#why is luca attacking him in every universe

[thealvalorenz]

Tell us about the biggest regret that you have :)

𝒜 𝓈𝑜𝒻𝓉, 𝓁𝑜𝓌 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒹𝓇𝒶𝓌𝓃 𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝒽𝓊𝓂 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝓁𝑜𝓈𝑒𝒹 𝓁𝒾𝓅𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒲𝒶𝓇𝒹𝑒𝓃. 𝒜 𝓆𝓊𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒸𝑒𝓇𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓁𝓎 𝓃𝑒𝑒𝒹𝑒𝒹 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓈𝒾𝒹𝑒𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝒽𝒾𝓂. 𝐻𝑒 𝓉𝒶𝓅𝓅𝑒𝒹 𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑒𝓃𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝓂 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓁𝒶𝓇𝑔𝑒 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝒾𝓇 𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓈𝑒𝒶𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒹𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝑜𝓃, 𝓈𝓊𝓇𝓇𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝒹 𝒷𝓎 𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝒾𝓃 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒹𝒾𝓇𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝑒𝓍𝒸𝑒𝓅𝓉 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝓊𝑔 𝒾𝓃 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓃𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝒾𝓉 𝒸𝓁𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝓉𝑜, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓉.

"𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝑒𝓇𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓁𝓎 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓉𝑜 𝒶𝓈𝓀 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓆𝓊𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒹𝑜𝓃'𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊. 𝒢𝑒𝓉𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓉𝑜𝓅𝒾𝒸𝓈." 𝐻𝑒 𝓈𝓅𝑜𝓀𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒶 𝓈𝑜𝒻𝓉 𝓅𝓇𝒶𝒾𝓈𝑒 𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝓁𝓊𝓃𝓉𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓆𝓊𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝒷𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝒶𝓉 𝓊𝓅 𝓈𝓉𝓇𝒶𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉, 𝒷𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝓂 𝒷𝒶𝒸𝓀 𝓊𝓅 𝓉𝑜 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝑜𝓃.

"𝑀𝓎 𝒷𝒾𝑔𝑔𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝓇𝑒𝑔𝓇𝑒𝓉… 𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒶 𝓆𝓊𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃. 𝐸𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝐼 𝓈𝓊𝓅𝓅𝑜𝓈𝑒𝒹, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐼 𝒶𝓂 𝓃𝑜 𝑒𝓍𝒸𝑒𝓅𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒻𝒶𝒸𝓉. 𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝐼 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓈𝒶𝓎 𝓂𝓎 𝒷𝒾𝑔𝑔𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝓇𝑒𝑔𝓇𝑒𝓉 𝒾𝓈, 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒷𝑒𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓇 𝒲𝒶𝓇𝒹𝑒𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝐼 𝒽𝒶𝒹 𝒽𝑜𝓅𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒. 𝒜𝓁𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽 𝐼 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝓈𝓉𝓇𝒾𝒸𝓉, 𝓈𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝐼 𝒶𝓂 𝒹𝑒𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒸𝓇𝒾𝓂𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁𝓈, 𝐼 𝒶𝓂 𝓃𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂. 𝐼𝓃 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂. 𝒮𝑜 𝐼 𝒹𝑜 𝓉𝓇𝓎 𝓂𝓎 𝒷𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓃 𝒶 𝓈𝑒𝓃𝓈𝑒. 𝑀𝓎 𝓈𝓉𝓇𝒾𝒸𝓉𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓈 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓉𝓇𝓎𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝑒𝓁𝓅 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓈𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓈𝑜𝓃. 𝐻𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇.."

𝒜 𝒹𝑒𝑒𝓅 𝓈𝒾𝑔𝒽 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝒶𝓃 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝒾𝓉𝓈 𝓊𝓅 𝓈𝓉𝓇𝒶𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒶𝑔𝒶𝒾𝓃, 𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓁𝒶𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓃 𝑜𝓃 𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝒻𝒻, 𝒶 𝓈𝓂𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓂𝑜𝓉𝒽 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝒾𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝓉𝑜𝓅 𝑜𝒻 𝒾𝓉 𝒷𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒷𝒶𝒸𝓀 𝒹𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓊𝓃𝒾𝓆𝓊𝑒 𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓅𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑜𝓃 𝒷𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝒽𝒾𝓂. "𝐼𝓉 𝓈𝑒𝑒𝓂𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓂𝓎 𝑒𝒻𝒻𝑜𝓇𝓉𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝓂 𝒶 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓃𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝑜𝓃𝓁𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓈𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓇𝓈, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝒻𝒻 𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓈𝑜𝓃 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒶𝒸𝓇𝑜𝓈𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝐼 𝒽𝒶𝒹 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓃𝒹𝑒𝒹, 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃 𝒾𝒻 𝐼 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝑒𝓈𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝒶𝓈𝓉 𝓉𝑜 ���𝒾𝑔𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝒶𝓁𝓈. 𝒲𝒽𝒾𝒸𝒽 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂 𝓈𝑒𝓉𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝒸𝑒 𝑜𝓃 𝒻𝒾𝓇𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓂𝓅𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓂𝑒."

"𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓉. 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝐼 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓈𝒶𝓎 𝓂𝓎 𝒷𝒾𝑔𝑔𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝓇𝑒𝑔𝓇𝑒𝓉 𝒾𝓈."

[rtv-puzzlevision-studios]

☆ THE RTV!PUZZLEVISION TOUR [Part 2]

Participants actions:

Becky

Marie

Loyboo

Astro

Nia

Nicknack

Harley

Grinnames

Asper

Vex

Lucas

Lari

Rayas

Lily

Creature

Sci

The Director

Bunnybot

The Scammer

KuromiPuzzles

Messy

Orion

Nira

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

While the voting continued, RTV was kind of just pacing around near Colores giving a smile here and there, asking how it’s going.

Typical host behavior.

Okay, maybe he was also shooting a few glares, especially in the direction of a certain head of the Delivery Department.

He was really considering not paying her that overtime because her grumpiness was starting to piss him off.

Something she managed quite often.

Tearing his eyes away from Nicknack, he now turned his attention towards that same brown-haired rough looking girl he talked with before.

Now she looked even worse, oh boy.

“Okay! I’m not sick, just sleep deprived!! The nightmare realm takes out on me a lot.”, she defended herself, even though RTV never even voiced his suspicion that she was sick. Apparently he had been a bit too obvious, whoops.

“I never MEANT to imply-”, he tried to say, but was immediately cut off again as the girl ranted on.

“All because my “friends” abused me and left me to die in a crumbling castle, which was my home. But the King - of the Nightmare Realm - is my friend and took me in. But… he doesn’t understand that keeping me up and having a panic attack every 5 minutes-”

“Miss.”, he interrupted her now, really trying to keep the exasperated tone out of his voice, as he folded his hands behind his back. “With respect but that sounds like something you should discuss with a professional.”

The TV head gave her a faked look of pity, before patting her shoulder once and moving past her.

“Preferably someone in the PSYCHOLOGY department…”, he muttered to himself, before quickly distancing himself from this particular participant before he was there to witness a live breakdown.

Perhaps incidents like this were why he should get some sort of therapist or psychologist on the team, but he really didn’t need people to think that his studio was a bad work environment. It was fine! Aside from a few hiccups here and there everyone was satisfied with the pay, the work-

Okay who was he kidding, alone the Film Department was a mess. Internally sighing, he put it on his very long to-do list. 

Note to self: Hire mental health support.

His attention was briefly diverted to another person he had talked to before. The brown haired guy with the missing arm. 

They were currently happily yapping about all the props and Puzzlevision elements before noticing RTV’s glance and slightly shrinking.

“Ahem…apologies, Mr.Puzzles.”

Was he that intimidating?

Flashing the participant a smile, he waved the apology aside.

“Why apologize? You came here to ADMIRE after all!”

He extended his arms.

“Please, feel free to look AROUND the studio while we are still here!”

In the next second, RTV’s smile slightly froze as he got a notification from Wr3n.

Taking his phone out of his coat, he spared it a quick glance.

Got one sneaking away.

Attached was a screenshot of a blonde figure sneaking towards a certain office door. Ah, that explained why Wr3n was notifying him and not security.

He raised his eyes, muttering an “Excuse me”, before moving towards the crowd straight towards the target which was just about to open the office door.

Mask’s office door.

“Now now, GOING somewhere?", he now spoke, placing a hand on the person’s shoulder watching with satisfaction how the deviant froze and then looked up to him.

“Sorry, thought I heard something, thought someone maybe wandered off and uh, well you know, figured I get them." they said, giving a shrug with a chuckle, before they looked off to the side, and avoided eye contact.

RTV was not buying it for a second, but right now he was way more interested in the person’s resemblance to Mask.

Another doppelganger no doubt, either from another universe or an insert without  background. He was betting on the first.

Either way, they had no business being here.

His eyes narrowed a tad at the familiar feeling that cursed through his cold hand as he touched the participant’s shoulder.

Could it be…?

“Oh but of COURSE, can't have that, can we? However I assure you everyone is accounted for, perhaps NEXT time, let security do their job, no need to wander off, hmmm?" RTV now snapped out of his observations, before his hands clasped together.

For now he needed that one away from this office.

Luckily, they seemed to play along, giving the TV head a nod.

"Very good! Now, why don't you join the OTHERS and cast your vote, we'll be leaving for the next department shortly!”, he announced before placing his hand on their back instead now and pushing them along, back to the crowd.

As soon as he had led them back there, his smile dropped and he gestured for Chris to keep an eye on that one.

What was their name even again…? He typed the question to Wr3n.

Astro.

Astrovision AU.

Ah, that explained a lot.

“Ah, Sorry-”

Stuffing his phone back into his coat, he turned to look down at the horned girl who had bumped into him a second ago.

His dry stare slightly softened as he saw the Puzzles Plushie in her hands.

A fan apparently.

If a clumsy one.

“No worries, go along, but do take CARE of your surroundings, yes?”, he spoke in a forgiving voice, gesturing for her to go along, before shaking his head and moving back to his previous position.

One that was approached by an individual with swirly eyes, black and red horns and weirdly floating ribbons around her waist a few seconds later.

He recognized this one as “Grinnames”, as she was one of the people whose submissions he had read through and saw sometimes when on the site for business with his ask box.

Well, at least the visitors seemed to warm up to them enough to ask questions now.

And he didn’t have to wait long for Grinname’s.

Raising her arm, she voiced her question in the next question.

“Colores! Mr. Puzzles! I have a question! Two questions actually. First, why aren’t Bob and Saiko on the crew anymore?”

Ah.

Well, he should have seen that one coming.

“Also…”, Grinnames now continued more sheepishly, tapping her fingers together. “Could I… possibly… if it’s no trouble… have the box of fan mail from Valentine’s day?”

RTV’s eyebrows rose in the air.

Luckily, Colores managed to ask the question that was running through his own head, but nicer.

“And… why would you want the fan mail? They’re not… addressed to you, you know.”, she asked Grinnames, confusion clear in her voice.

“Well, to be completely honest with you, I was planning to read all of them. And then eat them.”

“…”

The silence was deafening as even more questions filled RTV’s head.

“So can I have them?”, Grinnames repeated.

Feeling Colores’ helpless stare on him, he now sighed, crossing his arms as he looked down at the menace.

“I highly advise you against eating these letters, as they probably taste like tears, CHEESY romance and PARASOCIAL relationships.”, he spoke dryly, before smirking. “So that’s a no, I’m afraid.”

Next to him he heard Colores hide her chuckle behind a cough.

“As for your first question, well, Saiko and Bob have been…let go a while ago due to some HEAVY tension in the crew.”, RTV explained with a saddened tone, one hand absentmindedly tapping on the long scar that was hidden behind his sleeve.

Why did that guy even have blades for hands?

“So, I fear they won’t be appearing on the shows anytime soon.”, he continued, shrugging with a shake of his head. “Rest assured though they are just FINE.”

Physically.

“Oh yeah, I also heard someone ask about Luigi.”, Colores now added, folding her hands. “He’s fine as well, but he resigned from the crew even before I was hired because of what happened to his brother.”

“And there you have it. Now, if you would excuse me…”, RTV spoke, his solemn expression immediately turning back to a bright smile as he now turned to the next asker.

This was going to take a while.

☆

“ALRIGHT, THE VOTES ARE IN! WE ARE GOING TO THE FILM DEPARTMENT!”

Lucian who had been leaning against a wall next to the door after his talk with Sci, now watched how the people slowly started to leave the studio and started gathering in the hallway.

Chris and Swag already followed the crowd which meant that he was staying in the studio until the last people had left.

He briefly looked up, watching as his sister talked to that one anxious participant with the fox ears, visibly assuring them.

“Lucian.”

The object head tensed as RTV suddenly stood next to him.

For someone this tall, the TV head had the uncanny skill to sneak up on people.

“What’s up…boss?”, he forced himself to a casual attitude even though he felt like throwing his fist right into that man’s screen.

RTV gave him a narrowed glance for a second, the condescension visible in his eyes for a few seconds, before he lowered his voice.

“What’s the status on Animsay?”

Ah, so this what it was about.

“Worried she has more things planned that you didn’t know about?”,Lucian couldn’t help but mock, clearly referring back to the fanmail talk.

A scowl slowly faded into RTV’s expression.

“You already managed to ruin your relationship with your sister all on your own.”, he slowly drawled, slightly leaning down to Lucian. “Do you think I can make it worse?”

Everytime he brought Colores into this Lucian felt like taking his gun and ending this story once and for all, but he lost once before.

He was surrounded by people who obeyed RTV, followed him.

His sister included.

If she killed him, she would be one of the first to call security on him, probably hate him forever too because you didn’t just break out of brainwash like that.

RTV had a solid grip on his sister’s mentality and he wasn’t afraid to remind Lucian of it.

“Wr3n set her loose shortly before the tour began.”, Lucian now answered, forcing the hostility out of his voice. “If she’s not here, she’s probably roaming around. You know she’s not exactly caring about set timelines.”

“She better be about THIS one.”, RTV muttered, now walking past Lucian towards the crowd, screen displaying a happy face again though his muttered sentence did not match. “Or her vacation is going to be permanent.”

Lucian lowly snorted at that.

As if.

Without Animsay this whole tour would not even have been set up.

RTV needed her if he wanted to manage that whole 4th wall business even if he was too proud to admit it.

The sound of rustling paper made him glance up the ceiling where he saw Colores now picking something up from some of the cubicles.

Some kind of paper.

He quickly looked away when she looked over to him, not wanting to spark another argument because of his “overprotective brother behavior”.

Tsk, if she knew.

“Do me a favor?”

“Huh?”

Lucian looked up as his sister floated over to him, handing him the paper.

“So now we are talking again?”, he asked, but took it, giving the paper which turned out to be a drawing a puzzled look.

It included several versions of Puzzles with RTV in the middle.

Absolutely something that belonged to the tour participants.

“If you could stop for once to stop behaving like I can’t do my job-”, Colores started.

“It’s not about your job, it’s about the boss-”

“-that gave YOU a job after you wrecked your whole life and that of a bunch of others.”, Colores hissed, before shaking her head. “No, I’m not going into this again with you today. Take the drawing, give it to the one with the striped uniform. See you later.”

With that she turned around, giving a desk with what appeared to be a star on it a side glance before shrugging and disappearing into the depths of the studio.

Lucian stood there for a second, hesitating before cursing and turning around to catch up to the group which RTV had meanwhile began leading to the next destination.

Finding the owner of the drawing wasn’t too difficult as her uniform stood out quite easily and she was at the back of the group.

Putting a hand on the robotic fox-like girl’s shoulder, Lucian turned her attention towards him.

“Keep going.”, he told her reassuringly, noticing her startled expression before handing her the drawing. “Don’t lose it, alright?”

Taking it, she muttered what appeared to be a thanks before turning around and moving on.

Lucian did notice how the tension he had previously noticed on her seemed to slightly leave.

Well, his sister always had been better at making people happy.

Sighing, he crossed his arms, as he proceeded to walk at the end of the group, blending out RTV’s speech.

☆

“The Film Department makes the CORE of the Headquarters, after all Puzzlevison’s main thing is to create MOVIES and SHOWS for everyone!”, RTV meanwhile explained while leading the group back the way they came. Luckily for them, there was a second less cursed staircase in the hallway to the left that led back to the ground floor. “I could of course show you all the different studios we have, but I think you may be interested in a PARTICULAR part of said department.”

RTV now stepped to the side, gesturing for Swag to take the lead for a second.

He had to check up on something.

While Swag began leading the group onto the ground level over the staircase, RTV moved past it and a few meters back to the elevator they passed beforehand.

Pressing the button he called for the elevator, before slipping inside as soon as the doors opened.

If anyone were to step in as well, they would have seen RTV slightly sizing down to fit better into the lift.

It had been a premonition pretty much, a little hunch if you will and lo and behold, he was right to have taken this way.

A scowl placed itself on his screen as he glance at the floor buttons.

Below the two buttons that were accessible to everyone, were three other buttons that led to the basement levels.

Floors which were usually hidden behind a secret panel, one that a certain other TV head had carelessly left open.

He was seriously regretting his decision now.

It's always something like this.

Small things that could cause disaster, intentionally left around for her amusement.

To bring in some action as she would say.

RTV didn't want action in this tour, he just wanted a civilized little event, gather some data about these people and that was it.

With a loud sigh, he now put the panel back in place with a practiced motion, before pressing the button to the ground floor.

Really, one of these days he was going to-

Ping!

The doors of the elevator opened, revealing a much smaller TV head with a turquoise scarf and black and green clothing.

The black screen, which only displayed a few blue lines, temporarily showed a digital sweatdrop running down the face, before it revealed a curled smile.

“Oh, hey RTV-”

“YOU.”

In the next second, Animsay was lifted off the floor by the collar of her jacket and came face to face with a very angry RTV.

“I decided to let you back for the first time in MONTHS and this is how you repay me?”, he snarled at her.

“Weeeeeeelll”, Animsay drawled slowly. “If you look at it, I’m simply trying to fulfill our promise to the other audience by leaving narrative devices that could be used later to-”

“-to RUIN me?”, RTV ended the sentence for her, glowering.

“...well, it’s all a matter of chance…?”

“One. Just ONE more of these shenanigans and I swear I will-”

“Ahem.”

The fake cough made RTV halt in his threats as he turned his head to look at the rest of the tour group which had now arrived around the corner.

….great.

“- haaave a TALK with you.”, RTV now finished his sentence, before placing Animsay back on the floor.

Said TV head gave a thumbs up, before turning to walk away.

“Great! I will keep that in mind, See y-”

“Don’t even try.”

“On the other hand, staying with you sounds like a very good idea!”, Animsay announced, making a U-turn to join the group to which Swag let out a groan.

She wasn’t exactly beloved among employees.

“Hello, bonjour, assalamu alaikum, hallo!”, she now began shaking several random people’s hands, among them those of Asper’s, Nia’s and Vex who seemed to be zoned out by all the talking, before pointing at herself. “The name’s Animsay, some of you may know me from a certain site, wink wink, others maybe not. I’m the head of the Social Media Department but we will probably get to that later! Probably.”

She turned her head away from RTV, whispering behind her hand.

“Depending on your choices, yada yada. You read the rules.”

Running a glove down his face, RTV’s eyes closed for a second as he mumbled something under his breath before he turned back to the group.

“MOVING ON- if you would start following me again.”, he now raised his voice again, this time a clear strain to his cheery tone. 

He began leading them down the hallway with several doors with name tags on the one side and windows that showed an open area outside on the other side. In the near distance one could spot a familiar purple themed castle.

Animsay had efficiently placed herself in the middle of the crowd just far enough away from any security guard who would rather have her standing not to them. 

Whistling, she now slowly moved next to a certain trio consisting out of a Siren, a robot and an undercover TV head.

“Glad to finally meet you face to face! Hope you’re enjoying the tour so far.”, she innocently began small talk, before nodding to the side.

“Oh, by the way, the many doors we are passing? All offices, mainly of the Administration Department. Pretty neat, right? The offices of the heads, such as myself, each have their own office in the building block their department belongs to. Well, with exception for 3 he prefers to keep in the castle. Mine and Colores are in B!”, she happily began rambling.

The Director just quirked an eyebrow, confusion and scepticism in his gaze, while ​​the Siren blinked in surprise but seemed intrigued.

Bunnybot on the other hand grinned, greeting the fellow, what he assumed was a robot, with a bright smile and a wave.

 "I can't speak for everyone here," he shrugs, "but I'm having a great time!~"  

He listens quietly as the newcomer begins to ramble about this and that, leaning in with interest whilst stealing a glance at "Micheal" out of the corner of his eye.

“Well, anyway I probably shouldn’t hang around too much or the boss gets weird, bye bye!”

With that she moved on to search for the next victim to yap to, in this case a former employee and friend.

“Hey Mi, wait for me!!”

“Ani??”, the black haired girl gave the TV head a hug, before lowering her voice. “Are you okay?”

“Yep! No need to worry!!”

“I’m sure you’ve GUESSED by now where we are heading.”, RTV now spoke again, now opening a set of doors that led to the inner courtyard. “The SMG4, now SMG3 castle has gotten a bit of a rework to fit more to it’s NEW crew.”

Setting the doors so they wouldn’t move he now took the lead again, walking past the grassy fields and a few planted trees and benches.

“This area is often used by employees during BREAKS by the way. It can be accessed from ALL building blocks. Building Block C contains the studios of the Film Department. If you WISH we could take a look at them later, but I think you may be much more interested in the crew’s residence.”

A few moments later, they arrived in front of the SMG3 castle’s gates which Chris and Swag opened for them.

Stepping inside, they were welcomed by the familiar yet recolored interior. 

Checkered floor, two staircases leading up to a room above and several doors with pillars next to them leading to more side rooms.

However, instead of being blue shaded and decorated with SMG4 banners, the interior now was colored in several purple shades and Puzzlevision as well as SMG3 logos.

If one looked above they could also see that the ceiling had been turned into looking like a star filled sky.

“WELCOME TO THE SMG3 CASTLE!”, RTV announced, now moving in the middle of the room, next to the crew who had meanwhile been gathering while the group fully walked in.

Behind them, Lucian closed the doors in front of Animsay who had tried to slip back outside.

The “SMG3 gang” looked pretty similar to its original self if with less members and slight signs of overwork and aside from Tari missing Clench.

All were in uniform, now greeting the group with Meggy and Boopkins giving a bright smile and a wave, while Tari settled on a more sheepish and hesitant one, avoiding eye contact.

The head of the group, SMG3 meanwhile stepped next to RTV, looking awfully tiny next to the 12ft TV head.

Barely hidden dark shadows could be seen below his eyes and although it was clear that he had tried to look his best for today, there was still an aura of exhaustion surrounding him.

Clearing his throat, he now gave the group a two-fingered salute.

“Hey! I’m SMG3, but I’m pretty sure ya know that already.”

He now waved over to the rest of the crew.

“I’m the head of the Film Department and also the leader of the SMG3 gang.”

He then nodded to the other three.

“Me, Tari, Meggy and Boopkins welcome you to our crib- I mean base of operations!”

The meme guardian let out a small sigh of relief as Meggy now took over.

God, he was so tired.

“The film department is responsible for creating all the shows and movies that you know from Puzzlevision.”, Meggy now continued. “Of course, we don’t make alone at headquarters, some of our other locations also have their own studios, but all the movies and shows containing our cre- gang, specifically, are made here in the headquarters.”

SMG3 couldn’t help but rub over his eyes as he remembered the bunch of work he had to go through the next few days.

Maybe he should start asking for a vacation, but what would people think?

The Film Department was already known as the most dysfunctional part of the headquarters ever since he took over.

Constant bickering, overtime, deadline stress and then Saiko and Bob got fired.

Even now he hated himself for doing that, but he just couldn’t do it anymore.

Had he overreacted?

Sure, maybe, but he didn’t think it would end with them cutting contact with everyone.

He really thought they would come around eventually, understand why he pulled Puzzles into this and maybe they could have talked it out.

No such thing possible apparently and now-

…and now he was zoning out.

Blinking a few times, SMG3 forced himself back to the present, clearly feeling Tari’s concerned look on him.

“The Film Department consists of the whole castle and a few studios and offices over in Block C.”, he now heard Meggy move on. “Aside from acting, we are of course also responsible for editing, the whole technical aspects like cameras and sound and script writing though the latter is often taken over or proofread by Mr. Puzzles.”

RTV nodded at that.

“So yeah, if you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask them! Other than that feel free to explore the castle! I know a lot of fans always want to see it, so go ahead.”

“You can go anywhere except for the room upstairs.”, SMG3 now butted in, stuffing hands into the pockets of his overalls. “It's, uh, not cleaned up.”

In reality he simply didn’t want people putting their nose into his and SMG4’s setup that he still didn’t put away.

It just felt…wrong.

“Yeah, aside from that you can access the kitchen where we have a few snacks and drinks standing, the storage where honestly ain't much except a bunch of equipment and whatever we stuffed in there, the gaming room if you want to play a few games with Tari, the guest room if you just want to relax for a second I guess and lastly the bathroom if, ya know.”, Meggy added on, before crossing her arms and giving a nod. “Thaaat’s pretty much it! Have fun exploring!”

“Oh-oh! Can I play some animes on the TV in the guest room, pleeeease?”, Boopkins now perked up, prompting the gang to all look over to RTV to make the decision.

Said TV head looked like he would rather not have that happening, but sighed.

“...sure. Whoever wants to watch an ANIME, though I doubt we even have the time-”

“-I will put on the mini-episodes-!”

“-they can follow Boopkins into the GUEST room.”

“Yippeee!”

SMG3 watched the small green fish waddle off in the direction of the Guest Room.

Despite all the exhaustion of the last days, he was still somehow the most enthusiastic of them all.

The meme guardian used to find that trait of his annoying, now he really wanted to desperately know his secret.

Unfortunately the price for it was a sleepover and an anime marathon.

Well, until he got over to doing that he would just have to stay through this.

Answer questions.

Play nice.

☆

After a while, RTV figured that it was time for another vote.

In the meantime he had pulled SMG3 away from the interacting crowd and next to himself for better observation.

The man was done, he could tell as much and it may have been the fault of the last movie deadlines that got way too close to each other.

Well, it stressed RTV too so he wasn’t the only one suffering.

What he was more worried about was the fact that SMG3 tended to overthink when in this state and when he overthought stuff it often came to him questioning everything about the event that started his whole career.

The Puzzlevision movie.

And that was something RTV would rather not deal with today.

“ALRIGHT, NEXT VOTE STARTS NOW!”, he announced, his loud voice making SMG3 flinch for a second, before he quickly tried to hide his reaction by rubbing over his neck.

The rough feeling of missing texture quickly made him lower his hand.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

Tag list

@niranutcake @fenicearts420 @leirom71000 @entityarts @alelathedragon @mylifeisfakeenjoy @lari-the-dragon @lislelycan-i-am-dumb-lol @rat-n-atty @nia1sworld @untitled14360 @Irayasostripes @theclosetcreature @jovialoddity @purpdrawsthings @varian-the-alchemy-boi

All characters of mine are able to be interacted with as usual! If you questions about how they would react, never be afraid to shoot me a message!

[pinkpinkmermayyy]

ok so mermaids probably exist in the luca universe. If sea monsters can, so can mermaids

but not the usual disney mermaids like ariel, in fact Alberto and Luca scoff at the really inaccurate portrayal of mermaids in the little mermaid

the mermaids here are just like sirens from folklore, you know, eating human men and all

they rarely try to hunt other creatures like the sea monsters or any other fish, but there’s multiple stories from across the ocean of sirens stealing sea monsters’ babies and either plucking off their scales to renew their own tail, or raising them as their own by locking them away from the rest of the world.

The reason sirens might go for the latter motive when kidnapping a sea monster baby would be to take their soul when they turn 21, and raising them makes it easier with less resistance from their victim. Sirens and mermaids don’t have souls, so when they die they just become sea foam and cease to exist. But sea monsters do have souls, and they get to keep themselves intact and choose their life after death, which sirens are extremely jealous of. That’s why they like stealing kids to take their souls.

Luca remembers a story his mom told him of when a siren actually tried to kidnap him as a baby, but she attacked her and saved Luca before the siren could run off with him. He doesn’t believe it, but even if it’s just a story, it’s still pretty terrifying to him

Sirens also like to scare and bully other sea creatures because they’re a bunch of mischievous pranksters that have nothing better to do when they’re not busy being pure fucking evil

one time, when luca was a little younger, he had the misfortune of being the victim of one siren’s prank, which involved her pretending to be a human and even using a real harpoon for good measure, cackling when she got luca terrified.

his mom found them a few moments after and shooed the siren away, all while comforting her son and saying it wasn’t a real human

Alberto’s been jumpscared by a siren before but he just got pissed off because he actually did get scared by her, and promptly chased her away

Every sea monster who lives in the ocean and even in some freshwater areas know how awful sirens/mermaids are, but they’re even more upset when they learn that humans have portrayed them as these little angels while sea monsters get the short end of the stick.

Luca and Alberto make it their little side mission to correct this however, along with Giulia who agrees with them after getting a little spook from a siren lurking on the shore near her

@brunosaderogatory

[vinnysimmer]

My Mystery Stories #1

Chapter 7: Scandal at UBrite (Part 1)

Dominic couldn't get the things Wosgi had said to him out of his mind, his conscience reminded him that he deserved it, but he was furious to know that it was his best friend who had betrayed him in that way. He ran through the streets of Britechester to think better of it. After the argument with Wosgi, he went straight to the sorority demonstration in search of Regina, and found her arguing with Grace, he heard every word - and was happy to know that she still loved him. Soon, he returned to the fraternity and changed his clothes for his run, but before he left, the storm hit.

He waited for the storm to pass until Daichi arrived, soaked and greeted Dominic with the same enthusiasm as always. However, looking at Daichi made his fury return to such an extent that Dominic advanced towards his friend and punched him with all his strength in the nose, which broke with a wet sound. Daichi - who was screaming and writhing in pain - did not question his friend as to why he had done that; Dominic's look of almost sick hatred already answered his question. Wosgi entered the fraternity - also wet and with his hair tied up - and when he saw Daichi's face covered in blood and Dominic looking at him furiously, he just laughed and said, before going upstairs: "You finally made me find you funny, Daichi." The young man with the broken nose just went back out into the rain - running to the UBrite University Hospital - leaving Dominic thirsty for more violence and revenge. The bad feelings were so great in Dominic's mind that he decided to go out to run even in the middle of the storm.

That spicy smile made him remember the night of the party, Luca had smiled the same way when they were in the room, he asked for a moment and went towards the door - the rooms at ΩKB were suites - but Dominic was too drunk to remember if Luca had left the room or gone to the bathroom, as the doors are close, but it didn't take long for him to come back and they continued what the influencer was thirsty for that entire day.

…In the morning, the most searched topics on social media were: “Britechester Attack”; “Judith Ward’s grandson in a criminal fraternity”; “Did Luca Maglioni kill a former castmate?”; “Luca Maglioni’s new affair”. Luke woke up peacefully from the dream he had had, and still drowsy, he remembered that he should ask for August’s death certificate from Deputy Moss. Picking up his cell phone, his heart started beating fast, he had a missed call from Sunny Goldstein, and twenty-two others from an unknown number - some with the Italian state code - and a message from Deputy Moss in all caps that reads: “TURN ON THE TV TO THE NEWS NOW, IDIOT!” And swallowing hard, he felt for the remote on the bed and turned it on. On the news, the reporter spoke of two more bodies found on campus during the early hours of the morning and claimed that a serial killer was on the loose in UBrite. He also linked the Tartosian actor to the murder of the first victim because of an old feud, and Dominic Ward, because of the romantic involvement, and used Lionel Blake's podcast as evidence. It wasn't long before he himself appeared for an interview, Lionel claimed that his theory was true and that the detective hadn't listened to him. A fury mixed with anxiety began to grow inside the redhead, and it was still 7 am. His mind was a real spiral of thoughts, among them: if the person who had left the pub was the real culprit behind that leak, and if so, who was it really?; did the not-so-'stranger' who had sent him a message last night know about it?; and most importantly, how would he defend himself from all of this since the case was in his hands? Beside him, his cell phone beeped with incoming messages and rang madly. He just picked up his phone and turned it off, he needed to organize his thoughts.

Credits: Vinny & @jakisimmer

[rosstmcd]

So, the Jedi.

I first saw Episode IV back when it was just Star Wars, in the theaters, in 1977. I was eight, and it was the most awesome thing I had ever seen. Especially the Jedi (although for a long time I thought they were "Jet-Eye" knights) -- Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker, and lightsabers! And the Force! I wanted to be a Jedi so bad.

With that movie, George Lucas instilled in me a love of that universe so strong that not even George Lucas could destroy it.

So I love the idea of the Jedi. When I'm creating a character in a video game, I usually pick whatever option is closest to being a Jedi (e.g. Vanguard in Mass Effect.) TTRPGs often the same.

But at the same time I am aware that, holy cow, the Jedi collectively are as dumb as a bag of hammers.

(In their defense, they spent a lot of centuries being the undisputed baddest mofos in the galaxy; they didn't need to be smart. But as soon as they got some actual opposition, yikes.)

Like, consider Anakin. Here's this kid, he's six, which is older than we usually take kids in, think the Jedi. He's got this hard knot of anger and fear, because, duh, he's been enslaved his whole life and also because we just took him away from his mom and told him he can never see her again. What should we do with him?

I know, the Jedi say to themselves, we'll train him, but we'll be sure to remind him constantly that we're always watching him because we don't trust him, and we're suspicious that he might fall to the Dark Side at any moment. That's sure to solve those negative feelings! Nothing bad can come from this plan!

Or take Geonosis in Episode II. Oh no, some of our people are in trouble! Let's swoop in with a couple dozen Jedi, each of whom is a veritable typhoon of destructive potential, and then we will... stand in a circle in a literal killing field, where every single one of our hundred of enemies has a clear line of fire at us, and just bounce blaster bolts off our lightsabers. This is an excellent strategy and cannot possibly lose.

Or towards the end of Episode III, where Obi-Wan and Yoda have finally figured out that their primary enemies are Palpatine and Anakin -- who have, conveniently, separated themselves so that the two remaining Jedi masters can concentrate their force (and their Force, for that matter) and attack each of them two-on-one in succession. Oooooor they could split up and go one-on-one against each of them. Hmm. Which plan will the Jedi go with?

Or when that goes to shit, and they're like, "Well, I guess we're fucked now, we have literally no other option but to go hide out for the next sixteen years or so and do basically nothing. Hypothetically some kind of resistance movement might form against this new Empire that could benefit from the presence of two Jedi masters, but meh. Our best bet is to wait for a couple of babies to become teenagers and dump the whole thing on them."

(People gave Luke a lot of shit in the sequel trilogy for fucking off to the ass end of nowhere and hiding out from the results of his mistakes, but I don't know why anyone would be surprised. It's exactly what both of his Jedi mentors did.)

Anyway, my point: I love the Jedi and think they're all idiots. Force bless those empty-headed space wizards.

[unhingedhearties]

The Most First of First World Problems

You know who did have a surprisingly mature reaction to the Season 11 poster? TeamE83Liz/UnlovedHeartie.

Just kidding, she chimped out. Without looking ahead, take a guess what her opinion of Elizabeth’s shorter hair was.

Chris McNally literally has genetic evidence that he slept with someone outside of marriage*, but Liz only has these freak outs at 4 specific cast members simply because they travel and hang out and aren’t married. How dare people experience life with someone they aren't married to. They spend a quarter of the year EVERY YEAR working together. I would hope some of the cast would become friends and have fun.

*And to make it perfectly clear, I don’t care who Chris has a family with or how. NO. ONE. should care. Anyone who attacks him is subhuman trash. I just want to point out how Liz still puts Chris on this weird pedestal but acts like a serial killer everytime Erin does something she doesn’t approve of, whether it’s wearing hoop earrings with short hair or dating and traveling with friends.

Yeah Erin and Kevin really look like themselves on that poster. Erin’s always running around in pastel skirts in her free time and Kevin is never not wearing suspenders when at home.

“Bullied online” People telling you to act like a respectable adult is not bullying.

I do not understand how or why Lucabeth fans thought the next poster would cater to them. This show is not solely about you. Elizabeth and Lucas are not a couple anymore. Life goes on.

“I hate Erin at the moment” Then why are you always on Erin-senpai’s Instagram screaming at her to notice you and say “hi”?

“Where the f_ck is his uniform!?!” It’s still swearing even if you censor a vowel. I’m sure Jesus is proud of you. And his uniform is in the same place Jack’s was for the Season 3, 4 and 5 posters. Remember the pre-Lucas era?

“That’s mental abuse towards Lucabeth fans!”

HA HA HA HA HA

“I never got the chance to decide for myself who I wanted her to be with!”

You can literally decide that right now. You don’t need other people to make up your mind for you. You can even change your mind. What a crazy concept.

“I was then talked into how bad & not right for Elizabeth, Nathan was!”

Oh my God! She fell in with the wrong crowd 🙄How embarrassing to (probably) be a middle aged adult and be this easily influenced.

“My life’s ruined FOREVER because I was talked into hating an actor I don’t know. There’s literally no way to fix this situation”

Someone call TPTB. The main character of the universe is mad and doesn’t want there to be a Season 12 or a Christmas movie. Her wants outweigh the millions of fans that do.

…of course it’s real. Maybe it’s not the finished product, but it’s real. What, you think Erin and Kevin dress like that in their free time? Where do you think the photos came from?

Again with the “I was talked into not liking Nathan”. “Please, I bring nothing to a relationship and I only take, but I need someone to drop what they’re doing and tell me my hateful outbursts are justified.”

“Edit-Me” 

No shit

God I hope Elizabeth’s hair only gets shorter. I hope she goes full Josephine Baker and gels it flat onto her head.

Okay, I think that’s going to be it for poster reactions. There’s just been too many from disgruntled Hearties to keep track of everything. If anyone finds a good one, show me and if it’s funny I might share it.

[gorillastraylight]

I love this post so much. I hesitate to definitively say “the more Star Wars there is, the less special and interesting it becomes” overall because there’s plenty I like about the expanded universe and clone wars era and whatnot, but I do think that the more Star Wars there is, the more it changes the feeling of the setting as a whole. That probably sounds stupid and obvious so maybe I can explain a little

Like, the positive way to view this is that Star Wars, as a property, can be a home for a wide range or stories that vary considerably in tone and theme. It can comfortably fit the low-stakes Space Western stuff in The Mandalorian (at least in the early seasons before it was decided that every canon character ever had to show up), the (attempted) grand politics of the Prequels, and the gritty subversive punch of Andor within it all at once. It’s all still Star Wars.

Of course, the flip side of this is where you end up with YouTube bozos whining that anything new “doesn’t feel like Star Wars”, especially when it’s an idea that takes the franchise to a genuinely new place, literal (The Acolyte with the High Republic) or thematic (Andor being intended for an adult audience). To connect this to battletech, my beloved, it’s like hearing grognards grumble that the IlClan era doesn’t feel like battletech anymore - they’re wrong, it absolutely does, just not their preferred section of the franchise. This, of course, assuming that said YouTube bozo or Battletech grog isn’t just using that statement as camouflage for discomfort with minority characters being in the spotlight more often.

I do feel very drawn to the more mystical force and loosely defined universe presented by the Original Trilogy - increasingly, I find myself preferring less concrete lore to more. Too much lore is how you end up with the Wookiepedia article about Darth Vader’s suit confirming that his helmet is polished with woodoo hide and that Palpatine built him wrong on purpose to keep him weak or whatever. This shit is fucking lame and completely demystifies Vader IMO, it all just feels like post-hoc justifications for perceived “errors” from a fanbase that intakes media not as stories with their own goals and artistic elements, but as documentaries of fictional worlds. See also my most hated Star Wars trivia piece, that lightsaber blades attract one another slightly, a bit of fluff clearly invented to deflect the observation that prequel characters looked like they were attacking each other’s sabers rather than each other, an early criticism of fight choreography in the prequels. Like, would it have been so bad to just let that be rather than come up with some contrived bullshit to lampshade it? It didn’t even matter, everyone (even unenlightened fools such as myself who still think the prequels are pretty bad) agrees that prequel fights are fucking sick, even if they are overchoreographed.

Now, while I prefer the idea of a mystical, personal version of the force, it’s also less useful to the idea of the Jedi that Lucas was trying to convey in the prequels - an archaic, cumbersome organization that wields too much authority and has grown too comfortable to question itself. The deep spirituality and inward curiosity that vision of the Force presents would be at odds with the Jedi Order as lost and fallible. If the prequels were better executed, the fact that the Order presents a much more mundane, “solved” version of the force could itself be an element of that motif. The stupid fucking midi-chlorian counter could be a symbol of how out of touch with the spiritual aspect of the Force the order had become, and it might even make me hate it slightly less. It’s not so much that it’s a worse version of the force, just more suited to its own story - is what I would like to say. Unfortunately, Count Dooku uses Force Lightning.

Why. Why does he do this? Putting aside the idea that it’s cooler for Lightning to be a Palpatine-unique power, it seems incongruous to Dooku’s character! Now, the characterization of Count Dooku is pretty inconsistent- especially with how deep into the dark side he is. Is he more of a rogue Jedi who’s grown disillusioned with the order and the republic, or a truly evil, scheming villain? Depends what story you’re taking in, but given how perfunctory his introduction in the films is, giving this random guy the fucking ultimate evil force power just cheapens it unnecessarily. Hell, to put on my Wookiepedia hat for a minute here, Dooku’s a duelist, a specialist with the lightsaber. He’s not a sorceror freak like Palpatine, why can he do this insane wizard shit?

There’s other examples of stuff like that, but I think it’s overall emblematic of the tradeoff I pointed to right at the start. Star Wars is large enough to contain many kinds of stories - but elements that strengthen or streamline some stories then become canon to all the others, even if they weaken (and so are pointedly unaddressed by) those others. The other classic example is how almost every new empire era story makes Order 66 less effective and Luke Skywalker’s role as the resurrector and inheritor of the Jedi tradition less impactful. That’s the price of the grand franchise, and all I can say is that if I wind up running Age of Rebellion with my ttrpg players, I’ll be glad they’re the kind of people who’re cool with playing it a little loose with canon in service of a good story.

[ambitionsource]

AMBITION “Living Memory” [ 4.11 ]♮PART 1, half 1

RECAP

Over the shot of Isa and Farkle finally, finally having their first kiss:

Josh, voiceover: Previously, on AMBITION…

Last episode alone was a rush of major, life-changing moments -- violations of autonomy (with Justin’s forceful moves on Maya); hail Mary auditions (Vanessa), and the dawn of profound realizations (cue Zay staring at Charlie and suddenly no longer able to run from the truth that he has been, and remains, so irrevocably in love with him). Relationships erupting into excited, bright new starts -- if you’re Isa & Farkle -- while others crumble into resigned, quiet surrender.

Vanessa: Who does it help to pretend like that isn’t how things are? Who are we protecting? The only people we’re going to hurt are ourselves -- and it’s not fair, Zay. To me, or to you. [ with a shaky breath ] So what are we doing?

For every unspoken epiphany, however, there was an equally volcanic confession. Nigel informed his family of his desire to leave NYU and potentially transfer overseas to a less-than-enthusiastic reception…

Nigel: Hell, when I talked about Zay going out for all these touring auditions and stuff, you said it was cool. You said you hoped it worked out for him. Why is it great when he does it, but when I want to try for something more it’s -- Liezel, frazzled: You are not Zay Babineaux!

And Charlie managed to defy even that, finally revealing his true identity to his mother with predictable, yet still tragic, results.

Charlie, desperate: Mom, this isn’t -- I’m still me! I’m still your son -- Eleanor: Don’t say that to me! Stop lying!

In spite of all that, there was some levity… of a sort, as Yindra took an unconventional and truly wild boat ride for the weekend in the aim of making it into the coveted, elite girl group being developed by Jupiter Records. Although she gave it her all, it’s a wonder what might happen next, considering the experience itself -- full of panic attacks, smashed bottles, and catty gossip -- left little insight as to what might happen next. Hollywood might just prove to be more unpredictable than Adams Academy.

Kimmy: Stop, y’all. We’re women supporting women…

Somehow, all of this chaos -- new career moves, new betrayals, and the hard launch of romances new and long-thought-passed -- happened amidst the true universal centerpiece of life and death. For every start, there is an end, and Kenneth Friar finally met his after a long, tiring, and emotionally complex wait. How Lucas and Grace move forward in the aftermath, carrying all that mixed grief, remains to be seen.

Charlie: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…”

It’s the circle of life, and as our curtain rises on another episode, it begins again. Every action has an equal opposite reaction; every closed door invites another one to open. What gentle ends and potential new starts await us next -- and what ones came before that brought us to this moment of time in the first place?

If AMBITION has shown us anything so far, it’s that there’s certainly a story beneath every stone just waiting to be turned and told… so as autumn leaves fall in our world and new ones grow in theirs…

Yeah I’ll be singing Hallelujah, whether you like it or not!

End of recap.

INT. L.A. APARTMENT - FARKLE’S BEDROOM - DAY

Sunlight filters in through the curtains, casting the room in a warm glow. It’s still early, so FARKLE MINKUS and ISA DE LA CRUZ have yet to get out of bed.

Even when Isa starts to stir, they’re not in any rush to get moving. They let their eyes flutter open and roll onto their back, looking up at the unfamiliar ceiling. For a long moment, confusion reigns -- where are they again? What are they wearing? How did they end up here?

Then they turn their head to look at Farkle, and it all comes back in an instant.

The letter in a well-worn shared novel. The confessions; the unexpected and new forms of expression. The stuff they did with him -- with their best friend -- that they never believed could happen in real life.

But it did. Somehow, they ended up in bed with Farkle, and based on the fond expression on their face, they wouldn’t change that fact for anything.

He’s still sleeping peacefully, and Isa has no intention of waking him. They’re still drowsy themselves, and have half a mind to just drift back to sleep. They figure they’ll quick check their phone, see the time, and then disappear back into the blissful calm for a little while longer.

The peace doesn’t last.

Upon looking at their phone, Isa discovers they have missed texts. Quite a few, in fact -- one from Dylan, two from Riley. Several from Eric. As soon as they open them and read the messages, they’re wide awake.

Isa: Holy shit.

They sit upright, immediately dialing a number. When someone picks up on the other end, they forget to stay quiet, speaking at full volume and startling Farkle awake next to them.

Isa: Riley? I just saw your texts -- what the fuck is --

Whatever she says on the other end of the line, it leaves Isa gobsmacked. Not that the news is surprising -- they all knew it was coming -- yet it still lands like a bomb anyway. Isa climbs out of bed and gets to their feet, pacing the floor as they listen. Farkle pushes himself upright, still half-asleep but obviously concerned by their behavior.

Farkle: What’s wrong? Is everything -- Isa: [ to Riley ] So he’s dead. [ meeting Farkle’s eyes ] He’s really dead.

Farkle’s eyes widen, matching their somber expression.

INT. L.A. APARTMENT - LATER - DAY

Isa is getting ready to go in a rush, Farkle helping them gather their things. Everything is frantic, neither of them having a second to breathe.

Farkle: The car will get you to Burbank. Do you need me to help with a flight, or -- ? Isa: No. No, uh, Zachary said he’d arrange the plane for me. Since it’s an emergency. Farkle: Okay, good. That’s good.

But they’ve got to go. Like now. It already feels like they’re days late. Farkle zips up Isa’s suitcase and helps carry it to the door where they’re slipping on their backpack.

Farkle: Well, okay, um, text me when you get on the plane. And when you land. Isa: I will. Farkle: And tell Lucas -- well, I feel for him. Let them know if there’s anything I can do -- Isa: Yeah. Yeah, will do.

Isa starts to head out the door, so distracted they don’t even think to say goodbye. Then they seem to remember something, viscerally, doubling back before Farkle shuts the door.

Isa: Wait, wait -- !

Farkle hears them just in time, giving them enough of a chance to slip back through the doorway and pull him into a kiss. Somewhat a goodbye, somewhat a reassurance; a desperate grasp for comfort in the midst of new chaos.

When they pull apart, Isa offers a hasty promise.

Isa: Talk to you later.

Farkle nods, managing a smile in spite of the confusion.

Then Isa is gone, shutting the door behind them. Farkle blankly follows a couple of steps after them, gently pressing his fingers to the cold surface of the door.

He sighs and spins to lean back against it, left in a total daze.

EXT. BURBANK AIRPORT - APRON - DAY

Isa jogs to board the small private jet waiting on the tarmac, the engine humming loudly.

INT. MACNAMARA PLANE - CABIN - DAY

They collapse into their seat, already exhausted, as the pilot informs them they’ll be taking off shortly. Isa goes to buckle their seatbelt and then pulls out their phone, shooting a text to their group chat with Dylan and Riley that they’ll be there ASAP.

It’s only once they’ve begun taxiing that Isa realizes one little detail about their current attire -- they’re still wearing Farkle’s sweater from the night before. Oops.

Pilot, off-screen: All passengers, please prepare for take-off. We’re all clear for departure.

Too late to change now… and honestly, it seems like Isa might find just a bit of comfort in that. They cross their arms and hug themselves lightly, looking out the window at the glaringly blue Los Angeles sky.

EXT. NEW YORK STREETS - DAY

Not so in New York, where an overcast sky paints the city dismally grey even at sunset. A light drizzle leaves a shimmer on the concrete jungle, making it all feel even more monochromatic.

INT. CHARLIE’S APARTMENT - DAY

On the television, a local weather report notes that the cloudy, rainy weather is set to hang overhead for the next couple of weeks.

But no one is paying much attention to the television. CHARLIE GARDNER is half-eyeing it, but he’s more so listening to RILEY MATTHEWS converse quietly with ASHER GARCIA and DYLAN ORLANDO, who finally made it down from Rochester in the last few hours. When there’s an urgent knock at the door, Charlie is the one to answer it.

Isa is on the other side, still loaded down with their bags as they came straight from the airport. Charlie exchanges a weak smile with them and offers to get their things off their hands, giving Isa the chance to greet the others.

They don’t say much -- what is there to say -- but Isa does accept a tight hug from Dylan. When they let go, he does hesitate on their new yet vaguely familiar sweater, but opts not to comment.

Isa breaks the quiet first, glancing around to make sure they’re not missing the obvious before asking what’s on their mind.

Isa: Is he here?

EXT. CHARLIE’S APARTMENT - FIRE ESCAPE - DAY

LUCAS JAMES FRIAR is alone, hiding out on the cramped fire escape outside their apartment even with the drizzle. He has his arms wrapped around his knees, pulled in close on himself. His expression is blank, empty, which is almost more telling than if he seemed outright emotional.

Moments later, the window creaks open. Lucas doesn’t move as Isa climbs onto the fire escape to join him, settling down across from him and mirroring his posture.

He doesn’t acknowledge them. They don’t expect him to. They don’t need to say anything -- they used to do this routine all the time, back in the day. The quiet is fine.

They’re there. That’s what matters. And right now, after what’s just happened, it matters more than ever.

EXT. NEW YORK STREETS - DAY

A newspaper lands backside up on the doorstep of a home in the Quincy High neighborhood, already smudging slightly from the rain. The bottom right corner of the visible page becomes our focus, as we ease to get a better look.

The obituaries. There, prominently featured, is a black and white photograph of Kenneth Friar.

Community mourns a beloved coach, teacher, and father Kenneth James Friar 1981 - 2022

The rain starts to pick up, splattering on the paper and causing the ink to run. As Kenneth’s image starts to blur and blend, a distant drum line picks up… then it grows more prominent, as if it’s marching closer…

EXT. TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL - FOOTBALL FIELD - FLASHBACK - NIGHT

That’s because it basically is -- marching, that is.

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Tusk” as performed by USC Trojan Marching Band || Instrumental

We’ve been transported back in time, smack dab into the middle of a high energy, high enthusiasm football game. Bleacher stands are packed on both sides; the high school marching band is getting folks hype. Cheerleaders are hollering and doing their choreography, with frenzied pom-pom movements and cheerful chants that the people in the stands echo. The outfits are delightfully mid-90s, and there is no rain in the sky here.

Suffice to say, it’s a far cry from the arts-centric, modern world of Adams we’ve grown used to.

That being said, it doesn’t seem like everyone’s cup of tea there either. In the shadows of the bleachers, a girl watches uncertainly, hovering just out of sight and getting a good look at the crowds without letting herself be seen. She’s petite, with ash blond hair plaited over her shoulder and a shy disposition. The whole scene seems just a bit too loud, too overwhelming for her. While she’s got on a cute sundress, you can hardly tell, as she’s hidden behind an oversized denim jacket that she’s practically swimming in.

It’s a younger Grace Friar, or as she was once known, GRACE KINSLEY (16). And before she was stuck in New York, living the non-life she is now, she was a teenager just like our mains.

The game continues out on the field, giving the cheerleaders the chance to reset and grab some water. This is when one of them catches Grace lingering by the bleachers, brightening and grabbing her attention with a wave. She enthusiastically gestures her over to the fence, and after a moment, Grace reluctantly leaves the sidelines and comes to meet her.

The cheerleader who greets her is full of bubbly charm, tall even as a teenager with a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. She has deep red hair, as fiery as her personality, only tamed right now by necessity into a tight ponytail. Her grin makes up for it, though. This is RACHEL MCGUIRE (16).

She bounces on her feet as Grace approaches, reaching over the chainlink to give her a hug once she reaches the fence.

Rachel: You came! I can’t believe it. Grace: Yes, against my better judgment. Rachel: Oh, wah wah. You are so prosaic. Grace: Did you just pick that one up from the thesaurus today? I don’t think you’re using it right. Rachel: Maaaybe. But whatever, I’m just so glad you’re here! Isn’t it fun? Don’t you just love the energy? Grace: It is… something. All right.

Rachel rolls her eyes. Even if she isn’t going to convert her best friend to the wonderful ways of school spirit, she got her to come to at least one game this year, so she’ll consider that a win.

Rachel: And you’re coming to the party, right? It’s going to be so crunk.

Grace wrinkles her nose. That sounds like the last thing she’d rather do… this scene is already raucous enough. But Rachel senses her hesitation and before she can even say no, the redhead gives her a signature pout, signaling she’s not going to let this drop.

Rachel: Come on, please? Just once. For me. Grace: I don’t know… Rachel: Just for an hour. For thirty minutes. Hell, if you walk in and last five minutes, I swear I will stop asking to copy your English homework. [ taking her hands ] Gracie, it’s our junior year. I want you to experience one party before we graduate and become decrepit old people. Cheerleader: Rachel, come on! We need to get ready for the pyramid! Rachel: Lay off, Jessica! [ back to Grace ] Pleeease?

Well… when she looks at her like that, how can she say no? Grace’s turn to roll her eyes, but she can’t help but smile as she caves and agrees. Rachel jumps with glee and claps their hands together.

When Rachel turns to focus back on her squadmates, something catches her eye on the field.

A couple of football players are looking at them. Two of the cute seniors, the taller of whom is definitely eyeing Grace behind her.

Delightful. Rachel’s eyes widen with excitement, and she leans back to get Grace’s attention again.

Rachel: Gracie. That guy is totally looking at you. Grace: Huh? [ with a slight frown ] Shut up. No he isn’t. Rachel: Yes he so is. I saw it. Oh my God, imagine, you come to your first football game and walk away with suitors? Talk about proving me right that you need to get out more often. Grace: No -- that’s not -- shut up. [ crossing her arms ] They’re not even looking over here. He’s looking at the game. Rachel: The game is on time-out. And he was definitely looking at you. Grace: Doubtful. Maybe he thought I was someone else. Rachel: Is it so impossible to believe that -- Jessica: Rachel! 

God, Jessica, could you chillax! Rachel groans, telling Grace they’ll pick this back up later. Grace seems grateful for the escape, gesturing Rachel on her way. She does a little mocking pom-pom move.

Grace: Stay balanced.

Rachel sticks her tongue out at her, then jogs to go join the other cheerleaders. Grace hangs by the fence for a moment longer, taking in the hectic scenery all around her… certainly more her best friend’s domain than her own…

And then she sees it, too. When she looks towards the field at the players, as they get ready for their next play, the left tackle on their team glances in her direction -- and seems to look directly at her.

She doesn’t know him. He doesn’t know her. But his blue eyes are like lightning, even all the way from there… and when he smiles slightly a second later, thunder rattles Grace’s bones.

Well, that’s enough being present and seen for one night. If only that was all. Grace whips around and makes a beeline back for the bleachers, a flush rising up her cheeks. She glances back over her shoulder only once the next play has started and there’s no chance he’ll still be looking at her.

In the rush of movement, all she can make out is the bright white “F” starting the lettering on the back of his football jersey.

Then he blocks an offense maneuver from the opposing team, and the crowd in the stands goes nuts around her, totally dominating the soundscape. The horns of “Tusk” blare loudly --

INT. HOUSE PARTY - FLASHBACK - NIGHT

And become the opening notes of an iconic party banger, playing through the tinny speakers available to the high school teens of the nineties.

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” as performed by Cyndi Lauper || Instrumental

The mood is jubilant at the afterparty for the game, as it appears the home team carried victory. At least, that’s the impression you get as you watch the crowd of players hoot and chant for each other in the living room and chug down celebratory cans of beer.

At the same time, the cheerleaders are having a toast of their own, all raising their red solo cups and taking a shot of whatever their vodka of choice is. Rachel has dragged Grace into this circle as well, who dutifully sips her red solo cup along with the rest but with markedly less confidence.

Once the group disperses a bit, Rachel turns back to her friend and reemphasizes how glad she is that she decided to come out for once. She’s now let her cheer ponytail down and is fluffing out her hair, which looks even more vibrant red in the mood lighting of the party. Instinctively, she reaches out and starts to affectionately nitpick Grace’s hair too.

Grace: Don’t waste your effort. I’m never going to look like you. Rachel: You’re right. That is, I could never be as effortlessly adorable as you are.

She gives Grace a boop on the nose.

Grace: Okay, so, you’re already clearly drunk. Rachel: Am not. Not all of us are lightweights like you. I just happen to know what I’m talking about, which is that you are beautiful and smart and now that you’ve escaped your self-inflicted dungeon of imprisonment -- Grace: I don’t think being an introvert is -- Rachel: The whole world is going to see it too.

Rachel nudges Grace into taking off her armor of denim, allowing her cute dress to see the light of day. She helps her tie the jacket around her waist.

Grace: Maybe, but I’m not sure that’ll do much to cover up the whole… being boring and smelling like hay because I live on a farm thing. Rachel: All part of the allure. [ off her head shake ] I mean, mister left tackle certainly already noticed…

Oh, not this again… Grace grows more shy, pushing some stray hair behind her ear.

Grace: Again, you’re exaggerating. Rachel: Am not. Grace: Why would he even -- he was probably looking at you. You were right in front of me. We don’t even know each other. Rachel: As if that matters? In this case, it really doesn’t. He doesn’t know most people. He’s that senior that transferred over from Claremont. Which is good, because our last left tackle was so shit. But anyway, knowing someone or not does not preclude one from wanting to know someone. Which he does. Want to know you. Grace: How could you possibly know that? Rachel: Because I know things. Because I’ve had three boyfriends, and they all have to start somewhere. [ glancing over her shoulder ] And because he’s looking our way right now.

Rachel’s smile is downright overjoyed. Grace frowns and looks over her shoulder.

She wasn’t lying. The left tackle from earlier is chatting with the quarterback and another player, easy smile on his face… and he keeps glancing over at them.

At her.

Grace whips back around, all levity gone from her expression.

Grace: Oh my God. Rachel: I told you. I told you! Grace: Shut up. Shut up. It’s not -- they’re just looking. It’s not like… it’s not like he’s over here. Rachel: True… for now.

Rachel’s smile widens. She nonchalantly pushes away from the counter and traipses her way towards the boys, Grace watching her in mild horror.

Grace: [ in a whisper ] Rach. Rachel! Come back!

Rachel tosses her a wink over her shoulder, then flips her hair to prime volume as she saunters over to join the footballers. She begins to chat up the quarterback, complimenting him on the excellent win…

And giving mister left tackle a wide open playing field. Grace curses to herself and spins back to face the drinks on the counter, no clue what to do with herself. He probably won’t come over here. Why would he? Rachel is right in front of him now -- he’ll probably become enamored with her. Most men do. Plus, it would be a lot of effort to walk over here and talk up a wallflower. She’s worrying over nothing.

Even so, she feels compelled to seek out some courage. Grace reaches for the vodka bottle and quickly pours herself another shot, downing it compulsively before she can regret it.

Lo and behold, Rachel was right on the money. Grace swallows the liquor and grimaces at the burn in her throat, but she pulls herself back together right before another figure comes over to join her.

Left Tackle: Not bad. Don’t think I could down one of those that fast. Willing to pour me one, and we’ll find out?

Grace braves meeting his eyes, getting a better look at him. And boy, once she does, it is hard to look away. He was striking across the field, but he’s absolutely mesmerizing up close. Tall, well-muscled, with sun-kissed skin and sandy blonde hair. It’s clean cut on the sides but a bit longer on top, Freddie Prinze Jr. style, now fully visible without the football helmet.

Then there’s the eyes. Oh, those eyes.

Grace clears her throat, then does a little shrug. Somehow, she manages to come off coy, despite how her knees feel like jelly.

Grace: I don’t know. Probably not a good idea. I don’t want to be responsible for taking down our prized new left tackle.

He laughs, and the sound makes Grace crack a smile without even trying. And if that wasn’t enough, his smile is absolutely killer.

Left Tackle: Damn, if I’m going to be taken down by the cute little thing by the bar, I think my football career is in trouble. The offense on the other team ain’t got nothin’ on you, huh?

Grace shrugs again, figuring saying nothing is wiser than whatever stupid stuff might come out of her mouth. She’s never been great with words -- spoken ones, at least.

Thankfully, this seems to intrigue him rather than put him off. He leans against the counter.

Left Tackle: Well, if I’ve met my match, I’d at least like to know the name of the girl who is destined to take me down. Can I wrangle that much?

Hm, smooth… Grace contemplates for a long moment…

Grace: Grace.

Pretty. The left tackle smiles brighter, obviously thinking so himself, before nodding.

Left Tackle: Grace. Like the sound of that. [ holding out a hand ] I’m Kenneth.

Grace holds his gaze, taking him in, before letting her eyes drift down to his outstretched hand.

After a second, she takes it.

Cue title sequence.

EXT. NEW YORK STREETS - DAY

The rain continues, creating puddles on the grey sidewalks. A fresh but soggy newspaper left on the doorstep of a different apartment building remarks on the relentless torrent of dreary weather while also giving a subtle nod to the passage of time. Lettering onscreen emphasizes it moments later…

Three weeks later.

From there, the camera pans upward, heading to an upper floor.

INT. CHEY APARTMENT - NIGEL’S BEDROOM - DAY

NIGEL CHEY finishes zipping up his bag, ensuring it’s sealed tight before he ventures out into the rain. Droplets patter against his window as he secures his windbreaker.

He tosses a glance towards the window, obviously not thrilled about it. Considering how unenthused he is about NYU these days, it’s all too tempting to just blow it off and stay in.

But the last thing he needs is a drop in his grades. Not after the hell that was last semester -- and if he does want any chance of transferring, anywhere at all, he’ll want to keep his academic standing above water. So he shoulders his bag with a sigh and heads out.

INT. CHEY APARTMENT - DAY

When Nigel emerges from his bedroom, his family notices immediately. They notice, but no one says anything, not sure how to break the tension.

It’s evident this cold shoulder has been going on for a while. ERNESTO CHEY exchanges a look with LIEZEL CHEY, tacitly encouraging conversation, but she keeps her mouth shut. Even if she did want to speak, she surely wouldn’t know what to say. REYNA CHEY watches the silent movement from her usual armchair, more riveted by it than whatever pathetic soap is on TV.

Nigel pretends not to notice, for once not feeling like the one who needs to placate and keep the peace. He could walk right out the door like he has for weeks now, but Ernesto manages to get a word in before he can disappear.

Ernesto: Quite wet outside today. Bad weather. Nigel: … yeah. Liezel: Be careful getting to NYU. It will be slippery. I don’t want you to get sick.

Nigel chooses not to acknowledge his mother’s comment. The silence stings, but Liezel says nothing else, dipping her head down to her work at the kitchen counter.

Ernesto: Are you sure you want to walk? I could drop you off. Nigel: I have my coat.

He gestures to his windbreaker indicatively. Hard to argue with that. Ernesto reminds Nigel of when dinner is, and he claims he’ll try to be there, but as of the last few days there’s no guarantee that’ll be the case. For better or worse, Nigel is demonstrating he can be self-sufficient when he wants to be.

Even if no one else seems happy with it. Nigel opens the door, Liezel braving one more meek comment.

Liezel: Have a nice day.

Nigel doesn’t respond, shutting the door behind him before she can finish the sentiment. It obviously hurts, though Liezel does a decent job of stuffing it down. It seems Nigel got his knack for compartmentalizing from somewhere.

Reyna, on the other hand, is less than pleased to see it. She frowns to herself, shaking her head slightly as Ernesto and Liezel awkwardly return to their business.

EXT. JUPITER RECORDS - DAY

In natural contrast to the eastern downpour, the sunshine is still relentless over in Los Angeles. It glares brightly against the glassy exterior of the Jupiter Records building, reflecting in all directions.

INT. JUPITER RECORDS - MEETING ROOM - DAY

The mood is decidedly more jubilant here, too, as the EXECUTIVES excitedly inform the gathered young women that they are the official finalists for the coveted five spots in the label’s girl group project. After the retreat and weeks of debate, they’ve narrowed it down to less than ten finalists, six of whom are present in the room with them.

KIMMY PRICE, who looks just thrilled to be included; TABITHA FLORES, who is already impatient to prove herself and tapping her manicured fingers on the surface of the long meeting table they’re seated around. ALEENA SAYYID remains curious but calm, while MADYSIN MAY is busy sitting up on the table and lowkey flirting with the Jupiter representatives present. RONICA LEWIS watches the rest of them wild mild interest, keeping her game face on.

And YINDRA AMINO. She’s managed to squeak her way into final consideration, though what exactly made each of them pass the test remains a secret. So for now she’s trying to remain agreeable and somewhat aloof, holding her few cards close to the vest.

But even this close to success, the pressure doesn’t let up. Because now that they’re this close, the scrutiny becomes even more intense, as the process now requires extra assessment to develop the ultimate configuration of the girls they have left. This means more chemistry tests, more vocal mixes, and any number of personal questioning while they build out the perfect presentation of girl group excellence.

Just peachy. Yindra manages a smile and does her best to hide her nerves, nodding along as the executives lay out expectations for this final step.

INT. LUCAS’S APARTMENT - DAY

The Friar apartment has a strange new energy to it. Although it looks nearly the same, just with one less body sometimes occupying the space, something about it has irreversibly shifted. It feels simultaneously heavier yet lighter; shaded with tension yet unburdened with fresh relief. Like although weight still hangs heavy overhead, the space is no longer perpetually holding its breath.

INT. LUCAS’S APARTMENT - KITCHEN - DAY

The same seems to be the case for GRACE FRIAR. Although her features are etched with grief, and the bags under her eyes indicate more than a few restless nights in her recent history, there’s a serenity to her that wasn’t there before. She’s tired, but at ease, and she walks the floors of her apartment without dreading every creak under her step.

There’s miles to go before she sleeps, though. Kenneth’s passing may have happened in a moment, but the aftermath feels neverending. So much paperwork to handle, inquiries to follow through on. The man may be dead, but he was sure to leave things for her to clean up after him.

That, and the reminders never cease. She goes through the mail she just collected, looking for legal documents but finding more than a couple letters from well-wishers instead. Old friends from high school or Austin sending their condolences, mourning a great man and expressing their shared grief.

Folks who clearly kept up with Kenneth, but sure didn’t make an effort to stay connected with her.

More than that, they have questions. When will the funeral service be? Will there be one? If there’s financial straits preventing it, they’re happy to contribute. Kenneth was such a wonderful man, after all, it would be a damn shame for them not to have the chance to celebrate his life together. After three weeks, they just have to wonder… and if there will be one, they want to do everything in their power to clear their calendars to be there.

They’re not the only one with these questions. Grace herself has them -- one of the many things keeping her up at night -- but pulling something together has been harder than she anticipated. She knows she could find the help, of course…

But it’s not just about her. Grace places the mail on the kitchen counter and doubles back, heading across the living area to the other end of the apartment.

INT. LUCAS’S APARTMENT - LUCAS’S BEDROOM - DAY

As they attempt to downsize and sort through Kenneth’s belongings -- and he certainly had the most things to possess out of the three of them -- Lucas has taken on the task of going through the items stuffed into the closet in his already closet-sized bedroom.

But he’s not making very quick work of it. It’s more like pulling teeth, Lucas seated against the doorframe of the closet and mainly sitting in thoughtless silence. He’ll occasionally pull some random item out of the darkness, turn it over in his hands and try to find meaning in it, before ultimately chucking it into the cardboard box they’ve deemed trash or back into the depths when he can’t decide where it belongs. More often than not, he’s been aiming back into the closet.

Grace arrives in the doorway, gently knocking to get his attention. He stops staring into space and meets her eyes.

Grace: How is it going in here? Lucas: [ with a shrug ] Fine.

Given the trash box only has about one more item in it than the last time Grace checked on him, that’s likely. But she doesn’t point that out, treading cautiously towards what she actually wanted to discuss.

Grace: I’ve gotten more letters. From friends in Austin. They send their best. Lucas: Good for them. Grace: Many of them are asking about services. If we’ve got a date yet. [ a beat ] If we’ll have a date at all…

Lucas doesn’t have the answers, and it’s obvious from his expression that he doesn’t want any. He clenches his jaw and tilts his head back against the doorframe. Grace would like to do the same, but she pushes through and addresses it head on.

Grace: I think we need to decide if we’re going to do this. We can’t keep putting it off. Lucas: Okay? Sounds like you’ve decided then. Grace: I haven’t. I want us to be able to figure it out together. I know it’s -- it’s complicated. But people are asking, and three weeks is quite a long time after someone -- Lucas: Why the hell do I care what “people” think? It’s not their stupid family. [ tossing something into the trash box ] If they care so bad, why don’t they throw a party themselves?

Fair enough. But not helpful. Grace crosses her arms, trying not to bristle at his tone.

Grace: I get that this is weird. I know. You think I don’t know just as well as you do? [ touché ] But we need to act on it. We need to do something. Even if it’s just to get it out of the way, to allow everyone to move on. Including us.

Lucas’s jaw twitches, but he doesn’t argue. He doesn’t look at her either, but the lack of a pithy comment is better than usual lately.

Grace: We can’t just stay in this limbo forever. It doesn’t help anyone. Least of all you. So how about we just… do it. Go through the motions, get through it, and then we can put it to rest. For good. Lucas: [ under his breath ] What a perfectly normal way to talk about burying your husband…

Yes, but when has anything about this family ever been normal? Even so, Grace is clearly put off by the comment. She knows this is hard for him -- she has no doubt about it -- but he seems to forget she lived it all too. In fact, she lived much, much more of it than him.

She doesn’t say any of that, though. If he’s going to act like a kid about it, then she’ll do her best to buck up and act like the adult in the room.

Grace: I’m going to move forward with funeral preparations. Jack and Eric said they would help us with the logistics, so I’m reaching out tonight. [ a beat ] You can be involved, or not, that’s up to you. I get it either way. But I can’t do nothing anymore. Lucas: Okay. Whatever. [ deadpan ] You’re the parent.

Just in case she forgot. Since their situation has been so fucked up, and convoluted, and he basically raised himself. Since she’s never seemed very good at being one before, guess now is as fine a time as any.

It’s almost like he’s fourteen again. Like he has so much anger, so much pain, and he doesn’t know who actually deserves it, so Grace gets a heaping share. All the nuance of their world has died with Kenneth, and now it’s just the two of them left to sort through it and remember how to live with it all.

Grace is giving all the patience she has left towards him, but God, if it isn’t hard sometimes. She chooses to hold her tongue and steps away, leaving Lucas in the quiet once again.

He doesn’t seem thrilled with how that went either, but holding everything together is taking up enough of his mental power right now. He swallows the ache in his throat and sniffs, reaching for another pointless object in the darkness.

INT. L.A. APARTMENT - DAY

Some of that darkness lingers with MAYA HART, who looks about as tired as Grace. She’s seated at the kitchen table but isn’t eating her breakfast, instead staring blankly out the balcony door towards the bright Los Angeles sun.

Her shine is dulled enough that Farkle notices, remarking on it when he exits his bedroom with his backpack and finds her at the table. He jokes about catching her in a rare pre-glam moment, which she just manages to remember to smile at.

Farkle: Honestly, I’m more impressed I managed to catch you at all. I feel like you and I have just been missing one another constantly since you got back from your retreat. Melissa and Justin must really be working you hard for the EP. Maya: Um, yeah. Yeah, it’s just been… super busy.

She’s a good enough actress that her delivery is just believable enough -- at least with someone as equally consumed with their own emotional baggage as Farkle. That’s what Maya wants to discuss anyway, using Isa as a convenient route to get the topic as far away from her and Global Beat as possible. Once they gloss over any updates from the Friar front…

Maya: Isa tell you all that? Farkle: No, Riley. Isa’s been… I’m sure they’re overwhelmed. And busy. Just with everything going on with Lucas. Maya: Right. They did leave in a pretty big hurry. [ a beat ] I couldn’t help but notice the couch was all clear when I came back though. That weekend. Farkle: Oh… yeah. Well. You know how I like to… keep things clean. And tidy. Maya: Mhm. It certainly didn’t look like anyone had slept there the night before, though. Let alone anyone six feet tall. Farkle: [ clearing his throat ] Yeah. Well. Isa said I should just share the bed with them. That it was stupid to be on the couch when we’ve been friends for -- you know, a long time. Maya: Right… Farkle: And it’s comfortable. Casual. We were just being, you know, cool about it. Maya: Of course. So must have been a good weekend, then? Farkle: Uh, yeah. Yeah, I’d say… yeah. Maya: Good vibes. Chill times. No big news to report. Farkle: Uh, nope. Yeah. Yeah… no, yeah. Maya: Right.

For such a good actor in his own right, Farkle really is terrible at being nonchalant. Maya can see right through him, and it’s the first time in days that she’s felt compelled to crack a smile. He meets her eyes, and she simply quirks an eyebrow knowingly.

That’s all it takes. Farkle caves, spilling into a hasty explanation about everything that happened with Isa. Partially just because he can’t seem to help himself, but also because it’s clear he has been dying to tell someone. With the way things ended so abruptly, with Isa having to rush off to help Lucas, it feels like he’s been living his life on pause for the last three weeks.

Maya listens attentively, with mild amusement, letting him stammer out all of the spinning thoughts in his frazzled head until he manages to wear himself out.

Maya: Wow. Farkle: So now it’s like -- I mean, I’m trying to be cool about it. And I am. This is a serious time, and I want to respect that and give them all the time they need. I get it. But I’m also like… I mean, what am I supposed to do with myself? We didn’t really get to talk about it, and like -- I had sex with them. One of my best friends. Maya: Ew. But yeah, crazy. Farkle: And I don’t want to like make a big deal out of it, or be insane, but how am I supposed to not be crazy about that? Am I insane for wanting like… I don’t know, a shred of insight as to what they’re thinking about the whole thing? [ hiding his head in his hands ] For the love of God, am I ever going to stop being a disaster? Maya: Sources say no. But that’s okay, that’s my favorite thing about you.

In any case, she understands why he feels so wound up. If something that big shifted between the two of them, it would make her anxious too. He’s valid, but she can only hope Isa will have the sense of mind to let him know what they’re feeling about it sooner rather than later.

On the other hand, she can’t help but find the whole thing just a little bit funny.

Maya: I’m just trying to figure out when exactly you became such a hot commodity. Like, Zay? Sure, he’s always been hot shit -- and wouldn’t let anyone forget it. But you, my darling, baby giraffe Farkle Minkus? When did you suddenly become such a whore?

Farkle groans, shoving Maya’s elbow and making her laugh. Although the comment is in jest, Farkle feels the need to defend himself.

Farkle: It’s not like that. This wasn’t just… I mean, yes, okay, hooking up with Charlie was one thing. Maya: Still insane, by the way. Farkle: But this isn’t the same. It’s Isa. It’s not… it’s always been different with Isa.

The sentiment is said so delicately for how it may as well be stating the obvious. But Maya doesn’t rib him for that. Instead, she softens, eyeing him with equally gentle fondness.

Maya: I know.

She may have been onto it even before either of them, in fact. She knows Farkle has long carried this torch -- and how fragile his heart has been as of late. As long as he’s closer to being happy, that’s all she really cares about.

For now, though, he has to go to class. When he asks if Maya will be heading back to the studio today, she freezes momentarily, before expertly deflecting. She claims she’s been doing some last-minute song-smithing here, and that her producers gave her the all-clear to hermit away until she’s got it polished how she likes. So if he sees her milling around the apartment more than usual, he shouldn’t think anything of it.

Never mind the real reason she can’t bear the thought of stepping foot back inside Global Beat. If Farkle never finds out -- if no one ever does -- then all the better.

INT. NYU - THEATER - DAY

A matinee production of Ghost is currently rolling, EVAN SCOTT and his co-star playing the Whoopi Goldberg role occupying the stage. The show must go on, and it certainly is, the world inside the theater walls proceeding as if nothing has changed.

Which explains why Riley is mentally anywhere but onstage. She’s waiting in the wings, due to reemerge under the lights in the next scene, but her focus is elsewhere. She’s pacing the darkness and engrossed by her phone, keeping up a text conversation with Lucas. He’s given her the update about Grace wanting to move forward with services, so there’s a lot to discuss and unpack.

Riley tries to type out a thoughtful reply, but Lucas beats her to her next message.

“Don’t worry about it. Probably easier to just talk in person”

Which is likely true, but also feels like a convenient way to nudge confronting the feelings as long as possible. Riley hastily deletes the paragraph she had typed before, instead agreeing and assuring him that she’ll be there as soon as this performance wraps up.

On stage, someone repeats their line more forcefully, but Riley still doesn’t notice. It’s not until a stagehand nudges her and informs her she’s missed her cue that she pulls it back together, quickly pocketing her phone. From her perch on a stool in the shadows, IMOGEN LEE snorts.

Imogen: Damn, Riley. If you’re basically out to lunch, I can take over. I have been studying my lines…

Riley so does not have the bandwidth to deal with petty understudies right now. She ignores Imogen and takes a deep breath, doing her best to shove the real world from her mind and get back into character.

As she steps out onto the stage --

INT. NYU - DRESSING ROOM - LATER - DAY

Riley finishes stuffing her bag in a hurry, still half in costume and make-up as she rushes to leave. The show has just barely wrapped up curtain call, but she doesn’t have time to waste.

INT. NYU - BACKSTAGE HALLWAY - DAY

As she steps out of the dressing room, she nearly runs into Evan, who catches her arms before she can topple over. Once he confirms she’s all right, he asks where she’s running off to.

Evan: Auditorium is this way. You know Hill is going to have notes. She -- Riley: She always does. Yeah. It’s not that I don’t want to hear them, I just… I really have somewhere else I need to be. [ checking her phone ] Did you feel like the orchestra was moving at the speed of sludge today? We’re like twenty minutes later than usual. Evan: Uh, no. I was more concerned with remembering the right notes.

He says it playfully, but there is a slight edge to his tone. Imogen isn’t the only one who’s noticed Riley seems less than focused -- and now it’s starting to affect the production.

Still, Evan approaches it more tactfully than their peer. He lowers his voice to give them more privacy, waiting until a couple of their castmates pass by and disappear through the stage doors to speak.

Evan: You missed your cue. Before intermission. Riley: Yeah. Yeah, I know, sorry. Evan: All good. It’s just a college musical. I just wanted to check… like, is everything okay? You haven’t seemed quite like yourself.

No, Evan. No it’s not. She doesn’t have time to be there for her friends who are facing some of the biggest auditions of their lives, nor have basically any involvement in her roommate adjusting to letting their father into their world. She can’t be there for her friend who just ended a toxic relationship, or help her candidate jump into his hard-won new role.

There’s just been a major death in her may-as-well-be family that has shattered all sense of normalcy, and she doesn’t have nearly enough time to help pick up the pieces. There’s just not enough her to go around.

But none of that is his business, so she shrugs.

Riley: Yes. Yeah, it’s just… 

She really doesn’t have the words to express it. After another wordless head shake, she settles for little.

Riley: I’ve got a lot on my mind.

Clearly, if she’s forgetting when she’s supposed to enter stage right. Before Evan can respond, she’s distracted again by her phone, buzzing with another text from Lucas.

“Don’t bother. Don’t want to burn you out between shows. It’s all pointless anyway”

The frown on her face signals this isn’t the kind of reply she wants from him. Evan eyes her curiously, but wisely decides not to dig deeper right now. He opts to stick with the things he can address.

Evan: Well, whatever you’ve got going on, don’t be any later. I can take any notes Hill has for you -- aside from the imminent comment about your late entrance. Riley: Of course. That would be great, Evan, thank you. I owe you big time.

He nods, offering a smile and leaving her be. He glances back at her over his shoulder as he steps back into the auditorium, watching her become absorbed in her phone yet again.

Another text from Lucas.

“Just go home. Talk later”

Her boyfriend is going through what may very well be the biggest emotional clusterfuck of his life, and she can’t be there for him. Not the way she wants to be. The longer she’s gone, the easier it is for him to do this. To pull away; to recede into himself and bottle it all up. To be crushed under it, when this is precisely the moment he has to power through. She hates that she can’t be there, when all she wants to do is be there by his side to endure it together.

There’s not enough time -- and she dreads the possibility that she might just lose him too.

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “I Have Nothing” as performed by Whitney Houston || Performed by Riley Matthews

Although she’s been killing it on the stage, nothing beats a Riley performance that’s coming authentically from the soul. As she walks the backstage halls of the theater, singing her solo soliloquy, it feels more captivating than any professional staging or bright stage lights could fabricate.

That always goes doubly when she’s singing about Lucas. The lyrics are more than fitting. In the same vein as “On My Own,” “My Man,” and “Better,” no kind of performance demonstrates more of Riley’s range than the ones straight from her heart -- and at this point, the two are one in the same.

Lucas is her heart. And if he’s breaking, she’s broken too.

Don't walk away from me I have nothing, nothing, nothing If I don't have you

Once Riley reaches the end of the hallway, back in front of the stage doors, the camera pans away and makes her feel smaller and further away. Before the key change can hit around 3:05, her vocals start to distort, sounding far away and bleeding into Whitney Houston’s original track --

EXT. RURAL COUNTRY ROAD - FLASHBACK - DAY

Which becomes diegetic, playing through the chunky over-the-ear headphones of Grace’s portable CD player. She’s on her walk home from the bus stop, her family farm a good mile out from where the closest public school bus drops off.

Grace doesn’t seem bothered by the walk. It’s one of her favorite times of the day, actually, time to be alone with nature and get lost in her thoughts. With a well-worn pair of cowboy boots and the autumn breeze, there’s no better chance to find a second to breathe.

Only today, it seems, she’s not alone. She frowns slightly when the song starts to end and she hears gravel crunching behind her -- someone driving along the dirt road. It doesn’t get much use on a typical afternoon. She glances over her shoulder.

An older but very cool blue Ford pick-up is ambling down the street. She expects it to pass on by -- maybe doing business with the Carmichaels down the hill -- but it slows as it approaches her. For a moment, she tenses, not sure whether she should be wary…

Until she recognizes the face behind the wheel. Beautiful eyes, and that smile that could start wars.

Kenneth. He pulls up beside her and rolls down the passenger side window, offering her one of those coveted smiles. She removes her headphones, looping them around her neck.

Kenneth: Howdy. Fancy meeting you here. Grace: I live here. Kenneth: In the middle of the road?

Grace blushes, already flustered just from his attention. They’ve been chatting a bit for weeks now, definitely flirting here and there, yet he doesn’t seem to lose any effect on her. It’s almost annoying. She pushes some hair behind her ear.

Grace: You know what I meant. Kenneth: Sure did. That’s why when my parents surprised me with this baby this afternoon, and I got to take it for my first drive, I thought hey -- what better place to cruise for a while?

So he came right to see her. Grace doesn’t know what to do with that information, so she breezes past it.

Grace: It’s nice. I like the color. Kenneth: I know. You love blue.

Yeah… she does. After a beat, Kenneth runs a hand through his hair.

Kenneth: Can I give you a ride? Grace: I’m used to the walk. It’s okay. Kenneth: I ain’t asking if you can handle it. Knowing you, I’m sure you can. I’m asking if you want a ride.

Well. That is different, isn’t it. Does she hold out her resilience, stay sane and keep walking the path of safe, familiar independence… or does she get in the car with him?

Somehow, the choice is easy. Grace takes a deep breath and steps off the grass, approaching the car. Kenneth’s expression is utterly delighted as he leans across the console to unlock the passenger door.

She climbs up into the seat and exchanges a shy smile with him. 

EXT. KINSLEY FAMILY FARM - FLASHBACK - DAY

Kenneth pulls up outside Grace’s home, putting the truck in park. Directly in front of them is the farmhouse, a modest but charming dwelling surrounded by acres of green. Several dozen feet away, the red wood of a barn is visible, and adjacent another dozen feet, a roomy stable with a fenced-in riding pasture.

INT. KENNETH’S TRUCK - FLASHBACK - DAY

Although there’s nothing holding her back, Grace doesn’t immediately get out of the car. There’s something nice, and a bit enthralling, about sitting in his passenger seat.

Grace: Thanks for the ride. Kenneth: ‘Course. Any time. Grace: Don’t make promises like that. You’re gonna end up a chauffeur before you know it. Kenneth: Hey, if it means getting to spend a little more time with you, then I’m game.

The compliment comes out effortlessly smooth. So damn charming… Grace can feel the blush crawling up her cheeks.

She flushes even further when Kenneth takes a long moment to take her in, gazing at her with a soft shade to his features. After a moment, he starts to lean closer…

As per usual, Grace panics and deflects. She interrupts his move with conversation, letting words spill out of her without thinking.

Grace: What are you up to for the rest of the afternoon?

Kenneth hesitates. The slightest edge of frustration creeps into his features, but it ebbs away quickly and is replaced with amused fondness. There is something about this little cat-and-mouse game they have going on that is all the more enjoyable. It’s like the more she plays hard to get, just dancing outside the perimeter of his obvious interest, the more appealing she becomes -- whether Grace is doing it intentionally or not.

Kenneth: Probably practice. Some weight-training -- coach says I need to gain another five-to-ten to maximize my impact on the field. Grace: [ sure, she totally gets what that means ] Uh-huh. Kenneth: So the usual. Football, avoiding homework, ignoring my dad when he tries to grill me about football and/or homework. How about you? Grace: Um… homework. [ off his laugh ] Then maybe some writing, if I have time. Kenneth: What kind of writing? Grace: Just… personal stuff. Silly stuff. Nothing important. Kenneth: You like, an author or something? I didn’t know you were into all that. [ off her shrug ] So when do I get to read your stuff? Grace: Yeah, uh, try never. Kenneth: Oh, come on! Don’t tease me like that --

He reaches out and playfully tugs at her braid, which she giggles at before swatting his hands away. Their hands brush and linger for a moment longer than necessary, before Grace pulls hers back and twiddles with the end of her plait.

Kenneth slouches back in his seat, whistling and shaking his head as he gets another good look at her.

Kenneth: Dang. A bona fide writer. I mean, I knew you were smart and everything, and you’ve got those killer grades in English. But… Grace Kinsley, you truly are something else.

No one has ever said anything like that to her before. No one has ever looked at her like that, the way he is right now. Like she’s actually there rather than invisible -- like there’s something worth seeing.

It’s thrilling, but also terrifying, so Grace feels the sudden instinct to bolt. She offers another shy smile and starts to gather her bag.

Grace: First things first, I have to feed the horses, so. Best get going.

EXT. KINSLEY FAMILY FARM - FLASHBACK - DAY

Grace hops out of the car, slinging her bag over her shoulder. Kenneth looks disappointed to see her go -- and a bit disappointed that his excuse to prolong heading home has run out.

Kenneth: Writer girl, horse girl -- is there anything you don’t do, Kinsley? Grace: Football.

Kenneth barks out a laugh, which earns another smile from her. Kenneth thinks on that, a moment of vulnerability breaking through.

Kenneth: As someone who does, gotta admit, think right now I’d rather be feeding the horses.

The comment surprises Grace. Given how good he is at the game, how much of a king he seems like on the field, she assumed football was naturally his whole world. She never would’ve guessed there was even a hint of conflict hidden beneath that strong veneer.

Somehow, the moment makes her feel the desire to open up too.

Grace: Do you want to see them?

The invitation slips out before she can question it. Kenneth contemplates… then grins.

INT. KINSLEY FAMILY FARM - STABLES - FLASHBACK - DAY

Grace pulls open the door to the stables and enters first, signaling for Kenneth to move quietly. Since he’s new, his presence might unsettle the horses. He playfully mimics her gesture, pretending to zip his lips.

Tellingly, the horses do react to the unfamiliar face. They grow skittish, whinnying in apprehension. Grace shushes them and talks softly as she makes her way further inside, Kenneth hanging back a bit to watch. Although it’s a marvel to see how natural she is with the creatures, he seems a little perturbed by their reaction to him.

Kenneth: Don’t think they like me. Grace: They don’t know you. Like I said, they’re shy around strangers. Kenneth: Fitting. Sounds like someone else I know.

Grace rolls her eyes, petting the nose of one of the ponies rather than responding.

Kenneth: Guess they should work on their socializing skills. How many other people have you brought in to meet them? How’d they fare?

This time, Grace is silent for other reasons. Her expression grows more guarded, and slightly embarrassed. The lack of an answer speaks volumes, though, Kenneth putting it together fast enough.

No one. Grace hasn’t brought anyone else in here.

This is her safe space, a sacred shelter, and somehow he’s managed to find his way inside.

Cautiously, he saunters over to join her by the horses and does his absolute best to be unassuming. Considering he’s a hulking football player with no sense of subtle, it doesn’t work, the horse Grace is currently petting skittering away a bit as he approaches.

Kenneth: Sorry. I’m more trouble than I’m worth. Grace: Don’t say that. Kenneth: Think they’ll ever like me? [ looking at her ] Do I have any chance?

The question feels loaded. Grace meets his eyes.

Grace: You have to earn their trust.

She’ll do her best to help him, if she can. Utilizing her own goodwill with the horse, she lures it forward again, back up to the edge of the pen. She soothingly rubs its nose and then dips her forehead against the flat of its muzzle, Kenneth watching in bewildered fascination.

Once it seems calm enough, she glances his way… then takes his hand, gently guiding it up to brush the horse’s nose.

Cute a moment as that might have been, it doesn’t quite land. Because nope, this dude has not earned its trust, and it’s not playing the same games Grace may be. The horse brays and shuffles backwards again, out from under their hands.

Kenneth: Damn it. Grace: [ with a laugh ] Don’t worry. Just give it time. Kenneth: … so does that mean I’m welcome back here again?

It sure does seem to imply… Grace realizes that, pausing and glancing at their hands. They’ve come to rest on the edge of the gate, hers still laid on top of his tan fingers.

Kenneth doesn’t seem at all opposed to that. In fact, he starts to flip his hand to link their fingers together, but Grace slips away, retreating further into the stables to distract herself with the horse feed.

As much of a tease as she seems intent on being, Kenneth manages to take it well. He swallows his impatience and follows her over to the oat barrels, taking a good look around. An item hanging on the wall above her catches his eye.

Kenneth: What’s that?

Grace follows his gaze, landing on the same sight. It’s a decorative horse shoe, slightly larger-than-scale and made of shimmering blue glass.

Grace: Nothing. Just some art. Kenneth: Well, I don’t believe that. Wouldn’t be hanging in such a high place of honor if it wasn’t special. Grace: It’s in a stable. Kenneth: Which is a place of honor to you. Ain’t that right?

Touché. Grace doesn’t deny that, keeping her eyes on the oat scoop.

Grace: My mama got it for me when I was little. From a local artist in North Carolina, when my parents went. I couldn’t go, stayed with my grandparents, but she knew I was sad about it. I wanted to see the wild horses. So she brought me back the next best thing.

Learning a lot about each other today. Kenneth continues to look at it, absorbing how much it means to her… then lets his gaze drift back to her.

Kenneth: So you were always big on ponies? Or did she just take a lucky guess that you’d be obsessed -- Grace: How did you know my favorite color is blue?

The question slips out unprompted, confusing Kenneth. He raises his eyebrows when she turns to face him, her expression guarded… but delicate too.

Kenneth: What do you mean? Grace: When I saw your truck. I said “I like the color,” and you said you know. That I love blue. Kenneth: … yeah? Is that wrong? Grace: No. It’s right. It’s exactly right. How did you know that? Kenneth, amused: Is that a real question? You told me, Grace.

Once, in some inane conversation in the last few weeks, she must’ve mentioned it. Offhanded, to fill the space, not thinking anything of it herself.

But he heard her. He listened.

Grace: Oh. I don’t remember that. Kenneth: Well, I do. [ a beat ] I remember everything you say.

Oh. Grace’s stomach flips, and that flush returns to her cheeks. She doesn’t turn away from him, but her gaze dips to the floor, not sure if she’s ready to be so seen.

But Kenneth is ready. He’s been ready. He steps closer.

Kenneth: I like listening to you. Grace: I don’t know why. I’m not good at it. Talking. Kenneth: I think you’re dang good at just about everything. Grace: I’m not. I don’t… talk, and I don’t… let people in here -- Kenneth: And yet, here we are. Grace: I don’t let people in. You hang around long enough, you’re gonna figure out why. I’m nothing special. I’m -- I’m just -- Kenneth: Grace.

He’s made it in front of her now, closing the distance between them. Grace has backed up against the feed station, nowhere else to run and hide. Nearby, the horses whinny uncertainly.

With a tender touch, Kenneth reaches and tilts Grace’s chin upward, guiding her into meeting his eyes again. Not allowing her to shy away. This time, she doesn’t pull away.

The space between them grows thinner… Grace has the sense she should slip away, the relentless instinct for self-preservation, but it’s suddenly hazier in the magnetic storm of his grip. They inch closer… and closer… their lips almost brush…

Kenneth: [ in a murmur ] Do I have any chance?

In an instant, Kenneth gets his answer. Because despite his eagerness, Grace caves first, leaning into their first kiss. The first one is slow, testing the waters, and they break for a quiet moment to catch their breath when they pull apart.

Then, it’s game over. Kenneth cups Grace’s face and pulls her into another kiss, this one more urgent than the first. And by some grace of God, or maybe the Devil, Grace loses all her reservations in the thrill of his embrace. She matches his fervor and kisses him back, grabbing his flannel and pulling him close.

We pan up and away, lingering on the decorative horseshoe…

INT. CHUBBIES - DAY

Out of the fog of the nineties and back in the present, Charlie is back at Chubbies. He has his travel journal open and colored tabs ready to organize, but that seems to be as far as he’s gotten. He’s distracted this afternoon, lost in his own head as he stares blankly out the window and watches people pass on the sidewalk without really seeing them.

He certainly doesn’t see ZAY BABINEAUX, who enters the diner from the other side of the street. Unlike Charlie, he’s energetic and alert, and he only brightens further when he spots the all too familiar back of Charlie’s head.

But he has to tread cautiously -- it’s been a minute since his little revelation during his audition, but the feelings haven’t changed. So he may not be able to pull off nonchalant as expertly as before. He needs to act strategically to avoid embarrassing himself.

So Zay does what he does best. He goes for a tease. He quietly approaches from behind and then strikes by surprise, reaching over the back of the adjacent booth to tap Charlie on his far shoulder. He jumps in response, naturally looking over his shoulder until he realizes that’s silly a second later, since he’s just looking at the window -- and whips his head back around just in time to find Zay standing at his table with a cheeky smile on his face.

Charlie: Jeez. Zay: Hi. You’re twitchy today. Charlie: You scared me. Zay: Since day one. It’s basically my job.

Charlie resists the urge to roll his eyes. Zay plops into the booth opposite him, asking how things are going. What’s he working on? Before Zay can get too close a look, Charlie swiftly closes the journal and subtly pulls it closer to himself.

Charlie: Nothing much. Just killing time until those college acceptances come through. Zay: Seriously? Charlie: Were you expecting something else? Remember who you’re talking to here. Zay: Wah, wah. But no, not particularly. I just feel like -- I don’t know, I assumed you were booked up. I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks.

Yeah… that would be the lowkey mood-swing-depression hibernation… classic ostracized-by-Eleanor coping mechanism. Charlie avoids getting into it, though, clearing his throat and shrugging.

Charlie: No, yeah, I’ve just… um, been busy.

Response of the month, apparently. Zay can tell he’s being vague, but he decides to let it go for now, because being near him again already feels volatile and pushing any buttons when he’s so internally unsteady feels like risky business.

And he already has a big ask on his mind. Speaking of colleges and acceptances…

Zay: So. Turner. I’ve been wanting to talk to you about it. Charlie: Oh, shoot, yeah. Sorry, I totally meant to follow up -- Zay: Why are you apologizing? Don’t apologize to me. Charlie: Okay, right. Sorry. I mean --

Charlie winces at himself, earning a laugh from Zay. He takes a second to compose himself, skipping the compulsive apologies, then starts again.

Charlie: I meant to check in earlier. Zay: Before you evaporated? Charlie: Sure. So, what? Did you hear anything? I feel like if you had, you would’ve said something. Zay: Correct. Believe me, if they’d told me anything worthwhile, you’d be the first to know. [ shaking his head ] No, they’re saving that big reveal for later. But they’re doing a post-audition semi-formal gala of sorts this week to celebrate everyone’s hard work, and for getting this far, blah blah blah. Charlie: Wow. That’s nice? Zay: Yeah, in theory. Only they’re also announcing the three finalists for the two spots at this thing, rather than sparing us all the tragedy or just saying which two got picked upfront. Charlie: Wow. That’s… a lot. Zay: No fucking kidding. Blood might be spilled, Carrie style. Not to mention it’s such a dramatic as fuck way to do this whole thing, but I guess that’s kind of par for the course in the business. The other part is that we all get to do some sort of solo presentation, like a little talent show, to make us all feel good and special before they harpoon most of our high hopes.

It’ll be interesting, at least, there’s no doubt about that. Based on his expression, Charlie seems grateful he’s not trying to exist in this industry more and more every day.

Zay: Anyway, the circus allows each of us to invite a plus-one, and I was thinking you could come with me. [ a beat ] You know, as a thank-you for showing up in the first place.

It takes Charlie a minute to process the request, and once he does, he isn’t quite sure he can believe it.

Charlie: Oh. Zay: I know I didn’t exactly sell it that well, but I swear it’ll be fun. Probably. Maybe. At least entertaining. And not stressful for you, considering you don’t have any stakes in the whole thing. Charlie: Well, aside from you… Zay: Aside from me. But personally. All the more reason to have you there -- I’m going to need all the luck I can get. Charlie: No, right, ha ha. For sure. I just, um…

Charlie subconsciously grips the edge of his journal, hugging it a bit closer to him.

Charlie: Is Vanessa gonna be cool with that? Or are you all not allowed to like, be each other’s plus-ones? Zay: Oh. No. No, uh… don’t think she’d like that very much anyway. 

That’s foreboding. Charlie frowns, confused, opening the door for Zay to truly catch him off-guard. Forgot to mention this little detail…

Zay: We ended things. A bit ago.

Charlie stops breathing. For how sharply those words just sent electricity through his veins, though, he does a remarkable job of keeping it together.

Charlie: Oh. Shoot. [ frown deepening ] I’m sorry. Zay: [ waving him off ] It’s… you know. Whatever. I mean, honestly, it’s fine. For the best. Like, we liked each other, but with the competition and everything…

Not to mention the whole still-in-love-with-your-ex thing. But details, details. Regardless, the point is that there’s certainly no issue here. There’s no barriers to entry, and no reason not to follow his gut and invite him along.

That is, except for Charlie himself. If he doesn’t want to go, no harm, no foul.

Zay: Like I said, I totally get if it sounds like a lot. You were just my first thought.

If Zay says one more nice thing so easily like that, he’s going to knock him out. But Charlie manages to keep his cool, contemplating for a moment before shrugging.

Charlie: Why not? I’d be happy to come. Thanks for inviting me.

Zay grins, relieved. Charlie aims to shake off the strange tension that seems to have resurfaced between them, taking a shot at his expense.

Charlie: Besides, it’s probably wise for me to tag along. If this really is going to become a bloodbath, you’ll need someone to cover you -- or pull you out of there before you commit murder.

He kids, but he hasn’t met the Turner cohort yet. Zay makes a face.

Now that he’s gotten through his high-stakes request -- and got the answer he hoped for -- Zay’s brain is working enough again to think about anything else.

Zay: Speaking of shit we meant to ask about, how did that thing from the other night go? When you left the audition? I know you were pretty serious about it.

God, Zay, you have no idea… and he still won’t, as Charlie side-steps the question once the initial rush of dread wears off.

Charlie: Oh, yeah. Yeah, it went… great. All good.

Zay smiles, and Charlie just manages to mirror it.

INT. JUPITER RECORDS - OFFICE - DAY

To round out the afternoon, Yindra finds herself specifically called into the office of one of the main label representatives putting the girl group together. The LABEL REP greets her cheerfully and invites her to sit wherever she’s comfortable.

Label Rep: We’re just waiting for one more.

That has Yindra more uncertain than before. She figured being singled out was either very good news or very bad news, given they’re running at six right now, but if she’s not the only one then she isn’t sure what to think.

Even more so once Aleena appears in the doorway, receiving the same warm greeting.

She and Yindra eye each other curiously for a second, both trying to suss out what could have possibly brought them both here. They’re not similar voice parts. They don’t have the same core skills. Aleena is far from Yindra’s most direct competition, far as she could surmise.

Even so, there they both are. Aleena offers a tight smile and takes the seat next to Yindra, both of them turning their attention to the label rep.

Label Rep: First, I just wanted to offer my most sincere congratulations. It’s quite the feat that you both made it this far in the process, and I hope you’re very proud of yourselves.

Yindra senses hedging, but Aleena beats her to a pithy comment.

Aleena: I’m saving the pride for if I actually make it, personally.

So they can skip all the niceties. What is this really about? The rep gets that signal, clearing their throat and getting to the point.

Label Rep: It’s no joke about how talented both of you are. Between us, you two are certainly some of the strongest contenders in this crop, and I’m not just saying that. There’s so much going for each of you, so in that regard, keep doing what you’re doing. Yindra: But…? If we’re here discussing it, surely there’s a but.

Indeed. The label rep goes on to explain that as they well know after the retreat experience, the label is taking everything into consideration when crafting the ultimate girl group to resuscitate the genre. That goes for skill, but marketability as well. Looks are one factor, of course, which neither girl should be worried about -- they’re both gorgeous. However…

Label Rep: The general public is a fickle beast, particularly the American subset. Did you know consumers will become averse to a product they traditionally love just because the packaging suddenly changed colors? Or because the text of the brand name is just slightly too big?

Point is, the smallest details really do matter. That goes doubly for the industry, where being an entertainer basically invites scrutiny to an abnormal degree. This is something the label is keenly aware of, and trying to anticipate every angle as they put together the perfect combination of women. For the two of them…

Label Rep: The concern has been raised that your names may be… too similar.

Yindra frowns, confused. Aleena looks less caught off-guard, but just as perturbed.

Yindra: I’m sorry? I don’t understand. Label Rep: With a girl group -- or any group, for that matter -- you want each member to be distinct. To bring their own unique personality and flavor to the table, that dissuades any sense of interchangeability. You want there to be the feeling that this combination of girls is it, the absolute pinnacle of personas coming together for a master class in performance. Aleena: Right. Sure. Yindra: But I don’t see how that applies? Our names aren’t similar. I mean, I guess they both end in “A.” Aleena: So does Tabitha. Label Rep: Yes, well -- Aleena: And Ronica. Yindra: Wow, maybe there are a lot of “ah” ending names -- Label Rep: That’s not the concern. But the reasoning is beside the point.

Regardless of why, they’ve honed in on these two as a potential issue, and they want to be ahead of the curve by proactively finding a solution. Thus, why they’ve summoned them there today.

Label Rep: We’re hoping that one of you  -- or both, if you so choose -- would be willing to take on a nickname. While a member of the group.

Something more distinct, and ideally poppy. A pseudonym that’ll ring fresh with the rest and help create the perfect symphony of names that just flies off the tongue.

Although she can’t put her finger on why, the suggestion makes Yindra uncomfortable. Despite how cheerfully the rep is pitching it, something just doesn’t feel right. Aleena seems equally resistant.

Aleena: So you want us to play a part. Label Rep: No. No, not at all -- Aleena: You’re asking us to take on a different name. Isn’t that inherently being someone else? Label Rep: Absolutely nothing about either of you needs to change. You have great assets all around, and we want to highlight that. It’s just about… finding the right label. Spicing up the packaging. That’s all. We want to give you the best chance for success.

Only a name isn’t just a label -- it’s an identity. It’s Yindra’s identity, and she isn’t sure she wants to get her start being known by something else entirely.

Label Rep: Some of the greatest artists out there today have stage names, after all. Like Lorde! Or… or, um… Yindra: Lady Gaga. Aleena: Cardi B. Yindra: Halsey. Aleena: Lana Del Rey. Label Rep: Yes! Yes, all of the above. You totally get what I’m saying.

Except she couldn’t be bothered to do her own research first… well, suppose that’s the joy of having the grunt work in a project like this. It’s certainly not one of the label executives sitting down with them to have this conversation.

Aleena: So how is this being decided, exactly? Label Rep: Well, that’s the best part. We know you all are working on building collaboration, and we want to foster that one-hundred percent. So we’re putting the choice in your hands! The two of you can work it out amongst yourselves who would like the fun little name remix.

Oh, even better! They not only want one of them to drop their identity, they’re going to make them battle it out to pick who. Less blood on their hands. Aleena and Yindra exchange an awkward side-eye.

Label Rep: To help you decide, the label is going to send you a list in the next couple of days with some of the new names they’ve been workshopping for you. So you’ll have a much better sense of what this new pop persona might sound like before you have to pull the trigger.

With that, she’ll let them go, but they’d love it if they could hear back before the end of the week.

INT. JUPITER RECORDS - HALLWAY - DAY

As they exit, Yindra tries to make conversation, mostly to cover her own discomfort.

Yindra: That was weird, right? Kind of dumb to make us have to work out their aesthetic preferences, but -- Aleena, flatly: It’s not about aesthetics.

Yindra pauses, uncertain. Aleena stops walking and sighs, deciding to just give it to her straight.

Aleena: It’s not that our names are similar. You said it yourself, they’re not. They’re basically at opposite ends of the alphabet. Yindra: Yeah. Which is why it’s dumb that -- Aleena: It’s not that they’re alike. It’s that they’re not white enough.

Yindra’s stomach drops. That must have been where the itching sense of distaste came from. It wasn’t said out loud, not by the label, but…

Aleena: Look, I’ve been in this business a couple years now, and they all play the same games. [ with an eye roll ] They want diversity points, and lucky them based on the girls we’ve got left, they’ll get them. That’s not a bad thing. But… God forbid it sounds too much like it.

If prime marketability is what they’re after… well, something’s gotta give. Apparently. Whether that’ll be Yindra or Aleena, though…

For now, remains to be seen. Aleena claims she’ll hit her up later, once they’ve both had time to think through this bullshit.

Aleena: That is, if this doesn’t make you wanna run for the hills. Wouldn’t blame you.

Or is she just saying that, so she’ll get out of her way? Hard to say.

Yindra doesn’t respond, left standing in the hallway and suddenly feeling more alone than ever.

INT. LUCAS’S APARTMENT - DAY

Riley steps into a similarly lonely entryway, though the promise of company is just around the corner where the light is shining. It’s strange to walk this apartment without feeling like you’re treading on eggshells, but that’s exactly what she does, heading into the living area.

Grace spots her first, currently sitting on the couch going through boxes from the bedroom. She stands when she sees she’s there, more than a little surprised.

Grace: Hi. I didn’t realize you were stopping by. Riley: Yeah. I hope that’s okay. [ holding up a takeout bag ] I figured with everything you guys are working on, you probably aren’t super focused on meal prep. This place is on the way from NYU, so thought I’d grab something. Keep everyone fed. Grace: That’s sweet. Thank you. But I hope you’re not taking too much time. Shouldn’t you be at the show -- Lucas: Riley?

Both women pause, turning to look at Lucas standing in his doorway. He heard her voice and couldn’t be sure he wasn’t going crazy -- although despite his request that she skip coming by, he doesn’t seem upset to see her there.

Lucas: I thought you weren’t coming.

Riley can answer both questions in one. She smiles at Grace, then holds Lucas’s gaze, resolute.

Riley: I’m between shows. I’ve got time.

To her, being there for him is never going to be a burden.

That little detail cleared up, she passes off the food to Grace, encouraging them to dig in whenever they’re hungry. She’ll grab some before she heads back for the evening show, but in the meantime, what can she help with? She’s eager to contribute however she can.

Now that she’s there, Lucas isn’t going to fight her on it. He gestures for her to join him and she happily obliges, the two of them quietly discussing whatever minimal sorting Lucas has managed to accomplish.

Grace dutifully takes the food into the kitchen before returning to her own task, pausing for a moment to listen to Lucas and Riley chat in the other room. It’s reassuring, honestly, to hear how different his tone is with her. Far less unpredictable, and less abrasive, than she’s been navigating the past couple of weeks.

It makes her smile, even just a bit… and in some ways, it takes her back. She settles back onto the couch and goes back to sorting through one of the smaller boxes she pulled from their bedroom closet, a mish-mash of mementos and photographs.

As she lingers on one of her and Kenneth from high school…

EXT. AUSTIN SUBURBS - MONTAGE - FLASHBACK - DAY

Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Alright” as performed by Supergrass || Instrumental

We’re thrown back into the rose-tinted world of the late nineties, fully submerged in the whirlwind of Kenneth and Grace’s young romance. It’s reminiscent of The Notebook, full of whimsy and charm. They walk the halls of school together, Kenneth insistent on showing off his new girl despite her shyness and less-than-popular everygirl status. She attends more games to cheer him on, a joy to both Kenneth on the field and Rachel cheering on the sidelines.

He indulges her hobbies too, though, infiltrating more time in Grace’s sacred space as she cares for the horses on their farm. He listens attentively enough while she bores him with details about them, and the two get playful as she teaches him how to harness and ride one. He also makes a habit of bothering her while she’s trying to do homework, or write in her journals -- he even snatches it from her at one point and starts to flip through it, which she only manages to get back once she’s playfully wrestled him for it and he’s stolen a kiss instead.

Of course, they do that too. Kiss. More and more frequently, the longer they spend together. At school, on the sidelines during games when they’re between plays, after Kenneth takes her home. Deeper and longer kisses in his bedroom, or hers, or in the barn when he’s managed to distract her from the horses. In one shot, he nudges her back against the wall and kisses her hard, Grace’s decorative horseshoe wobbling dangerously on its hook.

Though Grace remains more hesitant than him, and more likely to turn her cheek or shy away from his affection with a bashful grin, Kenneth isn’t deterred. He seems to take it in stride -- more of that hard-to-get game he felt she’s been playing with him since they first met. If he is frustrated, he’s doing a good job of hiding it, and she usually makes up for it with another adorable quirk or embrace a moment later.

It almost feels like a dream. The whole sequence of little moments and memories is so disarming and endearing, it’s almost possible to forget who we’re looking at and what they become. Some things are less clear in hindsight…

In fact, watching the two of them here, they could pass for any of our favorite AMBITION duos. Cute, carefree, full of natural chemistry and the undeniable desire to be near each other.

Feel alright…

EXT. THE HIGH LINE - DAY

Nigel and Zay are on the High Line, taking the chance to share a walking lunch in an otherwise hectic week. They both commiserate about the fact that they’re glad they’re not the ones dealing with funerals and all that, let alone this week.

Zay: I’ve got enough on my mind with this whole transfer gala thing. I told Riley if she needed anything, she can totally hit me up, but… suffice to say, Friar always reminds me that I am extremely lucky to have the family I do. [ elbowing him ] We lucked out in one way at least, huh? Nigel: Oh, yeah… for sure.

The agreement is hollow, but not enough for Zay to notice. He can sense that Nigel isn’t quite zoned in, though, so he tries to gear the conversation towards him. How is this semester going? Any better than last -- he hopes?

Zay: Surely NYU is realizing what they’ve got with you in their ranks, or I don’t know, man. If they don’t choose you, they oughta lose you.

He says it jokingly, but he has no idea exactly how spot on he is. Truly no clue, because of all people, Nigel hasn’t told him one word of his UK ambitions. Not that he couldn’t, in fact, he knows Zay would empower him without hesitation. He’s all about bold moves and asserting your worth.

Yet, even now, Nigel demurs. He opts not to say anything, because when he looks at Zay, all he hears is a relentless echo in his brain.

You are not Zay Babineaux!

He loves Zay, but he can’t understand this. They’ve never been the same.

So Nigel shrugs, redirecting the conversation back to Zay’s big events this week.

INT. L.A. APARTMENT - MAYA’S BEDROOM - DAY

Despite how casually she played things off with Farkle, Maya is far from the pinnacle of productivity these days. She mainly spends her time holed up in her room, pretending to be songwriting but not actually getting anything done. If you asked her, she probably wouldn’t be able to tell you how she spends most of her days. It all feels like a big blur.

Until lighting strikes and brings everything into sharp, stinging focus. Maya sits up from her blanket cocoon when her phone vibrates with a text. She’s already preparing what she’ll say to Farkle to deflect, or assure him she’s busy, but it’s not from him.

It’s Justin.

“Hey hey heyyy, hope everything is good with you! wondering when ur thinking about getting back into the studio? we’ve got hit songs to create for your big EP debut haha”

It’s so casual it’s actually disturbing. As if nothing happened, as if everything between them is exactly how it was before the retreat. It’s so easy for him to brush it off and forget -- no big deal, no consequences.

It’s not that easy for Maya. She’s been doing everything in her power to forget about it, about him, for weeks. But it’s a losing battle, considering he and Melissa were becoming her whole world. Seeing it thrown back in her face is so unsettling, it makes her sick.

Literally. Suddenly sure she’s going to vomit, Maya pushes the blankets off of her in a frantic rush and races for her bathroom.

INT. L.A. APARTMENT - BATHROOM - DAY

She collapses on the tiled floor in front of the toilet, dry heaving and hands shaking. Thankfully, nothing comes out, but that’s mostly because she hasn’t been eating too well lately either. Once the intense bout of nausea subsides, she groans and falls back against the side of the bathtub.

Maya has never felt this way before. So unsteady, affected by the smallest shift in the wind. So… weak.

She hates it. She hates it, and there’s nothing she can do about it. The damage has already been done.

But at the very least, she can protect herself from attacks like this. With vitriol, she reaches for her phone and opens the text thread with Justin, then slams the block button.

Brief moment of empowerment ebbing away, Maya crumbles again, folding in on herself and slouching down to let her forehead rest against the cold porcelain of the bath.

INT. GLOBAL BEAT - OFFICES - DAY

Justin isn’t the only one wondering about Maya’s absence. JOSH MATTHEWS has noticed -- partially because it’s so quiet without her blathering on and on about herself.

And because he’s got outstanding business with her. He never did hear back after he left her that voicemail, even though he’s been checking his messages and missed calls repeatedly. He thought he might be able to catch her in the office, at least let her know he left it in case she just for some reason missed it…

But clearly, that isn’t going to be so simple. Because for weeks now, M.H. has been M.I.A.

Josh clicks into his drafts in his email, where we see he’s crafted an entire email of all his notes to Maya about her demos. Thoughtful, even-handed with praise and constructive criticism, having given each of them more effort and time than Melissa or Justin have thrown their way combined. He wrote them down in the off-chance she rejected him outright, so he could at least give her the material to do with as she pleased…

But he can’t send it. He can’t let go of the hope he might be able to discuss it with her in person.

It’s dangerous to contemplate it here anyway. He goes back to his inbox, skimming through an email that just came through from Ernest Floyd. Based on the amount of exclamation points he included, he’s very excited about whatever he’s cooking up.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said and been putting it to work. I’m putting a bunch of new stuff together, and I can’t WAIT to show the world. I’m using one of those demo tracks you made me last summer -- prepare to be AMAZED!!!!!”

That’s nice. If only anyone on Earth cared. Josh starts to type out a canned encouraging response, just so he knows he’s still in his corner, but he’s distracted as MELISSA SUZUKI returns down the hall from lunch. She gives him a cheerful greeting as she passes. Josh returns it, about to let the moment pass…

Josh: Hey, is Maya coming in today? Or… at all this week? Melissa: Oh. You know, I’m not sure. I don’t think she’s on the calendar. [ playfully ] That’s your job, isn’t it? Josh: No, she isn’t. She hasn’t been. [ a beat ] I just thought maybe you all were meeting off schedule or something. Or she might stop by. I feel like she hasn’t been around in weeks.

Sure hasn’t, Josh. And Melissa knows this -- there’s a moment where her features flicker with recognition, and bizarrely, what looks like a hint of shame -- but she brushes it off a second later.

Melissa: I think she said she was going to take some time out of the studio, actually. Do some workshopping on her own. Josh: Oh. Okay. Melissa: But she should be back soon. I’m sure.

Melissa gives him a smile, then lets it drop. Josh doesn’t question further, but something about it all is still bothering him… if she’s working so hard on stuff on her own, then why is she leaving him on read? He thought they had gotten through their rough patch, that things were in a good state. If it’s not just her being petty for no reason again…

What is he missing?

[ 411 Hub ] [ Next (Part 1, half 2) → ]

[camels-pen]

had a dream about randomly waking up and being Conner and M'gann's future kid or smth with absolutely no clue as to how i got there and now i'm thinking of a dp yj crossover with Danny being their kid and ending up in the same scenario.

like, he has enhanced strength and has a lot of powers similar to a martian, so this could actually work p good.

Okay, i see this as going one of two ways:

Danny is actually their kid, but Danny's memories of his past life (DP canon) catch up with him and mess with the memories of his current life.

Danny is not their kid, he has no idea how he got here and why these people insist he's their son. He's half-convinced this is one of Vlad's schemes and/or that they're kidnappers. (I'm leaning more towards this one)

Either way there would probably be a lot of Danny freaking out and trying to run away as soon as he could. This includes, of course, a panicked use of his powers, which surprises Conner and M'gann enough for him to escape.

At this point, he'd try to make his way to Amity Park and either find that it doesn't exist, was completely destroyed, or there's no evidence of ghost attacks/the Fentons/Sam and Tucker/anyone Danny might recognize.

Danny... has a bit of a rough time.

Regardless of which option I choose ('actually their kid' vs 'not their kid'), the reason things are different in Amity is because this is years in the future and also a different universe. It's probably Clockwork's fault tbh.

Danny doesn't know he's in an alternate universe so he kinda just, yknow, gets real sad and falls asleep in the park or something.

Conner and M'gann get some help and track him down. They're pretty heart broken to find their little boy sleeping on a bench with clear tear tracks on his cheek. They take him back to the bioship and discuss how to talk to him when he wakes up and how to help him with his 'new powers'.

When Danny wakes up in Conner and M'gann's house, he's much more resigned and quieter than before. Kinda listless too.

He doesn't know where he is, FentonWorks was destroyed/doesn't exist so he can't go into the Ghost Zone and ask Clockwork for help, and Vlad hasn't shown his face so he's just... stuck with these people.

there'll probably be a meeting with Dinah or something after a while of Danny showing the same behaviour and eventually, maybe, perhaps everyone will figure out Danny's from an alternate universe, but for reasons I haven't determined yet, he can't go back.

Eventually Danny will realize that Conner and M'gann aren't so bad, especially compared to his real parents, and will start to warm up to them. Maybe there will be a key moment when he actually seeks out one or both of them for comfort that cements them as trustworthy adults, at the very least.

then blah blah fluff blah blah angst blah blah story and Danny warms up to them a lot more and starts thinking of them as an uncle and aunt in his head (ignoring the fact that they act more like parents than Jack and Maddie ever had)

THEN there's gonna be this big incident where every hero available is asked to help out, including Conner and M'gann, and Danny is staying with uhh, Lucas Carr or one of C&M's other friends.

Danny sneaks out to go help, obviously, and Conner and M'gann are Not Happy and trying to send him back home, but oops too late, no one can leave now because The Incident has become much Much worse and will probably destroy the Earth if they don't stop it soon.

At one point, The Incident makes a portal into the Ghost Zone, a portal that's within eyesight to Clockwork's lair, a portal that Danny could easily fly into and go home, but that would mean leaving before The Incident was resolved and he couldn't do that. He also couldn't leave without saying goodbye.

So he stays, and he fights, and he does everything he can to help.

And then

The heroes are down. Many are injured or out cold. No one is unscathed. There are only a handful of people left standing, including Danny, Conner, and M'gann.

They won't be able to resolve The Incident with just the handful of people awake and able to move. But Danny has an idea. A very very bad idea.

He looks at the portal, allows a brief moment of mourning, and then absorbs the energy of the portal into himself, literally channeling the energy of the Ghost Zone through himself, to make a huge beam or ecto-construct or massive blast of ghost ice to resolve The Incident.

The downsides to doing this is how absolutely drained he feels afterward. Oh, and by using up the portal's energy Danny caused the portal, possibly his only way home, to close.

Conner, as the strongest dude still awake and moving, watches over The Resolved Incident, and M'gann holds Danny as he mourns his home.

[fictionadventurer]

Powers and Prejudice #1: Origins

It didn't take Lizzie's enhanced observational skills to notice that Mom was upset. Sparks crackled in Mom's hair as she paced the living room end-to-end. Mary, sitting by the window with two open books, ignored her reading and followed Mom with her eyes. Kitty sat invisibly on one end of the sofa, but Lizzie could tell by the sound of her rustling hair that she was following every movement. Only Dad--the habitual cause of Mom's outbursts--was unaffected, sitting in the armchair as calmly as if he were alone.

"You have no compassion on my nerves!" Mom moaned, electricity sparking down her arms.

Dad lifted a hand, and a book flew from the shelf, opened itself to the first page, and hovered just below his eye level. "On the contrary," he said, his eyes on the page. "I have great respect for your nerves. They have been my companion for the past twenty years."

The lamp beside Dad's chair dimmed and flared with Mom's emotions. "With one phone call, you could secure us invitations to the university's fundraising gala, and you refuse to do anything!"

Dad turned a page of his book without lifting a finger. "I was unaware you were so passionate about education. If you like, I can write a check. Seems rather a waste to return so much of my hard-earned salary to my employer, but if it pleases you, my dear--"

Mom cut him off with a wave of her hand. Sparks crackled around her fingertips. "Why are you so difficult? You know very well that we need the tickets so Jane can debut as a Netherfield superhero."

Dad said, "I should think organizers would object to our eldest daughter smashing through walls in the middle of such a prestigious event."

Perhaps overhearing her name, and knowing from experience how dangerous it was to let Mom plan her future unimpeded, Jane entered from the other doorway, still wearing leggings from her dance class. Jane, the kindest and most unassuming of the Bennett girls, also happened to be able to stop trains with her bare hands, and was thus the focus of Mom's hopes in getting her daughters established among Netherfield's superheroes.

Mom said, "The only reason these events exist in Netherfield is to give supervillains something to attack! If Jane is on the scene, she'll be in a perfect position to help with the rescue efforts."

No one but Lizzie could have noticed the slight flush in Jane's cheeks or the quickening of the pulse in her neck. Jane had been preparing for this future her whole life, but Lizzie alone knew how much the expectations weighed on her. She met Jane's gaze and gave a reassuring nod. Jane gave a slight smile and shrugged a shoulder, as if to say, it had to happen sometime.

Dad turned another page. "Your public-mindedness is admirable, darling, but surely, if the event is in such grave danger, Netherfield's established defenders will already be providing security."

"That's why Jane has to be there! The Blur is back in town, and the Captain will no doubt be on patrol. I've even heard rumors that the Archer has been spotted in Netherfield."

Lizzie glanced around the room and saw that all her sisters were as surprised as she was.

"The Archer?" Lizzie asked. "Outside Pemberley?"

"Mrs. Lucas swears on her life that she saw him prowling near the river last night."

Lizzie shuddered. Bad enough that the creature hunted the superhumans in the city of Pemberley. Had Netherfield come under his dominion, too?

Lydia raced into the room, streams of electricity crackling behind her. Lydia saw little reason to rein in her power, so even at the age of sixteen, she always sparked like an overexcited toddler. She even bounced like a toddler who'd been promised a treat. "The Archer? This one doesn't have a sidekick yet, right? Can't I go? I'm more powerful than any of us."

Lizzie gave her a disapproving glance. "Which is why the Archer would skewer you."

"Oh, Lizzie," Mrs. Bennet said. "Overthinking everything. The Archer is known to partner with superhumans."

"The old Archer," Lizzie replied. "This new one has had to fight an awful lot of superhumans to keep Pemberley from falling back into chaos, and he hasn't exactly been friendly."

"Which is why," Mom said, "Jane must make connections with established superheroes before displaying her powers. We don't want the Archer or anyone else mistaking her for a villain. And here we have the perfect opportunity for a public debut, and your father refuses to act!"

"I don't see why it falls to me, my dear. You're the one who wants your daughters to risk their lives in combat. If you wish Jane to debut in the company of a known and trusted superhero, you could dig your old costume out of the mothballs. You're nearly as trim as you were in those days, and about as suited to hero work as any of our daughters."

"You know that I have nothing like enough power to be of use in a fight these days," Mom said, though she blushed slightly. (Did she even notice Dad's sarcasm?) "And it would be far better for her to work with superheroes who are already working in Netherfield."

And the best way to do that was to hope someone attacked a charity fundraiser? Lizzie could have pointed out a dozen flaws in the plan, but Mom didn't like to be logic-ed at. Best to let Dad take the brunt of this one.

"Why just Jane?" Lydia asked. "Why can't we all go? I'd be so good in a fight."

"You're also sixteen," Lizzie pointed out.

Softly, Jane said, "I'd really like Lizzie with me."

"I'd rather stay home," Mary said. "Violence is an unfit use for our extraordinary gifts."

From her armchair, Kitty coughed and asked, "Can't I go?"

Mom jumped in surprise--Kitty was still invisible--then threw up her arms in distress. Sparks singed the ceiling. "None of you will go because we can't get tickets!" As the girls babbled protests and suggestions, Mom stalked out of the room with her hands to her temples. "Quiet, all of you. I'm getting a headache. I don't want to hear another word about the charity ball."

Dad's book floated shut. "Is that so? I wish you'd have mentioned it earlier. It would have saved me a call to the university office." He lifted a hand, and a drawer opened in the writing desk on the far side of the room. An envelope rose from it and floated into his hand, revealing three tickets to the university's fundraising ball. "They were happy to give them to a professor of my standing, but if you're not interested, I'm sure I could pass them off on someone more willing."

Mom lit up. "You had them the whole time? I should have known! You're far too good a father to let an opportunity like this pass by."

"This is for the sake of promoting education," Dad said, "and as such, Lizzie is the only one of you with any right to go. But if the university is in as much danger as you fear, it's only right that you go, my dear, and take Jane with you to protect you from any falling debris."

Lydia and Kitty whined in protest, even after Dad explained that they had to be eighteen to get tickets, but none of that seemed to affect Mom's headache. It seemed to have vanished with the good news.

While Mom paced the room and praised her husband, Dad floated the tickets toward Lizzie while looking at Jane. "I'd wish you a good time, but given the circumstances, I hope your evening is beset by a dozen disasters and you managed to defeat them all."

Lizzie took the tickets. Jane smiled tightly. Mom made plans for costumes.

[polyamorous-elevenv2]

Summary: Dustin trying to escape from Upside Down, choses the wrong gate and ends up in Hawkins from different universe. What’s even weirder? He meets El and Lucas and finds out that in this world they are dating. Will it remind him about his long-term crush (or even love) on El from his world? 

collab with @sebyplays2 🌸

SEBY

Dustin is in the upside down finding El after the fight, while in the middle of searching El, he incounter one gate, he touched it and it look safe he then enter and went inside thinking she is in there.

When he enter the otherside it felt different. The place look like Hawkins but… its not ruined, looks peaceful and more alive, plus the people looks normal like- no "earthquick" happen…

He walk some miles wondering what the fv*k is going on… he finally reach to Lucas house, he knocked on the door, Erika opened it but she looks different, she looks older… Dustin is now more confused… Erika ask him why is he here, he looks at her and ask her; "where is Lucas, i need to talk to him" she let him in and said Lucas is in his room, he enter the house but before he went to the staircase Erika said something, she said "his with his girlfriend right now they probably busy so knocked before you enter, kay"

Dustin looks more confused knowing Lucas and Max broke up, and shes still in coma and Lucas dont have a girlfriend, not that his aware of. He then noded abd go to Lucas room, he knock but notice the door is opened, he enter the room and what he saw left him shock; it was Lucas and El… Lucas hands were around her waist and El's hand are around his neck while they are kissing.

after Dustin saw it, his mind blackout, seeing the woman he love is kissing his bestfriend…  all his life, the girl he will always have a crush on will ended up having a crush on Lucas, first there is one back in grade school next was Max and now its El.

El notice Dustin is,there she than pulled away and wave at him and than greet him, Lucas turn at Dustin direction, Lucas also greet him and said; "ibdidnt know your coming here Dust, is there anything i can help with" he smiled but dustin stayed silent… he closed his fist gripping it so hard until his knuckles are white, he looks pale, about to snap.

El notice this she than realized something…Dustin is still in utah, ever since he got a driver licence he always go to utah to visit Suzie… meaning this "Dustin" right infront of them is not their Dustin, but different.

El know this Dustin is about to snap so she step up in the middle and ask this Dustin some question; "how did you get here?" Dustin look at El whos hair started to grow and its curly, he than said how he really got here, El understand it now that this is Dustin alternative version and probably in his universe shes dating him thats why he looks angry when he saw him kissing Lucas.

El explain their are from another universe to Dustin, Dustin is shock and replied; "woah, wait- so how did i got here then and how did this place isnt ruined?" El explain to him that upside down is in between the reality and eternity and nothing is impossible there, she than told Dustin that after killing their vecna she made a wish that what is ruined will be fix and all the gates thar can lead to them to be closed.

WINTER

"Neat. And if you, El-two is able to kill Vecna then my El would be able to do it, too!" Dustin stated, smiling proudly at El, making her smile at her antics.

It was, more than weird, that situation. And it was making him incredibly anxious and maybe a little angry. He wasn't sure how to exactly behave. Logically, he knew that it wasn't his place to say anything. It was a different universe. But at the same time, the urge to say something was huge.

"Man, every El is the best El. Right?" Lucas wiggled his brows and El, and the girl giggled sweetly. And Dustin didn't have to be super smart to realize that it was her behaviour towards the person she romantically loves. This time, his other friend. It hurt more than Vecna's attacks, and yet he couldn't do anything.

"Yeah..." He responded weakly, looking at the little to no space between lover's knees.

El, being older and more mature in this world, realized that right now, Dustin isn't even mad. He's just upset, and as his friend, she cannot bear to see him that sad.

She glanced at Lucas, locking their eyes and telling him with no words that she wants a moment alone with Dustin. It worked. He was the best boyfriend.

"Anyway, I'm going down for so snacks. Be nice, don't look under my pillows or anything." And with that, Lucas left his room, leaving El and Dustin with awkward silence.

"Wanna sit?" El asked, being nice as she always was.

Dustin, still upset, but not wanting El to know that, hopped at the Lucas' previous place, only a little farther than he was, to not make El uncomfortable.

"Funny thing, Lucas' bed from my universe is WAY more comfortable. How can he sleep here?" Dustin babbled something ridiculous, wanting El to stop looking at him with those big doe eyes of hers. It,, it wasn't the right moment.

"Gotta ask him that. I'm not complying." El smiled, but her smile dropped as quickly as Dustin's face changed to a miserable expression.

"Hey, Dustin." El tried again, knowing that this just have to be said. "Are you... Are you dating El from your universe?" She asked softly, noticing how Dustin's expressions keep changing at this simple question, and how he started to fidgeting with his hands.

"Noooooo. I mean, nooooo, why would you think that? She's, She's still with Mike, ya know?" His false smile wasn't even close to his true smiles, and both of them knew it, yet Dustin couldn't make it better.

"So. Do you have a crush on her?" El didn't wait, just asked straight. Because she already knew. Maybe for her younger self it was harder to noticed, but now, as she was older, it was pretty obvious.

But it wasn't her Dustin.

"Pffft, no! Why would I... I, You heard that she's- you are-, my El is dating Mike, right?" He was getting more and more uncomfortable and the need to escape this situation was big.

"Dustin from my universe, used to have a crush on me, you know?" Dustin's eyes widened, hearing that.

"What-"

"Yeah. He told me that, before he left Hawkins. He said that he had a huge crush on me for a few years, and it only disappeared when he met Suzie." She giggled quietly at this memory. It wasn't uncomfortable, just funny, knowing where both of them are right now.

Seeing that Dustin still was comprehending her words, she waited a moment.

"So, maybe you just didn't meet your Suzie yet?" She tried, but one look at his face told her all she needed to know. "Or you did... But it wasn't that, huh?" She said that for him, and he only nodded his head. At this point, he decided that he can be honest with her. For once in his life, he can be honest with someone about his crush. And that person is El from another world, is making it only more bizarre.

"Suzie's a great friend, but we kissed once, and I didn't feel anything, you know. And then I came back from my camp, saw El yelling "welcome home" looking at my face, and all those feelings for her came back. It never disappeared." And it was true.

El from this world, didn't know what to say. How to answer him. How can she even help him. So she thought some more, while Dustin's mind was rewatching his memories with his El.

This El, at some point, thought of something. This Dustin was from another world. And that could mean everything.

And so, she had to try something.

"Hey, Dustin." She tried getting his attention. "I have few questions... If you will?" He nodded.

"Does, does your El always hugs you first when she sees you?" He nodded. "And is she holding your hand where there is danger?" Another nod. "Does she notice all your little changes like..." moment of silence. "...your teeth or new caps?" Dustin nodded, not getting what she's trying to do.

"She does. All of that. Why are you asking that?" His brows furrowed, looking at this El in wonder.

But she just laughed brightly, hiding her smile with her hand.

"Ellll, talk to me! I'm being anxious here! Want to end me??" Dustin dramatised, finally making El calm down, yet still looking at him with a laugh in her eyes.

"Well." She started. "I was like that with Lucas."

"And what does that have- Oh. OH." Dustin finally realized.

That El was behaving like that with Lucas. In a universe when she and Lucas are happily dating together. And his El was doing the same things to him. So that means...

"Oh." He repeated with pink covering his ears and cheeks.

"Yeah." She took one of his hands, and squeezed it. "So, I think that you can have a chance with her. You just have to be patient. And be a good friend. She will need her time, but she will realize."

Dustin squeezed her hand back, and when he wanted to say something back to her, Lucas appeared back in his room with a arms fool of snacks.

" 'm back! Look at this all goodies!"

Dustin and El looked at each other, and burst out laughing. It was light and nice.

It was nice, because Dustin realized that his life maybe won't be as miserable, as he thought.

SEBY

They ate the snacks Lucas gave them and then it was the right time for their next food - pizza.

This pizza taste amazing! who made it? Dustin ask. El smiled at him and said; "Lucas made it last night, i was craving for pizza so He made some" Dustin was shock and said; Lucas can cook!?!?… El laugh and said; "i know, right? i didnt really know that he can cook, until he made me some fish and chips"

Lucas chuckled and said; "but you must admit that dish got you say Yes, right?" El giggle and replied; "actually the fish and chips isnt the reason i say yes, its the chicken and waffles"

the two lover laugh but Dustin look so upset, he knows this is an another universe, but he still hurt seeing El happy with Lucas, kinda wish his Lucas that moment… after the couple laughing, Lucas stand up and look at Dustin and then said; "look, Dust, we have fun hanging out with you but now you need to leave… we cant risk ruining your universe and ours." El nodded and said to Dustin; "so Dustin, you have to tell us where is the Gate, that you come from…" Dustin reply; okay, i kinda remember where is it… Lucas clap his hand and said; GREAT! we can get you back to your own universe, safe and sound!.

Dustin smiled and El did to and reply okay but let me get my outfit.  After a minute… she comes back and said shes ready… Lucas smile while holding his Axe, saying how pretty is El (its normal for Lucas reaction because he always see it.), for Dust whos from another universe (first time seeing this… left him nosebleed on the floor)

WINTER

"Bro- u alright?" Lucas asked while El placed her hand on Dustin's shoulder. Somehow, in a minute, she understood what happened.

And Lucas did too.

But he was a good friend and boyfriend, and even though he was starting to feel a little uncomfortable at Dustin's behaviour, he was trying to justify his behaviour. So he just smiled.

"No, I mean, yeah, I'm okay" Dustin replied, wiping blood from his nose. It made him feel like El, and this thought alone was enough to make him smile to himself.

"I know El looks super hot, but come on. Be a gentleman!" Lucas snorted while Dustin punched him lightly on the arm.

"Shithead." He said under his breath, and that made Lucas laugh even louder.

El was only watching their interaction from her side. It was nice, because it was a while since she saw her boys doing silly things together. Right now, they all are in different places, and it's just not the same. In a way, she was a little jealous of Dustin's El and that she will just begin her happiest years of her life.

But the time was running out, and they had to go.

"Boys." She said in an authoritative voice that Dustin never heard before. "It's time."

Her boys just nodded and with Dustin leading the way, they began their little adventure.

They passed houses, friends and strangers, exchanging brief greetings, and it took a good half hour to reach the beginning of the clearing that Dustin saw first after entering this Hawkins.

"Behind this clearing is a cave. The gate is right next to the entrance to this cave. It's hidden behind some larger rocks, but it's easy to get through." Dustin announced to Lucas and El on both his sides.

"So." El started. "Behind that clearing will we see some good old First's monsters?" From her position alone, Dustin could see that she was ready to fight and win. He really, really loved her. Even though she wasn't from his universe.

"I don't think so. But there is always possibility. Numbers don't lie." He said, and with a final look at his both friends from another universe, he led their way again.

[dolche-tejada]

As much as I love Heisenberg, one of the best antagonists of Resident Evil with Lucas and Wesker in my opinion, I really hate his boss fight. Seriously what a conceptual waste, there was no ambition in it and it was stupid on so many levels.

So we're talking about a guy who can manipulate magnetic fields and what does Capcom give us ? Just another fight against a huge monster on whom to do "Pew ! Pew !". Like c'mon, this transformation brings absolutely nothing and makes the fight very banal in the RE Universe which already has a lot of similar bosses. I would even go as far as to say that it makes the character way less impactful. Hell, do you realize that Karl never used his steampunk hammer against Ethan ? And why does he need to transform himself anyway ? As far as we know, it doesn't even increase his powers and turning into this mechanical mess makes him pretty vulnerable since he is much less mobile.

Also, what leads to this transformation is so dumb... Why does Heisenberg turn into a monster in front of Ethan ? The latter's weapons have literally no effect against Karl's magnetokinesis, we can clearly see it and the room where they were both was filled with metallic debris, Karl could have defeated him in a few seconds... Like at his first appearance actually. And wait, we could also talk about this fucking polymer tank that's supposed to be unaffected by magnetic fields. Do we agree that it's a load of bullshit since Karl lifts it with his powers during the fight ? More dumber, at the very end we shoot him with our firearms which are suddenly not affected by Karl's powers...

Besides, why would Karl want to build a tank that was supposed to be unaffected by his powers?

I know I sound like I'm nitpicking, but think about it for a second, can you imagine all the possibilities of confrontations that such an antagonist offers ? For example, we could have a stealth fight similar to the one in "Arkham City" between Batman and Mr. Freeze.

For those who haven't played that game (really guys ?), the player faces an overpowered enemy that he can't confront directly and is therefore forced to hide and use his environment and gadgets in creative ways to attack him by surprise. But that's not all, Freeze adapts every time the player finds a vulnerability and immediately makes sure to prevent him from taking advantage of it again, forcing the player to constantly reinvent himself. Can you imagine a similar fight in the Heisenberg factory ? Running around to escape this opponent against whom our weapons doesn't work, hiding and using the factory's environments against its proprietor ?

We could also have had a fight where Heisenberg, still human, fights by controlling his army like puppets (to enjoy the "Dr. Frankenstein" side) ; one where he stalks us in his factory like Nemesis and where he uses the environment, vehicles and mechanical tools to kill us in an almost claustrophobic environment, idk something original ?? It could have been amazing and even more in line with the survival horror genre that the license is trying to return to.

[kaypeace21]

Stranger things & Door symbolism (narrative analysis)

We see doors have a lot of symbolism and different meanings but to a certain extent it’s about respecting/not respecting boundaries &privacy, and being open or closed to others emotionally.

In s2 Max picks the door of the av club (trying to easedrop on the boys)-and it goes wrong (and causes dart to escape). Similarly, in s1 Karen picks Nancy’s bedroom door lock (and Nancy does not open up to her emotionally despite Karen saying “you can talk to me”). BUT in s3, we see Karen contemplating picking Nancy’s door again-and right after she decides not to try and pick the lock and respect Nancy’s boundaries (Nancy finally opens up the door and herself emotionally to Karen).We even  see Jonathan in s1 pick Lonnie’s car door (which we know is not a healthy dynamic).

Nancy also tries telling Jonathan not to break into Lonnie’s car-similar to Jonathan trying to convince Nancy (in s3e3) not to break into mrs. Drsicol’s via opening the front door.

We also see because jonathan doesn’t respect Lonnie (can’t blame him). So,Jonathan walks in uninvited through Lonnie’s front door -to investigate-similar to what Nancy did to mrs. Driscoll in s3 . These prior examples are also similar to El  breaking into Heather’s house  by using her telekenesis to unlock the front door (for her and Max’s investigation) . Or doing the same thing to Becky in s2 (for her solo investigation ). Why we have a shot of just El, Nancy, and Jonathan peaking through the doorway.

El unlocking latches also mirrors how the demogorgan ALSO used telekenesis to unlock the front door latch of Will’s house .

In fact flayed Bruce attacking j*ncy in s3, mirrors Will first being attacked by the demogorgan in s1. Jonathan & Will both lock the doors- than Nancy & Will try calling for help- but the supernatural creature unlocks their latches and both Nancy & Will drop the phones because of this.

we also see through every season-given El’s upbringing- El doesn’t respect  boundaries with doors -since she never received it with Brenner (who would come into room whenever he pleased/closed the door and threw her in solitary) .in s2-3 she uses her powers to pick/UNLOCK doors -to open them . And in s1 she used her powers to LOCK a door- and forcibly CLOSE the door to trap the boys in the room  (akin to the closed door in solitary).

This scene directly contrasts an earlier scene of Mike respecting El wanting the door open -by having El later NOT respect the boys’ desire for the door to be open . Mike asks if she wants the door closed and she says “no” so he lets it be open. When Lucas tries to open the closed door- she closes it and says “no”. (she had other in universe reasons for doing this- but this scene is later also paralleled to Hopper in s3 locking Mike in the car against his will, when he tried leaving. Similar to el closing the door on Lucas in s1 when he tried leaving.

In s1 (with El’s ptsd and) with El not understand privacy- she wants her door open . But in s2 when wanting privacy she closes her bedroom door (as Hopper demands she open it, and she cries). in s3 she also closes her door (now wanting privacy) when kissing Mike/ being on the phone with Mike/ hanging with Max ( and Hopper again yells at her to open the closed door).  Max even criticizes Hopper by saying   “do you knock? JEEZE”And in s3 flayed Billy yells at El and co to “OPEN the g*ddamn door”. In s2/3 we also see Hopper yell for el/Murray to ‘OPEN the damn door’  (despite murray having a “keep door CLOSED”sign).

*flayed-Billy also smashes the glass on the door to try and unlock the door-similar to flayed Bruce at the hospital.

And In s2 we see Neil tell Billy to  “open the door” . In fact the first word uttered after the door is opened, is by Billy -who says “what’s wrong?”. The same thing occurs when Hopper in s3 says to “open the door” -the door opens and Mike says  “what’s wrong?” (as another parallel) .

The Byers also in opposition to this, respect doors/boundaries of Will’s: 

Will (similar to Muray’s sign) has a “no trespassing” sign on his front door in s1 (also akin to the one at Hawkins’s lab). And when Will rides by the Hawkins sign- what happens, he’s chased by the demogorgan. But Jonathan and joyce respect Will’s sign/boundaries- Jonathan knocking on Will’s DOOR in s2 before entering & Joyce ringing castle byer’s DOORbell (and getting verbal permission) before entering in s1.

However, Jonathan doesn’t respect Lonnie :

so walks in uninvited through the door ,break into Lonnie’s car, and opens Lonnie’s trunk (door) without permission. later jonathan gets angry the cops/ Hopper searched his trunk (without permission) . Sort of matching his later hypocrisy of being ok to break into Lonnie’s car but not mrs. driscoll’s house.

of course - this is because Lonnie doesn’t respect jonathan’s boundaries. again- the demogorgan is called “the deep father” in d&d. And a light-bulb is shown in Lonnie’s shed when it attacks Will. So we see Lonnie behind an open door (of Jonathan’s room) and a single lightbulb. A single red light bulb is shown -when Jonathan doesn’t respect others boundaries and develops photos. Later when the demogorgan is in Jonathan’s house- Jonathan hides in Will’s room and the ‘keep trespassing’ sign FALLS OFF the door - when the demogorgan comes near. And again we had a shot of Lonnie next to the ‘no trespassing sign’ too.

So how does this relate to romance?  Or the supernatural?

For romance

Well what does Nancy do in s3 (unlike Karen in s3)? Well she not once, not twice but 3 times- opens jonathan’s door (despite the sign saying “please,do not  enter” (when red light is on). which is similar to Will’s “no trespassing “ /murray’s “keep door closed” sign).This is despite jonathan telling her not to-over and over. We see the first time she enters and he tells her this- she says “sorry”, but after she rolls her eyes  (and than later she does it 2 more times-showing she’s not actually sorry). It shows a lack of respect for her partner and his photography (light destroys his photos). This is similar to Jonathan busting into Lonnie’s. Or El -not respecting doors in every season (and spying on her bf who in s3 was not happy about this).

Which is one of the reasons j*ncy & m*leven were (verbally) paralleled specifically in s3 .Both pairings have no trust in boundaries/privacy- Jonathan taking those pics in s1 vi*lated Nancy’s boundaries/privacy, Nancy in s3 ruins jonathan’s photos while disrespecting his boundaries,El spies on Mike in s2-3 and says she makes her own rules-and doesn’t care if it made Mike uncomfortable.

We even have in s3e3-nancy & El break into people’s houses via the front door (to show how similar they are). 

This also correlates to my other post- where I talked about the theme of spying on love interests being done by many characters too (Jonathan to Nancy in s1,s2 lucas spying on Max, max on lucas in s3, steve and rando-girl who rejected him in s3. El in s2-3 to Mike.And  on the nonromantic end -the mf /the us gov spying on our heroes, El in s1 being trained to be a spy, karen spying on Mike in s3 via phones, similar to how the government agents in s1 monitored phone calls,etc. The snowball even had  l*max/ m*leven (who that season spied on eachother ) dance to a song about a st*lking ex- while the spying mf watched them as well).

Also as another romantic contrast to doors in s3:

Mike throws El in his closet (gay ref) and closes the door (to his real emotions ). As Karen says to Mike “talk to me’ about Will  (similar to Karen saying to Nancy  “talk to me” in s1 ) .And she says to Mike “I never want you to HIDE anything from me.” (which he literally is doing). 

 Similar to Nancy ins1 who’s door was closed (to symbolize being emotionally closed off from her mom -it signifies he wouldn’t open up to Karen in s1 about Will (cause he’s too occupied CLOSING his CLOSET door for EL- and pretending to be straight). 

Than in s3e1 during m*leven kiss it pans to a the rainbow drawing (which says Mike) & a drawing of Will the wise as the lyrics “just a little more time will open closing doors”plays. After this, at Will’s house in s3e1 ( while Will claims he won’t fall in love) you hear the lyrics in the back ironically  play  “Love that was new to you-you open up the door.” Like - go back to episode 1 -it’s true. After Joyce says ‘ok;- the song gets much louder just for the lyric “you open up the door”.XD I’m not making this sh*t up (they purposely didn’t subtitle the segment panned to Will but it’s clear as day) ! The other song Mike kisses El to in ep 1 is ‘can’t fight this feeling’ (which is about a guy afraid to tell his friend of many years that he loves them-but who is afraid to do so and ruin their platonic relationship- which doesn’t fit m*leven who kissed in less than a week . the song lyric also has the phrase “if i have to ...come crashing through your door, baby I can’t fight this feeling anymore.” XD Than after “time” (3 months/last ep of s3) El kisses Mike- infront of WILL’S OPEN CLOSET door, in Will’s room, while El holds Will’s bear that comes between them. El (similar to Karen’s closet scene) even tries to get Mike to talk about his “feelings” which he avoids doing with El (/ Karen). As mike doesn’t open up to El emotionally he also doesn’t reciprocate the kiss- or say i love you back-and the same song (’the first i love you’) which played when, in s3 ,Robin rejected steve cause she’s gay- plays. And both stobin/mileven s3 confessions also heavily parallel . I mean coming out as gay used to be called “coming out of the closet”...

The supernatural: Doors & upsidedown- “ A doorway between worlds”

Murray ,in s3, (translating for Alexi) calls the gate a “doorway between worlds”. While Mr clarke also calls it a “doorway” and discusses Hugh everete’s “many worlds” theory. So later when NOT respecting Mr.clarke’s boundaries and interrupting his date - Dustin says about the supernatural/deprivation tank “why are you keeping this curiosity door LOCKED?” We also see on the st soundtrack -the song playing while alexi is explaining the upsidedown - is called “the door is opening”. And @ghostgirlinsatin​ mentioned this detail after I orginally posted this-when alexi runs away ‘neutron dance ‘ plays and the lyric is “I’ll just stay behind this LOCKED door.”

We see mr clarke stab a pencil into a plate and Alexi stab a straw into a box to illustrate this doorway. Along with Lonnie hammering a nail into a wall in an attempt to close a open door (and saying someone should be held accountable for what happened to Will). it transitions from Lonnie repeatedly hitting the nail with a hammer to Mike stabbing a plate with a pencil -like mr clarke -and explaining how Will got to the upsidedown. Because ironically- Lonnie is the cause of what happened to Will (and should be held accountable). gif visuals-here.

If you’ve read my  ‘crashcourse of evidence for Will creating the upsidedown/mf” or the longer version called the “did theory” you generally know where this is going.

Like Dustin said- the upsidedown is a “alternate dimension” a “dark echo of our world.”

Which I believe Will created based on suppressed memories. A few things appear to be triggers-bathtubs, clowns, and slamming doors. When Will first sees the upsidedown in s2- the arcade door slams open (making Will jump). And later when first seeing the mf (his front door opens by itself-similar to the demogorgan opening the door in s1). In s3 when Billy yells to open the door- Will senses the mf (and touches the back of the neck-which a season prior was associated with memories).

I think the door imagery (to some extent) represents Lonnie coming home and slamming/unlocking the front door. in s1 when Hopper knocks at Joyce’s door aggressively (she says ‘go away lonnie’). Demogorgan in d&d also means ‘deep father’ & Nancy says the demogorgan is like a “lion” (lonnie’s name means lion). And just all the other connections to the demogorgan and Lonnie I talked about in my ‘crashcourse post’ (baseball, hunting,lights,etc). And the fact Billy and el (who are heavily paralleled to Will) also have Dads yelling to “open the door” is  suspicious too.  I mean Neil calls his son William a “f*g”, and makes him play baseball -just like Lonnie did to Will. And Neil also yells for William (Billy) to open his door, before hurting him. So I could see  Lonnie doing that to Will in the past ...

We even have El see a red door- while in the void

Heck- in s2 , Dr owens said Will’s anniversary affect would make him remember tra*matic memories and OPEN his neurological flood GATES(  and these openings to the upsidedown are also called GATES and DOORS)!

[surrealsunday]

So, not to sound dramatic but I’ve finished to read (and re-read) all of your fics and now I don’t know what to do with my life 🥲

to use Eliott’s words in Tempo: “you ruined me for everyone else”, you definitely set the bar, and I can only hope there’s more in store cause I’m sold for every version of Elu you’ll come up with.

Each AU is written so well, and I love that each version of Elu has different quirks, inside jokes, attitudes and pet-names, like Tempo!Eliott calls Lucas “a little shit” all the time while in Mood Tattoo he’s the “biggest fucking brat” and Eli is “Average”, in “Hollow Edge” Eliott’s always referred as Sassling or Princeling (oh can we talk about the part where Lucas called him by his name in bed and got no response, so he called him “Princeling” and Eliott’s head quickly snap to him? That moment was so important to me, I can’t even-) and don’t even let me start with Punzel, all their knowing subtle types of pout and doe-eye princess looks? AND THE NICKNAMES? Punzel, Babylu, Princess, Lu, Lu baby… I just wanted to hug him so tight, Punzel has been a rough patch to read for me cause Lucas was such a soft baby and didn’t absolutely deserve all those years of constantly heartbreak, yearning and miscommunication, I was like Chandler crying out loud “I JUST DON’T SEE WHY THOSE TWO CAN’T WORK THINGS OUT” over Ross and Rachel lol (does anyone here sometimes randomly think about the way Punzel!Eliott got the nerve to introduce his former boyfriend to Punzel!Lucas with “This is Gavin; Gavin, this is my Lu; and this is Yann, the guy who’s always trying to steal Lu from me” LIKE IT WAS SO CLEAR BUT THEY WERE SO BLIND, Istg I’m coming to collect all the years those two idiots took me off along with Idriss 😭😭)

Anyway, I need to spend some words for Mood Tattoo cause Mood!Lucas is one of my favorite now. It’s been interesting to read from an Eliott’s point of view, but that left me with quite some questions about Lucas’ attitude sometimes, like for example in the dinner scene with the crew: they’ve just spent a nice time together, then Manon asked Eliott how things were going at work and it all went down to shit, with Lucas starting to attack him over nothing till it led to them in Idriss’ bedroom; I was wondering if there was a real issue there that unnerved him or if he was just deliberately provoking Eliott to riled him up in order to go physical cause he was into the “hate sex” thing? And when he pushed Eliott in the on-call room and they’re kissing and then Eliott noticed Lucas’ smiling before he pushed him toward the bed was because he has already half in mind to blow him and spread the spunk all over Eliott’s top? (cause we all know Lucas’ such a little shit and got a thing for spreading spunk all over Eliott’s clothes just because lol). Mood!Lucas was such a charming enigma, it was impossible to not fall for him right there and then.

Anyway, I loved how we finally had an AU where Lucas met Eliott’s parents in one of your stories; it was so wholesome to see them all together, the dinner scene where Luca holds Eliott’s hand underneath the table is one of my fav Elu moments in every universes, I swear. There was so much tenderness, strenght, support and love in that act, I don’t know how you came up with that but hell, it was perfection. And what about Lucas randomly picking up a flower for him out of nowhere when they didn’t even talk about being an established couple? It was so precious, along with all those other small big details who made my heart squeeze in joy (“gonna bring it up when we’ll be 50” “our next vacation” “our plant” “there’s you” 🥺).

Jesus, this is gonna be embarrassing cause it shows how much I’m fixated with this fic but I have to tell it: the picture you made of the morning after, where Lucas is quietly sitting at the table eating his bowl of cereal, eyes stubbornly glued to the bowl after Eliott reached to lick a drop of milk from his chin, then his hissed “Stop it. We’re not going to have sex”… Idk why it hit me so much as a scene but he was so adorable in that moment, he’s a baby 😭

Another moment I hold dear to my heart is from Hollow Edge, precisely when they’re all in the bathtub and Eliott asks Lucas why he doesn’t talk about him in that way with his friends and Lucas scoffs and reply that of course he’s not gonna chat about their sexual lives, “it’s you. it’s different” 🥺🥺 this was so in Hollow Edge!Lucas character, being a cocky flirty shameless kid about everything and everyone all the time but being secretive about anything that involves Eliott cause he’s something he treasures in his heart and his heart only.

This is actually something I meant to ask you: your creative process about your stories. ‘Cause each Lucas is quite different from each others and from the original (although not too much; they’re always undeniably Lucas Lallemant), and each of them is written so well based on the main personality traits they have in every AU context (for example, Hollow!Edge Lucas is shameless, open and flirty in a way that Tempo!Lucas is not, just like Mood Tattoo!Lucas is smug, physical and provocative (“you’d better not waste my time, average; so two strokes or three? just wanna adjust my expectations”, he was such a confident smug brat, I LOVED HIM SO MUCH) in a very different way than Punzel!Lucas, and those main peculiar traits goes with the character for the rest of the fic in a perfect dosed way, like you read it and you’re like “of course he’s gonna act like this, this is totally him in this universe” (I hope it makes sense what I’m trying to say here); and it shows even in the media content, the captions or their replies are so in context.. you made a great work here, that’s why I was wondering how does it work for you the entire process, the way you structure the characters, the chapters, the storyline, the dialogues…? I’m sorry if it’s too much, I’m just very fascinated and struck in awe by the way your works are so flawless.

Honestly, I think I’d read anything from you at this point, even the groceries list; you know how to create magic with words, and I’m so grateful you shared your incredible amount of talent with us ♥️.

Ok first, this is such a lovely message it made me screech when I first read it. I can't tell how much I enjoyed reading this and hearing your thoughts ❤️❤️❤️.

Second, I apologize for how long it took me to respond. I actually HAD typed out a huge response weeks and weeks ago and then I somehow hit something on my keyboard and lost the whole response 😩????!!! I was a little bit upset about it and had to give myself a moment before re-doing the entire thing 😅. I wanted to do so with a fresh mind and when I had the enthusiasm to respond as you deserve (and yes... I am saving this as a draft 500 times as I go lmao). Putting this under a ‘read more’ because it’s gonna be loooooong... 

I love so much that you read all my fics and got something different out of each of them. I worry a lot when it comes to my writing that because I do have a natural style, they’ll end up being too repetitive or similar, so hearing that each iteration of Eliott and Lucas comes across differently is really satisfying! And I LOVE coming up with the little quirks in each of their dynamics. That is the most fun. Their nicknames for one another and the deeper meaning behind each - as it suits their dynamic - is something that has always arisen naturally in the writing process and I enjoy so much. Like ‘Princeling’ and ‘Sassling’ etc. in Hollow Edge. As you were pointing out, those nicknames meant sooooo much to Eliott. Even more than they meant to Lucas. To Lucas it was a way of separating Eliott from his title - essentially taking the pomp and circumstance out of Eliott being a Prince - bringing him down to Lucas’s level so to speak. For Eliott though, those nicknames represented everything he thought he couldn’t have, that normalcy and intimacy with someone. That he could be MORE than just his title to someone, and that his title could became less about a need for deference than a reason to tease. Eliott loved that. While all their nicknames for one another in the fics have meaning, I’d say the nicknames for Eliott in Hollow Edge are the most significant (Punzel probably comes second place with ‘baby Lu’ vs. ‘Lu baby’ vs Princess, etc). 

Punzel Lucas is definitely a soft bub 😌. And being in his POV in childhood on compounds that exponentially I think. I laughed so hard at this: “ I was like Chandler crying out loud “I JUST DON’T SEE WHY THOSE TWO CAN’T WORK THINGS OUT” over Ross and Rachel lol” 😂. I feel like it’s a very raw angst in Punzel because it’s a slow ache over time. Yes, there are more dramatic moments in the present that show the culmination of that angst, but I really wanted that one to have an overall ache (one that I feel like a lot of people could relate to - even if not directly associated with unrequited love). And that moment with Gavin... lmaooooo. They truly were so obvious to everyone but themselves. The reader (and Idriss) are definitely owed years of your lives. I snickered writing that whole flashback. 

As for Mood Tattoo Lucas, he is for sure an enigma. I knew he would come across that way because we were in Eliott’s POV, but also because Lucas does a number of things that are a bit contradictory. It seems like his actions are nonsensical at times because they are. Not even he totally understands what he’s doing early on in the fic, and that was intentional (but a bit of a risk in writing). For Lucas in the early chapters, his primary goal was NOT to like Eliott as much as he might should circumstances have begun differently. The problem with that is that he IS attracted to Eliott (and that pisses him off endlessly) and there are those moments when Eliott shows those glimmers of being kind and gentle and ‘a good fucking person’ as Lucas would put it, when Lucas can’t help but feel a little something - butterflies in the stomach if you will. So most of Lucas’s time is spent trying very hard not to fall for Eliott and a lot of his actions are rooted in that desire, however misguided. He doesn’t quite let go of that until around the time they start having some heart-to-hearts (about Lucas’s mom, Eliott’s diagnosis) and then go away together. 

While there are times Lucas baits Eliott, that moment before they hook up in Idriss’s room (RIP Idriss 💀) isn’t so much Lucas baiting Eliott into a fight/ hookup. It’s a moment in the fic I may not have gotten across what I meant to as effectively as I would have liked. But essentially, Lucas does operate in extremes with Eliott in those early stages and can swing from hate to like to lust and back again pretty quickly. And in that moment of what seems to be an innocuous conversation between the friends, Lucas does swing pretty quickly to genuine annoyance. He is frustrated with the way Eliott downplays himself - I would say that’s actually a bit of a trigger for Lucas (and comes with his own baggage). Eliott throughout that fic has a habit of basically apologizing for who he is (I think it goes hand-in-hand with anxiety and mental illness a lot of the time which is why I had made that a part of Eliott’s personality). He rarely will own the fact that he’s good at what he does (sidenote: very intentionally in the fic, the few times he does is when he’s being instigated by Lucas or in an argument with him). This frustrates Lucas endlessly as Lucas is so naturally underestimated (and that knowledge and fear was part of his ‘relationship’ with Moreau). And here is someone like Eliott - who in Lucas’s eyes has it all - and refuses to enjoy that. And of course, Lucas very quickly jumps to the assumption that Eliott is intentionally bringing up Moreau again, which only compounds his annoyance (though I would say there is some fear mixed in there too). Eliott for his part is just as thrown as the reader is supposed to be. This all comes from a place of them not fully understanding one another yet - as so many of the early arguments do. And then... as is their dynamic in Mood Tattoo, the intensity of emotion that comes with any of their arguments very easily translates to intensity in a totally different - but maybe not actually dissimilar - way 😏😂. 

Oh and Lucas smiling at that moment in the on-call room in Mood Tattoo was a glimpse of genuine Lucas. 🥺. Eliott starts to get that more and more as the fic goes on but he doesn’t grasp it right then. Basically it’s Lucas truly happy to be kissing Eliott, letting himself have that moment... it’s him enjoying himself. And part of that is that despite his outward anger at Eliott for not taking the opportunity for the surgery with Moreau, Lucas is actually very moved by Eliott insisting that is his choice. Don’t get him wrong, Lucas does think it’s a stupid fucking choice 😆, but the thought that Eliott made that choice because of - if not for Lucas is a big deal. In Lucas’s brain it translates (quite rightly) to him saying ‘You should think of yourself and your career first’ and Eliott responding by just being a good person who operates with a moral guidepost and cares about what Lucas thinks (without even knowing the full story about Moreau). So... Lucas wanted to kiss his face off. Eliott just doesn’t get that until Lucas literally does it. 

The dinner/ holding Eliott’s hand scene in Mood Tattoo is one of my favourites. I’m glad you loved it too. I got misty eyed writing it and picturing that moment actually. And omg I love the image of that morning with Eliott wiping the milk off Lucas’s face too. They were being hella cute that morning I agree. It was fun to allow them a dynamic that was a little more light-hearted and flirty. There was so much intensity between them it was fun just to let them have fun. And mixing a little bit of the domestic with the sexy is always the best in my books. I think all those more subtle moments (like the daisy too) are really what give the relationship layers and make it the most genuine and believable. I’m so glad you noticed them! 

I so agree about Hollow Edge Lucas too... he’s the most closed off and prickly and cocky... except when it comes to Eliott. With Eliott everything is different, and he’s constantly amazed when Eliott is surprised by that. The whole ‘because it’s you’ thing was repeated a few times in the writing process before I fully realized it and then implemented it as their ‘thing’. It was almost like they did that naturally and it took me longer to realize. 

And on that note, your question about my creative process is so well written and interesting. I will do the best I can to explain how I develop a story and how it works - but I am also extremely chaotic with my writing so I apologize in advance 😅. In each of the stories I look at it is the same Eliott and Lucas from the show... but if they existed in those universes. I will often remind myself of their traits from the show and then consider how they might come across given the circumstances of the particular universe I am writing. For example, in the show Lucas really can be the most soft and vulnerable, but I fucking love that he has a surprising confidence we didn’t see in other iterations of the Isak character. Like him approaching Eliott first... or asking Eliott how he would draw him. Those sorts of things I like to keep in mind. So in every universe I do give Lucas that cocky confidence but it comes across differently depending on the context. In Hollow Edge his confidence is his defense - it’s literally what he needed to survive and so it’s much more bold and in your face (and rooted in a desire to protect and defend - himself and others). The vulnerability is what comes later. In Punzel, he’s known Eliott for so long that Eliott got to know Lucas before Lucas really came into himself as a teen and then adult. So Lucas’s confidence in that one becomes more of him being a bit of a spoiled brat and knowing that Eliott will do anything for him. In Mood Tattoo the confidence was to come across a lot more harshly because we were in Eliott’s pov and that’s how Eliott saw him... and then slowly that unravels, and while Lucas remains quite prickly, you start to see the holes in that confidence. 

Same idea for Eliott when it comes to his vulnerabilities. With him I often look at how his fears and anxiety will affect his personality in each universe. So in Hollow Edge he was incredibly sheltered, so we a lot more of that softness and insecurity from the very beginning. Whereas in something like Mood Tattoo it’s not believable that Eliott would make it as far as he does in his career without having an ability to manipulate his own fears and anxieties in a way that works for him (i.e. not becoming a cold, emotionally removed surgeon). And in Punzel from the beginning he has Lucas’s support in a way he obviously didn’t in canon as they didn’t meet until later, so I gave a lot of consideration to how that would change Eliott (and help in many ways) when it came to accepting his mental illness. 

When it comes to how I actually go about planning and writing a story, that is a bit all over the place. To be honest, a lot of it is just daydreaming. I usually come up with an idea and often it’s just a scene and premise. And then as I think about it more and more, little details will trickle in and colour the overall picture. For example, I’d been thinking about Hollow Edge for a while before I ever came up with the whole Princess Bride connection. I was just driving and thinking about what nickname Lucas might refer to Eliott by... which made me think of the ‘buttercup’ line... which made me think of Princess Bride... which then shaped the entire fic. I really can’t explain how my brain goes about working those things out but it’s rarely in an organized or controlled fashion. I usually do try to form an outline for the fic - i.e. major events and when they might happen - but I wholeheartedly admit that I end up writing and never looking at the outline and not at all doing what I originally intended. This is often because, as I like to say, the characters have minds of their own. Like even when I’m writing a scene I’ll be thinking ‘ok, the point of the scene is to get them to do x, y, and z.’ But then the two start talking in the scene and it goes in a totally different direction and I just let them roll with it because that always ends up feeling the most natural. That’s also why I don’t plan out dialogue. I often know the vibe or feeling I’m trying to get across and then I just start typing and see what they say. So the banter and jokes and arguments all come very naturally as I write. Or at least I think they feel very natural and authentic - like they might actually talk. I think it’s probably obvious in moments too that I just let them banter - like the oompa loompa thing in Punzel? Lmao. Obviously not planned. I was just letting them be cute and have their little ‘no one can pop their bubble’ way of speaking and that’s where it ended up. 

And of course I have a pretty intense editing process. And usually if something isn’t reading or sounding right, I catch it when I’m editing and I will adjust. It’s really important to me that you feel in the moment with them as you read the dialogue. I feel like more planned out dialogue can feel very stilted - even if it’s written beautifully. As an example, I was recently reading Where the Crawdad’s Sing which had been raved about for years. And it is very beautifully written don’t get me wrong, but my god there were moment’s when I was reading dialogue and said out loud, ��No one talks like this’. So for me, especially when it comes to characters we’ve seen interact so beautifully and naturally on screen, with so much chemistry, the dialogue really has to be right and not super ‘crafted’ by me. One of my main goals when writing was to have it all read as ‘easy’. I love when I’m reading a story and it’s just so fun to read. And even in the more difficult and angsty moments I didn’t want any of it to read like a chore. So that thought guides most of my writing. 

A big thing that also helps I think (for me in particular I mean) is that I write the whole story before ever posting a chapter. Because of the way I write quite chaotically, I have to be able to go back and edit things in earlier chapters based on things that might have come up later and randomly later in the story. Or when it comes to particular metaphors that run throughout the story or visuals I want to remain consistent, it’s very helpful for me to be able to go back and scrutinize earlier chapters. Also I will often intentionally repeat bits of dialogue later in different context as callbacks to earlier moments, and little things like that often don’t occur to me until I’m writing that later chapter, so having the ability to go back and make those moments work as parallels is super helpful. 

I will say that in the end I truly never know how my stories come together 😬😂. I doubt their ability to incredibly often as I write. I take on these huge ideas and they get bigger and bigger as I write and it often seems incredibly overwhelming but I sort of trust the process (and often am motivated just to get it done so I can share it) and somehow in the end it becomes a fully formed story. 

Anyways, I should stop rambling because this really is a full-on essay now (you see how my stories get to be so long!). Your comments were so interesting though so I really wanted to give them the attention they deserved. Thank you again and again for taking the time to write this message to me. I apologize again for taking so long to reply. If there is anything that was unclear or I didn’t answer, please let me know. I am sending you all the hugs and just hope you know that comments like this are really why I write and why it is such a joy for me. 

Thank you thank you and HUGS! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[solesommerso]

“You know my brother?” | Jim Street x Sean Hotchner

~ the content below is dark/graphic, if violence or any of the other warnings bother you please click away

Crossover Fic Between Swat/Criminal Minds

posted to my Ao3 here

Background: in the universe that Hondo and Derek Morgan are the same people, set season 1 swat, the time lines a bit funky but Streets 24 while Sean’s 25. I didn’t add Sean’s drug problem or what happened in New York as it’s annoying to work around. Btw I know Hotchs family isn’t from California but they moved there after Hotch moved out in this

Summary: what happens when someone from Streets past makes a reappearance and things get messy

Authors note: I refer to Hondo as Morgan/Derek/Hondo in this but it’s all the same person. Buck is in this (he’s abusive and homophobic so be warned) tags of people who encouraged this: @district447 @crystal-is-obsessed

Warnings:unwilling drug use, implied sexual assault, references to abuse, hospitals, swearing, crying, panic attacks, homophobia, violence, use of the f slur, blood/gore, showering together

~

Streets feet halt as he sees Sean Hotchner picture on the board of the briefing room. He hasn't seen Sean in years, many years, he can't believe he has beard now? God. Street always hated Sean with facial hair and while none of that matters now- what does matter is why Sean's picture is up, is he in trouble? Oh god is he hurt?

"Wha- what- uh-." He can't seem to get the words out as his brain floods with every single bad scenario that Sean could be stuck in right now. He has to be alive. He has to be okay. Street won't be able to function if Sean's not okay.

"Spit it out Junior." Luca jokes but Street can't even fake laugh. He has so much dread twisted in his gut that he feels nauseous.

"What- what's Sean got to do with this?" He slips the words out in a much too quiet voice for it to be anywhere close to his normal tone.

"You know Sean?" Hondo questions and Street nods. He knows Sean really well, and Sean knows Street well, too well. He knows every dark secret Streets desperately keeps up at his chest.

"How exactly do you know him?" Deacon asks with a raised brow and Street swallows. They were a bit more than friends but so much happened that Street knows he can't say that. He hasn't even told the team he likes guys.

He hadn't really considered his sexuality before Sean though. He was too busy being bounced from foster home to foster home, barely scraping by in school, spending all his time skateboarding and working minimum wage jobs. Then he met Sean Hotchner. A taller, a year older, blonde haired, very funny, senior, that was quick at taking Street under his wing when Sean's family up and moved to California. Something about his brother being gone for so long that they didn't need such a big house.

However their new house was far from a good one. Street spent many nights cleaning the wounds on Sean's skin, Sean always repaid the favor when Street was seen as the scrawny kid in whatever group home he was in. They'd spend hours in that shady run down park, Sean falling on his ass every time he tried to stand on Streets skateboard, Street sitting across Sean's lap even if he knew it was risky, taking turns digging through the homemade first aid kit to help patch up the other, the both of them not sneaking home til it was well past dark and only had streetlights to guide their ways back.

They had stayed in that "more than friends" space for a very long time. 17-22 for Street, then it came crumbling, more so crashing, down, when Buck had found out that Sean was more than just a study partner. As much as Buck might pass himself as a good person, Street knows the truth.

He knows how bitter and detached Buck becomes when he sees something he doesn't like, the hits thrown, words cursed, glasses of whiskey downed, tears shed by Street, bruises covered for days on end. It's the whole reason him and Sean ended things. Buck had figured out Street was living with Sean in a shitty studio apartment so he showed up one day to "set things straight".

That day will forever be engrained into Streets memory. He can pin point how badly his ribs ached but more importantly, the look on Sean's face when Street had submitted to Buck and allowed Buck to drag him out of the apartment. Sean didn't look angry at Street or even upset with him, he looked heartbroken, anguished, like he was in more physical pain then the already constant throbbing Buck caused. Street watched with a hand on the back of his shirt collar and a silent plead for Sean. He got the same plea back, the non verbal 'I love you and I'm sorry'.

They had called a week later, Street having to go to a pay phone as Buck threatened to track his calls. Street had just agreed to take up the Swat offer Buck gave out for Street to "forgive and forget" about what had happened, Sean told him he was going to New York for a bit. They gave each other a tear filled I love you before hanging up.

Street can't fathom talking to Sean again, seeing him, having him in his arms, holding him. It makes him want to sob. He craves Sean and never got over it, it's only been two years but most people move on by now. Street just can't. Not when him and Sean still love each other, or Street still loves him. Maybe Sean got a new boyfriend or a girlfriend to cover up that he's gay.

They've both done that at least once, gone out with girls to hide who they are. Street is bisexual so he can pretend that he's just straight but he knows Sean's fully gay and has a harder time. Sean's parents were never the most supportive, he's not sure about his brother, Aaron if Street remembers correctly, he never got a lot about him. Just that Aaron knew nothing about Sean and didn't make a big effort to change that, there was anger there, something Street always tried to get Sean to open up about but never got far.

"You know my brother?" A dark haired man asks. He's in a suit and tie, he looks nothing like Sean does, not even close. However he isn't far fetched from how Sean described Aaron the few times Street did get information about the older brother.

"You're Aaron?" The team is surrounded them now and some other people, Street doesn't recognize any of them. They all stare heavily.

"Yeah, how do you know Sean?" Aaron's arms go across his chest in a way that's so similar to Sean it almost has Street smiling. Almost.

"Old friends." Aaron's jaw clenches and Street furrows his brows before looking over to Derek, he's busy staring at Aaron intently.

"Friends? What type of friends?" There's venom stuck in the words and Street steps backwards. Is he that homophobic? Did Sean finally come out to him? Shit is that what happened, is Sean in the hospital because his deranged older brother beat him? 

"Just- j- just friends from back in high school. Now please tell me what's going on?" There's a strong shake to Streets words that he chooses to ignore.

"You guys didn't use together?" Streets mouth falls open. How dare-

"Y'know your brother was so right about you, you really know nothing about him don't you? He's clean and has been since he was sixteen. And even then- he smoked weed! God have you even talked to him since he was in high school? I always gave you the benefit of the doubt because how can I judge someone I've never met but- but I gave you way too much credit didn't I? Whatever Sean is stuck in, he's not using again and he doesn't deserve to be treated badly by his brother." Street lets the rage simmer down after his rant, Aaron looks shocked to be snapped at and there's tension still high in the air.

"Street." Tan says placing a gentle hand on Streets bicep that Street allows even if he really wants to keep yelling at Aaron.

"Why are you even here right now? Sean would never call you if something happened so what the hell are you doing here?" He points his eye contact into Aaron's surprised expression. He burns as many holes in that stupid expression as he can.

"Sean- Sean would call me if something was wrong." Oh Please.

"Why would he call you? You're never around and you know nothing about him. Christ I've known Sean since I was seventeen and have never even seen a picture of you." Derek comes to Hotchs side with a hand on his shoulder that makes Streets blood boil a bit more.

"Now again, tell me what the hells going on?! If you did something to Sean I swear to god I will bury you six feet down- he is the one person that I know will always be there and if you hurt him at all-." Morgan stops him.

"He's missing, Sean's missing Street. He didn't call Hotch or anyone, his boss called Hotch asking if he's seen Sean." Street almost throws up on the spot. He literally feels the vomit raise in his throat but he swallows it back to stare deathly still at Morgan, this can't be happening. Not Sean. God not Sean, not him, anyone but him, please someone tell Street it's not real.

"N- no- no- Sean's smarter than that- he- he wouldn't just let someone take him. That's not- he carry's a knife and can fight- he's not- no. No." It's a lie, this has to be some fucked up dream he's stuck in.

"Street, someone drove away with him in the back of their car, there's a video." Streets knees get weak at Chris's words. Everything's blurry, his heart rates so high, he can't breathe and he feels like screaming. Like begging for Sean. Crying til Sean comes and wraps his protective arms around Street, he knows Sean would, they'd lay up on the couch just the same as before and fall asleep pressed as closely as they can get.

"Street? Hey look at me, breathe kid." He pushes away from Hondos hands on his shoulders. No he can't breathe, he can't even think as his back hits against a wall and Street just lets himself slide down it.

Nothings okay and not having Sean here makes everything so much worse. He hasn't had a panic attack this bad since him and Sean were living together, Sean would always be there to say those way too sweet and cheesy things that always made Street smile. They'd drink stupid "anxiety reducing" tea and Sean would joke that he should be a therapist with how many panic attacks he's talked Street through.

And oh god— there's no way to tell if Sean's alive right now. There's nothing to indicate where Sean is or what those people are doing to him. Street doesn't have all the details but maybe he does- what if a video of Sean getting taken is all they have? What if Street never gets to see him again? Hold him again? Call him-

- he fumbles with his phone while pulling up where he has Sean's number saved, it's in his notes and not an actual contact. He still doesn't trust to keep it as a contact and told Sean that, it's why Street always answers random numbers and he assumes Sean would do the same. They made a decision to call from pay phones only. Maybe he'll answer?

"Street breathe, just keep breathing." He needs to get himself to a pay phone. He stumbles up to his feet and looks for his keys only to see them in Hondos back pocket.

"No." He reaches but gets stopped.

"Give me my keys." There's still tear tracks on his cheeks but Street needs to get out of here.

"No you are not going to search for him, we do this the correct and legal way." What? Streets not about to go out man hunting for Sean, not yet at least.

"I need to go somewhere, give me my keys." He's boarding on whining and knows Sean would poke fun about it.

"You go with us if you need to go somewhere." Street still doesn't know who half of the people in this room are.

"Take me to a phone booth." Derek quirks a brow.

"A phone booth?" Street groans and goes for his keys again.

"Yes a phone booth, it's how me and Sean talked." Only ever three times but still, the most recent form of communication.

"Huh like Maeve." Street looks over to the blonde girl talking, who is she? To both the girl she mentioned and her herself, who?

"Who's Maeve?" A scrawny guy pipes up with a fidget of his spindly fingers. 

"Oh she was my girlfriend that I'd only communicate with by pay phone because she was getting stalked. It actually ended really tragically because she died in front of me- but we'd talk on a pay phone every Sunday. I can go with you and drive you if you want."

"Who the fuck are you?" Street didn't mean to be so mean but seriously- who's this guy?

"Oh I'm Dr. Spencer Reid." Street blinks.

"I'm not calling you that but I will take you up on that offer, what type of car do you drive? Something fast?" Spencer winces a bit.

"Well- kinda, an suv and I'm kind of a bad driver so we should really take someone with us." You've gotta be fucking kidding.

"Give me the keys Reid." Spencer's lips form a tight line as he shakes his head to Streets extended hand.

"What do you mean no? You just said you were a shit driver now give me the keys, I can get us there in no time flat!" Street and Sean went on plenty of joy rides around California for him to locate a pay phone quickly.

"I'll drive you." Who the hell is that?

"Who are you? Actually wait- who are half of you? You're just kinda here and look a bit like lost puppies so one of you explain." Street rubs a hand at his mouth, todays such a mind fuck.

"And who are you?" The oldest of the group snaps back.

"Street." A dark haired girl chuckles and Street quickly glares over his shoulder at her.

"Sorry- sorry, just, Sean and Street, S and S."

"Okay, Reid- Spencer- Doctor- whatever you want to be called, let's go to that damn phone booth." Streets walking out before he can meet any of the other questionable people standing in that room with his team who don't seem at all bothered by having them around.

~

"Damn it!" Street hangs up the pay phone for the third time. This shit isn't working and he needs it to, he needs to hear Sean's voice and know he's okay.

"He's not the best at answering calls." Street angrily shoves two more quarters into the machine while staring at Aaron in annoyance.

"He answers mine." He's actually never missed a single call from Street since the day they met.

"Come on Sean, pick up for me. Please." Street begs quietly, listening to the phone ring all the way to dial tone. He swears he's about to cry again, he can't do this, he can't go back to the station and work this like it's a normal case. It's not, not with Sean involved.

"Sean I can't do this just pick up. I can't lose you, not like this." Streets so close to just breaking down in this phone booth only there's an answer. Finally.

"Sean? Hello? Talk to me." Some muffled sounds of someone walking before a ragged breath.

"Street?" Relief floods Streets system as he nods against the phone. Derek and Hotch pick up on the answering of the phone as they instantly call that tech girl they know.

"Where are you? Are you hurt? Nobody can find you." A sniffle from Sean and Street swallows the spit in the back of his throat.

"I- I don't know, Street I don't know- they- I- I think they gave me something- I don't know where I am." Sean cries lowly and Street genuinely has to bite on his lip to not scream at someone to help them immediately, he can’t scream when he’s supposed to be the one helping Sean, fighting out what to do to get him away from wherever he’s at, Street needs to think.

"It's okay, just tell me what you see. Can you see a street sign?" A short pause then a few whimpers, sufficiently snapping Streets heart into a million pieces.

"No- no I see nothing, I'm in an alley- I don't- I'm bleeding! Street I'm bleeding! Help!" James shoots his eyes up to the sky as he thinks of what the hell he should do right now, he wants to run and search for Sean but knows that won't be any good without knowing more or-

"Street we know where he is, we're going now stay on the phone." Derek and Hotch call before they're dashing into the suv and Street can give a short sigh.

"Helps coming now Sean, just keep talking to me. Where are you bleeding from?" Street slumps his back into the wall of the phone booth, practically counting the seconds to when he'll be able to see Sean be okay again.

"It's- my- my lip. My lip is split. I miss you so much- I never stopped missing you. Are you coming?" The short sigh of relief Street let out at Sean only having a split lip gets cut short as Street chokes on his breath at the last words.

"I miss you so much Sean, so much. I'm not on my way right now but I'll see you in the hospital. I have to keep you on the phone." A small whine passes through Sean's lips that has Street leaning his forehead onto the metal of the actual phone machine.

"I want you to be here, I just- just wanna see you again Jamie." God there's that old nickname that use to piss Street off so much but has him clutching the phone white knuckled right now.

"You will I promise, you just have to stay where you are so help can find you. I'll see you soon." Street almost tells Sean that he loves him but refrains, he can't.

"Nothings okay without you- I'm not- not okay without you- I miss you too much and- and have almost called you so many times." Street feels the hot tears well in his eyes that he urges away, nows not the time.

"I almost call you every time I walk past a phone booth, I miss you all the time. Every damn day Sean." Streets really betting that nobody is listening to this conversation as his voice breaks on basically every word.

"I'm so tired Jamie, I wish you were here so I could go to sleep- like we would on the couch when you'd mess with my hair." Street chuckles wetly into the phone.

"Yeah? You sure you don't just miss me because I'd play with your hair." Sean grunts at it.

"No I miss you cause I love you.- Aaron? What are you? Where- wait- beep-." Street stands there breathing into the disconnected phone for way too long.

Sean still loves him, he said it, confirmed it, it has Streets whole body feeling like it's floating. Like he's not really standing there, he's watching himself stand stone still in that phone booth just holding the phone up. He should move- go to the hospital and see Sean- call Derek or someone to come get him or do anything but just stand there.

"Street, come on!" Oh Derek's pulling up in a charger and calling Street inside, he stumbles to hang the phone up a moment but makes his way to the passenger seat.

~

"Kid he's fine, Hotch is with him." Street nods at Derek but returns to the blank stare he was doing through the window. Logically he knows Sean is perfectly fine aside from maybe some mental trauma and a few bruises, he's in a hospital so if something worse was to come up they could treat it, Sean has people there with him that will advocate for him if somethings not right, he's going to be okay.

"So- you and Sean weren't just friends were you?" Chris pipes up from the backseat and Street shifts to lean against the car door more. He's not in the mood to talk in general but definitely not about this.

Buck made it pretty clear that if Street was to see Sean again he'd be losing his job and getting the shit kicked out of him.

"Oh totally, you can see it in his body language. See how he shifted away from you when you asked the question, it's his body's way of defense and-." Streets a little thankful a glare from Derek made Reid stop talking. He knows Spencer's right, it's written all over his body language that him and Sean are far more than friends, Streets not sure how to change that though. Not entirely at least.

"Why don't we stop picking apart what Street and Sean were and just focus on the positives, Sean's safe and Hotch can stop pacing so much." Hondo gives a smile over to Street that he has no energy to return. His minds filled with images of what Sean and him were, what they could be again if they stopped living in fear.

Streets brain decides to focus on this one specific memory, a time from before anything tainted his and Sean's relationship. It must've been fall since Street can picture that specific stripped sweater Sean lived in, thick sleeves falling past his hands, coffee brown and beige strips going horizontally across the fabric, Street would bet money it was actually from the woman's section but would never tell Sean that. He'd wear the sweater so much it got small holes in the cuffs from the fidgeting he does when nervous. Street can't pull his mind away from the nights they'd cuddle up on the couch and Street could poke his fingers through the holes while listening to Sean ramble passionately about something. Always a different topic but always spoken like it was the second most important thing in the world, Sean always assured James that he was the most important, no matter how cheesy it was.

"They're flushing the drugs out of his system, looks like someone slipped something in his coffee and then beat him. Nothings broken and there's no major damage but he's gonna need to ice his ribs for a bit." Aaron speaks first when Street, Derek, Chris and Reid get to the hospitals waiting room. Streets body jitters with nerves, he wonders if Sean said anything to Hotch while he was in the ambulance, maybe the whole team was listening to their conversation and Street had no idea, this could be a bad idea. They could both be in danger if Street walks into that hospital room.

Yet his feet carry him behind Hotch, all the way to Sean's doorway. His chest goes tight when his eyes filter over Sean's figure. He's so pale, deathly white, there's purple bruises trailing up his arms, his eyes are closed softly though and Street can see his chest rise and fall evenly. He's okay. Thank god he's okay.

"You just gonna stand there kid." Hondo laughs and Street sputters before just deciding to walk into the cold room. It smells of disinfectant and has a rhythmic beeping from Sean's monitors but it's the closest Streets been to Sean in years.

"Hey Jamie." Sean smiles before cracking his eyes open to tilt his head to where Streets sitting beside his bed.

"You're an idiot Sean Hotchner." Street completely brushes past the tears on his face to instead laugh at Sean's wide eyed expression, so similar to Hotch's.

"Wow you full name me when I'm laid up in a hospital bed." Sean shakes his head as Street wipes the side of his face against his shoulder with a laugh.

"If you ever scare me like that I'll do more then full name you. Seriously Sean I- I was so worried." Street drops the faint smile he had on his face to bite down on his bottom lip, he's not about to sob when Sean's the one who got drugged and ended up in a hospital bed. He's not that pathetic.

"Hey Jamie, don't look at me like that. I'm okay, just some scrapes and bruises." Sean reaches his hand to hold and while Street instantly squeezes on, he pulls away and glances to Aaron standing by the door.

Sean's eyes have an understanding to them as he lets go then smooths out the blanket on his thigh. Street lets his hand linger on the bed a moment, he wants to grab Sean's hand so bad, wants to hold him even if it's just one of their fingers interlocked. But he can't and they both know why. There's a risk to Street being here in the first place, Sean's father or Buck could show up at any moment.

"Hey uh- I'm gonna go grab some food from the vending machine, either of you need anything?" Derek stands from the seat he's been in beside the window to the hallway, Street and Sean shake their heads, watching as Hondo pulls Hotch in the opposite direction. Leaving the pair alone, totally on purpose if Street knows Derek at all.

"You think he knows?" Sean stifles back a grin as Street instantly takes his hand.

"Yeah. I don't think your brother does though and besides, it's kind of hard to pick a fight with someone who's in a hospital bed already." Sean chuckles dryly with a roll of his eyes.

"Haha I get it, I'm an idiot. But hey- seriously, Aaron can't know. I'm still not sure what he thinks about all that type of stuff." Street soothes his thumb over Sean's red knuckles with a hum.

"I never told Derek but he kinda figured it out. I'd never say anything. You're the idiot remember?" Street grins before Sean's free hand is extending to wrap around the back of Streets head and pull him in. There's a short pause where they both stare at each other, nervous and excitement all the same as the first time they kissed, then Street pushes his lips onto Sean's and holds them there. Letting Sean shift him halfway onto to the bed, Street having to put his hand down onto the mattress by Sean's hip to support himself from toppling over.

"I hate that stupid beard." Street leans his forehead onto Sean's with a chuckle when they part.

"You're an asshole." Street yelps slightly when Sean lets go of his hand to instead drag him onto his chest, Streets legs partly off the bed and partly on top of Sean's, his head falling onto Sean's chest and arms wrapping around Sean's middle.

"I thought Aaron wasn't supposed to know? They'll be back soon. They can't possibly still be getting snacks at the vending machine." Street rolls his head til he can hear Sean's steady heart beat through his chest.

"Shhh just let me enjoy this, he can fight with me later if that's what he wants." Sean tips his head enough to press a kiss to Streets forehead before they both settle in silence. The beeping and background noise of the busy hospital being the only thing surrounding them.

~

Street gets woken up by Sean's hand tracing lines on his back and murmurs from around them, he groans as he hides his face away from the bright lights into Sean's chest.

"Morning." Chris?

"You've been asleep a few hours now." Both teams are fully in the room, even Hotch, Street quickly peers up to Sean who doesn't look nervous about anything, he gives a raise of his eyebrows to Street to convey that everything's fine. Street nods but still climbs off of Sean's bed to sit in the empty chair beside it.

"Okay what was that?" Luca laughs lightly next to- Emily? If Street remembers hearing someone call her that.

"What?" He reaches to rub the sleep out of his eyes and Luca shakes his head.

"The conversation you just had without a word." Street knows he's still half awake but Luca has to be joking right?

"Technically they just read each other's body language but they seem to do it easier than someone would with a person they just met. They read each other kind of like a married couple would be, or even just a dating one, it really depends because it can-" Reid gives a smile to Sean and Street from beside Hondo who puts a stop to the rambling starting.

"Thank you for pointing that out Reid." Sean rubs at the bridge of his nose while stifling back a slightly annoyed face that Streets seen a million times. He can't really blame Sean though, Spencer talks a whole lot and he's very socially aware of when to stop.

"I just don't get it, you know Derek and the rest of the team are fine with me, why not just say something?" Chris shifts in her seat to be faced more towards Street.

"Not everyone is." Sean shares a side glance with Street and Street can't help but let his eyes travel to where Aaron is standing.

"Wait, Sean, did you think I'd have a problem with you liking guys?" Sean swallows when Hotch steps off from the wall.

"I could never get a read on you." Sean admits quietly, Aaron's face instantly falls before he's going to drag Sean into a tight hug. Sean gives a 'oof' at the weight but reciprocates it quickly.

"I would never care about that type of stuff, never." Aaron assures firmly.

"Mom and dad were never the most accepting and I just didn't know where you stood. It's not like we talk about that type of stuff anyways." Sean talks more towards the blanket on his lap then to his brother standing at his bedside.

"Sean I'd never think anything like mom and dad, if you're happy then I'm happy." Hotch smiles softly when Sean nods. Street about to grab Sean's hand again only his phone buzzing interrupts it.

Buck: come outside. Now.

"Jamie? Everything okay?" Street puts on his best fake smile he can and looks up to Sean.

"Yeah, just gotta go do something real quick." A flash of realization comes across Sean's face as he grabs hold of Streets wrist, his jaws clenched, eyes filled with worry he's trying to cover and a thick swallow bobs his Adam's apple to prove it.

"I'll be back." Street straightens his back in attempts to look sure of himself.

"Street." Sean says the word like a warning and James licks his lips to not break right then and there. He's about to get into probably the worst fight of his life, Sean knows it, Street knows it, but the team can't. Who knows if he'll even be working with them after this, it might be the last time he sees them so he can't worry about them right now. Just Sean and him, the person he loves, person he's going to protect to the grave.

"Take my jacket." Street furrows his brows while glancing to the bag of personal items on the counter beside Chris. Sean's leather jacket sits untouched and Street quickly strips his own off to get Sean's on, it's a bit baggier, more worn down, but there's something in the pocket that definitely would've gotten removed had the hospital staff gone through it.

"I love you." Street presses a kiss to Sean's lips and feels how Sean leans into it, begging it not to end, worried for his lover, scared for what hell he's walking into with no backup.

"Don't be stupid. I love you too." 'Don't be stupid' said before every fight either has gotten into, a telltale sign something bad is about to happen, coined early on in their relationship when Sean had a liking to beating up kids who picked on Street. James smirks when he pulls away.

"I won't." Street needs to leave now, it's been long enough of knowing Bucks waiting for him, he's not too sure how much longer Bucks willing to perch out and not just tear through this hospital room like a wild animal.

Street looks at his team for what feels like the last time before he walks out yo the hallway. Twenty squad and the fbi team seem off-put, worried maybe, more so confused and while Street knows Sean won't give up a word, he wishes he was there to help the blow over. Street can't dwell on the little ins and outs of peoples feelings or even the quirks still present from when Sean and Street were younger, he has to be on edge now.

More so aggressive. James has never had a particular problem with becoming physical in the name of people he cares about but that all gets tricky when he also cared about the person he's fighting. Cared being the difference, Buck use to be someone Street valued and looked up to as a kid, then he hit fourteen and started to kiss boys. Everything changed after Buck caught James and Liam making out behind the baseball fields, Buck was no longer a person to be seen as a hero, instead he was feared.

Back then Street didn’t put any thought into who he was kissing, just some guy from down the road and maybe a girl from math class. It never raised any questions in his head, it seemed so natural to him. Then Buck came in to explain that it’s not normal and it’s wrong, Street followed that thinking for a few years, til Sean came around and he could finally put a label on his sexuality. Buck definitely didn’t like that though

Bucks smarter than his father ever was and Street takes that into account when he stalks over to Bucks dirty pick up truck. The older man is red as fire, seconds from snapping already, his hands grip the steering wheel so hard it'll leave indents on the leather, his leg bounces restlessly while Street slides himself nice and slow into the passenger seat. Acting calm usually works in his favor, or it has in the past.

It's been two years though and now everything feels different. Streets older sure but he's also a trained Swat officer, he no longer depends on the mercy of Bucks mind to get him out of a situation, Street can hit back just as hard. He also has a gun on his hip but that'll surely be taken away before anything has the chance to begin, Buck won't be looking for the pocket knife in Sean's jacket pocket though.

"I thought we had a deal." Bucks speeding down the highway as he sneers to Street.

"I don't need to do anything you tell me anymore." At the beginning Street really was terrified of losing Swat to Buck and while that's still a possibility, seeing Derek not freak out about Sean gives him some peace of mind. There's still that itch of Morgan is maybe in on what's about to go down, Street can't be certain, however he leans into the 'glass half full' mindset and assumes Bucks the only threat right now.

"Yes you do damnit! I will always be in charge of you boy!" Street clenches his teeth together as Buck reaches a hand in his hair with a yank to slam his head into the dashboard. It hurts, no shit, but Streets not bleeding yet.

"You are going to go back to working patrol and leave that faggot in the past!" Buck slams the meat of his palm onto the steering wheel and swerves into the backroads that Street knows lead to Bucks house.

"Don't call him that." Streets not going to go willing nor back down, not this time around.

"I will call him whatever I damn well please! He ruined you and you still go running back to him!"  Street feels his blood boil but refrains from throwing any punches yet. Not in a moving car and not when it's so early into this whole endeavor.

"He did nothing to me, you ruined me, you made me be someone I'm not-!" Street can't finish his thought as Bucks veering the trucks direction to pull over then wrap his hand around Streets throat tightly. Street gasps as he hits his hands against Bucks arm in attempts to get the older man to let go, it does nothing but make Buck grind his teeth harder, Streets vision is starting to go blurry at the edges before Buck let's go.

Street’s been choked many times and a few times by Buck but it's never gotten to the point that he thought he'd actually pass out. It's always been for a split second to get a point across or while they were mid fighting, not so early on in an argument. Street rubs his hand at his surely bruised throat while avoiding Bucks eyes to try and at least catch his breath before this continues.

"You listen to me Jim, you are not gay and you will not see that boy again. He's a bad influence on you, you're in swat now, you can't go out making stupid decisions all for a scumbag that'll leave you in the end." Street still doesn't look at Buck, instead willing his tears back, he's heard this all before but it's usually a yell, a scream as glasses get thrown, not this firm and serious.

"I love him." It's all James can think to say, it's the truth. He's been in love with Sean Hotchner since they met in the schools detention room on a Wednesday afternoon.

"Oh Jimmy, you can't love another boy. That's not how it works." Buck pats Streets shoulder as if they just had a great heart-to-heart, he pulls away from the side of the road to continue the path to his house that's secluded enough nobody will hear if Street screams for help.

"I do love him, I don't care what you say, he's the only person I've ever loved-." Again stopped by Bucks hand, only now resting on Streets jaw with a shush.

"You don't love him and you will never think of another boy like that again. Never." Street gags when Bucks thumb pushes between his lips to run the calloused pad of his finger across Streets tongue. It tastes of dirt and sweat, Street swears he could throw up just from the small amount of contact. He never expected this type of abuse from Buck and isn't sure how to react. It's more dangerous than the bruises and sprained bones like before, this has Streets heart rate picking up to a hazardous speed.

"I'll make damn sure you get the point." Street chokes as Buck shoves his finger more into his mouth with a jerk of his jaw. James panicking, this isn't going like he had expected it, this is nowhere close to what he prepared for, and Bucks only getting more aggressive with it all.

~

Sean bounces his leg up and down against the hospital bed as he waits for Aaron to come get him with the car. The hospital is releasing him, the drugs were halfway out of his system when he got here so they flushed the rest out quickly, there's no other damage but scraped knees and few cuts. Sean's still hesitant to leave.

It's been two hours and he hasn't heard anything or seen Street since he walked out of this hospital room with that look in his eye. Sean knows what that look meant and he knows that Street should be back from beating up Buck by now, it could be another person he's fighting but Bucks the only one that would make Street go pale white like he was.

There's a bite at the back of Sean's neck telling him that Streets not going to come back, that he's made up his mind and would rather listen to Bucks rules than be with Sean, that bite gets shoved to then back of Sean's mind. It can't be true, there's no way, they've waited too long to be together again. It might not have been spoken out into the universe that Sean and Street would wait for each other but it was known. Between them. That's all Sean needs, the words don't need to be said out loud, they can be kept up at both of their chests where the rest of their relationship stays.

Sean's about to go walk to the doors of the hospital and wait for his brother but he can't make it out of the door as Streets shuffling inside. Sean feels his stomach drop at his partners state.

Streets neck is purple with a hand print, his cheek marked red, a black eye forming on his left, his shoulders are hunched far enough in on themselves that Sean swears it has to be uncomfortable. Streets whole body is tightly compacted into itself, his hands shake violently when Sean peers down to them, he has Sean's jacket tugged on to try to cover his neck and Sean can only imagine what the rest of James's body looks like.

"What- what did he do to you?" Sean is almost talking in a gasp tone. Street just looks up at his, big doe eyes watering, bottom lip quivering, brows furrowing together as he opens his mouth but no words come out.

"Jamie what did he do?" Sean's hand takes Streets trembling one in a cautious manner, holding on more securely when Street head falls forward onto his chest with a broken cry.

"Oh baby...." Sean's able to click all the pieces together on his own. James wouldn't react like this if it was just a fight and some mean words thrown around, the clinging hands of Street break Sean's heart as his arms wraps around Streets back to hold them both steady.

Sean's supporting more than half of James weight, listening to the gut wrenching sobs escaping from Streets mouth, feeling his shoulders shake in the tight grasp, feeling his hot tears fall onto the exposed skin by Sean's shirt collar, and just holding on for dear life. There's nothing more he can do but grip onto Street with every bit of strength he has.

“Shhh, I got you, you’re okay.” Sean almost feels like he’s lying, Streets obviously not okay, neither of them are. Today was a disaster from the beginning and now, it being seven pm, it’s not gotten any better.

“What do you want to do baby? Do you need to be checked out? Should I get a nurse?” Street shakes his head against Sean’s neck before he pulls his face back. He sucks in the tears falling down his cheeks while keeping eye contact with Sean, James’s eyes look so hurt, they’re glossy with tears, appearing wider than what they usually are, it has Sean biting his tongue to not cry himself.

“Just- just take me home. Away from people.” Sean pulls Street back into his arms with a hum of understanding. He can do that.

They’re still standing there with Street hiccuping cries against Sean when Aaron and Derek walk in. They both pause looking like deer caught in headlights, mouths moving but no real words come out.

“Come on, Aaron can take us back to my apartment.” Sean learned that Street and Luca are roommates and even though he knows some of Streets team got called in to help on a case for another team, he’d rather not risk having Luca there. Street allows Sean to tug him all the way outside then into the back of the black suv Aaron has.

~

“It’s already eight, we could just go to bed.” Sean’s sure he’s been through enough to just pass out for the next three days.

“Can we shower first?” Street glances over to the open bathroom door of Sean’s loft, he really wishes he cleaned up before brining Street here, but there wasn’t time for that and there’s no time to worry about it as Streets pulling Sean into the bathroom.

They strip down in silence, allowing the steam from the hot water start to fill the room, not rushing to get anything done, both are too exhausted to be moving at a fast pace. Sean lets his eyes gaze over to Streets body, he’s seen it before, in every state anyone can think of, bruised and bloody, freshly out together in a suit, all of it stays at the forefront of his mind. Right now is different though. The handprint shaped bruises on Streets arms and back make Sean gain a sour taste in his mouth.

He can’t think about it for long since Streets getting into the shower with a nod for Sean to follow. He smiles when Street sighs contently as the stream of water wash over his back, his hair getting wet down quickly and head tipping backwards to wash his face off. Sean steps forward enough to duck his head under the water as Street leans to lean into his chest.

“The fact that you’re taller than me now annoys me.” Street mumbles still laying his head against Sean’s pec.

“Not my fault your short.” It’s really only a two inch difference, if that. Just enough height that Sean can tuck his head on top of Streets while they stand pressed together. Just holding each other.

They stay like that before Streets pulling away to turn Sean around and start to lather shampoo into his hair. They’ve been through this many times before, the silence that comes with showering together, taking care of the other in whatever way they need, it’s love filled and never move to anything more than gentle touches.

Sean remembers the first time Street had asked him to shower with him, it was after one of his first shifts as a cop and some suspect had gotten him thrown down a set of stairs. There was nasty brushing covering Streets back that had him wincing every time Sean had brushes his hands over the skin as he tried to wash the dirt off. After that it just became normal of sorts, mostly after bad days, sometimes if Sean got too lazy to wash his hair when coming home from the restaurants night shift, or if Street needed an excuse to drape himself over Sean’s chest for a bit- any reasoning it always has Sean’s heart swelling with love.

“I love you so much.” Sean murmurs once they’re both washed up and Street can go back to pressing himself into Sean’s front.

“I love you more.” Street grins against Sean’s chest and Sean right back.

The couple lean to kiss between the smiles they both have, the peace of having the other finally there with them making the problems of the day wash down the drain and all that remains is the overwhelming feeling of love. There might be problems down the line, things to work through just from today, but for now Sean and Street stay in blissful silence together.

[archivyrep]

Madame Nu, the stereotypical archivist of the Jedi Temple in the "Clone Wars" animation [Part 2]

Continued from part 1

Looking at "Lightsaber Lost"

Moving onto a later episode in the series. There is only a small mention of the Jedi Archives and Madame Nu in this episode, as most of it is about Ahsoka trying to get the lightsaber back from a thief, helped by an older Jedi who was sleeping in the archives at the beginning of the episode. Again, like Fini's writing in Holocron Heist, Drew Z. Greenberg, a writer who got a political science degree from UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) and a law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law, confuses archives and libraries yet again. Yikes!

Reprinted from my Wading Through the Cultural Stacks WordPress blog. Originally posted on Aug. 3, 2020.

This leads to a number of questions. For one, the fact that an older user of archives helps Ahsoka is the only one we as viewers see in the archives, does this imply that users of the archives are old people? If so, that's laughable and a silly stereotype to say the least which needs to be debunked.

Looking at "Assassin"

Moving into the third season of the animated show, this episode, like Lightsaber Lost, this episode only briefly mentions the archives with Madame Nu almost seen as a sort of "motherly figure," yet another stereotype. Couldn't the writer of this episode, Katie Lucas, have done better? The 1.85 million people who watched this episode were further done a disservice.

And are Jedi anti-intellectual? Because Ahsoka seems that way. If her sentiment is that widespread among the Jedi, perhaps it explains why the archives is basically deserted every time we see it in the past episodes mentioned in this post and in Attack of the Clones.

Despite these downsides, this episode is interesting, although the parts focusing on archives are an utter mess.

Looking at "The Lost One"

This episode comes three seasons later in Season 6. Madame Nu explains the records that the Jedi Archives has on Sifo-Dyas, the Jedi Master said to have authorized the creation of the clone army, with the Sith trying to cover up their plan to, ultimately, kill the Jedi:

And that's it. She gets no other mention in the episode. Christian Taylor, who wrote this episode, gives her perhaps a better role than the other episodes, but still, she is a bit a stereotype in and of herself.

P.S. I also realized that in Revenge of the Sith, Obi-Wan revises a record of some sort in the Jedi Archives, although we do not see Madame Nu, as she is presumed dead of course.

© 2022 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

Notes

[1] According to Wookiepedia, Madame Nu is mentioned in the following comics: Star Wars: Purge: Seconds to Die (with Vader killing her because she won't give him access to the archives!, although this is part of the expanded universe, with other comics being considered "canon"), A New Dawn (book), Kanan 7: First Blood, Part I: The Corridors of Coruscant, Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 6: The Chosen One, Part VI, Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 7: The Dying Light, Part I, Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 8: The Dying Light, Part II, Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 9: The Dying Light, Part III, Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 10: The Dying Light, Part IV, Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 11: The Rule of Five, Part I, Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 12: The Rule of Five, Part II, and Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 25: Fortress Vader, Part VII.

[2] She also appears in a cut scene from one episode, R2 Come Home, where she "warns Ahsoka of the Temple alert status."

P.S.S. There are a number of other mentions of archives and libraries, like in "The Hidden Enemy" when Anakin and Obi-Wan fight Asajj Ventress in a library of some kind, "Cargo of Doom" (S2, e2) when Anakin speaks of returning the stolen holocron to the "library" (should actually be the Jedi Archives). There's also fights over records in "Senate Spy" (S2, e4), "Children of the Force" (S2, e3), "Downfall of a Droid" (S1, e6), and "Duel of the Droids" (S1, e7).