#edit: i meant one day he has two DADS geez

[moonlit-orchid]

The only thing that Eliphas and Don can agree on regarding Astral is that if someone picks on him then he should punch them in the face.

Therefore it's not very surprising that Astral has been in many fights (mostly with Vector)

And when the school calls, Eliphas just sends Don to deal with it.

And Ena just watches. She is SO DONE with these big boys and their 'parenting'.

Mr Kay: Astral, why'd you punch Vector in the face?

Astral: Papa said it was ok. Dad said it was 'quite alright'

[jamespotterthefirst]

Mi Viejito (Ethan x f!MC)

Pairing: Dr. Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Dr. Lilac Allende) Words: 1K Warning: None Summary: Father’s Day more than twenty years later. 

Author’s Note: “Mi Viejito” means “Old Man” (affectionate). Thank you to the two anons who requested this!

Also, no editing. Oops. We die like men. 

Twenty five years are not enough to dull the impact of startling blue eyes meeting hers across a room. For a moment, she feels like that fresh-faced intern she used to be, meeting her medical idol for the first time. Except now, Ethan Ramsey has the elegance of time on his side, carved into every fine line on his handsome face. His hair, once dark brown, is a storm of silver now, making the blue of his eyes even more of a shock.

A pleasant sort of shock that makes her body thrum with warmth.

Ethan removes his spectacles and gives her a tired but breathtaking smile. Lilac returns it, moving to settle into her husband's embrace.

“Happy Father's Day, mi viejito,” she murmurs into a kiss. After his hum of thanks, they melt into the kiss, enjoying the rare few moments of blissful companionship.

“Where are the girls?” he asks after a while, as though reading her mind.

“Andy should be here any moment to drop them off.”

“Ah, the calm before the storm,” he muses with exaggerated dread. It doesn't fool anyone, least of all Lilac. Anyone who glances at Ethan Ramsey with his children for more than two seconds knows just how much he adores them. “What about Lori and Jonah?”

“Jonah hasn't texted me back and Lori is on her date.”

“Hrm.”

Lilac laughs. “Hunter's a nice kid. He's taking her on a boat ride at the Common.”

Ethan is not impressed.

“It's a cute date for two seventeen year-olds,” Lilac reasons with little success.

“Pitiful.”

“You took me on one of those when we were engaged.”

“I meant his name. What kind of name is Hunter?”

She laughs at that and places a kiss on his cheek, succeeding in softening his expression by a fraction. “You're just upset your little girl is all grown up.”

Ethan's expression is as impassive as ever but Lilac can see the brief flash of sadness in his eyes. She places a comforting hand at his cheek, sweeping the ridge of his cheekbone with her thumb.

“She'll be back in time for dinner. And I'm sure Jonah will text me back later. He's been swamped with school work these past few days.”

Ethan nods but is unable to elaborate an answer because the sound of approaching voices grows louder outside the door.

The youngest Ramseys arrive then, three times more boisterous than any teenagers their age. Though, to the surprise of exactly no one, the person in the little group arguing the loudest is Jasmine. Andy rolls her eyes, unable to contain a smile at the charming young girl trying to talk her way out of whatever trouble she's gotten into.

“Seriously, it's okay. Our dad owns the hospital.”

“He manages it,” her twin, Violet, corrects.

“Same thing,” Jasmine returns dismissively. “He as good as owns it if the place falls apart without him.”

“That,” Ethan intervenes, placing a kiss of greeting atop each of their heads, “would be your mother. She does the brunt of the work around here.”

Jasmine scoffs. “And yet the man gets all the credit.”

“Typical,” Violet adds.

Ethan and Lilac both laugh proudly. After Andy takes her leave for the day, the girls hug their father.

“Happy Father's day!” They chorus.

“We brought you coffee from that place you and mom are obsessed with.”

They thrust a to-go cup in his hand.

“We remembered,” Jasmine says importantly. “Not like Tweedle dee and Tweedle Ugly.”

“Jazzie,” her mother scolds. “Don't call your brother and sister that.”

“Ingrates,” Violet adds, agreeing with her sister. “Write them out of your will, Dad.”

Ethan is fully laughing now, a sound that is rare and wonderful, easily drawn out of him by his family. The little crevices on his face grow deeper with his mirth and it tugs at Lilac's heartstrings.

“If we're divvying up Dad's stuff then I call Minnie,” Jasmine proclaims.

“You can have that cat now,” Ethan returns intently. “I don't want anything to do with that thing.”

“I call Jenner the Second,” Violet calls out before her sister can.

They dissolve into an impassioned argument about who loves the dog more. Luckily for all of them, they are interrupted by the sound of more approaching footsteps, followed by even more arguing voices.

“... doesn't have his license yet.”

“What good is a license if he doesn't even have a car.”

“You don't need a car in the city. You can get around in the train.”

“Then why did you text me begging for a ride here?”

“You're such a jerk, J.”

The eldest of their children appear in the office, ceasing all bickering when their eyes fall on the father. Dolores, beautiful and bright faced from the sun, the freckles on her cheeks more vivid as she smiles. Jonah, tall, collected, and handsome—reassembling his father more than any of his siblings. Lilac watches fondly as they hug Ethan and wish him a happy father's day. After the brief surprise of their sudden appearance wears off, she can see her husband's eyes shining with emotion.

“We're taking you to lunch,” Lori informs him. “Jonah got us reservations at your favorite place downtown.”

“Nice, that place has the best chocolate cake,” Jasmine says excitedly.

“We said we're taking dad, not you freeloaders,” Jonah returns jokingly, ruffling his younger sister's hair.

“It’s father’s day! We deserve to be celebrated, too!”

“How do you figure that, squirt?”

“Who taught you how to throw a ball, Jonah Naveen Ramsey?” Jasmine demands indignantly.

“Who gave you pointers on how to impress that girl down the street you used to have a crush on?” Violet adds.

“Who Googled 'how to drive a stick shift car' when you borrowed Dad's car without asking him?”

“You what?” Ethan asks, turning to look at his son.

“Who—”

“Alright, alright! You can come with,” Jonah cuts in. “You two are insufferable, I swear.”

“That's no way to speak to your fathers,” Jasmine chastises.

The siblings continue their banter, taking turns predicting what their father will order. The one who knows his order exactly, Lilac observes, is Dolores, though she has no chance to boast to her siblings. Ethan’s pager goes off and he groans when he reads the message.

“There’s a problem with the paperwork in the Sawyer case,” he tells Lilac. With a mournful twist of his mouth, he looks at his children. “I’m sorry but I have to go handle this. Lunch won’t--”

“I’ll stay to take care of it,” Lilac interrupts.

Ethan studies her expression. “Are you sure, love? It’s an awfully complicated case.”

“I’m sure,” she assures him with a nod. “Go enjoy lunch with them.”

Ethan gives her a look so laden with gratitude and affection, her heart skips a beat.

“Geez, you were right, Dad,” Jasmine says. “Mom really does run this place.”

“Or she just prefers dealing with grumpy patients over hearing your awful jokes, Jazzy,” Dolores comments, side bumping her sister affectionately.

“Mom is a pro at dealing with grumpy, though,” Jonah tells them sagely. “She’s dealt with Dad all these years.”

Ethan laughs at that. “You kids won’t cut your old man a break on father’s day?”

“Nope,” Violet returns cheerfully. “Roasting you is our way of telling you we love you.”

______________________________

Author’s Note: Happy Fathers Day to everyone who celebrates! Thank you so much for reading this!

For reference, Jonah is around 20, Dolores (aka “Lori”) 17 going on 18, and the twins are 14

A few notes:

Though I am super behind on replies to my previous fics, please know I am so thankful to everyone who interacted! Love you guys so much!

I haven’t been able to work on Ch 2 of the OPH3 re-write, but I hope to do so soon. I think I��ve decided to take it easy with that series and see where it takes me!

Same thing with the Pictagram series! Thank you to everyone for your patience!

If you tagged me in your content while I was away, I apologize for the delay. I have it all saved up, ready to enjoy this upcoming week!

Tagging in a reblog!

[razorblade180]

Twin Snowflakes 27:Hill climbing preparations

Part 26 here!<-

Rehearsals were going well. With Darren out of mind and no further incidents, students had gotten back into a steady blow of progress. The band was a little shaky at first but Summer had learned that Nick had a point about her being a bit strict in the beginning. With that hurdle jumped, Summer felt comfortable enough to take a short break. Her feet swung from over the stage's edge like a kid on a swing while she took a moment to call Oscar. It had been a few days since their last check in date. The fact that he didn’t blow her fun up meant his own hands were full. Fortunately, two rings was all it took before his face popped up on her screen, covered in what was hopefully seawater.

“Hi Oscar! Ummm sea life treating you will? You look a little…”

“Wet? Sigh, I can’t believe I’m saying this but I miss the cold of the tundra. All the storms and aquatic grimm yanking me off the boat is getting annoying. Anyways, Penny told me you had a little scare recently? Everything okay?”

“Yes, I think.” Summer rubbed her face. “Well…as okay as things usually get. I do feel better than usual. I’ve gotten to perform quite a bit the last couple days.”

“Really? Did you take my advice by any chance?”

A guilty smile found its way on Summer’s face. She couldn’t help but chuckle. “Nah. I’ve just been singing a couple of covers and a few originals that anyone with a radio has heard. The lyrics in the journal are just that, in the journal. I actually wanted to talk to you about a trick Nick got me to try. You’ve actually mentioned it once before early on.”

“Is that so- woah!” Oscar yelped, nearly falling from the rock of the ship crashing through a wave. “Hehe. Sorry about that!”

“Everything okay over there? I can call later?”

“No it’s fine; just rough seas. That’s good though. Challenging waves and other harsh weather factors have been swelling for quite some time. You’re too young to remember this but Atlas was actually a bit warmer. Hot places were cooler and sailing wasn’t as wild.”

“I’ve heard about that in class. Don’t scientists think it might have something to do with magic being back?”

“Or the gods roaming through Remnant.” He smirked, confident about the latter theory. “Harsh conditions mean it’s difficult to press forward. As if the world itself is trying to keep things away. With a little luck, passing these hurdles are all the answers we need.”

Answers. Summer couldn’t begin to imagine having those. It was more terrifying than reliving if she had to be honest. She wouldn’t know what to do if the gods themselves didn’t know what to do. The only thing worse is them saying she couldn’t do anything.

“Let’s cross our fingers you aren’t on a boat for nothing. Speaking of Shiva, Nick talked me into entering my headspace willingly. I was even able to manifest a shovel in it!”

“A shovel?” Oscar quirked his head.

“Yeah it wasn’t the usual blue empty space. It waslake; the lake as a matter of fact. I chucked a shovel at Shiva and told her to start digging her grave.”

“Nick told you to do that!?”

“Weeeeeeell… he only told me to confront her with unwavering resolve in a way Veronica would. I’m pretty sure that meant being cut throat but I may have defaulted to cock intimidation. Pretty sure I stoked the flames of war. But it felt good!”

The cheerfulness in her tone was genuine. While manifesting and confrontation was something Oscar had tried to get her to do early on, there are ways to go about it. Headspace or not, poking at a beast was always risky. “I’m glad you’re feeling good, but exercise caution. I wouldn’t try that alone. There’s a lot we don’t know about that space. I doubt you can actually die there but if that really is your mind you're traversing then serious backlash might happen if things go wrong. Remember, Shiva has an edge. Don’t let her play you in your own head.”

“Believe me, that’s the last thing I want. I’ll be careful Oscar. Thanks for worrying about me. Couldn’t ask for a better therapist”

“I wouldn’t go that far. Ruby and your dad give some pretty solid motivational speeches.”

Hehe, don’t sell yourself short. I should probably get going. Good luck! Watch the gods tell you to perform an exorcism or drown me in sacred water.”

Oh if only it was that easy. “If she had any signs of a soul I would’ve tried that already. Take care Summer. Call me when you need me”

“You know I will.” She hung up and looked over at Nick. A few of the girls had taken the opportunity to strike up a conversation with him. In typical fashion, Nick just let them fawn in vain. “Geez, take a hint ladies.” She mumbled.

“Oh my gods! I wasn’t aware you could sing!”

“So talented!”

“Can you sing for my birthday!?”

All the back chatter and compliments made it hard to focus on one person. Nick did his best to calm them all, giving a faux laugh and smile. “Hehe, thanks. I can hold a note, I’m not as good as my sister, and I’m way too sheepish to sing at a birthday. Now we should probably get back to working maybe? Practice is almost-” his eyes caught the door entrance before he finished. Valerie had walked in.

As if by will, her head automatically turned to meet his eyes. Valerie couldn’t help but give some kind of disarming smile, giving a small wave that was quickly rejected when Nick went back talking to the people around him. Not even Valerie could deny that burn. She put her hand down before she felt anymore like an edit, walking over to Eliza to get what she had to do over with.

“Hey soldier.”

“Huh? Well look who finally decided to show! I expect more from a representative of this school.”

“Oh brother…” Val couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “I’m not even gonna pretend that I’m sorry like I usually do. Look, at least I did what was asked of me. Boiler is fixed for now and there should be no problem getting hot water when the big day arrives.”

“Keep a keen eye on it just in case. I don’t have any time to deal with tiny problems during the tournament.”

“Yeah you and everyone else in this room. Now if you excuse me.” Valerie pointed both thumbs back and tried backing up slowly.

“Hold on…”

“Uuugh. Yes? I got plenty of practice to work on. Make this quick.”

Eliza narrowed her eyes. “Wow, someone is more aggressive than usual. If that’s how you’re going to be then I’ll spare you the lecture. Just know you better be careful or I might pull the rug out from under you this year.”

“Hmph, bold words. You gotta make it to the top of the hill before challenging the ruler. Though you’re more than welcome to kick Nick around and take his spot for all I care. See ya. Just text me the meeting information. Got things to do.” Valerie turned around and headed off. On the way out she saw Summer staring at her with a raised eyebrow from afar. To make matters worse, the cheerleaders moved by the exit. Veronica being among them. Valerie was ready for some kind of sly comment but to her surprise Veronica briefly acknowledged her, nodded, and then went back to what she was doing.

Eliza looked at the time and figured everyone made enough progress for one day. “Alright everyone! You can all start wrapping things up. I’m sure all of you have things to-” the sound of everyone packing their belongings overpowered her voice. “Do.” She finished. At least she could trust everyone to clean up on time. “Nicholas, get your butt in gear.”

“Oh thank goodness!” Nick wasted no time squeezing his way through the girls that lingered around him. “Sorry! The VP calls! Let’s go Summer!”

“Right behind you.” She turned towards the band. “It would be a good idea for you all to practice a little longer. Not because you may or may not need it but because I’ll finally give you room to experiment. Just no funny ideas about adding drum solos.” Summer hopped off stage and headed off, quickly catching up to Nick, Eliza, and Veronica. “Well aren’t we an interesting looking bunch?”

“An idol, witch, heir, and fashion designer. This is the beginning of a bad joke I’d say.”

“Bold of you to call someone a witch when they’ve agreed to help you train.”

“Would you prefer magical girl, or maybe sorceress?” Nick nudged her.

“I prefer my name. However…sorceress is endearing, I suppose.”

“I could call you that while you teach me?”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” She said in a shrill voice. “I’m already regretting this.”

“Well while you two train to death, I’m finally going to get some real shut eye. I can hear my bed calling my name already.”

“Not so fast.” Veronica interjected. “Since we ended up being free at the same time and I have to work a little more diligently…”

Summer didn’t like where this was headed. “Veronica, my hot headed designer, I’m well aware of what it’s like to be a perfectionist. However, please don’t rope me into this.”

All three of them looked at her at once. “It’s your dress!”

“I know that! No need to remind me! I am tired though. It’s Monday, the weekend was crazy, and I just put in a full day of school with extra curricular activities. Allow me two hours at least!?”

“Ugh, ever the whiner. Fine but I don’t want to hear any complaints about design. Most would be thrilled to be heavily involved with their clothing.”

“Well consider this a show of good faith towards your skills.”

The four of them continued to talk all the way to the manor. Eliza tried to stay on important topics while Nick did his best to keep things casual. It never really worked out considering Summer's insistence to not help her dear brother and Veronica’s curiosity about events to come. It was only when the girl’s feline ears twitched by the gate did she begin to quiet down.

“Hmmm?” She stopped immediately.

“Huh? What’s wrong Vee-”

“ACHOO!!!” The girl yelled. The sneeze was so strong Veronica lifted off the ground slightly. “Phew…sorry about that.” She sniffled her loss and continued walking like nothing happened, leaving everyone confused. Veronica was the first to enter with everyone lagging a bit behind. Her eyes looked around until they spotted her mother, Blake, coming down the stairs in casual clothes and wet hair.

“Hey everyone! Finally home I see? And with a friend?”

“Uh classmate. I wouldn’t exac…ummm that’s not important. Hehe, I’m Eliza Marigold.” She stammered. It didn’t really dawn on her that she’d be meeting Mrs. Belladonna herself today. “You look lovely. Though…you look a little red? Are you sick?”

“Oh it’s nothing! Just umm got out of the shower is all.”

Veronica’s eyes narrowed. “Where’s ma?”

“Out back with Jaune.”

“Really?”

“One hundred perfect!” Blake said, unusually preppy. “Well I don’t keep you kids held up. I’ll be in the living room. Nick, Summer, I think your mother is in the garden.”

“Cool. She must be setting up the candle test already. Follow me Eliza.” Nick took her hand and guided her.

“Think I’ll get lost or something?”

“No, I just don’t need you judging every inch of this place until you find something to criticize.”

“……It’s too bright in here.” She heard Nick snicker at her attempt. “You suck.”

With those two out of the way it was time for Summer to mosey to her room. “Finally, nap time!”

“Don’t you wanna practice too?”

“What they’re doing is something I already know. Besides, Nick and I do most of our practices separate. He’ll get me when he needs me. Wake me up if you need anything.”

Veronica waited for the girl to get out of sight before giving her mom a look meant to inspire shame and embarrassment. “Really? We’ve been out all day ya know? You had plenty of time.”

Blake put her hand over Veronica’s face. “Shush your face. It happens sometimes. Thank you for the heads up.”

“Y’all are gross but that’s nothing new. I won’t mention it again if you could bring dinner up to my room. I’m gonna be spending quite some time in there.”

“Even across the world I guess some habits don’t change. Deal.”

xxxxx

In the garden, Weiss stood on the balcony with a cup of coffee. The sound of footsteps behind her caught her ear. She was more than a little surprised to learn that they belonged to not just Nick. “Eliza?”

“Mrs. Schnee. Thank you for allowing me in your home.” Eliza gave a curtsy.

“How’s your father?”

“Oh you know him, always up to something.”

Weiss wasn’t sure if that was good or bad considering his track record. “I see. Well make yourself comfortable. Nick, everything is already set up. Never would’ve thought this is how you’d try to get this done. Don’t push yourself.”

“Heh, push myself? Me?”

Weiss playfully rolled her eyes and left the balcony, ruffling Nick’s hair on the way out. Nick looked at Eliza confused. “You know you don’t have to be so formal around her, right?”

“Let’s not focus on my speech and pay attention to why we’re here. Anyways, how does this training work exactly?”

Nick walked to the railing to point at the fifteen candles spread throughout the garden. “The goal is to light all the candles at once without burning anything. It’s harder than it looks. It requires timing, speed, accuracy, and control above all.”

“Never took you for one who cares much for traditional methods of fighting. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you use your glyphs to manipulate the elements.”

“Yeah, because I suck. Summer on the other hand…” He hunched over in defeat. “Not so much.”

Eliza couldn’t help but scan the area multiple times. This couldn’t be all there was to it. Could it? The five candles in the actual hedge maze looked a little challenging, but Nick was…Nick! Despite her reservations about his attitude, he was smart and knew how to work.

“Do you increase the candle amount as you go?”

He nodded. “That’s the natural progression. Summer can do thirty without thinking much about it.”

“Meanwhile you can’t even do half that amount. You sure you’re the older twin?”

“I don’t see how that’s relevant.” He pouted. Nick grabbed his sword and got into his low stance.

“So I’m just supposed to observe you?”

“No. I’m going to need help with the fires too.”

That’s not something she wanted to hear. “Tsk, alright. But first, let me see if I’m able to do it. Wouldn’t be that good of a teacher if I couldn’t.”

She climbed on top of the railing to get a better look. She raised her right hand to the sky and took a breath. Five flames ignited her fingertips as she thought of the best approach. Moments later, Eliza launched all five with a downward swing, another five swing left, then the final five to the right. Each flame danced on the winds below them before finding their targets.

Amazed, Nick’s jaw dropped for a second before saying anything. “First try!?”

“Not exactly. You did say all at once so that may have been cheating. Let me try again.” She wrapped both arms around herself then swung them out, causing a gust of wind that blew out the candles.

Nick watched closely. Breathing, posture, line of sight; anything he could to gain knowledge. Eliza cuffed her hands together. A small flame flickered into existence and grew slowly until it was the size of a baseball. Eliza threw it over the garden underhanded. The moment it reached max height she pushed her hands downwards like if she closed a lid. This made the flame split apart into embers that fell quick enough to reach each candle. Nick couldn’t believe she was two for two.

“Seems I got the hang of it.” Eliza blew the candles out and hopped off the railing. “I’d do it while off the railing but I’m positive we know the results.”

“Yeah no kidding. While I’m lucky I picked the right person to help me, doing that so easily kinda stings. Not gonna lie. You really are a sorceress.”

“Tsk, flattery gets you nowhere. Assume your stance.” She ordered. Eliza kept a close eye on Nick. He opted to square his feet with his shoulders, a sturdy stance for sure. “So far so good.” His blade pointed up and outwards. A red glyph began to form at its tip, conjuring a ball of intense flame that was as big as a softball. Eliza’s eyes narrowed. She could not believe what she was watching. “You’ll miss.”

“Huh?” Nick said, trying to focus.

“If you shoot the fireball then you are going to miss.” Eliza channeled a silver orb in her palm that bursted into shimmering light. Nick’s glyph suddenly vanished and took the fireball along with it.

“Hey! Don’t just negate my semblance out of the blue! I didn’t even shoot it yet!”

Eliza wasn’t sure what she had expected from this training. It was clear now why a talented person like Nick was fumbling. Frankly, it was annoying. Down right inexcusable. Eliza folded both her arms. “You’re so idiotic in the strangest ways possible, you know that right? To think you’re stronger than me?”

Nick huffed. This wasn’t constructive at all. “You gonna actually help, or continue to insult me? If I knew how to do this on my own then I wouldn’t ask for help.”

Nick ran his hand through his tangled hair and let out a sigh. Eliza could tell he genuinely had no idea what was wrong. It kinda got to her. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be picking on you like that. You weren’t wrong to ask for help.”

“Normally I have an inkling of how to progress but I’m hitting a wall. All of this is just…”

“Too much?” Eliza leaned over and thumped his head. “Because it is. That’s exactly your problem. You are doing far too much at once. Why are you trying to do so many steps at the exact same time?”

“What do you mean at the exact same time? All I did was make a fireball.”

Eliza could feel her eye try to twitch. “Okay. I should’ve expected that from you. Guess I’ll teach by showing.” She stood beside Nick and made a flame. “See? Now this is as basic as it gets, just straight up fire. A fireball requires controlling the shape of the flame;maintaining its heat as well.” The flame swirled around itself to make just that.

“Okay? I’m following you so far.”

“If a fireball was all you were making then no big deal. However, I just saw you attempt to make a fireball that has to keep its shape, burn hot enough, long enough, and must be aimed at multiple targets at once. No mind can do all that on a dime. It’s simply too much.”

Nick watched Eliza move behind him, putting her arms right on top of his, guiding his movements as if she was holding his blade. Her chin rested on his shoulder to get a clear line of sight. Nick was no stranger to being led through an attack, but man was it weird to have Eliza this close!

“Ummm…”

“Bear with it and focus.” She uttered, trying not to yell in his ear. “Make a flame. Just a flame. Let it heat swell and dissipate in sync with my breathing.”

“Shouldn’t it be with my own?”

“Not when your heart is beating like a drum. To think Nicholas Schnee would lose composure from a girl touching him?”

“Can’t hear you, focusing.” He was trying anyway. Eventually he managed to slow his heartbeat. He could tell Eliza was taking deep breaths on purpose to help. In sync, he made another fire glyph as she ordered.

“Good, now make it as hot as you want, then make it into a ball.” The flame shaped into the size of a baseball this time. Eliza smiled. “See how easy it is to control the size after you’ve completed the previous steps? You’ll save dust this way.”

“What’s next?”

“Aiming. You already know where your targets are but you also aren’t in a rush. If you need time to make a shot then all you have to do is make the time.” Eliza raised Nick’s sword higher in the air. “Launch it into the air, confirm where you need the fire to hit, then guide the flames to it.”

Nick took a deep breath and launched the fireball ball in an arch over the garden. He waited for it to reach the middle and fall briefly before making it burst into smaller flames that hit the candles. Eliza finally let go so he could pump his fist into the air.

“Woohoo!”

“Don’t celebrate yet, but good job. A moving target would be harder but not impossible. Repetition will allow you to eventually group certain steps together without having to think about it. You’ll get used to making fireballs that are a certain size and speed as long as you allow yourself to process each step as you are now. I noticed you let the fireball fall. Why?”

“I always end up not lighting them all because the fire dies too quickly. I realized the flame wasn’t hot enough the moment I shot it, so I let it get closer to the candles before having to split it up. Good thing you told me to aim higher or I may not have noticed.

“He can process things like that but not realize breaking the steps up will make things easier? How does his brain work!?”

Another gust of wind blew the candles out. “I’m willing to help you further but I think it’s time you held up your end of this bargain.”

“Antsy, aren’t we? Fair enough.” Nick put his sword down and sat on the railing. “What I’m about to tell you is going to make your tournament life a hundred times simpler. This is your second King of The Hill. Remember the rules?”

“Of course I do.” She followed his lead and sat down as well. “All previous tournament and combat skills leading up to the tournament are calculated so they can rank you compared to the other contestants. In order to progress higher you must defeat the person directly above you in the rank to switch places. Those who win are rewarded a reprieve from being challenged immediately to decrease rematches, but the loser can be challenged by whoever is directly below them. Conversely, if you challenge a person and lose, then you have to wait a set period before trying again while defending your current spot. The entire tournament is on a time limit that tests endurance, strategy, and the skills you’ve used all year. The winner is whoever is ranked number one by the end; the king of the hill.”

“Correct! It’s pure chaos. However, you forgot an important thing. You’ve participated once and managed to get third, so that’s automatically where you start.”

Eliza’s eyes lit up. “That’s a rule!?”

“Yep. As long as you still participated in prior tournaments this year, which you have. Congratulations on skipping the taxing part. Now you’re in the grueling section. The only way you go up is through me and Valerie. A slip up could cause you to waste too much energy and that could drag you out of third if you lose or even win against me immediately, because if I get challenged and win, then I can challenge you again before you challenge Valerie or after you hypothetically lose to her. Let that sink in for a moment.”

Eliza could feel her heart drop to her stomach. If she were to beat Nick and lose to Valerie then at best she’s at a third of her strength for a rematch she doesn’t want. Beating Nick was a goal but she didn’t need to do it twice in a day! The worst part is she is at his mercy in this scenario; getting a reprieve only if he needs one. He could very well best her and then she’s even more tired defending third place.

“Is it sinking in? Third place is its own special hell. Let’s knock Valerie into it.” He smiled.

“And how do we manage that exactly?”

“By knocking me into it! I want to take a dive in our match. A good one. The two of us will put on a spectacle to show our might that ends with me losing. This will throw everyone off into thinking you are exceptionally strong and-”

“Are you saying I’m not!” She folded her arms.

Nick chuckled nervously. “Let me finish before you get upset. Yes, you're strong, but will think you’re stronger than me by a decent margin. This is where the mind games kick in because the two of us haven’t actually used that much energy, but the other contestants don’t know that.”

Eliza rubbed her chin. “You…want them to fight you?”

“Exactly. No one's gonna pass up the opportunity to get a leg up on me. You know that better than anyone. Unfortunately for them, I’ll actually be trying against them and I fully intend to go end them quickly. This does multiple things. It makes the gap between the top three look bigger, allows me to stir the lower ranks rotation, keeps you rested, and makes Valerie anxious because you will not immediately challenge her. We are going to burn time until it gets to a point that once she’s knocked out of first, getting back up will be nearly impossible.”

“I fail to see how that’s possible. If she’s rested-”

“That’s just it, she won’t be. You can challenge her freely and not worry about me for most of the tournament. Use the time to learn how to fight her then I’ll challenge you again and win, then immediately go fight her. You’ll briefly be back in third place but fourth place holders will be exhausted and think twice about challenging you, Eliza Marigold; the person who beat Nicholas Schnee.”

“You made a safety net for third”

“I made a safety net for you! I will beat Valerie so she’ll fall to second place and that’s where you jump in to knock her to third. By that point she’ll have to wait and losing twice in a row is gonna give people ideas. Even if she beats them it’ll be a race against the clock and you can challenge me to avoid fighting her if it comes down to that. Boom, guaranteed second place for you with a potential at first place.”

The plan was insane, daring, and yet clearly thought of. “This is…a lot. Not to mention not full proof. What if I actually don’t need you to weaken Valerie and can take first place for myself?”

“Then by all means take it. I’ll knock Valerie to third myself and then fight you. Careful though. If I win you’re stuck with her and plenty of time you have to stall.”

She didn’t like the sound of that. “What if I refuse this off altogether?”

“That’s fine. We’ll just all have to do our best.”

“Your entire plan hinges on you beating Valerie. What if-”

“I’ll win.” He deadpanned. “I can take her this year. No questions about it.”

He started giving that same exact look he did a few days ago. “Not that I’m not interested but this feels a little unlike you.”

“Is that bad? People are always saying I’m too soft around Valerie. This is a tournament and there’s no rules against teamwork. You in?”

He hopped down and extended his hand. Nick did his best to seem casual about all of this but it was clear to Eliza he was pretty frustrated at Valerie. It wasn’t her place to pry. If he was willing to go this far then she might as well keep an eye on the entire thing. A chance to progress, and a good event. As long as those two things happened without incident then she had no reason to object. Then there was the other problem. She already helped him train…Eliza shook his hand.

“Glad to do business with you. I guess it’s only fair now that I give you the choice to stop training me. Wouldn’t want this to feel like I’ve gained so much tangible progress while yours relies on-”

Eliza tossed him his sword. “Quit with the chivalrous act. If I don’t train you to my standards then I’m positive your plan is bound to fall apart. Helping you here can only benefit me, or did you already forget I could teach you a thousand ways to improve your glyphs and still even the playing field?” She made another silver orb.

Nick gulped. He actually did forget how big of a pain in the ass it was gonna be fighting her. Semblance training doesn’t mean much if you can’t use it. “Have I ever told you that you can be terrifying and comforting at the same time?”

“Nobility should be just that. It’s why people like your face so much whenever you look like you beat the crap out of somebody.”

“People like my face because I’m handsome!!!”

“Less chitchat. More candle lighting.”

Nick hunched over in defeat. Marigolds, what can you do with them?

[nightowlfandom]

Anime! Fictional! BTS x Real World! Reader- Welcome To My World~ Episode 1

HEY HEY! IM SO EXCITE! Btw who here plays BTS World? This is very loosely based off that.

I need to download it again tbh.

CHECKOUT MY MASTERLIST HERE!

Leggo!

...

What does it mean to escape? To get away. If it means leaving behind all you know, all you’ve been raised to know, all you’ve been led to believe, with just yourself and the clothes on your back. Scary, but thrilling. Terrifying, but inviting. Unbelievable, but definitely possible....

...

On a early Tuesday morning where the sun was barely grazing the orange sky, you sat by your windowsill. You were dreamily staring out into the halo that was a mixture of red and orange. The halo of greyish clouds matched your mood to a complete tee. The aesthetic beauty of nature wasn’t enough to make you smile or even blink twice, however. It was always like this though. Yet something about this scene made you go sour.

Releasing a sigh, you stepped away from the window, shutting the curtains. Another day, the same thing. All you could do was attempt to power through.

As you lazily pulled your shirt over your head, you had managed to dodge that annoying dog. The little brat wasn’t even yours, but your oh-so loving step-sister’s. He always had a affinity for making your room a hot mess.  Only yours in particular. 

“Get out of here you little-.” you chased the dog out of your room, slamming your door as it scurried off. “What did you screw up this time?” you curiously scanned the room. Everytime that little fluffy beast rammed his little head into your personal space, something would end up broken, ripped, shattered, or completely destroyed beyond repair. 

You almost screamed when you saw a familiar book cover on the floor. You instantly dropped to your knees, praying to yourself that it wasn’t true. The cover had a pretty violent looking rip along with the first few pages. 

Your absolute reason for waking up in the morning was tarnished. A signed cover of BTS Universe Issue #1. Probably your one and only favorite series on planet Earth. You gingerly picked up the book, trying to inspect it with hopes that the damage was minimal. As little as this was, you almost felt like crying. However there was no time, you needed to tape up the pages and fast! Who cares if you missed breakfast.

...

“Morning Y/N!” Your step-dad greeted you in the kitchen. “You were upstairs an awful long time, I was about to send your mother to see if you were still up playing that game of yours!” he smiled warmly.

“Thanks Mr. Chai.” you replied politely. “I’m sorry I’m so late.”

“You know...Y/N...you could call me Dad.” he set a plate down on the table. “I know I’m not your father, but I want to be the best father-figure for you because I know...you haven’t really had that.”

You had to stop yourself from saying anything else. You haven’t had the best parental relationship, and your new step-dad really was trying. Maybe it was just his daughter that drove you nuts.

“Thank you.” you replied, smiling. “...Dad.” you winked, making finger guns. “Geez! You made a lot of food for just the four of us”

“ Well you ain’t see muffin, yet!” he winked. “You and Nari have a busy day today. She auditioning and you, my friend....well I don’t know exactly what you have planned for the day.”

“I’ll tell you if we can skip the food related puns.” you sat down at the table. It was a rule that everyone waited for everyone else. Even though you had taken the extra time to repair your copy of BTS Universe, you had seemed to be the first person down the stairs. In all honesty, you were just going to hang out at the comic store until Nari called to tell you she was done.

“Hey now, Donut kill my vibe!” he continued, laughing. “I have a million more of these, come on. Don’t go bacon my heart, Y/N.”

“Good job Y/N, you’ve gotten him started.” You mom came down the stairs in her little blazer and pencil skirt. “Whatever will we do now.”

“He did it himself, the guy’s an animal! You married a wild child, mom.” you joked. “He might just be a serial killer.”

“Don’t you mean...cereal killer?” he held up a box of Raisin Bran to make his point. You could only shake your head as your mother and step-father laughed together. Food related humor so early in the morning had to mean today wasn’t going to be a horrible as it started, at least for you.

“WHERE ARE MY THIGH HIGH BOOTS!” you heard a screech from upstairs. “THEY BETTER NOT BE IN YOUR ROOM, Y/N!”

“...WHY WOULD I WANT TO WEAR YOUR SHOES!” you yelled back after taking in a deep breath. “NARI, IF I WANTED TO BREAK MY ANKLES, I’D HAUL MYSELF DOWN THE STAIRS.”

“When will you two get along?” your mom shook her head. “It’s been three years.” 

“We don’t not get along.” You shook your head. “Not my fault she’s difficult.”

“I can think of a few times you’ve been difficult yourself, young lady.” you mother pointed a stern finger at you. “Like when you locked yourself in the room to read that silly cartoon of yours.”

“It’s not silly.” you defended yourself.

“Oh come on!” Nari’s voice voice could be heard alongside some loud footsteps. “I think it’s cute to be honest. Y/N here actually has a hobby besides stalking celebrities online.”

“Shut up, Nari.” you grumbled. “And keep your dog out of my room! He ruined my signed copy of BTS Universe!”

“Dorie got out again?” she seethed, looking annoyed. “I really have to put a bell on that dog.”

“Yeah.” you sighed, you bummed mood returning. Everyone knew just how much you loved that edition. You kept in in a super special display case, you cleaned the case every week, you kept your other issues on their own bookshelf along with your figurine and digital visual novel editions of the series. You were even on the buyer’s list for the special early anime release. You LOVED this series. Not even Nari dared to disrespect something as important as that, and she loved getting under your skin.

“I’m sure you’ll be able to find another one.” your mother set down a bowl of cereal in front of you along with a muffin. “Now eat, you have a big day today.”

“Yes mam.” you replied, helping yourself to some cereal.

“If you want, you can take a muffin or bagel with you.” your step dad said. 

“Dad! I can’t, I have to be super focused remember? Breakfast will just slow me down!” Nari scoffed.

“Not having breakfast will make it even worse, dummy. Dude, you’re gonna pass out on stage.” you threw a tiny cereal piece at her. “Eat something.”

“I’ll eat later, I just have my eye on the prize and nothing is going to stop me.” Nari stood up determined. 

“Will you at least eat some toast, crazy girl.” your mother said. “Y/N’s right, you need to at least have eaten something to calm your nerves. Y/N make sure Nari eats something before you two go your separate ways.”

“I’ll try, no promise.” you shrugged. “Nari, if you’re done, then get your stuff and let’s go.” You promptly finished your cereal and went to go back upstairs. “You got ten minutes.” 

“What’s her deal?” you could hear Nari ask, followed by an sudden whispering of your mom stating exactly what she thought was wrong with you. Your bet was on ‘everything’.

You walked back into your room, grabbing your purse from your desk. You eyed your taped up issue of BTS Universe #1. There was no way you were going to find another issue like that, and that damned dog just treated it like a loved toy. You grabbed your phone and shoved it into your purse. You went over to where the issue was and placed it on your desk. 

“NARI LET’S GO!” you shut the bedroom door behind you as you walked out the room. 

...

You sped to a stop outside the building. Nari was shaking in her shoes. She seemed hesitant to even open the door. 

“Call me when you’re finished so I can pick you up.” you said, getting ready to unlock the doors.

“You’re leaving me!?” Nari looked like she was about to explode.

“Hello?! It’s idol trainees only?” you raised an eyebrow. “I can’t go in there with you. Nari what’s the problem?”

“...Um...I’m nervous alright! I’m giving up almost everything and if I don’t get chosen...I’ll just prove my dad right. I need this.” she stared down at her hands. “I’m not used to being a reject. I don’t know how you-”

“You wanna leave here with two working legs, I suggest you don’t finished that sentence.” you cut her off. “I’m not a reject.”

“That’s not what I was gonna say. I’m saying I don’t know how you deal with nerves like this.” she looked like she was gonna pass out. 

“...You just do.” you nudged her shoulder. “You just go for it and hope. Go for it.”

“...Okay, I’ll try.” she opened the door. “...Thank you.” she stood up. “I’ll call you when I’m all set.” she shut the door. 

“I’ll literally be at the store around the corner.” you replied before driving off. You watched in the rear view as she took her sweet time going into the building. 

...(Later on)

You trudged behind Nari as she ran through the door. She seemed happy, so that must have meant the audition went well.

“I’m gonna take a nap.” you called to your mom and step-dad. “See you guys at dinner!”

You didn’t wait for them to reply before you closed the door. As you walked over to your bed, you noticed a disc laying on your bed. Just a random DVD. The closer you got, the font on the front got clearer.

“BTS World?” It didn’t look familiar in the slightest. “It’s called BTS Universe, Nice try Nari.” you wrote it off as a stupid prank by your oh-so-loving Step-Sister. It was only then you realized Nari was with you all day. 

You took another look at it, gently taking it in your hands. It looked like it was glowing. 

Call it curiosity, but you needed to know.

Your laptop was sitting at the edge of the bed, so you put the disc in. 

“State your name.” a voice came out of nowhere. 

“What?” you looked around in shock. The voice sounded like it came from right behind you.

“Please state your name.” the female robotic voice repeated. 

“Y/N.” 

“Are you sure that you want Y/N as your name?”

“Um Yes?” you raised an eyebrow. You still didn’t know what the fuck was going on.

“Would you like to start a new game? You don’t appear to have any saved filed under the name Y/N.”

Maybe you were sleepier than you thought, but you ran with it. “Yes.”

“Starting new game....now”

Your screen began glowing a bright blue, a vivid, saturated blue. It was like your screen had turned into a flashlight. 

“What the fu-” you suddenly stared at your hands, the very tips of your fingers turned pixelated. “MOM!!!” You tried to scream, only to have it come out in the form on an echo. You felt your feet leave the ground as tiny little pixels moved towards your computer. You could see the color draining from your walls, leaving everything white. It was like an earthquake ran through your room...only through your room.

Then...everything went dark.

...

(Why hello there...LET US PREPARE. I’m gonna go through with it this time, I swear on my bacon! The guys are coming next chappie!)

[dreamercail]

nanowrimo musings 2.0

so like five years ago I did a little nanowrimo retrospective where I talked a little bit about each story I wrote and what I thought about it. I’ve been thinking of doing another one while also avoiding other responsibilities so join me on this walk down memory lane:

PUTTING UNDER CUT CUZ IT’S A LOT OF WORDS WHOOPS

Silicon (2009) - Oh geez, I hate to even count this one, but it was my first ever nano attempt so I gotta. A story about Theresa Lee, a girl who unknowingly is an android (closer to a cyborg?), and the team running the experiment. I don’t even think I made it to 10,000 words. Features: first attempts at an intergenerational friendship and an interesting framing device. I don’t think I’ve opened the file in at least 10 years. This is probably for the better.

Relapse of Vernadora (2010) - my first NaNo win! Originally started off steampunk inspired but I have no idea what the final product was (there were airships?? and that was really it). A story about a half dozen Chosen Ones™️ who represent ~elemental abilities~ and they have to...save the country they’re in?? Because it happens every couple hundred years?? I don’t really know. Featuring: a fun first half of interconnecting stories and dialogue that sounds like bad anime fan fiction. Overall a yikes from me but I still love Chira Chronum as a character and will until I die.

Colossal (2011) - I will always label this one as the most read amongst people I know. It’s a pretty simple story about a group of teenagers who can see giants and have to go on a road trip to stop the guy who’s bringing them back from the dead. Featuring: a literal ripped from tv tropes 5 man band set up and entirely okay if not weak narration. In the end it’s hard for me to go back to and read because I’ve gotten a lot better but I’m still proud of it. Also the five main teens have such a special place in my heart and I’ll probably never be fully done with them. Also I think my only nano with a sequel?? (that took me like six years to write lmao)

Extinction Could be a Lot Worse (2012) - 300 years after global cataclysm, and humans have become a minority, giving rise to insect- and fish-humanoid hybrids known as Entosaps and Aquacrans. Arata is a kid with a guitar looking for one of the last major human settlements on earth. Featuring: half baked concepts, heavy handed and misguided messages about racism, and one actually decent speech at the end. Ehhhhhhhhhhhhh I’ve never felt great about this one. It didn’t take me long after writing it to realize my messaging was super mixed and not as woke as I thought. Also like a few super problematic parts that make me cringe hard. Not the worst thing ever but not one I go back to.

How to be an Urban Legend (2013) - oh thank god the streak of straight protagonists has been broken. A really fun deuteragonist set up! Aliya is a party girl in need of a job. Morse is a down on her luck, awkward girl with a penchant for local urban legends. Each encounter Mackenzie Fylan, an urban legend known as a parsinct, a person who goes through overwhelming tragedy and emerges with supernatural abilities, and chaotic teleporter. Through a series of events the two girls uncover some peculiar goings ons in the basement of their office building. Featuring: a plot where like not a ton happens and a fun chapter naming convention. In the grand scheme of things an entirely okay story. Not a story with a ton of stakes but it marked a turning point in my writing as far as description writing and narration go. Aliya and Morse are an unstable couple, but I think I take a little too much joy in their dysfunction.

Scribed. (2014) - Most famous for not being finished, rip. In a world where writers are assigned particular individuals to “scribe” their lives, Ariel Hess accidentally discovers he’s being written about by the inexperienced scribe, Maiara Snow. It would’ve been a fun kind of breakdown and commentary on the stories we consume and the protagonists we choose to write about but it never quite made it off the ground (partially due to life being a lot that year). Featuring: really not much but some fun with style/formatting.

The Incredibly Consequential Life of Charlie Zappala (2016) - After having to skip 2015, this was a fun one to write. Also, chaotic cuz I dallied the first half of the month then ended up writing like 22k in 6 days. Charlie is a disillusioned 20-something who always thought they were made for something greater until real life came and beat them with a stick. That is, until an interdimensional elf herald pops out of their refrigerator and claims they’re the Chosen One. From there Charlie has to balance the world of their dreams with the world they know and figure out which is really meant for them. Featuring: first nonbinary protagonist and a whole lot of swearing. Charlie as a character is such an outlet for a lot of processing of what it means to be an adult in this day and age. I love them a lot. Of course, in the manic way the story was written the pacing is wonk and needs some work before it’s the best it can be. Also the only nanowrimo (save the unfinished ones) that never got a proper edit.

a.u. (2017) - HEY DID I MENTION THIS ONE WON AN AWARD. I’m sure I have. To go from no one reading my stories to now thousands of folks having checked this one out is A Lot but also probably one of the coolest things to ever happen to me. Damian is a fresh out of college fuck boy, Alexander is a hipster barista. They meet in a coffee shop, we all know what happens then, right? If by that you meant that a mysterious earthquake comes every morning to the coffee shop and leaves the two with the only memories of it happening, then yes, we all know what happens. A story meant to be an exploration of fan fiction tropes and AUs, but also with an underlying message of what it means to find yourself when the world around you is constantly changing (#kidswhomovedalotproblems). Very admittedly nervous that I was gonna come across as fetishizing mlm relationships just by nature exploring the typical “””””BL plot””””” so that’s probably what’s stopped me from out right asking people I know to read it haha. Featuring: boys kissing and some actually damn good analogies that I have yet to replicate. Did I mention it won an award? And currently has 30k reads?? Anyway read it online. No shame.

Road to Arcadia (2018) - Boy does this one have my whole heart. Set in a very nearby future (about 30 years) in a world where we did jack shit about climate change (so like current trajectory), Kai Gilling sets off to the desert to look for something better. On the way he encounters a pair of siblings and a woman who says she has a map to Arcadia, an urban legend rumored to be the only city thriving during these hellish times. Cue: desert road trip story. I’d been wanting to write a desert road trip story for ages and the route the characters follow is nearly identical to one my dad and I took on a road trip the preceding summer, so it all came together. Featuring: a main cast where none of the characters are cis/het and Jeep Wranglers. The letters Kai writes back home have some of my favorite writing and some raw emotion and thoughts from me. It’s not perfect in its execution and it doesn’t have the playfulness that a.u. has, but it’s really special to me. Also available online! (not as many reads tho working on that one)

EXCAVATOR: Tales from the Twelve Vessels (2019) - Probably my first real big step into hardcore sci-fi and another deuteragonist tale. In the future, out in the deep recesses of space, flies the jaundian coalition, a group of twelve spaceships housing orphaned races from across the universe, most notably the sapiens (ya humans) and the nkrey (kinda like a mix between grey aliens and high elves). The story follows Meera, a wide-eyed Idealist looking to work planetside and Sauk, a convicted criminal who would like to do not that. Shenanigans ensue. It’s definitely out of my comfort zone to write something in a world so unfamiliar and it was hard to do a nanowrimo story when half the time needed was for world building. Also still not fully finished to this day. I got the 50k but still have a lot left to write in terms of plot. Featuring: ALIENS and sassy teammates. One that I probably won’t know how to feel about until at least another year or so.

Thanks so much for reading!! And oh man I’m only scraping the surface of a lot of this. If you ever wanna know one thing I could talk forever about it’s my stories and characters.

[salty-star-child]

Punks Don’t Dance

[hi, yes, here’s another very late Michael Guerin week story. the Pre-Canon/Lost Decade fic is one of the prompts that ran away with me and sent me on a wild goose chase of an adventure while writing and (attempted) editing. enjoy]

read on ao3

             Michael remembered very clearly when he first met Alex Manes. He’d just been moved into the new foster family’s home in Roswell and had run off immediately after having finished unpacking his limited possessions. He wanted to find his…siblings? Were the three of them siblings? They must be siblings, he needed them to be his siblings. Why else would they have been put in that cave together? Why else would they be connected like this?

             He didn’t know where in Roswell the Evans family lived, which meant that Michael wandered for the most part. He took random turns, looking at houses and trying to see if he felt a pull from their connection. He just knew he’d know the house when he saw it. Which is why he is so confused.

             This is most definitely not the Evans’s house.

             Not only was it not the Evans’s house, there was still something pulling Michael to it.

             Curious and confused (and maybe just a little bit hopeful that this meant that there were more people like him on this strange world), he came around to the front of the house. He peaked around the corner to see a boy around his age wearing some protective gear and trying to balance on a beat-up skateboard. Just as it seemed the boy had achieved balance, he pushed forward and the front wheel caught in a crack in the cement driveway and sent the boy flying forward.

             Startled, Michael didn’t even register he’d reached out with his powers to soften the landing at all until he heard a mocking laugh off to the side where Michael couldn’t see.

             “I told you! Told you you’d eat shit and break your nose!”

             The boy pushed up from the ground, face red and eyes narrowed. But his nose wasn’t broken or anything, so Michael had no idea what the voice was talking about.

             “Shut up, Flint! I’m not even hurt so you didn’t tell me shit!” the boy yelled back.

             “You’re, like, five, you’re not allowed to swear.”

             “I’m not five! I’m eleven and a half and you know that!”

             “Well, you cry like you’re five, so I don’t see a difference.”

             “I do not! Shut up!”

             “Alex Manes!” another voice—louder, deeper, angrier, scarier—yelled from the same direction Flint had been talking from. “You do not tell your older brother to shut up. Ever. Do you understand me?”

             Michael watched the boy—Alex—avert his eyes to the ground, head lowered and shoulders starting to shake. He mumbled something but Michael couldn’t hear. Apparently, neither could the others.

             “Speak up, soldier! And look at me when I talk to you! Look me in the eye and tell me you understand.”

             “I-I underst-stand,” Alex stuttered, voice growing thick and shaking more noticeably. Michael could feel the air around him grow cold.

             “I said, look me in the eye,” the older voice growled. Alex’s head raised faster than Michael could blink.

             “I-I understand, sir!” Alex called back, rehearsed and militaristic but with more control over himself. The other voices didn’t say anything else but there was a door slamming shut and Alex curled in on himself on the ground, tears spilling over and breathing coming in gasps and body shaking. Michael knew that feeling too well, and he knew this one too.

             He wasn’t being pulled to this house. He was being pulled to Alex.

             He waited until Alex’s breathing started to even out and he wasn’t shaking as much before letting his presence be known. Michael stepped around the corner and just said the first thing that came to mind.

             “That sounded rough.”

             Alex turned to look at him, face bright red in patches and hands wiping at his face.

             “Yeah, well, dads and brothers just suck, I guess,” he grumbled. He didn’t move to stand, so Michael approached slow enough so the other could tell him to scram if he wanted. “Who’re you?”

             “Michael,” he introduced himself as he sat down on the ground across from Alex. They stared at each other unblinking in a not-quite-comfortable silence for a couple of minutes until Alex’s eyes are no longer watery and only slightly red.

             “You’ve got nice eyes,” Alex said, voice quiet. Michael tilted his head to the left, eyebrows scrunching and cheeks warming.

             “Nice…eyes?”

             “Yeah,” Alex shrugged, “you’ve got nice eyes. They’re…pretty. The—The color, I mean.”

             “Oh. Thanks…yours are nice too.”

             “No, they aren’t. Mine are boring.”

             Michael leaned forward into the other boy’s space, knocking their foreheads together. Alex’s eyes widened in surprise, but he otherwise didn’t move as Michael stared.

             “Don’t look all that boring to me,” Michael muttered. “Reminds me of the sky at night. And the sky is just what we can see of the universe, and the universe holds everything. So, not boring.”

             He leaned back out of the other’s personal space and gave him a small smile. It was while he leaned back that he felt the insistent tugging on his consciousness to get closer, the same pull that had brought him to this house in the first place. Well, it didn’t bring him to the house—it brought him to Alex.

--//--

             They’re fifteen when the whispers start. Michael doesn’t pay much attention to them at first. Not until they’re in the boys’ locker room and no one will say anything, but he notices Kyle Valenti is clearly staring at Alex while he whispers something to his friend. Then that friend whispers to the boy next to him, and the boy next to him, and the boy next to him, until Michael’s neighbor has started to turn to tell him too. Michael cuts him off with a sharp look, too irritated to be interested in whatever gossip Valenti is spreading that’s clearly about Alex.

             He still feels that strange pull to the other boy; it’s so like the connection he has with Max and Isobel, only just different enough to be distinctly unique from it. There’s a sharp tug on that connection, and Michael glances over at Alex just in time to see him slam the door of his gym locker closed.

             Alex turned to the rest, narrowed eyes focused on Valenti, and flipped the bird. Michael startled a laugh which drew Alex’s gaze. Eyes so like the night sky, harsh and confused, softened ever so slightly before hardening again. Michael watched as Alex walked out of the locker room, eyes trained on the door as it closed, and the other boys stopped keeping their words quiet.

             “Geez, I can’t believe they let him change in here with us,” Valenti said, loud and disgusted. “This is basically a living wet dream for him or something.”

             Michael’s temper flared as the guys around Valenti laughed uncomfortably.

             “Sounds like you’re just pissed he didn’t wanna suck your dick, Valenti,” Michael said, voice disinterested with a sharp edge. The laughter quieted to a couple muffled snorts. It was the anger and embarrassment clear on Kyle’s face that satisfied him though.

             “That faggot wishes,” Valenti hissed. Michael slammed his own locker door shut and leaned against it with arms crossed and eyebrows raised. “But it looks like Manes has got himself a boyfriend to protect him.”

             “Now you’re just sounding jealous,” Michael tsked. “Really not helping your case here, man.”

             Michael noted the shaking shoulders of contained laughter amongst Kyle’s cronies and the way Kyle seemed lost for a response. He shook his head with a biting smile and left the locker room. When Coach Newman picked him to be one of the captains for dodgeball, he made sure Alex was his first pick. It earned more whispers among the boys who’d been in the locker room earlier, but Michael didn’t care.

             All Michael cared about was the happy surprise on Alex’s face.

--//--

             They’re seventeen and ‘promposal’ season had just started.

             Michael wouldn’t have noticed if it weren’t for Isobel complaining about the clichés and terrible puns, or for the fact that Alex had started sulking more than usual. In the two years between the initial locker incident, Alex had cut his hair and darkened his wardrobe, evolving from skater to emo punk. Sulking had become a typical setting for the boy to be found in. No one would really notice if it was happening more than usual.

             No one except Michael, anyway. He was particularly attuned to Alex’s moods and mannerisms. He was a curious being by nature, and the strange connection he had with the human boy was the one riddle he had yet to crack; as such, he’d spent quite enough time observing the other to tell when he was off.

             It became rather obvious at lunch that day. Kyle had rounded up his football buddies at lunch to help him perform an off-key musical number to some cheesy pop song to ask Liz Ortecho to prom. And, since they were at lunch and Liz was one Alex’s best friends, Alex had been trapped at the table right alongside Liz and Maria. By this point, Alex’s being gay was an open secret amongst the student population, and, while Alex didn’t like to admit it, the boy enjoyed going to school dances and hanging out with friends. Michael remembered the way he would smile and laugh at middle school dances while Maria and Liz dragged him to the center of the gymnasium to actually dance.

             Now, though, it was likely that Alex believed he wouldn’t be asked to prom—at least, not by someone he’d want to go with as a date. The unfortunate consequence of being the only semi-out gay kid in a small-town high school.

             Isobel scoffed in the seat next to him.

             “Could this be anymore embarrassing? Please tell me neither of you are planning to ever do something like…that,” she said, eyeing a forlorn looking Max more so than Michael. Max sighed and shook his head, pushing around the food on his tray and clearly upset about Liz going to prom with Kyle.

             Michael, however, avoided eye contact and weighed his options.

             “Actually, I, uh,” Michael cleared his throat and lowered his voice, “I was wondering if you two could help me ask Alex Manes to prom?”

             His siblings’ eyes grew wide and jaws dropped in their shock. Isobel recovered faster than Max, their brother still gaping like a fish and struggling to string words together.

             “You want to ask…Alex Manes…to prom? As in, like, a date?” Isobel asked. Michael nodded his confirmation and bit his lower lip. He’d already come to the realization that he was bisexual, but he’d never said it aloud before and he wasn’t sure he could get the words out without shouting them.

             “Whoa,” Max finally wheezed out. “You’re…?”

             “Uh, sort of?” Michael shrugged, not quite ready to shout the words, not yet, but maybe he could write it down or whisper them or make them understand through their connection to each other.

             “What do you mean by sort of?”

             “Just means that I’m not, you know…straight? But I’m not, like, gay either. Just somewhere in between them.”

             Max still looked confused and like he wanted to ask more questions, but Isobel got that look on her face that made it clear they were communicating telepathically, and he’d closed his mouth and nodded instead.

             “Obviously we’ll be talking about this later,” she said firmly. “We’ll talk about it after school, while we help you figure out how you want to ask him.”

             Isobel smiled wide and Michael pulled her into the tightest hug he could while sat at cafeteria lunch tables. Across from them, Max gave his own unsure-but-trying-to-be-supportive smile and Michael supposed that was all he could really ask for. He could help his brother understand after school.

--//--

             The benefit of living in his truck, he supposed, would be that he could park it in the high school parking lot for the night and no one really cared. Which meant that he was always there before any of the other students and being there before any of the other students—specifically, Alex—was crucial to the plan he’d put together with Isobel’s help.

             Michael stood anxiously, fingers tapping against his arm. He was leaned up against the locker across from Alex’s, watching people slow and stare and whisper at Michael’s handiwork. But none of them were the boy he was waiting for. Their opinions didn’t matter. The only opinion that mattered was—

             There he was, flanked by Liz Ortecho and Maria DeLuca. Hair spiked, diamond stud earrings and silver septum piercing glinting, dark eyes expertly outlined with black eyeliner, even a silver chain attached to tight ripped black jeans—he was a vision of punk sexiness, in Michael’s completely biased opinion. The students in their path seemed to part, either because of Maria’s flailing arms as she recanted some story or because of the decorations on Alex’s locker. Michael’s heart was in his throat by the time the trio finally stalled at the locker to read: I know you’re gay / so I wanted to say hey / and bi the way / would you be my prom date.

             “Is—Is this some kind of joke?” Alex’s voice shook as he spoke, hesitant and pre-emptively angry. Liz’s hand gripped his elbow, and Michael’s blood ran cold. This…had started to go sideways already.

             Michael pushed off the wall and cleared his throat.

             “Not a joke,” he said, hand rubbing the back of his neck. Alex whipped around, eyes wide and mouth slightly ajar. Liz and Maria exchanged looks that weren’t entirely surprised and more than amused. “So?”

             Alex’s eyes darted from Michael, to his friends, to the small crowd around them whispering and some even taking pictures. Eventually his eyes came back to Michael’s, his never having left the other’s face. Michael can see a maelstrom of emotions in those eyes and he feels their connection spark and burn in a way it never had before.

             “You…want to go to prom…with me?”

             “Correction: I really want to go to prom with you.”

             One corner of Alex’s lips twitched upwards, though his expression was still doubtful.

             “Like, a real date?”

             “Exactly like a real date,” Michael said clearly and concisely.

He couldn’t fault Alex for wanting complete clarity, not when homophobic jerks like Kyle Valenti and his football cronies were around and making his high school life hell. That’s not even mentioning the rumors Michael has heard about the patriarch of the Manes family. According to Isobel, who heard from her mother, word on the housewife scene shone Jesse Manes in a fairly abusive and manipulative light. Not that Michael was surprised.

             Alex searched his face, looking for any hint of deceit, but, when he didn’t find any, he smiled. Alex Manes smiled in the middle of a Roswell High School hallway—and it was because of Michael.

             Liz and Maria giggled beside Alex, pulling them both out of their staring contest. Maria nudged him.

             “Come on, Manes, don’t leave the boy in suspense,” Maria teased. Alex rolled his eyes.

             “I’d like that,” Alex said.

             The rest of that day, Michael was followed by whispers and strange looks and the occasional slur thrown his way. He couldn’t bring himself to care. Not even when Valenti tried to shove him into the lockers between classes and Isobel had smacked him so hard across the face that there was a bright red handprint on his cheek.

--//--

             They met up at the dance. Alex didn’t have a car of his own and refused to ask to borrow his father’s car for the night. He’d also turned down Michael’s offer to pick him up, telling him he’d rather spare Michael the torture of having to meet his dad.

He, Max, and Isobel are in the middle of posing for pictures together, so he misses Alex’s arrival. But it also means that the photographer captures the exact moment Alex taps him on the shoulder and Michael sees his date for the first time. His sister heaved a sigh and grabbed Max by the elbow, dragging him into the decorated gymnasium. Once at the door, she threw a wink over her shoulder at them.

“Hey,” Michael said. “You look amazing.”

“Oh, he’d better,” a voice behind Alex huffed. Looking over the other’s shoulder, he spotted Maria DeLuca with a fond but exasperated smile. “He spent literal hours trying to look perfect.”

“You sayin’ he doesn’t just wake up this handsome every day?” Michael teased, face flushed, and chest warmed with pleasure that Alex wanted to impress. Sure, it was prom, but he’s found that there’s a difference between getting dressed up and putting an effort into trying to look good. Maria snorted and gave Alex a pointed look with meaning behind it that he hoped meant something good.

Maria walked past them, saying she was off to steal Liz for a dance. As she passed Michael, she placed a hand to the back of his shoulder and pushed him towards Alex. He stumbled into his date, whose hands darted out to grip his waist to steady him.

Oh. They were close…a lot closer than Michael had realized until they were suddenly nose-to-nose. They just stand there and stare. He even forgot other people were around. Sound didn’t reach his ears while he stared, entranced by the way Alex’s eyes echoed his own. The illusion is ruined when someone—one of Valenti’s friends, no doubt—shoulder-checked Alex and caused their foreheads to smack together painfully.

Alex scowled and turned to focus on the asshole who’d shoved him. Michael, on the other hand, rolled his eyes and grabbed his date’s hand, pulling gently towards the gymnasium doors.

“Ignore him,” Michael murmured. “The best revenge’ll be having a great time tonight.”

Alex squeezed his hand, looking him directly in the eye as he twined their fingers together. Michael squeezed back, just as tight. It had them both smiling, sour instance forgotten.

The gymnasium is dimmed, lit only by colored lights, and a DJ is set up on the far end of the gym. A handful of tables are set up near the punch and various cookies and fruit for anyone wanting off their feet. Michael is, admittedly, underwhelmed after the way Isobel had talked it up the past two weeks. Even so, he’s no less excited to be there with Alex on his arm.

So What by Pink is just ending, flowing right into Burnin’ Up by the Jonas Brothers, as they weaved through the people to get to where Alex had spotted Maria and Liz.  Alex groaned as one of the Jonas Brothers crooned and Michael couldn’t help but laugh. Because of course his emo punk date would be staunchly against the pop songs destined to play instead of an alt rock playlist (maybe Michael would make a request, just for him; he’ll have to remember to ask what his favorite song is).

They hang out with Maria and Liz for a while, chatting about whatever—inside jokes, Maria and Liz cross-examining Michael, wondering when the Cha-Cha Slide will inevitably come on. When it does inevitably make an appearance, Kyle appears and grabs Liz, who grabs Maria, who grabs Alex, who’s still holding Michael’s hand. The entourage merged with the rest of the student body on the dance floor, going through the dance moves as they’re called. Michael tripped up a little during the actual cha-cha part, but Isobel somehow ends up next to him now that they’ve shifted direction and Alex is behind him and helped keep him upright.

After they’ve been cha-cha’d out, Isobel took him and Max off the dance floor and over to the punch bowl. As Iz pulled him past Alex, he gestured to the punch and tried to ask if he wanted some. The gym was loud though and Michael didn’t think he heard him. Alex’s head is tilted to the side like a puppy’s, confused and a little concerned. His sightline is promptly blocked by a cluster of giggling friends filling in the gaps on the dance floor.

“Having a good time?” Isobel asked coyly as she ladled herself a glass of punch.

“I was actually, but then my sister dragged me away from my date,” Michael said. “Any advice for dealing with nosy siblings?”

“Yes, don’t be psychically linked to them.”

“That’s too bad, we kinda hatched that way.”

“Guys,” Max admonished while looking around the crowded gymnasium. The punch table was empty except for them, and no one is paying them any real attention.

In fact, the large cluster of people closest to them cheered as the song changed to The Pussycat Dolls’ song When I Grow Up.

“Alright, well, I’m gonna get back to my date now, if you don’t mind,” Michael said. Isobel shifted, rare uncertainty clearly displayed on her face. He smiled. “You guys can hang out with us too you know. I mean, we’re hanging with Maria and Liz anyway.”

He doesn’t wait for an answer. He turned and tried to make his way back to where Alex was, knowing his siblings were trailing behind him. The scene they arrived to was tense, Valenti staring down Alex with a smirk and Maria between the two with her arms crossed. Liz is stood behind Alex, frozen with eyes wide and jaw slack.

“We got a problem?” He asked tersely, glancing between Valenti and Alex. Valenti scowled at him.

“Always to the rescue, Guerin. A real knight in rusted armor.”

“Clever. Hope you didn’t hurt yourself, thinking that one up,” Michael rolled his eyes and held a hand out to Alex. “Wanna ditch the douchebag and dance?”

Alex answered by grabbing his hand. He grinned and started to lead them anywhere Valenti wasn’t. They hadn’t gone far enough by the time Valenti pulled himself together because they still caught the slur he said next.

“I’d say go suck a dick, but you faggots would actually enjoy it,” Valenti sneered. Alex yanked them to a stop, turned with a fist clenched, but before a fist could be thrown, Liz’s hand made contact.

The sound of skin smacking skin was sharp but eaten by the pounding music and laughing teenagers moving to its beat. Only the people in the immediate vicinity had heard, turning to stare. It was as if time slowed around them, the music fading to leave only the silence between the shocked group.

Liz’s eyes watered, hand still raised in the air, and her bottom lip trembled. Instead of tears falling from her eyes, a storm of Spanish swears fell from her lips. Keeping up with it was as difficult as standing still directly in front of a tornado.

“Liz, what are you saying,” Valenti asked, still stunned.

“I’m saying, I’m breaking up with you, you asshole!”

Michael looked to Alex, who looked back at him, wide eyes meeting as they lost all sense of composure. They both devolved into barely contained laughter as Liz swiped at her eyes and turned to a dumbfounded Max who seemed only able to communicate in different pitched grunts. She’d grabbed his hand and dragged him to the dance floor. Michael was convinced his brother might spontaneously combust when she directed his hands to her waist as a slower song came over the speakers.

A tug on his own hand reminded him that his watching brother’s flailing wasn’t the only thing to be doing. He let Alex bring him to a spot near Liz and Max before hesitating.

���Do you—”

“Should I—”

They huffed a nervous laugh at having talked over each other. Michael placed one hand on Alex’s waist, pleased at the stutter in his breathing and filling him with confidence. Alex’s hands went to his shoulders then slowly slid around his neck, one hand giving a teasing pull to his curls.

“I have to ask,” Alex whispered, “why did you ask me to prom?”

“It’s senior prom; you deserve to get asked by someone who actually likes you. And I, uh,” Michael licked his lips and forced himself to maintain eye contact, to let Alex see the honesty. “I’ve never liked anyone as much as I like you.”

He’s never seen Alex smile so wide before. Even in junior high, that beautiful smile had been contained, never quite taking over to brighten his entire face the way it did now. It was a sight he was sure was now engraved into his soul. He doesn’t think he’s seen anything quite so beautiful before in his life—on par with the single piece of glass that clearly didn’t come from this world. They even share the same pull that first brought him to where the piece had been.

Alex Manes had his own gravitational field and he felt lucky to have been caught in it.

They continue to sway, even as the song changes to something faster, preferring to stay wrapped up in each other and the small bubble of happiness stood in. When the dance began to wrap up, the DJ announcing the final song, he walked out of the gym with Alex and his friends. They trailed behind the girls as they walked to Maria’s car.

Maria unlocked her car to let Liz into the passenger seat and turned to the boys.

“I can give you guys a minute, but then we really gotta head out if you want to get home before the Master Sergeant’s curfew,” she said, glancing between them with a sly smile. Alex rolled his eyes but nodded.

“Thanks Maria,” he told her.

She winked and got in the car. The car stuttered loudly as it struggled to life, eventually turning over just as Michael started to doubt it would. Alex looked so fond, rough edges softened by amusement, and handsome features highlighted by moonlight. Oh man, he really wanted to kiss him.

His eyes flick to Alex’s mouth as the boy’s tongue wets chapped lips. He can feel the heavy gaze focused on his face, and he knows that Alex knows what he’s thinking.

“Can I—?”

Alex only nodded, already leaning toward him when he surged forward. Michael has kissed people before, but it had never felt like it this before. It was intoxicating and made him lightheaded. If he hadn’t been sure about what the connection between them meant, this kiss wiped any uncertainty away. They’d been connected since they met, and this had to be why; it felt right in a way nothing ever had before.

They pull apart slowly while keeping their foreheads together. Alex’s eyes are still closed, giddy smile pulling at his cheeks.

“Best. Dance. Ever,” he said against Michael’s lips.

A wolf-whistle from the car causes them to jolt apart. Liz and Maria sit in the car quite obviously watching them. Reluctantly, they back away from each other.

“I’ll see you later?” Michael asked, hopeful and cheeky, as Alex opened the car door.

“Count on it,” he answered. He got in the car with a wave, and Michael could still hear the girls giggling and teasing while Alex told them to shut up.

He isn’t sure how long he stood outside, watching the direction they left in, but Max found him without any trouble when he and Isobel are ready to leave. When he falls asleep that night, all he can think about is the dance, the kiss, Alex. His last conscious thought echoed Alex’s own words:

Best. Dance. Ever.

[thenickelportrust]

Hi! How do the ROs feel about Christmas ? And how would Ricky (or maybe Yolanda) reacts if he/she saw the spirits from "A Christmas Carol" ?

Finley: Finley likes the tradition of getting people together to just have a good time, but hates a lot of the decorations and songs, admittedly. They’re not religious so there’s also really no pull there for them as well. Overall, they’re pretty ambivalent towards the holiday, but can get a little irritated with just how much of it is everywhere. The part they like about it is the quieter moments with friends and loved ones just being together and having fun.

Raf: Raf’s family has always had a bit of an odd Christmas- his mother and her family have always celebrated it for religious reasons (and his mother was born in Catalonia, so the traditions they’d celebrate for Christmas come from there), but his father’s family was Hindu and his dad himself is non-religious so his dad never really celebrated it (though his dad grew up surrounded by it in Nickelport, and came to like it as a kid because it always meant fun things were happening and the ice rinks would open around then) so it was kind of this weird mix of the commercial Nickelport Christmas and a lot of fun traditions that his mom brought from her childhood in Catalonia. As a result of all this Raf almost feels like Christmas without his family’s mixed traditions is a li’l bland, but he loves the holiday itself for his memories of it. 

Jacob: Jacob loves Christmas! He loves the lights, the songs, the overly-cheesy-and-sometimes-inadvertently-creepy movies, the gifts, the fact that it makes everyone happy- everything!

Lucy: Lucy also loves Christmas for the festivities mainly. Throwing snowballs and making snowmen and ice skating and all those fun things that people do during holiday seasons. While none of those tend to directly relate to Christmas it is the time when most of those are happening so kinda by proximity she loves it.

Yolanda: Yolanda doesn’t see the holiday as that big of a deal. For her the best thing about it is that it’s an excuse to hold a holiday event at the Chat Blanc and attract more customers.

Eileen: Eileen loves the getting-together aspect of Christmas. She sees it as an excuse to have all her friends and family and loved one together at the same time and bake too many things for too many people and just have a fun time as a group.

Informant: The Informant isn’t the biggest fan of just how loud and crazed everything gets around the holiday times. But he likes the thought of a day where everyone is supposed to just be happy and generous and kind towards one another.

Ricky: Okay so fun fact about Ricky: He celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas. You see his biological mom’s side of the family celebrates Christmas, so that’s what he grew up with on that side of the family, but his dad and step-mom both celebrate Hanukkah, so that’s what he celebrates with them as well. On his own he doesn’t really celebrate either (the constant noise and lights do kinda annoy him, too), but he still (semi-reluctantly) goes to both celebrations for both sides of his family. 

V: V adores Christmas. Specifically for how crazy the celebrations can get. Plus it’s a great excuse to throw some wild parties, man.

EDIT BECAUSE SHOOT I FORGOT TO ANSWER THE SECOND PART OF THIS I’M SORRY.

A-ny-way:

The appearance of any ghost would probably freak either Ricky or Yolanda out.. a lot. I mean- people crashing through your window at the speed of sound followed by a person with lazers for eyes? Just a regular fuckin’ Thursday, man. But a ghost?? Holiday-oriented or not that jazz is freaky af. Especially if you’re talkin’ the original story’s ghosts where the dude basically ages and dies in front of your eyes with two small ghoul-lookin’ children under his robe. Geeze, I mean, that’d be terrifying.

Though I feel like Ricky would be a lot less composed about his freak-out then Yolanda.

[spaceorphan18]

Finding Kurt Hummel: Diva

Masterpost

4x13: Diva

Hey did you know guys can be divas, too?  I’m surprised this episode concept didn’t come up in, like, season 1 -- but I think it fits well here in season 4, and I think there’s a good Santana story here about her figuring out her shit and getting herself to New York (which should have been the from beginning).  The Tina story, on the other hand, is one that I’m glad I don’t have to touch.  

I would also like to point out - Blaine has a shrine to Kurt in his room.  I bring it up because there’s no Klaine in this episode, but there are little touches in the background that shows that the story is far from being over - Blaine mentioning Kurt, the shrine, the edits that cut from Kurt’s story to Blaine’s and vice versa.  A the little things we held on to way back then. 

Sarah Brightman in Training

Yeah Kurt, we all kind of feel that way about Rachel right about now.  To be honest, I think this set of episodes was supposed to bring Rachel down from her high -- which kind of all leads up to her break up with Brody.  I think there’s supposed to be some humbling elements, too, but that never really happens.  

Anyway -- Kurt says this class is free sing? What does that even mean? These writers didn’t attend a performing arts class, did they.  But Kurt’s just beyond annoyed.  And you know, I don’t really blame him.  She has got to be one of the most difficult people on the show. 

Kurt, at home, still not having it.  I will say -- roommates are hard.  And if you haven’t even had siblings, though I suppose Kurt did have Finn for the previous year, it can be even harder.  

Kurt back at school, apparently drinking his way through this Rachel business.  

We see the beginning of Rachel’s posse -- the two sycophants (did they ever have names?) who follower her around, are bitchy gossipers, and are generally annoying.  How the hell did these two get into NYADA.  Man, the issues I have with this school are unending.  

She’s even having Kurt take her messages for her.  God.  Kurt claims he always knew this might happen.  Man - Kurt needs an apartment by himself -- one of those little shoebox things that might be a tight fit, but he makes it work.  (Personally, the loft seems like an awful place to live.) 

Kurt claims he’s the only one who can take her down - and god were we all ready for that.... 

Truth Time

So -- Kurt’s pretty cranky if you wake him up before he needs to get up.  Geez - if you’re going to live in a place that has no walls you have /got/ to set boundaries.  Why Kurt doesn’t seem to learn from this, I don’t know.  

Anyway - Rachel comes bounding in demanding that Kurt make her some tea.  Rachel’s so used to doing this kind of thing that I doubt she realizes she’s even doing it.  And Kurt -- well, he doesn’t do well with confrontation.  In the same pattern as we always see, Kurt lets things build, and build, and build (as we see in the above montage) until he finally explodes.  

So, we finally get to some Truth Time.  Rachel believes he’s jealous of her success.  I don’t know if I buy that.  Kurt’s had his ups and downs, but in the last month or so, things have been swinging back up.  It’s more as he says here (and in the earlier voice over) she’s become an unbearable diva, and that her ego is a bit out of control.  

Kurt then says they became close because she became tolerable.  When exactly was that Kurt? I’m blanking.  Maybe those foursome dates with Finn and Blaine balanced out Rachel’s personality.  

To be fair -- I can see Kurt being strict about his regimen and routines, so I doubt he’s really that easy to live with either.  Rachel’s just being more outward at the moment.  And, as Kurt points out, Brody moved in and Kurt is not happy about that --- and she’s got an annoying group of friends that Kurt really does not want to spend any time with.  It’s just a whole bunch of things rolled into one.  

Rachel’s really bad at sparring now that I think of it -- because her only rebuttal is that Carmen only let him in because of her.  Which is kinda low since he was so insecure about that earlier in the season, but also untrue.  And Kurt’s wise enough to see through that little bit of shenanigans.  

Kurt, however, knows right where to stick her -- by attacking her performances, the one thing that Rachel prides more than anything else.  He not only tells her that his performance at Winter Showcase blew hers away, he claims he can do it again.  And he drops the big bombshell -- he threw their original diva-off back in Wheels.  That’s right, Kurt tanked the note on purpose to spare his dad.  

Rachel can hardly believe this, as she built her confidence around that win.  (Eesh, really Rachel?) but Kurt is offering no sympathy here.  He’s on a mission and he’s determined to take her down, even if it’s taking a big sledge hammer to her self-esteem.  

Idk - now that I think about it -- it is really interesting that Kurt is really good at getting under Rachel’s skin, but she can’t even touch him.  Way back in Hairography, she was able to because she knew his weak spot.  But here, she’s kind of so in her own little world, he’s a bit unbeatable by default.  It’s also interesting, as an aside, that Rachel doesn’t believe he’d tank the note on purpose -- cause why would you ever do that?  

And thus, all of this illustrates, despite the fact that yes, they do have a lot of similarities, these two are very different people. 

Bitchy Gossip

So, Rachel needs to have Midnight Madness explained to her because unlike Kurt, she doesn’t do her research (plus, you know exposition and I guess Brody needed something to do).  But we find out that it’s basically a sing-off, or an underground fight club for vocal performers, and winners get bragging rights.  And along come her sycophants talking about how awful Kurt’s gonna be.  And that he has a turtle face.  I don’t really see that, but whatever.  Thankfully, Rachel sticks up for Kurt -- because deep down they really are friends.  And personal issues between them are just that -- between them. 

Kurt however, is here to hear it.  And he takes them down, a first time, by telling them that the bitchy gossip isn’t going to throw him off his game.  For a kid who’s dealt with psychological terror and physical assault, these guys aren’t any worse than Santana or Quinn.  

However, while he puts on a confident face in front of them, when they walk away, he kind of deflates.  It’s not easy constantly having to put that much of an effort in the face of that much judgment.  And having to deal with what he thought he had left behind in high school is still hard, no matter how awesome you are at dealing with it. 

Midnight Madness

So, Kurt’s looking a little nervous as Brody spits out the rules and tries to make it  out to be like some kind of bloodsport.  It’s interesting, Adam’s there at his side as his confidant.  Kurt looks to him a few times for reassurance, which Adam is welcome to give.  Rachel doesn’t really have anyone besides those shallow sycophants.  It’s kind of sad actually.  

Anyway - the song that was chosen was Bring Him Home from Les Mis -- probably because the movie remake had come out around this time, and Glee does that.  But, I want to say how amazing a choice this is for Kurt.  Because here’s a song that is traditionally a male song, but meant for a high tenor.  (This version might have been raised a little to fit Rachel’s voice, but not much I don’t believe.)  Rachel looks a little nervous at the choice.  Kurt knows he has the edge.  And his nerves seem to go the minute he steps up there.  He stares her down and is ready. 

So Bring Him Home.  I’m afraid I don’t have a whole lot of meta to go along with this song, and I’m looking forward to what people have to say about it.  I do think it’s interesting that Kurt has these lines: 

In my need You have always been there

Which he throws a look over to Rachel.  And I feel like it’s a nod to the fact that despite the fact that they’re in the middle of this argument over Rachel’s personality, they’ve still pretty much got each other’s backs.  

I guess I also find the mantra of ‘let him live’ interesting after Kurt’s already sung Being Alive.  Kurt’s already spent this year trying to be more alive than he was during the fall -- being on his own and okay at NYADA, asking Adam out, taking down Rachel.  He’s putting himself out there the best he can.  But it’s not always the easiest thing.  And as we’ll see in episodes coming up, he’s still got a bit of work to do.  

I suppose -- also, I could tie this loosely with Burt and the fact that he has cancer.  This song is sung by a father to his possible son-in-law.  It’s interesting that this sentiment might be reversed.  

As for the vocal performance -- I think they’re pretty evenly matched. (That is until Rachel screeches her way into the final note.  God, I hate when she does that.)  Rachel definitely has the technical training on her side, but -- Kurt has come such a long way since they sang Defying Gravity.  His chops are there on this one, and he gives the song something that Rachel really doesn’t, emotional delicacy.  

I love that everyone is enamored by the performances - as are all of us in the audience.  Oh Adam, don’t fall in love.  It’s not going to end well. 

And the winner is -- Mr. Kurt Hummel.  

I love that when they’re choosing sides and that sycophants join Kurt’s side he snickers a little.  Of course Kurt’s delighted.  He needed a good win on his side.  But it never really occurred to me how much this probably does knock Rachel off her pedestal.  Kurt’s had to deal with self-doubt for a long time, and this validation every once in a while that he’s great is fantastic.  But Rachel is coming from the other direction -- being told that this is the only thing she’s good at.  So when she fails at this, though a near tie would hardly be failing, she doubts her self worth completely. 

Take Down

Kurt doesn’t revel in his win for long because the next day (I assume) Kurt’s walking around with Adam feeling guilty about the song choice because he’s known the score of Les Mis since he was a kid.  Which is funny to me - because I’m sure Rachel does, too, so it’s not like it’s /that/ unfair.  Adam seems to agree and reminds him that he’s an awesome singer who should be proud of that.  I mean, that is why Adam recruited him into the Apples -- not just because he looked cute doing a plie.  Adam is a nice guy, and again I’m sad they didn’t allow this story more development. 

Anyway - now that Kurt’s won, he’s also won a bit more popularity (I hesitate to say respect because these guys are leeches).  The two sycophants come bouncing over, completely changing their tune -- and now want to hang out with him until someone else does something noteworthy.  Kurt’s on to them in a second, and he has not time for this bullshit, calling them out about how they’re awful people who need to suck up to others because they clearly can’t make it on their own.  (Wait - how did these guys get into NYADA in the first place?)  

Kurt also mentions that if there’s one more bad thing about Adam’s Apples out of their mouths again, he’ll challenge them to a Midnight Madness sing-off -- and they should know how that turns out.  They slink off, licking their wounds.  Meanwhile, Adam looks adoringly over at Kurt, as if before he was like - oh, here’s this cute guy who can sing and now it’s like, wow, Kurt is this amazing creature.  Oh, Adam - don’t get too attached, Kurt’s heart belongs to someone else. 

Also, as an aside, it cracks me up at how Adam looks at the sycophants during this scene - like what hell is wrong with the two of you? 

As nice as Kurt finds it to not only take those two down, but receive lots of flattering comments from Adam -- he sees Rachel in the distance and feels that he should probably go deal with that mess.  

Rachel’s sulking around feeling sorry for herself (**sigh** fine.)  and in an attempt to bright her day, Kurt suggests they go to the Funny Girl audition together.  She kind of just walks away -- telling him he should go because he’d make a good Fanny Bryce.  (Wait, what? I don’t even begin to understand that comment.)  But the point is Rachel’s throwing herself a pity party and wants to wallow in that longer. 

Repairing Rachel’s Ego

Kurt’s wearing different clothes in this scene, so I’m guessing he’s let Rachel sulk for a while before coming in to talk with her.  

He mentions that he signed them up for the open call auditions for Funny Girl (that’s not really how that works, but ignoring that...) and again prompts her to come with him.  She’s whines that if she does get it, she’ll be awful and lose everyone she loves because her ego will be too much.  And Kurt, while rolling his eyes, tells her the same boring pep talk he’s been giving her since Born This Way -- she’s great and wonderful and one-of-a-kind, blah blah blah.  And that she should bring the diva but hold the nightmare.  

Here’s my thing - I know this is the 8000th version of this scene, and yeah, it is getting a little annoying to keep seeing it, but I’ve softened to it over the years.  I do think it’s fair to have this kind of scene if they want to keep Hummelberry as a viable friendship.  I mean, Rachel apologizes, and Kurt forgives her, and they move on, which is great! 

But the really nice thing is that going forward Hummelberry as a friendship becomes more balanced.  Sure the narrative is still going to do that thing where it starts with a Kurt plot line and end with a Rachel plot line for a while, but it’s a good long while before we see him being used as a clear prop for her. And she’s going to go back to feeling more Rachel-ish in the second half of the season.  

I know people wanted to the Kurt vs Rachel thing to go on longer -- sure, that would have been interesting to play out over a few episodes! But this is Glee, and sometimes less is probably better. 

Santana

Before we get to the ending twist, two thoughts. 

1. The whole part of the episode that I wasn’t talking about had to do (partly) with Blaine and Tina, and Blaine asks Tina to be his date to Will and Emma’s wedding.  Which confused us at the time because Ryan Murphy had already mentioned that Kurt would be Blaine’s date, but I’m digressing.  The big thing is that Adam is not Kurt’s date.  This wedding is right around the corner, and I’m guessing Kurt thought it was way, way too early to bring this guy he’s sorta seeing back home.  I’m interested in the New York stuff stays in New York part of it.  But also, I think speaks volumes that Kurt and Adam aren’t really that much of a couple -- that Kurt can kind of leave him behind and not really think too much about it. 

2. Brittany mentions to Santana that Kurt found a new guy -- and I know this kind of rubbed people the wrong way at the time.  And I say, first of all, she probably gets her gossip from Lord Tubbington and Tina - both of whom are going to spin the truth.  But more so, it’s there so that the make out in the car is seen as a surprise.  Besides, it’s really more about Brittany telling Santana to go off and conquer the world, not about Kurt and his love life.  

Which brings us to -- Santana singing her way to New York and showing up at the loft. It somewhat astounds me that they let Santana stay, I suppose they are both nice enough people, but it’s good for the narrative for Santana to be there -- as the New York side is finally going to get more fleshed out.  Except -- we won’t see it for a little bit because next up is a wedding.  And everyone hooks up at weddings. ;)