#thank you @thegreyhenley

[mythicalea]

I needed this today ❤️

[lunar-winterlude]

Hi this is Grey :) I think of two things: Rhett in Gentlemen of the Evening on that stage the first night, giving off that "fuck you" sexy vibe out of desperation, and then the two of them at the river, talking about Owen ;__; I also think of them with Nina in the first chapter of What Blooms in Ash, and how brilliantly you showed the differences in their personalities via their interactions with their daughter.

Yesss those parts were fun to write. Exploring their personality differences is my favorite thing!

[festival-of-pudding]

12/15/17

Part 1: The Show

In these posts I’ll call Mythical Nephew ‘N’ (for nephew) to make things easier. If dialogue is in quotation marks it’s verbatim, otherwise I’m paraphrasing as best I can remember. I scribbled a ton of memory notes, so it’s fairly accurate.

N and I got to the House of Blues about 5:40 and slipped into the VIP line with maybe two dozen folks ahead of us. At 6:00 they brought us into the yard a few at a time to go through security and then up the front porch into the venue. Here I had a moment of panic when the door girl wouldn’t let us in b/c my ticket had no bar code. She sent us to the box office, where a very nice woman printed out paper tickets easy-peasy, but because of that delay we were the last VIP folks to go inside. Consequently we didn’t get a spot on the rail, which made me feel guilty because I knew N would get tired of standing for so many hours. (And he did, but he was a trooper and never complained.) We ended up on Link’s side of the stage with one couple between us and the rail. We situated ourselves so that N could see between them and I was right behind him looking over his head. Except for the lack of something to lean on, it was pretty much perfect. \o/

we arrive at the place of pilgrimage

the holy relic!!1!

The HoB is standing-only and it was packed. They kept the merch table closed until after the show b/c there was no way anyone could move once they found their spot. This was a good thing, because everyone who lined up for merch after got to hang out and watch the meet-and-greets. Link would wave at them and Rhett thanked them all for coming. :D 

But anyway, the show. I knew we’d have to stand there for like an hour, but it was an hour and a half. We had a great crowd and there were lots of singalongs (I’m On Vacation and My OCD being the top 2 faves) but the show didn’t start until 7:30. x____x The natives were getting restless and my back was killing me and poor N’s feet already hurt and he was looking longingly at the rail. But as I had hoped, the minute the lights went out, It. Was. On. 

omgomgomgomgomg

My first thought, and the thought that kept repeating throughout the night, was "they look so real.” Movie/TV actors often look quite different in person, away from makeup and fancy lighting, very separate from the characters they play. But these guys look exactly like they do on your YouTube screen. They’re so beautiful, my dudes. Inside and out. N turned to me and said “I can’t believe they’re right there!!” Same, baby. Same. 

Link’s hair is so light now -- the shaved sides are almost entirely silver, and his Rogue stripe covers nearly the whole top of his head. It’s so soft and it really suits him. “Soft” was the word I kept thinking of for Link, the word I kept repeating to @thegreyhenley when I was flailing at her in chat. Not soft in a feminine sense, but in a sense that he just looks so kind and good and real. Everyone calls Rhett the soft bean and it’s true, but Link is so soft too. For some reason I kept fixating on his arm hair -- it’s like, we all know he’s furry, but being close enough to him that I could see the veins in the backs of his hands and his arm hair glowing in the stage lights, I think that was a detail that made him seem even more real to me. Does that make sense?

he was right there. like, right. there.

And Rhett. omg, Rhett. So tall. So soft. Much legs. Very beard. For the whole intro segment I just kept staring and staring and staring. I didn’t get as close a view of him as Link until later on, but maybe that was for the best, as I might have spontaneously combusted. It was wonderful to watch them play off each other and compare their stage presences. Rhett stuck to the deadpan/straight-man to Link’s more animated antics, but you could tell he was absorbing the audience’s energy just as much as Link was -- except where Link reflected it back at us in huge smiles and bouncy energy, Rhett kept it inside him and just got more and more chill and relaxed and beautiful.

his beauty blurred the image

I think everyone knows the set list by now, so I won’t go into too much detail there, but I would be happy to answer any questions. N was enraptured by the childhood stories (unsurprisingly), and hearing him laugh during the sleepover sketch and the profanity song made my heart soar. He loved all of it, giggling when Rhett said “boobs” and “deez nuts” and when Link said his penis was not broken. :p Every time he looked back at me like “omg this is so cool!” I thought to myself, wtf, I’m going to be part of his childhood memories. He stayed up hours later than he usually does and he hadn’t eaten dinner and I worried he would run out of steam and stop having fun, but he loved it. And so did I. \o/ 

Rhett reads The Tragedy

a healing light shines from Link’s pelvis (or penis, idk)

My favorite part was the parade of hairstyles, because I can so relate to the unfortunate hair choices made by young people in the late 90s/early 2000s. :D And of course I was very much looking forward to the Song For When, and I was not disappointed. Hearing them sing in person, you guys, I can’t even. I was getting it in stereo because the speakers were blasting right in our ears, but yet I was also close enough that I could hear them without the microphones. Link is always a strong singer and he didn’t hit a single note wrong, and Rhett was on point too and hit every groove perfectly. Watching him play the guitar is magic. I regressed back to being a teenager watching the boy I like play guitar while I stared at his long fingers on the frets. I would pay cash money if he ever did a cover album. Both of them, during that last song.... damn. I mean, for real.

(Aren’t you glad you waited so long for this articulate and literary essay?)

When they came back out for the Q&A they were filming us with their phones (I saw the Insta, and luckily my pasty gaping maw is not visible), and then they sat down and Rhett was like OK we’re gonna take a few questions, but first we want to say a little something about this tour. He then went into the little speech about amazing the tour has been and what an experience it is to meet us and the difference between interacting via social media versus in a live audience situation -- I recorded most of it for you. This was followed by a similar speech by Link. It was a very sweet moment; you could tell they were heading into the last weekend of the tour and starting to look back on the experience as a whole, and it was neat to be part of that. I’m glad our show was toward the end.

Because the HoB’s so small and we were packed in so tight, there was no Q&A line; instead, a guy made his way through the crowd with a mic. We had I think about 10 questions? It seemed like it went pretty fast, probably because it was getting so late by that point. It was a good vibe overall and I hope someone recorded a few of the funnier bits.

First question was a young girl asking how long each of them went with Leslie. Answer was about a month each, she dumped them both. :p

The second question was pretty dumb – some guy was trying to be funny but it was just cringey and tbh I have no idea what he actually asked, he just spewed a bunch of nonsense. But R&L, bless them, didn’t bat an eye and spewed nonsense right back. The moment passed quickly and everyone was relieved. The rest of the Qs were great!! 

A girl asked how their vasectomy recovery is going. They were amused, though Link put on a fake “this is inappropriate” face and said, “Uh... I think it’s fine?” Rhett waggled his eyebrows and said, “Mine is great. Guys, I recommend it.” We lost our damn minds.

A guy said he was there with his gf and they were both engineers, and knowing R&L both have engineering degrees, “Given your expertise, in your scientific opinion, how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if woodchuck could chuck wood?” He had good comedic timing and the audience LOLd. The guys laughed too and I don’t quite recall their answer, but Rhett was into the wood joke and Link made a comment like well I didn’t really work with wood, I fired people. Hee!

A woman said she was pregnant with her first child and asked for their best parenting advice. Link immediately replied, “Always wipe from front to back.” [oh Link] He followed up with something like well our kids are older now, but I remember that from the early days and it’s important ok? :p Rhett was very Rhett: he gave her a side-eye and said “Sleep now while you can”, then went on in that vein half teasing/half serious, things like “your life is about to change,” “watch all the Netflix you can,” “it’s really hard in the beginning,” but then that it’s great and to enjoy every minute.

A girl asked if they had to pick one outfit from their GMM wardrobe to wear forever, what would it be? Rhett instantly replied “Cactus sweater.” (ugh rehtt noooo) The crowd cheered. Link turned to him and said, “I thought you said ‘catsuit’. Remember when you wore that catsuit? When you were a cat?” The audience remembered. :D He said something about not enjoying that (sure Link), but he couldn’t choose anything himself.

Someone asked for the rest of the story about the rat’s nest in the couch. Basically, Tim dumped a bunch of Halloween candy on the floor and left it there, and when it started disappearing each guy assumed the other guys were eating it, but actually a rat was building a nest in the couch with it. O.o It was so gross and so painfully relatable to anyone who was in college in those days. I shudder to think about the apartments of some of the guys I knew back then.

Link describes the horror in detail

One of my fave moments: a girl asked which of their sketch characters is their favorite. But she started it off by saying how much she loves Good Mythical Moms, and before she could ask her question Link launched into a full improv bit as Linkita. “I still got that stink in my minivan. I pulled up the mat and you know what was under it? Another mat. Ronald put mats in over the mats!” and on and on, in character to Rhett. Rhett just sat there deadpan until Link was done, then Link said to us “He won’t do it without the wig” and Rhett grinned and said “Not without the costume.” It was awesome. :D Then the girl finished her question and they answered: Link couldn’t decide, but Rhett picked Tree Man. Seriously. He did. 

A girl asked Rhett why he hates community college. The crowd went nuts, and Link facepalmed. Rhett smoothly went right into a beautiful Rhant and it was glorious. Link had this look on his face like he might be nervous that someone would be truly offended, but the audience was loving it. It was basically the same stuff he’s already said, but he ended with this gem: “I will enroll in a community college this fall. I promise. (pause) I won’t go, but y’know, I’ll still do good, because it’s a community college.” Link was like REHTT NO and the audience LOLd big time. :D :D I wish I had filmed it for y’all, but by that point I was just enjoying the ride and had forgotten about the camera.

I have a feeling that I’ve forgotten a question, but I *think* that was all of them. If you were there and I missed one, tell me!

Assorted Notes

I made eye contact with Link a couple times, just him looking at the audience,  nothing more. During a song he pointed at a young girl near us and she about melted there on the spot. It was so cute. I saw her in the merch line and said "You got the Link point! I saw that!" and she started bubbling over. :D 

Even though no one asked about it, Rhett repeated the fanart/fanfic joke unprompted. He brought it up himself, clearly to see our reaction. Honestly, I think he finds it funny and couldn’t care less what we write, and I’m almost positive he’s read some himself. Link looked less enthused, but not upset or anything; I think the idea of Rhink fic embarrasses him a bit, but he’s also secretly flattered by it. I mean, wouldn’t you be?

During the hair segment, when the photo with Christy and Jessie came up, the audience gave them a big cheer. I hope that happened at every show. Link looked pleasantly surprised, while Rhett looked like ‘damn right, u better cheer, my wife is hot’ lol

We got the first Tokyo of the tour! At least I think it was. They implied that it was. People were yelling Tokyo at various times and it made me cringe tbh -- Rhett either couldn’t hear them or was practiced at ignoring it. I mean come on, if he did it every time, it would get so annoying so quickly. But then at the end of the show when they were getting ready to sing the last song, someone yelled it and Rhett turned his head to look at them. Link grinned, and the whole audience started screaming TOKYO until he finally did it. He held it for so long that he went red in the face. :D The crowd went nuts and N was thrilled. Then Link said something like that was our first and last Tokyo. But they did it in Atlanta too, right? I don’t care, I still feel special. :D

I know this post is pretty disjointed and a grammar disaster, so if you have any questions I was answer them in as much detail as I can remember. It was a hell of a thing, you guys.

And there was more to come. :)

[remembertherandler]

So I want to try to start writing and I figured doing little fics would maybe be a good intro. Do you have any tips to getting started? I have only written school papers so I don't know if I'm any good yet

Hello!!!

I’m so glad to hear that you want to give writing a try. I think that it is a great way to express your creativity and participate in creating the fics you want to see in the world! 

I started writing fic about a 18 months ago (this is my first real fandom experience) and this place has been overwhelmingly supportive. When I jumped into this fandom I lurked for quite a while and then dove in head first, consuming content like a hungry beast and reading so much fic I barely slept. Then came the writing, and I was in a similar situation as you are. Not a lot of writing experience outside of school assignments and wanting to give it a try. 

My advice for others looking to write is always, at its heart, simple: Write. 

I’m not sure if there’s any “right” way, but I can certainly share my experience.

Finding Inspiration:When I started I just let my mind wander (usually after watching an episode of GMM) let my imagination take over where the cameras stop. What happens before? What happens after? Why was he acting like that? What would Rhett say after Link did that? Those kinds of questions fueled my early one shots. 

Technical Skills: I am still learning, and I’m sure that never stops, but familiarizing myself with the basics in writing and formatting dialogue was important for improving readability. I think what really helped me turn the corner here was finding myself a beta reader that I trusted and respected and that wanted to help. I’ve learned so much and I know that I am a better writer as a result. 

BETA READERS ARE THE BEST. 

Resources: 

Thesaurus: Dude. Let me just tell you how much I use a thesaurus. A lot. But don’t get thesaurus syndrome. Because sometimes “quick” outdoes “perfunctory”. Know what I mean? 

Ngram: If you are writing period peices and you want to find out about language use of the time. This is your dearest friend. Big thanks to @thegreyhenley for directing me here. I was a lost lamb.

Fellow Shippers: These people know EVERYTHING. I swear. If you are looking for clarification on timelines, names, the colour of Link’s third cousin’s cat’s eyes…. these people KNOW. It is a gift and it helps to make your fic as accurate as possible and to include canon details that make your work more authentic. 

Motivation: Getting started, it can be overwhelming, especially now that the fandom has grown and there are so many people writing such amazing content. Don’t allow yourself to get discouraged. Readers will find you if you create work for them to find. 

Your primary motivation to write should come from within, and it seems as though that is the case for you. Write for you. Write because you need to tell your story. Write because it brings you joy. As soon as you start reading for views and reviews, you’ve lost the spark that fuels the good stuff ;)

Promotion and tumbling:Don’t be afraid to promote your writing. Share it on your blog (if you have one). Having a tumblr account associated with your AO3 account makes you more accessible to your readers who sometimes like to reach out here about content posted there. In addition, it allows you to connect and communicate with not only readers, but other writers! 

This fandom is very supportive of its writers and are happy to share links and read fic that is being promoted here on tumblr, and I am certain you will be happily welcomed into the fold of Rhink fic writers :) 

Tips and Tricks: Tumblr is full of awesome posts for writers. I have a tag for writing resources you can check out if you like. HERE. 

I hope this was helpful and I can’t wait to see what you’ve got up your sleeves!

MUCH LOVE AND HAPPY WRITING!!!

RTR

[mythicalseries]

Can I just say we're all blessed to have @thegreyhenley's amazing writing back? Thank you for giving us the gift of your words again, Grey! 💕

[thestarscallme]

Drabble for charity

For @thegreyhenley !! I’m super proud of this lil nugget, and I’m even prouder knowing it’s gonna help not only with such a beautiful gift for Rhett but with an awesome cause as well. -Astrid

“Woah there Flash, don’t wanna take a tumble now do we?” Link says teasingly, he knew it would bug the taller man but he also knew that he would listen. Sure enough, Rhett slows his pace and huffs in annoyance. Link just smiles. This was a regular occurrence on their morning walk. It still baffled him how it seemed like just yesterday they were thirty something year olds hosting GMM. Now they were a couple of old farts pushing seventy and Rhett was in denial about the fragility of his aging frame. It was even easier for Rhett to hurt his back nowadays, and it had gotten bad enough that he had had to start using a cane. So Link wasn't about to let Rhett put himself in the hospital from stubbornness.

A few moments pass then Rhett breaks the silence, he knew Link was right and only looking out for him.

"Thank you brother."

Link chuckles then replies thoughtfully.

"Always".

[wneleh]

Fic-like thing: Miranda Ships

For @30daysofrandl Day 4, . 

My favorite Rhett&Link sketch is We Ship Ourselves, for its hilarious tacit approval of our favorite hobby.  The ending, though, puzzles/bothers me - are they saying that Miranda is a typical shipper? 

Anyway, this got me thinking - what would have happened if Miranda had decided to keep her order?

So, without further ado: Miranda Ships.  G, kinda rhink, i’ve no clue how many words because I’m typing it directly into tumblr.

Miranda (looking side to side): I see that no nosey neighbors are nosing where their noses aren’t needed - okay, inside, quickly.

Rhett: So, um, why did you order us?????

Link: Can we speak with Colleen please?

Miranda: I’m going to give you some scenaritos - that’s how you say ‘little scenario’ in Espanyol - and I’d like you to act them out.  And then I’ll send you back!

Link: Can we go with Uber instead of the USPS?

Miranda: Maybe.  Okay, scenarito uno.  You boys are handcuffed together, without a key.  Hanky panky ensues.  Commence.

Rhett: This has actually happened to us... four...

Link: No, only three times.  And twice the problem was, Rhett’d swallowed the key.

Rhett: Not my fault!  You told me to look up, and when you do that your mouth opens... try it, Miranda...

Miranda: No....

Rhett: Try it!  

Link: That was what happened the first time.  The second, you were just hungry.

Rhett: True that.

Link: Anyway, no hanky panky.  Just consider the angles.  With our height difference, and Rhett’s back, we need to be able to move much more freely.

Miranda: Okay, forget that.  Next scenarito.  You guys are secretly married.

Rhett: ....what...?

Link: ...who told you?

Miranda: What?  But aren’t you guys married to ladies?

Rhett: Let’s just say that, if we were secretly married, things wouldn’t be any different from how they are right now.

Link: Yes.  Let’s - keep it at that.

Miranda: Okay, how about a coffee shop AU.  Can you at least do that one for me?

Rhett: You’ve seen The Overly Complicated Coffee Order, right?

Miranda: I want one of you to be the barista, and the other to fall in love with you.

Link: Aren’t baristas girls?

Miranda and Rhett together: NO!

Link: But it ends in an ‘a’.  

Miranda: Forget it.  One last try.  I want you guys to kiss by mistake.

Rhett: Why?

Link: We kiss on purpose.

Rhett: All we need is a conduit.  Do you have any plexiglass?  Never mind, just hold up both your hands...

Miranda: Ewww, gross!  Get out of here!

THE END

With thanks/apologies to @tropetastictuesday and @thegreyhenley for trope ideas!

[mythicalea]

I woke up to a wonderful surprise this morning!!!

Thank you so much @thegreyhenley ❤️❤️❤️

[clemwasjustagirl]

$30 is what I could do, @thegreyhenley - thanks for inspiring me to get involved this morning. I'm so glad to have learned about this awesome organization from you Mythical Beasts. Grey's lengthier post about great LGBTQ orgs here: https://thegreyhenley.tumblr.com/post/162393696847/somehow-i-have-176-followers-apparently-you-guys

[festival-of-pudding]

@thegreyhenley 15 years and counting :D

[afangirlsplaylist]

Thank you @thegreyhenley for giving us the glory that is that BOM preview!

[ao3feed-rhink]

Frosted Mini Wheats

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2pN1aRh

by loulougoingsolo

Rhett and Link are strangers to each other, meeting at the supermarket for the first time.

This is my submission for the Tropetastic Tuesday #10 fic challenge at the Tumblr fandom. Thank you for Afangirlsplaylist for the fun prompt "Meet Cute in 1000 words". Also thank you for TheGreyHenley for starting this amazing weekly challenge.

Enjoy!

Words: 1168, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Rhett & Link

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: M/M

Characters: Rhett McLaughlin, Link Neal

Relationships: Rhett McLaughlin/Link Neal

Additional Tags: Fluff, Silly

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2pN1aRh

[mythicalseries]

Drabble for Charity

I sit down at my spot just two seats away from yours while you take the floor. Even if I wish it could be me by your side, it’s not my hand in yours, not my waist you’re holding, not my eyes you’re staring at. But as you dance with her, your blue eyes light up and you seem happy. Maybe she’ll even make you happier than I ever could have. At least, that’s what I tell myself as I try to smile through the pain. But when your eyes find mine across the room, they suddenly remind me why it’s so hard for me to believe my own lie.

A million thanks to @thegreyhenley, @killthenaughtyboy and @the-crepes-of-wrath for doing this project! You guys are beyond amazing!

[rileyrooin]

Are you planning to write more of that Rhink Pride and Prejudice AU? Serial fic maybe?

Ummmm, maybe? My response to @thegreyhenley was a spur of the moment thing. To be honest, though I do love Jane Austen, I’m not sure I could write a serial fic that would do her the proper justice she deserves. So, really, it might be better left to someone else. I dunno… I guess it depends if I feel inspired and/or if there’s interest in me continuing.

Thanks for the ask, Anon! 💗

[loulougoingsolo]

Earlier today I thought I would never be able to finish this story, but then I realized this was what I needed in my life at this moment, writing about happy, fluffy feelings in a rhinky way. This may not be a literary masterpiece on any level, but I feel better about myself and life after writing and posting it.

@thegreyhenley , thank you, yet again, for organizing the Tropetastic Tuesday challenge.

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Rhett & Link Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Rhett McLaughlin/Link Neal Characters: Rhett McLaughlin, Link Neal Additional Tags: Romantic Fluff, Fake Marriage, Misunderstandings Summary:

Rhett and Link are accidentally mistaken for a married couple on a vacation.

This is my submission for the Tropetastic Tuesday #6 on the tumblr fandom, organized by TheGreyHenley. Our trope for this week was "Pretending to be a couple / fake married. Up to 3,000 words."

This turned out fluffier than I ever imagined possible. Enjoy!

[mythicalpatterns]

@thegreyhenley asked for somewhere to download the song I made for the tropetastictuesday3 (since you can’t do that on tumblr? I dunno I’m so lost at this site lol) and I thought that maybe some of ya’ll would like it too. So here it is!

Thanks again for all the love, it means so much <3