#i actually went to see it in theatre!! very exciting

[hattedhellspawn]

Not that anyone rlly cares except my husband but! I am back on Tumblr :) took a long break for health and such and because I had little interest in the web for a while. Good to be back I missed seeing my funnies and sillies (mutuals and ppl I follow) 💜

[chaoticladyfire]

Things I screamed about in ATSV (spoilers)

-Got to rewatch the film so I’m just going to add the colours changing to warmer tones when Gwen hugs her father. Not even ten minutes in and I was already crying.

-Realised that we missed the Gwen-Vulture fight BUT got to see Jessica Drew enter the scene like a bad ass in her bad ass bike and hearing the audience collectively say ‘me too’ when Gwen asked if Jessica could adopt her. 

-Screaming OSCAR ISAAC when Miguel spoke

-Lyla. Just Lyla.

- ‘Do you say anything other than no?’ ‘No-YES!’ more of miguel and jessica pls

-The Spot’s introduction. I didn’t see any promotional stuff, teasers or even trailers before watching this film so I had no idea who or what the The Spot was which was great because he really went from villain of the week to villain of the movie. And they clearly had a great time choreographing the fight scenes with him

-Miles’ heating up the beef patty while the spot and the convenience store man argue

-Miles patting the spot’s with a ‘good cow’ text

-Gwen and Miles both having to deepen their voices to avoid being recognised by their respective cop dads

-Miles saying that he can get two cakes when the counsellor says you can’t have your cake and eat it too and then bringing two cakes for his father’s party and neither of them saying what he wanted to convey. 

-Rio and Jeff scolding an annoyed miles but instantly smiling when a relative hugs them what an universal experience 

-Gwen teasing Miles for drawing her in his notebook almost obsessively but also breaking the biggest rule to spend time with him knowing the consequences. 

-As they went to talk, my friend leaned over and said ‘yeah I bet they will talk’ and when they only talked he groaned very loudly at which point I had to remind him Miles was only 15 

-Watching Jeff talk to Spiderman about his son not knowing his son is spiderman

-The DJ increasing the volume when Miles’ parents started scolding him in the middle of the party (the real mvp of the movie actually) 

-JK Simmons cameo that no one seems to be talking about??? Embarrassingly enough I had to literally scream into my friend’s ear for most of the people to realise it was indeed JK Simmons

-Just the entire Mumbattan scene. It was so exciting to see my city be represented like that, still a bit cliched in my opinion but not like Slumdog so obviously they have updated their views. Everything from the traffic gag to Pav’s rant about chai tea had the theatre howling. Also the detail of the thought boxes (?) and sounds being written in Hindi 

-Screaming DANIEL KALUUYA

-My friend and I are huge fans of the UK punk scene (her for the ideologies and myself for the music and fashion) so Hobie was a dream come true. He was already super cool with his guitar and mohawk costume but when he revealed his face it was just so amazing

-Gayatri is every indian’s dream girl with her modern shirt-flannel and jeans combo mixed with bangles and piercings I really wish we get to see more of her in the next movie. Anyway there was a lot of wolf-whistling and hooting for her and Pav

-Also Pavitr literally means pure I don’t know if they did that on purpose or not but I love it

-His pet name being Pav cured my soul

-’This is the most emotional I have seen him’ and Captain Singh has no emotions at all

-I want to see how they came up with so many spider designs because each was so unique and immediately endearing. My friend who is also a big dinosaur fan screamed DINOSAUR 

-Kind of obsessed with how detailed Ben Reilly’s arms are they did not need to go that hard with it

-Tom Holland’s Spider-Man being referred to as ‘the little nerd’ by Miguel

-When everyone was making puns about the Spot my friend leaned over and said ‘i wonder which hole the spot prefers’ it is a miracle we are still friends actually

-The Donald Grover cameo!!!

-Peter B Parker having a cute little baby with the love of his life is what he deserves

-Miguel O Hara is one step away from becoming a Batman-Spiderman 

-Hobie’s admiration for Mayday being the avatar of chaos Spider-baby

-Screaming ANDY SAMBERG

-I think they saw the appreciation for the art style in the previous film and then trebled it for this film and I cannot thank them enough for it

-Peter complaining about how Miguel breaks the Spiderman tradition of being funny and witty and Miguel being the first anomaly 

-Every scene with the Spot is very unnerving because as I said, you watch him transform from this joker to a literal void of vengeance and it is every bit of terrifying

-Miguel is a man suffering from the destruction of an entire universe because of his selfish actions and forcing that anomaly narrative on a fifteen year old boy who became a spiderman on accident and doesn’t want his father to die because of that. Unlike the Spot, who isn’t even human anymore, Miguel is drowning in grief and guilt and trying to ignore it by holding the weight of the spider-verse on his shoulder. I hated him so much for making a boy go through that but then I just couldn’t in the end. 

-Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire cameo!!! Hopefully we’ll get a fun Tom Holland one too in the next movie.

-’Let me guess, he died?’ being a therapist for Spider Men must be a fairly boring job after a few patients.

-I just loved the absolute of wrongness of the scene where Miles returns ‘home’. The rain and darkness. I didn’t really think about Rio asking Miles what happened to his hair because I thought she was referring to the rain (although of course she wouldn’t ask him why his hair was wet when it was obviously raining outside) but realised something was wrong when he didn’t know about comic con but she did because in the first film there’s a joke about Peter B Parker explaining the concept to Miles. 

- This movie is not good for my father related issues

-The glaring neon welcome sign when the gang end up in Earth 42

-How did Uncle Aaron get even scarier? 

-Miles being the Prowler is honestly a great twist I saw it coming but still felt the shock of the reveal

-Prowler Miles having an accented voice meaning his father probably died when he was young and he only had his mom growing up

-Can’t wait for the original spider team to return for the third film seeing as they brought back Spider-Man Noir and Spider Ham and Peni Parker

-Screaming WHAT when the ‘to be continued’ appeared because that cliffhanger is absolutely destructive. All that adrenaline and excitement just popped. I’m still oscillating between being impressed and being disappointed. 

I probably skipped over a lot of other scenes because these were the most memorable and I only watched the film once (unfortunate) but I can’t wait for the movie to hit streaming services and watch it again and again for all the other details I missed. Ill probably keep adding things as I remember

[n3ptoonz]

May I request headcanons of the MK1 Earthrealm Champions watching the reader practicing a dance she choreographed herself in a dance studio?

If you need music for the vibe of her dance, I got you:

sure can!

mk1 hcs: earthrealm champions with a choreographer girlfriend

no warnings, pre-blind kenshi, lowkey self indulgent as a dancer myself hehehe

Raiden

loves to just sit and watch you work. the intense focus on your face as you start and stop again when you change your mind or try to rework a move was so fascinating to him

when he watches you dance he sometimes relates it to how he trains. he finds similarities and differences when it comes to doing something properly or fixing an error

once he sees you fully get everything right and the way you wanted it to be executed, he's so proud of you. weeks, sometimes a month's work finally paying off had him grinning ear to ear FOR you. if you look close enough in the mirror, you might even see him doing some of the moves very slightly in his seat

Kung Lao

is so excited that you let him sit in and watch you. surprisingly he wasn't so distracting even while loudly hyping you up over the music, it really just fueled you more

dude thinks he's on the team, expect him to be like "wait isn't it this?" every 15 minutes. it takes one good glare to get him to shut it up 😭 but now he just hesitantly raises his hand like a scolded child when he wants to help

little did you know every time he went back home, he lowkey couldn't stop memorizing some of your moves. even the ones he suggested/helped correct. so when you fully go over it he's in the corner halfway in sync but still determined to do what you do since he admires your determination to be the best you can be. just like him!

Kenshi Takahashi

with how intensely focused he is watching you, you'd think you're boring him, but it's quite the opposite. he's so captivated and drawn in by how your body moves so cohesively. if you felt unsure about this and asked him what he thought so far, without thinking he's just like "you look amazing" but was that really the question? 🤔

i have a hc that he's only good at slow dancing and/or traditional dancing but otherwise the man's got two left feet. so he wouldn't be dancing along, but most definitely singing along. in and outside of your studio. like you'd be out at lunch and he's humming the entire song w/o realizing

when it's all done he cannot wait to see the full thing. i'm talking like his hands are clasped together and he has a full grin on his face, and when you start it melts right back into intense focus. anybody outside looking in would easily think he's hypnotized (he definitely is)

Johnny Cage

silly goose, did you think he wasn't gonna join you?? he simply cannot sit and watch you be cool as fuck. he could also use some pointers anyway. and he might wanna include something like this in a film (he definitely wants to)

he's more focused than you are. he actually contributed one and a half some moves himself! all the dramatics you could possibly imaging him doing, he's doing exactly that. "1 and 2 and- POW! Uh!" like okay chronic theatre kid syndrome is in full effect!

you have to try to manage to outshine HIM once it's all finished. he's been going full out since you were still figuring out the first eight count. he'd be dancing circles around you if you weren't such a professional, otherwise...let's just say does hollywood even need a newest star?!

[as-everlasting-as-the-sun]

i went to the Terrible Influence Tour in Phoenix on sunday, which was my first time going to a tour ever, and had a blast!! :D somehow dan and phil are even more funny and endearing irl if that’s possible

(standing outside for an hour in almost 100 degree weather was worth it honestly, i honestly barely noticed bc i was so excited. at least it was in the shade thankfully)

i got to go the the preshow q&a which was so much fun, i ended up recording some but not all of it.

the vip silver merch included w the ticket had a tote bag, a 5-pack of photocards w a guaranteed shiny, a dnp lanyard, a “very important phan” friendship bracelet, and a small poster! (there was also a very nice phannie there giving out friendship bracelets, if anyone knows who they were lmk!!)

these are the photocards i got!!

there were special dan and phil cocktails (and “good influence” lemonades) which dnp had ofc, it may have made the show slightly better lmao. the cocktails were both very good and they all came with cool glow straws :3

this was also where the iconic “married life” dan tiktok was posted so i thank Celebrity Theatre for these things

my favorite songs on their preshow playlist were Starburned and Unkissed by Caroline Polachek which was made for the I Saw The TV Glow soundtrack (i know they picked this for their trans audience, ps watch isttvg if u haven’t please), Lunch by Billie Eilish (iconic for the bis), and Hot To Go which most of the audience was singing and dancing along to ofc (u can see this on the phoenix celebrity theatre’s insta story from that day)

there was cool art on the wall right before the stairwell!! :)

i went with my mom and brother (who i converted into a phan last year! sry if u see this eric) and my mom is now fully invested in dnp! i’m pretty sure she ended up screaming louder than anyone else there and was waving around a “dan and phil made me gay” T-shirt lmao

i also got to meet a friend i found on tumblr bc of this tour which was prob the best part besides getting to see dnp!! ^u^ dan actually called their fit slay which it very much was.

yes I realize we’re covering up their names it was very hectic okay.

i got the “parasocial social club” shirt and my mom ended up buying me the “dan and phil made me gay! and all i got was this lousy tshirt” and the “dan and phil are my dads” hat which i was very happy about!

and a golden pig shot, they were the real star ⭐️🐷

it was an incredible experience for my first tour!! somehow even after being 10 feet away from dan and phil im still not convinced they’re real tangible people. here’s hoping it’s not the last tour they do and next time maybe i’ll get a meet and greet ticket, but this was the most fun ive ever had 💙🖤 (u know i had to say it.)

[blinkilite]

I had the amazing privilege of seeing Michael Sheen in Nye a few nights ago at the National Theatre.

The play:

Nye was amazing. Michael was brilliant and in command of the stage the whole time. I am not a big theater-goer. So this was a big deal for me. But seeing him perform on stage was just wonderful. I truly appreciate his skills on a whole new level now. The rest of the cast was brilliant too. They each played multiple roles throughout the timeline of the play. I highly recommend going to see it if you can. He sings! He dances! I cried! I laughed! I’m trying my best to give you a spoiler free review! But I promise you won’t be disappointed. 😊 it’s really really good. 👍 Go! Support Michael and the arts!

My personal experience:

I had a mix of excitement and anxiety all day but it really amped up when I got to the theater. Like omg this is really happening. I took a pic by the poster and it’s obvious I am an excited weirdo. 😆

Now that I was here, the next step was going to the national theatre gift shop. They had a lot of cute things and a really cool display for Nye.

I purchased my program and the cashier was very friendly. She complimented my Good Omens pin and said they usually come out stage door so make sure to go around back after, and enjoy the show. 😊 (internally squeeing) I thanked her and we went and got some food and a cider.

We made our way to the doors and were led to our seats. Then I started getting the omg we’re here this is actually happening mentality. We were pretty close. An omg he will be right there! Soon! 😬

We had 8th row seats 😳 it seemed very close and I was freaking out.

I read some reviews and saw the newly released press photos of the play. So I knew a little what to expect of the show too, but honestly it was sooo good. I don’t want to give away any spoilers because the play is AMAZING. Michael and the rest of the cast did so well. Michael is very active and moved all over the stage. I am so impressed by his abilities as an actor. He fucking sings! And it’s wonderful! And our seats were close enough to see all the micro expressions on his face. 😃 If you have the means to go and see this either in London or later in Wales - GO! You will not regret it.

At the end I took a pic of the actors (though I didn’t get everyone) and I got the very end when Nye can see the impact of his accomplishments.

Now for the fangirling part of my night. I was trying my best not to be a complete dork. I knew from other fans previously posting that he typically comes out at the stage door after the show. So I had an idea what to expect. He came out pretty soon after the show ended. I’m guessing there were maybe 50-60ppl there. He just started talking to people, signing things, taking photos like this is no big deal. And they would leave and it would be the next person’s turn. Everyone was very considerate of each other and Michael’s time. And he was kind and generous and spoke genuinely to each person and made so many people happy that night. just by being himself and taking some extra time before he went home. He really is an angel. ❤️

Eventually it was my turn. Somehow I didn’t mumble or giggle like an idiot. where did I find the ability to speak? - I really have no idea 🤷‍♀️ I told him the show was amazing. He thanked me. And while signing my program I told him we came over from America for my birthday to see him. He wished us luck in the rest of our trip. I got a selfie with him and internally died. He wished me happy birthday (died again). I thanked him and then it was the next person’s turn. I walked about 50ft away and jumped up and down like an idiot. Hopefully he didn’t see.

But holy shit. 😃

I met Michael Sheen!!!! 😃❤️😃

And he was the nicest person ever. 😃😃😃

[quitealotofsodapop]

The first time MK learned Yuebei was even a ribbon dancer was when he was doing deliveries and happened to pass by the dance hall, and they were being let out for practice. He recognizes Wukong and Yuebei even in their glamours, and of course gets distracted by their presence. He's super excited to see Yuebei perform for real, especially since she'd take every moment she could to practice while he and Uwkong trained.

He also learns about her asthma during an outing where she spent time at the Noodle Shop while Wukong was dealing with some boring stuff at home. She'd forgotten her inhaler, and when he found it, he flew all the way to Pigsy's Noodles to drop off the little canister with cute tiny stickers all over it.

The Noodle Gang were alle excited for Yuebei's performance and understood her anger. Altho, her dancing troupe certainly expected their most fragile member to suddenly transform into a raging demon monkey with fiery eyes because of the spiders attacking. And she definitely knows self defense, she's Wukong's daughter, and that's a given, so she was able to help quite a few of them escape before she got caught.

Spider Queen actually did a double take when she saw Yuebei, but one it clicked who this angry little monkey was she had the biggest grin. Oh, this was just PRECIOUS to her! Wukong's little girl is as fiery as her father! And wheezing. She should probably get that checked out. When Wukong dropped in (having been waiting with the others for Yuebei's performance when he learned the parents weren'tallowed in the parade) he took one look at Yuebei dangling from a web and immediately went on the attack.

This ended predictably.

LBD also noticed the strange way the web reacted to Yuebei, which is why she didn't move to help her. She was a threat, so she wasn't going to risk it. Not to mention her suffering brought Wukong pain, something she very much approved of. Later on, she'll devise a plan to try to use her, but for now, the girl can just sit and suffer.

Macaque is shook by the revelation that Wukong even had a daughter, but he doesn't have much time before the father-daughter duo are jumping from the mech themselves. Wukong's priority was to get Yuebei safe, never mind his ex being right there! If Macaque wanted to continue this later, he knew where to find him.

Spider Queen does have the grace to show concern and understand Wukong's rage when she later learns about Yuebei's asthma attack. She hadn't meant to harm her. Before that, she gets the ever loving shit beaten out of her thorax. Wukong's little girl had to be hospitalized and could have died. He was not in a merciful mood. SQ was lucky to even be alive, especially with DBK and the rest of the Gang right there as well.

Prev.

Yuebei quickly discovers that she and her dad have been assimilated into the Noodle Gang troupe.

I think one way MK learns that Yuebei ribbon dances is during the "Calabash" episode. Jin and Yin are clearly inside a prop room of a theatre. Now I'm imagining the bros fighting over how to control the calabash projection for MK, only for a certain little monkey to pop in.

Yuebei: "Hey, have you guys seen the box of spare-" Jin & Yin: (*fighting over the calabash, having used all the spare dance ribbons for their planning board*) Yuebei: (*looks down and sees empty Pigsy's Noodles' containers and signs of a struggle*) Yuebei, realising what's going on: "Ugh..." Yuebei: (*readies to kick the twins' butts*) (*cut to after the butt-whooping where MK is free from the Calabash*) MK: "Phew! Thanks for the assist Monkey Princess!" Yuebei: "Don't call me that. And don't mention it." MK: "What were you doing around here any-" (*notices her outfit*) "-No way! Are you a dancer?! Do you kick butt using those fancy ribbon things?" Yuebei, embarrassed: "N-no! I just like the exercise!" Wukong, from the other room: "Mooncake! Your teacher is getting worried! Are you ok back there?" MK: "He's here too!?" :D!!

Yuebei tries to be aloof on the matter, but it's hard when MK has the personality of a friendly dog and is her dad's student. Wukong is happy to see MK and Mei going out of their way to include Yuebei in their shenanigans, even bringing her to the noodle shop for after practice lunch.

I love the details of her inhaler being covered in stickers - thats so cute!! There are sites that sell custom inhaler casings/skins for kids and adults, just a fun little change from the blues and browns.

You know MK gets some friendship points for helping Yuebei out with her kissing inhaler. No matter how much Yuebei tries to hide how touched she is by the action.

Tang and Pigsy go full uncle-mode on the little girl, glamour or known monkey, this is a friend of MK's. One that seems to really like Pigsy's spicier dishes, and knows a lot about Chinese folklore.

As for New Years...

LBD is a callous but calculating villain. She can tell that Wukong's weakling daughter hold some unknown power. A power that makes the witch... uneasy. If a lack of breath is this child's weakness, then LBD exploits it.

The Spider Gang, once they learn about Yuebei's asthma attack and LBD breaking her inhaler, all think its a major jerk move. The kid was already captured and helpless, no reason to break her medicine. In front of her dad no less! Spider Queen in particular is mortified.

No wonder the whole Spider Gang gets launched away Team Rocket-style at the end of New Years.

As for Macaque its more...

Wukong: "Look, I don't care what your problem is with me, but keep my daughter out of it." Macaque: "OUR daughter." Wukong: "Huh?" Macaque: "Wukong, I've seen her perform. That cannot have all come from you." Wukong: (*huffs but doesn't deny anything*)

[megalony]

Babysitting Duties

This is a James Wilson (House MD) imagine based on a request by a lovely anon. I hope you like it.

Taglist: @lunaticspoem @butlegendsneverdie @langdonzvoid @jennyggggrrr @rogmeddows @radiob-l-a-hblah @rogertaylorsbitontheside @chlobo6 @rogertaylors-lipgloss @sj-thefan @omgitsearly @luckytrashgooprebel @scarsout @deaky-with-a-c @killer-queen-ofrhye @bluutac @vousmemanqueez-blog @jonesyaddiction @milanosaurus @httpfandxms @saint-hardy @7-seas-of-fat-bottomed-girls @mrsalwayswritex @rogerina-owns-me  @hellsdragon @im-an-adult-ish @crazylittlethingg @allauraleigh @onceuponadetectivedemigod @ceres27 @avyannadawn  @noonenuts @sleepylunarwolf @coverupps @justagirlthatlovedtoread

Masterlist

Summary: So that James and (Y/n) can go out on a date, House offers to babysit their daughter. As always, things don't go exactly to plan.

Enjoy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You needed a consult?" James glanced between House and the patient before he gingerly walked inside and closed the door behind him.

When his pager went off and the very brief message from House said he wanted a consult in the clinic, alarm bells started to ring. James knew the only reason House would send for him like this was because he was either bored or wanted to chat about something, he would never actually want to confer about a patient. Not unless he suspected cancer was a cause or the team were stumped with a diagnosis, and that didn't happen in the clinic.

"Are you free tonight?"

"I'm gonna say no, why?" His tone was skeptical and his eyes kept flitting across to the patient sitting on the bed in the middle of the compact room. James didn't know where this conversation was going and he didn't want to have it in front of a stranger, patient or not.

"Fancy seeing a play?" Without turning his head, House produced two tickets from his pocket and handed them over before he scribbled down on his prescription pad and waved it in front of the patient. "Go take this to the chemist for your 'friend' and the problems will go away. Leave." As cynical as ever, he motioned for the man to get down and he skimped off with a sympathetic look from James on his way out.

"You want to see a stage play?"

Confusion set in James's face and he glanced back down at the two tickets he was now holding before looking over at House again. He knew House's tastes, he liked melodramas on tv and monster truck rallies and car races. Going to the theatre wasn't something House particularly enjoyed, he was knowledgeable about plays but he didn't like them.

"Me, God no. I said do you want to see a play."

"You're just giving me free tickets, why?" There had to be some kind of catch. He knew House long enough to know this wasn't some kind of friendly gesture, there had to be a reasoning behind it.

"I saved a patient's life and he gave me two tickets to a sappy play. I don't wanna go, you like that sort of thing so you take them."

House didn't treat patients on the basis that he would get rewards, favours or treats afterwards. This was his job, it wasn't something he did in his spare time for rewards, but the patient had been so grateful he thought it was normal to go out and buy tickets for House to see a play. If it had been tickets for monster trucks, things would be entirely different. House would be excited, pumped up and he would drag James along with him without asking, he would be telling him they were going out.

But it was a waste of money and perfectly good tickets if House didn't give them away and didn't go. He may as well let his friend enjoy a night out, they were free tickets too.

"Oh," There wasn't exactly a catch, House didn't want anything in return, but this wasn't him just being polite. He was being reasonable, there was a difference. "Well, thanks, but I can't."

"Why not?"

"The tickets are for tonight and I can't get a babysitter at short notice like this. Sorry."

With a shrug, James held the tickets back out towards House who had a deep frown setting into his brow and a stern look forming on his lips.

If he had a days notice or more, then it wouldn't be a problem and he would gratefully take the tickets. He and (Y/n) hadn't had a night out alone together in ages and they both enjoyed the theatre. But James knew there was no way he could find anyone to look after Josie this soon with little notice. His daughter wasn't a menace or a trouble maker, by all means Josie was a delight to look after, but she was nervous.

They tended to have family members babysit and look after her or her daycare when James and (Y/n) were both at work. She couldn't have anybody new looking after her, Josie had to get used to them or she would panic and cry and scream until either parent came and took her back home. And James knew neither his nor (Y/n)'s family could have her at short notice.

"I'll do you a trade. Take the tickets and I'll take Josie."

"You'll watch her?" Something akin to a smile formed on Wilson's lips but there was apprehension behind his eyes.

He had never left Josie under House's watch before, not since she was born and even then that hadn't been for very long. But it wasn't an awful idea, Josie loved House, she saw him often enough and she thought his antics were funny. She would be perfectly fine being left with House and as brilliant as he was, a small part of him was mentally her age. It might just work.

"Why not? She's not in nappies anymore and you can feed her, it'll be easy." House had watched over her when she was a baby and he wasn't a fan of changing her or the constant bottle feeds she needed. Now she was four, almost five, it would be a lot easier to babysit her. He wouldn't need the stress of changing her nappies or getting her bathed and ready for bed, he would leave that for James and (Y/n) to do. And they could feed her before she left so all he had to do was sit with her and stay entertained until she fell asleep.

"Okay, thanks." James pocketed the tickets before he turned towards the door, he had a patient to see to. "I'm not paying you though."

"What? Hey now if I'm-"

"Be at mine no later than six." A smirk pulled at James's lips as he exited the room and left House mulling over what he had let himself in for.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are we sure about this?"

"It's too late to back out now, besides it's second row tickets." Leaning forward, (Y/n) looped her arms around James's neck and pressed her chest up against his back. She had to lean up on her tiptoes to tuck her face into his neck and press a butterfly kiss to his jaw that caused him to shiver against her.

They couldn't very well say no now, not when House would be here at any moment and Josie was already settled and awaiting him to come and spend the evening with her. Not to mention that they were already dressed and prepared to finally have an evening to themselves.

"Hm, I suppose so." James brought his hands up to hold (Y/n)'s arms and tilted his head so he could kiss her cheek.

(Y/n) grinned when he turned around in her arms and bound his arms tightly around her waist, keeping her flush against his chest and he almost lifted her up off her feet when he reeled her closer. Her arms stayed looped around his neck and her fingers tangled in his hair when he tilted his head down to kiss her.

As if on cue, the simultaneous doorbell and the sound of House's cane rapping on the door flooded the air. James groaned against her lips and his fingers dug into her hips for a second or two before he slowly reeled back.

"Best not keep him waiting," (Y/n) mumbled against his lips, kissing him again quickly before she backed up and headed over to the door. "Perfect timing, as always Greg." (Y/n) rolled her lips together but something sparkled in her eyes when she watched him rake his eyes up and down her dress before he whistled.

It wasn't anything too fancy, just a black knee-length dress than fanned out around her thighs and had spaghetti straps on her shoulders. But (Y/n) knew it was the low V-shape that framed her chest which got House's attention and caused his wide smirk in her direction as he walked in.

"I think I should be the one to take you out tonight, you'd look better on my arm… or in my bed-"

"House! Don't hit on my wife." James rose a brow before he shrugged on his jacket while House rolled his eyes and headed into the living room.

"Fine, I suppose you can take her."

(Y/n) gave him a sideways glance and half a smile before she walked round him and bent down in front of the sofa where Josie was waiting patiently. She had her hair neatly done into two plats after her bath, she was wearing her new pumpkin pyjamas and on the coffee table was an array of games she had gotten ready so House could choose what they could do. The four year old was more than excited to spend the evening with him.

"Alright baby, we won't be home late. Be good for uncle House, okay?"

"I will." She scuttled forward into her mother's arms, pressing a sloppy kiss to her cheek and a tight hug around her neck before (Y/n) stood up, kissing her temple as she moved.

"She's had tea, if she wants to stay up with you that's fine. Oh, and please don't give her milk, she's allergic. I think that's everything."

"See you soon, sweetheart." James leaned over the back of the sofa and rested his hand on her cheek when she tilted her head back to look up at him. He kissed her temple, smiling against her skin when she patted his hand and he leaned back upright and turned to House. "Ring me if you have any problems-"

"We won't."

"Alright, just… be careful, please?" James ran his fingers through his hair, tousling the strands a little until (Y/n) reached out to hold his arm.

He loved House, he was like family to them, but James knew how Josie could be and he knew how House was when he interacted with people, even if he was a little softer with kids. James couldn't help but worry, they didn't often leave Josie other than for work and they had no idea what kind of antics House was going to get up to tonight.

"We'll be fine, no shoo." House waved his cane towards them before he shrugged off his back pack and flopped down onto the sofa next to Josie who giggled.

A soft look passed over House's face when she scuttled over and perched herself on his good leg, knowing not to sit on his lap like she did with her dad because it would hurt him. Her hands patted his chest excitedly before she leaned over and leaned her chin up on his chest.

"Uncle House, I have games we can play."

Brilliant, I love winning."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Uncle House, isn't that one mine?" Josie's innocent eyes stared up at House from where she was sitting on the floor on the opposite side of the coffee table to him. She smiled sweetly like she was hussling him and pointed to the place on the Monopoly board where he had just landed, praying she wasn't paying as much attention to the game as he was.

It wasn't the version of Monopoly House liked to play, this was the junior version for little kids and it was still a bit too old for Josie to be playing, but she was trying her best.

"Yes," He responded with a roll of his eyes but he supressed a smirk when she held her small palm out across the table.

"Money please,"

With a sigh and a shake of his head, House handed over a few paper notes that Josie quickly added to her large pile. He was glad she was too young to be able to count properly or read the numbers on the notes. Since they were colour coordinated, House had told her the white ones were the biggest amounts of money so she thought she had lots when really she had a big pile of ones.

"You're just like your mother." He muttered to himself before handing her the dice.

He watched her move her colourful piece around the board until he tapped on the right space where she needed to stop. At this point he was winning both by intelligence and a little cheating and as fun as it was to win, he liked more intelligent opponents.

"What?" He mumbled with a shake of his head when she stared up at him with those big eyes that were full of uncertainty and questions.

"Why do you have all the houses?"

"Because I'm in charge. Come on, let's watch tv." House messily shoved all the pieces and cards back into the box and folded the board up to put it away. He knew she was starting to get tired now and he was bored of playing, they had gone through four games and stopped hallway through when both of them got bored and their attention spans ran out.

For a second or two, House froze when Josie climbed up onto the sofa and easily scuttled under his arm. She tucked her knees up to her stomach and leaned into House's chest, grinning when he slowly draped his arm over her side.

He grabbed the tv remote and started flicking through the channels, something told him Josie wouldn't care what he put on, she seemed like she would go with anything and he liked that. He didn't want to sit watching kiddy cartoons or listening to childish songs that he despised but for some reason got stuck in his head anyway.

"What's this, who watches this?" House scanned through the shows and movies that had recently been recorded but paused over one that was clearly a Spanish tv show on series record.

"Oh, that's daddy's show. He's learning Spanish," Josie shimmied more into House's side causing him to pause for a moment and glance down at her.

"Not anymore,"

He waited until she was comfy next to him before he pressed delete.

"Pet Cemetery, classic. What's the password?" House tried to play the movie on record but Josie only giggled into his side and shook her head.

"Daddy said you can't have password," This afternoon before they left, James had told her that uncle House would mostly likely try and watch some weird or scary stuff and if he tried she should tell him off because he would listen to her. He also told her not to show House where the tv password was written down in the drawer beneath the tv so he couldn't watch anything other than PG rated movies or shows.

James wasn't going to leave House in charge and let him give Josie nightmares, whether he meant to or realised it or not.

"Your daddy's silly." House settled on Ghostbusters, it was something he could easily sit through and something Josie would probably find funny rather than scary.

Leaning down, House rummaged through his backpack and pulled out a bottle of Pepsi and a plastic bag full of a variety of sweets. He needed to keep himself entertained somehow and he was feeling peckish. but one thing he was sure of was that he was glad he had gone through with this and come round to look after Josie. He liked spending time with his Goddaughter, she was a welcomed break from the idiots that surrounded him in the hospital and the team he worked with.

"Can I have a sweetie, please?" Despite how tired she was starting to feel, Josie peeked over at the bag on House's other side. She was always partial to a sweet, just like her mum.

"Go on." He moved the bag so it was between their knees so they could each take some. House was starting to see that he was becoming like Wilson, a push over when it came to the four year old. She could wrap both of them around her finger without even trying. House never shared his food, sweets or alcohol, even Wilson had to try hard to get some.

A comfortable silence enveloped them as they munched away on the random sweets House had brought along. And every now and then he felt Josie jump against his side or giggle to herself, he could tell she hadn't seen this movie before. And he could also tell that she was slowly starting to fall asleep.

He wasn't going to bother with her bedtime routine because frankly, he couldn't be bothered to get her through that and into bed and deal with her waking up. House knew what she was like, she would only keep waking up asking if her parents were back yet or when they would be home.

She was a nervous kid and she would feel better staying up with House until her parents came home so they could tuck her into bed.

House was drifting off into his own world until Josie jolted him back to reality.

The little girl jumped forward until her head was almost on her knees but it was the way she was trembling and waving her hands that told him something was wrong.

"What, what's up?"

Reaching out, House held her by her sides and turned her round so she was facing him. He paled when he saw the fright in her eyes and when she waved her hands near her throat and no screams, gasps or noises left her throat, he realised she was choking on a sweet.

"Stay still girlie, you're fine." An unusual tenderness flooded through House's voice when he firmly cupped her face in his hands and tilted her head up. He tapped a finger against her lips so she would open her mouth wider and he could assess whether he could see the sweet or not.

Josie snapped her eyes closed that were already starting to water and she went floppy letting House yet again move her around. His hands held her sides and he sat her down on his lap facing away from him, ignoring the burning it caused in his thigh.

"Lean forward," House tilted her forward and lined the base of his palm up between her shoulder blades before he sent three sharp smacks to her back to try and jolt the sweet free. He could feel the way she shook against him and he quickly moved his left arm round her side and planted his palm against her chest to keep her steady so she didn't topple to the floor.

Josie's hands continued to wave at her sides and scratch at her throat out of panic and when House leaned round to look at her, he noticed her lips had started to pale from lack of oxygen.

"Alright, let's try another round."

House hated to do the hymnic on children, he had to be much more careful than when doing this on an adult and this was Josie. This was his little Goddaughter, he didn't want to hurt her even if it was to save her.

With his hand curled into a fist and the knuckle of his thumb sticking out, he jabbed his fist into her lower sternum just above her small bellybutton. After three goes, he groaned and his lips pressed tighter together while his brows furrowed in anger and concentration. This was the first time he had looked after her in a long while, he couldn't be taking her to A&E from choking on a sweet on his watch. He couldn't be explaining this to James and (Y/n), they would never let him babysit again and despite what he tried to tell everyone, he actually enjoyed being with her.

"Come on!"

Another two rough smacks between her shoulder blades sent a lemon sherbet flying past her pale lips and they both watched it rattle across the coffee table and stick to one of the magazines.

A sigh of utter relief left House's lips and he threw his head back when Josie started to cry. It was like music to his ears after having her choke, crying meant she was conscious, had no blockage in her throat and was relatively alright. No lack of oxygen to her brain, she hadn't choked long enough for that to happen and he had helped her swiftly.

"U-uncle House…" Josie wailed quietly, sniffling and bubbling saliva between her lips. She couldn't see anymore due to the tremendous amount of tears flooding her face.

He gently turned her around to face him, a lot less tension in his arms and more care in his touch now.

In an instant, Josie's arms wrapped around his neck and she let her front fall onto his chest and her knees caved and bent into his stomach but he stiffled the groan of pain it caused. He let her snot and whimper into his neck while he rubbed his hand up and down her back, unknowingly humming a tune in her ear to calm her down.

"I got you, girlie, shh. No more sweets though."

A few coughs left her lips and vibrated into House's neck but he could feel her slowly starting to calm down against him and he rocked her in his arms. She was tired now, exhausted and shocked, he knew she was going to fall asleep soon and the sooner the better as it would help her feel better.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"That's sweet," (Y/n) kept one arm looped around James's arm while she fumbled for her phone and quickly took a picture of the scene in front of them.

House was stretched out on the sofa, head back on a cushion and mouth open with quiet snores leaving his lips every now and then. He had his bad leg hanging off the side of the sofa, but laid out on his chest was Josie. Her head was tucked under his chin, her arms were hooked around his neck and she was dribbling onto his shirt. They had a blanket draped across them and the end of Ghostbusters was playing on the tv.

"Sweetheart, we're home." James whispered quietly while he bent down beside the sofa.

Once Josie's eyes started to flutter, James leaned across and carefully eased her off of House's chest and took her into his arms. She needed to go to bed, it was late and she was going to make House wake up with aches and pains if she continued to lay on him and crush his chest. And House was asleep which was a good thing, he could crash on the sofa for the night and stay for breakfast in the morning.

Josie curled up into James's arms, burying her face into his neck and smiling when she felt him kissing her head repeatedly while he walked towards the kitchen and (Y/n) busied herself trying to make House more comfortable. His hand rubbed up and down her back and he smiled into her hair until she murmured something and wriggled against him.

"My back hurts," She whispered quietly causing James to frown. When he got to the kitchen, he leaned back against the counter, briefly grabbing her a cup of juice before he brushed his cheek against hers so he could look down at her back.

Slowly, he hooked his finger under the hem of her shirt and pulled it up but he took a sharp breath when he saw the beginnings of light bruising between her shoulders.

What had she done while they were out?

"Oh, baby what happened?"

He could feel her nuzzling her cheek against his and she brought her closed fist up to rub her button nose as she tried to look at him but she was too tired to keep her eyes open.

"Uncle House saved me,"

"Oh yeah, what did he save you from baby?" Amusement and worry both flashed in his eyes as he waited impatiently for her answer.

Had she been running around while House wasn't watching and had a fall? Did she try to play hide and seek or play a game and it went wrong and House had to patch her up? Josie herself didn't seem to upset or worried which calmed Wilson down. She seemed like she had had a good night, there were sweet wrappers across the floor, board games out on the table and a movie on tv so House had kept her entertained.

"A sweetie got stuck," Tilting her head back on his shoulder, Josie tiredly pointed to her throat, "He got it out."

Something rattled down Wilson's spine and his arms tightened around his daughter when he looked back over at her back before he growled. She had choked on a sweet. House had given her the hymnic manoeuvre to stop her from choking. He knew she was four, he knew hard boiled sweets, gobstoppers and overall touch candies that House himself loved, would be too much for Josie but he had let her have them and she had choked.

"House!"

[darcytaylor]

In celebration of Luke Thompson being the lead for Bridgerton season 4, I thought I would go and watch some of his past interviews. These are just some of my thoughts throughout listening to this podcast episode. 

(this is the video of the interview which is shorter than the actual podcast)

His little chuckles throughout are so charming and adorable. Whenever I read, watch or listen to any interviews with Luke, it is always a joy. You can tell he is well educated, which listening to this podcast he admits he is. Luke tried to get into drama school twice and didn’t get in, then decided to study English and drama in University (this is where he was able to do multiple plays). After that he went on and went to RADA (a very competitive arts school to get into). 

I love how Rob Byron describes Luke - on the edge of funny guy but good looking as well. He straddles both worlds. 

This is very true and this made him able to bring Benedict to life in a way that made him a fan favourite. I think this will also be such a benefit to his career with wherever he wants to go. As much as I am excited about him being the next lead in Bridgerton, I am also equally excited to see where his career will go after. I know he loves theatre but I am sure multiple doors will open for him once Bridgerton Season 4 airs (and yes I know this is years away).

The way be talks about A Little Life - baroque level of suffering, deliberate excess of sorrow. As someone who has read A Little Life and loved the story (while also being emotionally ruined by the end), I couldn’t agree more. 

Who here has also read A Little Life? Who here got a chance to see it on stage? Who here got a chance to see it on screen?

Luke talking in French - As a Canadian I do know a little bit of French (definitely not fluent), I don’t think I would be able to hold an in-depth conversation with him, but I could hold a surface level conversation with him in French at least. Which I think is a success in my books. 

I found it funny that in this podcast Rob asked Luke directly if he was in a relationship. Luke almost answered him, but then caught himself. He says that he is normally reserved about this type of information because (being an actor) he isn’t comfortable talking about himself or talking about his life. He wants to talk about his characters and his acting, it's very respectable.

I’m excited that eventually we will get more interviews with Luke, bring them on!

[tyttetardis]

Donmar Welcome Event 16th Jan 2024

Also went to a member's welcome event that the Donmar had, which was basically an hour where they served something to drink and told us a bit more about the theatre and the upcoming shows.

The invitation did say they'd have an exclusive tour of the place - on and off the stage - which I'd been quite excited about - but that didn't actually happen :(

Still, it was rather interesting! Learned a few things about Macbeth as well :)

Apparently, the stage stains very easily - which is why I'm baffled at how easy it apparently is to clean, but guess they must have some really lovely red dye that isn't as stainful as pretty much anything else that's dyed red. It also scratches easily - the movement on the stage can easily create little creases where the blood can get stuck.

I'd only seen the bloodbath on the floor once, so hadn't noticed, but was told that it comes up through the floor - probably why it differs so wildly each night how and where David is covered in it!

(As an aside to that - on the first night there wasn't a bloodbath - he was struck with the knife and there was a bit of blood on his shirt instead - now there's no blood at the wound)

Someone asked them about filming productions (not specifically about Macbeth - and they didn't say anything about it) and they told us about the process of deciding whether to record a production or not as it's a very costly affair to do so - which is why it's not something they just automatically do for everything.

They said that either the NT will ask them if they record a show - which means they do everything, and therefore is obviously the much cheaper option for themselves. The NT will let them know what benefits there might be in it for them - but as far as I understood they won't really earn much if anything from it.

So, the second option is for themselves to invest in filming a production by bringing in a third-party filming company that they pay for themselves. It's obviously a much more expensive way of doing it - but they'd also get more money back from it if it sells well in cinemas or online. Obviously, they have gone with the second option - so hopefully that's because they think it has really good marketing potential!

They mentioned that they are always very aware of the fact that not as many people get to see their performances as would probably like to see them - so it's always part of their considerations whether to film it or not when they create a new production.

One of them joked that they could probably keep up a production like Macbeth for three years and still sell-out - but that the theatre is known for putting on about 6 productions each year, so there's a limit to how long their runs can be - plus there's also the availability of actors to consider.

Someone asked if actors (I assume meaning, big name actors) takes a pay-cut to work with them - and yes, they do. Everyone is paid the theatre-standard no matter who they are. The only extra benefit they might offer big names is a taxi to get to the theatre and to escape back home afterwards.

Ah, yeah, think that was about it - everything else was more or less just about the upcoming productions, memberships, and other general things :)

Edit: Oh, forgot to mention that their focus will always be on the production as it's on, then on any potential transfers and then on releasing it for cinema/online - so if they filmed something it wouldn't be released until the live show is done - and sounded like they wouldn't necessarily say anything about it having been recorded (or not) until then as well. So don't think we will hear anything about the plan for it until the show is over.

[practically-an-x-man]

So... callbacks!

(tagging the friends I've been talking theatre with, just so I don't have to re-type the story a bunch of times: @can-of-pringles @negative-speedforce @sashathedoge @witchy-self-shipper @noodles-07 @kyberinfinitygems)

First of all, incredible pool of talent here. I think at this point it's not about skill, just about which rendition of the character the director likes most. Each actor who auditioned clearly rehearsed and put together their own version of the character, so it's just which version aligns with the director's vision.

^ This is good, I'm glad it's by no means a runaway game and I know whoever gets chosen for the role will do an incredible job, but it also makes me very nervous about if my rendition will make the cut

Singing went well, there was an interesting thing with the lyrics (the videos they gave us had the revival, the printed lyrics they supplied were the original Broadway, apparently I was the only one who chose to prepare the original Broadway lyrics bc I thought the discrepancy was intentional [like they wanted to force us to make our own choices rather than copying the Broadway actor]) but again, everyone clearly prepared, it all went well, I'm feeling good about my choices but it's very tough competition.

Dancing also went well!! I'm very glad I practiced beforehand - for one thing, I was comfortable enough to make character choices rather than having to focus on the technical dancing, and for another, I was comfortable enough to have fun!

That's the thing - I enjoyed these callbacks! The stress didn't get me nearly as much as it normally does, possible because of how much I prepared and possibly because I've worked with the production team before, but I just thoroughly enjoyed every stage of the process and I think it showed. I'm just... all-around excited for this show, whether or not I get cast.

Reading for the sides was mildly disappointing - we were low on time so we only read for one scene, and I was paired with an actor who was a little hard to work off of.

^ But that being said, I feel like that one scene did go pretty well, I think the director could see my choices and the emotion I put into the scene, I think I made the best with what I had available to me.

Both the people who were called back for the Leading Player, at two different moments, quietly said they were rooting for me for Pippin :D One of them said that she expected me to be called back for Pippin after hearing my audition, so apparently I give off at least some vibes for the character?

As with any theatre thing, I try to be encouraging and respectful towards my fellow actors - the production team already knows this, having worked with me before, but I feel it's just as important to the callback as the acting itself. Hell - maybe I'm not the best Pippin, but if I'm the Pippin that's always lifting people up and volunteering to help out, that might give me just enough of a boost to get cast. (That's not why I try to be positive, but it is something I'm aware of when it comes to auditioning. Presence offstage is just as important as presence onstage, and nobody wants to deal with an asshole through 3 months of rehearsals)

I didn't actually get to read for Lewis at all - part of me wants to believe it's because they really saw Pippin in me, but I know it's more likely that it just was getting late and they ran out of time for more scenes.

All in all... I feel like it was one of my best and most prepared callbacks I've had, I'm proud of my effort and my rendition of the character even if it's not the director's choice, though I know at least some of my audition-mates are encouraged that I'll get the role and that feels really nice. It's funny how quickly my intent shifted: when I wasn't called back for the Leading Player, I dove headfirst into playing Pippin instead and I think it showed. I'll still be disappointed if I don't get the role, that's natural, but I trust this director and I know I put in 100% of what I had to offer.

Time for three days of irrational anxiety as I wait for the cast list - I know I did the best I could, but the waiting game is so hard for me. Especially since this is my first real opportunity for a lead role, and the first time I feel like I've really stood a chance against the competition.

[padfootagain]

Something Good (XIII)

Chapter 13: The Plan

Hello! Here is a new chapter for my Ben Barnes series!

We are back in Leeds and… hihihihihihihihihih!!!! You’re gonna like this chapter I think, an important one for Ben, for sure!

This chapter is quite long, but it wasn’t logical to cut it into two pieces so… you’ll have to bear with me.

Hope you like this chapter! Tell me what you think!

****

Pairing: Ben Barnes x Reader

Warnings: none for this chapter! Slow burn, professor AU.

Summary: Coming out of a divorce and trying to get used to being a single mom, while teaching your classes at University, you thought your life could not get more complicated than it already is. But when you are asked to take care of the theatre club with the colleague that you really can’t get along with, you realize that everything can still get ten times more complicated in your life. And when you start actually liking Professor Barnes, the troubles only grow exponentially…

Word Count: 5928

Masterlist for the series – Ben Barnes’ Masterlist – Main Masterlist

Ben had a plan.

He needed to get over this stupid crush of his, this… ridiculous infatuation. He needed to go back to the way things were before. Not the annoyed part of your relationship, but the friendly part. The professional part.

So, after spending his Sunday tortured by the thought of you, he finally found the perfect plan. It was simple, but easy. It was simple, but would be effective. Because, after all, what he felt for you was a mere crush, nothing more. Absolutely nothing more than a silly crush that would be gone as quickly as it had appeared.

The plan was simple, yet it promised to be effective: Ben would avoid you at all cost.

After all, the only time during the week when he had to see you was for the theatre club on Thursdays. That was all. Perhaps a second meeting to get ready for the club? He would see you a grand total of three hours during the week. It was most definitely not enough to keep such a ridiculous crush alive. Ben was pretty certain that everything would be back to normal by the end of the week, two weeks at the most.

So, when he stepped into his office on Monday, he was determined to remain there all morning, and to resist his urge to drop by your office just to have a chance to see you, even if for just a few minutes.

But it quickly went wrong…

His quiet and tranquillity lasted a strong thirty minutes, until he was startled by a soft knock on his door. And when he looked up, you were standing on the threshold of his office, a bright grin on your face, as if you truly were unbearably happy to see him and God knew Ben wished you could always look at him like that…

He cleared his throat, shaking himself out of his thoughts.

“Hi, Ben!” you chimed, walking inside before he would invite in.

“Good morning, Y/N.”

He tried hard not to smile too much, but couldn’t help himself when he saw you hurrying inside, taking a seat he hadn’t offered yet, with an excited smile on your lips.

His heart skipped a beat at the thought that, maybe, you were so excited because of him…

“Did you have a good Sunday?” you asked, starting with some small-talk.

“I did,” Ben nodded. “Restful.”

That was a blatant lie, he had barely slept in the last forty-eight hours because he couldn’t stop thinking about you…

“You?”

“Just spent some time with Sally. Watched Mulan, for a change,” you joked, making him laugh too easily.

He felt giddy. Like a kid. Like an infatuated teenager.

“But I was coming to see you with a purpose!” you took a folded piece of paper out of your purse and handed it to Ben, who accepted it with a puzzled frown. “Sally made this for you.”

Ben’s frown deepened although there was a smile tugging at his lips now.

He unfolded the piece of paper, to reveal a messy painting of red flowers, very similar to the ones Sally had showed proudly on that video call in London. Ben’s frown broke into a grin, and he couldn’t refrain a chuckle.

“This is adorable.”

“She said – and I quote – ‘Ben is nice with you, mummy, so we need to be nice with him. And he didn’t get a painting. So, he needs one’.”

“That’s amazing. Please, thank her for me.”

“I will. She sent me on a mission to give it to you today, you know?”

“Really?”

“She reminded me at least five times to give it to you and went as far as to check herself if it was in my purse.”

Ben exploded with laughter, the sound loud and luminous, making your heart skip a beat.

“She’s something else,” he commented. “Well, I love her gift, you can tell her she’s a born artist.”

“I will,” you giggled.

You spent a moment simply staring at each other, and found yourselves unable to look away.

Your eyes were so pretty. And your eyelashes seemed so endearing for some reason under the neon lights of his office…

You were the first to break the spell, suddenly getting up and shying away while Ben was blushing profusely.

“Alright, I’ll let you work now,” you added in a hurry before turning toward the door.

And Ben was so disappointed to see you leave… he looked for something to say to hold you back, so you could come back on this chair where he hadn’t invited you in the first place, so you could keep on talking despite the fact that he had a million things to do to prepare his paper…

You turned around one last time, just before stepping across the door, and Ben’s heart stopped altogether, suspended to the words you hadn’t even pronounced yet…

“Would you like to have lunch with me?”

Ben grinned. So bright, you were almost blinded by it.

“Sure, I’d love that.”

“I have a class until 12:30.”

“Just drop by when you come back. We’ll go to the cafeteria together.”

It was your time to grin.

“Okay! See you later!”

Before he could say anything else, you had walked away, still grinning, looking excited… God, did he wish it could be because of him…

He heaved a sigh, letting himself completely collapse into his chair.

He was ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. He needed to get over you… what was he doing? He should have refused to eat with you…

He looked down at Sally’s painting again. There were traces of her tiny fingers here and there, imprinted in red paint. Messy brush strokes all over the paper to shape irregular petals of all sizes.

He smiled fondly at the painting, and when he put it away in his drawer, he was careful with it, delicate, aware to be holding something precious. He gave it one last fond glance before closing the drawer.

Tomorrow. He would start properly avoiding you tomorrow…

He could enjoy one more day basking in your radiant presence.

Tuesday was not much of a success either. It wasn’t Ben’s fault though. When he stepped into the cafeteria around eleven to grab a coffee, he did try to back away and abort mission altogether…

… but you had spotted him before he could run for his life.

“Hi, Ben!”

You gave him a small, adorable wave, how was he supposed to resist?

His two-minutes break turned into fifteen minutes chatting with you, until it was time for him to get ready for a class.

“Do you want to have lunch with me and Jas today?” you asked him before he would leave.

“Oh, it would have been nice, but… My class ends at half-past one today. I’m not going to make you wait for so long. Sorry.”

He had never been happy about having lunch late before, but this gave him the perfect excuse…

But you merely shrugged.

“We can wait for you, it’s no trouble.”

Ben froze, frowning a little.

“I… are you sure?” he asked in a stutter, taken aback.

“Of course! Drop by my office when you come back, okay?”

“Sure…”

It turned out that, unsurprisingly, Jasmine didn’t want to wait for so long to get lunch, and ended up eating lunch with other colleagues.

But you waited. When Ben arrived, you welcomed him with the brightest of smiles, grabbed your lunchbox and asked how his class had been. He wasn’t surprised to find that Jasmine had already eaten, but he was surprised to find you waiting for him.

You had forgotten your cutlery, he handed you his fork and ate with his spoon instead.

And he wondered why he was so touched by it all. It wouldn’t have bothered him at all to wait for you to have lunch.

Maybe he wasn’t so used to feel like he was enough for anyone to make any kind of efforts to be with him…

And it was so nice of you to have waited…

Tomorrow. He would start properly avoiding you tomorrow…

He could enjoy one more day basking in your radiant presence.

Wednesday came and he was the one to offer for the two of you to eat lunch together. It hid a devilish plan of his: you needed to talk about the club, and he intended to kill two birds with one stone, and to avoid having a proper meeting with you during the afternoon by working at lunch.

It backfired completely, though.

You heaved a frustrated sigh as you noticed that you had forgotten to bring a fork and spoon… again.

The cafeteria was quiet, although there were quite a lot of people there, but the conversations were calm and the voices low. It didn’t really fit your current state of mind.

Ben merely chuckled as he handed you his fork.

“Why don’t you leave some in your office, just in case?”

“I always forget to do that too.”

You rubbed your eyes, heaving a sigh. You seemed exhausted today, and Ben wondered why. You were still kind, still smiling, but your eyes weren’t shining as much as usual. Dark bags dug into the skin under your eyes.

“Rough night?” he asked, and you nodded.

“Nightmares.”

Ben was cautious when he asked his next question.

“What kind?”

But you shook your head.

“Nothing new. Never mind.”

He didn’t insist when you guided the conversation away, settling on the club instead.

“We have so much work to do for the club too,” you moaned. “We need to find a way to play music for tomorrow. And for the rest of our sessions. And tomorrow we’re assigning roles and…”

But Ben interrupted you, feeling that you were spiralling, as your voice sounded more and more distressed, your throat tightening.

“I’ll bring my guitar tomorrow, and the choir has a synthesizer, some drums, a few of these. I’ve asked them, we can borrow their stuff as much as we want. And the kids have prepared their song, you can trust them on that. They take this thing seriously.”

“I know. I don’t want to disappoint them.”

But you were surprised when Ben chuckled.

“Why on Earth would you disappoint them?”

“I don’t know,” you admitted, feeling a little foolish now.

Ben shook his head, a fond smile on his lips.

“You’re doing great, with the club, with… everything, really. You’re doing great, don’t worry. Besides, I’m here too. I’ll help.”

You weren’t sure if he was talking solely of the club now, or if he was talking of something more… you weren’t certain.

He knew he didn’t mean just the club though, even if he didn’t want to admit it.

When lunch was over, you felt better. You were laughing again, and Ben didn’t want to leave. He didn’t want to go back to his office, and he didn’t want to have to wait till tomorrow to see you again…

His plan backfired, because when you waved at him as you walked towards your office, Ben didn’t have any excuse to see you again.

Thursday was the day of the theatre club. You had so much stuff to do and to decide, but the most urgent matter was to assign roles. You and Ben had brought a guitar and a synthesizer, and a few students had brought their instruments as well, even if you had not asked them to. They had gathered the previous week, even though you and Ben were in London, and had already decided on some of the roles, some people volunteering for them.

It was a lot of fun. It was busy and a little chaotic, but in the end everyone was more or less laughing, and joking around.

You were surprised by Ben’s musical skills. He didn’t seem fully at ease playing the piano, but he was more than good enough to go through the song, you guessed he must have prepared for it.

And he did. He could also play the guitar, and it was amazing to see him talking with some of the students about music, especially with Nathaniel and Roberta, who seemed to share a passion for bass guitar.

And you couldn’t control the way butterflies erupted throughout your stomach, the way your heart stumbled in your chest, the way you felt heat spreading all over your frame at the sight of Ben’s form hunched upon his guitar, a bright smile on his lips…

He seemed to adore music, to adore playing… it was amazing to see him smile so brightly, looking so happy.

He seemed more relaxed than usual too. You struggled to swallow when you caught him popping one more button of his shirt open; and you did your best not to stare, but you failed quite miserably.

Both you and Ben were quite surprised at how talented some of these kids were. May they be playing an instrument or singing, almost all of them would have already been able to hold their ground on a stage.

You sang along a few times, just for fun or to help a couple of shy students, and Ben was surprised. Your voice was lovely. You weren’t singing with your full lungs, but the sound was pleasant nonetheless, even if it remained shy. But then, why was he surprised in the first place? He loved listening to your voice, no matter if you were talking, whispering or singing. He shouldn’t have been surprised at all…

Nathaniel ended up being cast as Christian, the vote was unanimous. After a second performance, Giselle was chosen to play Satine. The rest of the group was divided through the other roles. Daniel was ecstatic when he was chosen to play Harold Zidler, making everyone laugh.

“I need to grow a moustache!”

“You don’t have to,” Ben laughed.

“Oh, I will! I will! Have you seen his moustache? I want to get that too…”

“Are you sure you can grow a moustache like that?” Nathaniel teased him, earning a shove that sent him flying off the table where he was sitting.

Everyone exploded with laughter, including Nathaniel.

And when Ben turned to you, basking in the warmth of your laughter, studying the way your nose was scrunching a little bit, the lines at the corner of your eyes, the curve of your lips… He was terrible at hiding the blush in his cheeks, the dreamy glint in his eyes, the tenderness in his smile.

He was so terrible at it that several students exchanged a curious glance.

What was happening between their two teachers?

Friday came with the promise of the weekend and some well-deserved rest.

When you came knocking on Ben’s door at noon, you didn’t even have to ask him if he wanted to join you for lunch. He simply grinned, asked you how you were doing, stood up and grabbed his lunchbox.

He handed you some cutlery without a word, cheeks all red but with an amused smile on his lips. You thanked him shyly, trying to hide your reaction from Jasmine, but you failed quite miserably.

You chatted happily with a bunch of your colleagues throughout lunch, and yet your gaze kept on drifting back to Ben on its own accord. And Ben was quiet, not because he didn’t have much to say, but simply because he was too busy looking at you to listen properly to the conversation.

When it was time to go back to work, Ben had completely forgotten about his meeting with his PhD student Henry, too busy chatting with you about this movie he wanted to see this weekend. He didn’t seem to notice either that your office was in the opposite direction, he enjoyed your presence too much for that.

“Oh! Hello, Henry! How are you?” you greeted the young man with a warm smile, and Ben finally noticed his student waiting for him by the door of his office.

Henry seemed quite taken aback, but smiled nonetheless.

“Huh… Hi! I was just waiting for Ben, actually. We have a meeting…”

Ben’s eyes grew round, and he checked his watch.

He was fifteen minutes late.

“God, Henry! I’m so sorry, I completely forgot!” Ben apologized, blushing hard and hurrying towards his office now.

He unlocked the door and let his student walk in before turning to you again.

“I…”

He wanted to ask for a drink. He wanted to ask you if you wanted to come to the cinema with him or to have a walk or… anything… anything as long as he could see you a little more, even if it were for mere minutes…

But you were faster than him.

“Well, have a good weekend, then, Ben!” and he was almost certain that you were reluctant when you spoke your goodbye.

“You too… have a nice weekend.”

You gave him one last smile, before turning around to leave. And Ben watched until you had disappeared around the corner, he couldn’t help it.

He heaved a sigh, staring for a moment longer at the spot that you had occupied and then left empty. At long last, he walked inside his office and sat down.

“So… Henry. Huh… wait a second…”

He looked for the right notebook, then flipped the pages.

“Ha yes, last time we started discussing the…”

“Wait, Ben.”

The professor looked up, surprised. He pushed back his glasses upon his nose.

“Before we start… I really need to know what the hell just happened.”

Ben frowned hard.

“What do you mean? What are you talking about?”

“About you and Y/N, of course!”

Ben blushed fiercely, he couldn’t help it. He clenched his jaw, averting his eyes and clearing his throat.

“I don’t know what you mean…”

“Ben… please! Last time I saw the two of you together you were ready to cut each other’s throats! And now… are you sleeping together?” Henry asked, looking excited.

“Of course not!” Ben hissed, looking at the door, but he had closed it before entering his office.

“Oh my God… you have a crush on Y/N…”

“Of course not! Stop it!”

“Wow… I had not seen this one coming. Does she feel the same? Have you asked her out? Oh. My. God…. London… did you two go on a date in London? Did you…”

Henry gave Ben a suggestive look, and it was too much. Way too much for Ben.

“Shut up!”

“But does she feel the same? Have you already asked her out?” Henry insisted.

He noticed the flash of pain and discomfort that crossed Ben’s features, and his excited expression was replaced by a worried one.

When Ben replied, his voice was frozen, impersonal… it sounded so unlike him…

“Henry, do I really have to remind you that I’m your boss and that you can’t ask me questions like that?”

“But I…”

“One more word and I’ll have you fired. Is that clear enough?”

Henry froze, mouth dropping open in shock. A mixture of astonishment, of hurt, of anger as well.

Perhaps he had crossed a line, but Ben was a friend. They had gone to drink beers together, they had spent hours talking about their personal lives… it wasn’t such a stretch for Henry to ask Ben about you.

Why was he reacting this way?

“Sorry,” he mumbled, his shoulders dropping.

He noticed the way Ben’s eyes filled with tears though, and all traces of anger left him.

Ben looked away in a hurry, hiding his reaction, and cleared his throat, pretending to read something on his notebook, when he couldn’t see anything, tears blurring his vision.

“Ben? You’re okay?”

“Of course.”

“We… we can do this next week if you want. I didn’t really find anything interesting this week.”

Ben nodded, mumbling a thank you and goodbye.

“Can I do something for you, Ben?”

“I’m just fine, Henry. I’m just tired.”

It was a blatant lie, and Henry knew it. But he didn’t push it. Instead, he got up, and left without a word.

And Ben felt so ashamed for snapping at his friend this way. But then again, as soon as the door closed, Ben had to take his glasses off so he could brush some tears away.

Henry’s words rang in his ears again and again and the answer kept on being shouted in his head…

Does she feel the same? Does she feel the same? Does she feel the same?

Just friends. Just friends. Just friends.

When Ben looked up again, he caught his own dim reflection in his blank computer screen, undefined yet still him. Barely him at all though, after so many changes.

He struggled to swallow, his throat too tight.

How could she? You’ll never be enough…

Saturday passed in a blur.

Ben was still plagued by his conversation with Henry, no matter how short it had been. He could feel his old insecurities coming up all over again. You had shushed them a little during the week, but he had been a fool for thinking that it could last, that he could do it… that he could lean into these feelings. He couldn’t. It was ridiculous, and dangerous and…

His first plan was the right one. The one he needed to go with. He needed to get over this silly crush of his, and to do that, he had to stop spending time with you.

And now, it was the weekend, it was the perfect occasion to stay away.

So, Ben kept himself busy. He went to the cinema, went out with a few friends, called his family.

On Sunday morning, he rested a bit, too tired after his night out with his friends, but he decided to go for a walk in the afternoon. He opted for Roundhay Park, as he loved running there. He disregarded the potential explanation for his choice being that Sally had mentioned that park the previous week. Besides, the little girl said she was going to go there with her father next week, so Ben was in the clear. There was no chance he would stumble upon you there.

Or was there?

It was sunny despite the biting cold. His warm breath was making his glasses blurry with condensation, but he didn’t mind that much. He took a long walk along Waterloo lake, enjoying the peaceful sound of the water moving with the wind and the happy laughter of children feeding ducks and running around in the grass. He had brought a book, and decided to settle for a while at the Lakeside Café. He was in sight of the coffee shop when he heard a laughter he recognized in a second. And sure enough, a mere moment later, someone was shouting his name. A child…

“Look mummy! It’s Ben!”

And he shouldn’t have turned around, because he needed to get over you. And he needed to control himself and to resist and to not see you…

But he turned anyway, despite his brain, despite reason, despite logic, even despite his heart. He couldn’t help it. It was too much to ask from him to act as if you weren’t there…

“Oh! Hi, Ben!”

You waved at him, grin bright and welcoming as ever, looking adorable in your warm clothes.

And Ben wanted to cry at the mere sight, but he smiled instead.

Sally was pulling you towards Ben by the hand, and he couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.

“Well, hello, Sally!” he waved at the girl, and she grinned up at him.

“It’s funny seeing you here,” you said, but there was no trace of sarcasm in your voice. You were genuinely happy to see him.

“Yeah… same for you, actually. I thought you had planned a quiet Sunday, and that Sally was going to the park next week with Liam.”

“It was the plan! But Sally wanted to come and… well… it’s always nice to come at this time of the year. With all the trees losing their colourful leaves… and it’s quieter than usual too, thanks to the cold.”

You were grinning, you looked so happy to see him…

Were you? Were you that happy? Or was he imagining things? Like he was imagining a perfect life with Julia…

His resolution came back to his mind, and his smile was quite tight when he spoke again.

“Well, I hope you have a nice afternoon together.”

You frowned a little at that, but then again… he was probably busy. Perhaps he wasn’t even alone.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” you nodded. “Come on, angel! Let’s go see the ducks.”

“But…” Sally turned to Ben again, giving him her most adorable puppy eyes. “Do you want to come see the ducks too?”

Ben struggled to swallow, but he shook his head. He forced a smile, his hands tightly closed in fists.

“No, I think your mom would prefer for the two of you to spend the afternoon together…”

But just as he silently complimented himself for his great excuse, you destroyed all his plans.

“Oh, don’t worry about that! I’d love it if you spent the rest of the afternoon with us!”

“Yes! Please, Ben!”

“I… I don’t know… I don’t want to bother you or…”

Your smile faltered, and he hated himself for being the reason for it.

“No, it’s okay,” you answered, voice shy and fragile all of a sudden, and Ben frowned at your change of tone, from excitement to sadness. “We’re the ones bothering you. I’m sorry. Let’s go, Sally.”

“But…”

“Ben is having a nice time now, let’s leave him alone. Come on.”

You pulled your daughter away, waving at Ben as a goodbye… but the two of you seemed so disappointed and Ben…

… Ben was heartbroken as he watched you leave.

And just like he failed on Monday, he failed to forget you once again. How could he push you away? You were… everything.

He thought for a second about what he wanted. Safety? To forget about his crush? To forget about you? To go back to his quiet life?

But the answer was none of the above. It was perfectly clear and obvious.

I want Y/N.

Perhaps he wasn’t enough, and perhaps you didn’t feel the same, and perhaps he was getting himself into too much trouble, but it didn’t matter. At the end of the day, he felt miserable at the mere idea of walking away now.

So… what was the point?

“Actually…”

You turned around as you heard him, frowning a little. You had taken but a few steps, you could still hear him loud and clear without him needing to raise his voice.

“I’m freezing,” he went on, trying to hide the way he was suddenly out of breath. “I was about to get a coffee. Would you like one?”

“You don’t have to…”

“I want to.”

Slowly, a smile formed on your lips again. Meanwhile, Sally was overexcited already.

“Mummy! Can I get a hot chocolate? Pleeeeeeaaaaaase!!!!”

You fondly laughed at her, nodding.

“Yes, you can get a hot chocolate.”

Sally jumped up and down in excitement, letting you guide her towards the coffee shop.

And it was lovely. It was more than lovely, actually, it was happy. You felt so calm, the way you only felt when Ben was near. And he felt warm and safe, the way he only felt when you were there.

You played with Sally, listened to her babble away about school, and you and Ben talked for a while too while Sally was playing with a couple of toys you had brought. And it was easy. Everything was easy with you, when on paper, it should have been complicated. But it wasn’t, not really. It was made simple by how happy he felt talking with you, and laughing with you… Ben reckoned he had not been this happy in a long, long time.

You ended up going to see the ducks and swans and the geese after your warm drink. Ben protected Sally from a goose at one point, earning himself a nasty nip at his wrist. But he didn’t really mind. Sally was a little scared after that, so you walked across the grass instead, played some tag, and you were surprised at how easy it was for Sally to play with Ben.

She was running away, laughing like crazy, while Ben was threatening to catch her and tickle her. When he caught up with her, he lifted her up above his head a couple of times, making her laugh even more.

When Ben turned around, laughing with your daughter in his arms, you had tears in your eyes, and he frowned at the sight, afraid he had gone too far, done something wrong…

“Are you alright?” he asked, gently putting Sally down.

But you nodded, grinning now, despite the tears you were brushing away.

“Mummy! We tickle!”

Sally rushed towards you, hands up in a grabbing gesture, and you laughed at her, running away.

Your daughter turned to Ben, then pointed at you.

“Ben! We must tickle!”

He laughed, shaking his head with infinite fondness, before nodding.

He followed your daughter as she ran after you, and you let yourself be caught by your daughter. You weren’t expecting to stagger so much as you laughed though, and as you lost your balance, you expected to fall. But you didn’t.

Instead, you were caught with ease, in a gentle hold, resting against something hard…

When you looked up, it was to meet Ben’s dark eyes and get lost in them.

Hands splayed on his chest, looking dishevelled in an adorable way, you looked up at him and he fell into your eyes. He stumbled into them and found himself trapped, with no chance of escape…

His hold on you tightened a little without him noticing when his gaze drifted down to your lips. And he wondered how they tasted like, and how soft they could be… And when his eyes fell onto the edge of your jaw, and the tiny bit of skin that peeked out from under your scarf, he wondered how your skin tasted like, and how you would sound if he pressed his lips to the pulse of your neck…

You took a step back, and he shook himself out of his thoughts, blushing fiercely, but it was easy to blame it on the cold. It was harder to find an excuse for the way he flexed his hands, for the way his breathing was shallow now, for the way his heart was racing…

And when he looked up at you again, his heart seemed to expand in his chest into something warm and radiant and too big for his ribcage. And he was stunned by the feeling, he didn’t really understand it at first, it was too overwhelming for him to do so…

You cleared your throat, smiling shyly.

“Thanks,” you mumbled, rubbing your palms against your thighs.

“You… you’re welcome…”

And he kept on staring at you. He kept on staring because he couldn’t look away. The whole world could have crumbled, and Ben would not have moved a muscle. He was too stunned for that.

And he wondered what that all meant, what was he feeling? It was just a crush… a silly crush… just a crush…

“Mummy, look! Ben, look! A big duck!”

You turned to Sally again, who was pointing at a bird a few meters away.

And Ben shook himself, pushing his thoughts and feelings to the side.

He joined you once more, looked at the duck with Sally, crouching down next to her and pointing at the colours on the feather, talking in a soft, soothing voice.

You were supposed to stay for only an hour, and Ben was supposed to head home early, but you only left the park because Sally was growing tired and the light was beginning to decline, the sun setting in lines of gold and red. Ben chuckled as a leaf got caught in your hair, and you were surprised when he reached to take it away, but you didn’t protest. You didn’t protest either when he pressed his palm against the strands of hair that had been messed by the leaf as he pulled it away. And you didn’t protest when his hand lingered on your hair for too long.

Ben was ready to explode, feeling the soft strands under his palm and fingers, your warmth radiating through his skin…

You walked to your car, and Ben helped you to fasten Sally’s seatbelt in the backseat. You turned to him one last time as you closed the door, before you would walk around the car to get in the driver’s seat.

“I had a lot of fun today,” you told him. “I’m glad we met randomly, like this.”

“Me too,” Ben grinned. “It was fun.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For… everything, I think.”

Ben frowned, not understanding, but it didn’t matter. He didn’t have time to ask you what you meant. Because, the next second, you were resting a hand on his shoulder, and going on your tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

Warm breath against his beard. The pressure of your fingers on his shoulder, that he could feel despite his warm coat. And then the softness of your lips so… so soft. Your hand left his shoulder, coming up to cup his cheek instead, so you could press your lips a little harder against his skin, and he closed his eyes. A mere reflex, he didn’t even notice that his eyelids were fluttering and coming down. He leaned into your touch without noticing, because he couldn’t have, even if he had wanted to. Ben’s brain had ceased to function altogether. He could barely breathe at all, his entire body on fire and his heart stumbling in his chest and failing to keep a rhythm and…

… and then you were gone.

Your fingers slipped away from his beard, touch gentle, feathery. Your lips left him and were replaced by the cold wind of November.

When he opened his eyes again, he fell into yours.

You were smiling. And you were… you were…

Everything…

“Bye, Ben.”

Your voice was so tender, so soft… a little deeper than usual, he noticed it. He wasn’t able to think enough to understand why, though. Instead, he smiled, mimicking you.

“Bye, Y/N.”

You walked away, turned around and walked over to the door by the driver’s seat, and climbed inside. Only when the engines started was Ben able to move, and he walked to his own car.

When you drove past him and waved, and when Sally waved at him too with a toothy grin, he waved back at the two of you.

He climbed inside his car, locked the doors, and let out a long, deep breath.

His heart was beating frantically, and despite the minutes that had flown by, he could still feel the burn of your skin against his, the weight of your lips, hear the staggering of your breath as you pulled away, and the way the dying light of sunset got caught in your eyelashes and… and…

And that feeling in his chest…

He let out a sharp breath when the realization struck him… chasing all air from his lungs as efficiently as a punch in the stomach.

Because he knew. He knew what that all meant, what he felt… and it wasn’t a mere crush, it was so much more, it was…

Oh…

Oh, no…

***************************

Taglist: @sergeantbuckybarnes @reg-arcturus-black @wolfmoonmusic @kpicard @rhapsodyonthethames @idek-what-to-put

[toomanyrobins2]

Our Manhattan

Summary: An orphan all her life, Y/N is simply too old to remain at The Bowery Home any longer. That is where an anonymous patron has swooped in to send her off to college and all he requires…a monthly letter of her academic progress.

Based off the book and musical “Daddy Long Legs”

Pairing: Bruce Wayne x Reader

last part // series masterlist // next part

Notes: I'm finally getting around to updating this fic! If you would like to catch up and get more consistent updates to this story and others I would go to by AO3!

24th March, maybe the 25th

Dear Batman,

I don't believe I can be going to Heaven—I am getting such a lot of good things here; it wouldn't be fair to get them hereafter too. Listen to what has happened.

Y/N Abbott has won the short-story contest (a twenty-five dollar prize) that the Monthly holds every year. And she's a Sophomore! The contestants are mostly Seniors. When I saw my name posted, I couldn't quite believe it was true. Maybe I am going to be an author after all. I wish Mrs. Lippett hadn't given me such a silly name—it sounds like an author-ess, doesn't it?

Also I have been chosen for the spring dramatics—As You Like It out of doors. I am going to be Celia, own cousin to Rosalind.

And lastly: Harriet and Barbara and I are going to New York next Friday to do some spring shopping and stay all night and go to the theatre the next day with 'Master Brucie.' He invited us. Harriet is going to stay at home with her family, but Barbara and I are going to stop at the Martha Washington Hotel. Did you ever hear of anything so exciting? I've never been in a hotel in my life, nor in a theatre; except once when the Catholic Church had a festival and invited the orphans, but that wasn't a real play and it doesn't count.

And what do you think we're going to see? Hamlet. Think of that! We studied it for four weeks in Shakespeare class and I know it by heart.

I am so excited over all these prospects that I can scarcely sleep.

Goodbye, Bats.

This is a very entertaining world.

Yours ever,

Judy

PS. I've just looked at the calendar. It's the 28th.

Another postscript.

I saw a street car conductor today with one brown eye and one blue. Wouldn't he make a nice villain for a detective story?

 

7th April

Dear Batman,

Mercy! Isn't New York big? Worcester is nothing to it. Do you mean to tell me that you actually lived in all that confusion? I don't believe that I shall recover for months from the bewildering effect of two days of it. I can't begin to tell you all the amazing things I've seen; I suppose you know, though, since you live there yourself.

But aren't the streets entertaining? And the people? And the shops? I never saw such lovely things as there are in the windows. It makes you want to devote your life to wearing clothes.

Barbara and Harriet and I went shopping together Saturday morning. Harriet went into the very most gorgeous place I ever saw, white and gold walls and blue carpets and blue silk curtains and gilt chairs. A perfectly beautiful lady with yellow hair and a long black silk trailing gown came to meet us with a welcoming smile. I thought we were paying a social call, and started to shake hands, but it seems we were only buying hats—at least Harriet was. She sat down in “front of a mirror and tried on a dozen, each lovelier than the last, and bought the two loveliest of all.

I can't imagine any joy in life greater than sitting down in front of a mirror and buying any hat you choose without having first to consider the price! There's no doubt about it, Bats; New York would rapidly undermine this fine stoical character which the Bowery Home so patiently built up.

And after we'd finished our shopping, we met Master Bruce at Sherry's. I suppose you've been in Sherry's? Picture that, then picture the dining room of the Bowery Home with its oilcloth-covered tables, and white crockery that you can't break, and wooden-handled knives and forks; and fancy the way I felt!

I ate my fish with the wrong fork, but the waiter very kindly gave me another so that nobody noticed.

And after luncheon we went to the theatre—it was dazzling, marvellous, unbelievable—I dream about it every night.

Isn't Shakespeare wonderful?

Hamlet is so much better on the stage than when we analyze it in class; I “appreciated it before, but now, dear me!

I think, if you don't mind, that I'd rather be an actress than a writer. Wouldn't you like me to leave college and go into a dramatic school? And then I'll send you a box for all my performances, and smile at you across the footlights. Only wear a red rose in your buttonhole, please, so I'll surely smile at the right man. It would be an awfully embarrassing mistake if I picked out the wrong one.

We came back Saturday night and had our dinner in the train, at little tables with pink lamps. I never heard of meals being served in trains before, and I inadvertently said so.

'Where on earth were you brought up?' said Harriet to me.

'In a village,' said I meekly, to Harriet.

'But didn't you ever travel?' said she to me.

'Not till I came to college, and then it was only a hundred and sixty miles and we didn't eat,' said I to her.

She's getting quite interested in me, because I say such funny things. I try hard not to, but they do pop out when I'm surprised—and I'm surprised most “of the time. It's a dizzying experience, to pass eighteen years in the Bowery Home, and then suddenly to be plunged into the WORLD.

But I'm getting acclimated. I don't make such awful mistakes as I did; and I don't feel uncomfortable anymore with the other girls. I used to squirm whenever people looked at me. I felt as though they saw right through my sham new clothes to the checked ginghams underneath. But I'm not letting the ginghams bother me anymore. Sufficient unto yesterday is the evil thereof.

I forgot to tell you about our flowers. Master Bruce gave us each a big bunch of violets and lilies-of-the-valley. Wasn't that sweet of him? I never used to care much for men—judging by Trustees—but I'm changing my mind.

Yours always,

Y/N 

 

10th April

Dear Mr. Rich-Man,

Here's your cheque for fifty dollars. Thank you very much, but I do not feel that I can keep it. My allowance is sufficient to afford all of the hats that I need. I am sorry that I wrote all that silly stuff about the millinery shop; it's just that I had never seen anything like it before.

However, I wasn't begging! And I would rather not accept any more charity than I have to.

Sincerely yours,

Y/N Abbott

Bruce stared down at the check. He had barely thought about it when they had been out in the city and once Y/n had sent the letter, he’d dispatched the check without a second thought. 

Clark Kent, who had been present during the discussion about Y/N's shopping woes, entered the study with a knowing expression. "Having trouble with the whole 'helping' thing?" Clark quipped, a  smile playing on his lips.

Bruce sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I just wanted to make things a bit easier for her. She didn't have to return the check."

Clark leaned against the desk, crossing his arms. "Bruce, you know Y/N at this point. She's independent and proud. Accepting help might not come naturally to her, especially from someone like you."

Bruce frowned, the frustration evident in his eyes. "But I want to help. She shouldn't have to feel lesser than her peers."

Clark nodded, understanding Bruce's genuine concern. "Maybe it's not about the help itself, but how it's offered. Try sending her a letter with a short note explaining why you sent the check. Make it personal. Sometimes, a few carefully chosen words can make a big difference."

Bruce considered Clark's suggestion, recognizing the wisdom in his friend's advice. "You think that might work?"

"Y/N's a writer, Bruce. Words matter to her. A thoughtful note can make the gesture feel less like charity and more like a friend looking out for another," Clark explained.

Taking a deep breath, Bruce reached for a pen and paper. 

Miss Abbott, I go against my rules by penning this letter but I find myself unable to let this matter go. This check is not charity but a gift from a friend who wishes to see you excel in all matters. I wish you to be able to experience all that your peers are able to. I have never sponsored a woman before and I confess that I lack the knowledge to ensure that you are equal to your peers.  I kindly request that you keep this cheque as an apology for my own failings as your patron.  Mr. Smith

As Bruce sealed the letter, he handed it to Alfred, who was passing by. "Alfred, make sure this gets to Miss Abbott. And let's hope this time, she accepts it."

[eileen-crys]

"The Black Queen" and "the Black Queen Holds Aerial Court" by James F. Beveridge

Following this analysis post I made about the Black Queen Holds Aerial Court artworks that are up for auction at Sotheby's, I found and contacted the author on Facebook to ask him more about it, and it turned out he had no idea that his art was at Freddie's, let alone being auctioned! That's how he managed to ask Sotheby's to update the "Unknown Author" to his actual name.

He now made a post on Facebook telling the tale of these illustrations, shedding some light on them:

Well, it seems that I have had some of my art found in unexpected places but what has me rather excited is that apparently two of my fan art drawings of the band Queen have been in the possesion of Freddie Mercury since 1975.

The picture that I posted was one that I had doodled in Bic pen, a fantasy vision of the band based on Freddie's magnificent song "The March of the Black Queen" that I called "The Black Queen Holds Aerial Court" with each member of the band as her courtiers in a landscape of very vert tall unuque mushrooms, for almost obvious reasons. The difference between the picture on Sotheby's and mine is the date in blue ink in the lower left corner.

John was the Court Scholar, Roger, of course, was cast as the Court Jester with Brian as the White Knight riding a white dove and Freddie naturally, was the Court Magician. I drew that one while on a "blotter trip" as a stream of consciousness piece one day. The other picture was worked a little a little more. It was of the Black Queen as but the band was directly attending her with Freddie and Brian conjuring her a new crown.

I was, at first, a bit perplexed over as to how it ended up with Freddie. I then remembered that I was considering getting at least a copy of one of the pictures I'd done to Queen somehow at one of their concerts in Detroit. I think that it was perhaps their Cobo Hall concert but that was such a hectic time and I'd also attended their Ford Auditorium and Masonic Temple Theatre concerts prior to that big one so I wasn't positive until I dug a bit deeper into my visual memory. A friend, whose identity eludes me right now, who also attended that show mentioned that he could help to have it sent backstage to the band. So, I quickly dated and put the two pictures that I presumed were photocopies into a big brown envelope and went to the concert. It seems that the Black Queen in the Q picture that Freddie had was actually the original ink drawing. The lower right side is missing a part where I knew that it was weakend by my vigorous inking to make the Q flat black. The right edge of the Q's ink was a bit weakened from pressure and repeated lines and was going to separate sometime. I thought that it too was a photocopy but apparently in my rush I neglected to grab that one. I was a bit disappointed in myself that it wasn't the photocopy but I shrugged my shoulders, hoped they liked it and went on to draw new work.

Here now for the first time that I've posted this old 1975 oil painting that never made it to the band but hopefull might see it here. It is also the same characterization I was developing of Freddie's lady, my "Moonlight Flight of the Black Queen with her Blue Powder Monkeys" I'm also including my photo of the Aerial court drawing.

[kyotakumrau]

2024.02.16-17 sukekiyo at Kyoto Gekijo

I really wanted to write about each show separately but then the 17th was filled with too many exciting things and there was no time. So I'll try about them together. And because of the setlists it also feels like they both belong together anyway.

2.16 The first day flow felt like the young idol started bright and excited, innocent, but then fell, experiencing the dirty side of love and people, but wanted to find love somehow anyway. And it finished with 呼吸・kokyuu...

As the BGM they are playing another movie (sound only).

5 minutes to and then at 6:30 the theatre buzzer sounded to signal the start of the show.

They had the usual see through screen in front of the stage (always done for the seated shows). sukekiyo and the tour name appeared as the snow was softly falling in the dark. At the same time band members walked on the stage, Takumi first, followed by Yuchi and Mika, then utA and Kyo last.

And Takumi started the piano melody of Margaret. It's so nice that they again chose to start with the last song from the previous tour, like they're creating a connection between then and now.

The stage was mostly their normal setting, but Kyo's stand had a dark bouquet laying in the middle of the table, I'm pretty sure it was the one with the doll in it that he shared in his Instagram story. There was also a high chair on the right side of his stand, right next to it.

And a new addition were big light bulbs hanging on wires over the stage, one over each band member hanging lower and four more a bit higher, nine in total. When グロス・Gloss started they lit up but dimmed when song got quieter.

During 愛した心臓・Aishita shinzo Kyo was dancing, he also came close the screen stretching his arm towards audience. (but I'm always unsure how much they can see from the other side because of how the light works on the screen), he crouched when dancing. Kyo was very dancey, utA as well (I was sitting on utA's side that night, aisle seat though).

They all wore outfits from their last artist photos. utA's hair was more standing, full 90s visual kei style. Kyo changed his look having a very different hairstyle. Because he shaved his head to get a new tattoo in January his hair is still very short, like in Citta he glued things on though, for sukekiyo he had two thin pink braids, one on each side, styled in a way they created two rings. And he had the porcelain doll effect make up, shiny face with drawn eyebrows, dark eye make up and full lips. The back of his dress is quite open so we could see his tattooed back. And he wore pink tabi boots to complete the look. (you can check those tweets 1️⃣ 2️⃣ to see fans drawings of him, just pls don't repost)

Both Candis and Valentina were quite fun with the pen lights. And this part had a lot of dancey songs that even come with set dance moves... But since it was a seated show it was only Kyo dancing, with other band members rocking and jumping as well, fans had to endure and stay in their seats😂

With 口に林檎・kuchi ni ringo the stage went darker and Kyo was lit up by his mic stand's pink light. aftermath followed with the soft dark mood in the venue and the video on the screen. Some of the autumn temple has been edited and changed to pink cherry blossoms with petals scattering. Kyo sang standing by his mic stand, illuminated in pink.

And after the song ended Takumi played the piano melody that starts the session. Kyo softly walked towards the chair and sat with one leg over the other, very dignified, like a film noir singer or a diva. A black clothed staff member walked on the stage from the left side holding a make up case and started to 'do' Kyo's make up. He patted Kyo's face with a towel, he then used a sponge and a brush, then 'did' Kyo's lips. I don't think he actually changed anything but it was a part of the performance. Kyo stayed seated almost motionless through the whole process.

Then Kyo softly got up and walked to his mic stand, the session continued as Kyo joined singing. The cheerful idol from the start of the concert was gone by now, the innocence lost. The want, the hurt, the darker feelings took place to create someone new.

訪問者X・HomonshaX had Kyo dancing like a bug, very different from the way he danced as a cute idol.

It felt to me that the lights towards the end of the performance were changing between red - fiery, angry and strong - and blue - calmer and sadder, to me it felt like there was a battle of various emotions inside of our heroine. I aways have a ton of respect for Mika who is creating the visualisations for the shows. Like during 変わってくれませんでしょうか・kawattekuremasendeshouka? when the front screen is very simple and the sides are dark with water falling over Kyo in the middle as the rain is supposed to wash everything away.

During 夢見ドロ・Yumemidoro Kyo was dancing more seductively, even wrapped his leg around the mic stand, baring it to the people. During Scarlet Kyo was pointing his lips with his index finger, 'I want you to kiss me'. Even broken things want to find love.

And at the end the acceptance came and resignation. Ending with 呼吸・kokyu had many people crying, if they were not crying by then anyway.

At the end Kyo slowly turned and left the stage. The end credits started on the screen, the audience was clapping as the rest of the band members slowly left as well. But many people kept crying even then (yours truly included).

But we did get the Gion Matsuri tour announced! 4 days at Kyoto MUSE! I wonder how many people will manage to hit all tickets on one account... I'll try😂

2.17

One more thing that was different was Kyo's stand, on the second day there were no flowers there. So I guess it was a present for his birthday?

The setlist flow was was different on this day. They started with 訪問者X・homonshaX and Kyo's bug dance. He was also pointing at the audience as he sang.

During グロス・Gloss the light bulbs lit up again. There was one moment when Kyo made a movement raising his arms like he wanted to catch his light bulp between his hands.

The video for The Hole had a mix of colours and Kyo was dancing. He definitely had more of a seductress in his movements on the second night. He stretched one arm and moved the other with the music and switched them. The idol songs following felt quite different because of the way they started the set and the mood.

After aftermath the staff came again to 'do' Kyo's make up and it was followed up with a session. At the end the stage was quite dark with a simple spotlight on Kyo.

With 論外な生き物として・rongaina ikimono toshite I love how the song switches from soft to heavy, from Kyo carresing the mic stand softly to him headbanging.

And the hair set he had made it kinda interesting for headbanging 😆 he had thin pink braids glued to his hair again, this time the loops were shorter so the end of the brace was behind the loops. So they bounced when Kyo moved. He wore a cropped black top with puffy sleeves and strands of pearls over it. Flowy pleated black skirt and again pink tabi boots. Make up was very similar to the first night. (fan's drawing)

The rest of the band members had different outfits too. utA again had a very classic v-kei outfit, this time his hair was styled to the right side. Takumi had a long white collar outfit. Mika I couldn't see, from my seat Mika was obstructed by Kyo's iPad stand 😅 Yuchi had a sleeveless Nike top with long gloves, he changed his hair style too to add more braids.

I can't play any instruments and I don't have especially trained ears, but I'm always impressed with the sound quality at sukekiyo shows as well. I can cearly hear all instruments and they create this amazing harmony together. And I also enjoy the fact that band members use different instruments for some songs (like aftermath). I could hear the wonderful bass promised by Yuchi, Mika's powerful drums, utA's guitar, especially during solos, Takumi's piano and guitars. And Kyo's voice. 🖤

For ただ、まだ、私。・tada, mada, watashi. there was no visualisation on the screen, so it looked like there was no screen besides a bit of a smoke by the floor. There was light coming from the back of the stage and very lightly the band members silhouettes appeared above the stage. And because of this the stage appeared to be very deep.

I liked the flow of the last part of the setlist, it didn't feel as gut wrenching as the first night.

The end credits started aready during Margaret and Kyo calmly left as soon as the song ended. The rest of the band followed as fans started to give applause.

I'm so curious what we will see in Tokyo. Only one more performance left.

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

Guys. Guys. Guys guys guys. Oh my God, guys. Guess what. Guess what arrived in the mail today??

Okay, so about a month ago, my friend who lives in London went to see Andy Zaltzman do a WIP of his new stand-up show. And after the stand-up show, my friend in London went and found Andy Zaltzman, and spoke to him, and told him that he has a friend who wrote into The Bugle with a question about why he wants a head like an orange, and they read out my question, and when they read it they said both my first and last names, and I got weirdly excited about hearing my first and last names read out on The Bugle and about hearing Andy Zaltzman answer my very stupid question about why he wants a head like an orange. My friend explained this. To Andy Zaltzman.

My friend then handed Andy Zaltzman a copy of a book that Andy Zaltzman wrote and had published in 2008, that has long since gone out of print, but is still available on eBay and things. I already have a copy of this book, having bought it on eBay and read it some time ago. I like that book a lot, but the major flaw in my copy of the book is it doesn't have an inscription in the front where Andy Zaltzman signed his autograph, after writing my first and last names and a note about how he hopes my head is made of citrus, because someone had told him that this was exciting to me. My London friend recognized that flaw in my copy of the book, so without telling me beforehand, he went and bought his own copy of the book on eBay before the Zaltzman gig, brought it to the Zaltzman gig, fixed that flaw, and then mailed it across the ocean.

And that, good people of www.Tumblr.com, is what arrived in the mail today.

Guys I love it so much. There was a bit of a rollercoaster with this book, actually, because my friend mailed it weeks ago and it was supposed to arrive within something like nine days (he did not tell me he'd bought the book until after the gig, but he did tell me about it and send me a picture of the inscription before he mailed it to me), so I've been checking the mail every day for a while, and it's now so far after the expected arrival time that I'd resigned myself to thinking it was probably lost in the mail, and best case scenario it hopefully ends up back at my friend's place from the return address. But then I got home from work today, and there it was, in the mailbox outside my front door. I can't tell you how pleased I am.

The package also contained another surprise, which was a postcard with the poster for Stories For the Starlit Sky, a show that Daniel Kitson and Gavin Osborn did in 2009, then rewrote and did again in 2015, then 2017. One of the longest-running Kitson shows, from first performance to last (I would say it's the longest running, but I think it's beaten by A Story For Christmas). A classic Kitson and Osborn project. Began its life as one of their Regent's Park shows performed at midnight, and I have a weird obsession with romanticizing Daniel Kitson's Regent's Park shows, and with romanticizing his history of doing midnight shows. So Stories For the Starlit Sky is a pretty perfect thing to, for example, put on my wall to represent my favourite Daniel Kitson things (not to mention it's a huge, epic, complex, beautiful show, with only one plot point that hasn't aged terribly well but don't worry about that, it's a really lovely piece of theatre).

Also, it has by far my favourite of all the Kitson posters, from all the different years. My friend has been doing a cool project of gathering all the Daniel Kitson posters, and some of them are quite nice, but I think this is the most beautiful:

Have I mentioned that my friend made that himself? He took an old picture of a flyer for that show, but it wasn't great image quality, so he personally re-created the entire poster, down to figuring out fonts and personally putting in every little star, just so he could have a version with more pixels per inch. That picture doesn't do it justice because my phone camera's not good enough, but trust me, in real life that image is sharp and crystal clear and so very nice.

I've decided the Zaltzman book will be a display copy. I already have my own, unsigned copy on my bookshelf, and there's no need to put another copy of it on there. The signed Zaltzman book and the new Kitson poster are going into the display section of my bedroom that I call Chocolate Milk Gang (and friends) corner:

(Don't mind the medals that are in the way, I mostly have my sports display stuff and my comedy display stuff in separate parts of my bedroom mostly, but some hooks that were there when I moved in happen to be perfect for hanging medals and also in the comedy bit, so that's where those are.)

They're in the with the CD that I got Grace Petrie to sign when I saw her live, buying an album that I already owned off Bandcamp purely as an excuse to talk to her/seem like a normal person before I gave her the much weirder request of signing an old Josie Long poster because Josie Long had already signed it for me and I wanted both their autographs on one thing. The Gavin Osborn CD that my friend also got signed for me this summer, and gave to me when I stayed at his place in London last month. The DVD of the movie from 2001 where Daniel Kitson appeared for three scenes and 36 seconds in total, which my friend also got signed for me this year, apparently Kitson was quite pleased to see it. The John Oliver and Flight of the Conchords DVDs, which remain unsigned because John Oliver and Jermaine Clement don't tend to play the Bill Murray in London so much these days, so it's not as easy for my friend to just walk up to them after gigs and make absurd requests. The David O'Doherty flyer that I picked up just before I saw him live in Edinburgh this year. The Thick of It and In the Loop DVDs that I picked up at a local Scottish music festival about ten years ago, amused to see them on a miscellaneous Scottish merch table, worth paying money for even though of course I've had digital copies of all those since not long after they first aired. And, you know, some other stuff. My London friend picked up those Tom Ballard and Shelf flyers for me in Edinburgh 2023.

Fucking excellent. Sometimes I think about moving to the East Coast and building a new life by the sea, but other times I think - how will I ever get a room set up as well as this again?

[9leaguesofmirrors]

Set Lists (a Ross Gaines x Joseph Lisgoe fanfic)

This is purely self-indulgent. Nobody asked for a Band!AU, but I love the idea of Drummer!Lisgoe, so we have a band AU!

If you wanna know the name of the song the band is playing, it's Jobseeker by Sealford Mods because the song slaps and I like irony

CONTENT WARNINGS: Smoking and car makeout sessions because that's the life of a rocker innit?

If there was one thing Ross hated about the bar he went to, it was the Open Mic that happened every Thursday night

It had gotten to the point where he was playing mental bingo just to keep his sanity:

"Open Mic Thursdays" set list

A girl screeching her way through My Heart Will Go On

A group of drunk milennials singing ABBA

Some guy with a guitar (bonus points if he plays Wonderwall)

A wannabe rock band

A couple that thinks they’re in a Disney movie

The theatre kid

The one that can actually sing and wants to make it everyone’s problem

The try-hard crooner

So far, he’d managed to tick off almost everything (tonight they had a couple that was particularly gushy and it almost made Ross want to hurl his guts up), and now he was scanning the room for those rock wannabes. It was slightly shameful, the child-like excitement this game gave him, but it was keeping his morale up. And after the day he had at work, it was the least he deserved

And right on cue...

He watched as a group of black-clad 30-somethings took the stage to set up. Surely there’s an age cap on when it’s acceptable to still be in a band was Ross’ immediate thought before turning to his whiskey

Ross could hear a voice through the microphone, but he wasn’t paying too much attention. It wasn’t until the sound of heavy guitar filled the air that he could no longer focus on just his drink due to the sheer noise of it. The joys of live music. Always a racket

What it did mean, however, was that Ross was finally able to see what exactly a bunch of washed-up rockers looked like

"Weird Rock Band" set list

The singer: A slightly weedy guy with shoulder-length hair and glasses who, in all honesty, stuck out like a sad little thumb

The guitarist: Girl in a black bomber jacket and some sort of weird, messy updo; she looked like she’d jumped straight out of an 80s music video

The bassist: Another girl. Undercut, lace button-down and a silver chain. Looked a lot like the drummer, speaking of which...

The drummer: Who was now slamming his drumsticks down on the instrument like it had done something to personally wrong him

If Ross had to pick, and he only ever would if he had a gun to his head, he’d say the drummer was perhaps the most convincing rocker. He certainly had the jewellery, and he had that look of intense anger that was very prevalent in the scene. Ross was slightly ashamed that he could recognise it

Even though he didn’t want to admit it, this band was one of the better ones. Not that it meant much, considering the last time a band performed it ended with the guitarist grabbing a drumstick and volleying it at someone in the back of the pub

In particular, something about the drummer caught Ross’ eye. He’d never seen someone give it the way he did. Despite there being four people on that stage, the drummer was the one clearly pulling focus. And it wasn’t the usual desperate pandering, he was just present in the moment. Ross was slightly concerned that he was going to put a stick through a drum, but at least he was interesting to watch

Well, he wasn’t sure about the rest of the audience, but he was intrigued

The song reached its end and recieved a generally warm atmosphere. Ross' eyes still found themselves on the drummer as he twirled his drumsticks around with his fingers. He'd hardly noticed the singer step forward until he started talking, much to the disappointment of Ross

“We enjoying ourselves!”

I was until you showed up

“I said are we enjoying ourselves!”

Clean out your ears

He spoke a little more, and the people watching were having a good time, but Ross only started really paying attention when he started introducing the band members

"Weird Rock Band" set list 2.0

The singer: Admittedly, even Ross didn’t catch his name. He just wished he’d shut up and finish the song

The guitarist: Ruby Louganis

The bassist: Jodie something

“And of course, last but not least,”

Jesus christ, this is dragging on

“Please give it up for our drummer-“

Can we wrap this up?

"-Mr. Joseph Lisgoe!”

... Joseph

Drummer of a rock band

And his name’s Joseph?

There wasn’t anytime to ponder this though, because the band had started up again, playing another song Ross didn't recognise. Ross went back to his drink, allowing the noise to fade into the background

The band weren’t up for too long, only about two or three songs, before they packed up and went off into the backrooms. Not emerging until a bit later, well, two of them did. The girls. Ruby and Jodie

The closer she was, Ross could really see the resemblance between Jodie and the drummer. It was strange, they looked so alike yet extremely different. Though that could’ve been due to the thick eye makeup she was wearing-

“Show’s over, cunt. Eyes on your glass.”

Damn it

“I was just wondering-“

“Bet you were.”

“Nothing like that! You just looked like your drummer, wondered if there was a genetic reason.”

Jodie gritted her teeth like she was about to launch at him, but was stopped by Ruby placing a hand on her shoulder

“We’ll take your word for it,” she said, zipping up her bomber jacket “Jodie and Joseph are twins.”

“Makes sense. How long have you been playing together?”

“We don’t.” Jodie piped up, still wary of whether she could trust Ross or not “This was just a laugh. I like guitar, he likes drums. Thought ‘fuck it, why not?’ and found out Ruby and Jezza were looking for substitutes. This is a one night only deal.”

Ross nodded and tapped his fingers against his empty glass. For some reason, his mind shifted to the drummer. He always thought twins were attached at the hip

“Does your brother not hang around then? Early night for Little Drummer Boy?”

It came out a lot more condescending than he’d intended, but it got a slight laugh from both of the girls, so at least it eased the tension

“He’s probably outside,” Jodie said “smoking it up-“

“Or having it on with someone.”

“I’ll break his fucking teeth if he is, I’m not staying after hours so he can get a quick shag!”

“And I’m not dragging you off him when the fight breaks out, so get a shot down you and ease up!”

Since Jodie and Ruby seemed to be enjoying their drinks, Ross figured he’d leave them to it. Besides, he needed some fresh air

As Ross approached the side of the pub, he noticed a figure wearing a vest top on the far end. Lanky, cigarette in hand, back against the wall. He couldn’t make out the face until he took a few steps closer

“Can I help you?” Came the figure’s voice, slightly nasal

“I can leave if you want.”

“Nah. Public place, innit?”

Ross leaned against the wall next to him, keeping a slight distance out of respect. Close enough to see the many tattoos that covered his arms, upper chest, and the one on his neck. Usually, Ross thought tattoos were either gross or a desperate attempt to appear intimidating. But he had to admit, the barbed wire that travelled up his arms, the black bird on his neck and what looked like a crack on his chest looked quite good

Obviously, by 'good', he meant objectively speaking

Once he saw the slicked-back hair and the hardened gaze, he recognised who the stranger was

“It’s Joseph, isn’t it?”

“Yup.” He threw the cigarette down and stomped it into the ground “Most people call me Lisgoe.”

“That a stage name?”

Lisgoe gave him an incredulous, amused look

“No. It’s my surname.”

“I’ve never known someone use their surname as a first name before.”

“Puts a boundary up. Helps with my job.”

Right thought Ross he’s not a musician

“I collect debts,” Lisgoe explained, as if he could read Ross’ mind “well, I mainly deal with desk stuff. But I deal with the more difficult targets. Ones that need an extra push.”

Ross thought back to his aggressive drumming and decided that he didn’t want to know how he convinced those ‘difficult targets’

“What?”

Ross snapped out of his thoughts with a soft “hm?”

“You went off somewhere, have you been drinking?”

“What? No! Well, a little, but I can hold my alcohol well. And I never get drunk.”

“Wowee!" Sneered the drummer "We're in the presence of Mother Theresa!"

"Was that necessary?"

"Yeah, I'd say it was."

After that rather snappy altercation, Ross was ready to turn right around and walk off, the only thing that stopped him was the sound of Lisgoe's voice

"You a regular then? At this bar, I mean."

"Yes?"

"No clue how, the drinks are shite and everyone that goes here is a twat."

"Like me?"

That, admittedly, came out as more of an accusation than a legitimate question, and he very nearly asked him to forget it, but that was stopped when he noticed the way Lisgoe was looking at him. As if he was taking the whole of him, really studying him. Reaching into his eyes and grasping his brain, taking it apart with a scalpel to see what was inside

In a word, it was exposing. But not in a creepy way. Ross was frozen in place. Under the watchful eye of Joseph Lisgoe, he felt both anxious and completely at ease. It was a strange feeling, not unpleasant but extremely unorthodox

It was the man's voice that broke him out of his thoughts

"Nah. Well, you seem a little stuck up."

Rude

"And you dress like a secondary school History teacher."

Rude, but annoyingly accurate

"But you're not a twat like most people are." He gestured vaguely with his cigarette "You go to bars and you see all kinds of people. The ones that try to fit in. The ones that think they're God's fucking gift because they don't fit in, the ones that are so desperate to fit in they'll do fucking anything."

"And where do I fit?"

"That's the thing," Lisgoe took a puff of his cigarette "you don't really seem like the kind of guy to fit any of those boxes. You're just... you. You wear your clothes, you drink your beer. And if you don't like the band that's onstage, you don't bother watching. Unless you're making eyes at the drummer."

That last part was accompanied by a playful smirk that made Ross roll his eyes

"I wasn't making eyes at you."

"Would you rather I called it 'gawking' then?"

"I'd rather you didn't exaggerate."

"Whatever," he waved his cigarette dismissively "my point still stands. You don't give a fuck about what people say, you don't seem like the kind of guy that bends to how people think you should act. It's pretty punk."

"I'd hardly call myself a punk."

"You don't look the part, but you're more punk than most twats that wear the badges."

There was something strange about Lisgoe. For someone that spoke so casually, with such a relaxed and colloquial atmosphere, he was strangely philosophical. Contradicting, that's how Ross felt it best to describe Lisgoe

As they stood in silence, Ross' eyes were caught by Lisgoe taking out his cigarette box. Well, for some reason, was specifically watching his hands. Clearly, he wasn't new to this, and his fingers were equally as skilled. That must've been due to his drumming hobby

Why he didn't just look away, Ross didn't know, he can't recognised he was staring until he was pulled out of his trance by Lisgoe's voice

"Did you want one?"

Ross just shook his head, suddenly finding the floor fascinating. Not fascinating enough to stop his eyes from darting over at Lisgoe as he let the cigarette stay in his mouth, stretching his hands down by his sides. The tendons fidgeted as he moved his fingers, bending and shifting in a way that was almost hypnotic

He had rings on. That was how Ross excused his fascination. Silver, some had small black gems, they were quite pretty. Suited him. Suited his hands

Those hands-

"If you want a smoke, I don't mind sharing."

"I was looking at your jewellery."

"Is that right?" Lisgoe's tone was smug and biting, cigarette still in his teeth "Just my jewellery?"

Usually, Ross would just deny it and move on. And he knew he was for the best. But he watched as Lisgoe moved to stand directly in front of him, slowly reaching to take the cigarette out from between his teeth. There was something about the way his canines caught his lower lip as he smiled that caught Ross' attention and refused to let it go

"What else would I be looking at?"

"Dunno," Lisgoe's right hand jolted out to grab Ross' left shoulder, standing in front of him as he brushed his forearm against Ross' throat, causing him to let out a strangled gasp "what else could have your attention?"

Well... this is new

The eye contact between them was thick and glowing like an ember. Ross' eyes darted towards Lisgoe's forearm and he made the mistake of glancing at his shoulder. Because he was instantly met with the sight of Lisgoe's hand tightly gripping it

And that made it incredibly hard to make rational decision

"I'm not a hook-up sort of person," Ross said softly, the way he spoke sounded more like a challenge than anything else "you'll have to do more than push me into a wall to convince me to spend the night with you."

"You may not wanna hook up, but you want something." This was followed by a hand slipping down Ross' back, resting on his ass "Something a little more hands-on?"

"And you're alright with acting like this in public? Where anyone could catch you?"

"No big deal," came the drummer's response as he pulled away, which caused Ross' more disappointment than he cared to admit "part of the fun. But you look like you don't get much of that."

The glare Ross gave him caused him to laugh, and he took another smoke of his cigarette

No fun, is that what you think?

He had the decency to wait for Lisgoe to stop inhaling the smoke before tugging him in by his vest. But, just as their lips brushed, he hesitated. It felt odd. Not bad, not at all. Hell, as he heard Lisgoe exhale the smoke into the tiny space between them, Ross could feel his head spin quite pleasurably. It just wasn't what he was used to, none of it was

Oddly enough, it was as if Lisgoe could read his mind through the web of thought he was tangled in

"Could leave you alone," he said casually "just say the word and I'll fuck off. The others are probably wondering where I am anyway." A pause. As if he were trying to work out how to speak without pushing "Or... if it's publicity you don't like, my apartment's free. Up to you really."

"Logical Things To Say" setlist

"No, I've just met you"

"I have work in the morning"

"This is a very bad idea"

"We could get caught"

"Not very decent, is it?"

Ross opened his mouth and responded with the first thing that came to mind

******************************************

After a long day at work, or a long day anywhere for that matter, Lisgoe often enjoyed sitting in his car, in some secluded area, accompanied only by his thoughts and the radio

This time, however, he was in his car, in some secluded alleyway

The radio off

And his tongue down someone's throat

What a fucking night!

*********************************************

Ross' brain had been yelling at him about his complete lack of dignity as soon as Lisgoe started leading him to his car. It had been somewhat quietened by the feeling of Lisgoe's hand massaging his thigh as he drove, but it didn't leave him alone until the car was stopped and Ross felt his chin being grabbed and his head turned to face the man in the driver's seat

The man he was currently straddling the lap of, in that exact driver's seat

"Making Out With A Guy You Just Met" set list

The buzzing in your stomach at the potential for getting caught, a combination of fear and thrill

Cramped spaces that aren't exactly comfortable, but makes everything feel that much more sensual

Jesus christ, I'm making out with a stranger in the front seat of his car

All of Ross' thoughts came through as static, every time he felt Lisgoe grip at his sides, tug his shirt, run his hands across his bare skin, the static got more intense until his head was completely empty of what had happened and what might happen next. All he could focus on was cold hands on warm skin, the sound of the drummer's breathing becoming more laboured and heavy

He didn't even realise he was making gentle sounds of his own until Lisgoe broke the kiss to tell him in a breathy tone

"You sound so fucking good."

"Do I?"

Lisgoe just nodded as he pulled Ross back in, as if replying simply wasted too much time. Time he wanted to spend completely melting into him, surrounded by the combining scent of cologne and cigarettes. Strange, but somehow added to the thrill. Made it feel more rebellious

"Just realised," Lisgoe muttered against Ross' mouth, unable to pull himself away for more than a few seconds "never got your name."

"Right."

"So what is it?"

"Um, Ross."

As Ross placed a hand on Lisgoe's chest, he could feel the way a chuckle rumbled gently through him

"You didn't sound too sure, that an alias or something? Are you a spy-"

Ross put a stop to the teasing by trailing his lips along Lisgoe's jawline

"It's Ross." He said gently in his ear "Ross Gaines. And I'm an auditor at the job centre, not a spy."

As he kissed down Lisgoe's neck, taking his time as he did with most things, he could hear his saying something under his breath

"Ross Gaines. Ross Gaines."

Each time his name was said, more heat started to pool within him. The way it sounded in Lisgoe's voice wasn't quite something he'd prepared for

"It's fun to say, 'Ross Gaines' all those s sounds." Lisgoe's lips moved to his ear, nipping at the lobe "Ross..." his hand slid up his shirt, digging slightly into his skin "Fuck sake, Ross Gaines," he grabbed the hem of his trousers, moving to undo his belt "you taste so sweet."

The hissing of the sibilance, combined with the feeling of the words hitting his skin, was enough to make Ross slightly dizzy. And the feeling of his belt being unbuckled was not helping his critical reasoning skills in the slightest. The words were bubbling up through his throat, arms wrapped around Lisgoe's neck as pulled him in, as if searching for a way to distract himself. To stop himself from falling off the edge

"Ross-"

"Wait."

Lisgoe pulled his hands away, holding them up like he'd been stopped by police

"You said your apartment was free?"

"I live alone, so I'd be fucking confused if it wasn't."

That made Ross roll his eyes, laughing a little. His hands made their way to cup Lisgoe's face, looking at him with considering eyes

"Do you do this often then?"

"Not as often as people think." Lisgoe answered, his hands on Ross' hips "Yeah, sometimes I like a quick one before I go to bed, but I'm not exactly a hook-up expert. I just get horny." His hands moved slowly up his sides, sending a chill up Ross' spine "You're the first one I've invited back though, I like your company. You're hot as fuck, but you're also easy to talk to. I respect that."

"I thought it was common decency to kick the person out of bed after you're done with them."

That got a gravelly chuckle from the drummer and he let his hand travel to Ross' ass, squeezing roughly

"I like spicing things up every now and then."

"Really?" Ross, in a sudden wave of boldness, leaned in and brushed their lips together "Because I think stalling things would make it quite boring."

The sound of Lisgoe's stuttered breath bounced in Ross' head

"Was... your fucking idea." He replied with a sly smile "You changing your mind, Ross?"

"I'm allowed." He bit Lisgoe's lower lip and god! The low, raspy moan it produced caused his hips to buck, which only drew another groan from the drummer's lips "Any objections, Joseph?"

"Say my name like that again and I won't be able to fucking talk, let alone object!"

There was no more time for set lists