#paul holden hcs

[cutthathair]

HI guys i’m here to yap about the symbolism of paul singing solo in justice for tulsa. adjusts my tie okay here i go.

Paul singing in Justice for Tulsa is SO important. Him being the only soc (besides Cherry) to sing/speak is basically showing how he is leading the group. He is taking on the role of “pack leader” literally immediately after Bob’s death. When you dive deeper into this fact, or honestly from first glance, it’s SYMBOLIC and crucial to the storytelling. Paul is (was) is Bob’s right-hand man — his best friend out of all the boys.

However, stay with me here, he is also the eldest member of their little group. He is the adult, hence why the cops go to and interrogate him first. He is the adult, so all of the socs are looking at him for what to do next, waiting to see what’s the next move. Bob had always been the one organizing everything, so now the responsibility as well as all eyes fall on Paul. He is practically the gang’s big brother when you think about it.

None of the socs weren’t going to accuse Cherry or even bother her in the beginning. The girls understood she was grieving (for goodness sake she just like her boyfriend), and the guys well. They’re the guys. This all changed during Justice for Tulsa when Cherry goes “You were only having fun?” accusing the boys of starting it. The music changes and so does Paul’s voice — he goes from sorrow to angry. His reply is him initiating the revolt (don’t think that’s the right word but we ball) against Cherry.

The socs are drawn to side with him. Beverly suddenly removes her comforting hands away from Cherry and instead goes to join her boyfriend beside Paul. Even Marcia is contemplating what to do. His rage is transferred onto the others as his tone of voice/singing becomes more directed and bitter. They are so quick to believe him when he says Cherry held Ponyboy’s hand (even though we as the audience know he is gaslighting her), and quickly turn against the girl as well.

Paul CONTINUES to get louder as the song goes on, the entire verse after “Bob didn't need to die!” (which is his snapping point, where the line of not targetting her has officially been crossed. Marcia joined the others and Cherry left the scene) is him practically SCREAMING. His mic is turned up and the others become an ensemble with him as the lead, chanting the same phrases as him. This further proves how he became their new leader.

ALSO not to mention when he was being interrogated by the cops, he was NOT afraid to give up Ponyboy and Johnny. He actually says their names as soon as he asked. With that, he also tries to get Cherry to back him up and tell the police it was them two, despite her not even being there when he was murdered. He nudges her and eggs her on because he KNOWS she is not going to crack. She is going to resist releasing any information because she knows the type of person Bob was (hence why she dumped him). Although, if anyone can break her, it’s going to be Paul. He’s going to intimidate her and get the others to as well, which they don’t even need to be told, they just DO it.

As he gets closer while singing “You should be as mad as me, at the senseless tragedy,” she backs away MUCH like she did when Bob was yelling at her after the Drive-In. When the ensemble joins in, Brill gets real close to her and tries to take Bob’s jacket from her grasp, which she retaliates and immediately pulls back.

Basically, what I’m trying to get at is that Paul became the king of the socs after Bob died. They looked to him for guidance, whether it be because they were scared, see him as an older brother, or even were just completely lost. He was the most responsible.

okay baiii

[mister-mickey]

Reverse au (socs and greasers reversed)

Cherry- greaser girl with a single father who’s pretty busy but cherishes her a lot. She’s able to befriend most people, but she gets harassed a lot because… she’s a girl. She kind of take pony’s role

Bob- greaser whose parents both work a lot, so they aren’t there for him to give him attention, so he’s an adrenaline junkie as well as an alcoholic. He works at the DX and is always drag racing people

Randy- greaser whose parents are way too strict. He’s got younger siblings and a job, his parents are always pressuring him to do more. He works at the DX with Bob and is usually the one to pull him away from fights (greaser Randy is less of a follower because he knows Bob is in more danger if he lets Bob do whatever)

Marcia- her parents both work as well, but her mom is around more. Her mom is kind of doped up and isn’t there for her. Her dad used to hurt her but ever since Cherrys dad let her stay at their house, she barely goes home and it’s stopped ever since Marcia got taller (aka able to defend herself better) she is dating Randy but honestly he’s just her friend. She feels bad about it.

Paul: Cherrys cousin on her mom’s side. He takes Darry’s role and is very protective of her as well. He wanted to go to college, but can’t obviously. He’s the leader of their gang, but he feels like he’s somehow betraying them by being in love with Darry. He’s Paul still, so he’s kind of arrogant and assumes he knows more than other people. He’s obsessed with “shortcuts” and “work smarter not harder” and often gets in trouble for this

Darry- Sox who is currently in college. He isn’t around a lot even though his parents are dead (soda and pony are left with a nanny who comes around three times a week to check on them and report to Darry. Darry also calls every day to check on them) he’s a likeable guy but he is still in love with Paul. He has romps with Tim sometimes but he’s very conflicted. He does LIKE Tim but Tim is far from Paul m. It doesn’t help that twobit gets wrapped up in this sometimes too. Darry’s head is about to split open sometimes.

Soda- Soc who didn’t drop out, but he’s still failing all his classes. This upsets Darry a lot, but soda could care less. He’s very popular and throws parties a lot, which makes Darry very upset. Soda doesn’t think college is important, but he also knows that he doesn’t get a choice and no matter how bad he does, he’s going to end up there. So he doesn’t try too hard and just has fun.

Pony- soc who is a smart cookie. Basically the same tbh, perhaps a bit less traumatized from the basic environment. He loves talking to greasers because Darry said not to.

Johnny- Sox who is still abused, it’s just hidden now. His parents actually care about public perception so they act like a loving family in public and at events. They both tell Johnny he sucks and isn’t good enough to be their only son. Johnny takes this to heart a lot and it makes him try harder at school (but it stresses him out so he does worse)

Dally- soc whose dad is a big time lawyer who doesn’t act like a father. Dally is left to run wild and jump greasers (he also gets with greaser girls sometimes because he’s not supposed to sully soc girls) dally is failing most of his classes but somehow gets a’s every semester (his dad pays the school) he’s besties with tim and they jump greasers together. They don’t have the same relationship as they do as greasers because i think it’s less acceptable for civilized boys to beat each other up like that. Instead they both were in the boxing team in highschool and made sure to stay in the same weight class lmfao

Steve- soc with absent single father, Steve has a car hobby. He’s got two cars and they’re both super expensive. The cars are his babies and his dad pays him a lot more when he upsets Steve now. Steve has one super nice car he drives his friends around in and one that he keeps in the garage and obsesses over. He likes to jump greasers but not with soda because sometimes soda feels bad about it 💔

Twobit- soc, his dad didn’t leave, he’s just always on business trips. His mother is a socialite who is always bragging about him, even if there’s nothing to brag about. He’s an alcoholic whose parents paid for him to not have to retake junior year. Despite this, he’s a fun guy and everyone likes him, even greasers. He’s very non discriminatory (and is lowkey in love with Darry) He helps his buddies if they get jumped but he won’t jump a greaser unless he has a reason (like a vendetta against one specific greaser who keeps exchanging eyes with Darry)

Tim- stepdad is also on business trips a lot, his mother is classy old money. His family has ties to the Italian mafia on his mother’s side. Tim (like Paul in the series) didn’t go to college and instead works for his father’s company and is already making a shit ton of money at 18. He likes to scare greaser girls and children. Sometimes he revs his engine super loud around greaser girls to make them shriek. He likes darry and romps around with him but he’s aware of the way Darry looks at Paul. He HATES Paul and tries to hit him with his car sometimes

Angela- most popular girl in school. She ruins relationships and makes girls insecure. She shoves cherry and Marcia around sometimes and bullies them in the locker room. She doesn’t actually have anything against them, she just has a lot of built up frustration inside. She’s still awful to them. She tried to steal Bob 😭 but he didn’t gaf about her and she got embarrassed

Curly- He’s always getting arrested but somehow has no criminal record. He likes to jump people ofc because he’s curly but nobody takes him seriously because he always jumps weak people. He knows he isn’t that scary. He struggles in school and his mom threatens to send him to boarding school when he pisses her off (this sets his straight for two days before he’s back on his bs)

Evie- pretty soc girl that is always wearing the newest and most expensive clothing. Incredibly spoiled but not a total jerk

Sylvia- soc girl that’s always with a new guy, usually bounces between Tim and dally. Her focus in this au is more along the lines of picking the best husband because her parents have basically groomed her into a trophy wife position

Buck- daddy’s boy. Very spoiled. His father runs a successful beer company and Buck holds an important position there. He’s Sylvia’s cousin like always and is trying to keep Dallas and Tim AWAY

Sandy- Soc girl that is incredibly eager to become a mother. She’s a typical “good Christian girl” and gen believes this is the best she can do

[alaskan-wallflower]

yknow what would make paul and darry’s… “friendship” SOOOOO much more painful?

what if darry WAS aroace but he was just so in denial and he didn’t even know about it. He just…never had a crush on anyone. So when girls flirt with him he’ll jokingly flirt back…but he’s never felt anything.

cue paul confessing to darry his feelings. darry’s like…’okay, well i don’t feel anything when girls flirt with me…none of the times i’ve kissed my girlfriend have i felt anything…am i gay?’ so yeah. he tries it out because he wants paul to be happy. but nothing he does with paul makes him feel anything. and that’s when he starts questioning himself and feeling bad because it’s his best friend, who genuinely loves him…but he can’t get past the platonic stage. and being in a relationship like that just makes him feel bad and such.

when he breaks up with paul it’s more for paul’s sake than his. he doesn’t want to hurt paul…and i feel like the reason paul started hating darry was because darry told him he just didn’t feel anything for him. and paul felt lied to. all the ‘i love you’s they shared were nothing? all the times they’d kissed or messed around it just never meant anything to darry? that’s when paul starts hating darry. but a part of him is really sad because he’s gonna miss darry. but that’s when the hatred and the whole train prank went overboard.

[fandomkingdom18]

something i cant not think about when listening to justice for tulsa

i know i know the socs picked most of the fights but still i cant help but feel for them because they're doing what they've been raised to do

and in justice for tulsa its mainly paul and cherry. and cherry is trying to get paul to feel for the greasers because everything wouldn't have happened if it weren't for them jumping pony and johnny

but i think paul was just grieving too because if he's randy's replacement then it means they were like good friends yk and he's trying to blame anyone but himself because he wouldn't be able to take it if it was his fault that his best friend died

and everytime i listen to the last part i hear paul's voice and i think about how pained it is and how they're fighting for their own against the people "to blame"

they feel that they NEEED revenge or something because they don't want to be the ones to lose most certainly after bob died too.

it's the whiplash from something like this too because they've always messed around before but never to that point and they really don't know how to go about it except for fighting

all because bobs parents couldnt say no

also if it were anyone else to be brought up in the socs circumstances they would end up the same way

(i need someone to write something soc-centric where we see their perspective but we also see character development pls and ty)

[walmartbrandwhatever]

Oh, Trip and Marcia, how I love you as well💔. Trip treats her like a queen. He's trying his best, and I will stick by this. Has my opinions of all the socs been changed recently? yes. Am I currently rewriting a lot of stuff in my marbit fic because I totally obliterated the socs? yes.

[darry-queen]

Paul x Tim hcs

(Mightve already made this post ages ago, if so sorry I can't remember and tumblrs search function continues to be useless)

They meet through Darry (of course)

It's a fucking disaster, Paul makes fun of Darry for hanging out with Tim and Tim immediately becomes defensive for himself but mostly Darry

If Darry wasn't there it would've evolved into a physical altercation no doubt.

Btw they meet after the events of the book around when Tim and Darry start really becoming friends (tv show enjoyers where are you?)

Paul is a #tsundere and misses Darry so he makes up a whole bunch of excuses to hang around

Darry doesn't mind bc he's like the loneliest guy on the planet and having Paul back doubles his friends so he goes out of his way to plan things for all three of them

Queue Paul and Tim trying to get Darry to hate each other by:

Framing the other for things they know Darry would hate

Catching the other doing something they know Darry would hate

Pulling pranks on the other to try and make hanging out with Darry unbearable

Physical altercations and constant arguments

And more!

Darry gets sick of their shenanigans and is like "if yall don't get along I'll just ditch both of you and hang out with Two-bit :/"

Queue them trying to get along

Queue them failing miserably

Finally something changes

Specially Tim runs into Paul while he's hanging out with other Socs

The Socs recognize Tim as the guy Darry hangs out with and they start mocking all three of them

Paul and Tim become defensive over Darry in like, a recreation of their first meeting

Without Darry there to stop the escalation this time it does become a real fight

Paul and Tim win ofc 🙄

They were heavy out numbered by Paul (now ex) friends and so they're super hyped like omg!! We really did it!! We're so cool!!!

After that it's like they've always been best friends

Darry is hyped they get along now but eventually realizes he is literally third wheeling

[crow2222]

oh my god

My interpretation of Paul Holden 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Because @crow2222 asked. And by the way I'm so sorry its so bad I lowkey kind of rushed it 🙁

Warning, homos 💔💔🙅🙅❌❌⛔⛔🚨🚨🚨🚨🍅🍅🚫🚫❌❌⛔⛔⛔🤷🤷🙅🙅. And small reference to child abuse. But like very small 😔 🙏

And I'm actually so tired I almost passed out writing this so ignore all the major mistakaes

Okay so first off, I do NOT see Paul as the one who called off the whole thing with him and darry, nor the only reason they had issues. Which they didn't really have but that's a whole other thing.

I like to see him as someone who mirrors darry sort of on the opposite side. Darry is seen as Soc like even tho he is known as a greaser. Shorter hair then ur average greaser, no hair gel, actually follows most laws (he needs too but yk) and doing very well in school and academics in general. But still having many greaser qualities and being a greaser in general.

Meanwhile Paul, a Soc, has longer hair, breaks a few more laws (many socs jump greasers, drink and smoke underage ,and that's it. But Paul would steal, vandalize, etc) but wont jump greasers. Rumbles sure but jumping them in general is a no go for him. Considering his best friend is one.

He also does just well enough in school to pass classes and stay on the football team. Not trying all that much. If it weren't for his parents forcing and pressuring him and his (I hc him to have one) little sister encourageing him he would have probably failed everything then get kicked out. His father is also just an asshole and his mom was so emotionally neglectful it was crazy

I see him as some of the socs safe person for if anything happens similar to darry. Hiding from whatever? Paul. Want a party? Paul. Just wanna hang out that isn't out or at your house? Paul.

His house is basically the hangout spot bc his parents are barely home and when they are they don't pay to much attention bc they act good with them around. Even tho it was rare socs would go there anyway.

Now to Paul and darry. Darry was pauls safe person. If his dad beat him or threatened to kick him out, Darry was the person he would go too. And they were close for years. But It was darry who called off the whatever they had. Paul was the one who was fine with what they had. He was fine keeping it a secret. And he's probably given up a thing or too just for Darry. And darry did care, but he just couldn't do it anymore. In fact, he had kissed many girls when they were dating, claiming its just to hide what they had but realistically he just wanted to try to “get rid of his homosexuality” as its against god. (he literally went to church in the south in the 60s..) but Paul ignored it. Ofc it bothered him but Paul didn't really see it as bad to do bc maybe darry really was trying to hide it?

Darry didn't hate him but when he broke up with Paul. Paul began to dislike him a lot more. Ofc still not jumping greasers but just hated darry. He felt like darry never really cared and everything he did was useless. Ofc darry said they could still be friends like they had been for years but Paul just wanted to leave.

This is why Paul looked visibly angry at darry during the rumble and why darry had no reaction during the rumble. Paul was pissed and he had every right to be. And darry knew this. They still fought, fist to face, body, whatever. But secretly, even though Paul wanted to refuse, the second Darry would make any motive to wanna get back together, Paul would have dropped anything in a heartbeat.

[daddyscaddyandliquor]

super very random post about a few hcs i have for the socs !!

MARCIA :

- she does ballet and is actually really good !!

- she writes letters to people but never sends them just to soothe herself

- the biggest beatles fan to ever exist ever

- #1 paul holden hater

BEV :

- she cut her bob herself and she used to have very long hair

- literally never not at brill’s house i fear

- she (contrary to popular belief) actually does enjoy fighting

- her dream is to move to the beach and live on a beach house with brill

CHERRY :

- nancy sinatara = life

- she’s a flyer on the cheer team

- even when she’s with chet she accidentally calls him bob sometimes because unfortunately she sees bob in literally everything (especially chet’s alcoholism)

- she still has bob’s letterman jacket even years after he died

CHET :

- chocolate. he is obsessed with chocolate, if there is a chocolate flavor and it’s available it will be chosen

- he’s constantly covered in dog hair due to his dad’s k-9s (taken inspo from @sky4cherry again)

- youngest in his family 100% (and of the boys)

- bev is literally his big sister and it’s definitely totally by blood 100%

BRILL :

- only one of the guys that can truly handle his liquor

- he doesn’t mind jumping people, but prefers a ‘fair fight’

- the oldest child of his family and is actually the best big brother to grace the earth

- has had a crush on bev since middle school and even asked her to their middle school dance

BOB :

- paul is literally his actual brother wdym🤨

- once introduced marcia as his sister in front of the whole group + her and had never been more embarrassed

- he had a sickeningly huge crush on cherry before they got together

- another inspo he wears lilac because cherry one time told him he looked really good in it and now it’s suddenly his favorite color

TRIP :

- lives with his grandma and grandpa + melvin

- the best fighter in the group

- cherry and trip best friends agenda

- martrip goes downhill when he throws the first punch at two-bit in justice for tulsa (look at marley’s post about this it is SICK in the best way)

PAUL :

- sees himself in bob a LOT

- the one who taught the boys to fight

- was NOT okay when him and darry had their falling out. he became SOOO mean

- has referred to bev and marcia as “brill’s broad” and “trip’s broad” before and received two punches from two VERY angry boyfriends

lmk if i should do a greasers version !!

[qprpbj]

maybe it’s just me who’s become overly attached to side character of the year paul holden but it pisses me off when ppl make him out to be abusive specifically regarding fics or hcs or whatever to do with darry. like bro is just a heartbroken privileged teenager be soooo fr stop stripping my guy of his humanity!

[sky4cherry]

Hi, I was wondering if you knew the lore and stuff around the Socs from the outsiders musical and were willing to share? I'm afraid I live under a rock and don't know much besides ones name (Chet) but would love to learn more! Names, age(even if most of them are the same), personality and popular headcanons? - 🍀

alright here we go 🫡

starting with the main socs !!

robert "bob" sheldon (17?); there's a lot of info on bob in the book which i'd really recommend reading because i fear people love to forget he's not just ... evil; he's pretty aggressive and violent, but is mentioned to have a softer side !!

paul holden (20, but dan berry says he's 17 in the musical ... dan berry is wrong); a lot of info on paul depends on who you ask !! he's been fleshed out quite a bit by the fandom but i'd recommend checking out some @qprpbj writing if you wanna gather some thoughts on his personality !!

sherri "cherry" valance (16); her parents fight a lot and her dad is a drunk so she's very in tune with the fact that socs aren't really all that, and she's pretty well educated on the social divide !!

ensemble soc time hehehe 🫶 i have headcanons up about all of the ensemble socs if that would help !! mostly listing just the canon stuff about them so i don't get carried away with my hcs again 🫡

chet baker (17?); this is my son and i love him very much he is silly; my personal hc is that his dad is the chief of police !!

clark "brill" brillstein (17?); silly silly goofy goober; madly in love with bev

terrence "trip" dipp (17?); everything i know about him comes from my own brain i fear

marcia (17); cherry's best friend ! she's a pretty big gossip and knows everyone's business !!

beverly jitney-bush (17?); she deeply believes in the social divide, and partakes in the violence; madly madly in love with brill; a hater to her very core

[crow2222]

I love Paul and darry so MUCH UGH. I need to see it once you're finished w it 🙏🙏🙏

The reason Paul's so upset with Darry is because Darry abandoned Paul for his family and then expects Paul to abandon his family for Darry which like why would he do that for him when he knows it won't be reciprocated?

Obvi the dif is that Paul's fam is his emotionally abusive parents and Darry's is his two younger brothers who he loves dearly but Paul doesn't realize that there is a difference.

[pumpkinsy0]

THIS IS A HC FOR MY AU

so in my AU, Johnny and TwoBit never met the Curtis's parents before they passed in 1963. But Dally met them a few times.

So at the funeral, Steve is trying to keep it together (as best as he can) for Sodapop whose bawling like no tomorrow. Ponyboy's crying, but being only 12 he doesn't fully understand whats going on and how hard his life is gonna get.

and then there's Darry, somehow able to keep it together for his brothers. but inside he's anything but fine. His best friend, the person he's been there for more than anyone else in his life, isn't there. Paul Holden doesn't bother to show up. But who does after only knowing the brothers for a few months, their folks even less?

Dallas Winston.

and that's when the guys, and especially Darry, decide that Dally is one of them.

omg???? rare dallas tucker winston w??????

LOVE this hc, absolutely heartbreaking

[outsidersheadcanons]

THIS IS A HC FOR MY AU

so in my AU, Johnny and TwoBit never met the Curtis's parents before they passed in 1963. But Dally met them a few times.

So at the funeral, Steve is trying to keep it together (as best as he can) for Sodapop whose bawling like no tomorrow. Ponyboy's crying, but being only 12 he doesn't fully understand whats going on and how hard his life is gonna get.

and then there's Darry, somehow able to keep it together for his brothers. but inside he's anything but fine. His best friend, the person he's been there for more than anyone else in his life, isn't there. Paul Holden doesn't bother to show up. But who does after only knowing the brothers for a few months, their folks even less?

Dallas Winston.

and that's when the guys, and especially Darry, decide that Dally is one of them.

What the hell this is so good!!

You gotta share more of ur AU dude, if u write a fic lmk!! this is very interesting

[deflated-leaf]

PAUL HOLDEN HCS.

guys i literally love him sm. him and darry are my absolute faves.

he has a sister who’s a year older than soda

i think i named her mandy

YEAH MANDY HOLDEN

i also think i made her bi

and so mandy and soda used to play together

they used to be pretty good friends

he has a middle name and it’s Erik. this is a tangerine reference if y’all had to read that in 7th grade

he was lowkey besties with mr and ms curtis

always used to pick up darry for school and drop him back off at home

paul is like the fruitiest man ever. like he’s GAY.

his car probably smells fruity

was kinda popular at school, like everyone knew him, but darry was his only actual friend

TERRIBLE AT DRAWING.

but that never stopped him from drawing darry in his notebook

especially while darry was with his gf in freshman-sophomore year…….

type of dude to doodle those hearts with the initials in them

tldr; PAUL IS A FUCKING LOSER. I LOVE HIM.

[ur-battdoll911]

@chained-sweater i find breathing air a good hobby, you should try it, the whole world loves it for some reason

(wtf am i on, making a shit post like this)

Sexuality Headcanons:

Ponyboy: Bisexual; no preference.

♡

Steve: Bisexual; leans more towards men.

♡

Johnny: Gay; has a thing for brunets.

♡

Two-Bit: Pansexual; has a strong preference for women.

♡

Dallas: Bisexual; prefers men.

♡

Sodapop: Gay; only dated Sandy to protect his reputation.

♡

Darry: Gay demisexual; has a strong attraction to blonds.

♡

Cherry: Heterosexual; not entirely supportive of the LGBTQ+ community, but doesn't often express homophobia.

♡

Marcia: Bisexual; prefers men.

♡

Randy: Gay; loved one person and one person only: Bob.

♡

Bob: Questioning; has a thing for women, but finds men attractive.

♡

Paul: Doesn't use labels; not very attracted to either gender.

[darry-queen]

Making Tim and Pauls ship name Pim is hilarious to me because Pim is that little pink bitch from smiling friends, so any "pim" content will be impossible to find due to all of the smiling friends posts.

But the more I think about it the more depressed I get knowing that if anyone else ever decides to make Pim content... I'll probably never see it. What will I do then??? Live my life oblivious that someone out there has the same mental illness as I??? So now I'm frantically trying to find an actual ship name that is funny and clever enough so that I can make a unique tag for them knowing full well I will be the only one posting in it.