#i also love that gabriella was nice to him even though everyone has hated him for years

[grinchwrapsupreme]

sorry to be posting about high school musical 2 in the year 2023 but ryan really repaired gabriella and troy's relationship by manipulating and humiliating his sister, lying to troy, and sacrificing his own chance at the talent show award he's been coveting since the start of the movie just because gabriella was nice to him when he was sad

[solarwriting]

good 4 u

e.j. caswell (formerly) x fem!reader

summary: after a bad break up, y/n writes a song and plays it with her band at a party her ex is also at.

warnings: swearing, underage drinking, unedited and written at one a.m.

note: i don’t know what this is but the song is so good and i watched the first ep of season two and this was born?? if you want a pronoun change let me know!

posted may 17, 2021

it seemed as soon as he broke up with nini e.j. found a new girl to entertain him. y/n l/n, she wasn’t a part of the musical. it wasn’t her lack of talent so much as it was a lack of interest, she figured focusing on her own music and starting a band would make her seem more serious.

she was pinning a band tryouts flier to the bulletin board in the cafeteria, unaware of the eyes on her. almost the entire cast of the musical was staring at her. nini sighed, “guys, stop. she’s gonna notice us staring.”

“do you think she knows what happened with you guys.” carlos asked, turning back to face her, leaning in to hear her answer.

“no. i don’t know. i shouldn’t care, it’s just- whatever.” she groaned, pushing her food around with her fork.

“convincing.” seb commented.

“i know he’s my cousin but honestly e.j.’s a bit of a whore.” ashlyn muttered causing the table to laugh.

kourtney leaned into nini’s shoulder, “let’s give y/n the benefit of the doubt and say she has no idea?”

“i mean how could she? she’s not part of the musical, she focused on her band.” ashlyn explained.

“wait, she has a band?” carlos asked.

“she’s starting one, she plays guitar and drums but she wanted a drummer another guitar and singer. i think that’s what she was putting on the board.” ashlyn shrugged, everyone looked at her confused, “what? we used to hang out.”

“wait, really?” nini wondered.

“yeah, she’s actually really nice. and really talented, girl can really shred. you guys would really getting along, you know if you forget about my stupid cousin.”

nini laughed along with the group, her eyes fell back to y/n who was now sitting with e.j. and his friends. maybe they could be friends.

it turns out e.j. is really bad with girlfriends because it only took a few weeks for them to break up, no one could really figure out why though just that y/n left school wednesday crying and didn’t come back until the following monday.

a few days later y/n caught her on her way to rehearsals for the musical, “hey, nini. can i ask you something?”

“yeah, sure.” nini was hesitant but thought on what ashlyn said.

“so you write songs right?” nini nodded and y/n continued, “so i’m writing this song for my band and i was wondering if you could give me some pointers. i know you probably won’t want to because of e.j. actually forget i asked, it was stupid.”

y/n turned to walk away before nini stopped her, “y/n wait. i can help you, come on.”

“where are we going?”

“i have to go to rehearsal and since they���re not doing any gabriella scenes we can work on it in the auditorium.” she motioned for the girl to follow her.

“hi, miss jenn. this is y/n, is it okay if we sit over there while you’re going over the scenes i’m not in?”

“of course. nice to meet you y/n.” miss jenn smiled.

they sat a few rows back, behind miss jenn and y/n pulled out a notebook, “it’s really rough right now. and it’s kind of embarrassing but you can look at it.”

nini was quiet as she read over the lyrics she had written down. “is the about?”

“yes.” y/n said quickly, “sorry if that’s weird.”

“no it’s okay, i actually really like it.”

“i was just really angry when he ended it- and did you know he’s already seeing someone else?”

“really? it hasn’t even been a week!”

“i know! she’s a cheerleader i guess.”

“and here i thought his type was musicans.”

“right? from what i’ve heard they’ve been off and on since his sophomore year and they started hooking up again while he was still seeing me.”

“i guess ashyln was right about her whore statement.”

y/n laughed and they continued to work on the song together. by the end of rehearsal everyone was talking about how two of e.j.’s exes had created a bond, at one point e.j. himself noticed the pair and looked like he was going to be sick. the girls finished the song and were getting ready to leave.

“hey, would you actually like to join my band, i need another singer and your voice is killer. we’re playing a party tomorrow night.”

“i would love to, will this song be on this set?” she asked.

“of course, imagine e.j.’s face when he sees two of his exes singing about him.” y/n laughed.

the two girls left and later that evening nini met the rest of the band (y/n managed to find a drummer and bassist a week ago) and practiced their new song as well as a couple of covers for the party.

the next evening, which was a friday, the band found themselves at the party. y/n couldn’t remember the name of whose house they were at though, a friend of a friend who offered her band to play.

y/n passed around shots of tequila to her bandmates “for the nerves” she had put it before downing hers with a groan. the rest followed suit before they made their way in to the basement, where the main part of the party was and where their instruments were set up. y/n pulled her guitar off the stand and plugged it in, she grabbed the microphone and adjusted it.

“hi, i’m y/n and first song i want to sing is an original written by myself and the amazing nini.” y/n motioned to nini who stood next to her, “this song is for anyone whose ever gone through a breakup where their ex got off better than they did, this is good 4 u, enjoy!”

y/n nodded to the bassist who began playing and nini started in with the first verse with y/n doing back up vocals,

“well good for you, i guess you moved on really easily

you found a new girl and it only took a couple weeks

remember when you said that you wanted to give me the world”

y/n leaned into the mic and continued with the next line, 

“and good for you, i guess that you've been working on yourself

i guess that therapist i found for you, she really helped

now you can be a better man for your brand new girl”

the drummers began playing and y/n began strumming her guitar and nini leaned into their shared mic as they both sang the chorus,

“well good for you

you look happy and healthy, not me

if you ever cared to ask

good for you”

y/n and nini smiled at each other as they continued,

“you're doing great out there without me, baby

god, i wish that i could do that

i’ve lost my mind

i’ve spent the night

crying on the floor of my bathroom

but you're so unaffected, i really don't get it

but I guess good for you”

y/n took the next verse and nini did the back up vocals. y/n joined nini to sing,

“baby what the fuck is up with that?

nini continued the next verse on her own with y/n joining in on the chorus again. y/n sang the bridge on her own before they both sang the chorus. they both found e.j. in the crowd as they sang. the girls smiled at one another before locking eyes with the boy to finish out their song,

“well, good for you, i guess you moved on really easily”

the crowd of excited, drunk teenagers cheered as the song ended. “i hope you all liked that!” y/n announced, out of breath. she looked at nini who was smiling just as widely as she was. she pulled the girl into a hug (being mindful if the guitar hanging around her). they bowed and nini grabbed the mic, “we will be taking a short break but we will be back!”

the band shared a group hug before breaking apart to find a drink or friends. carlos, ashlyn, and kortney quickly found nini who was with y/n looking for water. “that was amazing!” carlos squealed, pulling nini in for a hug followed by the two girls.

“y/n, that was incredible!” ashlyn gushed, hugging her as well, “i’ve missed hanging out with you so much!”

“i have too!” y/n exclaimed.

“hate to interrupt but can we please go find some water?” nini shouted over the music someone put on. y/n nodded and threw her arm over nini’s shoulder before they began their search.

[artreider]

Station 19 rewatch: 4x14

Going to try to do another rewatch before my family wakes up. We have a lot to do today and there is a dark cloud over the house after loaing our cat this week. Here's hoping i can get through one of my favorite episodes before they get up.

Surrera is so cute here and the whole food thing, like girl where is our payoff on this baby that was so clearly teased. Or is there another medical condition that could be blamed on her excessive eating.

Im so glad maya and andy are friends again. I loge their friendship.

I'm glad andy acknowledges that getting married doesnt fix things; but i worry that if maya and carina hit a rough patch, andy will remind maya of this conversation or use her own issues with sullivan and their marriage as an i told you so.

Danielle is beautiful but does anyone else think she lost weight, random question but just looking at her in her uniform there she seems smaller and it worries me. Didnt really notice last time i watched this episode but am i alone in this.

Oh carina baby you so dont want to go. I just want to hug you.

Jack is so cute, he deserves a family so much but i really do fear he'll be killed off.

Im surprised ben reached out to Sullivan instead of dean.

I love this outfit on maya. Carina your girl is flirting with you and thinking of happier times, engage with her.

I love that maya opens up with carina about her dad and the protests and the happenings in the world with him. It shows so much growth and im here for it. Also anyone else annoyed that one carina answered gabriella's phone call when maya is opening up to her and two that she didnt turn it off for their last few hours together.

The look of like disappointment/devestation on maya's face when carina answers the call and walks away from her is too much hurt.

So sad that bailey isnt there and that ben is alone for even a second of this.

I'm glad andy and sullivan came to be there with ben. Like i get why they wanted andy but im sad after ben and Dean's episode dean wasnt there.

Oh jack, i dont even know what to say besides oh jack lol.

The drama with trash girl is too much lmao. I know its important for jack/inara but its just too much.

Carina packing up her knives being a trigger for maya like she's leaving forever is heartbreaking.

Carina snapping at maya hurts, dont be mean to baby. Also the kitchen sign is totally carina's doing and though she hadnt confided in maya yet that she is her home its a dead giveaway.

I really need screen grabs of the changing words on the sign.

The kids talk, the coming out talk and the marriage talk are all things that should not be done while packing or doing anything else.

Wait it totally sounded like she said "it felt pregnant" lmao or i just have babies on the brain.

Now carina being flirty and maya not reciprocating.

Maya you shouldve pushed the marriage talk now if it was what you really wanted. Instead of letting carina drop the i never wanted to get married bomb and walk away.

Andy and ben together, this friendship is beautiful. I feel like it took several seasons for ben to really get in good the team. Im trying to think of other moments besides the prt support and such when he really connected with folks before this season and none come to mind. He has been an outlier from my memory, tell me im wrong with examples please.

Lmao "you slept with my wife which means we are in a pod", things a pandemic makes funny.

Thats just wrong, giving gibson shit still. Dont hit the puppy with the newspaper when he's doing nothing wrong.

Once again with gabriella, seriously carina turn off your phone and be present with maya and maya alone.

Maya's jealousy is everything. This argument ugh, so good and just the tip of the iceberg.

I hope that maya does take the month break and the months after to really get to know the us immigration system and what it will take for carina to become an american citizen as well as learn more italian. I dont need her fluent but id love to see her use some italian with carina. She lost her brother who she spoke to in her native tongue itd be nice for her to gain that in her wife.

I love how carina stops herself as she raises her voice at maya, like she realizes it may be triggering to maya. I really do think the show and actresses put in a lot in this episode to show how well they know each other and have grown. I feel like they talk more even if we dont see it and maya is working on her issues with carina's love and support. I also do love how this argument ends though ;)

Once again maya opening up and finally carina is there and not sidetracked. And its nice carina opens up as well.

Ben's dream with the different versions of himself and his mom is funny and heartbreaking.

Joey in the dream lmao.

The nice thing about ben is if he gets hurt on the job and cant be a firefighter anymore he has other professions to fall back on.

Oh jack. I just want you to get your happy ending.

I still think its so weird to be talking about jack after they had sex but im glad they are in a place that is so comfortable and can laugh about him.

Once again another bomb dropped, kids. This is something that needs to be discussed properly.

Oh maya dont drop the marriage bomb like that. And i guess i dont underatand the outrage of the "just because", like why would carina think it was anything but that when it was dropped on her like that and after she said she didnt want to get married. This fight is so much about misunderstandings and hurtful comments.

I get how maya's fear gets the best of her here especially after carina said they just moved in together because they didnt want to be apart (asif that is a bad thing) and it was bureaucracy.

And i can understand why maya's fear hurts carina but they both needed to take a minute to breathe and try to talk it out.

I do like when carina tells maya to breathe, again like she knows her triggers and feels maya is on the verge of a panic attack.

If carina felt she married maya when she moved in i really dont see the harm in making it official. Would her having been moved out in italy for 6 months or more have felt like a divorce. I really need to know more about her logic here.

I agree why not just do it.

You've both said enough carina. I hate that she just walks away, so un carina like.

How did jack end up at the hospital? Was he called or what?

Andy is such a good friend this episode, checking on everyone.

Gabriella is so right noone wants to be proposed to the way maya kind of did. Like i cant help but wonder how carina would've taken a true proposal.

Im so glad gabriella spoke some truth to carina and turned her around on the marriage idea.

If we let the wrong decisionss rule how we live our lives things in the world would be so different. Less babies possibly and fewer marriages among other things.

Once again andy being a good friend this episode.

If carina hadnt shown up im curious what maya's next move wouldve been after talking to andy.

Love the proposal and love how its carina who announces they are getting married.

[todourouki]

congrats on 1k+!! can i request for sfw #14 (domestic life w/ them 🥺) with aizawa, todoroki, bakugou, and shinsou? thank you sm!! i love your works :>

AHHH! thank you so much for this, it means a lot! and ugh this is so cuteeee!

Want to celebrate prompt night with me? Click Here.

SFW PROMPT #14: What would living with them be like?

including aizawa, todoroki, bakugou, & shinsou

living with aizawa would be so nice

he’s not a high-maintenance guy

he’s more of a “as long as nothing looks like a piece of shit, we’re good”

matching sleeping bags

the man adores his sleep, i’m sure we all see that

so there’s soft blankets spread over every single couch/lounge-chair incase the two of you decide to nap

every day off, you guys have a tradition on waking up the latest time you possibly could, cooking breakfast together and eating it in bed with a show the two of you are currently binge watching on the tv

aizawa isn’t a bathroom hogger honestly he probably doesn’t even look in the mirror as much as he should

he’s pretty tidy when it comes to leaving his shit where it’s supposed to be

mostly because if he loses it, he knows he’ll be too lazy to look for it and he probably doesn’t have time

the furniture is all monochromatic

i don’t see him as a guy having brightly covered couches in his living room

everything is neutral, black, or white

minimalistic king

due to pure exhaustion all the time, color is out of the question, it reminds him of his students and he hates it but secretly loves it so all of his plates are multicolored

honestly living with aizawa sounds amazing

“Shouta,” you groan, eyes snapped harshly shut die to the light tracing into the room from the now open shades, “close the freaking things.”

Aizawa mumbles right after you, leg kicking the shade he once accidentally lifted with his foot back to where it once was. With the harsh tugs done by his feet, the light in the room finally fleeted away and allowed the comfortable dimness takeover once again.

The Pro-Hero’s arms gripped onto you tighter, nose nuzzled into your neck and bringing your body the kind of warmth necessary within the cold room. “S’go back to sleep, kitten.”

You mustered a smile, eyes still closed and hands running through the silky black hair resting underneath your neck. Mornings with Shouta were always the same— waking up once because of his leg obnoxiously releasing the shades, and both of you falling asleep once again in each other’s embrace.

You felt Aizawa begin to rub your back, fingers twinkling against your bare back soothing you beyond explanation. Within minutes, you felt yourself losing conscience, and you finally drifted back to sleep with the man you loved cradling you with unconscious admiration.

living with todoroki is exactly what you’d think it would be

i don’t mean to say it

but ima say it

this rich bitch has a ton of antique and expensive furniture lying around

mostly because he loves using his dad’s money

you and todoroki are a weird match

because you both love the exact same things

so all the furniture in your home

whether the living room be one color and bedroom be another

it all weirdly goes together because you’re both so good and coordinating shit

like your couch could be fucking orange

and the blue throw-pillows and decorations you cover your living room with just make sense

just like the two of you

living with todoroki means you figure out just how funny he actually is

also just how dense the boy could be

like he’s so sweet but also a little ✨dumb✨

he doesn’t know how to use the laundry machine and he never will don’t change my mind about this

todoroki loved cold soba we all know that

so there is a specific cabinet underneath the sink filled with all the ingredients for making it

that cabinet has to be restocked a lot

usually on days off, shouto would like to sleep in but he knows he just can’t

so if you like to sleep in, he already went out for a run, took a shower, and made you breakfast by the time you wake up

if you like to wake up early/with him, you find yourself either joining his workout or making him a hearty breakfast by the time he gets back

living with todoroki is really sweet bye i’m gonna go cry

“I just don’t understand why I’d have to press so many obnoxious buttons to get it to wash clothes,” he began, his stoic voice staring harshly at the machine infront of him as you stared at him in disbelief, “it isn’t my fault.”

“Shou, you froze the entire machine..” You repeated, a deadpanned expression on your face as you tried your hardest not to laugh.

You knew your boyfriend wasn’t the best at figuring things like this out, he hated to admit it but his family had done a lot for him back home. And sure, he wasn’t a little boy anymore and should probably know how to work a laundry machine, but he was convinced it acted up with him and him only.

“It was giving me a hard time, I didn’t even realize I froze it until I realized the clothes weren’t spinning anymore..” The frown on his face was one you couldn’t help but smile at, the grin taking over your face as you chortled a laugh.

With your empty hand, you gave the boy a kiss on the forehead, his calculating expression trying to decipher the reason certain clothes needed a certain temperature of water. Moments like this made you realize just why you loved Todoroki so much.

bakugou

is a handful

that’s clear to everyone

but living with him, oddly enough, is not

you both have a specific cleaning day

every single sunday morning

and that same night included the two of you watching a movie and having loud in-depth character analysis debate every single time

you both have special cooking days (he has more but it’s ok bc he won’t say it but he absolutely loves cooking for you)

bakugou has been through a lot, my baby

so consistency is something he depends on

he nearly breathes for it

routine is everything in your household, being something you grew accustomed to as well even if it’s not what you’re used to

every day you’d wait for him to get back home on the plush couch in the living room

so that way you’re the first thing he sees when he gets home, as well as a platter of his favorite food for the night and his fav tv show on the tv

he feels like he’s walking into heaven every single day

and depending on your schedules, you get the same thing when you get home if he beats you to it

a show/anime you’re trying to finish, the food you’ve begged him to make, and your loving boyfriend/husband lounged against the couch waiting for your arrival

you both wake up early— sorry, even if you don’t want to

bakugou doesn’t give a single fuck, he will wake you up and force you to either workout with him or start your day with him

on his days off though, you both sleep in until the afternoon

there’s literally no inbetween with your schedules

you’re both either up and ready to go by 8am or finally getting up to brush your teeth at 3pm

“How many times do I have to tell you— the real villain was not Sharpay, but Gabriella!” Your voice boomed, staring at your boyfriend who looked at you as if you had four heads.

“Babe, with all due respect, you’re a fucking idiot!” He retaliated just as aggressive and firm as you. “How can you say that when she’s such a bitch?!”

The credits of the movie you just watched played in the background, popcorn kernels pushing into the skin you had sprawled against your boyfriend. The pink reflected across your shirtless boyfriend, his ears beginning to redden due to the volume of his voice.

“Gabriella walked into that high school and literally stole everything Sharpay worked for,” you retorted, the straw you were drinking from entering your lips as you took a quick sip of the soda, “that’s being a bitch!”

He opened his mouth, signaling you to throw one of the Swedish Fish candies into his mouth and you did. With a laugh, you continued to throw food into one another’s mouth over and over throughout the argument.

“Maybe you resonate with Sharpay so much because you’re both bitches.” He snickered, dodging a pillow that fleeted your side of the couch and into his side by your right hand.

A gasp slipped your lips, narrowing your eyes at his tall figure and shoving a candy down your throat after his words, “maybe that’s why you love me, cause you’re a bitch too.”

living with shinsou >>>> breathing

shinsou is a gamer idc

there’s a playstation in both your room and your living room for game nights

yes

you guys had a game night

every single friday you guys would sit in nothing but (shinsou’s) t-shirt, and underwear and play nothing but video games all day

you usually end up falling asleep when the sun begins to come up, always taking saturday’s off no matter what for the occasion

you both are clean

being too lazy just like aizawa to have to find it if it’s misplaced

the bedroom look the best bc shinsou gets tired of monochromatic things and you hate living in a boring setting

so the two of you’s aesthetic shines through the room

if you cook, then please know food us up to you

if you can’t cook

money is spent 90% of the time on take out

because shinsou can’t cook for shit i don’t care

sometimes people wonder how it is you both manage to go to work and have a coherent sleeping schedule

and the reason is

aside from shinsou’s clinical insomnia )-:

that the two of you are absolute dumbasses

you spend all day doing homework if one of you is in college

or doing the work that needs to be done if you have just a job

and after that?

it’s just cuddling, gaming, struggling to cook, ordering take out, and eventual sleeping when you both realize you’re both past a point of ni return

most of the time though, you both manage to sleep

it’s more surprising for shinsou though bc he could never sleep properly if he’s alone

the two of you live together in GTA

also, I canon that Shinsou loves watching The Office so you guys binge watch the fuck out of that

living with shinsou is living with a bestfriend that is a civilized adult at certain times that you can cuddle and make out with

a girl can only dream <3

The sound of the console played through the room, your focused face watching the screen in front of you intently. The feeling of the bed moving along side every tap of the controller in your boyfriend’s hands trembled your limbs, your eyes being too locked on the screen to even maintain a balance.

“Go to the left, the left!” You pointed out, your legs sprawled across your boyfriend’s chest as he rested his body horizontally underneath yours.

“I know..” His voice was enough to show you he was focused, his eyes barely blinking as he followed your command and moved the character closer towards the left.

As gun shots erupted through the room, all you could see were flashes of red across the screen and players who had been attacked in Shinsou’s frenzy dead against the floor.

Exhilaration ran through your veins as finally killed the last person, the feeling of his body tending under you making you smile in happiness. You had both been trying to beat this level for weeks and you finally did it, exciting you to no limit.

The phrase “victory” strobed against the screen, making the two of you cheer in happiness at the time being well spent. He landed a big fat kiss on your cheek, pulling you in by the string in your hoodie and pressing you against him.

“Let’s beat some more ass in this next round, huh doll?”

“I’ll believe it when I see it, pretty boy.”

[sybariites]

[  nick robinson  .  twenty one  .  demi male .  he/his & they/them  ] just saw VINCENZO “VINNY” ESPOSITO dragging their suitcase up the steps to CABIN 4A  .  good luck living with HIM  ,  i hear that that they’re IMPRUDENT  ,  STUBBORN  ,  ARDENT  &  CHARSIMATIC  .  Apparently they’re the STRIKER.  let’s hope the upcoming season doesn’t affect their SENIOR year of PERFORMING ARTS  (THEATER)  

meet vincenzo fiorello esposito, 

about: 

vincenzo fiorello esposito was born on april 15, 1999 in a small town in northern italy. the son of two well known actors, giancarlo and gabriella esposito, he was born into a life of privilege and luxury. everything he could ever want was within reach, he had the entire world at his hands.

and his parents encouraged him to follow his dreams, when he wanted to play the piano they got him lessons, when he wanted to play soccer, they signed him up, when he wanted to act, they got him roles.

but life wasn’t as great as it seemed, the constant travel between their native italy and their home base of new york, had it’s toll on vincenzo. his grades slipped, and it was apparent that he was unhappy. so the decision was made to enroll him in an elite boarding school in new york city. and after his graduation he enrolled at hollis university to play soccer and study theater as well as business. he plans to go on to become an actor, but he realized that having a backup would be wise. 

i’ll add more to this later, i’m just trying to get this done. 

fun facts:

vinny is fluent in both english and italian, though because he’s spent a majority of his time in america he’s somewhat rusty when it comes to italian. in addition he knows some french and spanish.

he has always been incredibly open about his sexuality, something he prides himself in. he’s also just very open about his uh sexual desires. essentially, he knows how to get around and he’s not ashamed of it. he’s very pansexual. 

he’s one of the boys who drives a nice car and loves to show it off. i’m thinking some sort of mercedes coup. he doesn’t know much about the technical aspects of cars, but he does know his car is hot.

his maternal grandparents own a vineyard and they have a brand of wine named after him. vinfandel is the name of it. 

he used to be a pretty wild partier, but he’s started to calm down a bit. it’s still well known that he knows how to have a good time, but he’s stopped going out every night of the week, instead devoting more time to his studies and athletics.

honestly the fact that he’s a good student comes as a surprise to most people, he gives off the appearance of someone who just doesn’t care. but he’s actually a very hard worker.

pinterest: (x)

playlist: morning in america - jon bellion; young dumb & broke - khalid; seven nation army - the white stripes; young wild & free - snoop dogg & wiz khalifa; no interruptions - hoodie allen; tonight, tonight - hot chelle rae; losing my religion - r.e.m.; hips don’t lie - shakira; hooked on a feeling - blue suede; you give love a bad name - bon jovi; i wanna dance with somebody - whitney houston

wanted connections:

ride or die - his other half, his partner in crime (literally). just imagine the most chaotic duo, because that’s them. you know those tik toks this is what happens when one dumb bitch meets an even dumber bitch??? that’s definitely them. 

squad / friend group !! his fellow wild children idk what else to say honestly 

exes !!! okay vinny is not great when it comes to dating but he tries, so they probably didn’t last long but he would’ve been a caring boyf. open to m / f / nb

hookups / flings !! pretty self explanatory, probably more of these than exes. could be current or past, open to m / f / nb

a hate ship !! they can’t stand each other, everyone knows it. but their chemistry is undeniable, and when they’re alone together the yelling turns into something else. open to m / f / nb. 

rivals !! open to another male on the soccer team, they just push each other to be the best they can possibly be. there’s been some competing for positions, etc. but they’re capable of getting along, at least on vin’s behalf he’s p chill. 

anything else honestly maybe like a roommate at school, friends from his childhood, someone who just fucking hates him he’s really annoying it’d make sense; idk pls go wild i’m so lacking in creative ideas atm

feel free to add me on discord ( han solo lo lo lo lo#8494 ) if you’d like to plot there !! otherwise give this a like and i’ll message you !!

[blookmallow]

and finally, the conclusion of the dark brotherhood questline 

i have been through so much and lost so much but i gained the one thing that matters most of all.....  cicero’s heart 

-----

well

these aren’t the real emperor’s clothes but i have this still,

i put it on the dawnstar sanctuary mannequin with the jester hat lmao

:( my favorite guard friend who hangs out around the shops in the mornings with me is onto me 

hes not hostile or reporting me to the jarl or anything at least tho 

Dont woRRY About It

i did have guards after me for a while (i had. several just go ‘ok ill let you off this time :)’ bc. i. asked nicely. after attempting to assassinate the emperor of skyrim) but eventually just paid my bounty and they were like ok you’re good and now apparently everyone has completely forgotten That Time I Tried To Murder The Fucking Emperor 

anyway after the fucking massacre that happened at the sanctuary i was absolutely Out For Blood

i mean like....... i realize maro is completely justified here. we are in fact a league of assassins guilty of murdering A Lot of people, we very much did make a real attempt on the emperor’s life (and killed his double, who was less important but still like, an innocent guy, presumably)(or even if it was like that death note thing where its actually a criminal on death row anyway, like, we clearly didnt know that) and i did personally murder maro’s son and ruin his reputation, so. like. we are the bad guys in this situation no matter how you look at it lmao but STILL THOSE WERE MY FRIENDS, FUCKER

so i decided to murder him out of pure spite, but. uh

I DONT REMEMBER WHAT I DID TO CAUSE THIS BUT I ACTUALLY GOT THE SOLITUDE GUARDS TO MURDER HIM FOR ME LMAO I DIDNT EVEN HAVE TO DO ANYTHING

im trying to remember what the fuck even happened here im clearly. underwater, i think maybe i like. confronted him and he got hostile but i jumped off the pier and the guards were like “woah that guy’s losing it” and intervened but he fought them too or something ??? ??  I DONT KNOW BUT THE GUARDS KILLED HIM FOR ME :’) thanks guys 

then after everything we still kept the contract, and... the new plan.... was for me to sneak onto the emperor’s ship before he leaves skyrim and kill him there.... WHICH I COULD HAVE FUCKING. DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS IS SO MUCH EASIER THAN... KILLING SOME OFFICIAL’S SON AND PLANTING FALSE EVIDENCE AND TRACKING DOWN THE GOURMET AND MURDERING HIM AND IMPERSONATING HIM TO TRY TO POISON THE EMPEROR AND IMPLICATING A RANDOM CHEF WHO HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT AND

EVERYONE IS DEAD!!!!! WE COULD HAVE AVOIDED ABSOLUTELY ALL OF THIS. WAS ASTRID GETTING ME ALL MIXED UP IN THIS WILD GOOSE CHASE ON PURPOSE FROM THE BEGINNING ?? ? ? SORRY!!! IM ANGRY

i got all the way here without anyone even seeing me (i used a couple invisibility potions for the really tricky spots, but still) i could absolutely have just done this and avoided the entire everything. god 

anyway i again dont really understand the politics of skyrim but. the real emperor was expecting me to find him one way or another. he had already accepted his death and made peace with it. it was. actually kind of sad. i dont know enough to say whether he was actually a decent guy or not but he seemed like he was. i couldnt bring myself to steal his clothes so i still just have the duplicate emperor’s clothes but it looks the same anyway

i took a war axe from one of his displays though. i dont remember if i already mentioned my ongoing tradition of always taking something from my victims and enchanting them later to mark who it belonged to, but thats a thing ive been doing. little murder scrapbook

im not really sure how murdering the emperor counts as “serving the empire” but sure ok 

i also killed this guy lmao the emperor’s last wish was for me to kill whoever it was that betrayed him and i dont like this dude in the first place so i was like yea you got it 

i built a memorial with the weapons rack in my room in the dawnstar sanctuary

enchanted special weapons for each of our fallen members (left to right it’s astrid, arnbjorn, festus, gabriella, and veezara) (i also later added another dagger for lis bc i had one space left) 

theres also gemstones on the floor beneath each weapon but they keep sliding out of place :’ | 

ANGEL DARLING SONG OF MY HEART LIGHT OF MY LIFE YOU’RE ALIVE

you can see the game autosaving in the corner bc i had Just come out of the sanctuary lmao thats how lightning fast i reacted to this 

[sobbing] baby boy.... baby.... i was SO WORRIED

i murdered the fucking emperor of skyrim bc i was so desperate to continue this questline to see if cicero would come back I DID ALL OF THIS FOR YOU.....

(he pranked me and pretended he was gonna kill me at first. i almost lost it thinking he STILL wouldnt forgive me but it was ok :’) u got me, ) 

sniffs...... best friends forever........ this is the best possible outcome this is all ive ever wanted it was all worth it for this 

we got our window back!!!!! also ft cicero subtitle photobombing me with his boundless enthusiasm for murder but i forgive him 

oof we also have... a bunch of torture victims hanging around now too :’ ) oh

i kinda feel bad about them but there doesnt seem to be an option to let them go, 

i mean i could just kill them all i guess. i killed one guy to see if i could. you Can. his body is still there. nobody seemed to care that i killed him

I TURNED AROUND AFTER NAZIR SAID THAT AND CICERO’S JUST. LOOKING AT ME LIKE THIS,

i fuckign love this cute little shit. what the fuck. this is such justice too everyone was so rude to him, everyone made fun of him and talked down to him, everyone wanted him dead after he went after astrid, but she sold us out and got everyone killed, he was RIGHT, and now hes the right-hand-man to the Listener who is now ALSO the leader of the brotherhood. he’s basically second in command to the entire organization now and nobody can do a goddamn thing about it bc they all KNOW not to fuck with me now 

i also realized hes taller than me and i dont like it, :’)

im still deciding medea’s taller than him anyway i dont care. she would be taller than the character model is allowing for

he likes to randomly start singing/humming really off key/dancing around its SO cute.... im lov him...............

darling..... calm down, :’) 

hes so completely devoted to me now im in pain

i realized i could tell him to go to sleep and he actually did it the absolute madman 

he gets up if you try to sleep beside him though

i mean. not that i tried that or anything

he stands SO close to me all the time.... i turn around and hes right there beaming adoringly at me. i cant do this 

he kept saying mother needed some flowers so i took him out to collect some nightshade for her n dropped them around her feet 

“whats the point of thievery lol like..... just kill them?????? stupid” 

having cicero constantly two feet behind me jus making cute comments and/or half singing The Weirdest Shit I Have Ever Heard is absolutely delightful 

ur so cute when you’re threatening people

he also hates the forsworn see we’re in sync

I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU ALONE AGAIN

me, the leader of the brotherhood, in full brotherhood armor, with cicero following right behind me giggling to himself about murder:

[sparklyaxolotlstudent]

Ladybug Puppet Show 09

The Start of Something New

“I’m home! Sorry I’m late, but I really didn’t want to come!” said Marinette upon arriving at her home. The Bakery was closed already, her dad was making dinner, and her mom was playing videogames. She placed her schoolbag on the sofa and grabbed a control that her mom offered.

“So I get you had a good time with your friends?” asked her mom curious, while they selected their characters for Smash Duty of Wars Go!

“Yes!” she replied earnestly. “It was a blast! We did a cold reading and all”

“I bet your show will be amazing”

“Ah, no it was terrible, I was chosen as the Keeper and in cold readings it was ok, but totally fumbled my words when we were filming and on the polar opposite, we need to teach Kagami how to emote like a human being. HA! Gotcha!”

“Kagami? I thought you hated her…”

“Nah, she’s cool… I’m not thrilled that Adrien seems to have a thing for her, but at least she’s not horrible like Chloe or Lila”

“I thought they were also on your show?”

“Well, Chloe is paying, and she’s toned down her meanness… she even accepted we make fun of Queen Bee on the show”

“Ah good. So she’s not after Adrien?”

“She has been surprisingly mellow. I have to watch out Marc though” Added Marinette with a little laugh.”

“What? I thought he was with Nathaniel?”

“Well, yeah, but it turns out that they’re both fans of High School Musical, and they know all the songs AND the choreography, and after our rehearsal they did a duet of ‘Bop to the top’… Wish I had filmed it”

“Too bad you have never seen those. Have you?”

“Nope, that’s why I’m marathoning the movies this weekend with Nathaniel. Next time I’ll be Ryan!”

“Don’t you mean Sharpay?”

“Ah, no, Adrien sang Sharpay’s part of the song”

“Dinner’s ready!”

-

“Really son? ‘Bop to the top’?”

“Well, we did it for fun, and it’s not like anyone was filming at that point. Besides, I thought it would be a good way to boost everyone’s mood after our abysmal first drafts”

“Well, at least you choose the most fashionable characters. Hats do suit you after all”

“Ah no, I was Sharpay.”

“… oh. Pink suits you anyway.”

Adrien smiled. Ever since they started working on the show, his father had been much more approachable, and they had have dinner together almost every day and talk about their days. He must really love puppets.

“So, what was Miss Dupain-Cheng opinion on your song and dance?”

“Eh? OH! She loved it, although it seems she hasn’t seen the movies. A shame really”

Gabriel raised an eyebrow at his son, while he kept eating his salad.

“Well son, you have the Super Hyper Mega Ultra Deluxe Limited Edition Full HD with the alternate endings where Troy ends up with Sharpay, and the secret one where he ends with Ryan?”

“No, that ending is from the second one, after Gabriella dumps him in song form.”

“Ah… ANYWAY, wouldn’t it be just marvelous if you shared your love… of High School Musical with Miss Dupain-Cheng?”

“A Karaoke night? You banned those after she broke our windows singing Despacito”

“Yeah, my ears still buzz when I remember that… No, I meant you could watch the movies with her! Go to her home, invite her here, and make it a special night”

“You’re right! I’ll text her right now!” Gabriel raised an eyebrow. “I’ll text her after dinner!”

-

“Master, you haven’t akumatized anyone recently and I was wondering…”

“Oh… well, I wasn’t about to ruin my son’s dates. And the only person that has been pissed off lately has been that Rossi brat, and honestly, I’m sick of akumatizing her”

“… you akumatized Mr. Raimier 24 times already”

“Yeah, but I’m not sick of him. Besides, it’s funny to see that mangy cat and that bug fight against frigging pigeons.”

-

“Your old man was really insistent on you watching those movies with the baker girl”

“Yeah, he must really love HSM too!”

Plagg’s eye twitched, but he decided to go and grab a piece of camember from his secret stash.

“You going to text her or what?”

“Yep! Right now!”

“Don’t forget to tell her that her hair looked nice today!”

“What?”

“In a friendly way, of course”

“Right!”

Adrien got his phone out of his pocket and opened his ThumbBook™, where he saw Alya had published some of the pictures they took of their first day. Seeing Rose dressed as a very girly Hawk Moth and Luka as a very buff and kinda hot(in a bro way) Ninja Turtle, he wondered if Marinette would agree to wear a tacky Hawaiian shirt for their next meeting.

He then decided to message her.

“Hey Marinette”

She wasn’t online, so he didn’t expected her to reply.

“I was thinking about it and since you haven’t seen the HSM movies, If you like, we can watch them together! It’ll be fun. We can play some games after. OH, and your hair looked good today!”

…

“Not that it doesn’t look good every day, but today it was particularly good!”

-

On her side of the conversation, Marinette.exe had stopped working.

--

Yeah, sorry, no puppets this chapter, but Adrien being a fellow HSM was too funny to pass up. This _probably_ won't have lasting consequenses in later chapters, other than even more mentions of HSM.

Maybe

[writingisbetterthandying]

Misunderstanding - GD

A/N: This was the first fic-fic I actually wrote so I edited it so let’s see how it does!

legitimately very cringy but I chose to keep it up! I wrote this in 2018?

Warnings: Language, Angst

Word Count: 1.8k

Your POV

I love Grayson Bailey Dolan. That is a fact. A well known fact to almost everybody, or at least that's what I thought.

We met three years ago in Jersey, when I was with my grandparents for the summer. I was reaching for a pancake mix, but it had been conveniently placed on the very top shelf. A cute boy with brown hair saw me struggling handed me the box.

We exchanged numbers and talked for a while before heading our separate ways. That boy was Grayson.

We spent the entire summer together [with Ethan too] and then I had found out that they would be moving to LA, where I already lived. We've been dating for almost three years, and it's been a dream. One of the reasons why we've lasted this long is our shared love for film, which is actually why I'm still in LA (besides the twins), is that I'm in film school, and I help them film all the time.

I'm working on a project for one of my classes, and to switch things up, I decided to use my friend Kian as a subject. The twins also happened to be in New York at the moment for TRL, but I still did want to spend time with Kian. Things were always a little tense with the twins and Kian, with the whole Meredith situation, but they both respected my relationship with the other. 

Kian being one of my best friends, had asked me to come over and hang out, and then I asked him if his house members would want to be in my short film. 

They said yes, so I drove over with all of my equipment. 

When I knocked on the door, JC answered and we caught up a little before Kian saw me and toppled me before I even got through the door. 

"You ready to film!!?!??" He practically yelled into my ear. 

"Okay first off, lower your voice, and don’t forget Lawley, this is still my project."

"Yes ma'am," he said with a little salute. 

Almost 3 hours later, filming was done.

"Great job everybody! Thank you for allowing me to do my film y’all, I should get home and edit, but I'll see you guys soon and send you the finished project!"

I was met with a cacophony of "But it's late!" "You should stay the night" "Don't go Y/N!" "We love you please stay!"

I finally gave in, slipped my shoes back off, put down my bag, and plopped on the couch.

"Okay then, what movie are we watching?"

"Well are you guys ready for a Jim Carrey marathon?"

Shouts of disagreement were spread out throughout the room.

"Rude- like you didn't have to be so mean about it like I thought we were friends guys! I thought you guys loved me but I guess none of you would care if I just locked myself in my room all night and cried. Like-" Bobby on the opposite couch had had enough.

"Kian if you don't shut up right now I swear I will lock you out of the house and clear out your room and you can find it all on the curb tomorrow morning."

"But then Y/N could just welcome me into her home."

I shook my head and told him he was on his own, and in return was promptly flipped off.

We eventually started a High School Musical marathon but soon everyone went to their rooms or fell asleep, so it was just me and Kian. He turned to me once the movie ended.

"Y/N, wake up!" I groaned in response, still only half awake.

"You should spend the night man, it’s late."

At this I startled awake, remembering that the twins were supposed to come in from their flight around this time.

"No- I have to get home!"

"Wait why? It’s after midnight?"

"I don't know when Gray gets back, well I do, but you know it’s late, and I want to be there when he gets home."

"God, you're such a nice girlfriend. Okay, go home, but please be safe driving!"

"Thank you Kian, I love you!"

"Love you too now go get your mans!"

I finally got home after the short drive and got up to the house. Once I unlocked the door, I screamed at first, because I was scared that it could have been an intruder, and then it turned to excitement. Gray was home.

"Hi bubba I'm glad you're home!" I leaned in to hug Gray, but he didn't accept the embrace. "Is everything okay? How was set?"

"I dunno, how about you ask Kian," he responded curtly. He seemed tense and honestly pissed.

"You know Kian is just a friend, bubba." Who does he think he is?

Grayson's POV: 3 hours ago

We had boarded the plane a while ago when Ethan showed me a picture of my girlfriend all cuddled up with Kian on Harrison's instagram. The caption was "harrisonwebb97 the gabriella to his troy.

"What the hell is this??"

"Gray, they're just friends. I don’t like him but they’re close. "

"Friends��don't hold each other like that. And that caption too- like what the fuck dude?"

"She's known Kian for forever though, have trust in her, plus like look at everyone right next to them too."

"I'll text her later." I did text her later, a lot actually.

where are you?

getting on the plane...

i love you

is your phone off?

please answer me

y/n answer me wtf is going on rn

are you having fun?

kian looks like he's having a blast, holding you like that

i bet you and kian hooked up after that picture on harrison's instagram

well now i'm not the only one in LA.  

whatever, I'll see you at home

maybe I should have kissed that fan at the airport, she probably would be less of a slut then you.

Delivered 11:34 pm

I left voicemails too. I knew they were just friends, but she would've answered me by now- she always answers. The delay could only mean one thing. At first I was upset and hurt but now I'm pissed. This is all so stupid.

Grayson's POV: Present

"And friends lend each other sweatshirts." She should know what she did.

"What are you talking about?"

It took her a while before she realized she was wearing Kian's sweatshirt. "He gave it to me while we were watching the movies, I was cold, that's all."

"That doesn't even make sense but what were you doing there in the first place?"

Your POV

Now I was mad. I thought that after everything he would understand that I was loyal to him and only him. He knows that Kian and I are friends.

"I was there to shoot my project and then they asked me to stay for some movies! And it’s just a damn jacket, Gray." He wasn't the only one angry now.

"Well why didn't you answer your phone?"

"My phone was off? You know that- whenever I shoot I have my phone off! Sorry I forgot to turn it back on? What’s your deal right now, because you’re getting so aggro I’m starting to get mad.”

"Check your phone." His face was stoic, and he completely dismissed my words.

I read the messages. All of them. I didn't even want to think about what was on that voicemail. He knew my insecurities-he knows them.

His words had tears starting to trickle down my face, "You don't trust me?" How could he be so presumptive? There’s never been anything like that between Kian and I or anyone else but him for that matter.

"Why should I? I mean you're the one whoring around." His face was blank- and it was scary. Scary how when he’s usually just such a bright and uplifting person, to this dark and angry guy.

The tears just kept on coming, and I could do nothing to stop them. After everything, and this is how he treats me? After one post on social media, he’s calling me such horrible names?

He started to turn away towards the door with his still packed suitcase.

"Three years," I mumbled through my tears. He probably couldn't even be bothered to hear me.

"What?" As he turned around I could tell he was annoyed, but I was heartbroken because my boyfriend, or ex boyfriend- whatever he was now- had said these things. I couldn’t believe how the person I trust the most could be saying such vile and hateful things.

"Three years of trust, of an honest and strong relationship! Gray- I love you. I love you and only you. I thought we had established that but I guess we aren’t on the same page. Kian and I have never been anything more than friends, and you know he has a thing for Franny. I was cold! That was all! I turn my phone off when I film, and you of all people should know this. When I walked through that door I expected to see the man I love almost as excited to see me as I was for him, because of how much I love and miss you. You know that I trust you. You know how I feel about the literal millions of girls pining after you day after day, yet somehow I’m the one you chose. I thought that we had a mutual understanding and that we both trusted another and that we loved each other. I love you Grayson Bailey Dolan. Why can't you see it? Everyone else can."

At the last line I fell to my knees as I sobbed. My body wouldn't stop shaking and my face was probably all blotchy and puffy but I didn't care, I just felt heartbroken.

Grayson's POV

I knew I fucked up. We've gotten into fights before, but nothing too major, and they've been small and it ends with some ice cream. Cute and happy couple-y shit. Not tonight- tonight the only sound in the apartment was the sound of her soft and shaking sobs.

"Look I'm sorry I neve-"

"Why? I mean the things you said," she croaked, and I felt my heart break when I saw the look in her eyes, filled with sadness and fear.

"I was scared, I mean like Look at Kian! He could have anyone." She started to almost laugh? I swear I heard her chuckle.

"Grayson, I told you. Kian has a thing for Franny, and it is mutual, they just aren't official yet. I love you, and only you, and Kian's my friend and all, but I would never actually date him. He’s basically my brother! I don’t see why you can’t just believe what I have to say!”

She was still crying and all I wanted was to hold her. And to apologize over and over again, and to tell her how stupid I was for ever making her so upset.

I wrapped my arms around her, and while she still was tense, she relaxed slightly. I rocked the two of us in silence for a bit, then decided to speak. 

"I'm an idiot." She scoffed at that.

"That has been established."

"And an asshole."

"Yes."

"And extremely jealous..."

"No shit Sherlock! What the hell was that!" She slapped my arm with that, but I know she intended no harm. 

"...and a terrible boyfriend." This received no response, so I continued. "I shouldn't have acted the way I did. I should never have said the things that I did, regardless of if it was an impulsive move or not. Y/F/N Y/M/N Y/L/N I love you and I fucked up. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and I promise to never doubt your love and trust again. Hell, I don't want to spend the rest of my life with you, I want to spend eternity with you, and there's no way you’re getting rid of me. I want to raise a family with you. I want to move back to Jersey with you, I want to live my life with you, and I want everything, but I only want it with you-and now you're crying again." She had turned around, and was holding me close. 

"You want a family in Jersey? With me?" She looked up at me with tears still in her eyes, this time hopefully happy tears, but she still sounded scared and unsure. That uncertainty in our future made me feel so horrible.

"Of course. You're the one thing always on my mind and I love you, and only you, forever and always."

"Forever and always" she whispered, and she looked up at me, and now she's actually smiling! "Bailey, I love you, but don't test me again, okay?" she was finally wiping the tears off of her beautiful face.

"I got you Y/N, and I love you too, now lets go to bed okay?"

"Okay."

It would be alright, with time, but for now, they both just needed to hold each other and sleep it off.

[spicelupin-blog]

Marauders: Looks

Remus Lupin. Sirius Black. James Potter. Peter Pettigrew.

Summary: Short stories to do with the Marauders looks and development during their Hogwarts years.

Pairing: James x Lily. Other than that, only some irrelevant ones in passing.

Warnings: Some mentions of abuse (Sirius) and weight (Peter). 

Genre: Mainly cute friendship stories with some light angst.

Words: 2092

REMUS LUPIN

·         Remus was always a lanky kid. His arms were too long for his body, and his legs were even worse.

·         In his third year, he remembered being jeered at by a group of older Slytherins after he ran into the Herbology professor, causing the mandrakes they were levitating to fall to the ground. Luckily, only one student fainted from the incident and the professor let it go with a huff and a wave of their wand.

·         Yet, the Slytherins didn’t seem keen on letting him go without a lower self-esteem.

·         “Can you blame a Gryffindor for being useless?” Parkinson provoked.

·         “You’re right, especially one like that. He looks like a starved animal.” Laughed Crabbe.

·         “And that scar. I’m guessing he got into a fight with a hairbrush with the state of his hair.” Added Greengrass, gesturing to the bedhead Remus wore almost every day.

·         Once the scar comment was put out there, Remus took off. He didn’t want anyone to see the frustrated tears welling up in his eyes.

·         Everything began changing once fourth year ended. Remus was becoming more confident with the help of his fellow Marauders and his appearance began to reflect this.

·         His arms and legs were evened out by a good height boost of six or seven inches, and his shoulders started widening handsomely. He was no longer a ‘starved animal’, as he began developing muscle all over.

·         When he saw his fellow Marauders during the summer they seemed to have a lot to say about his new masculine build.

·         “Now girls will need a ladder to snog you.” James joked, biting the head off a chocolate frog.

·         Sirius, stealing the rest of the treat from James’s hand, restated, “Now girls might snog you.”

·         During his stay at Godric’s Hollow, he allowed Sirius to style his hair prior to an outing to Diagon Alley.

·         “You look like you’ve just rolled out of bed! How can I be seen with such a wreck?” The always dramatic Sirius exclaimed. Remus, finally peer pressure enough, allowed Sirius to work his magic.

·         Well, technically, it wasn’t magic. Sirius had discovered a few muggle hair products while looking for things to piss his parents off with, only to find he actually enjoyed them. He claimed they were even better than Sleekeazy, which James found great offense to. Remus, realizing there was nothing to lose when it came to his mop of hair, succumbed to anything Sirius threw at him.

·         Remus was genuinely surprised by the outcome. He had expected Sirius to make his hair look similar to his own, as in Sirius words, “My hair gets the birds squawking.” Which made even James roll his eyes.

·         Instead, Sirius let Remus’s hair be like Remus. He used the products to make Remus’s hair softer and his naturally wavy hair was like a fluffy sea of light brown. It wasn’t structured or greasy looking, instead, it was very Remus. It looked as soft as Remus’s personality was.

·         Shockingly, James and Sirius were right. He started receiving plenty of longing gazes from girls when the school year began again. 

·         When Gabriella Moore flirtatiously waved and greeted him at the beginning of term feast, Sirius pointed a drumstick at him and said, “It’s the hair. You’re welcome.”

SIRIUS BLACK

·         Sirius, though he hated to admit it, was a true Black.

·         He might not be a prejudiced, privileged wanker (Sirius’s exact words in fourth year), but he damn well knew he looked like a Black. Since he was a kid, relatives and family friends have doted on his looks.

·         “Oh, Walburga what a handsome set of boys you have. At least you won’t have to worry about the Black name dying out. I’m sure these two will be snatched up fresh out of Hogwarts.”

·         Sirius knew he looked like his brother, or his brother looked like him. The Blacks had a signature look to them, like most purebloods. According to his mother, a pureblood is too important to look like a common half-breed.

·         Sirius was well known for his mop of dark, well-groomed hair. He found that he felt good when it was nicely fixed. No one knew Sirius’s need for vanity was more deep-rooted than a love for materialism or an aesthetic. It was his security blanket. If everyone saw a good looking boy with a charismatic smile, there would be no need to dig further into his life. No need for them to uproot his unresolved problems.

·         Sirius Black was not vain, he was scared. Scared that his mother was right. Even though he knew she was wrong, her views and violence were morally corrupt, he was still riddled with anxiety.

·         He was well known for his lean figure among fellow students. He had a strong back that led into a trim waist down to a butt groups of girls would giggle about. He was never shy about taking off his shirt. That is until he ran away.

·         He left the House of Black with his once flawless skin covered with red lashes. He left the burning under his clothing as he approached the Potter’s home. When the door opened and he was welcomed with open arms, only then he showed his wounds. Mrs. Potter fixed him up, but the scars were forever. He was forever marked by his trauma.

·         But that didn’t stop Sirius.

·         He still took off his shirt. When someone asked what happened to him, he’d make something up.

·         “Fight with a dragon. You should see him, doll.” That got a few clueless girls.

·         “This one lass from Ravenclaw went a bit too hard.” This got even more clueless guys to whoop in response.

·         “Got attacked by a Hippogriff while trying to complete your summer essay, sir. I wanted to get a real life account. Unfortunately, it obviously did not like me very much.” This got him an O on his Care for Magical Creatures assignment.

·         Sirius felt clever coming up with all these myths for his scars, never letting the truth slip pass his lips to anyone except his closest friends.

·         Also, letting the truth be public would ruin the allusion of the mysterious Sirius Black.

JAMES POTTER

·         James Potter was the ultimate Gryffindor. Some people envied him for it, some really hated him for it. But at the end of the day, the only person’s opinion that mattered to James anyway was Lily’s. And just getting her to look his way was an accomplishment; regardless of the scowl present.

·         James, although he didn’t care about anyone else’s stares except a certain redhead, found he loved attention for his appearance. He got extra giddy at any compliments given but acting nonchalant on the outside.

·         “Looking good, Potter.” Smirked a Hufflepuff, leaving James to give a lopsided grin at her retreating back.

·         “Oh Merlin,” Grumbled Remus at that, knowing how James got with a compliment. Adding onto James Potter’s already huge ego was a dangerous choice.

·         “Padfoot, you got the map right?” James asked, ignoring Remus’s pointed look.

·         Sirius’s head bopped up and down, patting his robe pocket for confirmation.

·         “Perfect. I have an idea.” Those were never good words for anyone except a Marauder.

·         “What is it, James?” Peter raised a pale brow, looking a tad nervous already.

·         “It has to do with Snivellus. I think we’ve kept away from him for a long enough since the incident.” With few words, the others knew James was referring to Snape’s near death experience at a transformed Remus’s hands.

·         Remus shook his head, not wanting to get involved but knowing he had no choice. Sirius, on the other hand, just smirked and started spurting off prank ideas to James. Peter wordlessly listened to his best friends throw their ideas to each other, willing to do whatever James told him to do.

·         Merlin, they got Snivellus good that day. And Lily Evans stared at him. Sure, she was glaring, but you have to take what you can get.

·         One thing he knew Lily Evan did take notice of was his hair. He had created the signature dishevelment just for her.

·         The day before the start of third year, James was trying to sort his hair out. He had Sleekeazy at his disposal, but that wasn’t what he wanted. He was going to be fourteen soon, and he wanted Lily Evans to notice him. Or anyone really. Frankly, he was becoming a teenage boy and he just wanted a girlfriend. If Lily needed more time, then fine, but James was impatient.

·         He flipped it all around, brushing and combing pieces determinedly. Yet, he was without the result he wanted.

·         “James! Come get your broom out of the yard!” His mother yelled up the stairwell.

·         He groaned, setting his brush down with a huff. “Coming!”

·         His broom was still leaning on the gate, exactly where he left it yesterday night. He was determined to up his chaser ability. No more losing to Slytherin, as far as James would have it.

·         He eyed it, trying to decide if he needed more practice. The Gryffindor captain’s voice rang through his head, “Practice, practice, practice!”

·         Immediately, James hopped onto his broom, taking off. He did his drills until the sun had set and his mother was calling him for dinner.

·         When he went back inside, he passed a mirror, catching his reflection. His skin was darker from the sun, his eyes slightly teary from the whipping wind and his hair was just as he wanted.

·         All windswept and, to James, cool. He looked like he was always on a broomstick, experiencing new adventure and mischief every day. James gave his reflection his signature lopsided grin, as he found just how he was going to get Lily to notice him.

·         That, and a few cruel pranks at Snivellus. Just for good measure.

PETER PETTIGREW

·         Peter was not special. He knew that since before his Hogwarts days. It became more prominent to him when he became friends with Sirius, James, and Remus.

·         Sirius was dark and handsome. Girls tripped over themselves to just catch a whiff of his shampoo as he passed in the halls.

·         James was athletic and overall cool. He made students and teachers alike melt at his grin.

·         Remus was tall and bookish. Only Remus seemed to not notice girls’ longing stares as he sat reading in the library.

·         Peter had never seen himself as anything to notice. He was short, only about 5’5 with no lean muscle like the rest. He was a bit pudgy from the amount of sweets he ate.

·         Once, James mocked his pouch of fat on his stomach, making Peter turn beet red and let out a forced laugh. He knew James meant it in a joking way, but it didn’t stop Peter’s twisting stomach.

·         He spent the whole month of July on a strict diet. Vegetables and fruit only. Even when his mother brought out his birthday cake on his birthday, he refused the treat with a solemn look. His mother looked a bit taken aback, but ultimately followed Peter’s request.

·         He made it a routine to walk around the muggle village nearby. He’d walk for hours in the summer heat. Sometimes, he’d run up and down the hill by his house with large rocks in his hands. He probably looked like a dip, but he didn’t care. He was going to prove himself as special. He was going to be worth noticing in seventh year.

·         When the Marauders regrouped on the train to school, Sirius was the first to note Peter’s trimmed appearance.

·         “Have you lost weight, Wormtail?” Asked Sirius, biting into a Liquorice Comfit.

·         Peter watched the candy, thinking about asking for one but stopping himself. He’d come so far, why take it all back now? “A bit.”

·         “I can tell,” James nodded, grabbing one of the candies. He pointed it at Peter as he said, “You have an actual jawline now, Wormtail.”

·         Peter felt smug with the compliment. He always had to savor compliments, as they rarely came his way. Before he could reply, their last member came into the compartment. Peter noticed with disdain that Remus had grown at least another inch, and his shoulders were even broader.

·         Remus told the rest of the boys with sparkling eyes of the girls he had a summer romance with while in Portugal. All attention was quickly pulled from Peter’s transformation and on Remus’s randevu.

·         Peter was silent, watching with a familiar envy as the others talked about their fun summers and girls while eating an assortment of treats.

·         “Want a Chocolate Frog, Wormtail?” Sirius inquired, holding out the sweet.

·         Peter looked at the packet for a moment before swiping it, “Yeah, why not.”

·         He would never be able to win the looks contest anyway.

Masterlist 

[justanothercinemaniac]

Epic Movie (Re)Watch #176 - Logan

Spoilers Below

Have I seen it before: Yes

Did I like it then: Yes.

Do I remember it: Yes.

Did I see it in theaters: Yes.

Was it a movie I saw since August 22nd, 2009: Yes. #477

Format: Blu-ray

0) This is Hugh Jackman’s final turn as the character he made iconic seventeen years ago. While there might still be a chance the character could come back (likely if it were for a Deadpool crossover or if he got to fight The Avengers) this is likely it. And embracing that allows this film to go to places no X-Men film before it could (as does its R-rating).

1) The opening scene with the carjackers establishes a lot for this film. First of all, we get a good look at just how fucking disheveled and miserable Logan is. It even shows in his imagery; the gray hairs, the tired face, all of it. It also establishes the film’s more grounded tone. This isn’t X-jets and time travel, this is war and violence. R rated and bloody violence, which is also established in the opening scene.

2) Marco Beltrami returns to compose this film after The Wolverine, and his score is quite strong. It is subtle, nuanced, moving, and embraces its Western still in a surprising and emotional way. I absolutely loved.

3) Logan IS a Western more than it is a superhero film. In a superhero film characters KNOW what they are. Superman is aware he gives people hope, Batman knows he is order in a world of chaos just as the audience does. Logan however? He’s not a symbol. He’s not a warrior. He doesn’t play into tropes. Life is a sad, abysmal, bloody mess where nothing makes sense and it’s all just HARD. A lot of the best Westerns are like this (notably Shane), so Logan is really setting itself apart from the superhero crowd by embracing this.

4) Boyd Holbrook as Donald Pierce.

Holbrook makes the villainous Pierce wonderfully skeezy. He’s got this wonderful energy and charisma which makes the audience just love to hate him. Holbrook is an absolute delight in the part and helps elevate the film be being totally despicable.

5) Stephen Merchant as Caliban.

I mentioned in my X-Men: Apocalypse recap that both that film and this one features an adaptation of the character Caliban from the comics. This was the result of just poor communication between the filmmaking teams meaning both characters ended up in both films. But they play notably different roles, with Caliban being more of a plot device in Apocalypse but an actual character with decisions and consequences in this film. I have a head canon that Apocalypse Caliban is Logan Caliban’s father. I don’t know if anything supports this but I like it.

Merchant is wonderful in the decidedly NON comedic part (considering the actor has considerable comedic talent which he has shown off in the past). He is quiet, understated, you see that there is a pain there always lurking underneath (or not so underneath) the surface. Wonderful at drumming up empathy and occasionally giving exposition without forcing it down our throat, Merchant is the hidden gem of this film and absolutely glorious.

6) The decline of Xavier’s health in this film allows Patrick Stewart to play the character notably different than before.

For one thing, it is really interesting to hear Xavier dropping, “fucks,” left and right. But more than that the hope which has so defined the character for seventeen years is now largely gone. Not totally though, it’s still there. But it’s mixed in with pain and heartache, anger and confusion, bitter disappointment and self doubts. It is an absolutely heartbreaking and conflict filled role which allows Stewart to really shine in what is also HIS final turn as the beloved Professor X.

7) This line is very telling not only of Charles’ state in the film but also Logan’s conflict.

Xavier: “I always know who you are its just sometimes I don’t recognize you.”

8) When I first saw the film I thought this was just a nice wink to the first X-Men film.

Logan [after Charles says someone is waiting for him at the statue of liberty]: “Statue of liberty was a long time ago, Charles.”

Only with this viewing did I realize the motel where Logan meets Laura and Gabriella is the Liberty Motel with a statue of liberty logo.

9) This is part of the whole “the characters don’t know what they’re supposed to represent” trope in Westerns, but Xavier is kind of a dick in this film.

Xavier: “What a disappointment you are.”

Like, I get that you’ve had a hard life too Charles. But Logan is around 150 years old (I think). He’s been through the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, lost his memories, got them back at some point, and of course went through the events of every single X-Men film that happened before (including losing everyone in Days of Future Past then getting them back then losing them again before this film).

10) I thought it was a smart decision to only HINT at what happened with the X-Men instead of actually showing it.

Xavier: “Logan, what did you do? What did you do!?”

I’ll talk more about this in a little bit though.

11) Gabriella going to Logan for help feels like a Western trope. Like in The Magnificent Seven, the former outlaw/gunslinger trying to lead a quiet life is pulled back into it by someone who NEEDS them. In this case Logan is the gunslinger.

12) Dafne Keen as Laura.

Holy shit. Holy fucking shit. This girl. This fucking girl. This fucking girl is so fucking incredible. It is wildly difficult for me to wrap my head around how fucking amazing Dafne Keen is as Laura. I mean, her first sign of unique character and strength is when she fucking knocks out Pierce by throwing a damn pipe at his head! A mostly silent part for the first half (two-thirds?) of the film, Keen is able to embrace the physicality of her role BEAUTIFULLY. The way she moves, the look in her fucking eyes. She’s SO intense and that’s amazing. Everything about her. The fact that an eleven year old girl could be so damn intimidating speaks massively to her performance in this film. Hugh Jackman has been playing this part for longer than she’s been ALIVE and she can hold her own with him in every one of his her fucking scenes! This girl is a tiny badass! You know you don’t want to mess with Laura because she will fuck you up! I mean holy shit, she walks up to a group of bad guys with a fucking decapitated head. SHE GETS A HARPOON SHOT THROUGH HER CHEST AND IT BARELY PHASES HER! That entire first fight scene with her, Logan, and Pierce’s crew at their makeshift home shows off her skills as an actress phenomenally! She is a raging force of nature you do NOT want to piss off! Dafne Keen is the breakout star in Hugh Jackman’s last time as Wolverine! That tells a lot!

13) Bad guys deluding themselves into thinking their good guys is very honest to reality, but honestly how can you hunt down and murder children like a fucking sack of shit and think you’re still the good guy?

Pierce [to Caliban]: “I’m gonna need you to do one more thing for the good guys.”

14) Fuck Transigen. This film really did a good job of making films who you are hoping get brutally massacred by Logan and Laura. THEY BIRTHED CHILDREN FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF STUDYING THEM AND SELLING THEM AS SOLDIERS!

Dr. Rice [Transigen head scientist]: “Do not think of them as children. Think of them as things with patents and copyrights.”

I cannot begin to express how absolutely fucking horrific and despicable that concept is. THIS IS A COMPANY WHO TRYS TO KILL CHILDREN BECAUSE, “They could not be controlled.” BECAUSE THYE DIDN’T SERVE A PURPOSE! BECAUSE THEY WERE ACTUALLY HUMAN CHILDREN TRANSIGEN TRIED TO FUCKING MURDER THEM!

I look forward to their deaths.

15) I dig this.

Xavier: “She’s your daughter Logan.”

In the comics X-23 is a female clone of Wolverine, pushing that forward into a father/daughter relationship I think is strong. You can feel their relationship in her performance. Even when Laura is giving Logan a death stare you can feel that they’re connected. I mean, he’s the only one who gets ANYWHERE by telling her what to do.

16) Shane is prominently featured in a scene during the first half of the film.

Xavier talking about an early memory of seeing Shane in the theaters (when he was a kid) was reportedly an improvised moment. According to IMDb, this is an actual memory Patrick Stewart has from his youth which he brought up for the film. Shane was a large influence on the film, and one of the most iconic moments from the film ties very significantly into the movie.

Shane: “A man has to be what he is, Joey. Can’t break the mold. I tried it and it didn’t work for me. Joey, there’s no living with…with a killing. There’s no going back from one. Right or wrong, it’s a brand. A brand sticks. There’s no going back. Now you run on home to your mother, and tell her…tell her everything’s all right. And there aren’t any more guns in the valley.”

17) Logan losing it at the X-Men comics he finds is very telling of how he views the past. The very first page he opens to is Wolverine saving Rogue, who is notably absent from this film and who Logan had the strongest relationship with in X-Men and X2. This is how he WISHES life was. A big adventure, where he got to save his friends and the world on a more regular basis. Instead he’s left with pain and heartache.

17.1) The X-Men comics had to be special made for this film, as Marvel wouldn’t allow the studio to use actual X-Men comics.

18) Xavier’s Oklahoma City seizure.

When I first saw this film in theaters, this was the moment I went, “Holy shit, this film is amazing.” The fact that they turn this scene where everyone is frozen into a pseudo-action scene is amazing. Logan taking the time to go around and kill the bad guys is not only intelligent and organic but amazing to the eye. According to IMDb:

Professor Xavier's Psionic blast was done by shooting shaky footage and then re-stabilizing the frame in post. Resulting a footage containing strange motion blur with smearing effect, that is both organic and very unusual. The team shot the sequences slightly wider than was needed so that shots could be blown up to hide the edges of the stabilizing effect.

All of this makes the scene CRAZY strong and memorable, with Laura even participating by killing the one guy Logan missed.

19) What exactly happened to the X-Men.

News Reporter [reporting on the Oklahoma City incident; referring to a similar instance back in Westchester a year ago]: “…and took the lives of several mutants, including seven of the X-Men.”

In the comics, because of a psychic attack on Wolverine, he killed what he thought were super villains attacking X-Mansion which turned out to be his fellow teammates. In pre production there was the idea to film this as a prologue to the movie, while in the later dinner scene there was a deleted moment where Xavier went into detail about what happened at X-Mansion. I prefer this because it allows us as the audience to have hope that our favorite X-Men survived. (I may have even gotten the quote wrong; the reporter could have said, “seven mutants, including several of the X-Men.”)

20) Logan and the family dinner.

This was a concept first introduced in X-Men Origins: Wolverine; Logan finding a bit of peace and normalcy before his life goes crazy again. It is a nice moment of warmth in a story of heartache. What makes it all the worse? Logan, Xavier, and Laura. They WANT this. They are eager to have it.

Xavier [to Logan, about the family]: “You should take a moment and feel it.”

This is the goal. Xavier wants the Sunseeker boat with Logan, Laura wants her friends and family, but only one of the three gets this. Excuse me, I’m sad now.

21)

Will Munson [after Logan takes care of some redneck thugs]: “You’ve had training.”

Logan: “Some.”

22) Well. This is heartbreaking.

Charles: “This was without a doubt the most perfect night I’ve had in a long time. But I don’t deserve it, do I?…I think I finally understand you. Logan?”

Except he’s pouring his heart out to NOT Logan, but a Wolverine clone who murders him!

23) Fucking Logan clones.

(GIF originally posted by @notias1)

The dual Hugh Jackman-s in this scene are amazing, especially the seamless transition between X-24 walking down the stairs and Logan looking after him. The fight is strong as well, but nothing compared with what’s to come.

24) I love that these are Caliban’s final words, in reference to what Pierce told him earlier. It’s surprisingly badass.

Caliban [before setting off some grenades]: “Beware the light.”

25) Can I be totally honest with you guys? Hugh Jackman deserves a fucking Oscar nomination for this film. Like, 100%. Maybe there’ll be enough better performances towards the end of the year, but it at least deserves to be TALKED about. Just look at the scene where he’s standing over Xavier’s grave. He barely says a fucking word but still there is so much incredible raw emotion in his performance. There is heartache, there is anger, and it is all just SO amazing. But of course it’s the Oscars. He won’t even be a part of the conversation because it’s a comic book movie that came out in March.

26) Having a mute character speak COULD take away from what makes them interesting, but because of Dafne Keen’s performance Laura she is even MORE compelling.

Logan: “I don’t know how you got me here [to the hospital] but thank you.”

Laura: “De nada.”

The passion, honesty, ferocity, and focus which made her physical performance so compelling in the first half of the film all carries through beautifully into her voice and it just works so seamlessly. I fucking love it.

27) I’m not crying, promise.

Laura: “You’re dying. You want to die. Charles told me.”

Logan: “What else did he tell you?”

Laura: “To not let you.”

This was the exchange that made me think Logan was going to survive the film. Boy, was I wrong.

28) Okay, um…

Logan [when Laura shows him his adamantium bullet]: “Actually, I uh…was thinking of shooting myself with it.”

In X-Men Origins: Wolverine Logan got shot point blank in the skull with an adamanitum bullet and survived, he just lost his memories. You could say he wouldn’t survive in this film because of his healing being weaker, BUT that’s how they kill the Wolverine clone X-24 by shooting him in the head with it. BUT IT DIDN’T WORK IN X-Men Origins!

29) Laura is vicious!

Logan [when Laura is being distant from him]: “I even gave back the money!”

Laura [coldly]: “Such a nice man.”

(GIF originally posted by @rocktheholygrail)

30) I’m not crying. I promise. Not yet.

Logan: “Bad shit happens to people I care about. Understand me?”

Laura: “Then I’ll be fine.”

(GIF source unknown [if this is your GIF please let me know].)

31) Wolverine fighting in the woods to save the kids from being murdered by Pierce and Rice is probably the worthiest cause Logan has ever fought for, and the way he is choreographed as fighting alongside Laura shows their relationship is as strong as ever. They work with/off of each other, making each other stronger and helping the other survive. Because they’re family.

32) The fact that Wolverine’s final battle is against himself (or, a clone of himself) is probably deeply poetic but I’m too fascinated by what’s going on screen to analyze it. Again, he and Laura are fighting side by side here. Hell, it’s Laura he’s fighting for! And it’s Logan Laura is fighting to save. She’s the one who shoots X-24 in the head to kill him in an attempt to save Logan. But…oh boy…I don’t know if I can write this…

33) Pierce’s death is horrible and gratuitous and SO fucking cathartic considering he spent the entire film DESPERATELY TRYING TO MURDER CHILDREN! (Warning, below video features graphic content from an R-rated film. Viewer discretion is advised.

34) Logan’s death.

For one thing (holy shit I’m tearing up as a write this, what the fuck?), the prophecy Yukio made in The Wolverine comes to pass.

(Screenshot taken from a GIF set originally posted by @highsmith)

Except it’s not literally his heart, like in The Wolverine. It’s Laura. Laura is his heart. And, um…wow this is fucking hard. Okay look: I didn’t cry when I saw this in theaters. Everyone else did, but I kinda saw it coming. But a lot has happened between now and then so it hits closer to home. Anyone who has lost a parent or a loved one will be moved as Logan’s daughter watches him while he dies.

Logan: “Don’t be what they made you. Laura…”

Logan: “Ah, so this is what it feels like.”

This is the only time Laura refers to Logan as her father and also the only time Logan doesn’t deny it. Showing that they’ve accepted their relationship, but then he dies. Holding his daughter’s hand in his own. Because she’s his heart. Okay now I’m tearing up.

You know what makes the scene even harder? The little fucking funeral all the kids have for their savior. For the Wolverine. For Logan. And the fact Laura uses the same quote from Shane harkens back not only to a brief moment of just being a kid with Xavier and her dad in the other room, but also just what kind of impact those words have in a new light.

Laura [quoting Shane]: “A man has to be what he is, Joey. Can’t break the mold. There’s no living with a killing. There’s no going back. Right or wrong, it’s a brand. A brand that sticks. Now you run on home to your mother, and tell her everything’s all right. And there are no more guns in the valley.”

And then, in what is probably the most fitting final image of this 17 year old character, Laura turns the cross into an X.

Logan is a masterpiece. Working in a different style and going against established superhero and X-Men tropes makes this a worthy finale to Hugh Jackman’s tenure as the character. He is as strong as ever, Patrick Stewart is as strong as ever, and newcomer Dafne Keen fucking hits it out of the park. It’s heartbreaking and brutal and amazing because of these things. It’s fantastic and I think everyone should see it. Just...wow.

[princessamericachavez]

HSM AU where Gabriella never moved schools and Sharpay got a chance to pursue her crush on Troy and her career and dreams unapologetically without being villainized for it and had to learn how to be nice and friendly while not sacrificing her drive and independence. 

The first year, when Troy is looking at the audition call sheets curiously remembering his karaoke with that cute girl during the holidays, Sharpay comes over and invites him to join. He laughs it off but can’t take it off his mind. In the end, he auditions late for a minor role. The teacher likes him so much, he’s in the second call for a principal role. He still struggles just the same between basketball and singing. Sharpay, looking forward to spend time with her crush, volunteers to sing with him too in the second audition, ignoring Ryan’s complains. She can sing with both of them and, since she’s the only female contender, that way they can see how both pairings work. 

As they spend more and more time together, Sharpay encourages Troy to pursue his dreams like she and her brother do. “You’ve got real talent. I’d hate to see you waste it.” In the end, they get the pet because the teacher can’t ignore there’s way better chemistry between this two than a brother and sister pairing lbr.

That summer, Sharpay realizes Troy is looking for a job so —same as in the movie— she offers him to work at her dad’s place and finds him awesome connection and Troy still brings all his friends over and she still freaks out a little because she wanted one on one time with him. So there’s the golfing and the music competition and really she’s just a girl trying to impress her crush. Troys friends still complain a lot that he’s “selling out” or “ignoring them” or whatever they were complaining about in the movie idek it was shitty. 

Anyway, Troy again has a mini life crisis —as he apparently does every six months— but this time there’s no Gabriella to give him an ultimatum. So instead, in the middle of his life crisis, he’s found singing and screaming in the golf field by none other than Sharpay, who he rants to furiously. Her advice? “Fuck them. This is your life.” Because seriously, this is college they are talking about. So he’s a little taken back but she’s not backing down on this. She tells him to follow his dreams, to do what he wants in life because he’ll only get one. 

She says it’s what she does. “I know a lot of people don’t like me,” she shrugs, “but I don’t have time to worry about that. I’m working for my dreams. So should you.” And he’s shook, not only by the idea but by how self-aware of her image Sharpay is. By the way her eyes look sad when she says it but she still tilts her chin up, defiantly. In the end, he listens to her. He takes his time, not making any commitments yet, but he keeps his options open. He doesn’t ditch Sharpay for the competition and his friends decide to not be assholes and show up to support him because they love him, not to surprise him with his girlfriend’s return. In the end, when they go about laughing and having fun, Troy grabs Sharpay’s hand without thinking and pulls her along. For the first time, she allows herself to feel what it’s like to be loved and have friends and just be one of them. 

So last year, yeah? And Sharpay is happier than she remembers being and everyone is either excited as hell or freaking out about their future but she knows what she wants, and she tells Troy about it as they rehears for the new musical. “You should come to Juilliard with me,” she says, “you are very talented,” and though there’s still the flirty flair in her voice there’s honesty there too. God, she wants him to come because she’s not changing her plans for a boy. Troy laughs, shrugs it off. He says it’s not his thing. He suggests, pretending innocence, she could be a little closer to home. “No way,” she says, a little too fast, not even realizing what he could’ve meant, “I know where my dreams are, handsome.”

They graduate. Ryan still gets the Juilliard scholarship, which Sharpay claps graciously. Troy finds her a little tear eyed later during the celebration, gives her a hug. He’s still going to Berkley where he can play basketball and do theater, because they are both things he love, not to be close to a girl. “I have no doubt that you’ll be amazing,” he tells her, honestly, because if someone can make it out there is the girl that made him believe in his own dreams. 

“Just promise you’ll visit,” she says, gathering just enough courage to kiss his cheek before running away into the crowd. “Promise,” he smiles as she leaves, all bubbly energy again, even if not all of it is real. Most of it isn’t, he now knows. 

He does visit as promised. He shows up at Albuquerque. She goes to his first college play. He shows up in New York when she feels like she’s gonna hit rock bottom and he’ll be damn if he lets that happen. “I’m an expert in this kinda life crisis thing, believe me!” He manages to make her laugh. She claps enthusiastically in every one of his basketball games. He’s sitting on the first row of her Broadway debut, right next to Ryan and his boyfriend.

The media starts talking about Sharpay’s cute arm piece in every red carpet. About the fancy blonde that doesn’t miss one of Troy’s games, no matter how far she lives. People put two and two together before either of them do. I mean, Sharpay never really dropped the crush but she kinda out grew the worst stage of it and was happy to accept his friendship, his closeness, his unexpected support. And Troy, oh Troy, the poor boy is a hopeless romantic still, but he also has a lot of growing up to do to see the girl behind the mask, then the woman behind the girl, and then finally realize the way he feels maybe is not really friendship? He’s dated girls before, he’s done this, he knows what it is… or he thinks he does, but suddenly she’s always been here and he’s so proud of her and she’s been so good to him and one day… one day it clicks. 

It’s been a long road. He’s graduated. She’s a big star. And Troy —just as in canon— still takes forever to kiss the girl, but when he does he surprises her. Maybe after one of her plays, while they are sharing drinks in that fancy bar she loves. Maybe after one of his games, in that little pub he loves and she pretends to hate but at least they play good music and the margaritas are not half bad. Either way, he kisses her mid sentence and she keeps talking until it dawns on her what is going on and she kisses back with such hunger and enthusiasm she almost knocks him off his chair. 

Somewhere inside her chest, the young girl that went to high school with him, is singing. 

[shawnximagine-blog]

Kid In Love (Part 1)

A/N: This is inspired by Jenny Han’s To All The Boy’s I’ve Loved Before series. I’m so in love with it and I always picture Shawn as Peter Kavinsky. 

MASTER LIST

https://shawnximagine.tumblr.com/masterlist

‘Ynah, c’mon we’re getting late!!!!’ My 8-year-old little sister, Kina shouted.

‘Coming!!!’ I shouted back while trying fixing my hair. I’m wearing my favorite pink culotte pants and black top with my favorite pair of white shoes. I ran downstairs knowing Kina will not stop shouting until I’m not there. One thing about my little sister is that she doesn’t want to get late to school. She hates it so much.

‘What took you so long? You’re so annoying, we’re always late because of you!’ Kina said who’s so annoyed.

‘Alright, girls. Stop bickering already, Kina, your sister is already here so stop being so annoyed now just hop in the car.’ My dad said. It’s been 5 years since my mom died from a plane crash. So it’s just me, my older sister Clarisse, my dad and Kina. It’s hard for all of us since we’re so close to my mom. Also, to my dad who’s a surgeon. It’s hard for him to be a mother, father, and surgeon at the same time to his three girls with different personalities. There’s no day we didn’t miss our mom. But we all know that she’s watching us and doesn’t want to see us sad. That’s why we’re all staying strong for each other.

We drop off Kina first because she doesn’t want to get late at her first day of school and she wanted to make new friends that’s why she wanted to go to school early.

‘Are you excited for the first day of school?’ My dad asked while looking at the road. 

‘Yeah.’ I said.

‘Well, you don’t sound like excited.’ My dad joked.

‘I mean, Clarisse isn’t there anymore I’m not used to it.’ I said. My sister, Clarisse went to college now in NYU. I’m used to have her with me we’re like twins, my mom used to dressed us with the same dress. Almost everyone thought we’re twins, except at school because everybody knew her, she’s this popular kid while on the other side, I’m this girl who loves to bake, who doesn’t have her first kiss, and has one friend.

‘Well, Dani’s there she’s your best friend right? And you’re already Senior, have fun!’ My dad said while he glanced at me and looked at the road again.

‘yeah.’ I answered.

‘And make some friends, Ynah. You’re awesome I’m sure these millennials will like you.’ My dad said trying to lift up my spirit.

‘Alright here you go!’ My dad said after a few moments. ‘Call me if you need a ride home, alright? And don’t pick up Kina, Bianca’s giving her a ride.’ My dad informed me.

‘Okay. Bye. Love you!’ I waved and went inside to find Dani, my best friend since Grade 7.

‘HEEEYYYYY.’ Dani shouted and ran to me. We hugged so tight since we haven’t seen each other the whole summer because Dani went to London while me I’m helping my sister Clarisse to unpack her things at NYU.

‘I missed you!’ I said and she pulled me away from our tight hug.

‘Me too! How’s my favorite Asian?’ She asked.

‘Great! I cannot wait to go home!’ I jokingly said and she just rolled her eyes.

‘Girl, trust me. Me too!’ She said. ‘Your boy looks so hot btw!’

‘Who?’ I asked while getting my biology book in my locker.

‘C’mon! Don’t act like you don’t know, your crush since Grade 8. The one and only Shawn Mendes! The Troy Bolton of this school!’ She said and I laughed.

‘Well, I guess he doesn’t want me to be his Gabriella huh?’ I said when I saw Shawn with Hanna.

‘You’re prettier than her!’ She said while looking at the two.

‘I agree with you!’ I said. ‘Let’s go, I don’t want to be late to Ms. Lopez. Clarisse told me she’s kind of strict!’ I said and me and Dani run into our first subject like we always do.

School went by so fast, thankfully. Shawn was my classmate in literature and until now he’s driving me crazy. I like him since Grade 8 and up until now I’m still into him. He’s a varsity player, he sings as well and he knows how to make all the girls swoon. We used to be friends when we were Grade 8 but when he started dating Hanna he became distant. I just don’t know why. But I don’t care anymore. I still like him, but I don’t care about his relationship with Hanna anymore.

‘Hey, Song!’ I heard someone called me, a familiar voice. My heart beats so fast, when I turned around I saw, Shawn.

‘Oh, hi!’ He and Dani were the only ones who calls me Song, my mom’s family name since she’s Korean and we’re half Korean. It’s the first time again he called me Song after such a long time.

‘How are you?’ He asked. ‘Can I?’

I just looked at him confused.

‘Can I walk with you?’ He asked.

‘You’re already walking with me.’ I said. He just smiled.

‘You didn’t answer my question!’ He said.

‘Mendes, you’re already walking with me.’ I said.

‘No, I mean how are you?’

‘Oh, great!’ I said and smiled. ‘Where’s Hanna?’ I asked.

‘with her new man.’ He told me and pointed Hanna with one of Shawn’s friends, Michael. I feel bad for him, he doesn’t deserve it.

‘I just saw you two earlier.’ I said.

‘She just broke up with me.’ He said.

‘Where’s Matt, Ian, and Brian?’ I asked.

‘Mr. Arthur still talking to them about something so I’m alone and I saw you and why not talk to my old friend right?’ He said. ‘Oh, where’s Dani?’

‘She went home already since her last class went by so fast.’ I said.

‘So you want a ride home?’ He asked.

‘Nope, no need. I’m just gonna walk.’

‘No I insist, let’s pick up Kina as well.’ He said.

It’s nice that even if we haven’t talked for years now he still remember all the little details about my life, how I used to pick up Kina every after school, how I used to walk with Dani and he’s still calling me Song because he thought that it’s cute because he likes to sing.

‘Alright then.’ We went straight to his new car, kind of fancy for this child.

The car ride home was kind of awkward. It was so silent until he broke the silence.

‘So how’s Clarisse and Kina?’ He asked.

'Well, Cla’s in NYU while Kina, Kina’s still the same. The sassy and the friendly one.’ I said and giggle.

‘Oh yeah where did she go?’

‘NYU’

‘You guys are a family of smart people.’ Shawn said. ‘Well, I missed Kina’s sassy attitude!’

I just smiled. ‘What about Aaliyah? How is she?’

‘Great. She’s having fun at high school.’

‘Well, that sounds great!’

‘What if we go grab some food first?’ Shawn asked me.

‘Yeah, sure! Kina will be home late since she’s going to her classmate’s house.’ I said.

‘Alright then.’

We went to this pancake house near my house. I love their pancake with bacon inside while Shawn ordered a blueberry pancake.

‘Where do you plan to go in college?’ Shawn asked.

‘To be honest, I haven’t decided about it yet I mean as of now but maybe when it hits me that I’m already senior maybe I’ll be cramming to send applications.’ I said while feeling my pancakes.

‘Me too, I haven’t decided about it yet although I plan on going to Toronto University.’ Shawn said who’s sipping his mango shake.

‘That sounds great. I actually want to go to NYU as well but I don’t know.’ I said.

‘Well, you’re smart, Song for sure you’ll get whatever school you wanted.’ Shawn said and smiled at me. I smiled back, I miss his smile though. He’s still so sweet and genuine.

We talk for like 3 hours until I got a text messages from Dani who’s at home with my little sister. That’s when I told Shawn that we needed to go he drop me off and I asked him if he wanted to go inside but he refused since his mom is making some pasta.

‘Hey there!’ Dani greeted me who’s sitting at the sofa while Kina’s painting her nails.

‘Where have you been?’ Kina asked me who’s so busy painting Dani’s nails. ‘What color do you like? Pink or sky blue?’ Kina asked Dani.

‘Sky Blue I’m not like your sister who’s so basic.’ Dani said and looked at me. I just rolled my eyes and sat next to them.

‘I know who owns that car.’ Dani said. I just looked at her.

‘Don’t give me that look, Song! I know you, that’s Shawn?’

‘Yeah.’

‘So what’s up with him now?’

‘Nothing, we just went to grab some pancakes.’ I said and opened my phone because Shawn texted me. And I can’t help I smile so wide that both Dani and Kina are looking at me and judging me.

‘Okay, earlier we saw that guy with Hanna and now he wants you to be his Gabriella Montez?’ Dani asked.

‘We’re friends remember?’ I asked.

‘Yeah. But you guys didn’t asked me to go with you since I’m also your friend remember?’ Dani said and rolled her eyes.

‘Okay, I don’t want to hear you both anymore and I’m done with your nails, I’m out!’ Kina said and went straight to her room.

‘I like your sister’s attitude!’ Dani said.

‘Yeah right!’

‘So what’s up with Mendes now? Isn’t he with Hanna?’

‘They broke up!’ I said.

‘What?’

‘Yeah!’

‘with who?’

‘Michael.’ I said.

‘Well, I’m not shocked.’ She said like its normal to see someone break up with her boyfriend and get another one so quickly. But for Hanna that’s normal.

‘Well I’m here to tell you that I’m inviting you to Malibu this weekend since my parents are going to Hawaii and they’re sending me to Malibu over the weekend.’ Dani said while looking at her nails. ‘Ask Mendes to come with us, I’ll ask my boyfriend to come with me so that you won’t feel left out.’ 

‘I’m not sure if I should go ask him.’ I said. I don’t want him to feel that I’m so into him even though I am really into him.

‘Well, we’re all friends so that’s no big deal!’ Dani said. ‘And, we’re just going to be there to have some fun, I mean me and my guy.’

‘Ew. Whatever.’

‘Hey, that’s not what I meant. You have a dirty mind!’

‘Whatever.’

‘Well, I have to go now, I’ll see you tomorrow at school!’ Dani said. ‘Oh, and let’s grab some coffee tomorrow!’ She added.

‘Yeah. Bye!’ I said and hugged her before she walks out the door.

Today has been a great day, being with Shawn again, being able to talk to him again like nothing’s changed. It’s nice. I feel like we’re back to normal. I missed him so much, and I want our friendship to work out this time. And I hope that this time our friendship will not be ruin by someone else. 

REQUESTS ARE OPEN AND FEED BACKS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!

[imagines-for-the-fangirls-soul]

Just Yours - Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen - More than Friends

A/N: Well, we haven’t had a proper Rafael/reader fight yet, so here one is! I know this is long, but I don’t even feel sorry. Please let me know what you think!!! This chapter is set around the episode, Padre Sandunguero. Word Count: 5,140 Pairing: Rafael Barba x Reader Synopsis: Jealousy and anger arise after Nick’s father is arrested for domestic violence. Tags: @sergeantdodds, @sweetsummertime99, @evs14u, @gibbs274, @standing-in-a-downpour (Let me know if you wish to be tagged!)

Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

“Wait your father?” you asked, trying to listen to Nick as he explained how his morning was going. For some reason, your phone was breaking up so you only heard parts of what he was saying. You were also trying to get dressed for the day, so it was a little difficult to listen to him as you changed. 

“Yeah, he just showed up. Wanted to go to lunch. Tells me he’s getting married.”

“Getting married? To who?” 

“I don’t know. I told him I don’t want to meet her.”

“Oh Nick, I’m so sorry.” You heard him sigh on the other line. “Do you want to talk about it? Maybe later tonight?”

“No, I think I’m gonna go see my mom. Thanks, though.”

“Of course. Keep me posted.”

“Uh huh,” he said before hanging up. 

“What did Nick want?” Rafael asked, still laying half naked in bed. You tossed your phone on the bed and finished pulling up your pants. 

“His dad is back in town.”

“Oh nice,” he said, putting his hands behind his head. 

“Not really. He’s a huge asshole.” Rafael nodded in understanding. “I didn’t know him for that long. I think we met maybe once or twice. Nick’s always had a problem with him.”

“Why?”

“He’s an asshole.”

“Yeah, I got that.” You sighed. You had been searching for a particular shirt, but you had forgotten which one you were looking for. “I’m sorry.” You looked back at Rafael and he cocked an eyebrow at you.

“Why?”

“I need to go see him.”

“Okay,” he said, getting out of bed. “I understand.”

“Thank you.” You kissed him softly.

“Call me later.”

“I will.” You quickly changed and left for the precinct. Nick had just gotten back from his mother’s house. You were sitting at his desk when he came back.

“Hey,” he said, surveying the room, purposefully not making eye contact. “I thought you had the day off.” You shrugged and looked up at him.

“I wanted to see you.” He laughed, with almost no joy in it. 

“Zara’s back.”

“Really? I have like a million things to give her. She could have moved into our apartment honestly.” Nick smiled, and it was genuine. 

“I’m sure she’s excited to see you, too.” 

“So, I’ll see if Graham wants to see her, too. A little date with her god-parents.”

“She’s gonna be busy,” he said, putting his hand on the back of his chair. You stood up. “You don’t have to move.” Again, you shrugged and sat down on the edge of his desk. You motioned your hand and he sat down. 

“Why is Zara gonna be busy?”

“She’s gonna be a flower girl in Nicholas’s wedding.”

“Jesus.”

“Yeah,” he said, sighing. 

“I’m sorry.” He shrugged. “I’m here for you, you know,” you said, kicking his leg softly. He smiled up at you. 

“I know.” He touched your knee. 

You hung out with Nick in the office for the entire day. You got caught up on work, and talked with him when he wanted. He didn’t want to very much. You texted Zara, asking her how long she was here and when she could meet up. She was very excited, and you were, too. 

Sonny said his goodbyes to the two of you, and just as Nick was talking to Maria, and trying to convince you to go home, he got another phone call. 

“Hey, Zara.” His face immediately paled as he picked up the phone. He stood up and started walking towards the door. “Alright, just tell me what’s going on.” You raced after him, worried for Zara, too. 

Nick floored it all the way to the nightclub. He barely stopped his car as he ran in. You followed as he called for Zara. Eventually, the eight year old came running out with her grandma. 

“Daddy!”

“Zara!”

“Daddy! It was scary.”

“Are you okay? Que paso?” You ran your hand through Zara’s hair, and she smiled up at you a little. 

“One minute, everyone was dancing. Then all hell broke loose,” Nick’s mother said. Nick nodded and looked at you.

“Take them home, please.”

“Nick.”

“Please,” he said, touching your arm gingerly. You sighed and took Zara’s hand. “Take them home.”

“Call me,” you said. 

“I have a huge box of presents for you,” you said, laying on top of the bed with Zara. She smiled excitedly at you as you both colored in separate coloring books. 

“Daddy says you have a new boyfriend.”

“He did?” you asked with a smile. She giggled. “I do. He’s a lawyer.”

“Daddy hates lawyers.” You laughed along with her. 

“I know. But this one is nice.”

“Is he handsome?”

“Very.”

“Are you two gonna get married?” You laughed. 

“Maybe. What about you? Do you have any boyfriends?” She laughed.

“No way! Boys are gross.”

“Yes, they are.” Your phone chimed and you looked down to see a text from Nick, that he was on his way home. “Hey, Zar, it’s time for bed.”

“No, I wanna wait for Daddy.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. You’ll see him tomorrow.”

“What about you?”

“What about me?” you asked, as you tucked Zara into bed. You sat down on the edge and looked at her. 

“When will I see you again?”

“Before you go home. I promise. I still gotta give you your gifts.” She smiled and snuggled into her pillow. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Y/N.” You flipped the light off as you walked back downstairs. Cesaria was exhausted and went to bed almost immediately after you came home. Nick walked in a couple of minutes later, and you rushed towards him.

“What are you still doing here?”

“Watching your family. What’s happening?”

“Go home,” he said softly. “You don’t need to be here.”

“I want to be. What’s happening?” 

“Nicholas hit Gabriella.”

“His fiance?”

“Yeah.”

“Did she tell you that?” He nodded as he walked into the kitchen. He took a beer from the fridge and downed most of it. 

“You don’t have to hang around.”

“Shut up. I know this has to be hard on you- and no, don’t give me that shit. I know you, Nick. Better than most.” He sighed and took another swig.

“I know. And I appreciate it. I’m just going to go to sleep. Liv told me to stay out of it. I promise, I’m fine. Go home. Barba hasn’t seen you all day.”

“He can manage.” He leaned in and kissed your forehead. 

“Thank you. I love you. Goodnight,” he said, walking towards the stairs. You smiled and walked to the door. You both looked back at each other.

“Goodnight,” you said.

Rafael was in bed when you came home. He had a book in his hands, and didn’t notice you until you kicked your shoes off and they clamored across the floor. 

“You been in bed all day?” He shook his head with a slight smile.

“I figured you’d be home earlier.”

“Yeah, sorry about that,” you said, as you continued to get undressed. “It was kind of a shit show with Nick’s dad.” He put his book down as you crawled in bed next to him. 

“Do you wanna talk about it?” You shrugged and rested your head on his shoulder.

“I’m sure you’ll hear it all tomorrow. I sort of just want to sleep.”

“Okay.” He leaned over and turned the light out, bathing you in darkness. “Goodnight.” He rolled over and turned from you. 

“Goodnight.”

The next morning, Rafael seemed a little happier. He was going down to the precinct with you because today was the day that Nick’s father was going to be interviewed. After getting dressed, and grabbing a quick bite to eat, you walked out the door.

“I thought we were supposed to stay separated from this case,” you said, looking up at Olivia in confusion. Nick was sitting at his desk across from yours, and was looking up with the same look. 

“Well, we want Nick to, but we think, if we have you in there he might be more keen to tell the truth.”

“He barely knows me,” you said.

“He’ll remember you,” Nick said firmly. You looked over at him and he shrugged. You frowned at him and nodded.

“Okay? Who am I going with?”

“Finn.” You nodded and met Finn in the hallway outside of the interrogation room. 

“So she did convince you.” 

“Yep.”

“Alright, let’s go.” He opened the door, and you walked into the room. Nicholas Amaro was sitting at the table with his lawyer, a grim look on his face. That changed a little when he saw you. His frown turned more smug.

“Y/N, Nicky’s girl,” he said, pointing at you. You smiled politely and sat down.

“Actually, it’s Detective Dodds. This is Detective Tutuola.” Finn sat down next to you. “So, let’s talk about what happened.”

“Like my client already told you,” D’Angelo said, leaning forward. “He was defending his fiance.”

“Right, and that’s what she said, too, but we can’t find one witness that saw Javier go downstairs.”

“Drunk people in a dark chaotic room - what do they know?”

“We did find witnesses who saw you putting ice on your knuckles after coming upstairs.” Nicholas tilted his head and shrugged.

“I was defending my fiance. I mean, he had it coming to him. You know what I’m talking about,” he said, looking at you.

“No,” you said, shaking your head. “I know that Gabriella has a fractured skull and a busted lip.”

“She’s not pressing charges,” D’Angelo said.

“It was the night before our wedding, tensions were running high. You’re telling me that things never got out of hand with you and Nick?” You stood up, and walked to one of the mirrors. Leaning against the wall, you took a deep breath and looked at Nicholas.

“Nope.”

“Come on, he’s just like his father.” You shook your head. “The two of you didn’t even make it a week past your engagement.”

“Alright,” Finn said, “Let’s get back to what happened that night.”

“Come on. I’d never hit a woman.”

“All do respect. No witnesses, she’s not pressing charges, we’re done.”

“Domestic violence is a must arrest.”

“But it’s not a must charge,” D’Angelo said, standing up. You sighed and watched as the two men walked out. You looked over at Finn and he frowned. He stood up and walked to the door that led into Olivia’s office. He opened it for you and you walked in to find Rafael talking with Liv. Your heart sunk and you felt sick. 

“That didn’t go so well,” Liv said. You nodded, still trying to read Rafael, who was not looking at you. He was looking in Olivia’s direction but wasn’t actually seeing her. 

“We see guys like this all the time. He ducks every question,” Finn said.

“He believes his own lies,” you said. Rafael blew air out of his nose, still not looking over at you.

“So what do we do now?” Finn asked.

“We prep for trial,” Rafael said. He picked up his briefcase, and walked out the door, not saying anything. Olivia and Finn looked over at you, showing some sympathy. You rolled your eyes and walked out the door. 

“Hey, how’d it go?” Nick asked, leaning back in his chair. You shook your head and walked past him. The elevator was already going down, so you took the stairs. You ran down them and out onto the street. 

“Rafael!” you shouted. He was looking down at his phone and turned to face you. He frowned a little as you ran to catch up with him.

“Did you run all the way down here?”

“Yes, because you walked out on me.” He sighed and continued walking towards his office. “Can we at least talk?”

“What about?” You rolled your eyes.

“You know what I’m talking about.”

“I don’t know why you didn’t tell me.”

“Because Nicholas was right. We didn’t last a week past our engagement. And I’d use the term engagement loosely.” Rafael sighed and checked his phone again. 

“Okay,” he said, stopping.

“Okay?”

“I believe you. But I’m not gonna lie and say that I’m not a little bit upset about this.” He looked up at you and smiled a little. “You should get back to work.”

“Yeah, I’ll see you tonight.” He nodded and looked down at his phone again, and walked away.  You stood awkwardly for a moment before turning back towards to the precinct.

Rafael sat in Olivia’s office for the fourth time that week, looking at one of the people he wanted to see least. He watched as confusion and anger swept across Nick’s face.

“You want me to testify?” Rafael nodded and looked over at Olivia, who was beginning to try and explain things to Nick. “But last I heard, you wanted me to stay away.” 

“I did, pero, tu padre, who’s even more stubborn than you are,” he replied, glaring at Nick just a bit. “Wouldn’t take a plea. He says his honor is too important.”

“Well that’s not my problem,” Nick said, standing up. Rafael clenched his jaw and fought off the urge to roll his eyes. This case was difficult enough for Nick, and he didn’t want to do anything to purposefully make it worse for him, but Nick wasn’t being much help. “Well look, there were one hundred people at that party, and I wasn’t one of them.”

“And none of them saw the fight,” Olivia said. “You’re the one who Gabriella made her outcry to, Nick.” She stood up and looked him in the eye. “You’re also the only one who can testify that it was part of a pattern.” Nick paled and stared at Olivia for a minute, taking what she just said in.

“You told him about that? Those were private conversations,” he said softly.

“It was pertinent, Nick. I had to inform.” 

“Inform is right,” he said, rolling his eyes. He started walking out of the room. “You enjoying this? Huh?” he asked Rafael.

“No.” And he wasn’t. At all. “But if your father sees your name on the list, maybe he’ll plea it out.” Nick opened the door and looked back at Rafael and Olivia.

“And what if he doesn’t? I mean how do I explain that to the rest of my family?” He closed the door behind him and Olivia looked over at Rafael with a sigh. He shrugged and stood up, fixing his suit.

“Don’t worry about him.”

“I can’t help it. This has got to be awful for him.”

“I’m sure it is. But he’s got Y/N to watch over him,” he said with a little to much spite. Olivia eyed him and Rafael wished he hadn’t had said anything.

“Everything okay between you two?”

“Yeah,” he said, again, too spiteful and short.

“Do you want to talk about it?” He finished buckling up his briefcase and turned back to his friend. 

“There’s nothing to talk about.” She nodded and the slightest smile started working its way across her face. 

“For the record, I didn’t know they had been engaged before, either.” Rafael sighed.

“We’re fine, Liv.” She frowned at him and he smiled just a bit. “Thank you for your concern.”

“Of course.” He smiled once more before walking out the door. He was glad to be rid of Olivia’s judging eyes, and her advice she would surely continue to give. Rafael didn’t need to hear that the two of you should be talking. He knew you should be. But if you did, then you would have to face all of the problems. Right now it was just better to ignore it. Or easier. 

As he walked out of the precinct, he walked past your desk where you were talking quietly with Nick. You looked up at Rafael and smiled ever so slightly. He didn’t stop, and didn’t breath until he got to the elevator. 

You were ready to actually talk with Rafael, as you stood in his office. He was getting prepared for opening statements, and was currently buttoning up his shirt again. You hadn’t said anything since you came in and the suspense was suffocating.

“Rafael-” You were cut off when Carmen walked in. She smiled sympathetically at you both. She always knew everything.

“Mr. Barba, Mr. D’Angelo would like to meet with you. Immediately.” Rafael looked at her in bewilderment.

“Opening statements are in a few minutes.” She shrugged.

“Should I tell him no?”

“No. I’ll meet him in a conference room downstairs in a minute.” She nodded and shut the door behind her. “I’m sorry,” he said to you. “I guess we’ll have to talk later,” he said with a little smile. You laughed softly and nodded.

“Can I come with you?” you asked. He nodded and you followed after him, his coat in your hand. The two of you walked down to the tiny room, finding D’Angelo and Nicholas standing outside. Nicholas smiled when he saw you and you started to rethink your decision to join Rafael.

“Talk fast, Mr. D’Angelo,” Rafael said, opening the door and following everyone inside. “Opening statements are in five minutes.” You sat down at one of the chairs, still holding tightly onto Rafael’s jacket.

“Well I can’t talk as fast as you, Mr. Barba, but here goes.” You snorted softly and you thought you saw the slightest twinge of a smirk on Rafael’s face. Nicholas paced the room nervously, and you tried to ignore his gaze. “In the interest of sparing his family any more embarrassment, my client is willing to plea to a crime he didn’t commit.”

Rafael started putting on his vest as he said, “You know my office can’t accept a plea without a genuine admission of guilt.”

“Well you have no cooperating complainant. You have no eyewitnesses. I say we drop this down to a disorderly conduct, be done with it.” Rafael didn’t look amused, but still managed to crack a smile.

“Dis-con? He cracked her skull.”

“Hey, I was defending my fiance,” Nicholas said, turning to face the group.

“Please, you think some jury’s gonna believe that?” Rafael asked. You touched his sleeve softly. You loved that he never backed down from a fight, except maybe from you, but Nicholas was definitely not the man to fight with. Especially now. Nick had told you too many stories for you to think of him as anything other than dangerous. 

“Well I’ll tell you what. My daughter will testify. So will my fiance,” he said with a shrug. “Am I making this up? No one saw this. Are you counting on my son? Cause there’s something you should know. He’s never had the nerve to go up against his father. Alright? He still doesn’t.” You scoffed and shook your head. Nicholas twisted his lips. 

“Assault three,” Rafael said. “Sixty days in Rikers.” Nicholas laughed and D’Angelo turned to him.

“Nicholas, please. You’re looking at hard time here. Please, for the sake of your family.” You flinched when Nicholas shot up. Rafael looked at you and for the first time in the entire week you saw the softness that his eyes usually held. 

“I don’t take crumbs. Especially from this,” he said, walking towards Rafael, who stared him down. “This gentleman who wears suspenders and steals women from my son.” You opened your mouth to say something but stopped yourself. Nicholas stared at Rafael for a moment, but neither of them backed down until Nicholas left. D’Angelo followed after him and you stood up.

“I’m sorry, Rafael.”

“Why?” he asked, taking the coat from your hands. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I know, I just-”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “Let’s go. I want this asshole behind bars.” You smiled and walked towards the door. He opened it, and before you walked out, you kissed his temple.

“For what it matters, I like your suspenders.”

“Make it a double,” Rafael said, leaning over the bar with Nick. 

“Tough day?” the other man asked.

“It’s a he-said, she-won’t-say,” he said with a sigh. “No one else saw what happened, and the jury senses all my witnesses have a grudge against your father. Thank you,” he said to the bartender.

“Do they see why?” Nick asked.

“I doubt it,” Rafael said honestly. “He’s sitting at the table, smiling at the judge, flirting with the stenographer, egging his attorney on. He’s got the whole room on his side.” 

You walked in at that moment, and came up to the two men. Rafael told you that he was coming down here, and to come if you wanted. You hadn’t expected Nick to be here, though. 

“Ahh, it’s the story of my life,” Nick said, leaning over the bar. You put a hand on his back as you walked up and he smiled at you. Rafael did, too, but it was more lackluster. 

“I’m gonna see if they'll take a plea for harassment.”

“What a misdemeanor? He fractured her skull.”

“You and I know that, but even if you do testify, he could still walk.”

“But- What are you telling me?”

“You don’t have to do this,” Rafael said, the softness coming back into his green gaze. “I never should have asked you to testify in open court against your father.”

“Are you playing me, now?”

“No. I know what it’s like to have to face down your old man.” You looked up at Rafael, worry in your eyes. He hardly ever spoke about his father. “Mine’s dead fifteen years and my hand still curls into a fist when I think of him.” Your hand went to his back, now and he frowned at you. 

“So what? He just gets to walk away? Again?” Nick was focusing on the shelf of liquor, not looking at the two of you.

“It’s your family, your call.” Nick nodded, still staring at the shelf. Rafael stood and looked at you.

“I’m gonna call a cab.”

“I’ll be there in a minute,” you said. He nodded and looked between you and Nick. He hesitated for a minute before walking out. “Nick, go home. You don’t want to be here.”

“I don’t want to be there either.”

“Go to your apartment then. You don’t need to see your family now.” He sighed and nodded, standing up straight. You looped your arm in his and walked with him outside. Rafael was standing outside, hailing a cab.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Nick said.

“You want to testify?” you asked. Rafael was in earshot and looked over.

“Yeah.” You nodded and went to hug Nick. He hugged you back tightly, squeezing your waist. 

“I know how hard this is for you. I’m sorry.”

“Thanks.” You nodded. The cab pulled up for the two of you and you smiled at Nick once more. You went up to kiss his cheek.

“Goodnight, Nick. I love you, you are going to get through this,” you said. He bit his lip and smiled at you a little. You climbed into the cab after Rafael. He was staring at the window, and for the entire ten minute drive, he didn’t say anything. 

You walked up the steps of your apartment in silence, and Rafael walked immediately up to the room that would be his office, once everything was finally put away. He shut the door and you sighed. The talk that you needed to have before needed to happen. It needed to happen right now. You walked up the steps and knocked on his door, even though it was your home, too.

“Come in,” he said. You swung open the door and found him shuffling through past cases and boxes of files.

“Do you have to do this right now?” you asked.

“What should I be doing? Fighting with you?” You sighed.

“Yeah.” He looked up at you, sadness filling his eyes. He took a deep breath, and held out his hand, like he was about to say his opening arguments in court. 

“I know that this is hard for Nick, and I know that you two are good friends, but a lot has come out of this, and I don’t know what to think of it.”

“Okay, I realize I should have told you that we were engaged, but I promise, Rafael, it was nothing. I dated Nick on and off for about three years, and we decided that it was what everyone expected of us.”

“You still said yes.” You sighed.

“Yeah. But I also called it off.”

“Why?” he asked.

“Because Nick and I are only meant to be friends. We fought a lot, and I knew he still loved Maria. They were on when we were off.”

“Did you still love him when you broke it off?” he asked. You nodded. “Do you still love him now?”

“How could you ask me that? You know I love you.”

“I do, but I also heard you tell Nick that you love him.” You groaned and ran a hand through your hair.

“Yes. I love him. But not in the same way. Not in the way I love you. You still love Yelina and I don’t throw that in your face.” Rafael’s face fell, deeper than a frown.

“I wasn’t throwing Nick in your face.”

“Yes you do. You always do. You get upset when I hang out with Nick any time.”

“That’s not true,” Rafael said, shaking his head.

“Yes it it. You’re jealous of him.”

“I am not jealous of Nick,” he said firmly. “And things between Yelina and I are a lot different.” You scoffed and rolled your eyes. 

“How is it any different? Because Nick didn’t marry one of my best friends when I was still in love with him?” Rafael clenched his jaw. 

“How is this even related? We’re talking about you and Nick.”

“No. We’re talking about you and Nick,” you said. “You haven’t liked Nick since we started dating.”

“Maybe because you keep everything about him a secret,” he spat.

“Maybe I do that because you can’t handle finding out little details about him.”

“Being engaged to him is just a little detail?” Rafael asked, scornfully. 

“No.”

“So you were just not going to tell me at all?”

“No.”

“So when were you going to tell me?”

“I don’t know. Not in the middle of a case where he clearly needs me.”

“Nick always needs you.”

“And that bothers you. I don’t know why. You don’t get upset when Graham needs me, or I hang out with him.”

“You never loved Graham.”

“Yes I do. I love him like I love Nick now. I don’t know why you can’t see that.” Rafael grumbled and you kicked the box near your feet. You could feel tears forming in your eyes, and you didn’t want to go any further. 

“Because Graham doesn’t love you! Nick still does!” he shouted. The tears that were threatening to spill over finally did. 

“Nick doesn’t still love me.” Rafael scoffed.

“You’re blind then.”

“No, you are,” you said. “You are blind and insane if you think that I love Nick. That I would ever leave you for him. You’re blind because I love you so much, Rafael, and you can’t get passed your jealousy for a man who has long been just a friend of mine.”

“You let Nick treat you like a lot more than a friend.” You shook your head and walked towards the door. You wanted to say more, but couldn’t think of the words. You slammed the door shut behind you and walked into your bedroom.

“Nick,” you said, running into him as he was leaving the courthouse. “I thought the trial just finished.”

“Yeah, and jury is already back.” You looked up at him and frowned.

“I’m sorry,” you said, touching his shoulder. He shrugged. 

“Barba did what he could. My father is a liar and he’s always gonna lie. My family just lets him run the show.”

“You’re not like that,” you said. Nick sighed and you motioned to one of the benches lining the wall. You sat with him and looked at him.

“Are you okay?” he asked. 

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be? I mean, I know this is hard for you, but-”

“No, I don’t mean about the case. Are things okay with you?” At that moment, you noticed Rafael and Olivia talking down the hallway and a pained expression must have washed over your face. “Y/N.”

“It’s nothing new from this case,” you said. “I’m fine.” Nick shoved your knee with his knee.

“We can talk about it.”

“I know. But I’m kind of tired of talking. It doesn’t usually get me anywhere.” The doors across the room opened up and Nicholas Amaro, his lawyer, fiance, and daughter all walked out. Nick stiffened up and you instinctively stood up. They walked by and didn’t say anything, until Nicholas came by.

“See, Nicky? I’m always right.”

“Okay, Mr. Amaro,” you said, standing somewhat in front of Nick, who stood up now, too. 

“What are you defending him now?”

“Come on, Dad,” Sonya said, trying to urge her father along. 

“Nick doesn’t need defending, but yeah I’m gonna stand by him.”

“Where was that attitude at the engagement?”

“Alright, Nicholas,” Nick said, cutting in front of the two of you. “You got what you wanted. You don’t even know what you’re talking about. Get out of here.”

“Nicky, I’m still your father, I still-”

“Go.” He sighed and swaggered out with his group. Nick looked down at you and then across the room, to where Rafael and Olivia used to be. They were now a few feet away, and even he could see the tension between you two. 

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah. You?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry,” you said, touching his forearm quickly before leaving. You walked down the steps, waiting for the moment that Rafael would call to you. The moment that he would stop you and apologize and tell you how much he loved you. He didn’t, and the further you walked, he still didn’t come to you. 

You made it all the way to your apartment before you realized you needed to go back to work, anyhow. You took a deep breath and pulled out your phone, hoping for at least a message from Rafael. There wasn’t one, so you decided to leave your own. He didn’t usually answer his cell phone while he was at work, unless it was for work, and he wasn’t going to answer your calls anyhow now, so you knew it would go to voicemail.

“Hey, it’s me. I’m gonna stay at Graham’s for a while. I don’t know. I don’t know what to do right now. I don’t know where we go from here. Maybe we need a break. Make sure to water the plants.”

[obsessedwithbadasswomen]

Ok so bc no one follows me on here

Let me tell you about the boy of my dreams Ok first of all he's a red head which isn't my usual type but I make an exception for him He's between skinny and average sized Has the cutest smile I've ever seen And he's just the right amount taller than me That's what he's like physically but that's not even the best parts of him He's got the kindest heart He's always there to make people smile He's an actor which is big in my family- my siblings act my mom directs & acts He's talented in singing acting dancing and sports and he's very smart He's so goofy and innocent which makes him 20x more attractive He has an adorable dog and His mom is like the sweetest person alive I can't even think of all the reasons I love him rn bc I know there are more. Now let me tell you about our lives His dad and my mom were in a show together a long time ago (they kinda hated each other) but I've known him kind of since we were little. We went to the same church. We weren't besties or anything but we know the other existed We became friends in like 7th grade We were part of a "squad" which was deeeeep Squad lives through 8th grade and a lil bit of 9th grade until most of us ended up hating or at least not being close with the others (I forgot to say that he dated my best friend who I now hate for like a week- they were very awk and everyone laughs at it now.) He wasn't hated or anything like we are still friends squad just doesn't hang out anymore lol. Anyways skip to this year (10th grade) I decided I needed to marry this boy in September. He was in a show that my sister was also in (they are in a theatre company together) In the show there was a song that they had to find someone in the audience to sing to and he found me. I laughed like the whole time bc he is the most adorable thing I've ever seen in my life. I don't think it meant much to him but that was the night I decided I needed him to be my boyfriend After that my crush continued but nothing really happened again until January when my school had this thing called snowcoming (homecoming for basketball) I ran for princess and he ran for prince and we both one which was already crazy bc I am not popular but also crazy bc it meant we got to walk together. So I was very happy about that A little while later I asked him to go to the Sadie Hawkins dance at our school and he said he couldn't bc he already was going with his best friend since birth. I was sad but I was like whatever. So the dance got closer and I didn't have a date and I wanted to go and not by myself. So plot twist I end up going with the exchange student that is living in his house. He's a nice kid and I knew I'd have fun so it was cool... until I showed up at his house the night of the dance and my crush's date had cancelled on him meaning I rode in the backseat of his car by myself with my date and my crush in the front seat... After that I had to chill for a little while. The crush was still there but I had to keep it quiet. Then at the very end of February/ start of April the school had tryouts for our musical which was high school musical. My mom was directing so I tried out even though it was out of my comfort zone and he also tried out. It would be cool to say he was Troy and I was Gabriella but sadly that's not how it worked out 😂 (I was Taylor he was zeke) I just felt honored that I got to look at him almost every day lol The show went on he didn't confess his love for me and I found out that he was taking to a girl from studio he acted at. I was of course quite upset but I got over it. After the last show he came up to me and gave me a hug and told me I did a good job and I melted but played it cool and tried to not think to much of it. After that I kinda calmed down (this was in April) until like a few weeks ago One of my friends told me that my crush had stopped talking to the girl he'd been talking to. We were mini golfing and I think I threw my club I was so happy. I wore a huge stupid smile for the rest of the night. Then skip to Saturday of this past week. I went to the end of the year show the company he (and my sister) were in. It wasn't really a great show but he had a solo and I just liked looking at him. After the show my mom was talking to him and she was like she and I were talking about how I wouldn't mind having you as a son in law and I almost shit my pants when she said that. I thought I was gonna die but he kinda just laughed it off. After that my friend wanted me to go out to eat where the after party was. I absolutely hate that restaurant bc it makes me feel sick but I never get to see that friend so I agreed. We went out and had dinner and it was fine and after paying and whatever I got up to leave and wait at the door for my mom to pick my sister and me up. We had been standing at the door for a couple of minutes when my mom pulled up and we started to walk out. When we were leaving I hear my name and my crush say "wait" so of course I spin right around and look at him and he says thanks for coming to the show and then he gave me a hug. I'm not really sure what I said back bc I was at that moment dead. It was the best night of my life at that point. So I lived off of that for the week and probably my entire life. After that nothing crazy happened but he did tweet me once and I almost peed myself and then I saw him at an open house and he sat next to me bc our families were sitting together talking about next years musical so that was cool. Anyways I hope he marries me and I can show this Tumblr post to everyone at the wedding until then I will just be planning our future together and what not. Idk if he'll ever like me but man am I kinda crazy about him

[adawomantium-blog]

k so i saw logan last night and i think i’ve finally collected myself enough to give my thoughts on it

obvious spoilers ahead if anyone cares to read:

i’ll start w/ the cons:

- first off, it was just an overall amazing movie. its my favorite movie ever made period. not even just an amazing comic book adaptation. as everyone is saying, this is something even non-comic book fans/readers are enjoying pretty greatly. nothing is perfect, though, and while i expected this movie to be perfect from what i had seen from trailers and tv spots and clips, theres some stuff i’m nitpick-y on, like how i kinda wished logan didn’t just die right then and there in the woods. i was hoping he would make it for maybe another few days or at least hours but it could have been worse.

- the reason i wanted him to live a little longer was just so he could build up a bit more of a bond with laura. he spends the entire movie not giving a single fuck about her until maybe the last 25-30 minutes. i would have liked a bit more development with their relationship, but it was still really touching a believable when logan starts to accept the fact that laura is his daughter (also! laura is his biological daughter in this, not a clone! and thats not a con for me, i’d rather it be that way tbh)

- not a huge fan of how he died, either. on . . . a fallen tree stump?? i wished laura could have at least pulled him off or something. i was ok with x-24 being the one to kill him but. . . idk

- i wish laura got to be the one to kill either rice or pierce. preferably rice, as hes directly tied to her comic origins and pierce isnt, plus pierce is killed by the rest of the kids. she got to kill x-24 though, which im alright with.

- also, kinda upset that the munsons died. but, choosing to kill them off (especially in the fashion in which they were killed) was a ballsy move. this movie is hardly a feel-good one at any point.

- the fact that gabriella wasn’t sarah/the woman who gave birth to laura bothered me a little bit, but i’ll live with it. she loved her, and that’s what mattered.

that’s all that i can really think of right now. even still, all of these things are very minor and could have been done a lot worse. while there were certain things i would have preferred, im still okay with how they really turned out. these are just nitpicks, not things that i truly disliked or even hated.

now, the pros. everything else in this movie was pretty much a pro, so i’m only really gonna go over my absolute favorites:

- laura’s introduction. not when we first see her in the back of gabriella’s car or at the motel (i gasped, though, at those parts), but when she meets logan and charles. thats when i started crying, was when charles kept saying “this is laura! this is laura!” the joy he has when he realizes that mutants are still there,,,,,,that theres still hope for them,,,,,,,,,,

- laura’s relationship with charles overall. OH. MY. GOD. when she holds his hand after his seizure in vegas (and how she did everything that she could to help him and give him his medicine). THE WHOLE LIONESS ANALOGY = MY FAVORITE THING EVER I CANT STOP THINKING ABOUT IT. him speaking spanish to her and doing whatever he can to keep her calm when the reavers first show up. how she keeps him under her and away from the bullets and the reavers who jumped onto logan’s limo and does whatever she can to protect him. how she goes berserk when she realizes x-24 stabbed him. how laura flips out when she realizes charles is dead. it fucked me up ok.

- the whole western theme

- the munson family. while im kinda okay with the fact that they all got killed off, i still loved them a lot. nate was so nice to laura sl;dfsdkfs;dfkl

- the mutant kids!!! they were awesome i hope we get to see more of them too

- caliban was great ok. i didn’t expect to like him as much as i did. im ok w/ his death tho because it was a heroic sacrifice and i didnt wanna see him keep suffering.

- as shitty of a person he is i actually really liked pierce??

- at first, i didn’t really like the idea of x-24, but as it played out, i was all in for it. the fact that in the end, logan did kind of end up killing himself.....HOWEVER, someone did bring up the fact that, rather than a complete clone of logan, they could have just brought sabertooth back and he could have been brainwashed by rice and sent to kill logan, and we could have finally gotten a proper showdown between logan and victor and the characters could have really gone out with a bang (no pun intended to x-24′s death......)

- laura and logan’s relationship. as obsessed as i am w/ laura and charles’ relationship, i think laura and logan’s still gets to me the most. the fact that she called him ‘daddy’ is something i’ve been thinking about nonstop since i lost the movie. i couldn’t even cry at that moment!! my soul just...left my body completely.

- at the end of the day, while laura is the light of my life, this is still logan’s movie. i....i really can’t believe he’s gone, y’know? i grew up with this character. some of my earliest memories are of watching the original x-men movies w/ my dad in our living room. a part of me wants to see him again in the movies, but i feel like that would be kinda cheap. i think, for the sake of good storytelling, they should keep him dead. if we ever see him again, i think it should at least be a flashback. they shouldn’t resurrect him completely. but shit...i just can’t stop thinking about it. the last words he heard were from his daughter. the last words he heard were him being called ‘daddy’.

- laura. just......laura. she was done so perfectly in this. i have no words. im stunned. speechless. dafne is so fucking talented.

as i said, this movie is amazing. it didn’t have everything that i wanted but it gave me things that i, while i didn’t necessarily want, was okay with. sometimes even MORE than okay with.

even tho i have some nitpicks, i would still say it’s perfect to me. i feel like if it catered to everything that i wanted then it wouldn’t be as good as a film as it was generally. go see it, if you can. please. i wanna see it again a million times. it can’t come out on dvd fast enough.

thank you james mangold. thank you for everything, hugh and patrick. good luck, dafne.

[paceunknown]

high school musical, often abbreviated “hsm”,

is quite literally one of the best musicals ever released. it draws on old, often overused tropes that any audience would recognise and be able to identify with (chance meeting/running away at midnight - cinderella; main characters on opposite sides of the tracks - romeo and juliet; etc). said tropes tug on memories and expectations that make the movie interesting enough to want to see through to the end but aren’t boring and predictable enough to steer one away, as the plot itself can play out in a multitude of ways with the promise of a cute and happy ending still present. 

troy bolton’s characterisation is the one of the driving forces behind why the franchise as a whole is so successful and you can fight me on it. he’s just… so nice, so thoughtful, his character breaks all the stereotypes and makes you love him and therefore the whole movie because you’re rooting for him to open his eyes and be himself. he’s the typical jock, yes, number one star player with narrow, one-track minded friends and a pushy dad, and that’s how he’s introduced in the exposition. but that’s quickly broken during the countdown to midnight scene where he’s honest with gabriella about having enjoyed singing and how he’s genuinely, earnestly interested in keeping in contact (and absolutely solidified when he does everything in his power to ask for gabriella’s forgiveness). completely off trope, he’s nervous and awkward with her instead of cocky as expected, and we immediately understand that troy is a lot nicer and conflicted than we’d originally thought; when we see him back at east high laughing at chad’s dig at sharpay it’s confusing, as it should be, since he’s been established as a Good Guy™, but it makes sense because we also know he has an image to uphold (see: “why are you whispering?”). further, though gabriella coerces his love for music out of him, troy ultimately comes to the conclusion for himself. she made the joke about auditioning, but it was him who lingered on the poster, let the idea of singing influence his basketball practice, hid at the back of the theater, and decided to do the callback. that’s something we don’t usually see in these kinds of love stories: the boy didn’t need the girl to be his end-all-be-all savior—all she did was give him that little push which he used to make his own decisions.

and while we’re on the topic, let’s talk about troy and gabriella’s relationship that has set my standards high since 2006. first of all, even though gabriella is sweet and soft spoken, she doesn’t take any shit (“nice penmanship” blew my eight year old mind; when she came for sharpay in hsm 2 I lost it). from the jump she’s interested in troy, clearly, but she doesn’t go all goo-goo over him like I’m sure he’s used to: running away to find her mom at the party, basically ignoring him to find her classes, not being so willing to accept it when taylor revealed the webcam thing was plotted. it’s not something that’s been unseen, but it’s definitely out the norm to see the nerdy girl not let the cute jock engulf her life. in fact, it’s pretty much the opposite way around: troy asks for her number, troy risks getting in trouble to call her in class, troy is the one off his game when gabriella stops speaking to him whereas gabriella’s sad but she keeps on keepin on. this role reversal is key in not only further establishing how much he’s unlike his stereotype but cementing hsm’s Groundbreaking Originality. on this as well, it ends up being troy who convinces gabriella to do the callback (both times, pretty much) which again breaks the stereotype. also, they’re just so fucking cute together it makes me wanna die?? it’s natural cuteness (probably because zac and vanessa had that real life chemistry but), not “these are our love interests and they’re supposed to be in love” cuteness. they’re goofy together (practice room with kelsi, detention when they’re humming breaking free, when they're on the court together), honest with each other (rooftop garden, scene after darbus’ class), genuinely care for one another (gabriella’s pushiness to get troy to do what he enjoys and not what’s expected of him, troy’s understanding of gabriella’s stage fright and taking the first verse of breaking free/telling her to just look at him). their entire existences don’t become all about each other, which is so incredibly refreshing, but we still get to see their relationship happen over the course of something longer than a three-minute song. and it’s apparent that they aren’t even technically dating/haven’t had That talk yet by the looks on their faces when troy kisses gabriella’s cheek after breaking free. that’s what really gets to me: we were supposed to assume they were together but ,, they weren’t! and that’s due to good world building and character progression! are y'all hearing me the ENTIRE MOVIE we #thought but they were still in the beginning stages of their relationship! when has any romcom ever! talk about slow burn I LOVE that their relationship actually grew and wasn’t just written to have happened spontaneously WHEW BOY okay.

let me also discuss the whole webcam incident. what troy said was dumb and inexcusable, definitely, but the fact that both sides realised what they did was wrong and conspired to fix it not even for their personal gain (the upcoming game, the decathlon) but because they genuinely cared about their friends’ happiness and even helped to devise this ridiculously complex plan to help get their friends to the callback!! everyone changed, it wasn’t just troy and gabriella. even though troy still struggled internally with his love for singing all the way up until the end of the last movie, it was never a thing where their friends continued to conspire against them or they had to keep proving their worthiness to be on stage. they realised their friends were more important and that was it, and that’s such a beautiful message and, again, one you don’t see too often: typically the leads have to be together in secret, or run off together, or only one or two of their close friends accept them. like I said! Groundbreaking Originality!

now onto the music. I was listening to the rent soundtrack a few weeks ago and recently bopped the hsm soundtrack, and I couldn’t help but be reminded of the former. not because of content, obviously, but the range of styles and a lot of the styles themselves were reminiscent. the hsm soundtrack wasn’t your typical disney musical, it wasn’t all bubblegum and legato and, just, old school disney. it’s like rent, it’s new and fast-paced and used fuckin guitars and one song literally made a beat using basketballs like bro. so many different influences went into the music. hsm was ahead of its time, at least where made-for-children musicals were concerned, and it’s success musically has been copied so many times but never to the same level, there can never be another musical like hsm. it’s just impossible. you had your typical musical theater-esque tunes, you had your modern tunes, you had your ballads, you had a little bit of everything, everyone can find at least one song they like because there wasn’t a strict motif being followed (like rent wow). not only that, but the songs are BOPS and I’m genuinely not being biased. there aren’t many songs that can hold the test of time, especially not songs from musicals, ESPECIALLY not when those songs were everywhere due to the massive commercial success of said musical (prime example: frozen) and the fact that hsm’s music can still be enjoyed with just as much fervor as it was 11 years ago speaks volumes. not to hate on 2 and 3 because I would die for those movies too, but out of all three soundtracks, the first is the one most would pick for replayability (that’s not a word I know but it works). there’s just something effortlessly timeless about it, catchy but not annoyingly so, nostalgic but not saddening, something that forces you not to hit skip and just belt out the lyrics. I’ll skip you are the music in me (reprise) all day but let what I’ve been looking for (reprise) come on. I just wanna be with you could catch that swift next but my finger will never come near that button when breaking free is on. it’s like the second two movies worked too hard to continue to capitalise off the commercial success (for example, hsm 2 made sure to have multiple easy-to-learn dances because of the reaction to we’re all in this together) whereas the first movie didn’t have anything it clung to or had ties to so it was free to just exist. please don’t get me wrong: the entire trilogy owns my ass, music and storyline alike, but the first one just has a special touch musically.

I could quite possibly go on forever but moral of the story: high school musical is a masterpiece, deserved a grammy, deserved an oscar, deserved a golden globe, deserved a vma, deserved a brit award, deserved a people’s choice, deserved an AMA, deserved a much music award, deserved an ARIA, deserved a SAG award, deserved a critics’ choice, deserved an emmy, deserved five stars on imdb and a 100% on rotten tomatoes,