#she knows what she did in the Hawkins divorce court

[emily-mooon]

Based on this post I made about two hours ago

[chrisbitchtree]

King Steve Shit

King Steve Shit. Max had coined the term. Even though Billy had his own car, a vintage Camaro that his mother had bought him for his 17th birthday, more often than not, Steve would pick Billy and Max up for school and drop them off after. Billy would insist that it wasn’t necessary, especially since Steve had graduated high school the previous spring, but Steve said it made him more comfortable to know that Billy got to and from school safely.

One afternoon in early March, Steve had gone the extra mile, carrying Billy’s backpack and gym bag to the front door for him, stopping for a kiss and whispered endearments and promises to text on his dinner break, before dashing off for his shift at the local diner. Max, who had been watching through the windows like a creep, popped out from behind the curtains, almost giving him a heart attack.

She had a grin on her face. “Carrying your bags to the door. That’s some King Steve shit”. Billy blanched. “Why the fuck are you talking about my boyfriend’s dick?” Max made barfing noises. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

Billy had to laugh at that. “Why do you think they call him King Steve?” Max’s eyes grew wide as her face turned red. “I thought you called him that because he treats you like a queen!” Billy could barely breathe he was laughing so hard, but the thing was, Max wasn’t wrong. Steve did treat him like a queen.

***

Accepting love was hard for Billy. His parents had divorced when he was two, and since his mom travelled for work, he’d lived with his father full time, visiting his mother for alternating holidays. Living with Neil Hargrove, let alone being his son, was not easy. He demanded perfection in everything Billy did, and when he didn’t receive it, it was a boot to the knee, or a cigarette burn to the chest. If it wasn’t that, it was withholding dinner, or making him practice his free throw until he was so tired, he could barely stand.

Billy had spent most of his life being told that his mother didn’t really love him, that she only took him for holidays because the court demanded it. He was too scared to talk to her about it, worried that if he brought it up, what precious little time he got with her would be ruined. Billy knew that Neil didn’t love him either, not with the way he treated him if he forgot to take out the garbage or got an A instead of an A+, but Neil was all he really had, so he took the praise when he did do well and pushed the fear of his own father to the back of his mind. He figured it was something he must have done anyway to make him unworthy of being loved.

It was easy enough to cover up the bruises and scars, brushing off any suspicion that did arise, until it had all come to a head the summer before. Billy’s mom finally had a job that kept her in one place, that place being Hawkins, Indiana. She and her new family had moved there, to her new wife Susan’s hometown, from LA, to give Susan’s 13-year-old daughter Max a better chance at a regular high school experience after she’d been first caught coming home from a friend’s house drunk, then high a month later.

They’d invited Billy to Hawkins to spend the summer before he went back to San Diego for his senior year of high school. It was the longest he’d lived with his mother since he was two, and he had been nervous but excited to spend the time with her. The night before he’d left for Hawkins though, he’d forgotten to put the laundry in the dryer, and Neil gave him the beating a of a lifetime. His ribs and back were black and blue.

He’d made it through a single day in Hawkins before Max had accidentally walked in on him brushing his teeth, fresh out of the shower, and reported the bruises to Susan, who in turn had informed Billy’s mom of what Max had seen. After a long talk and a lot of tears, Billy finally told his mother what Neil had been doing to him for the last ten years.

He’d been shaking by the time he was done getting everything out. His mother had hugged him, and he’d had to fight the urge to flinch, not used to physical affection. “You can’t tell anyone, mom. He’ll kill me if he finds out that you know.” His mother had looked at him like he had two heads. “Billy, your father is never going anywhere near you again. You’ll be staying here with me. We’re going to enroll you at Hawkins High, and you can do your senior year there. I’m sorry baby, if I’d only known, I swear I would have gotten you out of there.”

They’d cried and held each other well into the night, Billy’s mother working to reverse some of the psychological damage that Neil had inflicted upon Billy. He’d went to sleep with assurances that she did love him and did want him, and so did Susan and Max. He was loved, and she never wanted him to forget that.

***

Within a week, Billy’s mother and Susan had flown out to California to gather his belongings, Billy and Max spending a four-day weekend at Susan’s mothers while they went. Both of Billy’s grandmothers had passed away before he was born, so this was the first time he got the full grandma experience. ‘Call me Grandma Gwen,” she’d said, when Billy had called her Mrs. Mayfield. They baked cookies, sat and watched the birds at the feeders in the backyard, and played boardgames around the kitchen table, while drinking fresh squeezed lemonade.

Billy had gotten home only to find out that while they were all gone, Susan’s brother and sister-in-law had painted his room and a new bed, dresser, and desk had been set up. The bed even had four posters with princess curtains. Billy cried when he saw it, remembering a conversation that he and his mom had had in an Ikea years before. There had been a bed with princess curtains set up, and Billy had told her that someday he wanted to have a fancy bed just like it. She’d remembered.

She came up behind him as he looked around the space. “I hope it’s not too childish now. I know how much you wanted a bed like this at the time.” The old Billy, the one who had been shamed into hiding who he really was by Neil would have told her that he wanted to take the curtains down. Not now. “No, they’re perfect,” he almost whispered, running his hands along them. It was like his own private hiding place, something he hadn’t had at his old home, with no lock on his door and Neil deciding it was his right to barge in on Billy whenever he wanted.

***

All of this had gone a long way towards making Billy feel like he was worthy of love, but what had really drove it home for him was meeting Steve Harrington. Steve had been Max’s sort of babysitter. While she was a little too old for one, for years, Steve had been the babysitter for Dustin Henderson, a boy who lived down the street, and Steve and Dustin still hung out sometimes, Steve chauffeuring Dustin and his friends to the arcade and the pool. He would sometimes pick Max up so she could tag along with them.

One day, about a month after Billy had arrived in Hawkins, the doorbell had rung. He’d answered it in his swim trunks, as he’d been just about to take Max to the pool. He’d opened the door to find the most beautiful boy he’d ever seen on the other side. He was tall, with beautiful brown eyes and floppy brown hair held back by a pair of black Ray-Bans. He grinned at Billy. “Hey beautiful, is Max here?”

It had taken Billy a moment to collect himself and speak in the face of that million-watt smile. Finally, he’d been able to regain his composure. “She is, but who are you?” Steve’s smile had grown. “I’m ‘the babysitter’.” He’d said, using air quotes. “I’m here to bring Max to the pool?” Max had chosen then to walk out into the living room, in her bathing suit, a large t-shirt covering it. “Oh, hey Steve, sorry. I forgot to tell you that my stepbrother, Billy, is going to bring me to the pool We’ll see you there though. I’m really sorry that you came here for nothing.” Steve had waved her off. “Don’t worry, Max, it wasn’t out of my way. And it wasn’t for nothing either. I had the pleasure of meeting Billy here.” He’d winked at Billy as he said it. “Oh gross,” said Max, making gagging sounds. “Please leave him alone, Steve.”

Steve did no such thing, making his intentions known immediately. Billy hadn’t known what to do with the attention. As soon as they’d gotten to the pool, Steve was waving them over, gesturing to the two lounge chairs next to him. “I saved the one right next to me for you, Billy. And I got you a soda. I hope you like Coke.” Billy had blushed, but had sat down next to Steve anyway, sipping the proffered soda.

***

At first, Billy had thought Steve was just a flirt, but he was, as it turned out, incredibly sincere about his affections. He worked hard to get Billy to let him in. Billy had been hesitant to start a relationship, wanting to sort out his feelings about everything going on in his life before he committed to anything with Steve. Steve respected that, letting Billy know he was there as a friend, even if Billy never wanted more.

He picked Billy up for his therapy sessions, waiting in the car with a treat in hand for when Billy was done, sitting silently with him while he ate and processed what he’d talked to his therapist about that day, or letting Billy cry on his shoulder when he needed to. He’d bring him home and walk him to his room after, so Billy could take a nap, tired as he was from the heightened emotions.

When Billy did feel like talking, they’d spend hours out on the back deck, chatting about anything and everything. Some nights it would be deep conversation. He shared more about his past, and Steve told him about his complicated relationship with his own father, or how he’d come to terns with the fact that he was bisexual in the 9th grade. Other nights, they would just shoot the shit while playing cards or looking at the stars.

Steve was always great with Billy’s family. He had them over for BBQs, included Max in movie nights, and got both Billy’s mom and Susan cards and flowers on their birthdays. No matter what Steve was doing, he was showing Billy that he was there, and he cared about him, and he always would.

***

When Billy had felt he was ready for a relationship, Steve was there, plotting a fancy dinner at a steakhouse in Chicago, and when he revealed his plans to Billy, who told him it was too much, he pivoted, planning instead a picnic under the stars in his backyard. At the end of the evening, he walked Billy to his front door, kissing him softly after Billy gave him the go ahead.

Billy was so happy that he’d given Steve a chance instead of shying away when they met. Steve told everyone that would listen about Billy, the great guy he was dating, talking as if Billy had hung the stars in the sky. His Instagram was full of pictures of the two of them, posing at the pool, in the car, or with Billy’s entire new extended family on his 17thbirthday.

He’d also introduced Billy to his friend Robin, who’d worked with him at the diner. She was starting her senior year at Hawkins High too, and once school had started in the fall, Steve would frequently pick up Billy and Robin for lunch. It only made Robin slightly sick how lovey dovy the two of them were, staring into each others’ eyes over a shared milkshake at the diner.

Billy had also found that he actually enjoyed school and extracurricular activities now that he was out from other his father’s thumb. He was at the top of his class, and star of the basketball team, but it’d felt good to know that if he chose to quit the team, or got a B, that he wouldn’t be punished with a slap to the face and no dinner.

***

The one thing that Billy had been in control of in his past life was whether he had sex, so he’d chosen to wait. He knew six months into their relationship that he wanted Steve to be his first. He’d told the other boy that he was a virgin, and Steve had vowed to make Billy’s first time extra special. He’d cooked Billy dinner at his house, then they’d gone to his room, taking their time making out, undressing each other, hands roaming all over. Steve had taken Billy apart slowly, making sure he was comfortable with every new thing he did. Billy had felt safe and loved as they basked in the afterglow. It was everything he’d dreamt of and more.

The following Monday at school, it had taken Robin all of 10 minutes to notice the change in Billy, pulling him into an empty classroom to talk. “Billy, did you and Steve…” Billy nodded excitedly. “It was perfect, Rob. He…” She’d held her hand up to stop him. “Woah there, please stop. This is Steve. I do not want details of his sex life. Sorry. But I am happy for you two. You both deserve happiness.” He’d entered his next class with a massive grin on his face, and it had stayed there for the whole day.

***

It had been a great year, filled to the brim with King Steve shit. His boyfriend had gone overboard at Christmas and Valentine’s Day, taking great care to show Billy how much he loved him. The previous summer it would have overwhelmed him, but now he was ready to take on everything Steve had to give him. Billy knew now that he was worthy of being loved.

***

It was now Billy and Robin’s prom night. Billy was going with Steve, and Robin was taking a girl from their history class, Heather. They’d all pooled their funds to make it a night they wouldn’t forget. They’d rented a limo and gone all out on their outfits. All the parents had gathered at Steve’s to see them off, and before they’d even reached the hotel that the prom was being held at, Billy was receiving notifications that his mother had tagged him in a photo album on Facebook. Grandma Gwen had commented on almost every photo at lightning speed.

It was the night of Billy’s life. Hte danced the night away with Steve, Robin, and Heather, and was crowned prom king. When he got back to their table from his first dance with Heather, who had been crowned prom queen, Steve had tears in his eyes. “I’m so proud of you Billy. You’ve come so far this year. I love you so much.” They shared one more slow dance after that before heading back to their hotel room for some fun.

Billy just had to get through a few more weeks of classes before spending a summer relaxing by the town pool when he wasn’t working there as a lifeguard, then he and Steve would be off together to Indiana State university. His future was bright and set to be full of King Steve shit, just the way he wanted it.

[yikesharringrove]

Steve’s house has too many fucking rooms.

Billy’s never seen more than half of them, hasn’t really ventured too far outside of the kitchen, sitting room, and Steve’s room.

But here he was, banging into every single guest room, every single study, looking for Steve.

His car was out front, and Billy expected to find him in bed, ready for Billy to spend the night with a sweet smile and very little clothing.

But he wasn’t there.

And he wasn’t in the bathroom of the rec room, or the sitting room, or anywhere that Billy could think of.

He had checked everywhere, starting with the top floor and working his way down, poking his head in every bathroom and linen closet.

Turns out there was a washing machine and dryer on the top floor, as well as a set on the main floor.

“Fuckin’ rich people.”

Did they really have that much laundry? To constitute two different sets of machines? Billy does his own laundry, he knows how big a load is, why do three people need-

He found Steve.

In the fucking huge master bedroom.

He was curled up in the too-big bed, facing the ornate mantelpiece and the fireplace on the wall opposite the door.

“Stevie?”

He was asleep, his shoulders rising and falling gently with his breath.

He was curled in the center of the bed, one of the silk-covered pillows clutched to his chest, leaving plenty of room for Billy to squeeze behind him in the giant bed.

Billy left his jeans on the floor by the bed, yanking his shirt over his head to press himself against Steve in just his underwear.

Steve was warm.

He ran hot, generated so much heat when he slept he was like Billy’s own personal furnace.

The silk sheets were smooth and felt like nothing Billy had ever experienced against his skin.

The duvet was thick and heavy, and the bed smelled like the floral soap Steve used in the shower.

Steve shifted against Billy, his head shifting a bit.

“You with me?”

One dark eye blinked open, peering at Billy groggily.

“Kinda.”

“This your parents room?”

“Yeah. Mom’s, mostly.”

Steve’s dad had an apartment in the city, closer to the office. He spent most weeknights there when he could be assed to be in the state at all.

Billy really doesn’t know how that business runs with the Harrington couple almost never near their namesake firm. In fact, Billy doesn’t even know what the Harringtons do. Steve’s never told him.

“This bed is ridiculous.”

Steve huffed a laugh, rolling over lazily to tangle his legs with Billy, both their heads on the same pillow.

“Sometimes I sleep in here when I miss her. Is that weird?”

“No. She’s your mom. ‘s okay to miss her.”

Steve smiled at him weakly.

“The sheets like, always smell like her. I don’t know how. It’s just, nice, I guess.”

Billy doesn’t remember if his mom had a signature scent. Maybe if he caught a whiff of it the memory would come slamming back.

Billy buried his nose in the pillow, trying to suss out more than the heady scent, the fragrance that was all Steve to him.

“This just smells like you. Like that soap you use. The pomegranate shit.” Billy has showered with Steve a few times outside of the school locker room.

Showers that were supposed to be sexy, only for Steve to perform the most elaborate hair and skin routine Billy has ever seen. It took an hour in the shower and another thirty minutes after. Billy was exhausted just watching him.

“I stole that from her years ago. The smell is so her, and it makes my skin nice.”

Steve had scoffed at Billy’s five minute shower routine.

It’s not that hard, Harrington. Hair, pits, junk, done.

“I like the smell. Just makes me think of you.”

“How very sappy of you.”

Billy reached under the thick duvet to worm his way up Steve’s t-shirt, pinching Steve’s side.

“So, what’s up? You just miss her, or did some shit go down?”

Steve put one arm over Billy’s shoulder, playing with a few of the short curls at the crown of his head.

“She called me. In hysterics. She caught Dad cheating again. I said she should just leave him, you know? Been telling her for years. Apparently their prenup is like, intense though, so she doesn’t wanna, and that bums me out. Like, she’s so unhappy with him, and it sucks to watch her be miserable. He doesn’t give a shit about either of us, and I don’t know why she keeps clinging to him.”

Billy figures its money.

“It’s safe. She’s been married to him for like, what, twenty years?”

“Twenty-six.”

“See. That’s a long time to be with someone. It’s hard to restart after that. You’re a different person than you were twenty-six years ago.”

Steve sighed.

“I know that, I think, but it doesn’t change how shitty it is.”

Billy doesn’t know how Steve’s mom would act if she left his dad.

Billy’s mom left without a trace when she divorced Neil, but Steve’s already got the disappearing mother thing going on, so frankly it wouldn’t be too big a change.

It would break Steve in half though, probably.

“Maybe she’s just waiting ‘till he croaks. Cash out on that last will and testament.”

“Billy, that’s not funny.” But Steve was smiling a tiny bit as he said it.

“She’s been poisoning his food every night for the past year. She’s playing the long game.”

“Bill, serious, that’s my mom.” Steve was trying to stifle a laugh.

“The murderess of Hawkins court,” Billy said in a laughter voice. “There’ll be some weird museum dedicated to her in this very house one day.”

“It’s already a fuckin’ museum.”

“Yeah, but it’ll be like, a tourist destination. House of a killer.”

“You’re messed up.” Steve was grinning now, tugging on Billy’s hair lightly.

“Absolutely I am.”

[ikevampfg]

Ikemen Vampire- An outtake of their former wives. (Part 1)

Since I made an short scenario about MC asking about their former wives: Napoleon, Mozart, Arthur, Theo, Shakespeare and Dazai so made an outtake on their previous wives (most I did are the first wives.) Thought some parts will be historically inaccurate, I'd still like to touch the historical aspect closely and blend it with IkeVamp elements.

To know more about the short scenario I made, here's the link: https://ikevampfg.tumblr.com/post/188400800556/ikemen-vampire-suitors-mc-asks-about-their-former

Napoleon's first wife:

Josephine de Beuharnais

Her full name: Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie.

Napoleon's first wife and the Empress of France from 1805-1810. She was already a widow before meeting and having an affair with a young Napoleon and later marrying him making her the Empress and the consort of the emperor.

Personality: Takes pride on what she does as the Empress of France. A refined woman of nature, she has the combined elegance, infinite grace and charm. Her beauty captivated the young Napoleon.

Relationship with Napoleon: Her relationship with Napoleon did have ups and its down. The both of them were having arguments due to the news of their affairs yet it is said that their love was on bloom until Napoleon had to divorce her for his duty as The Emperor, to give an heir to the throne which she had failed to do so.

She agreed for the sake of France and Napoleon, knowing his passionate nature and an emperor of pride, letting go of her love for him. Napoleon was hesitant to let her go and wanted her to still gain the title of the Empress but she refused, and even after the divorce they still connected until her death of pneumonia which had sent Napoleon to tears, refusing to leave his room for days weeping for Josephine. Even at his deathbed before being a vampire, he had said his last testament and had said Josephine's name.

Mozart's former wife:

Constanze Mozart

Her full name: Maria Constanze Cäcilia Josepha Johanna Aloysia Mozart.

Mozart's wife, a trained singer from Austria. Constanze appeared on one of Mozart's greatest play, The Abduction from The Harem captivating Mozart.

Personality: A caring woman. She was down to earth and runs the house well and captivated Mozart because of her charm and beauty,having him court her and later wrote a letter to Constanze's father to marry her immediately.

Relationship with Mozart: Mozart went head over heels for her and even got through several methods just to marry Constanze. They were very much inlove, and she was known as the perfect pair for Mozart. They briefly broke up because of Mozart's jealousy to the man who measured her calves because of a parlor game but reunited after. She stayed with Mozart even with debts and loans until he passed away.

Arthur's first wife:

Louisa Hawkins

Her full name: Louisa Hawkins. (Toui given by Arthur)

Louisa is the first wife of Arthur Conan Doyle. She met Arthur at the clinic where Arthur works, and married five months after. She was known for being the reason why Arthur and their family moved to Switzerland to help Louisa's health to improve due to her tuberculosis.

Personality: A patient woman witha gentle caring personality. Quite a philosopher through her words, she value Arthur deeply and supported her through everything Arthur wanted to do to improve himself.

Relationship with Arthur: She and Arthur had a smooth marriage together. Marrying Arthur even he is a penniless doctor, she supported him in everything. Accompanying Arthur to learn optalmology, especially cheering for Arthur's writing. By the time Louisa had tubercolosis, Arthur had been the one to suggest for them to move for Louisa to keep fighting the disease. By the time she was sick and Arthur was seeing another woman, Jean Leckie, without her knowledge it had been lingering around in Arthur's conscience but he's remaining to be loyal until she passed away.

[stillebesat]

If I may, in the S.T.O.R.K au I believe you said that Virgil's Grandfather arranged the boating accident then proceeded to lie to both Virgil and Logan's Mom. May I ask what his motivation for that was? Did he not want Virgil to have Logan? Or what? Sincerely, Confuzzeled

There are a lot of motivations for why Virgil’s Grandfather, Ephraim Hawkins, arranged for the boating accident to happen. The major component though was that he saw in Maisey Sue (Logan’s Mom) the exact same type of woman that his first wife (Emma James) was. Emma and Maisey Sue are both women who are after the good things in life. Aka. Money. And Ephraim didn’t see how selfish and greedy his first wife was until after he got married to her. All she cared about was his money, his prestige, and his influence (as he is very rich coming from a very successful family line that’s been rich since before America was discovered) and that she didn’t actually love him. It was a horrible year of marriage for Ephraim until he could finalize the divorce and he never wanted any of his posterity to experience the same sort of circumstances. 

Ephraim would send his prayers of gratitude to his God every single day that he had no child from Emma, as it would have complicated matters more throughly as he doubted he could take pride in a child born through her, though Emma did take a good chunk of change from him in the divorce. Wary of having another fake relationship, Ephraim dated/courted his second wife, Christine Lowe, for far longer than any of his fellow peers had because he wanted to check and triple check to make sure that she was wanting to be with HIM and not with him for his money or influence or prestige. Ephraim only had one son, Markov, and he was quite protective of his heir to the family fortune when his son grew old enough to begin dating/courting. (Ephraim had a hand in ending a fair few relationships outside of Markov’s knowledge, and many with his knowledge -but with less drastic measures) and nearly ended Markov’s relationship with Virgil’s mother, Taliyah Seeze, until she put her foot down and told him flat out, nothing he could do could get in the way of her love for his son because she would marry him even if he disowned Markov and left him penniless. (He became quite the doting father to her after that point.) But his fear only reemerged when Virgil was born as Ephraim wanted his grandson to marry for love too and not have a woman marry him for the money he would be set to inherit. 

Ephraim could see from the first time that they met, at Virgil and Maisey Sue’s high school graduation, that the girl had eyes for the wealth of the Hawkins family. From how her eyes lingered on their clothes, their jewelry, the pictures on the walls of the family home, the molding…Ephraim could see all the subtle signs she was giving off that Maisey Sue may not care as much for his grandson as she was showing. (It didn’t change the couple of times they met up for family gatherings. Ephraim could see the greed shining in Maisey Sue’s eyes every time) But Highschool flings are often just that. Flings. And with college on the horizon Ephraim was hoping that things would fizzle out. (And there’s not much he can do when he lives in New York and Virgil grew up in Florida and went to school there) However, being the religious man that he is. Ephraim thought it was a major scandal and blemish to the family name when it came out that Maisey Sue had become pregnant and refused to marry Virgil until after the baby came. (She didn’t want to be fat on her wedding day). He saw her as a harlot who’d ruined his grandson and was trying to weasel her way into getting the family fortune because his great-grandson would gain part of the inheritance when Ephraim died which meant his mother would too. Not wanting his grandson to be in a loveless marriage, but knowing that Virgil was the loyal sort that would stick to his responsibilities and try and make a marriage work for the sake of his son, Ephraim set to plotting to find a way to get rid of the ‘problem’ so that Virgil wouldn’t feel weighed down or obligated to hold onto a toxic relationship and could move on and find true love and have a good family and children that would uphold the Hawkins name.

So around four months after Logan was born (and Maisey Sue felt good enough about her body to be seen in a wedding dress and the wedding that would occur in a couple more weeks) Ephraim invited them out on a boating trip on the lake. (A common occurrence for him as Ephraim loves the water and taking the family out on boating trips. This time it was just him, Virgil, Maisey Sue & Logan) 

And while Ephraim didn’t have a personal vendetta against Logan, he could only picture the little monster growing up as greedy as his mother, Ephraim couldn’t see the gentle signs of his father Virgil in his great grandson. And it probably didn’t help at that time that Logan was quite the crier as he was rather fussy. (already sensing that his mother didn’t love him as much as she appeared to love him in front of others). 

Ephraim had the whole thing plotted out. Things set up for the boat to explode if it was used in a certain way. So while they were in the middle of the lake, in the deeper waters and getting ready to head back to shore after a day out, he had Maisey Sue take the wheel, under the guise of giving her some practical learning experience. However, the explosion ended up being far stronger than expected, but happened closer to shore than planned, and Ephraim barely had time to shield Virgil from the blast before it knocked them all into the water. (Flying debris knocked Virgil out and he ended up in a brief coma) Getting his grandson onto a piece of the wreckage and ensuring he wouldn’t fall off, Ephraim swam to shore and ended up finding Maisey Sue (who had somehow managed to grab Logan and protect him (from “ah my source of money!!” instinct rather than a protective mother instinct) washed up on shore with her son in her arms. Logan overall looked fine. Maisey Sue ended up with some burns, mostly on her arms and back (as she turned to shield Logan as the explosion hit) 

And in that moment…seeing Logan staring up at him with wide blue eyes…he couldn’t bring it in himself to kill the child. He ended up switching plans. Telling Maisey Sue that it was all her fault that the boat exploded and that she had killed Virgil due to her mishandling his boat (as Virgil was still floating out in the water out of Maisey Sue’s sight and she was quite shaken from her near death experience to not question Ephraim’s words.) He said that he would consider it an accident and wouldn’t send her to jail for killing him so long as she too vanished with Logan to never come near the Hawkins family again. He would tell everyone that the three of them had died out in the lake with Ephraim as the only survivor. 

Maisey Sue wasn’t just going to turn tail and run though. She argued that she would have nothing as she wouldn’t be able to return their home to gather any of her things. So Ephraim agreed to send her the sum of $10,000 a month (small change for him) for her and Logan to live off of in exchange for her silence. (confirming to Ephraim that Maisey Sue was just in the relationship for the money and fame) 

With a promise that she would take good care of Logan (as Ephraim said he would check in on occasion and make sure she hadn’t abandoned the boy)She took the deal (and made sure Ephraim gave her the first payment of $10,000 then and there) before she left for a hospital to be treated where she gave a fake name and story as to how she ended up injured and then moved back down to Florida though in a different area from where she grew up and cut all ties with the Hawkins family and her old life (except for the monthly payments Ephraim would send her) 

Ephraim then returned to Virgil and when he woke up in the hospital, told him that Maisey Sue had somehow triggered an explosion on the boat and she and Logan had been lost in the lake and the bodies couldn’t be recovered. Virgil was devastated, but had no reason to suspect his grandfather of anything nefarious so believed his story to be true. Ephraim never saw Virgil get married, or even begin dating again as he passed away around 3 years later from natural causes, leaving his wife Christine, Markov & Taliyah, and Virgil behind as his heirs. 

Maisey Sue had no idea that Ephraim had died until the monthly $10,000 check failed to show. She thought at first it might be a fluke, but when the second month came with no check she did a bit of research and discovered Ephraim’s obituary and realized that with his death her monthly income was now gone as well because Ephraim had never told a soul, not even his wife, about the monthly bribe of silence and had made no arrangements to continue it at all after his death.Maisey Sue doesn’t know that Virgil is still alive as she didn’t read the obituary that listed him as living posterity. She also doesn’t make any effort to contact Virgil’s parents because she believes Ephraim told them that she’s the reason why Virgil died and doesn’t want to explain why she’s still alive and why she hadn’t contacted them before now. (mostly she doesn’t want to end up in jail) 

With no easy source of money, Maisey Sue’s compassion for Logan (as she was ensuring he was well taken care of so she could still earn her money) died as she saw him as her cash cow and with no money coming her way it meant Logan was useless to her and that he now became a burden, another mouth to feed as she struggled to find a job that would allow her to live and pay the bills which eventually leads to the events in A Special Delivery as she had finally reached the point where Remy could step in and take Logan from his mother and return him to Virgil. 

I hope that answered your questions Confuzzeled Anon!! Sorry for the delay in response, but let me know if you have any more questions. ^^;; 

[heylookafanfic]

AUTHOR’S NOTE: The reader is college aged, so about 19-26 years old :). I’m also going to try my best with making all my imagines gender neutral! I might accidentally forget in the future so, please don’t hesitate to remind me via inbox! Enjoy!

Pairing: Jim Hopper x Reader,  Robin x Reader

brief summary: You and Hopper are dating but after a conversation with Robin at work, you start to feel a bit insecure bc of the slight age gap in your relationship.

word count: 1,911 words requested: no, this one came to mind warnings: age gap, mention of abuse, mention of anxiety, mention of depression (drinking and smoking as a coping mechanism), but mainly fluff!

You worked at Scoops Ahoy with Steve and Robin as a summer gig. College is expensive and textbooks aren’t going to pay for themselves. You actually enjoyed working in there because it was in the mall which meant after you got off for the night, you got to grab a large piece of gooey pizza from the food court. The absolute highlight of your day.

12:45pm - Lunch time.

Steve offered to stay out front and sell ice cream while you and Robin ate lunch in the food court. You sat down and began eating a bagged lunch that Hop packed you.

“What’s that say? Robin asked

There was a Post-It note taped to the side of your lunch

She pulled it off and mockingly read: "Have a great day pumpkin!”

“Pumpkin???” she chuckled

“What? Your mom doesn’t call you little pet names?” you defensively joked

The note was obviously from Hop but you  quickly played it off like your mom wrote it.

“My mom and I are on a first name basis - the only thing she calls me is Robin” she chuckled

“You should call her Batman so you guys will be Batman and Robin” you laughed

“Yeah, never happen– woah”

Robin looked past you which made you turn around

“What?” you asked

“Tammy Thompson. Floral romper. Next to Taco Bell”

“I see her but, what about her?”

“ ‘Grade school crush’ Tammy Thompson”

“OH” you said as you caught on

“Dude, she got hot! Like, she was always cute in grade school but she’s gorgeous”

“Is she still your type?

"I don’t know. I don’t really have a type Y/N”

“I find that hard to believe. You think Phoebe Cates is– and I quote, ’outrageously hot’ ” you joke

“SHE IS!” Robin laughs

“What about you Y/N? You got a type?”

“Not really. If the right person comes along, then whatever happens, happens” you shrugged

“You liar, I see you hangin’ around that sheriff dude all the time. You can’t tell me you don’t have the hots for him”

“What?! No! Never in a million years. Hopper’s a family friend and only a family friend”

“Are you sure about that because, every time he stops by the shop, I see the way you make googly eyes at him” she said

“Googly eyes? Maybe that’s you making googly eyes at him Robin!” you laughed

“I like girls, remember?” she laughed

“Well, that’s good news because I was about to say, he looks quite a bit older than you” she continued

You continued eating your lunch but still listened to what Robin was saying

“Like, imagine dating some dude old enough to be your dad. Like, he’d hold your hand while you cross the street and he’d read a bedtime story before bed and you gotta get permission to leave the house and think about what it be like having– christ, I’m gonna vomit!” she laughed

You were secretly hurt by what Robin said because little did she know, she was right about you and Hopper except it’s not a crush– you and Jim are going on 8 months in a serious relationship. It all started after fighting off the demidogs with the kids, Jonathan, Nancy, Steve, and Hopper. Jim offered you to stay with him and El until things died down but you declined because you still had college courses to take care of. Although lab experiments are pretty much running rampid through Hawkins, school wasn’t going to close down for a snow day, let alone Demidogs. College was 2 hours away from Hawkins but that never stopped Hop from driving the distance to “check in” on you. Flat tire? Hop was on the way. Need a space heater for your dorm? Hop wouldn’t let you spend a dime on buying one, he’d be on his way with one in the back of the truck and maybe a little homemade meal prepped by yours truly. Basically, he found any excuse to come and see you. After a heart-to-heart one day after ranting about being a bit homesick, he asked you to move in with him and El.

*Flashback*

“You’ll be in Hawkins and even if it means waking up at the crack of dawn to drive you to class, it’ll be worth it.” he said

“Hop, I don’t want to inconvenience you at all. I mean, it’s a 2 hour drive there and back, that’s a lot of gas, you still have to go to work and is El really going to be okay by herself for a few hours?” you questioned

“Gas isn’t a problem, the truck uses it regardless of where I’m going, and yes, El will be perfectly fine. The kid survived this whole time without me and did you forget she has–”

“telekinesis” you both said

After saying your good byes to your dorm mate and packing your things, you were officially a resident of casa de Hopper. He was thrilled that he’d get to see you everyday. Nothing was official yet but he had a hunch that maybe things would move a long a bit. He apologized for not having a room for you but you didn’t mind the little area of the cabin he prepared for you. You had feelings for him from the jump but after seeing him out of uniform and being an amazing dad to El, you were absolutely sold. Being able to see Hop put this whole 'tough guy’ persona away behind closed doors and being vulnerable at times, had you wishing he’d actually ask you out.

One night, you were sitting on the porch, letting the sounds of the surrounding woods serenade you, when he sat beside you. He brought you a coffee and just sat in silence. The way you looked as you admired the stars– you literally had a twinkle in your eye. Taking a deep breath, he went for it. The man just full on let his heart out to you before quickly regretting it. You looked at him and chuckled. In that moment, he was sure he ruined your friendship, you’d want to move out and never speak to him again. You told him that you have the same feelings for him but never had the courage to say anything. He let out a sigh of relief and cracked the biggest smile. Things went quiet again  until he asked if he could kiss you (consent first!). You nodded and you two lovebirds did a passionate but sweet kiss.That smile quickly went away. He pulled back and took a breath. You asked him what was wrong and he simply said

“It’s not right”

“What?”

“Us”

“Huh?”

“Me and you Y/N. I feel like I took advantage of you”

“What?! No, of course not. In what way?” you asked

“You’re in your 20’s, I’m in my 40’s. There’s an age gap”

“Okay– I don’t see how that’s a problem though”

“When everyone sees us, they’re going to think I’m only using you for sex. Come on, you know if a guy my age is with someone your age, there’s obviously something going on there. The younger person is never the 'secretary’ or 'assistant’.” he said

“Hop, are we or are we not 2 consenting adults?”

“Yeah”

“Do we both have honest mutual feelings for each other?”

He nodded his head

“So, what does it matter what everyone else thinks? We’re both happy. I haven’t been truly happy in a while but when you’re around, the world isn’t so bad” you said

He cracked a smile again.

“Listen, if it makes you feel better we don’t have to tell anyone about us. We can tell them when we’re ready. Deal?” you continued

He put his pinky finger out.

“Oh, so we’re pinky promising now?” you chuckled

“I guess you can say we’re getting pretty serious” he laughed

*End of flashback*

7:00pm– Closing Time

Hop pulled up to the front of the mall and waited for you.

7:00 was his favorite time of the day because that meant he got to see his whole world walk out of the doors of the Starcourt Mall every day. He was blasting “You Make My Dreams” by Hall & Oats with the windows rolled up. It was the song to your realationship but, he’d rather be caught dead than be caught listening to Hall & Oats.

You walked through the doors, yanking off your “AHOY” hat when you hear

“Y/N!”

Getting in the car, you plop down in the passenger side and put your seatbelt on.

Usually “You Make My Dreams” would have you dancing in your seat but you were offaly quiet.

“You okay?” he asked as he turn the music down

“Yeah”

“Now, when you say 'yeah’ ,you’re obviously lying. Seriously, is everything okay?”

You sighed

“Remember when we 1st got together, and we talked about our age?”

“Mhm”

“Robin and I were talking and she mentioned how dating a 'guy old enough to be your dad’ is gross.”

“Did you tell her about us?!” he panicked

“No, of course not. She brought age gaps up when we were talking about crushes and I have anxiety over it now. Are we–”

Hop put his finger up to his lip and shh’d you. He knew you overthink too much and that lead to your anxiety triggering. He took your hand in his, rubbing his thumb over yours.

“Y/N, the minute I laid my eyes on you–”

He paused before choking up a bit

“–I felt the same feeling I felt when I first met Diane. After Sarah passed, we divorced and I never thought I’d be happy again. I turned to cigs and alcohol for help but I dug myself deeper in this hole. Meeting Joyce gave me hope, but I saw how happy she was with Bob and– I wanted what she had. Coming home to someone who gives a damn about you every day. All the stress from fighting the demagorgon and being a dad again, I was ready to throw in the towel. Then, I met you. You were so laidback and carefree and had this aura I can’t describe. You always knew how to light up a room. When I got to know you better and you told me about the hell your dad put you and your mom through, I saw how strong you were and I needed that in my life. I needed someone who can keep me grounded when life becomes too much. That was you. You went back to college and I felt my life falling apart again. That’s why I came to see you so much. When you said you wanted to move in, I drove home that night on top of the world. I told El and we drank hot chocolate the whole night as a celebration. You wanna know the best part, that night we started dating was the absolute best night I had in years. I felt like kid again. Like, my playground crush just said yes to swinging together. Y/N, you are the best thing to happen to me in a long time. Like you said, 'what does it matter what everyone else thinks? We’re both happy’. ”

He kissed you and that kiss had to be at least a minute long.

“You feel better?” he chuckled

“No” you said

“Seriously?”

“I’m kidding, yes I feel better” you chuckled

“Good, now let’s go home” he said with a side smile

[merlotetmos]

Courtney Marlow: The Stone Files OC

General Characteristics

Name: Courtney Marlow Faceclaim (if applicable):

Titles: ADA Nickname: Court, C-Low Alternate forms:

Theme song:  Nothing for Granted Brendan James

Physical Characteristics

Height: 5’7 Build: Athletic, skinny Nationality: American Accent: English, proper Species: Human Skin colour: White Hair colour: Blonde Hair length: Shoulder Eye colour: Blue Eye shape: Almond Most prominent facial feature: her blue eye Most prominent body feature: Blond Hair Scent: Cloves and cinnamon Right/Left-handed: Right

Mannerisms: She taps her paper when she’s thinking and often blanks during conversations.

Health and Fitness

Addictions: Coffee. Planter peanuts, Gilmore Girls reruns Handicaps:  She rambles when she talks, but it always comes out as something important.

Story Information

Archetypes: The smart blond lawyer. Role: She helps them build winable cases.

Personality

Personality type: It's hard to describe a complex person like Amber Hawkins, but if there's anything you should know it's that she's practical and innovative. Of course she's also tolerant, companionably and flexible, but they're often slightly tainted by a mindset of being shallow as well. Her practical thinking though, this is what she's often adored for. People often count on this and her captivating nature whenever they need assistance or help. Nobody's perfect of course and Amber has plenty of less favorable traits too. Her tactlessness and apathetic nature risk ruining pleasant moods and reach all around. Fortunately her innovative nature is there to relift spirits when needed. Strongest character trait: Her memory. Weakest character trait: She talks to much.

Competitive?: Definitely. Snap judgements or Calm thinker: Calm thinker, she is the kind of person that makes pro’s and con’s lists to help her make decisions.

Where do they go when angry/upset?: the coffee shop Where do they go when happy?: The park How do they react to praise?: Basks in it. How do they react to criticism?:  Doesn’t take it well at all and can throw a toddler-like tantrum. How do they react to a threat?: Not very well. She doesn’t have the fierceness of Jesse unless she’s in the court room. Fight or Flight: Flight.

Biggest weakness: She freezes when hard choices need to be made.

Personal Characteristics

Birth date: Jan 3rd, 1986 Zodiac sign: Capricorn Birthplace: New York City, New York. Hometown: New York City, New York, but currently lives in Wilkson.

Motivations

Primary objectives:  Her main goal is to become a DA. Secondary objectives: She wants to prove to her family that she is better than they think. Desires: to find some place to belong, to have a family. Secrets: She’s pretty much broke for the most part. The money she makes from cases usually goes to paying off credit cards and such. She’s been cut off from her family and she’s basically paying off what she had to use to survive when she was going through college. Quirks: She always carries a pen.

Greatest achievement:  Graduating from Harvard Law on her own. Worst failure: Her parents disowning her for going into law school to be a defense attorney.

Mental Characteristics

Known languages: Latin, Greek, Hebrew Lures: Anything sweet, anything with vodka or coffee. Savvies: Defense criminal law, Ineptitudes: Aspects of human interaction in not knowing when to be quite, Temperament: Subtle. Intelligence type (book smarts, street smarts, etc): book smart. Intelligence level: Very intelligent, graduated Harvard with top marks.

Intellectual Characteristics

Interpersonal: She is very socialable, maybe a little too much as much as she likes to talk. Intrapersonal: She spends most of her time alone and leads a very structured life style though she does go out for drinks on Friday’s and allows herself to let loose for the night. Morality: Her side is on the law. She stands soundly behind her law degree. Perception: She’s perceived by most, at least at first, as a little ignorant, which she uses to her benefit. What’s their view on lying?:Doesn’t like it.

Likes and Dislikes

Likes: Winning, Whiskey, Vegan food, cooking on occasion, a nice glass of Chardonnay every now and then. Dislikes:  Loosing, dealing with her parents, peppermint flavored foods, cheaters (in court). Equipment: law books, the sound of her voice. Wardrobe:  Pant suites. Large fears: Being a failure as a lawyer. Being a failure to her parents, seeing herself as a failure Small fears/anxieties: being alone, not fitting in, being broke, lack of confidence Hobbies: playing classical piano, What would they change about themself?: Having more confidence in themselves, possibly her parentage

Social Characteristics

Emotional Stability: On the outside she seems cool, sometimes airheaded, but on the inside she’s an emotional mess. Humour: She often fails at delivering jokes, but laughs at her own jokes anyway Reputation: While known as a lion in the court room, she’s often seen as aloof, distant and awkward outside She doesn’t have anyone she really calls friends and outside of work stays to herself. Status: Single

Occupation: ADA Skills: Public Speaking, Research, Patience Superiors: DA  Avery Landon

Romantic Characteristics

First kiss: Wedding day, 2002 First sexual encounter: Wedding night, 2002

How do they behave in a relationship?:The only relationship her parents allowed her to have was with the husband they arranged for her. She wasn’t allowed to date until her wedding date so she has no experience with being in relationships. Have they ever been in love?:No. Have they ever had their heart broken?:Yes, though she didn’t love her husband, but the divorce three years after the wedding broke her. He was both emotionally and physically abusive and the broken marriage broke her relationship with her parents when disowned her for not remarrying

View on PDA:

Interpersonal Connections

Family

Mother: Dalia Marlow Father: Evan Marlow Siblings: Christopher Marlow, Sadie Marlow Married/Attachments: Divorced (Craig Evanperry) Other:

Other

Allies: Jesse, Soni, Zack, Nate, Alyssa, Eddie, Avery Landon, Enemies: Dalia, Even, Craig, Chief Mayberry Friends (What do they value in each friend and what do they dislike about each?): Jesse, Soni, Zack, Nate, Alyssa, Eddie, Avery

Heroes: Avery, Jesse, Rivals: Prosecutor Eva Lameria, ADA Cameron James

Biography

Childhood: Courtney was raised in a typical, privileged home to two parents who were both lawyers. She grew up with maids and nanny’s and handed everything she needed. She passed all her classes and even took extra’s at time. Her child hood was pretty much handed to her with a silver plater and she never considered thinking twice about it. Adolescence: Her high school life passed pretty much the same, she participated in soccer, cheerleading and theater. She was considered most popular because of her name her life was pretty ‘average’ until her senior year when her parents arranged for her to be courted by Craig Evenparry, whose parents were much richer than hers.  Attempting to follow the rules and please her parents, Courtney didn’t argue, though she didn’t love or even like him.

Adulthood: Courtney graduated from Harvard law, with honors, just as planned, but instead of going into practice, she married Craig, but Courtney was incredibly unhappy. Craig became controlling of everything she did and became emotionally abusive towards her and she quickly became a prisoner in her own home.

A year into her marriage, on their anniversary night, Courtney caught Craig in bed with one of their neighbors. Angry, Courtney took his car (their only car) and went home. While Craig was still with the woman, she had a locksmith change the locks and then proceeded to move out. She moved back home with her parents for a month while she divorced Craig. Her parents attempted to fix the situation by setting up another marriage for Courtney, which she refused. She’d received a job offer for an ADA position in Wilkson and accepted. Her parents disowned her and she moved out the night she accepted. When she arrived in Wilkson, she had no where to go and no money until her first paycheck. She met Jesse at the cafe and cried out her troubles over a cup of coffee. Feeling bad for the girl, Jesse offered to let her stay with her until she got back on her feet (the only time Jesse ever had a roommate). Jesse was just starting the UCU and explained it to Courtney who immediately signed up and helped Jesse pitch the idea to the mayor, who accepted after a short arguement with Courtney. As a thank you to Jesse, Courtney has been working with UCU on volunteer basis while working her regular job as ADA and remains single.

[kiss-my-freckle]

Half vs Whole

Two whole truths: Red’s whole truth & Tom’s whole truth

Liz only holds half of each. 

Shown in many instances throughout season five. At least three instances in Smokey Putnam’s episode alone. The half vs whole. 

The couple at the start of the episode. The half vs whole of a couple. 

A blonde woman because Liz’s mother was blonde, and an older man because Red is technically an old man. They got out of the car, our Red got in. Whole cut in half. Not just an imposter Red, but an imposter man. Because Katarina didn’t want to become a man. In her own way, she was forced into this disguise. 

Smokey Putnam and the money. The half vs whole of LeMarc ‘s decision. 

Red: Mr. LeMarc, I understand you’re upset. You trusted a man to launder your criminal nastiness, and instead, he absconded with it. I’m here to make things right - a proposal. You get your money, and I get the man who took your money. LeMarc: Now, why would I agree to that? Red: Because I have the guns. Take your money and go. I don’t want to get involved in your affairs, so if you take your money and leave, you’ll never see me again. And Mr. Putnum will not be telling anyone - the courts or otherwise - about the intricacies of your business operations. I’m his rabbi now. You’re free to go. LeMarc: And what if I tell you I’m not leaving here without both him and my money? Red: I put a bullet in your head and keep your money.

Smokey Putnam and Heddie Hawkins. The half vs whole of Red’s plan. 

Liz: That’s what this whole thing was about? You had to get Putnum back in order to draw Hawkins out, which could only happen if Putnum showed up to trial. This whole thing was about getting to the accountant. Red: That’s half of it. I’d be happy to explain, but there is something I need you to do for me first.

As well as Red’s half vs whole plan in Miss Rebecca Thrall’s episode. 

Tom: These guys work for you? I thought I was going to jail - that I was never gonna see my family again. You’re telling me this whole thing was about getting some guns? Red: Not just guns. A man needs to travel, and when traveling, I like to stretch out a little.

That’s not including the couples in season five. Samar and Aram, Smokey and Tammy, Greyson and Anna, Tom and Liz, Pattie Sue and her dead husband, Mrs. Kilgannon and her husband, Pete and Lena. As well as children, like the two daughters of Calvin and Eleanor Dawson. Which brings me to a more recent half vs whole ... 

Jennifer and Liz: The half vs whole of Red’s truth. 

That’s why we were handed a grave for Naomi Hyland, while Katarina’s fate is still a secret despite the world being led to believe that she drowned. 

Also why Garvey’s eyes popped as they did. He was shot in the chest by a Rostova to save a Rostova. Why Liz shouldn’t be trusting Jennifer at all. Because her mother appears to be dead, so the moment she finds out who our Red is, it’ll end up backfiring on Liz.

Why Tom’s eyes popped as they did, and why he feared our Red shooting him when he came to save Liz. Because mother Rostova came to save her cub. 

Why we get dialogues like these:

Garvey: Let’s start with the truth. Red: You have the bones. You already know the truth. Garvey: A truth. I want the whole truth.

Red: I’m going to help with the former and prevent the latter. 50-50 split. Like a good divorce. 

I could sit here and list every single bite that furthers this, but I’ll save that for another post. It’ll be the end of series when they tell us what Red whispered to Kirk. Because Liz first needs to uncover Tom’s whole truth, since his whole truth ties in with Red’s whole truth. By the time they circle back to Red’s whole truth, Liz will have learned Tom’s whole truth and we’ll finally learn what Red whispered to Kirk. No DNA proof to show that he’s not the real Red, so he handed Kirk proof of his born identity, and proved it with words alone. Something about the night Katarina went dancing on the neighbor’s lawn. Something only she would know. Because Red is Katarina and Tom worked for her husband, Constantin Rostov. “Elements from Katarina’s past...” That same half vs whole concept in Tom’s whole truth. The confluence of peril that entered Liz’s life, explained in Leonard Caul’s episode. Red’s very reason for turning himself in. 

2x19 -

Red: A confluence of peril had entered your life, and I wanted to be within reach, to have influence. I turned myself in to the FBI to point you toward a truth that inevitably you would have to discover for yourself.

That’s why the only answers Red was ever seeking, was with regard to Tom’s whole truth. Diane Fowler is different. She believed she was speaking to the real Red, but our Red already knew the truth about “that night.” To which the writers are now misleading with the finale flashback, as it’s shown from Liz’s point of view. Liz believes Red altered the fingerprint in her murder case, so she believes Red killed Fowler over this imposter truth. But Red's search for Tom’s whole truth was shown in dialogue back in season one. Furthered by dialogue that began in Ivan, was discussed further in Milton Bobbit, and continued in the season one finale. It’s the difference in Red knowing the whole truth of Liz and her past, and knowing the whole truth of Liz’s present. 

1x17 -

Liz: Turns out Jolene Parker doesn’t exist. It’s an alias. I want to know who she is, and I want to know why the hell she’s inserted herself into our lives. Red: I can’t answer that. Liz: You can’t or you won’t? Red: Well, that’s a matter of interpretation. Liz: Not to me. You said there’s always something you’re not telling me. Just once, I’d like to hear the whole truth from you. Red: I wish I knew the whole truth.

“The whole truth” Red referred to, is Tom’s whole truth. Notice this bit of dialogue here, “You can’t or you won’t?” This was added to Red’s secret in S5. 

Liz: Do you not know, or you can’t say? The truth Tom discovered. I asked if you knew about it, and you said, “I can’t say.” Does that mean you don’t know, or is “can’t say” some clever turn of phrase that makes it possible for you to be honest and secretive?

1x18 -

Liz: My husband chose me. He inserted himself into my life because of you. Red: I can only assume that’s the case. Liz: Why? How are we connected? Red: That is just a distraction. Liz: No, that is all that matters! This is my life! Tell me! Red: Right now, the only thing that matters, is the immediate threat - your husband - finding out who he is and who he works for. The rest will come. I promise you.

“The rest will come” because Red’s whole truth ties in with Tom’s whole truth. 

1x21 -

Liz: And I swear to God, right now, I want to kill you. But there are answers I need, and I can’t get them without you. Red: And I can’t get them without you.

Red is referring to the answers Liz is seeking. It’s the very reason he’s there. 

1x2 -

Red: Please understand, I want more than anything to help you. It’s the reason why I’m here. But I won’t say another word until the terms of my deal are met. I’m so sorry to bother you with these trivial details, but it’s a simple yes or no.

1x8 -

Red: You may not like me. You may not understand how or why I do what I do. But I’m here because you want answers to questions you haven’t even thought of yet.

Red: I’m not going to beg you to allow me the privilege of helping you. So, say the word, and I’m gone.

The half vs whole of Red's pre-pilot scene and reason for turning himself in.

Red's whole truth & Tom’s whole truth:

Red: As I feared would happen, elements from Katarina’s past are circling Elizabeth like a pack of wolves in the night. I put Tom Keen in her life to keep an eye on her, and he married her. 

The half vs whole of Red's connection to Liz:

Red: Everything about me is a lie. Red: What if I were to tell you that all the things you’ve come to believe about yourself are a lie?

Confirmed by the writers that Liz is Red's daughter, but he's not her father.

Tom reveals to come. Because Red won't be wrong. The other half, what made him a confluence of peril, his having worked for Constantin Rostov, Rederina’s ex-husband.

Under a NexaCo gas sign with double focus:

Berlin: You’ve always believed that you were acting in her best interest. Selling me out to Berlin ... Kirk: faking her death ... you always thought you were helping her.

That’s why Red handed us several dialogues to further this:

Tom: Because she’s kind and decent and she sees the best in people. Even when she’s being lied to. Red: You’re certainly living proof of that.

Red: Tom was a man of many truths. Which of those he was going to divulge, I can’t say.

4x9 -

Tom: Yeah. So, I know we’re moving out, but just a quick gut check here. Kirk is gone. But according to Reddington, he’s what, dead? Not dead? He’s definitely not in jail.

3x23 -

Cooper: Alexander Kirk owns companies all over the world, including a prominent energy subsidiary here in America … NexaCo Gas … that supplies gasoline to stations all over the country. Reddington’s gonna intercept one of his trucks and swap out the tanker with one full of the contraband oil.

Red had enough reason to kill Kirk, but he let him walk. 

Cooper: You must have known there was a chance she’d discover Kirk was her father when you put him on your list. Red: He was never on it. He never would’ve been if he hadn’t come after her first. Cooper: If anyone belongs on that cursed list, it’s Alexander Kirk. Why the hell wouldn’t you put him there?

Cooper: Reddington did what? Ressler: We thought he kidnapped Dr. Shaw in order to make sure that Kirk died. But the truth is, he kidnapped her hoping to keep Kirk alive. Samar: The data recovered from Kirk’s lab indicates that Reddington was trying to prove to Kirk that Shaw could save him. Cooper: Why the hell would he do that? Samar: Why does Reddington do any of the things he does? Because he’s Katarina. 

I could keep going with this, but it’d end up long af. 

[cinephiled-com]

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Seven (Surprising) Discoveries at the 2017 TCM Classic Film Festival

My eyes are still recovering from watching back-to-back movies from 9 am to midnight for days on end at the eighth annual TCM Classic Film Festival last week in Hollywood. But, eye strain aside, it is an exciting, joyous event for the thousands of classic movie lovers who come to town from all over the world for the festivities. I can’t even tell you how much I look forward to this four-day festival. Taking place in two historic 1920s movie palaces, Sid Grauman’s stunning Chinese and Egyptian theaters on Hollywood Boulevard, as well as the neighboring TCL Chinese Multiplex and a few presentations at the nearby Cinerama Dome, there are up to five concurrent presentations taking place in every time slot (totaling more than 100 films) over the course of the festival. Choosing what to see when there are so many great options is part of the agonizing fun.

I’ve attended every TCM Festival since it began in 2010 and this year’s was especially poignant following the death last month of the beloved TCM host and father figure Robert Osborne at the age of 84. Getting a chance to meet Osborne at the festival and hear him introduce films and interview the actors and filmmakers he knew so well was every bit as exciting as meeting our favorite stars. This year, the entire festival was dedicated to Robert Osborne and there were many tears at various remembrances. Also many laughs, as this year’s overall theme was comedy in the movies. Sadly, many of the people who attended the festival in years past are no longer with us. I have so many wonderful memories of hearing stars such as Debbie Reynolds, Tony Curtis, Maureen O’Hara, Luise Rainer, Mickey Rooney, Betty Garrett, Esther Williams, and so many others talk to us about their work. This year’s special guests included incredibly talented folks such as Carl and Rob Reiner (who became the first father and son to get their footprints immortalized in cement in the famous Grauman’s Chinese forecourt), Sidney Poitier, Genevieve Bujold, Michael Douglas, Peter Bognonavich, Lee Grant, Buck Henry, Keir Dullea, Richard Dreyfuss, Dick Cavett, Ruta Lee, and Mel Brooks. Taking up hosting duties in Robert Osborne’s absence were movie experts and TCM family members Ben Mankiewicz, Illeana Douglas, Cari Beauchamp, and Leonard Maltin, among others.

In addition to seeing great movies the way that should be seen and meeting some of the people who made them, one of the best parts of the festival is getting a chance to hang out with fellow movie lovers of all ages and from all walks of life. I have made many friendships at the festival which continue online throughout the year as we share notes and gab about our hopes for the next year’s offerings. The night before the festival, the online TCM group I am a part of gets together at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (site of the very first Academy Awards and the festival headquarters) and we often bring in a special guest. This year I interviewed the glamorous and talented Barbara Rush who regaled us for over an hour with stories of her amazing films and co-stars including Frank Sinatra, Rock Hudson, Paul Newman, Marlon Brando, James Mason, Montgomery Clift, Richard Burton, Kirk Douglas, and many others. Barbara, who turned 90 in January, was so full of energy she was still going strong hours later across the street at Musso & Frank’s, holding court with an adoring crowd over dinner and sharing poignant stories of her close longtime friendship with Robert Osborne. I also got the chance to spend some time at our gathering with Cora Sue Collins, renowned child star of the 1930s who was handpicked by Greta Garbo to play Garbo as a child in Queen Christina (1933) and also appeared with the great Swedish star in Anna Karenina (1935). As a young girl, Cora Sue acted in many other well-known films such as Treasure Island (1934) with Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper and  Evelyn Prentice (1934) in which she played the daughter of Myrna Loy and William Powell. She so enjoyed visiting with us two years ago that she came back to see us this year and had a mini-reunion with Barbara Rush (Cora Sue had appeared in the 1935 version of Magnificent Obsession with Irene Dunne and Robert Taylor while Barbara was in the 1954 Douglas Sirk version of the story with Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson).

Sitting in movies from early morning until midnight for several days in a row is a thrilling treat that requires stamina and an understanding family, but I wish I could do it all over again just to see some of the films I missed at this year’s festival. Films such as Jezebel (1938), Born Yesterday (1950), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1967), Broadcast News (1987), Laura (1944), Twentieth Century (1934), The China Syndrome (1979), The Last Picture Show (1971), David and Lisa (1962), The Great Dictator (1940), Bye Bye Birdie (1963), Theodora Goes Wild (1936), King of Hearts (1966), Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Postcards from the Edge (1990), Casablanca (1942), and so many others. Oh, the pain! And yet I don’t regret ANY of my choices, from the films I’ve seen dozens of time to the new discoveries. Despite being a classic movie fanatic, there are some surprising holes in my movie repertoire — I can’t tell you how many times I heard my TCM friends exclaim, “You’ve NEVER seen The Awful Truth or The Palm Beach Story? What the hell is wrong with you?!” I can’t explain why I’ve missed some of the classics, especially when I’ve seen so many other films such as The Philadelphia Story, Meet Me in St. Louis, and All About Eve at least 50 times each. Here’s a rundown of seven films I saw at the festival this year for very first time (in alphabetical order so I don’t play favorites):

1. The Awful Truth (Columbia, 1937). Such utter joy with Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, and Ralph Bellamy at their screwball best. Leo McCarey won his first of three Oscars for this film (although he personally felt that he deserved it more for his drama that came out earlier that year, Make Way for Tomorrow, that screened at the 2014 festival). I have no idea how I missed The Awful Truth all these years but seeing it with a big audience on a huge screen was a great introduction and we all laughed ourselves silly at the story of Jerry and Lucy Warriner — a loving couple that splits up early in the film and then keep sabotaging each other’s relationships before their final divorce kicks in. Grant was reportedly very unhappy with McCarey’s directing style during this film, which included a fair amount of improvisation (rare for the 1930s), and tried to get off the film. Thank goodness he didn’t succeed since his performance set the stage for many of his best comedies to come including three more films (The Philadelphia Story, His Girl Friday, and My Favorite Wife) that featured divorced couples who rediscover each other and fall back in love. The best screwball comedies always include a bunch of perfectly played smaller roles and here I’d like to call out Egyptian actor Alexander D’Arcy as Irene Dunne’s questionable companion, Armand Duvalle, and Joyce Compton as Cary Grant’s showgirl squeeze, Dixie Belle Lee. My favorite part of The Awful Truth may be when Irene Dunne crashes a party at the home of Grant’s new fiancée, heiress Barbara Vance, and poses as his gum-chewing sister, performing one of Dixie Lee’s risqué nightclub numbers we saw earlier. The film also features Nick and Nora Charles’ dog Asta in the key role of the Warriners’ pooch, Mr. Smith. Grant and Dunne would go on to co-star in two more great movies, My Favorite Wife (1940), and Penny Serenade (1941).

2. The Court Jester (Paramount, 1955). Danny Kaye seems to be an acquired taste, I’ve spoken to many classic movie fans who are lukewarm on Kaye and his films. As a young kid I loved Kaye’s TV variety show, and I remember enjoying him in perennial broadcasts of White Christmas and Hans Christian Anderson. But I approached this film with a fair amount of trepidation myself, I really didn’t know what to expect, and have to admit I was flabbergasted by how much I loved it. Seeing a glorious Technicolor restoration on the huge Grauman’s Chinese screen didn’t hurt, nor did the fascinating discussion of the film and Danny Kaye’s work between Illeana Douglas and actor Fred Willard (a huge Danny Kaye fan) before the screening. Kaye is just brilliant in the triple role (sorta) of Hubert Hawkins and his masquerade as Giacomo the Jester in order to gain entry into the royal palace so that he and his friends can reinstall the rightful heir to the throne, a baby with a telling birthmark on his butt, the “purple pimpernel.” Confused? Don’t worry, it’ll all make sense when you watch the crazy fun, including Kaye’s “third” role as a much more menacing Giacomo after he’s hypnotized by Griselda (Mildred Natwick). With beautiful Glynis Johns as Kaye’s fellow rebel and eventual love interest, Maid Jean, and a young and gorgeous Angela Lansbury as the recalcitrant Princess Gwendolyn who falls in love with the hypnotized Kaye, the film provides lots of color, music, and howls from beginning to end, especially with great actors such as Basil Rathbone, Cecil Parker, and John Carradine playing it completely straight during the nonsense. Danny Kaye’s particular style of wordplay is at its peak here: “The pellet with the poison’s in the vessel with the pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true!”

3. Lady in the Dark (Paramount, 1944). Introduced by actress Rose McGowan, the final film I saw at the festival on Sunday night was a rare screening of the nitrate Technicolor print of Mitchell Leisen’s Lady in the Dark starring Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland, Warner Baxter, and Jon Hall. To say that this is one CRAZY-ASS film is an understatement. Loosely based on the successful Moss Hart-directed Broadway musical of the same name with songs by Ira Gershwin and Kurt Weill, the film stars Ginger Rogers as the no-nonsense editor-in-chief of Allure, a successful fashion magazine. The repressed Ginger is dating her older publisher (Baxter) despite the fact that his wife won’t give him a divorce and she is constantly battling with one of her top editors (Milland) in such an irritated way that you KNOW they will ultimately end up together. But poor overworked Ginger is plagued by strange nightmares (which we see in all their bizarre Technicolor glory) and is finally persuaded to visit a shrink (Barry Sullivan) who convinces her that something traumatic from her past is responsible for her decision to eschew all glamour and femininity (a ridiculous assertion given Ginger’s beauty and her allegedly “plain” clothes that any woman I know would kill for). Enter visiting hunky movie star Randy Curtis (Hall) who everyone in the magazine’s office (except for Ginger, of course) goes GAGA for, including the openly gay photographer (Mischa Auer in the part that made Danny Kaye a star on Broadway) and the male assistants at the magazine (I guess in 1944 it was okay to show male-to-male attraction in the context of employees at a fashion magazine). But Curtis only has eyes for Ginger, and her dreams take an even odder turn. The costumes in this film (by Edith Head, Raoul Pene du Bois, and Barbara Karinska) are miles over-the-top, including a bejeweled mink-lined number (now in the Smithsonian) that was so heavy Ginger needed a second, lighter version of it made for the dance sequence. What this movie says about psychotherapy, femininity, and relationships is so outrageous and politically incorrect that one friend of mine at the screening immediately pronounced the film “monstrous.” But it is fascinating time capsule of another time and place, and definitely worth seeing even though it’s so weird I now feel like I may need a visit with Rogers’ psychiatrist.

4. Love Crazy (MGM, 1941). This was the first film I saw at this year’s festival, introduced by the wonderful actress Dana Delany who is a classic movie lover and has appeared with Robert Osborne on TCM. And what’s a comedy-themed film festival without William Powell and Myrna Loy? This was the tenth of fourteen films the two made together (including the six Thin Man films) and one of the few I’d never seen. In true screwball style, Powell and Loy play the married Steve and Susan Ireland, a deliriously happy couple celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary until Susan’s overbearing mother (Florence Bates) arrives to mess up everything. Next thing we know, Powell runs into his old girlfriend (the beautiful and snide Gail Patrick, a favorite of mine in Stage Door and My Man Godfrey) who has just moved into their swanky apartment building. Alas, a series of zany misunderstandings involving Patrick, her husband, and a random neighbor who is a world champion archer (Jack Carson) lead to Powell and Loy’s impending divorce. After a few additional escapades, the hapless Steve ends up being committed to a sanitarium by the City Lunacy Commission who mistakenly believe he is a homicidal maniac. We even get to see Powell in drag when, hiding from the police, he disguises himself as his own sister (which forced the actor to temporarily shave off his signature mustache). I know I don’t need to tell you that Powell and Loy eventually come to their senses and continue on in wedded bliss. The film, directed by underrated MGM director Jack Conway, includes some funny inside jokes such as a drunken William Powell singing “It’s Delightful to Be Married” at the beginning of the film,  a song sung by his on-screen wife Luise Rainer several years earlier in The Great Ziegfeld.

5. The Palm Beach Story (Paramount, 1942). Of all of my discoveries at this year’s festival, it’s especially hard to believe that I had never seen this film, given my love of Preston Sturges and every single member of the glittering cast. I’m happy to say that the movie surpassed my high expectations and immediately leapfrogged to my list of all-time favorites. Preceded by a discussion between film scholar Cari Beauchamp and Wyatt McCrea, star Joel McCrea’s oldest grandchild, we were also introduced to several of Mary Astor’s great-grandchildren who were present at the screening, including Andrew Yang who wrote the foreword to the fascinating book I just finished reading, The Purple Diaries: Mary Astor and the Most Sensational Hollywood Scandal of the 1930s by Joseph Egan. In the brilliant comedy, McCrea and Claudette Colbert play Tom and Gerry Jeffers, a married couple in New York that is down on their luck financially — way down. I don’t even want to explain the rest of the plot because if you’ve never seen the film it will be fun to come to it fresh as I did, but let’s just call out a few of the crazy folks that McCrea and Colbert come into contact with during their adventures, from the Wienie King (Robert Dudley) to clueless zillionaire John D. Hackensacker III (Rudy Vallee) who wants to shower Colbert with riches, to Hackensacker’s eccentric sister, The Princess Centimillia (Mary Astor) who wants to do the same to McCrea. Carole Lombard was originally slated for this film before her tragic death in a plane crash that year, but Colbert does a brilliant job in the role. Astor was apparently insecure about her comedy chops and terrified that she wasn’t giving Sturges what he wanted, but as far as I’m concerned, she’s one of the best things in the film. The Palm Beach Story is a delightful antidote to Palm Beach’s current place in our consciousness as the home of Mar-a-Lago.

6. Rafter Romance (RKO, 1933). It’s always great fun to see pre-code films at the festival, those films that were made in the early 1930s before the Motion Picture Production Code put an end to many of the risqué plot lines that were once commonplace in the movies. The rarely seen Rafter Romance starring a young Ginger Rogers (just before she was first teamed with Fred Astaire in Flying Down to Rio) was a wonderful example of all that pre-codes have to offer. Caught up in a copyright battle for decades, our host Leonard Maltin explained that this was one of the first public screenings of the film since its release in 1933. Ginger plays a young woman who moves to New York to find a job but is having a terrible time making ends meet. Her landlord, Max Eckbaum (George Sidney, a Jewish immigrant from Hungary who was the uncle of the younger George Sidney, a director of many musicals including another of this year’s festival offerings, Bye Bye Birdie), suggests a solution. Ginger can share an apartment with another tenant in his building, a man she doesn’t know who is an artist but works as a night watchman so they will never be around at the same time. But that doesn’t keep the two from endlessly fighting via sharply worded notes left around the apartment. Of course confusion and hijinks ensue when the two meet, unaware that they are each other’s hated co-tenant. Added to the mix are Robert Benchley as Ginger’s lecherous boss and Laura Hope Crews (years before she appeared in Gone With the Wind as Scarlett’s Aunt Pittypat) as Foster’s sex-starved art patron. One interesting thing that Maltin pointed out to us was how, in addition to changes in language and depictions of sex, the dreaded Production Code also curtailed the existence of ethnic characters in mainstream movies to a large extent, such as the character of Ginger’s Jewish landlord and his Yiddish-speaking wife (played by Ferike Boros who nevertheless appeared in small parts in several subsequent Ginger Rogers films including Bachelor Mother, Fifth Avenue Girl, and Once Upon a Honeymoon).

7. Red-Headed Woman (MGM, 1932). Historian and author Cari Beauchamp introduced us to another delicious pre-code that I’d never seen, the fabulous Jean Harlow vehicle, Red-Headed Woman, directed by Love Crazy’s Jack Conway. This one is so out there and provocative it makes Rafter Romance look like Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. With a sizzling screenplay by Anita Loos (Gentleman Prefer Blondes), Jean Harlow plays “Lil” Andrews, a woman who will do anything to get ahead — and I mean anything. She seduces her married boss (Chester Morris), causing him to divorce his devoted wife (Leila Hymans) who he really loves only to eventually throw him over for one of her new husband’s even richer clients (Henry Stephenson). The beloved character actress Una Merkel (whose opening credit elicited as much applause as Harlow’s in our classic movie-obsessed crowd) stands by Jean throughout the film, even during Lil’s dangerous affair with her poor but sexy French chauffeur (a young and almost unrecognizable Charles Boyer). Only someone with the incredible warmth, charm, beauty, and screen presence of 21-year-old Jean Harlow could make us root for a character that, when you think about it, is completely devoid of any human decency. Once the Production Code took full effect, someone who caused such destruction to so many lives would never be allowed to get away with it. But in 1932, she does, and I found myself cheering the surprising happy ending for the unrepentant but hugely charismatic Harlow. So tragic that the actress would die just five years later at the age of 26. Considering she’s been gone for a whopping 80 years, her impact on audiences, even today, is pretty remarkable.

Lots more great films this year, I could go on indefinitely. Is it too soon to start obsessing about next year’s festival? Being the total movie geek that I am, one of my proudest moments this year was realizing the close family connection between actors in two wildly different films that were made decades apart. Remember the Jewish landlords in 1933’s Rafter Romance? Their son, Julius Eckbaum, was played by young actor Sidney Miller. Sidney is the father of actor Barry Miller who I saw as Bobby C. in the screening of 1977’s Saturday Night Fever (with director John Badham and actress Donna Pescow in attendance). Can you believe the close resemblance between father and son? See you next year at the movies!