#if y’all ever want to see any specific movie/show/ep let me know… I like taking requests and talking to you….. 👉👈

[jimmyspades]

Going through my drafts. I don’t remember making this gif but Yeah seems like something I’d do

[sortasirius]

what makes you think the writers want deancas? not trying to be an asshole, i'm just genuinely curious as to why you think that. i know berens' episodes are pretty heavy with subtext so i can see why you'd say that he wants it, but i'm not so sure about the rest of the writers/dabb. it seems like meghan isn't a huge fan either, given her "they twisted it so fast" tweet :/ of course she's a very new writer (think she's only writing one ep this season?) but still

OKAY this is a great question, welcome to my dissertation.

I’m going to address the end of your question first. Meghan is actually DeanCas positive, she has been for quite a long time. She actually, a few years back, posted a picture of her reading a literal book about Destiel and captioned it “writing reading” or something like that.

This whole thing just comes out of a boiling over of tensions because of how nasty fandom twitter can be. Like I said here, I think this has just gotten blown out of proportion, they shouldn’t have posted all this randomly disparaging stuff, but also like...can you blame them? The fandom is a lot, we always have been, and they’re probably also under a gag order not to talk about the finale, and are annoyed that people keep asking.

So nah, Meg is not anti Destiel.

To the first part!! So let’s take a look at the show runners since Cas has been around.

Seasons 4 and 5: Kripke

Seasons 6 and 7: Gamble

Seasons 8-11ish: Carver

Seasons 11ish-15: Dabb

So starting with Kripke. Okay, yes, I will be the first to admit that we have some pretty incredible Destiel moments in these seasons, but it’s less directly written into the plot and much more from Misha and Jensen’s uhhhh ~chemistry~. The only times it was directly written into the script was when the episode was handled by someone like Edlund (“On The Head Of A Pin,” “The End,” “My Bloody Valentine”). And you have to remember, if in season 5, there are moments here and there where you’re like huh that’s suspiciously romantic dialogue, remember that Cas took Anna’s place. Anna was supposed to be endgame for Dean, but due to a myriad of issues and Misha’s general greatness, Anna was replaced with Cas.

Onto 6 and 7. Hmmm. Gamble. 6 and 7 are my two least favorite seasons and that’s no secret, and that’s not only due to the plain old weird shit in the overall storyline, but also that homegirl killed off Cas in s7 and then Bobby like four episodes later. (Also it ALWAYS rubbed me the wrong way they couldn’t have Baby in that season lol). We still had some great DeanCas moments, but again, it wasn’t really written into the overall arc (until they had to change the end of season 7 because of tanking ratings and bring Misha back lol, anyone remember the fact that Dean kept Cas’ jacket and would randomly dream of him? Yeah.). But we still had those moments, those distinctly romantic moments, probably the best example in these two seasons is from Edlund again, specifically “The Man Who Would be King,” I wrote a little about that here.

We move onto Carver, who gave us, at this point, the most overt DeanCas season with season 8 (season gr8 is a better name imo), and this is the first time Dean and Cas’ relationship is directly written as an arc of the season.  I mean, you have everything in Purgatory, Dean “seeing” Cas everywhere, the fact that he felt so guilty that Cas stayed in Purgatory that he manipulated his own memories to think that he was the one that failed Cas, because he couldn’t comprehend that Cas would want to leave him, and let’s not forget Dean snapping Cas out of Naomi’s hold on him in “Goodbye Stranger.”  It was a very obvious shift, not enough to alert the general audience, but more than enough for most of us in fandom.

It’s also important to note that this is when Andrew stopped co writing with Loflin and started writing his own episodes (”Hunter Heroici” anyone?)  I like Loflin fine, but Dabb was able to stretch his legs a little bit more once he stopped co-writing, and we also began to see some DeanCas themes in his solo episodes.

In any case, them and their issues being a big part of the seasons continued with Carver, and Berens entered the scene, his first episode (”Heaven Can’t Wait”) is one of my favorites, with human Cas and the fanfiction gap and Dean and Cas just generally being awkward and funny and sweet.  This is Bobo’s FIRST episode, remember that.  He comes right out of the gate with it.

Also in Season 9, this is when Dean takes the Mark of Cain, and the Cas/Colette mirror is born, so obviously, Dean and Cas are the fabric of the season once again.  This is also the season where Metatron says Cas is “in love with humanity,” and then immediately refers to Dean as Humanity so uhhhh yeah.

Onto season 10, Dabb and Berens continue with their greatness (I could write pages on the DeanCas date in “The Things We Left Behind” alone).  And then we have one of the best scenes in the entire show in “The Prisoner” where the Cas/Colette mirror continues and Dean, driven by grief and pain and rage and the Mark, still doesn’t kill Cas.  He still can’t kill Cas.

Season 11 is important because it takes choice away from both Cas and Dean, and shows us, as the audience, how much losing each other takes out of them. We saw in season 10 how much losing Dean takes from Cas, but what about Cas losing Dean?  Dean loses his choice with his connection to Amara this season, and loses even more when Lucifer reveals he’s been possessing Cas, and plays on Dean’s connection to Cas like a mockery.  It’s also worth noting that, similarly to season 8, Dean breaks out of the connection with Amara when he’s worried about Cas, and that’s something that even SHE is surprised by.

But then season 12, the beginning to the Renaissance.  This is when we get the writer’s that become important for what Dean and Cas are today, and, truly, why I believe they want canon Destiel as much as we do.

This is the first season with Dabb’s writers: Davy Perez, Meredith Glynn, Steve Yockey, and of course Bobo all come in with their incredible talents and gave us episode after episode of good content.  “Lily Sunder Has Some Regrets” is probably my favorite, probably the best example of what I’m saying.  An episode where Dean is called out by an enemy directly, told to “roll the dice” on Cas’ life.  And Dean won’t, it’s not even really a hesitation.  And this comes from a character that has known Dean for ten seconds.  I also wrote more in depth about this episode here.  There are also some.....distinctly domestic details we get this season, specifically in “The Future” (written by Berens and Glynn) with the mixtape.  The most tropey of tropes mixtape.  Yeah, I’ll just leave that one here.

And then season 12 ends with Cas’ death, but also with the parallel between Sam and Dean with Jess and Cas.  Sam literally has to drag Dean away from Cas, just like Dean had to drag Sam out of his burning apartment in the pilot.  The episode drives it home in every way that it can: Dean is the one left kneeling by Cas’ body, while Sam goes to find out what is upstairs.  Dean is the one who stares at the sky, finally broken.  This isn’t a random thing, this is Dean’s whole arc, it’s the entirety of the beginning of 13.  Dean’s pain, his anguish, his anger.

Season 13 starts with them burning Cas, with Dean, who has begged God to bring him back, who has split his knuckles punching a door, standing, staring at Cas’ pyre with brokenness on his face.

I mean.....

Anyway, season 13 is where it gets interesting (well, I think all of this is interesting but I’m a writer nerd so).  So Cas comes back from the Empty in “Advanced Thanatology” written by Steve Yockey, and then a wombo combo of “Tombstone” by Davy Perez next (”Brokebacknatural” as the PR said at the time).  Listen.  This is the part that SPN crossed a line that they couldn’t come back from.  With Cas being Dean’s “big win,” the fact that Dean and Cas watch movies together, “I told you, he’s an angry sleeper.  Like a bear.” Talked about it here.

This is where, in my opinion, the network stepped in, but the damage was already done.  They had already established that Cas was Dean’s big win, that Dean’s poor coping was not due to Mary’s disappearance, but solely due to Cas, and that Dean and Cas have more married energy than anyone else.  The network had nixed blatant canon at this point, and they writing room had been pushing the boundaries of what the network would allow. 

After these episodes, we see a marked drop off of DeanCas heavy scenes.  They’re still there, still a part of the fabric of the season, but not as...obvious as it had been in early season 13.

And this continued through season 14, we’re back to scraps of Destiel scenes here and there, but to me it always felt like there was something bubbling under the surface, something distinctly unsaid in the themes of the season, even after the walk back of obvious “Dean and Cas are in love” scenes.

And then we get to season 15, which, y’all know I talk about all the time.  What’s important here is that Bobo and Glynn are both executive producers, calling more of the shots than ever before.  Additionally, it’s important to note that, though they only co write occasionally, Glynn and Berens refer to each other as “work husband” and “work wife.”  Each episode has just turned up the volume, and, not for the first time, but certainly the most obvious, Dean and Cas ARE the season.  Sure, they’re trying to beat God, they’re trying to finally find peace, defeat the final big bad, but really?  This season has been about Dean, and Dean’s relationship to Cas.

And not only do we have obvious and clear Destiel in nearly every episode, but we have episodes like “Last Call” which canonize bi!Dean (wrote about that here).

And, maybe most importantly so far, we have “The Rupture,” the breakup, and “The Trap,” Dean’s confession (both written by Berens).  And here’s the thing.  These episodes feel connected, but also feel like they’re missing something.  Beren’s last episode is 15x18, “The Truth.”  We’ve all spec’ed about what could happen in this episode, and I think *I* know what it’s leading to.  But for it to be leading to that, it means that the network has to have approved what we’ve all been waiting for years for.

Who got this change to happen?  Who got the network to change their minds?  It wasn’t us.  It was them.  I am fully convinced that Dabb and Berens quite literally put their careers on the line for Dean and Cas.  They believe in them, they’ve shown that from the beginning, but the only thing standing in the way was the network, never allowing them to take the final step. 

So, to answer your question: I think the writers want canon DeanCas because they’ve already shown us that they do.  Take a look at their episodes, at Dabb’s, at Beren’s, at Glynn’s, at Perez’s, at Yockey’s.  They’ve been telling us what’s going on with Dean and Cas for years.

Sure, I’m not in their heads, I guess I don’t know for *sure* that this has been their thought process, but if we put it all together, from the marked shift when Dabb fully took over in s12, to the change right after “Tombstone,” to the new shift, the blatantly romantic shift in season 15, what else is there?

I’ve said for a long time that we, the SPN fandom, are beyond lucky to have the writer’s that we do.  They’re all going to go on to have prolific careers and we were lucky to get them at the end of our little show.  I give them a lot of credit for what we have in the show today.

Just remember, they’ve been telling us in all of s15 who Chuck is.  He says he’s the writer, right?  But a writer who doesn’t have control of his characters?  A writer who wants to do the same ending over and over because it “works”?  That doesn’t sound like a writer, it sounds like a network exec.

They’ve been showing us what they want for years, and the way s15 is going?  I think they may have convinced the network to let us have it.

[callistawolf]

my Arrow 7x07 thoughts

Let’s dive into Oliver’s last day in Slabside, shall we? (side note: is anyone NOT expecting him to get out prior to this episode? cuz I feel this is well established by now...)

I have super low expectations going into this. The more the media types who’ve gotten to see it have hyped it, the less thrilled i’ve been because I’m not sure we share the same interests here. 😂

And, as @jbuffyangel says, I’m contrary that way. 😉

these guards are the worst… who takes a bribe from a prisoner?

gtfo stanley you’re a traitor.

“We were never friends.” Ouch. But yes. LOL

Don’t tell Stan what you’ll do to him after you’re out Oliver. Hold onto that till you’re ACTUALLY OUT. jfc. And also... don’t give him ammo to come after you for when he escapes cuz y’all KNOW HE WILL. 

If he goes back to Slabside at any point I’m going to lose my damn mind. I can only take so much from this dumb show.

Apologizing to Turner is the LEAST he can do.

He does not trust Oliver’s promises at allllll. OH DAMN. “Especially when you make [promises] to people like me.”

Oh no. A visitor at the last minute is never good.  And yep. It’s Diaz. Well that was predictable.

I’m purposefully ignoring any and all crossover promotions. I don’t know any Elseworlds.

Diaz wants payback… for WHAT? What did OLIVER specifically do to him? Like…. did I miss something in s6??

Ugh i’m bored with this whole villain monologue. THANK U, NEXT.

Oliver does not like this twatwaffle threatening his family. CLEARLY. I love how protective he is.

“little William”… dude, pretty sure that kid is taller than you are Diaz, so shut it.

I love how Oliver is only ever in prison cuz he wants to be but is fully capable of getting out anytime he damn well chooses.

This action scene is making me dizzy. That said, fighting the guards on his LAST DAY seems a poor life choice. This feels like it’s just an excuse to show Oliver leaping around and punching guys. Not into it.

I’m so annoyed by how dumb this is.

Diaz posing as a guard. The guards are all “why is this guy smack talking us??” CMON GUYS, CATCH UP.

YAH! LETS ADD TWO MORE LIFE SENTENCES ONTO OUR TIME HERE! WOOOOOO FUNTIMES! dumbass prisoners. 

I’m with Brick… Oliver taking down guards seems a waste of energy for someone who is supposed to be a HERO.

lol pepper sprayed

stop kicking him like that, you’ll interfere with his ability to father children.

TURNER TO THE RESCUE. That’s my boy.

LOL he got out the same way Oliver did. I like this guy.

It’s pretty rich, Diaz claiming that Oliver is predictable. Pot, meet kettle.

I don’t like how Diaz holds communication devices. Phones, walkie talkies… he’s stupid. THATS NOT HOW YOU DO IT TURDBLOSSOM.

SO he was fighting the guards now he’s saving the guards MAKE UP YOUR DAMN MIND.

I thought Oliver’s big goal was to get back to his family. He’s gonna risk that for some dick guards who’ve been borderline shady ass criminals? MMmmmmno.

Stupid hero being a hero. LOL I JUST WANT MY BOY OUT OF HERE.

FUCKIN STANLEY YOU ASSHOLE (that said I knew that was a trap and I’m so ashamed of Oliver not realizing it was)

STANLEY IS EVIL, OLIVER. STOP TRYING TO REASON WITH HIM.

I mean, he’s not WRONG. But yeah.

Does this guy have mental problems?

Yeah, I think he’s a monster.

He’s one of these dudes who shoots up movie theaters cuz he’s not getting any sex isn’t he?

Turner is speaking the truth. Saying sorta what Siren did last week. Grey is a thing, Oliver.

Okay so the reason he hates Oliver is cuz he blames him from taking Star City from him. Cuz Oliver did that all by himself, I guess. Sure, Jan.

So… does Diaz expect to die too in this inferno? That’s a stupid plan.

Was that… Cody on fire?

Yes, take the stabby thing.  You’re gonna need it. NO HALF MEASURES.

He fell… owie. My kidneys.

Dude that’s fuckin rude stab him in the chest. He’s had worse.

Okay Oliver you can fight back any day now. There’s like 5 minutes left in the ep. lol

I love Diaz telling him about Felicity nearly killing him. And Oliver doesn’t believe him. Oh boy you have some things to catch up on.

we’re not lucky enough for Diaz to actually be dead, are we. SIGH.

Lol literally putting him behind bars. very cute. CAN WE BE DONE NOW.

Wee Stan is escaping. Lame. They expect me to buy that STAN could take out Brick?? Bye Stan.

I love Ben Turner. LONG LIVE BRONZE TIGER.

How does that free air taste, Oliver?

FELICITY!! AND DIG! HIS FAMILYYYYYYYYY.

Okay this moment here is WORTH THE WHOLE THING. MY SMILE IS REAL Y’ALL.

SCARS AND HEARTS!!!!!!

YAS. MY SHIP.

Where’d Dig go? 🤔

Vanishing Diggles aside, the ending of this ep made the rest of it worth it. Okay, maybe Ben Turner helped too. And Stan is fifty bajillion times more scary than Diaz ever was on his BEST DAY and that day ain’t this one, fam. I’m just glad prison is over. FINITO! We are through! Shave that squirrel off your face and let’s get with the baby making, guys! 

[steve0discusses]

Yugioh S3 Ep 2: The VR Zone Has a Hell Ton of Trees

Alright guys I am regretting the hell out of this teriyaki ramen bowl I just ate, so it’s a better time than ever to go back into this VR arc. Now that the Big 5 have made their speech, all of them quite fat and one with a cane although he doesn’t even have a body anymore, they are ready to send everyone down a series of...plot-shaped holes.

Like they were JUST in some sort of tropic zone, to go back to here and then go somewhere else and so like--this is still VR I think? Like I’m assuming they went VR the moment they entered this room but it is quite vague at what point they were officially in VR. Was it when their vision went fwisssh and everyone split into RGB layers or was it that they got knocked out with gas quite a long time ago and were just unaware that it happened? Probably a bunch of these things.

With this announcement we find out that everyone--and I mean everyone--has to play cards now, although I’m pretty sure half of them have duel disks and the other’s are like...not equipped? I mean it’s VR, so hypothetically no one at all needs a duel disk anymore but you gotta sell toys, so no matter what, Yugi’s going to be lugging this heavy sharp thing on his wrist, even when he knows he will soon be shot down a wacky hole.

The title of last episode, ps was “VR Nightmare,” but like, it’s actually fairly pleasant, compared to the blimp hell we were dealing with just a few episodes back. I mean I guess people are actively trying to kill us here but when are they not?

The audacity of this show. Every state in the US has huge ass fake castles in it leftover from the Rockefeller era. Where else are our Moms supposed to drag us on Day Trips so we can get our history credit for Girl Scouts?

Americans are hella good at creating fake historical sites--all you need is a 50+ year old house and some turret work possibly made by a reasonably well known architect and it’s like “yeah that’s a good enough castle for me! Can we say it’s haunted, too? It’s hella haunted! Come to my castle B+B!”

(read more under the cut)

Tea landed in some concept art that kind of looks like the underside of a mushroom. I dunno how I’d classify this rock structure.

And then Kaiba landed in his worst nightmare which was being in a normal park with one single straight road but somehow still completely lost. At least Mokuba managed to fall into the same hole as his brother to ensure that Seto wouldn't be lost for like the rest of this arc. Which was actually kind of an unintentionally hilarious animation.

*rare shot of the Kaibas actually taking a break*

Man, this is the closest they’ve gotten to a real hug in kind of a while. Like when was the last time these bros hugged? Pegasus’ castle?

Meanwhile, Noah is admiring his work from this throne room and it would be a whole lot more intimidating if he wasn’t in calf-high black socks.

His outfit is like a white school uniform so what gives with the black socks? Like of all the things to complain about on Yugioh (especially since I see Yugi’s hair looking right at me in the next cap) those socks though. Those are pretty inappropriate with this outfit, Noah. Especially matched with this God Throne you’ve got going on. Did not see socks like that matched with a chair like this.

Meanwhile Yugi is all by himself but that doesn’t matter at all because he is 2 (3) people. This strategy to isolate everyone only really worked on Serenity and Joey, TBH, since Tea is also accompanied by slightlylessevil!Marik (who hasn’t really said anything since the VR started).

I knew Bakura would be out for a while, but I didn’t realize it meant everyone else wasn’t even going to once acknowledge it, it is baffling. I mean I get they’re super distracted right now but your friend is DEAD.

Honestly I would not mind if the big 5 succeeded and we had to see some old men try and work with Yugi’s hair and alt rock clothing, deal with Pharaoh sassing them from a brain labyrinth, go to Yugi’s school where people get savagely beat up like every other day, deal with Bakura and Marik trying to body snatch and other magic assholery during class breaks, and through all that watching the Big 5 attempt to take over the world with their megacorp that no longer sells guns but actually sells like...children’s entertainment supplies which include the dueling roombas from S1. How on Earth do they actually think that getting a body would help them at this point? They would be Yugi Muto and that is the last face anyone would ever take seriously.

Pharaoh pops up and is like “I guess we’re doing this right now? Really wish we weren’t doing this right now.”

Anyway, because they don’t physically exist in this digital world, neither do God Cards, or any other card in their deck. So, now they have to make new decks out of a pool. Very convenient for the writing team, bad news for Kaiba’s intense and vaguely romantic relationship with his Blue Eyes. Really glad we spent a full season talking about how much these cards meant to all these people, from the magicians, to Joey’s Red Eyes, and then that one card that was Mako Tsunami’s Dad or something--really glad we learned all of that to just completely erase it this arc.

I sounded sarcastic just now, I actually wasn’t for once, I am so glad to just purge my mind of all those card memories for a little while. Just allow myself to forget. Ah. My mind is already so much clearer. It feels so good. I am very much ok with this soft reset, I kinda needed it.

Since Yugi is supposed to choose a Deck Master from his set of cards for this particular type of duel monsters duel, he goes right for the dark magician--since that’s his MO, but for some reason Kuriboh chose himself? Like this greasy thing just hopped out of the card and played himself.

Anyway Kuriboh is now their new Pikachu and well...this show has done worse cute-character-that-does-literally-nothing-else type things to me, speaking of, lets see what Serenity is up to.

This is a digital hellscape, Serenity.

Serenity, you are going to die here.

Serenity.

So because I just realized just now in Season 3 that Duke’s necklace is a hot, over designed disaster (much like Duke himself) I figured I should like...see what this necklace is supposed to look like. So I typed into Google “duke devlin necklace” and guys, turns out there is a LOT of Yugioh jewelry--and I don’t mean like fanart (which there is also a lot), I mean like officially, a lot of people in this show wear a lot of jewelry and so it was sort of hard to find a good pic of a Duke Devlin specific necklace--especially since it feels like most people just go for the dice earring because that’s way easier.

But what’s interesting about the Duke Devlin necklace, at least from my quick search, is that when we bring it to the real world, it gets a little lost, like a game of telephone.

Cuz I assumed that was a clown on his necklace--and there’s quite a few clown necklaces, but I’m also seeing skulls, I’m seeing gothic crosses, I’m seeing spikes and knives instead of crosses. Bro thought it was a flower for some reason--I kinda blew his mind just now when I pointed out it was a clown. Some people think it’s made of silver, other people think it’s sort of painted? (I assumed the cross was entirely blinged out with rhinestones--my honest assumption) No one can actually agree. Especially since Duke apparently changed his necklace for the movie. I know that because it looks a lot like the Legend of Zelda emblem, and some people had the actual Legend of Zelda emblem mis-tagged as Duke Devlin. Which sucks a whole lot for their SEO, and sucked a whole lot for me in my search to find a real actual Duke Devlin necklace.

Like, feel free to attach a link to a reply -- is there an official physical Duke Devlin necklace that Yugioh inc sells? Like I just want to know--officially--what the hell I’m looking at.

Anyway, back to the show, much like everyone else, these two are hopelessly lost.

Kaiba seems to keep forgetting that his Dad is clearly behind all this and would obviously have his old tech but like...Kaiba forgets so much I can forgive him this.

So, faced with roads that lead no where, Tristan decides to do his tried and true method of solving all of his problems.

And at the other end of the VR zone Tea is getting kidnapped after...being kidnapped by Noah while she was already kidnapped by Marik. This is three levels of kidnap, yes?

OH SHOOT IS THAT A ONCE DOOR. DID SOMEONE DO WHAT I HOPE THEY DID? OH SHOOT.

I will read their fanfiction start to end I swear to you I will do it if it exists and I will report back to you who dates Captain Hook and who is related to Henry Mills.

OMG It didn’t exist.

You have got to be kidding me.

I am beside myself, this is the only property known to man that has not been turned into a OUAT fanfiction.

Incredible.

That or I’m just really bad at searching for fanfics since I haven’t actually read any since my LiveJournal days. Like, when you’re basically immune to shipping, as I am, you just really lose the desire to read about 90% of fanfiction.

Anyway, the closest we have to a OUAT Yugioh fanfiction, to my knowledge, is that cap I made just now right there. Your welcome, Once community.

This is absolutely made of load-bearing drywall. Why do none of the sets of windows line up with each other and how many stories is this? Like 2.5? And you can stand on the roof I guess because it has handrails? It’s super weird.

Anyway, I just made a OUAT joke and maybe it’s because I knew shortly after we were gonna get--that’s right--an orphanage flashback. OUAT was basically 6 seasons of effed up orphan flashbacks so I feel pretty well prepared. Like bro was worried how I’d handle this filler but y’all, I watched the Lily arc in OUAT. I can do anything.

*slaps hands together*

Totes ready for these boys to have been given up for adoption via a magical tree and a memory curse, only to find out their real parents are 3 years younger than them because of a time loop. Make it weird, Yugioh!

Anyway, as always, if you want a link to read these from the beginning in Chrono order and without any comments and all that jazz here’s a link

[nightttdreamers]

You’re in the Band! (Klance) Chapter 2

Hi! Here’s the second chapter of a fic I’m currently writing which is basically a Voltron band AU, focused on Klance but w/ other stuff too ofc.

AO3 link

Hope y’all like it! Feel free to show some love if you do. Thank you!

It had been a month and Lance still didn’t know anything about Keith.

The band met up at least twice a week, usually three times, for a few hours. So, it was safe to say that all of the members were pretty close. When it came to Hunk and Pidge that was true, Hunk was basically family and Pidge knew everything there is know about Lance. But Keith might as well have been on a different planet. In fact, Keith went out of his way just to make sure that his private life was confidential. Every one of Lance’s attempts to learn more about him (“When did you get that guitar?” “Have you always lived in New York?” “What shampoo do you use?”) were shot down with some vague response and a shrug.

Keith had become such a mystery to him that Lance started a new note on his phone, titled “THINGS I KNOW ABT KEITH”

1: hes a guitar god and were not worthy of him

2: he travels a lot (stickers on his guitar case from weird places)

3: likes pidge more than me

Number three really got Lance heated. Although inside she was a softie, Pidge was snarky, sarcastic, and cynical, not exactly the “friendly” type.

Eyeing the other two from his spot at the minifridge stack, Lance was practically fuming while he eavesdropped on some argument Keith and Pidge were having.

“...but it’s just people shooting at each other for ten movies!”

“What? You can’t just simplify it like that!”

“Star Trek takes place in the future, they have women in power ! It’s showing what humanity can do!”

“Star Wars is an entire other universe with complex history that makes logical sense -”

“Jar Jar fucking Binks!”

“Guys! Guys,” Hunk said, stepping between the two and placing a hand on either’s shoulder. “I understand that being huge nerds is really important to you, but please, stop arguing. Star Trek is science fiction and Star Wars is fantasy, you can’t compare the two.”

4: keith prefers star wars over star trek

Keith stepped away from Pidge, who just stuck her tongue out at him. They did this almost every rehearsal, come in either gabbing over something weird or fighting over something weirder. Ever since Keith volunteered to escort Pidge to her apartment after a late-night practice, the two were always bonding , and the sight made Lance want to gag.

Not that he was jealous, or anything. That’s stupid. He didn’t even know Keith! Why would he be upset that the guitarist liked Pidge more than him?

“Um,” Lance cleared his throat, putting his drink back into the minifridge and stepping over. “Not that this -” he gestured to the three. “-isn’t important, but can we rehearse? That thing that people usually do when they’re in a rehearsal?”

After some affirmations, everyone had moved into their spots. Keith either stood between Lance and Hunk or against the back wall during rehearsals, never showing interest in claiming a space for himself. It kind of made Lance uneasy, like Keith would just leave at any moment, because if he was gone there wouldn’t be anything to even show that he was in Voltron. Which is why Lance tried to have him learn the whole album and be ready to record in a month. Thanks to his un-fucking-believable talent, Keith was ready, as was the rest of the band.

“I think we should just play through the whole album, make sure it’s perfect, no stopping,” Pidge suggested, simultaneously typing out something on her laptop.

Hunk nodded, responding, “If we’re all good, we should record later this week. Album out as soon as possible.”

“Can we even call it an album?” Asked Keith, not looking up from his guitar tuning. This caught Lance’s attention, Keith voicing his opinion? He usually put in his two cents about chord suggestions or timing, but never actual band stuff (another thing that made Lance uneasy; He was unsure if the guitarist really cared about the band). Keith clearly picked up on Lance’s surprise, looking at the other and straightening up. “I mean, it’s really an EP. There’s only seven songs.”

“Officially, it’s an EP, yeah, but it would be an album if we could pay for that much recording time,” Pidge replied.

Lance rolled his eyes, grabbing the mic. “Guys, EP, album, it doesn’t matter. Let’s just play!”

It took a few tries, but they managed to play all the way through, perfectly. The album (well, EP) was just comprised of the band member’s favorite songs out of the dozens they’d written, so it had actually been finished for months. All they’d needed was a guitarist (check) and an actual recording (soon-to-be check).

And they sounded great . As great as they could, at least, in the recording they would layer on more sounds and then sound awesome .

“Guys, this is gonna sound awesome !” Lance said once they had dispersed. There were a few positive affirmations from the group, who seemed to all be in a hurry. “Should we go out? Celebrate? Get drunk and watch bad movies? Get high and watch bad movies?”

Pidge tucked her laptop into her backpack, then made a beeline for the door. “Love to, but I am late for my shift, later!”

Lance’s grin faltered, since when did Pidge get a job? He turned his attention over to Hunk, texting on his phone.

“Hunk? Buddy?”

The bassist looked up, quickly shoving his phone away. “See, uh, I kinda have plans. Plans with this girl-“

“YOU’RE GOING ON A DATE?” Lance shouted, dropping his backpack and rushing to Hunk. “Is it with Shay? It’s totally with Shay, just tell me it’s with Shay!”

Hunk tugged at his collar, glancing away. “... Maybe.”

Lance grinned, wrapping his arms around his friend. “This is your night, dude! Woo her! Remember my advice!”

“Your advice sucks.”

“So then remember not to follow it.”

Hunk slid out of Lance’s arms, heading towards the door. “Thanks, man. Wish me luck!”

“Good luck!” Lance shouted after him as Hunk left.

Why didn’t he tell me he had a date? Especially with Shay? He’s been trying to ask her out for like, a year.

“You okay?”

Oh, right. Keith was still there, his brows furrowed. That was his default face, just looking confused and disinterested and pissed off. But, he sounded pretty concerned.

“What? Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

“Um, you look really sad.”

Lance straightened up, grabbing his backpack again. “I’m not sad, I’m just… confused. If you had been trying to go out with a girl for, like, forever, and you finally got a date with her, wouldn’t you tell your best friend?”

Keith shrugged. “That would never happen, so, I don’t know.”

“Why not? You got the whole ‘bad boy’ thing down, chicks love that.”

Keith just shoots Lance a look (not just any look, an are-you-fucking-kidding-me-you-idiot look), and shrugs again, kneeling down to open up his guitar case.

Lance pursed his lips, folding his arms.

5: he really hates me

Maybe Keith wasn’t the best person to ask for advice, or talk to, or just interact with in general. But he got along so well with Pidge when they talked about nerdy stuff, so what was the issue with talking to Lance?

“So, you like Star Wars?” You sounds like someone’s awkward dad, that’s why he always gives you that look, why do you even try?

“I guess,” Keith says, picking up his case.

They fall into another silence and Lance contemplates being swallowed up into the abyss right there.

Okay, McClain. You’re a people person, conversation is your thing. Use your charms! There’s gotta be something he wants to talk about.

“How’s being in the band?” Lance asks the other, just as he’s about to step through the door.

Miraculously, a hint of a smile tugs at his lips as Keith turns his head away. “It’s cool.”

“And what about the EP? Any thoughts?” The cuban boy asks, stepping closer.

“Not really.” Fuck , Lance thought they were actually getting somewhere with that.

With a dejected nod, the singer slides by Keith and steps through the door. “Okay, then, see ya.”

Why do you even fucking bother? Who cares if you don’t know everything about Keith? Maybe he’s secretly a shitty person who kicks puppies and-

“I like robbers.”

Lance turns around, on the sidewalk outside of the Garrison. He quirks a brow at Keith, standing in the doorway behind him. “What?”

“The song, robbers, on the EP. I like it.”

Lance exhales, smiling. “Oh, the song. I thought you meant like, burglaries and stuff. I don’t know why you’d mean that, that’s stupid, unless you’re really into being a thief and stuff. I don’t judge, well, I kinda do, how can you not-” Lance catches sight of Keith’s face, which did look less pissed off for a moment, but is now reverting. “I’m sorry, uh, I talk a lot.”

Keith nods, unamused. “I can tell.”

Oh no, they will not fall victim to another awkward silence. “Why do you like robbers?” Lance blurts out, nearly shouting it.

Keith steps out of the doorway, beginning to walk. He tilts his head in the direction he’s going and after a moment of being unable to read a social cue, Lance follows alongside him. “It’s a good song, it’s… different.”

“What do you mean, different? Like, good or bad different?”

“Neither, it’s just not the kind of song I thought that I’d like.”

Now it was Lance’s turn to knit his brows. “What kind of music do you usually like?”

Keith paused, glancing over to the other. He looked hesitant, then shoved his hands into his pockets and continued to walk. “Rock.”

“Wow, you’re picky, that’s not a broad genre at all, very specific.”

“Okay, classic rock.” Lance rolled his eyes, sighing and making sure Keith could hear it. “You can’t just ask someone to narrow down their music taste like that!”

And then, Lance’s heart did a little thing in his chest because, fuck , Keith was actually pretty cute. Especially when he was mad, his voice cracks and his shoulders stiffen up. Lance can’t help but crack a smile at the sight.

“Dude, chill, I’m just asking questions.”

Keith looks away, turning his attention back to the sidewalk before them.“Right, sorry.” The two were quiet for a second, but it wasn’t as awkward as before.

“So, classic rock?”

“Yeah, classic rock.”

They spoke for some time about their tastes in music, and music in general. It seemed to be the only subject Keith was good at speaking about. Every time they drifted towards another topic, they’d end up right back where they started. But, Lance didn’t mind. In fact, he actually liked talking to Keith.

“And you write all the lyrics?” Keith had asked, later into their walk.

Lance nodded, beaming with pride. “Yep! Well, Pidge and Hunk sometimes give me ideas, but, the actual lyrics are all mine.” He pulled out his phone, opening it to his notes and handing it to Keith. “They’re all under ‘song lyrics.’”

Also, the best part about talking to Keith? He made the singer feel like an actual member of Voltron. In the past, if he ever brought up that he was the songwriter, reactions were typically “eh” or “what instrument do you play?” To which he’d have to go through the awkward “oh, none, I just sing.” But, Keith was actually really interested in his lyrics, and Lance felt great.

“Yeah, I just write down lyrics all the time, whenever, wherever. Once I have enough little sections, I put them in my notebook. Editing on a phone is just easier, though,” Lance explained.

There was a silence from the other boy, then, “I don’t hate you.”

Lance looked over to Keith, then glanced down at his phone in his hands. “THINGS I KNOW ABT KEITH” was in bold atop the screen. Suddenly, Lance regretted everything ever and wanted to crawl into the manhole that was just a few feet away. They’d call him the manhole-man, and he’d never have to face Keith again.

“Do you think I hate you?”

Lance shook his head vigorously. “No, no, I just- uh, okay, so, I thought you hated me, but that was like, an hour ago! Then, we had this whole bonding sesh,” his hands gestured to the two of them. “And now, I don’t think you hate me anymore! Right? Unless, do you?”

Keith’s expression was blank save the curl of his upper lip, giving a pretty good clue as to how he felt. “No, I don’t hate you. Why would you even think that?”

Lance flung his arms out, shrugging (once again, too exaggerated). “Uh, I dunno, maybe it’s because every time I’ve tried to talk to you for the past month you’ve responded in five words or less. Or because the three times, I counted, I’ve asked you to hang out you’ve declined before I could even finish asking? Not to mention that you only talk to Pidge and now, apparently, Hunk? And it’s not really an uncommon thing for people to hate me, like it’s a daily thing! Should I go on?”

Now, he could read Keith’s expression. He looked… embarrassed? No, that was guilt in his eyes, for sure. And then, that guilt was all over Lance’s face as he straightened up and frantically waved his hands.

“But it’s fine! I get it, you’re just not a big talker! It’s okay!” Nice going, asshole, first you think he hates you, then when he says he doesn’t, you give him a reason to.

“I just… I don’t really talk to people often,” Keith said, the way he bit his lower lip slightly before speaking catching most of Lance’s attention. “I don’t mean to come off like an asshole, okay? I don’t hate you, so this whole list is wrong.”

“The whole thing?”

“Yeah,” Keith said, handing the phone back over to Lance. “I’m not a god, chill. I just really like guitar. I don’t travel a lot,” he gestured to his case, which was on his back ( how did that not hurt? ). “These stickers aren’t mine, I’ve never even been out of the country. I don’t like Pidge more than you, nor do I like Star Wars over Star Trek, they’re incomparable.”

And just like that, Keith Kogane made Lance feel like an idiot. An idiot who keeps tabs and notes on people instead of just talking to them, which defeats his purpose of trying to know someone better by blocking that person out instead.

For lack of anything else to say, Lance simply stopped, gesturing to the building behind him. “Um, I live here.” And, once again, trying to make conversation; “Do you live close?”

Keith shook his head. “No, I actually live across town, west side.”

“Seriously? That’s like, really far, man. Why would you walk me all the way here?”

Keith’s response, unsurprisingly, was a shrug. “Like I said, I don’t hate you.”

With that, Keith turned around and walked back in the same direction they came from, and Lance watched his figure, although mostly obscured by the guitar on his back, fade away.

Wow.

Later that night, Lance was in his bed, scribbling in his notebook.

They call me the manhole man.

I just don’t feel whole, man.

Because I feel like an idiot, which I am.

And you’re just there looking like, damn.

Not all of his lyrics were great.

“Where’s the Redbull?”

“That shit’ll stunt your growth, Pidge.”

“Hm, interesting. Never heard that before, what’s also interesting is I don’t give a shit.”

Lance rolled his eyes at Pidge, resting his headphones around his neck. She didn’t seem to care, returning to whatever tech stuff that was happening on her computer and launchpads.

Keith, who after the Almost-Disastrous-Walk-Home incident a few nights ago began to actually speak with Lance, chimed in, which was something the band hadn’t quite gotten used to yet. “Lance,” he said, gesturing to what was occurring outside the recording booth.

Hunk was leaning over the soundboard, his attention (that would usually be on the board) turned to the girl working it. His eyes were all big and soft, like how he looked when he saw a cute animal video or well-made desserts, totally fixated on her. Shay, the aforementioned girl, was beep boop ing over on the board (a technical term, according to Lance), explaining to Hunk as she went along.

“Hey! Hunky Hunk!" Lance shouted, to no reply. The door was open, so there was no reason for him to be ignored right now. "Tonka Truck! Fudge Chunk! HUNK!” Lance continued to yell, waving his arms. This, after too long, earned the attention of Hunk, who quickly hurried into the recording booth.

“Sorry, sorry,” he apologized hastily, picking up his bass.

Shay leaned into the mic outside of the booth, gesturing for everyone to put their headphones on. “Okay, guys, we don’t have that much time to record, so try and make it count, okay?”

The group gave a few positive cheers and nods, Keith even gave a thumbs up! (Which was probably not as monumental as Lance thought it was.)

“Alright! Ready?” Shay asked, waiting for another affirming response. “Awesome! Voltron, track one, take one. And… go!”

It took all day to record the album (or EP? They never clarified). The group arrived at Balmera Recording Studios at seven in the morning, and left at almost midnight. It was a long, draining day, filled with plenty of caffeine breaks and yawning. One thing that made recording easier was the knowledge that their time was discounted. It helped that their bassist was dating the girl working at the record studio, and this earned them a pretty good deal. However, the catch was that it was only for a 12+ hour session.

It worked, and they got the discount. But, they paid the price of complete exhaustion by the time they were done.

“One last thing before you guys go,” Shay said, just as the group was halfway out the door. The four members simultaneously turned their heads, each of their expressions dull and lazy. “I just need the song titles."

Lance nodded sleepily, pushing past everyone and moving at a snail’s pace to Shay.

“Just type it in, right on the computer.”

self titled: an EP by Voltron

1.  I’m not Famous [E]

2.  Vowels (And the Importance of Being Me)

3. The Beach

4.  New Perspective

5.  Robbers

6.  All Over

7.  i heard you were looking like the moon