alexquisites-blog

[alexquisites-blog]

Sometimes you just have to listen to the National Treasure score and get goosebumps when "Treasure" plays like you did when you were seven years old.

[alexquisites-blog]

Whatta Man 🤭😫😍

David Corenswet — NBA Superman Promo BTS

[alexquisites-blog]

im struggling with this so hard right now :(

[alexquisites-blog]

💯

In a perfect world the mummy 1999, night at the museum and national treasure all happen in the same universe and are connected

[alexquisites-blog]

now this is cute! <33

Happy New Year, Cowboy

Summary: Tyler Owens x Fe!Reader -> Tyler provides you with a New Year's Surprise.

Disclaimer: Mostly fluff and cuteness, happy ending, Tyler being a cowboy gentleman, dancing on a back road. Reader has hair long enough to be held back by a hair-tie. Happy New Year!!! Here's to a kind 2025 ❤

Tyler had been watching you for the last ten minutes and he could guarantee that if he’d stood and watched you for the last two hours, you’d still look the same. 

Sat at the desk, pouring over a thousand different books, ink stains across your fingers and tired eyes. 

“Here you are.”

For a moment you were unaware of where you were. Looking around your eyes finally focused on the owner of the voice. 

Tyler Owens.

“'Been wondering where you got to. Why am I not surprised to find you here?”

There was a smile on his face as he spoke softly and walked inside. You hid your own and looked around at the books in front of you. 

“It’s new year, shouldn’t you be taking a break?”

You looked at him. “It’s not new year yet.”

He looked at his watch and shrugged. “Couple hours to go.”

“See. So I still have time.”

Tyler watched as you continued to write, your hand cramping in the meantime. 

“Do you have any plans for tonight?”

“What?”

“Other than this.” Tyler motioned to everything in front of you. “Do you have any plans tonight?”

You shook your head. “No.”

“I want to show you something.” Tyler stood up and your eyes trailed up him as he did. 

“Show me what? Don’t you want to watch the ball drop with the others?”

Tyler shook his head with a soft smirk. “I’ve seen it before, I won’t be missing anything. Besides, the others are heading to the bar.”

“Don’t you want to go with them?”

“I’d rather show you something.”

You looked at your desk, weighing up completing work that could wait vs going with Tyler. 

With your own smile, you looked up at him. “Okay.”

“Okay,” Tyler nodded, still smiling. “You got a jacket?”

Tidying up your things, you nodded. “Yeah, on the hook. Just give me a minut-“ 

As you finished, you turned and found Tyler already holding your jacket out for you. You felt yourself blush a little. 

“Thank you.”

“No problem.” Tyler smiled as he helped you pull your jacket over your shoulders. You turned around and he fixed it, his hands lingering on the lapels as he fixed his gaze to yours. 

But the moment passed, and he stepped back. “Shall we go?”

“Lead the way.”

Tyler opened his passenger door for you to get inside before he closed it and got into the driver's seat. You slung your seatbelt over you and looked around you. 

“You sure the others won’t miss us?”

Tyler shook his head. “Not until breakfast, when they’re all reeling with hangovers.”

You smiled, hearing his engine start and the tyres of his truck began to move. After thirty minutes, the conversation lulled into a comfortable silence that eventually was filled with radio music. 

“Where are we even going?”

“You’ll see.”

“You’re going to miss New Years if we keep driving.”

He just chuckled before merging off the Highway and towards a small town. It looked familiar. You’d passed through it a few times during Chasing Season. 

Soon the smooth road turned into a rocky path and once all the lights from the streets were drowned away from the darkness of the night, being sprinkled with starlight, Tyler pulled over. 

“Is this your plot to kill me?”

Tyler chuckled a little. “No. But I figured you could use a break that lets you see the real world. Wind down your window.”

You did as he told you before he switched the engine off leaving the headlights on. 

Looking at the time on his dash, he looked back at you. “We’ve got about twenty minutes til midnight. Wanna dance?”

Looking around you and back at him, you couldn’t help but smile. Headlights, stars, (almost) midnight sky, an empty backroad and Tyler. 

“This is what you wanted to show me?” You didn’t even try to hide your smile. And neither did he. Tyler nodded. 

Opening up the door, you hopped out and walked down the road a little in the light of his headlights. The air was crisp and cold. Blowing out your breath, you could see the heat evaporate into the air and you laughed. It was silly, but you’d cooped yourself up at your desk for the last three days. 

Tyler watched you from his truck for a moment, a smile spreading across his face. The tension from your shoulders was gone immediately, your fingers were more relaxed and you just seemed lighter. Less weighed down by pressure from the information that had been pouring from your desk and through your ink stained fingertips. 

Reaching over, he found the softer country music radio station before turning it up so you’d both be able to hear it outside. 

Then he joined you. 

“Dance with me?”

Looking over at Tyler as he held his hand out, you smiled and took it, letting him pull you in. 

Twirling you in, once you were at his chest he reached his hand to the back of your head and released the hair tie that had long since done its job keeping your hair from your face. 

Letting your hair free, you watched as Tyler rolled your hair tie around his wrist before you both started dancing. 

His eyes never left yours. Not once. A thousand fireworks could go off right beside you and his eyes would never leave yours. 

Twirling, spinning, changing hands, laughing, smiling, beaming, falling, catching and dancing some more, you found yourself more relaxed than ever. 

And for the first time something became clear to you. 

Tyler. 

Of course you’d had a crush on him for years. Who wouldn’t? He was all cowboy, all charm and had the sense to know what to do with it. He was kind, charming and intelligent in more ways than one. 

And looking at him, seeing his smile spread across his face in the light of the headlamps, a new fact settled over you. 

Tyler Owens was one of the most incredible men you’d ever had the chance to meet. 

And you were head over heels in love with him. 

From the radio, a countdown had started. 

Ten

Nine

“Almost New Year.” Tyler pointed out, his eyes not leaving you.

Eight 

Seven

You took a breath as you and Tyler stood still. “I know you didn’t mind missing the TV special tonight.”

Six 

Five

“But do you plan on avoiding other new years traditions?” 

It took him a moment but it clicked with Tyler. 

Four

Three

A smirk turned smile graced his face as his fingertips, that now shared faint prints of your own ink stains, brushed through the ends of your hair. 

“Not all.”

Two.

You smiled, standing a little taller as Tyler’s hand cupped your neck and jaw. 

One.

Somewhere in the distance fireworks were starting to go off, lighting up with the rest of the stars in the sky. The radio had long faded from whatever country song had been playing to people calling out Happy New Year as Auld Lang Syne played behind their words. 

All the while, Tyler kissed you. His lips against yours, one of his hands pulled you closer to him by your waist and his other hand angling your face. Your own hands pulled at his jacket in the hopes to get him closer to you. 

Finally, as you both pulled away and you found yourself back on your feet, Tyler’s hand remained by your neck and hair, his forehead against yours. 

Once again, you heard his smile. 

“Happy New Year, Sweetheart.”

And he heard yours. 

“Happy New Year, Cowboy.”

[alexquisites-blog]

this is wow.... obsessed

National Treasure: The Musical

Previously, we hallucinated the first act of a National Treasure musical.

And now:

ACT II

INT. ROTUNDA - NIGHT

The curtain opens with AGENT SADUSKY and the other FBI AGENTS —JOHNSON, HENDRIX, & DAWES— and facing the audience. He addresses the audience as if we’re the gala guests ensuring us that everything is fine.

The ensemble is additional FBI agents.

Then he and the agents regroup by themselves. Agent Hendrix admits that they received a tip but it wasn’t recorded.

Sadusky: How ‘bout now?

SONG: Every Second Counts

The song starts on a very sassy, staccato note just after Sadusky says his sassy line. Its melody is urgent as he and the other agents try to figure out what happened.

They question:

MIKE, the guard that Ian and co knocked out. He doesn’t remember anything.

HEAD GUARD WOODRUFF, who tells them that a copy of the Declaration is on display and that there were no other guards in the vault hallway.

STAN, who says Abigail is missing but there’s no way she was involved.

CASHIER, who relays the weird interaction she had with Ben.

Different cast member come forward to meet them as the agents do basically a walk & talk around the stage.

↳ Btw Disney has generously paid for us to have one of those in-stage treadmill things so let’s use that for the blocking here to help the scene feel dynamic. Do your best Aaron Sorkin impression, you know?

That’s how the agents get Ben’s name: Benjamin Franklin Gates.

Now the song quiets down for Sadusky to have a verse alone thinking about Ben. This element is in the final movie, but it’s one of the things that stands out to me most from the 2003 script as well (at least, of things that aren’t ridiculous): the other agents are quick to assign roles and motivations to Ben. He must be an anti-american terrorist, etc. Sadusky waits and analyzes.

So this verse is a little bit more intimate as Sadusky wants to understand who Ben is and what’s making him tick before he makes any judgements.

Ends with the lead toward Patrick. “Closest relative first.”

END SONG

INT. GATES FAMILY HOME - NIGHT

Ben asks Patrick for the Silence Doogood letters.

Riley asks what the magic numbers mean. Ottendorf cypher.

Patrick explains that he donated the letters. Ben will absolutely still give his dad the finger in the way he pulls off his cotton gloves. Iconic.

Abigail says she can’t believe all this time no one knew what’s on the back.

Patrick: The back of what?

SONG: Too Far

Let’s have Patrick get a little angrier, yeah?

In this brief song Patrick will criticize Ben for taking things too far. He’ll say that he’s tolerated all of Ben’s treasure hunt shenanigans, him wasting his potential, but this is too much. The worst insult will come when he says Ben has let his grandfather down.

Patrick: And you’ve dragged me into all this

Ben: Well we can’t have that.

END SONG

Ben and the gang tape Patrick to the chair before leaving. They mention that they’re going to take Patrick’s car.

INT. HOTEL - NIGHT

Ian and the gang puzzle over the riddle. It’s a little more banter-y than in the movie but it’s clear Ian is in control. He’s the kind of guy where they henchmen will laugh if he laughs and stop if he stops.

Maybe we learn a bit more about each henchman here?

And they’re playing poker or something. Pretty chummy.

Ian figures out the “Silence is a name” clue.

INT. CLOTHING STORE - DAY

Although the scene in the car is one of my favorites, it won’t really work here, so we’ll have the Common Sense/how do they have cash discussion in the store while Ben and Abigail pick out clothes.

We’ll watch them make the plan to have Riley go and get the cypher clue because he’s the one least likely to be spotted.

Riley leaves and Ben and Abigail head into the questionably designed dressing rooms.

SONG: Cavalier

Oh we’re definitely doing a song for this one.

Abigail asks Ben about Patrick’s comment. Ben explains his dad’s philosophy on love.

Since we have time to get a bit more introspective here, let’s dig into this a little more. As I’ve discussed elsewhere, I think this whole “cavalier in your personal life” says way more about Patrick than it does about Ben.

So Ben will explain a bit more about who his dad is, what Patrick expects Ben to be, and how Ben actually lives his life.

Superstar bonus points if we make it canon that his mom is dead in this version.

This song is mostly Ben’s with Abigail popping in here and there. Subtextually it makes it clear that actually Ben does have a one true love just like his dad wanted, but it’s the treasure.

The song ends with Ben and Abigail doing a nice little harmony now that they’re falling more in sync. And yes, some of Ben’s old-time-y poetic phrasing will be used in the lyrics.

END SONG

EXT. FRANKLIN INSTITUTE - DAY/INT. CLOTHING STORY - DAY

The lights go down on the clothing store but it’s still visible. Ben and Abigail finish any quick changing they need to do.

Riley is on a bench downstage waiting for the the SCHOOLKID. (This can be the same kid who plays young Ben for double casting reasons, or not).

The kid walks in and gives Riley the next letter paper. Riley adds the letters to the riddle. We can use the same scrim projection deal to show the almost-finished puzzle. Super extra bonus points if we watch Riley erase part of it in time with the projections when the kid criticizes his handwriting.

Riley sends the kid in for the last letters.

He reads the end of the riddle to himself again and…

[what inspires his breakthrough here? A salesperson selling something liberty bell related? idk]

Riley jumps up and runs off stage. The lights go down on the bench and come up again on…

INT. CLOTHING STORE

Ben and Abigail come out of the changing rooms as Riley runs in with the next clue.

All of the same bits with the CASHIER, decoding the riddle, and daylight savings time.

The trio heads off to Independence Hall.

EXT. BENCH - DAY

Lights come back on the the bench and the kid comes out again looking for Riley. When he doesn’t see him, the kid walks part way across the stage looking for him, turns around…and walks right into Ian and the crew, who have taken Riley’s place.

They get the kid to give them the last four letters, and announce that they’re also heading to independence hall.

INT./EXT. INDEPENDENCE HALL - DAY

A NATIONAL PARK RANGER leads a tour group across the stage. Ben, Riley, and Abigail break off of it and climb up the scaffolding, which will now playing the role of Independence Hall. A bell has been raised above it.

They spot the shadow as Ian and co enter on stage level looking up at the hall. “Idiot.” “Who?” “Me. It’s not here. It’s there.”

↳ Also can we talk about Shaw’s reaction here? “Who?” It’s really encapsulates their dynamic.

Team Treasure climbs down while Ian and Shaw climb up, leaving the rest of the henchmen on the stage. Ben’s team heads to the signing room (downstage) while the other henchmen move around and accidentally miss them.

The blocking here should feel as close to a Scooby Doo doors sequence as is possible in real life.

INT. SIGNING ROOM - DAY

The set changes slightly so it’s clear we’re inside Independence Hall and the henchmen are outside. Ian and Shaw are still up in the belfry. Some old time-y desk push in from the edges.

Ben shows off the glasses and Riley and Abigail help him unroll the Declaration. When he gets to the bottom, Ben pauses.

SONG: In the Company/Great Company/Great Minds

“The last time this was here, it was being signed.”

Ben envisions the scene, with a little bit of context for how the convention was actually going. He elaborates on his thing about being in the same place as historical happenings and what it feels like for him.

We’ll use Patrick’s line from later in the movie about being in the company of some of the greatest minds in history by understanding what they left behind.

Abigail is charmed by this, and Riley is affectionately annoyed. There’s another tour coming.

Then Ben spots some of Ian’s crew out the window. The song shifts to more of a “we’ve got company, uh-oh” bent. Ben, Riley, and Abigail split up with the artifacts.

Ian and the henchmen get a verse as they split up to pursue. Their verse uses “we’ve got company” in the sense of “we’ve found them”/“we have eyes on them.”

The ensemble floods in as the crowd outside of Independence hall. Team Treasure acts cool until all at the same moment they break into a run. Powell and McGregor chase Ben off in one direction and Shaw and Shippen follow Riley and Abigail in the other.

INT. READING TERMINAL MARKET - DAY

Riley and Abigail run back onto the stage as shop counters and patrons move in—one row in back and one on each side to create an aisle. She beckons for him to follow but they get split up (one gets pulled in the wrong direction by the treadmill?).

Everyone is still singing btw.

Abigail jumps behind the meat counter, which is facing the audience. Everything FREEZES and the lights all focus on Abigail and the woman behind the counter.

I’d love to do that thing where this song stops the previous one cold and takes over, so:

END SONG

SONG: Stick Around

This song is trying to cover a lot of ground so let’s see if we can make it work.

It starts with MEAT LADY behind the counter looking at Abigail. She’s trying to decide whether to let Abigail stay or not.

Behind the counter, in the aisle of the market, Shaw is prowling and doing a creepy “here kitty” kind of thing with the idea of “stick around and find out”

Abigail—frightened by this—is starting to wonder why she is sticking around. For the Declaration, yes, but she’s literally holding it. Once they’re clear of the immediate danger she could turn it in. Not Ben necessarily, but this song will explore why she still wants to be a part of the treasure hunt.

We’ll also see what Riley is doing. I’m thinking some comedic shenanigans pretending to be part of different families/groups? In his part he’ll explain why he is sticking with Ben. Maybe we'll learn that his interest in conspiracy theories comes out of a desire to be part of something that matters. And with Ben and Ben's mission he feels like he matters.

→ don't come at me Emmi, I'm trying to fix this ☺️

Meat Lady tells off Shaw, who leaves. Abigail and Riley both reaffirm their decision to stick with Ben.

END SONG

The lights come up, the crowd starts moving again, and Abigail runs back into the fray. She reunites with Riley and they run out. The market setting follows them as…

EXT. ROOFTOP - DAY

Ben backs onto the top catwalk, held at gunpoint by McGregor. Ben tries to reason with him, remind him they knew each other. Maybe a few extra lines about playing poker with the guys or whatever the crew did when Ben was with them.

Ben throws the document case and runs down the far staircase. McGregor sees that its empty and leaves in a huff.

EXT. STREET - DAY

Below, Riley and Abigail run through a crowd. Riley gets held up and Abigail gets knocked down.

She drops the Declaration case then dives after it. Riley pulls her back to the sound of a TRUCK HORN. Then the treadmill brings the case right to Ian’s feet.

Shaw and Shippen run in after them, but Ian lets Riley and Abigail go.

They call Ben, who comes from the other side of the stage, and tell him they lost it. Ben says to meet him at the car.

When Ben arrives at the car, Sadusky and his team are waiting. They arrest Ben.

Riley and Abigail backtrack before they can be spotted.

EXT. PARK - DAY

Riley and Abigail wonder what they’re going to do now.

SONG: One Step Short of Crazy (Abigail’s Reprise)

In this song, we get to see Abigail make the decision to call Ian and work with him to get Ben back, something she would never have dreamed she was capable of or willing to do 24 hours earlier.

But now she’s open to the idea of doing what’s considered wrong, in order to do what she knows is right.

We get to hear just the first few lines of their her and Ian’s conversation.

END SONG

INT. FBI FIELD OFFICE - DAY

The FBI team drag Ben in and handcuff him to a desk. We get to see a little more of the interrogation here, because I think the way Ben chooses to summarize the story thus far is probably funny/interresting.

SONG: Door Number Three

Sadusky lays out for Ben that he has two options, Door Number 1 and Door Number 2.

When Ian calls Sadusky has a line like “Door Number 2 just called” or “Door Number 2 is closing.”

Ian—from an aside at the front of the stage—tells them to meet at the Intrepid.

I’d love an extra line or two about how Ian and crew plan to get there.

EXT. USS INTREPID - DAY

The ensemble is once again the crowd, with the FBI agents in plain clothes but distinguished by light cues as Sadusky does roll call so we can see where they are.

Ben enters and quips about the agents being spotted. Sadusky and Agent Johnson sit in a van at the back of the stage with headphones.

The helicopter interruption is accomplished with sound effects, light cues, and a big fan. Shaw enters and talks to Ben, but we can’t hear them, only static and:

→ What we do hear is Shaw reprising the line “2000 ways this could go wrong/but only one way it needs to go right”

The ensemble moves around in the chaos, misdirecting so Ben can slip off stage.

When the wind clears, Sadusky is asking if anyone sees Ben, and the FBI agents come forward to say no, they don’t.

Ben enters on the catwalk. Fishing. Bait. He tells Sadusky he’s found door number 3, and he’s taking it. Then BEN JUMPS OVER THE SIDE OF THE CATWALK.

END SONG

The easy version is that he jumps onto a platform concealed as part of the Intrepid set, so he jumps somewhere we can’t see only a few feet down and a SPLASH sound effect does the rest.

The $$$ version is that Ben is on wire from the time he enters on the catwalk, and he actually jumps from it. Maybe even some strobe light to make the fall feel slower/farther/more dramatic. Perfect pencil position of course.

EXT. UNDERWATER - DARK

The stage goes dark. SPLASH sound. Ben is FLOATING near the stage because he’s already on wires so why not.

McGregor “swims” up (also on wires), hands Ben scuba gear “under water” and they get pulled out by the wires as if by the little torpedo propulsion device.

EXT. USS INTREPID - DAY

The lights come back up with FBI agents looking over the edge of the catwalk. “You first.”

Agent Dawes can just be standing there to say “Sir, it’s the Hudson. Nothing is visible.”

EXT. NEW JERSEY DOCK - DAY

Ben and McGregor climb up from the trap door. New clothes. Had to guess your sizes.

The phone call between Ben and Abigail happens before they get into the car, because blocking.

The henchmen just kinda push Ben along to…

EXT. TRINITY CHURCH - DAY

Ian waits for them. He offers Ben the Declaration and the pipe in exchange for the treasure.

Ian: Oh Ben. You know the secret to running a convincing bluff? Every once in a while you’ve got to be hold all the cards.

SONG: All the Cards

Yes, Ian’s big Act 2 villain song will focus on the poker theme and the idea that he’s holding all the cards. Each time he says it, one of the henchmen will tow in another “card”—Patrick, Abigail, and Riley.

INT. TRINITY CHURCH - DAY

It will also take some time to explore Ian a little more. What makes him tick? He’s wants money, sure, but he’s planning to get it in a pretty wild way at the start of the movie (funding this crackpot treasure hunter).

The song will pause for Ben and Ian to examine the map. Same effect with the scrim showing what they’re seeing on the document. Ian orders everyone down to the basement.

Patrick and Ben will have a verse and they discuss how to keep the status quo or overturn it, also framed as a poker metaphor.

END SONG

They progress to the tunnel. Ian leaves two men behind and everyone else goes in the tunnel.

Characters will enter the tunnel in the middle of the stage. Ben pulls Abigail aside for the kiss here before they go inside, and this can buy some time for other actors to get where they need to be.

INT. STAIR CHAMBER - DAY

They reappear on the top level of scaffolding, walking trepidatiously across it.

Okay. Now we’ve come to the stairs sequence, and we have some choices to make as far as how we do this.

I have a personal broadway-related philosophy that I’m all for effects, but I don’t think that actors should also be expected to be acrobats, because it limits the pool of performers, makes the show less accessible to future lower budget productions, and most importantly endangers people unnecessarily.

That said, we have this scaffolding-like set that’s been on stage the whole time, as many a show does, and it sure would be pretty damn cool if it collapsed right now, right?

Not a lot but like one end of one of the catwalks drops a foot in one direction and the other in the other.

Two elevator platforms hang in front of them. Patrick, Ian, and Powell step from the lower catwalk to the lower elevator. Riley finds safety on the least collaps-y point of the set.

Ben and Abigail, however, are still on the top catwalk and have to go for to the higher elevator.

Remember what I said a second ago about not wanting to include acrobatics? well…this is fictional, after all, so…

Ben and Abigail are now on the same to wire rigs used for the Intrepid sequence. They jump onto the elevator, which lurches and tilts dramatically, leaving Abigail to hang off the end.

Ben drops her to safety before grabbing for the Declaration.

Oh and we just drop Shaw off into the wing curtains. Sorry. but we’re not using a big effect on him.

Ben gets to working elevator, which picks up Abigail and Riley and then descends to the stage while the broke one ascends into the fly, which, along with possibly a moving projectiony background create the illusion that we are moving down.

INT. ANTECHAMBER - DAY

Once we reach the bottom the scaffolding resets to signal that we’re on solid ground again.

The same deal here. Ben and Patrick fake a clue and Ian leaves them behind.

SONG: Treasure is a Myth

Ben apologizes to Riley. A joyful, victorious song barely gets going before—

INT. FALSE TREASURE ROOM - DAY

—it cuts off for a sad musical interlude as they step forward into the empty treasure room.

Everyone apologizes to Ben as he stands in the center of the stage dumbstruck (fake torch in hand).

Then Ben sings a heartbreaking reprise of “Treasure is a Myth” in which he concedes that his father was right. He wasted his life, his freedom, risked his friends lives all for something that everybody else already knew: the treasure is a myth.

Patrick tries to convince him otherwise, that by finding this room he has made a great accomplishment. “For your grandfather, and all of us.”

The ensemble member who is John Gates returns to pat Ben on the back and tell him he’s proud of him, that Ben accomplished more than he ever imagined. The Gates Family Ensemble returns one by one/couple by couple to tell Ben the same.

The family, led by Patrick, tries to get Ben not to give up on the hunt. Abigail is in.

Ben lists various times he thought he’d found something and decides he can’t do it again, that he can’t take another heartbreak.

↳ Yes, we are diverging slightly from the movie here, where Ben agrees pretty readily to keep searching. It’s a quick turnaround in the movie, but I think it works largely because of Nic Cage’s performance. Ben is genuinely crushed/empty/broken and even when he says yes he’ll keep going it’s clearly something that is hard for him to agree to.

On stage that nuance might not come across as well, so I like the idea of making this beat a little stronger by making Ben’s ‘all is lost’ moment a little longer. What if he had to truly give up before he solves the final puzzle?

END SONG

Riley reminds them that they’re all stuck. Where’s this second exit?

SONG: Charlotte’s Riddle (Reprise)

This isn’t a full song as much as a haunting line or two from the Charlotte voice as Ben examines the room.

END SONG

Ben: Could it really be that simple?

We make a nice production of ‘the secret lies with Charlotte.’ Ben’s a bit more vocal about what he’s seeing and doing, again because the details will be less visible.

When he pushes the button all the torches flicker as a door opens on the side of the stage with a nice stone sound effect.

One by one the characters enter, Ben last.

INT. TREASURE ROOM - DAY

The lights go dark.

Patrick, Abigail, Riley, and Ben enter one by one from the back of the stage. They start out in a halo of light that’s just around the four of them.

A spotlight illuminates the oil podium.

Ben says something profound about all the places the treasure has traveled and all of the hands it passed through (replacing/bolstering the beat with the medallion, which, again, might not read as clearly on stage.)

He touches his torch to the oil and holy shit, holy shit—

Channels of fire spread across the stage…

…and down through LED lighting strips that have been placed/taped/embedded along the aisles of the theater.

The familiar National Treasure score swells.

As the haze of warm light rises on the stage we can see that they are surrounded by treasure items—Egyptian sarcophagi, Chinese terracotta warriors, Greek marble columns and statues. Piles and piles of treasure.

They look out on us, the audience, who form the rest of the treasure cavern, and cheer.

↳ I think it’s important the the treasure room reveal happens all at once because the rest of the cavern won’t read that impressively on its own. Instead we’ll use the stage’s unique relationship to light/dark/spotlight to achieve the reveal.

↳ Option to have the Gates Family Chorus lining the scaffolding, maybe doing some choral harmonies to the score.

Riley has his Bluish-green man moment.

Abigail geeks out over her scrolls.

Ben and Patrick share a more direct moment of celebration. (to bolster the arms on each other’s backs)

Riley: Look. Stairs.

Added beat: they discuss that they’re ready to head up to the surface and face whatever consequences await.

INT. TRINITY CHURCH - DAY

Ben emerges from the tunnel mouth and calls Sadusky on his cell phone.

Sadusky and the FBI swarm in. Agents in FBI windbreakers help the others out of the tunnel as Sadusky slowly, ominously approaches Ben.

Ben offers up the Declaration. Not a bargaining chip.

SONG: Just Like That/Finale

Ben lists his requests.

The theme here is “it belongs to the world” and the idea that the treasure is bigger than any of them.

Everyone states what they got out of the treasure hunt. Ben got validation. Abigail got adventure. Riley got to be part of something. Patrick got his son back.

Armed guards come to take the Declaration to the National Archives NYC branch, and then back to D.C.. Abigail is welcome to come.

Before she leaves she goes up to Ben and they decide to get a cup of coffee after this is all over.

Riley pats Ben on the back.

Sadusky comes in to spoil the mood because someone has to go to prison. Ben offers up Ian instead. The FBI arrests Ian and the gang.

What now? Everything is about to change. But not the things that matter. Bla bla, the power of friendship; maybe the real treasure was the friends/found family/polycule we make along the way.

The score swells and we end on a big triumphant chorus.

END SONG

END ACT 2

[alexquisites-blog]

this is art

The National Treasure Gazette Humbly Presents:

National Treasure: The Musical

I said what I said.

For reasons that have nothing to do with Wicked (2003) or Wicked (2024) (obviously I am lying) here we go:

INT. GATES FAMILY HOME LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

SONG: Treasure is a Myth

At the Gates’ family home YOUNG BEN sneaks away with the family album and his grandfather JOHN ADAMS GATES finds him and explains the legend of the treasure.

The ensemble—as all of the GATES MEN since and their WIVES—each give a quick verse about their search and continued hope that someday they will find the treasure.

The recurring motif here is 'Treasure is a myth…but I’ll find it.'

Until PATRICK GATES arrives to spoil things with a counter refrain, arguing that the treasure is a myth so move on and make something of your life.

The song ends with Patrick towing Young Ben off stage as he sings wistfully, “Treasure is a myth…but I’ll find it.”

EXT. ARCTIC CIRCLE - DAY

At the same time, adult BENJAMIN FRANKLIN GATES enters from the other side of the stage in snow gear.

He echoes “Treasure is a myth, but I’ll find it.”

END SONG

Then RILEY, IAN, and IAN’S CREW follow behind him in snow gear with metal detectors.

Join me in hallucinating the rest of Act I of National Treasure: The Musical!

↓ ↓ ↓

Riley and Powell have the “how does a ship wind up way out here?” exchange.

A metal detector BEEPS. Ben and Ian fall to their knees uncovering evidence of the Charlotte (pantomimed).

They file off stage and reappear…

INT. CHARLOTTE - DAY

…inside the frozen remains of the Charlotte. Some comedic exchanges from Riley before Ben finds the MEERSCHAUM PIPE. He reads the riddle and sits to figure it out.

SONG: Charlotte’s Riddle/So Close I Can Taste It

This is Ben’s I Want song. As he tries to work out the meaning of the riddle he reflects on how he finally has the next piece of the puzzle in his hands and we get to hear a little bit more about what that means to him.

This is an important character moment for Ben and the first time we really hear from him directly about why he wants to find the treasure.

It also personifies Charlotte briefly as a haunting female voice beckoning him to come find the treasure.

END SONG

Ben figures out the riddle and Ian suggests they borrow the Declaration.

SONG: Invested

Ian explains a bit about his backstory, how he’s done things like this before. His crew chimes, each listing a crime of heist they’ve been involved in. (Think the ‘meet the cooks’ montage from Ratatouille).

He emphasizes how much he's invested in this expedition--and in Ben-- and that he expects returns. He becomes increasingly agitated as Ben rejects his plans.

Ian laments what he’ll have to do to Ben. The song ends with him singing/saying “Now all you’ll be in a hindrance.”

END SONG

Ian orders Shaw to turn on Ben. Ben and Riley narrowly escape before the Charlotte explodes.

EXT. ARCTIC CIRCLE - DAY

Ben pulls Riley out of the literal trap door in the stage as they emerge from the ship.

Riley asks what they’ll do about Ian. Ben says they’ll stop him.

Riley says nobody will believe them, and anybody who’s crazy enough to believe them won’t help.

INT. NATIONAL ARCHIVES CURATORS OFFICE - DAY

We transition to the curator’s office where Abigail waits to greet Ben and Riley.

SONG: One Step Short of Crazy

The music begins as Abigail stands from her desk to shake the guys’ hands. They stay speaking as they exchange names and do the “Saxony German” bit.

After Abigail says, “Now, you told my assistant that this was an urgent matter?” the song begins in earnest.

This is a duet between Ben and Abigail as the both try to get what they want from the other: Ben wants access to the document and Abigail wants information.

The text of the song is “one step short of crazy” from both of them, because that’s what Ben is looking for, and what Abigail thinks Ben is.

The blocking here is that they step forward when they’re winning and back when they’re losing, so that they’re pushing each other around the stage and Riley is following along popping in and out around Ben whenever he has “helpful” information to add.

This number should be a bit flirty but make it clear that Abigail cannot be charmed. (yet).

It ends when Abigail sits back down at her desk and bids them good day. She has won.

END SONG

INT. NATIONAL ARCHIVES ROTUNDA - DAY

Ben and Riley look at the Declaration. Ben recites his favorite line. (“But when a long train of abuses…”)

SONG: One Step Short of Crazy (Reprise)

Ben reprises a few lines from One Step Short of Crazy as he is making a decision that is very much that.

END SONG

Then he speaks the line, “I’m gonna steal it. I’m gonna steal the Declaration of Independence."

INT. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS READING ROOM - DAY

Riley brings Ben into the Library of Congress to convince him that this is a bad idea. “Let me prove it to you.”

SONG: 2000 Ways This Could Go Wrong

Riley attempts to convince Ben that he cannot steal the Declaration of Independence. The ensembles appears as other LIBRARY PATRONS who get in on the song for musical reasons.

The text of the song is "There are 2000s ways this could go wrong" and they could be comedically listing all the ways Ben could get caught.

Riley and the ensemble seem to almost have Ben convinced when he brings up Thomas Edison.

The light bulbs line is spoken, but then Ben gets his own verse laying out the preservation room plan. The one way to make it work.

The song ends with Riley saying, “This could work.”

END SONG

INT. ABIGAIL’S OFFICE - NIGHT

Abigail is packing up for the night.

SONG: Hunting Down History

Abigail sings an I Want song of her own expressing her curiosity about Ben’s story and her wish that for once she’d like to be a part of something that mattered instead of on the sidelines studying it a hundred years later.

Her ASSISTANT enters with a package. (The One Step Short of Crazy theme play as she opens it.) Abigail reads the notes tells the audience it’s the George Washington button. She and the assistant discuss Ben for a few lines until Abigail realizes she’ll barely make it home to get ready and back in time for the gala.

That’s when the ALARM RINGS.

INT. PRESERVATION ROOM - NIGHT

Abigail and STAN (already in his tux) oversee at TECHS IN CLEAN ROOM GEAR move the document into the preservation room.

Stan gets a verse of Hunting Down History, hitting on Abigail and and asking if there’s anything between them.

Abigail declines and leaves.

Stan continues to lament her lack of attention as the set changes to…

INT. NATIONAL ARCHIVES ROTUNDA - NIGHT

…the rotunda, now dressed up for the gala. Ensemble is other PATRONS milling around the gala.

Abigail enters, having done a quick change into her gala outfit. She makes small talk as RILEY’S VOICE is heard from off stage.

He’s asking, “Ben, are you sure you want to do this—”

—when Ben enters the gala in his tux.

Riley comes to sit on the side of the stage with his headset and laptop. He’ll speak to Ben from here throughout the heist.

Ben finds Abigail, and hands her a glass of champagne.

Abigail sings one last verse about how maybe something interesting has found her after all.

END SONG

Abigail asks about the pipe that bigfoot took.

Stan joins them, a bit perturbed, and he and Ben go back and forth until Ben gives THE TOAST. (it's perfect--no notes)

Riley is talking throughout the scene.

Ben excuses himself. He holds up the glass to the audience and tells Riley he’s got the fingerprint.

INT. VAULT CORRIDOR/PRESERVATION ROOM - NIGHT

Ben appears at the top of some stage scaffolding where he uses the fingerprint and does the password thing. He and Riley exchange dialogue explaining how they’re using the button he sent to Abigail to do this, since we won’t see it well. Riley helps crack the password. Ben rides an elevator down to stage level.

SONG: [MAIN HEIST THEME TBD]

Meanwhile, Ian and his gang make their way up from the bottom of the stage knocking out guards and breaking through a series of movable doors that have been lined up in their way.

→ Riley comes in with a reprise of 2000 Ways This Could Go Wrong

Ben reaches the Declaration first. He’s in the process of removing it when Riley stands up because he’s lost the feed.

Ben leaves with the case as Ian arrives. Squibs go off, cracking the case.

Ben runs back to the elevator as the lights go dark.

INT. ROTUNDA - NIGHT

Riley: Ben? Ben, what was that?

Ben sneaks through the partygoers and is caught by the CASHIER, who charges him $35 for the “replica” Declaration. He fumbles to come up with the change and pays with a card.

→ Abigail spots Ben and comes in with a reprise of One Step Short of Crazy and/or Hunting Down History

Abigail chases after Ben…

EXT. NATIONAL ARCHIVES - NIGHT

… who rushes outside to meet Riley.

Meanwhile Ian and co climb up through the trapdoor with their gear.

Abigail accuses Ben of stealing it, he gives her the Declaration, and Ian’s crew grab her.

END SONG

INT/EXT. CATERING TRUCK

You know that? Fuck it, let’s do the catering truck scene.

I was gonna say this would be a more stage-friendly tug o’ war over Abigail and she ends up with Ben while the Declaration winds up with Ian. That’s the backup.

But as long as we’re hallucinating a Disney-backed musical, maybe we put the van and the catering truck on stage, yeah? We, the audience, are looking toward their open backs as the two vehicles bounce around. They’re on springs or something, sorry actors.

There’s lots of LIGHT AND SOUND EFFECTS to heighten the “chase,” which ends when Abigail jumps from one car to the other.

Ben and Abigail exchange a few lines of banter in the van before Ben asks Riley to pull over.

EXT. PARK - NIGHT

This scene will remain largely the same, but we’ll move more of the dialogue to the park so we can get out of the van set as quickly as possible. Without the chase it’ll feel weird.

The dialogue will be rearranged so it ends with Ben’s line: “Yeah but I didn’t think I was gonna personally have to tell my dad about it."

As he says this the set shifts and Patrick’s door appears behind him, so all he has to do is turn around to be confronted by it.

EXT. PATRICK’S DOOR - NIGHT

“Where’s the party?”

This remains largely the same. Patrick lets them in.

INT. GATES FAMILY HOUSE - NIGHT

Yes, as a fun easter egg we can use the same Gates family home set as the opening number, to both maximize set use and make my headcanon about the Gates family house canon. Cool.

SONG: The Real Gates Family Legacy

Patrick hopes this isn’t about the damn treasure. Obviously it is.

Ben and Patrick go back and forth about their mutual disappointment in each other. Patrick wants Ben to stop wasting his life on the same mistakes that he, Patrick, made, and Ben just wants his dad to believe in him.

Riley and Abigail get a quick verse about their observations of the pair, Riley from the POV of someone who knows a bit of their backstory (and might even share a line or two) and Abigail as someone who’s just meeting them.

Ends with Patrick giving up and saying, “Do what you want Ben.”

END SONG

Abigail raises the very real possibility that there isn’t another clue. Ben says they can find out right now.

SONG: Talk to Me

In this number (better title TK) Ben gets the lemons and basically asks the map makers/founding fathers to talk to him. Tell him the message he’s been waiting his whole life to hear.

Then Abigail stops him and insists on being the one to actually do the lemon-ing. Her verse is a bit more delicate, but she too is genuinely asking for the document to say something to her.

Their parts come together and then—nothing.

This is being visualized by a scrim at the back of the stage. It’s been there for other scenes, and is a sort of parchment texture, but it’s only as the song progresses that we the audience realize it’s changing.

Light effects will be used to turn the whole stage into a VISUALIZATION OF THE DECLARATION, matching what Ben and Abigail are doing at the table on stage. First come the faint stains of the lemon juice.

Then Patrick interrupts to tell them they need heat.

Ben and Abigail breath on the Declaration and the masonic compass flickers into view momentarily on the scrim.

“We need more juice.”

“We need more heat.”

They sing the next verse of the song together as more and more of the map becomes visible. They’re asking the map to talk to them, but subtextually also asking the same of each other.

Thematically the song is saying please tell me there’s something to this. tell me i’m not crazy; tell me I’m not alone.

→ the ensemble reappears as the Gates family ancestors

→ the Charlotte’s Riddle theme and voice reappears as well

→ Patrick joins in with a reprise of The Real Gates Family Legacy

→ Riley joins in with a few lines about how he can’t believe this is really happening

→ young ben reappears to reprise Treasure is a Myth

All of the voices combine into that delicious thing where everybody’s singing their Act I theme over each other (I really can't emphasize enough how much delight this trope brings me) as the extent of the cypher is revealed.

Riley: What is it?

Ben: (barely believing what he’s seeing) A treasure map.

END SONG

END ACT I

[alexquisites-blog]

Why is this man so sweet? Why can't guys/girls always be this sweet?

GLEN POWELL VISITING GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN

[alexquisites-blog]

Classic Scotty

Javi: You need to react when people cry. Scott: I did. I rolled my eyes.

[alexquisites-blog]

Thank you again for the story! It was fantastic! I was wondering if you could maybe write one about different stages of their relationship. Like when they first met. Did Scott like her at first sight or did she wiggle her way into his heart? How was their first date?? Who fell first? It can all be one story or multiple. Whatever floats your boats! Thank you again!

DAY ONE

Snowy Encounter

a/n: This is long overdue <3

Word Count: 1.0k

Summary: Scott meets (frostbitten) you for the first time.

The gloves covering your hands did nothing to stop the sting of the cold air, your knuckles becoming ashy from the dryness. 

You were passing out free hot cocoa, after being coaxed by your friend, who ended up backing out, and unfortunately for you, you never checked your phone. Oklahoma was borderline freezing this winter, compared to others.

Your toes were numb despite the layers of socks you had on, and you were now rethinking your decision to choose style over practicality in your boots.

You’d been giving out hot chocolate for at least 30 minutes before you couldn’t take it any longer. The urge to quit hit hard, or at least to take a 15-minute break, and you were about to ask for one when your (new) partner in this horrible task made a beeline for the bar across the street to ‘use the bathroom.’

Still, you knew helping people would be worth it, though

Wrong. It wasn’t worth it.

Ryan, you think her name was, never returned from the bar, and worse, it started to snow.

Sure, there was a small makeshift roof over the stand, but it was made out of an old blanket and wasn’t doing much to stop the snow from sticking to the ground.

It hadn’t snowed in Oklahoma for years, but of course, the day you had no choice but to be outside, it decided to pile up.

Your teeth chattered, your fingers were stiff to the point where it hurt each time you grabbed a cup to fill, and you were sure the hot chocolate was cold by now. Despite telling people, they still insisted on lining up.

With a sigh, you handed a cup to the stranger in front of you, ready to say the same line you’d been repeating:

“It’s cold by now,” you muttered, staring at the ground to keep any snow from blowing in your face from the wind.

“How much do I owe you?” the stranger asked, instead of reacting to your pessimism.

You did a double take at the voice, willing yourself to look up because anyone who sounded like that must be worth looking at.

Taking a frostbitten hand, the weird itchy feeling on your knuckles, which must be a sign they were falling off, you shielded your forehead to look up, and honestly, you were grateful you did.

He wasn’t just worth looking at, he was beautiful.

A steady frown on his face and hair poking out from the cap on his head, not to mention his eyes.

He cleared his throat, his patience clearly wearing thin.

Rubbing your hands together to warm them, you replied, “Oh, sorry. It’s free. I mean, it would be kind of cruel to charge you for a cold cup of milk.”

“You’re giving out free hot chocolate?” It was a lot of judgment coming from someone chewing gum in this cold—especially considering he was about to buy hot (cold) chocolate.

You furrowed your brows. “It’s for a good cause,” you said, shoving the cup into his hand.

“Right,” he deadpanned. “What’s the cause?”

“Holiday spirit?” Honestly, you couldn’t remember why you’d agreed to do this.

He snorted. “Well, I hope it’s worth getting frostbite for.”

You held back a glare, thinking he was much too pretty to be rude.

He stared at you for a moment, as if considering his next words. Without saying anything, he turned around and addressed the line behind him.

“I just took the last cup, so the rest of you idi... people can go home.” You heard the crowd groan, even a few curses thrown out, but for the most part, people left without too much fuss.

“Thank you,” you said, a smile appearing on your face. For a moment, your body warmed, at least internally.

“It would be a stupid ‘cause’ to give out free hot chocolate,” he muttered, shuffling in place.

“I’d like to point out that you were willing to pay for this cold cup of milk two minutes ago.”

The handsome stranger rolled his eyes, but you saw the corner of his mouth tip up. “You live in town?”

The question surprised you, but more so the fact that he was helping you pack away the cups and marshmallows into the bins.

“For the holidays.”

“That’s... descriptive,” he said slowly, giving you a side-eye.

“I’m staying with a few friends. They try to convince me every year to move here, but I don’t know.”

He hummed in acknowledgment, and after a couple more minutes, he was walking you to your car, carrying the rest of the stand, and helping you shove it into your trunk. Scott (you’d learned his name at some point between then and now) shut your trunk, and you quickly thanked him for the help.

“Thank you for that. You didn’t need to stay and help. I’m sure Ryan would’ve come back eventually.”

He raised a brow. “Boyfriend?” Then, “You’re welcome.”

The confusion on your face must have been obvious because he sighed, as though regretting asking in the first place.

“Ryan,” he clarified.

“Oh. No, I hardly know her. She’s a friend of a friend, I think, and she certainly didn’t find me very entertaining since she ran off.”

He laughed then, or at least you thought he did—it came out gruffly, and you could hardly tell.

You sneezed, and he dug into his pocket, pulling out a beanie and holding it out to you. “Here.”

Shaking your head and sneezing again, you replied, “No, that’s okay. I’m about to get in my car and head back anyway. You’ll need it more than I do.”

He rolled his eyes, shoving the beanie into your hands. “You look like you’re going to turn into an icicle. Just take it. I have a hat,” he said, motioning to the cap on his head.

“That’s hardly a hat,” you thought, but decided against saying so. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

When you sneezed again, he ushered you into your car.

You turned on the engine immediately to start the heat. “Where’s your car? Do you need a ride?” you asked, hoping it wasn’t too far, not wanting him to have gone out of his way to help.

He pointed across the street to a white truck.

Nodding, you smiled up at him. “How will I give you your hat back?”

His lips tipped up into an almost smile. “I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

[alexquisites-blog]

Cloudburst | Scott Miller x Reader

The storm clouds in the west horizon, minimal light shining through, the clouds dark and ominous. As the wind began to howl, along with the faint grumbles of thunder filling the air. Scott adjusted his equipment, focusing only on his computer in front of him with the data flashing across his computer screen.

To the two of you, it was impossible to ignore the tension the two of you have built within weeks of joining Storm Par. There was something about him that rubbed an odd way. Maybe it was how he acted like he knew every single little thing or how he never ever seemed to acknowledge the skills you possessed. He always stepped in when you were capable of doing your job.

"You good back there?" Scott rough voice broke through your thoughts, but it was flat and too casual. You could instantly hear a challenge in his tone that made your teeth grind.

"Oh, I'm fine." You shot towards him, keeping your eyes on the growing storm fixed on the horizon, a tornado ready to be released and create destruction. The last thing you needed right now was talking to him and only him.

Scott didn't reply to you right away, but you felt his gaze on you sharp and calculating. "If you say so."

As his eyes were stuck on your back head, a weight began becoming too much to ignore. "What's that supposed to mean?" You finally snapped, turning your head to finally face him.

As Scott raised his left eyebrow as his lips began to form into a smirk. "Oh, nothing. Just observing."

You roll your eyes in annoyance. The more you tried to shut him out, the more you realized how impossible it was to pretend their wasn't any tension between the two of you. The tension was like a thunderstorm waiting to break. Between you two, the tension was different than any other, something unsettling, something filled with lightning.

Moments pass by as Scott is in the drivers seat, his large hands on the steering wheel, but his ironic smirk still lingers on his face.

"Look, if you are just going to sit there and do nothing, at least be useful." Scott said as he gestured towards the radar tablet on the passenger dashboard.

Your jaw tighted instantly as you reached for the tablet on the dashboard, as you began scanning the data on the radar. "Well, you are about half a mile off of the best intercept point. It seems that this road veers too far west."

Scott chuckled under his breath, glancing you from the corner of his right eye. "And when I thought you were just here for the damn ride."

You roll your eyes as you grit your teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction of reaction. "Actually, I'm here to make sure we actually get usable data and not drive in circles because you know better."

As he slammed on the brakes, sending the two of you forward. The sudden stop made your heart jump into your throat as you glared at him and he turned to face you fully. "Are you done?" He questioned as he released his hands off the wheel as his hands stretched.

"Depends if you are done with your bullshit Scott." You say as he just stares at you as his huff lingers through the air.

[alexquisites-blog]

just brisket chilling on his parents' lap ft. uncle brandon TWISTERS FEATURETTES: FRONT SEAT TO A CHASE

[alexquisites-blog]

TWISTERS FEATURETTE, GLEN POWELL: ALL ACCESS

[alexquisites-blog]

More Than This - Scott Miller

Summary: A late night in the library with Scott results in revelations.

Pairing: Scott Miller x F!Reader

Word Count: 3.2k

Warnings: Heavy making out, Scott is a bit of an ass, that's about it tbh

A/N: I'm a little nervous about this one, I'm not gonna lie. This one was born out of a "surprise kiss" prompt from @broadwaybaggins, so if you like it make sure to thank her. Thank you to @seeyalaterinnovator for looking this one over for me. I wrote this over the course of like a week and basically all of it was between the hours of 11pm and 3am, so if this sucks... Uh, sorry.

You were going to kill Scott Miller.

Not only had he chosen to sit at the table next to you, despite the desolation of the library at this time of night, but now all you could hear was the rhythmic smacking of his gum. That habit was one of many that had annoyed you since you two had first met, and fought, in your first class at MIT four years ago.

"Scott!" You snapped, staring at him as his head popped up to look at you. His brow furrowed slightly at you before he realized what was bothering you, a smirk taking over his face. He cracked his gum loudly, his face breaking into a triumphant smile at the sight of the muscle in your jaw jumping in annoyance.

"Were you born annoying or did that come later?" You asked, flipping the page of your notebook aggressively enough to rip it on a few of the top coils.

"Only since I met you," he replied, nonchalantly shrugging his shoulders. "You bring out the worst in me, what can I say?"

You rolled your eyes at him, eyes drifting back to your notebook as another self-satisfied crack of gum came from his tongue. You had seen the fear in the eyes of the library staff as they left and saw you and Scott staying behind for a late night of studying. You two had become infamous to the building for the fights that occurred over textbooks and private rooms, but you were determined to show that you could survive one night alone with him without resorting to violence. Even if he was making it incredibly difficult.

You shifted in your seat and attempted to refocus on the problem in front of you, but the formulas in your notebook had started to bleed together. You glanced at the clock on your laptop, scowling as it switched to 1:15am. Your body was screaming at you for sleep, but you knew that if you wanted to beat Scott on your upcoming project you'd have to power through.

Glaring at Scott you quickly saved your document before you grabbed your water bottle and walked to the fountain on the other side of the floor. He could be trusted to not steal your things, but could not be trusted enough to not mess with your notes. You had learned that the hard way.

You began walking back to your table, still feeling the physical pull of your body to sleep, coming to a sudden stop when you realized that the resource book you had been using was no longer where you left it.

Instantly your eyes slid over to Scott. Sure enough, there he was leaning back in his chair as he flipped aimlessly through your textbook. You could feel the blood rushing through your body in anger as you slammed your water bottle on the table, making Scott look up at you in mock surprise.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" You snapped, stalking towards him.

"What's the matter?" He questioned, rising out of his seat as he took the defensive position to your approach.

"Give me the book back, Scott. I just want to beat you on this project and go home." You tried to grab it from his hands, but he was quick to raise it above your head.

"It'll be here tomorrow; you could always just go home now." You scoffed at the suggestion, kissing your pride goodbye as you began jumping to try and reach the book. "I can see the circles under your eyes, I'm doing you a favour."

"Don't patronize me," you said. "This is just another plot to make you feel superior. We both know you've hated me since we met; you don't actually care about anyone other than yourself."

You were surprised when, instead of a sarcastic retort, you were met with a scowl from Scott as he lowered the book, no longer taking joy from teasing you.

"You really think that low of me?" Your stomach dropped slightly at his question, combined with the pink tinge to his cheeks and furrowed brow. Maybe you had been too harsh. "You were the one who started that argument and then never tried any other approach with me afterward."

"Would it have mattered if I did?"

Scott let out a low chuckle as he took a tentative step towards you. "You know, for someone so smart you can be really dumb."

He stood so close to you that your chest brushed his with every breath. Your brows knitted together at his words, the meaning coming to you a split second before his gaze dropped to your lips. Then he was kissing you, one of his hands coming to cup your face as he gently moved his lips against yours.

You stayed still for a moment, the sweetness of his movements in such conflict with your perception of Scott that you felt like you were short-circuiting. Before the rational side of your brain could catch up your subconscious body pushes you closer to him, hands knotting in his worn Bruins sweater that you had become so familiar with over the years. You could taste the spearmint of his gum, almost being thankful for his obnoxious chewing for the first time. Being this close to him you could smell the hint of Irish Spring that hid under his usual scent of an evergreen forest that had just experienced rain.

God, even his smell was a contradiction; a mix of frugalness and frivolity.

You deepened the kiss, pulling him closer as you tried to ignore the butterflies emerging in your stomach. Scott backed you up in response, grabbing your thighs and lifting you onto the table when you hit it. He kissed you with the patience of someone who seemed to think he had all the time in the world to do so, hands running over your body as he pulled you desperately closer.

Finally, he broke the kiss, allowing you to breathe properly for the first time in several minutes, and began kissing down your jaw and neck. "You can be so fucking frustrating," he sighs, sucking at the junction of your collarbone and neck.

The rational side of your brain was yelling at you, desperately trying to get you to remember that this was the same man you had hated for four years. Beneath it, however, was another voice asking if you really had hated him, or if you had simply felt safer telling yourself that you hated him.

You couldn't deny the way your body reacted to his touch or the way your heart had always sped up when he gave you his full attention. The way arguing with him gave you a thrill you had never experienced with anyone else. The fact that your classes together were the highlight of your week.

Yeah, you were so screwed.

But as quick as you realized these feelings, your brain began fighting back against them. This was still Scott, after all. How could you know if he shared your feelings or if this was simply a moment of lust? Was this a secret plot to humiliate you?

"Scott," you breathed, tugging on his hair to get his attention.

"What?" He asked, chest heaving. He was close enough that his breath fanned over your face, his deep blue eyes looking so deeply into yours that you were sure he could see through all your facades.

It was terrifying and confusing.

"I, um," you stumble over your words, having to rip your gaze away from him to calm your body enough to speak. "I should really get back to studying."

You could see his disappointment bleed out of his body at your words, his face falling slightly before he corrected himself. Back to the Scott you were used to: carefully manufactured for no one to see his private moments. The brief moment of vulnerability was enough to make your heart scream at you to pull him back in by his collar, but the whispers of insecurity from your brain stopped you from doing so. You could only hope that you were successfully hiding your inner conflict on your face. Maybe you two really were more similar than you thought.

"Right," he said, stepping back to allow you to slide off the table. "Sorry."

You avoided his eyes as you grabbed your textbook off his table, sitting down in front of your stuff as you tried to refocus. You knew it would be futile, your already exhausted brain running laps around the events of the night, but it was at least a little easier to sift through your thoughts without Scott's expert mouth on you.

You couldn't help yourself from stealing a glance at Scott, back at his own table. He had put his earbuds back in, aggressively typing as he looked at his computer with enough focus that you knew he was not going to look back at you.

You rested your head on your hand as you reopened the textbook, trying desperately to form any coherent thoughts. Your brain was combing through your memories of Scott, untangling all the moments you had been too blinded by your perception of him to see the full picture.

All those times you had insisted on sitting in his favourite study spot on campus, claiming that it was to annoy him. Reflecting on it now, though, you weren't so sure it was to annoy him. After all, you had never thought to spread yourself out enough that it would force him to find a new place. Instead, you had sat there and left the other chairs at the table empty, knowing that Scott would be too stubborn to give in and would take a seat in defiance.

The years of assuming that Scott was looking for a fight when he would approach you, not even considering for a second that he may have simply wanted your attention directed towards him.

As you continued going through the years you felt yourself being pulled into the floor, utterly exhausted by the mental gymnastics of the night.

How could one kiss change so much of what you thought you knew?

Your eyes open slowly, your body fighting to keep them closed despite the sound of Scott calling your name and gently shaking your shoulders. Your arms were folded under your head for some comfort, your body's fight for sleep apparently having finally won. Your eyes flicked to the clock on your computer, reading out that it was nearing 2am.

"Come on, you should get home," he said once you had woken up enough, nodding towards the exit.

You looked toward him to answer but found the words stuck in your throat and settled for a simple nod. He had already packed away his own things, his backpack slung over one shoulder and his old grey MIT hat covering his dark hair.

You closed your laptop, beginning to gather your things as you packed them into your bag. Wordlessly Scott grabbed your textbook, one which had been put to the side for your class, and returned it to the cart marked for your class.

When you didn't hear the expected sound of the exit doors you looked up, seeing Scott shifting his weight as he held his car keys in his hand.

He looked up at you as you gave him a quizzical look and twirled his keys on his finger. "It's the middle of the night. My mom would kill me if she ever thought of leaving you to get home on your own."

You briefly thought of refusing and taking a cab instead, but he was right about the issue of time. At least you weren't the only one who dreaded being in the same car after tonight if Scott's nervous motions were anything to go by.

You thanked him as the two of you walked out of the library, making your way to the parking lot where his black Audi was waiting. Scott held the door open for you as you climbed into his passenger seat, gently shutting the door after you.

As you sat and looked at his interior, you couldn't help thinking of an incident from a few weeks after you two first met. Scott had just beaten you on a unit test in class, so in retaliation you had parked your car behind his in the parking lot, boxing him in as he tried to get home. You, of course, had feigned innocence and claimed that your car had simply broken down in the position. It wasn't entirely unbelievable, your car had already been beaten up at the time and was now completely undrivable, but you had known from the second Scott's head popped out of his car that he didn't believe it for a second. Looking back on it, maybe you really had more of an active role in the state of your and Scott's relationship than you had previously considered.

Scott got into the driver's seat, tossing his bag into the backseat before starting the car. He fiddled with the heat, scrolling endlessly through his phone in search of a playlist. Every motion of his body was filled with nerves, emphasized by his eyes flitting to you every few seconds.

He finally decided on an old rock song from the 80s, putting his phone down as he sat back in his seat, his hands flexing around the wheel. You were about to say something in an attempt to put him at ease when he spoke first. "I'm sorry about earlier."

"What?"

"I shouldn't have kissed you out of nowhere like that," he explains, pausing slightly before continuing, "especially after everything."

"Oh," your heart dropped at his words, the conflicting emotions from earlier resurfacing in your chest. "It's fine."

You opened your mouth to ask him more about it, the confusion of his words mixing with your surfaced feelings to create a bitter taste in your mouth, before deciding against it and instead giving him directions to your place.

Like clockwork, your thoughts began to race again as you ran over his apology in contrast with his actions earlier in the night. The part of you that was still coming to terms with your feelings was eager to believe Scott's words, willing to believe that he could be cruel enough to lead you on without the intent to follow through. Had he simply seen you as a conquest? A challenge to overcome and then once he had proven that he could have you if he wanted, he'd turn around. Was he just horny and you happened to be around? Was that what had caused his whiplash reaction in the night?

But then the part of you that wanted him, the part that was unsatisfied with lonely nights spent studying, would argue. You had successfully ignored any actions from either Scott or yourself that had hinted at possible romantic feelings for four years. Could you really trust your cynical side to make rational decisions when it came to him?

You were thankful for Scott's music filling the car as you both sat in silence, turning over these thoughts in your head and only stopping when providing a new direction for Scott's driving. You snuck glances at him, but his focused gaze on the road didn't give away much to either side of your internal argument.

He finally pulled up to your place, forcing you to call a ceasefire for the war inside your head. You reached for the door, feeling like all you wanted to do was sprint for the safety of your bed, but your fingers refused to pull the handle for escape.

"What was your goal?" You asked, turning to look back at the driver's seat. Scott knitted his eyebrows together in confusion, prompting you to continue. "We've been at each other's throats since we met and you just suddenly kiss me." You watched him open his mouth to respond, but you decided to keep going. "And then you just tell me it shouldn't have happened! You just completely changed everything between us and then expected me to go back to how it was like it was nothing. How did you expect me to react to that?"

The part of you still rooted in your rivalry rejoiced in the guilty look on his face, though that voice that had been warring with you all night felt a pang of sadness at the sight, head dipping to look at your lap in anticipation of his response.

"What did you think would happen?" You continued, deciding to get your thoughts out before you had the chance to lose your confidence. "Did you think I'd be a notch in your bedpost after you've hated me for this long?"

"I've never hated you," he said, turning his body to fully face you now. "What aren't you getting about that? I wasn't trying to embarrass you."

"Then what were you trying to do?" You felt like someone was physically squeezing your heart, anxiety pooling in your chest at the potential for both joy or disappointment that could come from his words.

"I thought I made myself clear when I kissed you. You're the one who broke the kiss, that's why I apologized." The grip on your heart relaxed enough to allow a flutter of hope at his words.

"So, if I hadn't stopped kissing you..." You trailed off, unable to meet his earnest gaze. Despite the hope building inside of you at his words, you were determined to not allow yourself the potential disappointment from reading him wrong again. "What would you have done after?"

Scott let out an exasperated sigh next to you, finally making you peek at him. The street lamp outside illuminated his face just enough for you to see the amused smirk on his face. "You really are an idiot."

You tilted your head up further to get a proper look at his face. His expression matched the soft tone of his voice, both in direct contrast to his teasing words. Before your brain had the chance to talk you out of it, you cupped his cheek and brought his mouth to yours.

The dam that had held the butterflies from earlier to a trickle burst open to a flood, your heart celebrating its victory over your brain for the first time in your carefully conducted life. This time, neither you nor Scott were patient. You were both pulling each other closer, fingers threading through his dark hair as your body bumped the console of his car.

Even when you two separated to catch your breath you stayed leaned into each other, his fingers dancing over your lower back. Your fingers curled themselves into his sweater as you pulled him back towards you, relishing the taste of him and the warmth that spread through you as those walls you had built through the years began to fall.

You knew you should be going inside to sleep, but now that you had experienced Scott in earnest, his touch and taste spreading over you with every movement, you couldn't break yourself away. The practicality of a relationship could be figured out later, for now, you just wanted to make up for all the time you had spent too blinded by what you thought you felt to see the potential of him.

[alexquisites-blog]

DAISY EDGAR-JONES AS KATE CARTER Twisters (2024) dir. Lee Isaac Chung

[alexquisites-blog]

|Tempest Unleashed- Chapter 2: 2019|

Years Ago

Charlotte was already up and awake as she was setting up everything for the big day ahead as she saw Kate awake and grabbed her camera as Charlotte grabbed her's before standing besides Kate and the two of them snapped a few quick photos of the system ahead of them. The two looked at each other before doing a tornado spin with their index fingers and began heading back to the site behind them Kate went to Jeb and the others to wake them up as Charlotte was looking everything to make sure it was perfect as Kate went to the van and honked the horn.

"Storm's here guys let's go!" Kate announced as Maya walked her way over to her cousin. 

"Nah, nah, I got way too hard last night." Javi complained.

"Javi, get up, come on!" Kate yelled as she went to pull  his sleeping bag over his head.

"You should really listen to her man. She's on it today." Charlotte chuckled, sipping her coffee.

"Come on, why are you on her side? I need more sleep." He groaned as Charlotte walked over and smiled. 

"Because I feel today is going to our best shot at doing this, and Kate agrees." Charlotte crossed her arms.

"It's so early, just a few more minutes. It won't hurt." He groaned.

"Nope, and now I'm stealing this." She grabbed the sleeping back before stuffing it back in the van.

"Ugh, fine." He said getting up.

**

As Kate was recording her video with Jeb recording, Charlotte was helping her brother with Dorothy.

"The Doppler doesn't show a storm until the afternoon." Praveen said. 

"Well, the data doesn't see what Kate sees." Addy explained.

"And that's for a fact, Kate sees it all." Charlotte popped up.

"How about Kate sees a few more hours of sleep?" Javi suggested.

"Nope, sorry you're going to have to live off of what you have for today." 

"Praveen. What are you doing? Dorothy's not a desk." Javi explained as Praveen took the computer off of Dorothy.

"She's very special." She said, patting the container. "And helped us beat that son of a bitch Jonas." She muttered to herself getting a small flashback to when she was in her preteens. "Fashionably late again, Jonas? Fashionably late! Gimmie kiss, baby!"  Before she continued working.

"Come on. Get in. Get in!" Kate was guiding everyone to get into the camera frame as they all got in. "Ready? Do you know what today is?"

"The day we save a tornado!" Charlotte, Javi, Praveen, Addy, and Jeb all yell at one.

"I'm going to yak first." Javi walked off. 

"I'll make sure he doesn't yak too much." Charlotte chuckled, patting his back.

**

Later the group began driving towards the system that was ahead of them. Javi and Charlotte were in the van softly singing Salio El Sol by Don Omar and snacking on Hot Cheetos.

"Do you see the coloring? It's beautiful!" Charlotte called out, trying to get a good view of the clouds.

"Yeah, yeah, I see it." Javi said as he grabbed the radio. "Alright, how are we getting this thing? Me and Charlotte need a southwest position to read the sensors."

"Yeah I'm coming right up." Jeb spoke into the radio as they turned right. 

"I call next song." She said, grabbing her phone and picking Vivir Mi Vida by Marc Anthony.

"Ooo okay Charlotte go perfect choice." Javi smiled, driving down the road as she was singing her heart out until the group stopped on the side of the road to work on the mixture.

"There she is!" Javi called out.

"She's looking mighty big and strong." She said following him and gave him the computer as the two walked up to Addy continuously pushing the button to open Dorothy.

"Hey, gentle, gentle, light." Javi requested as Javi hit it. 

"Hey, she didn't need that." Charlotte pushed his hand away.

"Whatever, now try." Javi requested Addy, pushed, it didn't work. "Usually, it works."

"Apparently, she just needs some talking to, don't you girl, you will get this data." Charlotte said as Addy tried pushing it again. "Never mind then..." 

"This thing is so old." 

"Hey!" Charlotte muttered.

"I mean, it's old, but it's field tested. Charlotte was literally there when it started back in the day."

"See!" Charlotte exclaimed.

"You know, unlike Kate's science project over here."

"Javi has a point." Charlotte muttered. 

"It's our science project." Praveen explained.

"There's no time, Charlotte, Javi. If Dorthy's not working, then forget the data, okay? We'll worry about it later." Kate said.

"Forget the data -"

"It's not going to wait for us, Javi... Charlotte." 

"Kate... Jeb, the data is a crucial part, me and Javi both need this." Charlotte crossed her arms a little upset. "Data is the most important piece out of storm chasing."

"There's a death rate setting in. Look both of you. This is probably our last chase of the season." 

Charlotte put her hands up. "You know what it's equally as important." She muttered, containing her emotions.

"No matter what, we gotta get these barrels in the air and see if they can make a tornado vanish, okay? It's more important." Kate explained as Charlotte takes a deep breath, putting her hands on her sides.

"No, how about that it's equally as important, we do both right?" Javi suggested.

"Exactly!" Charlotte jumps in.

"If you make a tornado vanish with this, but you don't get the data with this. Who's gonna believe it?"

"No one guys. That's the answer they'll just think it's some stupid thing with the air or whatever." She said as Addy pushed the button again and it opened. 

"Oh, got it!" Addy exclaimed as Charlotte grabbed a sensor and gave it a quick kiss for good luck before putting it back in.

"Fine, the two best cousins better get us that data. Whatever we need to win a big fat grand." Kate exclaimed before Charlotte began to make her way over to the van as she watched the four drive off as Javi joined Charlotte in the van. 

"Alright here we go, I feel today's gonna be the day." She smiled.

"Agreed." Javi said nodding watching the radar with Charlotte on his side.

The two are in the van watching the computers as a radio comes through from Addy. "Javi, Charlotte. How's Dorothy's GPS?"

"Coming and loud a clear." Javi said as Charlotte grabbed the walkie talkie

"It's definitely some system just be careful guys." Charlotte said before giving it back as she got up a few minutes later and grabbed a snack before throwing one to Javi as he smiled. "Anything from them yet?"

"Nope not yet." Javi said as he opened his bag and began to snack as so did Charlotte as another few minutes past.

"Okay we dropped the trailer." Kate said through the radio. 

"Alright this better work." Charlotte said nervous.

"Now let's see if it takes the bait." Javi added as moments later data was showing. "Woo Baby!" He said high-fiving her. "We just shot up 10,000 feet." 

"Hell yeah!" Charlotte screamed.

"It's rising 30,000 feet." Javi radioed.

"Javi it's not weaking..." She said before getting up getting the other computer. "Shit, shit."

"Dorothy can't tell you that..." He explained as Charlotte panicked.

"Tell you what?"

"If the wind speeds are wearing. 40,000 feet, your tornado isn't shrinking Kate. 50,000 feet."

"Javi they need to get out of there as soon as possible this isn't good." 

"This isn't right." Javi said before trying to go do something.

"Yeah no shit! Wait what are you doing?" She watched him as Addy's voice was repeating.

"Guys, talk to us. Talk to us. Talk to us."

"Sensor's just shot up 70,000." Javi radioed as Charlotte looked at him.

"Tell them they need to get out of there quick!" Charlotte said nervous.

"Guys whatever is in there it's big and it's moving fast. Drive. Get the hell out of there!" 

"Like now, just go! Go!" Charlotte radioed after Javi as she stood close to him anxiously. 

"Repeat you guys get out of there!" He radioed but no response. "Kate!" Javi looked at Charlotte.

"Shit, why aren't they saying anything!?" Charlotte panicked. "Guys!" She tears up holding onto her cousin. 

"They probably found somewhere to take cover, I don't know look we just have to sit it out." He said keeping her close. "I know we want to know what's going on but we just have to wait."

As the storm passed after a few minutes, they pulled up Dorothy's radar before driving along the route to find Kate and the others. As Charlotte and Javi were driving, they saw the SUV flipped all broken on the side of the road as Javi was rubbing Charlotte's shoulder. The two parked the car due to debris covering the road as there was a cop car and a blonde girl. Charlotte instantly recognized it was Kate before she ran over with Javi behind.

"Kate thank God your okay, where's the others?" Charlotte asked hugging Kate slowly.

"T-they didn't make it, they're all gone, and it's my fault." She said in tears.

"Kate, it isn't your fault. You didn't know it was going to become an F5." Javi adds.

"I can't do this anymore..." Kate looked at the two cousins.

[alexquisites-blog]

(Anthony and David aren’t in this pic but I do love them very much)

Y’all I know im biased bc this is my favorite movie rn but the cast of twisters is genuinely so talented like

Daisy shows such a wide range of emotion, from grief to passion to guilt, it’s incredible!

Glen is amazing at telling what his character is thinking through his body language!

Brandon got Boone’s dialect down so well that he seems like a whole different person, while still letting his own talents and personality shine through!

Anthony is amazing at showing different versions of his character, how he’s far less serious before the EF5, then gets stuck in a loop of just doing what’s best for business throughout the movie, then finally finding his agency again at the end— it’s a wonderful story!

Tunde has such a calming and casual presence, he makes any scene with the Wranglers truly feel like they’re family!

Harry’s line delivery is spectacular; “so what’s the deal with her” makes me laugh every time!

Sasha’s facial expressions do wonders for setting the tone in each scene, whether they’re cleaning up after a storm or on a high-stakes chase!

Katy truly understands her character and the dynamic she has with the others— though Dani doesn’t have a huge role, she makes choices while acting that turn her from a secondary character into a very three dimensional one!

David is great at “show don’t tell”— his character is one that is very obvious about his standings and opinions, but he hardly ever says them out loud. It’s great for storytelling!

All in all, I just really love this move, the characters, and the cast. Twisters wouldn’t be what it is without these amazing actors!