#warblers v new directions

[klaineccfanficlibrary]

i feel like this is SO NICHE but any fics where the dalton academy warblers are actually students in Mckinley type of au and how that effects blaine and kurt

There are lots of fics on the Warblers thread on A03, but a lot of those don't fit what you are looking for. There were more than 50 pages, so you may want to check them all out. Most I saw are not klaine endgame.

These are on our Warblers tab, but are not so much that they are students together, but here are some where they mix together. ~Jen

Ambassadors Abroad by jcrissrid 

Klaine, The Warblers and New Directions find themselves getting a trip to Europe to sing for 2 weeks this summer. Perfect summer romance for Klaine. Some smut, but M for possible later chapters.

Sequel: Forever Love

~~~~~

What Happens On Tour by  Maxcs 

The Warblers are a worldwide sensation and they embark on their first National tour supported by the quirky New Directions. That’s where Kurt meets Warblers straight, hunky front man Blaine Anderson. The whole world may not like Blaine coming out. AU

~~~~~

It’s Always a Good Time by randomklainer 

The New Directions and the Warblers go camping together. Set immediately after Season 1.

[chocoholicannanymous]

If the Spit Hits the Fan (Glee) Pt XVII

This is the penultimate part. The last one is written and drafted - I did finish while on vacation. Expect it for next weekend.

Follows pt I, pt II, pt III, pt IV, pt V, pt VI, pt VII, pt VIII, pt IX, pt X, pt XI, pt XII, pt XIII, pt XIV, pt XV and pt XVI.

It's as everything happens in May. Kurt feels as if he should be used to it by now, but this year is worse than any before. It's understandable, he guesses, what with it being his senior year, but understanding doesn't help. Some of the squares on his wall calendar has so many things on them they're barely legible, and there are days when he wants to just quit it all.

He can always work in his dad's garage for the rest of his life. Surely that's not the worst thing ever?

The only reason he's not a complete wreck when Nationals comes is the Warblers meeting held right after Regionals where David had used logic (how dare he) and suggested their approach to Nationals.

Kurt's first, immediate reaction is “we're never going to win with that” which he also says out loud, only to be met by “so what”.

“I don't say this lightly. I've been a Warbler for four years. It's been amazing to be surrounded by all of these talented people, and make music just because we like it, and that's why I've kept it up even with all the hints I've gotten that my 'future career' would be better served by me spending that time on learning another language or studying harder. After all, what use is singing and dancing for a lawyer?”

There's a bitterness in David's voice, and it's echoed in a number of murmurs around the room.

“This is the one thing I do for fun, that I do just for me, and some days the only thing that makes slogging through my mountain of homework bearable is knowing that once I'm done I can go enjoy Warblers. This year's group hold more talent of all my years here, which is why it hurts to say that I don't think we can win, no matter what setlist we go on with. We're simply not the kind of group that wins a contest like this.”

Which, probably true. The Warblers are good, yes, but they're an all boys a capella group performing in uniforms. They don't have the productions that teams who wins Nationals do. Doesn't mean that it hurts just as much to hear as it hurts to say.

“The truth is – and I'm sorry, I know we don't talk about him, but I have to – the truth is that we didn't even compete before Blaine.”

Kurt expects it to sting to hear his name. It does, but not much. He's moving past that.

“Blaine walked in here and wanted to compete so badly. He spent his first semester here trying to talk us into trying, even with all the reasons we had for not going so, and he got his way. That doesn't change the fact that this is only our second year competing, and we've surpassed all expectations by making it to Nationals.  To do so again and win, or even place in the top... I don't think we can do that, not even with all the talent in this room.”

No one likes hearing that, but no one's disagreeing either. They aren't going to win. That's just how it is.

“So why not do that we like? Why don't we pick songs we like and that showcases our strengths? Why don't we sing a song that will make you happy, Kurt? And if it knocks us down in the ranking to do so, who cares? I don't.”

To hear someone say that Kurt's happiness should matter more than placement – to hear David say it, after everything the year before – causes tears to well up in his eyes. To hear every single Warbler agree make those tears fall.

They'd walked out of that meeting stronger than they'd gone in, and Kurt lets himself gather strength from that memory for a few seconds before he steps forward and lets his voice soar.

“Something has changed within me, something is not the same / I'm through with playing by the rules, of someone else's game”

They finish eleventh. It's better than they'd dared to hope, with all the absolutely excellent teams competing. It the joy is tinged with a little bitterness? Who can blame them? Maybe, more than one of them wonders, a more conventional setlist could have placed them among the top ten. At the same time they're all aware that maybe it would have have placed them dead last. There's no way of telling, and no use speculating.

They did their best, enjoyed their performance and finished eleventh at Nationals. That's nothing to look down on. In fact...

“We did better than New Directions last year” Kurt says with a smirk.

They've beaten  his old team, his so-called friends, in every way possible and he allows himself to see that as a win.

Finn posts video of all their songs on his Facebook and is proud (and smug) enough to also post the “Defying Gravity” performance in the Glee group with a comment about how Kurt obviously could hit that note, tagging both Rachel and Mr Schue. It's petty, and Kurt should be big enough of a person to ask Finn to remove it, but no. If his brother wants to stand up for him Kurt isn't just going to let him, he's going to be grateful.

Feeling loved and protected is not something he's ever going to scoff at.

Nationals is followed by finals, the less said about the better, and then prom. Or well, “the Dalton Academy and Crawford County Day Joint Spring Formal”. Same thing right?

Wrong.

The spring formal is every thing junior prom wasn't. It's not really the fact that Sebastian asks Kurt properly to be his date for the formal, and compliments his outfit. It's not that even without decorations Dalton's auditorium is more grand than McKinley's gym. It's not even the grand dinner with lit candles, waiters and three courses before the dance or that there's a band that plays waltzes and foxtrot for the first two hours before the DJ is allowed to take over.

It's that even before they've entered the transformed dining hall Kurt spots half a dozen same-sex couples, a number that keeps going up during the evening. It's the fact that he gets to dance the whole evening, not in a group or with a girl, but with Sebastian and the occasional Warbler. Mostly it's Sebastian's arms he's in, and it's amazing.

It's so far from his junior prom and Blaine that it almost hurts.

“Is there something wrong?”

“No. Everything is... This year everything is perfect.”

Sebastian doesn't look entirely convinced, but decides to drop it and instead lean closer for a kiss.

The evening really is perfect.

The morning of his birthday Kurt walks into the dining hall alone only to be met with a table full of Warblers that stand up and sing for him as soon as he clears the door. There's one place left at the table, next to Sebastian, set with the kind of breakfast not even Dalton serves (fresh croissant, strawberries, a piece of brie and a one-person pot of tea) with a rainbow rose in a vase. Kurt sits down with a smile and leans over to kiss his boyfriend's cheek.

“So, rainbow roses are going to be our thing, is it? I love it.”

He spends the day with a smile on his lips, because his boyfriend took the time to do something special for him on his birthday and his friends have promised cake in the Warblers' room after dinner, and he feels loved.

“Cake” turns out to be cheesecake and presents, and more singing, and so much more smiling. Afterwards Sebastian walks him back to his room. There's no kissing though, which Kurt finds unacceptable.

“Isn't there some kind of rule that you get kisses on your birthday? I would have thought that was a part of the boyfriend experience, and to be honest I'm feeling very much unkissed.”

That nets him a crooked smile, but still no kisses. It's almost enough to worry him.

“You can have all the kisses you want, and not just on your birthday, you know that babe. However, there's something else I wanted you to have first.”

Sebastian pulls out a small package from him pocket and hands it over with a smile, which begins to fade when Kurt doesn't immediately take it. It's just, well.

“Another present? You shouldn't have.”

“Another? What do you mean?”

The truth is that Kurt fully expected breakfast and a rose to be the whole of Sebastian's congratulations, and he doesn't quite know how to take getting more than that. He doesn't really know how to explain it though, and definitely not in a way that won't start Sebastian on another rant about how Blaine was unworthy of Kurt's affection. Especially since it's not just about him.

Turns out he doesn't need to say anything – and apparently he's getting yet another present in the form of the absence of that rant.

“Breakfast was a treat. This is your actual present, which I hope you'll like at least as much as that.”

Sebastian looks a little worried as Kurt removes the paper and opens the small box inside (and if he's a little shaky to open a jewelry box from his boyfriend no one needs to know). It's a pair of gorgeous cufflinks with just the right balance between classy and unique and he absolutely loves them.

“These are amazing! They're too much, really, but they're so gorgeous that I'm going to pretend they're not. I love them!” I love you. But that's a bit too early to say, and so instead he leans forward and does his absolute best to communicate exactly that through kissing.

[todaydreambelieversfic]

Author Spotlight: Grlnxtdr30 Day 3

Author: @grlnxtdr30​ 

How many times do you usually revise your fic/chapter before posting?

Usually no more than once or twice, unless I am really unhappy with it

If you were to revise one of your older fics from start to finish, which would it be and why?

He's Evil, Blaine, E V I L. I think the story was good, but I think now that I've been in the fandom for a few years, I could do better

What do you look for in a beta?

Mostly just someone who is willing to be more of a cheerleader and push me through the stumbles and blocks.

If you could write the sequel (or prequel) to any fic out there not written by yourself, which would you choose?

I don't know, there are so many great stories out there that I'd love to read more of, but I think I'd rather read what the original authors could come up with than mess with their story.

Do you take liberties with canon or are you very strict about your fic being canon compliant?

There are a few canon things I am strict about, but if every story was 100% canon compliant, wouldn't we all just be writing the same story over and over?

Talk about a review that made your day.

I had several reviewers call me The Queen of Cliffhangers, and it always makes me smile.

Do you ever get rude reviews and how do you deal with them?

I've had a couple. Depending how rude, I either ignore them or delete them.

What advice do you have for people just starting to write?

Just do it. It may not be very good to start with, but keep doing it, and you will get better with each story you write. If you are really new, definitely get a Beta to help you out.

Which fic do you most like to discuss with other people? Why?

ItsNotEasyBeingQueen's Spellbound series, and pretty much anything else she writes. Also BeautifulUnseen's Don't Do It. They are two of my favorite authors, and I love how they can make me laugh and cry, and I always recommend them to everyone. Another one I'll talk about is the story that inspired my Klaine Faerie Tale story, A Little Klaine Magic. It's not finished, but I recommend it to everyone who needs a laugh and a smile

What's one aspect of writing fic that gets you really excited?

Coming up with new story ideas, and seeing them come to life on the page, and then seeing how other people respond to it.

***

Check out Grlnxtdr30′s Fic 

A Bite of Klaine -  Lifemate. The one person who was perfect for you, who complimented you in every way. The one person you could be yourself and relax with. Kurt thought he would have to wait a very long time to meet his, until he went to Dalton to spy.

A Second Bite -  The sequel to A Bite of Klaine. What happens when The New Directions and The Warblers find out about Kurt and Blaine? Will Lucian allow them to remember? Glee/Argeneau Crossover, part two!

The Final Bite -  Third and final installment of my Bite Trilogy. Now that all of New Directions and many of the Warblers know Kurt's secret, what will life be like for the young immortal? And how does Stephanie spend her Summer back in Canada? More lifemate pairings, more adventures, and more people discover immortals, but can they be trusted? Third Glee/Argeneau crossover! Reviews always welcome!

[solli]

work in progress (12/22)

so, here’s what you missed on glee: the new directions got disqualified at sectionals because marley fainted, but now they snitched on the competition and they're back in the game, which means the Warblers has to step up their game to defeat them once and for all. blaine has come to term with the fact that he can't keep pretending to see and he's gonna have to wear glasses, even if he's worried it might have anything to with the slushie and that sebastian will beat himself about it even if he totally shouldn't, because he makes blaine really happy. i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, x, xi, xii

Blaine and Sebastian’s longest, most pointless conversations always happened early in the morning, tucked between night and day. Blaine has always woken up early, not unlike anyone else in his family. For the longest time, he bas been under the impression Sebastian was an early bird too, maybe because of the spring in his voice even when it was still husky from sleep. He's starting to realize maybe Sebastian used to wake up earlier just for him.

He smiles in Sebastian's hair, trailing  his fingers up and down his spine. It's cold, and so is Sebastian's bare skin. It's warm where they touch, Sebastian's cheek on his shoulder and his arm thrown over Blaine’s chest.

He tries not to move too much when he reaches for the nightstand to get his phone. He knows himself well enough to know if he doesn't call Doctor Fletcher's studio right now, he will start putting it off again. He owes it to Sebastian not to.

(continue on ao3)

[thechoir-roomhq]

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! 

lima’s annual halloween carnival has rolled into town! from october 26th through the 31st, the carnival will be in town with a variety of events and performances. as per tradition, mckinley students have been tasked with assisting in running the carnival and snagging a few community service hours. please read below for more information!

BASIC INFORMATION: 

Ticket Cost: $10.00 (concessions not included)

Times: M-T: 5pm to 11pm F-S: 5 pm to 2 am

EVENTS AND ATTRACTIONS:

Free Face Painting ( sponsored by the Cheerios )

Haunted Hayride ( sponsored by the Mckinley Football, Soccer, Hockey, and Baseball teams with Special Effects provided by the A/V Club )

Photo Booth ( sponsored by the Yearbook Committee )

Concessions and Tickets ( sponsored by Student Council )

Kissing Booth ( sponsored by Celibacy Club )

Apple Bobbing

Corn Maze 

Ring Toss, Balloon Darts, and Other Games!

Ferris Wheel, Tilt-A-Whirl, and Other Rides!

Costume Contest (10/31)

And Nightly Performances By: 

New Directions: 2 Song Set List (10/26)  Crawford Canaries: 2 Song Set List (10/27)  Trouble Tones: 2 Song Set List (10/28)  Dalton Warblers: 2 Song Set List  (10/29) Drama Club: Rocky Horror @ Midnight (10/30)  Vocal Adrenaline: 2 Song Set List (10/31)

MCKINLEY DRAMA CLUB’S PRODUCTION OF ROCKY HORROR 

The Drama Club will be hosting a live production alongside the movie at Midnight Friday night! The Cast is as follows. The Drama Club could use your help! Please contact the main to snag a role for your character! 

Brad Majors: Trace Hummel-Anderson

Janet Weiss: Poppy Del Monico

Dr. Frank ‘N’ Furter: Stevie Beckett

Riff Raff: Leo McCarthy

Columbia: Winnie Karofsky 

Rocky Horror: Open Joey Hummel-Anderson

Eddie: Open Stanford Beckett 

Dr. Everett Scott: Open Benji Lynn

Magenta: Serenity Gillenkerk

The Narrator: Open 

Trixie: Open Link Clarington Smythe

OOC INFO

members! feel free to get creative with this event coming up next week! clubs that are performing, please be in contact with the main regarding what the setlist looks like. it’s safe to assume that there are other members in these clubs who will be running the booths, so it is up to you if your character will work the carnival halloween night, or attend the halloween house party. have fun, get creative, and we can’t wait to see how you all utilize this event!

[lady-divine-writes]

ACITW AU one-shot “Downward Facing Doubts” (Rated M)

Summary: Kurt convinces Sebastian to join him, Olivia, Julian, and Cooper in a yoga class. 'Bribe' is actually the more accurate term. But whereas the endorphins released during exercise usually make people feel good, this time, they bring all sorts of doubts to the surface. (3760 words)

Notes: Takes place some time after 'Under the Fireworks' and references 'I Was Praying for You and Me'.

Part of ACITW AU extended verse

Read on AO3.

“Extend your arms out to your sides, then raise them over your head …” Yogi Cecile instructs, her soothing alto voice threading through the airy music playing over circular speakers scattered in Feng Shui formation throughout the studio. “Bend your back gently into a crescent moon …”

Sebastian breathes in sharply as he attempts the move, his shoulders quaking involuntarily as he tries to deepen the stretch. He finds his balance point, quite by surprise, then fights to hold it, difficult since his focus keeps drifting, his eyes darting to the side to check out the competition. He scowls, not thrilled at being one-upped by Julian who, infuriatingly, performs the move like an expert. But of course he would, Sebastian thinks with a bitter roll of his eyes, one that gives him a major headache with his head pulled back. Didn’t he claim that he attended some month-long yoga retreat in the High Desert for the sole purpose of fellating himself?

Even if Sebastian is a bit fuzzy on the particulars, his head swimming with a mixture of dizziness and pain that’s one more deep breath away from making him puke, that definitely sounds like the kind of thing Julian would do.

Olivia and Kurt, lined up to Sebastian’s right, switch from pose to pose without breaks, extending their arms and bending their backs as if standing on one leg and staring horizontally up at the pale pink ceiling were the normal position for, say, grabbing a coffee or looking at shoes. At least Sebastian isn’t faring the worst in their group. No, that honor goes to Cooper. Capping off their row to the far left of Julian, Cooper starts losing his balance, teetering forward dangerously towards a handful of innocent strangers unaware of the 180 pound man on the brink of bowling towards them.

“How …?” Sebastian starts, talking on the crest of an inhaled breath he’s running out of as he contorts into another ludicrous pose.

“Did you let me talk you into joining a yoga class?” Kurt finishes, sliding smoothly from a crescent moon into the next forward bend. “That’s easy. You’ll do anything for a blow---”

Olivia clears her throat loudly when she spots their instructor heading their way, eyes originally glued to Sebastian’s crooked posture but hopping to Kurt’s smug grin when the word ‘blow’ sneaks past his lips.

“Straighten your spine … lean forward … brace your hands on the mat in front of you … and extend one leg back to a half downward dog.” Cecile circles their quintet twice and Kurt thinks she’s about to scold them. They haven’t been properly engaged since the start of class. But then she hurries off to help another young lady square her hips.

“I refuse to believe that I’m that simple-minded,” Sebastian grouses, working on stabilizing his own hips before he extends his leg. He dips to the side but manages to catch himself. Cooper isn’t quite as lucky, careening forward like a downed Cessna and smacking the bridge of his nose on his cork yoga block. He drops to his knees, shaking his head to clear the stars out from behind his eyes. Julian falls out of formation to give him a hand up and helps him restore his stance.

“Well, I promised you that bj for after this class and you’re still here,” Kurt says, lips curling into the shadow of a smirk. “You draw your own conclusions.”

“You draw your own conclusions …” Sebastian mimics. He wobbles once. Then twice. He sucks in his stomach to save himself without locking his knees (since Cecile told them at the start of class that locking their knees was bad). But his foot rolls and he’s forced to put the other down to support himself. He tries again … and again … but Sebastian doesn’t successfully execute the move before they’re changing positions.

Kurt rotates up on one leg and transitions into a picture perfect tree pose. He opens an eyelid and peeks at Sebastian, taking in a deep breath through his nose and schooling his face into a mask of meditation so he doesn’t laugh out loud and disrupt the class more than Sebastian’s fumbling through the stances already has.

“Maybe it’s because … mmph … I’m so tall … grrr … that I’m not getting it,” Sebastian offers, stuttering upright in stages, ending in a slumped, unsteady tree.

Kurt turns his head left and looks at Sebastian directly beside him, meeting him eye-to-eye. He arches an eyebrow.

Sebastian pulls an undignified face.

“Sometimes …” their yoga instructor says as she makes the rounds, correcting the posture of the needier students. She has already been to help Sebastian five times during this one-hour lesson, and Cooper too many times for Kurt to count. She flashes Julian an impressed smile and a nod. He winks at her in response “… it is not the balance outside that is needed, but inside.” She puts a hand to Sebastian’s back and one to his stomach, pushing together to force him straight. “The anxiety in your life, the stress, the regrets of your past - they settle in your core.” She pats Sebastian on the stomach. Removing her hand causes his belly to stick back out a hair, and he sways dangerously in Kurt’s direction. Cecile shakes her head and sets Sebastian straight again. “Negative influences roll around and throw you out-of-whack. But yoga and meditation will set you right again.” She stands back and appraises the two men standing side by side, so similar in appearance but obviously a couple with the way they’ve been playfully bickering, and gives them a smile. Then she continues on her way.

“Doesn’t that sound familiar?” Kurt says with a fond grin.

“Yeah.” Sebastian grunts. “Why is it we’re forever getting life advice from graduates of The Learning Annex?”

Both Kurt and Olivia scoff.

“Not that there’s anything wrong with The Learning Annex, but I will have you know that Cecile is an expert in her field!” Olivia says.

“An expert in standing on one foot and stretching her arms over her head? Excuse me if I’m not all that impressed.”

“You should be,” Julian intervenes. “You can’t do it.”

“Maybe I don’t want to do it!”

“Boys, boys,” Olivia whispers when heads turn their way. “Let’s keep it down to a dull roar, please. And remember to breathe.”

“You’re absolutely right,” Kurt says, making a big show of following her lead, breathing in through his nose and then out through his mouth. “We’re here to meditate. Relax. Realign our chakras.”

“Someone’s going to have to realign poor Cooper’s spine by the time we’re done,” Olivia remarks, a giggle hidden in her voice. With Kurt’s eyelids shut and Cooper two whole people away, Kurt doesn’t see what the man is doing, but immediately after Olivia’s comment, he hears Cooper apologize profusely.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. I’m so sorry. I really … yes, sir. I’m sorry. Oh, r-really? That’s very kind of you. Slash savings, yup. I can sign that for you, if you’d like …”

Kurt bites his tongue behind his teeth. Good old Cooper, still able to get some mileage out of that FreeCreditRatingToday gig.

It’s nice to know some things never change.

“For your information, I regret nothing,” Sebastian whisper-hisses after a pause, his body cramping as he tries to maintain his corrected tree pose.

Kurt sighs.

Yup. Some things never change. And some things rise up from the grave from time to time to haunt you, like Hamlet’s father, only with swoopier bangs, wearing basketball shorts and a Tommy Hilfiger v-neck.

“Ah, you protest too much, Sebby,” Julian murmurs, remaining purposefully vague as this is definitely not the time nor place to drudge up old angst. He leaves things there, snapping back into an impeccable tree pose after helping Coop up off the floor again.

“Besides …” Sebastian side-steps his brother to finish making his point “… if that’s the case, then you should mondo-suck at this, Kurt! I mean, let’s take a look at your past, shall we? The year of tragic style choices, dating Blaine, choosing New Directions and that lame ass public school over Dalton and the Warblers … whoa!” Sebastian drops his hip and his shoulder during his rant, causing him to rock to the outside edge of his foot. He barely keeps himself from twisting an ankle and going straight down. “Your life must be chock full of regrets!”

“Uh … let’s not forget that one of those past life decisions was agreeing to date you, little brother,” Julian steps in, jumping swiftly to Kurt’s defense.

Sebastian may have retorted with something along the lines of, “That’s the only intelligent decision he made,” but Kurt doesn’t know for certain. He shuts up like a clam - locks his teeth together and blocks Sebastian and his infernal whining out. He inhales long and zeroes in on the music - the gentle plucking of strings, the tinkling of bells, the flutes holding sustained notes, giving the class an anchor with which to control their breathing. There he remains, floating in the cradle of dark behind his eyelids. A bigger man rises above petty retorts, Kurt can hear his father say, concentrating on repairing his own withering tree pose. He simply needs to be the bigger man.

If he reacts thoughtlessly, does something rash, he might regret it.

Sebastian is simply having a bad day.

They don’t have days like this very often. This is just … well, one of those days. And Kurt is willing to let it go, let it pass like the rhythmic breaths through his lips. But Sebastian broke a cardinal rule.

He mentioned Blaine, which they both swore on the threat of blue balls that neither one of them would do. Especially in anger.

Kurt can only assume Sebastian is uncomfortable here. Sebastian doesn’t like not being the best at everything from go, which is probably why he’s bearing claws and teeth right now. It reminds Kurt of their days taking dance lessons - the two of them butting heads, fighting to lead when it didn’t really need to be one or the other.

It could have been both, paving a single fluid path had they come to a consensus from the start.

But here, they stand on their own two feet - or one foot at the moment, with their hands above their heads. They sink or swim on their own. Cecile calling Sebastian out more than likely didn’t help matters any. No one likes to be the center of attention when they’re flailing. Kurt feels guilty about that, that he’s not closer to Sebastian, reaching out a hand to help him the way Julian is for Cooper.

Kurt opens an eyelid and peeks over. He sees Sebastian, the man he loves, struggling, fighting to regain balance. A balance that Kurt has in spades. A balance that Kurt would be more than willing to help him with, lend him some of.

Suddenly, Sebastian mutters something uncomplimentary under his breath, and Kurt feels less than willing.

He actually considers reaching over and giving Sebastian a push. One swat would send him toppling backward. Kurt has seen Sebastian fall on his ass plenty.

It would be hilarious.

But he can’t do it.

And not because Sebastian might take half a dozen other students with him when he goes, but because after a little quiet contemplation, Kurt realizes that Sebastian may not be lashing out because he can’t do yoga.

The thought that he wouldn’t be as good at this as he is at everything else is preposterous. He’s an exceptional athlete and a graceful dancer. Yoga shouldn’t be that great a hardship for him.

Sebastian may be lashing out because he feels backed into a corner. This has happened before - several times, as a matter of fact, and with Kurt. Sebastian starts to feel trapped, forgets himself, and comes out barrels blazing, shooting first and asking questions later. But what about? What could he possibly feel trapped about?

It comes to Kurt with a single, subtle movement - something he’s started doing recently. Something that had never been a habit of Kurt’s before.

Rolling his engagement ring on his finger.

The ring is a fairly recent accessory, given to him in fairy tale fashion underneath Fourth of July fireworks with everyone he loves present at the picturesque Smythe estate. But their journey to this point has been a bumpy one. There have been fights, misunderstandings, crossroads, a break up. But here they are, together, standing tall …

Another glance in Sebastian’s direction proves that’s not entirely true. He stumbles backward … then forward … then backward again, like he’s performing a clumsy two-step on the deck of a listing ship without a partner.

Could this ring on Kurt’s finger be the reason? Could it be one of Sebastian’s regrets? Could he be re-thinking the whole thing?

As ridiculous as that may sound, it has crossed Kurt’s mind once or twice before. Nothing bad has happened between them since that night - no devastating fights, nothing that would threaten their overall happiness. Even Julian has kept his shameless flirting to a minimum. But Kurt has abandonment issues. Severe ones.

They run deep.

To his defense, Kurt did consult an expert about his feelings.

He’d asked Olivia her opinion on the subject.

She’s privy to the grim details of his backstory, of course, so he can be as dramatic as he wants around her without sounding like a self-serving ninny. She’d waited patiently for him to finish, smiled warmly, and said, “Kurt, Sebastian loves you. More than he’s ever loved anything in his whole life. Loves you more than he’s ever loved himself.”

“How do you know?”

“How do you not know?” she’d replied with that faint roll of her eyes that the Smythe siblings seem to share. “I know my brother. And even if, for some reason, he didn’t love you as much as I know he does, we do. The whole family.”

“So you’d keep in touch if anything went south between us?” Kurt had never thought to ask. The Smythes were such a loyal family, he feared the answer would be no. But they’d already invited him into their home once before after he and Sebastian split up - that Christmas when Kurt’s father ended up in the hospital. The Smythes let him spend the holidays with them, supported him throughout that entire ordeal. Luck seemed to be on his side that year. His father came out of the hospital unscathed when Kurt feared to the depths of his soul that he wouldn’t.

How long could his good fortune hold out, especially if he were the reason they split up again?

“You’re one of us, Kurt,” she’d assured him. “Part of the clan. And we don’t ditch clan members, no matter what their transgressions. Besides …” She stirred creamer into her coffee with the biggest, twisted grin on her face “… Julian would marry you.”

Kurt choked on his mocha. “What?”

“You, him, and Cooper would become a thruple. We’ve discussed it … at length.”

“You what!?”

“Take you as a lover was the way he put it. I have to admit, that has a lovely Victorian ring to it. You’re a hopeless romantic, aren’t you?”

Kurt laughs to himself remembering the look on Olivia’s face as he spilled his drink and she snorted her coffee.

Sebastian must feel Kurt’s eyes on him because he turns his face to Kurt, red-cheeked, frustrated to the point of angry tears. Kurt feels his heart wrench, tightening into a knot of pure sorrow.

Why now though? What could have happened that Kurt didn’t see coming? And why would Sebastian bring up Blaine?

There was a time long ago when Kurt thought he couldn’t live without Blaine and a ring on his finger. That’s far from true. He can more than stand on his own. Ironically, it took dating Sebastian to remind himself of that. Probably because when you’re with someone who supports you selflessly, who only wants the best for you, it brings out the best in you.

“Kurt …” Sebastian whimpers. It’s pained - a pain Kurt feels pinging around his chest.

“Sebastian …” Kurt mouths back, voice unavailable past the ache.

Kurt could live without Sebastian. He could. But he doesn’t want to if he can help it.

Standing here, staring into Sebastian’s eyes, feels like falling in love with him all over again, even if Sebastian is planning on leaving him.

But Kurt isn’t falling.

Sebastian is, coming his way and fast.

“Kurt … help me, Kurt!”

“Sebastian!” Kurt yelps.

Unable to decide whether he should try to catch his boyfriend or get out of the way, he does neither, taking Sebastian’s weight full force in the chest. Reflexively, he wraps his arms around Sebastian instead of dodging for his own safety. He lands flat on his back with a spine-bruising crack! but that’s not where it ends. Unable to stop his momentum in time, Sebastian lands on top of Kurt, checking him in the nose with his shoulder so hard, Kurt almost blacks out.

“Kurt!” Olivia yells, racing to his side. “Sebastian, get off of him! Oh my God! Kurt!”

“Sebby!” Julian barks, yanking Sebastian to his feet, completely unconcerned with any injuries of his brother’s and staring at Kurt with wide, bugged-out eyes. “You killed Kurt!”

“I didn’t kill him!”

“Doesn’t matter! I’m calling mom!”

“Call an ambulance first, you dunderhead!”

Cooper pushes through the crowd to hand Julian his phone. “He’s bleeding!” he points out, voice thick with concern, then shaking like a leaf when he adds, “a lot. I … I don’t like …” Another heavy thud vibrates the wood floor as Cooper disappears from view.

“Jesus Christmas …” Olivia mumbles. “Men.”

“Tell me about it,” Kurt grumbles.

“Kurt!” Sebastian takes Kurt’s hands carefully in his while Cecile leans in low to examine Kurt’s face. She tsks.

“Sit tight, hun. I’m going to get you some ice.”

“Paramedics are on the way,” Julian informs them as he kneels down to tend to an unconscious Cooper. “I told them to send an ambulance built for two.”

“Are you okay?” Sebastian rushes, looking Kurt over closely, doing an examination of his own. “What hurts? Can you hear me? Speak to me!?”

“How can I?” Kurt moans, content after that to never speak again for as long as he lives. It wouldn’t be too bad. He could learn ASL. He’s always wanted to. He nearly guffaws out loud when the thought he can take a Learning Annex course springs to his brain. “You won’t shut up long enough to let me!”

“I’m sorry, Kurt. I’m … I’m sorry,” Sebastian babbles. “I didn’t mean to ...”

“You do have regrets, don’t you?” Kurt asks, sadly shaking his head. Or trying to. He budges it a centimeter. It screams at him to stop!

Sebastian’s brow furrows. “What the---? Everyone has regrets, Kurt.”

“What are yours?”

“What? I …” Sebastian’s chest shudders, closer to tears than Kurt had previously realized. “That you’re right. That you’re always right.”

Kurt frowns. “Gee. Thanks.”

“I am simple minded. I didn’t want to do this. I knew I wouldn’t be any good at it. And that’s not an opinion. It’s a fact. I went to gymnastics camp as a kid, so I know my limits.”

“You did?” Kurt says, stunned out of remembering he’s in a blistering amount of pain.

“That’s right!” Olivia gasps, pleased as punch that she has another embarrassing story to tell Kurt about his soon-to-be-husband. “How did I forget about Sebastian in that purple unitard!?”

“A story for another time,” Sebastian dismisses forcefully through clenched teeth.

“All right, all right,” Olivia says, pulling out her phone, checking to see if she has any pictures of that event uploaded to her gallery, giving Kurt and Sebastian privacy (figuratively) for the moment.

“The point is,” Sebastian continues, “I should have told you from the beginning that I couldn’t do this.”

You did, Kurt thinks with a pang of regret that eclipses the throbbing in his nose. You did, and I convinced you to come anyway. “So … what about us?”

Sebastian’s face crumbles imperceptibly, as if, with those four words, he’s expecting the worse. “Wh-what about us?”

“Do you have regrets about us?”

“What?” Moss-green eyes pop open so fast, Kurt swears he hears them, like the foley on an anime. “No! What makes you think that?”

“Well, you fell. And Cecile said …”

“Kurt! I fell because I have no balance to speak of! I can’t do yoga. At all, as it turns out. This isn’t The Fault in Our fucking Stars, babe! Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, not a metaphor.” He leans down to kiss the knuckles of Kurt’s hand trapped between his. “I don’t have any regrets about us. I swear I don’t.”

Kurt closes his eyes, the left swelling rapidly, skin turning an alarmingly vivid shade of aubergine. A tear slips from the corner and down his cheek. It’s hot, and everything it touches stings.

Sebastian swallows hard and asks a question he’s wondered about hundreds of times, a question he keeps finding himself asking, never settling in comfortably with the answer. Which is always the same, no matter what.

“Do … do you have any regrets?”

Kurt sniffles before he answers. “Recently?”

Okay, well, maybe not the same this time.

“I guess …”

“Only one.”

“Does it have something to do with me?”

“Yes, but only a teeny bit.”

“And what’s that?” Sebastian asks, holding his breath immediately after, readying himself for whatever barb Kurt chooses to throw.

“That we’re never going to be able to come to this studio again.” Kurt smiles weakly, wincing when he scrunches his nose and pain shoots straight up the bridge to his brain. “And I think you broke my nose.”

Sebastian kisses Kurt’s hand, sputtering a half-laugh/half-cry of relief. “It matches your black eye.”

Kurt fixes his good eye on Sebastian and grimaces - the safest expression of displeasure he can make with his face on the brink of exploding.

“No worries, love,” Julian pipes in, saving Sebastian as tears finally start to fall. “The crooked nose thing isn’t quite in anymore, but I can see you bringing it back. You wear it well.”

“Fuck you both very much,” Kurt mutters.

Julian winks, stepping aside as paramedics rush in. “Promises, promises.”

[spaceorphan18]

Finding Kurt Hummel: The Purple Piano Project

Masterpost

3x01: The Purple Piano Project

Welcome to Season 3! I’ll try not to whine too much while we’re here, lol :)  

The season starts out on a relatively high note, however, making the whole thing feel a lot more promising than it ended up being.  This episode is fun and quirky and there are a lot of pianos for Kurt to drape himself on top of!! 

Future Plans

So – we start off the season much like season two – Ben Jacob Israel going around and harassing everyone about their summer vacations and future plans. 

Do you see the set up of this shot, guys?  Rachel chattering in the front while Kurt tries to be distracting in the background?  Well – get used to it, because this Hummelberry dynamic is going to drag us through the next two years, guys, lol.  No really – I enjoy Hummelberry in this episode, I do.  But we had no idea this was a set up for (I’m sure someone will argue me on this) the worst Kurt arc on the show – Getting into NYADA.  And, unfortunately, the Hummelberry dynamic (or more so the writer’s obsession with Rachel not being able to fail at anything) plays into that. 

Probably going off a rush of a summer where all they talked about was going to New York, Kurt and Rachel have all their future plans figured out.  They’re going to get a little apartment on the Lower West Side (yeah, sure), Rachel’s gonna be a big Broadway star, and Kurt’s gonna be married (legally!!!) by 30.  Yes – think about what is said here, I know Kurt has Broadway ambitions, too, but I find it funny that his dream aspirations include getting married.  

There are two key things I’d like to point about the whole marriage thing.  Kurt says by 30.  As we find in this season – not before 30 cause that is Too. Young.  But also.  Yes.  Kurt Hummel wants to get married.  And I’m pretty sure he already knows who his groom is going to be.  

But anyway, thinking about season 2, and how that started in such a dark place for Kurt, here we have the opposite – bright and shining optimism.  Oh, kiddo.  This really can only go down, can’t it. 

Purple Pianos

Kurt: Why’s the T-Rex eating the Jew?

It’s exposition dump time! As we get filled in that the Glee Club remains uncool after the Nationals debacle from last year.  Kurt gets his share of funny lines as we get filled in.  

Meanwhile – the glee club is three men down; Quinn pissed off the writers again, Lauren was fired, and Sam just couldn’t work out a contract deal.  So – Will gets the idea that placing purple pianos everywhere would inspire new people to join the club.  I’m not entirely sure how purple pianos are inspiring, but like Kurt, I’m totally on board with the whole thing.  

As seen in the background, the moment he can, he gets himself up and draped over one of the pianos. 

See – look how adorable he is on that piano!!! 

Anyway – Will bores us with another inspiration speech that means mostly nothing since no one joins glee club anyway…. 

NYADA – School for Witches

Lol – oh Kurt, you’re making the best faces in this episode so far….

First of all, let’s talk about the fact that Emma thought he and Rachel were dating (omg!), and the fact that he actually takes the pamphlet about ‘Me and My Hag’ (Lol).  Secondly, let’s talk about these sillies not doing their research on how Julliard is not a musical theater school.  At least Emma is doing the job she’s supposed to be doing in this episode! 

And then she steers them in the direction of New York Academy of Dramatic Arts.  Oh NYADA and my distaste for you begins, lol….  So, this particular school only takes 20 students a year.  Hmmm…  Looks a lot bigger than that in season 4 but whatever.  And the chances that two people from the same school and graduating year getting in? Doubtful.  But this is Glee, so here we go! 

Competitive Spirit

 It’s the first day of school, and Blaine is still a Warbler, but his resolve is crumbling because Kurt is very persistent (and flirty and adorable) in this scene. You know there’s some interesting meta floating around about this scene recently – about their competitive nature and about how Blaine really isn’t /that/ competitive, but Kurt totally is.  He doesn’t mind it at all, really, which means, in a way, that they’re on equal footing.  Ah, how that is all about to change. 

But what Kurt really wants is for Blaine to be around all the time so they can spend every minute of every day together.  Oh, Kurt.  Be careful what you wish for. But also – interestingly – they spent all the time together back when Kurt was at Dalton, and Kurt wants that little fairy tale to continue by bringing Blaine over to McKinley.  It’s obvious they talked about this at length over the summer, but I wonder what Kurt’s (more serious) arguments were for getting Blaine to come to public school. 

But anyway – the fun stuff – just how adorable and flirty these two are here! Hands might not have wandered south of the equator, but they were definitely up to stuff over the summer! 

We Got the Beat

I’ve always thought Kurt was very pretty in this scene.  

I should probably have more profound analysis.  

Well, there’s not much to say, other than Kurt’s used to being bullied by the school, and he’s not about to make himself a target by getting up and singing on the lunch tables, no matter how pretty the pianos are.  

Year 3 and Kurt’s still an awkward little dancer. <3 

This song is nice and fun and energetic.  Not really a favorite of mine, but man, what does it take to get this school into anything?  Geez! 

You know, for someone who is so particular about their clothes – I’m sure this is like the zombie apocalypse.  Poor Kurt. I love the food ray shield. 

You know, never once in all my schooling did I witness a food fight. 

Kurt is just not having it. 

Kurtcedes lives! If only to pass along exposition.  And to exchange bewildered looks as Sugar sings her god-awful song.  

You know it’s funny – I never noticed how seasons 2 and 3 (and 4 actually) openers have plotlines of – let’s open up glee club for everyone! Except not really because we’re a seclusive little bunch. 

Velma and Roxy

Small town is small after you’ve been to the big city.  But Kurt has a plan, that they’re gonna out preform all the other Ohio hopefuls so they can get a shot at their dreams.  I think, for the first time, I kinda get the purpose of this song (other than the blatant relation to Wicked and connection to season 2), but that they’re already counting in their victory against all the other hopefuls.  They’re putting their cart before the horse.  

Say what you will about Gay Hogwarts, NYADA does attract the witches….

The song itself is a little ridiculous but the performance is wonderful.  I love the choreography of this one.  And as always sound fantastic together, and this performance is no exception.  Say what you will about how Hummelberry was written – and I will say a lot over the next two seasons – Lea and Chris’s voices suit each other wonderful, and the show seems to latch on to that pretty well.  

Transfer

Not exactly a pic of Kurt, I know, but Blaine’s so frickin’ gorgeous in this scene.  And Kurt thinks so, too!! Look at that grin!  

But I’m kinda fascinated by this, now that I think of it, how Blaine’s all – check me out Kurt – in this kind of suave way.  And, oh Kurt, kind of caught up in his own drama to even notice that his boyfriend’s one outfit has changed.   

But, just, the excitement Kurt has when Blaine’s decided to transfer.  OMG! the boy is so happy.  

I love that Kurt has concerns – and they are so totally valid.  Blaine did transfer to be with Kurt, and that’s going to play a part in some of their bigger issues.  But for now, they can reveal in their happiness and not think at all about nasty, nasty break ups.  

And – getting Blaine into New Directions.  But since the only competition is Sugar, there really isn’t an issue here. 

Oh Kurt – so giddy that he’s once again getting sung to in the courtyard.  Can this year get any better?!?!  

Everything’s great util you light the piano on fire. 

Velma and Roxy II

Kurt and Rachel are so ready for this NYADA mixer! Only to find out that while at McKinley they might be special snowflakes, in the real world, they’re a dime a dozen.  I like the reality of this scene, tbh.  That you can give your 1 in a Billion speeches all you want, there’s always going to be someone else who seems like they’re more talented than you.  There are a lot of things Glee misses the mark on when it comes to college.  Or theater.  And this scene is a bit over the top.  But it does show that, hey, there are a ton of people trying to make it the same as you – and so you do have to ask yourself – do you have what it takes to compete? Or do you just walk away. 

I think now’s a good time to bring up the Glee Project.  I never watched it, tbh, so I can’t judge what kind of a show it was. But I’m not a fan of the results of the Glee Project.  And I don’t mean who won and who didn’t (Damien McGinty? Really?).  I mean that I have lots of problems with season 3. ��But I think one of my biggest is that a show with a cast already overflowing now has to shoehorn these winners into the plot.  (I mean, think about how much space the show would have had without Rory)  Outside of Unique, I’m not really a fan of the characters that grew out of the Glee Project. 

That said, Lindsey Pierce was one of the winners, and her little moment to shine here seems perfect enough.  She’s a great vocalist, and I’m incredibly impressed by what she does here.  This performance is excellent.  

Anyway – going back to Kurt’s story.  It’s kinda hilarious how perfect a song choice this is – this group of kids basically stating that anything you guys can do Kurt and Rachel, we can do better.  Oh Glee with all its subtleties.  

So.  Kurt and Rachel make it back to the car and break down crying because that’s what happens when your optimistic view point gets smashed.  Poor kiddos.  

And then we get Kurt gives Rachel a pep talk v.2.0 (yes, i’ll be numbering these).  And it’s similar to the Born This Way talk – that Rachel is good enough to get in because she’s still special.  The thing, though, as much as I joke around, is that I do honestly like this scene.  Because Rachel is in Kurt’s corner, too, supporting him even though he’s down on himself for lack of extracurriculars.  The scene is a balanced one, where they both pull each other out of this dark place, and I can really do Hummelberry when this kind of thing happens. 

Gay High-five!!

You Can’t Stop the Beat

Oh, I have waited so long to screencap this.  There’s a gif out there that’s even funnier though.  

Anyway – there’s a ton crammed into this little scene.  Blaine joins glee club, which is yay!! But c’mon, Finn, you’re seriously having issues with Blaine possibly taking the spotlight when you and Rachel get all the solos? And Santana’s out for the week.  Why is she only out for one week? Who knows.  And then, finally, Kurt’s feeling ambitious and running for Student Body President, and Blaine’s super proud of him.  Can’t you tell by the still above?

But the moral of the story is you can pull all of the strings out of the purple piano but you can’t pull out it’s music.  Or, er,  something like that.  

Kurt’s feeling light and airy after that handjob.  Oh, wait, nope. 

It’s funny, I think this episode still holds up.  It’s crammed full of things, almost to a fault, but is still funny and endearing and services all the storylines it’s going to be presenting during the first third of the season.  I still really enjoy this episode even if season 3 goes mostly downward for me from here. 

It’s Season 3 people. Bam!

[grlnxtdr30]

Master Story List

13th

Every soul has thirteen chances to find it’s soulmate. Kurt and Blaine are on their 13th life.

A Bite of Klaine

Lifemate. The perfect person for you. Kurt thought he would have to wait a very long time to find his, until he went to Dalton to Spy. Glee/Argeneau crossover.

A Second Bite

How will New Directions and the Warblers react when they learn about Kurt and Blaine? And will Lucian let them remember?

The Final Bite

Now that New Directions know about Immortals, what will become of Kurt and Blaine? Will others find lifemates of their own?

A Kiss For Luck

Alternate Time Line. What if Sexy and Blame it on the Alcohol happened before Silly Love Songs? Warnings in the A/N

Bet On It

Mercedes overhears Blaine calling Kurt’s sexy faces gas pains and sets out to prove him wrong.

Coming To The Tree

Unbeknownst to Blaine, the Anderson men have been living under a curse for three hundred years. Can the McKinley spy break it?

Dalton Boys

Dalton Academy seems like the perfect place for Kurt after The Incident. But is it really perfect?

Dancing Through Life

While traveling with the touring company of Wicked, Kurt meets a curly haired street performer. Will an earthquake bring them together, or will it shake them apart?

First No L, or Whatever

Finn wants to find the perfect gift for his new stepbrother for their first Christmas as a family, but he has no clue what to get the Fashion conscious Diva. Can Kurt’s new gay friend, Blaine help?

He’s Evil, Blaine, E V I L

Something evil is stalking Blaine Anderson, something that wants his blood. Can Kurt protect him, or will the evil seduce the man he loves away from him?

In Dreams He Came

Kurt has just transferred to Dalton, where he meets Blaine Anderson. By day he is infatuated by the dapper Warbler, but by night a mysterious lover infiltrates his dreams. His phantom lover awakens his body with his hands, his mouth, his...Fangs?

Jar of Secrets

A friend of mine told me about an assignment she had her freshman year of college in her psychology class. She called it the Jar of Secrets. This is the Dalton version. Trigger warnings listed at the beginning of each chapter.

Kinky

Oh come on, get your minds out of the gutter! It’s not what you thi...Oh who am I kidding! Proceed!

Klaine, the Musical

The story of Klaine, told through music! You’ll need to use your imagination with this one!

Klaine, the Musical, Dalton Days

Prequel to Klaine, The Musical. Why has Kurt’s life suddenly turned into one musical number after another?

Live Passionately Tonight

Blaine has been hanging out with June Dolloway a lot, and now has missed Kurt’s twenty first birthday. Fed up, Kurt goes out and gets drunk. A chance encounter on the dance floor with a mysterious stranger has consequences Kurt could never have imagined.

Love Potion #9

When Genius teen Kurt Hummel accidently spills a love potion on himself, he finds himself cornered in the locker room by Dave Karofsky. Kurt Flees to Dalton Academy, reinventing himself along the way. Will Blaine Anderson fall for the new Kurt, or will chemistry win out?

Midnight

Werewolves, Zombies, Demons, Vampires. Just your typical Halloween party. Except not all the fiends are wearing costumes. Can Kurt save Lima from the evil that has been unleashed, and still look fabulous by Midnight?

Music and Lyrics

Former member of the boy band, The Warblers, Blaine Anderson’s career is at a stalemate. When Superstar Britt Britt asks him to write a duet for them to record her new album, he jumps at the chance. There’s just one problem. He needs a lyricist to write the words to accompany his music. Enter Kurt Hummel, the strange guy who has come to water his plants.

Operation, Mistletoe

All Kurt wants for Christmas is to kiss his boyfriend under the mistletoe, but someone is always interrupting them!

Reviews Always Welcome

Blaine is a little stressed out. Kurt helps him relax.

Scarves and Coffee

AU Where Kurt and Blaine Don’t meet until Valentines day. Blaine is sitting in the Lima Bean, brooding over the failed GAP attack, when a boy with the most beautiful blue eyes comes looking for his scarf.

Shell

Kurt Hummel’s worst day.

Simply Irresistible

After losing his inspiration, Chef Kurt Hummel is on the verge of losing his restaurant as well. Meanwhile Business mogul Blaine Anderson has something of a jaded view on love. With a little help from a mysterious creature and a sprinkle of magic, can they find what they need in each other? 

Somewhere, Ohio

What do you do when all of your dreams come true? You look for a new one, and sometimes you find them in the most unexpected places. When Kurt Hummel left Lima, Ohio fifteen years ago, he never thought he'd ever move back. But when he gets some news from his dad, he realizes There's no place like home. My First Future Fiction!

Spell Check

Kurt doesn’t believe in magic. Rachel proves him wrong.

Take it Back

Kurt Hummel is Fed Up, and he is Not going to take it anymore!

Their Love is Out of This World

Kurt Hummel always knew he was different. He just doesn’t learn how different until his sixteenth birthday. How will his world be turned upside down when he learns the truth?

Trick or Treat

Kurt Hummel HATES Halloween, for good reason. So why does he let Brittany talk him into going to a Halloween Party with New Directions and the Cheerios? After the jocks play a cruel trick, he drives off in tears, and nearly runs over a mysterious boy in the middle of the road.

Yee-Haw

After finding certain articles of clothing in his best friend’s closet, Blaine realizes that that day on the stairs was Not the first time he had seen Kurt Hummel.

Twas The Night Before Christmas

NOT MY STORIES! Check out this collaboration of my favorite authors on FF!

[kurtbastian-land]

I Would

Summary: It was another typical day with the Warblers. Blaine has found a new crush and decides the most appropriate way to confess to him is through a song. Who cares if they’ve only met and talked once? It’s not like his soulmate would have a boyfriend... right?

“He is just amazing, you guys. He’s funny, beautiful and his voice. You should hear his voice. I swear, it’s like angels talking to me.”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow at the gushing Blaine Anderson was making as he entered the music room for the usual Warbler’s practice. It wasn’t that he has anything against Anderson. His family was as rich as he was, and Sebastian could see the appeal the latter have on some of the guys in school. Hell, even he tried to tap that when he first transferred but then he realises that Blaine Anderson was... well... kinda bland. Kinda like... flour. Not that he has anything against flour either. Flour is pretty useful, making the most delicious pastries that Sebastian grew up eating whereas Blaine makes funny faces and screeches whenever he tries to put emotions to songs.

“Aww, look, the excited puppy looks as though he’s going to wet himself over a boy,” Sebastian cooed as he took his usual spot on the couch, “the last time I checked, that Jeremy dude, or whatever his name was from the GAP attack incident, wasn’t that remotely breathtaking.”

“It’s Jeremiah, Seb,” Blaine corrected the latter, “and he’s nothing like Jeremiah. I would introduce you to him but he’s too good for you. And I don’t want you trying to get him into bed for just a night.”

“You’ve talked to him once,” Sebastian pointed out because someone had to and it’s clearly not Blaine’s fanboys. The amount of times Blaine falls for a guy is getting close to ridiculous.

“Once is enough to know if you’re someone’s soulmate.”

Rolling his eyes at the haughtiness tone Blaine decided to take upon, Sebastian resisted the urge to gag and leaned back into the sofa, placing his legs on the coffee table. It was no secret that Sebastian loves to flaunt his promiscuity to others, an image he held up proudly, like a badge of honour even if they weren’t quite as true as they were in the beginning. Fishing out his phone from his slacks, a small smile made its way on his face as he opened up his latest text.

Quickly typing a response, Sebastian threw a glance at Blaine who was still avidly talking about his new crush and how it was so obvious that the latter was into him. Sometimes, he wonders what is it like to be Blaine. To be so wonderfully naive, to have his head so stuck up in his own ass. Must be terribly... awful, Sebastian decided. Well, one thing’s for sure, he can’t wait to see the mess of this next serenade is going to be.

“Okay guys, he’s over there. With his group of friends,” Blaine nudged his head towards the direction of the object of his interest.

The Warblers were standing at the entrance of The Lima Bean, in their trademark blazers, taking a quick peek at a group of high schooler happily chatting in the coffee shop, trying to figure who has caught their leader’s heart after one meet up.

“Can we just get this over and done with,” Sebastian complained as he pocketed his phone, clearly displaying no interest in Blaine’s boy, “position Warblers.”

On command, the Warblers shifted into their assigned position, with Blaine front and centre, as always, regardless of the occasion. The moment Blaine opens the door, the Warblers at the back began to harmonize a tune that has been familiarised over the past week.

Lately I found myself thinking

Been dreaming about you a lot

And up in my head I'm your boyfriend

But that's one thing you've already got

The Warblers entered the establishment uniformly, quickly shifting to wear places could fit them. Clearly, Blaine didn’t take into consideration the tables and chairs that would be present during their performance.

Sebastian squinted slightly, as he tried to figure out who is Blaine exactly singing to amongst the group of students that were sitting around the table. Obviously the blonde and the short brunette were out of the question, because, duh, girls. So what was only left in the group was a giant of a teen, another blondie with lips you can see from a mile away and... Kurt?

He drives to school every morning

While I walk alone in the rain

He'd kill me without any warning

If he took a look in my brain

Oh no no no. The hobbit wouldn’t. He wouldn’t be so fucking stupid to...

Sebastian watched as Blaine broke away from the Warblers, walking straight to the dumbfounded Kurt, eyes wide open, mouth agape, face turning a shade of red Sebastian have yet made Kurt turn to. And honestly, it’s pissing him off a little that he wasn’t going to be the first one to do so. That wasn’t the only thing pissing him off. His eyes started to twitch as Blaine got closer to his target.

Would he say he's in L-O-V-E

Well if it was me then I would, I would

Would he hold you when you're feeling low

Baby you should know that I would

Would he say he's in L-O-V-E

Well if it was me then I would, I would

Would he hold you when you're feeling low

Baby you should know that I would

I would

“Okay, hobbit!” Sebastian barked when Blaine grabbed Kurt’s hand, pulling him up to his feet, “I normally wouldn’t care who you make us serenade to, because it’ll always end up to you embarrassing yourself but you singing to my boyfriend is where I’m drawing the line.”

The Warblers watched in stunned silence as Sebastian took large strides away from the group, shoving Blaine aside, causing the latter to stumble slightly as he placed his arm around Kurt’s waist, pulling him close. Whispers and murmurings could be heard almost immediately at the sudden turn of events.

“Looks like inappropriate Blaine struck again.”

“Does he have like a checklist to complete or something? First outing a guy, now serenading to someone unavailable. What’s next? Singing to a straight guy?”

Blaine immediately flushed when the Warblers started chattering behind him. “I.... but...” Blaine stuttered at the sudden turn of events

Clenching his jaw, he pointed accusingly at Sebastian who was currently glaring at him. “You knew about this the whole time and you didn’t think to tell me that you’re dating Kurt?”

“You didn’t even mention his name, you idiot,” Sebastian snapped at the latter.

“I pointed at him when we were outside!”

“Have you ever seen me giving a fuck about who’s your latest crush?”

Eyes were constantly moving back and forth as Blaine and Sebastian continued to argue, no one willing to give in over the latest mess.

“What would Kurt ever see in a manwhore like you,” Blaine sneered, tilting his chin upwards to make up for the lack of height he has against the latter.

“That’s enough Blaine,” Kurt cut in sharply, eyes throwing daggers at the boy who decided it was appropriate to suddenly start serenading to him in a public establishment, with no warning whatsoever and still had the decency to try and put the blame on Sebastian.

“I don’t know you. I’ve met you once, on pure accident because you looked like a sad puppy who got kicked in the stomach multiple time.”

“But...”

“I’ve met you once and I did not lead you on or showed any signs in being interested. I’ve. Met. You. Once.” Kurt emphasised, stressing each word, hoping that it’ll get through Blaine’s apparent thick skull that is currently being protected by an equally thick gelled down hair, “and quite frankly, I don’t want to want to be friends with you if you happen to think slut-shaming my boyfriend is appropriate.

Smiling to himself, Sebastian couldn’t resist placing a quick kiss on Kurt’s temple before quickly sticking out his tongue at Blaine. “Yea hobbit, I would. So you can scurry your little ass away and take the corny ass song with you.”

Blaine opened and closed his mouth, trying to figure out the words to say to somehow make himself look better. But when he couldn’t, Blaine snapped his mouth shut and turned around to storm off. The Warblers started at each other awkwardly, not knowing what to do or say, their minds trying so desperately to wrap around the most pressing news at the moment.

Sebastian Smythe, Dalton’s residential playboy, has a boyfriend. A serious boyfriend.

Thad awkwardly cleared his throat, nodding in Sebastian’s direction. “I’ll take it that you’re staying here while the rest of the Warblers take their leave?”

Sebastian grinned and gave a little wave to send them off. Once they were out of sight, Sebastian turned to Kurt, eyebrow raised, “so Blaine was the self-absorbed guy you were talking about?”

“So the serenade you’ve been preparing this past week was for me, led by Blaine?” Kurt shoots back, a teasing glint in his eye.

Before Sebastian could reply, he noticed Kurt’s group of friends staring at them wide-eyed, especially the brunette with bangs and one ugly as hell animal sweater. Sebastian raised an eyebrow and gave a small wave. That seemed to wake the girl in some kind of trance as she stood up, chair screeching against the marble floor.

Kurt quickly turned around and noticed Rachel standing, finger pointing accusingly to his boyfriend. “Oh no,” he muttered under his breath, “please do-“

“SPYYY!” Rachel screeched, causing the other patrons of the coffee shop who went back to minding their business, quickly turned to see what kind of commotion these high schoolers are making now.

“Friends of yours babe?” Sebastian winced at shrillness of her voice.

Kurt nodded his head begrudgingly as he buried his face into the crook of Sebastian’s neck.

“Do you mind if we could-“

“No Bas, I am not going to switch Rachel for Blaine.”

“Damn it.”

[o-dasaku]

any sneak peeks? :P

sure, dude. there’s a few scenes under the cut, so i’ll shove it under a read-more.

have a good old nd cameo:

Sebastian takes his time walking to his seat, Jeff and Thad by his side. Hummel’s heatedly glaring in their direction so Sebastian grins back at him, then snorts when Jeff fires off finger-guns at Kurt.

When the Warblers are all settled, Abrams rolls out to the edge of the stage, glancing down at them with a vague glare. All of New Directions are standing behind him, fanning out into a uniform v-shape behind him. Looks like they had the same idea of appearing as a single unit. Well. That’s interesting. Then Abrams speaks, “We’re not doing Michael for Regionals.”

Sebastian raises a brow, tilting his head thoughtfully. “I didn’t think you’d surrender that easily.” He’s genuine in that, too - thought that Wednesday’s accident would power New Directions and their unique need for vengeance against everyone who’s ever wronged them (he’s heard about Jesse St. James, of course) but then-

God. They are going to sing.

Mostly resigned to his fate, Sebastian settles back in his seat, head cocked in Hummel’s direction as the boy speaks, “We’re tired of the fighting and the backstabbing. We’re show choirs, we’re supposed to be supportive of each other.”

Thad sits a little straighter at that, looking at Kurt curiously. Sebastian might not know the ins-and-outs of show choir, but the culture around it seems... pretty competitive. Where the fuck is Hummel pulling this from? His ass?

“This is what we call taking the high road,” Puckerman continues, but Sebastian can’t help but notice he seems more reserved than usual. Does he not agree with how New Directions are approaching this? Huh. “Which I was shocked to learn had nothing to do with marijuana.” There he is.”

have a very brief and very vague blaine character-study:

“...Blaine wasn’t just our star, he was part of our family, too. A really important part. He knew all of us, and like- properly knew us, not just that bullshit where I say hi to every Warbler in the halls even though I don’t know shit about them.”

Sebastian remembers last Friday night out in the foyer of Sectionals, remembers a strangely downbeat Blaine saying I just wanted to belong.

Does Blaine know he already belongs somewhere? Even still? Sebastian sees it in the way everyone’s a little skittish regarding his newfound friendship with Blaine - they don’t trust him not to hurt Blaine, even though it should rightfully be the other way around (not that Sebastian really minds).”

as for actual seblaine content, have this:

“...Blaine opens up the album on Sebastian’s lap. Blaine explains just about every photo they come across and despite how open Blaine is with just about everyone he meets, Sebastian doubts that many people get to see this. He wonders if Blaine’s walked any other Warbler through his family’s photo albums. Maybe Wes, if anyone. Definitely Hummel, if he even counts.

The first album spans the initial eighteen years of Cooper Anderson’s life - there aren’t many photos of just Blaine’s parents or even Blaine, but they’re definitely included. Sebastian sees at least five photos where little Blaine is wearing a bow tie and wishes he didn’t find it so damn endearing.

“We don’t have to look at the other one.” Blaine offers when Sebastian places the first album on the coffee table. “It’s just me and my mom for the most part.” And there’s... something there, Sebastian knows. Blaine filled him in on Cooper’s choice to move away to California after graduating high school, but that doesn’t explain his father’s imminent absence.

“I don’t know, killer. I’ve been enjoying your origin story.”

Not that the albums tell him jackshit about what Blaine’s life was like growing up - he knows just about everything about Cooper, but Blaine’s still a mystery. The two brothers sung together often but it’s the only indication Sebastian’s really gotten that the boy in the photos is the same teen sitting beside him. 

Blaine flushes, looking pleased. “Okay. Cool.”

He wonders if Hummel took the out when Blaine showed him the albums.”

also, i’m very soft for this scene and idk why:

“Are you okay?” Blaine asks. Sebastian blinks and realises they’re parked just a little down the road from Scandals. Holy shit, how long had he been thinking? Blaine doesn’t even live in Lima. Close enough, of course. But long enough that a whole drive shouldn’t go that quickly. 

“Yeah. Just thinking about your ass.” Sebastian smirks over at Blaine who he can tell is blushing, even in the low light. “You good?”

Blaine looks thoughtful and for a long moment Sebastian thinks he might get an actual answer, but then the other boy shrugs. “I will be.”

It feels like the most honest answer Blaine’s going to give, so Sebastian takes it as a win.

[sugrmottas]

what actually are your glee ships?

short answer is everything, more or less. i’m too much of a multishipper lmao

long answer is under the cut.

here are my preferred endgames:

rachel: jesse/rachel, but in an entirely different way than it unfolded in the show??? also they’d get together pretty far into their twenties/maybe even early thirties vs. rachel being 21 and jesse being 23.

finn: i have an oc endgame for finn (had he lived) because i honestly don’t really see him working with anyone actually on the show. 

kurt: i do stick by my preference of adam/kurt (he needs to be someone more mature than him Honestly), but as time goes by i do find myself growing more and more fond of the adam/elliott/kurt ot3. i never quite got the appeal of any of kurt’s other ships (especially kurt/puck and kurt/karofsky) so that might be a factor there, admittedly.

mercedes: in the event that tike isn’t endgame, i do find myself pretty soft for mercedes/mike. they have such a great dynamic in s4 (that was dropped thereafter but that’s glee i Suppose) and it’s easy to see how it could grow into a romantic relationship between the two of them. they’d do friends to lovers so well. i’m endlessly fascinated by their potential. i have an oc endgame for her otherwise, because nobody else on this hellshow deserves mercedes jones.

tina: mike/tina was super undeveloped but also one of the healthiest relationships glee had so they’re automatically my endgame for them but as i delve more into the post-glee headcanons, idk. maybe not. if not mike, i’d probably end up putting her with an oc. maybe a warbler, but lbr, all but blaine/kurt/sebastian/hunter count as ocs. sooooooooo

artie: honestly? idk. i’m v soft for artie/kitty but i enjoy artie so little as a character that i find it hard to pair him with anyone. 

quinn: i ship quinn with literally everything under the sun. i don’t think i have a stable endgame for her, but i always end up coming back around to pairing her with warbler wes. (kids born into ohio’s high society and forcing themselves to live up to impossible standards until they just can’t anymore is my LIFEBLOOD.)

santana: dani/santana. i think santana does need an intellectual equal to be fully satisfied in a relationship and as much as she loves brittany, she just… doesn’t hit the mark. and that’s okay. seriously. dani and santana kind of feed into each other’s prejudices (fuck your biphobia ladies) so they need to do a lot of growing together, but i think they’d do it well.

brittany: i don’t have a solid endgame for brittany just because i struggle to understand her character, which is my bad. i think if anything i’d have her in a polyamorous relationship (usually of 4, sometimes 3, rarely more) with a group of ocs - usually a warbler’s thrown in there (jeff more often than not) but the others are completely from scratch.

puck: puck/rachel has always owned my heart, so i feel it necessary to give them a shoutout here. but honestly, lauren/puck is just… so good. 

mike: mandatory callouts for mike/tina and mercedes/mike. i think for mike, mike/tina makes a lot more sense - she pushes him to challenge his father which is Huge, but i struggle to see where he’d challenge her. he’d support her to the end, but stops short of telling her to be more. i think there’s less of him holding back in his relationship with mercedes (they have a dynamic built on mutual respect, where mike and tina started hooking up behind tina’s boyfriend’s back), so i think i’m more partial to them here.

matt: i felt weird not including him but honestly matt/screentime

sam: blam, surprising nobody.

blaine: blam, surprising nobody. seblaine’s a Big secondary ship, though.

sugar: warbler nick fuck y’all crusty bitches who don’t give a shit about boys if they ain’t gay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rory: ??? idk man, rory deserved better than this hellshow.

joe: i have an oc endgame for him!

marley: jake/marley/ryder. jake and marley date for-freaking-ever (fuck the cheating storyline), breaking up when the time comes for college - jake gets an insane scholarship to julliard while marley’s staying in ohio. who else is staying in ohio? oh gee, ryder! so marley and ryder spend a Lot of time together, eventually begin dating, except there’s always a weird cloud of Jake hanging above them. jake ends up dropping out of julliard and drops off the map for a while and eventually jake’s mom calls ryley begging them to try and help find her baby because they were His People and even though they haven’t spoken to jake in nearly three years, they go because of course they do. there’s a Lot more to this story, but i’m trying to keep this short so: they find jake in new york eventually, in with the entirely wrong crowd and end up staying in the city (in blaine and sam’s apartment which is too small for the two of them let alone all five) to try and help him recover/through his withdrawals (they do long-distance schooling because blaine mother hens the shit out of them and refuses to let them fuck up their hard work just because jake’s struggling) and a few years laterrrr they’re all together.

jake: read above

ryder: read above

kitty: artie/kitty. also v partial to kitty/warbler thad. i just like putting the second generation of new directions with warblers oKaY

unique: i honestly. do not know. i love unique but have such a flimsy grasp on her character (probably because i hate alex) that i just never know what the fuck i’m doing with her post-canon?????? probably an oc, though.

i feel like the 3rd generation pairs itself up nicely (alistair/spencer, jane/mason) and don’t have too much of an idea of madison and roderick’s endgames (not each other, fuck y’all crusty bitches not being able to come up with unique endgames for them when they clearly weren’t super into each other) sooo uh END SECTION

i mentioned various secondary endgames above, but here are my big midgame ships.

rachel: finchel (uh fuck canon), pezberry (uh fuck canon x2), samchel, puckleberry (idk how i feel about canon here).

finn: finchel, fuinn strictly in the sense of “i don’t ship them romantically but view them as integral to each of their individual development”.

kurt: klaine. also ngl i’m vaguely interested in what Could have happened with chandler/kurt but i don’t think i ship it much.

mercedes: samcedes, idk their ship name but mercedes/shane was also a good ship, you guys are just mean.

tina: tartie. also the older i get, the more i lowkey ship sam/tina tbh.

artie: tartie, quartie.

quinn: fuinn, quick, quam, quartie. also it’s Mostly a crackship but st. fabray kind of??? appeals to me??? also quinntana and faberry but there’s so much meta there that idk if i ship them or just find them incredibly interesting

santana: brittana, pezberry, quinntana. 

brittany: brittana, bram (quinn and sam are kind of my shipping bicycles pls help).

puck: quick. also the age-difference was super whack, but i’d be interested in him and kitty dating when she’s, you know, legal.

mike: personal headcanon is that mike’s demisexual but biromantic, so i don’t do a lot of casual shipping with him. i’ve been playing with the concept of him going on a few dates with a male oc when they’re in college, though idk if it’s a Big thing yet.

matt: MATT/SCREENTIME

sam: samcedes, quam, bram, samchel, sam/tina (sina? tam? ew).

blaine: klaine. also i’ll be honest, the concept of a bi!blaine is super interesting to me (i cried when biota aired lmao) and if it was Ever a thing, i’d ship blaine/brittany/sam so hard.

sugar: rory/sugar, artie/sugar, a bunch of idiot men/sugar.

rory: rory/sugar. also i have a weird thing where i think he and marley would be super close but idk if it’s in a ship way or best friends??? sos

joe: i know it was never super developed, but i was kinda soft for joe/quinn ngl.

marley: n/a??? idk she’s a v first love/last love kind of girl.

jake: jake/kitty.

ryder: i have a Thing for ryder/tina and i don’t understand it but blake and jenna had some Super Cute moments so i blame them. also i’m adding ryder to the list of “members of new directions 2.0 randomly dating warblers”, this time the lucky warbler being an oc soooo SRY

kitty: jake/kitty. jitty? i feel like they had a ship name.

unique: n/a???

and then there’s notp’s, of which i have one: k*rtsofky :) also k*rley is…kinda gross lads. also s*btana just let thm b gay!!!

[chocoholicannanymous]

If the Spit Hits the Fan (Glee) Part XV

Follows pt I, pt II, pt III, pt IV, pt V, part VI, pt VII, part VIII, part IX, part X, part XI, part XII, part XIII and part XIV.

Being Sebastian's boyfriend really isn't that much different from being his friend. They do a lot of the same things, and talk about the same stuff, only now there's hand-holding and kissing and cuddling with it. Apart from the touching though? Nothing really changes much.

Which kind of makes it sound like how it was with Blaine.

It's not though.

Sebastian will hold his hand in the hallway without worrying about being seen. And yes, Dalton is different from McKinley – so, so much different, and safer – but Blaine even hesitated to hold Kurt's hand in the choir room, surrounded by friends.

Sebastian kisses him in a way that never leaves Kurt doubting there's attraction, and has to stop his hands from wandering too far on a regular basis – yet never making Kurt worry he won't stop.

Sebastian makes Kurt have to stop himself, both from allowing it and from doing his own wandering. They're still too new to go there, no matter how much Kurt's hormones sit up and beg every time Sebastian touches him. (They'll get there, Kurt's sure, just... Step by step, and not yet.)

Sebastian reaches out for Kurt without looking – sometimes seemingly without thinking – to pull him close, and always makes a space for him.

And when Sebastian sings, it's with Kurt, or for him, not at him.

It's a far cry from scheduled make-outs and avoiding even PG13 levels of PDA and being made to feel like his boyfriend is more interested in his own hand than in Kurt.

It's amazing.

There's a rainbow rose hanging on Kurt's door on Valentine's day. He and Sebastian have been dating for two days – a day and a half, if he was to be picky – and Kurt knows from last year's insanity that there's not a flower shop within two hours of Vesterville that carries rainbow roses. They have to be ordered special, and with a lot more warning than two days.

Kurt's not the least bit ashamed about how he squeals, or how he turns on his heel and kisses his boyfriend (!) for long enough to be a little dizzy afterwards.

This isn't to say that Sebastian is a perfect boyfriend. He's not. Then again, neither is Kurt. He's working from romantic movies and the examples from the New directions, and of course from his time with Blaine. Neither is a good road map. Romantic movies have so many flaws Kurt don't really want to examine, and a lot of his favorites are set too far back in time to be useful as guidelines. The loves lives of his old glee mates are...well. They're flawed too, when seen without rose-colored glasses and envy.

As for his relationship with Blaine... Even if he's not counting how it ended that relationship was so very less than perfect, and honestly it was both their faults. Kurt's not without blame, he knows that and can admit it without somehow pretending what Blaine did wrong never happened.

So he's trying to learn from his mistakes, and other people's mistakes, and he does his best to communicate with Sebastian – who does the same in return.

Also, no one can say that they don't argue. They definitely do. They have from the beginning, and they're both opinionated passionate people, so why should they stop now? Their relationship has changed – they themselves haven't.

It's just that they manage to argue in a way that works. That doesn't makes Kurt pull out his claws to eviscerate Sebastian, that doesn't scare Kurt, or make him give in to “preserve the peace”. That, right there, was one of the things that had sent his relationship with Blaine down the wrong turn. When he'd first told his dad that he'd begun dating Blaine Burt Hummel had told him never to go to bed angry with his partner. He'd meant to sort out arguments and disagreements, but Kurt had interpreted it as needing to back down and push down his anger or hurt. With Sebastian he doesn't.

They argue, because that's who – and how – they are, but they do it in as mature and healthy way as they are able to, being teenagers. And they apologize if they step over the line. Not Kurt apologizes, regardless, with Sebastian pouting until he does, but both of them.

If Kurt had to, he'd call it damned near perfect. Instead he'll just say it's good, and he's happy.

That's never something to look down on.

The week of Regionals is weird. Kurt's never felt as prepared or as calm with a competition approaching, which is rather telling. The rest of the Warblers are a different story though. Kurt has made it clear that his primary goal is to beat the Troubletones, and his friends are feeling the pressure. They even ask if Kurt and Sebastian won't reconsider singing 'Human Nature'.

“Look, guys, I'm honored, really, that you would trust me, us like that. But I want to win more than I want that solo. And even if we ignore the fact that Ohio doesn't seem ready for a gay duet, I really do think the setlist we have is stronger as is. The Troubletones have a great presence, and both Mercedes and Santana are awesomely talented. However, everything about the Troubletones are built around them. The rest of the girls are background and dancing. If we go on with a number that's the same they are going to win, for no other reason than that most people find girls prettier and nicer to look at.

“But if we go on as an actual choir, for a show choir competition? We'll win. I'm sure of it. We've worked so hard with our songs, and I wouldn't change a thing about our setlist.”

And it's true. They have an amazing setlist, and everything flows in a way that makes Kurt feel practically professional, and he's not giving that – and its chance to win – up to stare longingly at Sebastian while singing a song that exposes them to the core.

No. Kurt's going to have quite a lot more time in the spotlight than he'd expected when turning down a proper solo. He's going to sing with his friends, and his boyfriend, and he's going to show McKinley what it means to be a team onstage.

The Troubletones are just as amazing onstage as Kurt thought. They've done a good job picking their songs, and Mercedes still has the best voice he's ever heard live. Santana's not quite as talented, but give her the right song – which these are – and she'll blow your mind. Their choreography showcases the girls poached from the Cheerios without making Mercedes look too far behind, and their clothes look good.

Kurt would vote for them any day, even with Rachel being given a place in the background, except this one. This is going to be his day. He meets Sebastians eyes as they line up and nods.

Showtime.

'I want You Back' does exactly what it's meant to, namely getting the audience in a party mood. As the last notes flows into the first from 'Man in the Mirror' the mood shifts and Kurt feels his own shift with it. His solo feels a little raw, because in no way can he sing those lines without being reminded of all the crap he's gone through over the past 6 months.

“...a willow deeply scared, somebody's broken heart and a washed out dream...”

Well. His heart might have been broken, and his dreams about Blaine did wash out. But he's got new dreams, and his hearts healed, and no matter the scars he's whole where it matters. And even if he wasn't? He's looking in the mirror, and he's changing.

They bring the party back with their last song, giving their all transforming the sounds of 'Beat It' to sounds that can be reproduced by the human throat. The dancing is the most demanding Kurt's ever done onstage, and he knows he will definitely be beat after. But they look and sound awesome, and that's all that matters.

Or maybe not, he ruefully thinks as he sees Finn on his feet, jumping up and down and whooping as the Warblers are proclaimed the winners and Rachel looks like she's been pelted with eggs again.

“You stole our songs!”

Of course. All Kurt wants to do is get on the bus, go back to Dalton and celebrate. Okay, shower, then celebrate. So naturally Rachel is waiting to ambush him. Well, that's not going to go the way she's probably thinking.

“Really? Really Rachel, you're going there? You know very well that we didn't steal anything. Oh, I know that there was a suggestion that the New Directions do Michael for Sectionals, but I also know that you were the one who refused to accept it.

“You really blew it there. Michael is a great choice for Sectionals or Regionals, what with the Ohio mindset, and I'm pretty sure you would have won with the setlist the guys suggested. I'm not surprised you put a stop to it though.”

Rachel draws back, looking first shocked, then insulted, then finally like an angry goose, complete with hissing sound. He's not letting it touch him though, lets it run over him, one might say, like water over a goose.

“There are no songs in Michael Jacksons discography that's a given for you, no certainty that you'll be featured. And in the end, that's what mattered, wasn't it? Not that the New Directions won, but that you won. You wanted to beat the Troubletones, didn't you? Wanted to show that you were better than Mercedes, wanted to prove that her beating you when auditioning for Maria was just a fluke. Wanted to prove what everyone knows, that's she's every bit as good as you, and sometimes better, is wrong.

“Well, congratulations. You got what you wanted in terms of the setlist and the spotlight, but you fucked up everything else. And not just for you, but for everyone.”

An expression of pain flies across Rachel's face, and he pushes the knife in a little bit further.

“We weren't as blind though. The minute Finn told me about the Michael setlist I knew it was a winner. As did the other Warblers. I asked Finn first, and Sam and Puck. They didn't think we needed their permission, as you didn't use the songs, but they gave it any way.”

Kurt looks at Rachel, looks at the way she's still fuming, still refusing to see any other side than her own. It won't matter what he says – she'll keep ignoring any and all arguments against her. Once he might have tried harder to make her understand, but as things are he just wants to leave. His boyfriend's waiting and that makes Kurt out of time to spend on his former friend.

“Your loss, our gain.”

He starts to leave, but thinks better of it. He's got one more jab in him.

“Oh, and Rachel? Don't worry. Going to Nationals is a privilege, and we won't waste it. We've already gotten started on a setlist.”

It's petty, but. So's she.

That evening the Warblers celebrate as thoroughly as a bunch of uniformed boys in a well-staffed boarding school can. This means that it's late when Kurt drags Sebastian to his room (unlike him Sebastian's in a single), but neither of them is under the influence of anything but happiness.

That's important to Kurt as they tumble into Sebastian's bed while kissing, because he doesn't want there to be any doubt in Sebastian's mind that when Kurt pulls off his shirt and then goes for his fly it's because he wants to.

Having Sebastian stop him is frustrating, to say the very least.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

It's only the fact that it's Sebastian, and that he's shown himself trustworthy in so many ways over the past months that stops Kurt from storming out.

“I thought we... You know?”

It's so hard to say, to open himself up like this, years of being told he's a predator, or ugly, or plain wrong getting just as much in his way as the fact that he's never done this, and the only time he's been even close wasn't even about him.

Apparently he's going to have to use his words regardless, because Sebastian's not taking the opening.

“I thought we could have sex.” There. Words. Consent. Door wide open.

And yet Sebastian's still not taking the opening.

“What's the hurry?”

Kurt pulls back a little, hurt blooming.

“No, no, don't. Talk to me, okay? I'm a bit surprised I guess. We haven't even been dating for two months yet, and I know this is new for you.”

“So? It's not like I'm waiting for marriage.”

Kurt knows he sounds a bit snippy, and he has sort of been waiting – not for marriage, but for something, some feeling of more. He's got that feeling with Sebastian, so what's the point of waiting any longer? Everyone else his age (or so it feels) is having sex so why can't he?

Some of it must bleed through because Sebastian gets that “aha” look, and nods a bit.

“Look, regardless of what I might have said or implied when chasing Blaine, I'm actually not the whore of Babylon. I have, however, rounded a few bases and enjoyed them. I think you'd enjoy them too, and I would love to find out first hand. But that doesn't have to mean we go straight to fucking.” Kurt blushes, because he might be ready to do it, but those words...

“So. I'm not going to push, and I'm not going to rush. I am more than interested though, I'm just happy to take it a bit slow. To build up to every step. As far as I'm concerned you've earned that.”

Sebastian's looking so earnest it kills Kurt annoyance, and then lightning-quick it's replaced by a vicked look than makes him shiver all over.

“I wouldn't mind showing you the first of many, many bases now though. How about it, babe?”

Kurt doesn't mind either, neither then nor the next day.

[solli]

work in progress (11/22)

so, here’s what you missed on glee: blaine and sebastian challenged hunter's authority and hunter won in back by the power of democracy. new direction and the warblers are in a bit of a feud. posh really likes sebastian, but sebastian seems to care about it less than he does about college. blaine should worry about college as well, but he's too busy denying he might have to wear glasses. i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, x, xi

The first time Sebastian heard of Blaine Anderson  was when he read his name on the tag of his room, just above the doorknob. He was three weeks late to the start of the term, already bored from the moment he put on his blazer, and it had given him something to entertain himself with, figuring out why everyone couldn't shut up about who this Blaine guy was.

It had been difficult to discover anything about him that wasn't how hot he was, or how good he was at performing. A great kisser too, according to one guy who couldn't stop bragging about the time he made out with him after a party. Had Sebastian known what Blaine looked like, at the time, he would have told the guy how pathetic he sounded in bringing that up, when someone like Blaine wouldn't have a single reason to remember his name.

Sebastian still remembers it, the disappointment that soured him when he looked up the yearbook, thinking that he had missed him only by a few days. Blaine was handsome, and it looked like he knew it. Dark eyes, an easy polite smile that tugged at one corner of his mouth. The easy confidence that came from knowing he was the best subject the photographer got to take a picture of, that day.He had wanted Blaine before he even met him.

He thinks maybe that's why it's difficult to stop waiting.

(continue on ao3)

[isaidnotostatusquo]

******** VERY IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ ************

So ... I think this is the first original post I’ve written in four whole years of having this Tumblr, but I legitimately can’t think of a better reason to break my internet silence! For those of you who have been living under a rock/have an actual life outside of social media, the Tin Can Brothers (Corey Lubowich, Joey Richter and Brian Rosenthal) are currently in the midst of Kickstarting their latest project: a 10 episode webseries/podcast called ‘The Wayward Guide for the Untrained Eye’! This project is sure to be incredible and you can find out more specific details by following the link below!! 

The Tin Can Brothers are the same guys behind the smash-hit musical: ‘Spies Are Forever’, which has amassed hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube (if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s pretty dang good, and you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd3aJl930YE&list=PLlF0gFzOX4tD1KJ5ZEnvhD55Qhnz-K0X2)! 

This year, they also released their first ever short film, ‘Flopstoppers’ (again, you can watch it for free here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lipp_4fco3w). 

On top of Kickstarter campaigning, they’re currently uploading weekly episodes of their hilarious one-act play, ‘The Solve-It Squad Returns’. You can watch the first six scenes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEA0hNs0M98&list=PLlF0gFzOX4tDiqbhfmx5036ZFKD6LAoQN and/or you can purchase the show in its entirety (along with Behind the Scenes content) here: https://www.tincanbros.com/stage-productions! 

Marketing aside, these guys are wholeheartedly committed to producing consistent, quality content that their fans can access easily and cheaply. Their work is witty, original and extremely engaging! Additionally, their projects always include badass female characters with distinctive personalities and independent motivations, who are allowed to be vulnerable AS WELL AS strong; just like real human beings! As a long-term fan of the TCB, I’m 100% positive that ‘Wayward Guide’ will live up to these standards!

However, at the rate that the Kickstarter is moving, ‘Wayward Guide’ is NOT currently projected to be fully funded by its final day (24/09). If it doesn’t reach its $100,000 goal, it ain’t happening! No cards will be charged, no rewards will be given out, and it’ll be like the whole concept never existed! But YOU can change that! By donating just $1 (approx 70p for my fellow Brits), you’ll be helping this project come to life! If you donate $5 (approx £3.80) you’ll not only play a key part in the creation of ‘Wayward Guide’ but you’ll also receive exclusive updates on its progress, right up until its release; all for the price of a Starbucks! There are additional rewards available at increasing price tiers, so the more you donate, the more you will receive! At the moment, the Kickstarter needs to be making around $4000 per day in order to reach its goal! It’s a lot of money, but I’m confident we can do it! As Tescos say - Every little helps!

And if this hasn’t got you convinced, here’s a list of the people who we currently know to be involved in the project, and some things you may know them from! (Additional cast members are constantly being announced as various Kickstarter goals are met, so this list is by no means definitive):

- Benji Dell is Director of Photography! 

If you’ve watched ‘Flopstoppers’ or the ‘Spies Are Forever’ Kickstarter video, he was also DP for both of those! His work is BEAUTIFUL and based on what I’ve seen of him in the ‘Flopstoppers’ BTS featurette, he seems like a really chill guy!

- Chuck Criss is Composing! 

He’s in the band ‘Computer Games’, along with his brother, Darren, who you mayyyy have heard of before! He’s also in indie rock band ‘Freelance Whales’. His musical style is EXTREMELY cool, and if you watch the Kickstarter vid for this project, you can hear some of his tunes first-hand!

- Corey, Brian and Joey! 

In addition to writing and producing ‘Wayward Guide’, the Tin Can Brothers are taking an even more active role! Corey is also going to be directing the project, whilst Brian and Joey will both be acting in it!

- Mary Kate Wiles! 

You may know her as Tatiana from the TCB’s previous project, ‘Spies are Forever’, or from her prolific work with fellow internet comedy group, ‘Shipwrecked Comedy’! (’Kissing in the Rain’, ‘Poe Party’ and the upcoming ‘Case of the Gilded Lily’) She also appeared as Lydia Bennet in Pemberley Digital’s Emmy Award winning webseries ‘The Lizzie Bennet Diaries’, and has enjoyed starring roles in the short film ‘I Ship It’, and in the webseries ‘Muzzled the Musical’ amongst many others! (Basically she’s done almost everything there is to do and I’d be here all day listing her credentials!) She also has a YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcw3_LYw-SuTdOaWjEJSvHQ, which you should definitely check out because she’s great and posts weekly! She’ll be taking a lead role in this project as podcast host, Artemis Schue-Horyn, and I for one, can’t wait!

- Steve Zaragoza!

Steve was an original member of the popular YouTube channels,‘SourceFed’ and ‘SourceFedNerd’, which have amassed over 2 million subscribers in total! He’s also starred as Iggy DeLacey in Pemberley Digital’s ‘Frankenstein, M.D’ and has recently appeared in some Disney Channel and Disney XD shows. He’s a new addition to the TCB universe, and is sure to be wonderful! 

- Dylan Saunders!

You’re sure to know Dylan from his work with Team StarKid! He’s appeared in the ‘Very Potter’ trilogy, ‘Starship’, ‘Holy Musical B@man’ and, most recently, ‘Twisted’! I think we can all agree that he has one of the best voices on the planet, and he’s also one of the most laid-back and friendly guys I’ve ever had the privilege to meet! I’m so excited to see him working with these guys again!

- Joanna Sotomura!

Another Pemberley Digital star, Joanna appeared as the title character, Emma Woodhouse, in the series ‘Emma Approved’! She’s also a new addition to the TCB world, and I can’t wait to see more of her!

- Jon Cozart!

Yep, that’s right - ‘Paint’ himself is going to be involved in this project! Jon is probably best known as the creator of ‘Harry Potter in 99 Seconds’, a.k.a one of my FAVOURITE videos of all time! He’s amazing and extremely creative and you should definitely subscribe to his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/Paint

- Nick Lang!

One of the founding faces of Team StarKid, Nick has been involved in some way in pretty much every creation of theirs to date! Also, he once taught my Dad a magic trick, which my Dad has never managed to accurately recreate. Further proof that Nick is the best!

- Clayton Snyder!

You’ll probably remember Clayton from his wonderfully intense portrayal of Fyodor Dostoyevsky in Shipwrecked Comedy’s ‘Poe Party’ (as members of Shipwrecked have said, he was basically in his own movie). Also, he’s Ethan Craft from ���Lizzie McGuire’ so that’s pretty dang cool!

- Sinead Persaud!

A founding member of Shipwrecked Comedy, Sinead has co-written, produced and starred in every single one of their projects to date! Last year, she appeared as sassy ghost, Lenore, in ‘Poe Party’, which was a perfect role for her! In this, she’ll be appearing as a ‘Macabre Mortician/Taxidermist’, which is an EVEN MORE PERFECT role for her! 

- Titus Makin Jr!

Titus has done a looottttttt of TV work over the years, (like seriously, so much!) but you’ll probably remember him best as David the Warbler from ‘Glee’! He’s also got a budding music career going, so he’s very talented! Another TCB newbie!

- Tara Perry!

Perhaps you’ll remember Tara from when she coughed a lot and was reallllly into trees on Shipwrecked Comedy’s ‘Poe Party’. If not, she also played boss lady, Vivian DeMarco, in the Tin Can Brothers’ short film ‘Flopstoppers’! I’m also pretty sure that I saw her once in an art gallery in Glasgow, but was 100% too scared to approach her, so who knows?

- Gabe Greenspan!

If you’ve been keeping up with the Tin Can Brothers recently, then you’ll for sure know Gabe from their most recent show, ‘The Solve-It Squad Returns’! He plays a complete a*sehole called Keith, but somehow manages to still make him loveable! Also, he’ll be appearing in Shipwrecked Comedy’s upcoming ‘The Case of the Gilded Lily’, so keep your eye out for that!

 - Ashley Clements!

Ashley is probably best known for her titular role as Lizzie Bennet in Pemberley Digital’s, ‘The Lizzie Bennet Diaries’. Other webseries she’s appeared in include ‘Poe Party’ and ‘Muzzled the Musical’ (as a well-dressed villain both times)! Most recently, you might have seen her in the Tin Can Brothers’ ‘The Solve-It Squad Returns’ where she acted opposite Gabe Greenspan. She’ll be doing that again and it’s sure to be hilarious!

- Corey Dorris

You’ll probably best remember Corey as Big Tallywacker in ‘MAMD’, Yaxley in ‘AVPS’, Kingsley Shacklebolt in ‘AVPSY’ and the Grandpa in ‘The Trail to Oregon’! When I saw the show in New York, his character was called ‘Ol’ Man River’, which is, in my opinion, the BEST NAME HE COULD EVER HAVE HAD! He’s also Juilliard trained which is prettttyyy cool!

- Sean Persaud

Another founding member of Shipwrecked Comedy, Sean has also co-written, produced and starred in each of their projects, along with his sister, Sinead. He played the titular role of Edgar Allan Poe in ‘Poe Party’ last year, where he exhibited his uncanny ability for deadpan hilarity! He’ll be playing a ‘Desperate Pastor’ in this project and I can’t wait! 

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD AND DONATE IF YOU CAN SO THAT THIS PROJECT CAN HAPPEN!!!

[lady-divine-writes]

Klaine High School/Teenager Fic Masterlist Part 2

If at First You Don’t Succeed... -  In the middle of one of their scheduled make-out sessions, Kurt decides to renegotiate the 'south of the equator' deal ... which ends in a way neither boy expects. But Kurt isn't willing to just give up.

Making an Impact -  After Coach Sylvester threatens Kurt to lose the five pounds he gained over winter break...or else, he signs up for a popular Latin Fusion Cardio Kickboxing class, where he meets a handsome boy with whom he makes a connection...literally.

The Ferocious Blaine Anderson -  Kurt is excited by the idea of having a werewolf boyfriend, but Blaine fears that Kurt, the love of his life, won't want him anymore when he sees what he becomes.

When the Image Seems Very Similar -  Kurt and Blaine don’t meet at Dalton. They meet earlier, in the hospital, after Kurt gets slammed into a locker and Blaine gets beaten up at the Sadie Hawkins Dance. The two of them come from different parts of Ohio, but their experiences are very similar. Even though hate put them in the room they’re in now, it also makes them friends.

The Sure Thing -  In an effort to help his brother lose his v-card before high school graduation, Cooper Anderson finds Blaine a “sure thing” – a boy willing to have sex with him, no questions asked, no strings attached, no guilt involved. This boy, Sebastian, goes to Blaine’s school, and has even admitted to having a bit of a crush on Blaine. Except when Blaine shows up to the country club to meet Sebastian, he’s not exactly the boy his brother described.

Rolling with the Punches -  Kurt buys a pair of “adult dice”, and the first chance he and Blaine get, they break them out for a night of naughty fun…except none of the rolls end up the way they expect, until fate - or Blaine - lends a hand.

Friendly Competition -  Kurt finds out that The Warblers are raising money for the same organization the New Directions are, with a first prize of going to New York to meet Lady Gaga, and Kurt is determined that he's going to win.

Seeing-Eye Kurt -  After the fiasco of Rachel’s basement party, Kurt gets the honor of taking a drunk Blaine home. But drunk people usually say exactly what they feel, and Blaine has something sweet to say to Kurt.

[itinerantscribe-blog]

Day 5 of 56

So, first weekend of latest foray into abstinence upon me. 5 days in, usual suspects, I mean symptoms in evidence. Wait, wait, they aren’t symptoms at all, they are not even by products, they are the beneficial effects of expunging alcohol! They are welcome.  Once again I find myself up by 5 am, witnessing the wondrous birth of a new day over and over again. The euphonic choral accompaniment to to the onset of a new dawn of potential, of energy, of peace, received so differently according to which period is in ascendancy, tea totality or its opposite. In these phases of liberation, I embrace this chorus with good cheer and a ready welcome, my winged friends and I sharing those early moments in concert and harmony. When the contrary phases achieve dominion, the mellifluous song morphs into an unbearable cacophony, cleaving my soul and shattering my slumber forcing me to wake to to endure yet another cursed aftermath of the morning after the night before. What an extreme contrast between which I oscillate.  The blackbird, the robin, the chaffinch and warbler too, just a few of my early morning companions who bless or haunt me with their inevitable vocal presence and my inevitable one of two states. Extremes. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6_LYIdYxz4

Absence of alcohol, all of it, it just entirely re-defines and re-shapes in such an indescribably beneficial manner my outlook, my sentiment, my sense of well being, my health, my everything. Why oh why do I not remain on this path in perpetuity? Why do I re-visit the very thing that with the flick of a finger re-edits all of the above? Why oh why for the sake of a few hours of indulgence in some coloured, sugar infused liquid, do I sacrifice the unsullied delight in the simplest of things like a bird’s song? Is it worth it? After  nearly 6 decades on the planet you think I’d know the answer. 

The young lady I am assisting, she has made her first 5 days alcohol free for longer than she will admit. We both know it’s longer than she has pretended it to be. I am not her father, not her mentor, not her guide nor her conscience. But I am proud that she has managed to achieve a milestone. I thought she would falter last night. She had warned me the night before that she believed she would stumble barely out of the blocks. She was almost apologising in advance of the transgression. It was a meeting you see, a large gathering which was hers to conduct and oversee. To speak even, to a large audience, a frighteningly large audience. Public speaking. Standing there as a throng of anonymous faces direct their unbroken gaze on you, piercing, probing, collective eyes boring into your soul and penetrating your essence. Oh my. I didn’t know she would be speaking. I had sent her a text early morning however, just to fortify her resolve. In the text exchange that follows, I shall refer to her simply as her. As always, no clues as to her identity are contained within that which ensues and if appropriate, I have excised anything that would compromise her. I have told her I think she too should blog, illuminate her situation, declare to the world proudly and boldly. She won’t do that. Yet. She thinks such a path would make it too real. Think about that. She thinks it would make it too real....

So, just to repeat the context. She had advised me on day 3 that she would be hosting a large event on day 4 late afternoon and that she had little faith in the likelihood of surviving sober something that is not an infrequent activity within her working remit but which to date has been underpinned with excessive ingestion of booze. Hard booze. My first text went out 8.21 am yesterday.

me: Are you going to have to have a drink every time you have an event like today? For the rest of your life? Four weeks time sober you could have an event like this everyday without a second thought. Don’t sacrifice all the benefit you are engineering for yourself for the sake of one meeting. Don’t go if there is even MINIMAL risk. 

I received no response and just got on with my day, bearing in mind I have my own position to consider and cultivate.  Understand please do, lest you level accusations of hypocrisy my way, that it was and is in my interests also that she doesn’t fall. I will not drink while she doesn’t, of this I am certain.  At 10.35 I tried again.

me: So? How’s the day looking for you?

her 10.48: I don’t feel well. Am in (city). Dressing the part. Acting the part. All while eyeing up the cast and extras with deep suspicion. Everything feels wrong.

(Gotta admire her euphemistic use of language. I wish I could feign ownership of that metaphor, but alas, all her work)

me 10.50: Don’t catastrophize. Look for evidence that everything is wrong. You won’t find any. Don’t let your mind betray you.

me 11.55: Don’t look for excuses TO drink.

Then our exchange ceased. I returned to my quotidian activity, thinking before expelling further consideration to the subject that she would not survive. It wasn’t until 7.07 pm that the crisis erupted and texts assumed complexion of ferocious ping pong exchanges.

her 19.07: I think one is ok.

her 19.08: We can agree that one. (She’s seeking a collective alliance, share the liability, dilute individual responsibility. She’s seeking endorsement)

me 19.08: No we can’t.

me 19.08: We have already agreed something else.

her 19.08: Please.

her 19.08: Just one.

her 19.09: Say yes.

me 19.09: I can’t stop you. You can stop you. You haven’t even given it a chance. If not now, when? There is no when. There is only now.

By now I am thinking she has already had one, by now I am trying to call her but the phone moves straight to voicemail. By now I believe she doesn’t want me to talk to her, she doesn’t want me to try talking her out of a step that would bring to a highly premature conclusion this enterprise. Finally, she answers the phone. I have no idea at this point that she has already completed the most arduous element of the event, the public speaking element. But indeed she has completed it. She had completed it unaided by chemical or pharmaceutical or alcoholic participation. The conversation was protracted, she told me how the hall was awash with available alcohol. I had to remind her England, and the rest of the western world and much of that beyond is awash with alcohol, there is always temptation, accessibility. The call ended. She told me normally at these things she would drink until the early hours, leave only when she would otherwise be the only one left. I was sure she would succumb, it was only 4 days into her own odyssey, she had exposed herself too soon, she had placed too much pressure on her fragile shoulders. She shouldn’t have gone....

her 22.07: Done. Heading home.

me 22.08: Drink free?

her 22.09: 100%

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxAKFlpdcfc

me 22.11:Truly well done. You haven’t sacrificed tomorrow for a couple of hours tonight. Thought you’d crack today.

her 22.12: So did I, with your help (that was nice of her, no need, I’m doing it for me as much as her) and a colleague at the event steering me away from the bar anytime I got near, it was a success. Don’t feel great for it yet but hoping I will.

me 22.12: You absolutely will.

I mean really, how great is that? How well do that girl do? Outfuckingstanding. So, so impressed with her resolve, especially given the additional ingredient of what would be a nerve challenging ordeal of public speaking for anyone! 

me 07.53 this morning: How do you feel gliding soberly into a weekend free of roughness probably for first time in years?

her 08.12: Odd, I woke waiting for the usual to hit me and then remembered, I’m fine (how lovely is that feeling!!!). For the first time in forever I don’t feel like a failure, I don’t feel pathetic, I don’t feel useless. There is hope. I am ok! Feel a bit embarrassed about the evident desperation which must have been observed last night (who cares? she succeeded, who cares what anyone else thinks?) but I think I might be able to actually do this. (she had better not split an infinitive again lol)

me 08.15: Careful with what you think! Positive is good but gentle! That breeds complacency. Day by day. Aren’t you pleased you didn’t drink yesterday? You wait til you pass weekend. 

me 08.17: Carry a Mars bar with you at all times (she doesn’t know I am a major shareholder in Mars Ltd, ssshhhh). That pack that comes in two small ones. it’s your emergency measure!

her 08.17: Extremely pleased. I’ll go to the shop in a bit.

End of transmission. 

How good is that? I am so, so pleased for her. I admire her strength. But eh, wait a minute. Why can’t anyone talk to me like I spoke to her? Why can’t  I talk to me like that?? How come then, that given my quarter of a century seniority on her, I have not yet conquered this in entirety? Are we back to choice? Is it because I had no-one with similar exposure talking to me when I was her age? Well, I have some thoughts on that, well of course I do! But I think for now, this blog will take refuge in weekend respite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy9_lfjQopU