#Rhythms

[carlos-in-glasses]

Rhythms

124k, 17 chapters, E, complete and on Ao3.

TK swoons when he discovers a sentimental scrapbook full of notes he and Carlos have left for each other – but he also unearths a book of poems that closeted teen-Carlos wrote about his struggles, including a few dedicated to his high school crush. An adorably mortified Carlos recalls the stir he caused when he was published anonymously in the high school paper, and everything he went through to write his wedding vows for TK years later. With TK as a hype-man, maybe Carlos can embrace his creative side again.

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Chapter 1 - Love Heart: The day after TK and Carlos’ first wedding anniversary, TK is sent home from work sick. Back at the loft unexpectedly, he makes a surprising discovery about Carlos.

Chapter 2 - Club Can't Handle Me: In 2011, sixteen-year-old Carlos is both in the closet and in his high school’s wrestling team – and it’s all a bit too much. Perhaps against his better judgment, he turns to poetry and makes a decision that will change his life.

Chapter 3 - Crossroads: Daydreaming about his wedding vows mid-drive, Carlos gets pulled over for a traffic violation – and Gabriel isn’t happy. Reunited with TK, Carlos might be lost for words, but he finds another way to express his love and desire.

Chapter 4 - The Wrestler: Carlos’ poems are published – and he quickly learns there’s no putting the genie back into the bottle.

Chapter 5 - A Gay Fantasia: In the aftermath of being abducted by a serial killer, Carlos reflects on recent events and resumes work on his wedding vows.

Chapter 6 - La Tormenta: Carlos is devastated when Scott gets a girlfriend, and he finds himself in another snowballing situation.

Chapter 7 - Soulmates: When TK has a Huntington’s disease scare, Carlos finds he knows exactly what to say. But will it help him with his writer’s block when it comes to his wedding vows?

Chapter 8 - Man of Mystery: It’s the day of the Lake View High School Talent Show – and will the real Shadow Poet please stand up?

Chapter 9 - Crush: In 2011, it’s make or break for sixteen year old Carlos at the talent show. In 2024, TK becomes the hype man Carlos had needed over a decade ago.

Chapter 10 - From Behind: A couple of weeks before the wedding, Carlos is still working on his vows when a deeper rift develops between him and his dad. In 2012, seventeen year-old Carlos is spiraling after coming out to his parents.

Chapter 11 - The Other Wrestler: TK decides to lift Carlos’ spirits by learning how to wrestle.

Chapter 12 - Carlos Reyes Will Be Okay: At Gabriel’s funeral, Carlos regrets saying no to reading a poem in tribute – but during the wake, he finds himself under a whole new pressure. Later that night, he realizes the vows he’s worked so hard on for TK cannot be spoken yet.

Chapter 13 - The Closet: Despite some good news, Carlos ends up in the doghouse with his mom and with TK.

Chapter 14 - Once in a Blue Moon: Reeling from his confrontation with Andrea, Carlos seeks advice and admits a secret.

Chapter 15 - Raining on Prom Night: In May 2012, chaos erupts at Carlos’ senior prom.

Chapter 16 - Tyler Kennedy Strand: The wedding day arrives, and Carlos finally gets to recite his vows to TK.

Chapter 17 - Shadow Poet: Carlos attends his poetry reading with TK by his side and some important people in the audience – but will he actually perform this time?

“I was just remembering–” Carlos says, “The first time you stayed for a while after one of our hookups. It was, like, the third time we hooked up, I think. I asked if you wanted tea and cookies and you looked at me like I’d said the weirdest thing ever.”

TK’s exhausted, puffy face breaks into a dazzling grin. “You were being such a Boy Scout.”

“But then you said yes and you ate half the cookie jar.”

“You called me the Cookie Monster.”

“That was the first time I really made you laugh.”

“Tea came out my nose.”

“It was beautiful,” Carlos says, pausing then to qualify: “Your laugh.”

TK gazes up at him, his clear green eyes large and shining. “I can’t believe you remember that.”

“The first time you made me laugh was when we were dancing at the honky-tonk.”

“Hey!” TK swats his arm. “I was trying my best!”

“You were so goofy,” Carlos chides. “I just loved it. I loved you.”

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[tanyaluca]

Portrait of a Hand…

Tanya Luca

[basicallyanotherwitchesthing]

Clyde Reid - Celebrate the Temporary - Harper & Row - 1972 (illustrations by Patricia Collins)

[iceyiceice]

hi ice 🤍 i am humbly requesting gallavich in rhythms, if you're up for it

and i am humbly offering sleepy gallavich in Rhythms for Sam 💜

[kafkasapartment]

(AFTER) Rythme / 3, 1953. Robert Delaunay. Color screenprint on cream wove paper.

[laughingsquid]

 The Musical Melodies and Rhythms Found in Spontaneous Speech

[thelordismylightandmysalvation]

Verse of the Day - Mark 2:27

[lascitasdelashoras]

Blood-pressure rhythms in dogs, cats and humans in response to the sounds of musical instruments. (Johann Dogiel, Leipzig Institute for Physiology 1880)

[thehumanwiki]

if i owned a restaurant and someone was rude to the wait staff i’d shout “send them to rhythm hell!” and the rude customer and everyone they came with would be dragged into my wretched room to count complex polyrhythms, and if they failed i would ban them forever. if they all succeeded i’d let them off with a warning tho

[no7er]

'Alternating Rhythms' Dune comic by me

[carlos-in-glasses]

Thank you for the tag @carlossreaders @paperstorm @nisbanisba @everlastingday @thisbuildinghasfeelings

@strandnreyes @heartstringsduet @henrygrass @lemonlyman-dotcom 🧡🧡🧡

This is from the next chapter of Rhythms, in which Andrea has a very special gift for the best son-in-law she could have ever hoped for:

“Gabriel would want you to have this.” Andrea lifts the brown leather Stetson out of the box. The turquoise and silver conchos attached to the band are larger and brighter than Carlos’ memory had served. The leather is heavy and finely aged.

“M– me?” TK gabbles. “Why? I mean, thank you, it’s beautiful. But–” 

“It’s tradition,” Carlos says as Andrea winks at him. “It means you’re the favorite son-in-law.”

“I am?”

Andrea pretends to contemplate this. “Uh, yes.” She might as well have said duh. “You had a different kind of bond with him, TK.”

TK gulps away tears, smiling with gratitude as he takes the hat from her and instinctively tries it on. It’s a bit too big, sitting low on his forehead and shading his whole face. “Thank you,” he says, “Do I – do I wear it today?”

“No, mijo,” Andrea laughs. “You’ll need to be able to see where you’re going today.”

“Don’t want you falling into the water feature, son.” Owen slaps him on the back. The hat slants over his eyes. Everyone is laughing now. It’s amazing how that can happen, Carlos thinks, over something so sad.

Open tag and tags below:

@reyesstrand @goodways @lightningboltreader @bonheur-cafe

@alrightbuckaroo @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut @welcometololaland @rmd-writes

@liminalmemories21 @ladytessa74 @orchidscript

@irispurpurea @mikibwrites @honeybee-taskforce @sugdenlovesdingle

@theghostofashton @freneticfloetry @chicgeekgirl89

@herefortarlos @tellmegoodbye @hereghostslive

@emsprovisions @ironheartwriter @sapphic--kiwi

@butchreyes @pimento-playing-hopscotch @eclectic-sassycoweyes

@kiwichaeng @literateowl @captain-gillian

@nancys-braids @corsage - if you want to share/haven't already. No pressure ever! ❤️

[rustyjoints]

Cut the Rug✌️⚡️

[federer7]

Rhythms of Resilience. 2019

Photo: Gauthier Bouret

[jmelcr]

Flow like water

Like water, we can adapt and flow around obstacles in our lives. It is better, more natural, to flow with situations instead of forcing outcomes. Promotes mental and emotional agility, strength, and humility.

Embracing these small virtues does not mean we have to compromise on our values. It rather leads to a way of living that is in balance with things beyond our influence.

Let go of the need for control, embracing the natural rhythms of your life. It brings deep sense, peace and fulfillment.