#so ready for thanksgiving break.... gah....

[zoeyirl]

Some comparisons hehe ^_^

[taehyungiestummy]

Return to Paradise -- Chapter Fourteen

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Warnings: None

Word Count: 3001

         I wake up with my back flush against Taehyung’s chest. His arms wrapped around my stomach, and a leg is draped over my own. Something hard is pushed up against my butt.

         “Taehyung, let go of me,” I wiggle around in his grasp.

         “Ah,” Taehyung moans out.

         “Whoa,” I stop my movement, my face heating up. It is too early for this. Too damn early.

         “Jagi,” Taehyung’s morning voice wakes me up fully.

         “Tae, we have a problem. Well, you have a problem.”

         “What? Nothing is wrong,” he kisses my jaw.

         “Yes, there is,” I wiggle around to prove my point.

         “Oh,” Taehyung tires to hold back a moan and fails.

         “I’m dying of embarrassment, but I can’t help but like those sounds. Gah, why did I say that?”

         “Shut up,” he grumbles. “This happens sometimes. I just need to pee.”

         “Oh, so your, thing is what is hard,” I choke out, wanting to disappear.

         “Yes, my dick is hard. Partly because of you being all up on me.”

         “Then let me scoot away.”

         “No,” he whines.

         “Yes, Taehyung, go pee and then come back.”

         “Fine,” he groans, releasing me and jumping out of bed. “Don’t look, I’ll be right back.”

         I accidently catch a glance as Taehyung rushes out of his room, causing my cheeks to heat up even more.

         I take a few deep breaths and then chuckle, sitting up in his bed and looking around the room.

         Clothes are scattered across the floor; a desk is cluttered with papers, books, and a laptop. Some stuffed animals are over in a corner. The sun is trying its hardest to shine through the closed curtains. I can’t believe that last night a terrible storm was blowing through, and now it is a peaceful morning.

         “Problem solved,” Taehyung walks back into his room, clothes in his arms. “These are yours, by the way.” He places the clothes on the end of his bed. “It’s actually late morning, so you should probably get ready.”

         “Man, no more cuddles,” I pout.

         “We will cuddle a lot during July,” he walks over to me, kissing just my bottom lip. “Come on, I’ll show you to the bathroom.”

         “So demanding,” I giggle, sliding out of his bed.

         “I am the man,” he teasingly smirks.

         I reach up and ruffle his already mess hair, “Such a cute man. You can’t always tell me what to do, though.”

         “I protected you last night,” he lifts me up and throws me over his shoulder. “Did you forget that?”

         “Taehyung,” I gasp. “Put me down. How can you carry me?”

         “You are light, and I am strong, that’s how. Also, I’m taking you to the bathroom.” His hand gently connects with my butt. “My clothes look amazing on you, if I might add.”

         “I can’t believe you right now,” I groan, covering my face with my hands.

         “Don’t you want me to be like this sometimes? Or am I mistaken?”

         “I mean, yes, but it is so sudden. Just take me to the bathroom.”

         Taehyung walks out of his room and heads down the hall.

         “Good morning, Yoongi-hyung,” Taehyung happily says.

         I pull my hands away from my face. “Yoongi, help me,” I giggle.

         “You seem to be in no trouble,” Yoongi walks around to be face-to-face with me. “Little one, did Taehyung protect you?”

         “He did. He’s a man, you know?”

         Yoongi chuckles, “Sure he is.”

         “We have places to be, hyung,” Taehyung says.

         “Fine, I’ll let you two go,” Yoongi cups my face with one hand. “You need to get your crazy hair under control.”

         “I’ll do my best,” I smile.          Yoongi leans in and kisses my cheek, “Have I told how cute you are?”

         “Have I told you that you are getting soft around me?”

         “Just for you. I can’t help it,” he pulls his hand away from my face. “See you two later,” he nods and walks away.

         Taehyung continues to the bathroom, setting me down on the toilet. “I will be back,” he places my clothes on the counter. “Just use my shower things. Middle shelf it mine.”

         I nod, “Thank you, Tae.”

         “No problem, princess.” He smiles before turning and walking out of the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.

         Minutes later I am undressed and in the shower. It feels weird knowing the other boys have probably used this shower. It’s weird to be showering at the dorms at all.

         I get over being uncomfortable in a few minutes, singing as if I’m back at Nari’s. I am so into my thoughts I barely register the door opening.

         “Lovely singing, jagi,” Taehyung’s voice shocks me and I almost slip.

         “Taehyung, what are you doing?” I make sure the shower curtain is closed and the boy on the other side can’t see me.

         “Brushing my teeth,” he laughs. “This is my bathroom.”

         “I’m naked,” I take a few deep breaths.

         “I would hope so, since you are in the shower. Also, I can’t see you. Hey, how about we sing together?”

         “No Tae, not like this,” I sigh. “Can you just hurry up so I can get out?”

         “Yeah, I will. I just want to spend as much time as possible with you since you won’t be spending the day with us.”

         I laugh, “You are so dorky, but that is kind of cute.”

         “I try,” he laughs with me.

         “Hurry up though, I am turning into a prune in here.”

         “Okay, okay, I’m hurrying. I wish I was turning into a prune too.”

         “Such a pervert,” I roll my eyes. “Go back to being cute.”

********

         “It’ll be like Thanksgiving tomorrow,” I smile as I set up the card table.

         “That’s a good way to put it,” Nari smiles as she mixes the brownie batter.

         “It’s a going away party, though,” Emily says. “We will miss you Nari.”

         “I’ll miss you girls,” Nari glances back at us. “Even if we already talked about it, and I gave you the rules, it doesn’t make it any easier.”

         “At least it is just a month,” I push the card table up next to the small dinning room table. Not nine months.”

         “Well, you will only be back here a few days after traveling. Then nine months again. I get to comfortable with you here, and I know that I shouldn’t because you leave before I realize it.”

         “Oh, yeah,” Emily begins pushing chairs up to our makeshift long table. “I don’t want to leave. The second time, that is.”

         “Just one more nine months,” I sigh. “Then we never have to leave here again.”

         “Still haven’t told your parents that plan, have you?” Nari asks.

         “No,” I answer. “I’m saving that for next year. I’ve only told Yoongi that we are moving over here, actually.”

         “That boy is good at keeping secrets.”

         “He made Taehyung a jealous boy,” Emily chuckles.

         “How?” Nari pours the brownie batter into a pan.

         “Tae asked a stupid question, like, if Yoongi kissed me,” I take a seat in one of the chairs Emily has set up around the table. “So, he did, kind of. He kissed the corner of my mouth. Barely on my lips.”

         “Ah, in a sibling way,” Nari nods, putting the brownies in the oven. “And Taehyung must have hated that.”

         “Yoongi was just teasing him, so I calmed him down,” I sigh. “There was no reason for him to jealous, and he knows it.”

         “With kisses, I’m guessing.”

         “Yes, a lot,” I giggle.

         “How was your sleepover?”

         “A lot of fun, actually,” Emily takes a seat in a chair next to me. “I feel ready for the month we get to spend with them.”

         “I agree,” I nod. “I feel much more ready for how they are going to be. It was like a trial run to see if the real thing would be good.”

         “I know we already went over rules, but please, if possible, call me every night before bed.” Nari walks over and pulls a chair out to sit on.

         “Of course,” Emily and I smile.

         “This is why you two are the best, and why I trust you to go on this adventure.”

         “I can’t wait to go swimming,” I clap a few times. “It will be so fun.”

         “Bikini’s all the time,” Emily pats my shoulder.

         “Eh, no,” I shake my head. “I also want to spend a lot of time with the maknae line. Park Jimin is such a kind soul.”

         “He is,” Nari softly smiles.

         “He is very nice to you,” Emily says. “I mean, they all are, but Jimin is different.”

         “Yeah, I know what you mean,” I nod. “He’s so cute and loving to the other members. Slowly the same is happening to us.”

         “How has Jin been?” Nari asks. “When we get together he focuses on me, but I want to know how he is with you two.”

         “He’s good,” I answer. “Seems very happy. In love, you may say.”

         “Oh, no,” Nari’s cheeks redden as she looks away. “Love, that’s such a feeling that is so strong and rare.”

         “I can see it in his eyes,” I say.

         “Yes, that man loves you,” Emily adds.

         “Do you love him?”

         “I mean, he’s the first person I have been in a serious relationship for a couple years now,” Nari runs a hand through her hair. “I don’t know this feeling. It probably is love, but I don’t know. It is hard to tell.”

         “Tell him, he no doubt feels the same,” I smile. “He’s such a sweetheart.”

         “Maybe tomorrow.”

         “Ah, it will be so cute,” Emily and I giggle.

         “Goodness, you two must be able to read minds,” Nari chuckles.

         “It does seem like that at times,” Emily says. “We can’t, though.”

         “But how cool would that be?” I grin.

         “Very cool, Amber,” Emily pats my head.

         “I just remembered something about last year.”

         “What would that be?” Nari chuckles.

         “Where is our dog?”

         Nari busts into laughs. “Ah, yes, I remember that.”

         “Oh, yeah,” Emily giggles. “That was something Amber asked for last year, but I thought it turned into Tae and her getting a dog.”

         “I just like dogs,” I pout. “And so does Tae.”

         “You two should totally get a dog together then,” Nari nods.

         “He already has a dog, that I want to meet. She, I think, lives with his parents. Soonsim is her name, and I don’t know the breed.”

         “If she lives with his parents, then you two will need a dog of your own,” Emily says. “Rescue one or two.”

         “You have a point.”

         “You can ask him if he wants a dog with you tomorrow,” Nari says.

         “So what does Emily have to ask or tell Namjoon?”

         “I’ll tell him not to touch anything and I’ll handle all his breakable items,” Emily answers.

         “He is very clumsy and breaks things often,” Nari says.

         “I am okay with that being what you tell him,” I chuckle. “Also, on an unrelated note, I think the brownies are done.”

********

         “This all looks so yummy,” Jungkook smiles as the boys walking into the kitchen-dining room.

         “It smells amazing,” Seokjin smiles, giving Nari a kiss.

         “Please, everyone grab some food and take a seat,” I smile.

         Everyone walks around getting their food and drinks, and then we have to find seats. That takes a little bit more time than any of us would have like, but we figure it out. To my left at the head of the table, is Hoseok, and to my right at the head of the table is Jimin. Seokjin and Nari are across from me, and to their left is Namjoon and Emily. Taehyung is to my right, with Yoongi and Jungkook to my left.

         “Thank you girls for making this for us,” Namjoon says.

         “It is a nice way to spend a night together,” Yoongi says.

         “Food brings people together,” I shove rice and meat into my mouth with chopsticks.

         “I agree,” Taehyung follows my lead and shoves food into his mouth.

         “We haven’t done something like this since Amber’s birthday last year,” Nari says.

         “Oh yeah,” Jungkook says. “We can one up that party this year.”

         “I hope so,” I smile.

         “I can guarantee it,” Jimin says.

         “Anything you guys wan tot ask us?” Emily redirects the conversation.

         “Tell us about your families,” Hoseok speaks up.

         “That’s actually a good topic,” Nari smiles. “Who shall go first?”

         “I can,” Emily says. “Um, I am the oldest of my siblings. I have a younger brother, and two younger sisters. My parents had me out of wedlock, and I am the reason they got married. We have a few cats, and some fish. That’s really it,” she chuckles.

         “Oldest, hm?” Namjoon questions. “That’s why you kind of take care of Amber.”

         “I take care of myself, thank you,” I sass.

         “No, I take care of you,” Taehyung pushes some food into my mouth.

         “We all do, in some way,” Jimin says.

         “Amber is my best friend, so I do have to take care of her in a way,” Emily smiles. “But she takes care of me too.”

         “That’s sweet,” Seokjin says. “Amber, what is your family like?”

         “Oh, well, I am the middle child,” I take a sip of my water. “Of five kids. Older brother and sister, and then younger sister and brother, in that order, if that makes sense. Kind of crazy how it all happened. My parents are a bit crazy in that regard. We also have a dog. We have always had a dog, and my younger brother has some lizards. I grew up in such a loving household, and I am thankful that they let me come over here to experience that same kind of love in a different way.”

         “That’s good, I’m glad that is has been that way,” Taehyung kisses my cheek.

         “We always want to see you two smile,” Jungkook grins.

         “And you too, Nari,” Seokjin pops in.

         “This is why I am so glad we all met,” I smile, leaning into Taehyung.

         “Your turn, Nari,” Hoseok smiles.

         “Oh, yes,” Nari giggles. “Well, my parents are happily married, and proud of me and my little sister, Yuna. We have an old family dog and cat that are the best of friends. My dad is a doctor, so I grew up and got most of what I wanted.”

         “What does your sister do?” Yoongi asks.

         “Oh, Yuna,” Nari smiles, nodding a few times. “She’s a figure skater. She’s won a few times, so I guess she’s pretty good.”

         “Wait, are you talking about Yuna Moon?” I ask for clarification.

         “The one and only,” she chuckles. “I like to tease her all the time about how she still needs to get better.”

         “She is amazing!” I don’t mean to shout, but the excitement is hard to contain.

         “Oh, I know her,” Emily joins in. “Amber and I watched the 2014 Winter Olympics and saw her.”

         “Wait, that’s your sister?” Jimin is shocked.

         “Yes, the Olympic medalist is my sister,” Nari chuckles again. “Gold medal, and I never had a doubt.”

         “Her and Yuzuru Hanyu are the cutest,” I smile, sitting up.

         “As cute as us?” Taehyung pouts.

         “Well, they are really cute,” I poke his cheek.

         “I say tie, but you two might edge out because we know you,” Emily chuckles.

         “So, Yuna is pretty good at figure skating if she got gold,” Jungkook says.

         “South Korea’s best for the modern era, Kookie,” Namjoon answers. “She’s broken many records and won even more competitions.”

         “Plus, she’s dating a super cute and talented Japanese boy,” I add. “Which people were never surprised about, but now the media really plays it up. People want them to do couple skates, but they haven’t trained all their lives for that. Reminds me of me, since I am dating a super cute and talented boy.”

         “Yeah, I am super cute,” Taehyung grins.

         “Where is Yuna now?” Seokjin asks.

         “Probably training in Canada or Japan,” Nari shrugs. “Always with Yuzuru, no doubt. Goodness, we don’t talk as much as we used to. Both of us are so busy. I can’t remember the last time I saw her outside of a competition.”

         “July task, contact her,” I firmly nod, pointing at my cousin for a few seconds.

         “Okay, okay,” Nari chuckles. “I will do that. I promise.”

         “It is dessert time now?” Yoongi speaks up.

         I giggle, “I think so.”

         “Wait,” Emily holds up her hand for a moment. “You two have things to tell your boyfriends,” she points at Nari and then me. “I told Joonie not to hold anything he could break, so spill.”

         “Clumsy Namjoon,” Hoseok smirks.

         “Shut up,” Namjoon sighs.

         “I’ll go first,” I look up at Taehyung. “I want to raise a dog with you.”

         “Cute,” Jimin giggles.

         Taehyung looks down at me, a loving smile on his face. “I would love to raise a dog with you, jagi. Just more here,” he kisses my nose.

         “Yet another reason to move here,” Jungkook says in a sing-song way.

         I giggle, turning my gaze to Nari, “Now it is your turn.”

         Nari takes a deep breath, looking at Seokjin. “Jinnie, I’ve been thinking a lot about us, and I’ve realized something.”

         “What is it?” Seokjin looks at her, sounding a little scared.

         “Nothing bad, just how I feel about you. The girls made me realized it. Um, ah, I love you.”

         Seokjin smiles so big. “I love you too, Nari. For a while now. I’m so glad they set us up.”

         “Cute,” Hoseok giggles.

         “I agree,” Emily and I smile.

         “Now kiss,” Jimin laughs.

         Seokjin gives Nari a quick peck on the lips. “You are so sweet.”

         Nari smiles, a pink to her cheeks. “I try.”

         “That was nice and all,” Yoongi says. “But can we have dessert now?”          I laugh, leaning over into Yoongi. “Yes, we can have dessert. We made brownies, and you can pick your toppings. Hope you are all ready.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The fun starts next chapter as the traveling beginnings. Hope you enjoyed reading! :D

[theother-will-grayson]

Overcompensating

Fandom: Sanders Sides

Summary: So, it's Thanksgiving, and Virgil is spending it with his boyfriend's family for the first time. In the quiet of post-party cleaning and after dinner coffee, Virgil gains a home and a family. Human!AU. 

Pairings: Paternal Moxiety. Background est Analogical, background est Logicality.

Warnings: none

Also on AO3 and FFN

The smells of turkey and pie had faded, and November’s early night had descended, frosty but snowless. The house, once singing with wine-flushed laughter and childish delight now only held four exhausted, lazy bodies. A Christmas movie played unwatched on the TV in the living room where Logan sat reading a book, Roman lying asleep next to him and quite possibly drooling on his lap. Occasionally, Logan would catch Virgil watching him from his perch on the kitchen counter. They’d exchange a smirk and then go back to their respective activities — Logan to his reading and Virgil to watching Patton clean up.

“Here ya go, kiddo.” Patton handed Virgil a steaming mug of black coffee, too hot to drink for now. “Watch your head.” Virgil scooted over to allow Patton access to the cabinet the was blocking. “Thanks, you’re a peach!”

“Let me help you.” Virgil made to set the mug down and hop down from his perch, feeling guilty and awkward as a guest in this man’s house, perhaps one that was overstaying his welcome despite also claiming the guest room.

Patton chuckled — not malicious, but joyful. “You are helping, ya little moonbeam. You’re keeping me company.” He started in on tossing clean silverware in the drawer. “Drink your coffee.”

Folding his legs back under him and settling in, Virgil obeyed, blowing on it for a little bit before taking a cautious sip. Jesus. An involuntary shudder ran through his body. “You people really don’t mess around with your joe, do you? Shit.” He clapped his hand over his mouth. “Sorry.”

Patton laughed and took the cup from Virgil’s hand. “Oh goodness, you pure, beautiful lamb. Here, let’s do this.” He turned the sink on and waited for the water to warm up.“Sorry, kiddo. I live with two hyper-intelligent workaholics. I had to get used to strong coffee, too.”

Virgil chose not to say anything, but Patton corrected himself anyways, frowning and staring at nothing for a moment. “One. I live with one hyper-intelligent workaholic now.” Their eyes didn’t meet as Patton handed back the coffee, now cooler and watered down a little. There were the gentle beginnings of tears in Patton’s eyes as his gaze fixed on the living room. “You’re lucky, seeing him every day.”

Virgil’s grip on the mug tightened. What the fuck was he supposed to say to that? “I know.”

Patton sighed, pushing up his glasses to wipe at his eyes. “Gosh, this is ridiculous. It’s only been two months.”

“Exactly.” Virgil shrugged, sipping his coffee. Much better. “It’s only been two months. Give it time, it’ll get easier.”

That earned him a smile as Patton straightened himself out and went back to his task. A companionable silence fell over the kitchen, the only sound the clatter of dishes and the faint sound of jingle bells lilting from the living room.

The coffee was warm, smelled sharp, wafting in tufts of steam from Virgil’s hands to his nose. It was the same warmth and spice that had massaged his senses the moment he walked into the house. Patton’s radiant smile occasionally thrown his way, Roman’s gentle snores, and Logan’s gentle hand on his sleeping father’s shoulder, only moving to turn a page…

“Whatcha thinking about, kiddo?” Patton was wiping down the stove mechanically, watching him.

“Hm?”

“You’re smiling for the first time since Logan’s Aunt Debbie arrived.”

So he was. Aunt Debbie was a fine woman, but her arrival marked the beginning of the steadily crushing stream of people invading the safe space of the Sanders home, talking and getting drunk and stifling him. He dealt with it, of course. He always had. And Thanksgiving at Logan’s childhood home was certainly better than at his own. But he had yet to figure out if it was worse when Logan’s extended family endlessly pelted him with questions or when they let him melt into the wall and pretended he was nothing more than a decoration to fill the blank wall space in the corner.

“Did you ever think that you’d end up with an astronomy professor for a son?” Virgil asked.

“Not at all,” Patton replied, scooping leftover mashed potatoes. “I used to think I’d end up with an astronaut. Then an entomologist — that’s the one that studies bugs, right? Then a physicist, then a doctor, then an archaeologist, then an environmentalist.” Patton was lost in the memory now, and Virgil was just along for the ride. “I always knew Logan would be a teacher, though.”

“Really? How?”

Patton smiled into his work. “Well, I taught him how to read when Roman was working. We couldn’t afford a nanny or daycare, so it was just me and little Logan all day. But Roman still wanted to participate and be a part of Logan’s life, so he would always ask him, ‘Hey Logan, what’s this word?’ or ‘What does that sign say?’ Eventually, Logan got it in his head that Roman had no idea how to read.”

Virgil nearly snorted coffee out his nose. “Seriously?”

“I have a photo, too.” Chuckling, Patton slapped a lid on the last tupperware filled with leftover sweet potato casserole. “Logan sat him down and said, ‘Papa, it is time you learned something very important.’”

Virgil could just picture a tiny Logan looking sternly at his Papa through his too-large glasses, his hands on his hips, his voice stern, a Dr. Seuss book in his grip. The image made him smile.

Patton sipped his own mug of coffee, shaking his head and leaning against the counter opposite Virgil. “He’s such a precious little nerd. It took all Roman had not to laugh.”

“So you do that to Logan too, huh?”

Patton blinked, eyes owlish behind his thick glasses. “What do you mean?”

Blush heated Virgil’s face in a sharp blast, shattering the easy conversation they had created over the past half an hour or so. “I don’t know. That thing you do. You know, with all the names.”

Patton looked a little embarrassed. “Oh, jeez. I’m sorry. People are always telling me I get a bit weird when I do that.”

Oh, Jesus. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to, like, call you out.”

“Oh, not at all. You wouldn’t be the first anyways.” Patton looked as if there was something else he wanted to say, but his teeth worried his lip instead.

At a loss, Virgil caught Logan’s eye again. He was leaning as if ready to hop up from the couch at the first sign of panic or discomfort on Virgil’s face. What’s wrong? His eyes asked. Virgil opened his mouth, but shook his head. What the fuck was he supposed to do right now?

“Virgil…” Patton’s voice drew him back to the kitchen, Logan’s gaze still burning into his temple. “To be perfectly honest, Logan told me a little bit about your...situation. Not everything!” he quickly reassured, noticing Virgil’s panic. “But just a little about your dad, and what happened to your mom —”

“Nothing happened to my mother,” Virgil bit out. “My mother was something that happened to me, and now she’s gone.”

As soon as the words were out, Virgil wished he hadn’t let his bitterness surface. Patton wrung a dish towel in his hands, obviously uncomfortable with Virgil and everything he had ruined in the night so far.

“What I'm trying to say, Virgil, is that we just wanted to include you.”

What? Patton’s hand was on his knee and Virgil wasn’t pushing it away. He felt unsure, he felt confused, he felt —

“When Logan asked to bring you home, I was beyond ecstatic to mean the man who makes my little go-getter poindexter so darn happy. I said yes, obviously, but when Logan told me about your home life, it broke my heart. It really did. So I panicked, I started thinking of ways to show you what real family is like. That’s why I asked everybody to make an effort to talk to you. It’s why I got Logan to have you sleep over. It’s why I decided to get in the habit of calling you the same weird pet names I call everyone that I care about. I may have overcompensated a little, but I just wanted you to feel like you’re part of this family, because you are.”

Virgil met Patton’s warm brown eyes, at a loss for words. “Thank you,” he managed. “Thank you.” And then he had to set his coffee down, had to jump down from the counter, had to throw his arms around Patton and bury his face in his neck, breathe in his scent. He smelled like cologne, like wine, like pumpkin, like all the things a real father should smell like.

“Thank you, kiddo.”

Virgil felt a hand on his shoulder and peeked out to see Logan, smiling at him in approval and relief. In all the overflowing emotion, Virgil hadn’t even considered Logan, seeing his boyfriend and his father hugging in the kitchen on one of the most family-oriented days of the year.

“Ugh, what time is it?” Roman’s voice pierced the moment, low and rough. He shuffled past the now broken hug and picked up the mug from the counter, rubbing his eyes sleepily. He took a sip, and promptly made a gagging motion which was obviously dramatized, because it’s Roman. “Gah, whose water is this?”

“Uh, mine.” Virgil raised his hand, vaguely cautious of the consequences.

Roman’s groggy gaze fixated on Virgil. He didn’t break eye contact as he dumped the coffee straight into the sink, grabbed the pot, poured himself another cup, and sipped it. He ruffled Virgil’s hair as he headed back towards the living room. “Welcome to the family, Sir Broods-a-lot.”

Virgil looked around at his new family, full of smiles and hugs and nicknames and little thumb strokes and love. Okay, so that’s what Thanksgiving is supposed to feel like.

~

@ironwoman359

I don’t do all that much regular posting, but if you would like to be added to my general taglist, I would happily oblige and also appreciate the compliment!

[solangelover]

Disney Love - a Solangelo Disney AU

Happy late Thanksgiving for those who celebrate it! I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AND OFF ON THIS FOR SO LONG. It’s based on this prompt! Will is Peter Pan and Nico is Flynn Rider at Disneyland :)

Read on AO3 or Fanfiction.net

Will Solace was living the life.

He was enrolled in a good college and was having a good time. He had a great internship that made good money. His Disney internship allowed him to be in Disneyland most days of the week. That was enough to make Will happy. It was a bonus that he actually got to be a character - Peter Pan, one of his favorites, no less.

Peter Pan was a happy-go-lucky kid who never wanted to grow up and only wanted to have fun. Will couldn't imagine a more fitting character for him to be. Plus, since college wasn't totally sucking his soul like it was some of his friend's, his inner child wasn't far out of his reach. 

Will loved interacting with the kids in the park. They were all so happy and excited that they were meeting THE Peter Pan in real life – it was written all over their faces. Seeing those bright, smiling faces made Will's job easy. Who couldn't smile back at that?

One of his favorite things about being a character, however, was the behind the scenes things. He enjoyed getting dressed and ready to be in character along with all the other cast members. While some think it kills the magic to see characters half in costume, Will finds it fascinating. It almost makes it more real because it seems like the characters are just normal people getting ready in the morning like anyone else. Except with fancy costumes and wigs and much more makeup.

It can be a buzzkill to discover some cast members are really grumpy and rude out of character, but Will likes to focus on the bright side. For example, he's learned to see just how beautiful some people actually look. When coming out of costume, it's a bit shocking to see a normal person, but then you realize just how amazing normal looks and how strange Disney characters look. And then there are those who look almost the same when coming out of costume. Not exactly the same, but with the same amount of you're so pretty, you have to be a Disney character, you can't be real kind of thing. 

That applies to one person in particular that Will noticed one day. Flynn Rider, the counterpart to his favorite Disney princess, Rapunzel, happens to be quite the eye candy in real life. Just his face gives off the Flynn Rider feel of I'm a handsome troublemaker and I know it. Will doesn't look for him every day, but he's never disappointed on the days they both work. 

The sad part? Will doesn't even know his name. All he knows is that a cute guy is Flynn Rider and they pass each other sometimes around the park. Each time Will sees Flynn walk by, he admires the way he interacts with the kids. His smile seems genuine and he laughs a lot, but he still has his smirk like he's secretly pick-pocketing them all. Who knows, maybe he is. Will loves how perfectly he portrays his character and how he clearly loves his job, unlike some cast members. Once, while Will was admiring Flynn's looks, his cast member reminded him that Peter Pan had a line of kids waiting to take pictures with him, not to mention the kid that was standing right in front of him. Will had blushed and put on his brightest smile for the camera, but not without missing the glance from Flynn, who lost his cool composure for a second to show a bit of curiosity and possibly hope?

Today, Will was feeling a bit more tired from schoolwork than normal and, thus, had to really concentrate on his character in order to do a good job. Unfortunately for him, his one and only distraction was working that same day and had already passed by him a few times in the park. Piper McLean, the cast member that walked with him and controlled his line, pulled him aside and said, "Okay, I realize that you have a major crush on Nico, but this is the most obvious you've been about it. You need to do something about it before I step in because your daily pining is starting to get annoying."

Will couldn't even process all those words. Wait, what? She knows? It's that obvious? Wait wait... "Nico? Who's that?"

Piper rolled her eyes, "Hello? Flynn Rider? You're telling me you've been staring at him this whole time and you didn't know his name??"

Nico. His name is Nico. Wow that's hot. Will was too distracted to pay attention to Piper scolding him. He finally got his name! And it's a beautiful name that matched his beautiful face. 

While Will thought this, he didn't realize that he was staring right at Fl--Nico with a dreamy look on his face. He only noticed when he registered those chocolate brown eyes staring right back at him. Will suddenly straightened up with a blush rising to his cheeks. Then he noticed the light blush that also donned Nico's cheeks.

"Peter Pan!" Will whipped his head around to see Piper glaring at him with a fake smile. "I know you’re a busy kid, so how about one more picture before we go find your Lost Boys?" She asked a question, but her eyes told him to pull it together and do what she said. 

"Uhm, right, yeah, good idea." Will shook his head and reminded himself that he is Peter Pan, not Rapunzel. He turned on his 100-Watt smile and found himself saying the words engraved in his brain automatically to the little boy in front of him. He risked a glance at Nico, who was doing the same as him. Piper and Flynn Rider's cast member, Jason, were talking in hushed voices to each other, glancing at their respective characters every so often. That couldn't be good. 

Once Will finished chatting with the boy, he excused himself and Piper whisked him away to the cast members' break room. Shortly after, Jason entered with Nico, who nervously glanced at Will. 

Once sitting in the room, Piper and Jason began talking quietly again. After the two boys pushed their blushes away, Nico leaned over and said in a hushed voice, "Do you know what's going on?"

Will admits that it was hard for him not to ask Nico to speak again so he could memorize just how smooth his voice was. Instead, he replied, "Um, I think we're in trouble? Piper seemed mad at me..." Who knows why, Will thought sarcastically to himself, though he had no idea what would happen now. 

Will looked back at Nico, who was watching Jason and Piper with concern. Will took a breath, put out his hand, and said, "I don't think we've ever properly met. I'm Will - Will Solace."

Nico smiled and took Will's hand. "Nice to finally meet you. I'm Nico di Angelo. I've seen you around several times." At that, Nico turned a light shade of pink, causing Will to smile a little wider. They were still holding their handshake. 

"Will!" Piper's strong voice startled the boys, causing them to jump apart. "Really? Right now? I just-- gah!" She had annoyance written all over her face. Luckily for the boys, Jason stepped in and placed a hand on Piper's shoulder, saying, "What she's trying to say is that you guys should get to know each other more. Then maybe-"

"Maybe, you two could quit staring every time you pass by each other and actually do your job! I mean, honestly Will, kids keep wondering why Peter Pan won't pay attention to them and keeps staring at Flynn Rider," Piper rolled her eyes.

Will was blushing so hard he probably looked like a tomato. An ashamed tomato. Piper was a force to be reckoned with and just her frustrated side scared him – he couldn’t imagine if he actually messed up big time. Will didn’t even want to make eye-contact with Nico, so he just looked down.

Jason sighed, saying, “Same to you, Nico. You do a good job covering up, and you’re lucky when you have Rapunzel walking around with you, but don’t think your little glances go unnoticed.”

Surprised, Will risked a glance at Nico, who seemed to be feeling the same way as Will. He was red, but there was something in his eye that told Will that he wasn’t as embarrassed. When their eyes met, Will saw the twinkle in Nico’s eye and understood. They both looked at each other each time they passed by, both were becoming increasingly interested in the other. Both wanting more.

It’s funny to think about, considering they just learned each other’s names today. And here Piper is, pushing them together in the most harsh, obvious way just because they can’t do their jobs well. No tact, no schemes, just force. Will couldn’t help it – he started laughing.

Piper fixed him with a stern glare, “WHAT is so funny, Solace?” Will knew he should be nervous, that he should stop, but he couldn’t.

“You two,” Will gestured to Jason and Piper while still shaking with laughter, “you knew, the whole time, that we liked each other. But you didn’t do anything. This could’ve been over with weeks ago if you’d just told us!” Will began laughing again just picturing how mad Piper looked when it could’ve all been avoided.

Soon, Nico joined in too. It was ridiculous. They both could have confessed, both could have gotten to know each other sooner, both could have avoided upsetting their cast members. Will suspected they were laughing with relief that they liked each other as well. But, whatever the reason, they both looked a little crazy to Jason and Piper, who only rolled their eyes at the boys.

“I swear you’re all idiots,” Piper stated. “Okay, well you guys need to get back out there. I expect a smooth-sailing rest of the day. You can do whatever you want after work.” And with that, they were rushed out of the room and back into the park, but not without a smirk from Flynn Rider and a wink from Peter Pan.

---

Nico and Will set up a date, talked, laughed, confessed, blushed, and quickly became a couple. Jason and Piper were the first to know. They didn’t even ask – it was just that obvious. They were ecstatic that Nico and Will finally got together, because, of course, they were shipping them the whole time, and because they figured work would be a lot easier.

Eventually, people at work started noticing, but really, Nico and Will didn’t care. They were happy together and did the sweetest little things for each other. Nico found out that Will liked Rapunzel and often quoted Flynn Rider to him, impersonating the thief as best he could (which he could, he was literally Flynn Rider). He also made Will sing Rapunzel’s flower song because Will was blonde and beautiful and Nico couldn’t help it. Will discovered that Nico was actually this really cool, emo kind of a guy outside of work, or at least, he tried to be. Will was one of the few people who knew he worked at Disneyland and loved it. Thus, Will pushed Nico to show more of his softer side and embrace the love of Disney. He’d get Nico little Disney figurines and finally found out that Nico liked The Lion King, especially Scar (he was very into Disney villains).

Of course, they got to know each other in other aspects, but getting to know someone’s Disney side brings this air of childish innocence and joy that made their relationship more pure and simple.

---

A few months after they got together, Piper seemed to be getting annoyed once again. Will didn’t understand why. He was finally with Nico! He wasn’t pining anymore – he could look forward to seeing Nico each day, whether they worked the same day or not. He couldn’t stop thinking about the beautiful boy, his olive-tinted skin, his dark chocolate brown eyes, the little splash of light freckles high on his cheeks, the way he tried to hide his blush, his—

“Peter!” Piper’s voice brought will out of his thoughts. He locked eyes with her and, upon seeing the suppressed anger in them, he quickly turned away from her and towards the kid that walked up to him. He bent down to him and chatted for a bit before signing his book and walking away. Piper quickly walked up to his side, probably about to scold him, when they encountered Flynn Rider. Flynn was walking with Rapunzel by his side, along with Jason. When they saw each other, they slowed to a stop.

“Hey there,” Will smirked as he saluted Nico.

“Hey yourself,” Nico looked at him through lidded eyes, turning on his signature smolder – whether he meant to or not, Will would never know.

Jason and Piper both cleared their throats loudly, trying to get their characters under control. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite working. The boys stared for too long, not noticing a little girl had walked up to Flynn Rider and Rapunzel. When she saw Peter Pan taking Flynn Rider’s full attention, she latched onto Rapunzel’s arm and stated loudly, “Yes, now Rapunzel is mine!”

That caught everyone’s attention. At first, Nico was surprised. He quickly recovered, grabbing Rapunzel around the waist, saying, “Not quite,” with a little smirk to the girl.

“Aw, but why were you looking at Peter Pan?” the little girl pouted.

Now Will took over. He bent down to the girl and put on his best troublemaker look. “Flynn and I are close friends. We like to have fun and make trouble together. But, we normally don’t take pictures together. Do you want a special picture with all of us?” The little girl nodded enthusiastically, before adding, “But I want Rapunzel to hold me. You can hold Flynn.” Will did not expect that, but he chuckled and nodded yes. Piper and Jason didn’t seem too pleased, but they couldn’t say no to a little girl.

Rapunzel picked up the girl with ease. Will went up to Nico and held his arms out, a bright grin plastered on his face. Nico grumbled, “I hate my job,” to which Will quickly replied, “Love you too!” And with that, Nico jumped into Will’s arms and Will held him bridal-style. It was a picture Jason and Piper made sure would never happen again.

[spaceorphan18]

Finding Kurt Hummel: Swan Song

Masterpost

4x09: Swan Song

Only Glee would write an episode in the middle of one of its middle seasons an episode called Swan Song.  Oh Glee...

For those of you who may not know, the definition I found of Swan Song is this: a person's final public performance or professional activity before retirement. (Though I’ve always thought before death as a connotation, too)  And supposedly, Kurt has his ‘Swan Song’ in this one only to find that it’s not one at all -- but the beginning of a new chapter of his life. 

Exposition

The image coupled with Chris’s name is making me giggle. 

Anyway -- Kurt’s moving away from all black! Yay! And, ngl, Shallow me is back to say that I love this outfit on Kurt.  Also - I think the disheveled-ness is because it’s supposed to be post-Thanksgiving clean up time.  Is it the next day? Idk - I doubt it’s the same night. 

Anyway - Kurt just gets off the phone with Blaine to tell Rachel that McKinley was eliminated from Sectionals.  

Kurt: I just feel bad for Blaine.  If he was still with the Warblers he’d be on his way to Regionals right now. 

Normally, I don’t nitpick individual lines, but this one has always rubbed me the wrong way.  While I get what they’re going for - delivering exposition while Kurt shows some concern for Blaine’s well being - it comes off as a little too flippant and superficial - and slightly undermines the emotional weight of their phone call in the previous episode. 

However, this does mean that Kurt and Blaine are back on speaking terms - which is more the point than one questionable line of dialogue.  

Moving on, Kurt mentions that ND’s loss at sectionals (or his Vogue internship and reconnecting with Blaine, because the original reason is stupid) has woken him up to taking changes on opportunities that he gets. And that he’s putting everything on the line for his NYADA audition.  And while Rachel says you can always reply again, Kurt says he’s done chasing that idea if it doesn’t work out. 

 And I do like what Kurt has to say here.  That he’s wise enough to know that if this doesn’t work out, that maybe it’s not meant to be and he should move on to other things.  This is a much healthier attitude than Rachel’s - I’ll stalk you until you let me in - attitude.  Now, why wasn’t he applying for other schools in the mean time? Idk... But, I’m glad Kurt doesn’t see NYADA as the be all and end all of moving his career forward. 

Let’s take a second and appreciate the fact that Kurt is on the NYADA chat boards, researching everything he can so he can better his chance of getting in.  I mean, Kurt does the work. Go Kurt! 

Meanwhile, I’m epically rolling my eyes at this little sequence to show how amazing it is if Carmen Tibideaux invites you to her exclusive Winter Showcase performance. I thought we were trying to move away from Season 3 Rachel-issues, Glee.  The proudest moment of these people’s successful lives is when Carmen hands them an envelope? I adore the hell outta Whoopie Goldberg, but c’mon show.... Whatever, I should stop before I go on another massive Rachel-rant.

Carmen Tibideaux is the Worst

Kurt comes in to talk to Carmen Tibideaux about his application and possible audition.  I’m not so sure what he was planning to hear from this meeting but it definitely wasn’t this...  

Look - I’ll be frank with this.  Carmen doesn’t make any sense to me.  She lets in to NYADA Adam, Brody, those sycophants, and Rachel after she stalks her, who are all, imo, surface level people, but doesn’t let in Elliott, Jesse St. James, or Kurt, and axes Blaine without thought (along with that other girl at in Rachel’s class).  Hires Cassie July as a teacher.  And again will give Rachel a third chance after she claims here she barely gives first chances.  I really wish Goldberg was given a better character, because I want to like her, I do.  But the inconsistant writing stops me from doing that. 

But also - what she tells Kurt here is frustrating.  Really frustrating.  

So - Carmen breaks it down that Kurt is talented, but his Not the Boy Next Door performance seemed to lack vulnerability and soul.  Which - I call bullshit on, because I’m not so sure how much more vulnerable Kurt could have gotten wearing those gold lame pants.  But, more so, we, as an audience, know that that was Kurt putting it all on the line.  That was Kurt showing off who he was and everything that encompasses that.  

Now - the issue here I see as two things.  One - Carmen (wrongly) equates lack of props and glitter and showiness as automatic soulful.  There’s more than one way to show what’s inside you.  Plus, stripped down to just the music does not always mean more emotional . For the love of everything - Rachel sings an emoting balad every other episode, and I can count on one hand the number of times there’s emotional depth to it.  Two - the auditions themselves are flawed.  You want to have a good audition going into a performing arts school? Here’s my advice - have a two or three numbers ready for you, each showing off how you are a multifaceted performer with the ability to do many things, even if there is one thing that’s your strength. 

Glee’s commentary that only one kind of art is worth anything pisses me off -- but that’s after years of academia behind me, and the elitist ‘high art’ concept often found in academia annoys the hell out of me.  But that’s a story for another day. 

The thing I often wonder - was Carmen always planning on putting Kurt on the spot -- or did she come with that in the moment.  Based on her conversation here, I really don’t know.  

And Kurt leaves the auditorium feeling broken and defeated.  Poor kiddo just can’t catch a break it seems.  But - I will argue that all the struggle Kurt has to go through makes him a far more interesting character than Rachel, who is always handed the glittery envelope.  

Winter Showcase

I’m not gonna go too much into Rachel’s story -- because the more I watch, the more I want to throw things at it.  I’m also rolling my eyes at how the Winter Showcase is a competition -- because you can’t really compare a ballet performance with a vocal performance with a -- whatever else they have going.  Evaluating art doesn’t work that way.  Gah.  Whatever. 

Kurt’s line about appreciating this part in the rom-com but let’s get a move on is pretty cute though. 

Kurt watching Rachel during her performances.  I don’t begrudge this section - Rachel actually hasn’t had a solo since episode 2 (gasp) and these songs play to Lea Michele’s strengths.  I am rolling my eyes at Rachel winning this whole thing though.  (Man, I’m rolling my eyes a lot at this episode.  Who wrote it...Tina?) 

There’s a point during Rachel’s performance that Carmen looks over to Kurt.  So, maybe it was a spur of the moment decision to ask Kurt to sing -- or maybe grasping the opportunity to see what this kid can really do when put under pressure. 

Whatever the case -- Kurt’s in shock when she calls him up to sing. 

Kurt is - of course - freaking out in the lobby area.  He feels as though he can’t go on without his props, his scaffolding, his gold lame pants.  But Rachel has a very good point (yay! when Hummelberry gets to be evened out a little) -- he’s at his best when the songs come from within himself.  Now, lucky for us, 99.9% of all Kurt songs are emotionally valuable to the story being told.  Rachel brings up I Want to Hold Your Hand, but I could make a case for just about any of them done on the show.  It’s bizarre, really, to claim that Kurt’s solos are a superficiality, but clearly the Glee world sees more (?) or something that we do not. 

Anyway - Being Alive is a song he picks, and Rachel (like the rest of us) jump on that choice.  Who cares if it’s something Carmen claimed she hated -- giving it real depth and meaning is something that’s going to impress her.  

Kurt mentions the fact that I Want to Hold Your Hand was so special was because he was going through a difficult time, it was his way of focusing in on his dad and dealing with that when he was sick.  Kurt’s not sure what to focus in this time - but Rachel says -- yourself.  And this song, man.  It’s the culmination and release of everything that has happened in Kurt’s story, more specifically the season 4 arc, but I could argue a case for the entire series so far. 

Which is why I find this song so special....

Kurt: Hi, I’m Kurt Hummel and I’ll be auditioning for the role of NYADA student. 

This is one of my favorite Kurt solos ever.  Chris just nails it.  It’s a male song, which allows Kurt to be in his lower register -- which he’s fairly comfortable in.  It’s funny, at the time, I had wished that it had had just a little more edge to it.  But listening to it now, in the wake of doing all this season 4 meta, I’ve gotten chills going back to it.  Maybe the context just makes the song for me.  But regardless -- still one of my favorites.  

(Also - oh how nervous Kurt is.  I’m always fascinated the way Kurt plays with his hands when he gets super nervous.) 

For those of you who may not know, Being Alive is from the musical Company -- and about a guy who decides that his bachelor life of never going out and doing anything isn’t doing it for him anymore.  That he’s ready to take risks and get hurt in the process because at the end of the day, what is life if you’re not pushing yourself to, well, be alive.  And it kind of works fantastically for Kurt’s story here. 

Some might say that since the Break Up, Kurt has been a shell of himself.  I might argue that since Goodbye -- and having his original dreams of going to New York and NYADA and starting a career have been dashed, Kurt has been inward and wandering and without focus.  The Break Up just exemplified that even further -- and he’s been hiding in his own little bubble, easily letting Rachel guide his life, existing as he works through some dark times in his life.  And this song, and this moment is about him breaking out of his own self-imposed shell and going out there and, well, being alive again.  

He says he didn’t know what the song was about until just then - but that’s because he now has been through some of the tougher things in life and come out on the other side.  And knows that even though life really sucks at times, it’s caused him to be a stronger person.  

This song is also about Blaine -- in the way that Blaine sung My Dark Side about Kurt.  It’s not just about the other person, but there’s a lot of them in there.  I sometimes think of this as being a response to that song - in addition to everything else. 

But before I talk about Blaine.... 

Somebody, hold me too close Somebody, hurt me too deep Somebody, sit in my chair And ruin my sleep And make me aware Of being alive Being alive

Somebody, need me too much Somebody, know me too well Somebody, pull me up short And put me through hell And give me support For being alive Make me alive

Somebody, crowd me with love Somebody, force me to care Somebody, let me come through I'll always be there As frightened as you To help us survive Being alive

I wanted to put (some of) the lyrics here because they’re really quite fantastic.  And really speak well to Kurt -- almost asking someone to come and help him feel real things, help him live a life worth living whether that’s bad or good it’s better than not doing anything at all.  

And -- I saw this fantastic fan video once (I wish I could find it, alas I cannot) where it illustrates that those people are not just Blaine -- but his dad, Rachel, Karofsky, the other glee club kids, a lot of people are in Kurt’s life who pull him out and make him feel things and make life real. 

But of course -- Blaine’s all up in the subtext of this song -- especially post Break Up.  No one can really quite make Kurt come alive like Blaine.  No one can really quite break Kurt like Blaine.  

Kurt spent most of his life, especially after his mom died, shielded up and protective of himself.  And Blaine came along - and experienced the most vulnerable things with Kurt.  And then broke his heart.  And of course Kurt retreated.  But this song is about moving forward again after that.  And not shutting himself off to living life.  

And hence, the second half of season 4 -- as limited a POV as we get -- is about doing just that.  

The thing about this performance -- Kurt’s open and emotional and vulnerable, but it’s not the first time.  I think of some of Kurt’s past solos -- A House is Not a Home, Rose’s Turn, I Want to Hold Your Hand, As If We Never Said Goodbye, and I Have Nothing -- and this thing they all have in common, despite all being vastly about different things -- is that they let other people see what he usually guards very close to his heart.  And thus why this performance, to me, is so powerful. 

And Kurt -- at the end is fascinating.  He kind of draws back into himself, because the response, positive as it is, is somewhat shocking.  Kurt when he sings goes to another place, and now that he’s back in reality, it’s slightly overwhelming -- especially for an introvert who just exposed a piece of his soul for everyone to see.  

Don’t Dream It’s Over

The last song of the episode, the group singing about continuing on even if it feels hopeless -- well, that makes a lot of sense in connection to Kurt’s story as well.  Because Kurt gets his NYADA acceptance letter (finally) and the whole episode is a lot about not giving up on yourself or your dreams, even when everything seems to be over.  You never know...  

[joe-whiteside]

post 4 - insomniac

1

It was August when it happened. The 8th or 9th, I don’t remember. I had just gotten through with the day’s overload of work and was closing my computer to get ready to go home. I like to be ready early. I was glancing between the clock and the door, clock and the door, clock and the door. I could tell my meds were wearing off. My ADHD makes me jittery. The medicine worked fine, but only from morning to about 4:30, and here we were: 4:55. I was jittery. I started shaking my leg. I wasn’t nervous or anything, I just couldn’t sit still that day. Probably because I had a small breakfast and there wasn’t much to dissolve the Adderall in. 

It was 4:57 now. 

I couldn’t help but wonder why the clock seemed to move so slow when you’re looking at it, but when you’re working, it’s at a regular speed. This thought would have puzzled me even more if I hadn’t noticed the hand move again. 

4:58. 

I sat there just watching, waiting, shaking. My hands had the nerve to pick up the pen on my desk and start clicking the end. I knew this annoyed my coworkers so I usually tried my best not to but today, I couldn’t help it. It was just so relieving for some reason. 

4:59. 

“I swear, if that clock moves any slower, I’m going to lose my mind,” I thought. At least, I thought I thought it. There’s a chance I said it under my breath without even realizing that I had done it because, at that exact moment of thought, Chris (the guy in the cubicle next to mine) said,

“Me too, Kurt,” 

He sighed.

I remember once, while I was out drinking with some buddies, this woman came into the place dressed like a complete whore. I must have said something about her out loud because when the woman walked by, she gave me a dirty look. I didn’t mind. I was just out to have a beer anyway. I think it’s nice when people say what’s on their mind, though maybe not if they are without basic filters. (I speak of myself, chiefly.) I look back at the clock. It’s 11 seconds until 5. 

Now, nine. 

Six, 

four, 

two... 

finally. 

It’s time to go home.

2

I wasn’t particularly excited to go home that day, nor any other day for that matter. I haven’t got much at home but a bed, a cat, and some of my dad’s old jazz records that I put on from time to time. When he and my mom retired, they moved out West. Montana, I think. They have a large camper and their life right now is best described as an over-extended road trip. At least they’re happy. Anyway, a day before they left, my father came by the house with a box.

“Your mother isn’t a fan of jazz and we don’t have space on the Winnie. You want ‘em?”

“Sure, I’ll take them,” I said, knowing full-well he’d leave them with me no matter what I said. Good thing I like the classics.

It was a rather uneventful drive home that night, and good too because my meds were really coming down now.  I’ve been experimenting with micro-dosing of hallucinogens to help keep me focused even more throughout the day. Those were wearing off too. I was at the point where I’d start counting the lines on the road just to stay focused on driving but I’d always get distracted. And it’s not like it was a long ride home either, just ten minutes, with the traffic of course. But today was a Friday evening and the surrounding businesses all closed early. But not Schlafen Office Supplies. No, we’re open, nine to five, Monday through Friday, all but two days of the year. Christmas and Thanksgiving. And sometimes, it’s just Thanksgiving.

I pull into my driveway and rush inside. It was raining outside and I forgot my umbrella at the office. I unlock the door, greet Samuel, he’s my cat, and turn a few lights on in the house. I give Samuel his dinner and order some China King. Lo mein, an egg roll, two crab rangoons, a Dr. Pepper, and a fortune cookie. I have a page in my kitchen where I write down what I normally get from restaurants because many times, it takes me too long to decide. Then, I go to lie down for a nap and allow the doorbell or Samuel to wake me up. Whichever comes first, I guess. 

As I’m lying there, Sammy jumps up on my chest and I gently put him on the floor. He always seems to know when I don’t want him around. I lie down again. Two minutes later, he’s jumping up onto me again and this time he uses his claws to really ‘stick’ the landing; (I hate that pun). I push him off and he wanders away. I continue reclining and just as I am getting comfortable, Sammy is running from one end of the house to the other, over and over, because that’s what cats do and it would have been fine if he didn’t jump up on me a third time, again, sticking the landing. I stand up and he falls into the sofa and manages to rip the suede cushion covers on his way down.

“GAH! What the hell is wrong with you?!?”

The doorbell rings. I whip around and stub my toe on the coffee table as I mutter and open the door. I sigh.

“I’m sorry, how much do I owe you?”

I pay him the $11.59 he required and gave him a four dollar tip because he looked only sixteen or seventeen and I felt bad for him.

I shut the door and went to the table to eat. 

Damn, I forgot to ask for soy sauce.

As I’m eating, Sammy comes and starts rubbing up on my leg, signaling that he’s sorry. I picked him up and pet him with one hand and held my egg roll with chopsticks in the other.

3

That night after cleaning up dinner, I walked into the bathroom, flipped the switch, and realized the lightbulb had gone out. I didn’t have any extras, I just used the last one on the pineapple lamp my parents got me as a housewarming gift. 

I gotta buy more lightbulbs soon.

I took my evening meds, being sure I took only the prescribed dose, which was hard because I had a million things racing through mind and to make matters worse, my hands were shaking. Next, I took my evening eyedrops. It burned more than usual. After brushing my teeth and flipping the lightswitch (because habits), I went to bed.

4

Whenever I can’t sleep at night, I’ll often read. It relaxes me in a way I can’t exactly describe. That night, it was Through The Looking Glass by Lewis Caroll. I was reading through The New York Times Bestsellers for Classic Fiction list.

I was starting on chapter nine tonight when I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. I turned to look but it was gone. I can’t put my finger on it. Just a movement. I went back to reading. I could hear my clock ticking, somewhat louder than before. When I looked over at its face, it seemed to be like water, with ripples and waves about, above the hands as if somebody filled the front of my clock with an ocean. Startled, I turn back to the book that was now warm in my hand. All of a sudden, I’m falling. I shut my eyes, afraid. 

When I finally gain strength to open them, my walls have become darker and my pineapple lamp has acquired an aura of warm-daylight glow. I look down at the book in my hands and see that nothing’s changed. Nothing except for... is it breathing? 

As it pulses in and out and as the words stretch beneath my fingertips, I panic. Hard. I throw the book across the room. In the meantime, my duvet has become an increasingly bold shade of red even though I knew it was blue. I fell against the pillows but I seemed to sink into them as if they were consuming me, no... melting me. 

I manage to pull myself together enough to get up and get a glass of water. Walking into the kitchen, Sammy brushes past my leg and in the pale, blue moonlight, I see a three-foot-tall Sammy sitting on the floor, licking his paws as his ears shoot little orbs of light and sausage above his head. I fill up my water glass telling myself it’s only a dream, praying to God it’s only a dream.

The glass breaks in my hand. 

I scream. Charging into the living room, I yell and stomp and jump and howl until, out of exhaustion, I pass out on the floor, exhausted, hitting my head on the coffee table on the way down.

5

Bright lights. 

White walls.

The cold smell of hand sanitizer.

I’m in a hospital bed hooked up to a dozen machines or so. After a few minutes, a short man in a lab coat and glasses walks in.

“Ah, you’ve come to. My name is Dr. Jefferson. Can you tell me where you are?”

“Ugh...it’s a hospital.” I groan. It hurts to speak.

“That’s right. Do you know your name, sir?”

“Yeah. Kurt. Kurt Osbourne.”

He writes something on his clipboard. 

“Well, it’s not quite as bad as we first thought Mr. Osbourne.”

“What’s not so bad?”

“I thought you might not remember.”

“Remember wha-ahh!” A sharp migraine hits. “Could you get me some water please?”

“Yes, Mr. Osbourne. In the meantime, there’s somebody here to see you.”

As if on cue, a tall, thin black woman in a lilac cardigan, yellow top, and blue jeans walks in.

“Hey, how ya feelin’?”

“Never better,” I hiss sarcastically. “Who are you?” 

“I’m your next-door neighbor Shauna Green. I moved in about a month ago.”

“Oh, I remember you.” It came out more rude than I meant it to. “What happened?”

“Well, it was around 1:30, 2 o’clock last night when I heard you. I had my windows open and you were yellin’ and screaming’ and carryin’ on like and I thought to myself, ‘That man is crazy. What is he doing yellin’ and carrying on like that? I got two kids to take care of.’ Pretty soon, I found myself, in a bathrobe, in front of your door. I was about to give you a piece of my mind when I realized you weren’t angry, you were...” she trailed and her eyes got big. “...you were something else.”

“Something else?”

“Scared, I guess. When I walked to the door, I heard you drop. And you got quiet. I called 911 and they sent over an ambulance. You’ve got a nasty gash on the back of your head there. Don’t touch it, honey, just know it’s there. They picked you up off the ground and I volunteered to stick around seeing as I was the only one who knew what had gone on.”

“Thank you,” I said dully. My head pained again. Through clenched teeth, I said, “Is that doctor back yet?”

“Why, yes I am.” he chimed, walking in as if we both knew he wasn’t listening.

Dr. Jefferson then handed me a glass of water a pain pill (which I was eternally grateful for) and he started his spiel.

“We found an alarmingly high amount of psychedelics in your bloodstream. Do you know anything about this?”

“Who’s asking?”

“Patient-doctor confidentiality applies within the law also.”

Glancing around, I say, “I only use ‘em to stay focused at work along with my Adderall. I have ADHD. I’m not an acidhead, I just do it for my concentration.”

A pause.

“How much did you find in my system?”

“Well, there was enough to make you think you could fly. And probably enough to make you try. Luckily, we don’t think you did.” He chuckled at this last statement. I resented him a little for it.

Thinking, I said, “Wait, I only take them in the morning before work. In microdoses,” I asserted. “How did they get so potent?”

“Our observations show an extremely high amount, if not all, was ingested through the eyes.”

“That’s impossible. Who uses LSD on their eyes?”

Then, it hit me. 

The lightbulb was out. I grabbed the first eye-dropper I felt. I’m such an idiot.

Just then, my face felt hot. I blushed and felt the most shame I’ve felt ever. In the moment, I was reminded of the time I went to the public pool with my family. I was a small kid so not everything always fit so well. While swimming, the knot on my shorts came undone and I hadn’t noticed. The inevitable happened when I went to dive off the diving board. I went head-first into the water. In the air, I was a swan. When I hit the water, my shorts came loose and slipped right off my little 12 year old body. I didn’t notice until I climbed up the ladder and exposed myself to a group of old women sunbathing.

Yeah, all that came back real quick.

Getting up, “I have to go. I have to get out of here.”

“Hold on there fella, you can’t leave yet,” Dr. Jefferson says, putting his remarkably large hand on my chest, holding me down.

“Let...me...go!” I say as I struggle with him to get out of the bed. I am rather weak.

“Nurses!” he calls.

Three large women come through the door. Two of them tie me to the bed with nylon straps while the third adds something to the IV.

That’s when the melting started again...

-joe whiteside

[skyflamedragon]

The New Fairy Tail

The Key of Infinity Arc: Epilogue

Chapter 9: Dreams Are Wishes Your Heart Makes!

*The Next Day in Magnolia*

Everyone is active and running about, place to place, shop to shop. People are hanging up decorations and everyone is in a festive mood. Our group of heroes are just now arriving back in Magnolia. They are clueless as to what is happening as they make their way to the guild.

*Flash into the Guild Before the Group Gets There*

No one is in the guild except for 3 people: Mirajane, Lucy, and another man. They are all sitting at the bar having a drink. The man is wearing a diviner purple suit, he has spiked yellow hair, and a lightning bolt scar across his right eye. This is Laxus Dreyar a former member of Fairy Tail, now in his retirement, he opened a casino on the other side of Magnolia.

"Man…times sure have changed," Laxus says while looking into his glass. "Yeah, hard to believe it. I still remember my first day coming here; it wasn't anywhere near this big," Lucy says looking around the empty guild, "What do you think Mira?" Lucy turns to find her passed out face down on the bar. 'Seems she's had too much to drink,' Lucy says to herself. Laxus stands up then says, "Welp, I better be off. Gotta make sure everything is ready for the event tonight."

Laxus walks out of the guild; as he begins walking down the street, our heroes are coming from the opposite direction. Akiko notices him passing by, "Hey wasn't that Laxus? He rarely comes to this side of town. Wonder if he was visiting his kid?" They all walk into the guild and are surprised to find the guild empty, except for Mirajane and Lucy. Akiko breaks the silence, "Mom what's going on? Where is everyone?" Lucy turns with a smile, but we all know how protective mothers can be...

"JUST where have you guys been? We have all been worried sick! No calls! Or even a message! Nothing! Where do you get off!? Ugh, and you guys almost missed the ball! And..." Lucy keeps going on, but Akiko turns to Hikari and asks, "What day is it?" Hikari looks at the calendar, "Oh my Mavis…it's May 3." The whole group looks shocked, "WHAT!?" Everyone goes into a panicked mode (except Duo). Distressed, Jarvan says, "J-dog needs to get a trim and a new leash." Lucio screams, "I needed to pick up my suit two days ago! Gah, I hope they still have it!" Those two run at the door simultaneously, get stuck in the doorway, curse at each other, get unstuck, and bulldoze down the street.

Akiko and Hikari are running around frantically yelling out random things about make-up, hair, and things of the sort. Lucy grabs them by their collars and points them towards the door then says, "Go get your shit together." As soon as she releases them they rocket out the door. Silvia is staring at the ground with a concerned look on her face. Duo and Lucy look at each other and immediately engage in Rock Paper Scissors, which Lucy loses. Lucy makes her way over to Silvia, but when she gets close Silvia lets out a guild shaking squeal and runs out of the guild.

Duo and Lucy look at each other questioningly, but decided not to worry about it. Lucy notices Duo not panicking and decides to ask, "What's up with you? Why are you so calm?" Duo shrugs, "You know my mom, she got my stuff months ago." Lucy laughs, "That does sound like her. Well then…" Duo stops her, "But…there is one thing I'd like you to help me with..." She looks at him and sees the look on his face; he seems a little embarrassed (though she does not seem to notice this).

........

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving!