“So,” Joel says. “D’you think Tango would talk to me if I broke the bow again?”
Which, obviously, is a joke. Obviously. He’s a blummin’ actor, for goodness sake. He can handle an audience of one.
Even if that audience is Tango. And also– not quite an audience, is it, when you’re just two people having a conversation–
Grian pauses, looking up from where he's been checking Joel’s outfit, one hand tracing a seam. "Joel," He replies, deadpan. "You are not breaking another prop just ‘cuz you're bad at talking to people."
Joel bristles, oi! “I’m not bad at–!”
"Then talk to him like a normal person!" Grian retorts, rolling his eyes. He focuses his attention back on the costume, "Pretty sure he'll notice and chew you out for it anyway. I'm doing you a favor by telling you this, really." Joel scoffs.
He’s choosing not to reply to that, by the way. It’s a choice.
Joel lets Grian do his thing, double-checking his costume until Joel’s arms grow tired of staying up, pinning stuff into place and calling Cleo over for makeup stuff. Joel lets his mind drift, letting Grian lead him in front of a vanity mirror– Ah, look. His handsome face.
Joel studies his reflection for a moment, turning his head this way and that. And just before Grian leaves–
“…Would he really get mad?”
Grian pauses in the doorway, “Huh?” He frowns for a moment, squinting, then sighs. “Yes, Joel. You’re not that cute.”
“Oi!”
Grian lets the door shut with a click, his cackling muffled as he goes. That little…
Joel huffs, glowering at his reflection.
“Not that cute,” He grumbles. “I’m plenty cute. The cutest.”
Someone knocks on the door. Cleo pokes their head in, “Hey, Joel.”
“Hey,” He hasn’t stopped glaring at his reflection. “Don’t ask about Grian.”
Cleo lets herself in, “Wasn’t going to,” She says simply. “Now stop sulking and let me do your makeup.”
With great effort, (not really) Joel relaxes his face, his features smoothing out.
He looks good, is the thing. No matter what Grian has to say. Joel looks– good. Attractive. Drop-dead gor– whatever. The point is, he’s handsome, and he could woo whoever he wanted. Definitely.
(He thinks of Tango, gold-spun hair catching the stage lights, red eyes dark as wine.)
…Probably.
Joel bites the inside of his cheek. Ugh, he’s gonna be thinking about that all day, won’t he?
Stupid Grian.
—
(“Cleo,” Joel starts. “Am I hot?”
The brush on his face stops.
“The fuck?”)
—
He breaks the prop again.
In his defense, it was still mostly an accident. Mostly.
"How."
Joel squirms a little under Tango's gaze, hoo boy.
He holds up the broken prop bow, "Ehh, the uh. The thing is, I keep, like, using too much strength on it?" He grins, straightening his back. "You know, 'cuz I'm so strong and stuff. Happens uh, all the time, you know?” At Tango’s silence, he tacks on, “…It's annoying."
Tango raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. Joel's grin goes lopsided, withering under the look.
"I– uh," He thins his lips, runs his tongue over the front of his teeth. "...Sorry?"
Tango’s tail sways a little behind him, His arms are crossed, just. Looking at him.
Okay, Joel thinks, palms starting to sweat. Maybe Grian was right.
“You realize I’m not even a props guy, right?” Tango asks. Joel swallows. “Official title’s set designer.”
Joel is so fucked.
“I knew that,” Joel manages, still clutching the damn prop. “Just– you helped me fix it last time.”
And the time before that. And, also, the time before that.
…Joel’s sweating up a damn storm over here.
Eventually, Tango sighs.
"C'mere, I've got something for ya."
Joel's eyebrows leap up. He follows Tango as he leads him deeper backstage, past costume racks and other stage tech-y stuff– none of which Joel can make heads or tails of.
His mind races with questions, half of his brain going why is he leading me all the way back here while the other half is really trying not to ogle at Tango’s–
"There it is," Tango says, jolting him out of his thoughts. He scoops up what looks like a small toolkit, holds it out to Joel. "Here, for the next time you manage to break that poor bow again."
Joel opens his mouth, closes it again. He just stands there, dumbfounded and cheeks burning with shame, "I don't know how to–"
"You've seen me do it like five times, haven't you?" Tango asks, teasing. Joel's going to die. "You're a big boy, you can do it."
What'd he just call me, "Right," Joel squeaks, "That's– Right. Yeah."
He reaches out to grab it–
But Tango pulls it back, his grin growing wider.
"Wha–?"
Tango tilts his head, "There are better ways to get my attention, you know."
Joel's heart leaps into his throat.
He’s so fucked–!
It must show on his face, too, because then Tango laughs and it would've been a win if it weren't at him– "I'm serious, man! You didn't have to do all that stuff– You thought I wouldn’t notice?"
Tango shakes his head, gives Joel the toolkit. He closes Joel’s hand around it with his own.
Joel's breath hitches in his throat– Tango’s touch burns but in a good way, like sunlight on skin, like–
"It's not like you needed help getting my attention, anyway."
If this were a movie, Joel thinks this is where he’d hear a record scratch.
Hold on. Rewind. What?
Tango looks surprised, “Did you really not know?”
“I–” Joel closes his mouth. He’s trying to form words, honest, Tango’s hand is just so warm– “Would you believe me if I said I knew?”
Tango laughs, (Again! Joel’s mind crows.) “It wouldn’t be your best performance, I’ll tell you that much.”
“Answer’s no, then,” Joel replies, strangled. A pause. “No as in, I didn’t know– oh gosh, I hope I’m reading this right–”
Tango’s hand falls away, amusement twinkling in his red eyes. Joel tries to remember how to breath.
Tango’s lips pull up into a smile, “You know, you’re way different off-stage.”
Ouch. “Sorry to disappoint,” Joel blurts out, a faint sting in his chest. Tango’s eyes go wide.
“That’s not what I meant!” His tail lashes in panic, “You’re– you’re a completely different person on-stage, you know? Which I get is the point, you’re amazing, just…”
Joel blinks. Is his brain melting out of his ears? It feels like his brain is melting out of his ears.
It echoes in his head, you’re amazing.
A faint red dusts Tango’s cheeks, “…I think I kind of prefer the real deal.”
“Oh,” Joel says, voice faint. Tango’s blush deepens.
“I just made this weird, didn’t I–”
Joel’s brain kicks into gear, finally, “D’you wanna go out some time?” He asks. His hands shake, just a little. “Cuz I think you’re bloody brilliant, Tango, so if you’re gonna be saying stuff like that,” He swallows. “You better at least let me take you out to coffee.”
Tango’s grin is blinding, “Only if you promise to stop breaking props.”
Joel laughs, a giddy rush in his chest.
“I promise.”
(At the back of his mind– Take that, Grian!)
—
Somehow, somewhere, Grian just sneezed.
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So with Phil ending stream and that event dying down I wanna talk about him.
And especially with how good of a decision it was from Cellbit to make him a fellow head of ther order.
Let me explain
So I'm gonna try and string this along but the basis I'm building on is that Phil is a center. Not just figuratively but also literally! Remember before the Favela and Spawn become the meeting places? Yeah his home was the point people would meet at, his doors were always open and his waystone was the one ingrained in people's muscle memory when a meeting or communal location was mentioned.
But Phil's also been a communicative center, he's a loner usually, mostly getting dragged along by tubbo or fit for some events.
But he's reliable! And people know this about him. They hear how a single father of 2 has carried the life of these 2 kids in his own, they've heard how Tallulah and Chayanne are the best behaved eggs due to him, they see him casual help people out etc. Phil's known for kindness and help when needed but people who don't know him don't realize there's so much more to him! Fit and Tubbo for example are the first 2 who are aware of this. Fit trusting Phil with literally everything because he knows how capable he is and Tubbo knowing Phil's capabilities in a way where he respects him heavily. And I don't even need to mention how Etoiles is aware of Phil's combat abilities.
Now why did I say that he was the perfect addition as a head of the order? Because he proved today that he is behind everything the order is about. He is a much needed cog in its machine, he's not a head investigator or strategist but he's someone they need to allow this.
Baghera wanted to investigate? Phil stopped trying to look around, focused on helping her clear mobs, gave her all his paper and kept an eye on her while calling to her to make sure she could collect evident when her inventory got filled. He's ready to put his own curiosity and knowledge aside to let others thrive.
Pierre needed a fighter when mobs swarmed him? Phil stood between him and the mobs, being a calm voice amongst panic, standing in Etoiles footsteps as protector and filling them well.
Roier wanted to stay and risk his life because he wanted more information? Phil will stay too, he's not leaving anyone behind even if it could cost his own life and he'd do it again.
Forever is acting weird and trying to brush worries off? Then Phil will worry even more and make sure he knows that Phil's someone who will be there whenever he's needed.
There's so many moments like this, Phil putting himself aside to let others thrive, becoming a support fighter for Etoiles, a teacher for tallulah, an investigator for Cellbit.
He's someone that island needs without them realizing it because he's a quiet constant hum but important! Like a humming of well working machines in a busy factory. Or the humming of bees in a thriving garden full of animals. He's quiet and not always noticeable but he's proof that things are working and okay, the backbone of it.
This is why this trust of Cellbit in him to call him a head of the order is so important for me, and especially Phil promising loyalty and trust to Cellbit cause it may sound basic but those who don't know Phil don't know how much Phil's loyalty truly means. How much his promise of it is an honor to someone because Phil's whole moral compass and trust is based on proof. If you can proof to Phil you're capable and put your money where your mouth is then he'll go through fire for you, and he's promised that to Cellbit, knowing fully well it's a promise he'll keep.
Phil's factual and logical, he's a grounding force when needed and someone who will fit himself into a role that needs to be filled. He's a support, a warrior, a investigator, a distraction etc. He's not focused on his own goals even if it hurts him to put those aside, if he sees potential in supporting or letting someone lead he'll do just that. He's so fucking observant and it's such an important trait not many islanders have to the same level he does. He watches with protective eyes and sees things most people don't. Ironically enough you can see this in his photographs a lot! He's a watcher an observer and acts based on what he sees.
Basically today, that little bit where they went into the new office where forever was taken, was proof of what Phil is needed for. He's not required, he knows that much, but he's important for the community of that island. He's important for letting others thrive. He's what the head of the order is, what they represent. Trust in eachother and letting people thrive in what they're good at while helping them in any way he can.
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