#maybe Porter will be in the room who knows who cares | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

colourstreakgryffin · 9 months ago

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I saw you're taking Hazbin hotel requests so I thought I'd shoot my shot! So reader is a young boy who also died around Alastor's time(Early 1930s) . He's so confused and overwhelmed by how fast everything is progressing. So when he hears Alastor humming/singing a song from the 1930s he feels a sense of comfort and familiarity. Bonus if it also happens to be their favorite song! Take your time and you're amazing!

Oooh! Fourth Alastor request and I am having such a great time with this! This man is so fun to write for! After I finish here, I am gonna go cook some Jambalaya then pop it into my pentagram and summon Al so he can cook me!

Alastor- Night & Day

Like the beat, beat, beat of the tom tom…

when the jungle shadows fall

like the tick, tick, tock of the stately clock

You don’t recognise anywhere you are… this place. It’s hot, dark, dangy and uncomfortable. There’s nothing here resembling Earth and it’s shaking you to your core. Not having the strength nor confidence to move anymore from the alleyway you were just dropped into upon arriving here from the pentagram in the dark sky. Everyone is too much for your young mind. Well. Other than that, those lyrics…

As it stands against the wall

Like the drip drip drip of the raindrops

When the summer shower is through

So a voice within me keeps repeating you, you, you

That song is a symbol of comfort for you. Night & Day by Cole Porter. Something your mother use to sing to you every night before bed, the sound of pretty rain hitting your open window as that beautiful sweet woman would sing over and over again, all without it growing repetitive, until you fell asleep. Having wonderful dreams all the time

Even though you’re scared out of your mind, you begin to walk out to the streets. Packed to the brim with all kinds of weird-shaped adults but you avoid most of the them, weaving through this thick crowd to find the source of the soothing lullaby of your whole life and the voice singing it. It sounds dapper, transatlantic, if not an old radio. Is it coming from a radio?

Night and day, you are the one

Only you beneath the moon or under the sun

Whether near to me, or far

It's no matter, darling, where you are

I think of you

It felt like a game of cat and mouse. Running around to find where that wonderful singing is coming from and it feels like the person is constantly teleporting, no adult should be this frustrating to find. Or, you’re just too overwhelmed from being dropped into literal Hell to even realise your coordination skills are as dropping as you did. Your mind is racing to come to terms with what’s going on

This isn’t New Orleans at all… and not a single trace of your parents around. Are you alone? No. No. You don’t want to be alone, you’re too young to be alone. Is everybody here too evil to care about a literal child Sinner being stuck on his own and having to fend for himself in ways he doesn’t know how to…

By all the unholy gods. Somebody help

Day and night, night and day, why is it so

That this longing for you follows wherever I go

In the roaring traffic's boom

In the silence of my lonely room

I think of you

The loud noises of talking, of the wall of built-in weird flat devices screeching and echoing, the patter of footsteps. It makes you want to hide away and sleep to try shake off all the distress and overwhelming feelings you are being tormented with but that song is way too recognisable and comforting for you to ignore so you just keep pursuing it

Maybe, it’ll be pointless and the singing source will be from a Radio of your year but it almost feels like the song is organic and from a person. That means there is an adult of your time here. A man from the 1930s, Hell, he may be somebody of your family! That’d be wonderful and your hopes are high that when you do find the source, it’s somebody you’ll get to embrace and talk to

Day and night, night and day

Under the hide of me

There's an oh such a hungry yearning burning inside of me

And this torment won't be through

Until you let me spend my life spreading love

A flash of bright red crossed your eyes when you finally had managed to shakily but stubbornly and determined, pasted through the big careless and if not almost hypnotised by the running TVs crowd, and continued down the road in half sprints. Following a array of melodically humming, recreating the beat and rhythm of the song as it seems the source is quite invested in such a song

It felt like forever following a mere sound across the city’s streets but there he is. The source of the singing, he’s so close that you can finally reach a arm out and take his hand to catch his attention

Day and night, night and day—

The man instantly mutes his singing. He is tall, in a nice fancy coat with long hems at the bottoms, with a pair of what seemed to be tall deer ears on the top of his head and his pale face branded with a permanent toothy grin, he looked both menacing but yet friendly. Turning around to face the nine-year-old Sinner running around the Pride Ring’s own Pentagram City’s streets to chase the source of a song of familiarity and now has chased and caught his hand, Alastor reacted rather friendly and understanding to be presented with a child of his own era

Leaning down to be kneel before this young confused on-the-verge-of-crying boy, the Radio Demon says smooth and curious with that same radio effect almost overlapping his charming transatlantic accent, placing his free hand on your little shoulder

Something about Alastor reminded you of a popular figure from New Orleans you’ve met before

“Greetings there, young man… tell me, where are your parents?”

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annacory-blog · 4 months ago

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Fanart on fanfic - First time ever.

Well, here is the thing. I am not much a fanart person, did few in my life. But fanart for fanfic - is a complete novelty.

However when you fell in love with a relatively rare pairing, you run out of things to stare at quickly. And now I feel a need to add something for other people to stare!

This is a fanart for fanfic of @ulysses000 that can be loosely translated from Russian as "Challenges of shared living space".

Below the art is a little translation, to give this scene some context!

"Well" - Trafalgar starts with mocking tone - "I thought you would be more upset about loosing the game." Sanji hides sly smile behind the glass of wine.

"I think you didn't get it, benet. Who have lost? This was a clear win. At least for Luffy. Who cares if we were stripped of all the points and disqualified?!"

"You have lost. Just accept it." Sanji makes another sip. His eyes remains locked on eyes. They are full of challenge, unknown trepidation, ocean of confusing playfulness.

"Then maybe you'll allow me to smoke in the room as a consolation prize?" - he asks. Glass of wine put aside with almost no sound, and Sanji moves tiny bit closer.

"No. " - Law replies with a smirk. Feeling other's warm palms gently pressed to his arm and chest.

"Pretty pleeeease" - Sanji begs. Voice pleading, sweet. Fingers slightly tighten, - "We didn't get an S rank just now, only because my body impitoyablement demands nicotine."

"No." - Law stretches the sound with pretence arrogance, putting his empty glass aside too.

"May be you can… I don't know lift me outside the window, so i can smoke? You did it during the game, haven't you.." Trafalgar immediately gets what younger is talking about. He snickers with closed mouth, happy his abilities were praised, alas slightly overestimated.

"On the game I haven't lifted you, I have lift your load bearing vest. I can only move inanimate objects."

"Et alors? I am sure you can come up with an idea. Je ne veus pas descendre... Cent pour cent porter will get mad. She'll get that i am drunk…" Law thinks if there is actually anything he can do. There is one option, but older man utterly confused, why he is even bothered with nearly childish demands of the blond? Why him being unnecessary tactile and shamelessly occupying Law's bed, is not at all irritating? On a contrary feels natural. It might be the alcohol. For sure it is alcohol!

"That depends to which extend you are willing to go for a single smoke…" - Trafalgar's voice is sinister, but Sanji, nevertheless, perks up with the hope. Blue sphere covers their dorm room, and butterfly knife slowly creeps out of backpack pocket and jumps to Law's hand.

"I can cut off you head." - he suggests. Blue eyes shining in a soft light of a table lamp. Sanji smiles with half mad smile, almost as a serial killer, or a drug addict on his high - confident.

"Go for it." If only for his own comfort, Trafalgar throws one leg over and sits on Sanji's laps. One hand holds head, lifts it slightly to expose refined neck. Vein pulses under soft, translucent skin. Law swallows nervously. Sharp knife pressed to the skin while he considers best trajectory for the cut.

"Are you not scared?" - Trafalgar asks. Question mostly directed to him self, as he feels suddenly confused, thoughts scattered.

"Nope." - Sanji's eyes are half opened, relaxed. - "I know you wouldn't kill me."

#lawsan #fanfic fanart #op au

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iambic-stan · 6 months ago

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Concertina

Writing this story was very therapeutic for me. I hope someone else, cardiophile or otherwise, can get some comfort and reassurance out of it, too.

"I'm not policing what you think and dream," was the lyric I fixated on, though it was only the first verse of the song. Every explanation of the song "Concertina" I'd read contradicted my own interpretation. Wasn't it mostly a song about feeling bold enough to be strange, even if it was frightening? There was applause in the bar when I finished, and made me feel like the risk of a new track selection had paid off. Tori clapped with the most vigor, as she usually does.

"Girl, who sang that one?" she asked, noting that it was different from my usual selections like Stevie Nicks and Pat Benetar. I stared at her drink, something with pineapple and gin if I recalled, with this hypnotic red-orange-yellow ombre effect. Without taking my eyes off of it, I said, "It was a Tori Amos song. Not a big hit or anything though. You share a name," I said, lightly touching her shoulder, "You should sing something of hers one night."

"Not if the DJ has anything Taylor," she laughed. It was fair. Tori loved to sing Taylor Swift at karaoke, just like how she loved to talk about Gaylor theories, analyze her lyrics, speculate about what her various IG and Tumblr posts might foretell, and scour Stubhub and every other possible site for the least-bankrupting concert tickets. I was just along for the ride, though I had a couple of her albums at home myself.

"Ok, do something from Lover," I suggested.

"I don't know. What if all they have is "YNTCD?" she whined, abbreviating Taylor's divisive LGBTQ anthem from 2019, one that I happened to enjoy despite any criticism.

"I know you like it, and maybe I'm being a terrible Swiftie, but isn't she just trying to hijack our trauma and claim it as hers? *Unless* she is gay but didn't want to say so explicitly in the song. It's great that she gave so many queer people screen time. I didn't even know who Billy Porter was until I saw the video. But then again, why did she make it about resolving her beef with Katy Perry? That was so random. Anyway, I'll see what I can do...for you, Elena." She ran her hand down my arm and then squeezed my hand for a second. She's drunk, I thought, but I appreciated the affection. Her hand was soft and it felt right--sensual without the suggestion of something more. I wouldn't want anything more.

Well, that wasn't entirely true. I had come to feel at home with Tori over the past year--my first close friend since college who also happened to be queer. I had lingered longer when hugging her, and since she knew I was asexual, I didn't think she ever took anything the "wrong" way. At home I had a bright magenta stethoscope that sat on my nightstand, waiting. But since I'd never told Tori that 1) I loved heart sounds, 2) loved using stethoscopes, and 3) wanted to use one with her, my stethoscope could have been waiting for Godot. I had strongly considered putting her (the stethoscope--named Alex for my love of Wizards of Waverly Place) in the living room so that Tori could just happen to notice her while we were watching a movie. But I played the conversation out in my head and felt mortified with every possible script I wrote. Still, whenever I pictured her wearing the binaurals and listening to my heart, I felt like skipping through a field of daisies. It just seemed like I was struggling with level one of a video game while ravenously reading walkthroughs of the battle with the final boss I might never meet. Not that it was a game to me--my love of heart sounds was and always had been one of the most important things in my life. It kept me sane and grounded, and most of all, it was how I felt close to someone I cared about.

I felt a bit of envy as I watched her throw her arm around the DJ, whose adorable curly head of hair and petite stature brought to mind Jorgeous from one of my favorite shows--Rupaul's Drag Race. But I wasn't jealous that Not-Jorgeous was enjoying Tori's affection; I wished I could have that sort of magnetism that drew everyone to me and put them immediately at ease. Trauma had prevented me from being so gregarious. I watched as four more karaoke singers ran up to Tori, happy to see a familiar face (she was there every week) and get their expected hug. No, I didn't necessarily want that much attention, I realized--I only wanted the confidence and grace to be completely open with her.

When I heard the first few sharp, synth-laden notes, I knew exactly what song it was. Tori was deadly serious in her delivery and everyone in the bar turned to gaze at this tall, striking woman who would almost look imposing if her face weren't so soft and kind. "Combat, I'm ready for combat," she sang, and I was shocked that the DJ would have this track from Taylor's Lover album that we could agree on. In a moment of accountability that Taylor-haters never acknowledge, the singer tells us she's been "the archer" and "the prey," and feared her propensity for causing hurt as well as her own crippling wounds might make her difficult to live with. As Tori deftly crescendoed her way into the bridge (I had been given numerous lectures on her distinctive bridges), I felt like my heart beat louder as well. Suddenly embarrassed, I turned away and stepped onto the bar's patio, my long wrap skirt catching a doorknob in my haste. I pulled it out and turned to look at the wisteria still bright near sundown and the brick water feature with the goldfish. There was a couple in the corner deep in conversation, voices so hushed I couldn't make out a single word. That was my last drink, I thought, staring at the crescent moon and the smattering of stars I could see in spite of light pollution. I felt too much; why didn't alcohol make me numb like it did everyone else?

"Hey, did you like it?" I heard her say behind me. I turned and saw the sheepish grin on her face.

"Oh, it was beautiful!" I exclaimed. "I was just out here getting some air is all."

"I was thinking about what you said last week." She came closer and put her arms around me as she said it. My head landed near her chest, and I could almost hear something if it weren't for her thick jacket. I let myself fall into her embrace. "I think it would be exciting, actually. I want to do it. I've never done that with anyone before," she continued.

I racked my brain and tried to remember what she could be talking about, slowly recalling that I'd had 3 cocktails and 2 shots last week. There were a few portions of my last karaoke night that I didn't recall at all. "Wait, what are you talking about?"

She looked at me, her eyes crinkled a little. Gently, she pushed my hair out of my face. "You're such a silly drunk and you don't remember any of it," she said, shaking her head. "You surprised the hell out of me by talking about having a stethoscope and wanting to listen to my heartbeat. And that you wanted me to listen to your heartbeat. And I was speechless because that seemed like such a weird, random thing to say. But then I thought about it and I'm really curious now. None of my girlfriends ever wanted to do something like that. Not that you're my girlfriend, but a friend who happens to be a girl, anyway. I'm down."

I breathed in sharply. How could I have said all of that without realizing what I was divulging? My heart was really pounding then, and as if she read my mind, she placed her hand on my chest. "Oh!" she squeaked, surprised. "Am I embarrassing you? Please don't feel that way! I guess I should've thought you might've forgotten, like that time you went on for like 10 minutes about whether Drag Race All Stars is rigged like you were the only person in the room and had zero recollection of it the next day." Without really thinking, I quickly placed my hand over hers, holding it fast to my chest. Her hand so near my heart felt just right somehow. I closed my eyes and only opened them when she pulled away to check her phone.

"Our Uber is on its way. I told them to go to your apartment. Is that ok? Mine is a mess and Savannah has her boyfriend over, anyway. He always brings that cheap, stinky weed. Plus, we could watch more Babylon 5. I want to see if the praying mantis thing is a 'legitimate businessman' ha."

The N'Grath reference made me smile. "That sounds great," I almost slur, grinning like an idiot.

Mollie, my dachshund, is almost wider than she is long, so it's a struggle for her to make it up to the couch to properly greet Tori when she comes over. This night was no different. "She doesn't even eat that much," I said for probably the twentieth time. "It's like she just has the worst possible metabolism, poor babe." I stroked under her chin.

The DVD was loaded, and with the confidence that only alcohol could summon in me, I'd stealthily transferred Alex from my bedroom to the coffee table in the living room while Tori was in the bathroom. When she emerged, she smiled all big and plopped back down on the couch. My voice boomed in my head when I picked up the stethoscope and said, "This is Alex. She was named for Alex Russo, you know, when I was younger. Well, not that much younger. But still. Yes, I know it was a kids' show," I say shyly, wondering why I can't shut up.

Tori laughed and picked her up, turning the chestpiece around over and over again to switch from diaphragm to bell, hearing that satisfying click each time. "She doubles as a fidget toy, I see," she said. "Oh what's that?" I had to follow her gaze because I was staring at her chest (not her breasts--give me some credit) rising and falling and could barely think of anything else. She picked up a pill bottle from the coffee table, one that I usually put away when someone is over out of an overabundance of caution. But I hadn't realized we were both coming back here tonight. "Spiro?" she asked. "I used to take that, like in my 20s when my acne was a lot worse. What do you take it for?" she asked innocently.

I looked up at her, struck dumb and wordless. We both stared in silence for a few seconds too long, and that was when it dawned on me. Elena, she doesn't know, you moron. You're about to ask her to do something intimate and she doesn't know. Does it matter? Maybe, maybe not. I sighed. This was not the way I wanted her to find out. What if she changed her mind, decided I'm not one of her girl friends after all? What if she declared this some kind of "trick"? What if she got mad, felt betrayed, and blabbed all over social media? What if it got out at work? This wasn't something to play with, I realized, and it made me feel like I was suffocating suddenly, imagining all the worst case scenarios. They flicked through my brain rapidly, like someone pressing the lever on one of those retro viewfinders at lightning speed, taking in all of the little thumbnails in a blur. I gasped and then deliberately began to breathe in and out very slowly and evenly. I grabbed the arm of the couch as if I was falling.

"Oh my god, I am so sorry. You don't have to answer that. It's none of my business," she insisted apologetically. I could tell she was uncomfortable. I had made her uncomfortable. But it didn't feel like there was any escaping it now. The mood had changed dramatically, all thanks to my reaction to her question, and as much as I yearned for her to listen to my heart and had pictured it many times in the last few months, it was pounding because I was terrified. She put Alex down on the couch, where Mollie reached over to lick her eartips, and took my hand. "What's wrong?" she whispered.

I looked up at her and it felt like someone else's voice when I choked out, "I'm trans." Her brow furrowed. When she didn't respond right away, I added, in a whispered rush, "I grew up a boy. I mean I'm not one. I never was. I thought you knew. That's what the prescription is for." I exhaled loudly, then realized I'd been staring at the floor and not facing Tori. She let my hand go, almost in slow-motion, and she looked at my body as though she was seeing it for the first time. Oh god, I winced. Please don't look for masculine things.

"I'm such an idiot," she finally said, almost inaudibly. I stared in horror as she said, "Why didn't I know?!?"

I felt my mouth go dry. My voice was hoarse. "It's not like I wanted everyone to know," I said. "It's not like I want to lose my job."

"Oh, Elena!" she exclaimed. "You weren't thinking it would make a difference, were you?" When I didn't respond, she wrapped her arms tightly around me, and tears flooded my vision. "You're one of my best friends. You're my only friend who will go with me to karaoke, for one," she laughed. "You're the only person besides my mom who listened to me carry on about my undying devotion to Amari, even after the third time she fucking cheated. Not my finest moment, but that woman had a hold on me." I inadvertently let out a snort, remembering her beautiful but treacherous ex.

She kept one arm around me and reached again for Alex. "She's probably got Mollie slobber on her now," I pointed out.

"Ha, I'm not worried about it," Tori said. I watched her insert the ear tips, thinking she had a 50/50 chance of putting them in correctly, and she managed it. There was something transformative about her wearing the binaurals, and it dried my tears to see it. She was only about ten years my senior, but in that moment I felt like the child I was always meant to be--one who was free to play how I wanted, with whatever toys I wanted, and just be who I was without being called names I didn't even understand. She was the older, wiser one who could really see me. I was safe. She unfastened just the top button of my shirt and I looked at her face as I could feel the coolness of the metal circle on my skin.

A minute passed, then another, and they were brief but filled with knowing that she could hear me so well. "That's so cool," she said softly. "It was fast at first and now it's slow and steady. I kind of feel like...I know you in a new way," she smiled and looked at my face before looking back down at the instrument. I felt so happy I thought I could cry again. She moved the chestpiece around--left and right and center, then between my breasts. "It sounds different in different areas," she observed. "Like, the first sound is louder in some places and the second is louder in others."

"You're listening near a different valve each time," I whispered, thrilled that she heard those nuances that most ordinary people don't seem attuned to. She nodded, the look on her face one of wonder. I breathed along with her for another few minutes while she listened, and it felt like the sort of connection I only dreamed of feeling, knowing that most people don't "get" this. I felt almost reborn, and completely satiated.

When it was my turn to listen, I tried to push past my reservations and self-doubt. "Is it ok if I put this under your shirt?" I asked tentatively, pointing while holding the chestpiece.

"Girl, yes!" she practically sputtered. "After all the poking around I just did? It's only fair," she laughed.

Mollie jumped up to grab and lick my hand as I moved to place the stethoscope on Tori's chest, and we both had to stop what we were doing to laugh. When I slipped it underneath her blouse, the sound was clear and strong. She watched my eyes as I breathed in several systoles and diastoles and it made her smile. First, I listened for the semilunar valves--aortic and pulmonic, then, gaining confidence in what could have been an uncomfortable endeavor, moved downward to listen properly at the atrioventricular valves--tricuspid and mitral. Tori leaned forward so I could easily access these different auscultation points. I stayed at each one for awhile, trying to commit this sound to memory in case we never did this again. When I was finished, she said, "Wow, that was kind of a vulnerable feeling but not in a bad way."

"You sounded so, so beautiful," I told her softly, and was pleased when that display of raw emotions didn't elicit a raised eyebrow. This wasn't a night I'd forget anytime soon.

Thanks so much for reading! If you're able and would like to, click here to donate to the Trans Lifeline, a hotline that provides life-saving assistance to trans people, staffed by trans people.

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kindofsortofmaybe · 2 years ago

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If you’re still doing prompts, maybe Gus introducing Matt to the wonder of human musicals? I’m thinking about the Hamilton shirt again :p

HAHA the hamilton shirt!! yes theater kid matt rights!!

sorry this took a bit longer bc my computer decided to reboot in the middle of my writing : ) it's f i n e. this isn't my usual content, so i enjoyed the challenge! this was fun to write, thanks for the prompt!!! <3

Dramatic

“Okay, so this one’s called Be More Chill, and it’s about this guy who gets a SQUIP put into his head, so then—”

“Whoa, wait, slow down, Porter. He gets a who-what in his head?” Matt asked, sitting in a strange upside-down position on the Porter’s living room couch. He was holding a CD case for a soundtrack that Gus had just popped into the old CD player on the floor beside him, borrowed from the Nocedas. Matt read the back of the case, attempting to keep up with what Gus was telling him about some human thing called “musicals.”

“If you would let me speak, maybe you’d find out,” Gus retorted. “SQUIP stands for Super Quantum Unit Intel Processor.”

“That doesn’t help.”

“It’s like a computer.”

“A what?”

“Oh, right, you’ve never seen a computer. It’s—oh! It’s kind of like a scroll.”

“So there’s magic?”

“Um… no. Not in this musical, at least.”

“Porter, you’re losing me. Why do I need to care about these things, again?”

“Okay,” Gus sighed, “maybe this wasn’t a good one to start with. How about…” He sifted through the CDs Luz had lent him. “Oh! This one’s super popular in the human realm. I don’t think it’ll be too hard to understand.”

“Lay it on me,” Matt challenged as Gus swapped out the CDs.

“Alright, this one is called Hamilton. It’s historical fiction, sort of. It kind of—well, it’s sort of like the Deadwardian Era, except in the human realm and also kind of different. But it’s about the people that founded the place that Luz is from.”

“Sounds boring,” Matt said. He slid down from the couch and then shifted into an upright position, seating himself next to Gus. “Let’s get into it.”

Gus pressed play on the CD player, and Matt’s ears practically perked up at the opening notes. Surprisingly, they sounded promising to him.

Around two hours later, Matt was laid flat on his back, staring blankly at the ceiling as he tried to process the way his life had just completely changed. Finally, the notes faded into nothing, and the light whirring of the CD stopped.

“Is that it?” Matt exclaimed, shooting up to stare at Gus accusingly.

“Yeah, dude, that’s it.” Gus looked far too amused. Matt’s head was spinning.

“The drama… the highs and lows… the struggle for power, his fight with his own ambition… Augustus, I’ve never related to something more in my life,” Matt said seriously, and Gus did everything he could to stop himself from laughing.

“Yeah, right… I’m glad you like it, Matty.”

“You’re telling me there’s more of these things in the human realm?”

“Tons more. We’ve barely gotten started.”

“Well what are we waiting for?! Play me a musical, Porter!” Laughing, Gus put in a new CD. He was glad to see his friend so eager, so interested in something.

“Maybe we should see a musical in the human realm. You know, together,” Gus proposed. He avoided eye contact, wanting Matt to understand the unspoken like a date and simultaneously hoping that Matt thought he meant it completely platonically.

“You can watch these?!” The older witch exclaimed, trying to mask his delight with indifferent surprise. It didn’t work.

“Yeah, dude, you’re supposed to watch them.”

“Oh my Titan. Augustus, you changed my life today.”

“Matt Tholomule, you are over-dramatic. No wonder you love these things.”

#toh fanfic #gus porter #mattholomule #gustholomule #gustholomule fanfic #maybe writes

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danses-with-dogmeat · 2 years ago

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Could I get NightStalker for Porter Gage? 💁🏼

Why, yes. Yes, you certainly may :3

And I decided to go with the 1st name on this one!

Also, this one's a tad NSFW, so heads up on that!

P) PDA. How do they feel about public displays of affection? What kind of PDA do they show?

Ehhhh, it's not really for him. Now, things are a little different if he sees somebody else gettin' handsy with you, but for the most part, Gage likes to save it for your alone time. He doesn't need every raider and their goddamned mother talking about how soft the new Overboss makes him. The most he'll do is put an arm around you, or lay a hand on your thigh, and even then, it's usually only when he sees somebody eyeing you.

O) Open. How long does it take for them to open up to their s/o?

He ain't been open with anyone before. Not really. There ain't no therapists for raiders, and relationships are scarce as spare caps in Nuka World, so you... you're somethin' of a novelty to him. Though, when he gets used to bein' around you all the time, it's easier to be open with you than he ever thought it would be. It's nice for someone else to know your thoughts and your past, it makes him feel like somebody actually cares, like... the world would really change if he weren't in it. At least, it would change for you. It's not the most pleasant thought, but it's the most significant the old raider's ever felt.

R) Reunion. How do they react after being apart from their s/o? How do they cope when they’re away?

God, its boring when you're not around. Back to what it was like in the last of the Colter days. Just him and the parks, and with you running them, who was he kidding? There was damn near nothing to do. Gage occupies his time by cleaning his guns and knives, maybe working on his armor, but he ain't too happy about it. When you get back though? You'd better be ready. He'll grump and growl about you leaving him behind, even as he tackles you to the ground, tearing off your clothes as he ravishes and leaves you breathless, even through all his complaining, just showing you how grateful he really is that you're back.

T) Thrill. Do they need to try out new things to spice up your relationship? Or do they prefer a certain routine?

Well, you don't need to try all these new things or nothin', but... couldn't really hurt, right? He don't mind just a bit of routine, he knows you've gotta keep things in order, but when it comes to you and him? It sure is fun mixing things up a bit, 'specially where fucking is concerned.

E) Equal. Do they prefer to be more dominant or submissive in the relationship?

Gage is actually more flexible than most would think, particularly when it's just the two of you involved. You are the Boss, after all, but... He'd be lying if he said he didn't like to be in control. Out in the wastes, you're the Overboss, and he's your second, that's a given. But in the actual relationship? In the bedroom? Wouldn't it be sweet to let him take charge of you? Let you drop the crown for a while so your shoulders don't sag? Let someone order you around, for a change? Yeah... he thinks that sounds pretty alright.

R) -- Q) Quality Time. What do they like to do for quality time with their s/o?

Mostly he likes to spend time kicking ass with you. Raiders gotta raid, right? And the Overboss has gotta lead, gotta keep raiders and settlers both in line, right? That's always fun to do together. He also doesn't mind the mundane stuff. You being there when you've gotta mod up your weapons, patch up the armor, do some cap counting, it jus' makes it all a lil' more fun when you're in the room with him. When you're talking quality time with you specifically though, Gage has a few ideas of what he'd like to do...

Sex counts as quality time, don't it?

#1.5k celebration #1.5k event #fallout #fallout companions #fallout 4 #fallout 4 dlc #fallout 4 companions #fo4 #fo4 gage #porter gage #fallout gage #relationship alphabet #night stalker

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dreamsister81 · 6 months ago

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THE LEAP INTO LEGEND

By Holly George Warren via the Coda Collection, 2021

He was the man with a thousand voices — or so it appeared. I experienced Jeff Buckley live a few times — and that first night, in 1993, a Monday at tiny Café Sin-é across from my East Village apartment in New York, is forever seared in my brain. Not knowing anything about him beforehand, I sized him up as just another cute guy with a guitar. Nearly three decades later, it has become increasingly apparent that I have never seen — nor do I expect to see again — a vocalist so spookily gifted.

Jeff Buckley leaves behind a story that seems scripted from myth. He is the SoCal boy descended from an angel-throated folksinger (Tim Buckley) who had died of a drug overdose at 28, when Jeff was only 8. He comes of age poor, toils in obscurity as a metal-band guitarist, seemingly unaware of — or resistant to — that which percolates within him. Landing in New York in his early 20s, he uncorks a five-octave voice to rival his father’s, and writes bold, baroque rock songs — multi-tiered, Zeppelin-esque anthems and keening, sex-drenched romantic balladry. He delivers them, alongside a crazy quilt of diverse covers, with operatic skill placing him among (some would say above) Freddie Mercury and Robert Plant. The latter would become a fan, as would Bono, Bowie, Lou Reed, Chrissie Hynde and Elvis Costello. At the height of his quick fame, natural forces — i.e. the Mississippi River — take him from this world, in an incomprehensible, freak 1997 drowning in Memphis. He would leave behind one studio album, “Grace,” and join the galaxy of brilliant comets who died too young, like Nick Drake and Gram Parsons.

Back to that Monday night in ’93. My singer-songwriter husband shared the bill with a sweaty 26-year-old Jeff Buckley at our St. Mark’s “local” — an Irish tea-and-coffee place by day that served beer and wine at night to about 30 people who’d pass the hat for neighborhood troubadours. No stage, just a spot where a table was shoved aside from the brick wall. My spouse lent him his capo so Buckley could play John Cale’s version of Leonard Cohen’s not-yet-ubiquitous “Hallelujah.” In my memory, the songs preceding this ranged from Porter Wagoner’s “A Satisfied Mind” to a Duane Eddy riff to an Edith Piaf chanson (in French), delivered with both offhand skill and devil-may-care goofiness, as around a boozy campfire or in someone’s smoky living room. Then came “Hallelujah.”

The disarmingly supple voice kicked into gear, encompassing all the sexual yearning and spiritual quest of that tune. Owning it. Murmuring, crooning, unabashedly howling — sometimes all within one line. The room collectively swooned. Rather than milk the moment, as the last echoes of “Hallelujah” faded, Buckley jokily — albeit expertly — picked out the intro to “Stairway to Heaven,” stopping to chat with the audience mid-song.

This was his routine, apparently. Slay, then lower expectations. I wonder now if the intentionally amateurish aspects weren’t so much impish boy stuff, but rather Buckley discovering his superpowers in the moment, onstage. Freaked out, he’d step back from that ledge, not yet ready to fly. Maybe he knew his low-stakes obscurity — what he later called his “café days” — would be short-lived, something to be savored.

Sure enough, within months, limos lined St. Mark’s Place on Monday nights, crowds spilled out onto the sidewalk and we watched from our fire escape as Jeff Buckley was spirited away to the big leagues. It all seemed foretold.

The footage of Buckley performing two years later with bassist Mick Groøndahl, guitarist Michael Tighe and drummer Matt Johnson at Chicago’s Metro on May 13, 1995, is peak Buckley. “Grace” has been out nine months, with Buckley touring nonstop ever since. It shows in the band’s effortless mastery of its boss’ often challenging material — the whisper-to-a-scream “Mojo Pin,” the spellbinding drama of “So Real,” the delicate, pandemonium-inducing “Lilac Wine,” all tracks from his debut.

By now, Buckley is in full possession of his preternatural voice, or rather, it is in full possession of him. Falsetto here, purr there, and a wail sourced from the Sufi Qawwali devotional music he loves and champions. Buckley rarely moves far from his mic, concentrating his energy on singing and executing impressive guitar work. But by the last third of the set, fully on, he steps into abandon: an instrumental of his work-in-progress “Vancouver,” segueing into the Alex Chilton/Big Star cover, “Kanga Roo,” which finds him excitedly pogoing (like a kangaroo?); a full-throttle version of the MC5 gangbuster “Kick Out the Jams,” on which he’s joined at the mic by a stage-diving guitar tech. Unlike most rock artists, he ends the show not with the typical rave-up, but rather sends his band away and leaves the crowd agog with a solo “Hallelujah.”

Between songs throughout the set, he resembles that guy I first saw in ’93, joking, listening to requests, vulnerable, smiling at the ardor beyond the stage lights. He gracefully handles the enthusiastic yelling and passionate outcry from the packed house, only once telling an obnoxious guy to fuck off (which gets a big laugh). But whereas at Sin-é, Buckley made holding back a riveting thing to watch, at Metro, he fulfills the promise he’d shown. He steps to the edge, and he flies.

Jeff Buckley “Live in Chicago” Setlist

Dream Brother

Lover, You Should’ve Come Over

Mojo Pin

So Real

Last Goodbye

Eternal Life

Kick Out the Jams (MC5 cover)

Lilac Wine (James Shelton cover)

What Will You Say

Grace

Vancouver

Kanga Roo (Big Star cover)

Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen cover)

#jeff buckley #coda collection #29 years ago #mylove #supremebeing #favorite #music

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whoblewboobear · 4 months ago

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In honor of iwtv!Rockstar Lestat I’m thinking about Rockstar Jace who takes a (honestly concerning) amount of interest in his new roadie/sound equipment manager Porter. After coming down from a month(s) long bender Jace is finally coherent enough to notice Porter during soundcheck. So he starts serenading him and getting super touchy feel-y. Porter kinda brushes it off, he’s toured with enough musicians to know they’re a special breed, ESPECIALLY the rockstars. But he’s a professional he would never-

That same night Jace is riding him in his dressing room and he does a bump of coke out of the dip of Porter’s clavicle and honestly? It shouldn’t be as hot as it is. Jace being this fucked up also shouldn’t be this hot either and Porter is spiraling a bit but Jace is so tight and so fucking batshit the entire night and Porter really cant resist fucking him 2(-4) more times that night. Next day, Jace goes on a little mission to bug Porter before his show and Porter is just so flustered. He’s trying so hard to do his job and make sure everything goes smoothly. He’s like “Mr. Stardiamond, we’re all working very hard to make sure you have a great show tonight so if you could just FUCK OFF for a moment that’d be great~” and Jace is like huh okay, no one but my manager Zara talks to me like this.. kinda a turn on. But he does as he’s told and fucks off until it’s time for the show. But he has plans for Porter. So many that involve throwing his money and drugs around and letting Porter put him in his place whenever he likes.

Once the tour wraps, he asks if Porter would like to help out while he records his album in his home studio because his last sound equipment manager didn’t make house calls (for reasons Jace doesn’t want to discuss. Maybe he’s done this before, no one needs to know he’s a walking HR nightmare, he’s a rockstar he can do what he wants.) Porter agrees because the pay is incredible and traveling is fun but it takes a lot out of him and honestly, the perks of him and a few of his industry friends helping Jace make another hit album seems like a fun gig. And maybe fucking Jace on every surface in his mansion is a very appealing idea. He can handle Stardiamond. He’s just like every other fucked up musician. But uh oh.. the more time he spends with Jace the more he realizes that he isn’t that bad. A fucking whirlwind, sure, but in the quiet moments when he’s writing songs at his piano or having a quiet smoke on the balcony or meticulously arranging audio and re-recording harmonies, Porter is so endeared with him. He didn’t start doing his job for nothing, he wanted to make music himself but never quite broke through. Jace is a wonder to him, he wanted to resent him for pissing away an opportunity.

But Jace cares about the music, he does. The drugs and the flashy clothes and the money are fun. Very fun, until they aren’t. When he’s not trying to numb himself to the fucking shithole the music industry is, he still has music to comfort him. He’s so meticulous and careful about what he puts out. Which his manager loves. She loves a lot about him but even Zara would admit there are days that she sees him and her heart just hurts because he’s so far from the Jace she grew up with and talked about their dreams with. All those late nights in college where they painstakingly put together his first ep going off nothing but Red Bull and sleep deprivation. She remembers the night they finally heard back from the label and she negotiated a contract that was less shitty and intrusive than what Jace would’ve signed had she not been there. She misses him and she does like how good of an influence Porter can be on him. She’s glad there’s someone else there that doesn’t enable him- not all the time anyway.

Porter’s glad Zara’s around when she can be because everyone else buzzing around Jace is a kiss up or an enabler, but not her. On the bad days, she’s the first one to show up for Jace when everyone else makes themselves scarce. Jace tries not to notice the minute people scatter when he’s not offering party favors or lavish nights out. When the dust settles it’s Zara and.. Porter. Much to his surprise. And he feels a little bad for how over the top he was with him. One night, Porter comes over when he’s putting the finishing touches on the melody of a song, really into it and lost in the way every key sounds together. When he finishes, Porter is clapping and maybe that’s the only applause he really cares about.

#Starbreaker #rockstar!Jace au #jace stardiamond #porter cliffbreaker #Blewbs fic ramblings #Blewb rambles

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101flavoursofweird · 1 year ago

Note

Since you wanted requests for the angst/fluff prompts, how about Emmy with Luke, Hershel and/or Aurora for prompt number 8?

((Thanks very much for the prompt! I went with Emmy & Aurora because the parallels between the two of them fascinate me…))

Spoilers: For Azran Legacy.

Set: During AL.

Warnings: Implied character death of nameless agents… Emmy going along with Bronev’s orders

Inspiration: Sad Machine, by Porter Robinson - but I like the Didrick & Ember Island Cover

Compared to the Chamber of Fire— where their last agent aside from Emmy had been reduced to ash— there didn’t appear to be any deadly traps in this circular chamber.

Still, Emmy begged Uncle Leon to be careful as he stepped towards the centre of the room. He simply told her to “Keep an eye on the girl,” as he investigated a slightly raised platform ringed with gold and broken stone crosses.

Emmy felt a surge of fear and relief. Both, because her uncle was willing to risk his own life.

All of the lives that had been lost on their hard-fought journey to the sanctuary wouldn’t be in vain.

Maybe… Maybe the Azran Legacy could revive the dead? It wasn’t a naive notion; the Golden Garden could cure the sick, along with the ‘phoenix tears’ from Mosinnia, and then there was the Elixir of Eternal Life from Ambrosia…

Uncle Leon could use such a power to bring back Rachel (Aunt Rachel— Emmy would finally get to meet her!), Desm— Descole’s family, and everyone else who had died.

No one else had to die, now that the Azran Legacy was within their reach…

Emmy hoped with all her heart that this was true— and that her uncle would finally be contented— but what would happen to the Azran messenger when they unlocked the legacy?

Furtively, Emmy glanced at Aurora. She wasn’t trying to flee, so (thankfully) Emmy didn’t have to restrain her.

Aurora’s gaze was fixed on Bronev, her hands crossed in front of her— just above her heart.

“As her heart is pierced, let it be revealed.”

Emmy had memorised the words on the Azran column long before Aurora had read them aloud.

Surely that line wasn’t meant to be taken literally!

A knife or a sword was such a… primal tool. The Azran wouldn’t want their emissary to be harmed in such a barbaric fashion.

Uncle Leon wouldn’t…

Emmy released a quiet, quivering breath. She had spent years training in stealth and strength, but still, Aurora heard her and turned her head.

Emmy whispered, “What’s going to happen…?” (She would have added “To you?” if she hadn’t been so afraid.)

“I… I can’t say, exactly…” Aurora exhaled, lowering her gaze. Her brow furrowed with frustration.

The Azran key had restored all of her memories… hand’t it? On the edge of Obsidian Tower, she’d said she remembered the Azran legacy and who she really was…

Did she know what her fate would be?

“Why not?” Really, Emmy wanted to know why Aurora seemed to be going along with this so willingly.

Luke wasn’t a hostage anymore— he must have been safe with the Professor by now. If Aurora managed to escape, she might encounter them both in one of the earlier chambers.

Aurora hadn’t been raised as a Targent agent, instilled with their mission of finding the Azran legacy.

Aurora didn’t owe a single thing to Uncle Leon.

Aurora wouldn’t lose her whole world if the legacy was erased. She’d said the power of the Azran could destroy the world…

But Aurora stayed right by Emmy’s side.

Emmy muttered, “Do you hate me?”

Aurora blinked at her. “What—?”

Emmy snorted. “I wouldn’t blame you….”

Deceiving the Professor and reporting his findings to Targent was bad enough, but by threatening Luke’s life (as Uncle Leon had done to some many families), Emmy had crossed a line she didn’t think she could come back from.

If she stood back and let Aurora’s… heart be pierced— whatever that meant— would that make her a monster?

“I don’t blame you,” Aurora said, her eyes clear with sincerity… A quality of character that was lost on Emmy.

Emmy swallowed. She looked at Uncle Leon, who was busy tinkering with some sort of lever, and back at Aurora.

“You could run,” Emmy breathed. She would have to chase after Aurora, of course, but maybe Emmy could trip…

“I could,” Aurora quietly agreed, with a glance down the stairs behind them.

She regarded Emmy again. “But then, he would blame you. I won’t let him hurt you.”

Emmy wished she could say the same for Aurora.

She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. “I’m sorry, Aurora… I didn’t think it would come to— to this.” She sniffed. “I have to help my uncle— that’s my mission— but I thought the Professor would get through to him b-before…”

That had been her secret personal mission; to bring the Professor to Uncle Leon, so that they could resolve this peacefully. But there was no reasoning with Leon Bronev.

“I understand,” Aurora assured her. “Your mission… It sounds rather like my own— my purpose. We cannot defy those who created us.” (She’d said something similar when they returned to the Azran dome in Kodh…)

“Right,” Emmy whispered, even though Aurora’s choice of words wasn’t entirely accurate.

Leon Bronev hadn’t created her, but he had definitely moulded her into the brutish, hellbent, obedient agent she was today.

She couldn’t betray him, any more than Aurora could betray the Azran.

All they could do was pray that the Professor and Luke would reach them… before it was too late.

#Professor Layton #Emmy Altava #aurora azran #Leon Bronev #Sorry this is rather similar to another fic I wrote #An AU where Emmy DOES betray Bronev and saves Aurora before she gets tagged #It’s part of a series called ‘Looking Forward’#My writing #Azran Legacy #my fics #my writing #Sorry for the bleak ending #I hate leaving it on that note as if Emmy and Aurora are just waiting for Emmy to rescue them #But that is what happens in canon so…

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thirstyforred · 2 years ago

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ok fuck it jda x rejk death stranding au bc i can't sleep

so Jacques (or Alvin, or Jack (yes I know jacques≠jack , bear with me im stupid), or all of the three bc names are weird and not real), he's a porter, he has high levels of DOOMS, seeing BTs and crying a lot, and having all kinds of fucked up dreams. he's a honest man really, making deliveries, because what else is there to do in post-stranding world and also because he's hooked on those likes and extra dopamine, maybe he's few trecks away from actually joining MULEs who knows, who cares

he picks up delivery for some guy living in yet another bunker far away from any civilization, guy wants some parts to incinerator, he's not connect to the chiral network and doesn't care to join, and it kinda sucks to deliver for him, but also it's not Alvin's job to convince the dude, so whatever, keep going

guy's tag name is is Surgeon btw, there's often Timefall with BTs around his place, but even during the sunny day there's a lot of chiral in the air, Alvin always looks like a mess when he gets up to the terminal

they talk, dude lives alone and even if he acts like he doesn't, he craves some interactions, and that Alvin actually looks forward to, because dude is smart and has that dry sense of humor, and maybe even with grainy hologram Alvin is developing some crush, that's not the weirdest thing,

eventually Alvin learns that his name is Hubert, and soon after that Hubert asks for a special delivery, a favor actually, something off the record...

"There's a MULEs camp nearby, or so I heard. Would you mind sneaking there, knock one of them out and bring them here?"

and, well, Alvin expected to be asked for drugs or maybe weapons, that's just human trafficking, and yeah MULEs are pests, but that's a little... sus, to say the least

Alvin does this. it's delivery, it's for crush, you can't actually stuff person inside that cargo lift so either Hubert will have to come out or let him into the bunker. it's the first time something fuckin interesting happens.

it goes slowly, this flirt intertwined with mystery, first they see each other outside of the bunker, then Alvin gets invited inside, he tours various rooms, but not all, Alvin isn't stupid so he gets the idea what Hubert does long before "the surgeon" actually shows him everything

Hubert likes to cut them open, sometimes eat some, and what's left goes into incinerator. when it rains he observes BTs with cameras and various scanners. all of the data he collects would be very interesting to everyone in the chiral network, but for obvious reasons he can't join. maybe in the future he will leave data discs somewhere along the porters path for them to pick up

Alvin would then gladly drop it off somewhere far, miles away from Hubert's bunker. Hubert really likes this idea

#alvin x hubert #do all my ideas for this ship have involve murder? yes #death stranding #jacques de aldersberg #hubert rejk

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autocann1bal · 2 years ago

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part seven of my playlist analysis!!

part 1 <;- part 2 <- part 3 <- part 4 <- part 5 <- part 6 <- soup soup soup welcome home - radical face lucy's return to portland row, lots of crying, lots of hugging, holly is very confused. very nice atmosphere. burn - malibu '92 lucy before l&co. just existing in that horrible horrible town working that horrible job. but she just. cant. leave. she cant leave. yet. look whos inside again - bo burnham LOOK I HAD TOO IM SORRY. its very lockwood after showing lucy and george whats in the room on the landing. he feels stuck. he feels like he cant get out of this damn house. every memory is still there, just fading. something super sweet - rory webley ik the actual song is about abusive partners and all that shit but if you thnik about it differently its. its lucy. lockwood keeps drawing her back no matter how hard she tries to get away. mr brightside - the killers OK THIS ONE IS SO FUNNY. HEAR ME OUT. after lockwood sees kipps and lucy talking outside he starts blasting this shit from his room and everyone can hear it and hes playing it as hes getting ready and lucy is gettnig ready in her room and is just like ????lockwood wtf and oh my god its so funny hes using a comb as a mic and is putting on a whole performance its hilarious. i bet on losing dogs - mitski oo different vibe from the last one LMAO. lockwood has fallen asleep in her lap after a long cry session, shes running her fingers through his hair and hes sleeping surprisingly peacfully, just thinking about how he might not make it, she starts to cry. looking out for you - joy again lucy after holly shows up, she feels replaced and like lockwood likes holly more, she feels like she should stop being so "obsessed" (in love) with him because he has holly now. she is so so wrong. cigarette daydreams - cage the elephant lockwood is in lucys lap again (im so origional and creative im sorry im just a sucker for pathetic men in their badass gfs lap) and hes talking about jess. she feels bad just cuz he was such a little kid, he didnt deserve to see that. you stupid bitch - girl in red self explanatory??? i think?? maybe i was boring - wilbur soot idk ik the songs r sad and all but it has such cozy reading together on a rainy day vibes. freaks - surfcurse this is so :(((( its so lockwood. OK i know what the lyrics are so dont come at me but if hypothetically the lyrics where "i am just a phase" itd make even more sense. the adults are talking - the strokes a song lucy blasted walking through her tiny town, maybe getting groceries or something like that. goodbye to a world - porter robinson gives lucy talking with the visitors vibes. fallen down - toby fox ermmm lets skip this one LMAOO ignore it arms tonight - mother mother oh boy this one is sad if you think about it for too long so dont think about it for too long :). cause for concern - lovejoy lockwood being reckless and throwing himself directly in harms way just because he wants to die so bad then whenever lucy or george try and ask about it he says its 'no cause for concern'. IT IS VERY MUCH A CAUSE FOR CONCERN. phonograph - piper madison lockwood and his dysfunctional brain and dysfunctional routines. garden in the backyard - bl lucy is sick and locky is takin care of she :>>. runaway - aurora lucys mind while on the walk to the trainstation, and walking through london, getting turned down by agencies over and over before finally arriving at lockwood and co.

this one is weirdly short but anyway ONTO PART 8 SOBS

#lockwood and co #locklyle #lucy carlyle #george karim #anthony lockwood

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madaboutmathers · 2 years ago

Note

you and marshall get into an argument and ignores you all night at the studio, you walk out and leave and and a confrontation happens with you ending up in hospital

AN:Hi, I hope you like it x

You rolled your eyes at the silent treatment you were receiving from Marshall. He really could be so immature sometimes. The argument had been about nothing but of course he had to push and brush over your emotions and opinions. You leaned into the seat and tried to hide the eye roll you wanted to do.

The tension still moved around the room and you noticed the looks coming to both of you from his friends. You turned to look at him as his whole concentration was on the lyrics before him and you wondered why you were visiting him, at all.

The silence continued as you tried to distract yourself with social media but even the cute and funny animal videos didn’t help you. You subtly began to message your friend in Detroit and asked to meet. Relief flooded you when you received the reply that she was in and free for you to come round. You replied back to her with a thanks whilst slowly moving to stand in silence. You turned around to begin packing up your stuff. You didn’t notice the looks coming your way as Marshall finally took his eyes from the paper. “Are you leaving?” His voice was softer than it had been only a few moments ago.

You looked over your shoulder at him with a raised eyebrow. Oh, so now he wanted to speak, you thought to yourself. “Yeah.” You whispered, not giving him any more information as you placed your bag around your shoulder. The silence that followed was awkward as you took your car keys out. “Where?” His voice snapped you from your thoughts once more. “Why do you care?” You asked back. The others in the room watched the tennis game in front of him as you only stared. Marshall leaned into his chair, “I don’t.” He muttered and you masked your hurt with attitude. “Good.”

You didn’t say anything else and neither did he as Marshall watched you move out of the room silently. You hated how your heart was breaking with each step you took and you wondered if there was any going back. You didn’t notice the conversation taking place in the studio you had just walked from.

“Dude, what are you doing?” Fifty called him out whilst everyone tried to digest what had happened before them. “Yeah, I know.” Marshall hummed, placing his head in his hands as he ran his fingers through his hair. “You better make it right soon.” Porter added on, “She won’t handle being treated like that.” “I know..I’ll let her cool off.” Marshall whispered, his focus back to his lyric as the rap turned into a different direction.

“I’m sure he didn’t mean it. He adores you.” Your friend tried to give you some soft words as you sat on her sofa. “Yeah, maybe.” You whispered, hardly believing it yourself now as you ducked your head. You chewed on your bottom lip nervously whilst your eyes moved towards the phone; waiting for a message that never came. Things seemed to escalate from there as pounding on the door had you both jumping from your seats. “Shit! I didn’t think he would come back.” Your friend began to panic. “Your ex?” You asked and scolded yourself for not locking the door as he entered. “Didn’t I say you couldn’t leave me.” He shouted out instantly. “Don’t talk to her like that.” You stepped in front of your friend who nearly shook in fear. You didn’t see the first hit coming. “Fuck.” You muttered, the pain shooting through your face as he strikes again. “Stop.” Your friend shouted out and thankfully you didn’t feel the third hit coming across your face.

The beeping of machines had your eyes fluttering open as you moved slightly in a bed you didn’t remember getting into. “Don’t move.” A soft voice moved over your ears; it was familiar too. And you didn’t listen as you moved again. “Y/N..” The voice was closer now and your eyes stopped being blurry enough for you to see. “Marshall.” You softly whispered, moving your head to the side once more to find him. “What happened?” You hummed, hardly remembering anything. “Shh, it’s okay. Don’t worry about anything.” Marshall whispered into your ear, softly brushing your noses together. Your eyes fluttered once more as you lost yourself in his blues.

The argument between the two of you seemed so far away now and meant absolutely nothing. All you had for him was love, you thought to yourself and tried to ignore the slight pain of your injuries coming through. Marshall had never known such worry in his life and he’d been through so much. He hated that he hadn’t been there for you and you had gotten hurt because he had been such a dick. He shouldn’t have let you leave the studio. The blame wrapped around him tightly and made it hard to breath for a moment.

His fingers gently traced your bruised cheek. “I’m so sorry.” Marshall whispered and hid the tears in his eyes. “Don’t be…it’s not your fault.” You began to babble; your hand gently raised to stroke his cheek. “I love you.” You whispered up at him and a soft smile tugged on his face as he leaned in. “I love you too.” Marshall pressed another soft kiss to your forehead as you began to rest your head again. “Go to sleep. I’ll be here.” He promised you and kept a hold of your hand, softly playing with your fingers. Your sleepiness wrapped around you with the help of the pain medication and you missed his call.

“Yeah, Trick. I need a favour.”

#marshall mathers x reader #eminem x reader #request

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fizzyxcustard · 2 years ago

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Love Language.

Notes/Comments/Housekeeping: Welcome to my new head canon series, where I take 9 Richard Armitage characters and analyse them all in a particular situation and talk about how they'd react. As always, comments and reblogs are always welcome. Suggestions for future head canons are very welcome, too.

To start us off, I'm going to be looking at the love (romantic) language of each of the characters I've selected and appear in the header. Like with my fics, if you wish to be added to my tag list then let me know. You can either be tagged in everything (Follow Forever), or particular fics/head canons. Just state which you'd like to be added to.

So, let's get to it!

GUY OF GISBORNE: When in love, Guy is very passionate and wants you all to himself. Having never had anyone truly love him before and only manipulate him (I'm looking at that bitch Marian), Guy can come over a little intense at first. He brings you gifts, wants to kiss you and is constantly touching you. A warm and soft side to Guy comes out, parting the clouds of darkness that had been over him for years. You are his means to change for the better. He will make you his everything.

RAY LEVINE: Ray can't get enough of you. He'll practically buy you whatever you want and even go in debt to see you happy. A hopeless romantic, haunted by a lover who ghosted him. Ray may seem quite insecure at first, possibly jealous. But his heart only means well.

FATHER LORENZO QUART: He holds back for quite a while, feeling the love for you grow and when it bursts, then he knows he can't hold back anymore. Despite being a priest of the Catholic Church, Father Quart follows his heart and if that means following you, then he will do it. He will not let his faith hold him back from pursuing you and once you are his, he will cherish you.

THORIN OAKENSHIELD: Patient, kind, generous. Thorin will give you anything you ask for and constantly shower you with loving words. When you are in the same room, he has to be touching you. Thorin is always physically showing his love for you in his gestures, or his eyes watching you fondly from across a busy room.

FRANCIS DOLARHYDE: Francis doesn't know quite how to react to his emotions. He loves the fact that you care for him and that only fuels his deep feelings for you, until he kisses you suddenly. He instantly apologises, terrified that you will find him disgusting. Once he is reassured that you feel the same, he never wants to be away from you. Francis may become a little obsessed with you.

JOHN THORNTON: A man of tradition. John keeps his feelings for you very private at first, until you notice him watching you. He even asks after you through mutual friends, wanting to know how you are. But when those feelings are too much, he takes you aside and lays his heart bare to you. Passionate, kind. John will never stop showering you with loving words.

RAYMOND DE MERVILLE: Hardened off to the horrors of war. Raymond doesn't realise what love is when he first begins feeling it. He mistakes it for lust, and unhealthy obsession. He pursues you intensely, showing that he is interested in you sexually. But when you stand your ground, he backs down, shocked by you. Once he realises what love actually is, Raymond is fiercely protective, and to the point that he has no problem in killing anyone who dare harm you.

JOHN PORTER: Fun. Witty. Flirty. John Porter isn't a shy man by any means and will show his interest in you as soon as he feels it. But as your relationship with him grows, John begins to crave the more intimate gestures, such as hand holding, cuddling, sharing secrets. He buys you gifts, like most men would, but he also has a very patient and understanding side to him. John will sit with you for hours, listening to you talk, offloading. And then the next night he will happily take you out for a meal or to a pub for drinks.

LUCAS NORTH: Confident. Outgoing. Lucas doesn't show his interest in you immediately, outside of maybe a little banter. Then with time, he begins flirting. And as that grows, your relationship delves quite quickly into the territory of intensity. He tells you about his tattoos and night terrors, a result of being in a Russian prison for years. He bares all to you once he has your trust, and once he has your trust, you know that he will tell you everything about him. He buys the odd gift, but more than anything, he loves being with you once work has finished. He sees you as his refuge.

***

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tnicc · 3 years ago

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Dirty Secrets |SCREAM| Chapter 1

Stu Macher x OC x Billy Loomis

WARNING: This book will contain SMUT, drug use, death, and the typical illegal teenage lifestyle. Please do not interact if under 16.

𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟔. 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫.

Nothing made Caroline Porter want to die more than math class did. If it weren't for the absolute pervert of a teacher Mr. Adkins and the work that seemed to be on the level of a senior college class maybe it would be somewhat bearable.

But one thing that did not help make the class anymore enjoyable was her best friend, Stu Macher.

Stu sat behind her, constantly fucking with her by leaning over to whisper things in her ear to get her worked up in class or putting small pieces of balled up paper in her blonde curls.

Once, he even went as far as to try to give her a hickey while Mr. Adkins back was turned. Luckily they sat in the back of the class so no one noticed except for Billy who sat beside the girl, he was quick to scold his friend but also had trouble hiding his amusement.

It was no secret to anyone that Caroline was closer to Stu and Billy than she was the rest of the group. Don't get her wrong, she had nothing against Sydney, Tatum, and Randy. She just didn't bond with them like she did her two boys.

Billy and Caroline were definitely the best of friends. They could have important conversations with educated opinions unlike it would be having a talk with Stu who never wanted to leave the topics of food and sex.

When Billy had started dating Sydney it took Caroline by surprise. She was happy for the two of course, it was just hard to believe as the boy spent most of his time flirting with her.

Stu on the other hand had to be Caroline's favorite person on the planet. While he was annoying most of the time the girl couldn't imagine what life would be like without him.

When she had first moved to the small town she now calls home Stu was the first person to make sure she felt like she belonged. He stopped by her house everyday, invited her everywhere he went, Hell he even asked her to the back to school dance that was planned two weeks after she arrived.

She had of course said yes.

Most of the Woodsboro High School population expected the two to be a couple before Junior year. Now that they were seniors and there was still no progress on the two best friends relationship people were on the tip of their seat waiting to see who would make the first move.

"Helloooooooo." Stu said, leaning forward in his chair so he could wave his hands in front of Caroline's face. "Earth to Care Bear, what's going on babe you seem zoned out?"

Snapping out of it Caroline rolled her eyes and pushed his hands back down so she could see clearly again. "Nothing Stu, I was just thinking."

"About what?" Stu asked with a raised eyebrow as he scanned the room to look for anything that could have captured her attention.

Suddenly he gasped. "Oh my god, you were thinking about your massive hard on for Mr. Adkins weren't you? Geez Care you need to-"

"Shut up." The blonde hissed as she turned back in her seat to face him. "People are looking over here you loud ass goon. I'd rather people not spread a rumor about me having a hard on for-"

"Mrs. Porter." Mr Adkins said from the front of the class, staring at the girl with raised eyebrows. "Would you like to share those lovely words of wisdom with the class?"

Caroline's face paled and she heard Stu cough, obviously trying to cover up a laugh.

"No sir." She mumbled as she slowly turned back around in her seat.

"Oh but I would." Billy said causing Caroline to shoot him a pleading look. Hadn't he been asleep five seconds ago? "I believe what Ms. Porter was going to say was that she didn't want people to know she had a massive hard on for-"

"Stu!" Caroline quickly butted in. She was beyond embarrassed but she would rather her peers think she had a thing for the boy they were waiting for her to end up with rather than their perverted math teacher who was rumored to smoke pot between classes. "You heard it loud and clear folks, I have a RAGING hard on for Stu."

The class broke out into laughter as Stu pumped his fist up in the air in victory. "Hell yeah she does!"

He then leaned up and gave her a sloppy kiss on the cheek causing her to laugh and Billy to roll his eyes clearly not amused.

"Well that's lovely Caroline." Mr. Adkins said, clearly unimpressed with their antics. "Thanks for sharing that with the class."

"Hey, in her defense you did ask." Billy shrugged causing Mr. Adkins to roll his eyes and go back to teaching the lesson.

"Hey Billy." Caroline whispered, capturing the boys attention as she swatted Stu away before he could plant any more kisses on her face. "I'm going to kill you for that."

Billy smirked, his eyes flickering to Stu who had sat back and was trying to blow a giant bubble. He then leaned forward and beckoned Caroline to lean closer to him.

"I'd like to see you try." He whispered, holding eye contact with her as he spoke.

The two were quiet for a moment as they held the intense eye contact and blocked out the work around them. They were so into it they hadn't noticed Stu move his head between them as he rested it on his palm.

"Wow." He said breaking them out of their trance. "The sexual tension between you guys in immaculate. Sucks you got a girl huh Billy?"

Billy shot the taller boy a death glare before the bell rang and the group of three stood up to grab their belongings.

"But I don't happen to have one soooooo." Stu started as they made their way out into the hall and over to Caroline's locker that was right next to Tatums. "How about you come over later? We can put the hard on you have for me to good use." He said while wiggling his eyebrows.

"In your dreams." Caroline scoffed as she started putting her books away.

"I don't have to wait to see it in my dreams, I can just think about last time, which I do all the time." Stu said causing Billy and Caroline to share a look.

"Stu, Baby." Caroline started as she shut her locker and placed a hand on his shoulder. "We slept together one time our sophomore year, you need to let it go."

"Never gonna happen, we lost our virginity to each other, you don't forget important lifetime events like that." Stu said as he waged his finger in her face.

"Is Stu really talking about the virginity story again?" Tatum asked as she approached the group with Sydney and Randy, pushing Billy into Caroline as she moved him out of the way of her locker.

"Oh sorry Care." Billy mumbled as he grabbed onto her waist to steady himself causing her breath to hitch in her throat at the unexpected contact.

"It's okay." The blonde whispered as she looked up at him.

Still not letting go of her waist Billy held eye contact with the shorter girl, a smirk growing on his face as he noticed how nervous he was.

"Ain't that right baby?" Stu asked Caroline causing her to step away from Billy and turn her attention to him, but not before glancing to see if Sydney had noticed their little intimate moment.

Luckily she was to busy talking to Randy to pay any attention to them.

"Babyyyyyy." Stu sung as he walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her to his chest. "You gonna answer my question?" He whispered into her ear as he gave her side a small squeeze.

"What question?" She asked distractedly, only being able to focus on his warm body against hers and Billy's hand resting on the small of her back hidden from the groups gazes.

Stu chucked and buried his head in her hair and mumbled the question into her neck. "You're hanging out with Billy and I and my place tonight, right?"

Caroline furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as Stu finally pulled away and settled with moving to wrap his arms around her waist from behind as Billy removed his hand from her back.

"I thought we were all hanging out as a group tonight?" She asked with confusion laced in her tone.

"I have to work." Randy butted into the conversation for the first time since he had arrived. "Boss told me last minute, it's some bullshit really."

"Tate and I changed our plans, we have some things we want to talk about in private." Sydney said as she gave Tatum a smile so quick it was barely noticeable.

Tatum smirked as she walked over to Sydney and liked their arms together. "Yup, we should probably be heading out now actually. Are you dropping us off Randy?"

"Yup." Randy nodded before looking back at his other three friends. "Sorry to bail on you guys, but I'm sure you will have enough fun doing whatever the hell you three do when your together."

And with that he walked off leaving the group of three in silence for a moment before Caroline spun around in Stu's arms and hit him on the chest.

"I told you!" She exclaimed. "They are totally sleeping together!"

"Who?" Stu asked as he tilted his head to the side like a lost puppy. "Randy and Tatum?"

"'No doofus!" She exclaimed before looking over to Billy and wincing. "Sorry Billy boy, but I think your girls got a girl."

Billy simply shrugged. "What can you do."

"What do you- OH GOD!" Stu gasped as her words finally hit him. "Sydney and Tatum? You really think so?"

Caroline nodded furiously. "I've been saying this since freshman year, they are one hundred percent a thing it's so obvious."

Stu then turned to Billy. "Damn man, what does that make you? A cover up?"

Caroline snorted as Billy flipped him off and the three turned to walk to the schools exit.

"I've known for a while honestly." Billy said with a shrug as he grabbed Caroline's bag and slung it over his shoulder.

Stu and Billy would never let her carry her own bag, they hadn't since she moved there and she's learned not to fight with them over it as the years passed.

"Then why don't you break up with her?" Caroline asked curiously as she looked up at the moving clouds above them.

She was so interested in looking for shapes in the white fluffs in the sky above them that she didn't notice the look the two boys shared behind her back.

"I have a plan." Billy said, looking down at the blonde in adoration as she squinted her eyes up at the sky.

"Well as long as your happy that's all that matters." She said with a smile as she finally turned her attention back to him.

Stu threw his arm around her shoulder and shook her gently as they reached his car.

"So my place, movies, and cheep beer?" He asked with a raised eyebrow as he threw Billy the car keys.

As nice as the car was, Stu hated driving and often let Billy take over.

It definitely wasn't because it was only a two person car so Caroline was forced to sit on the person in the passenger seats lap. Not at all.

"Sounds good to me." The blonde said as she hoped onto Stus lap and closed the car door behind her.

Stu started to bounce her around in his lap and she was quick to send him a glare. "Don't make me walk home Stuart."

"Ooooo she just pulled out the full name card on youuuuu." Billy teased as he whipped out of the school parking lot.

Stu frowned. "You know I hate when you call me that."

Caroline looked at him for a moment before giving into his puppy eyes with a sigh. "Fine, I'm sorry baby."

Like a kid on Christmas Stus face lit up and he squeezed her closer to his body before kissing her on the cheek. "That's better."

"So what are we watching?" Caroline asked as she turned in Stus lap so she could face both boys.

"How about Halloween?" Billy suggested causing his friends to nod in agreement.

"Halloween it is."

#stu macher #stumacherfanfiction #scream movies #scream franchise #scream 1996 #sydney prescott #billy loomis fanfiction #billy loomis smut #bucky barnes #billy loomis #scream fanfiction #smut fanfiction #fanfic #tatum riley #randy meeks #stu matcher x reader #stu macher smut #smut fic

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27emailsicantsend · 2 years ago

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Chapter One: Secret Dating

September

I'm back in your arms, but everything's changed. Now we've been to hell and back again. My biggest regret was walking away; I'm not gonna make the same mistake. I know you're afraid we'll end up the same. And the truth is we might, but if we do this thing right, maybe this time it'll be different.

-”Different”, Joshua Bassett

“I’m here! I swear, I’m on time. I just got distracted- and busy- and-” Ricky Bowen yelled as he ran clumsily down the right side of East High’s theater, guitar case flopping to his side.

“I’m not even going to try anymore,” Carlos remarked, exhausted.

Ricky, no matter how much he tried to be on time, was never going to get it right. However, he knew that even if he was a few minutes late, he was still a loved and valued member of the theater. Theater became a home for him over the last year, especially last summer when he got a second chance with her.

Gina Porter strutted in the room, making no eye contact with the awkward, skateboarding, guitar playing boy (who was now standing in a theater circle). Ricky couldn’t help but stare at her, though. Gina had on an overall dress, layered over a white t-shirt. Her waterfall black curls were pulled up in a loose knot atop her head. Her outfit must have seemed plain to the outside world, but to Ricky, she made it magnificent.

Gina grabbed hands with Carlos and Kourtney on either side of her, as Miss Jenn sang her typical “welcome back to theater” song, in the highest falsetto voice she could muster. This semester’s choosing seemed to be “Now or Never”, which made sense considering directly after Miss Jenn announced they would be putting on High School Musical 3: Senior Year for the fall play.

Excitedly, the room burst into applause and chatter as each student tried to make their mark on who would be cast as who. Ashlyn was giddy to reprise her role as Ms. Darbus, Seb couldn’t see himself as anyone but Sharpay, and even Gina made a slight comment about being ok not being Taylor again because she didn’t know if she had time for a lead role.

The latter casting ideation caused some unease for Ricky.

Ricky knew he wanted Gina as the Gabriella to his Troy. It seemed obvious at this point Ricky was going to “Zefron” (thanks, Carlos) his way to the lead. Not that he was cocky about it- in fact, the exact opposite. He was scared to death about getting the lead again. He wanted someone else to get it for once so other classmates would stop claiming favoritism on his name. However, he knew that if Gina was the other lead, he would be able to bare the weight of those rumors. In fact, he would be able to bare the weight of all of the rumors that had been spreading lately.

It had been about a month since the documentary’s (Frozen: The Musical: The Series) preview premiered on Disney+. It got a lot more hype than Ricky was ever expecting and now with it finally being released, the entire cast was constantly on guard for fans or paparazzi. It had completely changed the world Ricky once knew.

Before the series even began airing at the beginning of the month, people had already started to accuse Gina of cheating on EJ with him. It wasn’t cheating! Ricky found himself thinking any time one of those rumors floated past him. He just prayed for the day the documentary would be finished releasing, so his life could feel like his again. It was going to air until right before Halloween, so Ricky had to just keep telling himself to hold on for two more months. Then it would all be over. Then things would go back to normal.

Unfortunately, Ricky and Gina being leads could also present another edge to the sword: fans might get suspicious that there is romantic involvement between them. Either way, he knew he didn’t want Gina as a side character or someone who shows up when it’s convenient. He knew that this was his last year with everyone he cared about, so it felt important to Ricky that everyone would be a part of his last two plays- including Gina.

“I just don’t get why it’s a big deal that I am there, Ricky,” Gina said as she grabbed her iced latte from the coffee shop counter later that day.

“Thank you,” Ricky quickly said to the barista, before he half-skipped his way up to Gina, cappuccino in hand. “It’s a big deal because-”

Gina was still walking briskly, obviously a little upset. She had made her way outside before Ricky was able to catch up to her.

“Gina, please, hold up,” Ricky said as he grabbed her arm. He took a peek over his left and right shoulder, trying to spot cameras.

All clear, Ricky thought to himself.

Ricky knew he didn’t need to say anything more. He leaned in, giving Gina a soft kiss on the cheek. She was unresponsive, her body language pulled back from him. Ricky nervously rubbed his thumb in circles around her forearm, refusing to let go.

“I joined the dance team, Ricky,” Gina said with a slight huff in her breath.

“Gina, that’s great news! I don’t how this relates to the play though?” Ricky asked, confusion overcoming his face.

“I joined it and they want to go to nationals next year. We only have two performances but they are really going to push us to our limits this year to see if we’re ready. I’m going to have to practice so much. I don’t know when we’ll get to see each other. I’m really scared about it too, Ricky. After not seeing EJ last summer...” Gina began to trail off, worry set in her eyes.

Ricky knew what Gina was thinking. Still holding tight to her arm, he gave her a pointed, yet warm expression as he said, “don’t go there, Gi. I won’t do that to you. I thought if we were in rehearsal together it might give us more time with each other, but it doesn’t mean we can’t see each other”.

“How?” Gina asked, looking around for the same invisible cameras.

“After school, on weekends...” Ricky’s voice quieted down when he noticed Gina becoming tense from the possibility of being watched. “We’ll make it work”.

“But Ricky, that’s not fair to you-”

“Gina,” Ricky cut her off. “It’s not about the sacrifice, it’s about the fact that I want to be there for you”.

Ricky triple checked the scene one more time, for good measure, before saying, “we better get going”.

“Right,” Gina said hurriedly, as Ricky laced his fingers in hers and led her off to a nearby alley.

Ricky jolted Gina around the corner of the alley way. It was about late afternoon, so there was a slight shadow starting to creep inside it. For a place that was usually trashed, it was cleaner than usual.

As soon as Gina swung in behind Ricky, he pulled her in for a kiss, savoring every moment with her. He put his hand to her cheek as he noted that Gina was blushing and giggling, probably from the adrenaline they were both feeling. He just wanted to ease the tension she felt- bring her any sort of peace he could about the situation. He hated seeing Gina upset and would do anything in his power to remedy the situation- even if it meant a quick kiss in an alleyway.

After making their way down the alley, the pair headed hurriedly to Ricky’s car, checking both ways every few seconds to make sure they weren’t being watched. They knew when it got late it was time to go home. This mediated others being suspicious about their nighttime whereabouts.

Secrecy thrives in the dark! This was a saying Gina began to say mockingly because of EJ’s paranoia around the two of them being in the woods last summer. Finally, one day after they had broken up, Gina got tired of EJ droning on and on about their “woods adventure” that she told EJ she enjoyed it, more than she ever would have with him. Ricky knew that would make EJ suspicious, but that didn’t mean the thought didn’t make him chuckle from time to time.

Once the two got to Ricky’s house, Ricky and Gina both took off their shoes, placing them gently by the door. Ricky couldn’t suppress his smile as he remembered the day the pair got the shoes. It was the day after the homecoming dance. Gina had asked Ricky to hang out, so they went around town to window shop. They ended up in the same alley way they had kissed in earlier, when Gina had noticed a sign on one of the alley doors for “buy one, get one converse”. Gina, eager to buy anything pink, rushed Ricky into the store. She begged him to buy the exact same pair, but in black. Ricky, ready to bend to her every whim, obliged immediately. They had arrived at the register to checkout when Gina said, “maybe you’re right, Ricky. We do get each other. Like I said, you’ve got your own style and I’ve got mine. But they work together. We’re a team”. After she said that, Ricky realized that although he knew Gina before, he didn’t feel like he met the real Gina until that day. She had finally taken off the mask the night before. It was also the day Ricky agreed to himself that he would always be on her side, her team. He vowed to himself he’d never let her forget it.

Ricky’s face flushed as he thought of the memory. “Gina?”

“What’s up?” Gina asked from the couch. She was grabbing a blanket to wrap herself up in.

Ricky tossed his empty cup from earlier in the trash before joining Gina on the couch. She placed the rest of the blanket over him while he asked “Do you remember when we got those converse?”

Gina giggled, “of course, I remember. It’s why I wear them so much. It was one of the first times we really hung out together”. Gina snuggled into the nook of Ricky’s arm that he was now resting behind her. “Do you?”

“Of course I do. I’m really happy you’re here, Gi”. Ricky said as he kissed the top of her head.

The next few days were stressful for the entire theater club. Everyone was busy rehearsing lines and songs, hoping to make their previous parts (with the exception of Gina). Ricky didn’t want Gina to feel like she had to be a part of the play (although he would have chosen otherwise), so he worked tirelessly to get the part of Troy. He knew that if he looked like theater was the biggest priority as to why he was there, that it would give Gina a sense of relief. She wouldn’t have to worry that he was only on stage for her.

It’s not that Ricky didn’t like being on stage. In fact, it was the opposite. He grew to love it so much, but the growth came from Gina. He learned about all of these hidden parts of himself that had never been there before, because of Gina. And now with Gina possibly not being a part of the show, it was difficult for Ricky to fully be present on stage. Thankfully, Gina changed her mind last minute and decided to audition once the day came.

Ricky pulled Gina aside behind one of the curtains the day of auditions. “You came?”

Gina smiled softly, “of course I did. Ricky, I love it here. I just needed to find a way to make it work”.

“What if you get a lead role?”

“I-I don’t know”, Gina said. “I guess I’m waiting to see what happens and then I’ll roll with the tide.”

Ricky had always been a little jealous of Gina’s carefree attitude. After spending time with her, he learned to let things go a lot easier and accept life for what it is, but it didn’t mean some of that resistance wasn’t still there. Ever since he knew Gina wasn’t sure whether or not she would be apart of the play, he had gotten some panicked memories of Beauty and the Beast. At the time, Nini seemed like his rock and not having her around stressed him out more than he could have ever imagined. It was hard for him to feel like that scenario might be playing out again.

On the other hand, things were also a lot different now. He wasn’t the same Ricky he was before. Old Ricky would have begged Gina to stay, be a lead, anything to keep her around. Caught off guard by this semi-unnatural instinct, current Ricky kind of wanted to follow more in Gina’s lead. To “see what happens” and hope for the best. The feeling was... freeing.

“You’re right,” Ricky agreed. “And I guess the even better news is that even if somehow we both get the leads, no one will know we were dating. Troy and Gabriella are already a couple in the movie”.

No one else in their friend group knew they were dating, except for possibly EJ. EJ didn’t even act surprised when the documentary preview came out. He made a comment about how “we all saw this coming” right before Ricky and Gina kissed. Ricky’s relationship with Gina was the one thing he was trying to keep hidden. Not because he was embarrassed or ashamed of Gina, but because he didn’t want Gina to get the brunt end of all of the rumors. He was trying to protect her from cheating allegations. He didn’t want to let EJ ruin that, but Gina seemed to not share the same perspective as Ricky on the situation.

"Yeah, I guess,” Gina said, pausing to think for a moment after. She continued,” But Ricky, even if others did find out, I would be ok. I know you’re just trying to protect me and are worried about what people will say, but-”

“-Just not yet,” Ricky cut Gina off; he didn’t even want to toy with the idea. “Ok, Gi? I think we should wait for the documentary to fully air and see where it goes before we say come clean... waiting it out will probably provide a happier ending than if we spoke too soon. This will all work out... in due time”.

“All in due time,” Gina echoed, a slight smile on her face. She didn’t seem super comforted by their conversation, but she let it go.

Ricky and Gina watched carefully for other students to start gathering in before Gina walked in first from back stage. Ricky ran around to the other side and came in several minutes later.

Miss Jenn gathered everyone around in a theater circle once more. Each student held hands with the people on their lefts and rights. Gina was across from Ricky again. He so badly wished it was her hand he could hold, but he knew it would be too soon. He grabbed Ashlyn’s and Jet’s quickly to shake the thought.

“As you all know,” Miss Jenn said in a melodramatic voice, “this is our last year with some of our seniors. I want to make this play count. If not for you, for them. As much as I would hate to see them go,” it was as if she cued Miss Darbus’ voice, “as they say in the theater, the show must go on. Now-”

“Wait, Miss Jenn?” Kourtney cut her off.

“Kourtney, this better be important we have a lot to do today-” Miss Jenn said, irritated.

“It is. I promise. I just want to say real quick that Jet and I are dating. I broke up with Howie the last day of camp when I realized him being away caused more stress than good. We trust you guys; you’re like our family so we felt comfortable telling all of you. Please don’t say anything to anyone else. We want the fans to stay off our backs while this documentary is being released. We’re not sure what else it will say, so we’re trying to keep everything on the DL”.

The room instantaneously burst into loud chatter. Ricky gave Gina a sheepish look and Gina shook her head. They both knew it wasn’t the time, even though they wish it was. Kourtney and Jet didn’t have cheating allegations spreading worldwide about them. She had broken up with Howie after camp and only Jet admitted to having feelings about her on TV. Although Kourtney’s reasoning is valid, Kourtney and Jet had the unfair advantage of being able to come clean at any moment. A luxury Ricky longed for that had since been lost on Gina and him.

“Oh!” Miss Jenn said, squeezing Kourtney in a hug that Kourtney was absolutely uncomfortable in. “I am just so happy for you two! Of course, we will keep your secret, right everyone?”

Everyone, including Ricky and Gina, nodded in agreement.

“Ok, with that out of the way, any other last minute announcements?” Silence. “None? Good! Time for auditions! Everyone will have one dialogue scene, a solo- ‘Now or Never’ or ‘Walk Away’, and a duet”. All of the students looked around confused.

Duet? Ricky puzzled in his mind. She never mentioned a duet?

“Oh, yeah! Surprise!” Miss Jenn threw her arms out excitedly, contradicting the upset that was showing everywhere else in the room.

“Calm down, everyone,” Miss Jenn said, a tinge of annoyance in her voice. “It’s just a duet. You all are prepared for this. There are multiple duets and I want to make sure I pair people correctly. We’ve got Troy and Gabriella, Troy and Chad, Ryan and Sharpay... I need to see some blended voices”.

As much as Ricky wanted to sigh a breath of relief, he couldn’t. Everything from that moment forward happened in a flash. Kourtney and Jet immediately paired up, Maddox and Red had a slight argument over who got Ashlyn- with Maddox winning and Red asking one of the backup dancers (who also works Slices) to join him, and even Seb and Carlos were immediately arm-in-arm. Although everyone seemed paired up, Gina and Ricky stood awkwardly on center stage- the remaining students surrounding them.

“Gina, Ricky! Find a partner,” Miss Jenn demanded from the music pit. Ricky couldn’t help but note how tiny she looked in that large part of the theater. It made her somehow more intimidating.

“Uh.. I don’t.. I don’t kn-”. “Yeah, we just weren’t sur-” “who would even...?” Ricky and Gina sputtered as they tried to find literally anyone on stage that seemed singled out. Turns out, the only singled out ones were them.

“It’s just a duet, guys. Just sing it together” Miss Jenn said as she sassily flicked her hand, everyone’s eyes now on the two of them.

“Hey, Gi.. you want to...?” Ricky asked, turning to Gina. He began to have visceral flashbacks of him trying to ask Gina to team up with him during last year’s “improv intensive”. He held back a shudder.

“Ricky, it’s ok. We’re still friends, remember?” Gina said under her breath, now facing him.

“Right, right,” Ricky said, trying to maintain his cool.

Gina looked over to Miss Jenn and said, “we’ll be partners”.

“Great! Now everyone get together with your partner and decide what you’ll be performing,” Miss Jenn directed before turning to some paperwork at her desk below.

Gina and Ricky went off to the side of the stage before Gina asked him, “Ok, so what are we singing?”

“Well, we’ve got ‘Right Here, Right Now’, ‘Just Wanna be with You’, ‘Can I Have this Dance?’-” Ricky counted on his fingers.

“Ricky Bowen,” Gina said, impressed. “Have you actually been paying attention to our HSM movie nights?”

Ricky replied with a witty, “anything for you, Gina Porter”.

Gina tried to suppress a laugh as she playfully shoved Ricky. She followed with “Let’s do ‘Just Wanna be with You’“.

“Oh, you do?” Ricky mimicked acting surprised, placing his hands lovingly on his heart.

Gina rolled her eyes saying, “oh, come on,” before walking away and gesturing him to follow.

The next two hours went by fairly quick. Red actually sang in comparison to last year, Jet and Kourtney had amazing soul voices that blended together naturally, and Seb and Carlos surprised everyone by singing “The Boy (and Enby) are back”. Gina’s solo of ‘Walk Away’ was heart-wrenching for Ricky. He didn’t even want to think about college and having to leave Gina for at least a year, something he knew Gabriella was doing at this point in the movie.

Thankfully, Ricky was able to refocus on the play when his name was called. Ricky surprised himself when he was able to sing all of the lyrics to the first verse and chorus of “Now or Never”. Then he and Gina improv-danced together ( with Gina leading) as they sang “Just Wanna be with You”:

I got a lot of things I have to do All these distractions Our future's coming soon We're being pulled A hundred different directions But whatever happens I know I've got you

You're on my mind You're in my heart It doesn't matter where we are We'll be alright Even if we're miles apart

All I wanna do Is be with you, be with you There's nothing we can't do I just wanna be with you, only you No matter where life takes us Nothing can break us apart You know it's true I just wanna be with you

“Great rehearsals, everyone! The cast list will be posted in ten minutes,” Miss Jenn announced at the end of Ricky and Gina’s duet.

“Thank the Lord,” Carlos said loudly in the audience. Ricky could almost hear his eye roll.

The cast huddled around anxiously outside the theater, waiting for the list. No one really talked or moved- they more just stared frightenedly at each other. Seb tried to break the tension by asking if anyone wanted to hear a chicken story, but Carlos quickly- yet kindly- shut that down.

At almost exactly ten minutes later, Miss Jenn came running out the door, giddy with a paper in her hands. Ricky fought the crowd for a minute to see the part he expected to get. While his prediction was correct, another name on the paper made his heart leap, preceding an immediate drop:

Troy Bolton..... Ricky

Gabriella Montez..... Gina

Chad Danforth..... Carlos

Taylor McKessie..... Maddox

Sharpay Evans..... Kourtney

Ryan Evans..... Big Red

Kelsi Nielsen..... Emmy

Miss Darbus..... Ashlyn

Jimmy “The Rocket” Zara..... Kaleb

Tiara Gold..... Seb

Martha Cox.....Dani

Zeke Baylor..... Jet

Ricky watched as the room went from dead silent to overwhelmingly buzzed. He looked over to Gina’s pale face that kept glancing at him and back at the list, before she skirted off to the bathroom. Ricky’s mind went back and forth, not sure whether to follow her and possibly blow their cover, or to just stay still and let her be alone, upset. Ricky felt frozen in place with confusion as he listened to everyone else’s comments on the casting.

“Oh, you already know I am going to make the best Sharpay- no Seb! I didn’t mean that, you’re going to make an amazing Tiara, she’s like the ‘other Sharpay’! I should really stop talking-”

“Who is Zeke? What kind of a name is that?”

Jet got his answer as Maddox quipped, “what kind of a name is Jet?”

“Like you should be talking, Maddox!” Kaleb, the backup dancer that works at Slices with Red, called back.

“I’m Chad? Again? And my lover is Maddox? Are you kidding me, Jennifer? I thought we’d been over this”. Carlos threw his arms up, irate.

“At least you’re not an object again,” a tall brunette girl with a slim figure, a white tanktop, and black sweatpants said coolly.

“Wait- who are you?” Ricky didn’t notice this girl at tryouts, but she carried an attitude that would have made him notice. And he was thinking not in a positive way.

“I’m Dani, your new Martha Cox”, Dani held her hand out and limply shook Ricky’s. “Your director needed a great dancer for the part. And since I’m head of the dance team- as a freshman- your director immediately asked me I wanted to be casted. So, I waited for Miss Jenn to text me that the auditions were posted and ran over as soon as I heard the news,” she replied haughtily.

“That doesn’t make sense,” Ricky argued. “All of us had to try out, you shouldn’t have to ‘skip the line’.”

“She didn’t,” Miss Jenn spoke up from behind Ricky. He wasn’t sure Miss Jenn heard the rest of Dani’s villainous monologue, but he was happy to have her on the defense.

“She asked if she could audition for the show because she could sing and dance,” Miss Jenn continued. “She said she was going to be gone for the tryouts today because she was working with the dance coach to get the team ready for their big rehearsal this year. This was the only day the coach could do it”.

Dance team? Dani? Ricky started putting the pieces together. Gina. She wasn’t just running from the cast list- she was running from Dani.

“Gi?” Ricky said, cracking the girls’ bathroom door open. He expected to hear a sniffle, instead he heard nothing.

“Gi? You in here?” Ricky echoed, pushing the door a little more open.

“Psst!” Ricky jumped at the noise that echoed from the other side of the bathroom wall. Gina must have been hiding between it and the sinks. Ricky noted that Gina’s voice didn’t seem upset. It seemed more... mysterious than anything.

“Get over here!” Gina whispered. Uncomfortably, Ricky proceeded his way fully into the bathroom. He started to feel a little hot as he kept his feet silent walking toward the sinks. When he reached the wall Gina was hiding behind, she snatched his shirt sleeve fast- so fast that his curls flew in different directions.

Gina used the same hand she snatched his sleeve with to grab his shirt and quickly pull Ricky in close. Smug, he started to close his eyes and lean in toward her face. Unfortunately, Ricky had completely misread what was happening in the situation. Gina slapped her hand over his mouth, barricading the attempt.

“Ricky, this is no time to kiss,” she chastised him with a loud whisper.

“Then what time is it?” Ricky said, his words mumbled with her hand.

Gina let down her hand, keeping the other holding his shirt close. He was so close, in fact, that every scent she carried was immediately noticeable. Today she smelled like fresh mint and vanilla body wash.

“Dani is the enemy. Do you hear me? The enemy!” Gina growled.

“I... don’t... I...” Ricky panicked, eyes widening with fear.

“Listen, Dani knows about us... dating. She told me after dance auditions. I danced better than her and had to forfeit being the head dancer, so she wouldn’t tell anyone”.

“What??” Ricky said defensively, wriggling around in Gina’s grip. “I’m going to go over there and give her a piece of my mi-”

“No,” Gina cut him off, clutching his shirt tighter so he wouldn’t leave. “You can’t. If anyone finds out about this, our secret will get out”.

“She can’t just keep you backstage! You danced better than her! I know you did”. Ricky was nearly yelling before he realized that people might be able to hear him outside the door. His voice quieted again when he remarked, “You deserve the spotlight, Gi”.

Gina blushed as she gave him a crooked half-smile. She rested her hand on Ricky’s chest, simultaneously making his shoulders drop with relief. He knew some upset still showed on his face, though.

“Just for now, Ricky. Maybe once the documentary is finished airing, we can come clean about us-” Gina looked off to the side a little hopelessly.

“Wait-” Ricky remembered something. Gina. Gabriella. Giving up the spotlight. It was like little stems in his brain started to click together.

Gina’s head perked up. “What?”

“Dani is in the show?”

“Ok?” Gina was not getting it. Ricky tried to guide her along.

“Dani is in the show... and she’s not the lead... you are.... you don’t think she’s going to...?”

Gina’s eyes widened. She got it. “Let’s go” she said hurriedly. The two ran for the bathroom door until Gina stopped dead in her tracks, Ricky ramming into the back of her.

“What now?” Ricky yelped.

“If they see both of us coming out of here together-”

“Gi, they saw me follow you in here!” Ricky retorted.

“Right. Move out”. Gina commandeered.

Gina forced the door open quickly, about to take a step forward toward Miss Jenn when Ricky noticed something. He stepped in front of her, throwing his arm up for good measure to stop her. He saw Dani talking to Miss Jenn.

#Of Converse and Pavement #OCAP #high school musical the musical the series #hsmtmts #high school musical #HSM #rina #ricky bowen #gina porter #ricky x gina #rina week 2022

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