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weeklyfangirl · 5 years ago

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Frat Boy Pt. 19

part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7 (1), part 7 (2), part 8, part 9, part 10, part 11, part 12, part 13 , part 14, part 15, part 16, part 17, part 18

You’re a gal on a mission in this one. And you’re determined to get answers one way or another ;) Share this with a friend and drag them them along for a roller coaster ride too! xx

“This is a bad idea,” Renny muttered. We were parked a street away from the frat house, waiting for the boy who’d been ignoring me the past week to appear and get in his car. Granted, I’d only reached out once, but still. He’d never replied. Never reached out. It was the radio silence that scared me more than any gang tags. Ignorance might be bliss, but conscious ignorance was hell.

After our dinner, I’d woken up to my car in the driveway. The windshield clean. Spotless, even. He must’ve hardly gotten sleep.

“Why is this necessary again? Do you think he’s cheating on you?” Renny asked.

I shook my head too quickly at the word cheating, because even if he was seeing somebody else it wouldn’t technically be cheating. We’d never even defined this. The only thing I hated more than knowing I was in the dark were gray zones. I shook my head too soon, though. What else could I tell her? I couldn’t exactly tell her the truth - that I think I’m being targeted as a cause of Harry’s random association with a gang and that we need to follow him to confirm my crazy conspiracies so I can affirm that one, I am not crazy, and two, I can reach a decision about whether I should talk to the cops.

That was too complicated.

“Actually, you’re right. I think he’s seeing someone else.” I let the lie slip from my lips.

“Shit. You think he’s seeing Viv?”

I wanted to smile at the edge in her voice. The first evidence she didn’t really like the girl either. “He already told me they slept together,” I said casually, as though I’d mentioned I ate Cheerios for breakfast again.

Renny almost spat. “Ew!! Seriously? I mean, I guess we kind of already thought that. But still…-” she shivered “-GROSS.”

“Yeah. Gross,” I agreed. Something stirred next to the bins, and I clutched her arm. But it wasn’t Harry. The random associate walked on, blissfully unaware of the two girls watching his every move and so completely disappointed by his presence. We both sighed.

“Wait, he’s behind him!” Renny screeched.

Sure enough, Harry emerged, trailing behind the associate. His hair looked damp. He’d probably showered after practice, then. They did some sort of weird bro handshake and parted ways.

A beep of an alarm and Harry slid into his Maserati. Let the chase begin.

“Still can’t believe he drives that thing to school,” Renny muttered. “I mean I would if I had one, too, but … cheating prick.”

I had to hand it to Renny. Even if someone was the most likeable person in the world, if they’d done something to cross her friends, she’d find a way to make them the most detestable. At least in her eyes.

We waited as he revved the engine and pulled out. He drove fast, but thankfully Renny’s VW could keep up. Grandpa would’ve been a different story.

“Where the hell are we going?”

“I don’t know.” I fought the urge to add ‘that’s the problem.’

We travelled towards the coast before he senselessly veered inland again, ending up somewhere I’d never been before. We trailed him slowly, past locked up storefronts, and tagged alleyways, until he turned into a gritty-looking neighborhood. We slowed around the corner, making sure to keep several streets between us.

Around the bend, Harry suddenly slammed on his brakes. Renny lurched forward.

“What the fuck-” Renny ducked lower in her seat. “Do you think he saw us?”

In the split two seconds I had, I wagered our chances of reversing and getting through this unseen. But my split two seconds were up, and I hadn’t moved.

The motor ran as he got out of the car, calmly, not bothering to shut the door. He’d known. He’d known all along. Time slowed when he faced us, arms crossed, squinting as his judgement penetrated through his Ray Bans all the way through the windshield. He stalked towards our car. No one was around in the rundown neighborhood street to yell at us to get our cars moving. No one could save me from this eternal embarrassment slowly mounting with each step of his black Chelsea boots.

The gig was up.

I rolled down my window when he tapped on the glass.

“Go home,” he ordered.

I scoffed. “Really? You haven’t talked to me all week and those are the first words you’re going to say to me?”

He stepped backwards, acknowledging nothing. “Go. Home,” pointing the direction whence we came.

“We weren’t even following you. We were already in the neighborhood asshole!” Renny yelled.

I couldn’t have it end like this. I couldn’t have another week of silence, of questions unanswered. The plan was to follow him and see where he ran off to, not utterly expose my desperation. But now that plan was obliterated. Was this it? Was this seriously how he wanted to end things so… pointlessly?

I opened the car door, running after his sulking frame. The second I placed a hand on his shoulder blade, he whipped around. I cowered.

He hadn’t needed to bare his teeth or shout at me to be intimidating. This oppressive darkness rolled off of him in waves, knocking me down repeatedly just when I saw the shore. Like a tired sailor, I’d return to the ocean, knowing the damage it could cause, but knowing it was worth it. It would be worth it… if I could only see beneath the surface.

He flinched as I pulled the shades off, but he didn’t look at me. My hand went along his jaw, against the slight stubble that’d made its way through. He relented.

His pupils were blasted, almost shadowing the outer ring of green.

“I changed because of you,” I breathed. Something flashed in his eyes. Something beneath the darkened surface. “I’m not the same as I was before. And I don’t know even know how to… express it. I don’t even know if that’s a good thing,” I admitted. He opened his mouth, but I raised a hand. “I need to know what you’re not telling me. The old me could’ve gone without it, but who I am now? I can’t.”

But it was like he only heard half of what I’d said. “I never asked you to be in my life, Y/N.”

“No, that’s right. You just swindled me into it by pretending to be dumb. You’re a little too good of an actor.”

It was his turn to scoff. “No one’s making you run after me.”

“No one’s making you be a complete and utter asshole right now, either. Besides yourself. Can you just-” I pushed his chest- “PLEASE. I’m clearly tired of getting nowhere.”

Harry looked at his watch, and his jaw clicked. “You know for someone so concerned with their life, you certainly don’t seem to have much of one.” His eyes bore into mine.

I swallowed, hard, unmoving though it stung. “I know Viv’s in on it.”

It was a stab in the dark, but it worked. He nearly growled.

I heard Renny open her door behind me.

“She’s involved in a lot of parts of my life, Y/N. But at least she doesn’t ask too many questions. And she sure as shit doesn’t overstep,” he growled.

“We both know I’m not Viv.”

“Yeah,” he chuckled. “You’re right…” His eyes levelled with mine. At least she actually fucks me.”

I felt like he should’ve stayed, watch the awful betrayal fill my eyes. But he walked away as the air was ripped from my lungs. I wanted to scream, I wanted to run up to him, push him to the ground and tell him-!

...tell him what?

It was true.

He paused at the car door, not even trying to face me. “Get yourself home.”

I didn’t see him drive away. I just heard the slam of the car door as he left me, halfway up the hill.

Renny pulled the car up next to me, and I suddenly felt dirty. Like I needed a shower. A very hot, scalding shower, that would burn every inch of him off my body forever.

“What’s the plan?” she asked.

Clearly, our plan to trail the subject in very deep question had turned out very deeply miserable.

In a close encounter, the sailor realizes fairly quickly that the ocean holds all the power to kill them. But the second they acknowledge that, they don’t abandon what they’re looking for.

“Can you drop me off at a friend’s?” I asked.

They just get a bigger ship.

-----------

The just-built senior apartments were the envy of everyone on campus. Modern architecture and sleek interior made it THE choicest option for the upperclassmen - especially the athletes. It was the next best thing for those not living in fraternities or sororities.

It was also the most expensive on-campus housing available. You could live there if you were rich enough, but more importantly, if you were lucky enough. There was one other way you could live here, though. Chapman held a raffle to “make our housing opportunity equal for everyone.” Which, was bullshit, considering the apartment only reserved four out of sixty rooms for those “raffle winners.” Four raffle winners, out of four THOUSAND upperclassmen.

Felix and Zayn had some pretty insane luck.

I knocked on their door, antsy as I thought of their probable reaction: “Why is Y/N standing beyond our door on a Thursday night without Renny?” She was my strongest link to them. I’d begged her to come up with me, but she wasn’t budging. Though she wouldn’t admit it, she was a little annoyed at spending the whole day only to have found no other woman and to have been told off by Harry - who she now deems worse than Lying Panty Tossing Baby.

A tall athletic-built woman eyed me as she carried their trash down the hall.

Felix opened the door.

“Oh, hey.” It was the awkward I remember you but we aren’t friends dance. “S’been a while. Come in.”

I noticed he was at least 6’ 2” as I moved past him into the foyer where Zayn and Andre paused the video game. They had a whole tech center set up around the T.V. and dull EDC music came from their speaker system.

Andre waved and Zayn’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Hey! What’re you doing here?” He moved a pizza box out of his way to head to the open kitchen. Before I could answer, he returned with a cracked beer, handing it to me.

“Thanks,” I said, taking a sip out of politeness. Old Da Vinci maps hung on their walls along with tasteful sketches of nude women, and a framed vintage Star Wars poster was in the hallway.

“Where’s Renny?” Felix asked, arms crossed as he sat on the arm of the couch. He’d meant it to be casual, but it wasn’t quite casual enough.

I didn’t want to be the one to break his heart and tell him about Niall if he didn’t already know. And something told me Renny wasn’t cruel enough to rub it in his face. “Uh, not sure. She had to buzz off somewhere though.” To Niall’s bed. I looked between the three of them. “All of you got so. Lucky. With this place. I almost didn’t believe it when Renny told me.”

“Not me!” Andre lifted his beer and dramatically pounded it, slamming it down on the table next to the other four beers.

“Woah-ugh! Pa! That’s mahogany!” Felix spluttered.

“You found it at a garage sale!”

“It’s still mahogany!” he squeaked. His gangly arms flailed before adjusting his collar. “Either I’m never donating furniture to this apartment again - or you’re not allowed back in this apartment again. Or both.”

Andre didn’t answer, just fell flat on the couch. Something was off with him. The energy shifted in the room as the guys eyed Andre. I’d clearly come at a wrong time.

“I can swing by later, I know you guys were in the middle of a... game…”

Zayn swatted his hand. “No, you’re fine. He’s just…”

Andre perked up, awaiting Zayn’s next words.

“You want to tell her?” Zayn finished.

Andre let out an awkward moan. “You know how date night is coming up?”

My brows stitched.

“No??” He cleared his throat, surprised he had to explain. “So Sig Chi’s date night is coming up and basically we just bring a date, and… party. There’s a theme and everything. You really haven’t heard about this?”

I shook my head.

“Huh. It’s kind of a big deal that’s why I’m kind of... huh.”

“When is it?” I asked.

“Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?!” I paused, thoroughly confused. Had Niall told Renny about this? And if it was Sigma Chi then… Harry must already have a date. For tomorrow. My blood boiled thinking that could be part of the reason why he’d dropped off the face of the Earth this week. So he wouldn’t have to take me as his date.

“Mine cancelled on me,” Andre said, running a hand over defined black coils.

“Dude, for the hundredth time, it’s not that big of a deal.”

“You’re not the one in a frat, Felix!” He laughed humorlessly before landing in a pile on the couch again. In a rare moment, I laughed with him. It was slightly ridiculous how important parties were.

“Oh-kay,” Felix muttered. His blonde hair flopped on the couch next to Andre. He looked up to me, shrugging. “He’s helpless. Without the distraction of video games. Absolutely helpless.”

Zayn gave me a once-over. “You’re in the sorority with Renny, aren’t you?”

“Uh, yeah. Kind of. Not officially official yet. Kind of in the process of everything right now. Uh, but” -his eyes narrowed from my rambling- “Yeah. Yeah, I’m in it,” I settled on.

Andre came to life again. “Would you go with me?”

“Oh! Uh…”

“You don’t have to,” Zayn offered.

“I can do it. I wasn’t doing anything anyways.” The Netflix I was betraying threw a tantrum in the back of my mind. This weekend I’d been wanting to do nothing but lay low, and preferably, in bed.

But if today taught me anything, it’s that my plans clearly never work out too well.

“Seriously?! It’ll only be a couple hours, I won’t make you stay the whole time. Actually, you can leave whenever you want. Just walk in with me.”

“Excuse me?” I asked, half-smiling.

“Okay, that sounded bad.” He let out a breathless laugh. “What I meant to say was, thank you. You’ll have a great time.” He threw up the finger guns.

Zayn nudged my shoulder with his beer. “Want to go on the balcony?” His eyes bore into mine, and I knew that he knew this wasn’t just a friendly visit. A slight chill ran through me at his perception. It was unnerving how he always seemed to… know. But I guess I shouldn’t judge him for having a keen sixth sense.

I let him lead me to the sliding glass door.

“Oh, the theme’s James Bond, too! So dress like a Bond girl!” Andre called after us.

“Like heels?” I asked. But Zayn slid the door shut behind us. It was dark out, but inside I could see Andre give me a thumbs up before resuming the video game with Felix.

“Saved his life. Mate wouldn’t stop gabbin’ ‘bout how gutted he was.” Zayn muttered. The flick of a lighter grabbed my attention. The slight orange illuminated dark features and hollowed cheeks as he took a drag. There was no denying he was handsome, especially in this mood lighting. He probably could’ve been recruited for any fraternity off looks alone, but something told me he wouldn’t step near the place. His vibe was too… anti-organization. He blew the smoke over his shoulder.

“Very tortured artist of you,” I noted.

His head tilted at tortured as if throwing the title back to me. “Artist, maybe. Tortured, no.”

“What’s a yes for you, then?”

“Yes to whateva you’ve been plannin’ on asking me,” he smirked. “Must’ve been important if you didn’t find me in the studio.”

I looked down, then out at the city. Thousands of little people scattered everywhere. Students crawling from late-night classes on the fringes of campus looked like ants. I held my thumb up for scale. Verified ants. Maybe smaller.

“I came here to find a different perspective.” My hand fell. I faced him square. “Your perspective.”

He took another drag, letting the smoke fill the space between us. “On?”

I was a little surprised he didn’t know.

“Harry.”

If he didn’t know, he also didn’t seem too surprised. He leaned against the railing, hazel eyes undressing desperate thoughts. “What do you want to know?” he asked, voice barely above a whisper.

The ash from his cigarette floated down to his feet, but an unseen wind carried it up again, rolling over and down like dirty snowflakes to the street below.

“I know he doesn’t like you.”

Zayn’s laugh was light, soft, but carried the same fullness as Renny’s. “Perceptive girl, ya? S’not what you want to know though is it.”

“Why is he so scared of you?” His brow arched, and I could tell I was losing him. “What do you know?” I clarified.

Another drag and his shoulders straightened. “Thought you were flatterin’ me there for a second.” Something glimmered in his eyes, something just beyond the surface, and I looked away before I could see anything more than friendly. “Can I ask you somethin’ in return?”

I nodded.

“Why do you want to know?” he murmured.

“I just want to understand.”

“Mm,” he hummed, the treble of his voice like slow-spilling silk. “Curiosity killed the cat.”

I swallowed a little too loudly, but his words hit a little too closely.

“S’all right,” he continued. “S’human nature t’want to understand.” He cocked his head a little. “I actually met Harry before school started during the summer. I was working at Hilltop Resort.”

“Really?”

“I was his server.” He let out a short breath as if he couldn’t believe it happened. “Tipped well, actually.”

“I remember you working there!” Faint summer memories of Renny whisking us away for lunch on our treat yourself day came back, stirring faint feelings of happiness. It seemed so long ago. I felt like I’d aged five years in three months. “So let me get this straight. He doesn’t like you because you’re in the service industry?” I spat.

He winced. “No, s’more like…” He took a breath. “There was a coworker of mine. He wasn’t mean, but he wasn’t exactly nice either. Kept to himself on breaks, never really chatted with any of us except to flirt with the bartender. Anyway, I used to see Harry a lot there, but when Jack got promoted Harry’d only sit in Jack’s section.”

I crossed my arms, the night time air finally sinking in.

“I didn’t think too much of it at first,” he admitted. The cigarette moved in his mouth, hand fiddling with the lighter. “But one night I was running out to give a guest the card they’d left behind, but I saw them together instead.”

Before I could picture Harry and Zayn’s coworker making out against the wall, he continued - “He was giving Harry stacks of cash.”

Flashbacks of Viv trying to pass Harry money in the Catalina Island bar played out like a movie in my mind.

“What’d you do?” I pressed.

He shrugged. “I saw Harry slip something else in his pocket. It looked like a little bag. Must’ve been a bonus.” He muttered the last words.

“A bonus for what?”

“I didn’t know then. I just thought he’d somehow found a way to steal from the manager’s safe and was splitting the profits.”

“Why give it to Harry though?”

“That’s what I couldn’t figure out.” He leaned in. “I saw them together a few more times. The second was an accident. Third, not so much. Harry saw me that time. Then before I left for the night, I searched his locker. Took me a while, but I found some pills. Little bag of coke, too. He came in right when I was putting it back.”

“No.”

“Yeah. He didn’t say anything. Just stared at me like he was going to kill me. I got my shit and got the hell out of there. Next day, the boss said they received a tip to check my locker and they found the drugs in mine. You know the fucked up bit? I was fired.”

“But it wasn’t yours!”

“Doesn’t matter. Still found it there.” Zayn stamped out his cigarette, blowing away the last smoke. I guess pity was etched in my face, because he suddenly turned defensive. “Don’t look at me like that. I work at Javier’s now. I’m fine.”

Javier’s was the fancy Mexican restaurant overlooking the Pacific. He was doing more than fine.

“That’s still not fair to you,” I muttered.

“I didn’t want to be involved, anyway. S’better I left one way or another.”

“What was his name again? Your coworker’s?”

“Jack.”

Jack. Why did that sound so familiar?

“He’s not sound, you know,” Zayn added.

“Well clearly if he gave you murder eyes.”

“No, not Jack. Harry. He’s not…”

“Sound,” I repeated. The word felt heavy on my tongue.

Zayn nodded, tucking a cigarette behind his ear.

“I can’t believe Harry got you fired.”

“Well, I don’t exactly know. Jack must’ve been the one to move the drugs into my locker.”

“Yeah, but who told him to?”

Zayn didn’t answer. The facts had been there this entire time, but I didn’t want to see it. I still didn’t want to see it. But Zayn was here, undeniably linking them together for me. Harry and drugs and money were three things that’d been circulating in the same place much longer than I could know. For some reason beyond me, Harry was a dealer. Or ran as head of them. Which meant his association with the men who’d assaulted me was… what? A business deal gone wrong?

“England’s a small country, you see the same faces everywhere. Like here, if you’re perceptive enough. And in each, he’s jus’... involved in something bigger, while at the same time trying to hide. S’like he’s a magnet for infamy to his own detriment.”

“Are you referring to his adoption?”

He twisted the cigarette behind his ear, realizing I didn’t really need an answer to this question and that now I was just testing him for what he knew. “Contrary to what he may believe, I don’t know everything.”

But I couldn’t fight the feeling that he was talking about me. Smooth artist’s fingers fiddled with the lighter again, but he didn’t light the second cigarette. He knew more than what he was telling me.

But even the new me didn’t want to hear much else tonight.

“You don’t want to stay?” he asked.

I didn’t realize I was walking towards the door ‘til his words stopped me in my tracks. Disappointment tinged his words. I felt a little guilty, heading out the door as soon as I’d gotten what I’d needed.

But I was tired. And sadly, unless there was a sketch pad in front of him, I didn’t know what else we could talk about. I didn’t know what else he’d see.

I shook my head, and he lit the cigarette, not bothering to walk me out.

------

Racing down the spindly halls, my heart pounded out of my chest. I heard the cries above the whispers of the Watchers, and they grew louder with a sickening urgency. A gutteral wailing meant for me.

I looked down the hall, awaiting the dark shadow to appear from the walls, when he’d creep closer, suffocatingly closer.

The door wouldn’t open, not past an inch.

But he called for me, this time. My name fell from unseen lips.

“Y/N,” he called. It was hoarse. He was scared. I’d never heard that cry before. This time it wasn’t solid air the door was against - it was pills. Tiny pills, hundreds of them, thousands of them, multiplying on top of each other until they filled what I could see of the room. Until they were spilling out the crack.

“Y/N!!!” His voice was panicked, but muffled. It was muffled now. Why wasn’t he opening the door?? Why couldn’t he reach me?? The shadow drew closer. It surrounded me, outside, every inch of the hall covered by darkness.

My heartbeat was the only sound.

A waterfall of pills. The glint of a knife.

I couldn’t reach him in time.

I couldn’t save Harry.

I couldn’t even save myself.

part 20

269 notes · View notes

thepilotanon · 7 years ago

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springbeauty v

{masterlist}

-talks really close to the mic- I live for simple domestic things for Clyde Logan and will fight anyone who says it’s pointless.

warning: fluff fluff fluff!

Clyde closed his eyes at the feeling of the brush and gentle fingers combing through his dark, damp hair. Having finished with his shower and getting ready appropriately for the upcoming barbecue this afternoon, the man wanted to at least have his hair look decent and needed help with blow drying. Needing two hands, one to brush his hair and the other to dry, Clyde found it helpful having his girl assist. Of course, Clyde was nervous about asking for help the first time he wanted to ask his girlfriend to help with his hair - when it was as thick as it was and wavy, he struggled a lot. He would admit he was very red in the face when he asked her, wanting to look his best when taking her out dancing for their second date (much to Jimmy’s shock and claim that ‘you never went dancin’!’).

Of course, it made his heart pound even harder when Belle gave him a sweet smile and agreed to help him with his hair.

Over the years of dating, Clyde grew more comfortable with asking Belle with things he was somewhat self-conscious needing help with to the point he could just look or call to her and she knew exactly what to do. What was once his worry for constantly bugging others became second nature. So, when he came into the living room, all dressed with his towel draped around his shoulders and giving Belle a look, she willingly followed him to the bedroom to help out. With Belle sitting on the edge of the bed and him on the floor, between her legs and back against her, Clyde was borderline purring when Belle used the towel to rub his scalp. Belle snickered when she dried his ears quickly before taking the brush once more to smooth out his hair. Clyde’s head tilt back and a gentle sigh escaped him as Belle combed through his hair in preparation to blow drying it, making him peek through his lashes to watch her focus on her work.

“Darlin’,” Clyde mumbled softly.

“Mmhm?” Belle hummed in response, tucking a lock behind his large ear to style it.

“I notice your heather flowers are bloomin’ very nicely,” he said with a small smile, seeing her grin in appreciation for his notice. “And, if I remember you right in what you told me, white heathers suppose to mean good luck?”

“White heathers can mean good luck or will grant wishes,” Belle nodded, brushing his hair to the side of his colic. “Purple ones means that you admire someone. I’ve already done so many purple flowers, I thought something new would be nice.”

“They’re very lovely. I like how they mean good luck,” Clyde said. “Probably could use that for the Logan Curse.”

Rolling her eyes, Belle bent down to kiss his nose first before giving him a quick upside down peck before grabbing the hair dryer. “You’re not as unlucky as you think, handsome. If you really thought the Logan Curse was real, do you think you would be where you are right now? Or Jimmy and Bobbie Jo would get along and have Bobbie Jo invite us to her barbecue today?”

“Well, Bobbie Jo likes you. She tolerates me because I don’t talk to her much,” Clyde shrugged. “Think it’s because she believes you know what those pageant people look for with Sadie and help her practice all her dancin’ n’ stuff.”

Shaking her head, Belle began blow drying her boyfriend’s hair and brushing it the same time with ease. Clyde sighed softly and wrapped his right arm around her leg, thumb brushing her knee carefully. “I think I get along with Bobbie Jo because she doesn’t try to argue with me about silly things, like she does with Jimmy. Bobbie Jo seems to like you just fine, too.”

“Mmm.” Clyde shut his eyes while she brushed his bangs. “Don’t think so.”

“Then that just means I have to list off the reasons why I like you,” Belle declared, making him sit up. “Actually, I think that sounds like a great idea!”

“Sweetheart, no -”

“You’re shy, but that’s okay because it makes you less intimidating to be around for children. Those kids at the playground tell me that all the time, and it’s so cute,” Belle started over the noise of the hair dryer, brushing his dark waves. She actually shifted her legs across his chest to trap him there, making her grin cheekily as he groaned when he tried escaping. “Not to mention that you have a seriously handsome smile. Even though you don’t smile a lot in public, your tiny, shy ones still make me all blushy.”

“Belle, please, yer gonna make me all -”

“And your kisses! All kinds of Clyde Logan kisses are the best kisses!”

“Belle!”

“And whenever you sing in the shower!” Belle shouted when he turned to hide his face into her thigh, feeling his heated cheeks. “I thought Fortunate Son was impossible to top over Creedence Clearwater Revival, but you definitely could have gone for a singing career. I love it when we do duets, too, but you are the ones with the pipes!”

Belle squealed when Clyde twisted around and tackled her to the bed, tickling her side with his fingers and her neck with his beard as he nipped under her ear. The hairdryer still going as she kept it angled to dry his hair, Belle couldn’t stop her eyes watering from laughing so hard at the sight of Clyde’s hair blown one way as he scrunched his face at her. Turning it off, Belle bit her lip while Clyde shook his hair out of his eyes.

“How I look, Darlin’?” Clyde asked seriously, forcing eye contact with her.

Shutting her eyes tightly, Belle’s head fell back as she let out a hard, belly-aching laugh as she rolled away to hide her face into the nearest pillow. Clyde watched her with raised brows before smiling in defeat, a quiet snort escaping his nose as he bowed his head. “I look like a poodle now, don’t I?” he chuckled, shaking his head. “Ya makin’ me look like a fancy poodle now? I thought I was a labrador! Poodles don’t look good in button-ups, Belle!”

After fixing his hair and getting over their laughing fit with each other, the couple made it in time to find a good spot in front of the Chapman home to park. After Jimmy and Bobbie Jo reconciled their differences and deciding to get long better for their daughter, the two made a deal to try and do casual family gatherings once a month. Moody was the one to suggest a barbecue in honor of the camping trip Sadie was to go on with her dad at the same time Moody and Bobbie Jo were to leave for a business trip out of state. Because of Sadie’s adoration of Belle and considering her part of the family, Bobbie Jo and Moody were more than willing to invite Clyde and his girlfriend over to join in the monthly parties with them and Mellie joining in too. As much as Clyde wasn’t too big on going to the Chapman’s fancy home, he did like having his niece show him her projects and ideas of what she wants to do for her next pageants. He also enjoyed seeing Belle blending in perfectly with the ladies, discussing women stuff and even making small-talk with Moody about his cars. Even if he didn’t always see eye-to-eye with Bobbie Jo, Clyde was always willing to be on his best behavior and make it work for Jimmy once a month.

Seeing the small crowd in the backyard near the grill, Clyde nodded in acknowledgement when Jimmy waved and Moody called out to them. Of course, as soon as Bobbie Jo caught sights of Belle holding Clyde’s hand, the brunette was quick to hurry over and get the other woman’s attention.

“Belle, I’ve been dying to show you the remodel of the kitchen,” Bobbie Jo said excitedly, a rather proud smile on her face. “I took your advice with the accent colors for the cabinets and they turned out so perfect! Mellie’s already in the kitchen with the dessert. She’s making cupcakes.”

“Oh, Mellie can’t go too far on those cupcakes without letting me try one,” Belle pouted before looking up to Clyde. “It looks like Jimmy brought your favorite beer, Clyde. Don’t let him hog it all to himself, okay?”

Clyde nodded before pressing a quick kiss to the crown of her head, releasing her hand to let her follow his ex sister-in-law into the sliding door that led to the expensive kitchen. Heading over to the grill where his brother was already prepping a bottle of beer for him, Clyde reached out to shake hands with Moody.

“How’ya doin’, Clyde?” Moody greeted with a half grin. “I recommended some customers to yer bar not too long ago, they said that they had a wonderful time and enjoyed it. They’re from outta town and wanted someplace good.”

“Thank you,” Clyde nodded as Jimmy held out a beer to him. “Is that new dealership doin’ good?”

“Yeah, it’s comin’ along. Thanks for askin’,” Moody responded before turning back to the grill. “I’m makin’ Jimmy’s burger with pepper jack, do you have a preference on what you want?”

“M’not picky.” Clyde glanced to the grill to see the other burgers and hotdogs. He could easily pick out Sadie’s burger since it had three slices of cheddar cheese. “Where’s the little munchkin hidin’ anyway?”

“Probably tryin’ to get one of Mellie’s cupcakes without Bobbie Jo knowin’,” Moody sighed as Jimmy hid a snicker, knowing that the father of the little blonde was going to get plenty of sweets at today’s grilling. “I don’t know how Bobbie Jo thinks it’s a good idea to put the poor kid on those diets. Don’t think I could ever go through my childhood without pies, thank God Sadie has you guys sneakin’ her treats.”

“Just don’t go tattling on us, or we can start digging skeletons out of the closet, right, Moody?” Jimmy teased as he took a drink and Moody snickered. Clyde knew the two were close once getting to know each other better after the heist five years back, and he was pretty glad that he didn’t have to hear Jimmy’s neverending rant about how he “hated” Sadie’s stepfather. Clyde was pretty amazed how Jimmy and Moody had similar taste in humor and jokes, but then again, Clyde didn’t find many things Jimmy found funny humorous himself. He was just glad that Jimmy got along with his ex-wife and her husband.

Watching from the kitchen window of how Clyde was quick to shyly smile at something Moody said and the way Jimmy goofed off with making funny faces, Belle smiled and tore her eyes away to see Bobbie Jo continue on in detail of her remodel. Seeing how Mellie was still frosting the many cupcakes with the frosting pipe delicately, Belle often wondered if the Logan sister ever thought of becoming a baker or a professional chef with how beautiful her edible creations turn out every time. Sadie had ran up to her room for something just a minute ago, leaving Belle to listen to Bobbie Jo.

“You were right ‘bout goin’ with the off-white color instead of pure white for the counter, Belle. It makes it blend in so nicely without being so flashy,” Jimmy’s ex-wife sighed with a proud smile. “Although, I still don’t know which type of curtains to go with…”

“I think the old-school pattern is lovely,” Mellie said casually, dabbing the last swirl on top of the last cupcake. “Makes it look a bit more home-like than those uncomfortable catalogue photos.”

“This one?” Belle carefully held up the curtain pattern that had circular dots and flower stamps in a organized setting with a single cow in the middle. Looking between the curtain to the kitchen, Belle then held it up and closed one eye. “Actually, I agree with Mellie about that! It makes it more comfortable with the rest of the house and leads to the backyard very nicely.”

“Ya sure?” Bobbie Jo raised a brow and looked to one of the flat colored curtain. “I was thinking something like this one here.”

“Remember you live in a home, Bobbie Jo, not a IKEA magazine,” Belle winked to her as she held the cow print to her. “Think of how nice it would look with a organized set-up, but a comfortable decoration to make people feel welcomed and take it easy.”

“Go with Bessie, Bobbie Jo!” Mellie cheered with a smile as the brunette woman held it up to the kitchen window for reference. “Unless you have a fear for cows…”

“Mmm, I suppose you’re right,” Bobbie Jo agreed and set the print on top of the others. “I’ll set those up after Moody and I come back home from the trip. No sense in thinking of how it looks while on a plane, you know what I’m saying?”

Belle shrugged casually before Sadie burst into view with her rolled up sleeping bag in her hold. “Mama, the neighbor is comin’!”

“You invited the old man across the street?” Belle asked, genuinely surprised.

Bobbie Jo made a disgusted face as she waved a hand. “Heavens, no! That sleazy old man ain’t allowed ten feet from me with the way he looks at my chest like he does.” The woman rest a hand atop her cleavage as Mellie snickered teasingly.

“Well, not like I can blame him, sugar. You do have really nice -”

“Mellie, please! Not around Sadie,” Bobbie Jo scolded nervously as her daughter looked between her mother and aunt. Belle hide her tiny giggle behind her hand, shaking her head at the humor the two pull with each other.

“So if it’s not the old man, which neighbor is it?” Belle asked as Sadie came over to her side and held on to her jean pocket. Her hand carefully played with Sadie’s ponytail as the little girl rest her head against her side.

“So that house on the left that never seemed to have anyone live in it for so long?” Bobbie Jo gestured which way and both women nodded. “Well, not too long ago, this fella moved in for some sort of season housing and he noticed Moody’s car collection last week while he was shinin’ them.”

“Of course,” Mellie purred playfully. “Who wouldn’t be payin’ attention to those cars? They’re as sexy as Bobbi Jo’s b-”

“Anyway, and wouldn’t you believe it, it’s actually that NASCAR racer, Dayton White!”

Belle blinked when Mellie choked from taking a sip of her beer, hitting her chest as Bobbie Jo gave the blonde an odd stare. “As I was sayin’, him and Moody really hit it off over cars and invited him to the barbecue to meet Jimmy and everyone else, since they’re all NASCAR fans. Also didn’t want him worryin’ ‘bout Mellie comin’ in to check things out while we’re out.”

“When Dayton said he was staying in the Sweets neighborhood, I wasn’t expecting him to actually moving in next door to you,” Belle said as she made a face, looking down to Sadie giving her a toothy grin as she patted the sleeping bag she wanted to show off soon.

Hearing Bobbie Jo gasp, Belle looked to her as Mellie helped herself to another beer. “You know Dayton White? How come I never heard this before!”

“We just grew up together back in Colorado; Clyde and I ran into him not too long ago at the grocery store and he said he was taking some time off in Sweets. It’s not that big of a deal, Bobbie Jo,” Belle shrugged.

“You’re kidding me!” the mother gasped again. “Not only do you have history of performin’ with professionals and readin’ judges favors by a picture, you have ties with one of the most popular car racers around!”

Belle was often called by Jimmy’s ex-wife to assist with Sadie’s beauty pageants and performances, since her grandmother grew up winning nationals, and having done a couple here and there while her grandma was a veteran judge as a child. Belle never took it as serious as her grandmother or Bobbie Jo, usually doing it for fun with Sadie so long as the kid is enjoying herself. Still, as Belle’s luck would have her, she had connections with many professionals and judges who she still connects with once in a while and Bobbie Jo just loses it when Belle offers to help having an extra pair of eyes. To Belle, she was just having fun with the brightest little star named Sadie and make it less stressful for Bobbie Jo, but then again…

“What else are you not tellin’ me, Belle? I thought we were close!” Bobbie Jo complained as Belle reached for a hard lemonade can and take a sip.

“During the winter, my grandparents took me to England and we spent Christmases with Princess Diana’s family,” Belle said casually and took a sip as Bobbie Jo’s jaw dropped. The woman shook her head and laughed. “I’m kidding! Geez, it’s not that big of a deal to know Dayton White, is it?”

“Well, have you looked at him?”

Narrowing her sight at Bobbie Jo, Belle waited for her to continue as she peeked out the kitchen window to see the gossip approach Moody with a handshake while Jimmy and Clyde seemed to have their own surprised expressions. “I mean, not that Moody ain’t handsome to me, but that Dayton fella certainly has that sort of charm you don’t get these days. C’mon, girls, you can’t deny that he’s not handsome!”

Mellie and Belle glanced to each other as Bobbie Jo secretly ogled the visitor. “I guess,” Belle slurred carefully. “Although, I don’t think he’s all that handsome when you see how hard he works out and those healthy diets he goes through all the time. Believe me, his mother was the worst in letting him eat at birthday parties. I remember when she got an ‘all vegan’ birthday cake with some green veggie frosting…”

“So did you two ever date?” Bobbie Jo asked.

“What?” Belle shrieked as Mellie’s eyes widened.

“Seein’ how you said you grew up with Dayton White, did you ever date him or had a crush as a kid? Or even as teenagers? Oh, I bet he was a cute fella when he was young, too!”

“No, actually,” Belle responded with furrowed brows. “Sure he went through a period of trying to ask me out many times and all that, but I could never get past as seeing him as only a friend. We didn’t click mutually.”

“Well, I think you missed out, Belle,” Bobbie Jo sighed as she pulled out the serving platter for the cupcakes. Going over to the island where Mellie formed her station, she began setting them in a orderly fashion. “Because, really, if I can be honest with you ladies, with your history and potential to do so much better than livin’ in Boone County, Dayton White would have probably been your endgame, Belle.”

There was a pause as Belle locked sights on the back of Bobbie Jo’s head, and Mellie bit her lip as she noticed her best friend’s head tilting and her hand playing with Sadie’s hair stopped. Sadie looked up to her uncle’s girlfriend with a curious blink, but didn’t cause a fuss as Belle crossed her arms.

“What exactly are you trying to say, Bobbie Jo?” Belle’s voice was laced with her invisible temper that is normally undetected by many.

Bobbie Jo paused in arranging her cupcakes to peek back and see how the woman was giving her a staredown. Realizing what she had said, Bobbie Jo stepped back, wiping her hands on her jeans nervously. “Oh, oh, Belle. I didn’t mean it like that, Belle, you know what I was tryin’ to say -”

“No, actually,” Belle interrupted her with raised brows, “I don’t know what you were trying to say. Because, the way you said it made it sound like that you were talking down about me dating Clyde. You know, the brother of your child’s father who I’ve been in a very, very stable relationship going on five years?”

“Belle, I wasn’t -”

“And since we’re being honest, I should confess to you, Bobbie Jo,” Belle kept going as she leaned off the counter and took a few steps towards the hostess. Belle wasn’t as tall as Bobbie Jo, but that didn’t stop the level of her hidden irritation to send a chill down the other woman’s spine as she spoke. “That when some people look at where you are living now compared to when you were with Jimmy - and plenty of people outside of this family have come front to me without even asking - how it just looks like you really went on to Moody for more than just his personality.”

Mellie stood still as she watched as Bobbie Jo’s eyes widen, but Belle didn’t stop there. “So, before you start trying to excuse yourself in telling me how I could have gone with what you assume to be a better endgame, take a minute to take a look at how happy I am with Clyde and not with Dayton.” Belle reached for the platter, all without breaking eye contact with the woman as she held the cupcakes like a professional server, all collected and poised. “And of all the times I was willing to defend you, Bobbie Jo, whenever someone called you a desperate hick housewife, you’re starting to make me change my mind about you.”

Bobbie Jo remained stunned as the woman walked around her towards the sliding doors. Sadie was quick to hurry over and help open the door for Belle and follow her outside. “Start thinking that it’s not always about appearances when it comes to who is a good endgame, Bobbie Jo,” Belle finished as she directed her attention to the little girl as the door closed behind her.

Mellie took a deep breath and looked to her ex-in-law with raised brows, Bobbie Jo forcing herself to support on the kitchen island as she stared down to the remaining cupcakes that didn’t fit on the plate. Going around to take Belle’s drink in her free hand, the Logan sister began to make her way to the exit before looking back to the silent woman.

“She’s right, y’know,” Mellie shrugged casually. “Not that I take anyone talkin’ down ‘bout my brothers, even if I do still consider ya a sister in-law, I was kinda waitin’ on Belle to really hand yer ass on the platter to Moody. She don’t take lightly when someone talks bad ‘bout Clyde.”

Listening to Mellie sliding the door shut, Bobbie Jo swallowed thickly and looked out the window as the new guest noticed the girls approaching, breaking into that million-dollar smile as Belle waved to him in greeting before introducing Mellie and Sadie. Seeing how the woman was so great at changing her whole personality as soon as she walked out the door genuinely scared Bobbie Jo. Sure, Bobbie Jo had often called Clyde’s girlfriend numerous times for advice or help with Sadie’s pageants, her redecorating and gossip her own troubles to the woman, but she was only now realizing how much Bobbie Jo wasn’t really paying attention to Belle’s relationship with Clyde Logan.

Running a hand through her hair, Bobbie Jo recalled how often she looked down to Clyde, even before he went to go serve in Iraq. How he wasn’t anywhere like Jimmy (when they were ‘happily’ married) in personality and often sought things differently than most people; he was too quiet and closed-off to most people until Belle came into his life. Bobbie Jo can remember all the times she had invited Belle to an event at her house or anywhere else, and Clyde was either with her as a date or coming to pick her up and how he started casual conversations with Bobbie Jo. Whenever Belle was reunited with Clyde, he was different from the shy younger brother Bobbie Jo remembered. He was more social, more engaged with other people he normally wouldn’t talk to; Clyde would actually laugh at one or two of Moody’s jokes or get Sadie giggling up a storm by tickling her or asking her to teach him how to dance with her tap shoes and his steel-toe boots in the garage.

Seeing how Belle got to her toes to kiss Clyde’s cheek, making him smile shyly and go pink in the cheeks, Bobbie Jo started forming the apology she was going to give the woman who has done so much and found a happy life in Boone County.

Setting the plate on the picnic table, Belle felt the familiar hand of her man reaching to hold her wrist in a gentle grip. Looking up to see him smiling with worry in his eyes, Belle grinned and held his hand back.

“You alright, Darlin’?” he asked quietly as Sadie announced to everyone else in the backyard that she was going to show off her sleeping bag.

“Yeah, why?” Belle blinked, feeling his thumb rub her knuckle.

“Y’know I’d be a terrible boyfriend if I didn’t notice how you walked off the patio, Darlin’. Somethin’ was bugging you,” Clyde pointed out and Belle felt her cheeks go red at how he picked up on something so little while everyone else, even Dayton, thought she was just fine. “Did something bad happen inside?”

Belle sighed, her loving grin still on her face as she tugged the collar of his shirt to make him kneel, pressing a sweet kiss to the corner of his lips. “It’s nothing I’m going to fuss over, handsome, I promise. It was just Bobbie Jo forgetting to think before she speaks, that’s all.”

“You sure? Do you need me to do anything?” Clyde pressed with a small pout and it earned him a scratch behind his head. His eyes twitched at the loving sensation but he kept his focus on the matter, and Belle shook her head again and kissed his big nose.

“I think I handled it, big bear,” Belle said confidently at noticing Bobbie Jo finally making an appearance. Looping her arm around his and resting her head against him, Belle tugged on him gently. “Let’s go see Sadie’s new sleeping bag. She said it’s suppose to be the coolest sleeping bag in the whole world, right?”

Clyde snickered at seeing his niece presenting the rolled up item with a serious look on her face, making sure all eyes were on her before her big reveal. “Well, knowin’ her, she ain’t lyin’.”

Fun fact: Sadie was given 2 cupcakes to sample from Mellie before Bobbie Jo could notice.

taglist: @ayatimascd @oh-adam

Remember, if you would like to be tagged for future chapters, please don’t hesitate to message me! I’d be more than happy to add you. Thank you for reading and I hope to hear from you!

#pilotanonwrites #clyde logan x reader #springbeautyclydefic #oc/reader insert #reader insert

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hawk-in-a-jazzy-hat · 8 years ago

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Anime Review: The Seven Deadly Sins (Season 1)

In a world where humans and magical beings had yet to split, signs of war were imminent and the country was protected by the group of mages known as the Holy Knights. But there was a group that split off, and terrorised the land. A group of seven immensely powerful beings, each branded with the sign of their sin, and designated the Seven Deadly Sins.

The owner of a travelling pub known as the Boar Hat finds himself in an interesting situation when a rusted suit of armour bursts through his door, only to collapse, revealing an unconscious girl inside. It soon turns out that the Holy Knights are searching for her, for she is Princess Elizabeth, third princess to the kingdom. She ran away, claiming the knights are corrupt and tyrannical, and her mission is to gather the Seven Deadly Sins in order to rise up and save her family and her kingdom. But after the owner of the bar gets himself involved, she makes a miraculous discovery; he is in fact Meliodas, the Dragon Sin of Wrath and leader of the Sins themselves. Together, they pledge to go out into the world and find the other six Sins, and maybe bring this fractured land back to rights.

But what is the true agenda of the Holy Knights? And what are the true characters of the Sins themselves? Are they misunderstood heroes, or is there some truth to the terrible legends...

I’m reminded at this point of an anime reviewer I follow called Jacob Chapman (formerly JesuOtaku). He does very good and very in-depth reviews and honestly he was the one who got me into anime in the first place. I want to quote something he said back, when he was doing videos, when talking about a more classic show called the Vision of Escaflowne.

“Can a series be great on execution alone? Could perfect pacing, taut delivery and gripping tension save a story and characters that are old as dirt and nothing special?” [JesuOtaku’s Top 25 Favorite Anime]

Far be it for me to steal his thunder, but I honestly cannot think of a better question to ask when addressing the Seven Deadly Sins. Well, sort of. I want to add a little extra from my personal experience, since it will very much determine the final score I’m going to give this show:

Is it possible for a good show to be made great solely due to a single episode?

We’ve laid down our learning objectives, so with that, we can begin.

The animation is by A-1 Pictures; the Dreamworks of anime studios. They can push out some of the best shows and some of the best-looking shows on the market, but they push out so much stuff (Sword Art Online has obviously set them for life) that the quality can be a bit of a roulette wheel, though I will admit there’s more good than bad. Thankfully Seven Deadly Sins is on the higher-end of that scale, at least on the animation front. It’s straight shounen, and it has all the straight-shounen animation tricks; bright colours, simple but well-directed talking heads and panning shots mixed with some genuinely impressive fights. There is a lot of magic at work here and a lot of the characters are reeeeally powerful, so it’s nice to see the animation can handle it well. It’s not One Punch Man level, but the fights are still immensely fun to watch.

The music is Hiroyuki Sawano. I need say no more; you know exactly what you’re going to get, and you know it’s going to be absolutely epic. It’s also themed well, having a goodly amount of Celtic fiddle and fast-paced percussion, mixed with powerful vocals and guitar riffs. It’s symphonic rock, and honestly that’s perfect for this kind of show. The openings and endings are pretty standard rock fare, with the exception of the second opening which relies a bit more on the vocals and a bit less on playing-as-fast-as-possible, making for a more emotional opening. But overall, s’good stuff.

Now, those who know me may know that I’m not really the biggest fan of shounen. I tend not to hate it, but I tend not to love it either. And that’s what Seven Deadly Sins is; a paint-by-numbers, very safe and very standard shounen with all the standard shounen tropes. Cute animal sidekick? Check. Naive, weak (usually female) side character who acts as the human contact but ultimately means little to the main story? Check. Team member who is likely to betray the main character at any point? Double check. Initial villain who makes a heel-face turn? Checkity-check. Slightly goofy but insanely powerful main character with a very dangerous daaaaark siiiiiide? Oh boy, check. Pretty much every plot twist and character arc is on the table from the moment it’s introduced, so much so that it doesn’t seem worth going through it at all. I could just say ‘it’s a standard shounen’ and leave it at that.

But I won’t, because there are four very good reasons why this show in particular got me in ways that HunterXHunter, or heck, even Soul Eater, couldn’t quite.

The first is very simple; I’m a sucker for this setup. Any show which involves running around trying to ‘get the gang together’ as it were is just immediately attractive to me, probably because I like seeing different and insane characters bouncing off of each other. Add in the nice high-fantasy setting and the interesting setup with the Holy Knights (and for once, pretty much all of the standard one-off villains are actually unique in design and power, which you don’t see often), and I was left inherently excited for the concept.

The second reason is as I mentioned above; while the premise and characters are standard, the execution is very nearly spot-on. There is practically no filler in the whole show (granted it’s only 24 episodes, but for a shounen that’s still impressive). The show is heavily serialised, with elements and characters being introduced in early arcs, being left alone for a few episodes, then coming back again at the opportune moment. And it’s not just the ‘get the gang together’ plot happening at any time; there are rumblings going on within the Holy Knights, there are important items to collect, and of course all the characters have their own troubles to work through. And it all ties together very nicely; the discovery of a new Sin can also lead into the origin of a new villain and foreshadowing for the big final twist. It sounds like basic writing practise, but honestly in shounen, which is usually so arc-based with very little crossover in between, it is an utter gift to see actual PLANNING for once.

In fact, it’s planned so well that by the time the ending comes around, everything important is wrapped up. Not absolutely everything; heck, we only meet six of the Sins and only go into four of them in any depth. But as an actual ending, it addresses everything important that was brought up within the show. The initial objective? Addressed. All the side-arcs and villain-arcs? Addressed. Even things that are left open are purposely left open; characters turn round and say “I haven’t forgotten this, but let’s just wrap this thing up first.” It’s really quite stunning because, again, you see it so rarely in this kind of show. I want to see a second season, but I would be happy if it ended here. It’s open, without being unfinished, and that is such a breath of fresh air like you wouldn’t believe.

So a premise I like with near flawless execution. Is it still enough to get past the standard tropiness? Well...that’s the thing; there are one or two original ideas here...I...think. Not so much with the plot or the world, but especially with the characters. Not so much the side characters; while they are explored well and in-depth, the Holy Knights never really become something ‘new’. Even Elizabeth and mascot character Hawk are kind of familiar roles, despite both being done well. But what I did find interesting were the Sins themselves.

On the one hand, it’s nice to see some diversity. It’s not just a bunch of powerful warriors; we have a giant, a fairy and immortal(s?) on board, and everyone is visually distinct and has their own unique powers. That’s all well and great in itself, but then we find out which sin they each represent. And I’ll be honest, I was often taken aback.

The seven deadly sins as a concept has been done to death by this point; FullMetal Alchemist, Se7en, heck, even Pokemon and Digimon have had a crack at it. And with each variant you always sort of see the same ideas being pulled out; sloth is lazy, lust is an attractive woman, envy is wormy and obnoxious etc etc. You can usually guess who will fit each role, but here, it doesn’t always go with what you’d expect.

For example, the leader Meliodas is short, kinda pervy but immensely easy-going and even cocky. You’d expect him to represent pride, or maybe sloth at a push, but nope. He’s wrath.

When you meet Diane, the awesome giant lady and my favourite character, she’s a little ditzy, but obviously immensely strong with a short temper. You’d really expect her to be either sloth or wrath, or maybe gluttony or...envy? Yeah, in a weird twist, the arguably most outgoing member of the group is the representation of envy. That...never happens, and it took me a little while to figure out why it was her. I mean yes, they gave her a crush on Meliodas, but it seemed a little superficial when compared to what her actual character was.

It wasn’t until about halfway through the series when I figured it out, and why it seemed so far removed from other examples I’d seen. With things like FMA or Digimon, the sins are the literal representation of, well, their respective sin. But here, despite the name, the Sins are not represented by their respective sins; if anything, they are held back by them. Each vice represents each member at their absolute worst.

When you look at it this way, a lot of the backstories and character quirks suddenly explain a lot. Diane being envy actually makes a lot of sense, since as a giant around humans she often feels out of place and awkward, and is looking for acceptance. Her envious side is the worst side of herself. Ban of greed and King of sloth have similar issues; each one tries to be the best of themselves, but are forever branded and atoning for past sins they committed. And then there’s Meliodas of wrath, and let me just say...yeesh.

It’s very rare in a shounen that main characters are defined by their worst aspects. Even if many of them have fascinating flaws which are well explored, not often are they pushed to the front and centre of their every action, sometimes unfairly. The only one I can think off would be Yusuke Urameshi from Yu Yu Hakusho, who is such an annoying arsehole for the entirety of the series that it actually flips him around in the latter half and makes him stronger.

The Seven Deadly Sins are constantly fighting against the worst of themselves. Unless they ever atone, they will always be damned by their own title. That’s both a creative way of using the sins (despite being weirdly obvious) but also allows for some really interesting character stuff. I honestly can’t wait to see what they do with lust, because the reveal of their actual character was perfect, and I can’t wait to see how far they go down their darkest road.

So despite the plot being simple, the main characters actually have quite a bit of depth to them. Even so, I wouldn’t say it was so well handled that it would push it anything up from a straight recommendation. It’s immensely entertaining, with a bit of depth and drama to it, but nothing absolutely stunning or mindblowing.

Except...there’s one more reason why I find this show awesome. And it goes back to my other point, because it is all a single episode.

That is episode 19. And it might just be the single greatest episode of shounen I’ve seen in my entire life.

Everything came together at the right moment. The character arcs had hit the right place, and the tension was at its peak. The most interesting villain of the show was ready to strike, and I was genuinely scared for one of the sins. And then, just when it mattered, we finally discovered the full story.

I was marathoning this at the time, and I don’t know if any of my fellow members noticed, but I was actually on the verge of crying throughout this episode. It was beautiful, it was adorable, it was immensely tragic yet still hopeful, and it explained EVERYTHING. THAT is how you do backstory. Heck, that’s how you do characters to begin with. And for the characters in question, it totally appealed to both the worst of themselves, while finally breaking through and showing the best of themselves.

I loved this episode. I wanted to take it home and watch it again and again with a pot of houmous and just live in the moment again and again. Just...that right there? That is my jam. That is what made the Seven Deadly Sins for me.

Can a tired concept be made great through perfect execution? Honestly, of course it can. Originality can only get you so far. All those important things like pacing and planning and foreshadowing and editing; all the things that you need but nobody remembers, probably make up for at least half of every true great out there. Heck, you don’t need me to tell you this. Look at the Lego movie. An utter cash-in based on a toy which needed no effort put into it whatsoever, and yet what did we end up with? A movie so absolutely wonderfully brilliant that people were angry that it didn’t get nominated for an academy award. Any concept can be great if you do it right; no matter how tired it is.

As it stands, Seven Deadly Sins is a solid recommendation. It’s not perfect, and yeah it’s not finished either, and frankly it’s not really my kind of thing, in theory, but it’s done so well and so completely that I can’t help but give it a solid 7.

Is what I would say.

But frankly, when something is as solid is this, and then does one thing – just one thing – really, really astonishingly well, it would be lax of me not to take notice.

So, I can proudly boost my score by a whole point, making this show not only one of the greats, but without a doubt my favourite shounen as of yet. The effort that went into making this show the best that it could be – pushing the basic structure further and further to make it as perfect as possible, is utterly admirable. The animation and fight scenes are wonderful, the music is phenomenal, the characters are delightful and the whole thing is just immensely fun from start to finish.

Who could have guessed? Even a curmudgeonly old critic like me can be won over if something’s done well enough.

My score: 8/10

#seven deadly sins #nanatsu no taizai #a-1 pictures #anime 2014

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tesscsanders-blog · 5 years ago

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No Need

FREE WRITE AT DAWN IMAGINE A TWITTER PAGE KEPT BY GOD THERE IS NO NEEED

God is without the kind of communication

that requires it. God’s voice is automatic and omnipresent it is rich truth below the other waves of sound. my gratitude is true. My aim is true and my high power is leading me where I am meant to go. I have known the difficulty of stringing words together.

How screenshots tell stories

How I search for TRAUMA

seek to define PORTENT

How the Lord is my light and my help, so whom shall I fear? How I get up and say “I’m ready”

I find proof and reminders of gratitude. I find encouragement humble and stoned. I find typos in wedding vows. Is this interesting content? Yes, Tess yes yes it is very interesting.

You are so beautiful.

HE WANTS ME TO SAY IT remember the sun inside of me in Danville

I will have that sun again flowing up my vagina, that orgasm. The cellulite kissing dawn I saw the sun rise once and I lived to tell the tale At the tail end is this exquisite dropping in,

how cool

the internet, how lucky, the living!

How blessed is my maker whom Phaedra prays for, too. The extent of my freedom is the extent to which I am willing to be not understood

Not understood when I am not legible what happens?

This wrenching this wretched second-guessing and third helpings; I have

belabored the metaphors of grief buffets

pretty sure I coined the term

grief buffet

is it a term of art?

a new business franchise?

People are ready for that kind of honesty, honestly, they are, even if they do not know it intellectually yet…. it’s all Grace, but especially the unbecoming

Am I doing this right? Yes. Less less less less more more more more more gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme some of that green sugar stuff it in there mmm mmmm ooohhh ohhhh deeper harder faster slower oh yeah just like that that’s right deeper this orgasm will save humanity this orgasm will right all of the wrongs mmmmm uhhhuh that’s the spot the redemption of all human kind right there, yup yeah yum yes that

In truth, the disgust is close to the surface. I am proud of who I am. Voice quaking like Tracy Chapman’s in the live recording of DONT GIVE UP with weird old Peter Gabriel

voice shaking

I think my friends are people. It scares me. I know my friends are human, it terrifies me.

Who are they? I have no idea! Humans as they are, they are foreign all the way. More alien than Foreigner mixed up in my psyche like the Greeks at the crux of breaking all of this up, are we? Once and for all

a free write to end all grief?

no thank you!

I know about waves and wires and tunnels and pummeling pummeling pummeling until I’m clenched in the womb. It doesn’t rhyme, but it’s my pain, it’s my loss, my potential my light to shine BE KIND REWIND in my opinion not such a good film

when I realized ariana was following franky o the path of less resistance all-capsing the names of poems instead of italicizing

interrupting my flow state to call my sibling my unconscious mind wants their approval so bad wants simultaneously to dishonor their identity shout from the rooftops this isn’t about you sis this ain’t about you cuz it’s about me it’s about meeeee meeeee meeeee meeeeeeeee the way i am deep down convinced some nonbinary people are just flexing egos controversy the give and take of corn flakes replete i am afraid of that content i might delete THAT content

for sure deep sea fishing with sharks i’ve never been how imagination is procrastination a rose by any other name etc

My soul is thirsting for the living God; when shall I see him face to face?

a need greater than water a truth deeper than phishing a spam harder than rock He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone

i’m afraid of hurt feelings hurting feelings causing pain no you’re not, Tess, you have torn up too much to open Photo Booth now. don’t you dare do it. God

grant me the serenity

Once I tell God I won’t do something, I usually don’t do it. exit clause escape routes

pretty sure I didn’t coin the phrase escape valve and that it is a term of art, like the

wind carrier in tommy boy

i mean the

mail shoot

in tommy boy

the wind that blows his boat in the last scene

or is it the

pen

ultimate

scene

wherein tommy is on the water (shit i am gonna cry ) talking to his dad “I could use a little help”

son of a

that’s gonna leave a mark

i want to leave

a mark we all do

so badly so needily our fingers

pressed in every ink stamp the well has run so dry and then

though, all of these people i want to be are menstruating while i am not how hungry i am for my own blood the manifestation of shakti who drinks from her own blood stream

opens her whole head up

this free write will not ‘save’ the world

this free write may even induce carpal tunnel

but i won’t be alone for it

SIC SIC SIC SIC SIC SIC SIC

we’re all so sick

so sick and so sick of the latest and worst and sick of being sick and tired

la la la

it’s funny, not haha but haha

okay

sure

the way my mind chases its tail around i find myself sitting where i’ve been

cozying up to a mug from SEA WORLD

i have never been

the name elizabeth printed on it

I believe in the Resurrection. i can’t explain it to you and I don’t want to. I believe in the visitation of the angel Gabriel to Mary and I want so badly to be understood by one poet in particular. these minds these minds these minds to whom I want to prostrate myself

SEE ME SEE ME PLEASE

It is enough, it is finished, I see you, Tessa I see you i see you baby i see you i see you you’re brilliant you are making so much sense you are making so much sense you don’t have to worry about publishing truths or falsehoods because that isn’t what you’re talking about here i relieve you this noose | lifted |

this is not about political correctness an invention you hate and this is not about bigotry either because we both know you are not a bigot in any direction by any stretch

stretch

stretch mark of the imagination

cellulite dream we could be heros just for one day

the need to justify when i said ego flex i meant

how precious our personhood is. when i am high and think only of how, deep down,

my pronouns are

she her he him his

how language is nothing but everything bang bang saxophone solo how your mind reading this does a different thing altogether how i bought a blanket 100% acrylic made in Ecuador how what other people think of me

nun of my business

none of my business that’s why I can’t let the right hand know what the left is doing. When I catch on is when the tail snakes back around

how i

felt like

Jessica was passing the torch of menses to me

how much shedding how much shedding

the baby voice,

sweet blessed infantilization of my poor old soul !!!!

{i mean it, Tess, you are flawed if you’re not free. oops that sunk in wrong i don’t blame you, jenny lewis

cat power I DONT BLAME YOU my ex’s penis is still the sweetest penis that ever played inside my vagina} alone together a hashtag to build a dream on give me a hashtag to build a dream on i miss you God

not for sentimental reasons

but because being ripped from you is too easy to mistake for the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God

in other words, tracing my entrance back to your absence is not the work of my life is not the meat of being but it is easy to make the mistake of seeing the hole as the center when at the center is the Life itself

come on rude boy boy boy is you big enough

just now already I nearly broke the no Photo Booth promise funny how quickly that happens EH

EH?

canadian bacon is a john candy film i have never seen my adverbs of choice

holy

lightly

mmmmmm sweet sweet boredom the fear of ending is about the fear of dying? no, that’s not quite it. about the fear of being alone? yes! that’s it, that’s it. traces back to the fundamental fallacy of Godlessness

of being separate it’s the whole platonic two halves bit

to have and to hold, till death do us part that’s the

traaaa la la laaa laaaaaa

how can i trust myself without hyperlinks?

don’t let me be understood, God. just for today, grant me the serenity. Don’t let this be understood. Yes, I’m your angel. Yes, the reader does not need to know you’re thinking of a yoko ono song, that you’re worried about not attributing due credit to rihanna, that you have not looked at kim kardashian’s instagram since the

“pandemic”

“began” but that she showed up in your dream last night and that your sibling ‘got into’ with her, lightly, casually, cooly, wearing denim — my sibling was leaning in close to kim kardashian

AND SHE WAS

the tail of my mind is snaking back to ordinary complaints like

WHERE THE HECK ARE MY MISSING ALBUMS

1999

and

LITTLE CREATURES

they’re my favorite and they’re gone gone gone

how much of a new revelation

Janet Jackson’s song any time any place is to me

How inconsistency is at the heart of

not giving too many hoots

in certain contexts how meaning is relative how language is everything

nothing

how Jesus spoke in parables and contradictions how I never liked puzzles literal ones but how I walk around like I alone am meant to be solving the deepest puzzle of all

Reconciling myself back to the Source, i mean, to God Godself how a proliferation of healers come out of the woodwork into the email inbox offering discounts during this crisis and

who

I to judge?

There is one thing I ask of the Lord,

for this I long,

to live in the house of the Lord,

all the days of my life.

am i his temple? yes, no, maybe so, dawning on me is dish soap sweet like the night inside

like the beginning of doing nothing

remaining alive. remaining human.

DONT JUST DO SOMETHING

SIT THERE

friends, i am still overwhelmed by your humanity. i find it so threatening, i can’t even begin to tell you. i don’t mean your mortality, moreso the fact that you’re just as deep

just as pulsing

just as curious just as in possession of some heart (human or not; shoutout to my girl elena with a porcine pulmonary valve) as i am

what that amounts is not fear of being not unique but rather that the belonging we are called to is such a tall order such a tall order such a tall order drive through window on foot people like memes

the readers in 3408 are like,

what’s a meme?

who can say if they will ‘google’ it?

I doubt the empire will rage that long …. the Empires on adderal the Empire fucking all millennia long on HARDON shoot i am

not even trying

to be funny i can’t think of the name of that erection drug

i swear all that keeps coming up is PROZAC

leave it in the comments below, what’s that ED drug? all my life

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stephenaltrogge-blog · 8 years ago

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If you’re like me, you’ve long dreamed of becoming a 90’s Christian rock star. After all, those were the golden days of CCM. I’ve gone on the record many times about how much I love 90’s CCM.

dcTalk wasn’t raising fans’ hopes of a reunion tour, only to mercilessly crush them by announcing a cruise. Jennifer Knapp was still on the official “Okay To Listen To Because She’s Not Gay Yet” list, and the Newsboys still had at least one original member. We also had a fair number of bands who did passable imitations of better, secular bands (see: MxPx).

Ahhh, yes. Those were the days. So how do we create a renaissance of such music? How do we make Christian music great again? We need a bunch of 90’s Christian rock stars…today.

How can you be one of those stars? Here’s your step-by-step guide.

Step #1: Adopt A Unique Look

First things first: you need to look the part. If you’re going to dominate the 90’s, you need to have a style that is part godly, part sexy (in a godly way), and 100% unique.

Steven Curtis Chapman honed a look CCM historians now refer to as “Elegant Mullet”.

Michael W. Smith perfected the “Geometric Power Vest” vibe.

If you’re going to take over the airwaves, you need a look that says, “Hey baby, I’ll lead your Bible study, and then I’ll blow you away with my sweet tunes.”

Step #2: Write Songs That Are Generic Enough To Be Claimed By All Christians At All Times

If you want to be a true 90’s legend, all your music must be Christian enough for the church and just generic enough to not offend anyone in any church, no matter the denomination.

This is why you never saw any songs titled, “James Dobson Is A Bad Mamma Jamma”.

“Big House” by Audio Adrenaline is a prime example of this musical mastery. Is it about heaven? Is it about being part of God’s family? Is it about the church (God’s house)? We’re not sure, but it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that God has a big yard where we can play football.

“Breakfast” by the Newsboys is another perfect example. Yes…the song is about hell, the place of eternal torment for those who have rejected Christ. But it’s also a poignant reminder that they don’t serve breakfast there, and that’s really the most important thing to remember.

Step #3: Write A Few Songs That Are Straight Up Embarrassing

If you’re truly going to arrive, survive, and thrive (see what I did there?) as a legit 90’s CCM god, you need to pen a few songs that will embarrass you for years to come. These are the songs that haunt your dreams.

Look no further than Carman for proof of this. Despite being a white, middle-aged man who would have done well as a Vegas lounge singer, Carman went all in on the rap trend started by dcTalk, Grits, and similar bands.

His song “Who’s In The House” is a cringe masterpiece, featuring some of the stiffest, Midwestern-est rapping you’ll ever hear. If you plopped a corn famer into a studio and told him to rap, it couldn’t be any worse than this.

Step #4: Write A Song That Will Make Everyone Hate You

Once you’ve firmly established yourself in the hearts and minds of listeners, you need to pen a song that will make Christians question everything about you, including:

Your salvation and the salvation of everyone you’ve ever known (including your saintly mother)

Your commitment to being a “Jesus Freak”

Whether you’re just in it for the money

Whether it’s acceptable to publicly burn your albums and ask for your public execution

Amy Grant masterfully navigated this step with her song “Baby, Baby”. The music video showed her interacting with a man in ways that Elisabeth Elliot and Joshua Harris would NEVER have approved of. FOR SHAME!

Step #5: Use The Phrase, “We’re not a Christian band, we’re Christians in a band.”

If you play your cards right, someone will inevitably ask you if you’re a Christian band. When that happens, it’s crucial that you pause thoughtfully, as if considering the deep theological implications of the question, and then say, “You know, we’re not really a Christian band, we’re Christians in a band.”

This distinction is just confusing enough to sound profound. It’s like saying you smoke marijuana but don’t inhale.

It also makes it acceptable for Christian kids to boast that they listen to “secular” music to their friends in youth group, which was a powerful way to look more cool than you really were.

Step #6: Sign With Tooth & Nail Records

If you did step 5 correctly, it could lead to signing with Tooth & Nail records, which was the label for bands that liked to push the envelope in every sense of the word.

If you like to throw back a few cold ones on the tour bus and occasionally smoke the wacky tobaccy, this is the label for you. If you’re all about not selling out and preserving the integrity of your sound (whatever that means), this is your home. If you always thought church was kinda lame but you’re down with Jesus, come on over to Tooth & Nail.

Your Stardom Awaits

There hasn’t been a lot to be excited about in CCM in recent years. I mean, the Newsboys are still getting a ton of airplay. We need some fresh blood. Some new stars. Some new, 90’s rockstars.

Will you rise to the challenge? Your path to glory awaits.

The post 6 Steps To Becoming A 90’s Christian Rock Star appeared first on The Blazing Center.

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