#n e way this is kai & emmy !!!!

[raiiny-bay]

finally finished cricket's group

[jennywboman]

Ted Lasso viewer’s guide: How to watch episodes of TV’s best sports comedy series

Ted Lasso viewer’s guide: How to watch episodes of TV’s best sports comedy series:

“Ted Lasso” is not a hidden tv gem with its two Golden Globe nominations for 2021. The fictional present a couple of school soccer coach from Kansas crossing the pond to handle a English Premier League membership outdoors of London is within the working for “Best Comedy Series”, whereas its star, Jason Sudeikis, is up for “Best Actor in a Comedy Series.”

Keeping firm with reveals comparable to Canadian sensation “Schitt’s Creek” is acceptable, given “Ted Lasso” is one other hilarious however feel-good fish-out-of-water comedy. Sudeikis initially performed the character in TV advertisements to promote NBC’s stay protection of EPL matches. Building a complete present round that has been genius, because the series deftly blends American and British humor.

Also like “Schitt’s Creek,” “Ted Lasso” did not draw a mass following at first, but it surely’s advisable viewing for anybody who loves unique, well-acted and well-written comedy, even with restricted curiosity in both of the footballs. “Ted Lasso” has a 90 p.c approval ranking on Rotten Tomatoes and scored 71 out of 100 on Metacritic.

The American Film Institute already named “Ted Lasso” as one of the Top 10 Television Programs of final yr. Along with the 2 Globe nods, “Ted Lasso” can also be nominated for 3 Critics’ Choice Television Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Writers Guild of America Awards and a Satellite Award, with Sudeikis being acknowledged seven occasions in all as a lead actor, co-writer, and co-executive producer.

Here’s how to get into “Ted Lasso” for the primary time and make amends for previous episodes, with the chance of repeat binge-watching

What is ‘Ted Lasso’?

Ted Lasso’s inspiring teaching in main the Wichita State Shockers to the Division II nationwide championship in school soccer lands him an uncommon follow-up a gig — teaching AFC Richmond, a U.Okay. soccer affiliation membership attempting to keep away from relegation. He’s joined within the journey by his good good friend and assistant coach, Coach Beard, and in addition helped by his new educated package man, Nathan “Nate The Great” Shelley.

Lasso and his employees should not solely handle gamers comparable to growing older, surly veteran Roy Kent and cocky Manchester City loaned striker Jamie Tart, but in addition meet the expectations of new AFC Richmond proprietor Rebecca Welton, who gained the staff from her dishonest ex-husband, Rupert Mannion, in a bitter divorce. Welton has an ulterior motive in hiring Lasso which incorporates revenge in opposition to Mannion.

Along the way in which, Lasso proves he is much more than a folksy American with hokey philosophy by exhibiting that his willpower, affability and efficient motivational model works, even in a special sport in a special nation. Among the opposite key characters are Leslie Higgins, Weston’s Director of Football Operations and Keeley Jones, a mannequin and social influencer concerned with Tartt who turns into AFC Richmond’s branding advisor.

How to watch ‘Ted Lasso’

“Ted Lasso” could be seen solely on Apple TV+, a premium streaming content material subscription service. All 10 episodes from the finished Season 1 can be found to watch. Apple TV+ could be accessed with a 7-day free trial or after that, a month-to-month payment of $4.99. If you purchase a brand new Apple product, such because the iPhone 12, one complimentary yr of Apple TV+ would come with it.

Who’s within the ‘Ted Lasso’ forged

Sudeikis’ solely common American co-star is Brendan Hunt, who performs Coach Beard. Otherwise it is a wonderful British principal forged, led by West End musical theatre star Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca. Phil Dunster and Brett Goldstein nail their roles as Jamie and Roy, respectively.

Comedian Nick Mohammed performs Nate, whereas Jeremy Swift, best identified for being the Dowager Countess’ butler on “Downton Abbey”, serves as Higgins. Juno Temple typically steals her scenes as Keeley.

When Rupert Mannion is featured in just a few episodes, it is a identify and face many American viewers will acknowledge. He’s performed by Anthony Head, aka Rupert Giles, the Watcher of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer.” Andrea Anders, who co-starred in “Joey”, seems as Lasso’s spouse, Michelle, additionally mom of his younger son. NBC’s presence can also be felt with the community’s Premier League lead play-by-play man, Arlo White, taking part in himself.

How many seasons of ‘Ted Lasso’ are out?

“Ted Lasso” continues to develop as a shock hit after its accomplished first season of 10 episodes. A second season of 12 episodes was ordered shortly after the pilot and two different episodes premiered on Aug. 14, 2020. Last October, the present was renewed once more for a 3rd and sure remaining season.

‘Ted Lasso’ Season 2 premiere date

Apple TV+ introduced Season 2 of “Ted Lasso” will likely be launched in Summer 2021. Production for the episodes began on Jan. 15.

What present is ‘Ted Lasso’ most like?

There is a throwback to the Eighties HBO comedy series, “1st & Ten”, during which Delta Burke performs an proprietor of knowledgeable American soccer staff who additionally will get full possession from a divorce. It was most notable for giving O.J. Simpson a significant position earlier than the “The Naked Gun”. There are also parts of the the basic 1989 baseball comedy film “Major League”, from the wacky coaches and gamers’ antics to one other highly effective lady being in cost.

If you want screwball sports comedy, you must love “Ted Lasso.” The present can also be by-product of many Disney-fied sports drama movies based mostly on real-life occasions, however this fictional world comes with extra smarts than schmaltz.

10 causes to love “Ted Lasso���

1. Jason Sudeikis is unbelievable. If anybody on the market nonetheless was questioning his comedic genius as a “Saturday Night Live” and “Second City” alum, the position is ideal for his improvisational and writing abilities.

2. The soccer is fairly good, too. From the British press to the native pub hooligans, to the locker room and the pitch, “Ted Lasso” performs up the exaggeration of Premier League shenanigans and what will get misplaced in translation for the uninitiated in America.

3. Good-looking folks sporting handsome garments. Tartt, Kent and their teammates match the attraction of soccer’s greatest worldwide superstars. Rebecca and Keeley are each glamorous and beautiful. Lasso himself makes a white visor, sweater, khakis and crimson sneakers seem like the peak of athleisure stylish.

4. Coach Beard, Nate and Higgins. OK, that is actually three causes, however they arrive collectively to turn into the final word hilarious foils and assist to Coach Lasso.

5. Plenty of British slang and expletives. The typically colourful language and sexual references do preserve it from being “a family show,” however they additionally add to the jolly good time for extra mature audiences.

6. Real reatlionship drama. “Ted Lasso” excels at creating all of its notable characters and make us really feel what they are going by way of personallly, excessive and low.

7. Sex. This is considerably associated to No. 3 and No. 5, however let’s additionally cease brief of saying “Ted Lasso” is attempting to be “Bridgerton.”

8. An incredible villiain. Head is delightfully evil as a very completely different Rupert.

9. The excessive manufacturing worth. The writng and performing are rattling good, however so is the filming and path. That’s been the case with all new scripted reveals on Apple TV+.

10. “Football is life.” You’ll quickly be saying the catchphrase of Dani Rojas, the AFC Richmond import from Mexico.

How does ‘Ted Lasso’ stack up to the best-ever TV sports comedies?

When it comes to situational comedies about sports, the short-lived “Sports Night”, the Aaron Sorkin-created present starring Felicity Huffman, Josh Charles, Peter Krause and the late Robert Guillaume, is taken into account the gold commonplace. But that was extra of a behind-the-scenes riff on producing a “SportsCenter”-like stay TV present.

Likewise, HBO’s overrated Robert Wuhl-starrer “Arli$$” was a couple of sports agent. “The League” stays superior, however that was about fantasy soccer gamers. “GLOW” and “Cobra Kai” are fairly binge-worthy on Netflix now, however they’re Eighties fringe throwbacks to girls’s skilled wresting and all-valley karate, respectively.

Not since “Coach” starring Craig T. Nelson or “Evening Shade” starring the late Burt Reynolds — who each gained Emmys as best comedic lead actors — had been on within the Nineties has a series centered so nicely round a soccer coach, his quirky assistants, his gamers and his private life.

Lasso has coronary heart and soul, with a aspect of raunchy and dramatic moments. Sudeikis is good at delivering one-liners that can have you ever pondering and laughing out loud. He additionally brings the performing chops to convey his wide selection of feelings. He owns the character and everybody feeds off his power on display screen. The supporting gamers and bits aren’t a let down. Even although some would possibly argue about stretching actuality with coach press conferences and EPL motion, some of the previous sports film cliches get contemporary and stunning spins.

“Ted Lasso” offers you a little bit bit of every little thing, led by the laughter and pleasure you’re going to get from watching it in a time when most of us nonetheless want it, sports fan or not. It will get an A-plus as one of the best causes to get entry to Apple TV+.

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[ithoughtyouweredifferent]

Chapter 10

Fact: Literally this entire series is a creation of mine. Do not think that any of this crap is a reflection of what is actually going on in the genius mind of Lin-Manuel Miranda because it’s not. It’s a lame idea I came up with and decided to just go with for the sake of the story. IT IS A STORY that is crappy and created by my lame mind.

Word Count: About 6,600

A/N: The world's nastiest tangerine just presented himself on my television screen on the news and I swear this man is as much of a hypocrite as Thomas Jefferson. The two are shockingly similar...anyway he just said that we as a nation need to fight bigotry and I just...I literally burst out laughing which became one of those burn your chest and throat coughs

Chapter 9

Table of Contents

Chapter 11 (link also at bottom)

Tanya was right when she told you that you needed to do well at the ceremony on Thursday night. Important people were going to be there, people with lots of money--something that was always needed around--people with connections people who knew people and people who could have you shut down entirely before you could blink twice despite how old and important the place was. You had carefully prepared pieces, that would be perfect for the people and the mood. It may not seem like it, but the background music was vital to any event and place. You were even going so far as playing a piece of your own, nobody would notice and you had worked and worked and helped yourself enough that you could tune out everything that was going on around you and you were almost able ot play calmly in front of an audience like you once had been able to. You had classic pieces that every played, you had a piece of your own and an adaptation of one you had been messing with for years-a song Lin had made originally but you had changed it enough that it wouldn’t be recognizable even to him. You had taken his thoughts and changed them and then changed them and over and over again constantly that it was really your own piece inspired by another that had been played for you countless times. You couldn’t imagine that he would mind. He hadn’t said anything about the music accompanying his piece but you weren’t worried about that he probably had something else planned.

Since you had come home from the dinner “party” you had convinced yourself that there was no old spark there. That just because you had lingering feelings for a man, time had passed and he had probably moved on so long ago it was hardly a memory. Just like you had known since you had first bumped into him. You were sort of friends who were going to fall out of touch again. He was actually a somebody and you were an insignificant nobody, it was shocking he had even recognized you much less remembered your name and nicknames and some of your old inside jokes. He was a good person but you were a realistic person, you knew he had been a tool to help you move along with your life and pick you up for the time being but that was over now you were a small phase to help push him forward and after that fate would be done with you two and you needed to move on just as you have needed to move on for three years. It wasn’t the slightest bit realistic for there to be anything there. That is what happens in movies, not in reality.

You went in to work on Wednesday morning and ignored Tanyas not so subtle observations as she tried to figure out what had happened. you went on with work like you would any other day no drastic mood swings, no reaction to the party. It really was a platonic friend thing.

All was going very well, it was getting close to lunch time and you had actually convinced her you had seen the last of him and were okay with that when you literally ran into Lin. You had hardly registered it was him until he pulled you into tight pick you up off your feet and shake you so its hard to breath hug you hugged him back awkwardly with the tips of your toes barely grazing the ground and your breathing difficult.

“What are you doing here?” You asked in shock when he set you down before you could think to stop yourself

“Hello to you too, My day is going very well actually and yours?” you your hands on your hips and rolled your eyes at him, “You’ve gotten very rude since you left the school system,” he noted, “first you tell me I’m a stuck up rich guy and now you are just plain mean,” you shook your head vigorously to try and make him stop when he mentioned your comment yesterday,

“Lin!” you protested loudly, looking around for the othrs who were thankfully all in a meeting or around the exhibits rooms, “you’re still dead set on telling my employers that I’m inept what’s your point?”

“Right sorry,” he apologized before whispering conspiratally, “so I shouldn’t ask if you can get away for some coffee now? To go over some stuff for the ceremony.

“Can’t we do it here?” you asked scanning once more for any other people, “Tanya is convinced you’re going to break me and has been watching me all morning to see if I’ve become a dead empty skeleton since dinner last night,”

“oh?”

“Yeah, so can we do it here so she can see you aren’t an arrogant selfish heartbreaker and she will get off your case and loose her determination to destroy your career if I just have mood swing that she thinks might be tied to you?”

“Wow uh I’d rather we didn’t…when can you get away?” you sighed heavily trying to think,

“Just go ahead and I’ll be out in fifteen minutes. But go before someone else comes in here and I have to explain whatever it is that you don’t want ottak about here kay?” you ushered him out the door and was just getting ready to tell Tanya you were going on break for lunch when she came in to talk to you,

“Was someone in here?” she asked her eyes narrowing as she noticed your shirt being bunched up from the hug

“Yeah, some guy was lost I gave him directions to the bus pick up spot down the street,” you lied quickly and easily she nodded,

“Good job, you want to take shelves E through H and I’ll take G through K or…”

“Actually, I was thinking I would take my break now. I just finished E,” you told her and she nodded,

“Alright I’ll see you in a little while,” you grabbed your bag and went out the door and made your way to the coffee shop nearby that you assumed Lin would have gone to. Luckily it was because he stood up at a small table by the window as soon as you walked inside and gave you a hug when you got to the table,

“Jesus Lin it’s been barely five minutes,” you said after a few seconds, and patted his back in the hug--was he smelling your hair?-hoping he would let go. His embrace was still too familiar despite how little you had ver really known him.

“In my defense your hair smells really nice and I don’t think there is anyone else in the world whose hair smells like yours. It's easy to get lost in and you-”

“Lin, it's okay, just maybe don’t so much? It’s weird to just hug for a long time blocking the already narrow walkways in a coffee shop,”

“Right, sorry,” there was a brief silence and you remembered that your time was ticking,

“So what did you want to talk about that couldn’t be discussed with my cowowkrers in earshot?”

“Right. You haven’t told anyone that I’m doing a piece of Our Home tomorrow night, have you?”

“I’m assuming Our Home is your next show that you are promoting?” you checked and he nodded, “No, I told you I wouldn’t,” you said, “This is about that?”

“Yeah I was wondering if you would play the accompaniement,“ He handed you a large books worth of sheet music presumably for whatever he was doing at the ceremony as his ‘surprise,’ “you said you were playing anyway, right?”

“You realize it is tomorrow and I don’t get off til 6 and home til almost 8 right?”

“And?”

“And I can’t memorize this whole thing and have it good enough to play it for, your big reveal tomorrow night!”

“No! No not the whole thing!” he hastily assured you, “Just a part of it. I marked it which parts it is. It’s less than three minutes and you don’t need to have it memorized, I know you’re good enough you could probably fright read and it’ll be more than enough. This is just me proposing the concpet of it, I mean if you want me to find someone else then sure of course, but you’re aready familiar with it and-”

“How am I already familiar with it?” you interupted,

“The one that I’m using is the same one that I played all. the. time. back when we were teaching down south together,”

“That one? you mean the,” you began humming the very piece you had already been plannning on playing your very evolved version of.

“That would be it, why?”

“nothing, I just…are you sure you want me to be a part of this?”

“You inspired and helped write like a fourth of the show, maybe more. It’d be crime-morally and potetnially leglally if you really pushed it-not to include you,”

“I did not!” you immediatly objected, you were not a composer

“Maybe, but you were right there motivating me to keep writing it without even me really knowing I was doing that. plus I can’t even count how many suggestions and ideas you gave me that I kind of have worked in all over the place or this show, so much of this is inspired by your ideas and suggestions it isn’t even funny,” he told you and you laughed before you realized he was being serious, and after a minute of thought you realized you had given him a bunch of ideas and he had said many times that they were great combinations and asked if he could use them if the opportunity ever arose but you hadn’t thought he was serious…you flipped through the book he had given you and your mouth dropped when you recongized two measuers here and three measures there all over the lace that you distinctly remembered having originally proposed,

“Close your mouth babe, you’ll catch flies,” he told you

“You know what,” you made a quick decision, “I’ll play this piece for you, but you wrote this show okay? Not me. Don’t you dare try to include me in this whole successful Tony Oscar Emmy Grammy Platinum and Silver and Gold records thing you have. If you mention to a single soul, you can’t say my name in thank you speeches tell one person of the idea that I ever existed or had something to do that might have inspired any piece of this and we are never speaking again, understood?” he looked at you deep in thought for a minute, before suddenly lighting up with an idea

“You drive a hard bargain you know that.” he paused taking a sip of his coffee that you had both been negecting. He must have ordered it before you had gotten here.

“Lin, I’m serious,” you were probably flattering yourself thinking he would mention you or had even given it a second thought, but you needed to be sure you weren’t going to be seen as the person who only ever was with him so you could get where you wanted.

“Yeah, yeah okay,” he agreed the inspired light clear still in his deep eyes.

“How long til you have to get back?” he asked, you craned your neck to look at his watch, “You okay Socrates?” you shook your head but reached across the table to turn his wrist, towards you,

“I have another 25 minutes,” you told him

“Awesome, You know you could’ve just asked what the time was,”

”Where’s the fun in that?” you teased not mentioning hat you hadn’t thought of taking that much easier way to find out the time,

“you are so ridiculous sometimes” he beamed, “and really, thank you so much really,” the sincerity was ringing in his voice, “This is nice coffee,” he commented after a long pause,

“Yeah, Tanya always has first dates here,” you said rolling your eyes at your friends superstitions, “She thinks that a the relationship is as good as the coffee then it’s sure to last,”

“What about you?” he asked

“hmm?”

“Where do you take your first dates?” you barely managed not to sputter your drink in his face, you hadn’t been on a date in a long time.

“I don’t,” you settled with the simple asnwer,

“You’re impossible, okay where do your dates take you for a first date if you want to get technical?” He asked rolling his eyes at you,

“Why? Someone you’re trying to impress?” You teased dodging the question and he shrugged,

“Meh, if I was what should I do? Hunt down an old hole in the wall diner?”

“You remember that?” You asked in suprise,

“Hard to forget a night like that,” he told you smiling, “So seriously where was the last place a guy swept you off your feet at?” you didn’t know what a good asnwer was. Sound like a lifeless nobody still hung up on a relationship that you had always known was pointless and going to end? Because that wasn’t pathetic,

“C’mon tell me, there’s got to be some special place,”

“Not really,” you told him,

“You’ve probably broken half the hearts in the city haven’t you?” he said laughing but an odd note of sincerity was in his voice

“No, there’s not been anyone in a while actually,” you said, “you? You’ve been all over the world where was your best date?”

“This is going to sound incredibly cheesy” he began,

“If you tell me you ate pasta in Paris I will dump your coffee on you,”

“BAHAHHAHAHA, no! It was the fourth Friday that we stayed at your place on Friday night,”

“That was a really great night. You burned the potatoes,” you smiled at the memory, “How can you possibly still remember that? Surely you’ve had much greater things to top that and push it to the back of that mind of yours. If I’ve broken half the hearts in the city you’ve broken all the hearts in the industrialized world,”

“Nah, I’ve stuck pretty much to myself-what with moving and lack of stability. I realized it’s really not fair to anyone to fall for someone and let them start to even like you much less anything else only to up and leave,” he was looking deep into your eyes,

“Yeah breaking off a relationship that seems to be doing great…there’s no closure you know? No reason for the break up between two people who both knew they were fooling themselves all along,, you scratched your nose, “sounds lonely though,”

“You still haven’t told me how many hearts you’ve broken in the past three years,”.

“Not many,” you said carefully, he didn’t need to know that it was your own heart that you’d let get smashed by being foolish and so desperate for a companion that you’d let it get out of hand,

“I’m sorry, lots of one tries that didn’t work out?”

“No, you’ve at least got a decent excuse for staying alone, I’m just pathetic,” you have a sad smile wishing he wasn’t so easy to talk to,

“You’re not pathetic,” he said instantly, you raised an eyebrow as if to say oh really wanna bet “trust me. You are anything but pathetic.” There was a long pause, “you don’t mind that I used some of the stuff you had come up with? I know you said it was fine then but if you find think I was being serious and you didn’t mean it I don’t want to be that person who just takes other people’s work-”

“Lin, trust me. I honestly don’t care. It was really all you, and heck even if I had written half the score and you not even told me and for some bizarre reason you used it, I would be okay. I really do like what you did here though,” you pointed to a few lines, “it’s so relatable how many hours did you spend on this?”

“A whole bunch,” he chuckled,

“It really shows,” you paused and closed the book and pulled a conversation starter out of the air, “you can make toothpaste any flavor you want. What flavor and why?”

“Apple cider,” he said without hesitation or question of the randomness,

“Okay, why?”

“Because it wouldn’t be overpowering but it would linger and I really like apple cider,” he shrugged, “what about you?”

“Mandarin oranges,”

“You’re allergic to mandarin oranges. Are you trying to tell me you’ve stopped brushing your teeth? Or that you’ve developed incredibly unhealthy dangerous habits while we’ve been apart”

“No I want to try mandarin oranges. They’re supposed to be really good and I wanna know what I’m missing out on, how do you know I’m allergic to mandarin oranges?”

“You told me,”

“When?”

“I dunno I just know that you did, dot tell me you don’t have anything like that, c'mon don’t tell me you don’t know anything about me,” oh you remembered lots of things about him, you remembered almost everything,

“Like the night when you burned potatoes night and you told me you hated drab dull generic mailboxes,” you acknowledged and smiled at the memory,

“See, you just know,”

“Okay, you win,” you reached across the table to twist his hand to look at his watch

“What’re you doing?” He asked laughing

Remembering that I need to go,” you said apologetically, “I’ll learn this song, but you can’t say a word to one person about me,”

“I already agreed to your absurd deal,”

“I know, and you wouldn’t anyway-I’ve not done anything to deserve it but just in case you were spontaneously listing off every person you’ve sat on the same piano bench with,“ you shrugged awkwardly, “now I sound conceited like I expect credit or attention I’m just uh”

“You’re fine, I won’t tell one person a single word about you, or say your name” he promised,

“Okay, I gotta go before Tanya hunts me down. We kind of get worried when one of us is out longer than we should,” you both stood up

“I understand that, be safe,” he kissed your cheek when he pulled away from the inevitable bear hug, shocking both of you, “bye,” he said waving semi awkwardly as you walked out. You glanced back in the window after you had left and saw him sitting back down with rubbing his temples. That went well. Not.

On your way back you realized you had to explain to Tanya why you suddenly had an encyclopedia sized stack of sheet music.

“You’ll never guess what happened while I was out,” you opted to play like it hadn’t been planned out,

“You dropped by the library?”

“No,” you set down the papers, “somebody wants me to play the accompaniment to his piece at the ceremony tomorrow night,” she grinned

“That’s amazing…and which one of the performers might it be? And how did they find you?”

“This sounds absurd but I was just casually eating my lunch when the ghost from Christmas past shows up holding like five of these and plops down in front of me,” you grinned because even though that’s not at all how it happened it totally could have been, “and was way too overbearingly polite and complimentary…and I dunno I agreed and wow,” you kept flipping through the pages

“So it was Lin?” She said almost accusatorially

“Yes,”

“No offense to you-you’re amazing that’s why we have you on the ivories more nights than not, but doesn’t he have people for this?”

“It’s not like that,”

“really? Cause it sounds like he is taking advantage of you,”

“Trust me, it’s just because I already know the piece and was literally sitting beside him as he wrote it and for ease of transition, he’s not like that.”

“I just don’t want to see you get hurt,”

“I’m not going to get hurt. I know he’s going to leave again and I’m going to stay and that there is absolutely nothing there,”

“But you knew that before too,”

“Tanya,” you snapped, “it’s not like that alright? I’ll play the piece for him and for the rest of the night and as soon as the awards are done being presented and they’ve finished the talent show we will all go out separate ways. So. Which shelf are we at?” You asked trying not to sound too cold and harsh. She shook her head,

“I’m on G and you’re going home to practice,”

“What?”

“You need to go spend some quality time with the keyboard and learn that piece now instead of pulling an all-nighter like we both know you would and we need you alert until late tomorrow,”

“But-”

“And I mean it when I say congratulations, you have more than earned the chance to play for someone who is a respected big deal in the music world,” you felt heat rise to your cheeks and nodded,

“Thank you, for your concern and everything you’ve done for me,” you said and gave her a hug. You grabbed your bag and the book of music and headed home.

“... Come home. Don’t go. The winds are blowing hard and I don’t know where to start but you gotta come home. The storms and the rain and strain of the pain just come home. .” After you had read the first song written down, you couldn’t help but play it several times through and even sing along at the end; it had an amazing rhythm and you could almost feel where he was going to use backups and layers once it was finished. From what you could he had the book arranged all out of order and this piece was some sort of recap or reprise from lots of the show. It wasn’t until you had finished it a second time that you realized it wasn’t the one you were supposed to be learning so you quickly flipped to a page that had post it notes with your name on it. You played through it several times before you stopped and laughed. You hadn’t even thought about how it originated from the same piece as one of the ones you had spun off on to play tomorrow night. You wondered if you should change it, if it would seem like you had done it on purpose but you realized that you didn’t have much time to learn another one and nobody listened to the background music anyway. You’d be fine.

You had barely arrived when you realized just how long the night as going to be. It would start with an over the top dinner, then the money flashing charity events, then there were going to be the performances and what was essentially an overrated talent show-that’s when you would be playing Lin’s piece- and then there were awards and presentations and honorary mentions and thank yous and congratulations and then more wine and chatter before they slowly filtered out. Each section of that would probably take upwards of two hours some closer to three or four. But it was for several good causes and as long as you did well and your coworkers left a positive impression all would be fine and you wouldn’t all be scraping some money out of your paychecks for the heat bill.

Your fingers were tired just thinking of it all, but you went ahead and plastered on your professional/performance smile and helped everyone set up until it was ‘show time.’ You needed to already have some noise going to fill the room before the first guests arrived.

You saw people flitting around enjoying themselves you saw some people dancing in the center of the room, you couldn’t deny the sense of pride you felt that they not only noticed but were also enjoying it, until it was time to eat and you played softer but still clearly.

“Now what is a lovely lady like you doing all alone over here in the corner of the room while there is a splendid party surrounding her?” You heard someone sitting down beside you and you turned your face away from him to hide a smile,

“I didn’t have anything better to do,” you sounded impressively nonchalant, “Thought I might help out and be the entertainment keep the museum and and running and what not,”

“Well I want to be the first to say that you are doing wonderful and sound beautiful,” you smiled a little wider at his compliment before the unknown patron was standing up and walking away. It was little things like that, the few people who did notice and appreciate that made the stress of the long evening entirely worth it.

Slowly you transitioned into your adaptation of Lin’s piece, it was long enough before he would officially use it that you doubted anyone would notice it as anything more than filler music. It flowed by smoothly and you were more than a little proud of it before Tanya sat down next to you an odd fire in her eyes,

“You said you were sitting next to him when you wrote it,” she stated, “you lied to me,” she was angry and no doubt or question was in her voice,

“I’m sorry?” you kept playing,

“From what you’ve told me in passing over the past several years I know for a fact that that is a lie” your fingers stumbled for a minute when you realized your mistake, “You met him two years after Hamilton was already on Broadway and just short of a decade from when he started it. That math doesn’t exactly even out to you already knowing one of the pieces but having to bring home that giant book of music to learn it even though you were there when it was made. Why do you keep covering for him and fooling yourself!” she whisper shouted and you did your best to keep your face the same and not visibly react,

“I...it was supposed to be a surprise and he didn’t want anyone to know but he is sort of pulling a surprise piece out of a hat tonight…” you already regretted telling her or not telling her earlier with and even agreeing to helping him with it in the first place, “it made sense when I agreed to it, not telling anyone in case he did chicken out, as he put it, or fell through plus surprise factor…”

“Well you should have told me or the rest of us so we could be prepared for this little ‘surprise.’ You know how hard it is when things don’t go as planned!”  

“I know, and I’m sorry, believe me I am, but I knew and I am the one over here actually handling all of it so I thought it would be okay and there wasn’t a need to get you all worried and worked up,” you tried to explain

“I cannot believe you did this! It better be a damn good piece and everything else better go without a hitch or this’ll be the last thing you’re playing for for a long time. I’m your friend but this is business and you better learn to find the line between the two incredibly soon,” you nodded not knowing what to say and just kept playing finishing out your adaptation of Lin’s piece before moving into a good old, lesser known Bach piece.

The night moved by smoother than you could have hoped for and before you knew it it was time for the overrated talent show. You were on and off the piano bench for a long time taking your cues as they came and fright reading for days but you did just fine with that. Lin was the second to last to go and before he jump-skipped up onto the stage he kissed your forehead,

“Thank you a million times over,” he whispered and then was gone, he spoke for a few moments telling everyone about the change of plans you and you took a chance and played your adaptation of it very very quietly almost not even there until he nodded at you and you bridged into his.

You hadn’t considered the fact that he was going to be taking your breath away singing to the music when you had learned it and memorized it to the point you hadn’t even brought the music as a just in case. You almost faltered at least a dozen times but luckily you never did and the nearly-mistakes weren’t heard at all only seen in your face. It felt like a hundred years had passed by the time he walked off stage but at the same time it seemed to have only been a few seconds. He smiled practically beaming at you and patted your shoulder before retreating to his spot on the far wall and you moved off the bench again for the last person to go.

Now it was only presentations/awards and then idle chatter and drinking.

The presentations and awards were going smoothly, not much was required of you other than to smile and shake hands and pass a plaque to this person and a certificate to that one and occasionally a fancy schmancy trophy of some sort or another. You and Tanya alternated with several other people reading the names off and it was just your luck that you got to hand one to Lin. You tried to subtly switch with Tanya but she almost imperceptibly shook her head. You were going to have to handle this and be professional.

“Lin-Manuel Miranda, for yet another highest ratings on Broadway show,” Tanya nudged you, too distant and professional, “What is this six years in a row?” You laughed and he rolled his eyes at you, now you got the absolute pleasure of listening to his acceptance and thank you speech that nobody asked for but was going to happen anyway.

“Okay so I think most of you have heard the good old joke about the thirty two men on a fishing boat and yet not a single man was on board?” you scrunched your eyebrows together, “Well if you don’t know it’s because there wasn’t just one single there were 32. Someone made me promise not to say, and I quote, ‘a single word about them,’ so I won’t-I’ll say a bunch of things having to do with them,” all the blood drained from your face he wouldn’t dare, “That little thingy I did earlier was hardly my own. I had this person beside me the entire time nagging me and telling me what was wrong and throwing ideas at me and I think she’s going to kill me for this,” he paused at the awkward chuckle and tanya leaned over to hiss in your ear,

“Please tell me he isn’t about to call you out,” you grimaced and shook your head,

“He better not,” you whispered back before you both sat back up straight and put back on your fake smiles,

“Of course, I also promised not to say her name and I thought of a couple ways to get around this, I could spell it out, I could write it down, I could have someone else say it, I had to do something to credit her because so much of my inspiration for this latest piece has come from her and the stories I’ve heard her tell. And would you believe me if I said I met her down South in the middle of nowhere and just recently found her again? It’s a crazy coincidence especially given its relevance to one of the central themes of this show,” there was no denying he was about to call you out and you shot Tanya an apologetic glance before coughing loudly, and leaning forward speaking up in a stage whisper to him as if you didn’t mean for people other than him to hear you when you really did and he knew it,

“Excuse me, Mr. Miranda, remember we do have many other people who have to go through this tonight, if she doesn’t want to be called out, it might be a good idea for you not to do it and just move along,” he looked at you surprised and you looked at him pointedly,

“I almost forgot, they are also the person who agreed spurr of the moment to play the accompaniment and did a fantastic job, thank you all, congratulations to you and thank you to my family and my muse, bye!” he darted off stage clearly embarrassed and you felt a little guilty but as much as you should. He would go home as soon as he was done applauding everyone else and that would be that.

You played the piece you had made yourself over and over again while they talked, maybe if they got bored with the repetitiveness of the background noise that wasn’t even that amazing or familiar they would leave sooner. You were relieved to see that he was gone and that nobody came up to find out who the pianist was. You kept playing pieces meant to motivate them to leave. You needed to get out of there and go home and hopefully go to work tomorrow with a not too upset employer. When there was only one last group of people you gave up and began not so subtly cleaning up and helping the custodial staff trying to cue the group to realize it was time to go. The janitor was clearly grateful to your help as you swept and folded the table cloths with them. Finally you were done,

“Still trying to get in with a janitor i see?” Someone asked standing at the door leaning against the corner, one hand flew to your chest and the other to cover your mouth when you yelped in surprise, “Woah sorry, didn’t mean to scare you!”

“I am really mad at you,” you said fiercely practically spitting,

“I know and I’m sorry, I thought you would find it funny or maybe appreciate it or something...I didn’t want it to be one of those ‘yeah I said I didn’t want credit but I’m gonna be really mad if you ignore me’ type things. Can you please forgive me?” he sounded so earnest and sincere that for some irrational reason it made you see red,

“Lin, it’s not that easy. You realize that it’s been three years? That people can’t just pick up like they never left off and be fine with everything? I don’t blame you or anything and I get it, I do. But I’ve never wanted to be noticed or recognized by more than just a few people at a time. The attention and stardom...it’s just not me. I don’t talk about your shows with you because I always assumed you wanted a break from that world of mindless fans because that’s how I would feel if it was me. I’m sorry if I can’t just be okay that there is a good chance I need to stop job hunting because I didn’t tell anyone about your little surprise performance and that I helped you and then was openly rude in front of a very important crowd,”

“I’m sorry...I didn’t know it was going to be like that. I didn’t think about the consequences-I never seem to think about consequences and what’s going to happen later…”

“That’s not true. You are a genius and great at planning ahead, but when you don’t know you can’t plan. And you didn’t know,” why were you trying to comfort him? Weren’t you mad at him right now? Of course you were...and of course you couldn’t stand fighting with him especially when you knew he had only the best of intentions at heart, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have snapped, it’s been a long day and between that and the ultimatum from Tanya and your surprise appreciation speech...I’m sorry I shouldn’t have taken that out on you right now,”

“No, don’t apologize. Never apologize. Can I walk you home?” he asked tentativly after a minute of deliberation and weighing your options you gave in and laced your fingers betewen his and nodded,

“It’s about four blocks that way,” you pointed north in the general direction of your building, “not too bad unless you are going the opposite way--you aren’t are you?”

“Nah, about six blocks north east, Win-win I guess,” he smiled, “it’ll be nice to have company for all but the last little ways,” he said and you both set out on your way home. You were exhausted and the city was loud enough you were okay not talking to fill the silence you usually couldn’t stand.

Chapter 11

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made 2 of cricket's group members so far - 3 more to go