#they’re old news I know but I’m always late to the party okay!!!!!!!

[pink-tk-a-latte]

Huohuo is so flipping cute I wanna squeeze her to death the poor fox child

[leavemurph]

sometimes i get so upset thinking what if hotch wants to come back cuz like jack’s in college and he’s home all the time, he’d need something to do?? and the fact that the writers still didn’t use this one excuse to bring him back to emily is just… ugh.

a few comments here and there about his life while he was gone, laughing with old friends who are still friends no matter what, teasing him cuz he tries to call his son and gets constantly ignored with the “dad, please, i’m busy”. then jj’s like, oh yeah, i get it, teenagers gonna be teenagers, and emily’s kinda feeling left out? but it’s cool. it’s just that time’s passing and she doesn’t have that for herself, which is strange, since she always thought she would. but then again, time sucks, this job takes so much, and yeah, maybe it’s too late.

no kids, nope, well, she’s busy. really busy. this thought keeps looping in her head, and a few situations end up making her rethink it, over and over—did i do this on purpose? did i avoid making any decisions that could’ve taken me down that path because, deep down, i felt like i didn’t deserve it?

hotch finds her in her office, asks if she’s okay because she seems so distracted all the time. of course, she doesn’t say anything, she’s not big on venting, but she does ask him if he ever thought about what it’d be like if they’d made it differently all those years ago.

he’s… confused at first, mostly because he’s not sure if this is her way of allowing them to talk about all the stuff they never said, couldn’t say, or were too scared to. so he asks, what do you mean? emily’s tired of dancing around it, they’re older now, more mature, there’s not much left to lose, so she just says, “you knew how i felt about you. that’s fine. i know how you felt about me.” hotch gives her a small smile, and she gets it. she really gets it. “i can’t believe i even considered going with you. like, a part of me really wanted to, so badly. i talked to you about work every day, told you things you didn’t even want to hear, didn’t care. and i kept hoping, hoping that one day you’d ask me to, or even just… i don’t know, say you missed me. my god, i would’ve dropped everything, run off into witness protection. with you. with jack.”

“emily.” hotch looks genuinely surprised, and maybe it’s because she’s holding back tears. “you had all these things here, things you built for yourself. look at you now.”

“right,” she mutters, waving it off with a comment about their previous case, because why get into that now? it’s a waste of time.

aaand…

they kiss for the first time on new year’s, in their natural habitat—at work, of course. everyone but emily is ready to party, but at midnight, hotch brings her a glass of champagne while she’s scribbling reports. she looks up and says, “are you guys going out? i’m gonna have to pass this time, i’m so busy,”

and he laughs because, “you sound like me ten years ago,” while gently coaxing her out of her chair. she tries not to freak out, laughing nervously, rolling her neck to release the tension from hours of sitting and staring at fine print. hotch brushes her hair back, studying her face, and she lets out a deep sigh, touching her tongue to the corner of her mouth. “a little nervous?” he asks, a smile tugging at his lips. “still the same tell, huh? some things never change.”

“i really can’t go with you guys,” she insists, eying his lips, almost on the edge of feeling butterflies for the first time in over a decade.

“heard you the first time. so i’ll be your first new year’s kiss, and then i’ll get out of your hair.” okay, butterflies all the way down to her toes. she barely nods, just a slight movement, before he leans in and kisses her. it’s the best kiss she’s ever had, hands down. my god, she can’t stop thinking about it.

he literally left her to do her job and went out partying with the others. he’s learned to live more than she has over these years, and honestly, it’s not bad. it’s not terrible. it’s nice.

their relationship grows through little moments scattered throughout the season—tender touches, good morning kisses, emily jumping out of bed late, the looks they share. they talk about the moments they’ve lived, the times they wanted to say something and didn’t, or do something and held back. “do you remember that time we…?”

the first time emily faces any life-threatening situation, hotch’s immediate reaction when he sees her getting her cheek stitched up is: “that was really brave of you to do.”

“hotch,” she winces, frowning through the pain as the stitch hurts. “really?”

“okay, what, are you out of your mind? didn’t you wait for backup?”

“that’s much better, thank you. and, no, it’d be too late.”

“almost died,” he crosses his arms, and emily is doing everything she can not to bite her nails. “i’m gonna need you to marry me. is that okay with you?”

and emily’s like, “what?”

“you heard me right. i want you, and i want to do this, all of it. you’ve always wanted kids, and you’ve been thinking about it, don’t lie to me, and it’s not too late. and we’re gonna do it, you and i. there’s surrogacy, adoption… we can—”

yeahh…. so.

gimme gimme.

bye.

[surshica]

PINK IS THE NEW RED

: CL16

genre: fluff kinda rushed whatever !

warnings: translated french yeah

A/N: and yes i am talking about singles inferno and the lee nadine. my fav korean-american influencer 🫶 and yeah this kinda has no plot but NADINEEEEE

synopsis: charles is dating someone who was on a love show whom is known for rave parties — charles leclerc x reader (fc: nadine lee)

yn.ln

liked by pierregasly,lewishamilton and 373,252 others

yn.ln day 2 of coachella week 1!! guess what i am~ 🧚‍♀️

user52 still can’t believe you were on singles inferno and nobody picked you..

user69 THATS WHAT IM SAYING!! but from the looks of it singles inferno was like a year and half ago so maybe..

user23 nah impossible the men on there lowkey didn’t even stand a chance, they were kinda bland🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️‼️

liked by yn.ln

— view 628 more replies —

user63 liked by pierregasly? does someone have a crush?

user92 pierre is dating kika!!

user63 okay maybe pierre watched singles inferno?

— view 43 more replies —

lewishamilton much fun can’t wait for day 3!

yn.ln where is roscoe.

lewishamilton he’s at home

yn.ln ditching you for your dog

lewishamilton i’ll buy you food

yn.ln ..i wanna try your vegan snacks sir lewis hamiliton

user51 they’re literally flirting bye. WHEN DID YN GETVINTO F1?;!;?

— view 268 more replies —

user12 liked by pierregasly

liked by pierregasly

— view all comments —

charles_leclerc

liked by yn.ln,pierregasly and 1,569,368 others

charles_leclerc today was fun

tagged pierregasly,joris__trouche,audreyrublev

user34 it’s giving old money

user63 whoever styled charles needs a raise because that whole fit is 🤌

charles_leclerc i’ll make sure to tell her that

user73 HER? WHO IS HER?

pierregasly liked by pierregasly btw!

user52 okay the fact the whole grid was there…didn’t know y’all were tennis lovers too

user92 i love how it’s the whole grid and lewis is at coachella

user108 man has priorities what can i say?

user76 if you could pick from going to a tennis game in monte carlo or coachella what would you pick?

user32 mmm…coachella maybe

yn.ln sweats as professional pants we love to see it!

charles_leclerc designers choice!

yn.ln give me the number of the designer i need her to make my outfits 🤭

charles_leclerc no

yn.ln why you gatekeeping bro.

— view 628 comments —

user19 yn in her influencing arc!!

user43 “liked by yn.ln” DONT DO IT I WAS GATEKEEPING YOU.

— view all comments —

yn.ln

COACHELLA

liked by lewishamilton,charles_leclerc and 374,826 others

yn.ln coachella day 3 🥲 i’m still confused about the frank ocean performance…

tagged fembestie,malebestie

user29 women in stem who can party 😍

user75 RIGHT? like bro was an hour late and dod three performances and called it quits..

yn.ln at least he showed up right?

yn.ln should’ve put xnda up on the stage

lewishamilton okay now you’re setting me up

— view 82 comments —

user15 YOU ATE THAT. coachella? what’s that? i only know yn festival

user57 they should’ve put me on singles inferno i would’ve rizzed you up.

yn.ln my dms are always open🤷‍♀️

pierregasly someone did not like this comment😭..

user82 100-92 =

user54 98?

user42 LORD…YOU DID NOT JUST SAY 98

user92 💀

user12 i love how it’s just shirtless men in the background and yn in pink

francisca.cgomes i should’ve went with..i was over here third wheeling the whole time.

yn.ln i would’ve snuck you in if i knew you would have to deal with…them.

pierregasly NOT LIKED by pierregasly

— view 72 comments —

charles_leclerc pretty in pink 🩷

liked by yn.ln

user61 if these are the coachella fits i want to see the lollapalooza ones..BCCCC inspo~

charles_leclerc this sounds like you are going to the azerbaijani gp 🤔

yn.ln are you going to win?

charles_leclerc maybe you’ll be my lucky charm

yn.ln i’ll meet you there then!

liked by charles_leclerc

user19 DO YALL SEE CHARLES.

user69 bro got noticed by a pretty girl and can’t act properly..

— view all comments —

yn.ln posted a story

yn.ln

liked by lilymhe,fransica.cgomes and 284,739 others

yn.ln he just would not let go of me. no seriously

user59 my gf who doesn’t know is my gf is in a relationship? 🫠

user72 the cat heart necklace imma kms.

user91 now i’m invested into who this guy actually is..

user11 maybe it’s that one guy from the show, the military guy

user40 WAIT theyd be a power couple

lilymhe well tell him to stop being all cuddly we are having a girls night.

yn.ln “he said no and girls night could wait” - C

francisca.cgomes not like his opinion mattered anyways we are still going to steal you

user82 charles is screaming throwing stuff at the wall after seeing this

user99 charles : “hey alexa play that should be me by justin beiber”

lewishamilton i take it you’re here to support mercedes next gp win?

charles_leclerc me when i’m delusional!

maxverstappen1 charles you haven’t even podiumed this year plus we all know yn is here to support me~

charles_leclerc go away you are dating…yk who.😒

liked by yn.ln

mercedesamgf1 can’t wait to see you repping our merch on the paddock!

scuderiaferrari i guess someone didn’t get the memo that yn is a tifosi 💋

— view all comments —

yn.ln

liked by charles_leclerc,scuderiaferrari and 592,825 others

yn.ln pink is the new red ‼️

tagged scuderiaferrari

charles_leclerc wearing an alpines color..

yn.ln pink is just a shade of red charlie

charles_leclerc and you’re supposed to be my lucky charm

yn.ln i will be and forever am

user87 ATE!!

user96 sometimes all ferrari needs is a little pink in their lives~

— view 34 comments —

user63 PURRRR

scuderiaferrari you might need to teach little charlie over here how to dress!

yn.ln oh believe me i know…

lilymhe i love you i love this fit

lissisemackintosh OH MY🤭 listen if he doesn’t go public thenn~

user52 lizzie knows something we don’t..

— view 127 comments —

user01 normalize everyone wearing pink in the paddock.

yn.ln you’re right. @mercedesamgf1 let toto wear pink!

— view 92 comments —

user09 i love how when everyone shows up to the paddock it’s like fancy ass outfits and yn comes in with cargo pants and a white top

user16 she chose comfy not fancy

— view all comments —

charles_leclerc

liked by yn.ln,pierregasly and 2,826,927 others

charles_leclerc P1 !!! what a weekend for the team and for the tifosi! lets keep pushing more like this especially after the disappointing last few races this year! next up miami 🏆

tagged scuderiaferrari

user77 LETS GO HES BACK.

user96 🔥🔥🔥

user43 charles villain arc???

user82 NOWWW. RIGHT NEOWWWW.

user24 you best believe it!!

lewishamilton amazing driving today mate!! 👏👏

yn.ln hot people got first this race

charles_leclerc 🤔

scuderiaferrari and yall said the ferrari curse was real! 🙄

redbullracing because it still is…

scuderiaferrari nuh uh! if you have a problem with it check out cars it’s fine!!

rebullracing really? i have multiple videos of you drivers saying your car sucks.

mercedesamgf1 yoooo…chill🥶

scuderiaferrari get out of here with your long ass name

— view all comments —

yn.ln posted a story

charles_leclerc replied to your story: WELL YOU SEE THE WHOLE SOFT LAUNCH WASNT WORKING ANDD…

charles_leclerc replied to your story: did you at least like the teddy bear?;;

@ surshica | rb & follow.

[artsyannierose]

Huskerdust:

Angel and Husk’s love language?

What would they describe as their perfect date?

Who made the first move?

Who is more sentimental?

Who falls asleep first?

Who is more more relaxed/carefree?

Who is always cold?

Who worries more?

What are some non-sexual activities they do together?

What are some things they don’t agree on?

What’s their individual flirting style?

Which member steals borrows the other ones clothing?

Who is the cuddle initiator?

Who stays up way too late and who tries to drag them to bed?

Who gives piggy back rides to the other?

Who fell in love first?

IM SORRY I CANT DRAW ALL OF THIS I JUST DONT HAVE THAT KIND OF TIME BUT IM JUST GONNA SCRIBBLE MY THOUGHTS DOWN IF THATS OKAY

1) Love Language - Words of Affection

Honestly Physical Touch was running my mind at first but like that’s just so casual for them. That’s like their thing you know, coming home and just flopping down on the bed together.

sleepy snuggles <333

So then if they wanna actually get through to each other im sure they won’t skimp out words of affection and affirmation, plus im an absolute sucker for them speaking in Italian to each other I NEEEEEDDD THAT IN CANON

Also im a slut for the pet namEs plspls THEY ALREADY LITERALLY CALL EACH OTHER “BABY” GUYS THATS NOT VERY PLATONIC OF YOU 🤨 🤨

That remind of this one post like “Husk and Angel call each other ‘baby’ and no one knows whether its romantic or platonic (they don’t know either)” cuz thats so them

2) Perfect Date - Alone Time

Call me basic but I promise you neither of them want a grand extravagant fancy date at a restaurant or something (not that they wouldn’t i can totally see them dressing up for each other and going out) but i feel like their ideal date is just. Each other.

Also i am a SLUT for a date where Husk carries Angel around and the fly over the ring while probably singing some cheesy romantic song like I See the Light i want that. Pls. (Obviously I’m a huge Tangled fan)

3) First Move - Husk

This isn’t anything new but like it’s just in character for Angel to worry about messing something up somehow and would probably flirt with Husk but freak out once it got serious. He probably doesn’t wanna replay that night in Episode 4 where he overstepped Husk’s boundaries so like I’ll bet Husk asks to kiss him first. That’s not to say that both of them are not awkward asf around each other

LET THE OLD MEN ACT LIKE TEENAGE GIRLS IN LOVE 🗣️ 🗣️

4) Sentimental - Angel

Mostly cause he hasn’t had any sort of proper relationship and the one that had any sort of promising future quickly turned into a living hell (f u Valentino). Bro doesn’t know what a healthy relationship is supposed to even look like

So whenever Husk does little, pretty normal things, like wipe his tears or get him some cheap makeup that reminded him of Angel, Angel would turn into jelly, like a water balloon ready to burst honestly.

5) Falling Asleep - UMMM I WANNA SAY HUSK

I feel like it REALLY depends on the day’s events

But i headcanon that Angel has insomnia (perhaps im self-projecting idk shhhh) so only Husk’s purring can help him sleep well. So I think Husk is just the type to like, crash after he flops in bed cuddled up with Angel

6) Relaxed - Angel

Idk this is just in character, Angel’s a party boy for one. Husk would rather chill at the hotel

7) Cold - Angel

Hmmm this just feels right to me. That he wants to cuddle up in Husk’s warm embrace

Besides bro’s literally built like a stick. And wears slutty clothes why wouldn’t he be cold

8) Worries More - Husk

They both worry about each other okay they’re both in dangerous and very unfortunate situations but like Angel gets stuck at work hours upon hours straight yk

Husk never knows when he’ll be home so he gets worried when Angel’s been gone without at least texting him something cause we know the kind of crap Valentino pulls

9) Non-sexual Activities

Cuddling. Self Explanatory.

I WANTTTT HUSK TO FLY AROUND THE PENTAGRAM WITH ANGEL IN HIS ARMS SO BAD. CAN THAT JUST BE A NIGHTLY THING FOR THEM. LIKE A NIGHT WALK BUT HUSK CAN FLY

Angel grooming Husk’s wings anyone?? I want. Pls.

10) Disagreements

Never really thought of that

I feel like Husk doesn’t believe he can get redeemed while Angel is slowly believing that redemption is possible. Both eventually believe Angel can get redeemed but Angel is convinced that if he can get redeemed so can Husk. Husk though, he's full of self loathing and no faith sooooooo yeah

11) Flirting Style

Angel - Words. For sure. He’ll never skimp out on reminding Husk just how sexy that kitty is

Husk - Physical. SORRY IM SUCH A SLUT FOR HUSK TEASING ANGEL AND TURNING THE. ANGEL. DUST. INTO A FLUSTERED BEGGING MESS. LIKE I NEEEEEED THAT

12) Clothing - Angel

considering husk doesn’t wear anything but pants….and angels clothes would NOT fit him I promise

(They def had a night where Angel shoved husk into all his outfits)

Angel would buy matching tshirts I promise you that

anyway I feel like he’d steal clothes more yuh but tbh I don’t think he’d fit into it💀💀

HE WOULD STEAL THAT FUCK MONDAYS MUG THO

HE ABSOLUTELY WOULD

HUSK WOULD BE LOOKING ALL OVER FOR IT AND ANGEL’S JUST IN BED LIKE “teehee”

13) Cuddle Initiator - HUSKKK

DONT GET ME WRONG ANGEL DEF INITIATES SOMETIMES BUT I WANNA IMAGINE HUSK JUST BEING SO HAPPY TO FINAAALLLYY CUDDLE ANGEL AFTER A SHOWER FROM A LONG DAY OF WORK

Husk loves the way Angel is at complete peace and relaxation once he falls into Husk’s arms, like a limp noodle istg

of course Angel feels like it’s heaven and prolly passes out pretty quickly

besides ain’t it canon that husk likes cuddling

GIVE THE OLD MAN SOME CUDDLES 🗣️🗣️🗣️

14) Staying up Late

Tbh this could go either way bc Angel comes home late from work anyway

and I’m sure there are days Husk comes late from errands from Alastor

if we’re talking pure personalities tho Husk would be up doing smth while Angel being the drama queen he is would be moaning and whining in bed like “cOooME hErE iMM sOoOOo LoNELy aNd inComPLeTe WiTHouT yOuuUUuU”

15) Piggy Back Rides - Husk

Nobody argue with me Angel just bounces onto Husk at random times and demands he carry him around

ALTHOUGHHHH A SWITCH WOULD BE FUN YK ANGEL BEGS BEGS BEGS HUSK IF HE’LL LET HIM GIVE HIM A PIGGY BACK RIDE AND OF COURSE HUSK CAN’T SAY NO SO HE OBLIGES

16) Who fell in Love?

OHHHHH DONT GET ME STARTS ON THIS

DONT….

ITS CAUSE I COULD TALK SO LONG OF THEM FALLING IN LOVEEEEE

Ill try to shorten it but BASICALLY Angel definitely was lusting after Husk (and i am convinced that Angel has a thing for men with deep sexy voices and Husk has the deepest and sexiest voice hes ever heard so he was smitten) from the moment Alastor teleported him into the hotel, and kept trying to hit on him. However after episode 4, Angel began to see Husk as a person rather than someone he needed to win over or someone who was just playing hard to get.

Husk on the other hand was first disgusted and annoyed by Angel’s tendencies, and he even thought he understood him without Angel ever opening up to him. After ep 4 however he also starting wanting to actually get to know Angel as a person. I wanna say cheesy stuff like Angel fell first but Husk fell harder…but I don’t believe that the case

They both fell for each other equally hard and both are absolutely smitten with the other bro…it took them a sec to get to know each other but they are in it deep now. Angel is absolutely in love with Husk and desperately wants to remind him that he doesn’t have to go through his trauma with Alastor alone, and he wants Husk to learn his self-worth and he won’t shut up about it. Husk loves Anthony through and through, and that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love Angel Dust. It’s just certain aspects of Angel are horrendously fake that Husk cannot stand, but he still loves all parts of Angel Dust. Angel has a little easier time opening up to Husk than vice versa but that doesn’t mean it comes easy. So Husk also wants to make sure that Angel feels loved and he feels like he's worth more than everything Valentino tells him. And he wants Angel to feel like he has control over his life, not that hes only good for being used up (gosh im thinking about Paranoid DJ’s Use Me Up i LOVEEE THAT SONG)

And we all agree angel has self-worth issues right

Anyways its been like a week since i got this ask so ill shut up now

I HOPE THIS SUFFICES ANON IM SO SORRY IT TOOK THIS LONG AND I DONT EVEN HAVE ANY DOODLES BUT IVE BEEN REAAALLLY BUSY

AND I GOT AN ASK ABT HUMAN HUSKERDUST SO I GOTTA DO THAT

BYEBYE <333

[wingedquill]

notes on survival (a preview)

so i blacked out and wrote like 4K words of a new fic concept. I don't think I'll be posting it on ao3 until it's entirely done (really do not need another currently-updating WIP) but wanted to share the first little bit on here with y'all (CW: kidnapping, violence against children) ---

Here’s how it starts, for Steve:

He’s ten.

He’s riding his bike. It’s a bit late in the day, but not that late, not nearly his curfew. The sun is still high in the sky, and he can hear kids shrieking with laughter a few streets over. They’d invited him to play with them, but he’d turned them down cause he wanted to check on the tadpoles he’d found in the pond last weekend.

He gets to a stop sign. A car pulls up next to him: old, gray, forgettable. The windows are down, but it’s summer. It’s normal. He wouldn’t have thought twice about it.

A bang. A scream. 

“Help!” a voice shouts from the trunk. “Someone help!”

The driver looks over. Makes direct eye contact with Steve.

He knows, even as he starts pedaling, that he’s not gonna be fast enough.

***

Steve can’t really remember a time when he’d been un-messed-up. Not clearly, at least. He has the vague, stretched-summer memories of baking cookies with his mom, of somersaulting off the diving board at the public pool and getting yelled at by a lifeguard, of hiding in the woods simply because it was the best way to avoid his chores.

They’re nice memories, he thinks. Part of him wants to put them in a box and never touch them again. But they’re nice.

He’s good at pretending they’re all he’s made of.

But now he’s here. Walking through the woods. He’s not avoiding his chores but he’s also not hiding, and that’s probably the only reason why he’s not vomiting into the underbrush. Nancy’s hand is cold in his, and it’s enough of an anchor.

He’s not alone.

“Will!” he yells, his lungs burning with the force of the yell. “Will!”

He wonders if he got a search party like this.

***

They’re bumping down a road that’s more potholes than asphalt. The other boy won’t stop hyperventilating.

“I’m sorry,” he sobs. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, if I hadn’t—”

“It’s okay,” Steve says, because that’s what you’re supposed to do when someone apologizes. You’re supposed to accept it. 

He doesn’t even know what the boy is apologizing for, not really. He isn’t a kidnapper. He hadn’t tied Steve up and stuffed him in the trunk. He had only screamed for help. That’s what you’re supposed to do.

“I’m Steve,” he says. It’s important that the other boy knows his name. Vitally so. The man who took them isn’t gonna care, and he needs one person here who cares about him.

The other boy sniffles against Steve’s shirt.

“Ed,” he chokes. “I’m Ed.”

***

He’s cold. He’s tired. He’s gasping for air and his sides are on fire. 

Second verse, same as the first.

“We gotta get your shirt off,” Robin’s telling him. “We need to, Steve, your dirty, lake-gunk sweater is embedded in those wounds, I don’t want you getting a massive infection on top of rabies. That’s like, for sure definite dead.”

He drags himself out of the hunting shack and into the Upside Down. Eddie and Nancy are huddled together by a fallen tree, Nancy giving him a quick rundown of how the hivemind works. Neither of them are looking.

“I can’t,” he chokes anyway. “They’ll see–they’ll know.”

Cross your heart and hope to die.

She bites her lip. She looks like his mom had, when she’d told him he wouldn’t be seeing Ed again. Like she’s cutting off one of his limbs to save the rest of him.

“Steve, they won’t care,” she lies.

He shakes his head.

“I’ll chance the infection,” he says. “I mean it Robin.”

She closes her eyes. Scoots around to the other side of him, putting herself between him and Eddie-and-Nancy.

“I’ll dress the wounds quick,” she says. “And give you my overshirt. That okay?”

He takes a deep breath. Hunches in on himself. He’s always been a bit too good at making himself unseen. A bit better than he would like.

“Okay,” he agrees.

***

“They’re looking for us,” he whispers. 

He tucks his face into Ed’s shoulder, wishes they could hug. A hug would make this better, he thinks, if he could just get his arms around to the front. If he could just hug, and be hugged, he’d wake up. They’d both wake up.

They’d both be at home in their beds. They’d be safe. Mom would make him hot chocolate like she always does after nightmares, and he’d check to see if the robin’s eggs outside his window had hatched, and he’d be okay.

“Yeah,” Ed whispers back. “Yeah, they are.”

Around them, the car’s engine roars.

[seriouslysam8]

Soooo it's Tuesday!! Can we... Maybe... Possibly... Most definitely get a sneak peak into the new Jily dies story 😃🤗

You would ask for this.

Sure. Why not?

Sirius crouched down to Harry’s level, tying the kid’s black tie with ease. He could remember tying Regulus’ ties more often than not when they were kids and forced to attend some posh boring party. The summer before Regulus attended Hogwarts, Sirius had to actually teach the kid how to do it for himself. Sirius had learned when he was small from his Uncle Alphard, because Orion couldn’t be bothered to actually spend any amount of bonding time with his sons.

Adjusting the tie, Sirius offered Harry a closed mouth smile. The kid looked cute in his Muggle black suit with his shiny new shoes. The reason for the outfit made Sirius want to die inside though. Reaching into his pocket, Sirius pulled out a tie clip for Harry. His godson stood patiently, too still for a fifteen-month-old. 

“Look at us, we match,” Sirius said, running his fingers through Harry’s hair to try to smooth it down even though he knew it was fruitless.

Harry reached out to grab Sirius’ black tie. They even had matching tie clips, courtesy of Andromeda and Ted. They had gone out with their measurements to buy Sirius and Harry suits for the funeral. Sirius had been grateful, because he didn’t want to leave Harry nor did he want to take Harry out in public. 

“Can we talk?” Sirius asked, settling down onto his bum. “About today?”

Harry peered at him, his fingers still playing with the tie. Clearing his throat, Sirius gently tugged Harry onto his lap. Harry gazed up at him, looking so innocent and inquisitive. 

“I know things have been… well, they’ve been different lately,” Sirius started, his eyes locking with Harry’s. “I know it’s been very confusing for you. I know you’ve been asking for your mum and dad.”

At the names, Harry perked up. He started to look around the room. Sirius didn’t think his heart could shatter any more than it already had.

“We’re going to see your mum and dad today, Harry,” Sirius continued in a strained voice.

“Mama? Dada?” Harry asked, his gaze snapping to Sirius.

Sirius attempted to swallow down his sorrow. “They’re going to look like they’re sleeping, okay? They won’t be able to talk to you or, or hug you or anything. You’ll come home with Marly and me afterwards, okay? Because you’re going to live with Marly and me from now on.”

Harry only blinked at Sirius, his face blank and clearly not understanding. “Mama. Dada.”

Sirius sniffed, wiping his fingers underneath his eyes. “I miss them too, kid. I know I’m a poor replacement for your dad, but I will always be here for you. No matter what.”

Harry burst out crying, sobbing for his parents as he pressed his face into Sirius’ dress shirt. Sirius could only hold him, whispering comforting words in hope it was enough to calm him. But they felt empty and insincere. Nothing was all right. Nothing would be better anytime soon. There was just a pit of darkness that had engulfed them, threatening to drown them. Somehow, he was supposed to put on a happy face and pretend like a part of him hadn’t died on Halloween as well.

[seecarrun]

Dinner was ready, and Eddie left to go pout somewhere, so that was fucking annoying.

Richie didn’t even know what he had done to piss him off this time; all he knew was that he, Eddie, and Stanley were hanging out with his parents, talking old people shit, because they were all fucking old people now, and Eddie slunk off to go sulk.

Maybe the whole midlife crisis thing hit him hard in the presence of Maggie and Went or something? Something with his late mom, maybe? Who knew.

He found Eddie on the back deck, in his mother’s comically bright orange lounge chair, looking the picture of dejection, and couldn’t help but sigh to himself, mentally preparing for whatever weird shit Eddie had to complain about this time.

“What’s got your noodles in a twist, Spaghetti?” he asked, leaning back on the deck railing.

Eddie scrunched up his nose at the nickname. “Don’t fucking call me that.”

Richie raised an eyebrow. “Answer the fucking question.”

Eddie opened his mouth to argue, but closed it and sighed sadly. “Your parents like Stan more than me,” he finally admitted.

Richie snorted. “What?”

“They like Stan more than me!” Eddie repeated, indignantly. “Your mom was so excited to see him!”

That was true, Richie admitted to himself. His mother had all but shoved Went out of the way to open the door and greet them.

“Stanley Uris, as I live and breathe!”

Stan smiled sheepishly as Maggie enveloped him in a tight hug, not loving it, but definitely not hating it either.

After a few tight squeezes, she pulled him back to arms length, her eyes welling a bit with unshed tears. “Oh sweetheart, look how handsome you are,” she gushed.

Stan’s cheeks flushed slightly, but he waved her off. “No, I’m nothing special, you’re just used to seeing Richie.”

Wentworth guffawed from where he had plopped himself on the old recliner after Maggie nearly tackled him, and Richie laughed out a ‘Stan the Man gets off a good one!’ while Maggie simply shook her head, smiled, muttered ‘Oh, you kids’ and ushered them all into the kitchen for a drink.

“She’s always had a soft spot for him,” Richie explained with a shrug. “They’ve both been middle aged old ladies since the eighties.”

Eddie glared at him, but kept his mouth shut, probably realizing he had a point. Stan wandered away from Richie’s eleventh birthday party to drink iced tea and bird watch with Maggie rather than eat chocolate cake and play video games with the guys. It wasn’t anything new.

Still, he looked crestfallen, which Richie knew, unfortunately, he had to fix, because he was pathetic and in love, like an idiot.

“Besides, they love you, dude! They just, you know, see you more. You came over last weekend because Mom made too much lasagna. They haven’t seen Stan since 1991.”

“That’s fair,” Eddie agreed. “I didn’t think about that.”

“Yeah, so don’t even sweat it.” He chuckled. “They like both of you more than me, anyway.”

“True,” Eddie said with a grin, so Richie flipped him off, good naturedly, making Eddie laugh and everything right with the world again.

“Okay, you little shit, c’mon. Soup’s on.”

Eddie smiled and stood up. “Thanks, Rich.”

Richie smiled back. “No prob.”

As they walked through the house together, Richie couldn’t help but add. “Honestly, you don’t wanna be their favorite anyway. They’re super lame.”

Eddie, strangely, just smiled cryptically. “I dunno,” he said simply, opening the door to the kitchen and glancing at Richie over his shoulder. “I have my reasons.”

[thelonesomequeen]

*waves* Wife who kept her own name here, too. I haven't really gotten people getting angry to my face about it. But I've found that when I tell even my own relatives, "Hey, remember I kept my own last name, you don't need to address my mail to Mrs etc". They go "Oh, really? Okay," and then continue to send Christmas or birthday cards with "Mrs" + husband's last name on there. I don't know if this is a passive-aggressive way of disagreeing with my choice or if they're just kinda forgetful/dumb. But it's annoying.

I remember clearly the time my husband and I went to the bank to add me to his account shortly after the wedding, and I was told by the clerk, "We'll have to wait for the name change to go through on your passport." I said "Oh, that's okay, I didn't change my name" and her eyes bugged out and her mouth dropped open. "Well," she said at last. "That's... that's fine. Everyone's different, I suppose."

This was in the late 2000s, and she was probably around 30 years old.

In my opinion it’s passive aggressive only because it takes more effort to remember a new name than the one you’ve had your whole life. But you definitely know your family better than I do, so my opinion could easily be wrong here. My family accepted it without a problem and always addresses mail correctly, but my husband’s family had a huge issue with it and constantly address the mail incorrectly. But it also bothers them that I’m an incredibly successful working woman as well. They’re extreme trad-wife type people. They’re just the polar opposite of my family which is full of people who support women fully. I grew up with a mom who was the bread winner and a dad who never had an issue splitting home labor with cooking and cleaning. I was actually pretty old when I figured out that dynamic wasn’t really the norm, but it absolutely influenced my standards on life and partners. (For myself, everyone should live the life they want without pressure from others.)

But back to names 😂 Oddly enough, with it being an election year, we’re now constantly getting campaign mail. Whenever I get mail from democrats, my name (and my husband’s name) is always correct. Whenever we get it from republicans I’m always addressed with his name attached to mine even though I’ve never ever legally carried that name. It’s odd because they have the same mailing lists with the same information, but when you look at what party supports what in terms of women’s rights it starts to make sense.

In public scenarios I always get one of two reactions. Shocked/outrage which always seems to come from a specific type of person (and I’ll keep the rest of that commentary to myself) or women who are wowed but in a positive way. I usually get mostly positive responses when I say I kept my name. And it always opens up a lot of conversations with those women about how they really wanted to keep their own name but felt pressured not to. I wish people better understood the concept of minding their own business. Live life by your standards, but don’t force those standards on others. 🦎

[abbatoirablaze]

The Thrombey Christmas Party, Ex Wive's Club

Word Count: 2k

Warnings:  angst, mild violence, mentions of slapping.

“Hey…it’s not your fault…”

Ransom frowned as he looked over his shoulder at his wife. 

He had expected Lily to blow off the family Christmas party ever since his mother took Curtis’ side when it came to Maritza, but what he hadn’t expected was their last interaction together. 

She’d been on less than friendly terms with him when Rose came into the picture, stating that ‘he had a new little daughter he could mold into a perfect child.’  And she found it necessary to scream that at him any time he tried to contact her. 

Jess knew how much those words had hurt him though, especially during the last time that Ransom had tried to invite her over to dinner. 

He’d ended up sobbing against Jess’ chest for an hour when she showed up wasted, calling him the most horrible father to have ever existed.  She had shown up well after the time he’d told her, after Evan and Rosie were both in bed, but that wasn’t what bothered him.

“Ransom…”

Ransom’s jaw twitched as he fought back the angry words that flooded his mind.  His daughter was very obviously wasted, and was dressing like she was about to go to the clubs. 

“Lil-“

“Are you going to invite me in?” she growled, cutting her father off.  She rolled her eyes at her father as he stepped to the side and opened the door a little more.

“You’re late,” he reminded her softly, “Jess put Evan and Rose down, so-“

“Don’t wake the little bastards, got it!” she said with another roll of her eyes.

“Hey…they’re your siblings!”

“And they’re my siblings because you fucked an underage girl the first time, then ended up marrying her and not pulling out the second time.”

“LILY-“

“Hugh?” Jess asked, hearing the distressed tone from her husband’s voice, “Is everything okay?”

Lily mumbled something under her breath as her former best friend, and step mother came down the hall to greet them.  On an instant she was at his side, kissing his shoulder. 

“Sorry,” he sighed, giving her a solemn look, “I know you just put the kids down!”

“Lily…” Jess frowned, looking at the woman her own age, “You’re late…I put dinner away already, but if you’re hungr-“

“I didn’t come over to eat and play happy little family,” she hissed, before her eyes met her fathers’ once more, “I’m not hungry!”

“Well why did you come then?” Ransom asked quickly, “because I wanted to talk to you about-“

“I know that grandma is selling her real estate company and we all get a share of the funds.” She said quickly, “I want my share.”

“I have no control over that, Lil…” he muttered, shaking his head as he crossed his own arms over his chest, “but even if I did, I wouldn’t try harassing your Linda over-“

“SERIOUSLY?” she screeched, “that money is mine!  She wants to lock it up under some bullshit trust and you’re just going to let her?”

“Lil-“

“YOU’RE A SHIT FATHER, RANSOM,” she spat, glaring daggers at her father, “I COME TO YOU FOR ONE THING AND YOU CAN’T EVEN DO IT.  YOU’RE SO WRAPPED AROUND MY EX BEST FRIEND’S PUSSY THAT YOU CAN’T HELP YOUR FIRST CHILD!  I’M JUST HERE BECAUSE YOU COULDN’T PULL OUT IN TIME.”

She had continued her rant, but upstairs, the parents could hear Rose waking up as she began to cry. 

“Shit…” Jess hissed.  She pressed a kiss to her husband’s shoulder, “I’m sorry…I-“

“Go take care of Rose,” Ransom confirmed before he cut his daughter off, “Lily, stop!”

“Or what?” she hissed as Jess ran towards the stairs to coo her agitated daughter. 

“Lil-“

The fact that Lily had no problem shredding Ransom to bits any chance she could really ate away at Jess.

She wanted to be supportive of her husband. 

“If it makes you feel better, it’s probably just because she hates me!” Jess offered with a frown as she bounced little one and a half year old Rose on her hip, “she’s still not over the idea of us being married…you know you’re an amazing father, and husband, Hugh.  You are always there for us just like you try to be there for her.  You’ve made an amazing relationship with Maritza despite it all as well!”

He gave a heavy sigh, and she knew that in that moment, despite her best efforts, there wasn’t anything that she could truly say to right what was going on in his head. 

“Da-da!” Rosie giggled, looking at her father with adoring eyes. 

Ransom’s eyes snapped to hers, and the worry faded as she reached out for him.  His little chubby-cheeked angel smiled at her father, and it helped calm him, if only slightly.

“I think someone wants you to hold her, daddy!” Jess giggled, shooting her husband a wink. 

Ransom bit his lip, holding back the new feelings that were quickly pushing their way forward.  His eyes raked over his wife’s body, and then he took another look towards the entrance, and then scanned the room. 

Everyone was off in their own little worlds. 

His cousins and their respective families were having their normal pissing contests. 

And Curtis had come with Maritza, Sasha, and her two children, who were all actively engaged in talking to his own mother, who had recently sold her real estate empire to focus on being a great woman to her grandchildren and great grandchild. 

Meanwhile, his own son was smiling, learning how to play Go with Harlan. 

“You know…if you call me daddy again like that, we may have to sneak off,” Ransom teased lightly as he took his daughter from his wife’s arms, “I’ve been been chomping at the bit for another little baby boy…and I know you have too!”

“We did say we wanted to wait until the end of the year…”

“And it’s already here!” he smiled. 

She shot him a wink and leaned up, pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth, “maybe if daddy’s been good this year, when we tuck the babies in…he can unwrap a special gift from mommy then!”

Lust hit Ransom like a freight train and his eyes twinkled at the thought, “a special gift from mommy?”

“Da-da!” Rosie repeated, reaching out to grab Ransom’s face. 

Jess couldn’t help but laugh as their daughter pouted at her father, angry that she was being ignored while in his arms. 

Ransom’s gaze met his daughters, and she held firm on her straight face.

“Looks like you’ve got to smooth it over with baby Drysdale first, daddy…” she smirked, “I’m going to go get her bottle from the kitchen…will you be alright?”

“Right,” Ransom nodded, stepping over to his mother.  He bounced Rose on his hip as he made his way to her, “I know who can cheer you up, little miss sass.”

Linda looked up from her grand-daughter, and towards her son.  Her smile grew when she saw her youngest grandchild, “Rosie!”

“NANA!” the baby squealed excitedly, making grabby hands at her.  Linda lit up, mirroring the baby’s actions, before pulling her into her arms.

“Oh, there’s my baby!”

“Nana baby!” she repeated happily, snuggling into her grandmother as she called herself her grandmother’s baby. 

Ransom smiled, happy to see the calm in his family.  He looked at Curtis and noticed his own grandchild looking up at him.  Maritza giggled as she waved to him.

‘Hello angel’ Ransom mouthed, while brokenly signing the words he’d been learning through his tutor every week, ‘pretty dress for Christmas!’

‘Thank you dum-dum’

“Mr. Curtis, why did Maritza call Mr. Ransom a dumb dumb?”

Curtis chuckled as Michael looked at the little girl bewildered, “she’s not calling him a dumb dumb, Michael.  That’s her name for him.  Mr. Ransom doesn’t want to be called grandpa, and her mother always called him by his first name.  but the name Ransom sounded like ‘dumb dumb’ when she first got her cochlear implant…and that just sort of stuck.”

“That’s silly!” Ashley giggled from beside her stepsister.  She signed to her, ‘why not call him grumpy?  He never smiles unless he’s with Miss. Jess!’

“Hey, I saw that sign!” Ransom teased, signing along as well as speaking, to let his grand daughter feel included still.  He reached for her and scooped her up, and she began giggling once more, “tell them I’m not a dumb dumb, Maritza!  Tell them I’m not grumpy either.”

‘No, grumpy!’ the little girl giggled, snuggling into him.  She made the sign for ‘I love you dum dum,’ and he felt himself melting a little more at the girl that stole his heart in an entirely new way.

“Well what do we have here?” a voice called loudly.

Ransom frowned when he saw his daughter in the entryway of the sitting room, a man who he’d recognized as another trust fund asshole who was pretty close to his own age on her arm.  His nose twitched as the expensive cologne swam over them in a tidal wave.

“Eddie…” Ransom growled, sucking on his teeth.

Off to the corner, Rose, surprised at the noise, had jumped in her grandmother’s arms, and had begun to cry. 

“Ugh,” Lily groaned, “will someone shut that little brat up!”

“Excuse you?”

The room went silent as Jess came back in from the kitchen, a warmed bottle in her hand.

“Go shut your little bastard up, will you?” Lily groaned as she stepped into the room and started towards the bar to make herself a drink.

Maritza shrunk into Ransom’s arms, trying to make herself as small as possible.

Jess saw red when she stalked towards her stepdaughter, and ripped the sunglasses from her face, throwing them to the ground, “don’t you dare call your little sister a bastard, Lily Drysdale!”

“THOSE WERE SIX HUNDRED DOLLAR GLASSES!” she shrieked, rage filling her voice, “WHAT IN THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?”

“Lil-“

“YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER, JESS!” She screamed at her former friend, eyes glassy as she screamed at the woman she practically grew up with, “DON’T START ACTING LIKE IT JUST BECAUSE MY DAD COULDN’T PULL OUT!”

“Lily!”

“This is why I don’t come to these stupid family functions,” she spat, glaring at her great grandfather.  She shook her head and Harlan frowned, “I tried.  But her.  My dad.  Grandma.  And now you have my ex-husband and his new whore-“

Lily stopped speaking when Jess slapped her hard across the face.

“You will not talk down on the people in this room, Lily Drysdale!” Jess said in a low, even tone.  She ripped the drink out of her stepdaughter’s hands and tossed it into the fireplace beside her, “we came together because we are a family…and we’re here for each other, despite our differences.  If you can’t support that, if you want to act like a spoiled brat in front of us…in front of your own daughter who you haven’t seen since that court case, then you can leave.  Because we don’t need that toxicity, Lily!  We’re doing just fine without you!”

Lily, surprised that someone had actually stood up to her, looked to her father, her lip wobbling as she looked to him for support, “d-daddy….ar-are you going to let her talk to me like that?”

Ransom swallowed down everything he had felt about his own relationship with his daughter.  He looked into his arms to see his own granddaughter.  Her smile having long since faded since her mother came into the room, she was clinging to him like she was scared for her life. 

‘Make her go away, dum dum…’ she signed, the fear evident in her eyes. 

Ransom brushed the hair out of her eyes and looked at his daughter once more.

“What the hell did she sign?” Lily growled as she pushed herself away from the tense situation with Jess, “she wants me here, doesn’t she?  Tell Jess to fuck off an-“

“You need to leave, Lil…” Ransom said with a frown as he cut his daughter off.  He looked to Curtis and passed Maritza back to her father, then crossed the room, looping his arm around his wife’s waist, “you can’t be here…not like this, Lil…”

[bizarrescribblez]

Mia do you have any alan headcanons 👁-👁 one of mine is that he has curly hair :3

oh my goodness anon you are too kind to let me be unhinged about this . AND YOU ARE SO RIGHT 🗣️🗣️🗣️ I ACTUALLY HC THAT TOO cuz especially in AW Remastered the curls are lore obvious lemme try to get a pic..

LIKE LOOK AT THAT FRONT PART.. THERES CURL.. and in AW2 in some parts the ends of his longer hair fr do look curly.. SO YOURE SO REAL. Now its time for my headcanons hehehe

HAIRY. It’s lowkey a crime we’ve never gotten a shirtless Alan scene (ofc I would say that.) but FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES I have seen images of his actor shirtless and was kinda surprised he didn’t have a lot of body hair.. anyways I hc Alan does cuz theres fr no way LOOK AT HOW SCRUFFY HE IS..

Orders unnecessarily extra coffee orders. LIKE OFC i see him as a guy who likes just regular plain coffee (not as much as Casey tbh), but I know he’d go extra with frappes..

INSOMNIAC. 100%. It’s actually canon from what I remember but if it’s not I consider it canon. Even after getting better I feel like he’d just have trouble sleeping :( mainly cuz he still feels on edge from being in the dark place/a part of him has always been used to staying up extremely late (either partying or writing)

Speaking of sleep (and because I’m the same way), I feel like he needs a light on when sleeping 100%. I feel like first sleeping together he felt goofy about it, but I end up showing him my tiny cinnamoroll nightlight and it makes him feel less embarrased :,)

FASHION DISASTER. Mainly because he feels like he always has to dress to the nines when going out anywhere, needs constant reassurance (from me- 💥) that dressing casually is okay! Cuz I love my angel so much but .. THE CLOTHES HES WEARING UNDERNEATH THAT TWEED JACKET/THOSE LAYERS 💀 he’s lucky I love dressing up sm so I can do the same for him

ITS CANON BUT HE LOVES OLD MOVIES/NOIR FILMS.. I feel like he gets a kick out of older movies (Jaws, The Shining (ofc.), etc.), he dabbles in watching something new (especially cuz of me cuz i love trashy movies so much) and even if he doesn’t like it he’ll use it as what to avoid as a writer/thanking the fact he doesn’t write like that FJBSHDN

ALSO CANON BUT HE HAS A CHILDHOOD TEDDY!!!! :) he doesn’t sleep with it like i do with mine but he lets me cuddle with it and it makes his heart explode every time hehe He likes to rest it against mine because it’s like they’re a little family..

Ok last one but there’s no way this man doesn’t have a slight tummy.. I DO NOT SEE HIM BEING RIPPED . No never I fr cannot see that.

[mylifeincinema]

My Week(s) in Reviews: January 1, 2023

First and foremost... Happy New Year!!

Okay... now let’s get into it. I’m keeping these short because I have little to say about them or they’re going to be featured in My Best of 2022 shortly, anyway, so let’s just go with the old three things format for most of these, yeah? Good.

The Fabelmans (Steven Spielberg, 2022)

1. Wholly feels like the film Spielberg’s been working toward.

2. That final shot is the reason (as if I needed another one) why Spielberg is my favorite director.

3. I’m going to be genuinely shocked if this lands anywhere other than on top of my top films of 2022. - 10/10

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Rian Johnson, 2022)

1. What a cast!!

2. A ton of fun, and it chooses an approach and sticks with it. If you’re underwhelmed with the ‘twists’, that’s kinda the point.

3. Seriously, though... what a cast!! - 8.5/10

Babylon (Damien Chazelle, 2022)

What a clusterf*ck…

It’s very clear Chazelle lost the thread about 40% in. Cutting that whole Tobey storyline would help. Also cut the opening scene, just start on the party. Tighten up Margot’s arc, we didn’t need that snake shit. Cut Jovan’s arc complete, there’s enough there thematically for a separate film. Give that to someone who can tell it in a way that’ll actually resonate. Leave everything with Brad Pitt alone. He was fantastic and his arc is the only one that felt like it progressed and ended naturally. Beautiful, tragic, interesting shit, right there. Actually loved the ending, but a bunch of other late moments for Diego felt sloppy/rushed. The phenomenal editing helps some of the more upsetting issues throughout, but can’t save the film from the total loss of cohesion in the those final acts. Despite all its many flaws, though, I still pretty close to loved about 65% of this film. - 6/10

Avatar: The Way of Water (James Cameron, 2022)

1. Visually stunning. Probably the easiest VFX win since the last, right?

2. Someone should give Fincher the money for his 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea... if this film is anything, it’s proof the tech has reached the point where Fincher’s vision is not only possible, but feasible.

3. Has James Cameron actually ever heard two people talking to each other? My God, that dialogue is atrocious. (The screenplay all-around, really.) Yikes. - 6.5/10

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (Eric Appel, 2022)

1. This is not only the perfect approach to a Weird Al biopic, I’m pretty sure it’s the only approach to a Weird Al biopic.

2. Very funny if you’re familiar with Yankovic as a person, downright hilarious if you go in only knowing his music.

3. Evan Rachel Wood as Madonna... I repeat, Evan Rachel Wood as Madonna. My God! - 7.5/10

Emily the Criminal (John Patton Ford, 2022)

1. Aubrey Plaza is really damn good.

2. So is just how terribly things go in that third act.

3. The rest... not so much. I really don’t get all the hype. - 5/10

Black Adam (Jaume Collet-Serra, 2022)

1. This is a very bad movie. Very easily one of the worst of the year.

2. Any promise Dwayne Johnson had every shown has been tossed in the garbage for terrible line delivery and tough-guy stares.

3. Pierce Brosnan deserved better than this. An interesting character and perfect casting completely wasted in favor of whatever this shit was supposed to be. - 2/10

The People We Hate at the Wedding (Claire Scanlon, 2022)

1. Not a good movie by any stretch.

2. But Kristen Bell.

3. And Allison Janney. - 5.5/10

A Christmas Story Christmas (Clay Kaytis, 2022)

1. Corny as f*ck.

2. But the type of corny I can get behind.

3. And that Christmas morning was the obvious tear-jerker material I’m a sucker for. - 6/10

The Shop Around the Corner (Ernst Lubitsch, 1940)

1. James Stewart really is one of my all-time favorite actors. Just always so damn good.

2. Love me some Lubitsch, yet for some reason I have so many blind spots with him.

3. I know we live in completely different times, but even looking through the scope of the time, that ending seemed a bit forced. Still a delightful film overall, but she must’ve been really desperate to let the shit he pulled go. - 7/10

Elvis (Baz Luhrmann, 2022)

1. Significantly better than I expected. But painfully overlong.

2. Austin Butler is fantastic. Tom Hanks is (somehow) borderline awful.

3. Baz Luhrmann’s direction is god-awful. But there’s a shit-ton of it, so I guess the Golden Globes look at Directing like the Academy does editing, now. - 5.5/10 (Almost all of those 5.5 are for Butler and the early performance sequences only.)

Enjoy!

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

[iitoastyghostii]

Week 8 - Script Writing Part 2

Two boys named Toby and Wyatt were hanging out in a hallway connecting two buildings together. While the other students walked passed them, to get to their destinations, they stayed put to talk to each other.

TOBY: Hey dude, guess what?

WYATT: What’s up?

TOBY: I just got tickets for the Kendrick concert!

WYATT: Whoa, for real?

TOBY: Wouldn’t you like to know? I’m kidding, just look.

WYATT: How bad am I missing out?

TOBY: I don’t know man, I might have to go on a marathon!

WYATT: That’s a big commitment.

TOBY: Yeah but it’ll totally be worth it! I can get a poster board hehe.

WYATT: Lolllll don’t party too hard.

TOBY: Haha I just might.

WYATT: Yep, this is the year for hip-hop.

TOBY: Yeah, you said it Wy. I’m sitting here in awe of it all.

WYATT: Well good for you because I can’t.

TOBY: Huh? Why not?

WYATT: Because man, there’s so much to do!

TOBY: You still caught up on those turtles, huh?

WYATT: That’s for all of the turtles. They’re not the regular kind.

TOBY: Fr I’ve been there too. 

WYATT: Uh huh, sure you have. Now what about your lizards?

TOBY: Oh yeah, they’re cool. One of them really likes the lamp light.

WYATT: Oh yeah? That’s cool. Made a total mess, but fun.

TOBY: I just figured it out too the second you texted me.

WYATT: Wait, I texted you? (Looks down at his phone)

TOBY: Uh yeah? You were complaining about all the studying you had to do for math class.

WYATT: Oh yeah! I was telling you about that.

TOBY: Haha yeah, you were like ‘Back to the grind, my study buddy got back from his piss’ and stuff.

WYATT: Pfft now that you say it out loud, it does sound funny.

TOBY: Yeah, but anyway. I wanted to ask you something.

WYATT: Okay, what’s up? 

TOBY: What kind of console do you use to play games? Because I’m tryna play sometime.

WYATT: I use a monitor back at my house. But I’m hoping to get a PS5 for my birthday.

TOBY: So I’m cooked…got it. I guess I’ll play doubles with someone else.

WYATT: Stop that’d be too funny. Because you and I both know that you suck at playing doubles.

TOBY: Oh shut up! I’m not that bad.

WYATT: Ok Grandma. You might not be bad, but your wifi connection is. Because what’s with that jump speed lag?

TOBY: My system’s just old, ok? It just needs a few minutes to get running again. 

WYATT: More like a few hours if you ask me.

TOBY: Whatever man. The worst part is when it flashes over and over, until it finally just blanks out. I swear, I thought my console finally gave up and shut down.

WYATT: Been there…can’t stand that. Probably not as bad as ur situation tho.

TOBY: Yeah, nowhere near as bad. But at least I have Otis to clear my mind.

WYATT: Otis? Who’s this Otis guy? He a friend of yours?

TOBY: Lmao yeah, he’s super cool and he’s new, check it out whenever.

WYATT: Oh for real? Sweet? I can’t wait to meet him!

TOBY: I’m just kidding, Wy. He’s actually a new artist I’ve been listening to lately. His song "Understood ma'am" is really good.

WYATT: Awe man! All I understood was getting excited over nothing. You a fraud!

TOBY: Very funny. I’m not a fraud, but you are late.

WYATT: Oh shoot! I forgot I had class today!

TOBY: Yup. You always do.

WYATT: Then remind me next time! I gotta go. See ya later Toby! (Grabs backpack and runs through the hall)

TOBY: Yeah, later Wyatt. (Smiles and waves goodbye)

[punkscowardschampions]

Ruster & Nancy

Rio: [Okay, we are in mid-late Feb of 2031 now, after the Christmas where y’all did the most to ignore each other and had a VERY tense time I am sure, baby Maggie was indeed conceived and Ali has excitedly done the rounds telling the fam]

Rio: When your parents tell you, expect you to think of something cleverer than an I told you so

Buster: I didn’t tell them so, we don’t talk about you

Rio: Definitely what I meant

Rio: but I’m glad the tea time chat isn’t that dire for you all

Buster: It’s obvious what you meant

Rio: You were off anyway, didn’t happen until Christmas

Buster: Within the acceptable margin for error, or in this case Eggnog and Snowballs

Rio: Sure but that’s not romantic and Mama makes everything a story

Buster: I’m not her target audience for a bedtime one, her hands are full

Rio: Should be

Rio: Even the twins think they’re too old for it though, you know how it is, Ava must be the same

Buster: Yeah, [her age rn] going on [a big age cos Ava is that bitch]

Rio: Exactly

Rio: even when it looks like they’re still playing dress-up 

Buster: Nance does, though at what is anyone’s guess

Rio: [naming the brands we know Nancy likes] mannequin

Rio: she looks great though

Buster: She looks like everyone else here, she’s achieving her goal at least

Rio: Isn’t that something you have in common?

Buster: No, my friends wish they looked half as good as I do

Rio: Right 😏

Buster: It is, you’ve seen for yourself often enough

Rio: I can barely remember Christmas

Buster: Why would you want to?

Rio: What good is blocking it out?

Buster: A temporary reprieve still is

Rio: That’s what the 🥂 was for but not trying to make it a habit

Buster: You’ve got years to decide your unhealthy crutch of choice

Rio: Or years to work on not needing one

Buster: Either/or

Rio: You only have faith in yourself, is it

Buster: Your new daddy has all the faith, I don’t doubt he’ll keep you on the straight and narrow where your other nan never could

Rio: Shut up

Rio: I am actually too old for any parenting now and becoming a nun isn’t the 10-year plan

Buster: And any need for the costume is still months away

Rio: And Nance is liable to change her mind last minute so I know better than to get on theme too early, yeah

Buster: I could have equal say about the party planning bullshit if I wanted, bear that in mind

Rio: You think you look better than everyone all the time, you’ve no need to mastermind it

Buster: Less of an opinion more of a fact

Rio: There’s always enough guests for you to avoid me

Rio: no need to try to make me look bad

Buster: I couldn’t make you look any worse than [whatever Nancy’s worse theme has been in his opinion]

Rio: Or [the one you liked the least], that was rough

Rio: Don’t you ever want to have separate parties?

Buster: I will when she upsets me to the extent she deserves to realise how many of our friends prefer me, as of yet, she hasn’t

Rio: A sweet gesture wrapped up in an egotistical facade

Buster: Payback in the form of a guest list

Rio: The baby will be here by then

Buster: I look forward to seeing how you’ll use it as a prop

Rio: You think my new daddy is going to let it out of his sight

Buster: He doesn’t have eyes on any of his other kids

Rio: Not yet

Rio: She was never going to be thrilled when this day came but you can’t keep someone from their kids because you don’t like them

Buster: Of course you can, there’s an entire branch of law dedicated to the pursuit

Rio: Is that what you’re going to do

Buster: God no

Rio: The biggest ick

Buster: Other people’s kids and the endless discussions about them?

Rio: Subtle

Rio: it’s exciting news, there’s not been a baby for ages

Buster: There’s almost constant babies, you’re just desensitised at this point because most of them have come out of your mother

Rio: I’m not desensitised because babies are always a gift, psycho

Rio: you’re such a boy about it

Buster: Gifts are something you can return

Rio: Oh my God

Rio: how can you look at those chubby cheeks and little hands and not want to look after them?

Buster: Because I refuse to be tricked by biology, not to mention, most babies aren’t even cute

Rio: Yes they are!

Rio: ALL babies are cute

Rio: this is because you’ve not been raised with animals

Buster: Nancy and I weren’t, you’ve looked at the newborn pictures

Rio: You were, just a bit pink

Buster: The word is premature, but if you feel like colour coding us, I’d probably pick purple

Rio: You still had the tiny fingernails and the little pouty lips and button nose, like all babies

Rio: I’m not going to collude in this baby slander

Buster: Nor am I in propaganda that encourages your already inevitable underage pregnancy

Rio: Wow, never heard that one before 🙄

Rio: not gonna happen, thank you very much

Buster: You’re welcome for the reminder that isn’t romantic and you aren’t living in a story

Rio: My mama lost out on her childhood and teenage years, I don’t need you to tell me anything, I saw it

Buster: Good, you’d only accuse me of lecturing again

Rio: You love doing it

Buster: I loved your silent treatment more

Rio: I noticed

Buster: So why break it now?

Rio: Why be nice to you?

Buster: Because you can’t help yourself

Rio: Clearly I can

Rio: or I’d not be here now

Buster: You’re here expecting me to help you, the same as before

Rio: Help how, exactly?

Rio: I’m happy they’re having a baby, there’s nothing to be done about it

Buster: You tell me, it’s your expectation

Rio: You’ve made it clear you owe me nothing

Buster: Clearly I haven't, or you’d have nothing to say to me

Rio: You can try again 

Buster: None of my effort is reserved for you

Rio: Then you can get over it 

Buster: And you can take your happy news somewhere else, I’m sure some of the family share your excitement, play the odds

Rio: Fine, do you think that Edie is going to be okay with it, when the shock wears off?

Buster: By the time the shock wears off she’ll have another brother or sister, so, no, I don’t

Rio: I don’t understand why she’s so upset by it

Buster: She’s been raised on fairytales but robbed of her own, I’d feel cheated too if I was her

Rio: But she’s always known it was him, we all have

Rio: I used to feel upset by it too but her daddy wasn’t a much better match for mum than mine

Buster: I barely know her, but I grasp the concept of fighting something you don’t want to accept, even when everyone else has

Rio: Is there anything I can do, in the meantime

Rio: I can’t just sit and watch her wait for something that’s never going to happen now

Buster: There are always things you can do, both for her sanity and to protect yours

Rio: It’s like she wants nothing to do with any of us anymore

Buster: Building a wall gives the illusion of safety, and distance

Rio: Yeah

Rio: and if I could believe it then I could just leave her to it, I would but

Buster: It hurts to want shit you can’t have, whoever’s in your way becomes a target of your lashing out, someone to blame

Rio: I’d sooner be a punching bag than stonewalled

Rio: maybe if I can talk to Django, she would listen to him

Buster: She knows that, which is why she’s not letting you be

Rio: None of us asked for this

Buster: Your mum did

Rio: Okay but have the issue with her

Rio: I’m seen as picking a side when I just want everyone to be happy

Buster: Everyone isn’t and won’t be, by wanting that you’ve picked a side, you’re asking Edie to change her mind, what she wants

Rio: I can’t ask my mum to change hers

Buster: Meaning she has to be the one to compromise, in no world is she going to think that’s anything but unfair

Rio: Right now

Rio: I just have to wait then, for her to come ‘round in her own time

Buster: Putting a time limit on it is for you and everyone else

Rio: I just want it to be better, than it has been since last summer

Buster: She does too, but her definition of what would make her feel better isn’t the same as yours

Rio: We’re a family, we can’t get any more fractured, what we need to do is come closer together

Buster: You can’t force her, her deadbeat dad is her family as well, unfortunately

Rio: He’s never around

Buster: Which she’ll get the opportunity to blame Johnny for more than ever now

Rio: Ughhhhhh

Rio: you’re meant to be giving me some kind of hope here

Buster: You told me to keep my hope for myself, remember

Rio: Hm

Rio: Surprised you do

Buster: I wasn’t blackout until much later

Rio: You weren’t the only one making up for lost time there

Buster: Dry January isn’t very worthwhile otherwise

Rio: You love a challenge

Buster: I rarely actually get one though

Rio: I believe you

Rio: kind of

Buster: Your belief is irrelevant, it’s mine that matters

Rio: Your challenges are in your past, you want that the story, so it is

Buster: Past, present or future, I’ll overcome them regardless

Rio: Why would I root for anything else?

Buster: You can do whatever you want, your actions and feelings don’t affect me

Rio: Okay

Rio: you don’t need to give the speech again

Buster: Don’t I?

Rio: Nope

Rio: I know how irrelevant my existence is to you, that doesn’t change what I’m going to do or say

Buster: Evidently, something we have in common

Rio: I don’t believe you but I don’t have to

Rio: it is what it is

Buster: We are who we are

Rio: Like it or not, boy

Buster: I don’t need to like you, thankfully

Rio: It’d be a waste of your time to hate me

Buster: Indifference doesn’t waste any

Rio: Sure

Rio: if you’re capable of that sort of thing

Buster: There are no limits to what I’m capable of

Rio: It’s not a brag, indifference is the opposite 

Buster: I’m not bragging about anything except being able to do whatever I want to

Rio: Anyone can do that, it’s the easiest thing in the world

Buster: If that was true more people would

Rio: People don’t because they’re trying to be better 

Buster: Ideally, but usually they don’t because they’re scared

Rio: Why would you be scared of getting what you want?

Buster: I’m not

Buster: actions have consequences and other people don’t like facing up to them, that’s all

Rio: Getting what you want isn’t a consequence, it makes you soft

Buster: Not if you work hard every day for it, the negative consequences are for those who don’t get what they want because you did

Buster: like in the example of your mum and Edie, everything has a knock-on effect

Rio: We can all get what we need

Buster: Tell that to Junior’s dad, but you’ll have to find him first

Rio: If he knew what he needed we’d not be in this situation

Buster: You’d be in another, different fuck up of your mum’s making

Rio: It’s not her fault

Buster: Why isn’t it her responsibility to do better? You’re quick to point my apparent flaws out and how I should

Rio: She did better by leaving him, which happened years ago

Buster: She would’ve by leaving him alone in the first place

Rio: What a useless thing to say

Rio: Give up on love and isolate, even if this wasn’t retroactive advice, it still sucks

Buster: It wasn’t love, pretending is what’s useless

Rio: You don’t know that

Rio: If she couldn’t be with Johnny then she deserved to find 2nd best

Buster: We both do

Buster: she’s with him about to have a kid, whatever stopped her then isn’t now, the excuse of can’t is null and void

Rio: You’re bringing up the past

Buster: What do you want me to say, it doesn’t matter?

Rio: Of course it fucking matters but he’s the nutcase kidnapping a child to get revenge, you don’t need to agree with him and blame my ma

Buster: I don’t agree with him, but she isn’t blameless, nothing works like that

Rio: I don’t care about loopholes, there’s right and there’s wrong

Rio: none of us but you claim to be perfect but her wrongs don’t excuse his now

Buster: Fine, I don’t care about coming to his defence

Rio: No shit, you’re doing it to be an arsehole to me as per

Buster: Take a hint and I wouldn’t have to

Rio: You have to problem with me that you claim to, you should be able to keep on subject

Rio: but you never do

Buster: You never listen to me on any subject

Rio: You stopped being interesting and started this charade

Buster: You’re interested exclusively in coming crying to me about shit that isn’t none of my business 

Rio: That’s all you’d reply to, I’m not naive 

Buster: Stop being desperate for my replies

Rio: I need someone to talk to about this

Buster: That someone isn’t me

Rio: Yeah, it is

Rio: you know all the players but you’re not involved

Rio: you can be objective and you’re not an adult so you won’t blab

Buster: I’m involved if you insist on involving me, babe

Rio: You’re not here

Rio: and it could be mutual but you never have any problems so that’s your only

Buster: You aren’t giving me an incentive

Rio: Then I’ll give you a problem

Rio: the oppression points are sorely needed for your UCAS app

Buster: You’ve got the wrong twin if you think I’m going to make yours mine and force myself front and centre

Rio: That’s why I can’t go to Nance, obviously

Rio: I can tell her when my friends or boyfriends are pissing me off but not for this

Buster: I wouldn’t go to her for that if I were you, but that’s your prerogative and mistake to make

Rio: It’s not that deep

Buster: Naturally, she has no depth

Rio: Okay as long as it’s stated you’re the one making the comments right now, we can agree

Buster: Unless I’m really off my face and all bets are off too, I’m not going to tell her

Rio: Me either

Rio: plus I’ve heard you say worse to her face so even if I was that sort of bitch, hardly worth it

Buster: Exactly, she’s my sister, I can say it

Buster: even if I have to threaten anyone else who does

Rio: She has her own friend and boyfriend dramas, for sure

Buster: Don’t start me on either subject

Rio: She’s not going to sleep with any of your friends either, ick doesn’t cover the terrible reputations they have

Buster: She will when the time’s right, like me and my separate birthdays 

Rio: Maybe but right now she doesn’t trust any of them 

Buster: Like I said, she isn’t that stupid

Rio: I think it would weird me out, if I had to share friends with any of my siblings

Buster: None of my friendships are that deep

Rio: I guess you’re just unlucky the separation isn’t easy

Rio: Edie was never going to try to hang with me and mine

Buster: It’s easy to keep tabs on her when we do, I can’t trust her either, not for the sake of our blood tie you claim is super important

Rio: You’d be mortified if she was, admit it

Buster: I’m mortified by her as is, cheers

Rio: You just expect better

Rio: you should probably teach law, you’d love to get paid to lecture people who will listen

Buster: Haven’t you heard, teaching’s for cunts that can’t do

Rio: Allegedly but Rocky became a cop and I think we hate them even more

Rio: he still gets invited to things

Buster: His loss

Rio: Are you going to be a defense lawyer?

Buster: What do you think?

Rio: Almost definitely but it’s been a while since you told me 

Buster: I’m not looking for someone to confide in, you are

Rio: But you can

Buster: I don’t want to

Rio: You could need to 

Buster: I don’t need anything from you

Rio: Alright

Buster: You throw me off balance

Rio: How?

Buster: You just always have

Rio: Your world is too small

Buster: It’s a bubble, I’m counting down to the pop, you already know that

Buster: [speaking of, give her a new updated countdown to uni cos it’s been months since the first]

Rio: It’s so long away

Rio: I’m so sick of not being 18

Buster: When you are you’ll wish you’re 21

Rio: You will, being in the states 

Buster: Yeah

Buster: I’m going with school [whenever he is, because we said that and why not bring it back at whatever point suits us, hence I won’t commit us now to whether it’s before y’all get together or after or for how long he’s going yet either cos again tbd]

Rio: Then you’ll know for sure 

Rio: that’s cool, you’ve got a shorter countdown until that goal

Buster: [give that countdown in days or whatever you’re doing for your unit of measurement, however long away it is]

Rio: Why do you get to go try out being a lawyer and everything I want to do I can’t until I’m an adult

Rio: talk about unfair

Buster: Privilege, [the name of his school] likes to at least pretend they give a shit about my future

Rio: Sure, they can list you in the notable alumni then

Buster: [a list], it’s on their website

Rio: [picking out the only famous in a celebrity way person because it’s usually politicians and other bores] 😍

Buster: Obama and his wife both went to Harvard Law

Rio: There you go, you can meet your Michelle

Buster: As long as she’s an international student as well, I can’t marry an American

Rio: Never live that down

Buster: My standards are too high to live with that accent for the rest of my life

Rio: You’re one to talk

Buster: What’s wrong with the way I talk?

Rio: Wrong is a harsh way to put it

Buster: You implied it

Rio: You’ve heard that craic off grandad forever

Buster: Well yeah, but I like him more than I like you, so I’m willing to let it slide

Rio: How rude

Buster: I am, according to you

Rio: If I say you’re putting it on, you tell me you’re not

Buster: I’ve been putting on a fake accent for ages, if I am

Rio: An accent that goes well with the rudeness

Buster: Precisely, I fit in

Rio: I know

Rio: you’d ensure you did whatever, I don’t blame you

Buster: I know how the game is played

Rio: You’re not stupid

Buster: I don’t lose, never will

Rio: Good

Rio: I think you’d be a sore loser

Buster: What kind of pussy accepts defeat graciously?

Rio: Exactly

Buster: [an anecdote that’s from when they were little like remember when we did such and such and you lost and you were so mad/upset/whichever because he remembers all these moments vividly]

Rio: Your memory is so selective because I remember when [throwing it back at him like remember when you did this because you didn’t win]

Buster: You don’t, that didn’t happen

Rio: Yes it did, we all got into trouble

Buster: [a retelling of this story which is twisted to fit his narrative, like we got in trouble because xyz, blatantly implying it’s her fault cos she made him mad about something, cos always]

Rio: You’ve always been full of it

Buster: You always make me angry

Rio: Everything makes you angry, not just me

Buster: I have self-control when you’re not around

Rio: You just take it out in different ways

Buster: More productive ways, you just like getting me into trouble

Rio: Nonsense, I’m never in trouble

Buster: Because I am instead, the direct comparison makes you look good

Rio: Yeah, it’s all part of my evil plan

Rio: because this family really values being saintly

Buster: Shame it isn’t, you’d be more interesting

Rio: Why would I be trying to interest you

Buster: You can’t help yourself again, babe

Rio: You can’t help being interested

Buster: I don’t deny wishing you were less boring, I just said so

Rio: I know how this works

Buster: Congrats on managing to keep up for once

Rio: There’s nothing more desperate than an attempt to prove otherwise, you can find that entertainment anywhere else

Buster: True, I’m used to your lack of

Rio: You’re not used to my anything

Buster: You wish

Rio: Last I hear, we’re strangers

Buster: Not yet, you keep finding your way back into contact

Rio: You unblocked me, honey

Buster: Nance probably did, she can’t remember her own phone pin to save her life, she’s constantly locked out and has to borrow mine

Rio: You’re making yourself sound so dumb right now

Rio: as if you let her near your phone, please

Buster: Why wouldn’t I?

Rio: Because she famously cannot be trusted

Buster: I don’t have anything to hide, the worst she could do is leak nudes I’m unconcerned if people see

Rio: Then you’re boring, if you really have nothing you’d keep private on your phone

Buster: I’m not ashamed of anything on there, she can’t use what doesn’t upset me against me

Rio: It’s not about upsetting or shame though

Buster: Her motives are

Rio: If you don’t get wanting to have things said between just you and the person you’re talking to then I don’t know what to tell you

Buster: I make my feelings known to whoever I’m talking to

Rio: And your sister, not weird at all

Buster: You’re turning it into something weird with whatever imaginary phone conversations you think I’m having

Rio: You’ve invented this whole fake scenario so you don’t have to admit you unblocked me at some point so 

Buster: I don’t remember unblocking you, there’s hardly a conspiracy

Rio: but Nancy is constantly on your phone and you don’t care if she’s seen your nudes, cool

Buster: If she’s looking at or for them that’s her future therapy bill, I’m not showing her

Rio: Well that’s something

Buster: What secrets do you want me to have?

Rio: I wasn’t hinting at a body or anything sinister

Rio: why are you making it out to be a big thing?

Buster: Why are you hinting that me and Nance have something fucked up going on?

Rio: You can make calls without unlocking your phone, I’m pointing out that you’re not being real

Buster: Who calls anyone? Except granddad on my birthday

Rio: Because you need to do emergency texting when you’re out of it

Rio: you’d just book the uber for her, why bother with this performance

Buster: My parents aren’t blood related, you know, wanting my sister isn’t in my DNA

Rio: Christ, no one said that

Buster: You’re practically saying it right now

Rio: I’m really not

Buster: Don’t

Rio: I say things to people I’m interested in that I’d not risk my siblings reading, that’s it

Buster: And I have face-to-face conversations with girls I’m interested in, allegedly a novel concept to you

Rio: Who doesn’t sext these days?

Buster: I knew your boyfriends were all talk without you needing to point it out

Rio: 🙄 Very mature

Buster: We’ve established you’ve got more of an interest in people than I do

Rio: You’ve already said you think I’ll be a teen mum, which is laughable

Buster: Proving me wrong by not having to raise a kid while you still are will be its own reward, I won’t need to pat you on the back

Rio: I’ve nothing to prove to you

Buster: Don’t then

Rio: I don’t care what you think, you just bullshit anyway

Buster: When?

Rio: I’m not going to sit here and parrot it all back to you, you know you’re not being honest and you know when you’re distorting what could be

Rio: do as you please but don’t expect me to buy it

Buster: I honestly don’t remember unblocking you, you wanting a different truth doesn’t mean I’m lying

Rio: It isn’t about that

Rio: forget it

Buster: What’s it about?

Rio: Yeah, right

Buster: Tell me

Rio: No, Buster

Rio: because you get to deny everything

Buster: Do you seriously want me to admit everything?

Rio: You’re right that there’s no point us talking if it’s going to be like this

Buster: I told you so, here the phrase finally is

Rio: Better late than never

Buster: You’re the one who’s full of it if you genuinely believe things can be different, that there’s another way for us to talk

Rio: You’ve not tried, because then you’d have to admit you were wrong

Buster: You have no fucking idea how hard I’m trying

Rio: You think I’m not?

Buster: You think we can be friends or something

Buster: that’s bullshit

Rio: And you think you can ignore me forever

Buster: If you agreed to do the same, I could

Rio: I’m immature for thinking we could be friends but you pretending none of us exist is the bigger thing to do, why

Buster: Because I can’t control what’ll happen if I don’t

Rio: You can’t control it anyway but you’re obsessed with the illusion

Buster: I have to try

Rio: I can’t stop you

Buster: You shouldn’t want to

Rio: You don’t care what I want, or think, you’ve made it clear

Rio: you don’t get to actually change my mind though

Buster: Back at you, babe

Rio: Don’t come back in March

Rio: limit it to the ones you’re not allowed to miss

Buster: Fine by me

Rio: Great

Buster: [Okay so on the eve of St Paddy’s sometime, catch him coming at his sister]

Buster: I’m staying, don’t go

Nancy: What, why?

Buster: Because we can have our own celebrations

Nancy: You do remember no one does it here

Buster: Exactly, don’t you want to show them all how it’s done?

Nancy: Why don’t you want to go, it’s like your favourite holiday

Buster: Come on, Nance, you have to agree it’s getting boring, the same bullshit year after year

Nancy: I don’t know, it’s not like we’d be doing anything else here on a [whatever random day the 17th has fallen on this year]

Buster: You love throwing a party with a theme

Nancy: Like any of them need an excuse to mock our heritage ever, I’m not throwing a party for them to do it 

Buster: You can mock how [whoever she’s beefing with rn] looks in green

Buster: especially if you make their outfit clash with their skin tone post shots

Nancy: What are you actually up to?

Buster: I could be up to lots of things given the ideal atmosphere

Nancy: Ew, disgusting

Buster: Blame [a girl we’re pretending this is all for the benefit of, even though it absolutely isn’t], I think she should get to know me better, that’s all

Nancy: Why on earth would I want to be around that

Buster: You’ll get to be around [boys he normally doesn’t let her hang around with aka his footie or boxing pals he’s throwing under the bus atm lol] too

Nancy: 🤨

Buster: What now?

Nancy: You’re perfectly aware I don’t trust you, you’re a very untrustworthy person

Buster: So are you, that doesn’t mean we can’t mutually benefit from plans I’m making for my own

Nancy: I’m not interested in your sweaty friends

Buster: Fine, don’t be

Buster: I’ll host by myself

Nancy: Okay, freak

Nancy: make us both a laughing stock in the process because you’re on one

Buster: Says you, what’s your problem?

Nancy: You’re far too keen it’s giving loser energy

Buster: Perhaps I was just trying to appeal to yours

Nancy: HILARIOUS

Nancy: [this girl] is literally a generous 6, you’re going to ruin my social life for that?

Buster: Obviously she isn’t my real target, I’m not stupid enough to tell you which of the friends that she’d bring with her is

Nancy: Bold of you to imagine I’d care

Nancy: the thought of it sickens me

Buster: Very dramatic, are you done yet?

Nancy: If you were banking on us being seen as more reliable together than alone then you’ve obviously suffered a brain injury

Nancy: they’ll either let you alone or they won’t

Buster: I was banking on you organising the party so I didn’t have to

Nancy: No thank you, absolutely no one looks good in green

Buster: An absolute lie

Nancy: It’s not a lie that I’ve done my best to lose any hint of an accent, not for you to spoil it all in a manic episode

Buster: We’ve never had any hint of an accent

Nancy: You’re ignorant to criticism, you always have been

Buster: Stop criticising me then, you’re wasting your breath

Nancy: I don’t want any part in your humiliation

Nancy: but I’ll see who is available to go out, perhaps

Buster: [whatever the drug of choice is at this age at this era, using the kinda silly posh slang he mocked because trying to get her on side] is going to be available, that much organisation I have already done 

Nancy: We both get the same allowance, what makes you think I can’t get my own

Buster: Why wouldn’t you use mine and save yours?

Buster: Don’t be an idiot, flattering shades of green aren’t going to shop for themselves

Nancy: I’ve spent this month’s already 

Buster: That’s a shame, I’d offer to lend you some but you’d only call my mental health further into question

Nancy: You can give me some to look the other way to whatever nonsense you’re pulling that requires you to be in town instead of in Dublin

Buster: Yeah, potentially

Nancy: Do or don’t, girls literally never have to pay, I can get whatever drugs I want from anyone

Buster: You do that, Nance

Nancy: This has been deeply weird and unpleasant

Buster: I just don’t want to go, why can’t you just not be a bitch about it?

Nancy: Have we met?

Buster: Regrettably

Nancy: What’s wrong with you, did you get an A- on a test or something

Buster: I wouldn’t open up to you now if I had

Nancy: Rightly so, do get a grip

Buster: Forget I said anything, use your dyslexic brain fog to someone’s advantage for once

Nancy: I don’t even think that’s a thing

Buster: You’re the expert

Nancy: Not really but they have to give me what I want to not discriminate so worth it

Buster: Enjoy Dublin’s nonsense, I personally can’t wait to hear who else is having a baby next

Nancy: I’ve not decided what I’m doing

Buster: Of course you haven’t

Nancy: And who else would be having a baby?

Nancy: Maybe Tommy and his mrs, if they can

Buster: More to the point, who cares?

Nancy: Grouchy

Nancy: it’s not as if mum and dad will get the bug, way too risky

Buster: You think I’m your humiliating relative having a breakdown, look around when you get to the pub

Nancy: Why are you taking such a stance?

Buster: Why aren’t you?

Nancy: Because I couldn’t care less, it’s fun and entertaining

Nancy: no one’s family here has any interesting problems, it’s all the usual, gambling, affairs, drugs, blah blah blah

Buster: None of it is interesting to me

Nancy: Clearly

Buster: But you’re right, you’re a liability rather than a help

Nancy: Ooh, reverse psychology, very clever 🙄

Nancy: I’m going to do what I want, as are you, there’s no need to collaborate 

Buster: You need a brain to study for those tactics to work

Nancy: You’re in such a mood, oh my GOD

Nancy: is one of the parentals cheating, have you found out?

Buster: I’ll make sure you’re the last to know

Nancy: That’s not fair, they’re my parents too

Buster: Why would I play fair?

Nancy: I know who I’ll live with anyway, I worked that all out yonks ago

Buster: They’d hardly fight over you, you’re the least favourite

Nancy: 💔💔💔💔

Nancy: You’re the one intent on crying, dear brother

Buster: No I’m not, I’ve already made my intentions as clear as possible

Nancy: It’s unfortunate that Ava will insist on being buffeted back and forth but at least we can part ways

Buster: You wish

Nancy: You’d obviously go with mum

Buster: I’d split my time, they both have merits to their parenting

Nancy: 🥱

Buster: Yeah, your Parent Trap fantasy is predictably tedious

Nancy: As is your Gatsby party

Buster: If only [someone we’re shading] would drown in the pool

Nancy: If you’re going to kill someone, please do some homework first, write the manifesto, make it interesting

Nancy: not going to get a Netflix doc for any old run-of-the-mill thing

Buster: I’ve done all my homework

Nancy: Going to have to replace the hot tub but I suppose I’ll survive in the interim 

Buster: The cockroach comparison writes itself

Nancy: Wowwww

Buster: The least you could do is aspire to be a green insect, but alas

Nancy: So bitchy 🐈

Nancy: You’re obviously going to have the damn party regardless of my valid protestations so who fucking cares

Buster: Maybe I fucking care, Nance

Nancy: Why?

Buster: Because you’re my sister, other people give a shit about their siblings, allegedly 

Nancy: Are you already pissed?

Nancy: Lordy, if you want to be this sentimental you can go terrify the child, she’s your sister too

Buster: I know, she acts like it

Nancy: Because she’s 8, she knows no better

Buster: Because she’s better than you, at 8

Nancy: So I’ve been told

Buster: Rightly so

Nancy: How predictable of you

Buster: I wouldn’t waste my time on originality for your sake

Nancy: You would prefer the company of a people-pleasing child, you’ve described your whole circle

Buster: Your circle defying description isn’t the flex you think it is

Nancy: Neither is your plea for being a family, we’re not

Buster: You’re not, because this family doesn’t have the appropriate lineage for you

Nancy: They don’t care about us, they never have, you’re actually delusional if you think they do

Buster: You’re delusional claiming they don’t

Nancy: Get real, Buster, you’re not 8 now

Buster: And you’re not 18 yet, get a grip

Buster: you won’t be able to take care of yourself even when you are

Nancy: When are they ever here, what do they even do

Nancy: We’ve looked after ourselves since we were [whatever ludicrous age you are claiming ‘cos you’ve never been left alone lol]

Buster: Check the calendar

Buster: not to mention your selective memory

Nancy: They’re off on a jaunt so dad can get blackout and you’re actively having a meltdown, they should give a fuck, that’s their jobs, allegedly

Buster: Not wanting to go to Dublin isn’t having a meltdown it’s possessing common sense

Nancy: Whatever you say

Buster: Rio’s been crying to me since before Christmas, constantly telling me how terrible her life is, I’ve had my fill of the misery without needing to catch a flight

Nancy: Oh God, just avoid her

Buster: I blocked her for ages, she still won’t take the hint

Nancy: I’ll talk to her instead, I want to know all the gossip

Buster: Which is the reason she avoids you

Nancy: She doesn’t avoid me

Buster: She hasn’t told you any of it

Nancy: I don’t know, tell me what she’s told you, maybe she has

Buster: She told me she can’t confide in you

Nancy: Really?

Buster: Unsurprisingly, no-one can

Nancy: I don’t know why she would say that, we talk all the time

Buster: Because it’s true, she only talks to you about her boyfriends and her friend drama, yeah? That’s what she said

Nancy: I can’t believe she said that to you, of all people

Buster: She’s desperate to speak to someone who isn’t waiting for their chance to talk and pass the gossip on

Nancy: Ha, WOW

Nancy: well now I definitely want to go

Buster: You’re welcome

Nancy: You’re such a prick for not telling me ‘til now

Buster: You refuse to do me any favours

Nancy: No duh, because you’re such a little rat 

Buster: You’re too preoccupied with your own manufactured drama to notice she can’t stand you, you dropped the ball, Nance

Nancy: She’s just upset about her family drama, lashing out, which is way uncalled for but hey

Buster: She’s upset you’re selfish and untrustworthy, which is ridiculous considering you always have been, but nevertheless

Nancy: How can I be there for her if she’s not telling me the story? How is that MY fault, oh my gosh

Buster: You can’t, she knows that

Nancy: Everyone in this supposed family has such an agenda against me

Buster: I’m not entertaining your victim complex

Nancy: Why would you ever acknowledge the truth when you want to play happy families

Buster: Her opinion’s justified, you’ve proven time and again you can’t be relied on for anything, none of that is anyone’s fault but yours

Nancy: Never mind the fact no one is ever here for me

Nancy: but no, I have to be for all of you and do it perfectly or so help me

Buster: Your selective memory strikes again, I used to be here for you

Nancy: Oh please, your one and only concern is yourself, I don’t know why you’d fake otherwise to the child

Buster: The amount you don’t know is staggering

Nancy: Ha ha

Nancy: just be honest about who you are, I don’t want you to try and be some protective, affectionate brother type, it’s so weird and disingenuous 

Buster: I am being honest, brutally I’ve been told

Nancy: Let’s keep it that way, your business is yours and mine is mine

Buster: Consider it done

Nancy: Toodles

[calyxthenerd]

Aight so crazy stuff that happened in Violetta and Soy Luna:

Gregorio breaking into the studio on several occasions

Luna's parents getting arrested

Violetta being pushed down the stairs

Maxi's flirting shennanigans in S1

Ámbar burning down Jam and Roller

The Roxy and Fausta plot

Everything Jade and Matias did

The whole Sol Benson plot, just everything about it, was pretty crazy

The fact that Tino and Cato more or less knew the entire time about everything but were too stupid to realize it

Eva and Ada. The end.

Hope you like it (fair warning though, I have multiple versions of canon in my head, so if something seems inconsistent, that’s why)

“So yeah, I broke into my old job’s building sometimes, and there was this kid, really weird kid, who thought I was a goblin or something, but then I blackmailed him into doing my dirty work, fun times”

“Uh, dad, the new applicant just asked where the bathroom was” but it was too late, the poor pianist was already running out of the building, before Gregorio or Diego could react further

—————————————————————

“And then, my parents’ boss, who was also my aunt, framed my parents and my grandpa for forgery of a bunch of paintings, but my best friend’s mom is a lawyer, so they managed to get out of it, but then…” she goes on to finish the whole story of her family drama, up until Sharon being admitted to the mental hospital “and that is all my family drama”

The horrified interview manages to pull themselves together after a few, long and awkward, minutes and says “that was all for today’s segment of ‘the truth behind the wheels’ thanks for tunning in and I’ll see you next week!” Before making a bunch of gestures for the cameraman to cut

“So, how did I do? This was my first solo interview” Luna asked innocently

“It was… something, though, can I give you some advice, public figure to public figure?” Luna nods “Don’t go sharing everything about your private life on the air, luckily this is a recording, so I can bribe- uh, I mean ask the editing crew to cut most of that out, do you have anything specifically you want me to keep? We’re only keeping one of the… annecdotes you shared”

“Oh, okay, I guess I have some stuff to learn about being on the public eye, and you can keep the part about me being my parents’ boss’ previously thought dead niece, since this is pretty much common knowledge already”

“Alright, thanks for coming today, Luna, we’re going to release the interview in three days”

“Oh yeah, I have a friend who works here, they’re actually organizing a viewing party with all our friends and the friends she made while she was part of a channel with another one of our friends, before she came to work with you guys”

“Oh right, Carbajal, wasn’t it? She’s very known around the office, quite a fiery type, that one” she chuckled

“She is, but we love her anyways” just then, Luna’s phone goes off and she grabs it “Oh, I have to go, my boyfriend is picking me up to have dinner with a couple of friends” she says, starting to walk away

“That’s wonderful, have a good double date, darling” she waved at Luna, who waved back before leaving

—————————————————————

“So, for this we need your medical history, any allergies, previous injuries, etc” said the stage manager

“I don’t know why you need my allergies for stunt training, but okay, I only have a minor shrimp one, and talking about injuries, the only one I can remember was that one time I was pushed down a flight of stairs and I’m pretty sure I was concussed, and a minor sprained ankle, funnily enough, also from falling down stairs” she huffed out a laugh

The man spluttered “I-I’m sorry, what? You were pushed down a flight a stairs? Now I need to know the story, you always have the craziest ones, Vilu”

“Oh, yeah, my life is pretty wild, when you think about it, so, the thing is- have I told you about Priscilla, Lu’s mom?”

“I think you did, she was the second last of your dad’s failed ‘weddings’ right? The one that ended up in the mental hospital?”

“That’s the one, anyways, she didn’t want anyone to know that she was clinically insane, because she had this weird obsession with dad, but she hated me, because I was too ‘improper’ and Angie because my dad had this weird thing with her, i don’t want to remember their wedding, worst. day. ever, anyways, Priscilla, I was gonna tell dad about her attempts on Angie’s life, and she didn’t like that, so as I was climbing down an outdoor staircase, she pushed me, I had my back turn and didn’t see who it was, I thought it was Lu, it was a whole thing, but that’s the story”

“Wow, Vi, that’s pretty dark, she wanted to kill Angie?! How can you want to harm her?? She’s literally the sweetest woman I’ve ever met!”

“I won’t even pretend to be offended that I don’t hold the title, because she really is”

“How are you even alive after everything that’s happened to you?”

“Most of it wasn’t that physical, anyways, about that stunt…?”

“Oh, yes! The stunt! So, what you’re gonna want to do is…” he gets back on track, explaining what she has to do

—————————————————————

“So, was Naty your first girlfriend?” Asks the manager of the tech booth on his shows as a DJ, a short girl with a pixie cut

He laughs nervously “It’s complicated, I don’t really want to talk about it”

“Pleaseeeeeee, for your favorite lesbian?”

“You’re not my favorite lesbian, Lena is”

“Screw you, anyways, tell me, please”

“Fine, so, on my second year on the studio, I was freshly transitioned, and I wanted to prove myself as man, so I started to, quite literally, flirt with every girl I saw in front of me, that lead to me hitting on my cousin, getting a stalker who kissed me without my consent, having a brief thing with my boyfriend’s younger sister, until I started dating Naty, then it was on and off her until i started dating Andrés and she started dating Ludmila on our last year, well, there was that week that me and Cami tried being together, it didn’t work, but now I’m happy with my Andy”

“That’s great dude, not the middle, but the ending, I’m glad that, after all that shit, you managed to find your person”

“Me too” he smiles fondly

—————————————————————

“Hey, fire breath” Matteo grinned, ruffling Ámbar’s hair, when he saw her having lunch with a coworker

“Oh shut it, fence crawler” she shot back, batting his hand away “what do you want, can’t you see I’m busy?”

“Oh, don’t stop on my account, I’m too intrigued by whatever this is” the other woman said, making a vague gesture with her hand

“Matteo Balsano, although you probably already know that” he said in an arrogant manner that was uniquely his

“Mariana Jimenez, and I have no idea who you are” she snarked, she knew who he was from stories Ámbar told her, but wanted to knock him down a few pegs

“Ha! Take that your cocky asshole!”

“Okay, topic switch, what’s up with the nicknames?” Mariana questions

“Oh, little miss lawyer didn’t tell you about her past?” He grinned wider

“Matteo, I’m asking you to please shut up right now”

“Why would I? Is someone scared?” He challenged

“This is not a game, if you make me get fired I’ll end you”

“Why, you played with fire and now you don’t want to get burned?”

“Do whatever you want, but just you know, this will cost you everyone who still tolerates you, hope it was worth it for one of one of your little jokes” she gets up, slamming the amount her meal cost on the table before strutting out of the restaurant

“So, now that the killjoy is gone, I can tell you, she was jealous of how better than her my ex was at everything, so she always tried to sabotage everything that she did, and so, there were some cameras recording everything we did on the place we used to go to skate, so she purposefully broke one of the cameras with a skate that was really similar to the ones my ex used to own, and then, during a party we hosted there, she spilled soda on the mainframe that held all the recordings, causing a power outage, then after everyone had left, the system short-circuted and every single one of the cameras burst into flames, being destroyed, and one of them caught another structure, burning the rink down, and that’s why I call her fire breath” he finishes

After he’s done, she throws her drink on his face “She’s told me about how she was raised and some of the stuff she did because of it, she also told me how much of an asshole you are, but I didn’t want to believe it was this much, fuck you Balsano, I hope that you burn” and she walks out, calling Ámbar’s phone

—————————————————————

“And then she finally forgave us for doubting that she would be anything less than accepting” Francesca finished telling her boyfriend the story of how she got together with their other boyfriend

“That’s great, but what about her and Leon? I’m pretty sure they were going through some stuff when I left?”

For plot reasons let’s pretend that’s true, I don’t know if it is

“Oh yeah, they were, he wanted to leave the studio, she didn’t understand it, so they broke up, it was a mess for a while, then there was the whole Roxy and Fausta debacle, he was so pissed when he found out, but after a while he forgave her, but they were too wrapped up in their mistakes to admit they were still loved each other, so for a few weeks they tried being friends, until our trip to Spain, when Clement and Gery came clean about attempting to tear them apart during the time they tried being friends, so they made up, and everything was normal again”

“That’s really sweet, but I’m gonna need you to back up a bit, who the hell are Roxy and Fausta?”

“Oh” she giggles “I haven’t told you about that, have I?”

“That’s why I’m asking”

“Roxy and Fausta are me and Vilu”

“I beg your pardon? I’m gonna need a little more context than that”

“So, Vilu couldn’t handle being separated from Leon after their big fight, so she decided that the most logical step was to dress up in a costume and a wig and make up a new name and just show up on his garage, where he rehearsed with the band, as a fan, and you know how I can’t say no to her, so I got dragged into it and then it snowballed, Diego found out the first time he saw as them, he knows me so well, he could see right through it, we ended up telling Cami a few weeks later, because you know how she is, nothing gets past her, Ludmila saw us getting changed a few days after that, and finally, because he obviously fell for Roxy too, Leon found out when he kissed her in costume and realized the kiss was too familiar”

“Wow, that’s… a lot”

“It is, and I hate remembering it” she frowns

“I have something that might make you feel better” he smirks, leaning closer to her

She catches on, grinning “Oh yeah, and what’s that?”

“I think you know” and he kisses her

And the rest I’ll leave to your imaginations because this is a family blog

—————————————————————

“Darling, come over here” Nicolas asks, fiddling with his tablet

His wife saunters over, the clicking of her high-heeled shoes slightly muffled by the carpeted floor of the hotel room they’re currently in

“What is it?” She questions

“I was looking through some old newspapers and why were you in jail?”

“Oh” she grimaces “that, you remember my brother, right?”

“Of course I remember him” he scowls “I’m glad you cut contact with the guy, he wasn’t good for you”

“So, our father was a conman, and the police found out, arrested him and froze all of his assets, leaving us with nothing, and since he didn’t want to work, he made me put on an act, I was supposed to be dumb and stereotypically pretty, not saying I’m not, I’m gorgeous, and I am generally joyful, but I’m not that stupid, just a little clueless on social cues, anyways, I was supposed to be dumb and pretty to lure in a rich guy, but then I got too into it and got obsessed with Castillo, and ended up juggling between that and getting sucked into my brother’s schemes for money, that landed us in jail after he hired an actress to con him, I tried to warn him it was a bad idea, but it was hard to break character at that point, so he wouldn’t listen, since he was convinced I was what I was portraying, anyways, after we got out, he ended up dating the cop that arrested us, but she found out he was still scheming and left him, and that was around the time that I met you, so while I was living here, he was secretly living with the Castillo’s, so yeah, then I didn’t know what was happening to him for a while, until I was invited to testimony on his trial, and told the jury everything that he did, both to me and to other people, I’m so glad I met you, otherwise I would never have been able to break away from that” she was crying at this point, retelling your trauma is not fun

He held her to his chest, stroking her hair “as long as I’m alive, that man will never ever be able to even look at you again”

—————————————————————

Luna was just chilling, cuddled up on her favorite person’s chest, when her phone rang

“Lunaaa, turn that offfff, I’m trying to sleep, and it’s so cozy with you here” Simón whines

“I have to take this! What if it’s an emergency?” She grabs her phone, while dodging Simón’s attempts of pulling her back in “It’s Leo!!” after hearing his favorite cousin’s name he gives up on trying to sleep and sits up

“Really? What do you think he wants to say?”

“I don’t know, now shush, I need to answer!” She picks up the call “Hi, Leo! What’s up?”

“Put him on speaker” Simón whispers on her ear that doesn’t have the phone pressed against it

She does so “You’re on speaker!”

“Good, now, what the fuck? You’re a gazillionaire all of a sudden and you didn’t tell me?”

“Oh, that, it’s complicated”

“No, you’re not getting out of this with ‘it’s complicated’ missy, I want the whole story, now”

“Okay, the thing is…” she tells the whole story of how she figured out she was Sol, because I’m too lazy to write all that

“Wow, that is- holy shit, Luni, are you okay? Because I will personally pay for your therapy bills if you want it, obviously you don’t need anyone to pay for things, but I want to help, and seeing that I’m currently planning my wedding, I can’t be around too much”

“Don’t worry, Leo, I’m fine, your cousin is more than great at taking care of me” she looks up at him, running her hand up and down his arm

“He better, he knows I’d have his head if he didn’t”

“Wasn’t it supposed to be the other way around?”

“He knows I like you more than him”

“I’m not even going to complain, because I also like her more than you” Simón pipes up

“Anyways, I gotta go, the bride’s freaking out about floral arrangements again”

“Bye Leo” Luna says, pressing the phone against her ear again, much to Simón’s protests

“Bye Luni, your dress should be delivered any day now” and he hangs up

—————————————————————

“So, what was your last employer like?” Asks the trio’s new boss

“Oh, you don’t want to know about Sharon” Amanda says

“Why not? It’s not like she can hurt us because of everything we know about Sol Henson now” her husband counters

“He’s right, can we tell?” Tino asks

“Fine, but you better tell it right” she responds

“So, what happened was-“ they tell the story, cutting each other off multiple times, arguing over details, getting people’s names wrong, Amanda had to chastise them multiple times, before they were finally done “And that’s the story”

“So, you mean to tell me that you had all the pieces lined up and you didn’t put it together that it was the employees’ kid all along?”

“We did?” They ask in unison

“You did” Amanda replies, completely done with those two

—————————————————————

“It’s so weird that you never came over, we’ve been best friends for- how many years?” Camila ponders

“I honestly have no idea” Maxi answers

“Hi!” The twins greet him, popping up from nowhere

“AAAAAAH” he screams, properly spooked

They completely disregard him, turning to their older sister “Cam-Cam, we’re in big trouble”

“What happened this time?” she asks

“So, you know that thing you told us to do because it would be funny? We agreed to come clean today, but since the guys got crushes on us and started arguing because of it, when we revealed that we were twins, they started physically fighting, and the third one ended up falling off the stage because of it”

“Okay, girls, that was a little too far, you need to learn when to commit to the bit, and when to stop before it snowballs into a mess”

After recovering, Maxi lets out, his voice still a little shaky “Those are your sisters? What did you have them do?”

“Yes, these are Eva and Ada, they both wanted to join this band, but it only had one spot, so I told them that it would hilarious if they pretended to be one person, that way they could switch and they’d both get to be in the band, but it seems it went a bit too far, I hope that guy is okay”

“I’m sorry, WHAT?!”

[froghospice]

walk in the rain, lightning on my roof

[NOT CLICKBAIT]

today was so rainy there was a flash flood warning. at the peak of it i went for a walk because i haven't really left the house that much in the past couple days so i was itching to do literally anything. so i went!

you would think the worst part about walking in the rain is how heavy your clothes get, or the soggy shoes, but it's really everyone staring at you. i'm aware that walking in a storm is weird behavior, but i needed to leave my house! it just happened to be pouring at that time. halfway-ish through i stopped for ice cream. as i was walking it made me laugh how much water was in my sundae. it also made me kinda worry about the air quality lately and how that is definitely in the clouds and i'm eating it. but we move.

   my postponed plans were supposed to be today. i know why they also didn't happen, but i'm still kinda sad about it. having a small circle is nice until everyone else is doing stuff when i wanna do stuff.

           it made me feel like i was in high school and alone. kinda in my regression era. i was watching hours worth of nostalgia earlier and i wanted to turn myself inside out because i'll never have that much fun again. but it was nice to feel like i was going to.

i also threw myself a dance party earlier, and it was okay. really, it felt performative, which is weird when i was the one who wanted to move around. maybe i need to find new music because for the most part i wasn't dancing for anything other than the fact that i thought dancing would make me feel better, which defeats the point i think.

there are so many things i want to do but i can't bring myself to do them and it's so frustrating. like things that require me to use my brain. sometimes i feel like i was business hours, and anything outside of that i can't function. it's annoying. like capitalism really trickles one way i guess.     things are so quiet. they have been. i kinda hate when you can hear the world working. it means you aren't working with it, just standing still. and stillness is okay but also it feels like a waste almost? cause stillness is not rest. rest blocks those things out. stillness is feeling the world move without you. like there's a you-shaped aura of nothing and all the atoms in the room are avoiding you. the world works together, life is all about connection and moving parts. living and dying. pieces that fit and mold if they don't. adaptation. stillness is a protest against that, almost. how dare you, it says as it gets out of your way.

   also my building got struck by lightning today. and i wasn't there! that was during my walk. i had stopped at 7-11 soaking wet and 10 pounds heavier to get some coke-zero because i keep forgetting to stop at places that sell the 12-pack. i like the guys at 7-11. i think they like me too because i always have my card ready and i say thank you. and i'm not stoned and i get the same couple things every time. every once in a while i see them out in the wild and it makes the both of us jump because we never acknowledge each other because we know this relationship's intimacy only lies within the walls of 7-11. one of them got a face tattoo recently and it's interesting. i keep thinking what's up with that? like...you work at 7-11 what did you do? anyway

       after that i went back to my apartment. there's this cool old guy who has a house right across the street. and he worries me because there's always a firetruck or ambulance or any first responder there. like at least once a week it's scary lowkey. there's also always police outside of the bubble tea place literally 30 seconds away from me. which is hilarious. why is there so much crime at Tai Chi? the owner always looks stressed as hell, which, i would too so i don't judge.         but anyway        i was walking back home and this time there are firefighters and they're outside my building for a change! and i was like huh... and they wouldn't say why which i think is worse than being vague. cause grace ripped out our fire alarm so if it was our unit i'd have no fucking clue. but turns out lightning had struck our building.

   in a weird way i wish i was inside when it happened. there are a couple things i'm convinced are gonna happen to me, but i will keep them to myself minus one. my dad got struck by lightning so i feel like i will too. it feels like something that would happen to me. it happened to my building but idk if that counts. that's hilarious tho. grace isn't here and i forgot to tell her so when they sent the update email she sent me a couple frantic texts and it made me laugh.

it's already july and i feel like my life is over. this is dramatic, but true. i don't know what to do with myself these days and whatever i come up with i end up disappointed. maybe this is just being in your 20s but honestly i have felt like this for ages. whenever i look up my birth chart it tells me most of my aspects suggest that the only happy parts of my life are the beginning and the end. which so far seems like it'll reign true but that also makes me so anxious for when i have good periods of time. like i have a good week and it makes me feel like i'm gonna die by firing squad.

i wish i could explain things better but i think that adds to my charm. i kind of want to go on another rainy walk. really i want the soggy clothes feel. i can't explain how making myself look pathetic is so healing but it is. maybe because i'm doing it to myself. maybe because i need to weigh myself down. the last 5 minutes of my walk was so nice in terms of that. like my pants were so heavy yet they were kinda sticking to my legs? and my sweatshirt was heavy too but it wasn't sticking to me. idk i felt like a man. i dressed like a guy on purpose so people would leave me alone. made me happier than i thought (the masculine expression, not the being seen as a scary black man thing). the being seen as a man at first was interesting. cause like i know but i haven't seen it first person, you know? it was also funny seeing people kinda shifty but then as i got closer they say i was a girl and they relaxed a bit, but also not cause why are you so soaking and acting normal about it??? i would jump too honestly. but i was free

   also when i was in 7-11 i felt kinda bad cause i was literally dripping all over the floor. like as you can probably infer, dear reader, i was very wet. like my clothes were way past 100% saturated and yet i was still walking in the rain so yeah. i did laundry immediately after getting home cause yeah... very wet. also i like those pants and i wear them to work all the time.

i think that's it for now. signing off.

[renecdote]

give some tree the gift of green again

Summary: 

Buck doesn’t make a habit of it.

Really, he doesn’t. If he adds up all the times he’s had stitches in his life, it’s not even two full hands of fingers. And the ones for the surgeries on his leg? He’s pretty sure those don’t count.

So the way Bobby sighs and says, “oh, kid,” when the doctor leaves the curtained off cubicle of the ER to get a suture kit is completely uncalled for, in his humble opinion.

For BTHB: stitches

[Read on AO3]

Buck was seven the first time he got stitches. He remembers being scared, holding Maddie’s hand tightly, his father a stoic presence in the corner of the room. He remembers ice cream afterwards, and takeaway Chinese, and not seeing his mother all night.

A few days into healing, the stitches started itching like crazy and he woke up one morning covered in blood because he accidentally tore them open scratching during the night. It’s something he’ll never forget: waking up to his mother’s shriek when she came in to get him up for school. Her hysteria turning quickly to snappish anger, his father brusque as he told Buck to get in the shower, Maddie gentle as she towelled his wet hair dry.

“I didn’t mean to,” he told her, chin wobbling.

“I know,” she soothed, her gentle smile reassuring. “You’re not in trouble, Evan, mom was just—surprised.”

It’s funny, the way you remember things that happened when you were a child, all blurred edges and bittersweet reflection. Hey remember that time you woke me up for school and thought I was dead— is the start to a childhood story that might be laughed about in other families, or at least talked about, passed around at family holidays and pulled out for embarrassment at birthday parties. But Buck can’t even remember having a birthday party past four years old—if that one isn’t just a false memory anyway—and the Buckleys definitely never shared family stories.

(They never really did family at all.)

There used to be a scar on his arm where those first stitches were, but it was already faded by the time he inked over it with a tattoo at twenty-one. A few years after that, it was gone completely, just one more invisible scar, but Buck’s fingers still know where to trace to find that invisible line. He thinks they probably always will.

***

The first time he needs stitches as a firefighter, Hen takes him to the ER. She’s calm and professional and Buck misses Maddie so much he wants to cry. Thinks he might cry, actually, eyes stinging and lip bitten so hard to hold back tears that he splits it open and tastes blood when he licks them.

“Cap’s going to send you home,” Hen says when they’re back in the battalion truck, three new stitches above Buck’s eyebrow, her eyes focused on the road. “I’m telling you so you don’t think it’s anything personal.“ Because I know what you’re like, she doesn’t add. “You’re hurt, he’s going to send you home.”

“I’m fine,” Buck says, but it’s a flat protest. He winces at every flash of the streetlights as they pass.

Abby has been gone for two months, hasn’t replied to his messages in two weeks, and he has started dreading going back to his—her—empty apartment after every shift. He’s supposed to be working two extra twenty-fours covering for C shift this week, but there’s a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that says Bobby is going to spontaneously find someone else who needs the extra work more.

Hen’s right: Bobby sends him home.

Buck only sulks about it the whole drive back to the apartment, then for a few more hours after that, then again when he wakes up late the next morning with a vice-like headache and finds that he still hates the whole situation.

There’s a part of him that wants to call Maddie, to say “I’m okay but I got hurt at work,” and let her make him feel better. He wants to say, “I miss you,” and hear that she misses him too. He wants to hug her, wants her to cup his cheek the way she always used to when she was reassuring him. He wants, and wants, and wants.

“How’s your head?” Hen asks when he walks in for their next shift.

The headache is lingering, but Buck smiles, all bravado. “Never better.”

Chimney snorts where he’s buttoning up his shirt.

“Did you actually rest like you were supposed to?” he asks, and it’s something more than skeptical. Something almost… brotherly.

“I rested,” Buck replies, rolling his eyes. He hides a wince in the shirt he’s pulling over his head, careful to lift the neckline so it doesn’t drag over his stitches. When he gets it off, Hen and Chimney are both looking at him, matching expressions on their faces. Buck frowns. “What?”

Chimney raises his hands innocently.

Hen says, “You look tired, Buck. Are you sleeping alright?”

Not really. Buck bites his cheek, rummaging through his bag for his LAFD t-shirt.

“I sleep fine,” he answers, and his smile doesn’t wobble. “Is Cap cooking breakfast?”

They let it drop.

***

It’s Chimney who finds him in the bunk room later, quiet in the way he opens the door and slips inside, finding his way through the room without turning on the lights.

“Here,” he says quietly, and the ice pack he settles over Buck’s head is almost instant relief.

Buck sighs, shaky, and keeps his eyes closed in the darkness.

Chimney lingers, uncertain, then sits down on the edge of the bunk, his boots scuffing against the thinning carpet.

“I know we’re all shit at asking for help,” he says, and it’s hard to tell in the darkness, with his eyes closed under the ice pack, but Buck doesn’t think Chimney is looking at him. “But you know you can, right? Ask us?”

Buck’s chest feels uncomfortably tight. He sat beside Chimney’s hospital bed and held his hand, once, and until this moment, he’s not sure he really believed that Chimney would do the same for him. He’s not sure what to do with it, knowing that he would.

“It’s just a few stitches, Chim.”

The quietest of sighs.

“Right. Just a few stitches.”

Cold slides down his neck and Buck shivers, hands curling in the blanket. Chimney shifts, the faintest impression of warmth that might be a hand, and Buck thinks, for a moment—but no, Chimney is just standing up.

“Cap says you can stay behind next call,” he offers, and unlike yesterday it does sound like a suggestion, not an order. “You can start dinner prep if you’re up to it.”

His footsteps retreat, as quiet as they came, and the door is closing before Buck remembers to say, “Thanks.”

He’s not sure if Chimney hears him.

***

Eddie is the one who takes him to the hospital the next time he needs stitches. He drives faster than he should, and sticks close by Buck’s side, a hand on his back as he says magic words like “laceration” and “blood thinners” that get them through the ER doors with hardly any wait.

In hindsight, it all feels a little dramatic.

At the time? It feels a little like Eddie saves his life.

(He googles it, the way he googles everything: how long does it take to bleed out from a cut on your calf?

Answer: hard to say, but blood thinners definitely speed the process up.)

Afterwards, Eddie takes him home again—to his own house, that feels more like home than any place Buck has ever lived in—and he sits on the Diaz couch, sunk low into a borrowed hoodie, watching Tarzan swing through the jungle.

“You can watch something else, you know,” Eddie says when he sits down beside him, pressing a warm mug into Buck’s hands. “Chris isn’t here, it doesn’t even have to be PG.”

Buck blinks at the rippling surface of his tea.

“You don’t like Tarzan?”

Eddie’s face does something that means no, he doesn’t like Tarzan, but he’s not sure if he’s going to offend Buck by saying so.

“I was more of a Little Mermaid guy,” he shrugs, sipping his own tea.

“Huh.” Buck imagines a little Eddie Diaz singing along to Under the Sea and can’t help grinning. “My favourite was Mulan.”

Eddie nods, like this makes sense. Maybe it does.

“Maddie took me to see it when it came out,” Buck tells him. “We went after school one day and I remember I ate so much popcorn it made me sick, and mom and dad were mad that I’d ruined my appetite with junk food before dinner, but Maddie sat with me until I felt better and sung the songs she could remember from the movie.”

He thinks that’s how it happened, at least. He remembers being sick, and his parents arguing with Maddie, and her singing True To Your Heart, but the memory pieces are broken, jagged where his mind has fit them together. Maybe they don’t go together at all.

“Maddie always took care of you, huh?”

Eddie is smiling at him, but there’s something a little sad under the softness, a little I see you, I see what you’re not saying. Buck shifts, uncomfortable, trying not to grimace at the pull of the stitches in his leg.

“Yeah,” he says, shrugging. “I mean, you took care of your sisters, right?”

Eddie hums. “Never had to drive them to the hospital, though.”

He reaches out and taps Buck’s knee, just above the neat row of stitches.

“Still not sure why you wouldn’t let me call her today,” he adds. “You know she’s going to find out when you call out of work tomorrow anyway.”

Buck huffs. “That was a suggestion—”

“Which you’re going to follow.” Eddie raises his eyebrows. “Aren’t you?”

Buck huffs again, sinking lower, chin disappearing into his hoodie.

“That’s what I thought.”

Eddie is smiling when he reaches out to tousle Buck’s hair.

Or. Buck’s thinks that’s what he means to do, but his fingers just push back through the mess of curls, too gentle to do any damage. Then he tugs up the sweatshirt’s hood, pulling it low over Buck’s face, so that he can barely see to blink up at Eddie, hardly daring to breathe. It feels like a second, a minute, an eternity; one breath, then the next, then the next.

“Long day,” Eddie says, something low and fuzzy in his voice now, everything soft and muffled past the curtain he has pulled over Buck’s head. “You wanna nap?”

Buck wrinkles his nose. “Are you treating me like your child? I think even Christopher is too old for nap time, Eds.”

He can’t see Eddie’s smile anymore, but he can hear it.

“Suit yourself, I’m going to nap.”

And he stands then, holding out a hand. Buck sees it floating at the bottom of his obscured hoodie vision and frowns. He hands over his tea, automatic, and Eddie takes it, then holds out his other hand, fingers wriggling when Buck still doesn’t move.

“You coming?” he asks.

“You just don’t want to watch Tarzan,” Buck replies, but he takes Eddie’s hand and lets himself be pulled to his feet. Lets himself hold on a bit longer, too, because… he wants to. And Eddie’s right, it has been a long day, he can blame it on the ordeal if Eddie tries to pull away.

But Eddie doesn’t pull away. He just squeezes Buck’s hand, so close and yet so far from the way he squeezed his shoulder in the hospital waiting room, and waits until Buck is ready to take another step.

***

Buck doesn’t make a habit of it.

Really, he doesn’t. If he adds up all the times he’s had stitches in his life, it’s not even two full hands of fingers. And the ones for the surgeries on his leg? He’s pretty sure those don’t count.

So the way Bobby sighs and says, “oh, kid,” when the doctor leaves the curtained off cubicle of the ER to get a suture kit is completely uncalled for, in his humble opinion.

“Wasn’t my fault,” Buck mumbles, thick and bloody through the gauze held against his lip.

“I know.” Bobby squeezes his leg. “Do you want me to call Eddie?”

Buck makes a face, then winces at the way it tugs at all his cuts and bruises. He hasn’t got a good look at himself in a mirror yet, but he knows it’s not going to be pretty. It’s a miracle his jaw isn’t broken, but his nose definitely is.

(The real miracle, Buck didn’t tell the doctor, is that he somehow hasn’t broken his nose already.)

“I’m not going to be able to kiss him, Bobby,” he groans.

Bobby looks like he can’t decide whether he should be amused or sympathetic, his face caught somewhere between both. “Your face will heal, Buck,” he says, patient. “I’m sure you’ll cope.”

He might not. Tomorrow is supposed to be date night, and they had plans for all the things they were going to do without Chris for an evening. Plans.

“Tell you what,” Bobby says, as the doctor comes back in. “I’m going to step outside and call Eddie, then check in with the rest of the team. You’ll be okay here?”

Buck would smile if it didn’t hurt so much. “It’s just a little needle, Bobby. It’s not even you it’s going in.”

Bobby rolls his eyes. “Smartass.”’

He does make a quick retreat though, the curtain swishing shut behind him.

“Right,” the doctor catches Buck’s attention, smiling kindly. “You ready for this?”

No, Buck thinks, but he just closes his eyes and waits for the first stitch to go in.

When it’s done, there really aren’t that many of them: two in his lip, three more in his cheek. Safety glasses saved his eyes, at least, and other than the broken nose, most of the damage is superficial. Really, it could have been worse.

He’s had worse.

Buck is still dreading the recovery though.

“Eddie is coming,” Bobby tells him, reappearing after the doctor has left again, leaning over Buck while he lies on the bed and tries not to move his face.

Buck just hums; he never doubted Eddie would come.

“You don’t have to wait,” he tells Bobby, but Bobby is already sitting down on the stool the doctor left beside the bed, making himself comfortable.

“Hen and Chimney have things handled at the station,” he replies. “I’ve got time.”

Buck’s dad stayed that first time he got stitches, but he wasn’t really there, not the way Bobby is now. The way Bobby has always been.

Speaking hurts, but Buck pushes through it to say, “Thank you.”

Bobby shakes his head. “You don’t need to thank me, Buck.”

He does. Not just for staying, or for pulling him out of that building—for everything else, too. For being so much more than a Captain. For that first time, even, when he sent Buck home but told him to call if he needed anything and he meant it.

Bobby must catch something on his face because he leans forward to squeeze Buck’s hand.

“You don’t need to thank me,” he says again, firmer.

And these days, Buck can almost believe it.

***

By the time Eddie arrives, the hospital is ready to discharge him. Buck is out of the gown and back in his dusty LAFD shirt, sitting on the edge of the bed while he tries to decide whether bending to put his boots on is going to hurt. Answer: probably, but surely not more than anything else does at the moment.

“Hi, honey,” Eddie murmurs, fingers gentle carding through Buck’s hair before settling at the back of his neck, thumb at the corner of his jaw as he takes in his face. “This looks like it hurts.”

Buck shrugs, one shouldered. Painkillers have taken the edge off now, but everything still feels tight and achy, like one wrong muscle twitch is going to crack his whole head open.

Eddie kisses his forehead, soft and lingering. It’s a tiny thing, it shouldn’t even help, really, but it does.

“Ready to get out of here?”

“Desperately,” Buck answers, and it’s a hissing, lisping mess of a word through his swollen, stitched together lip, but Eddie doesn’t laugh at him. He just kisses his head again—a quick, almost absent thing this time—then bends to help him into his boots.

“I texted Chris,” he says on the way out. “Gave him a heads up that you’re hurt. I think ice cream and feel better movies are in your future.”

It hurts, but Buck can’t help smiling.

“Tarzan?”

Eddie rolls his eyes. “I think we can skip Tarzan this time.”

Buck kind of loves him a stupid amount—incorrect Tarzan opinions and all.

“I want to kiss you,” he sighs in the car, watching the sunlight turn Eddie’s lashes golden, a little concentrated wrinkle between his brow as he checks the traffic before turning onto their street.

Eddie glances at him, a smile tucked into the corner of his mouth. “You want to kiss me?”

“Shut up,” Buck complains, biting his cheek to stop his own smile from pulling at his stitches. “I mean it.”

He meant it the first time too: sitting in his Jeep in Eddie’s driveway, turned sideways to watch his best friend’s eyes flutter closed as he clutched the coffee Buck handed to him, their shift bags slung into the backseat, side-by-side like they belonged there together.

“I want to kiss you,” he said then, without really meaning to.

And then he’d said it again, when Eddie had frowned, still half asleep, sunrise painting his face in yellow and pink: “I want to kiss you.”

And Eddie had nodded, put down his coffee, and said: “Okay.”

Then he’d kissed him.

Buck wishes it could be that simple now.

Eddie parks in their driveway, then picks up Buck’s hand and lifts it to his lips to kiss his knuckles.

“I wish I could kiss you too,” he says, squeezing Buck’s hand. “But I don’t want to hurt you.”

You won’t, Buck wants to say, but right now he knows it’s not true. He twists their grip, lifting Eddie’s hand in turn, and ghosts his lips over his boyfriend’s knuckles, more intention than touch. Eddie smiles.

“We survived five years without kissing each other,” he points out. “I think we’ll last one week.”

He’s right. Of course he’s right. But that doesn’t mean Buck has to like it.

“I’m never getting stitches again,” he swears. “Never.”

Eddie just shakes his head, fond. “Okay, baby.”

(And when Buck does, inevitably, need stitches again, he kindly doesn’t point out the fact that with all his bad Buckley luck, a resolution like that never really stood a chance.)