all the while.

Lord of the Barnyard: Killing the Fatted Calf and Arming the Aware in the Cornbelt by Tristan Egolf A literary sensation published to outstanding accolades in America and around the world, Lord of the Barnyard was one of the most auspicious fiction debuts of recent years. Now available in paperback, Tristan Egolf's manic, inventive, and painfully funny debut novel is the story of a town's dirty laundry -- and a garbagemen's strike that lets it all hang out. Lord of the Barnyard begins with the death of a woolly mammoth in the last Ice Age and concludes with a greased-pig chase at a funeral in the modern-day Midwest. In the interim there are two hydroelectric dam disasters, fourteen tavern brawls, one shoot-out in the hills, three cases of probable arson, a riot in the town hall, and a lone tornado, as well as appearances by a coven of Methodist crones, an encampment of Appalachian crop thieves, six renegade coal-truck operators, an outraged mob of factory rats, a dysfunctional poultry plant, and one autodidact goat-roping farm boy by the name of John Kaltenbrunner. Lord of the Barnyard is a brilliantly comic tapestry of a Middle America still populated by river rats and assembly-line poultry killers, measuring into shot glasses the fruits of years of quiet desperation on the factory floor. Unforgettable and linguistically dizzying, it goes much farther than postal.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson I saw the theatre production of Treasure Island at the National Theatre not once, not twice, but three times. Then, I read the book again with much delight. Pretty much everything we think of when we think of pirates comes not from the pages of history but from this book: treasure maps with “X” marking the spot, deserted islands, peg legs, parrots, and more. Published as a children’s tale (and a rather adult one at that), American novelist Henry James praised it as “perfect as a well-played boy’s game.”

The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton Read Hamilton's Federalist Papers, then read the Constitution. Composed of 85 articles, The Federalist Papers served to explain and encourage the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. The majority of the essays were penned by Alexander Hamilton and originally published in The Independent Journal and The New York Packet. While the Constitution lays out the laws of the land, these essays provide the 18th-century version of the ballot/blue books we get the mail around election time, explaining the laws that are being proposed. It is essential reading for any civically minded American. Forget the theatre production. Your Car’s Owner’s Manual Yep, that dusty book in your glove compartment. Come on, bring it out and get to know your car better. So, it’s not exactly “literature” but it’ll teach you something that will come in handy. Guaranteed. By the way, I was shocked to learn the battery in my Mercedes is located under the driver's seat. The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith The fundamental work on free-market policies: “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages.” Want an education in economics? This book is a great start.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie The granddad of books about people skills, the advice found in How to Win Friends and Influence People is still sound and applicable 80 years later. Carnegie writes about skills like making people feel valued and appreciated, ensuring you don’t come across as manipulative (which happens unintentionally more than we think!), and essentially, “winning” people to your viewpoints and ideas. While it can sound a little disingenuous in its description, these are true skills that people use every day, and this book is a great resource for boning up your social game.

The Republic by Plato The Republic is a Socratic dialogue, written by Plato around 380 BC, concerning the definition of justice and how a just city-state should be ordered and characterized. It is the great philosopher’s best-known work and has proven to be one of history’s most influential works of philosophy and political theory. In it, Socrates and other various interlocutors discuss the meaning of justice and examine whether or not the just man is happier than the unjust man, as well as the theory of Forms, the immortality of the soul, and the role of the philosopher in society.

For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway Robert Jordan is a young dynamiter in the Spanish Civil War. He’s an American who’s volunteered to fight against Franco’s fascists and is sent behind enemy lines to take out an important bridge to impede enemy forces from advancing. He lives in a rudimentary camp with anti-fascist Spanish guerillas and comes to embrace their hearty way of life and love. And of course, there are some incredible battle scenes, which were informed by Hemingway’s own time as a correspondent in the Spanish Civil War.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac A defining novel of the Beat generation, On the Road, is fictional, but a semi-autobiographical account of two friends’ road trips across America, against the backdrop of a counter-culture of jazz, poetry, drug use, and the drunken revelry of back-alley bars. Along with their travels, they’re searching for what many young men are: freedom, ambition, hope, and authenticity.

Travels With Charley In Search of America by John Steinbeck To hear the speech of the real America, to smell the grass and the trees, to see the colours and the light—these were John Steinbeck's goals as he set out, at the age of fifty-eight, to rediscover the country he had been writing about for so many years. With Charley, his French poodle, Steinbeck drives the interstates and the country roads, dines with truckers, encounters bears at Yellowstone and old friends in San Francisco. Along the way, he reflects on the American character, racial hostility, the particular form of American loneliness he finds almost everywhere, and the unexpected kindness of strangers.

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway Ernest Hemingway’s classic memoir of Paris in the 1920s. A Moveable Feast brilliantly evokes the exuberant mood of Paris after World War I and the unbridled creativity and unquenchable enthusiasm that Hemingway himself epitomized.

Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss After a terrible storm, the Swiss family Robinson becomes shipwrecked on a deserted island. With teamwork, ingenuity, and a bit of luck, the group strives to overcome nature’s obstacles and create some semblance of community and civility within their new environs. A truly classic survival and adventure tale.

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand While there’s plenty of political, moral, and economic philosophy in this book, it’s coated in an action thriller of a story. Set in the near future, our protagonists are Dagny Taggart, heir to a transcontinental railroad empire, and Hank Rearden, the head of a steel company who’s invented a revolutionary new alloy. Together, they battle against evil government bureaucrats and socialists to hold civilization together, while all the while powerful industrialists are mysteriously disappearing, leaving behind only the cryptic phrase “Who is John Galt?” Though this book is associated with passionate libertarianism, the story is an interesting one to ponder no matter one’s political persuasions.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas The ultimate tale of betrayal and revenge. Edmund Dantes, days before marrying his beloved Mercedes, is brutally betrayed, arrested for treason, and consequently taken to a prison on an island off the French coast. The story goes on to tell of his escape from prison (don’t worry, it’s early in the novel and doesn’t ruin anything) and his becoming wealthy and re-entering society as an educated and sophisticated Count. He plots his revenge, eyes reclaiming his love, and ultimately…well, you’ll just have to read it.

Self-Reliance & Other Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson “Self-Reliance” contains the most prominent of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s philosophies: the need for each individual to avoid conformity and personal inconsistencies, and to follow their own instincts and ideas. You’re to rely on your own self versus going with the ebbs and flows of culture at large. Other essays in the collection focus on friendship, history, experience, and more. Is it just me, or is this Self Reliance a necessity in today's world? I'm anything except a conformist.

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov There is nothing more manly than a bout with the Devil. Mikhail Bulgakov wrote this entertaining commentary on the social bureaucracy in Moscow during the height of Stalin’s reign. Lucifer himself pays the atheistic city a visit to make light of the people’s scepticism regarding the spiritual realm. The novel also visits ancient Jerusalem under Pontius Pilate’s rule. Even for the non-religious, this book will provide plenty of food for thought.

Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand This 1897 play follows French cadet Cyrano de Bergerac. He’s a poet, musician, and expert swordsman — a true Renaissance Man. Unfortunately, Cyrano has a tragically large nose, which hinders his confidence to the point that he’s unable to profess his feelings to Roxane and feels he isn’t worthy of anyone’s love. What is a man to do in such a situation? Read and find out.

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes It’s all well and good to be a dreamer, but a man must also be grounded in reality. It’s a lesson that Don Quixote comes to learn in the 17th-century eponymous book, which is widely considered to be the world’s first novel. Quixote, along with his squire Sancho Panza, travels the world in search of grand adventures and heroic deeds which would earn him the title of Knight. He continues against all odds, and in some cases, against all common sense. It’s funny, surprisingly easy to read given the fact that it’s over 400 years old, and can provide a man many lessons on the aspirations of heroism.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley This short, but ever-popular tale is a young woman’s take on humanity and horror. Mary Shelley was just 21 when Frankenstein was first published in 1818, and the book is widely regarded as the first popular science fiction/horror novel. While you surely know the monster and the story of mad scientist Victor Frankenstein bringing him to life, it’s a much darker and more philosophical book than what pop culture has made it out to be. You learn about science, ego, pride, and ultimately, what it means to be human.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Dickens should be a part of every man’s reading life, and A Tale of Two Cities is a good starter. It’s set in London and Paris during the French Revolution and depicts the plight of the French peasantry, their turn to violence towards the aristocrats who marginalized them, and the parallels to London society during the same period.

The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux In this travelogue, Paul Theroux recounts his 4-month journey through Europe, the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia on the continent’s fabled trains: the Orient Express, the Golden Arrow to Kuala Lumpur, the Mandalay Express and the Trans-Siberian Express. His well-documented and entertaining adventures have come to be considered a classic in the travel literature genre. This journal satisfies the vicarious traveller and inspires the adventurous man.

The Iliad & The Odyssey by Homer These epic poems are some of the world’s oldest pieces of literature. They’ve been read, enjoyed, and studied for thousands of years, and for good reason. They are not only beautiful to the ear, but contain lessons that every man can learn about heroism, courage, and manliness. The Iliad takes place during a few weeks of the final year of the Trojan War and details the heroic deeds of both Achilles and Hector, as well as a variety of other legends and stories. The Odyssey, a sequel of sorts, is about the great warrior Odysseus’ voyage home after the Trojan War. He faces various obstacles in his return to Greece, and we also see how his family back home dealt with his assumed death.

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway The novel that catapulted Hemingway to worldwide fame and success. The Sun Also Rises follows Jake Barnes and a group of ex-patriot friends through Spain and France, with plenty of wine-drinking and bull-fighting. The novel is a bit semi-autobiographical in that the main character is trying to deal with his war wounds — both physical and emotional — and escape to the supposed romanticism of travelling and eating and drinking to your heart’s content. Does Jake find happiness? You’ll have to read to find out.

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky While the book’s plot centres on an ageing, disinterested father and his three adult children, the substance found within goes much beyond that. Dostoevsky’s final and greatest novel, this book also involves spiritual and moral dramas and debates regarding God, free will, ethics, morality, judgment, doubt, reason, and more. It’s a philosophical work clothed as a novel — which of course makes Dostoevsky’s weighty ideas easier to digest. The McDuff translation gets rave reviews.

The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli Written in the early 1500s, this is the classic guide on how to acquire and maintain political power (even if those methods are sometimes unsavoury) — a so-called “primer for princes.” Its precepts are direct, if not disturbingly cold in their formulaic pragmatism. It asks the classic question: “Do the ends justify the means?” A worthy read for any man wishing to better understand the motivations and actions that tend to rule modern politics.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Set among New York City elites in the roaring ‘20s, this book is considered one of America’s great literary products for a reason. Narrator Nick Carraway is befriended by his mysterious millionaire neighbour, Jay Gatsby, and proves to be a crucial link in Jay’s quixotic obsession with Nick’s cousin, Daisy. The metaphors, the beautiful writing, and the lessons one can garner about reliving the past all make The Great Gatsby worth reading, again and again. Our interview with NPR’s Maureen Corrigan is worth a listen. She is the author of So We Read On: How To Great Gatsby Came To Be and Why It Endures. We discussed her research into why a novel was written about Jazz Age New York that resonates with Americans nearly a century later.

1984 – George Orwell Read 1984, then go delete your Facebook account. Perhaps the most essential to re-read today, 1984 sets stage in an oppressive futuristic society monitored by the ever-watching Big Brother. Protagonist Winston Smith goes to work every day at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites and distorts history. However, Smith decided to begin a diary — an action punishable by death. Amid modern-day data mining, the fall of Net Neutrality, and lunatic leaders, we cannot forget the toll of tyranny and totalitarianism.

Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck Another assigned high school read you probably didn’t appreciate when you were sixteen, it’s time to revisit the ambling of George Milton and Lennie Small, migrant workers who search for jobs throughout California amid The Great Depression. And with all great novels, it’s been banned time and again for its mention of violence, swearing, racism, sexism, the works, but it’s an essential commentary on the nature of The American Dream, the dichotomy of strength and weakness, and the loneliness of isolation.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain Often called “the greatest American novel,” The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn proceeds Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and is renowned for its use of written vernacular in imitation of southern antebellum society. The story follows teenager Huck Finn and his friend Tom Sawyer as they navigate themes of race and identity. So, yeah, you should re-read that one today, especially given that the original novel has been the subject of censorship in schools for years.

The Poetry of Pablo Neruda If you need an “excuse” to read some of the best love poems ever written about oceans and women and the earth, say you’re brushing up on your dating one-liners. But the words by Chilean poet, diplomat, and politician Pablo Neruda are so much more than kindling. They are pure fire and combustion. This book will wake up your soul. It also mends broken hearts.

The Stranger – Albert Camus An ordinary man finds himself on trial after committing a murder in one of the greatest novellas of the 20th century. A dissection of morality and the philosophy of the absurd, The Stranger is particularly relevant today as we face a world of heightened sensitivity and, perhaps, a society that makes no sense to us.

The Call of the Wild – Jack London Try this: Take the novel on a long, boring, or otherwise dreaded journey. Close the last page a changed man (it’s that phenomenal) with a new outlook on struggle and bonds. Set in Yukon, Canada, during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, London writes of Buck, a dog that is abducted and forced into the chaos and brutality of frontier life. In a word: rugged. Secretly: a tear-jerker.

Lord of the Flies – William Golding A band of British boys are shipwrecked on an island and try to maintain order and normalcy the way governments do. As you might guess, it all goes terribly, terribly wrong. Lord of the Flies, the first novel from Golding, is a perfect glimpse at the nature of savage inclination. It’s a short read but it’s a damn good one.

Catcher In The Rye - J.D. Salinger We’ll bet you first glimpsed the vibrant red cover of Catcher in the Rye some time in high school. But don’t let your memory fool you into thinking it’s a kids book. Possibly the best coming-of-age tale in all of literature, Salinger writes of the young and relatable protagonist Holden Caulfield and his first-person commentary on the world as he struggles between embracing adulthood and hiding in his childhood memories.

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websiteflix · 8 years ago

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youngerdrgrey · 7 years ago

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he said 'my absence is strong and warm. it will hold you. it will teach you how to miss. how to be without. and how to survive anyway.

how my father raised me. a poem from salt by nayyirah waheed.

#also a charley x ernest kind of poem #ernest x nova too really #how my father raised me #nayyirah waheed #words

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youngerdrgrey · 8 years ago

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baby showers bring new understandings // a queen sugar fic

written for day 3 of 30 x 31, prompt: line from a song on shuffle -- (I forgot the actual song lyric and the song, but a song about living your dreams played at work, and it turned into this and another Charley+Rah scene)

about the time Charley missed Darla’s baby shower and Ralph Angel didn’t handle it so well. [read on ao3]

Charley's always had a bit of a blind spot for Ralph Angel. She can admit it. Out of everybody in the family, Ra was her main ally when she came down for the summers. He'd follow her around, and they used to play this restaurant game. What happened wasn't too hard. Ralph Angel was a farmer who brought all of his food to the restaurant so they could feed all the stuffed animals and action figures in the house. And Charley was the manager and chef. She took in all the stuff and gave him a receipt for it, and then she made the food to keep them all happy. They usually played in the kitchen, or on the front porch, and they played this same game for hours. Usually until Charley found another way to distract him. But it was their game, just theirs.

But not too long after that game came a whole lot of nothing for the two of them. Years of scarce interaction and crossing paths when they could. Charley stopped having as much time as she used to, so phone calls to Ralph Angel couldn't happen often. Then she went to college, and she barely had enough time between her classes, Davis' games, and eventually having Micah that she mostly only talked to Ernest. She brought Micah down when she could, a few trips here and there, and Ralph Angel did get an invite to the championship game, but he hadn't been able to come. Now Charley will gladly take the blame for not actively seeking out her little brother, but she won't be disrespected for having a life of her own.

She won't be discounted and disregarded because she has a family aside from the larger one. Ralph Angel used to expect her to drop everything for him. Like, when Darla first got pregnant with Blue, Ralph Angel texted and called Charley once a week for two months to make sure she could go to the baby shower. And she said she could go, even bought her tickets, but when the time came, she had to cancel for a photoshoot.

"A photoshoot?" Ernest had repeated. He'd managed to stifle a scoff, but Charley could hear his head shaking from across the country. Could feel the way his disappointment settled in the middle of his chest while he pushed at the spot right under his eyebrows.

"Yes, Daddy, this was the only day that we could get in with the photographer. Me, Davis, and Micah, for a family spread in Essence." But it never mattered how big of a deal something was to Charley, not when the rest of the family was concerned. "It doesn't matter anyway. We couldn't go. Micah got sick."

"He okay?"

Charley didn't really need to look to know. She'd spent the whole day sitting in the bathroom with him while he dry-heaved. Giving him little drinks of water and Pediasure, and wiping the sweat from his face. He'd just managed to sleep, so that gave her enough time to lean against the bannister across from his room, call down to Louisiana, and try to make things right. "He's resting. He must have one of those twenty-four hour bugs, but it's.... He can't keep anything down. Can't stop shaking. I hope it's a quick one because we do not have the time to be at the doctor all day. He has that presentation on Monday."

Ernest laughed. "His heroes."

Charley hummed. "He won't let any of us see it. I don't think we made the cut."

Before Ernest could say anything else, though, Ralph Angel's voice came through. "Who's that?" Rah asked.

"Your sister. Charley." Ernest must've held out the phone because Ralph Angel's grunt came through a lot louder than it needed to. "Go on. Talk to her."

"About what?" Ralph Angel snatched the phone anyway. It bumped against something -- a watch, maybe -- then he clicked his tongue. "Heya, Charley. Have a good day today?"

She could've lied. Could've tried to find a way to calm him immediately, but honestly, she'd spent the whole day watching her son, completely helpless. And that's with the texts and calls she kept getting from him and from Aunt Vi and everyone else who decided to let her know just how much she'd messed up by not being there for him.

"No. Today's been just awful. But, it's not about me today. Is it?"

"You sure about that?" Ralph Angel had a way of lacing every word with venom when he wanted to. Left them sagging under the weight of his own anger. "'Cause I thought today could be about Darla. You know, the woman I love, the kid we're bringing into this world, but since you're out here having photoshoots--"

"We didn't go to the photoshoot, Ralph Angel."

"So you didn't come here for nothing?"

"I didn't go there because Micah is sick, Rah. You remember Micah, don't you?" She shouldn't dig back at him, but honestly, after the gifts she'd sent, she still should've been getting praised on this phone call. Did he think any of that was cheap?

"Hard to remember someone you don't see but once a year."

"We were coming down," she said.

"And then you didn't. Same story, same ending, every time. I don't know why --" One of the keys on the phone beeped. He had to stop strangling technology every time he got upset. He'd never had to learn how to properly handle his emotions. Not with everyone catering to his every need all the time. "Darla wanted to meet you, Charley. It wasn't even just about me. Darla's putting on a brave face, but she's scared to do this. And I told her about you, having Micah when you were still getting your degree. And she just wanted to talk to a young mom that was doing it right. But you couldn't do that. Could you?"

Doing it right? There was no such thing as doing parenting right. No matter what, parents messed up their kids, and kids just became who they were going to be. Either parents were too loving, or too distant, or they sheltered their kids, or they let them run wild, or they had too many, or only had one and that one didn't know what it was like to be a part of something in the way that other kids with siblings did. There was literally no way to be a perfect parent. If that's what he and the whole of the fucking world expected from her, then they would just have to take a number and keep on complaining.

Charley raked her hands down her cheeks. Pushed up her glasses and brought the phone back to her ear. "Well, I can talk to her now. Just put her on and--"

"She's sleeping."

"Fine. Rah, if you're gonna snap at me, then I can call back another time."

"And when will that be? When can you pencil me in?"

"And I thought Nova was the bitter one." She pinched her eyes shut the second she said it. "I didn't mean that."

"It's fine," which meant he didn't believe her. "I'll leave Darla your number. She can call when she wakes up."

"Alright. I'll be up." Then, because she couldn't help herself, she asked, "Did you get my gifts?"

A bit of that bitterness subsided. "There's like a million diapers, Charley."

She chuckled. "I ordered as much as I could. Kids go through 'em quick. And you should use the genie so you don't have to feel like you're living in the diaper yourself. And Daddy said you didn't have a carseat yet, so that one should be the best on the market right now. It's an updated one of the one we used for Micah. And you just let me know once he needs a booster seat, and I'll send you one of those too."

A rustle on his end. Maybe a nod? A slow one. Then a gush of air like he'd pushed everything out of him. "That's -- we been wondering about the seats. And the strollers--"

"I don't know how the ground is out there, but that seat can click into a stroller. Tell me what kind of wheels you need, and you'll have them."

"You don't have to--"

"I want to." She let herself slide down to the ground instead of standing. "Ralph Angel, I don't mean to disappear like this. I've just got a whole life out here that never stops moving. Not even for a second. So, forgive me if all I can offer right now is a call and a lot of gifts that I know would hurt to buy all on your own. I can help. Let me."

"We'll pay you back."

She shook her head, not that he could see. "Just send him this way once he's potty trained. We can go to Disneyland and I can officially be the coolest aunt ever."

"Nova'll fight you on that one."

Charley laughed, but honestly, Nova would win. Couldn't fight the artsy one for street cred. "She can try." They lapsed into silence after that. Not much either could say. Charley watched Micah flip in his bed. He had every blanket on, and she was sure he was still shaking under them.

"Charley?"

"Hm?"

"I didn't have to yell at you."

"No. You didn't."

"I'm sorry."

"Thanks. Sorry I couldn't make it out there."

"Vi said we had too many people here anyway." Ralph Angel laughed. "She didn't have enough to feed everybody. Sent me out to get more wings."

"Davis got sent for cheesecake at mine." And he'd come back with some from Cheesecake Factory, so the fact that it took him an hour to return was quickly forgiven. "Perks of being a dad."

"Still can't really believe that. Me. A dad. I'm barely...." He sighed. "That feeling goes away, right? That you got no idea what you're doing?"

"Kinda. But not really. You're always just trying to keep up. But the longer you do it, the easier it gets to at least jog alongside them."

"Thank you, Charley."

"Any time."

#charley bordelon #ralph angel bordelon #charley x ralph angel #queen sugar #queen sugar fanfic #ernest bordelon #darla x ralph angel #mine #30 x 31 #qs: fics

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youngerdrgrey · 8 years ago

Text

text me ‘round midnight // a queen sugar fic

Charley's phone dings a few minutes before midnight on December 31st, 2016. One unread message from Davis West.

or, that time I got emotional thinking about how Charley spent last year’s new year with her little family in L.A. but probably spends this year’s surrounded by all of them and only has one purpose outside the family who sends a real text to her. (check here for a flashback to new years 2015 w/ Charley and Davis, click here to read both of these on ao3)

UPDATED (1/02/17) additional conversations added to this year’s inbox

last year's inbox

To Charley Bordelon // Dec 31, 2015 (7:04 pm) Daddy: I tried calling. You must be busy over there. Your old man's turning in for the night. Early I know but next year will be the same as the one before it, just a little longer. Send Micah my love. Happy New Year, baby girl

To Daddy (Ernest Bordelon) // Dec 31, 2015 (8:17 pm) Charley: Daddy, I'm sorry I missed your call. Davis and I got wrapped up in this new spread for next year. I can call you right now if you're still up. I should've had the ringer up, I know how early you go to bed. Happy New Year. I'll be down there as soon as I can get away. I love you.

To Charley // Dec 31, 2015 (9:01 pm) Vi: Happy New Year baby!

To Vi // Dec 31, 2015 (9:01 pm) Charley: Happy New Year, Aunt Vi! You and Hollywood making a mess down there?

To Charley // Dec 31, 2015 (9:03 pm) Vi: You know I don't ever make a mess I can't clean! Nova says hi

To Vi // Dec 31, 2015 (9:04 pm) Charley: Does she really? Hey Nova Charley: It's just me and Davis at the house now. He says hey & to send us some jelly next time you make some

To Charley // Dec 31, 2015 (9:08 pm) Vi: As if Hollywood would let any food out of this house. Ya'll can get outta here w that. I'll let you get on to your plans. Tell Micah we love him and we miss him down here. He's old enough, you can always just send him to visit

To Vi // Dec 31, 2015 (9:10 pm) Charley: We'll come down together, Aunt Vi. Soon. We'll be down there before you know it

To Charley // Dec 31, 2015 (9:11 pm) Vi: I'll believe it when I see it, Miss Bordelon-West Vi: Alright bye baby

To Vi // Dec 31, 2015 (9:12 pm) Charley: bye

To Micah // Dec 31, 2015 (10:32 pm) Charley: Text your grandfather, don't forget! Your Aunt Violet too Charley: I'll get you in the morning, and if you need anything at all, just call. Charley: And I swear Micah West if anyone so much as thinks about drinking, you stay inside or you have us come get you. Promise.

To Mom // Dec 31, 2015 (10:35 pm) Micah: I promise, Mom. You worry too much. We're playing around. Far from the windows with Dominoes and Red Bull Micah: Go have fun with Dad. You deserve a night off

To Micah // Dec 31, 2015 (10:36 pm) Charley: thank you. And text. your. grandfather! Charley: And my mom. Don't forget her or we'll never hear the end of it.

To Mom // Dec 31, 2015 (10:38 pm) Micah: I'll text them Micah: Night, Mom

To Micah // Dec 31, 2015 (10:40 pm) Charley: And don't think I won't mention you and your dad working behind my back to get you this night out. But that's a lecture for 2016. Love you. Stay safe xx

To Charley Bordelon-West // Dec 31, 2015 (11:59 pm) Davis: What do I always say, baby? Just let it be good. So this is me doing just that. Micah's with his friends, you right beside me, no point in waking you up just to say what I can say in the morning, right? But in case you wake up before me, happy new year, I love you, and we can take whatever this year's got for us so long as we do it together. You and me, Charley. You and me.

To Mom // Jan 01, 2016 (12:01 am) Micah: HAPPY NEW YEAR MOM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Micah: Hope it wasn't too bad ringing it in without me haha Micah: (Jeremy's cool but next year, you me and Dad for sure. I miss our song.) Micah: (and you guys I guess)

this year's inbox

To Charley // Dec 31, 2016 (10:14 am) Vi: You sleeping here or Remy's tonight?

To Vi // Dec 31, 2016 (10:15 am) Charley: There probably, if it's not too much. I'd rather wake up to the full house I think

To Charley // Dec 31, 2016 (10:17 am) Vi: Fine by me. He staying too?

To Vi // Dec 31, 2016 (10:18 am) Charley: Let me ask Charley: "If it wouldn't be too much." He says he'll bring eggs for the morning

To Charley // Dec 31, 2016 (10:20 am) Vi: Make that bacon Vi: thick cut Vi: at least 2 packs since we'll have a whole army to feed

To Vi // Dec 31, 2016 (10:22 am) Charley: We'll pick it up on the way. Need anything else?

To Charley // Dec 31, 2016 (10:24 am) Vi: That's all for me. Ask Nova. Don't know if she'll have time for the store with the traffic

To Nova // Dec 31, 2016 (10:26 am) Charley: Going to the store. Need anything for tonight?

To Charley // Dec 31, 2016 (10:28 am) Nova: That air mattress you have in your closet

To Nova // Dec 31, 2016 (10:29 am) Charley: Nova

To Charley // Dec 31, 2016 (10:31 am) Nova: I'll even say please, Charley. I'm not sleeping on the couch and I don't want to drive all the way back Nova: You know Remy's sleeping with you anyway. Don't waste the bed bc you want to keep playing

To Nova // Dec 31, 2016 (10:32 am) Charley: ...I didn't hear a please

To Charley // Dec 31, 2016 (10:33 am) Nova: I'm bringing all sorts of goodies tonight. Don't make me leave you out Nova: please

To Nova // Dec 31, 2016 (10:37 am) Charley: Now we're talking. I'll bring it down when I get to Vi's. Charley: Are you or the boys going for a "walk" with Micah tonight?

To Charley // Dec 31, 2016 (10:38 am) Nova: He gets to take a walk??? Nova: ooh if Daddy could see you now, turning little Micah into a delinquent

To Nova // Dec 31, 2016 (10:40 am) Charley: Get out of here Charley: and technically you're doing the turning. I'm just asking that you stop him before he spends the whole night paranoid

To Charley // Dec 31, 2016 (10:41 am) Nova: But that's part of the fun. We do it your way and he'll be walking all the time

To Nova // Dec 31, 2016 (10:42 am) Charley: Remember he's the one watching Blue tonight. You want to wind up babysitting?

To Charley // Dec 31, 2016 (10:43 am) Nova: I'll stick to kicking your ass in Spades Nova: Rah and I are walking out of there wit all your money! Nova: Have you betting the mill and everything

To Nova // Dec 31, 2016 (10:45 am) Charley: Don't you still owe me 10k? Charley: You can add whatever you LOSE to your tab

To Charley // Dec 31, 2016 (10:47 am) Nova: Imma remember that Nova: Screenshot this conversation. You can pull it up when I win and have you swapping out your wine for the real stuff

To Nova // Dec 31, 2016 (10:48 am) Charley: Okay well we are at the store now. You sure you don't need anything?

To Charley // Dec 31, 2016 (10:49 am) Nova: s'all good here

To Mom // Dec 31, 2016 (11:15 am) Micah: Are you still at the store? Micah: Bring back graham cracker crumbs Micah: Cheesecake > black eyed peas

To Micah // Dec 31, 2016 (11:17 am) Charley: Those aren't even in the same category, Micah Charley: You baking?

To Mom // Dec 31, 2016 (11:18 am) Micah: Vi's gonna show me

To Micah // Dec 31, 2016 (11:19 am) Charley: I'll get caramel too then

To Charley // Dec 31, 2016 (11:21 am) Vi: wait get another pack of wings Vi: this won't be enough

To Mom // Dec 31, 2016 (11:22 am) Micah: Vi wants wings

To Micah // Dec 31, 2016 (11:23 am) Charley: She told me

To Micah, Vi, Nova, Hollywood, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (11:34 am) Charley: I AM IN LINE RIGHT NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME. IF YOU WANT SOMETHNG SPEAK NOW OR GO YOURSELF

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Nova, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (11:35 am) Ralph Angel: Blue dropped the cider. Could you get some

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Nova, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (11:35 am) Hollywood: Just me bringing liquor or is someone else pitching in?

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Ralph Angel, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (11:36 am) Nova: I got you

To Micah, Vi, Nova, Hollywood, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (11:36 am) Charley: Okay cider. That's it? We promise?

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Nova, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (11:37 am) Hollywood: Thx Nova

To Micah, Nova, Hollywood, Charley, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (11:38 am) Vi: Wings Charley wings

To Micah, Vi, Nova, Hollywood, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (11:39 am) Charley: She has the wings

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Ralph Angel, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (11:40 am) Nova: Hey Remy! What you bringing tonight?

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Nova, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (11:41 am) Hollywood: an empty stomach Hollywood: or some pillows for the floor!

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Ralph Angel, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (11:42 am) Nova: You know good and well he ain't sleeping on no floor

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Nova, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (11:43 am) Ralph Angel: you wrong for that Wood

To Vi, Nova, Hollywood, Ralph Angel, Mom // Dec 31, 2016 (11:43 am) Micah: You guys know I'm in this chat too right?

To Micah, Vi, Nova, Hollywood, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (11:44 am) Charley: I'm bringing the woman bringing everything you all forgot

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Ralph Angel, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (11:44 am) Nova: ah hush Micah, you're fine Nova: I didn't forget anything

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Nova, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (11:45 am) Hollywood: He'll be on the floor once he costs her all those books Hollywood: Can't play for shit

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Ralph Angel, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (11:46 am) Nova: That's why he's not my partner Nova: me and Rah for life

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Nova, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (11:47 am) Ralph Angel: why thank you sis

To Micah, Vi, Nova, Hollywood, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (11:48 am) Charley: STOP BLOWING UP MY PHONE

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Ralph Angel, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (11:48 am) Nova: Uh oh she's upset

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Nova, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (11:49 am) Ralph Angel: We're just talking Charley

To Micah, Vi, Nova, Hollywood, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (11:49 am) Charley: I'm not upset. I'm busy

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Nova, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (11:49 am) Hollywood: She talk all the time but can't handle it when other people start talking

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Ralph Angel, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (11:50 am) Nova: She started the group chat, did she not?

To Vi, Nova, Hollywood, Ralph Angel, Mom // Dec 31, 2016 (11:50 am) Micah: guys

To Micah, Nova, Hollywood, Charley, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (11:50 am) Vi: Just talk when you get here its fine Vi: it won't kill you to get off the phone

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Ralph Angel, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (11:51 am) Nova: You're on the phone too!

To Micah, Vi, Nova, Hollywood, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (11:52 am) Charley: I'm just tunring the phone off Charley: Message Remy if you need anything

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Nova, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (11:53 am) Ralph Angel: what else could we need?

To Vi, Nova, Hollywood, Ralph Angel, Mom // Dec 31, 2016 (11:53 am) Micah: please stop talking

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Nova, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (11:54 am) Ralph Angel: Getting pretty bold over there

To Vi, Nova, Hollywood, Ralph Angel, Mom // Dec 31, 2016 (11:55 am) Micah: I could take you

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Ralph Angel, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (11:56 am) Nova: Don't get fought

To Micah, Nova, Hollywood, Charley, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (11:56 am) Vi: No you can't baby

To Vi, Nova, Hollywood, Ralph Angel, Mom // Dec 31, 2016 (11:57 am) Micah: I took kickboxing

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Nova, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (11:58 am) Hollywood: He didn't grow up kickboxing

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Ralph Angel, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (11:59 am) Nova: He didn't grow up fighting neither

To Micah, Nova, Hollywood, Charley, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (12:00 pm) Vi: Not the way Ernest rose him

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Nova, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (12:01 pm) Ralph Angel: Again with this stuff Vi

To Micah, Nova, Hollywood, Charley, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (12:02 pm) Vi: Now I didn't say anything Ralph Angel. I'm not part of none of this

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Nova, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (12:02 pm) Ralph Angel: You made yourself part of it

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Ralph Angel, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (12:02 pm) Nova: Charley made us part of it with this chat

To Vi, Nova, Hollywood, Ralph Angel, Mom // Dec 31, 2016 (12:03 pm) Micah: Don't blame my mom. I started the fight

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Ralph Angel, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (12:03 pm) Nova: That wasn't a fight

To Charley, Micah, Vi, Nova, Hollywood // Dec 31, 2016 (12:04 pm) Ralph Angel: That wasn't a fight

To Vi, Nova, Hollywood, Ralph Angel, Mom // Dec 31, 2016 (12:04 pm) Micah: Whatever

To Micah, Nova, Hollywood, Charley, Ralph Angel // Dec 31, 2016 (12:05 pm) Vi: Can we please just stop?

To Micah // Dec 31, 2016 (12:34 pm) Charley: Thank you for trying baby

To Mom // Dec 31, 2016 (12:35 pm) Micah: Biggest fan remember?

To Micah // Dec 31, 2016 (12:36 pm) Charley: Biggest fan ❤️ Charley: We're almost there. Get the door?

To Charley // Dec 31, 2016 (11:54 pm) Davis: Hey Charley, I don't want to take up too much of your time. I know you and the family are probably a few books deep at the spades table. I'm with a few of the guys right now and I couldn't stop thinking about this last year. It's been a lot for people all over the country, but for us? You lost your dad so close to the start of this year. But you didn't let that stop you. You built a fucking empire Charley, and I am so proud of you for that. That'll never change. Look I'm sorry that I couldn't be who you needed me to be. Sorry that I got caught up and lost you and Micah the way that I did. Sorry that I hurt you baby. And I hope that in the new year, I can show you just how sorry I am and earn the chance (not the right) to be a part of your life again. Davis: Anyway, happy new year Charley. You deserve every ounce you gave to me.

To Davis West // Jan 01, 2017 (8:13 am) Charley: Happy new year, Davis. I actually meant to text you back last night, but finding the words to do that was a lot harder than I expected it to be. Thank you, first of all, for saying what you did and for apologizing. You keep saying that you're sorry, that you've grown, to all of the press, and I might actually be starting to believe you. But even more than that, I want to thank you for not asking. For actually respecting the boundaries here and letting me start this new life. It wouldn't have been possible without you coming down here, so I will always owe a debt to you for that. You kept your word last year, and I hope you do the same in the new one. Be there for Micah and show up when you can to be there for the people who still root for you. I wish you the best.

To Charley // Jan 01, 2017 (9:12 am) Davis: You can be honest you know? I mean I know that's the nice part of you talking but you have always been honest with me

To Davis West // Jan 01, 2017 (9:15 am) Charley: And what's the point of that? Look, I want you to do well because that reflects well on me, and the team, and on Micah. I want you to play and grow and never hurt another person the way that you hurt us. What more do you want?

To Charley // Jan 01, 2017 (9:20 am) Davis: I want to talk to you, Charley. Want to hear from the person who was the most important person in my life for eighteen years

To Davis West // Jan 01, 2017 (9:23 am) Charley: Then maybe you shouldn't have slept with other women. Maybe you shouldn't have gotten caught and then you shouldn't have lied to my face and cost me three million dollars and the ability to sleep at night. Davis, I am doing my very best to still help you and run the brand that I helped you create. But that has to be all that we have. I can't do this again.

To Charley // Jan 01, 2017 (9:25 am) Davis: I'm not asking for anything

To Davis West // Jan 01, 2017 (9:27 am) Charley: Just like you weren't asking in October? Or asking Micah to spy on me? He told me all about your leading questions, Davis. Did you think you could keep asking him about what I was doing and he wouldn't let me know?

To Charley // Jan 01, 2017 (9:29 am) Davis: I just wanted to know if you were serious about this guy

To Davis West // Jan 01, 2017 (9:31 am) Charley: Then ask me, not Micah.

To Charley // Jan 01, 2017 (9:32 am) Davis: Are you Davis: Serious about this guy

To Davis West // Jan 01, 2017 (9:35 am) Charley: You don't get to ask me that.

To Charley // Jan 01, 2017 (9:36 am) Davis: You told me to ask

To Davis West // Jan 01, 2017 (9:37 am) Charley: I didn’t mean it. You should understand what it’s like to say something you don’t mean

To Charley // Jan 01, 2017 (9:38 am) Davis: I meant every word I said to you, baby

To Davis West // Jan 01, 2017 (9:39 am) Charley: Sure you did. Davis, I am not getting sucked back into this again. I’m sick of talking in circles with you. I'll talk to Miriam when I have something else to say.

To Charley // Jan 01, 2017 (9:44 am) Davis: That's it? Davis: You're done with this conversation? Davis: We started off so well. Charley, please just talk to me again. It doesn't have to mean anything.

To Davis West // Jan 01, 2017 (9:47 am) Charley: Of course it means something. You think I can talk to you and not think of everything you put me through? You think we can just be friends now? If it's not about our son or our business, then I don't want to talk to you.

To Charley // Jan 01, 2017 (9:50 am) Davis: When you say stuff like that, it sounds like you're not over me Davis: and if you're not over me, then why are you with this guy? Davis: You can't keep playing with people because you don't know what you want

To Davis West // Jan 01, 2017 (9:55 am) Charley: I've been with Remy for almost six months now so I'm pretty sure I know what I want. Every day, it gets a little easier to be without you and conversations like this only help that. So be careful. You don't want to start this year by completely losing my support.

To Charley // Jan 01, 2017 (9:57 am) Davis: All this over some guy? Davis: Charley come on Davis: seriously? Davis: You know you said the same thing in the divorce and you didn't cut me off then. You can't do this without me

To Davis West // Jan 01, 2017 (10:00 am) Charley: Unlike you, I have a whole life outside of what I do. Being your agent, running the mill, those are only part of who I am. And Micah and Remy and the rest of my family get to know the full version of who I am now. Every ounce from before and SO many more. Charley: Try me again, Davis, and I will burn everything you have to the ground. Charley: Go on and keep texting me. I'm done for now.

To Charley // Jan 01, 2017 (10:02 am) Davis: You don't mean that

[Delivered]

bonus

To Charley Bordelon // Jan 01, 2017 (10:10 am) Remy: You ever coming back to bed?

To Remy Newell // Jan 01, 2017 (10:11 am) Charley: Soon. Coffee?

To Charley Bordelon // Jan 01, 2017 (10:12 am) Remy: Yes ma'am Remy: You okay?

To Remy Newell // Jan 01, 2017 (10:13 am) Charley: I've been worse. I'll see you upstairs once it's ready, okay?

To Daddy (Ernest Bordelon) // Jan 01, 2017 (10:17 am) Charley: First New Years down here in ages and you weren't here with us. Micah ran Blue through the whole house on his shoulders. They toasted their sparkling cider at midnight (Nova "snuck" something into Micah's glass, but at least she gives a heads up now before spoiling him) I probably shouldn't be doing this. Someone new could have your number already, but if it is someone new, could you not reply? Just skip over this message and let a girl pretend for a second or two.

Daddy, I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye before your homegoing. I let myself get all caught up in everything happening with Davis. I could've been there sooner. I could've given you the time you deserved. And I do everything I can now to give that time and that advice and love to everybody out here, but it's not gonna fix it, will it? It's not gonna change anything?

You'd love the mill. The whole community's grinding out there, and we finally showed that family what happens when you mess with the Bordelons. I'll tell you all about it one day. Until then, I love you, Daddy.

(And this year's not for you; it's for me. And it's going to be my best one yet. I promise.)

[Sent]

#these new years moments are deleted moments that my brain really wanted out somewhere #charley bordelon #davis west #ernest bordelon #queen sugar #queen sugar fanfic #mine #violet bordelon #micah west #remy newell #bordelons #qs: fics #charley x remy #charley x davis

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youngerdrgrey · 6 years ago

Note

For Queen Sugar: 5, 20, 31, 37. General: 30, 38.

Do you have any (QS) polyam ships?

Not reeeeally. I feel like a lot of the ships I support are usually specific/two partners. Anybody else have any?

Talk about a (QS) ship you feel alone in shipping.

I’m not alone in any of my ships for this show, I think. I’m pretty pro-exploring Charley/Davis, though, which I think might be the loneliest opinion? At the same time, I think a bunch of us fans are upset and fascinated about the (seemingly) strong family unit that was the Bordelon-Wests.

Talk about one of your favorite headcanons for a (QS) ship you love.

For Charley and Remy, my favorite headcanon was/is that they would go for walks on the land. Quiet ones sometimes. Funny ones. Feeling the ancestors around them and Ernest in the air, and their hands would be intertwined until that heat reminded them just how much they could sweat from everywhere.

For Micah and Keke, he can’t decide on how to ask her to a dance. He’s got these big plans. Maybe doing a dance video, which could help serve as a contest entry. Or just joining in a dance. Interrupting a game? He’s so caught up that he takes way too long to ask her out, so Keke pulls another “It’s late, and I gotta get home” moment. Only it’s “It’s late, and I gotta pick an outfit.” He laughs, and he asks, and she says yes of course.

(For Charley and Davis, they had one week of a No Phone in the Bedroom policy. Awful for business, but they told everybody they were trying it out and not to try and contact them after 8pm unless they really needed something. So, for one week, they weren’t Charley Bordelon-West and Davis West, the gentleman. They weren’t a manager and a client. They almost weren’t even them. They just were. Just lying together in their room without distractions, staring around the room with music from the stereos like college all over again. Micah even joined them for a bad Netflix movie on their bed, draped along the bottom of their bed near their feet. He broke the rule to snap a pic, but he didn’t post it. He just wanted to remember them having a good time.)

Back when he first got locked up, Ralph Angel and Darla used to talk on the phone until they ran out of money. Or he got fought. She’d tell him everything Blue did that day. How he was focusing better and could wave and was already so big that Darla didn’t know how she’d possibly be able to look after him on her own. “You’re not on your own,” Rah reminded her. She had the family. She’d get through, with the family.

Do you have a favorite trope and/or AU for your OTP?

I like first date and soulmate tropes for Charley and Remy.

GENERAL

Name a couple of fandoms in which you have no ships.

Yikes. Do I have any fandoms where I don’t have ships? I have some where it’s more casual?

Do you like and use ship names?

Sometimes! But I also don’t tend to use them as much anymore because it’s easier for tagging purposes to use their first names. I still refer to some ships w/ their name before anything else, though, like SQ for Emma x Regina, or Charmy for Charley x Remy.

[questions for shippers; ask me and I’ll answer]

#queen sugar #qs: headcanons #I'm upset #mine #sugararmor #answered #qs stuff #charley x remy #charley x davis #keke x micah #darla x ralph angel

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youngerdrgrey · 7 years ago

Text

she just lost it (and we’re left watching) // a queen sugar scene

so, Micah and Remy are both at the mill opening, both witnesses to the epic Charley Bordelon breakdown of September 2016, and both left waiting for her to return to the main room. + peep it on ao3

psa: Micah is sixteen and going through some shit; he doesn’t speak for me.

Micah steps up to Remy. He keeps his strides even, and his face as neutral as possible. The reporter’s on the other side of the room, probably pestering his mom into telling more than she wants to, but at least that means the reporter won’t notice Micah and Remy talking and read into it. Remy’s not officially a part of anything. He’s a consultant who sometimes maybe keeps his mom company when she’s lonely. He’s the rebound guy who fits into their story like they’re a bad Nicholas Sparks novel or something. (You know, the ones where the first guy the girl meets after her abusive or awful boyfriend leaves is somehow the next great love of her life. It’s a cliché, not their reality. Remy’s nice and all, but it’s not like Remy’s her forever.)

“Hey.”

Micah should probably feel bad for looking at it all like that, but he’s sort of been trained to think that way. To analyze moments for their worth and their potential, and the main potential that Remy has is a transitional business one. He can help Charley get this mill business on solid ground, and he can help her work through some of her anxieties and doubts that Davis brought back into her life. She’s always been super obsessed with perfection, so she’ll probably think that her feigned lack of perfection led to Davis’ affairs. Like, if she’d only been better at X, Y, and Z, then Davis wouldn’t have ever stepped out on her. Kind of like how sometimes Micah thinks that maybe he could’ve changed his dad’s mind. Like, he could’ve shown his dad how important their family was, or he could’ve helped bring his parents together instead of taking money from his dad when he knew his mom wanted him to earn money and get a job and stuff. But every single show ever that has divorced parents tells the kid that it’s not their fault that the parents get divorced. It’s the parents’ fault. So it’s Davis’ fault for cheating. And maybe his mom could have held on a little longer, but that’s her decision to make. And if she wants to goof around with the consultant, then fine. She can do that.

Remy blinks too many times. “Micah, hey.” His voice comes more out of his head than his chest. “You need something?”

Micah shakes his head. “I was wondering…. Do these kind of things really happen often?” If they do, then Micah can search for ways to mitigate it. How to stop chokes and keep grinding easy so his mom doesn’t ruin her manicure and lose it every time they start up the machines.

Remy’s head sort of teeters from one side to the other. “When there’s a lot of pressure, a lot of cane going in and not a lot coming back out, chokes happen. Just means you need to take the time to work through it.”

So, yes. That’s the answer. Micah can’t keep the edge out of his voice when he asks, “Do you always talk like that?” Remy talks like he’s offering the sagest of advice, but Micah doesn’t need platitudes or quotes for his instagram captions. “Just all full of double meanings?”

“I can be long-winded, yes.” He grins though, like he sees it as a good thing.

"Maybe you’re just used to reading into things.”

“I am in AP classes so,” Micah shrugs when he says it. He’s in lit classes that literally require him to overanalyze everything, and his mom’s one of the most well thought out and practical people he’s ever met, so of course he hears things one way and processes them another. And it’s not even like Remy’s helping with an answer like that. That doesn’t alleviate any tension. That doesn’t suddenly make the fact that this happened okay. If it just happens, then how do they stop it from happening again? Do they grind the cane slower? Do they send some kind of solution through the machines so the mulch doesn’t get stuck? How do they fix it?

Remy turns so he fully faces Micah. “This business doesn’t have a lot of absolutes. Sometimes, chokes happen. We just have to be quick to react.”

His mom was quick to react. She sprinted out of this room without more than a glance around at her guests. She was gone, and by the time Micah could find her and catch up to her, she was practically elbows deep in the grinder. It was like…. When the news came out about his dad, and that stupid video of Davis and Milena in the hotel hallway hit the internet, everybody was looking at them. They picked sides so quick. Either they hated Davis, or they just wanted to watch Charley and Micah process it. And his mom’s way of processing was storming onto the court and pushing his dad around, but Micah? He hadn’t moved. He hadn’t even lowered his phone after watching, so it was still looping on his screen when security dragged his mom, kicking and screaming off the court. And everyone around him seemed to remember he was there at the same time. Their eyes jumping from Davis on the court to Micah, in the middle of a crowd, with no one around to explain him to what the hell was going on. And, yeah, this is different. This time her meltdown’s private. This time nobody else in the world has to know that his mom’s not the strong, amazing person she pretends to be. But he knows. He sees. And what kind of son is he if he doesn’t do anything to help her? Last time, he let her break down and hide out in her room and they missed getting to say goodbye to Grandpa Ernest because he didn’t move quick enough. He didn’t help. So this time, he’s figuring something out, and he’s keeping his mom safe.

Micah sets his jaw. “Cool. We’ll be quick then. Next time.” He rolls his shoulders back and pushes a smile forward. He’s not as good at it as his mom is, so he can feel where his lips crack and strain around his teeth. And his eyes can’t brighten up as fast, and his neck’s probably too tense for it to seem real. But he’s working on it. How to hold himself together so nobody knows that he’s doing it.

Remy seems to notice it. He says, “Micah—“

But Micah doesn’t need more platitudes. “I’m gonna get a refill.” He doesn’t even have a drink in his hand, but he walks away before Remy can question it. And Remy doesn’t follow him either.

On the other side of the room, Charley’s got a better version of that fake smile on. Hers shines. Hers goes deep enough to show off her canine teeth and the hard parts of her eyes serve as reminders for the reporter — she might be refined, but everyone has their breaking points. Everyone’s got something to protect.

He’s gonna figure out how to help his mom. With or without anybody else’s help. He’s gonna make it right.

a/n: I’d hoped this would be a good moment for the two of them, but Micah didn’t take from this what I/Remy would’ve liked.

#micah west #remy newell #queen sugar #qs: fics #qs: s2 #qs: 206 #mine #micah x remy #they don't even have a tag because they basically never interact #charley x micah

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youngerdrgrey · 7 years ago

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charley x remy mini-soulmate au

so, there’s this gifset of Charley and Remy meeting that had @bizeke mentioning a soulmate au and many months later, here’s a quick soulmate au

Nova’s the one who tells Charley all about soulmates. sitting up under the winding tree “of our ancestors,” as Nova likes to call it, spilling all the secrets about how the world’s shades of gray until you see your soulmates. she says mates because there are multiple people meant to be in a person’s life; some unlucky people only have one mate, but some have a few out there.

“Like Daddy,” Charley says, eyes bright even though neither of the girls know how to classify it.

Nova swallows down the part of her that wants to say it wasn’t new colors that drew their dad away from her mom and over to Charley’s, but she’s too young to be spouting stuff like that and Charley’s way too young to hear it.

“Yeah, like Daddy.”

and as much as Nova tried explaining, Charley didn’t get it until later. didn’t understand how the brightness and hues kick in differently with different people, how the whole of the world gets brighter and richer with each new love added in. so when Charley first meets Davis and sees pale blues and greens and red and oranges, she thinks she understands. suddenly she has favorite colors and finds herself mixing paints together just for the sake of seeing how they blend. picks up coloring books and bright pens for her sophomore classes and realizes that one of her favorite colors is the one in her own eyes.

then Micah’s born, and Charley glances down at him, and the pale, water logged beige of his skin becomes her favorite. his eyes color in to be different than hers and maybe that’s her favorite. she finds out that her favorite shirt is brighter than she knew it to be, and she and Davis rush through baby stores adjusting Micah’s wardrobe so he can shine even brighter to them all.

then the video hits. and her daddy dies. and her world changes again. but it’s still as bright as it has been for the last fifteen years. she hides out in her dad’s office, flipping through his notes and reading about the same Remy Newell that Ralph Angel had mentioned in passing. this man, this peer and friend who’d been a confidante of a sort. who’d been there for Ernest when everyone else either couldn’t be or chose not to be, so she seeks him out.

and he’s a mesh of plaid like every other farmer in the diner, but one look his way and she’s got to blink a few extra times for her eyes to adjust. she rationalizes it by saying that the sun beams through the clear door a bit too much, but it’s not the sun that brings out the different shades in the room. not the sun that has her noting for the first time that the waitress’ apron is a different shade of black than her work shoes are. and it sure as hell isn’t the sun that gets him to smile so bright up at her once she says, “Excuse me."

now Remy, his eyes have about eighteen different colors in them when the light hits ‘em. a breath slips out her lips, and she has to clarify, has to say something so he knows not to get too excited about her being here. “Are you Remy Newell?”

“Yes, ma’am.” there’s a slightly darker ring under his lips. his shaved head’s lighter than part of his forehead. her eyes water like a flashlight’s being shone in them.

she stumbles for words other than I guess you’re my soulmate, other than You’re on the list for my daddy’s homegoing, other than I’m leaving my husband very soon. “I thought you’d be old.”

he laughs so hard he has to tuck some of his own light away, has to duck his head before lifting it back up to peer at her. “But still good lookin’ right?”

very. he is very. good lookin. but focus. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” he watches her like he’s been waiting for whatever she has to say, like he’s got all the time in the world to hear her.

“I’m Ernest Bordelon’s daughter. I—“

“I know who you are, Charley. Or at least, who you are to me.” he takes a step back. “You can sit. I’m not trying to push nothing, or pressure you. It’s probably not even the right time to mention it. But I’ve been waiting years for this moment. Though I-I figured it’d happen under better terms.”

“This moment,” she repeats ‘cause that’s easier than forming any of her own thoughts just yet.

but that man smiles at her again like he knows just how flustered he’s got her, like he can see the blood thrumming in her ears and hear her heart pumping about a million times too fast. her toes tingle that’s how hyped up she’s gotten.

“It’s not every day you meet a soulmate. Could’ve sworn I only had one ’til your daddy showed me your picture. But enough about me, you came down here for a reason, right?”

“I…” she does sit in that chair he offered, shakes her head but it won’t clear any of the swirl of information. her dad showed him a picture, so he’s known for a while? did her dad know? if Ernest knew, why didn’t he say anything? did he want to let her have her marriage and not have this cloud anything? was that fair to Remy? is it fair to her? “I honestly can’t remember. Just, give me a moment to catch up, please.”

“Take all the time you need.”

(she probably could’ve taken some more. but why wait? her soul can handle it.)

#I kept it short 'cause I'm not trying to get sucked in to writing a whole one. I resist #charley bordelon #charley x remy #remy newell #queen sugar #mine #qs: fics #qs: au #aus #au #soulmate au

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youngerdrgrey · 7 years ago

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002 Violet Bordelon 001 Charmy

Read on for headcanons and cuteness. Thank you for the questions! [the prompts]

002 | Violet Bordelon

All the people I ship romantically with this character: Hollywood, baby.

My non-romantic OTP for this character: Violet and her little babies. Her with Blue and her with Micah make me so glad. Feels warm and raw.

My unpopular opinion about this character: Um… I don’t necessarily think she was in the wrong for not wanting to sign the guardianship papers over to Ralph Angel. I appreciate her concern for both Blue and Ralph Angel in those moments. Though, of course, I am happy that she does eventually allow for Ralph Angel to take control of his family and his life in the way that she does.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: I want more of Violet in her garden and her work space. I also definitely want more of Violet with Nova

my OTP: Violet/Hollywood

my cross over ship: I would love for Violet to roll in to somebody else’s world, maybe roll on over to season one of The Fosters and make sure that Lena’s mom understands how messed up it is to say that Lena would never understand what it’s like to be a black woman in America.

a headcanon fact: Violet brought Blue to LA once to go to Disneyland. They met up with Charley and Micah, and Vi was dragging those boys onto every ride she could up until she could barely move. Then she settled on down near a charger, called Hollywood, and let Charley get dragged around for a bit.

001 | Charley x Remy (Charmy)

when I started shipping it if I did: Immediately. I mean, I saw the clear chemistry in the second episode when they first met, but from the moment he said, “I think your soul can handle it,” he had my heart and I started to trust him with hers.

my thoughts: I don’t know if I’ve ever been so content at watching a casual slow burn take place before my eyes. I feel like a lot of shows don’t give these things at a pace that I wind up drinking in the moments like I have with this one. Or, if they do, it’s always in a procedural Will They Won’t They sort of situation that takes on more of a game sort of feel than necessarily a raw and honest look into something forming. Also, especially in the early part of the season, it was something of a rarity to see Charley smile and let loose and Remy gave her that in 1x04 talking about his jobs. He remained as someone outside of it all who gave her the space to be whoever she needed and wanted to be in that moment. // anyways, I should stop. I’ve got well over 20k on them and should chill out

What makes me happy about them: honesty, growth, their chemistry and intellectual/spiritual similarities, how they push each other, and the possibilities for the future that they stumble upon

What makes me sad about them: that Davis looms over their relationship since Charley is coming out of a nearly two decade long relationship. There’s a lot that they need to work through and she needs to work through before they can easily navigate what losing that relationship means to her. (But that thought also excites me. Put in the work! Let’s goooo)

things done in fanfic that annoys me: Fandoms not big enough for anything to annoy me necessarily. At this point, it’s just that most of the fics are written by me. And I’m down to re-read them obvs but it’d be nice to see more

things I look for in fanfic: love slow burns, love incorporation of other characters because the rest of the family never seems far off, love Remy being able to say and push for what he wants as well and Charley having to meet his expectations instead of it solely being him bending to fit into the places that she can carve for him

Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other: Charley could be a single mom who raises Micah and garners support from her family and occasionally goes on dates and I’d be chilling. Honestly, I adore them and love them, but I would also definitely be okay with them exploring other options and, hopefully, finding their way back to this. (In canon, I couldn’t see them honestly giving any of the other pairing suggestions like Charley/Lena, but it’d be interesting if they did.)

My happily ever after for them: The two of them, cuddled up in a nest of a chair like the one at Vi’s only this one’s at his house, and she clicks off a FaceTime call with Micah who’s off at college and the mill’s successful and Nova’s coming over for dinner in a few hours but right now they’re content to chill in that post-rain air and just be together. And she’s got her glasses on, and he’s in a fucking plaid shirt like always, and there’s a picture collage of Ernest in the background that you can see through the window, and it almost looks like he’s looking down at them and smiling

who is the big spoon/little spoon: He’s the big spoon and she caves in, lets herself be small and loved and send that love right back through to him

what is their favorite non-sexual activity: they keep going for walks together. sometimes talking, sometimes not. strolling through the family land, or the mill, or his college campus, or just around their backyard. she listens for the voices of everyone who came before them and hopes that whoever comes by later will be able to hear hers and his and maybe their laughter too.

#shaloved30 #answered #i can't wait to have them back on my screen #charley x remy #violet bordelon #charley bordelon #remy newell #mine #qs: fics #headcanons #queen sugar #qs stuff

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youngerdrgrey · 8 years ago

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you’re gonna need me // a queen sugar fanfic

written for day 9 of 30 x 31, prompt: song lyric as a title [also on ao3]

notes: I am going to write & post the other days of the challenge, but this one’s done, so here it is! I read @bizeke‘s Charley/Remy fic and remembered how much I missed the Bordelons, but for some reason Ralph Angel wanted to shine through. + title comes from Usher’s “Throwback”

Ralph Angel knocks against the hood of the truck a few times. Not too many, not too loud neither since he don't want to grab anybody else's attention. Blue's in the house with Darla, and neither of them batted an eye when he said he had to go out and talk to Remy. No reason to get them all worked up when this whole thing should be over in a moment or two. So he knocks on the hood of the truck to get out a bit of his energy while Remy heads out and around to meet him in front.

This whole thing would be a lot easier if Remy had just stayed Remy. But no, Remy had to become their new farm advisor, then whatever it is that he's out here doing with Charley. And, all Rah's saying is that it'd be nice to talk to his and Pops' friend instead of having to also talk to the guy trying to get his sister through her divorce.

"Hey." Remy starts a shake that Ralph Angel finishes. It's easy, normal for a few seconds. Then Remy's hands drop back to his sides, and he sizes up the house with a glance. There's only two cars out here, Remy's and Ra's, so nobody else could really be around. 'Less Charley's starting up her runs again.

Ralph Angel checks around too, just in case. He says, "Just us today. Like you asked."

Remy nods. His shoulders come back level. "Thanks for having me over, man. I wanted to talk to you away from everybody else, you know, give you a chance to say what you need, and I'll do the same."

Of course. "You playing mediator now?"

Remy laughs at that. But he's careful with his words. "I'm just helping out. Doing what I can."

"Appreciate it. But --" what exactly is Remy going to fix with all this? Is he going to take the words from Ra's mouth over to Charley's ears and vice versa? He going to fly back and forth between them since Charley only listens to whoever can help her out the most? Ralph Angel circles his jaw around. "Now, I don't mean any disrespect by saying this, but I don't need you talking for me. Not to Charley, not to anybody."

Everybody out here seems to think Ralph Angel needs their help. That he can't get anything done without their say so and their contributions. But he's raising Blue mostly on his own now. He got the farm together mostly on his own too. So, could someone fill him in on when exactly he started needing help? Because he's been fine since Charley gave him the reigns and a pay stub. Been fine before that too.

"I hear you. Alright. And I will say, since we're being honest here, that I told Charley to trust you more. But that wasn't a hand out. You earned a little defense. What you've done out here, with all of this...." Remy turns to see the fields, but he never finishes the sentence. Never quite gets past the view of what they got out there. All that green that they made happen. Between the work and the cane, between a little faith and whatever sort of something carried over from the past generations.

But that's the thing, isn't it? They're building on top of a lot of history here. That's how this kind of farming works. The mother stalk, or the seed cane, helps with the next year, and the year after that, and the whole process plays out so well because of what people put into it long before their time. And Ralph Angel's like that strong mother stalk there. He's the base that carried over to keep the soil sweet and ready. He's what'll be here the next year when everybody else has moved on to something new -- be it grinding cane at their new mills, or boasting about how sweet their new strain is, or whatever it is Nova plans on doing. Saving somebody else's little brother he supposes. But Ralph Angel will still be right here, on this farm, and if all Remy wants to do is make sure that Ralph Angel's not gonna jeopardize all that for whatever fight he's in with Charley, then this can be over right now.

Remy turns back, and there ain't nothing but pride and affection on his face. "Your pops would be proud."

Ralph Angel grins, even lets out a bit of a laugh. "Not too bad for a first timer. And this here is just my first try on my own, but next year, all these hiccups not gon' happen. We'll bring in more than two hundred acres. Probably not all of 'em, but more. And by that time, Charley's mill should be running, so we can use it then."

"Then?" Remy's neck strains. The veins pulse a second or two. "What about now?"

"What about now? Nobody around here cares about my plan, so--"

"Your plan is a great plan. No one's denying you that."

"Charley is."

"Charley's short-sighted, at times. But she's more than willing to eat the cost if this whole thing goes wrong," Remy says.

Spoken like a true mediator. Like somebody too far up somebody else's ass cheeks to hear what they're saying. Charley's got everybody on her side on this one. All the other farmers, Nova, even Darla sounds like she'd rather Ralph Angel just give in. But why risk everything now on something that might drain everything Charley's worked for? She's already going through the divorce. Already leaving behind her whole life in California. And now she wants to do this? Why can't she ever just relax for a second? Sit back, see how something's done before running off to change it?

Ralph Angel crosses his arms. "You want my okay? Is that why you're here?"

Remy shakes his head. "I wanted to tell you what I see when I look at your family. Because," he chuckles, shakes his head again, and sends some kind of smile down to the dirt at his feet, "you Bordelons are a funny bunch. Brilliant farmers, and loving, kind people, but none of you ever listen. Not to each other and not to anyone else. You only do what you want to do. Not that I should talk. We all know egos run rampant down here. Got to be proud and daring to bet your whole life on the whims of the land. But I think you get caught up sometimes in the different visions you all have for the future."

"This is the future," Rah says.

"For you." Remy must feel like he's saying too much 'cause he leans back against the car for a spell. "Brother Ernest loved to talk about the future. I remember being out here as a kid. Barely taller than the cane, but that smell -- that grinding season smell, you know it." He smiles. "Like burnt sugar everywhere."

Remy hums. Licks his lips. "Best smell in the world. So I'd come around, help out if he'd let me. And while we worked, he used to tell me that if I worked hard enough, I could have something like this one day. He said we all had to nurture what we have, sometimes even break it down a bit, to get to where we want to be."

Yeah, Ralph Angel got the same speech. The farming metaphors never really got old for Pops. Rah figures he'll be the same way with Blue. He's got a bunch stored up, and if he puts those with his stories from being inside, then he can keep Blue on the right track.

He figures, one day, Blue could take over the farm. And if Blue doesn't want it, then somebody else. Somebody in the family of course. And then maybe Blue could go off to college, like what Micah's doing. He probably won't be growing up in private schools like Micah. But Blue can still get a good education right there in public ones. He doesn't even have to toughen up or anything 'cause he showed that he can fight. He'll be fine. And he'll go to some big school that has nice sweaters and shirts for the parents, and Ralph Angel and Darla can wear matching University Dad and University Mom jackets around the house. And the sugar in the pies at Christmas will come right from their farm.

Remy starts up talking again. "Now, I don't know about you, but I want to be able to do this for a long time. I want to point at the sugar in the shaker and say, 'you know, you can taste which strain is mine because of how sweet it is. It's special made for the soil out here in St. Jo. And it goes great in my morning coffee.'" He pushes off the car. "And, God willing, if we ever get our acts together, I figure I could say that to Charley, or Micah, or anybody else who wanders through the house. But that's my future. That's my dream. Do you know hers?"

Ralph Angel glances out into the land. "I don't know. Probably keep on building empires." Keep on ignoring his calls and ideas. Keep on disregarding everybody else in the family since they're too simple to keep up with her.

"Maybe you should ask. Maybe you should try getting to know her again as a person, then everything else will come a hell of a lot easier." Remy clicks his tongue. "She's more than just part owner. More than just your sister too. But if you two don't start recognizing how similar you are, or how you can help each other out with all this, then I don't think any of us are getting those dreams."

It's a good speech, but there's one little flaw in the plan. "How am I supposed to talk to her, Remy? She ignores every call, every text--"

"That's why I texted her. Told her to meet me outside the shed in an hour. She's in the dog house, so I figure she'll be pulling up pretty soon just to make sure that I know how sorry she is."

Ralph Angel really doesn't need to know all of that. "Your point being...?"

Remy pulls his keys back out his pocket. "I'm not staying. You and Charley are going to talk. By yourselves. About yourselves. And I'm going to catch up on my shows. With my phone turned off. And when I turn it back on, amidst the many messages asking me why I got involved, I hope there's one or two saying that you worked it out."

Rah stands tall, so he can look down his nose at Remy. "You're going to an awful lot of trouble over the two of us."

Remy shrugs. "What can I say? There's something about you Bordelons that makes me care." He slips out of their stare and heads back 'round the car. "Tell Charley we'll talk tonight."

Ra nods despite himself. "Yeah, yeah." He knocks on the hood of the car again. Not too loud, not too strong. Just enough to say the thanks he can't bring himself to say aloud. Ralph Angel might not need help, or even want it, but every once in a while, he could take it. He watches Remy pull off and makes his way over to the shed. If they've got to talk to get those dreams, then they could talk. Maybe she'd even listen.

#ralph angel bordelon #remy newell #queen sugar #charley x remy #queen sugar fanfic #mentions of darla x ralph angel too #mine #30 x 31 #qs: fics #qs: s1

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youngerdrgrey · 8 years ago

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High Yellow Lattes // a queen sugar coffee shop au

written for day 5 of 30 x 31, prompt: coffee shop au [also on ao3]

Daddy leaves Ralph Angel the farm. Says that he wants the land of his mother and his father and their parents before them to go to the child who needs it the most, which is fine, but that doesn't leave Charley with much to hide behind after her daddy dies. Sure, she helps Ralph Angel financially, but signing some papers and making sure that the farm can officially be his doesn't really count as starting anew. After what Davis put her through, well, she really needs a fresh start.

Then Aunt Vi complains one time too many about the new owners of the High Yellow, and Charley calls up her lawyer, her accountant, and Davis to inform them that she'll be buying a diner down in Louisiana. It doesn't go over so well, but who are they to stop her?

Charley spends most of her time checking in on the diner and the farm. First thing she adds to the diner is an espresso machine. She doesn't have much to do with the farm since Ralph Angel's found him someone to be his farm manager, some set up between him and one of their daddy's old friends. Prosper. He comes in on Tuesdays for the fresh apple jelly with biscuit combo. Gets a cup of coffee and orange juice, but only drinks half the coffee. Tips decent, but won't leave a tip at all if the wait staff doesn't meet his eye when he's talking.

Prosper apparently works with someone named Remy, but Charley hasn't seen more than a glimpse of the other man.

Aunt Vi shakes her head at the thought, clicking her tongue as she does it. She flips through the deposit bags, snipping 'em open. "Baby, you met Remy at your daddy's homegoing. Probably forgot all about it, but he was there. He spoke. Bald man, big hat, kind eyes."

Oh. Okay, so she's gotten a glimpse of the other man, but not actively. "I don't see why it even matters. If Ralph Angel says he has everything under control with Prosper and Remy, then I'll leave him to it. They can handle the auction on their own, I guess. Even if they need my money to do it."

"If you're gonna be like that, you might as well just go. I'm going."

Charley's disbelief bottoms out. "You get to go?"

"I keep Prosper comfortable," Vi says. "He knows me. Knows I won't let any bullcrap fly around here. Ralph Angel will listen, if I need him to."

"Well, it's fine." She takes the opened deposit bags and pulls the money out of them. The High Yellow isn't exactly the most profitable business, but it's been around for ages, since Charley was a little girl. A few kids joked back then that she should work there since the name fit her so well. Maybe they could see her now. Owner of the High Yellow. It's almost like the ultimate way to reclaim something.

Vi glances up when the bell dings on the front. There's a straight eye line from the back of the shop office through to the entryway if you lean forward enough in your chair. "You want to go so bad, then go ask now. Remy just walked in."

Charley leans forward, and, well, she has seen him before. Not just at the homegoing, but at the reception. He'd been talking to Ralph Angel one moment, then gone the next. No word to the rest of the family. But from the way people talk about him, she imagines he meant no disrespect. He probably oozes good Southern charm and respectability.

He's taller than she'd expected. Not necessarily just in height, but in stature, in presence. Holds himself evenly. And he couldn't be much older than Charley herself. Wasn't he supposed to be her daddy's friend, a peer of Ernest's? Maybe in the plaid button down department, but this man has arms toned after years of heavy lifting and farm work. But his hands don't look beat up from where she's sitting. Maybe he moisturizes? Or maybe he just found some secret well of good looks and good skin, and he's hoarding it all for himself.

Not that Charley's looking necessarily. She's clocking him in. It's what you do in business and in competition. Size up the opponent and go for the kill.

"I'll be right back."

Charley slips out from her seat, ignoring the way Vi hums from the back. She wraps around to the front counter where Micah's got his phone serving as a bookmark while he takes the order. That's her son, somehow managing to do it all and get away with it. He's only had a few weeks to adjust to this new life -- them living in St. Jo, not having Davis around -- but he's only snapped her at twice so they're doing pretty good.

Micah chuckles, tapping his pen against the textbook. "I'm in between schools right now. Don't call the cops or anything."

Charley swoops up beside him, eyes ghosting over his face before landing on Remy's. "That's all my doing, I'm afraid, but trust me, this is like chores for him."

Remy tilts his head up a bit once Charley's there. Even in her heeled boots, he's still taller, but that's nothing she hasn't gotten used to before. His smile tucks into the corner of his mouth on one side but rages free on the other. Is he holding himself back, or is this just how he lives his life? Uneven but never really unstable. And, in a point for that Southern respectability she mentioned before, his eyes stay on hers rather than sweeping down her rather impressive outfit.

"I mean no disrespect," he says, "Just thought you were starting 'em pretty young over here. Not that I should talk. I've been working since I was twelve."

Charley smirks. "No child labor laws in the South?"

"Pretty sure that carried over. Grandfathered in from the bad old days." Remy laughs after he says it, and God help her she laughs too.

Micah's shoulders tense up. She might not've noticed if she weren't practically against him. But he stiffens, and his head drops to look down at his notepad instead of at either of them. She tucks her laugh away. Stands up straighter and whatever part of her had opened up needs to shut back down. She'd only found out a month ago about Davis. And even then, he kept lying to her in the beginning. Claimed he hadn't known Goldie, claimed he hadn't been involved. It's too soon for anything that could look like anything new. Too soon for Micah, and probably too soon for Charley too.

Still, she sticks out her hand. "Charley Bordelon, new owner." The word West sticks in her throat a bit. But she blinks and forces herself to breathe around the space where the rest of her name used to be.

Remy slips his hand around hers. Squeezes and shakes in equal measure. The man's got good home training for sure. Eyes she could get lost in. "Remy Newell, new regular. If you'll have me."

Micah speaks up. "I'm gonna put the order in. Back in a second, Mom." But he doesn't head for the kitchen. He heads back towards Violet. Charley takes her hand back to properly watch him go.

By the time she turns to Remy again, he's removed his hat. "Hope I didn't cause any trouble."

She waves him off. "Micah's adjusting. He's fifteen. He has his moments."

"Don't we all." Remy never stops looking at her eyes. Never strays for the rest of her. Never gives her a chance to pretend his attention isn't solely here for her. Except once, when his gaze snags on the coffee machine behind her. "The High Yellow's selling lattes now?"

Charley sinks back onto her heels to give herself a view of it. "First thing I did. Can't from one LA to the other without my espresso machine. Want one? It's on the house."

Remy leans onto the counter with his palms flat against the surface. Fingers spread wide, every shining tooth in his mouth on full display. He scans the diner, but nobody's looking their way. He speaks like they are though.

"Keep this up, and people might think you like me."

She leans his way without even meaning to. Mirrors him until they're two reflections of what could be, two hopefuls shadowing a textbook. It's like high school all over again.

"Hm, keep it up, and I just might."

His head tosses back when he laughs. "I bet you say that to all the guys."

"Just the ones I want to come back." She gets the espresso started and glances over her shoulder to him. "Now, I hear you're going to an auction tomorrow."

#charley bordelon #remy newell #charley x remy #charmy #queen sugar #queen sugar fanfic #micah west #mine #30 x 31 #fm #qs: fics #qs: au

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