#I blame lea and max

[cinemaocd]

about to fuck up a mental health day

[overtake]

⁴⁹⁾ a doorbell sounding in the middle of the night 👀

49 for this prompt list

All things considered, Daniel has a very healthy sleep schedule for a guy that jets off to a new country almost every single week. Someone advised him years ago to implement the same wind-down ritual before bed no matter where he was in the world. Daniel hasn’t always been great about routine — he needs 3 reminders on his phone just to remember his vitamins every morning — but he has this shit down to a science.

He’s three steps in when his night gets thrown for a loop.

He’s carefully moisturized his chronically dry elbows. The corners of his eyes are shiny with wrinkle cream so expensive that even he winces at the price. He’s spritzed the pillow he brings on every trip with a lavender spray. He’s just getting ready to slip under the sheets, throw one leg over a hotel pillow, and drift off to a new episode of his favourite UFC podcast when the little hotel room doorbell rings.

He pauses for a second, then continues to pull back the sheets. Surely someone just has the wrong room.

The stupid doorbell rings again, and he’s pretty sure he audibly groans. He throws his phone on the spot where his body should already be lying and stuffs his feet into the little hotel-provided slippers. He has no one to blame but himself — he forgot to turn on the stupid privacy setting in the room to stop the doorbell from chiming.

He puts on a neutral face, lest it be some poor hotel or team employee forced to deliver him an urgent message, and opens the door.

“Hi, Daniel.”

Max barrels inside. In the 2.5 years they’ve been teammates, his shoulders have slightly widened. He’s still lean, but Daniel can see his body taking on a broader, more adult form, and he uses the slight size advantage to push past Daniel.

“Hello?” Daniel says, confused. Max is a man on a mission. He heads straight to the balcony door, pushes aside the thick blackout curtain and the gauzy ones underneath to unlock the handle and patter onto the small space.

“Can I help you with something?” Daniel asks. He wanders over and peeks his head out, but keeps his nice, clean slippers safely inside. There’s a slight breeze in the night air, and Daniel pulls back inside with a slight shiver.

Max is bent over, picking something up. He’s in a very wrinkled shirt and a pair of shorts that look far too small for him — not size wise, but length wise. Daniel doesn’t think he’s ever seen so much of Max’s pale, white thighs on display, matching the crescent moon in the sky above them.

Max stands up, an object wrapped securely in his hand, and shakes his head violently. If Daniel could see him better, he might hazard a guess that Max is blushing. It makes him want to poke and prod, but he knows Max and knows when he’s open for teasing. Right now, his plush lips are pressed tightly together, arms curled against his chest protectively. Nows not the time to be a dick, even if Max is disrupting his night.

Max walks past him again, not bothering to close the balcony door, when he finally seems to register that this whole interaction is incredibly whack, even for the two of them.

He pauses long enough to examine the room, Daniel’s little slippers, and the tantalizingly untucked sheets.

“Sorry,” he says. The words sound stilted from his mouth, usually reserved for awkward speeches to factory post-crashes. “I’m in the room above yours, and we — I dropped something off the balcony onto yours.”

Daniel drops his gaze to the object in Max’s hands. As fast as Max’s hands successfully move to cover it, Daniel’s seen enough bottles of lube in his time to know what he’s looking at.

“It’s alright.” He gets why Max is blushy and intense right now. He eats up Daniel’s sexapade stories, makes all kinds of lewd jokes, isn’t afraid to jokingly flirt with Daniel and put his hands places he shouldn’t. He’s certainly not a prude. Still, he’s pretty tight-lipped about his own sex life. Daniel doesn’t push where he’s not welcomed, so he leaves well enough alone, but his stomach does a funny little pang at remembering that Max does have a sex life of his own.

There’s some hot girl above them right now, who was probably joking with Max on the balcony and play-wrestling for some lube, letting the joke run so long that the lube went on a whole vacation to Daniel’s balcony. Daniel is usually the only one who lets a bit get so far and so immersive with Max that it causes actual consequences.

“Okay. Well. Goodnight,” Max says. The lube is now secured half under his shirt sleeve, half into the crook of his elbow now, with the label imprinting itself onto his skin.

He pauses again, this time by Daniel’s bedside table, and picks up the pillow spray. He reads the label, all focused and serious, and then spritzes a tiny bit onto his wrist. The droplets are still drying over his blue veins when he brings it to his nose and sniffs.

“That’s nice.” He holds his wrist there for a second, takes a second whiff.

“It’s lavender,” Daniel informs him, for lack of anything else to say in this incredibly bizarre interaction. “Night, Max.”

Max does an awkward little half-wave and closes the door behind him and the tiny shorts that surely can’t belong to him. Daniel would’ve noticed if he wore something like that before.

He lets the interaction sit for a second, then shakes his body loose and turns on the do not disturb button on the doorbell.

Night routine, 2.0, no distractions. He rubs lotion into his elbows. He dots wrinkle cream around his eyes. He puts his finger over the same little nozzle that Max pressed and coats his pillow again.

It’s only after a small breeze ruffles the curtains that he realizes the balcony door is still wide open. He pauses for a half-second by the door when he hears Max’s voice above him, talking to whoever his companion for the night is.

“Can I get you another drink?” Max asks. He sounds — suave, almost. Daniel can only see speckled concrete above him, but he can picture Max standing on it in. He probably has this girl leaned up against the railing, a hand on her hip.

This is definitely intrusive, but Daniel pauses with his hand wrapped around the skinny door handle just long enough to hear the response.

“No, I’m all good. Let’s go inside,” the other voice says. It’s deeper than Daniel expected, almost masculine.

Daniel shuts the door harder than he planned, and a bit of the thin white curtain gets caught in the frame. He leaves it be. He’s not interested in opening up that door again.

He settles into the sterile white sheets, puts his cancelling earbuds in, and squeezes his eyes tightly shut.

It takes him longer than usual to fall asleep that night. He’s surrounded by too much pillow spray and the pulsing thought that Max is above him right now, smelling traces of lavender while he fucks someone else.

[princess-of-the-corner]

Thanks for the reblog on the Lila post!

Also seeing as Lila & Heroes Dy came up, I had a theory regarding that for Queens Second Chance. Obviously your story but its a thought. (Also I may blur over to 12 Kwami/Altered Butterfly lore a bit, apologies its habit XD)

So, LB & Chat know the gist of what went down in the future & that a big event is coming up on Heroes Day. What is the plan once QB spills all the tea?

Cos some part of them would just like to have Ladybug on hand to either deal with illusions or give a public statement to calm panic.

But this is also the only time Hawk Moth leaves his home base before 'whatever' he did in QB's original timeline that fucked them all up.

This is too good of a chance to waste!

Stage 1: Recruitment!

QB wants to recruit all the other heroes, Fu is strenuously against it, feeling that the original timelines bad end proves his point. However, he is compelled to at leas give them a test.

Kim doesn't, not just cos of himself though Luka probably can't/won't be picked for now cos Sass may be semi out of commission & regardless Fu wants Sass far away from HK. Max has a fifty fifty chance of being recruits given the powers of Voyage but he may be deemed a bit to "In his own head". Kagami is recruits as she already has combat skills & can & will fight even when lacking in powers.

Stage 2: Remove or ambush key Akuma.

The most important Akuma to Hawk Moth's plan or the most dangerous that will still show up are:

Nadja, integral for spreading panic Kim, because he can make more Akuma Volpina, the entire plan relies on her after all Sandboy, like fuck any of them want to deal with that again Minon, not integral to the plan but if she has dolls of them, they're screwed.

Minon is easy just swing by her house the night before & grab the dolls, promise her they'll come play with her later. Sandboy is harder, but maybe his family suddenly found themselves winning a deluxe holiday or basically any other reason to GTFO of Paris.

Kim could be handled by telling him the truth but there's fear HK won't show himself if things don't go too well, same for Nadja & Volpina. So rather than take them out before hand or right away the plan is to basically wait in ambush.

IE, Ladybug, Rena & Carapace will stealth up on Nadja to both drop her Akuma and make a public announcement on her camera to keep Paris calm.

Queen Bee, Chat & Kagami will be stalking Kim's flight path in order to ambush him the second Hawk Moth shows his face as Kim stayed in hiding to surprise Akumatize people.

This let's them reassure Paris, keep Kim calmed down so there's no new Akuma and catch HK flat footed. his army might be an issue but that is also what Kagami is for.

IE, she goes all Wind Dragon and blasts them away to clear a path to Hawk Moth. Then Carapace either needs to trap him or all of them in a shield so they can curbstomp his ass.

3: The Wheels come off

As fun as it'd be for this go succeed and end in a rousing round of Gabriel stomping. Gabriel is, for all his issues commanding an army, a good schemer. He will notice something is off either before this goes into motion or right when everything starts going to hell.

He's too proud to quit just like that though and does still have his army and so hopes to brute force it. Still, he almost certainly calls Lila in to act as his shadow and body double if shit goes south.

If its like canon, Nathalie may also make for the Peacock right away even if it means a big risk to her life.

Or Gabriel's survival instincts kick in & he starts manifesting a Familiar. early.

Whatever the case, with a combo of Lila & outsider intervention, he escapes.

Chloe likely destroys the nearest objects in a rage, cos yeah at this point HK almost certainly knows some kind of prophecy, time travel shenanigan's have happened.

This means he can blame all his failures on that rather than him sucking or his foes being perfect and is further enraged because it means he had won and they took it from him.

Cue a trip to Shanghai.

Note: also if Max was taken on he'd be on hand either for evacuation, or to help with scattering the villains, or the ambushes.

That's just my take though.

Fantastic plan!

[randomestfandoms-ocs]

Newly Named OCs

thank you thank you thank you @cecexwrites for talking me off the edge of a metaphorical cliff and helping me figure all of this out let's go

Upcoming Plot Bunnies (not going to share details now bc I'll post their asks once I make headers)

Vanya Baker – Gilmore Girls, x Max

Lillie Ledger – Bridgerton

Theodosia Byrd – Bridgerton, x Benedict

Samira Devlin – Supernatural

Archie Quinton – Doctor Who

Zenais Rosier – Harry Potter, x Pansy

The Society

Claire Tomkins ( Olivia Holt ) — Elle’s twin sister, thinks Campbell is a sketchy ass bitch

Luca Clarke ( Froy Gutierrez ) – poly Sam & Grizz OC, chaotic rich football player and leads the guard after Grizz goes on the expedition, hates Campbell

Camryn Clarke ( Madelyn Cline ) – poly Hallie OC, Luca's step sister and best friend, also Harry's best friend, rich bitch wild child

Jurassic World (blame Cece)

Joss Murphy ( Madelyn Cline ) – Lex's daughter, head empty

Courtney Krill ( Kristine Froseth ) – Vivian's younger sister, waitress on the island, x Matthew Steele

Matthew Steele ( Tom Holland ) – bar tender on the island but wants to one day work in the research & development department, x Courtney Krill

Miles Shepherd ( Chris Evans ) – runs security on whichever exhibit Devon runs, x Devon Grady

Elijah Lewis ( Dylan O'Brien ) – head 100% empty, x Raegan Mitchell

Everest Ledger ( Tom Hiddleston ) – head empty, future oc ship but can't decide between a few options

Tanner Kane ( Brenton Thwaites ) – head empty, future oc ship but can't decide between a few options

Kai Forrest ( Josh Hutcherson ) – head empty, future oc ship but can't decide between a few options

Decker Haynes ( Dwayne Johnson ) – head empty, future oc ship but can't decide between a few options

OUAT

Ariana Galanis / Ariadne Bayern ( Nicola Coulghan ) – Bluebeard's final wife, but Bluebeard is Peter Pan. Hook rescued her from being the latest sacrifice and hid her in the Enchanted Forest, but then the curse happens

Marigold "Goldie" Thistle / Thumbelina ( Sabrina Carpenter ) – Thumbelina, fairy princess, just vibes

Kieran Iverson / Ambrose Morvan ( Aaron Tveit ) – in the Enchanted Forest he was a travelling musician/writer but Regina killed his first love, he ended up leading a band of rebels fighting against her reign, tbd what he's doing in Storybrooke, x Pearl Gale

Bridgerton

Hermione Bridgerton ( Millie Bobby Brown ) – Hyacinth's twin, just vibes

Callum Linfield ( Henry Goulding ) – head empty just vibes, x Euphemia Bridgerton

Thomasin Elkins ( Anne Hathaway ) – widow in the ton, friends with Violet & Agatha (and Charlotte?), ends up starting a flirtation with Jon Lockwood which soon turns into more

Narnia

Molly Pevensie ( Millie Bobby Brown ) – Lucy's twin, ends up back in Narnia before them in Prince Caspian, has to survive alone when there are no Narnians to help or protect her and ends up befriending Caspian

Recasts / Updates

Eulalia Rosier ( Kacey Rohl ) – Carissa Rosier's new name

Lea Aldrich ( Grace Van Dien ) – Zoe Aldrich's new name / face

Mandy Holbrook ( Olivia Scott Welch ) – Mandy Holbrook's new face

Eilwony ( Kiernan Shipka ) – Eilwony's new face

[lea-andres]

Hi Lea!!

I remembered you mentioning your Penguin being a cross of several different Penguins, and I’d absolutely love to know what your favorite interpretations of his character are!

Do you have any reading (or watching/listening) recommendations centered around his character?

💕💕💕 I'm gonna slap a Read More on this lmao

I'm admittedly a bit picky with my Penguins. If he's thin and (conventionally) hot like he was in TellTale or in Gotham, I give some major side eye. TellTale Penguin was fine, I assume Gotham Penguin was fine but I haven't watched the show, but IDK. If he's not fat and ugly, he's not my Penguin (with one exception, lmao. We all know my one exception.)

I don't use them for MY Penguin interp, but I adore Burgess Meredith (1960s Batman) and Oswalda Cobblepot (there's my one exception lmao) very very much. Burgess Meredith might remain my favorite Penguin of all time. He's the king. And Oswalda Cobblepot, well, I'm a simple woman. I'll always be DTF happy with a murderous MILF lmao.

MY Penguin in my fics is a cursed (/aff) blend of The Animated Series, the Arkham games, and Gotham Knights, with a sprinkling of the comics Penguin: Pain and Prejudice, Joker's Asylum Penguin, and Penguin Triumphant. I also really enjoyed the Batman The Audio Adventures Penguin, and I'm quite enjoying the HBO Max Penguin TV show so far, so I plan to steal from those Penguins too lmao.

My recommendations are as follows:

-I do recommend the 60s series forever and always, but I do understand those are absolutely NOT for everyone lmao. So feel free to ignore that recommendation if it's not for you. But I will die on the hill that Burgess Meredith is THE Penguin. Danny Devito and Colin Farrell have come close, but no one's taking his crown. 💕

-My next fave Penguin is BTAS. Before everyone got their redesigns, preferably, but I still regard that as the same Penguin. (Reluctantly and bitterly lmao, they ruined him when they made him look more normal 😭)

-Do I need to even mention the Arkham games? Lmao. Suicide Squad exempt, we don't know her. 😔💔

-I LOVED Gotham Knights, their Penguin included. I like the idea of a "retired" Penguin reluctantly and kind of helping the Batfam.

-While I did find some of the later episodes a little weak, Oswalda Cobblepot in Caped Crusader was perfection. 👌

-Audio. 👏 Adventures. 👏 I can't stress it enough. Also a perfect Penguin. I was sold on him before we even properly "saw" him.

-I'm notoriously bad at reading comics (there's a whole backstory to this, but TL;DR I blame the Sonic fandom 100% for my struggles), but those three comics I mentioned earlier were Penguin: Pain and Prejudice, Joker's Asylum: Penguin, and Penguin Triumphant. The first two are a bit more deep looks at his character and story, while the latter is just his assholery at its finest lmao.

[teriwrites]

Below (Rewrite): Part 5

My Live Reactions to Reading Through My 2012 Novel

Classic Nick move, being gone for so long that the group is Panicking, walks up mid-panic to ask what's going on

Oh shit, he's been slated for termination for missing too much work (reader, he was missing work because he had a Broken Ankle)

Classic case of his termination appointment overlapping with their escape plan

'After that was done, it'd be easier than eating pie to escape.' that's not the phrase teri lol

Are we sure Nick's secondary power isn't invisibility? Bc this kid seems to go missing a lot lol

omg Nick gets a lil POV moment, love that

He's hiding out in Mary's nursing station ofc, and just seems to have realized that being a fugitive within the Institute is, yk, Not Good

oooo Kristen's Mean Girl is coming out to defend Nick from being ratted out by Betty (superstrength girl)

"Hey, we'll be fine," Max told me. "We've planned and planned for a while. Nothing will go wrong, Kristen, so stop worrying about it." famous last words bro

Raevin packing black clothes into her bag to break into the Institute is giving like Kim Possible lol ~teenage hero~

She's Shocked that Trinity doesn't want to go back to the prison she literally just broke out of, like, a week ago

'I ended up playing more than one game of tic-tac-toe with Lea in the dirt at our feet. She won a couple games, but I won most of them because I could tell what her next move would be.' lol using your mind reading to cheat a game of tic-tac-toe against a 9-year-old isn't the flex you think it is, Kristen

"What's wrong?" I asked Lea. "Why aren't there guards or anything. We can't honestly be this lucky." "It's a Sunday," Lea whispered back. "The scientists don't have work on Sundays, and there are few guards. Most mutants don't know what day it is, but you're able to read the scientists' minds and figure it out. We're pretty lucky." (omg an actual explanation for the days of the week thing)

"It's oddly quiet," Ben commented. I had completely forgotten he was with us.' he literally just knocked out a guard like a paragraph ago???

New Mr. J description: SEVEN FEET TALL, PURE MUSCLE

"Hey, weird, I didn't know that they hired retired NFL players to work as guards around here." "If you're trying to be witty, it really isn't working," the man told me dryly. (lmao he's so done with their shit already)

(2012!Teri, unfortunately the word 'goon' has a new meaning in 2025. It's tragic, I know, but that sentence means something else now)

'[Raevin] was wearing a leather jacket.' the funny thing about this is that Raevin described what she was wearing on their trip to the Institute, and nowhere was there a leather jacket mentioned, so apparently she just spawns those whenever she needs to look badass

Why tf is Nick not teleporting y'all away rn???

Oooo here it is!! The Maze sequence again

Kristen and Raevin have a much less friendly meeting in this draft, though fair, considering Raevin was just on the side of the man who got them into this mess in the first place

Oh shit Max isn't here yet

Guys quit yelling while you're still at risk of being killed, maybe

'Just then, a scream broke out in the maze, and it wasn't some weird illusion. All of us stopped, and stared towards the exit of the maze. Abruptly, the scream ended, and we all knew what had just happened. Max was dead.' (noooooooooooooooooooooooo max!!!)

Who could have seen this coming??

(...)

(that's like the one thing i remembered about his character LMAO)

Classic scene of someone (Raevin) holding back someone panicking (Kristen) from running back to the character who's already 'died'

Classic case of someone grieving/panicking (Kristen) blaming someone not really at fault (Nick)

'It was Remus, the son of Bob. The son of the monster who had founded this place.' Ah yes, Remus, the son of Bob. Of course, someone we've heard so much about. This confrontation makes total sense.

Apparently Kristen knows him???

Literally who is this man??

Sorry, who is this *teen???

ig just a plant for a future antagonist, Raevin took him out pretty quickly lol

And back to our regularly scheduled 'running away from the Elmore, Alabama Crew'

'There was no way any of us could outrun three adults.' literally why aren't you teleporting?? wasn't your whole plan to teleport from the start anyways???

They're outside!! They made it!! Except Mr. J's still, like, right there

"If we're able to run along the side of the road, a car could pass by, and then Mr. J would have to be a lot more careful with us," Raevin told me, panting as we continued to run across a ton of grass. I nodded, and we all swerved towards the road. However, Mr. J had a car, and it took no time at all for him to catch up with us. He looked at us, smirking, and said, "Hey, strangers, do you need a lift to the next town." (the image of the car just slowly pulling into their periphery's kinda funny ngl)

'He poured on the breaks, and we laughed as a police chase started down an empty road in the middle of nowhere.' (the gas, teri, he stepped on the gas)

Okay cut back to Nicole

Yaaaay demonic stuff! By which I mean omg this again

Ending Thoughts:

They made it! Well... most of them. R.I.P. Max, you were kind of annoying but in a mostly forgivable, teenage way. Actually though, I feel like things really picked up during this section! Or maybe they didn't and they've always been this wild, ngl I'm a little sick atm so my thoughts are a lil muddled lol It's a little funny how I really don't have much of a visual imagination, yet I can tell you so strongly that, despite their many similarities, the maze scene in draft 1 is Very Different from the maze scene in draft 2. I think trying to find a way to put those mental stages onto the page is something I still struggle with sometimes. But it's nice that I'm picturing something different here, because either that means the image is so solidly implanted in my brain that rereading this pulled it up from whatever recess of my mind it'd gotten lost in, or else reading this 'fresh' still does bring a different scene to mind. Anyways, I need to go eat something and stop looking at screens.

[ideas-on-paper]

I was thinking the same thing when the guy suddenly said: "I'm... sorry, you want to know the year?"

Like yes??? Please?!? I'd love to be able to actually understand this game's super vague timeline!

Given that we see what looks like a younger Spring, I also agree that it can't be too far back - I also think that the Petrification Disease had been a thing in Krat for a longer time, though what does make me curious is the existence of Ergo monsters. I previously had assumed these might have originated from the Charity House/Rose Estate Incident, or at least Simon's experiments - however, this max-size durian thing we saw in the trailer that looks very much like those at the cathedral/Lorenzini Arcade might be located in an experiment chamber of the Alchemists, judging by the background. (You can see one of those stone statues that are typical of the Arche Abbey.)

Also, some additional things to note about the winter setting: In the very first trailer of the game, they also showed Krat in winter - and, just as it happens, we see Geppetto putting the Nameless Puppet (Frankenstein Carlo) to the test in that trailer. (At least that's what we can assume given that Geppetto is dragging around the same suitcase he kept the NP in.)

Second, the lyrics of the song "Someday" - which is headcanoned as Romeo's song by some people (which I feel inclined to agree with) - actually mentions "snowflakes shining in the night sky", and the record's description says it's a song about "waiting for a departed lover". (Here's the full translated lyrics, for reference.)

I'm aware this might be a bit of a stretch, but... What if the DLC transports us back into the time shortly before Carlo dies? What if Carlo left for some reason and Romeo was waiting for him, but he never came back? Also, this would mean that the Puppet Frenzy/the Absolute Apocalypse™ occurred shortly afterwards, since it's still winter at the point of the first teaser. (Which would fit in with the theory that the Puppet Frenzy is a fairly recent occurrence.)

It's quite likely that the Legendary Stalker also had a relationship to Carlo and Romeo - the line "I wish I'd got here sooner..." has been previously interpreted by @lopposting as her personally blaming herself for Carlo's death (like if she got there sooner she could've prevented it), an impression that's further reinforced by the trailer.

What's interesting to me though is that the Legendary Stalker - Lea, as she's officially named - seems to know that they were thrown back in time (as she wants to avoid making the same mistake again). So, how does she know this?

Also, given that she's fiercely determined to prevent his death, that must mean Carlo is still alive at this point. Now, this sort of brought me back to my old idea of Pinocchio meeting the former classmates of Geppetto's son - just imagine the absolute chaos that would ensue if Carlo and Romeo were to actually meet P. (Romeo: "Hey Carlo! Um... What's up with your arm?" Carlo: "What the fuck is that?!?")

Oh well. At least it looks like we're going to meet the actual Alidoro in the DLC - which is pretty cool, ngl. :-)

I have many thoughts about the trailer - I do love it when we get a tone of infos without context so we're baited into putting things together. How to get a community invested 101, really, please more of that, this is one of the rare things in life that give me dopamine.

One thing I'd like to point out is the mention of a year. Will we have a clearer understanding of the timeline? It being messy in games kinda makes sense between the sudden, incredible violence that can make people feel like a week is a whole year, and Sophia's time manipulation that blurs everything.

I would LOVE to get a clearer timeline, because I do like to keep my events in proper order.

Seeing the Legendary Stalker in this context, aside from making me tear up on first watch (and yes, I had to refrain from screaming in the office but I also stopped working solely to rewatch it multiple times lol), makes me wonder. If we're having more time shenanigans, some details to note: it mustn't be TOO far in the past because Spring seems younger (smaller and fuzzier, like a young cat/kitten), yet the Petrification Disease must already very much be a thing if we meet the Legendary Stalker at that point in time, based on her "not being late" line (THANKS FOR THE HEARTWRENCH NEOWIZ - btw they did have a quarantine area as well when things started going to shit with the puppets, so it'd make a lot of sense to have the Petrification Disease predate it too, although it wasn't clear for how long that specific issue has been on-going).

I'll share more thoughts later, after multiple rewatches, and also because if I don't get back to work now, I'll get yelled at by a pesky manager.

[arctic-comet]

Osblaine week 2021, Day 2: Lyrics

Over the last several weeks, I have carefully curated a playlist for Osblaine. The final total length of the playlist is 2 hours and 53 minutes.

The playlist can be found HERE

Click "Keep Reading" if you're interested in the introduction, commentary, more graphics and the full tracklist.

For full disclosure, I have to give some of the credit to my amazing fellow Osblaine fangirls @dystopiandramaqueen, @splitscreen and everyone who participated in a certain conversation for the original inspiration and even bringing up some of the songs.

You should look at the playlist in five parts: one section for each season that's aired and one section for the future (because I like to end things on a hopeful note).

The playlist contains a lot of the following:

Music from movie and TV soundtracks

Instrumental music

Remixes

Classics and covers of classics

Country music. I blame Florida. My sincerest apologies.

Some of the songs were chosen because they reminded me of a certain Osblaine scene, and some of them aren't specific to particular scenes but chosen for the general Osblaine vibe. And most of the movie/TV music I chose have been used for couples that remind me of Nick and June.

Part I- Season 1, first 12 songs of the playlist:

Forbidden Love- Abel Korzeniowski, Jasper Randall, The Hollywood Studio Symphony (Romeo & Juliet)

Fireflies- Owl City

Echoes in Rain- Enya

My Ghost- Glass Pear (Bones)

Daring to Hope- Anne Dudley (Poldark)

Everytime We Touch- Cascada

1000 Times- Sara Bareilles

Too Good At Goodbyes- Sam Smith

In Case You Don't Live Forever- Ben Platt

To Find You- Cast of Sing Street, Brenock O’Connor

She- Elvis Costello (Notting Hill)

Miracle- Instrumental- Cö Shu Nie

Hanging By A Moment- Lifehouse

Commentary:

The first instrumental song IMO works as an intro for their entire love story.

The next two songs are more about having the right vibe. It's a little ambiguous and dark because that's how their life is in Gilead.

Leave my door open just a crack

Please take me away from here

'Cause I feel like such an insomniac

Please take me away from here

Why do I tire of counting sheep?

Please take me away from here

When I'm far too tired to fall asleep

***

Wait for the sun

Watching the sky

Black as a crow

Night passes by

Taking the stars

So far away

Everything flows

Here comes another new day

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah

***

"My Ghost" is June's POV before they sleep together, wondering if she can trust Nick:

Who can you trust, in this place?

And whom can I put my faith?

If you're real, then show me now,

Who you are

The last two songs are for episode 1x10, for both Nick’s reaction to June’s pregnancy and the beginning of her first escape attempt (arranged by Nick).

She may be the face I can't forget The trace of pleasure or regret May be my treasure or the price I have to pay She may be the song that summer sings Maybe the chill that autumn brings Maybe a hundred different things Within the measure of a day

Part II- Season 2, next 10 songs:

Love Will Keep Us Alive- Eagles

So Easy- Phillip Phillips

Incomplete- James Bay

Rewrite the Stars- The Piano Guys (The Greatest Showman)

I’ll Be Your Shelter- Taylor Dayne

Love Never Fails- Brandon Heath

P.S. I Love You- 05:11- John Powell (P.S. I Love You)

It's A Girl- Mychel Danna (The Time Traveler's Wife)

I'll Stand By You- Josh Groban, Helene Fischer

The Miracle of Love- Eurythmics

Commentary:

The first four songs cover June’s escape attempt and the time they share at the Boston Globe.

"Incomplete" is Nick's POV from when she's on the run and he knows she'll be gone from his life soon. He lives in the moment.

I don't wanna look down

I don't want us to break up in the clouds

All I want is to stay us, to stay with you now

"I'll Be Your Shelter" is for when June's mental health is at its lowest point and he goes to Serena to beg for her to get June help.

What you need is a friend to count on

What you got baby you got someone

Who will stay when the rain is fallin'

And won't let it fall on you

P.S. I Love You takes me back to episode 2.09, Nick’s selflessness in the episode and of course the scene where after telling June that Luke loves her, he tells her that he loves her too, despite believing she probably doesn’t feel the same way.

It's A Girl makes me think of the beautiful moment they share during June's false labor when he helps her out of the van and they climb the steps together.

I’ll Stand By You is for 2.10, Nick holding June after she was heartbroken over Hannah and over what the Waterfords did to her and clinging onto him.

Part III- Season 3, next 6 songs:

Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close- Alexandre Desplat (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close)

All I Ask- Adele

Never Enough- Loren Allred (The Greatest Showman)

I Don’t Wanna Live Forever- Taylor Swift, ZAYN (Fifty Shades Darker)

Love is Gone- SLANDER, Dylan Matthew

Constellations- The Oh Hellos

Commentary:

For obvious reasons, it was extremely difficult to pick songs for this season.

The first (instrumental) song is for the beginning of the season with June coming back to the Waterford house and them then saying goodbye to each other on the street.

All I Ask, Never Enough, I Don't Wanna Live Forever and Love Is Gone are for their night together in June’s room at Lawrence’s (the one we didn’t get to see sigh). They know it's possible it's all they'll ever have, and they'll take it, but it'll never be enough.

I will leave my heart at the door I won't say a word They've all been said before, you know So why don't we just play pretend? Like we're not scared of what's coming next Or scared of having nothing left

Look, don't get me wrong I know there is no tomorrow All I ask is

If this is my last night with you Hold me like I'm more than just a friend Give me a memory I can use Take me by the hand while we do what lovers do It matters how this ends 'Cause what if I never love again?

***

All the shine of a thousand spotlights

All the stars we steal from the night sky

Will never be enough

Never be enough

Towers of gold are still too little

These hands could hold the world but it'll

Never be enough

Never be enough

***

I'm sorry, don't leave me, I want you here with me

I know that your love is gone

I can't breathe, I'm so weak, I know this isn't easy

Don't tell me that your love is gone

That your love is gone

"Constellations" is for their long separation and the doubts that I'm sure plagued them both during it. Would they ever see each other again?

Part IV- S4, next 12 songs:

All of Me- John Legend

(Everything I do) I Do It For You- Bryan Adams

Iris- Natalie Taylor (City of Angels)

She Was Like A Bright Light- Hans Zimmer, Rupert Greyson-Williams (Winter’s Tale)

Noah's Last Letter- Aaron Zigman (The Notebook)

What’s In The Middle- the bird and the bee (Bones)

ivy- Taylor Swift

Footprints in the Sand- Leona Lewis

Remember Me (Lullaby)- Gael Garcia Bernal, Gabriella Flores (Coco)

On The Nature Of Daylight- Max Richter

My Heart Will Go On- Basil Jose (Titanic)

The Story- Sara Ramirez (Grey's Anatomy)

Commentary:

There were sooo many songs I wanted to include in part IV, but I controlled myself and ended up with this particular dozen.

"She Was Like A Bright Light" and "Noah’s Last Letter" are an instrumental double punch to the gut for Nick’s time in Gilead during episodes 4.07-4.09. The first one is meant for when he finds out June made it to Canada, and the 2nd for is for when he starts to gather info on Hannah to give to June.

"What’s in the Middle" and "ivy" are June’s POV of episodes 4.07-4.09.

"What's In The Middle" has more of an angry and confused vibe, and June was definitely both in episodes 7 and 8.

Losing your head is such a common theme

All your brains are falling out, falling out the open seams

Where is the heart, is the heart of the matter

I will empty out my skull of all this useless chatter

On the other hand, "ivy" has this haunted vibe, but there's also reverence and acceptance, which she begins to achieve in episode 9.

Oh, goddamn

My pain fits in the palm of your freezing hand

Taking mine, but it's been promised to another

Oh, I can't

Stop you putting roots in my dreamland

My house of stone, your ivy grows

And now I'm covered in you

The next three songs are of course all for their reunion in 4.09, and I couldn’t resist including the song that was actually played in the scene.

"The Story" draws the season to a close nicely, with June understanding that her current needs are different from what they used to be and that there’s someone who understands her completely (and it’s not Luke).

You see the smile that's on my mouth

It's hiding the words that don't come out

And all of my friends who think that I'm blessed

They don't know my head is a mess

No, they don't know who I really am

And they don't know what I've been through like you do

And I was made for you

Part V- Season 5 and Beyond, the last 6 songs

Secret Love Song- Little Mix, Jason Derulo

Burn With You- Lea Michele

The Bones- Maren Morris

Feels Like Home- Auli'i Carvalho, Keegan DeWitt

Love Will Find A Way- Piano Covers (Lion King II)

Like I'll Never Love You Again- Carrie Underwood

“Secret Love Song” is a more angsty tune about a love that’s still kept a secret like June and Nick’s love (as far as most people are concerned). Now that they’ve already made out in front of the man who raped and abused June and made Nick watch him do that, I want to believe they can let go of the secrecy in S5, at least when it comes to a few people.

I'm living for that day Someday Can I hold you in the street? Why can't I kiss you on the dancefloor? I wish that we could be like that Why can't we it be like that? Cause I'm yours, I'm yours Why can't you hold me in the street? Why can't I kiss you on the dancefloor? I wish that it could be like that Why can't it be like that? Cause I'm yours Why can't I say that I'm in love? I wanna shout it from the rooftops I wish that it could be like that Why can't we be like that? Cause I'm yours Why can't we be like that? Wish we could be like that

***

“Bones” is about a relationship with a strong foundation, which IMO they do have. It will carry them in the future, too. They’re more into each other now than ever before and especially June is coming to terms with how strong that love is. They’ll weather any storm.

When the bones are good, the rest don't matter

Yeah, the paint could peel, the glass could shatter

Let it break 'cause you and I remain the same

When there ain't a crack in the foundation

Baby, I know any storm we're facing

Will blow right over while we stay put

The house don't fall when the bones are good

***

“Feels Like Home” is more hopeful. Their home is with each other and I hope that’s something that will be explored more in the future.

Take me, I'm ready

Go slow but go steady

To a place that we can call our own

I wanna know what feels like home

***

“Like I’ll Never Love You Again” is a good conclusion for the playlist. It’s hopeful and a testament to an epic love.

I wanna love you like the rain on a roof

Stronger than a bottle of a hundred ten proof

I wanna take love to places that love has never been

Yeah, I wanna love you like I'll never love you again

And I'll love you again

Oh, and again

[crystalelemental]

General status update for Dragalia Lost progress.

I’m getting my shit rocked at this point.  Not as bad as you think, but still pretty bad.

Every team is now at least 30k might.  So that’s pretty decent, definitely satisfied there.  We can beat every Expert Agito fight on co-op, which is also really nice.  We have not yet beaten a single Master level fight of them, however.  Which is distressing, to say the least.

Maybe I’ve over-emphasized the Shadow Agito weapons, but we really only have resources from Kai Yan left.  I focused on the trees, and have capped out Light, Shadow, and Wind.  Water I need to gather tier 1 drops, and Fire has another 5 upgrades now, so that’s fun.  But I don’t like farming them too much, so I’ve been making Dragon weapons for the non-Shadow teams, using the weekly bonus drops from the High Dragon Trials.  It’s been going alright.  Once I can get the Light Wand to 4 unbinds I’ll be satisfied.  I’m not about to spend resources upgrading the 5-8 unbinds, though.  Those are for Damascus Ingots, no matter how long it takes to farm them out.  Sure I need like 16 and currently have 2, but we’ll get there eventually and I’m willing to be patient on this one.

The main trouble is the Mercurial Gauntlet.  I’m four clears away from having the maximum amount of Eldwater I can get per month.  Yes, that’s only like 1900 eldwater, and that’s really not that much anyway, but I feel like it’s the principle of the matter and I’d like to get there before the payout this month.  Which is proving challenging.

Water is basically deadlocked, in large part because I only have maxed out Chimera weapons on them.  I can’t bring myself to upgrade further than that.  Farming Agito resources isn’t fun, and fuck the High Mercury fight.  To make matters worse, I’m...not exactly sold on the current team.  I have Gala Elisanne, and have been trying to make use of her.  While her attacking skill does incredibly good damage, it...really does not go off very often, so I’m not sure I like it that much.  Pinon and Lily are solid offensive support, but I’m also not that invested in either.  And Nurse Aeleen is...mana spiral when?  The point is, if I’m going to change them out, farming out Agito resources and the rupees needed to make those weapons is asking a lot.  So they’re my weakest team by far, and will likely stay that way until I can figure out what the hell I’m doing.

Wind team is solid.  Maribelle is great for offensive damage with Vayu, while Kirsty and Valentine’s Melody have great poison-focused damage output as well.  I run Akasha for right now, but honestly might swap to Formal Noelle once I can complete her last few mana nodes.  The added damage from Poisoned Punisher is really, really nice, and while I enjoy the faster skill charge from Akasha’s S2, it only happens like twice in the entire two-minute fight with Roy Fafnir.  Which is pretty bad, actually!  Akasha’s another I feel like kinda needs a Mana Spiral.  Maybe one day.

Light’s pretty good too.  Gala Zena, Yukata Curran, Radiant Xuan Zang, and I recently had to make the tough call to swap out Odetta for Summer Cleo.  Triple paralysis focus.  The DPS is strong, but also just slightly under where it needs to be.  I blame this largely on a lack of good dragons.  Seriously, we have Gala Thor, and he’s great, but my only other options are High Jupiter, Cupid, Liger, and Tie Shan Gongzhu.  Whose skill haste is nice, I will admit.  But lacking any unbinds is kinda painful for the overall might.  It sucks seeing your same-element dragon be applied and your might go down a few hundred points from just running Gold Fafnir.  We’re really close to beating the next step, but we’re gonna need a lot more than that to clear four rounds.

Basically, if either Wind or Light can clear their remaining rounds, we’ll make it to max eldwater rewards.  If Water clears, we’d still need one more.  So I’m focusing my efforts on Wind and Light.  And to that end, I’m considering using up my Sunlight Stones.

The big considerations are Vayu, and Tie Shan Gongzhu.  Both of them have no unbindings at all.  Vayu feels more valuable, given the raw damage output that another 20% increase to skill damage and however much strength we gain would do for Maribelle, who stacks skill haste and has Akasha to speed up those skills’ activation.  Tie Shan Gongzhu is mostly because Light is the closest element to clearing what we need, and she might push us over that edge.  I could also start working on farming out Cupid essences.  With ten days left, I won’t quite make max unbinding, but since we have two already we could at least make it to three, which could help.

That said, there’s another option that involves focusing entirely on Wind team.  4 stones to Vayu, two to Mids Zero, and two to Ariel.  That caps out all the dragons being used on Wind team, and would increase a lot of skill damage and skill haste effects being used.  Unfortunately that spends everything at once.  Which isn’t exactly ideal.  I know Sunlight Stones should probably be saved for Gala dragons, and in particular my Gala Poseidon should probably take them since he’s the only other Gala dragon I have.  And then there’s the fact I’d be doing all of this for like 1900 eldwater, and you get more than that just pulling a 4* duplicate unit.  So it’s probably not worth it.  But I am tempted.

Beyond that, it’s mostly just focusing on structures at this point.  I’ve pretty much given up on Master Agito.  It takes forever to even get into a room for one, and you lose pretty much immediately every time anyway.  It’s just not fun at all, and I have no desire to keep pushing for it.  The only other content I’m now stuck on is the Tier 3 raid battles in the current event.  Which I think counts as an Astral battle, so I’m working on getting Void weapons for the Light team up to 5 unbinds, so they can all pack Astral Bane, in hopes that helps.

I’ve spent a ton of stamina resources on farming out elemental orbs and the insignias from Imperial Onslaught.  I’ve capped both Lance, Staff, Wand, and Bow dojos, and am working on dagger and axe.  Those have direct benefits for Shadow team, Wind team, and Light team.  Less directly, it also helps Water team.  I don’t have a single Blade unit or Manacaster unit, and the only Sword unit now is Lea on Fire team, so that one can wait.  I’ve also got one of each elemental altar maxed out, so we’re approaching the point where individual character might is kinda hitting its limit.  Which is good, less to fuss about.

Last thing to note: I have 4 tenfold summon tickets, 30 single pull summon tickets, and over 10k wyrmite.  Which is not even nearly enough for a spark.  Fortunately, I also can’t say I’ve cared about anything since Formal Noelle.  And given the talk about Persona 5 crossover, and Gala Chelle likely not being for a few months, I’m pretty confident I’m in the clear.  With any luck, the pushback about wyrmite output being cut nearly in half will cause them to up their game again, and it won’t take so long to gather resources.  It’s probably because of that, but man, I remember people talking about this game as if it were the most generous thing in the world, and it very does not feel that way at all between limited summoning resources, AND not even getting a single free summon like you do in FEH.

[justlightlysedated]

winged or chained (would you have stayed)

written for the @michaelguerinweek day two prompt, distance

Michael has a question. Alex has the answer.

*

Alex is still sleeping when Michael stops the truck and gets out.

He closes the door, carefully, and moves towards the front of the truck. He leans back against the hood even though it's still hot and stares at the inky blackness of the water as it gently laps against the shore. Michael knows that the sun isn't going to be rising anytime soon, but the moon is still big and heavy in the sky, illuminating the pier.

He's not sure how long he spends watching the water, but the next thing he's fully aware of is the creaking sound of the passenger side door opening as Alex gets out.

He doesn't turn to him, but he can see Alex clearly, stretching his hands up into the air and twisting to get the kinks out of his back from falling asleep sitting down, running his hands through his hair and making it even more of a mess, before he rubs his eyes and yawns loudly, mouth open wide.

He feels it when Alex leans on the truck beside him, keeping a careful distance between the two of them.

"Where are we?" He asks voice a little hoarse from sleep.

"Lea Lake," Michael answers, voice cracking from disuse.

Alex hums thoughtfully probably surprised that they didn't get any farther than a couple of miles outside of Roswell.

"Remember the field trip we took here, freshman year?"

Alex hums again, this time in confusion, not because he doesn't know what Michael is talking about, but because he doesn't understand why Michael is bringing it up right now.

"That was the first time that I actually noticed you," Michael continues, and he can feel how Alex goes still beside him.

"There were these kids teasing me about my dirty clothes and the way that I smelled and my messy hair and they were touching and messing with my things, and I was about, maybe three seconds away from saying fuck it and blasting all of them several feet away, when you came out of nowhere and punched the ringleader in the face. I'm pretty sure that you broke his nose. You had to spend the rest of the trip practically tied to one of the chaperones, and I couldn't stop staring at you."

Michael turns to Alex who is staring at the lake, arms crossed across his chest like he's cold.

Michael shrugs out of his jacket and shakes it in front of Alex's face.

Alex turns to him, a quizzical look on his face, but he must be really cold because he just exhales roughly and takes the jacket from Michael's hand, carefully so that he doesn't touch him.

He slides the jacket on, and Michael continues to watch him as he sticks his hands in the pocket and continues to look out across the lake.

"Is there a point to that story?" He asks, voice stilted and without emotion.

"This is where it started for me," Michael replies and Alex goes still once again. "No one had ever defended me before then. Max and Isobel tried their best, but they didn't want to call attention to themselves. You were the only one here that day who put themselves on the line for me, because the teachers they all just let it happen." 

Michael looks away from Alex then, and back up to the sky and the heavy moon.

"I don't think I ever thanked you for that."

Alex sighs, and Michael feels him move a little, leaning harder against the truck.

"I did break his nose," Alex confirms. "And if it were anyone but Chief Sergeant Carter's son, my father would've been proud, but instead he made me write an apology letter, and then slammed me so hard into the wall that he broke my nose. I missed school for a week and everyone thought that it was because I got suspended."

Michael swallows hard, gaze falling back to Alex as he tries to speak, but his throat feels too dry.

It's not that he didn't know that Alex's father was a homophobic abusive asshole, he'd just recently learned how much exactly. It was more to do with the blasé tone that Alex said it in.

"Alex," Michael manages to choke out. "I'm-"

"No," Alex says cutting him off. "You really don't have to apologize. You did nothing wrong, and I did nothing wrong. My father is just a homophobic abusive asshole."

Michael's mouth snaps shut and he swallows hard looking away.

They're quiet for a while before Alex sighs, "For me it was when you asked me if I was okay at prom, no one ever really asks me that. It really wasn’t when I noticed you, but it was when I first realized that there could be more.”

Michael nods his head but doesn’t look back at Alex.

“Why are we here, Guerin? You dragged me out of bed and told me you would literally drag me into your truck if I didn’t come willingly, so what do you want?”

“I need to ask you something,” Michael says, breathing out slowly. “And I need you to be completely honest with me, okay?”

He looks at Alex then, just as Alex turns to look at him.

“I’m always honest with you,” Alex answers, looking away again.

Michael inhales sharply and nods his head once. 

“I need to know," he says and swallows the nervous desperate feeling he can feel clawing up his throat. "Do you still love me?"

The question startles Alex into motion. He pushes away from the truck, and moves to stand right in front of Michael, and when Michael's eyes focus on him all he can see is rage and pain.

“Why would you ask me that?” he asks moving back when Michael pushes off the truck as well. “How can you ask me that? Like you didn’t tell me that I was the worst thing to ever happen to you on this planet.”

“Alex-” Michael says, but Alex just continues to talk over him.

“Like you didn’t push me away when all I was trying to do was be there for you!”

“Alex-”

“Like you didn’t try and fail and try and fail and fucking try again to have a relationship with my best friend for months until it crashed and burned, leaving me to pick up the pieces of you both!”

Michael closes his eyes and breathes in deeply, and Alex just keeps going.

“Like you actually care about the answer!”

Michael’s eyes snap open at that and he’s moving shaking his head. “Because I do, Alex! I do!"

Alex just scoffs and turns around to face the lake again, arms crossed across his chest like he's protecting himself.

Michael just swallows again and steps closer, lifting a hand to put on Alex's back, but then dropping it back down and curling his fingers to a fist.

"Alex," he says, and Alex seems to go even more still. "Alex, please, it's a simple question with a yes or no answer."

Alex just shakes his head and he looks down.

“Alex,” he says again, and this time he can’t stop himself from reaching out.

Alex swirls around before he can, eyes going a little wide when he sees how close Michael is.

“No,” he says, voice shaking a little, but the word hits Michael square in the chest, like a well timed punch. And then he licks his lips and stares Michael right in the eyes.

“No,” he repeats, his eyes shining bright. “I don’t love you.”

Michael feels those words like a gunshot, right into his heart.

“I used to think that by holding on to this thing between us, I would be able to keep a part of you, but all it did was make me miserable. So I let you go, so that you could be happy, because it’s what you wanted.”

Michael blinks and nods his head, inhaling deeply and looking away.

It was the answer that he was expecting, but he was in no way prepared to hear it. But it did make it easier to make the choice.

He exhales roughly and turns towards the truck, walking to the back and pulling the bag he had back there, and walking back towards the front of the truck.

He drops the bag right by his feet and then tugs the truck keys out of his pocket.

When he looks at Alex, Alex is staring at him with a furrowed brow.

Michael tosses the keys at him, and Alex catches them automatically.

"What-?" He starts to ask, but Michael cuts him off.

"Just take the truck back home, I don't need it anymore."

"Why?" Alex demands, but Michael just shakes his head and walks past him towards the shore of the lake.

"Guerin," Alex snaps in a terrified voice, and Michael stops feeling Alex's hand on his arm, fingers gripping tightly, holding him in place.

Michael doesn't turn to him.

"How are you going to get home if I take your truck?"

Michael doesn't answer the question, because Alex should already know the answer to that.

"There's a spaceship hidden at the bottom of that lake," he says instead and feels Alex's fingers tighten on his arm, hears Alex's sharp intake of breath.

"I'm going to drag it out, and I'm going to make sure that it's in proper working order and then I'm going to leave this planet."

Alex's fingers go even tighter.

"Where are you going to go?" He demands. "Your planet was torn apart by a civil war."

"It's been years since then," Michael says. "Maybe things are different now."

"And maybe they're exactly the same!" Alex snaps and turns Michael around to face him. 

Michael refuses to look at him in the face.

"Why are you doing this?" He asks, voice low and broken, and Michael shuts his eyes.

"I don't belong here. I never have. I tried so hard, but in the end I've always been the odd one out."

"What about Max and Isobel? Did you tell them what you were doing?"

"Max and Liz are planning on taking a road trip all across the United States this summer and Isobel seems to be intent on making an honest man out of Kyle. They're happy here. They don't need me."

He hears Alex breath in shakily. "That's why you brought me here. You wanted me to give you a reason to stay. So that what, you could blame me the next time something terrible happens because it wouldn't have if I had just let you go?"

Michael's eyes open at that, and he looks at Alex and his chest aches when he sees the tears streaming down his face. 

"No," Michael shakes his head. "You were the only person who ever made me feel like there was a home for me here, and I just needed to know that there was no hope."

"But there is," Alex says, and he moves in closer, hands coming up to catch the collar of Michael's shirt. "There is, Michael I lied."

Michael closes his eyes again. 

"I do love you, I do. I always have, but you just got out of a relationship with someone that I care about and I can't just jump into one with you knowing how much it's going to hurt her. You have to give me time."

Michael shudders, and Alex moves even closer, dropping his forehead to Michael's, so close that Michael can feel his breath on his mouth. 

"I don't know how to bridge the distance between us, but I want to try, and it won't be possible if you're not here to try with me."

Michael shuts his eyes even tighter.

"Give me a year, one year to try to make this work between us, but you have to actually try, for real. And if in one year, you still want to run away as far as you possibly can, I won't stop you."

Michael inhales deeply and then opens his eyes. Alex is so close and his eyes are wide and wet and honest.

"We couldn't make it work in ten years, what makes you think that one more year will do the trick?"

Alex swallows hard, but he doesn't move away, and he doesn't close his eyes. 

"I was so scared that something bad would happen to you and it would all be my fault that I kept you at arm's length, hoping it would be enough, but it didn't matter, my father still managed to hurt you, while I was trying so hard to keep you safe."

Michael just stares at Alex waiting for the answer.

"I'm not scared anymore, not of him, and not of this. I love you, and I want this to work, but it won't if you're not in it."

Michael opens his mouth to protest, but Alex just talks over him. 

"You've always had one foot out the door, Guerin. I need you to be here with me, completely or it won't work."

Michael licks his lips and pulls back a little to look at Alex in the eyes.

Alex looks back at him, unblinkingly.

"Okay," Michael says and feels the way that Alex seems to go boneless against him, swaying closer. "One year."

Alex drops his forehead to Michael's, closing his eyes, and sighs in relief.

Michael wraps his arms around Alex holding him tight, and vowing silently, to never let him go again.

[sorrowmarked-a]

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD (2015) || accepting 

“i got a boot.”  -- @theintrepid

Jess stared at her open mouthed for a solid thirty seconds, her eyes shifting from Karen’s face to the boot in her hand. This was why she worked alone, you know at leas to Trish’s credit, she could beat the crap out of someone with her bare hands. Boy she really didn’t want to explain to Matt that she had gotten his friend killed, somehow she just figured that he wouldn’t be thrilled about that. Even though ... to be fair ... she was pretty sure his friend was a trouble magnet. 

A trouble magnet. With a boot. Jess really would have preferred like a bat or a taser or secret martial arts training. A boot wasn’t going to do much good in a fight. 

“Okay, well, why don’t you put that down, in case someone is missing something, and then, I want you to duck some place, some place behind me. Because when those guys bust through that door in about a minute, I really get the feeling that if something happens to you, I’m going to get blamed for it.” 

Reaching over Jess took her by both shoulders, and turning planted her behind her. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this. I think.” 

[lyxchen]

Maxine is so adhd and it's actually painfully obvious to me, I love her so much!!!!

[hunnywrites]

Arcade Dreams: Chapter Ten

Summary: There’s a new girl working at the Palace Arcade and Hawkins’ Family Video. Billy can’t stand her, and the feeling is mutual. No matter what everyone else seems to think.

Pairing: Billy Hargrove/OFC

A/N: I’m so excited to finally post this chapter. There’s some chapters later on that I’m excited to share but this is probably one of my favorite chapters for this fic. I hope y’all enjoy it as much as I did!

It turned out that everything was closed in Hawkins on Christmas. So Teddi’s initial, pathetic plan of hiding out in the coffee shop for the day with Lord of the Rings was a bust. It had been different in New York. If there hadn’t been anything in town open, Teddi could always make the short drive into the city and something would be open. She’d spent a lot of Christmases in Chinese food joints with a book over the years. Now she was resigned to going to her spot at the lake. The kids had told her about it. She’d overheard them talking about a place they called Bywater Pool and the Tolkien fan in her had to know all about it. 

Usually on Christmas her family would play pretend for just a little while. They’d wake up relatively early and Teddi would get her gift before they went their separate ways for the rest of the day. This Christmas her dad wasn’t even home. Her mom had mentioned he’d got some overtime working on the mall and he wouldn’t be home until late that night. So Teddi made herself some toast with jam and headed out for her very lonely Christmas day while her mom stayed home and did...whatever it was that she did all day. Teddi didn’t really know. Or care.

She didn’t go to the lake often. It had been easier when she had first moved to Hawkins and it hadn’t been so cold. Teddi would drive out, park next to the water and flip the radio on while she sat on the hood of her van and read a book until she finally managed to drag herself back home. Now the lake would be frozen over and everything would be covered in snow. But it would be peaceful and she’d get out of the house. That’s what really mattered. 

But of course, as most things lately, things wouldn’t go according to plan. As Teddi got closer to the lake, she realized there was another car parked by the water. And not just any car. Billy’s Camaro. She gripped her steering wheel tightly. Of all the places in Hawkins, on all of the days, why did he have to be here at her spot? Teddi pulled up next to him, rolling down her window and glaring over at him. Billy was reclined back in his seat, eyes trained out on the frozen water and smoking a cigarette. His radio was playing so loudly she was sure he hadn’t heard her pull up. 

“Seriously, are you actually stalking me, Hargrove?” she asked with a loud huff. Billy’s head snapped over in her direction, suddenly aware that he was no longer alone, and rolled his eyes when he spotted Teddi practically pouting at him. “It’s Christmas. Don’t you have anything better to do?” 

“I could ask you the same thing, Larsson. This is my spot.” he blew smoke out in her direction.

Teddi scoffed. “Your spot? It’s my spot. I’ve never seen you here before.” she argued. Despite how tired he looked, Billy smirked.

“That’s probably ‘cause I come here later than you.” 

Gross, Teddi thought as her nose scrunched up. “Please don’t tell me this is where you bring girls.”

“Fine, I won’t tell you.” Teddi rolled her eyes at the smug look on Billy’s face and turned away from him. She grabbed her book and settled in for a long day of the never ending quest that was continuing to ignore Billy Hargrove. It didn’t last long. She hadn’t even read half a page before she found herself looking over at him out of the corner of her eyes. Why wouldn’t he be home on Christmas morning? Where was Max? Had he heard about the rumor that Tommy H had started? And if he had, why wasn’t he teasing her about it?

“...Have you spoken to Heather?” she found herself suddenly asking. 

“No. Why would I?” he had a point. He was social at work, sure, but outside of that he mostly kept to himself unless Teddi was around for him to torment. 

She felt a little relieved though. Clearly he hadn’t heard. Teddi shook her head. “Nothing. She just called me yesterday about something stupid Tommy told her,” Billy didn’t say anything, he just rose his eyebrows expectantly as he waited for her to spill the beans. Teddi huffed and set down her book. “He said he found Cheryl and Brian hooking up, and then when he saw you carrying me out to the car…” she didn’t finish the rest. She didn’t need to. Billy chuckled. 

“If Heather actually thinks I got in your pants then she doesn’t know you all that well, Larsson.” Teddi let out a small laugh herself. Again, he had a point. She was also a little surprised he wasn’t taking the opportunity to tease her.

“Are you…,” Teddi scratched the back of her neck awkwardly. “Are you okay? I mean, you’re here and not home…” 

Billy flicked the butt of his cigarette out of the window with a shrug. “I’m fine. Just don’t feel like being home. Like you.” that gave Teddi an entire list of questions that she wanted to ask him, but she knew better than that. If she pushed then he would just snap at her as per usual. 

So she settled for a less complicated question. “You hate Christmas too, huh?” she almost winced at how stupid she sounded. But if it was one thing the two of them bonded over, it was things they both hated. 

“You could say that.” he said flatly. 

Teddi pursed her lips for a moment. She would probably regret this decision, but she would blame that whole Christmas giving spirit. “...It’s probably a lot warmer in the van. I was thinking of sitting in the back. You can join me as long as you promise not to be, you know...the worst.” she said with a small smile to let him know she was teasing. 

Billy looked at her silently for a moment before smirking. “Are you flirting with me, weird girl?” 

“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m only offering because Max would probably be pretty upset with me if I let you die from hypothermia.” she said with an over dramatic eye roll. She was surprised when Billy shut the Camaro off, grabbed his cigarettes and lighter and slid out of the car. She crawled over her seat to the back and threw the doors open to let him in. 

Billy hadn’t known what he was expecting from Teddi’s van, but it wasn’t what he found. There was actually shag carpeting. It matched the light blue velvet that was covering the walls inside. A bright pink bean bag chair sat behind the passenger side seat and across from that was a two person seat that was folded up and fastened down. There were a few empty, slightly crushed Tab cans scattered around, along with a stack of board games (Billy couldn’t help but roll his eyes when he spotted Dungeons and Dragons), some magazines and a bright yellow, rolled up sleeping bag that was covered in colorful flowers. There was also a disco ball hanging from the ceiling. It all somehow screamed Teddi. 

“Sorry, it’s kind of a mess in here. But I don’t usually have company…” Teddi said nervously as she tried to kick the empty soda cans aside. Billy didn’t say anything. He plopped down onto the bean bag and jabbed his thumb towards the radio.

“I am not listening to this shit.” 

Teddi gaped at him. “It’s Siouxsie and the Banshees!” she argued. 

“It’s garbage. Don’t you listen to anything good?” he asked, leaning over the passenger's seat and opening the glove compartment. Teddi watched on with both confusion and amusement as he thumbed through her cassette tapes. “You listen to Kiss? Jesus, Ted, there’s no hope for us ever being friends.” his back was turned to her, but she could hear from his tone that he was kidding. Not that it mattered to her or anything. 

“And what’s wrong with Kiss?” she asked, settling down onto the carpet and crossing her legs. 

“They’re for chicks.” 

Teddi laughed. “I am a chick, Billy.” 

He shrugged. “You know what I mean.” he took the cassette out of the deck and replaced it with the Kiss tape he’d found before returning to the bean bag. 

“I don’t get in your Camaro and rummage through everything, you know.” she argued. Teddi pulled a small cooler out from under the driver’s seat and flipped it open. She pulled out another can of Tab and held it up to Billy. 

He took it and gave Teddi a knowing grin. “Yeah, you just steal my smokes,” as if mentioning them had reminded him of their presence, he reached into his pocket and pulled a cigarette out. He placed it between his lips and lit it, taking a drag before offering it to Teddi. She hesitated, and Billy rolled his eyes. “I think we already established I don’t have cooties, Larsson.” 

Teddi let out a soft huff-like laugh and took the cigarette. “So you know my secret then, huh?” 

“Secret?” Billy snorted. “You’re even chattier when you’re wasted. You almost told me your whole life story,” the worried look that Teddi had made him drop the subject. He took a drink, watching her fidget around uncomfortably. “...So how come you hate Christmas?”

Teddi took a somewhat shaky drag of the cigarette, blowing out a cloud of smoke slowly before handing it back to Billy. She shrugged. “I’ve always hated it, I guess...it wasn’t so bad when I was little. I got presents then at least. But it was always really obvious that my mom just dumped the first couple of dolls she saw into a cart and bought them. When I got older they would just give me a card with some cash. This year I don’t think either of them even realize it’s Christmas.” she said with a small laugh. Over the years Teddi had saved up the money she’d received for Christmas. At first she had been a little too young to fully understand why she was doing it (she later realized it was simply intuition). There was almost this voice in her head that had just urged her to hoard it. Eventually she started working and added to her savings. She only spent a little here and there on clothes and her van. Now she was sitting on quite the nest egg. 

And I thought I had it bad, Billy thought. Susan had at least gotten him some presents. A couple of albums and some shirts she knew he’d like. Christ, Neil had even gotten him gifts when it had just been the two of them. It was always some stupid hobby he wanted Billy to pick up. Baseball bats, a basketball, cleats. When he had turned thirteen Neil had gotten him a bb gun, but when Billy shot out the window of Neil’s car “on accident” Neil had thrown it in the fireplace and Billy had gotten one hell of a “talking to”. 

“What are they, drunks or something?” he asked. He knew that if he’d been talking to anyone else that he would have never asked a question like that. He never would’ve gotten so personal. Even now with Teddi he knew there was a chance that she would shut him out. But at least he felt comfortable enough with her to ask. 

“Dad is,” Teddi said with a heavy sigh. “My mom just...doesn’t care about anything that doesn’t have to do with her. Back in New York she used to be one of those really big yuppie moms that went to cocktail parties and had all this really ugly white furniture…” her voice drifted a little. She’d been a little surprised that she had shared that much. It hadn’t seemed like much, sure, but when Teddi tried so hard to keep everything about her home life so close to the chest sharing much of anything about her parents was sort of a big deal to her. But what seemed like an even bigger surprise to her was that Billy actually seemed interested in what she was saying. “...What about you?” she asked carefully. 

Billy’s head fell back as he breathed out smoke. “Just...not into all that family shit I guess,” but that wasn’t very fair of him. He had asked Teddi about her family and she had given him answers. Not many, but Billy knew it was enough to be a big deal to Teddi. He could at least return the favor. “...Susan likes to pretend like we’re the fucking Cleavers. My dad sits on the couch with a beer and checks out unless things get too loud. Max only comes inside for dinner and to sleep,” it was the cleaned up version, but it seemed to appease Teddi. He was grateful she didn’t look at him with pity, but that was probably because they were in the same boat. Even though neither of them wanted to say it out loud. 

Really Billy just wanted out of the house. He had played his part in Susan’s perfect family fantasy. The four of them had all sat around the Christmas tree and opened presents. Neil had been in his usual spot on the couch, glaring down at Billy and Max with a silent threat to make sure they let Susan know how much they loved and appreciated everything she had done to make their Christmas so wonderful which made it all feel less genuine somehow. Once the presents had been opened, Max had grabbed her new skateboard and was outside before anyone could stop her. So Billy went to his room, changed, grabbed his keys and was out of the house before Neil could get off the couch. He had heard Susan calling after him. He could hear the disappointment in her voice, and he did feel a little bad for leaving. He didn’t feel much towards Susan in general but pity. She did him a solid every once and awhile when it came to Neil, but that was about it. He definitely resented her for letting Neil speak to Max the way he did. And of course he’d have to hear from Neil once he got home. That didn’t matter to him right now. Anything was better than having to sit around pretending they were one big, happy family. 

Billy dropped the cigarette into the now empty can of Tab and nodded at Teddi. “So, what’s the tattoo of?” he asked. He definitely wasn’t about to spend his Christmas having a pity party with her. And Teddi seemed to welcome the change of subject. 

Teddi let out a loud snort, smiling and shaking her head. “I am totally not telling you.” 

“Come on, Larsson. It’s Christmas,” Teddi clicked her tongue against her teeth but couldn’t quite hide the fact that she was still smiling. She rose to her knees, turning her back to Billy. She flipped the band of her jeans down to reveal the tattoo. Billy leaned forward to get a better look and let out a soft laugh. “A butterfly?” 

“I know,” Teddi groaned, turning back around. “I thought it was like...cool and symbolic or whatever.” the weirdest thing about this exchange was that it didn’t feel weird to Teddi. Things never felt weird between her and Billy when he could just relax around her. She wished things could be like this more often. She liked hanging out with Billy when he was like this. 

“And completely cliche.” Billy teased.

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, like a skull smoking a cigarette?” Billy made a mocking face at her. Teddi laughed softly and pulled her knees to her chest. She rested her chin on her knee, tilting her head as she looked at Billy. “You know...if someone told me like...a week ago that I’d be spending Christmas in the back of my van with you I think I would’ve laughed them out of the building.”

Billy flashed a nearly devilish grin. “You know, the last time I was in the back of a van with a girl-”

“Oh my god. You ruin everything, Hargrove.” Teddi laughed. Billy laughed, one of his genuine laughs again, and Teddi decided she really liked it when Billy smiled. Sure, the grin he flashed all the girls was definitely nice to look at. But this smile was almost like a secret. Like she was getting a look at the real Billy that not many others got. The one that he tried so hard to hide from everyone. It looked good on him.

He pointed at the stack of games next to her. “Alright, if we’re gonna be here all day and you’re not gonna do what I want then break out Dungeons and Dragons,” the look on Teddi’s face was priceless. Her jaw dropped and she let out the tiniest gasp at his suggestion.

“You’re gonna play Dungeons and Dragons?” 

Billy laughed again. “Fuck no. That’s for making fun of my tattoo. And I’m not playing Dream Phone either,” Teddi scoffed loudly and gave him a dramatic eye roll, but Billy caught her smile as she turned to the stack of games. She pulled out Clue and held it up to him with raised eyebrows. “Deal. Pass me another Tab.” 

It took three rounds of Clue and a game of Operation for Teddi to find out that Billy was extremely competitive and that he was amazing at pretty much every board game in existence. Teddi was sure that there wasn’t a single thing that Billy was bad at. Maybe except basic manners. Eventually she talked him into a round of Dream Phone (he of course won that too) and Billy fished out a stack of tapes out of the Camaro and brought them over to the van to show Teddi what real music was. 

Teddi liked Billy’s music. Billy would’ve fallen on his ass if he hadn’t already been sitting on it when he found out that Teddi was as big of a Metallica fan as he was. “If you like Metallica then how can you listen to all this new wave shit?” he asked incredulously. 

“I’m a very open minded girl ...stop smirking at me, pervert.” 

Eventually the sun started to set, and the pair decided to go their separate ways. Billy hopped out of the back of the van, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket before turning back to Teddi. “You gonna be at the pool tomorrow?” he asked.

“Yep. Bright and early. You?” 

“Bright and early,” he repeated with a nod. “Later, Larsson. Merry Christmas.” he said in a teasing tone before heading over to the Camaro. Teddi crawled back into the driver’s seat, unaware that she was still smiling until she noticed her discarded copy of the Fellowship of the Rings in the seat beside her. She had spent an entire day with Billy Hargrove, and she had enjoyed herself. Maybe hell was freezing over. Or maybe Billy just wasn’t quite as bad as he liked for people to think. 

[migleefulmoments]

Time for some CC Self Reflection

If you haven’t read the comment posted by ajw I refer you to her blog. She answered an ask which hit on the most common criticisms we have made about their fandom- they are misogynists, they fetishize gay men and gay relationships,  they don't actually like the choices Darren makes about himself and his career but at the same time they infantilize him and turn him into a victim, The anon also called them out for NOT being true allies and that Darren and Chris aren’t sending secret messages to the fandom.  

Ajw responded with her usual lack of any self reflection and repeating old arguments. 

Let’s begin by saying that Darren and Mia are a couple. I have been hesitant to say that outright and always referred to things that Darren said because I have been clear that I do not know Darren but I have had it confirmed by someone who does have that kind of access to Darren’s life to know for sure that Darren’s truth is that Mia and Darren are in love, bundling a life together and are engaged. Proven fact. 

Now let’s tackle the response: Is the CC fandom misogynists? Yes, of course. She lists a handful of women in her life who are living real lives as if that proves she doesn’t post misogynistic hatred toward a woman she has never met. Recognizing women in one’s life who have real-life struggles doesn’t prove you aren’t a misogynistic...it just proves you aren’t obtuse.  

They are misogynists because their hatred of Mia is not based on a personal knowledge of Mia but rather a set of stereotypes and labels they have given her simply to fuel their hatred. They criticize the way she dresses, her personal hygiene, her work ethic, and her career choices based entirely on their own fantasies. They have decided that Mia -and only Mia - has no right to post anything on social media and when she very rarely does, that PROVES she is a fame whore and it provides more fuel for that hatred. THAT is the definition of misogyny.  

She says: 

I happen to HATE one women. But it is not because she is female. I would despise her no matter her gender, race, nationality, or sexuality.

When I look up the definition I get 

mi·sog·y·ny/məˈsäjənē/noundislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women."she felt she was struggling against thinly disguised misogyny"

The truth is that hating even one women based on stereotypes and ingrained prejudices against women is what makes it misogyny...not that Mia is a women.

Are they gay fetishists? Of course. 

She explains that she loved Klaine, not because they are two men but because “they were great, real, believable characters and D&C bright so much beauty into that relationship it was impossible for me not to love them”. I have already said before that season 2 and 3 Klaine were all of those things but after season 3, Chris was OVER Klaine and there was NO chemistry. But besides all of that- Klaine is scripted TV. There were several scripts that were auctioned off by the Box Scene Project for charity and many of us have read them, everything was written by the writing staff. Nothing they said or did was up to Darren and Chris except for a few ad-libbed lines we heard about. Nothing else...the words they said, how they stood, moved, danced and sang with one another was all controlled by someone else. The kissing scenes were all highly scripted with cameras directly in their faces. There is nothing real happening on a scripted-TV show. Lea and Cory were actually in love and dating and nobody believes the Finchel scenes were actually Lea and Cory. 

Ajw continues to adamantly deny that she confuses Klaine and CrissColfer when in fact it is a regular occurrence by both her and the fandom. Darren and Chris were coworkers and nothing more. Neither man has ever once hinted at being a couple. The fandom proclaims they are a great love and go on about what the two men do and yet there has never been even a hint of confirmation from Chris or Darren. The only proof the fandom has that Chris and Darren have acknowledged their great love is through their interoperation of Chris’s Instagram “likes”, Darren T-shirt graphics and a crap ton of fabricated theories. 

The entire CC Fandom “ships” CrissColfer. For them to “know” CC is real would first require Darren or Chris to acknowledge with words or actions that they have a relationship before they can “know” it is true. Until that time its nothing but shipping. Of course neither man has ever so much as hinted. In fact Darren has said “I’m straight” for 9 years and has been with Mia since before Glee started. Both Chris and Darren have asked them to stop, have talked about fans who don’t understand reality from fantasy and called them the Kragen and crazies.  Until Chris or Darren confirm with words that they are a couple, the CCers are “shipping” the two men. 

They fetishize Darren as gay based entirely on his behavior they deem was “gay”. They call him “Daisy” when he “acts gay”, claim he goes to gay clubs to “stare at half-naked men”. They say he is gay because he wears pink, a “God save the Queers” Tshirt, or tiny shorts in a gay rights parade. He’s gay because he puts on a wig and lip syncs Mariah Carey. Their beliefs about male and female behaviors and dress are quite disgusting. They reduce every gay man who enters Darren’s life to a “role model” who will be “helping him come out”.   

Darren has said he is straight for 9 years and yet they claim he is gay simply because of their fantasies.  Darren has never even hinted he is anything but straight.  

Are they talented men? Sure, but they aren’t “the most wonderful, caring intelligent creative and generous human beings”...they are STRANGERS. Complete strangers. You can’t know if someone is generous, wonderful, and caring if you don’t actually know that person. Darren is a person that a lot of people like and a lot of people comment on social media that he is super nice and down-to-earth. Those same people also say a lot of nice things about Mia and the CC fandom only cares about the first type of post. But Is he generous? I have no clue---he charges a shit load of money for Meet and Greats! Is Chris wonderful, generous and caring? We have no clue at all. We know Kurt, we don’t know Chris. All of these things that CCers believe about Chris and Darren are based entirely on Kurt and Blaine or their own fantasies.

And together, they are a shining example if a love that is rare.  They have suffered so much and have been each other’s rock for EIGHT years.  There aren’t many like them and I don’t understand why it is wrong to admire them because they happen to be two men.  The way they love and respect each other is something we should all aspire to have. 

Again, we have the fetishization of love. They have a love that is rare? They have never shared anything about themselves that suggest any kind of love. They have NO PUBLIC relationship. 

Darren and Chris’s long-term suffering is entirely fabricated by the CC fandom. Darren has said “I’m straight”, “I love her very much” and talked about his wedding plans among other things. Chris said Will is his boyfriend when asked by a child at a TLOS event and dedicated a book to him. Suffering? Darren just won an Emmy, a Critic’s Choice and a Globe, his bar is hopping, his tour was a success...people who are suffering don’t have successful careers- especially one in which he must give on-camera interviews. 

“They are each other’s rock for EIGHT years”? Again, we have never heard anything from either man to suggest they are even friends, let alone each other’s  “rock”. They don’t have a love we should “aspire to”- that is all a fantasy. A100% fantasy. We really know nothing about anyone’s relationship except our own. It makes no sense to believe that two strangers who have no public relationship have a love we should all aspire to. How they cannot see this is entirely all their own fantasy, baffles me. 

Respect each other? It seems pretty clear to me that Chris doesn’t want anything to do with Darren -at least publicly. We know that Chris had to be forced to do the wedding interview, we know they have no public relationship, we know that Chris has asked the CCers to stop believing they are together and has said that Glee isn’t a documentary. We know that Chris doesn’t like to be talked about. I have no inside scoop on how Chris feels but it is clear to me, that he is not interested in waking the Kragen and as long as he fears that, he will not have a public relationship with Darren.

Does she hate Darren? Yes...she really does. Darren is that slightly douchy, frat-bro dude they hate so much. Darren is the man who accepts the product endorsements they rage about. The man they love and adore is the fantasy gay man they fetishize. He is mostly season 2 Blaine with whatever fantasy they have created. They want Darren to be a gay victim and they will rescue him. The man they cheer, the man they like is all a fantasy. 

They hate his choices and they blame everything they dislike on his team...a team that Darren hired and continues to believe in as evidence by this continued working with them. Contracts end and yet Darren has not changed his team in 9 years. Do they hate his family? Clearly, they “adore” his mother  but they have claimed that Chuck is bad because he likes and supports Mia. They hate all of Darren’s non-gay friends (as long as they haven’t said anything supportive of Mia). The friends she likes- a handful of people she has decided are “good” based on whatever a CCer uses to determine good vs. evil- Max, Jon, Etai, Lena, the ACS cast, proving again that the CCers can’t tell the difference between coworkers and friends. I know that Darren says the ACS cast is family but I hear that from a lot of casts they are doing press, and I believe they feel that way, but life gets in the way and it changes who is in our life. I’ve felt that way about coworkers I hadn’t heard from in decades.  Time moves on.    

We keep coming back to the concept: Darren is a stranger and believing things that Darren has NEVER said or even hinted at crosses all sorts of boundaries. One thing that is abundantly clear is that Darren is loyal and his friends from college mean everything to him. Denigrating that relationship to suit one’s fantasy is disgusting. Nobody whose entire knowledge of Darren’s life is gleaned from social media has any right to comment on his personal relationships. Period.   

Do Darren and Chris send them signs? She claims that they signs are for all of us but only the CCers actually take the time to listen. I can only LOLOLOLOL to this. As I have said before, the words that Darren and Chris say should be the only thing any of us are listening to. Their words are worthy of respect. believing they are sending convoluted signals hidden in social media while ignoring their words is fucked up. 

We end with Hollywood and closeting queer actors. Once again, the CC fandom’s version of closeting is one they have fabricated to fit their needs. No gay celebrity that I know of has talked about a forced closeting. No one has claimed a studio used a morality clause to keep them in the closet. Agents and mangers have encouraged queer actors to stay in the closet but nobody is forcing them to stay in. The real “closeting” happens when queer actors are not hired for jobs. That is a systemic problem that has to do with stereotypes and personal beliefs and NOT something that will be solved quickly or easily.  Closeting by a studio using a contract would be easier to change- a good lawsuit would end that kind of practice. But it isn’t that simple. 

I almost feel stupid answering this because it is so clear that the CC fandom’s fantasy is behind all of their “truths”. They have created and entire fabricated story that is so out of touch with reality that it can only be called scary. 

It’s late, I’m tired. Tomorrow I will proofread this and probably make it read better but I shall post it for now. Let me know if there are glaring typos.    

[sarahcalc]

Hands-On Week 7

"Hi sweetheart!! How long have you been going at this?"

"Just five minutes max I think."

"Oh okay. Would you like me to help? Or I can get started on dinner?"

"Dinner would be lovely! Thank you love!"

"Amazing! I was hoping you'd say that."

"Is that me?"

"Huh?"

"Oh I couldn't tell if that smell was me or the Delaware air. I was a little scared."

"You're good. It's not your usual stink, just the Smell-aware air."

"You really like that pun."

"It fits!"

"I can't believe I'll be moving in at the end of October. Oh my god it's October. Oh my GOD it's like two weeks away?!"

"Yeah dingus."

"Oh my god oh my god it's finally happening??"

"Yeah!!!! I'm so excited!!!!"

"Me too!!! I just can't believe it. It seemed so far away when we first talked about it in April and now, wow!"

"Hehe yeah! Now I'll get to spend every night with my girls!! You and Ginny!!"

"Look at that beard oh my GOD"

"Thanks."

"I've missed you! I haven't seen you since uh like when we worked last worked together!'

"Well I've been here. You're the one who keeps running down to Delaware."

"Oh yeah. Well I still missed you."

"I don't blame you. Is that dog gonna bite me if I go near her?"

"Yeah... She's only like this because we were attacked one time by little dogs off their leashes and I was alone walking her and I got yelled at since I had the bigger dog but like she was on a lea-"

"Dad, how can I help?"

"Hi Dad, is the chicken salad in the fridge any good?"

"What?"

"The chicken salad in th-"

"Oh you're home? I was assuming you'd be in Delaware tonight."

"I had to bring Ginny home."

"Okay. Yeah I just made that tonight. And there are some King's Hawaiian rolls near the microwave."

"Oooooo!"

"I know."

"Where are Uncle Tommy's pills so I can get them ready for him tomorrow?"

"I have them locked away. I'll take care of them when I get home. I'm at the legion, but not the briarcliffe legion."

"I figured you were out at the legion."

"Yeah I'm at the Upper Darby one."

"Oh okay. Well I'll see you when you get home I guess."

"Okay, love you. Bye"

"Love you too."

[safitheartist]

"It's always like this with you Della!"

"Who is 'Della'?"

If Sora thought the atmosphere was tense before now it clearly reached it's snaping point. Donald was staring at him, huffing as he slowly calmed down from his outburst. He looked shocked, as if Sora just slaped him in the face.

Goofy was looking between them, clearly uncomfortable with the entire situation. He couldn't blame him really.

It was a stupid argument, to begin with. He ran off the second they landed on that new world, being excited about it, there was so much warmth and the ocean and it felt like home. So he got over excited and ran off without his friends. Big deal, it's not like that was the first time.

However, Donald disagreed.

It wasn't the first time they would fight about something like that. It wasn't even the first time Donald would mess his name up while not paying attention. Sometimes he would call him Dewey when he is too reekless, sometimes Huey when his curiosity takes a hold of him and sometimes even Louie when he's being too lazy.

Sora got that. He really did. When it came to both Donald and Goofy he knew the age difference between them automatically made them think of him differently, especially since both of them raised children.

He even felt somewhat happy to know that they cared about him to such an extend. He grew up without a father and the closest thing to an older brother was always Riku, so having them in his life, knowing he could ask them about stuff from time to time, it was nice.

However, Della, is a name that was forgin to him as of now.

"Donald?" He asked as his friend didn't answer, the older man was staring at the ground, as if he didn't comprehend what he just said himself.

"I-...nevermind. Do you two mind exploring without me? I'm not feeling that well." He said before he turned around to go back to their ship. Goofy stared after him with clear concern on his face and Sora felt both worried and confused.

"Did I do something wrong?" He asked. There was something sad about the way Goofy looked, "No Sora, it wasn't your fault." the Dog reasured him. "Donald just...he hasn't talked about her in years."

"Who is she?" He still wanted to know. Was she important to him?

Goofy hesitated, he looked at Sora as if he was searching for something. "She...Della is Huey, Dewey and Louie's mother. Donald's twin sister."

Sora felt a uneasy feeling spread through his stomach.

Of course. Huey, Dewey and Louie had parents before Donald took them in. It shouldn't come as so much of an shock to him.

"What happened to her?"

"I...I don't think it's my place to tell the story. Donald is very sensitive about this topic. If he wants you to know he would tell you."

"Oh..."

Sora supposed he was right but he still felt somewhat disappointed. He worried his lip, wondering what kind of person his friend's sister was. Probably a very temperament full woman just like her brother.

"You know, you are a lot like her." Sora paused, looking at his friend carefully, the way he said that had a certain sadness to it, mixed with a hint of nostalgia. As if he was remembering a time long forgotten. A friend long gone.

"You were close to her too?" He asked, now that he thought about it, he doesn't know much about his two companion's personal life. He knew they grew up together, that Donald raised his three nephews and that Goofy had a son named Max at home, other then that he didn't really know much.

Goofy paused for a moment, then he smiled. "Of course I did. Donald, me, the king, we go way back and so did Della."

"What was she like?"

"Della....she was something real special. Always managed to bring the best out of everyone around her. She was like a sister to all of us....just like you in a way." Sora felt his face heat up, feeling somewhat embarrassed by the comparison.

"I'm sure Donald would disagree on that." He chuckled and his friend joined in. But somehow it was missing his usual cheer.

-

Donald stared at the picture he kept hidden between his belongings. It's been so long since he looked at it, since he even thought about her.

Della was smiling during their last birthday they celebrated together. Not that long before the boys were born. She looked so care free, as if nothing bad would happen to them while she shoved cake into her brother's face.

Donald smiled despite himself.

He didn't really know why he was thinking about her now. He hadn't in so long, almost managed to forget about the pain. However, looking back, it really wasn't that strange.

Sora is just like her after all. Well not only Sora, he had to admit.

He went to the motherboard, typing in the comands which were necessary to create a connection. He waited for a moment, the light blue hologram was glowing softly infront of the big front window. Chip and Dale truly out did themselves with that addition to the ship.

"Hello?" The image of a young man showed up on the screen, blue hair covering half his face. Donald smiled awkwardly, Ienzo, from what he could tell, was a nice person. However, there was always that uneasieness he couldn't quiet shake off when he interacted with him or the other people who woke up with Ax- Lea. He hoped that would change soon though, especially since-

"Hello uncle Donald!"

"What's up?"

"IS SORA WITH YOU?!"

Huey, Dewey and Louie were climbing all over Ienzo, who looked more amused then annoyed by their antics. He lifted Louie onto his lap, helped Huey to sit on the arm rest of the giant chair he somehow managed to get to the room and grabed Dewey's leg, so siad would fall off of the head rest he climed onto in his excitement.

Donald smiled, he didn't know how those three ended up making friends with the stoic young man but he wouldn't complain, good babysitters were hard to find after all.

"I just wanted to check in on you guys. Sora and Goofy aren't here though." He told them, Dewey visibly deflated and Ienzo took that moment to lift him over his head and onto his lap next to Louie. "Thanks for keeping a eye on them."

"You make it sound like it's a chore!" Dewey complained. Ienzo smiled. "These three are looking more after us then we are looking after them. Without their help I probably still wouldn't be able to find my way around the new library system or the renovated city layout."

"Uncle Donald! You have to see the spell Ienzo teached me when you come back!"

"Are you coming back soon? I want to show my new sword moves off to Sora!!"

"Will you give us presents?!"

Donald chuckled, "Actually, I wanted to talk to you three about something...um, Ienzo, would you mind giving us some privacy?"

Ienzo looked caught off guard and so did the triplings. He blinked before nodding numbly, lifting both children off of his lab. "I'll be in the lab if you need me. No bothering tron." He said, ruffeling through Dewey's hair on his way out.

"Yes Ienzo." The three boys said in chore. Donald could see them crossing their fingers behind their backs and gave them a sceptical stare. "Okay fine, we're really not going to." Huey said as he noticed Donald's expression. "So what's up?" Louie asked, making himself comfortable on the big chair, Dewey frowned, shoving him aside to make room for himself.

"I wanted to talk about something I probably should have done a long time ago."

"This isn't going to be sex ed, is it? Because Even tried that the other day and-"

"I want to tell you about your mother."

Louie fell silent as he stared at the screen in shock. His brothers didn't look much different. Donald took a deep breath, preparing himself for the conversation he knew would come one day but kept avoiding anyways.

Sora was a lot like his sister and his boys were a lot like Sora. He knew they would end up adventuring and trying to help people on their own soon enough and he would rather they know the whole story before that time came.