#while the shot of Rhett is from the other direction alone

[wonderholegifs]

I found it buddy

[baseballbitch116]

The Wedding

Pairing: George Weasley x reader

Request: 👋 hey I hope you are doing well. I've kind of wanted to write this imagine for a while but I SUCK at writing and I love your writing so I thought maybe I'd ask you 😊 so I've had this song stuck in my head for like ever but its Marry Me by Thomas Rhett and basically its where the reader and George (and-or) Fred Weasley were friends with her and one of them has a crush on her but no one makes a move and then they eventually get a wedding invite like after the war or after Hogwarts. ?? If this is too confusing I totally get you not wanting to write it 😊 again hope you are doing okay!!

Prompt: George Weasley x reader slow burn

Setting: Deathly Hallows pt 1

Word Count: 1918

Warnings: None

Masterlist

Fandoms I Write For | Send Me A Request!

A/N: Hi darling!! I’m doing okay! You definitely do NOT suck and I would’ve loved to read your own take on your prompt! & tysm for reading my work hun :) I was so excited when you messaged me with this idea, I absolutely love it! It ended up getting pretty long cuz I get carried away, I hope you like it! 

You’ve had a crush on him for years now. He used to just be your annoying best friend as children. The boy that would protect you from bullies then tease you himself. The one that would mess up your hair or relentlessly play pranks on you. He and his brothers were like second family to you growing up, and you’d always felt like a part of his family.

Things changed when you started your first year at Hogwarts. The twins were already in their second year, and that was when you realized that you had formed a crush on George. You were freaked out by it at first - he was one of your closest friends! But as time went on and you saw him interacting with other girls, you found yourself growing apart from him - the fear of rejection pushing you away from him.

Following that year, you grew much closer to Ginny and Ron, and spending less time with the twins. They never confronted you about you basically avoiding them and you felt like they didn’t even notice that you had stopped coming around them.

Little did you know, Fred and George noticed. They were pretty upset and offended when you began avoided them, seemingly out of nowhere, and were too prideful to ask you why. George figured it was because you were meeting a bunch of new people(and boys) and didn’t need them anymore - while Fred thought something else had to have been going on.

Fast forward to the Yule Ball, you had pushed your feelings for George aside and gotten yourself a date to the ball. You stopped avoiding the boys after your first year but you also stopped hanging out with them unless you were with other people. Of course there was that part of you in the back of your mind wishing that George was your date. That you could dance in his arms, that he would compliment you, but instead, you went to the ball with Cedric.

“This is so dumb, I don’t wanna be here.” Fred whined, tugging at his bow tie once again. George rolled his eyes at his twin and scanned the room absentmindedly, bored of this dance already. Harry and Ron approached the two of them, Ron acting just like Fred, tugging at his uncomfortable dress robe awkwardly. Ron suddenly froze in place and George spotted Hermione walking down the stairs. He smirked and opened his mouth to make fun of his younger brother - until he saw you following behind Hermione. It was like the air was stolen straight from his lungs - whatever he was about to say was long forgotten as he stared at you walking in their direction.

Your soft pink dress lightly trailed behind you as you elegantly descended from the stairs, a shy smile on your lips as you made your way toward your friends. George felt like his heart had stopped in that very moment, and Fred had to nudge him to close his mouth before you got to the bottom of the stairs. His mouth was dry and he couldn’t bring himself to look away. The sight of you walking toward him in that dress was something he wanted to remember for the rest of his life. 

George admitted his feelings for you to himself right in that moment. You were the most beautiful girl in the room by a long-shot. He always denied that he felt something for you - mostly because he had never had any desire to be in a relationship or to ruin your friendship - but in that moment he knew that he had to have you.

You held your dress up slightly so that you didn’t trip on it as you approached your friends, and Fred chuckled. “You better be careful in that get up, Y/N, with your clumsiness.” He teased. You rolled your eyes playfully at him and laughed nervously. “I am so not looking forward to dancing in front of all these people.” You mumble. Fred gives his brother another nudge so that he will stop staring at you and say something.

“I could sneak you away?” He offers, half joking, half not. He wanted to whisk you away and steal you from your date. How is it fair that Cedric will get to dance with you and not him?

“Unfortunately I can’t.” You respond to George. He looked so handsome in his suit and you wished that he was your date for the night. “Speaking of-” You say, forcing a big smile as Cedric approaches and stands beside the twins, giving you a grin.

“Y/N, you look beautiful.” He compliments. You can’t help but blush at the nice compliment. You don’t notice the grimance or anger on George’s face before he masks it with another nudge from Fred. He towers over Cedric and looks displeased to be near him, but you cannot question it before your date offers you his hand when the music begins playing - signalling time for him to escort you for the first dance. You shoot a short, nervous smile to your friends before allowing Cedric to escort you away.

The rest of the night was miserable for George, as he longed to be the one dancing with you. "You’re wicked jealous, mate.” Fred taunted him as he glared at Cedric by your side. “I always knew you had a thing for her.”

Fast forward to present day, George had come no closer to making you his. He was so scared that he would mess things up and he was never scared of anything, so instead he just stumbled his way through conversations with you and awkwardly attempted to do something to get out of the friendzone. You had noticed a change in his behavior but never recognized it to be because of feelings for you.

And here you guys were, at yet another dance. Well, a wedding to be exact. Bill and Fleur’s wedding. You did not bring a date, as you had no interest in anyone other than George. He did not bring a date either. He so badly wanted to ask you to be his, but when he heard that you planned to attend the wedding alone, he decided not to and hoped to figure things out on the day itself.

When he saw you walk into the tent in your gown, his breath was stolen from his lungs the same way as it had been on the night of the Yule Ball so long ago. You looked around nervously as you tried to spot a familiar face, and his heart dropped when he saw you smile when you made eye contact with him. Did he do that?

You walked over to him and he felt like he couldn’t breathe as he watched you approach. “Wow, Y/N-” He starts, clearing his throat to try to shake off his nerves. “You look...”

“Nervous?” You ask, chuckling awkwardly.

“No, you look amazing.” He says with an awkward chuckle.

You blush furiously and smile.

“Wow, a compliment from George? It’s going to snow!” You tease, giving his arm a little nudge playfully. He returns the chuckle and cups your hand on his bicep before you can remove it. Tonight was the night - he could feel it. It was a romantic, happy occasion and he suddenly had the courage to make a move.

You look at his hand on yours, then look up at him. Something was changing, you could feel it. Your heart pounded in your chest behind your blue gown and he grasped your hand and brought it up to his mouth, placing a light kiss on the top of it. “M’lady.” He smirks playfully.

You roll your eyes and laugh to mask the butterflies that were soaring through your stomach. What had gotten into him?

“Would you like to dance?” He asks. You are stunned but force yourself to nod when your words fail you. He does not let go of your hand and escorts you over to the dancefloor where everyone has begun slow dancing. He takes the lead and hesitantly places a hand on your waist, keeping a safe distance between your two bodies. You both feel very tense and awkward, but you want this so bad.

You inhale deeply and raise your hand up to his shoulder lightly, looking up into his eyes shyly. Your hand is small in comparison to his and his large frame leaning over yours makes you feel safe in the weirdest way. You allow yourself to get lost in moment as you sway back and forth to the song around the bride and groom. George decides to allow himself to make this moment as perfect as possible, so he brings you slightly closer by your waist until you are nearly chest to chest. He is not smiling but he is so deep in the moment and you can see the emotions written on his face.

He can’t help but glance at your lips for a moment. Your heart stops as you continue to dance, staring into his eyes. There’s no way that George has feelings for you...? Is there? He leans down and brings his mouth to your ear, his breath sending shivers down your spine.

“Are you having a good time?” He mutters into your ear.

“I am.” You respond quietly. He shifts your hand slightly in his own so that he can interlace his fingers with yours. “I’m so happy for them.” You continue, closing your eyes momentarily and getting lost in the moment.

“Me too. They deserve it.” He responds. His hand on your waist holds you a little firmer and he presses his body into yours, keeping his head beside yours. “You look beautiful tonight.” He compliments you. You are glad that he can’t see the giant grin spread across your lips.

“Thank you, George.” You respond. “You look great in a tux.” You return the compliment.

He pulls back just enough to see your face, smirking at you playfully. “Why thank you.” He grins. You giggle and smile up at him.

“I didn’t realize you were such a good dancer.” You note. He takes that opportunity to spin you outward, pulling you back into his arms flesh against his chest, looking down into your eyes.

“Neither did I.” He grins, and you laugh again. Suddenly though, the moment becomes intense as you realize how close in proximity you are. You can feel his breath on your lips as he rests his forehead against yours. Your breath hitches and your brain goes silent, unable to process anything other than the man in your arms. He can tell that you are feeling this just as much as he is and he finally has the confidence to do what he’s been dying to ever since the Yule Ball.

George starts to lean in closer, just ever so slightly. You can practically taste the mint on his breath as he is just a few millimeters away from your lips. And just when he was about to, the song ends and the crowd begins clapping. He closes his eyes in exasperation before lifting his head up from your forehead and taking a step back. You let the breath you didn’t realize you were holding out and acknowledge your surroundings, noticing Bill and Fleur heading over to the cake. You clap with the crowd but your eyes fall back to George, who was already watching you.

What just happened?

---

@shycupcakealissa @cat-of-ninetails​ @justducky0423@satanslittlesiister @supxheroxs @angelmarie823@blankitdblankityboom @at-least-i-have-harry-potter@viioletdelights@thewife122@limelight20@thatoneloonyravenclaw@wizardreyyy@afangirlfrommay @never-trusthugs @navas-things@just-my-fandom-replies @ignore-me-i-dont-exist-right-now@yourslytherinprincess @randomchick29@mikoshiota @i-am-never-getting-my-life-back @lcvcdbyhim@cloudyskylines @series-obsessed@bvckybarnesnsfw @ficbucket @glitteryathleterebeluniversity @thefandom-witch​ @narnianathogwarts394

[malienessan]

Well, I got a little inspired by the awesome pictures of Rhett golfing. @rhettjmc was it something like this you had in mind?

Can you help me find my balls?

THWACK!

The red ball flew in a perfect arc, over the fence at the 300 mark and landed with a thud in the thick grass, in the general vicinity of a couple of dozen other red balls.

THWACK!

The next red ball mimicked the previous almost perfectly, over the fence, landing with a thud.

THWACK!

And again.

THWACK!

And again.

It had been going like that for a while now. Rhett “Red Ball” McLaughlin was grooving it in a way like he hadn’t been since he was on the pro tour. As a matter of fact, a small crowd had gathered behind him, studying his technique, the perfect hit he made with every swing, his skill. Well, a few might have studied his physique as well. He was tall, 6ft7, with long, curly amber hair, that was partly covered by a trucker hat at the moment. And that strong body, well, he could really get some clubhead speed

THWACK!

“You ready to go man?”

“Oh, I’m just watching this guy drive.”

Rhett could clearly hear the mumbling coming from behind him. He almost smiled a little to himself but managed to refrain. He knew it would be way cooler if he didn’t acknowledge it.

Another ball.

THWACK!

It had been almost six months since Rhett played his last game. Life had been good since, he’d played a fair bit of golf, mostly for fun. He was working as a pro at Pinehurst so the game was ever present in his life.

But this.

Just swinging, driving ball after ball, no, that was a long time ago. His back wouldn’t usually let him either, but it had been good for a while. Probably because of the sweet massages he got from his love and former caddie, Link “Blue Balls” Neal.

THWACK!

Apparently someone in the party was ready to leave, but as far as Rhett could make out, they weren’t in agreement. Maybe it was time to break out the 7 iron? He adjusted his trucker hat, protecting his head from the sun, but letting his amber locks flow freely over his shoulders. His Ray-Bans perfected the look he was after.

THWACK!

Yep, he still got it. The red ball landed exactly where it should, Rhett didn’t even have to look after it, he could feel it in his body that it was a perfect hit.

THWACK!

“Damn…”

Oh, the audience was captivated. It was like being back on the tour, Rhett could feel the adrenaline, the endorphins, the need for attention and appreciation.

THWACK!

The second to last ball joined the dozen other red balls and Rhett pegged up his final one. He could hear some rustling behind him, he figured his audience knew that the show was all but over and had decided to leave.

He lined up the shot, swung back and right as he let the club descend…

“Babe, what are you up to?”

THWOOKK…

Nothing in this world could have gotten Rhett out of his groove, except the gorgeous man standing behind him, cheeky smile on his face, blue eyes twinkling. Rhett grinned at him, before turning towards the general direction in which the golf ball was heading and shouting “Fore!”. Hopefully it wouldn’t hurt anyone.

“Link! How long have you been standing there?”

Rhett put his club back in the bag and went up to his lover, giving him a kiss on the cheek, brushing his silver-streaked hair behind a beautiful ear. All of Link was beautiful, Rhett told him everyday.

“Long enough to see a bunch of men ogling you. And I know you could hear them, you filthy bastard.” His words were followed by a wide smile and a gentle touch at the growing hard on Rhett was sporting. Rhett glanced over his shoulder, they were pretty much alone.

“Oh, come on, you know how it is. And besides, I only have eyes for you, honey.” He patted the plaid clad butt, Link always wore such tight pants, and Rhett loved it. “Do you have 15 minutes to spare?”

Link tried to look scandalized but failed miserably. “What did you have in mind?”

Rhett pulled off his sunglasses, he wanted to have a proper look at his boyfriend. Then he put his hand in his pocket and pulled out two red balls, one for luck, and a spare, for extra luck. He threw them into the small grove nearby, and it sounded like one bounced off a tree trunk and one landed directly in the thick grass, impossible to see.

“Can you help me find my balls?”

He smiled at Link, who grinned back and took the lead, dragging Rhett by the hand.

A little while later, Link actually did find Rhett’s balls, and took a firm hold of them.

[dweemeister]

The Phenix City Story (1955)

Southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia are separated by the Chattahoochee River. Along the Alabamian banks of this river is Phenix City which, for over a century, became known as, “Sin City, USA”. Organized crime in league with the police department dealt in illicit drugs, fraud, rigged gambling operations, prostitution, and violence. These syndicates flourished on and around Phenix City’s 14th Street, and many of 14th Street’s patrons were Army soldiers visiting from nearby Fort Benning, Georgia (during the Civil War, deserting Confederate soldiers frequented Phenix City). So entrenched was Phenix City’s lawlessness that the city, state, and federal governments declined to do much to combat the organized crime. But in 1954, lawyer and Phenix City resident Albert Patterson ran for Attorney General of Alabama – campaigning partly on a platform to reform his hometown – and won. The Attorney General-elect’s assassination shortly before his swearing-in meant that Sin City, USA’s days were numbered.

With the events in Phenix City still in the news, Hollywood came knocking. Poverty Row studio Allied Artists envisioned an idea for a new movie – fast-tracking The Phenix City Story, directed by Phil Karlson (best known for his ‘50s film noirs) and a screenplay from Daniel Mainwaring (1947’s Out of the Past, 1956’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers) and Crane Wilbur (best known for acting alongside Pearl White in the 1914 serial The Perils of Pauline). Barely a year had passed since Albert Patterson’s assassination by the time of The Phenix City Story’s controversial release: this is a shockingly violent film for ‘50s Hollywood, and the film’s thirteen-minute documentary prologue was censored in the American South. Given Allied Artists’ lack of resources compared to the major Hollywood studios, The Phenix City Story is roughly acted, edited, and shot on occasion. But the film, shot on location and sometimes resembling a documentary, pulsates in its violent immediacy. Over time, it has shed its modest background to become a solid film noir.

Local lawyer Albert “Pat” Patterson (John McIntire) has lived in Phenix City for much of his life, privately despising the immorality plaguing downtown. Rhett Tanner (Edward Andrews) is the owner of Tanner’s Poppy Club – a den of booze and gambling where a bloody fistfight is shrugged off. Despite their disagreements, Pat and Tanner are friends and when the latter asks Pat to be part of a new citizens’ safety committee, he declines. Too many such committees have been created over the decades, sometimes masquerading as fronts for aiding criminal operations. However, Pat remarks, he is looking forward to something special. His son, John (Richard Kiley), is returning home from Germany after several years of prosecuting Nazi war criminals with wife Mary Jo (Lenka Peterson) and their children. When John, Mary Jo, and the children arrive, John is disappointed and Mary Jo is distraught at how Phenix City’s red-light district continues to be a hive of scum and villainy. A rapid turn of events involving the Patterson family’s friends and acquaintances – Ellie Rhodes (Kathryn Grant), Zeke Ward (James Edwards), and Ed Gage (Truman Smith) – will precipitate into a wave of assaults, bombings, and homicides that force Pat to run for Attorney General of Alabama.

Preceding most prints of The Phenix City Story is an introduction by journalist Clete Roberts, famous for his radio news reports, by then working for KNXT-TV (later KCBS) in Los Angeles, and is today best remembered for his role in two memorable episodes of M*A*S*H. Roberts, in the highly formal yet folksy journalistic style of mid-century America, interviews people who were close to the Patterson family or witnessed Phenix City’s violence leading up to Albert Patterson’s assassination. Roberts’ reporting is not as polished as it would eventually become. This makes the on-location prologue difficult to sit through, as Roberts asks too many leading questions and undeveloped questions that can be answered in one or a few words. The interviews do not flow smoothly between subjects. While these thirteen minutes make the rest of the film feel like a cinéma verité (generally, observational cinema) documentary within the mold of moody film noir, it can be grating to sit through. This review is based on a print of the film with the prologue included.

According to Ben Mankiewicz’s outro to the film on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) in January 2020, the prologue was placed into The Phenix City Story to allow the film’s violence – the film is not beyond brutal brawls and hoodlums murdering children – to bypass the Hays Code (which censored what could be shown in American movies until 1968, when it was replaced by the present-day MPA ratings system). If the film’s violence could be framed like a documentary, the censors agreed to allow depictions of bloodied characters, sultry women baring their legs, and a casual use of the epithet “nigger” by police officers on the syndicates’ payroll. The prologue – however flawed it is – allows The Phenix City Story to be as brutal as it is. Some theaters in the American South, noting that there was no requirement to show the longer version of the film (the one containing the prologue) they were provided, refused to show the prints with the prologue, deeming the Roberts interviews as inflammatory and impugning the South’s reputation.

Perhaps Allied Artists executives did not think the American moviegoing audience was ready for a diatribe on race relations, but one can see the United States’ historic racial violence at the film’s extremities, waiting to burst alongside the film’s general depiction of Phenix City’s criminal corruption. The film’s most horrifying moment is when Zeke Ward’s child is murdered by Tanner’s hitmen. Zeke, a black employee at Tanner’s Poppy Club who abandons his job after being barely involved on John Patterson’s side of a vicious clash, is targeted for being sympathetic to the Pattersons. That Tanner chose a black person as his first victim is no coincidence; when the police receive word of his murdered child, the officer on the line hangs up the phone and tells his colleagues: “Somebody just threw a dead nigger kid on Patterson’s lawn. Go out and have a look.” There is no urgent inflection in the officer’s voice, as if that call is considered less important because the victim is not white. As a partial aside, those few seconds make me wonder what the censors thought in that moment, as the Hays Code forbade “vulgarity and suggestiveness”, and recommended “good taste” in the depiction of law enforcement; nevertheless, enforcement over the use of “nigger” and other racial epithets did not have a consistently-enforced standard or discernible pattern of contextual exceptions. The Phenix City Story does not concentrate on race for the purposes of telling its story, but the white gangsters and their enablers imply – through their behavior, and if I may appropriate and slightly alter this contemporary line – that black lives could not matter any less.

The Phenix City Story is filled with unfamiliar faces; only those fluent in classic television (and I am not) might squint in half-recognition of the actors involved. There are no bravura performances here, but John McIntire and Edward Andrews – as the elders of this tale, Albert Patterson and Rhett Tanner – stand out from an otherwise lackluster crowd. George White’s (1946’s The Postman Always Rings Twice, 1947’s Green Dolphins Street) editing is consistent. To his credit, The Phenix City Story, outside of the prologue, is never dull as it blasts away at a rocket’s pace. But during the film’s most violent moments, White’s editing fails to hide some of Allied Artists’ low-budget limitations. In the moment where Zeke’s murdered child is tossed out of a car, White fails to hide the fact that the child is a dummy. On my first viewing, I found myself confused about what the dummy was supposed to be. Was it a plastic alligator, a wooden log? Whatever it was, it looked so terribly phony that I couldn’t contain my laughter. Cut to a close-up of the child’s lifeless face. I realize my laughter arrived at the worst possible time. Good thing I watched this film alone. Nevertheless, a better attempt at editing or an alternative angle could have deemphasized the artifice here and spared me (and probably many others) the mortification of laughing at the worst possible time.

The collaboration between director Phil Karlson and screenwriter Daniel Mainwaring led The Phenix City Story down the path of film noir. Karlson’s experience with film noir and Mainwaring’s expertise in tackling material taking place in small-town America gift this film its lurid, sweltering Southern atmosphere. The Southern hospitality disguising traces of malevolence, the notion that residential Phenix City is supposedly far away – geographically and culturally – from 14th Street, and the familiar banter between acquaintances who know each other’s names and families help The Phenix City Story feel authentic to the audience. It makes the film’s violence personal, even when the Pattersons are nowhere near the camera. Karlson, with journeyman Allied Artists cinematographer Harry Neumann (1940’s Midnight Limited, 1959’s The Wasp Woman), implement the chiaroscuro lighting characteristic in film noir to chilling effect – most notably as John Patterson walks into 14th Street on his first night back to visit the drugstore.

Alabamians who lived through or close to the times of The Phenix City Story say that the film achieves the atmosphere of what life in Alabama was like in the mid-1950s, even though the film contains numerous fabrications to dramatize the narrative. The real John Patterson became Governor of Alabama in 1959 and, ironically in comparison to his depiction here, was a segregationist politician. But Patterson, who later renounced those segregationist views, was considered a liberal figure in Alabama, and he was immediately followed by George Wallace. Following its prologue, The Phenix City Story convulses in rage. It denounces fully the criminal skullduggery that made possible a century of ill repute, though not the white racism that it barely brushes. And despite its technical hiccups and occasional dubious acting, it is a prime example of Southern-set film noir.

My rating: 7.5/10

^ Based on my personal imdb rating. Half-points are always rounded down. My interpretation of that ratings system can be found here.

For more of my reviews tagged “My Movie Odyssey”, click here.

[goodmythicalshipping]

As Much of Me as I Am of You (2/3)

Hello again, folks! I hope y’all enjoyed the first installation of my first-ever fanfic yesterday morning! As promised, here is part two. :) The final chapter goes up tomorrow!

Summary: Hours before they’re supposed to embark on the first date of their live tour, Link finds himself coming to terms with his newfound adoration toward his lifelong best friend. The next morning, the two simultaneously discover the real meaning of having an “out of body” experience.

<< Chapter One / Chapter Three >>

After cramming all of their belongings into Link’s car, the pair drove off in the direction of their tour bus parked on the other side of town. The drive was replete with debate about how they would carry on with the tour, as well as their personal lives, after experiencing the newfound obstacle of swapping bodies. There were suggestions of postponing or cancelling the whole tour, or even going to a psychic or a hospital for help, none of which sounded particularly satisfactory. As Rhett continued to try and cool Link down, Link couldn’t help but worry about what would happen to them.

How would this affect their performance tonight, and every other night of the tour? They didn’t have much time to try and figure something else out after rehearsing for so many days. How long would they be stuck like this? Would they even be able to change back at all? Link tried his best to recall the timeline of events that occurred in Freaky Friday, which he had watched with his daughter Lily at home about a week prior. He had little faith that the Disney flick would provide him with any real-life insight, but he had to do something. He suddenly remembered something about “selfless love,” which made him nauseous. They hadn’t argued about anything recently, so that must mean…

Great. Not only did they have to find a way to switch back into their own bodies, but that way might involve Link confessing his feelings to his best friend of three and a half decades. He tried to see any other way around the problem, but that was the only thing that made any logical sense to him in these completely illogical circumstances. Rhett must’ve noticed the puzzled look on Link’s face, because he swiftly spoke up.

“Y’alright, bo?” Rhett asked, sporting a concerned look on his face. Link had to admit: although it was technically his own face he was looking at, Rhett still looked adorable with his eyebrows knitted like that.

“Yeah, as alright as I can be in this mess, I guess,” Link replied honestly.

“We’ll find a way out of this,” Rhett reassured him. “We always do. We’ve made our way out of some pretty tough situations in the past there, buddy roll.”

“As tough as trading bodies?” Link snickered.

“Okay, maybe not that tough, but y’know what I mean. We’ll get through this,” Rhett smiled at him. Link felt his belly do a somersault at that, feeling his face getting warmer. Crap, he really had it bad, didn’t he? They had to figure out something fast, not just for the fans but for Link’s own sake as well. The two of them kept up their cordial conversation as they exited off the highway.

--

“Just act natural,” Rhett warned Link, making a point to punch every word he spoke as they approached the bus with their belongings in hand.

The two greeted their crew members, who were waiting for them in the parking lot. Regretfully, they decided to lie to the group, explaining that Link had a sore throat and Rhett had somehow injured his hand while packing the night before, thus rendering them both unable to perform. Therefore, they collectively decided that they would perform their songs with backing tracks, at least just for the night. It wasn’t what they wanted to do, but what other choice did they have? Link couldn’t play guitar or piano, despite being in Rhett’s body, and the same applied for Rhett on recorder. At the very least, it would bide the pair some more time while they figured out a plan of action.

“So what’re we gonna do about th-,“ Link said to Rhett, before Rhett clasped a hand over his mouth, silencing him.

“Shhh! D’ya want the whole neighborhood to hear ya?” Rhett exclaimed as they boarded the bus, looking over his shoulder to make sure no one was listening. Luckily, no one was close by enough to overhear. Link spoke muffled words into his hand, batting it away once they sat down.

“Geez, man. Sorry I care,” Link provoked. “S���gonna be about a five-hour drive to Vegas. Y’wanna do anything to pass the time?”

Rhett looked around the bus, searching for things to keep them busy. If he was being honest with himself, the idea of being stuck in an enclosed space with Link for the next few hours was a bit daunting to him. Sure, they had spent their entire lives together up until this point, but something struck a chord in him recently that he couldn’t avoid, even if he tried. He suddenly found himself inexplicably thinking about his bespectacled friend more often, usually when he was left alone with his thoughts. Rhett guessed it made sense that this might happen, having known each other for their entire lives. He felt this burning sensation within him to be with Link all the time, being near Link, holding Link… kissing Li-

Rhett found himself being abruptly shaken out of his reverie by the man sat next to him.

“Hello? Earth to Rhett!” Link stated, quickly going wide-eyed and covering his mouth once he realized what he just said. He hoped no one in the main cabin of the bus was able to hear them behind the closed doors of the back lounge.

“Careful, man!” Rhett warned. “If we’re gonna get through this smoothly, we can’t have any slip-ups! This is between you and me and nobody else. Y’have to be as much of me as I am of you to bypass any conflict, got it?”

“Pretty sure that didn’t make grammatical sense, but I got it,” Link joked, earning a playful shove from Rhett. “As long as I don’t call ya by your name again, we’ll be in the clear. I know ya like the back of my hand.”

“Isn’t ‘Call You by Your Name’ that French movie or something?” Rhett asked.

“I think so,” Link laughed. “Never seen it. Speaking of movies that we’ve never seen… wanna watch Freaky Friday?”

Rhett then smacked Link in the face with the nearest pillow, reaping even more laughs that made Rhett’s body tingle all over with devotion for his friend. Nonetheless, he agreed and the two found themselves leaning into each other’s sides as they scrolled through Netflix and tuned into the movie on the back lounge TV.

--

He didn’t know exactly when they had fallen asleep, but Rhett awoke to a combination of the film’s ending credits song and Link snoring on his shoulder next to him. As he turned his head to look down at his friend, being ever so careful not to wake him, he couldn’t help but notice the cute expression Link had displayed on his face. It was also a bit odd, considering he was really staring at his own face, but Link had a very distinctive “asleep” face that he was somehow able to convey even while he was stuck in another person’s body. He watched the younger man sleep, observing how his chest expanded and sank with each breath.

Rhett continued to stare at his agape mouth for a few minutes more, feeling a blush creep onto his cheeks. If he wasn’t currently in possession of Link’s body, he would lean down and kiss him right in that moment. Rhett would be lying if he said he didn’t notice himself trying everything to get closer to the other man at every instance he could in recent months. It had just become a natural event at this point. He had always thought Link was pretty since childhood, but never thought of him as more than a friend until they began filming this past season of GMM. It frightened him to no end, not only because it made him question his sexuality but because this was his best friend – he couldn’t risk everything they had created together over the last 30+ years just to appease his own self-indulgent desires.

Suddenly, Link sprung awake, startling both himself and Rhett. Rhett looked at him bewitchingly as Link yawned, stretching his arms over his head.

“What time is it?” Link asked sleepily, making Rhett’s face redden.

“S’about noon,” Rhett replied.

“Am I still you?”

“Afraid so,” Rhett lamented, to which Link grumbled. “We should probably join the others in the main area before they think we’re dead.”

Before Link could answer him, the lounge door slid open to reveal Stevie standing on the other side.

“Mornin’, sleepyheads,” she teased. “…am I interrupting something?”

Both men flushed at this statement, not-so-subtly scooting apart from each other, which made the blonde girl chuckle.

“Fancy some lunch? I think one of the guys packed us some sandwiches,” she continued.

“Sounds good,” Rhett finally replied. “We’ll be there in a second.”

Stevie nodded, sliding the door shut behind her. Once she was gone, the two men stared at each other for a brief moment, neither sure of what to do next. As the faint shades of scarlet became more apparent on each of their faces, Rhett shot up out of his seat, much to Link’s disappointment.

“In the wise words of Stevie, d’ya fancy a sandwich… Rhett?” Rhett quipped, drawing out his own name for emphasis and extending a hand out to Link, hoping to distract him from the rather awkward moment they just shared.

“Let’s give ‘em a show,” Link japed, taking his hand and making their way toward the kitchen.

(To be continued)

[leelee10898]

Back to you Chapter 15 pt 2 - Leave right now.

Characters belong to pixelberry except those created for the story Summary: we pick up right where part 1 left off. Ellis is not wild about Leos return. Leo and Aria grow closer, and Ellie almost lets something slip out. Catch up here Rating: Mostly Fluff, slight NSFW  Chapter/Title inspiration: Thomas Rhett - leave right now.. Thanks a lot for getting me hooked....@bobasheebaby!!

Tag list: @bobasheebaby @scarlettedragon @katurrade @annekebbphotography @speedyoperarascalparty @greys-anatomy-quotes @stopforamoment @mind-reader1 @xxrainbowprincessxx @hopefulmoonobject @alicars @indiacater @bella-ca @blznbaby @blackwidow2721 @liamxs-world @simsvetements @furiousherringoperatortoad

As always if you want added to the tag list, let me know! Thanks for reading :)

“El, come onnnnn. Lighten up, Leo and I have moved past everything, its time you did too.” Aria whines, while grabbing onto Leos arm pulling herself closer to him. Ellie eyes The duo curiously. “Ellie, I know I put you in a terrible position after, well, everything in Europe, but I genuinely hope we can move forward.” Leo extends his hand turning on his charm. “Ok fine,! But if you hurt her again I will hunt you down and chop off your dick myself. ” Ellie threatened as she shook his hand.The waitress pulls up two more chairs and takes Aria and Leos order. “Ill have 6 honey barbecue boneless and a Pepsi.” Aria ordered. “What are your hottest wings? Leo questioned the waitress. ” homicide,they are very hot. “ she informed him. "Ill have those and a Heineken please.” Aria eyes Leo, you sure you can handle those Rhys? They are super hot.“ Leo shoots her a cocky grin "I think ill be able to handle them.” 

The group engages in idle chit chat about whats been going on in each others lives the past few months before the waitress comes back with their food. Everyone eyes fall on Leo as he picks up his first wing. He rips off a hunk of chicken and chews not even breaking a sweat. He finishes the first with no problem. “They have a kick, but I have had hotter.” He takes a sip of his beer. Aria giggles “that’s why your super man.”

 They finish their food and rob and Liz take off. “Hey, lets go visit Daniel.” Aria begged. She had not seen him since she left and she was wondering how he and Gary were doing with the wedding plans. “You know I hate that place, but Daniel has a heavy hand, fuck it lets go.” Ellie agrees as they jump up. . Leo pulls Aria closer “so where exactly are we going?” He asked. “A bar.. the one I worked at before I left for Cordonia.” They pull into the parking lot of the bar and wait a few minutes for Jay and Ellie to get there. Jay had a street bike as well, but wasn’t as skilled a driver as Leo was. They finally pull in. “Dude that’s a sweet bike.” Jay admired which turned into a full on conversation between Jay and Leo about bikes and the motocross circuit  “If you two ladies want to sit out here and gab all night, Ellie and I are going to go get a drink.” Aria hollered motioning between the two. Leo grinned as he slid up to her side putting his arm around her waist. “My apologies beautiful, shall we.” He motioned with his other hand to lead the way. 

They walk in and Daniel looks up from the counter. “Well look at what they cat dragged in, come here.” He ran up to give her a hug. “Hey everyone Aria’s in the house.” He shouted, the bar erupted with cheers. Many of her regulars she served were there. “Something of a celebrity here I see.” Leo leaned in close kissing her cheek. Aria smiled “This is home, this was my life. I spent almost every night with many of them.” She planted a kiss on his lips. “Hey Dan, Ronnie in?” She asked. “Nope.” Daniel informed her as he poured a beer. “Good, let me behind that bar, hey El Alabama slammer?.” She questioned her friend. “Hell yeah! Im gonna go grab a booth.” Ellie nods her head and walks off  Aria saunters behind the bar.

 Leo pulls up a chair. He watches her grab bottles of liquor pouring them skillfully into each glass. “So spill. Who’s the hottie?” Daniel gushed glancing over in Leos direction. “Easy there tiger, aren’t you engaged.” Aria chuckled. “Yeah, but you gotta appreciate a good looking guy, and that one is FINE.” Daniel fanned himself with his hand. “That’s Leo, my ex. And current, im not even sure what we are. I guess Friends with benefits? She knew that it was more then just sex between them but could not find the right words. . “What happened to Liam, that was his name right, the prince.” Daniel eyed her curiously. She had wrote him a few emails but had not updated since Liam chose Madeline. He is marrying an uber cunt. Were figuring things out. Oh Leo is his brother.” She rushes her words, regretting them as soon as they came out. Daniel gives her a stern look. “So let me get this right, Liam is a prince, which makes Leo a prince too. You used to date Leo, and then almost married his brother, and you’re here with him now?”  Daniel shakes his head “Jesus Ari what have you gotten yourself into?” “Correction Liam is a king, Leo is the former crown prince but abdicate,  hes still a prince by birth right. And yes, im currently fucking him. Wanna know anything else Dan?” Aria snaps. Daniel puts his hands up in defeat as Aria grabs the drinks she made,handing Leo his as they make their way to the booth. “Were gonna need a few applebombs Dan, can you bring em out in a few?” She shouts over her shoulder.

Ellie gulps her drink down fast “man I missed how good you make them.” She said sliding her empty cup across the table. “You know how strong I make them, you may wanna pace yourself or you’ll fall off the back of Jays bike.” Aria giggles. “What no shots?” Ellie pouts. “What am I new? I already told Daniel.: She slouched back in her chair. After a few drinks Ellie grabs Arias hand and they make their way to the dance floor. Leaving Leo to chat with Jay. He liked Jay, he was a decent guy and knew a lot about motorcycles and racing. He even knew of Leo from the racing circuit. Leo sipped his beer as he watched her move around the dance floor with her best friend. She was smiling, laughing and singing along with the words to every song that came on. A familiar feeling came over him, it was the exact way he felt all those years ago, watching her be carefree and having fun. He loved her, he never stopped loving her. He pushed it down, even marrying Katie he wished it was her. When danced with her at the Masquerade ball in Cordonia he felt it and he didn’t know it was her, not until he had the PI find out who she was. He loved her, of that he was always sure, but this feeling was more he was head over heels for her. He needed to tell her and soon. 

They came back to the table, Ellie was already pretty drunk, she took a sip of Arias Malibu bay breeze “so Leo, you were married huh.” Ellie says with a bit of sarcasm. “I was, it did not work out.” Leo takes a swig of his beer, avoiding eye contact. “Did you have any kids?” She questioned. “No, thankfully Katie and I did not. I only ever thought of myself having children with one person.” His eyes flashed to Aria, her blush hidden with the already redness of her hot face. Ellie picking up on his subtle hint snorted. “That’s to bad, you could ha-” “Ellie, enough.” Aria warned, her voice dropped low and serious. Leo looked between both women, something Ellie mentioned, Aria did not want her to finish. Just then Jay comes up pulling Leo away “Hey some guys I know are fans they wanna meet you, come on.” 

As soon as Leo was gone Aria whipped around her eyes never leaving Ellie’s face “what the hell do you think you’re doing bringing that up?” Arias tone stern, her stare was cold, a sad trait she picked up from her time in the courtly life. “Damn, look at you. I guess being around royalty has made you grow some balls.” Ellie spit back. “You know that is something I never want to think about, why would you say that in front of him?” Aria seethed. “Jeeze, sorry I wasn’t thinking. You know you really should tell him. One day, he has the right to know.” Ellie got up to get a refill leaving Aria alone to ponder Ellie’s words. She knew she should tell him, it had been weighing on her for 5 years, if she was going to move forward with either him or Liam she needed to Cleanse herself of old baggage. She would tell him just not here.

 Leo, Ellie and Jay made their way back to the table. The mood started to lighten and the drinks kept coming. They settled into a nice groove, laughing and sharing stories. Aria rested her hand on Leo’s thigh, inching it closer every few minutes. A sly grin forms on his face. She moves her hand Dangerously close to the crotch of his pants, she can feel him grow against his jeans. He turns and drops his voice “what are you doing Beautiful?” “I have no idea what you are talking about handsome. ” she feigned innocence. “Ok, if that’s how you wanna play it.” He dips his hand under the table making his way in between Arias legs, he ran his fingers across her sex, she could feel the heat start to pool. She held back a moan as he continued to rub between her legs. She was so sure she had a wet spot by now. They were both so caught up in each other they didn’t notice Jay and Ellie leave the booth. Not wanting to have an orgasm right there she moved her hand away from his crotch above the table to grab her drink. She needed to cool down after that. He keeps his hand on her thigh his body facing her, she raises her glass taking a long sip from the straw. A familar song plays, she tilts her head back “ohh I love this song.” She sings along

Same streets, same party Drowning their problems in Bacardi Same people still talking Oh, I’m so over it, I’m sorry Baby, you and me could leave right now Ditch all your friends, the guy you came with Get to know you where it ain’t so loud Just you and me alone on some old moonlit road But the two of us could disappear Just say the word and get out of here Baby, you and me could leave right now

He stares at her wide eyed and stunned. “You have a Beautiful voice love, how did I not know you could sing?” “hmm I guess its just not something that most people know.” She sips her drink humming the rest of the words to herself. “Dance wit me Leo.” Aria jumps up holding her hand out, He takes it and they head to the dance floor. He pulls her close as their bodies sway to the music.Leo sings along with the chorus.

Baby, you and me could leave right now Ditch all your friends, the guy you came with Get to know you where it ain’t so loud Just you and me alone on some old moonlit road But the two of us could disappear Just say the word and get out of here Baby, you and me could leave right now Meet me out back if you like how that sounds

His voice smooth and sexy, she felt weak in the knees. She didn’t know he could sing. My god another to love about him. She was a goner, if she had any walls left they were completely gone now. She grabbed his hand and they made their way out the door to his bike. Leo twirls her around grabbing her by the small of her back, his other hand brushing her hair behind her ear. His lips crashed down on hers, their lips part and their tongues dance together, fighting for dominance. He pulls back reluctantly, leaving her breathless and light headed. “Come on, I want to show you something.” He hands her a helmet and they drove off into the city that never sleeps.

[totallyrhettro]

Territorial, chapter 29

Word Count: 2135 Rating: This chapter: PG-13. Overall story rating: explicit Warnings: Werewolf Violence, Minor Character Death Summary: After finally realizing their shared love for one another, all internetainers Rhett and Link had to do was live happily ever after. Unfortunately, as it turns out, that’s a lot harder to do in a world of werewolves. Notes: Takes place 1 year after Animalistic began. Still no wives; Rhett and Link are in an established relationship. This is a sequel to that fic. You don’t have to read that first, but it is highly recommended.

Also available on a03

First Chapter Previous Chapter

Seth was an imposing figure in the darkness, but it was the evil in his heart that made Link scared. He knew what this man was capable of, he’d heard it, seen it. Caleb had been a monster, a demon in wolf’s clothing, but Seth was another level of evil altogether. He didn’t just want to hurt Rhett, Link and the other mutts, he wanted to see them all wiped out, all for his own power play. Lives meant nothing to him, only as barter, or collateral damage. Without a second thought he would kill anyone that got in his way and not lose a single night of sleep. The worst part is he could do it all without any repercussions. Seth could kill Link and everyone he cared about and receive no punishment. In fact, he would spin his lies until he was praised for his vicious deeds. This was a creature to truly be feared.

“You’ve ruined everything,” Seth growled, closing in on Link. Backing up, Link tried to keep his distance, terrified that he was about to be pounced on at any moment. As he walked back, he held Rhett’s unconscious body close against his chest, unsure if he could protect him if Seth were to take out his anger on him instead. Suddenly he felt himself falling, tripping over something large and bulky on the ground. Clinging to Rhett tightly, he couldn’t stop gravity from dragging him all the way down to the grass and ramming his shoulder into the earth, hard. Scrambling, he struggled to get back up without legging Rhett go, managing only to situate himself onto one side, facing both his attacker and the large object that had caused him to lose his balance.

It took him a few seconds to recognize it as Damian. His naked, lifeless body lay strewn in the dirt, covered in the lashes that he had felt mere moments before his death. More shocking of all, and the sight of which caused Link to intensely dry heave, is what lie only a few feet from the former Lowell’s corpse: a head. Seeing Damian’s severed head, the leftovers of Caleb's work, Link knew he had dodged a serious bullet, but now there was another one coming right at him.

“You did this,” Seth told Link, stepping over the remains of his brother as if he were nothing more than a fallen branch. “All their deaths are on you.” Throwing one arm around Rhett to the ground, and putting his other down behind him, Link pushed himself onto all fours and arched his back. Unafraid, Seth stepped forward, looking down at the two of them with hate in his heart and fury in his eyes. “Your life is mine.” Sharp claws slashed through the air but this time Link was ready for them. Reaching up he met paw with paw, palm to palm, holding the attack at bay with tremendous strength.

With a great heave, he drove Seth back, surprising both of them with his brawn and tenacity. Still, the umber beast was not to be pushed around or driven away. As Link got to his feet, he bared his teeth and flexed his clawed hands. Nearly matching in size and anger, the two werewolves squared off, locking eyes, evaluating one another, sizing each other up carefully. Seth was smaller than Caleb in werewolf form, strangely enough, despite being taller than him as a human. It didn’t make him any less terrifying by a long shot, but Link had a sense that it brought him closer to Link’s weight class. Against Seth the raven-black werewolf stood much more of a chance, and from what he could tell, Seth was not used to anyone actually standing up to him.

And he didn’t have his brothers to fight for him anymore.

The moon shone brightly above them, but it brought more than light to their keen canine senses. Link could feel the warm, loving glow of its delicate shine, feel the pull to howl up to its gorgeous, pale face. From the moon came life, strength and something else he couldn’t yet understand, but it felt good, comfortable. Safe. Here, under the moonlight he felt invincible, as he had never done before. Channeling that sensation, not caring if it was real or not, he lunged at Seth, claws out, teeth ready, just as Seth did the exact same thing back.

Seth’s claws were not tainted with the poisonous silver, but they heart like hell all the same as they ripped into Link’s flesh. Link returned the favor, blow for blow, as they fought beneath the full moon. Seth had experience on his side, years of being a killer and a lifetime of being a werewolf. Link was not completely out of his element, however; the instinct of the wolf inside aided with with every swipe, every slash, and his nimble body dodged Seth’s more clumsy moments and furious attacks. At least Rhett was being left alone but Link knew he was fighting for more than his own life. He knew that who ever won this vicious battle would secure Rhett’s life for themselves.

By the time they took pause, each had their fair share of gashes from the other. Seth had laid a pretty nasty cut across Link’s face, among others, but he had gotten a number of bad wounds along his torso from Link’s wild slashing. Both heaved, resting for a moment while they judged how well they did, how badly they had hurt the other, and whether or not they thought they could win this evenly matched brawl.

It was then that Link looked into Seth’s dark eyes and saw something he never expected to see. Fear. Seth was afraid. He wasn’t sure if he could win this fight and he couldn’t remember the last time he had been uncertain of anything before. That scared him enough to show on his canine face: his ears drooped, his snarl faltered, and he hesitated in pushing forward with his next attack. He didn’t like the very real possibility that Link could actually win.

His confidence swelled once more, his long ears perking up and turning about, as the sound of something getting closer reached both of their ears. A great many somethings, in fact, undoubtedly large and fast and coming from seemingly every direction. A fresh smile crossed Seth’s face as the sound grew closer, sounds he believed were to be his salvation.

“It’s over, mutt,” he told Link, pleased he wouldn’t have to fight alone anymore. “My pack will tear you to pieces.” Looking towards the nearest treeline, he expected to see a dozen or more werewolves breaking through into the clearing, ready to surround their prey and end this battle once and for all. His ears were as good as ever and seconds later, dotting in an almost perfect circle around him and Link, wolves of every shape and color appeared from the forest, their eyes locked on the two werewolves squaring off in the center.

Link’s blood ran cold, seeing so many, knowing his fate was sealed. He took a few steps back, closer to Rhett, giving serious considerations to just grabbing him and making a run for it. They wouldn’t make it far, but at least he could try. His claws twitched, ready to reach down for his best friend, but he stopped when he heard something else. A clatter of claw on brick, something heavy and fast running with speed and precision. Both Link and Seth looked up to the house top, curious and confused, to see a dark shape silhouetted against the full moon, just in time for the great beast to raise its pointed head and howl like a ghost into the darkness.

“No,” Seth whispered. This new werewolf wasn’t from his pack. Looking back to the many eyes peering in from the trees, Seth realized none of these wolves were from his pack. They weren’t here to help him, they weren’t on his side. Now he didn’t look just afraid, he was terrified. Link didn’t understand, but for the mighty Seth Lowell, this was his worst nightmare. The figure on the roof howled again, a single tone, ghostly and pure. This time the other wolves around them joined in, responding in their own unique voices, answering, acknowledging…

The time is now. We’re ready.

The wolves took tentative steps forward, but not from hesitation. They were ready for anything, for their prey to attack or flee. They had been waiting years for this moment and now they were hungry for it to begin, but their canine instincts were strong, filling their blood with adrenaline and desire. While they wanted to take down their target, they needed more. They craved more. They needed their prey to run.

The shadow on the moon moved fast, leaping from the rooftops to the ground in an effortless motion. His mottled grey and brown fur, reminiscent of a northern timber wolf, barely belied his obvious muscles, and his yellowish-golden eyes glinted in the dim light. Standing on his hind legs, the stranger stood between Link and Seth, glancing between both of them before focusing on Lowell.

“You could surrender,” the stranger suggested, teasing Seth with an evil grin. Seth raised his claws; he didn’t want to go down without a fight. The grey-and-brown werewolf didn’t move as he watched dozens of thoughts run through Seth’s mind fight, run, die, survive. The gears turned wildly in his head. He knew there was no surrender, no truce or accord. Not after what he had done.

“Damn you, Alistair,” he spat, backing away. The other wolves stepped closer, eager, anticipating. There was no choice, no option to stay and live. All Seth could do was run and hope; hope he was fast enough, or that he could lose them. The odds were against him but he would take those odds over an execution any day. With one last glimpse at the pack inching closer, Seth dropped to all fours and burst into a sprint, heading for the trees as if Hell itself was behind him. The reaction was nearly immediate. The wolves at the tree line took off after him, a few barking their excitement as they chased their prey deep into the woods. In only a few moments they were all gone, lost in the darkness, the sound of their stampede replaced by crickets and a distant owl, all completely oblivious to the nature and habits of wolves.

“Don’t worry,” the stranger was saying as they watched the last Lowell vanish into the night. “They’ll catch him.” Link wasn’t sure what to say; the voice sounded familiar, but he didn’t know this werewolf’s colors. Had they met before?

“Alistair,” Link slurred, taking a wild guess. The stranger nodded then looked to the unconscious Rhett. He was still out cold; that wasn’t a good sign.

“Link,” Alistair began, confirming Link’s suspicions. “We need to leave.” Link couldn’t have agreed more, but he didn’t know where they could go. If Rhett wasn’t waking up, it could mean he was seriously injured, even for a werewolf. Was he going to be okay? Did he need medical attention? Where did a werewolf go to get that? How would they get there? On foot?

Almost on cue the two of them heard a truck approaching up the dirt driveway. Alistair motioned for Link to grab Rhett before leading them around the house and away from the gruesome scene. It wasn’t long before they saw what they had heard; a truck pulling up to the front door, a long, silver horse trailer hooked up behind it. This, apparently, was to be their transport for the evening. Link had to appreciate the invented nature of the ride.

“Where?” he asked, keeping his questions short to make sure he was understood. A human he didn’t know was already stepping out of the front seat, moving to the back to open the hatch. Clearly this wasn’t a werewolf, but a human that new about their world, otherwise he’d be in werewolf form too. Not sure he’d make it far on the highway looking like that.

“Devon wants to meet you,” Alistair explained, getting into the trailer. Link paused, remembering that name. The leader of the wolf pack, the only man who seemed to have authority over the Lowells. The head of the pack, Devon most likely wasn’t keen on mutts either. Why would he want to see Link or Rhett? It couldn’t be anything good, Link was certain about that, but right now he had no place else to go. Taking a deep breath, holding Rhett close to his chest, he climbed into the trailer, putting his trust in Alistair and his life into Devon’s hands.

Next Chapter More fics

[natasha-cole]

Kiss Me Like a Stranger

Summary: Rob meets a beautiful woman at a bar, thinking he has no chance in hell with her. He offers her a little conversation and a little flirting. He never thought he’d get this lucky though.

Word Count: 2054

Warnings: drinking, swearing, smut… you know, the usual.

Notes: Again, I’m just a sucker for bars and country music. Inspired by Kiss Me Like a Stranger by Thomas Rhett. I’m really digging this album.

Also, sorry for all the fic spam. I’m just trying to get my NaNo count up.

Rob watched her from across the bar. He couldn’t help but stare a little; the way she sat there alone, sipping on her drink and turning down every man that approached her. No way he stood a chance, but given the fact that he couldn’t take his eyes off of her, he figured it didn’t hurt to try.

Mustering up his courage, he downed his shot quickly, pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose as he prepped himself for a little flirting. It wasn’t something he was very good at, but he had been talking himself through it ever since he saw her walk in.

He slipped away from his group of friends, hoping that they wouldn’t make a big deal out of anything as he approached her. She was beautiful; decked out in a little black dress, her hair loose and teasing her back. She had been sitting there alone for quite a while. At first, Rob thought for sure that she was meeting someone there, but when a half hour had passed and she was still alone, he figured he could keep her company even if he had witnessed a few other men fail.

Rob nervously leaned against the bar next to her, flagging down the bartender and turning to the mystery woman.

“Looks like you need a refill,” he said. She glanced over at him, a slight smirk on her face.

“You’re very observant,” she replied. Rob gulped at the fact that she was talking to him, her voice the most beautiful voice he had ever heard.

“May I?” He offered.

“Jack and coke,” she replied, taking the final sip of the drink she had been working on.

Rob turned to the bartender, placing their order. He decided that since she was at least acknowledging him, it would be okay to sit down, so he did just that. When they had their drinks she thanked him.

“You know, you’re not the first guy to offer to buy me a drink tonight.”

“I noticed, I saw the way you’ve been turning every man away,” he said.

“Oh?” She smiled a bit more now as she looked back at him, “you’ve been watching me?”

“It’s hard not to,” Rob choked out. He had definitely gotten himself caught. “You’re very beautiful, and you look so lonely sitting here.”

“I’m not lonely,” she giggled. She brought the glass up to her lips, and Rob darted his tongue out as he watched those lips against the glass. “I have you to keep me company.”

“I’d be happy to,” he replied. He smiled to himself, picking at the label of his beer bottle, trying to think of what to say next. So far, so good. He had had a few lessons on how to hit on women, but knowing him, he could screw this up in a heartbeat.

“What’s your name?” She asked as she adjusted in her chair, turning her body to face him and in turn, brushing her leg against his.

“Rob,” he replied, trying not to lose his cool over the fact that her leg was still against his.

“Hi Rob,” she reached a hand out to him and he took it in his, grateful for the handshake. “I’m Y/N.”

“That’s a beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”

“Thank you,” she purred.

“I have to ask, what is such a stunning woman doing here all alone, dressed like that?”

“I’m just enjoying a few drinks is all,” she teased. She took another drink, Rob still focused on her lips, a deep shade of red and still turned up into a permanent smirk. “I could also ask what is a good-looking guy like yourself doing here alone.”

“I’m not alone,” he replied. He pointed over to where his friends were sitting, noting how they were trying to casually watch what he was doing now, “I’m here with my friends.”

She looked over to them, smiling even harder before focusing her attention back to Rob. “Well, Rob, it’s sort of rude to ditch your friend to hit on a stranger in a bar.”

“I think they’ll understand.”

“What do you do, Rob?” She was saying his name, letting it slide seductively off her tongue which caused Rob to feel either extremely nervous, or very excited, it was hard to tell at this point.

“Well, I’m an actor and I’m a musician.”

“You have a band?” She asked, eyes lighting up.

“I do actually. I have two bands. I sing and I play guitar.”

“Woah,” she responded, leaning in a bit closer to him. She propped her elbow against the bar, resting her chin on her hand as if she were intrigued to hear more. “I sort of have a thing for musicians.”

Rob grinned now, noticing that she was definitely flirting back and it didn’t even seem to be a joke. “Well, I guess it’s my lucky night,” he replied.

She bit her bottom lips, eyes flickering down to look at his mouth for just a second. “We’ll see. I’m not done getting to know you.”

After a couple more drinks and a bit more conversation, Rob had definitely loosened up. The flirting had become easier, and they definitely seemed to be hitting it off. She’d laugh at his jokes, placing a hand on his arm that sent electricity coursing through him. He couldn’t stop looking at her and he was pretty sure she couldn’t stop looking at him.

“It’s getting late,” she pointed out as she glanced at her phone. Rob frowned, knowing he didn’t want to be done with this woman, but also knowing that she was right.

“I guess it is,” he mumbled. He watched her as she stood up and he wanted to say something, but the words didn’t come. Before he could even try to gather the nerve to ask her for her number, she leaned in suddenly. She placed her mouth against his ear and her breath against his skin gave him goosebumps.

“You know, I also have a thing for guys in glasses,” she teased, “even better when they’ve got a beard.” She brought her hand up to his face as she pulled away from him, teasing her fingertips along the gray patch of his beard.

“Well, I guess I’m just your type,” he responded. She grinned even more at his words.

“You sure you’re just gonna let me walk out of here alone?” She asked.

Rob was sort of shocked by her offer, but he wasn’t about to turn it down. “No, I was just going to ask if you’d be opposed to taking this somewhere else.”

“Your place?” She asked.

“My place would be perfect.”

Rob stood as well and he turned to face his friends who were still looking in their direction at the moment. He waved to them, a huge smile on his face to indicate that he was leaving and he wasn’t leaving alone.

“Just so you know,” she began as she looked up at him, “I really do dig the glasses. It’s a turn on for me.”

Rob chuckled, placing a hand on her hip when he noticed the way she was looking at him. She moved in closer to him, running her hand against his beard again.

“I really do love this too,” she pointed out. Before he could respond, she turned from him, heading out the bar as he followed.

A short cab ride later and they had arrived at Rob’s place. The whole ride, he couldn’t believe his luck. Not only had he successfully hit on this woman, but he had managed to take her home with him.

He walked her to the door, quickly unlocking it and inviting her in. The second they were inside and the door was closed, she went for it. She pressed him against the wall, moving in for a kiss finally. Her lips were soft and pressed hard against his and he melted into how amazing they felt. He nudged her lips apart with his tongue and she gladly obliged, moaning into his mouth as his tongue swirled against hers. There was definite biting at one point and she had definitely sucked on his lower lip, causing Rob to lose his mind for a moment. He gripped onto her waist, pulling her harder against him as she kept him pinned against the wall.

He had never kissed someone quite like this, and he only wanted more.

Before long, their hands were roaming along each others bodies, and clothing was being removed. She kept gasping and moaning against his mouth and as he moved to put focus on her neck, that’s when she really lost it.

“Fuck, Rob,” she whispered. Hearing her whisper his name like that made him moan against her skin. “I don’t normally do this with strangers, but I need you to fuck me.”

He wasn’t about to deny her, so he led her to his bedroom where he promptly pressed her down against his bed. He made quick work of the rest of his clothes and turned his attention to removing the rest of hers.

She gasped as he topped her, her hips moving against his as she waited for him to finally be inside her. She seemed to be growing impatient, but Rob definitely wanted to tease her just a little bit.

He went to remove his glasses, not wanting them to get in the way during what was about to happen. But, the second she noticed what he was doing, she grabbed his hand, stopping him in his tracks.

“I wasn’t joking about those being a turn on for me,” she said.

Rob grinned and let go of his glasses, deciding it would be best to keep them on for now. He took her mouth with his again, and grinded up against her, eliciting another moan from those pretty lips. How he had gotten so goddamn lucky tonight was beyond him.

After a bit of teasing, he gave into what she had asked for. He watched her as he fucked into her, enjoying the look of absolute bliss that crossed her face. In turn, he was enjoying himself very much as well. He groaned with each thrust of his hips, now enjoying the rush of adrenaline he was getting from just being in this situation with a woman he had just met.

He reveled in the way she continued to say his name as he moved against her, and he continued to kiss those lips that he had been staring at all night. She tasted amazing and it was all the more amazing that his name was the one slipping past her lips.

She cried out, muttering his name as she came; her fingernails digging into his shoulders as she steadied herself. He watched her smile, her eyes closed as he brought her through her climax. He followed shortly after, groaning and swearing over how intense it was.

He fell against her, both of them breathing heavy, bodies completely exhausted now.

“Wow,” she muttered as she traced her fingertips along his back.

“I agree,” Rob replied with a chuckle. He pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose and looked down at her.

“Who knew sex with a stranger could be so hot?” She asked, flashing him another smile.

“Tell me about it.”

“I should do that more often,” she mused out loud.

“What?” Rob asked as he finally pushed himself off of her, lying next to her now on the bed.

“Have sex with strange men,” she replied slyly.

“Babe,” Rob started, raising an eyebrow at her, “don’t push it.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she giggled, “I meant, we should play that game more often. I forget how hot you are when you’re in character.”

“You’re really intimidating when you’re in character,” Rob pointed out, “but I do enjoy how you still insist that seeing me in glasses with a graying beard is a turn on for you,”

“Honey, it does still get me hot and bothered,” she said softly, “even after all these years.”

“I must say, I have a pretty amazing wife,” he said as he leaned in for another kiss. She hummed happily against his lips for a moment.

“Don’t you ever forget it, Benedict,” she said with a smile.

Tag List: @destielschild @sorenmarie87 @smoothdogsgirl @kocswain @culturebay @itsfunnierin-enochian @typicalweirdbookworm @angelsandhuntersgalore @riversong-sam @emoryhemsworth @hunterpuff @camelotandastronauts @laffytaffyhumor @narisjournal-blog

[lukoleoleole]

Just Another Friday Night (Hart of Dixie fanfic)

Hey guys! I have never posted a Hart of Dixie fanfic on here before, but have been rewatching and felt the need to write a few fanfics. I may post some more shortly. Can someone please bring the show back?!?! It was so good and I miss every single character. Oh, please be warned that this got a little dirty.

How the hell was Wade going to make it through another hour of his shift? He’d been at the Rammer Jammer for 15 hours now, first doing his duties as owner and now covering for one of his bartenders who ‘would absolutely die if she didn’t get the night off to see Thomas Rhett with her friends in Mobile’. Maybe his wife was right, the bartenders he had on his payroll these days were useless and required more babysitting than he could do these days as a husband and father of two.

At least if he had to spend his Friday night slingin’ drinks for the town of Bluebell he at least got to listen to live music while he did it. A country band was on the small corner stage, singing love songs that made him wish his wife was there, or even worse than he was at home with her and it put him in a funk. He couldn’t remember the last time he was home with his family on a Friday night.

There was one table of distracted cowboys at a table in the back and almost everyone else in the bar was a younger crowd. Regulars like Dash, Shula, Brick and the others typically came in earlier in the day. Things felt different this late at night, like a whole group of townsfolks. “Can I get a pitcher of Bud Light and a shot of fireball?” One end of the bar yelled as he made a path down toward that end with an empty and frosted pitcher in his hand. He nodded at the man standing there who he saw walk about from the table of cowboys in the back. They’d been hanging out all night but hadn’t caused as much trouble as he thought they would so they filled it up and slide it toward the man along with the shot “$8.00”. The man slid him a ten and walked away. Wade shoved the change in the tip jar and helped a few more patrons until he got distracted by the woman walking toward the bar.

His phone went off and he used some of his free time to take a glance at it, hoping it was his wife. He’d texted her earlier to tell her he was sorry that he wasn’t home for another Friday night, but no response. He cleared the text from Meatball off his phone and pushed it back into his jean pocket. He was slightly annoyed that she hadn’t responded yet when she was home with the kids, especially since he knew that thing never left her hands. Luckily his attention was distracted by the woman walking up to him.

She was wearing heeled brown cowboy boots that were worn and dusty, like they had been worn through the dirt on some old country dirt road. Her legs were tan and sexy and just looking at them led him straight up to her skin-tight Daisy Duke shorts that showcased her firm ass and legs even more if possible. The entire length of these shorts was maybe five inches long and they stopped miles below her belly button which was showing. She was wearing a crop top with what little amount of buttons it had left half undone.

The part that really got him was the Mossy Oak camo bra that was buried underneath. He had always been a sucker for camo and the ‘trashy’ kind of women that wore it. Something about it could not help but turn him on. Her long curled hair was pushed down by her camo trucker hat and she had dark eye makeup on that showcased every one of her features. His breath caught in his throat as he saw her.

He leaned onto the bar as she pulled up her barstool. “Bud Light”, she asked, looking around the bar on either side of her. His eyes never left her, he just nodded and then cracked open a cold Bud Light in front of her. “What’s a hot little thing like you doin’ here so late at night?” He couldn’t help but discreetly ask her across the bar.

Her eyes rolled into the back of her head. “Don’t.” She took a good chug of her beer and set it back onto the counter. The woman immediately had his attention. She looked around with an attitude, “Well ya gonna charge me for that drink or what?”

He shrugged. “Don’t worry about it sweetheart, this one’s on me.”

This made her even more annoyed. Luckily she turned her attention to the guy from the table at the back who reappeared for another pitcher of beer. “Hey darlin, don’t you look hot as hell in those tight little blue jeans.” The man leaned across the bar and in front of the woman he was just talking to.

She giggled and a pink blush appeared across her face. “Hi.”

“You wanna dance?” He whispered into her ear, Wade was just able to make out what they were saying. However her taking his hand and following him out onto the dance floor made it perfectly clear.

The music played on as the two danced, getting closer and closer by the minute. His vision of them constantly interrupted by the crowds of people on the dance floor and everyone else who were trying to refill their drinks. You’d think he had never served a drink before with the way people were complaining about his pours and getting in his face.

The way that that Cash guys hands wouldn’t leave her body made him sick to his stomach and he couldn’t focus. They were getting awful close to her ass and he couldn’t take it. “Wanda, you’re closin.” He tossed her the bar keys and took off. She was used to it.

“Hey!” he pushed the guy away from her, causing a scene on the dance floor. “That’s enough.”

The young crowd stopped, everyone shocked by the scene that the bartender just caused. The guy laughed him off and kept his hands on the woman from the bar. Wade couldn’t take it and before he knew it he decked him in the face and pulled the woman with him as he walked toward the bathroom of the bar. She tried to push him away the entire time.

As soon as the door was shut he pushed her up against the stall door and used both arms to enclose the space between them.

“You think you can just come in here, lookin’ hot as sin, talkin’ to whoever you want, dancin’ with whoever you want, and I wouldn’t have anything to say about it?” He roughly whispered as he kissed from her ear down toward her prominent clavicle bone right above her slutty crop top.

The way he was touching her made every nerve in her body tingle. She was melting beneath him as his hands worked every curve of her toned body. His hands pushed their way up her stomach and tore the crop top off, revealing the bra he’d be curious about since first sight. She was yelling at him, telling him not to worry about what she does or who she talks to but not convincingly as her confident hands were undoing his wranglers and trying to push them down as far as she could.

The way his peach fuzzy face brushed against her skin made the thin string of supposed panties she was wearing wetter and wetter. She could barely catch her breath as his strong hands she had been staring at all night were digging into her ass, palming her cheeks and squeezing them together. The smell of warm cologne and a little bit of beer overtook her but she didn’t mind it one bit. She pushed his flannel off his shoulders, dropping it on to the disgusting bathroom floor to be stepped on and ran over and then the same with his white v-neck shirt she pulled off after.

She squealed in surprise when instead of undoing her bra he just pulled the cups down for even quicker access to her tits. His mouth was instantly attached to one of her nipples as he alternated mouth and thumb on each. Her moans filled the small bathroom and if it weren’t for the loud band outside then surely the entire bar would have heard their escapade.

He took his hands away from her ass for a second, just long enough to watch her squeeze out of her shorts so he could grab her thighs and wrap them around his body. He used his newly free hands to push those flimsy panties to the side and slide his hands across her folds.

Something about the rough and callusy hands seemed contradictory to the way they softly moved inside her. First one finger, then two quickly pushed inside her, and moved rapidly while just grazing her clit he found so easily. It felt so good and only encouraged her to reach down a rub that hard cock pushing into her thigh, only after looking him right in the eyes and licking the inside of her hand so she could easily start jerking him off. He almost came on the spot.

Her small hand circling him and trying to milk him for everything he had was becoming too much. It was steamy and loud and yet so hot he could barely breathe inside that stall. Instead of letting her continue he used one hand to push her panties aside and his other to take command of his cock and guide it right into her. Somehow, he managed to fill her to the absolutely brim but still was able to go harder.

The walls shook and the door opened, someone else walking into the two stall bathroom. He stopped for a minute, buried deep inside her and used his mouth to quiet hers. The way they kissed was electric, like their lips were made for each other. She melted as he put everything he had into the dirty kisses being directed toward her.

As soon as they heard the door close and knew they were alone again, they continued driving into each other as if they had never been humped before. He had her bouncing all over and taking every ride she could on him before the trip was up. Her pussy clenched around him like it was made for him and she was so wet he could hear it almost as much as he could feel it. She shared her grasps between his shoulders and reaching down to squeeze his balls she felt smacking up against her until the sting started to take over.

“Fuck,” he groaned and she could tell he was about to explode inside her. She took advantage of it and clenched around him, pulling him in even tighter if even possible even though she was so wet she barely could. Out of nowhere her head fell backward and was quickly followed by his as they both lost themselves in each other and the hot cum surrounding them.

Minutes later he set her down and watched her pull her bra and shorts back up. She looked around them for her top while he zipped his jeans and grabbed their shirts stuck together in the corner.

“The kids are with Lemon and Lavon for the night, so I thought we could check this off our list.” She grinned playfully, but there was nothing playful about it to him. The look was exuding pure sex to him, still. And now they could check this scenario off of their bucket list.

Wade exhaled and decided that after that working Friday nights became his favorite thing. So did Lemon and Lavon. As he followed his wife out of the bathroom and out toward the back exit of the bar, he saw the faces of everyone standing outside the bathroom. Tonight they got a country concert and a show.

I think I need Jesus.

[theconnoisseurreviews]

“Gone with the Wind” Review

I recently had a chance to sit down and watch this near 4 hour epic and for the most part I enjoyed it. “Gone with the Wind” is regarded by many to be one of the greatest Hollywood movies to ever be made and I can see why, even though I’m not completely floored by it. While I feel the movie has definitely aged and the run time is incredibly daunting, it still holds up by today’s standards and is a beautifully crafted film.

The script is really its shining moment by far, The writing is sharp and witty, but also meaningful and absorbing. I could sit for hours (which I did) just listening to the way the characters talk with one another or about their inner most thoughts. One fascinating aspect of the film is the perspective in which the narrative is taking place. We rarely, if ever, get to see a film from the confederate side of the Civil War and one that shows their struggle and hardship as they have to readjust to a more progressive world. One common theme throughout the film is never giving up and always being able to change your situation through persistence and hard work and that tomorrow is always a new day. 

Victor Fleming’s direction is superb and impressive, especially for the time. He seamlessly flows one scene into another like spreading warm butter on bread. He knows how to perfectly use lighting to get the most out of each shot and tell the story through visual ques. The production the movie is immaculate and there are several moments in which I was floored by the stunning costumes and sets. I felt as if I had really been taken back to the late 1800s. I just wish Fleming would have spent a little bit more time in the editing room as the movie is ridiculously long. The opening sequence alone takes nearly 3 minutes of nothing to get to the opening shot of the film. Things like that pad the movie for unnecessary time. 

Next to the script, the actors are what makes this movie a classic. Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara is a selfish and careless woman. She goes through her life without much care for others, but somehow Leigh manages to make her likable. She’s feisty, stubborn, and loud, but also independant and strong willed. Leigh plays her role with such confidence and charm that we almost forgive Scarlett for being so self absorbed, especially, when she so valiantly believes in what she’s fighting for. Clark Gable as Rhett Butler is as manly a man can get. He’s also a fairly self absorbed man, but through his charm and fast line delivery we can’t help, but like him. Leigh and Gable have great screen chemistry and I believed that these two selfish characters were made for each other. The rest of the cast is fantastic as well and they all add to the great performances of the leads. 

Overall, “Gone with the Wind” is a product of its time. It’s a movie that even by today’s standards is visually pleasing and technically impressive. Aside from the length, there are moments and minor problems I have with the movie on a social level, but powerful performances, great direction, and brilliant script can always transcend any grievances. It’s a movie that definitely moved my favorite art form into the future, while taking us to the past. I give it 4/5

http://aminoapps.com/p/sajwpp

[matsbarzal]

Axel - Mitch Marner

Notes: Hi loves!! I’m glad you all enjoyed the other two imagines, so here’s a requested Mitch one for all of you. I’m 100% not Spanish, so if any of my translations are wrong, don’t be afraid to send me a quick ‘you’re dumb, fix it’. Also I know the World Figure Skating Championships were in Finland this year but shh. I hope you enjoy, and keep requesting to keep me busy!

Mentions: Auston Matthews

Warnings: Panic attacks

Requested: Yes | No

Teaser: “I did horrible, I’m never going to medal with that routine.” You cried, your shoulders slouching over as you threw your hands to your face. “I thought you did okay?” Glaring at him, “You don’t know anything about figure skating, Mitch.” You groaned, “I thought your good looks alone would get you a gold medal.” “Don’t talk about my sister like that, Marner.”

World Championships was your dream, and after years of broken skates, ripped leotards and broken dreams, your dream was finally coming true. And it just so happened that your dream was coming true in the same city your brothers dreams came true, Toronto, Ontario.

“Mi preciosa hija, have you seen your brother yet?” The moment Ema Matthews found out your plane had landed in Toronto, she was immediately on the phone, calling to make sure you were safe and to see if Auston had picked you up yet.

You laughed into the phone, “Mamá, we just landed! He’s probably waiting at baggage claim with my coach.”

“He promised he’d pick you up, and we both know I didn’t raise liars, (Y/N).”

Shaking your head at your mothers words as you slowly got closer and closer to customs, “I know, I know but I’ve gotta go, I’m sure Auston’s here, I’ll text you when I get out of the airport. Te amo mamá.”

She murmured the endearment back as you ended the call and went towards the lady at the desk, handing your credentials and information to her as your anxiety set in about whether you were right about your brother actually being here or not.

Standing with your Team USA bag and your own luggage, you swept your eyes across the area in front of you, not seeing Auston anywhere.

Just as you went to grab your phone from your pocket, you heard a voice yelling, “(Y/N), (Y/N)!” You turned to the sound of the voice and made eye contact with your brothers teammate, Mitch Marner.

Due to your vigorous training schedule and your constant lack of time off, you were the only member of the Matthews’ family who had yet to come watch your brother play, which meant you had also never met any of his current teammates. You got constant snaps of him and other players on the team, which made you recognize him on site, but it also made you realize how cute he really was in person.

Mitch’s sigh brought you out of your train of thought, “Auston sent me to pick you up, the trainers had him take an ice bath and then they wanted him to go home, so you get the better looking of the two of us picking you up anyway.” He sent a wink towards you, a laugh erupting from your throat.

“I don’t think there’s any real competition when I don’t even find my brother attractive.”

The Canadian pouted at you, “so I win by default then, obviously.”

Shaking your head with silent laughter, Mitch slowly put a hand on your back to direct you towards where his car was currently parked. His hand felt warm against your back, not being used to the winter weather of southern Ontario was already nagging at your Arizona-centered heart, so the small warmth of his hand wasn’t an unwanted feeling.

You barely noticed that he had grabbed both your skating bag and your luggage and had already reached the car because you were so lost in your thoughts. “Earth to (Y/N), a little distracted there, eh? Thinking about all the gold medals you’re gonna be wearing by Sunday?”

You glared at him, the immediate thought of a jinx coming to mind. “Don’t say that, you’re gonna jinx it, then I definitely won’t medal.”

“Jeez, and I thought hockey players were superstitious.”

You got into the passenger seat of the car as he climbed into the drivers seat, immediately turning on the hideous country music that Auston often complained about.

“You can’t seriously be rolling your eyes at Thomas Rhett, he’s phenomenal!” Mitch looked like a puppy when he got excited about something, albeit a very cute puppy, a puppy nonetheless. “I’m rolling my eyes at the concept of the country music period.”

“Okay, hater, you hate in your passenger seat, and you’re gonna get wrinkles if you keep frowning at me, while I’m going to continue to have beautiful skin.”

You shot a look at him, admiring the ‘beautiful’ skin he spoke of. He really does have beautiful skin. You reminded yourself to ask him later about his skin care routine, just to see if he even had one.

“So, I’m gonna drop you off at Auston’s, I already put my number in your phone while you weren’t looking, speaking of, you and your brother aren’t creative, 1997? How basic are you? But anyways, a few of the boys may be by his place later, so just text me if you want me to grab you some food, I know all Auston has is like, canned mushrooms and like moldy takeout.”

Laughing at his words, “That’s disgusting, but I’ll be sure to text you if I need to.”

The remainder of the car ride was spent in silence, with you occasionally sneaking glances at the man beside you, not catching when he did the same thing, his own attraction to you evident in the looks.

It was the big day, all your family had flown in from Arizona, except Auston who obviously was already there. You could feel the panic setting in as you slowly watched a few girls from Team Sweden and Team Canada do their routine, feeling as if your routine couldn’t even compare. You felt the air leave your body as you began taking shallow, fast breaths, before you could continue your mom was at your side.

“Shh, mi amour, calm down. You’re going to do wonderful, I’ve watched you do your routine thousands of times, and it’s so much better than all of those other girls.”

Her words reassured you, calming you down enough so that you could breath slower and with a better pace. “I’m so scared, what if I disappoint the team? I’m not Auston, I’m not the best at what I do, what if I mess up and they decide to let me go?”

“Hush yourself, you’re going to go out there and you’re going to kick ass, and you’re going to bring that beautiful gold medal back to Arizona and then I’ll be able to show off even more of my children’s accomplishments.”

You smiled at your mothers words, before it turned into a grimace as one of the directors instructed you that it was time to begin your warmup. You made your way to the ice, passing another member of Team USA and sharing a smile as you did so. You looked up into the crowd and instantly spotted your family, not just because of the USA gear they were all decked out in, but also because of the group of Toronto Maple Leafs that sat beside them. “Oh God.”

You refused to look at the scoreboard as you made your way up to your family. You knew you had displayed your routine perfectly, but you were terrified.

The moment you got to your ‘fan’ section, as your coach liked to call it, the tears began to set in.

“I did horrible, I’m never going to medal with that routine.” You cried, your shoulders slouching over as you threw your hands to your face.

“I thought you did okay?” Glaring at the source of the voice, “You don’t know anything about figure skating, Mitch.” You groaned, “I thought your good looks alone would get you a gold medal.”

“Don’t talk about my sister like that, Marner.” Your brother spat out, just as your mom hushed him to listen to the final places.

“In second place, from Team Canada, Alaine Chartrand! And finally, in first place from Team USA, (Y/N) Matthews!”

You almost screamed with glee as you jumped towards your family, congratulations being thrown out from everyone direction.

You turned to hug the person behind you, who just so happened to be Mitch. “I told you your good looks would win you a gold medal.”

You looked up at him, a glitter of excitement in your eyes, as he looked down at you. His eyes moved from yours, and down to your lips before moving back up to your eyes as it felt like time around you had stopped. He was just about to lean down when he was interrupted by the sound of a voice,

“If you don’t get your hands off my sister right now, I’ll cut them off and you can explain to Babs why his second star rookie has no hands.”

[afangirlsplaylist]

Counsel Me (Day 3) - R & L

Author: afangirlsplaylist

Rating: Explicit. This chapter is G.

Warnings: None this chapter unless you count angst and emotions.

Chapter: 4/?

Word Count: 2,391

Summary: When Rhett and Link’s friendship hits a breaking point they turn to a therapist, who proposes a difficult idea. Very loosely prompted by THIS.

Read it on archiveofourown

- gotta wonder why they even do this anymore.

- acting really weird around each other.

- haven’t been seen together outside of the show in weeks anyway.

- this is going to be the end of the show.

Rhett sighed as he scrolled through the comments on the latest video, the flood of rumours making him want to shut his computer off and keep scrolling at the same time. To the right of the comments, he could see a video in the up next stream with Link in the thumbnail. It was enough to get him curious, but he staunchly scrolled past without clicking on it, knowing it would be a bad idea to watch.

Against his better instinct, he kept reading for some time, letting the words flow around him. It was nerve wracking how close many of them came to guessing the reality, throwing around ideas about where the experiment had come from. He guessed it was only a matter of time before the words counseling or therapy started floating around, and the thought made him feel dirty somehow.

None of the comments mentioned how devoid of spirit he'd been since the week started, or the way his heart was practically sitting in the open for all to see. Far from wishing the show to end the experiment was doing its job, making him realize just how much he needed Link. 

He could remember a number of holidays and a few times in college that they’d been apart, but nothing like this. None of those times had ripped his soul in half the way this week had, practically crippling him mentally and creatively.

Maybe that was what had made him push things too far this time, breaking the unspoken rule of non-violence they shared. Buddy System had kept them too close for too long, leaving him oblivious to the way it had blurred the line of their friendship until it was too late. He knew now that the fighting was all self-sabotage, his last failed attempt at reigning in the growing intimacy. He had to have been kidding himself, he thought, to think that would work. Nothing could erase the late nights they’d spent planning and crafting the show, or the time they’d shared writing in the house on the hills. 

In retrospect cohabiting in the mountains for something as personal as writing was probably a dangerous idea. At least in college, they’d had room-mates and were kept busy by their two separate engineering degrees. In the mountains they’d been totally alone, locked up with only their work and each other. It hadn’t been perfect, and there were a number of nights where they’d bit each other’s heads off over scripts, but it had been… close.

A lamp threw light over the piles of papers lying on the coffee table, full of scrawled lyrics, and scripts. They’d talked and fought themselves out hours ago so nothing broke the silent creative process except the rustle of Rhett sifting through pages, sometimes adding a note or sentence. Link was leaning his chin on his hand, attempting to look thoughtful but failing to hide his drooping eyes.

“You wanna call it a night man?” Link asked after he’d dozed off and jerked himself awake multiple times.

Rhett shook his head, frowning down at the page he was working on. “I’m going to keep working on this song for a little while but you can if you want.”

“No that’s okay.” Link said quickly, sitting up straighter.

Rhett started counting in his head as his pen stroked across the page, reaching two hundred before he felt the expected weight on his shoulder. Sure enough, when he looked over he caught a glimpse of Link’s slightly open mouth breathing into his arm in the midst of sleep. His pen had fallen to the floor on top of his cardigan but he kept a loose grip on the script page still in his hand.

The earlier argument was forgotten as Rhett took in the peaceful sight, gently prying the page from Link’s fingers and placing it on the table. Trying not to disturb him, he carefully reached his long arms over to pick up his phone, maneuvering his body so he was facing Link. He angled the phone to get a better shot, making sure he had the flash off before he snapped a photo. The result was far more flattering than it deserved to be, considering it was a sleeping man with a half open mouth and his cheeks squashed into an arm. He made a quick decision to keep this photo for himself, knowing it would never see the light of Instagram.

Rhett gave up on work soon after, expecting he’d get nothing done with his friend sleeping on him. He didn’t have the heart to wake Link so he grabbed the blanket hanging off the couches armrest, throwing it over the two of them. As an afterthought he put a cushion on his lap for Link’s head before lying back, easing his friend’s head onto the cushion as he went. In time his soft breathing harmonized in the air with Links as they slept through the night, curled up on the couch. 

If you’d asked him a week ago he would’ve said he liked the photo because he was a decent photographer. But as he scrolled down his camera roll and sought out candid photos of Link, he couldn’t say that. He saw the loving lens through which he’d taken the photos, as well as the way he carefully lit and framed each one, and knew the real reason. He thought his friend was gorgeous. Gorgeous in a way he’d never appreciated in a man before, or would ever appreciate again. Link was a special case and had been forever. More correctly they were a special case, as they’d been told them many times before by people who knew them. 

Without planning it he closed the photo app and trailed his fingers over to his contacts, finding his therapist’s number before he even knew he was looking for it.

“Carole?” He spoke into the phone tentatively. “Am I still scheduled in for today?”

He thought she sounded a little too happy as she confirmed that he was, but he still grabbed his keys and left anyway. It wasn’t until after the session that he realized that maybe he shouldn’t have been in a hurry, because he found himself getting back into his car feeling shaky. Two conversations were playing themselves out in his head as he drove, one with Jessie and one with Link. Neither conversation was one he felt comfortable letting play out, and he was so involved in the mental scenarios that he missed the dark haired man driving in the opposite direction.

Link didn’t see him either, too engrossed in his own anxiety to worry about another driver. His body worked on autopilot as he pulled up at the therapist’s office, walking in the door Rhett had just walked out of. He was thankful that the waiting room almost empty and he wasn’t waiting long, making it through a single magazine article before he was called inside.

He sniffed a hint of petrichor in the air almost as soon as he walked into the office, the smell fresh in his mind from the nap loft.

“Rhett been in already?” He asked.

Carole raised an eyebrow. “What makes you say that?” 

“Smells earthy in here.” He said vaguely.

She smiled in a way that was too knowing for his taste, moving her chair from behind her desk and taking a seat. She gave him some time, allowing Link to sit there fiddling with his hands in case he wished to speak first. When she realized Link wasn’t up to sharing she broke the ice. “How’s the week apart?” 

“It sucks.” Link admitted. “Except for the time off at home, that’s great. But the rest sucks.”

She gave him a look of sympathy before she asked the next question. “Has it made realize anything about your partnership?”  

He frowned, thinking about it. “No. Just feels weird and sad.”

“What you have to remember is that if you lose what you have this is what it could be like permanently.” She said, leaning forward to drive the point home. “The whole point of this is to remind you of that.”

“If it is I don’t like it.” Link said, nervously scratching the back of his neck.

“That’s a good to know.” She said helpfully. “Makes you realize how important it is.”

He silently agreed with her, though he still fidgeted under her observant gaze. He hadn’t known her long but he felt like she could read him like a book, his instincts telling him to close it up. 

"Is there anything else you want to tell me about the week?” She pressed.

Link hesitated, holding his arms close to himself as he spoke. “Well, I think about him.” He told her. “Usually my entire day revolves around the guy so he’s constantly on my mind.”

Carole paused, her pen hanging in the air above her notepad. “Link - have you ever thought about what your feelings are?”

"What feelings?” Link said defensively.

She stared him down, clearly not buying it. “Charles.” 

“Don’t call me that.” He mumbled.

She resisted the urge to sigh and put her notepad down. “This isn’t going to work if you aren’t honest. You can tell me.”

“I love him, as a brother.” Link confessed, the last three words feeling fake on his tongue even as he said them. They tasted like salt and lies, making his mouth feel drier than it was already. 

"You’ve never thought about him any other way?” She asked, easily seeing through his words.

"I love my wife.” He said, as if that closed the matter.

"I know." She said gently. "But It’s possible to love more than one person.”

“Not for me.” He argued, before adding. “At least I thought so.”

“Have you ever thought about telling him?” She asked warily.

“No!” Link said quickly, the idea terrifying him. 

“I’m not saying you should act on it.” She assured him. “But if that’s what you feel you should be honest about it. It’ll have to come out eventually.”

“And you think that’s a good idea?” He asked, looking skeptical. 

“I think it’s an inevitable one.” She corrected. “Whether it’s a good one is up to you and the other three.”

He looked down, his face lined with guilt as he realized how right she was. She thankfully didn’t ask him more about what he was thinking, as she went to turn her laptop around on her desk to face him. “I want to show you something.” 

The first thing he noticed was her screen was set to their Youtube channel. His own face and Rhett’s flooding the page. It seemed she already knew what she was looking for, because she immediately sought out one of Rhett’s videos and hit play. Rhett was eating at what appeared to be a sushi restaurant, wearing a cap and sunglasses. She seemed to have timestamped it to a certain part of the video, because Rhett was in the middle of talking about something. 

“The thing about Link is.” Rhett began, popping a small piece of sushi in his mouth before he continued. “He is so picky that if he likes something he’s going to let you know about it and he’ll stick with it forever.”

Link’s emotions were temporarily distracted by disgust, turning his nose up at the second piece of sushi Rhett ate. He refocused on what his friend was saying when it was gone. 

“I’m not kidding. He still has some things from middle school. I threw all that stuff out years ago but his is still sitting in his garage.” Rhett went on. 

“It’s the same with people. So if you’ve been friends with Link for a long time you automatically know you’ve been deemed worthy, without question. That’s what I like about the guy, you know? I appreciate a person who can stick with something and know that this is their thing and that’s not going to change.”

He jammed his finger into the table to reinforce his point.

“I’m not like that at all, you know this.” He added, gesturing towards the camera like he was conversing with the viewer across the table. “I have layers of obsessions that change constantly. The biggest thing I’ve stuck with is my hair.” 

He ran a couple of fingers through the locks briefly, staring at it in the viewfinder.

“Link is the only exception to that. He stuck with me and the bad habit kinda rolled off.” Rhett joked before his face fell into thoughtful seriousness. “That’s probably why this experiment is so hard.”

The video fell silent as Rhett took his sunglasses off, rubbing at his dry but still very red and tired eyes. Link got a glimpse of them and decided he couldn’t watch any further, jumping up from the couch. “I’m sorry I have to go.”

Carole only had the time to pause the video and open her mouth to say something before Link was out the door. He stopped at the reception long enough to scribble a quick note of apology to leave behind before hurrying out, ignoring the curious glances that followed him. 

Despite his rush, he sat in the parking lot for some time, his thoughts running in overdrive. He couldn’t get over how broken Rhett had looked behind his eyes after such a short time. It was a look Link recognized from only a few places; the funeral of their friend Ben, his door step after he’d had a bad fight with Jessie and his own reflection. 

He took a reluctant glance at his own eyes in the car mirror and saw the same eyes from Rhett’s vlog looking back at him. He wanted more than anything to find Rhett and hold him until the deadness disappeared entirely, lighting them up again. He saw deep frown lines on his face that it was only too easy to imagine on Rhetts, making him want to run his hand over each one and turn it upwards. To press his lips to them and kiss away -

... Shit.

[glenngaylord]

ALIEN RESURRECTED - My Review of LIFE (3 Stars)

Movie studios are at a strange place in their evolution, or some may say devolution.  In an age where tentpole movies have become the entire tent, I’ve noticed a shift towards matching said films with idiosyncratic writers and directors.  When BRICK opened in 2005, who would have guessed that Rian Johnson would parlay that fascinating oddball of a film into directing the latest STAR WARS installment?  Into the fray comes Swedish filmmaker, Daniel Espinosa, along with DEADPOOL writers Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, to helm a giant alien in space film called LIFE.  I didn’t see it coming, despite his interesting work with CHILD 44 and EASY MONEY.  He seemed destined to direct tough action films filled with a distinctively male energy.  LIFE, although crammed with excitement and suspense, may carry a big stick, but it speaks softly.  

Oh, and it almost, almost, almost feels, beat by beat, like Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic, ALIEN.  That film remains in my all-time Top 20, along with its brilliant sequel, ALIENS.  I know every single moment of both by heart, so LIFE’s references rang loud and clear.  The six person crew of the International Space Station save a Mars probe from imminent destruction, bringing the soil samples it carries on board with the hope that they contain proof of a life form from another planet.  It should come as no spoiler that I report the life form doesn’t eat Reese’s Pieces.  Hell, even the poster blares ominously, “We were better off alone”.    Our poor crew, which includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, and Rebekah Ferguson, spends the rest of the film hunting the alien down or succumbing to its frightening strength and resilience.  

In one sense, this may as well have been a reboot, but LIFE veers off in another direction just enough to stand reasonably alone.  Much of the credit goes to how well this film has been made.  The opening shots, along with Jon Ekstrand’s dissonant yet commanding score, evoke 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY.  Another early shot, which serves to introduce us to its diverse crew, plays like a whooshing, whirling, unbroken take with an impossible yet astonishing feel for zero gravity.  It’s gorgeous and kinetic. Seamus McGarvey (ATONEMENT, ANNA KARENINA, NOCTURNAL ANIMALS) keeps proving himself to be one of the greatest living cinematographers, and one with a resume filled with an entire menu of genres.  Sure, many of the shots, especially anytime our characters stare at screens or petri dishes, evoke ALIEN, but it’s still gorgeous, visceral work.  

Unfortunately, LIFE suffers from a general lack of character development and the blue collar vs. corporation themes from its predecessor.  You may not know a whole lot about the characters in ALIEN either, but you truly can relate to their fed-up, tired, underpaid, griping.  Here, we have types, albeit fairly vivid.  Reynolds brings the cowboy energy while Ferguson projects a steely steadfastness as the procedure-loving CDC employee.  In other films, she would be the villain, whereas here she’s that smart pain in the ass you would be wise to let do her job.  Ariyon Bakare nicely plays the Chief Scientist Hugh Derry, who brings the alien, ridiculously nicknamed Calvin, to life.  Named by school kids on earth after the 30th U.S. President, I couldn’t help but think about Calvin Klein.  Every time the creature attacked someone, I thought, “Well, obviously nothing DID come between you and your Calvin!”  The terrific detail here is that on earth, Derry is a paraplegic, but in space, the great equalizer, he moves around just as well as anyone else.  In one nice moment, he shares what he would have said to his younger self.  It’s an oddly touching grace note in a genre that rarely spends time with them.  Along with the rest of the cast, I kept wondering who would be the final girl, the Ripley as it were.  Part of the fun is that this film has a sly way of keeping you guessing who’s next.  

Once the casualties start to pile up, I realized that from here on out, we’re only going to be treated to a series of horrible deaths, albeit highly imaginative ones.  The big question, “How successful will this critter be?”  ALIEN brought up themes regarding lack of control.  Lack of control of a monster or even your own body.  What’s at stake in LIFE?  Here’s where it differentiates itself.  I suppose this film, in its extremely morbid, nihilistic way, wants to inform us that life is inherently violent, whether you’re the good guy or the bad guy.  As such, it’s just not as interesting a concept, but it does the job.  

Take away its grandiose themes and you’re left with a masterfully made film filled with stunning set pieces and a couple of unexpected twists.  Yes, it could have spent a little more time setting up its characters, but we all know people wanna see the money shots.  Here, it’s an ever-evolving gooey, translucent starfish-like creature with unbelievable strength and smarts.  Remember those “Chinese Finger Traps” from your childhood? And man was that an offensive toy or what?  That’s pretty much the jumping off point for this vigorous little fucker.  He WILL squeeze the shit out of you, so you may want to reconsider getting too close.  

Things get a little rushed and confusing in the third act, but this film sticks its landing with haunting imagery and that crazy, bombastic, but hugely memorable score!  You won’t forget ALIEN anytime soon, but if, like me, you’re a sucker for this genre, you could do a lot worse.  

[totallyrhettro]

Another Me, Chapter 5

Word Count: 2153 Rating: PG-13 Warnings: None Summary: This time, Rhett was really going to do it. He had tried maybe a thousand times over the past thirty-odd years to tell Link how he really felt, but this time he was finally going to actually succeed. At least, that was the plan, but when another version of the six-foot seven bearded internetainer appears out of nowhere during their weekend getaway, Rhett’s carefully laid plans are quickly pushed aside. Notes: AU, Present day, Rhett and Link aren’t married

Also available on ao3!

First Chapter Previous Chapter

At the sound of Link’s name the second Rhett seemed to hesitate, his eyes glancing at Link before he nodded with a grin. Link didn’t understand but Rhett did; at least he had a sense.

“Uh, he’s back home, in North Carolina. Where we’re from,” he added, just in case things were different with the other Rhett and Link.

“Separate vacations,” Rhett guessed, nodding.

“Yeah,” the other Rhett confirmed, but there was something off in his tone, as if there was more to the story that he wasn’t telling.

“Do you two work together?” Link wondered, trying another tactic. He pointed his thumb at his Rhett. “Rhett and I, we run a few YouTube channels together…”

“Good Mythical Morning?” the second Rhett guessed.

“Yeah!” Link smiled, excited that even in what could possibly be an alternate universe he and Rhett were still friends making great content together. “You too?”

“Uh, we used to,” that Rhett admitted. “Haven't for a few years, though.” Link’s face fell and his Rhett looked very solemn. He had a very bad feeling that things were not alright in the other universe.

“What are you guys doing now?” Link asked, oblivious to the other shoe, hovering above them. Second Rhett hesitated, reading his duplicate’s face and knew that he could see the bad news coming.

“Well, I work in construction and Link is an engineer for Belcon in Fuquay.” The other shoe. It had fallen hard with an almost audible thump and now Rhett and Link were a bit speechless.

“You’re not working together… at all?” Rhett guessed.

“No, sorry,” the other Rhett added, quickly. “We just… got tired of YouTube, I guess. Buckled down and got real jobs, you know?” Rhett didn’t quite believe it but he couldn’t see any reason for this second Rhett to be lying. Link was just disappointed. He couldn’t picture any future where he and his best friend weren’t doing at least something together, even if it wasn’t YouTube.

“Is that why you changed your hair?” Rhett wondered, looking at the second Rhett’s suburban style.

“I guess,” second Rhett assumed. “The high hair look doesn’t stand up well under a hardhat. Besides,” he added. “Without GMM there was a lot less pressure to have the tall hair. I always kinda felt trapped in one style, for branding’s sake I guess. So did Link.” That last part he directed at Link, looking at his hair again.

“He still has the wings,” Link concluded. “Doesn’t he?”

“Yup. How long have you been pulling that look off?” he nodded towards Link’s hair for emphasis.

“Few years.” Link ran his fingers through his greying hair, fixing it a bit. “Stopped dying it, too.”

“My Link still dyes it. The grey looks good.” Link smiled at that and so did second Rhett. Original Rhett did not smile and he didn’t like the shared looks his colleagues were having.

“What were you doing at Stonehenge?” he pressed, changing the subject. Second Rhett pulled his gaze away from the blue-eyed brunet with some effort, taking a few seconds to figure out how to answer the question.

“Um, just vacationing with my friend Nick, who goes off-roading with me sometimes.”

“Probably the same Nick you and I hang out with, Rhett,” Link chimed in, smacking the back of his hand on Rhett’s arm. It was a simple gesture but, though he didn’t show it, it made Rhett feel better. This was the Link he knew, not the one who was gawking at his double this whole time.

“I’m guessing there’s a lot of similarities between our universes or whatever,” the second Rhett surmised. “Maybe more similarities than differences.” Another side glance at Link. “What were you two doing at Stonehenge?”

‘I was trying to finally make a move on Link!’ shouted an angry voice in Rhett’s head, but outwardly he kept his composure, letting Link tell his own version.

“Also vacation,” Link explained. “Rhett wanted to film some shots for Buddy System, our uh, web series… Don’t know if, you know, you guys made that or not...”

“We did not, but we had thoughts about making different content for YouTube. How did it go?”

“Got a Streamys award,” Link offered.

“Got to be on Fallon,” Rhett added. “Several times. We made a second season, too.” He looked at Link for confirmation. “I think the second season was better than the first, don’t you?”

“Maybe I can watch that while I’m here,” second Rhett suggested. “I wonder if I can even get online with my phone.”

“I think we should try to figure out how to get you back to your world,” the original Rhett advised. “Then we can think about how you should spend your free time.”

“I’m not even sure how I got here,” the other Rhett returned. “Nick and I booked a special access tour so we could get real close to the stones, not wait behind rope like the general public.”

“I didn’t even know you could do that,” Rhett mused, sadly.

“Rhett pretended to lose his phone so we could sneak in after hours,” Link snickered, much to his friend’s shame.

“R-really?” the other Rhett chuckled. “And that worked? Wow.”

“What happened after you got to the stones?” Rhett pushed, eager to get past talking about his own stupid actions and figure out why his duplicate had crossed dimensions to get here.

“Nick was off in another part of the henge, talking to our tour guide, so I thought I’d take a chance and actually touch the stones.” The copy shrugged. “I remember feeling a bit weird when I touched it, but I don’t think I did anything special; nothing you didn’t do when you touched the stone.”

“There has to be something-”

“I’m pretty tired,” Link interjected, cutting off his friend before he could get too worked up. “How about we all sleep on it? Give our new friend a chance to think about it and in the morning we can start fresh. Okay?”

“Sounds good to me,” the other Rhett nodded, stretching in his seat. “Traveling to other dimensions really takes it out of ya.” It didn’t sound as good an idea to the original Rhett who wanted this new Rhett gone as soon as possible. He couldn’t put his finger on it but he didn’t like how he kept looking at Link. His Link.

“Sure,” he agreed, not wanting to be a jerk. “I’ll go get you a room for the night,” he added, getting to his feet. “Not sure your ‘alternate reality’ credit card will be any good here.”

“Good point,” the other Rhett grinned, standing up. Still his eyes lingered on Link, too long in Rhett’s opinion. “I guess I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Sleep tight,” Link offered, standing as well to shake the new Rhett’s hand. “Try not to fall into another dimension.” The new Rhett laughed but the first Rhett could tell it was a bit forced.

“I’ll try,” the new Rhett promised. The two of them couldn’t leave the room fast enough for the original Rhett’s comfort.

Once he was alone in the hall with his copy, Rhett let his fake smile falter a little and his tiredness show more. It was late, he had to admit, but his mind was going so fast he wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to sleep at all tonight. The other Rhett noticed, obviously. If anything he was a master of reading his own face.

“You two been friends since first grade, like us?” he wondered, striking up a conversation.

“Yup,” Rhett confirmed, not really interested in talking about his and Link’s past. Still the other Rhett persisted.

“Still friends?” An odd question and Rhett felt like there was something behind it, he just wasn’t sure what.

“Still best friends,” he confirmed as they reached the elevators. Once he pushed the button for ‘down’ the two of them waited for a few seconds for one of the sliding doors to open and stepped inside. As the hum of the systems came on, and the elevator started moving, the other Rhett continued.

“I know it’s none of my business,” he was saying. Rhett already agreed with that statement but let him go on. “But I think it’s so great you and Link are still doing YouTube together.”

“Yeah.”

“Look.” The second Rhett turned to look the other Rhett right in the eye. It wasn’t something he was used to, being so tall, but if anyone could do it, it would be his copy. “I’m just saying that you’ve got a good thing here, making videos with your best friend. Speaking from experience, don’t do anything that could mess that up, okay? It’s not worth it.” That was not what Rhett had been expecting and he was quite taken aback by the other Rhett’s frankness. He didn’t know what to say.

“What happened on your side?” he asked, quietly. Just then the elevator doors opened. Main floor. Second Rhett glanced around before leaning in.

“Let’s just say I made some mistakes and I don’t want to see you do the same, okay?” With that, and without a look back, Rhett’s copy stepped out of the elevator and headed for the front desk. Conversation over. The original Rhett didn’t move. It wasn’t until the elevator doors started to close that he remembered why he come down here in the first place. Stumbling out he rushed to catch up.

Here, in public, they could pretend to be twins but having a private conversation was out of the question. Rhett wanted to question this new Rhett more about whatever mistakes he had supposedly made. What had happened over on the other side that had this other Rhett so upset, so intent on the original Rhett not messing things up with Link? Did… did he mean…? Rhett thought to why he had really come to England, to visit Stonehenge, and his plans to come out to Link once and for all. Over the past decade he had been terrified that doing so would push Link away, that telling his best friend how he really felt about him would ruin their friendship. Was that was this new Rhett was saying? That doing so would be just as bad as Rhett feared?

Maybe he was right. Maybe this whole plan had been a bad idea. Maybe…

“I’d like to book a second room for tonight,” he told the receptionist. “For my brother.”

“Sure,” said the man behind the counter, typing away on his computer. He was very professional about booking the room but Rhett could tell he was amused by twin brothers needing separate rooms.

When all was said and done the two Rhetts headed their separate ways; Rhett two had a room on the second floor and Rhett one went back to the one he shared with Link, his head spinning. He couldn’t stop thinking about what the other Rhett had told him, the warning, the certainty that had been in his voice. Whatever world he came from, there was another Link, too, but something had happened between them. The second Rhett had told them they were still friends but now that felt like a lie. Had he told Link what he wanted him to hear to spare him the truth?

Rhett was deep in his thoughts as he got ready for bed, changing into his sleepwear and getting into bed.

“Are you listening to me?” Link demanded, leaning his head out of the bathroom, toothbrush in hand.

“Uh yeah,” Rhett lied. He hadn’t been listening at all and Link knew it.

“I said we should go to that French Bistro down the road for breakfast tomorrow,” he was suggesting, mouth half full of foaming toothpaste. “I want to hear more about our other selves from this new Rhett.” He ducked back into the bathroom but kept talking, just a bit louder. “I bet he has lots of stories that we don’t!”

“Great,” Rhett called back, not meaning it but Link didn’t notice. Link finished brushing his teeth and rinsing before coming back and settling into his own bed next to Rhett’s.

“I’m sure we have stories he doesn’t have, too,” Link continued. “Like Buddy System. We should tell him about our experiences with that.”

“I’d much rather try to figure out how to get him home, honestly.”

“Jealous of the other you?” Link guessed, jokingly. “I’m sure he won’t be taking your place any time soon,” he assured Rhett. “Sounds like him and his version of me got sick of YouTube a long while ago.” Rhett nodded but didn’t agree. As he lay his head down to sleep he couldn’t help but dwell on the notion that something had gone really wrong in the other universe to make that Rhett and Link stop working together. Rhett just knew he had to find out what.

Next Chapter

More Fics