#song is upgrade from be more chill

[solargeist]

should i take the upgrade ? should i take the upgrade ? (no! no! no! now! now! now!)

[hxney-lemcn]

Best Friend — Idia Shroud x gn! reader

summery: Idia realizes that you might be closer than he thought.

tw: uhhh none I think.

a/n: idk if this is bad, I think I got Idia's personality right. This is kinda more platonic, but could be read as romantic.

wc: 0.6k

Master List

The more Idia got to know you, the more he realized you might’ve been less of a normie than he originally thought. Of course you were nowhere near Idia’s status of loser otaku, but you still surprised him. It started with you complaining about something called vocaloid? Idia hadn’t heard of vocaloid before, but when you explained the concept he realized it was your world's version of synthaloid. That was the first time he started to question his view of you. As you complained about not being able to listen to vocaloid anymore, he introduced you to some synthaloid songs. He watched as your eyes lit up, head bobbing to the songs as you scanned the lyrics. 

He hadn’t heard of normies liking synthaloid, but you were still too extroverted. I mean you had how many friends in how many dorms? Total normie activities. Yet you shocked him once again when you then started complaining about missing this one video game you used to play. Apparently it was really chill but competitive. When you mentioned it was called AFK Journey Idia froze, he played a game with an uncannily similar name. So he introduced you to AFK Adventure, and found his heart jumping as you gushed passionately, comparing all the similarities and differences. AFK Adventure was still growing, and the fact that you played your version only months after it was released…he once again questioned if you really were a normie. 

The final nail in the coffin was when you complained about how exhausted you were. The main reason why he classified you as normie was because you were social, you had friends, you barely had a phone! (That wasn’t your fault, you had no money after all). So when you complained that you were tired from all the socializing, that you found refuge in his room because you felt like you could truly relax by just playing video games…well he was a bit flustered to say the least. You found him comforting? You found his messy, gross room relaxing (Ortho tried his best to clean it before you arrived)? You enjoyed playing video games with him even if he would tend to blow up if someone annoyed him? 

Idia found himself sharing more with you. It seemed like everywhere he looked (online) he’d find something about you to connect it with. You’d really like this anime, it seemed similar to one you described from your world. You liked chill games right? Well there's this mobile digital pet game you’d like, you just have to friend him. Oh, fanart of your fav character…he’d send it to you if he had the courage. He had also set you up with a pc, laptop, and upgraded your phone without a second thought. It was only to encourage you to go on games to give him rewards…totally. 

And not to mention, when you first joined AFK Adventure, Idia kicked out a member from his guild to let you join. His other guild members were highly confused he let in a noob join since it was a whale only guild (don’t worry, you weren’t a noob for long…thank Idia’s credit card). 

One night, when you both were playing a video game together, you had fallen asleep on his bed. The laptop he had given you was still running, but it was pushed to your side. Idia couldn’t help but feel his face heat up, you looked so peaceful in his space. That’s when he realized he wasn’t truly alone anymore, even if he stayed holed up in his room, you managed to wiggle your way to join him. You would rant about nerdy things to him only, a special privilege you hadn’t bestowed to any of your other friends. He had come to a conclusion that somewhat scared him.

Idia Shroud had a close friend, he wasn’t alone anymore.

[kryzuuna]

SPOILERSS

FINAL EP 8 THINGS IVE NOTICED and thoughts and idk

i was so excited for this omg

i wonder what was the minus for tho 😔 also for a sec i thought that uzis name got revealed as usi 😭 cus of the s thing above but ig it can work as z

theres also a dead cells reference but its dead batteries 😭 lmao

thats my fav frame ong they look so scruffy AND off topic i love the design of the drones faces in general 😭😭😭 they always have this little goldfish look

this scene was sooo pretty, generally it was a shock how good the animation and render looked like fr i wasnt expecting such an upgrade from ep 7

AND im so glad the physics didnt work at that moment and their hair didnt burn 😔 i would be mourning all ep

honestly ive became a fan of J 😭😭 she got the short end of the stick through all of it

Grumpy Mctraumabot lmao also why their ios is so outdated

a lot of people pointed out that uzi referenced the tpose covers for the OST but i think they did it with khan more accurately 😭

her in those heels was a HARD WATCH like ouch

heres such a great shot, i feel like this is where you can clearly see the animation improved cus omg

omg he shred a tear 😭😭😭😿😿😿the feels guys 🥺🥺🫶🫰🫶

those eyes remind me too much about the instagram icon lmao also what is this windows xp how old the tech was on copper 9

this song hits hard maybe my fav part of the soundtrack

so they didn't make them kiss but they made them netflix and chill smh the priorities these days...🚬 KIDDING

AAHHH are those her moms headphones?? idk

anyway the finale was fun and very pretty, kinda short, wish it could go on for 10 more hours, i also wish they all could get a chance to talk more cus im more for interactions between the characters rather than action but alright alright

[hotteoki]

drunk bf ateez headcanons - 2k celebration!

pairing: ateez x reader (no prns used)

cw: mentions of alcohol (obvie)

genre: fluff, established relationship, headcanon

notes: after watching drunkteez on wanteez and having yunho on my mind i just had to write this ( ˘ ³˘)

notes: this is my second celebration post! happy 2k followers!

hongjoong

he seems fine

at first

he's downing shots, glasses, bottles

at flash speed

but he's fine

even he says he's fine

"i just don't feel anything"

"well i mean some people just don't get drunk"

"maybe i'm just reeeeeally talented"

you're like thinking 'oh! he's not too bad'

...

did the 'reeeeeally' not give you warning signs in your head

you spoke too soon

next thing you know he's trying to shove his head down the billiard/pool/snooker table holes

it's more of gently ramming his head against the table edge than shoving his head tho

you were dying laughing by the time you reached him

"joong what are you doing???"

"i'm looking for thissssss"

"what is 'this', joongie?"

it's silent for a while and you're rubbing his back

then he just pops up

"this!"🫰🏻

(ಠ ಠ)

he thinks he's sooooo funny

you had to stare at him for a good few minutes before processing what the hell you just witnessed

he's upgraded from terrible dad jokes to terrible rizz jokes

i don't think i can decipher which is worse

he's also balancing the shot glasses on the back of his hand

which had you PANICKING

a whole migraine just from that

forget a hangover

your fear of him breaking one of those is enough for you to want to die

surprisingly he didn't break any

"see baby? i'm just tooooooo talented"

he's giggling so much

it's so cute :(

but add the worst aegyo in the world to the list

it’s near bang chan level of horrifying

i mean sure

joong is NATURALLY a giant tiny cutie

but when he’s doing it on purpose???

um.

well!

okay!

(유∀유|||)

have fun!

seonghwa

no thoughts behind those eyes

just blink blink (0_0) (-_-) (0_0)

i'm pretty sure he's on mars

and out of nowhere he starts singing along to i want it that way playing in the background (b99 ref (ʃƪ˘ﻬ˘))

singing along very loudly if i may add

BUT

as soon as the song ends

he's back to his (0_0) (-_-) (0_0) agenda

at one point

you’ve just gotten used to his giggles and clapping out of the blue

yeah he just applauds randomly

to whom and why?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

he just wants to i guess

"hwa, i think we should go now it's like 4am-"

"HAKUNA MATATA YO"

oh he's singing again!

will not stop for the next twenty minutes

in his head it's a free karaoke bar

and he's just singing to his heart's content

he can also get pouty very quickly

and is very, very clingy

whichever one of your arm is nearer to him is not going to hear the bells of freedom for the rest of the long night

to be fair

if any of the other members are near him

he's also going to be clinging to them

just

a little less than you

he loves you the most after all! ><

all in all

he's pretty chill

every now and then

this is a bit short cause i don’t know what else i could say i’m sorry (╥_╥)

i'll make it up with a seonghwa drabble soon promise

yunho

where did this man's energy come from???????

one minute he's on the dance floor

he's 'boogying', as he said

the next he's running laps around the bar

you're just shocked he hasn't crashed into another poor innocent person yet

oh and now he's on the stage! ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

are you ripping out your hair yet

( ˘ ɜ˘) ♬♪♫ (yunho!!!!!!)>ヽ(‵﹏´)ノ

he's singing what seems to be halazia

except it's literally just the word halazia being repeated

you're pretty sure he sang 'hala-hala-hala-hala-halazia' like about seven times

stream seven by jungkook

you had to physically drag him down from the stage

“nooooo baby you don’t understand i still need to sing hips don’t lie they need meeeeeee (ง'̀-'́)ง”

“yeah ok shakira let’s go”

his hand slips from yours and he’s sucked into the wardrobe of narnia

cause even tho he’s a literal giant

you can’t seem to find his usually sticking out head

the reason why?

he’s squatting while doing the dougie

why? i don’t know

i don’t think he knows either

but he’s dougieing!

he’s also spitting BARS

starts rapping to mingi’s part in guerilla while you’re trying to drag him out

at this point you’re beginning to suspect that he’s not actually drunk

maybe a little tipsy

but mostly just staying to cause chaos

and to give you a headache

but his little pout as you’re pulling him away

“yuyu come on we have to go >:(“

“but baby i don’t want tooooo”

does this face 🥺

yk that one time when ateez made faces imitating the emoji signs they were holding

and yuyu had the 🥺 one

THATS EXACTLY THE FACE HES MAKING

and how can you deny this golden retriever :,)

(if you can resist it you’re just a maniac frankenstein cheoreom georeo maniac maniac ha ha idk i don’t make the rules)

“okay fine… but no-”

“YAY i’ll be back”

he does in fact come back a few minutes later

HOLDING A PIGEON?????

“YUNHO WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? PUT THE BIRD DOWN-”

“i made a friend! :D”

you’re certain he took a few years off your life in just one night

yeosang

since we've never actually seen him drunk

cause he's a fairy

i'll go by what joong san and hwa were saying in their vlive like ages ago

cause apparently yeosang gets all cute

so let's imagine a very clingy sangie

just tugging and snuggling into your arm

mumbling your name too

his cute nose scrunches up whenever you try to move

he whines about how you don’t love him anymore

literally just because you moved to scratch an itch on your neck

“sangie what do you mean i don’t love you anymore of course-”

“you don’t LOVE ME ANYMORE :-(”

near tears because he’s convinced of his point

sigh

“baby why do you think i don’t love you anymore?”

“hm??”

confused blink blink

he’s forgotten what he was even saying

your hand brushing through his hair is just too distracting!!!!

he’s a simple man ok?

( ๑>ᴗ<๑ )

that’s how i imagine he looks

with a flushed face

but still looking like an angel sent from heaven

but yk

don’t forget about his muscles

（ΦωΦ）

atp he’s fed up with you moving around while trying to take care of the other members

so he just tightens his iron grip on your arm

good luck moving a literal koala clinging onto your arm

like hwa’s situation

you’re not moving another inch until he’s satisfied with the amount of love he’s showered you

which

he never will be

◝(๑꒪່౪̮꒪່๑)◜

again very short cause i have nothing to come from ;-(

san

literally the LOUDEST mfer in the bar

you can expect everyone within a twenty meter radius to be staring at the two of you

you just standing there like (ಥ‿ಥ) and he's just like ᕙ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)ᕗ

flexing

he's not doing it on purpose

but like

come on

how can you NOT stare at the gorgeous man that is your boyfriend

gawddamn

what snaps you out of your daze was san suddenly pointing at you

"san what are you doing?"

"youuuuuu... are soooooo... not me"

🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

oh he's so far gone

i don't think even he knows what he's doing

bro's just saying things

he's literally the walking epitome of speaking to speak

the worst, and i mean absolutely WORST case of asian flush ever

every exposed square inch of his skin is bright red

you're like

panicking trying to get him to sit down

cause he's stumbling around into every person in the bar

he's practically knocking them over like bowling pins

then immediately apologising in the cutest way possible

the second he's made it out of the human mosh pit tho

(╥﹏╥)

you're like (ಠ ''ಠ)

"sannie, honey, why are you crying?"

"i don't know"

sniffle

"i just love you soooooo much..."

"thank you i-"

"like SOOOOO much"

"okay thank you baby-"

"i love you like thissssssss much"

he's holding out his hands

and he's stretching them out as far as possible

and before you know it

oop! he's bear hugging you

his cheek is squished against the top of your head as he's mumbling incoherent words

the only thing you can make out tho is

"i love you so much"

you guys are such goals (;-;)

mingi

okay since we’ve never seen drunk minki

i’m going to go by the endoscopy ep

where he was breakdancing

at first he was convincing gaslighting you that he was fine

because fine means stumbling around and not even being able to walk in a straight line

but whatever suits him! :p

no seriously

he could not walk properly for the LIFE of him

he was crashing into strangers and waiters alike here and there

and by crashing

i mean practically throwing himself onto them

but the second he stands back up

he’s back to yelling into their faces that he’s sober

like mingi…

no one believes you

(￢_￢;)

you were following him right on his tail

frantically apologising to everyone he disturbed

and he’s bopping his head

he’s jamming!!!!!! 乁( • ω •乁)

he’s in his own little world

which is so adorable you almost want to cry :-(

but by the time you have to leave

and he’s STILL dancing around

you have to start pulling aggressively on his arm

he won’t go otherwise

he could stay there all night just to prove a point

the point?

that he’s sober

yes he’s still on that topic

because he’s 100% NOT drunk!!!!!!!!!!

“mingi we have to go-”

“BUT BRUNO MARS IS ON”

“MINGI ITS NOT EVEN BRUNO MARS ITS JUSTIN BEIBER”

“…o yea! ヽ(･∀･)ﾉ”

sigh moment from you

“i want bruno mars thoooooo do you fink i can request for bruno marsssss??????”

“no”

“why not!!!!!! ;-(”

“cause we have to go (˘∀˘)/(ㅠ~ㅠ)”

pushing him out of the bar now

he’s a fun person to be around when you’re drunk as well tho

wooyoung

witch cackle amplified by 2611%

it’s so funny tho

he laughs over literally NOTHING

a stranger walking in the bar?

HILARIOUS

someone passing by?

howling on the floor

the toilet door opening?

he’s wiping away tears

hongjoong tripping over a chair in his drunken state?

he’s getting a 10 pack at this rate

to be fair

you also cackled at poor hongjoong pretending like his dignity didn’t just get absolutely annihilated

at the same time

he’s also just fumbling around

he’s not very sober

like

not sober enough to recognise you

“oooooooh you’re soooooooo good looking we should go outttt”

“wooyoung this is the fifth time tonight we’ve been together for over a year”

“say whaaaaaaaaaat???!!!!?!!?!”

starts coddling you after that

he’s so sweet but in a loud way

well

louder than usual

cant stop kissing you (ﾉ´ з `)ノ

no literally

i’m not exaggerating

he will CHASE you around the pub to kiss you if needed

he has done that before (in my head)

“wooyoung people are staring-”

“COME BACK LEMME KISS YOUUUUUUU ε=┌(;･д･)┘”

now

you might be thinking

skits, why would i ever deny kisses from wooyoung????

yeah see

he thinks he’s kissing you

he’s not

he’s biting you

like full on CHOMP CHOMP CHOMPERS

it’s not even cute lil :3 nom noms

ITS LITERALLY FULL ON TEETH RAWRS

so unless you want a chunk of your skin gone

start running! :p

jongho

you really think he's going to be the drunk one?

him??????

bro has not seen a day of being drunk

he could be downing bottles of every kind of alcohol known to mankind

and still be fresh as a daisy

(≖ᴗ≖) ✿

he'd be the one challenging the entire bar into drinking too

he handles his alcohol very well

let's be honest, you're probably the one drunk

he's going to be taking care of you instead

BUT you never told him how he once drunkenly went up to the bar stage

and started shooing off the performers

before flaunting off his vocals

so that was fun

let's say he hypothetically was wasted tho

i'll use the endoscopy ep as an example like mingi

he's just going to be asleep

just

snore mimimimi snore mimimimi

he might wake up like every half hour

and get all confused

but it's so cute :(

like he's just lifting his head up from your lap

◝(´Ｏ｀)◜

probably definitely drooling tho

it's going to be pretty short for him cause he just doesn't get drunk

he's invincible

networks - @kflixnet k-labels kbookshelf neverendingdreams-net straykidsland @k-films

[mttonex]

hi guys heres a clone high animatic hope u enjoy 😸

★ Song is Upgrade from Be More Chill!! (I used both the original & broadway recordings of the song!) ★

[helpforintrusivethoughts]

Resources 🌼

(Updated regularly)

🪷 Emergency resource: oh no I’m having a bad thought

🌻 Apps and Games

Finch: mental health app where you care for a little bird! Offers many features such as focus timers, rant zones, nature sounds, fun questions, and more! You can even make friends on it and send them encouragement :) (my friend code)

Adorable Home: a precious game in which you have a tiny spouse, cats, and a little house you can decorate! You can check in and enjoy peaceful music, different scenes, and upgrades through collecting tiny hearts you earn through easy tasks! A truly adorable and relaxing game!

Seashine: a game set underwater in which you guide a tiny luminescent jellyfish through the abyss. Beautiful, relaxing music and distant whale noises; some scary enemies, so if you have thalassophobia this might not be the one for you. Very calming otherwise though, and the creator is coming out with an enemy-free version soon in which you can just float around to the music!

Cat Snack Bar: an adorable app where you operate different business venues with the help of chubby, adorable cats! You check in periodically to collect money and update your venue, but otherwise it doesn't require much brain power. A very cute game to help you relax!

Webtoon: a comic app that allows you to browse thousands of creative and often relaxing webcomics!

1010!: a fun little game where you match up blocks. Fairly simple and satisfying, and you can update your backgrounds to fun designs!

Papa's Cupcakeria: a relaxing and satisfying game where you make cupcakes! And of course there’s a whole series of games in the Papa Louie universe to choose from that are fun and happy :)

🪸 Fun Websites

Neal.fun: features many creative pages you can visit such as— a stack of movable rocks, a page that shows how deep the ocean really goes, who was alive [insert year], draw logos from memory, and more!

WindowSwap: lets you go through windows around the world! You can log in and save your favorites, and make it fullscreen if you need to study and want a nice thing in the background to keep you from distractions.

mrdoob.com: a wacky website with lots of fun features you can draw and mess around with

boredbutton: for when you're bored out of your mind and want a pointless website to mess with!

theuselessweb.com: takes you to a completely useless website, such as a page where it rains corndogs or a page where you can create different forms of art.

ashortjourney.com: lets you take a small and beautifully drawn trip on a trolley and pick up/drop off tiny creatures!

Forestopia: allows you to explore images of forests and the things inside, with background forest noises!

boredpanda.com: full of memes, funny stories, and more!

listverse: contains many lists, some horrifying (so be warned for those) and some just fascinating!

🍄 Focus Sites and Playlists

rainymood.com: a site/app that lets you listen to rain for as long as you want!

asoftmurmur.com: lets you listen to a variety of sounds like rain, thunder, or a fire!

Open ocean: 10 hours of underwater videography of a spot in the ocean!

imissmycafe.com: site that lets you listen to the noises of a coffee shop! You can change the different noises too :)

Secret Forest Playlist: peaceful music; 2 hours

Rain on Leaves on a Forest Road in Autumn: rain in the woods; 10 hours

Haunted Village Halloween Ambience: eerie but quiet music; 3 hours

Relaxing Autumn/Fall Forest: sounds of wind, crows, songbirds, and creaking trees; 7 hours

Chill Beats for Worldbuilding and Writing: Fabulous lofi music; 1 hour

It's Just a Dream/Dreamcore: Very peaceful and ambient music; 4 hours

Autumn Acoustic: Autumn inspired songs; 5 hours

Sad Piano Music: beautiful piano pieces by Jurrivh; 6 hours

The Most Relaxing Waves Ever: beach noises; 8 hours

Rural Autumn Ambience and Music: gentle autumn-y music; 1 hour

Yanni: a playlist of beautiful word-free music by Yanni

pov- you're a pirate: a pirate-themed playlist for inspiration

soft music for the end of the world: soft instrumental pieces

autumn: Autumn-themed songs; 5 hours

Have your own recommendations? Drop a comment or ask!

[bloodstainsontengensfloor]

Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Movie: first response

⚠️SPOILERS⚠️

Okay so! There’s QUITE a few changes from the books. The funerals, which I read the book I always found so unsettling, were cut. Honestly, I was worried if I’d be able to stomach watching it on screen so honestly, those being excluded was a bit of a blessing. But, it’s not really clear if Didi and Apollo died in the attack on the Arena or not. The only confirmed mentor death is Felix, who has been upgraded from the president’s nephew to the president’s son!

The biggest change though, which after listening to the recording from the soundtrack I enjoy a lot, is how Lucy Gray wins her games. Rather than the snakes being released mid way through her games, the snakes are what ends her game. Dr.Gaul spirals, claiming that there doesn’t need to be a Victor and the districts MUST pay, especially because now the president’s son is dead because of these ‘rebels’. Lucy Gray poisons one of the tributes from Coral’s alliance, who’s name escapes me at the moment. I think it’s the one she’s kills with the snake. Lucy Gray’s (Rachel Zegler’s) performance in this scene is so powerful. It’s amazing. The way it’s reframed that she’s singing as the snakes shroud her and she’s the only one alive in the arena, is just chilling. Dr.Gaul refusing to end the games and Snow pleading for her to let Lucy Gray go, with the students chanting “Let her go. Let her go.” I’ve been a Rachel fan since the start. Since I was 12, I’ve been subscribed to her YouTube channel, and seeing the movie and her in it is so… AHHHH. This scene was just so powerful and I honestly still am not over it and can’t wait to see it again on my second viewing.

Reaper’s death also changed with this! He is killed with the snakes along with Coral and I believe two other tributes. Clemmie, sadly, is gone from the movie after the incident with the snakes. She also takes a much more like… not antagonistic per day, but cocky role. Reaper’s death was… it was good. His reaction to Wovey’a death being what triggers him creating the grave for the other tributes is amazing, and the performance of that grief and anger was so good.

The movie portrays the mercy of the games so well. Lucky Flickerman is HILARIOUS as a host which is so disturbing. “The odds are not likely but may they be in your favor” is what he says to Lucy Gray after her interview. His quips are funny and quick, and honestly a highlight of the movie. Only to be reminded of the dying children of course. It’s very Ceaser Flickerman and it’s amazing. After Lamina kills Marcus, Lucky even says “was it mercy or murder?”. It’s such a sharp contrast to Lamina and Marcus’ interaction. She gently reaches for his head, and he turns, face clenched with pain and sorrow, saying “please.” You can see how gentle Lamina is as she kills him, the music too really adds onto the tragedy of it. How Lamina, who is seen as weak and a cry baby for most of her screen time, offers such mercy. Lamina’s actress says nothing, but her performance is so beautiful.

The movie highlights on Lucy Gray’s grief and guilt too. When her and Snow reunite, she talks about how they are BOTH killers. She expresses such grief at how Dill (‘ill Dill’ and ‘Tuberculosis on legs’ WERE WILD ON LUCKY’s part) was the one who found the poison and the audience gets to see a lot of her live reactions to the game’s events.

THE LAST SONG OF LUCY GRAY

The way Rachel and Tom play the scene in the cabin is WILD. The movie’s tone SHIFTS so much the second Snow finds the guns. It becomes like a horror movie as Lucy Gray asks what is it and snow turns to her pointing the gun slightly at her, finger almost on the trigger ready to pull. Rachel’s performance of Lucy Gray in this scene is something I’ll be talking about for days. She’s a bit of a schemer, she is suspicious, and she knows what will come next. She tests the waters with him and when she says that besides the guns, she’ll be his only loose end, I can’t tell if Lucy Gray does it to taunt or test him.

SNOW. “Lucy gray. are you… are you trying to kill me? AFTER EVERYTHING I DID FOR YOU?” Something about the way Snow says this… it takes you out of context of the story because this is something that happens often in toxic relationships. It’s so real and raw, and honestly a little too close to reality than we would like. I personally see it as an effort on the writer’s part to make sure the audience doesn’t side with snow at the end. As we know, the Yassification of characters and if a bad person is attractive it’s okay yada yada IS such a discourse. Tom Blyth as Snow has been seeing a lot of this too. But this part? This part makes it a bit more real, which is greatly appreciated.

Everything about the last scene with Snowbaird was fantastic. The two people I went with said that they were honestly confused on who betrayed who. And who stopped trusting who first. And that’s what makes it so fun AHHH.

I have so many thoughts but not enough people to talk about it with, so word vomit on tumblr lol. I’ll prob have even more to say after round two! (My friend got to meet the cast today and I’m so jealous that I wasn’t able to go)

[emberdew]

Be More Ghost Chapter 11: Upgrade

Summary:

A Be More Chill AU where Danny gets a Super Quantum Intel Unit Processor (or Squip) to help him become cool and win over Valerie, but things don't really go as planned.

Masterpost | AO3 Link | Word Count: 1,993

C’mon, Danny can’t you see we got a plan,  now be a man.  You start with Star,  and then progress,  then we assess  and soon success!

The Squip ended up dragging Danny all the way outside the school. It had mostly stopped glitching out but its outline still buzzed a little like it was agitated. Its hair, which was usually slightly neater than Danny’s, was sticking out in different directions like Danny’s does after he gets out of bed. Even its sunglasses were slightly askew.

“What was that about?” Danny asked.

I’m sorry, but that girl does not see you as relationship material. Squip-Phantom adjusted its sunglasses and ran a hand through its hair, which smoothed down into its usual neat look. 

���I know! That’s why I got you!” Danny felt exasperated. One failure and the Squip was acting like Technus after Tucker hacked into the ghost’s software? Maybe it wasn’t as good as Danny thought it was.

And you’re sure you want her? She already broke up with you once and she actively hunts you! There are plenty of other students at this school. Squip-Phantom’s face matched Danny’s expression of frustration like a mirror. Then it relaxed and turned its head as if looking at something that wasn’t there. I’m accessing footage of the boy’s basketball team right now. It’s very impressive. 

“I want to date Valerie.” Danny had heard this argument a thousand times from Sam and Tucker already and he knew it was weird that he was still hung up on her, but he wouldn’t give up his crush. He couldn’t!

You’re sure about that? Squip-Phantom seemed resigned to Danny’s stubbornness. It could read his mind after all, so it knew how sure Danny felt about this.

Danny nodded. 

Very well. 

“So how can I get her to date me?”

You can’t. 

“What?” Danny clenched his fists. What was the point of getting a Squip if it couldn’t help him get what he wanted? 

…Yet. Becoming the kind of man who can impress Valerie requires more than working out a few bugs. Squip-Phantom raised its sunglasses and Danny saw its eyes start glowing brighter in excitement as it explained its plan. You’re going to need to reboot your reputation. Supercharge your social standing. You need to upgrade!

“Huh?”

You need to get popular. Squip-Phantom winked and lowered its sunglasses again. Tear ducts: activate. 

Danny felt his eyes welling up with tears. Before he realized what was happening, he started sobbing uncontrollably. What had the Squip done to him?

Through vision blurred by tears, Danny saw Star walk up to him with a sad smile.

“Danny! I’ve been looking for you.”

“I’m sorry,” Danny gasped out between hitched breaths. “I don’t know why I’m crying.”

“I do.” Star patted his back soothingly. Danny wiped his eyes and looked up at Star.

“You do?” 

“And I totally understand. They’re saying it was a freak ice skating accident.”

“What are you talking about?” Danny looked questioningly at Squip-Phantom, who just motioned for him to keep paying attention to Star. What was going on?

“Oh my god, you don’t know!” Star’s eyes widened. “Chip Skylark’s dead!”

“Chip Skylark is dead?” Danny’s mouth hung open in shock. 

“I mean, I was never into him because most of his songs were about teeth which kind of freaked me out but-” Star gestured to Danny’s shirt, which he just remembered was emblazoned with the singer’s face, “I know you liked him so…”

Star continued trying to comfort him but Danny could not focus on her right now. He turned to Squip-Phantom, who was hovering nearby.

“Did you know this was going to happen?”

Of course not. 

“So it’s a coincidence you told me to wear this shirt?” Danny arched an eyebrow.

Of course not. Squip-Phantom cracked a smile. 

“Wait, what?” Danny grabbed Squip-Phantom’s arm in alarm. “Did you kill Chip Skylark?”

No, Squip-Phantom shrugged, not exactly. My quantum processor allows me to envision probable futures-

“Like Clockwork,” Danny remembered the Squip had tried to explain this before, but he was still reeling. 

A little bit. So while I did not know that, today, Chip Skylark would be run over by a Zamboni, I was aware of the probability of a… favorable outcome. 

“Favorable for WHO?” Danny cringed at the thought of the Squip using someone’s death as some part of a master plan. It felt too much like something Vlad would do. But before he could reconsider his life choices, a warm arm wrapped around his shoulders.

“It’s okay, Danny,” Star spoke gently into his ear. “You don’t have to be alone right now.”

Danny started to pull away but Squip-Phantom stopped him. 

You need to get popular and here's a popular girl who likes you. You need to go where she leads.

Hesitantly, Danny obeyed. This close to Star, he could smell the nice vanilla-scented perfume she used. Her blonde hair was really shiny in the afternoon sunlight. As they walked together to the bleachers by the football field and sat down, Danny thought maybe letting Star lead him for a little bit wouldn’t be so bad.

“This is my favorite place behind the school.” Star grinned at Danny and he smiled back. “Isn’t the sun on the bleachers muy bonito?”

Danny nodded. The weather was pretty nice, but he still felt a chill. He wished he had brought his favorite NASA hoodie.

“Being here with you right now makes me feel like our future is so clear, you know?” Star gently placed her hand on Danny’s as he looked into her turquoise eyes. 

Danny felt like his tongue was caught in his throat, so he just nodded again. 

“I’ll tenderly guide you.” Star leaned forward and Danny’s brain started shutting down.

Danny turned to his other side where Squip-Phantom was relaxing while slightly hovering above the bleachers. When it caught Danny looking, it shifted down to sit close to his side and grabbed his other hand. 

I’ll tenderly guide you, Squip-Phantom echoed.

Danny stared into his reflection in Squip-Phantom’s dark sunglasses. He shifted in his seat and tilted his head back.

Just take me inside you… Squip-Phantom leaned in closer to Danny, forever.

Danny turned away so he wasn’t facing Star or Squip-Phantom. With them leaning close on both his sides, he felt a little overwhelmed. He turned back to Squip-Phantom when its hand grasped his shoulder.

Your half-life was so pitiful before, Squip-Phantom grinned as it swept its other hand out in a grand gesture, now it’s time to go all the way and more! You gotta get an upgrade!

“Upgrade?” Danny still wasn’t completely sure what the Squip meant, but it did sound like a good thing. But he still felt kind of bad for lying to Star. Would an upgrade really be worth it?

Upgrade, Squip-Phantom nodded, don’t worry about feeling guilty- just take a breath and seal the deal.

Squip-Phantom offered a hand and Danny shook it. 

“Guess I gotta get an upgrade.”

___

After putting her books in her locker, Valerie sighed when she saw Dash walking down the hallway toward her. 

“Hey,” Dash leaned against the locker next to hers. 

Valerie ignored him and pretended to be busy shoving things into her backpack.

“You’re not gonna say hi?” Dash took a step closer and put a hand on her locker door. 

“I was,” Valerie slammed the locker door shut, which almost caused Dash to fall over, “at ghost hunting club.” 

Dash stood up straight and gave Valerie an apologetic look, but she had already turned and started walking away. 

“I wanted to be there.” Dash took a few hurried steps to catch up to Valerie. She shot him a glare but stopped to let him continue. “But it was the same time as the play rehearsal…”

Valerie didn’t have anything to say to Dash. She didn’t know why she bothered letting him explain himself.

“Which is why I had to quit. I don’t want to do every extracurricular at school, I just want to do yours.”

“Oh.”

“And I’ve been tryna be a better man, for real,” Dash ran a hand through his short blond hair, “I’m sick of playing this role I’m s’posed to play.”

Valerie hasn’t expected that from Dash. He was just some dumb popular jock who got whatever he wanted. Even when they were both in the A-Listers, she hadn’t seen this side of him before.

“Valerie, don’t you ever feel that way?” Dash’s blue eyes looked into hers and Valerie felt her cheeks heating up. Maybe she should give Dash another chance.

“I-”

“Do you wanna come over to my place tonight?” Dash interrupted in an awkward rush. He rubbed the back of his neck. “We could get all sporty and toss a ball around, or get a movie and just kick it for a while.”

Dash gently put a hand on Valerie’s shoulder and smiled. Valerie found herself smiling back.

“My parents won’t be home so it’s alright,” Dash said. “They laundered money so now they’re on the run-”

“That’s illegal!” Valerie exclaimed, shaking off Dash’s hand in her shock. Dash brushed it off and continued.

“Yeah, but now the house is empty, so we can have fun!”

Valerie burst out laughing. Dash’s priorities made no sense, but she couldn’t help finding him endearing.

“You aren’t like other girls, Valerie. I don’t know if you know it, but I’m sure that for me you are an upgrade.” Dash boldly grabbed Valerie’s hands in his, and to Valerie’s surprise, she let him.

“Upgrade?” Valerie tilted her head slightly.

“Upgrade,” Dash nodded, “let’s be each other’s upgrade.” 

“Oh, wow.” Valerie felt a little flustered with Dash’s hands holding both of hers. “Well, I am flattered, but I’m not sure-”

“You gotta take the upgrade!” Dash flashed a handsome grin.

Valerie squeezed his hands and nodded.

___

Danny turned back to look at Star, who seemed totally unaware that Danny had been distracted by the Squip and hadn’t been paying attention. He wasn’t even sure how long she had been talking at him.

“When I’m with Paulina, people always look at her first,” Star said, not meeting Danny’s eyes. “But at the mall? You looked at me.”

Danny smiled slightly and nodded. Star looked up at him and leaned closer, resting her head on his shoulder.

“And like, Paulina’s my best friend, but sometimes I’m tired of always being her satellite. I just want someone to see me first.”

Danny awkwardly patted Star’s back to try to comfort her. At the edge of his vision, he saw the Squip giving him a thumbs up.

The bell rang and Star and Danny started walking back to the school. After promising to sync up later, Star waved goodbye and walked down the hall to her next class. Danny leaned against his locker and sighed. 

That went well.

Danny jolted several feet in the air when the Squip materialized in front of him. Danny was glad the hallway was empty as he gently floated back to the ground.

“Don’t do that!” Danny suddenly understood how Sam and Tucker felt when he appeared out of nowhere right in front of them. The Squip just gave him a cocky grin.

Danny looked down the hallway where Star had left a few moments ago. 

“I still don’t feel good about manipulating Star like this…” Danny rubbed his shoulder where she had rested her head while basically pouring her heart out to him earlier. “It just feels wrong.”

C’mon Danny, can’t you see? Squip-Phantom moved closer to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. We’ve got a plan- you start with Star and then progress. 

Danny gave Squip-Phantom a wary look, but the Squip just squeezed his shoulder.

Just be a man, you can do this! You’ll have success with Valerie in no time!

“Valerie…” Danny whispered. Right, he was doing this so he could date Valerie. That would make everything worth it, right?

[bananaactivity]

I love your characterisation of Carlos, do you have any more hcs about him ?

Sure

I feel like a lot of people wouldn’t like my version of Carlos. He’s not this sweet little goober who’s so smoll XD. Not there’s anything wrong with that ofc.

He’s more of a sassy rude little goober who thinks he’s always right. He doesn’t like animals unless he’s shooting them and using them to make fancy coats. Chad fixed that though because he loves furry little guys.

In my AU he had a little fling with Jay but he realized that he didn’t really enjoy “dating” people. (Also Jay is kinda a mess ngl)

Jane and him are still good freinds but Carlos is more aro ace leaning, he doesn’t label himself but he still has feelings that lean that way. Jane and Chad are his people that he holds up as people that he loves more then most but it’s still platonic.

He’s also close friends with Harry as he would escape to Hooks ship when his mom would be too much.

A theme of my AU is that the longer the core four stay in Auradon the less close they get as they become wrapped up with different situations. Carlos is the most stable of them all. He and Chad are just chilling. Mal and Evie are trying to make their relationships work then they fail and realize they want to be together but the dynamic is way different when they upgrade the relationship. And Jay is really struggling man, he just found out he loved a guy he spent his whole life beefing with, as well as that that guy is probably getting married to someone else all in the same day. And then his best friend the future king just got broken up with and immediately came on to him so hard that they did it. And instead of realizing that was kinda unhealthy they keep up a secret relationship instead of dealing with their feelings for a whole year. So yah Jay is not having a good time. Well he thinks he is ig.

Carlos curls his hair up in pink rollers with a black bonnet and puts on a red silk robe before he goes to sleep. He gifted Chad a baby blue bonnet and fluffy robe with yellow duck slippers. They’re twining and of course it’s always silly when the group has to get them up in the middle of the night and they���re slaying together. It’s giving this:

Love that for them.

Carlos nick names from Chad are Carly, Fancy Pants, Spots, Angry Little Guy, and Shooty McGee. He also sings the cruella de vil song but with Carlos name and slightly changed lyrics:

“Carlos De Vil

Carlos De Vil

If he doesn't scare you

No little thing will

To see him is to take a sudden chill

Carlos, oh Carlos

Hes like a spider waiting for the kill

Look out for Carlos De Vil

At first you think Carlos is a devil

But after time has worn away the shock

You come to realize

You've seen his kind of eyes

Watching you from atop a rock

This sneaky little rat

This killer beast

He ought to be locked up and throw out the key

The world was such a wholesome place until

Carlos, Ol’ Carlos De Vil!”

Chad’s nicknames from Carlos are Puppers, Dummy, Stupid, Blonderella, Rat boy, and Prince Himbo. He also sings a little song to Chad based on a song rats sang to his mother:

“Poor Blondarelly, every time he finds a minute, that’s the time when they begin it, Blondie Blondie,

Night and day it’s Blondarelly, cut the grass and clean the balls, wash the jerseys and dust the lockers,

Do the shining and the roll call, they always keep him hopping, he goes around in circles till he’s very very dizzy. Still they holler… Keep a busy Blondarelly!”

It’s all in good fun and I love that for themmmm!

[swimmingismywholelife]

A Guy That I'd Kinda Be Into

Summary: You never thought you'd find yourself falling in love with a footballer while studying in Italy yet here you are.

Warnings: SO MUCH FLUFF, may make you feel single lmao, social media!au

A/N: ….Hi I'm alive. This is inspired by a dream I had last week and since I haven't posted in a while, I thought this would be a way to ease back into things. Title is based on one of the songs in the musical "Be More Chill!" I do have some other stuff in the works so keep a look out!

~~~

cmpulisic

Liked by yourusername, yourbestfriend and 9,475 others

cmpulisic: But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east and Juliet's the sun ☀️

christianomilano: Oh????? Who is that?????

milanisred: Christian wtf why are we quoting Shakespeare lmfao

chrisssyp: I'M ALSO IN VERONA AND MY NAME IS JULIET THAT SHOULD BE ME

westonmckennie: CP10….my guy……I thought we had something special

cmpulisic: sorry man something about Italy just hits different I guess

americanboy: Christian you know that story is a tragedy not a love story right 💀

~~~

yourusername

Liked by cmpulisic, acmilan and 1,439 others

yourusername: Something about Italy just hits different I guess 🫶

yourbestfriend: Baby come home the kids miss you 🥺

yourusername: you should've just come with me we could be married in Italy rn 😭

upthechels: WAIT A MINUTE???? HER CAPTION MATCHES WHAT CHRIS SAID TO WESTON

chelseasgirl: wait omg you're right is this her??

cp10: Hi are you Christian's girl?

~~~

yourusername & cmpulisic

Liked by cmpulisic, benchilwell and 2,084 others

yourusername: From a guy that I'd never be into to a guy that I'd kinda be into 🥰

cmpulisic: "Sorry but I'm not really into footballers" she says

yourusername: LISTEN I'M USUALLY NOT OKAY

cmpulisic: when you change her mind 😍

yourusername: 🙄🙄🙄

christiansgirl: WAIT IS THIS FROM BE MORE CHILL??? I APPROVE MOVE OVER CHRISTIAN SHE'S MY GIRL NOW

cmpulisic: unfortunately for you I can and will fight

yourbestfriend: everybody wanna steal MY girl

yourusername: there's plenty of me to go around don't you worry bb's 😘

~~~

cmpulisic & yourusername

Liked by yourusername, usmnt and 10,492 others

cmpulisic: I don't know if you know it but I am sure that for me you are an upgrade

yourbestfriend: yourusername you taught him well

yourusername: that's my mans

chrisgirlie: wait stop it this is so cute

pulisickkk: They have matching captions I'm showering in bleach

captainpulisic: my turn WHEN

Taglist: @thoseboysinblue @landoslover @chilwellspulisic @lovelynikol16 @bracedes @masonsrem @pulisicsgirl @lizzypotter14 @notsoattractivearenti @neverinadream @nyctophilic0vitnir

[spotsupstuff]

actually ey fuck it. list of personal headcanons for the main six iterators some of which i might illustrate properly at some point:

Moon: • one of the first 10 iterators ever built. she is grandma as HELL and totally forgot she is that old • Pebbles sometimes asks her to tell him about the older times, because history nerd. he writes everything she says onto a pearl • in the post i've made talkin bout her and pebs' voice, saying that she sounded like Miku, somebody said that they like to think the ancients made Moon a vocaloid. to that i absolutely agree: she has NO fucking clue what do when it comes to putting a certain emotion into a song but god DAMMIT shes so good at singing • she can add effects to her voice, including a glitch effect. she likes that one the least • -HITS DESK- THE DISAPPEARANCE OF HATSUNE MOON. • she doesn't particularly like to sing, especially not to herself. but she does know that pebbles likes music- the first week after the mass ascension was rough and he was working mostly on autopilot, not answering DMs or anything. she called him up and told him they could sing together, if he wants to. he felt much better afterwards • MOON'S SECRET RAP CAREER • i'll put it here too so it's all in one place: her AI isn't developed enough to understand the emotional quality of any form of art • Moon was upgraded a few times in her function. most of the time it was because her citizens loved her too much to let her go too out of date (specifically in the physical sense. they made sure she wouldn't fall too easily) • one of the first memories she designated as a "core memory" was her first upgrade that was a result of her citizens' riot against the Houses- to keep her safe. she noted it down as "Kindness is effortlessly repaid" • she remembers when iterator comms were connected by a cable rather than radio waves • she also remembers when two of the first 10 collapsed and went into coma, with their citizens of course perishing in the fall and crash. she's still terrified of those days and doesn't like recalling them even for Pebbles • Nish was her first little sib and she feels like she can talk with him about anything. she hates it, but she's distant with Suns- they are always so damn polite and skittish around her... and she absolutely adores the other three. her tiny little wonderful siblings • she didn't like to admit that maybe her hardwave wasn't keeping up with her citizens anymore. at that point she did start to emotionally care less for them, but she still didn't want to admit she wasn't able to provide and protect those she was responsible for • i can't get the image of her being the one to actually ensure the family is gonna financially survive in a more chill au where the iterators r just sorta kinda people. Miss Moon From Accounting... • her overseers were originally blue. she swapped colors with Pebbles all on her own accord. having yellow overseers, seeing them, made her feel even more connected to Pebs • this is basically canon but she fuckin Loves animals. she's the iterator version of Steve Irwin. she also don't kno jack shit about the vegetation • city's representative instrument Evolved- first it was a harp, then it went to a nyckelharpa and then to a violin

Nish: • he is built over marshes to the south-west from Moon and she helped with his blueprints! the Gen 1s had their blueprints checked over by the already built iterators to make sure something wouldn't go wrong. she was so so excited to have a neighbour • the scarf is from his main programmer. the Ancient wrapped it around his puppet's neck before he was even turned online so for the longest time he had no idea that the thing wasn't originally in his design. Moon had to tell him • he became a jokester Entirely because the first time he made Moon laugh he absolutely fell in love with it. he told her and she recommended him looking into jokes. baby boy had no idea what the fuck a joke was so Moon had to explain • when the middle gen started being created, the Ancients noticed that these new iterators didn't have... much of emotional skills. so they turned to the older gens to look for the most emotional and empathetic ones. Nish scored Really High on that survey- his empathy and emotion modules were studied and each time they found something new and better, they upgraded him in that one aspect. so now Sig is one of the biggest crybabies ever. you show him a sad movie and this supercomputer will be lyin on the ground wailing like a newborn. oh and also he makes for a great therapist because he can now just Get It • as the most emotionally... mature? capable? he decided he will be the one to keep a real close eye on everyone in the Local Group after the mass ascension • thanks to all that emotion business he gets along with Suns swimmingly. when Suns needs assistence with figuring out their own emotions or what would be appropriate and not too cold towards someone, they go to him • if he could he'd give everyone younger than him a noogie and you cannot convince me otherwise • the Hunter was a sickly pup that was left behind on his roof by a family that came to him which he directed towards the void sea. they were far too weak for the family to keep them, basically on the death's door. Nish took them in, operated on them, enhanced genes and raised them from there • Is half a medical facility. mister veterinarian, baybeee • since he's a sap, he started to view the Hunter like his own kid at some point. he was also the one who pitched to Suns the idea of sending Spearmaster over to him for visits. Spear tried its best to help raise and train Hunter • the whole rot thing happened because Nish did a stupid and forgot that neurons are quite the fuckin reactive things and continual exposure to what is essentially extra macho giga neuron Can and Will fuck up cells. his and Moon's cans have a long distance between them. it was enough time for Hunter to develop the big owie cancer. he noticed it only when they were too far away and it was already too bad • he felt absolutely Terrible about it. again he loses someone so so very close to him. but this time around? there is no one to be angry at for this but himself • Hunter manages to ascend. Nish watched them leave, silently, in subterranean • he used to do his best to play with his citizens. when a kid came to his chamber, he gave them rides on his puppet's shoulders or the umbilical arm. same went for Hunter • his city is called Risio • city's representative instrument was EITHER a PVC instrument or suona i can't decide for the life of me

Suns: • they were built much further away from the planet's equator than most of the Local Group, meaning they experience polar days and nights • the "Seven" in their name refers to the amount of months the unusually timed sunsets and sunrises last for. for seven whole months, the locality gets only about four hours of Somewhat darkness • in return, they have three full months of relatively strong darkness. their city used to shine bright, during this time. post mass ascension those months are terribly lonely and depressing • because of the warmth they produce, there's an oasis for wildlife underneath them • the warmth was also sung about a lot by their citizens. they've seen it as an incredible blessing- Suns used to run hotter than other iterators just for them. nowadays they are mostly normal though • the outside of their can is tinted blue- frostbitten. that much warmer their yellow, orange and red city feels • their and Moon's personalities clash so hard that they sometimes go out of their way to avoid her. they do appreciate her but talking with her is exhausting. she's a stranger to them, almost • the iterators can project/send their emotions through messages/broadcasts. Suns' messages always sound flat, unless they use the ~ • one of their biggest dreams is to sit with Pebbles leaning against their side, all the while listening to old music of their cities • once Spearmaster returns, the walls of their puppet chamber become completely covered in doodles and masterpieces • they end up standing the longest out of the whole Local Group. bright and warm even after everyone else dies • their city is called Solis • city's representative instrument was an armonica (look that shit up its sick)

Wind: • Wind's can stands in this giant plain. there's like nothing as far as the eye can see and even further Except her. she just stands there like fucking Slanderman XXL version • the plains are absolutely prime location for a spawning grounds of tornadoes and shit like that. the wind is Constantly strong so most of the rain clouds they exhale are immediately blown away • instead of rain they deal with ginormous tornadoes at the end of each cycle. while their superstructure can take it, the comms can't. so Wind is often absent from iterator chats as a result. after the mass ascension these connection knock-outs become a great source of stress and worry for the others cuz they never know if Wind will come back or not this time • because of these comm blackouts, Innocence took it upon herself to catch Wind up on everything they've missed when they come back online. Innocence started doing this all by herself out of seemingly nowhere. she just cares. silently. • the strangest thing about her is that her city is half built within her structure instead of on top of her. the winds can get sometimes so bad that they manage to affect even the top of her can. so the solution was to put half of the city under her skin as a sort of giant bunker • the ancients, not being ones to waste much space, made sure the city can still be used by Wind's processes, in a way. their neurons fly through the streets, completely unbothered, working as makeshift streetlights. the kids used to love chasing after them- never catching any though • sometimes when the wind storms outside got real bad, the kids that were scared of them were sent to Wind's puppet chamber. she used to tell them all kinds of stories or about what she was currently working on • it was often that their puppet chamber would be full of pillows, blankets and sleeping children. they loved their citizens so so much • nicknamed themself "Chasing" Wind in chats because, just like Moon, they are also quite the dreamer • closest with Moon, too. Wind looks up to Moon Immensely. they really wanna be like her one day • Wind is what some people think of Moon- a too kind pushover that doesn't know how to get angry and defend herself. Wind is the kindest, most sensitive and softest person they have in The Local Group. Nish takes care to keep his jabs and jokes about Wind very mild • has a really beautiful voice • likes flowers :) • her city is called Procella • city's representative instrument was a fujara cuz god DAMMIT i love that instrument i Have to slap it on Someone in here. it fits their vibe in my heart either way

Innocence: • she really wishes her surrounding circumstances were in some kind of way special but actually she's built at the least unique place with basically nothing neat happening nearby. there are strange giant cherry trees nearby, but that's about it • fuckin LOVES lizards. she's the one who made the Cyans and sent some over to Pebbles to fuck him up. thankfully, as we all know, Cyans are kinda stupid and since they launch themselves over edges of cliffs they haven't managed to destroy the local ecosystem • her citizens used to keep lizards as pets. most of the time just for the joy of having 0 braincells creature follow you around but some had 'em as sort of hunting dogs • was the one who created The Rivulet. she was mumbling to herself and a friend smth about how boys only screw things up while engineering Riv's genome • she BASICALLY packed Riv into a cannon and shot them over right into the middle of a scav toll cuz "come on, it's not that far away. this will make your journey shorter and shit". i don't care how goofy it sounds, this is how it went in my heart • in possession of probably the most durable comms ever made • claims she's purple! she's actually fake out purple which means homegirl is Deceptive Blue. she CONSTANTLY fights over this with Pebbles • despite their squabbles she did care for Pebbles. she was very excited to not be the youngest anymore and getting to baby someone • her and Nish always start verbal sparring matches, often consisting of threats that more often than not range on impossible to actually commit. they constantly lead their mock wars in #general. Moon's gonna kill 'em one of these days • trusts Moon the most- which is why she outed Pebbles' rot and sent Rivulet with the instructions to extract the rarefaction cell • her city is called Sermo • city's representative instrument was a shamisen. she absolutely knows how to play it and loves to threaten people with the bachi

Pebbles: • the only people he enjoyed doing group projects with were Suns and Wind. he Could do group projects with Moon and Nish but Only if he could race them. rascal found it fun to challenge the nokias 😔 • now with Innocence though? Never. if they were forced to, they could do a great job with minimal communication but they were not going to be happy about it • latched onto Suns exactly because Moon was overbearingly protective and Suns always seems like they couldn't give less of a shit about anyone. sometimes they'd have a videochat open and not say anything for hours as they worked • with Nish he used to like inventing new things. a lot of times the things turned out to be silly or kind of useless which would normally frustrate him, but surprisingly enough Nish made the time spent worth it • Wind's favorite activity was comparing notes with him and then talking about the differences in their research. they'd hum to him happily while the both of them would be sorting through their stuff • i sometimes imagine him having a slight chinese accent and i blame Steven He for this so hard • second most emotional fuck in the group. his emotions mostly rotate around anger, though • he won't admit this to anyone but he really liked it when his and Moon's cans were connected by bridges. it felt like holding hands. he felt more stable. now all he can do is just miss it quietly • was legit surprised when he found out not every iterator has a build in older sister right at their side • his city is called Literally just Metropolis cuz the ancients didn't bother with properly naming it. depeshioumn. • city's representative instrument was adopted straight from Moon since Pebs' citizens were honestly just hers, so- violin it is • Pebbles HAS attempted to learn how to play a violin himself. certainly was a test of patience and puppet dexterity/camera-to-digits control. almost broke the poor thing a few times from nerves

either way, Wind, at the end of each fucking cycle from day 1 of their life:

[pluto-murphy-writes]

hey guys! I'm watching Lisa Frankenstein so here are my notes!

I already love the black and white opening credits/prologue

nice match cut to...not the modern day but you know, when the story is taking place

oooooh pretty animated title

GREAT soundtrack already

god i love the fashion

the WORK it takes to make Kathryn Newton even mildly unattractive

ngl I wish there was somewhere outside I could go to be alone. like a cemetary

I love Lisa so much

oh ok Taffy is stepsis

jfc what a backstory

lol the growing audience to Taffy's story

honey nooooooo don't chug the party beer

haha smooching teens

thank you Zelda Williams for not showing puke

Murder. Murrrrrrder Doug

this feels like a stage production and I'm so here for it

oh I am loving the style change

haha! Man in the moon!

AAAAAAH IT'S CARLA GUGINO

tf is up with Lisa's boss lol

"we have to spend more time together" then don't be a bit-

hahaha such an accurate depiction of how I walk around when I'm home alone

"the ✨other girl✨"

aww he lost a hand

just chilling with a zombie it's cool

"are you going to talk?" *horrible groaning* "copy that"

I love that she's 1000% chill with a zombie as long as he isn't killing her

Dale is just. 100% just wants to get out of here

noooooot at all worrying about what she's gonna DO with the zombie in her closet

I am enjoying Manic Pixie Dream Zombie tho

please kill Janet

awww piano. oh his poor fingies

that was such a great long take

oh my god I think she actually ate a worm

Oscar Wilde vs Oscar the Grouch lol

Dammit Janet (100% why her name is Janet)

not the grippy socks! 😱

side note: love the peach ring rings

I love an unapologetic angry teen girl

oooooh he gets upgrades with the tanning bed, that's clever

"...crimper accident ☺️"

ngl Lisa and The Creature are both my type

i love that he gets slowly more alive-looking

oh they're so cute together

i have legit only heard this song from Horton Hears a Who

they had so much fun with this movie I'm cackling

ohhhhhh no they're figuring out the lieeee

pffft the vibe-back-massager

pffffft "other places" I can never watch this with my in-laws

"time is the wound" ....damn

i could kill for those eyebrows on Cole tbh

lisa do you know how to drive

"dress code violation" bitch how

of cooourse that's who her sister was sleeping with

ooohoohoho flying peen

I feel so bad for Taffy tbh

HE JUST DUMPED A COP IN A GRAVE acab

aww return of the peach ring ring

this is so cute fuuuuuuck

i wanna fuck cole sprouse Who said that?

I am crying. about a tanning bed

this whole fucking movie is practical effects and I love that

oh good they did find Janet

he can TALK! And his hair looks so nice!

okay, final verdict: it was a bit violent, but that's not really a bad thing. some of the dialogue felt a bit stiff but all the actors seemed to enjoy being there! Super funny, too!

[woah-uhuh-uhuh-uhuh]

All BMC Hidden Song Motifs

These are all the little tunes I’ve noticed sneakily (or not so sneakily) appearing outside of their own songs in the show! 

I did leave out the ones that are obviously the same because they repeat the lyrics (e.g. c-c-c-come on, it’s from Japan, etc), but I can add those too if enough people want.

If you have more, tell me and I'll add them! And if you have thoughts on why any of these appear where they do, pls post about it so I can read more meta sdjlkfsdjflk

More Than Survive:

Smartphone Hour chorus on synth during Jenna, Brooke, Chloe’s conversation [credit: @zabala0z]

Michael in the Bathroom chorus on synth during Jeremy & Michael’s conversation 

The Pants Song: chorus melody on guitar when Michael talks about "survival of the fittest" [credit: @aqueous-aerolite - tysm for IDing it!]

(Broadway) MTS reprise

Jeremy’s Theme at the end

Two Player Game

In scene: Michael in the Bathroom chorus on synth during their first exchange (“He’s scamming you super weirdly.”)

The Squip Enters

The Squip Song melody on synth right before the SQUIP appears: Helps you to be cooooool…. It helps… youuuu… [“Welcome to your Super Quantum Unit Intel Processor! Your SQUIP.”] ~~Ruuuuuuuule!~~

(Two Rivers) More Than Survive Reprise

Michael in the Bathroom on synth while the Squip scolds Jeremy for thinking about sex. (Still mostly inexplicable, but it’s technically a reuse of the dialogue music from More Than Survive, of which the only synth options were Smartphone Hour and Michael in the Bathroom.)

Michael’s reggae motif from More Than Survive at “Still not gonna be the cool guy”

(Broadway) Sync Up

The Squip Song: intro guitar riff plays when Rich talks to Jeremy

More Than Survive: MTS background chorus sings (‘na na na na na na na na’) with “ah”s in the musical interlude, then with “na”s at the end.

Guy that I’d Kinda Be Into

I Love Play Rehearsal: “I don’t always relate to other people my age” section is the same as “Most people do one thing for all of their lives” - the following lines match lyrics too.

More Than Survive: Christine’s bassline rhythm from the recurring motif of “Christine Christine Christine” (i.e. dotted quarter, eighth, half), originally from MTS, reappears during GTIKBI in the chorus, as well as the “I don’t always relate…” and “I guess a part of me likes to” sections.

Loser Geek Whatever

Two Player Game: the intro (“I already know what it’s like to be the loser”) is sung to the same melody as the main synth loop you can hear at the beginning of 2PG [credit: someone on the Genius page]

Touching My Hand: Not technically a motif, but I want to point out that the pre-chorus of LGW comes from Touching My Hand, a demo song that never made it into the show.

Michael in the Bathroom

(?) Knocking section could kind of evoke the staccato quarters that happen all throughout Halloween (eg, crank! the! bass!, and dunh dunh dunh it's halloween)

The Pants Song

(Broadway) “Michael in the Bathroom” on guitar when Michael says “Look, I already tried to help him, and called me a loser…” (THIS is hands down my favorite one btw. It’s one of the most obvious but that doesn’t stop it from stabbing me in the heart every time…)

The Play

Be More Chill: bass & guitar riff play when the Squip’s revealing its plan to infect humanity.

Jake enters: Jeremy’s Theme, then Upgrade

Chloe & Brooke enter: Do You Wanna Ride

Michael makes an ennnntraaaaance! (Michael in the Bathroom)

Two Player Game: pre-chorus during Michael and Jeremy’s fight (“kung fu fists, activate!”)  - and of course again the verse during their fight for the Dew.

Jenna enters: Smartphone Hour (the opening brass thumps)

Christine enters: I Love Play Rehearsal on flute - then she sings an altered version of GTIKBI

“Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy” is the same tune as “Christine, Christine, Christine.” (This one makes me go nuts actually. Like, that’s his deepest desire??? He just wants someone to love him as powerfully as he loves Christine????? AUUGH!!!!)

Loser Geek Whatever: verse melody plays on brass when he gives the Dew to Christine

Voices in My Head

Loser Geek Whatever: verse melody on piano during Christine and Jeremy’s conversation.

Guy That I’d Kinda Be Into: When Christine gives her answer about going out with him, they sing to the GTIKBI chorus melody, and a flute plays the GTIKBI bridge melody  (“I guess a part of me likes to”). Then when Christine says yes, it plays that bridge melody on piano.

ALSO: Overall character instruments?

Christine: flute & mallet percussion (i.e. glockenspiel, xylophone)

SQUIP: plucked guitar with tremolo, tubular bells. Edit: also the theremin [credit: @highlighter-goblin!]

(?) Rich: strummed guitar with distortion (Squip Song, Sync Up)

(?) Chloe & Brooke: plucked guitar with a Wah-wah pedal (DYWR/H)

(?) Jenna: low brass on staccato quarter notes

Yeah that's all I know of so far, but like I said please add on if you can think of more!!

[lemoncrushh]

The Entertainer II - Track 02 - Reunions

Summary: What if it wasn't the end? What if Sky did actually see Harry at the Forum in the early 80s, and he saw her too? What if fate took hold of them both, and they realized their journey was not over? Set in 1981, Harry and Sky's story continues with more music, more romance, and a few more twists and turns.

STORY PAGE

Track 02 Word Count: 4.8k+

Read The Entertainer

I silently willed my heart to stop thumping so hard in my chest as I prepared for my evening with Harry. He was arriving at any minute, and while he’d suggested a casual dinner at a restaurant, I’d already changed outfits three times.

I was applying my lipstick when the buzzer rang. Panic seared through me like electricity as I stared in the mirror, second guessing my third choice of clothing. Yanking on the gold chain around my neck, I sighed, admitting to myself that I had no more time to change my mind. This was it. Quickly fluffing my shoulder-length hair with my fingers, a much shorter cut than five years ago, I grabbed my handbag and tossed the lipstick inside.

“Just a second!” I called as I made my way to the door just in time to hear the doorbell ring again.

Deciding I didn’t want to answer all flustered and breathless, I set my purse on the table, inhaled slowly and let it out before swinging the door open.

“Hey,” I greeted, my lips automatically curving upward.

Harry’s mouth mimicked mine, his left dimple having its ceaseless effect on me. And just like the other night at the Journey concert, he looked devastatingly handsome.

“Hi,” he said, his gaze drifting down my body. “You look great.”

“Thanks. So do you.”

Holding the door open, I watched as Harry sauntered in, his eyes leaving mine to take a gander at my living room.

“Can I get you a drink?” I asked.

“Sure, whatever you’ve got.”

With a nod, I made my way to the kitchen, passing the refrigerator and opening the cabinet. While Harry was nice enough to give me the option, I figured his generic beer days were over, the rockstar that he was now. He probably preferred the good stuff, so I was relieved to remember I still had a couple bottles of liquor left over from Halo’s birthday party. Choosing the scotch, I poured us each a couple fingers worth.

Returning to the living room, I caught Harry inspecting my stereo, a new addition and upgrade since the small record player that used to sit in my bedroom. He’d removed his jacket which now slung across the arm of my couch, and I couldn’t help but admire the way his hair kissed his broad shoulders before he turned and saw me.

“Thanks,” he grinned, taking the glass of scotch from me. As our hands grazed each other, I noticed a few of his fingers were donned with rings which I found oddly sexy. “Cheers.”

I stared at him from above my own glass as his eyes drifted to the art on the wall behind me, the large plant in the corner.

“This is nice, Sky,” he commented when he lowered his glass. “Sophisticated, but still very you.”

Raising a brow, I let sarcasm disguise my nerves. “Am I not sophisticated?”

“I dunno,” Harry shrugged with a smirk. “I think of you more as...earthy.”

“A hippie,” I quipped, planting my free hand on my hip.

Harry’s laugh bounced off the walls, a beautiful song that sent me right back to five years ago.

“I’d rather go with ‘easy-going’,” he declared. “Low maintenance.”

“Ah, I see,” I nodded, enjoying the bit of teasing. “Just don’t think that means I’m a cheap date.”

His eyes still dancing with glee, Harry stepped forward. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Taking another sip of the scotch, I watched Harry stare at me from above the rim of his glass. I thought it amazing how his eyes still shone that same crystal green that I’d remembered - the same way they did when he would look at me before leaning in to touch my lips with his. Suddenly I got a chill, despite the liquor warming my veins.

“Hey!” Harry sounded, catching me off guard as he pointed to my couch. “No more itchy sofa, I see.”

I nearly spit out my drink. “Yeah. Halo and I gave that one away to our neighbors when we moved out.”

“Oh, that was nice.”

“I can’t you believe you remember that old couch,” I snickered.

“It was my bed for many a drunken night,” he commented. “And nights I just didn’t fancy going home.”

I tried my best to make light of his words with a smirk. “Why was that?”

“Oh c’mon, love,” he smiled, making my knees feel like jelly again, “it was much better to wake to see you passing by in those pajamas.”

“Shut up!” I flung a hand over my eyes as I felt myself blush.

Harry continued to chuckle before I heard him say, “Those were good times.”

I lowered my hand and nodded, taking another sip of scotch.

“Well…” said Harry, “I reckon just staying here for a chat would be nice, but I did make reservations.”

“Oh!” I exclaimed. “Of course.”

Taking Harry’s glass from him, I hurried to the kitchen and set it in the sink next to mine. When I returned, Harry was slipping into his jacket. I grabbed mine from the hall closet and my purse from the table.

“Let’s go,” I smiled.

I’d just opened the door when I felt Harry hold it for me, his body so close to me that I got a whiff of his cologne. I wasn’t sure what made me do it, but I turned to look at him. It was almost as though he’d silently requested me to, because simultaneously, he lifted his hand to touch my hair, and his fingers grazed my cheek.

“You really look amazing, Sky,” he said softly. “You’re still so beautiful.”

Holding my breath, I could feel every tiny hair on my skin rise with electricity. “So are you,” I managed to gulp.

“I’m glad we ran into each other.”

“Me too.”

His lips curving into a wide smile, he gestured to the open doorway. “Shall we?”

My heart pounding wildly in my chest, I gave an eager nod and led Harry outside, locking the door behind me. I felt his hand brush my arm before landing on my back as we walked together down the stone path to his car. I tried not to gasp - nor did I bother asking what kind of car it was - but it was a pretty sexy vehicle. After Harry held the door open for me and I slipped into the passenger side, I ogled at all the buttons and the leather seats. When Harry climbed in beside me and started the engine, he gave me one last genuine smile before shifting into reverse, just as the most perfect song played from the radio.

“Reunited and it feels so good…”

The restaurant was in an area of L.A. that Halo and I deemed the “glitzy part of town” and “way over our budget.” When Harry pulled up at the valet, I suddenly felt underdressed in my slacks and sweater.

“Jesus, Harry, you could have told me we were going here,” I groaned. “I would have worn a dress or something.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he chuckled. “You’re perfect.”

When my door opened for me, I climbed out of the car and looked up at the gorgeous view as a cool wind whipped my hair behind me. I heard Harry tell the valet thanks just before his hand warmed my back again.

“This is hardly casual,” I remarked, though I hoped I didn’t sound ungrateful. I was just not used to such luxury dining.

Harry laughed, making me feel at ease. “Trust me,” he said. “You could be wearing a paper bag, it wouldn’t matter.”

I couldn’t help but giggle as we walked up to the entrance. “I sincerely hope that’s not true,” I quipped.

The doorman’s greeting ended our friendly debate, and I was guided into the posh restaurant, greeted by another suited man whose facial expression told me he either recognized Harry, or everyone who frequented the joint held some sort of high status.

“Good evening, sir,” he addressed Harry in a syrupy tone. “So glad to have you join us. We have your table ready, right this way.”

With wide eyes, I incredulously followed the maitre’d to the left, Harry’s hand still on my lower back.

“Been here before?” I asked in a hushed tone.

“I told you I made reservations.”

“Yeah, but he didn’t even ask your name.”

Harry merely looked at me with a raised brow, then gave a shrug. I would have jabbed him in the ribs if not for the maitre’d stopping at a table ahead of us, the sight making me catch my breath. One, lone round table covered in a salmon-colored tablecloth sat before a bay window, overlooking the restaurant’s gardens, a koi pond and delicate waterfall giving the perfect view and ambience. It was all lit by soft lighting, the table by candlelight. 

“Wow,” I heard myself gasp.

“Miss, may I take your coat?” asked the maitre’d.

“They do that here?” I blurted involuntarily.

Harry chortled. “Only if you want them to.”

“Oh.” Slipping out of my jacket, I handed it to the man, who laid it across his arm. Then he did the same with Harry’s as he pulled back my chair for me. I blinked several times to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. This was all so surreal.

As if by magic, another man, younger and with more hair appeared next to the maitre’d.

“This is Nigel, your waiter. I hope you enjoy your meal and have a wonderful evening.”

As we told him thank you, he gave a bow and was gone. Nigel then introduced himself and welcomed us, offering a list of wines. Clueless as to what to order, I was relieved when Harry ordered a bottle of something I couldn’t pronounce.

With Nigel finally out of earshot, I leaned forward.

“Damn,” I exhaled, unable to help myself.

“It’s nice, yeah?” Harry beamed.

“I still say you could have warned me,” I remarked, placing my cloth napkin in my lap. “When you said it would be a casual dinner…”

“You thought I meant the In-N-Out?”

Relaxing my expression, I sat back and chuckled. “No. Just...not this. I feel kind of...out of place.”

Harry looked around the empty room and shrugged. “You shouldn’t. I asked for a private room so we could be alone and comfortable.”

“I’m sorry,” I cringed. “I look uncomfortable, don’t I? I’m just not used to-”

“Sky, I said it already, but I’ll keep saying it until you believe me. You look perfect.”

Sucking in my lips, I was relieved that Nigel returned with the wine. I watched him remove the cork with precision as though it was the most interesting thing in the world. Then I pretended to be fascinated as he poured the liquid into two glasses. Anything to keep my eyes from wandering to Harry’s because I knew without a doubt that they were studying me.

“Do you need some time to look over the menu?” asked Nigel.

“Oh!” I exclaimed. “I’m so sorry. I haven’t even looked.”

“I’d be happy to offer some suggestions,” Nigel encouraged.

I listened to him rattle off a few dishes, some which sounded familiar and some that didn’t. Biting my lip again, I looked at Harry.

“Honestly, I’m fine with whatever you’re having,” I said.

With a grin, Harry ordered a filet mignon for us both and something else that was sure to be delicious. As Nigel took the menus and left again, however, my stomach decided it was time to do somersaults. Looking to my right, I gazed out the window to the koi pond and watched the little orange fish swim. When one disappeared, I leaned forward to find out where it went.

“Does that pond go underneath the restaurant?” I asked aloud.

“Sky.”

Just then, the fish reappeared and swam circles around his friends.

“Hmm, I guess it does. That’s pretty neat.”

“Sky.”

“Huh? Sorry. Yes?” I looked at Harry who glared at me with raised brows and a smirk. Then he burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

“Look at you, love. You look like a frightened squirrel.”

“Squirrel? That’s not very nice,” I pouted.

Harry shook his head, giggling. “No, you’re so fucking cute. But why are you nervous all of a sudden?”

With a sigh, I twisted the napkin in my hands. “I don’t know.”

“Hey. Relax,” Harry urged softly, reaching under the table. He pulled my fingers from the napkin and held my hand. “No need to be nervous with me.”

I let his calloused thumb graze over the back of my hand as it soothed me slightly. With his other hand, Harry lifted his wine glass.

“We haven’t made a toast yet,” he suggested.

Hesitantly, I took my glass. “What should we toast to?”

“To...reunions?”

“Okay,” I said softly.

I could tell Harry had something else on the tip of his tongue as our glasses connected, but when I took a sip of wine, he paused and seemed to change his mind. Setting my glass down, I let the words on my mind slip from my tongue.

“You’ve been here before.”

“Sorry?”

“I guess that’s why I feel kind of nervous,” I added. “You’ve obviously been here before. You knew to get a private room. The maitre’d recognized you. You knew what wines and meals to order. It just...I don’t know...makes me feel weird.”

Tilting his head, Harry considered my comment. “I have...been here before,” he admitted. “But not on a date.”

“Oh.”

“It’s Irving’s favorite restaurant,” Harry continued. “He comes here often, and I’ve joined him on occasion.”

“Oh,” I muttered again, feeling ashamed. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Harry smiled, rubbing my hand again. “I don’t want you to feel weird, or nervous, or any of those things with me. I just want you to have a good time. So if you’re uncomfortable, we can go.”

“Oh, no. God, no,” I squeezed his hand. “I’m...an idiot. This is all so lovely. I…” Looking up into his eyes, I felt my heart flutter once again, as though it was the first time. How was he able to do that?

“Let’s start over,” I sighed.

“Start over?” Harry asked. “Should we...go out and come back in?”

I chuckled. “God, I missed you.”

“I missed you, too,” he murmured, releasing his hand from mine to touch my chin. “You have no idea how-”

Harry’s words were interrupted by Nigel’s return. As he set my plate in front of me, I heard him humming along to a song that played low overhead. Recognizing it, I quietly mouthed the lyrics.

“Don’t let another day go by, my love It’ll be just like starting over…”

I wasn’t sure if Harry was paying attention and had noticed the coincidence, but before he grabbed his knife and fork and sliced into his steak, his arm brushed mine, and he let the back of his hand graze a little longer than necessary along my sleeve.

Dinner turned out to be wonderful. The steak was the best I’d ever had in my life (not that I was a steak connoisseur), and our conversation seemed to flow naturally with very little awkward pauses. By the time Nigel came around with the dessert menu - which I politely declined - Harry had given me a little bit of insight into the touring life of Wildfire. While most of it sounded like a lot of fun, I could definitely see how one could end up feeling burnt out and need a break.

“It just got to where it was album, tour, album, tour,” explained Harry, “that eventually it became obvious that if it was always going to continue that way, someone was going to lose their head. Figuratively speaking.”

“Hmm,” I nodded, resting my chin in my hand. We’d finished off the bottle of wine and I was feeling slightly tipsy. “Were you afraid it could end worse than it did?”

“Absolutely. Deacon was always suggesting we move the band back to London. Lee got serious with Jessica before the last tour even started so he was missing her like mad. Someone was always bickering with someone else, even if there was no cause for it other than exhaustion. And as much as I loved my band, I was starting to hate them just as much. And I didn’t want that.”

“I think I can understand. It’s one of the reasons Halo and I finally got our own places. Other than the fact that we could finally afford to, we also just kind of got sick of seeing each other everyday,” I laughed. “She’s still my best friend and always will be. But we needed our own space.”

Harry gave a smile that sent goosebumps down my skin.

“I still remember that first night we came over,” he said.

“You do?”

“Yeah. Do you?”

“Of course, I do,” I nodded.

“I’d never met a girl with so many records, who was cute and smoked pot.”

“Shut up,” I blushed.

“And I loved seeing you at our shows, you and Halo always up front cheering us on. You were really our first true fans, and always great to us. I’ve always appreciated that.”

I traced an invisible pattern on the tablecloth, trying to think of how to respond. “Well...you were pretty easy to cheer for.”

“Sky,” I heard him say as my eyes remained on the table. “Sky, I have something I’ve wanted to say all night. I’ve just been...trying to come up with the right words. Or the right moment, I dunno.”

I lifted my head just as he leaned closer and cleared his throat. For the first time all evening, Harry looked like the nervous one.

“Sky, I...I want you to know that...I did think about you. I thought about you all the time. And I wanted to call so bad. So bad, Sky. But I was afraid…” he swallowed hard and looked down at his hands, twisting the lion ring around his finger. “I was afraid that I’d give us both false hope if I did. Because you were so far away from where I was...it felt like a whole other world that I’d left behind.”

“And I wasn’t part of your world anymore.”

“No, that’s…” Harry shook his head. “Not exactly. More like...a different time that I could never get back again. Even if I wanted to.”

“I see,” I lied.

Harry bit his lip, and I could tell he was trying to think of something to say. Or how to say it.

“I did call once,” he finally confessed.

“What?”

“It was the middle of tour, I think,” he said. “The first tour, with the Eagles. You’d really been on my mind lately, like everything was reminding me of you - a song, a place, a memory...a feeling. I started to think maybe it was a sign, like you were thinking of me too, I dunno. Up until then, I’d stare at the phone wondering if I should ring you or not. Then I’d chicken out. But this one night, I reckon I’d gotten up the nerve to actually dial your number. I let it ring several times, grateful that it was giving me more time to think of what to say if you were to answer. But you never did.”

I felt the moisture in my eyes before I blinked it away.

“Why…” I choked on a breath, “why didn’t you ever try again?”

“Because…” Harry looked down at the table and back at me. “Because I’m an idiot. And something told me you didn’t really wanna talk to me.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Harry shrugged. “I guess I thought you might be mad at me.”

“Mad? Why?”

“A few reasons. Because I’d waited so long to call. Because I hadn’t asked you to come along. Because...you’d told me you loved me and I hadn’t said it back.”

I suddenly felt my bottom lip tremble as the emotions came rushing back. Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly. Avoiding his gaze, I looked out at the pond and waterfall, then down at my lap.

“I wasn’t mad about that,” I declared. “It stung a little, I guess. And I was a little hurt - no, disappointed - that you didn’t ask me to come along on the tour. But I was never mad, Harry. I only wanted whatever you wanted, even if that didn’t include me.”

Meeting his gaze again, I saw the way his eyes blinked rapidly, as though he was holding back tears as well.

“Sky…”

“You were like...a dream come true, Harry,” I confessed. “I knew you were destined for great things, and I wasn’t going to stand in the way of that. I admit that you were very hard to get over. It took me a long time. I couldn’t even listen to your album for the longest. Halo finally had to pull me out of my slump and make me watch you on The Midnight Special. That actually helped because it reminded me how amazing you are, and that you deserve the life you’ve been given.”

I caught a tiny tear trickle from his eye as he reached a hand across the table to grab mine. Giving it a squeeze, I continued.

“You deserve the world, Harry. You’re so incredible and talented, with or without a band. That’s why I fell so hard for you, and why I had to tell you before you left. I loved you, and I was so very proud of you, even if you didn’t love me back. It didn’t matter.”

Lifting his other hand, Harry finally wiped a stray tear from his eye and sniffed.

“That’s not true,” he muttered.

“Yes it is.”

Harry shook his head. “I mean the part about not loving you back. ’s not true, Sky. I loved you, too.”

My eyes wide, I stared at him. “You...you did?”

Leaning forward, Harry spoke slowly, his voice raspy and fatigued. “I’d never met anyone like you, Sky. Not before...and not since. No one understood me and my place in this world the way you did. But it was really difficult to focus on where my compass was pointing while I could feel myself falling for you. So I tried to pretend I wasn’t. I told myself I just really liked you, that you were a really groovy chick,” he chuckled nervously. “I knew that I’d miss you, and that you meant a lot to me. But I don’t think I realized - even then - that it was more than that.”

I was aware of the wetness on my cheeks, the tear trickling down my jaw, but I didn’t even bother to wipe them. I inhaled a jagged breath, unsure if I’d be able to even utter one word, let alone relay the flood of emotions that had taken over me.

“Ha-harry…” I finally managed to get out just as Nigel returned once again.

“How are we doing here?” he asked in a cheery tone. “Can I get you anything else? Another bottle of wine, perhaps?”

“Oh, no,” I shook my head, wiping my cheeks as I looked away.

“I think that will be all,” Harry replied. “Thanks for everything, Nigel.”

“My pleasure, sir. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

As quickly as Nigel had appeared at the start of dinner, the maitre’d took his place and returned with our jackets. Harry graciously helped me out of my chair (although at that point I’d sobered up), and held my jacket while I slipped my arms inside. With his hand on my back again, he led me out of the restaurant.

“Wait,” I argued. “You didn’t pay.”

“It’s all taken care of,” he whispered in my ear as he rubbed my back. The cool evening air was nothing compared to the tingle his touch sent through me.

“Look at you,” I remarked. “Mr. Fancy.”

I felt his body shake with humor as he smoothly pulled me closer while we waited for the valet to bring the car around. I tried my best to concentrate on anything other than his intoxicating scent and his breath that tickled the hair on the top of my head.

“Sky,” I heard him say.

Blinking, I lifted my head to look at his handsome face. He stared into my eyes for what felt like an eternity until I felt him lean in - or maybe I just imagined it. Or hoped it. Because at that moment the car arrived and Harry let go and stepped back, and my body instantly turned frigid.

“Friday night, it was late, I was walking you home We got down to the gate and I was dreaming of the night…”

The car ride home was a little quiet except for the radio. While the music was good company, it seemed for the first time all evening there was awkward silence between us.

“That was a wonderful dinner,” I commented, breaking the ice.

I saw Harry’s thumbs pause their drumming on the steering wheel as he smiled. Then he reached across the seat to grab my hand. As he threaded his fingers through mine, I silently sighed at their warmth and leaned back against my seat.

“I’m glad you liked it. Thank you for joining me.”

“Thanks for asking.”

Though it was dark, the light from the dashboard reflected in his eyes. I wished he would say something more, something that could perhaps continue our conversation we were having in the restaurant. But I worried maybe that had been the end. He’d confessed his love for me, but it was a love from five years ago. I couldn’t possibly expect him to still harbor any of those old feelings. I figured I should probably just be happy that he had them at all. 

“We’ll go dancing in the dark Walking through the park, and reminiscing…”

When Harry pulled into the parking lot of my building, letting go of my hand to turn off the engine, I reached down to the floorboard for my purse.

“I suppose this is when we do that awkward thing before we say goodnight,” I said without looking at him.

“We don’t have to.”

“Um...okay.”

“I mean...we don’t have to say goodnight. Not yet, anyway. It’s still early, and...well, to be honest, I don’t wanna leave.”

If there had been any way my brain could have signaled some words to my mouth at that second, I’m not sure what they would have been. But it didn’t matter. Because as soon as I looked up at him, his hand slid across my neck and his mouth covered mine.

His kiss was warm and sweet, just like I’d remembered; just like I’d dreamt about all those years. I fell into it, melting in his arms as he pulled me closer. Or...at least as close as one can get in a two-seater. Sliding my hand down his chest, I pulled back only enough to break the kiss.

“I don’t want you to leave either,” I whispered against his lips.

Songs mentioned:

Peaches & Herb - Reunited

John Lennon - (Just Like) Starting Over

Little River Band - Reminiscing

Eeek, it's starting! Who wants to ride the Harry and Sky train? Choo choo! How did you like this chapter? What do you think will happen next?

tagging: @daphnesutton, @fkinavocado, @freedomfireflies

[yoshkerz]

fav song from musical list cuz im bored

mean girls

where do you belong

stop

sexy

ride the cyclone

sugar cloud

space age bachelor man

talia

what the world needs

it’s not a game/it’s just a ride

be more chill

the squip song

the smartphone hour

loser geek whatever

upgrade (two river version)

heathers

yo girl

seventeen

candy store

meant to be yours

the guy who didn’t like musicals

cup of roasted coffee

lah dee dah dah day

join us and die

inevitable

black friday

our doors are open

adore me

monsters and men

if i fail you

do you want to play

made in america

nerdy prudes must die

just for once

high school is killing me

literal monster (pt 1 and 2)

nerdy prudes must die

if i loved you

falsettos

you gotta die sometime

this had better come to a stop

the games i play

falsettoland / about time

carrie

in

carrie

the destruction

book of mormon

turn it off

i believe

you and me (but mostly me)

school of rock

you’re in the band

stick it to the man

36 questions

one thing

for the record

our word

[yourlocalenbyreblogs]

random bmc things i love (from the two river recording :D)

“oh! im listening to marley”

the whole “i saw it in the window” part of be more chill pt. 1

“pause :(“

“everything about you makes me want to die” “jesus christ”

“CRISTINEEE”

all of michael in the bathroom

specifically his “i wanna dance with somebody”

“ITS FROM JAPAN”

the robotic voice that plays sometimes

“THIS IS WAY TOO GOOD FOR A SCHOOL PLAY”

michaels response to everything being “get stoned in my basement”

“MICHAEL MAKES AN ENTRANCE”

“you got quick?” the way he says quick is just 🤌

“of course, ive been releasing your pheromones” HUH?

“beep boop beep boop”

THE VOCALS IN THE PITIFUL CHILDREN

every time jeremy says michael <333 hes so excited

the sound the squip makes when its dying

michael joining in on screaming, theres nothing for him to scream about he just wants to

the beginning of voices in my head and also just all of it actually that song is really good

“is……… jake c:”

just all of michaels part in more than survive

”im never gonna be the cool guy”

“im a supercompter, jeremy. im made of math 🙄”

”thats a girl shirt”

“I CANT SAY THAT TO A HOT GIRL????”

“hey. hamlet. be more chill”

“the loudest one is mine!”

“should i take the upgrade”