#So I needed to find a Latin American dance that wouldn’t be a partner dance because I needed one of my characters to dance it alone

[jajanvm-imbi]

Headcanons of Krel living on earth because he’s my favorite and I love him and I haven’t seen anyone do this yet so I feel like I have to

^^^^^because of this very moment I love the idea of Mary and Darci befriending Krel.

Since Aja,Vex and Eli went back to Akaridion-5, Mother was destroyed, and Claire was busy with Trollhunting stuff, earth gets pretty lonely. So Mary and Darci adopt him into their friend group. 

At first Krel was a little apprehensive to joining their friend group, but he quickly warmed up to it because, he, being Krel, loves the attention.

like I can totally see Mary and Darci taking Krel to like a mall or something and doing those like teen romcom movie shopping montages where he goes into a changing room and the girls judge the outfit until they find the perfect one.

I personally believe Krel would adopt a soft boy look, with like oversized button ups and t shirts tucked into jeans, but thats just me.

anyway, because he’s friends with Mary and Darci, Krel has a new found social popularity in Arcadia.

because of this, Krel would prolly get nominated for Spring Fling king and shit

I would say Krel wouldn’t really care about being nominated, but seeing how he cared so much about the science fair and the Battle of the Bands, he would definitely care

Steve is conflicted because he wants to be Spring Fling King, but he can’t mess with Krel like he did with Jim and Eli cause Krel is his girlfriend’s brother 

Krel notices this and takes advantage of it to mess with Steve and actually tries to win.

like Krel would just dominate the contests, and his theme presentation would be the flashiest and most appealing and people would just generally like him, and that would really worry Steve

like Krel, with four arms would be really good at the Touch-a-Truck-athon or whatever its called.

Krel would prolly let Steve win anyway because watching Steve squirm and freak out over prolly losing the crown and not being able to do anything about it cause he's Aja's brother is much better than any highschool dance crown

also the school 100% asks Krel to DJ future dances and events to save money, and Krel absolutely loves it

He would also definitely do the school play. Seeing how much he enjoyed being in Toby and Eli's short film, and again, he loves the attention, he would totally be down 

Also it would just be another chance to mess with Steve to be the lead. 

Because of this, Ms. Janeth would do another Shakespearean play, but do one of those modern renditions. Like it's the same play just in a modern setting, to take advantage of Krel's Akaridion form like they did with Jim's armor. 

If not in the play he would do stage crew/tech.

Like he would create elaborate settings for them using A5 tech and Ms. Janeth would adore it 

moving on, because home life is pretty lonely with just the Lucy and Ricky for company, Krel loves to host his friends for parties and sleepovers and whatever

and since Krel lives in the coolest house on the block, they love coming over

He hosts girl’s night every other week with Mary, Darci, and Clarie (becauuse she deserves a fucking break) 

since we’ve all agreed that Krel is 100% a gaylien, I love the idea that he casually comes out during a girls night

like Mary would be like “So Krel, are there any girls you like?” and Krel’s just like, “*snort* Girls? Who ever said I like girls?” and the others are like “….....?“ and Krel just rolls his eyes and says "I like boys, ladies” and they’re like “ooooohhhh, okay. Cool.”

So now they spend girls night talking about boys. Claire and Darci about their mans and Mary and Krel about cute boys.

One day the girls give Krel a little rainbow pin and Krel’s just like “what’s this?” And the girls tell him that it’s an earth symbol for the gays and he’s like “theres a symbol for that here? I didnt think it was that big of a deal. On A5 it’s pretty normal” and the girls explain why theres a symbol and he’s like “oh shoot wow, thanks" and he put it on his backpack.

He’s pretty confused the first time someone is homophobic towards him cause like that kind if behavior doesnt happen on A5 and hes just like, “why does this bother you? I hardly know you” and just brushes it off. Its doesnt really bother him, mainly cause he doesnt know the earth insults towards gay people so he doesn’t even realize, but if the girls (or Toby, or even Steve, too) catch anyone being homophobic towards their friend they will attack that asshole on sight. Especially Mary and Steve

Random person on the street: Ha, *slur*

Marry: WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HIM BITCH???

Krel: Marry its fine, it’s not that big of a dealoHSEKLOSANDGAYLENMARYGETOFFOFHIM

Marry: SAY IT AGAIN ASSHAT, I D A R E YOU

Claire and Darci: *trying to hold Mary back* maRY NO

Steve: THATS MY NINJA KICKING SPACE ANGEL GIRLFRIEND'S BROTHER BUTTSNACK I'LL END YOU

Toby: *now chasing after Steve to stop him* stEVE NO

Mary would 100% find out who the rando is and destroy their life on social media. Like she would leak their job, phone number, email, school/college (if applicable) to her thousands of followers and absolutely ruin them with no remorse. And honestly, good for her

Also whilst on the subject, Krel can not drive or cook for 2 reasons: 1. Hes gay and 2. He’s a prince so he’s never had to do either before

Like he can obviously do math but that’s it.

Proof? That one scene in Wizards when Douxie had him drive the airship. You know the one.

Coach Lawrence refuses to get in a car with him at Drivers Ed after the 3rd day Krel shows up.

Krel gets addicted to sugary coffee shop-esc drinks thanks to Darci. Not coffee cause we saw in 3Below Part 1 that he doesnt like coffee, but refreshers, coolattas, frappuccinos etc…? Definitely.

As for warm drinks, he’s more of a tea person.

Moving on

He face calls Aja everyday because he really misses her

He tells her all about school and his friends and whatever and Aja tells him about the changes she’s making to the A5 government

Thanks to the wormhole they visit each other often. Sometimes Steve tags along cause he misses his ninja kicking space queen angel girlfriend. (And Eli, but that's also for another post)

They take turns housing Luug.

Krel genuinely loves it on earth, but he hates the primitive technology so he begs Aja to send him supplies and materials for his projects. 

He would 10000% apply to HexTech for an after school job. Seeing his reaction to HT in Wizards and the fact that “Akaridion tech and magic are so compatible”, he would be the perfect addition to the HT staff. 

The Wizards wouldn’t be sure at first but after he shows them A5 tech and Douxie’s email of recommendation about the time loop thing they made together, the wizards are like “oh yeah we definitely keeping this kid. This is going to be so much fun.”

Their inventions become more and more extravagant because Krel can and he's just extra and the wizards love it.

He would definitely find a way to use magic using A5 tech. But he would have to study magic in order to figure out how, so the wizards help him learn all about magic. And since he's learned everything there is to learn about science and technology and whatever, he's super excited to learn about something completely different and interesting. The wizards are happy to teach him. He would be the first Akaridion to learn and use magic

Like he would make his own staff with his serrator and everything. He's like "earn a staff? Nah fuck that going to make my own"

Speaking of which he really likes human swear words. But he doesnt know when it is and isn't inappropriate to say these swear words so he's gotten in trouble a few times for swearing at the wrong time

For example:

Ms. Janeth: excuse me Mr. Tarron?

Krel: what the fuck do you want?

Everyone in the room: krEL NO

Anyway, back to Krel at HT, thanks to Toby, he would definitely have a bowl of candy in his little lab. More like multiple jars of different candy just scattered around the room. Small candy like fun sized chocolate and skittles and jelly beans and whatever

And a mini fridge, of course.

Steve, Toby and Arrrgh come over to the lab alot to mess around.

Toby has a lot of sci-fi requests for Krel to make

Toby: do you think you can make a shrink ray? Laser blasters? Invisible ray? My own hoverboard? My own serrator *gASP* WITH A WARHAMMER SETTING???? WITH SPACE ARMOR TO MATCH???!!!???!

Krel: Toby you already have a warhammer and armor why do you need more?

Toby: I dont have a space warhammer and armor Krel!!!!!!

Going back to school life, I feel like Krel would take an interest in Spanish class. I mean, his human form is latino and in Trollhunters (I'm pretty sure the lightning in a bottle episode) he said "Si" in response to a question someone asked him, so I feel like he would like to learn another human language. 

I also feel like he would just like to learn about Latin American culture in general since Mother gave him that form. He'd like to get in touch with his human self. 

Claire (when she isnt busy Trollhunting with Jim and the gang) is happy help him learn about Latin American culture and help him with his Spanish. 

Krel, being a fast learner, becomes fluent quickly with a perfect accent. 

Señor Uhl, who already liked the Tarrons to begin with, would really appreciate this. 

Claire's dad would also appreciate this.

Since he has such a fascination with human music, Krel would especially love Latin American music. Specifically reggaeton, since its kind of like techno music in a way and he already likes techno music.

And naturally, he learns to dance. All the styles of latin american dances. And he becomes quite the favorite on the dance floor.

He and Claire become great dance partners cause they both have the natural Latino rhythm and because Jim respects and trusts his girlfriend he doesnt mind them dancing together at parties and stuff

Although, Jim does ask for dance help at some point cause it looks like fun and he wants to dance with his beautiful talented incredible amazing gf and Krel is happy to teach him and anyone else who wants dance help. 

GUITAR LESSONS with Douxie cause in 3Below Krel said he really wanted to learn how to play guitar, steals Shannon’s guitar from the bonfire and is seen multiple times strumming it throughout the series. So of course this is included.

Toby introduces Krel to YouTube and Krel instantly makes his own channel.

of course his channel is called DJ Kleb and he posts his tracks and remixes. and maybe even some vlogs

its a little slow at first, only Arcadia Oaks students are subscribed to it but Mary blows it up by posting one of Krel’s tracks on her own social media and now he has thousands of subscribers

he also gained other forms of social media like Instagram and Tiktok, platforms to post his music

At this point every girl in school wants to be friends with Krel but not in the toxic GBF (gay best friend) way, girls just genuinely think he's 10x more interesting than every other boy in Arcadia Oaks

I think that's it for now sorry this is really long I just really love Krel and I had so many ideas. Feel free to add on!!

[normal-thoughts-official]

your “luke and alaric are married af” series made me transcend. they absolutely ARE. when i watched the show i really expected them to be in a canon relationship bc. it just seemed obvious. (me and magnus: you mean you’re NOT married??????) i’m surprised it’s such a small ship tbh. there is so much potential... i would love to hear more from u!!!!! what ideas do u have? first dates? how does maia react (i bet she’s like... duh? you’re my dads)? the story of luke’s epiphany omg???

for real!!! the chemistry and the love between them was so real and palpable and like hello? the way they always were on each other's corner? the Partners to Lovers dynamic?? the obvious mutual respect they had even though they were always butting heads? the way they always seemed to be growing together and not just fighting??? again the CHEMISTRY?? the fun little snippets we had like "it's never too early for teriyaki"?? literally we had so much to build an amazing romance and alaric is such a minor character his actor isn't even an actor he's a stunt double

like they had what 5 scenes and they all had such a great setup for romance or even for them to have been married the whole time??? they certainly had old married couple dynamics. fuck jocelyn i am speaking her out of existence. also i mean open relationships but why would luke even have a relationship with jocelyn when he had an actually good relationship to compare it to?

also the potential of their getting together being tied up to some personal growth from luke as an alpha and a downworlder in general like... most of their conflicts was because a part of luke still felt indebted to shadowhunters and their heritage and he kept putting the wolves last, and it would have been so good to see luke slowly realizing that he doesn't owe them shit and he gets to prioritize his own people and the people who are there for him, and him eventually choosing alaric over jocelyn being tied to choosing himself as he is now to who he used to be as a (terrible) shadowhunter...

not that it's alaric's job to fix luke obviously, but i don't think it would be "fixing" and this definitely wouldn't be a "teaching luke out of racism" story because when luke helped alaric as he became a werewolf he was already somewhat settled into werewolf life. i just think that a part of luke feels like he still owes loyalty to the people who hated him and it could have been a nice parallel to see him letting this go and getting with alaric. especially because alaric never coddled him, so, you know. and i think luke needed that little push in that sense. and alaric meanwhile would also be growing more confident into his role in the pack and in their job and getting the support he obviously still needed, and like, it could have been so good? definitely rocky before they sorted it out, but good. and of course sh had to waste the opportunity without even giving it thought because when don't they

anyway!!! as for your actual questions! first date is honestly so hard for me because i feel like their first date would feel like their billionth date. again i say, THEY ARE MARRIED whether they know it or not. so i can see their first official date going one of two ways: it's very lowkey, nothing they haven't done a thousand times before (like going to a small little family restaurant that they like, eating together, talking, maybe sharing a milkshake and they feel stupid but they're giggling and can't stop smiling and it makes them so happy that who cares) and it's absolutely PERFECT; OR they try to go all out and make it special and ~woo~ each other and it feels a little weird at first but it's still good and they get to enjoy the romantic ambience, hold hands over the table, and they're both a little shy because it feels like such a leap but it feels right

im gonna elaborate a little bit on both because i really love both??? so like they go to this little joint that is not the jade wolf or anything too close because they want to have this moment for tHEMSELVES, away from wherever anyone else from work or the shadow world might see them and from where they would think about it and associate with it. i am thinking... ohh some nice little place near where alaric's grown up? i'm headcanoning him as hondureño since we got no specifics other than his last name being rodriguez and i'm feeling like making him central american

and ALSO a great typical honduran dish is marinated meat and since luke is a beef jerky fan he would be all over that shit. i headcanon that luke knows alaric's family to some extent (i made a very quick reference to that in the second fic of the series) and i really love to think that luke has been to at least a few carneadas with alaric and his family?? which is aaaaaa another whole thing to talk about i might get back to it in a second but the DATE

also i like to think that luke would fall in love with rice and beans/casamiento because that is my rights. so like them going to the restaurant and having some meat (it's not really a carneada outside of the context of a carneada and for a date but like.. maybe pinchos or ye regular steak with urucum? i've had that in central brazil a few times and god i love it to death. or maybe chimol which sounds like something luke would like) with casamiento, tajadas, u know, the regular stuff? and it's lowey intimate because they are sharing the dish and it's something from alaric's culture you know??? god damn it i'm still talking about food. ONTO THE DATE

the point is that it's very casual and intimate but also uplifting and fun because this is a honduran restaurant we are talking about, so there's probably music, noise, alaric knows the family that runs it and possibly luke does too but they still have their space. maybe they get to dance a little bit because please god i am begging you, and luke has never had too many opportunities to dance before but it turns out he is a natural even if a little self conscious. i am picturing them dancing salsa which i kNOW is not an honduran dance but if the restaurant just leaves a Latin Music™ radio on as they usually do in latino restaurants in the US it's not that unlikely that it would play. and with alaric not being actually cuban he wouldn't humiliate luke too much. lmao

anyway most of the time they are just talking and teasing each other and every time luke takes a bite of the food he moans a little bit because he's a sucker for marinated meat and alaric wasn't even the one to cook it but goddamn if he doesn't feel proud of himself. and they share a drink (i guess the milkshake idea doesn't fit as well here but whatever they will get two straws for their iced tea or Tropical if they're feeling silly or agua de ensalada if they're feeling traditional. the point is that the lack of milkshake won't stop them from doing their dumb sappy thing) and are kind of laughing the whole time because it feels so teenage-y but to be fair luke DID just find out he was bisexual and figuring out your sexuality always brings in second puberty in terms of experiences. and alaric is not going to complain because it feels so sweet and right

and then the dancing which is fun and intimate and a little challenging for luke even if they aren't Full On Dancing Salsa, just a few moves here and there together but they get to be close and intimate and maybe alaric does some impromptu spinning and it makes them both laugh and maybe rub their noses together while they laugh and they are being so silly but they don't care

and basically they go home after hours, as you do, holding hands and a little drunk on each other, bumping shoulders on the way, alaric resting his head on luke's shoulder and luke on top of alaric's? and it makes walking a little awkward but god They Don't Care. and it just feels so perfect, like home and family and everything they are to each other :))))

really wanna add an "and then they fuck like rabbits" at the end but anyway i'll try not to ruin it

second date option! full out fanciness. they are already partners, they have seen each other in every possible situation, they know their worse, they know their married ways, but they want to have a ROMANTIC first date! lay thick their new relationship status. woo each other! show each other what amazing caring boyfriends/husbands they are. be adults!

they pick some fancy restaurant that luke may or may not have gotten suggested to him by magnus when he called him in a bit of panic because he is not very well versed in fancy restaurants and the like. maybe magnus even takes that extra step and portals them somewhere extra romantic like venice or whatever but i think they'd want to be independent in terms of going there and back so maybe not. anyway the point is, fancy restaurant! suits! they are a bit more nervous than they usually would because they haven't been in a place like this in waaayyy too long and they've never done anything remotely similar to that together before so it feels like a new territory and they kiinda want to prove something even though that's stupid because they've already chosen each other

but it goes well???? not as natural as the first date idea but that might just be me and thinking that casualness is the most romantic thing, and either way, it still feels so right and good. they get to sip wine, hold hands over the table, say something sweet to each other over entrees, share dessert, bicker over who gets to pay. again the marriedness of it all absolutely slips through but there is that new element that they are getting to explore and that feels so nice

and it's never stilted and forced, even if they are a little nervous, they are still themselves and it goes down smoothly and they are happy that it worked so well because there is always that fear in a best friends to lovers kinda situation that things will just feel weird, especially when you're both adults and have so much history. but it doesn't, it feels romantic and new and exciting and as they leave they tease each other a little bit like "after you, gentleman" and laugh together 🥺🥺🥺

and they have their first kiss as they leave and they both linger a little bit as they just stand under the stars and keep their eyes closed and their hands linked together and i need a moment oh my god

this got too long so i'm separating the answers for the different questions: maia's reaction (link), luke's epiphany (link)

[kiss-my-freckle]

Dialogues for @thesweetkeenlife

1x1

Red: Evidently someone with the authority to make decisions has arrived. I think I smell the stench of your cologne, Agent Cooper. Smells like hubris.

Red: You got rid of your highlights. You look much less Baltimore.

1x3

Red: So you went with the gray?

1x4

Red: That’s a pretty blouse.

1x7

Red: Agent Keen, I have a tip. You’re a winter, not an autumn. Stop wearing olive.

Red: You’d look positively radiant in a Guayabera dress. I know a little shop in Reston. We could stop before our flight.

Red: I brought you a souvenir. What’s your feeling about guava? Liz: Anxiety. Red: Oh, you’re in for a treat.

1x8

Red: I don’t know how you do it. I had that done once. I couldn’t bear the tickling.

Maltz: Ray, look at you. You look great. I mean, the elasticity is amazing. You been juicing? Red: Beets, mostly. Some celery, carrots, a lot of ginger. The kale makes me dyspeptic.

Red: I find it so reassuring - the movie stars, the pop singers. They really are just like the rest of us.

1x9

Red: Donald, never let it be said that I valued a Zegna Venticinque tie over a human life, even yours.

1x11

Red: Janice, my sincerest apologies. I’ll take a rain check on the Stroganoff. It smells delicious.

1x12

Red: We brought a little something for Julian - a care package. It’s a Tibetan singing bowl. What do we have here? Some jackfruit, vitamin D, kola nuts. But we’ve got to get him to eat more protein. He looks like hell. He isn’t vegan, is he? Anyway, I’ve also included a couple of my favorite Richard Pryor records. I want to try and inject a little levity into the proceedings. I mean, Julian looks so crabby all the time. House arrest can be grueling. Borakove: Didn’t you spend, like, four months - in Phonthong? Red: Seven. Borakove: How did you survive? Red: Naps. Occasional calisthenics.

Red: If I tell you, you have to promise me you’ll try the fertilized duck eggs. It’s a daring and unique dining experience. You’ll think you’ve died and gone to hell.

1x14

Red: Who decided on this paneling?

Red: You smell nice. Something new?

Red: Wow! And I like your clutch.

1x17

Red: This piroshki is delicious.

1x18

Red: I come bearing gifts - pimento cheese sandwiches, toasted with the crusts cut off. Eartha Kitt’s recipe. It’s a fantastic story.

2x1

Red: It looks so soft. Shea butter?

2x2

Red: Lizzy! I’d like to introduce you to my manicurist, Rosa Heredia. She’s the one I was telling you about, who was dating that nine-fingered bullfighter from Juarez. This woman is an artist, trained at the Latin-American school of medicine in Havana.

2x11

Red: Oh, that’s a shame. She’s gonna miss the most tantalizingly delicious khorem baklava.

2x12

Red: Oh, that’s a shame. Dendrobium? Ruth: My own hybrid. I call them “Snows of Everest.” Red: Lovely.

2x14

Red: You've changed your hair.

Red: Come on. I got to be worth as much as that fake Xuande Ming vessel was. Yaabari: 18. Red: Sorry, Santos, but those cat’s eye Chrysoberyls are brown, not green. An expensive forgery, but a forgery nonetheless. 20!

3x1

Red: I must say, your hair, the way it frames your face is very becoming.

3x2

Red: You have no idea what I’ve offered Chui to divulge the secret of this recipe. He won’t say. I suspect it has something to do with how he beats his eggs.

3x6

Red: I love mauve, but a soft creamy yellow will just open up the entire room.

3x8

Red: You didn’t find anything. Jilly found it ’cause you’re too dense to even look for it. No wonder Cash doesn’t trust you with anything more important than babysitting. T-bone: That’s big talk coming from a g-guy who’s -

3x12

Red: Yeah. Oh, I should probably mention, I booked a pregnancy massage for you. She’ll be here at 9:00. Her name’s Edwina, she’s a registered nurse, and she smells absolutely divine. I hope it goes with the rest of your stuff. I’m told it pulls out.

3x13

Red: I se your new home is a work in progress. What colors are you considering?

3x17

Red: Came together rather nicely. They went with ruby fringe tulips and pink peonies.

3x20

Red: I was just imagining young Katarina covered in glitter. As an adult, it’s easy to dismiss this stuff as girlish frivolity. You forget the wonder it creates, the light captured, secret wishes evoked. It renders even the darkest days sparkly. Never underestimate the power of glitter.

3x21

Red: They say gifting a bouquet of daffodils ensures happiness, while presenting just one means bad luck is on the horizon.

4x7

Red: You looked absolutely ravishing the other night. What do you do to stay in such incredible shape? Calisthenics? Or Jazzercise? Maybe we should be workout partners. I’ll see you in dance class, Samar.

4x18

Red: So I get a babysitter now? I haven’t had a babysitter since Brenda Gilroy. My God, pot pies, Lawrence Welk, bath time with Brenda. Still my perfect Saturday night.

5x1

Smokey: Sorry it took so long. Once I knew Humberto had your African friend and his chums in transpo, I stopped for some Bengay ointment. Think I overdid it with my back. Red: I use Epsom salt baths.

5x2

Red: Oh, my goodness. Look at those Guan vases. And that flatware. Did you know Nancy Reagan - She could dress a table specifically for that night’s guest at a moment’s notice. Russian Silver for a tea with Gorbachev, Italian silver stag-head stirrup cups for a last-minute supper with Sinatra. Can you imagine?

Liz: What color is that, pumpkin? It looks like a pumpkin. Red: His wife says it’s Tuscan Sunset.

5x10

Red: Paris, I’d like you to meet Elizabeth. Paris and I first met when he was a saucier at La Bernadin. Liz: Pleasure to meet you. Paris: Shall I set a third place for lunch? Liz: No, thank you. Red: You may want to think twice. He’s making a turbot with a matsutake mushroom broth.

5x12

Red: What makes her happy? Does she like a good foot massage?

5x15

Red: Maybe a massage parlor. The athletes would love it!

5x16

Red: Mr. Garvey, might I suggest you enjoy what little time you have left - crab cakes, scalp massages, perhaps a double feature of “The 400 Blows” and “Jules and Jim” - whatever floats your boat. Do it now, because I will find those bones, and when I do, I’m gonna kill you.

5x17

Red: I hope you have indigestion. Liz: No. But if it makes you feel better, I’m in a bad mood. Red: Excellent! Dembe: He’s making fenugreek porridge. My ancestors learned that it can cure a troubled stomach and soothe aches and pains. Red: Medicinal South Sudanese cuisine. Liz: Cooking it up in their embassy’s kitchen. Aren’t you living large?

5x19

Red: This apartment. Right here. Oh. My God. To have been the proverbial fly on Clyde Tolson’s duvet. Liz: Clyde Tolson lived here? J. Edgar Hoover’s lover? Red: This was their secret hideaway. Imagine the conversations. Cooing over JFK’s lovers. Slandering Dr. King. What peignoir to wear to bed. When I saw the apartment was for sale, I couldn’t resist. Liz: You own the apartment where the homophobic head of the FBI carried on his affair with his boyfriend? Red: Allegedly. I wouldn’t admit this in mixed company, but J. Edgar and I have a surprising amount in common. For instance, we both always get our man.

Red: What’s that smell? Is that lavender?  And mint. Is that your head? What kind of products do you use? I’m dying of curiosity. Garvey: Wouldn’t that be nice. Red: You smell that? Dembe: Yes. It’s lovely. Red: I’ll say. Absolutely lovely. Whatever it is, you and I need to get some.

5x22

Red: Oh. A lightweight merino. Super 120, natural stretch. I swear by it.

Waters: So, what do you think of this one? Red: Oh, John, yes. I like that. But go with the Snowy River Collection in the Glen Urquhart plaid. It worked for the Duke of Windsor. And, just my opinion, consider a vest. Waters: You think? Are vests in again? Red: Vests have never been out.

6x4

Vega: Yeah. I also got the blade that’s gonna carve you like a pumpkin. Red: Jack-o’-lantern. Vega: Huh? Red: A pumpkin is a gourd. A jack-o’-lantern is the carved pumpkin. Either way, it doesn’t matter. I knew what you meant.

6x5

Baldwin: One. I arrested that man there, in the navy-blue suit. Sima: May the record reflect the witness has identified the defendant. Red: Uh, o-objection. Judge Wilkins: Grounds? Red: The suit is actually a prunelle weave blue with a subtle overlay of red. So in the right light, it goes quite plum.

[sadoverstyles]

Changing Lanes; Chapter Two

story page

       Tuesday, September 1st

Sometimes I debate calling my parents to have a serious conversation about whether or not I was shaken as a baby. Then I also have to consider whether it was being held upside down for too long, or having the soft spot on my head touched an unreasonable amount. This multitude of questions keeps me from actually making that call, as it seems it would stretch more than five minutes with them, and I've set that as my personal limit. I don't intend on breaking my promises to myself; who can you respect if not yourself?

Either way, I'm left to deal with the consequences of said actions, which means reciting three paragraphs of the speech-that-must-not-be-named out of order. This also means becoming incapable of intelligible thought when under pressure, read: leaving my phone, socks, underwear, and likely other things that I can't even recall now at Niall's flat. I've learned to keep extra underwear in my purse, along with a contact and emergency makeup. Although, as super prepared as I am, I somehow don't keep a spare phone on me.

It's not as though I make an abundance of calls throughout the day, but I'll bitch about not having my phone with me all the same. I don’t have it in my heart to blame it on Niall, as he’s the reason my legs are still slightly jelly and it’s just kind of tough to be angry with him sometimes. So I stick with being angry at my parents for the soft spot/dropping/upside down thing.

As I take my seat in the rows again, the girl to my right assures me that it went so well! I’m not entirely convinced, but tumbling out is a small smile and a thanks! We’ll find out next week when my grade comes.

Class passes slowly as we all wait out the day’s other presenters. Deciding to take advantage of being phoneless (read: distractionless), I work in the library after my next class until I can retrieve my things from Niall’s.

Of course, half an hour into some serious Latin revision, I being to lose focus. The thought flies that I need to call my cousin. Following is the thought that I need to buy toothpaste. Not shortly behind is that I wanted to drop by the bookstore and look around later this week. Next, the thought comes that these phoneless hours will be wasted if I spend them reminding myself of various tasks that are not at all pressing.

I browse my lecture notes for Latin yet again. Mentally checking off phrases and tenses in the recesses of my mind, I feel glad this isn’t my second language. I read somewhere that once you learn your second language, the following ones are cake walks. Recalling the struggle of French lessons, I decided the idea is vindicated.

Hours later, while driving to Niall’s, I know why my professor kept avidly repeating palma non sine pulvere during syllabus week. No reward without effort.

7872

0716

Third branch on the right.

As the knob is turned, my booted feet push immediately through the threshold, “I can’t believe I left my phone here ea-“

Throat tightening, the words are caught before any more can escape. There are more eyes in the room than I was expecting. Four heads, three more than I had initially assumed, are cocked in my direction. Since there isn’t the faintest clue on what to do rolling around in my subconscious, just standing there seems to be the default. Right palm on the doorknob, mouth open only slightly, right foot planted confidently in front of its match, widened eyes glued to the only familiar ones in the room.

I know them all from Niall’s stories, the tabloids, their movie. The only issue is that they aren’t supposed to know me.

“Well, hello.” Louis intones. “I don’t believe we’ve met before.”

“Evaline, you’re here.” Niall burst. His near disbelief is understandable. Two and a half years that these three didn’t know I existed, all demolished in the last fifteen seconds. It almost seems like the end of an era.

In previous discussions on what to do if I ever met the boys, Niall and I had never planned for this scenario. More cunning than this, we thought. Found inflagrante delicto, I was to gush over them and play the ever doting fan. Waving in adoration from the exit as Niall passes the afternoon off as just a one-time thing with a willing woman. My number was never saved in his phone, we both never acknowledged that he had long ago memorized it, so that if seen he could complain about never having anything private from those who made them so famous. He was to then promptly change his number and suggest the boys do the same. You can never be too careful; he was to mimic his mother.

There was no game plan in place for me walking in, knowing how to pass all three security measurements, and seeing his partners. Certainly no strategy to shove under the rug my announcement of having been here previously.

“I don’t have my phone.” I declared, by way of explanation. The time was surely after four, when Niall told me to return. He likely had sent me a text to not come. Now knowing this of course wouldn’t help me, but the ideas of anything else at all to say were so appallingly absent that I couldn’t stand not at least thinking something. Wide-eyed, Niall’s mind seemed to be churning a symphony of gears.

“So you’re a friend of Niall’s? Wha’ luck, us too!” Louis tries again.

Accepting that Niall was getting nowhere fast, I decided it was time to snap into place. Merely thirty seconds had passed in total, but I knew even that mere moment would need serious damage control.  Returning my limbs to a normal position, and with no flicker of a guess as to where the sentence would be ending, I began “Yes, Nia- “

“Eva and I are friends, from Ireland!” Niall’s eyes shone with pride, glazing around the room at the other three boys. The others accepted this for a second, glancing back at their bandmate. The story seemed acceptable, as far as I know they weren’t childhood friends. The only issue that came was that-

“But you aren’t Irish?” Harry’s eyes were skeptical on mine.

Before the first word could fully pass my lips, Niall jumped in again, “American, spent summers in Ireland.” Harry nodded, still not acquiescing to be fully convinced by a lie that felt so blatantly obvious. “We kept in touch,” Niall added.

Liam smiled fondly, full accepting Niall’s explanation, and introduced the three of them. Invited to sit down and join them, I seal the door and glide over to the seat closest to Niall. Deep discomfort and anxiety guided most actions for the moment. When Liam asked what I went to Ireland for, I was pleased for something I could fabricate without much thought at all. “I was visiting family,” I said, “my aunt and uncle.”

Questions toed the tediously expected path; what I do, where I live, when I came to England, why we had never met before. Working to minimize the web of lies we were weaving to his best friends, I kept as close to the truth as possible. We discuss the classes I take at Imperial. I glaze a sweet sugar coating over the reality of my move from Oregon and thankfully no one seems to notice Niall’s thumb drawing slow, small circles at the small of my back. His reassuring fingers return to the chair’s back when the topic moves on, but the movement seems to have been caught by Harry.

Nothing is said if he did happen to see the comforting action. However, green eyes seem to flicker over to Niall more often than the other pairs. Sensing this as a signal that I need to weasel my way from the apartment, I begin the dance of exiting without my desperate longing to do so being clear.

Fingertips itching to check email, I excuse myself to the bathroom. My phone is snatched on the way, three texts from Niall project the screen’s glow.

4 isn’t going to work, come by after 7?

Eva

boys are here, I’ll drop by yours later

I can’t justify the effort of trying to get my payment and sneaking it into my purse that was currently occupying the space between Niall and Louis. Instead, with tight shoulders pressing back and a gracious smile playing on bitten lips, I return to the room clutching my phone. “It’s been great to meet you guys, but I’ve gotta get going.” The lie is easy, common. My tongue doesn’t fight and stumble under the weight.

Niall stands, deciding to see me out. Grateful for Niall’s choice, I almost brush off Harry’s voice, telling myself he’s just saying goodbye. But he’s not. “Come to dinner this weekend, we have to meet you properly. Can’t find out we don’t know someone of Niall’s and not induct them as we should.” The difference in ‘someone’ of Niall’s and a ‘friend’ of Niall’s is not lost on me as it seems to be the rest of the room. Just as well, green eyes are daring me to say no. Daring me to be told that no won’t be an option here.

Waiting for my response, everyone is silent again. I genuinely cannot think of an acceptable reason for me to tell Harry no, and Niall isn’t giving me any clues on whether he thinks I should join or not.  Short of dodging the question and seeing myself out without providing an answer, my best course of action is compliance.

“Of course,” I say. Oh no! Mountains of coursework! I think.

Pleasantries are exchanged as I work towards the exit. I am told they’ll make sure Niall lets me know more about the dinner, but I’m not concerned. My heavy handed professor can ‘drown’ me in tasks at any moment; the beauty of imagination!

Out in the hall, past the sealed door, safe from prying eyes and ears, Niall and I breathe twin sighs of relief. “So sorry,” we splutter in unison. My forehead drops onto his sturdy shoulder and we sit for a moment in comfortable silence.

“Yours at eight?” He mumbles into my hair. This of course was going to have to be Discussed. What’s next? I wonder if he’s going to suggest I pop in and ‘visit’ with him every few months now, keeping up the ruse with a gentle distance. I choose not to wonder if he’s debating ending the arrangement.  Not only is my time with Niall a big reason as to why I’m not living on the street, he means a lot to me. Even without talking about it expressly, after a while this had become more than a transaction. Mornings of bright light on crisp sheets and late night texts saying he needed me and that I was all he could think about would be sorely missed. The idea of not seeing Niall anymore, employer or not, worked as a firm hand guiding my forehead deeper into his shoulder. The arm that slung itself over me, the vigilant fingers that gripped my shoulder, and the five other fingers that laced into my own were the only reassurance given that the invisible hand was acting upon him too.

Needing to return, Niall saw me off with a small smile and a playful smack on his favorite spot. The silence in place of teasing banter was deafening.

At a quarter past eight, Niall let himself in to my small apartment. The familiar grumbles about the unlocked door were reassuring, and beyond that they were ignored behind the TV’s hum. The bolt was flipped, shoes were toed off, a jacket was dropped at the kitchen table, and the couch’s other half sunk. “The Office?” he mumbles. A warm weight is placed across my shoulders again, a soft support for my neck.

I lean into the planes of his chest, nodding. A moment is spent this way, and it crosses my mind that my visual nonverbal of nodding was received by tactile means, he felt it rather than see. The thought is amusing, yet not enough to make me nod again. The silence holds for a few minutes longer until the episode fades to black.

“How did it go, with the boys?” My head is tilted back just far enough to see his face at it’s angle toward me.

“Believed it, all of ‘em,” A smile rests calmly on his lips. I don’t ask about Harry, trusting that he would know better than I if there was an issue. However, the skeptical eyes on Niall’s hand earlier don’t seem to leave my mind.

It wouldn’t be the end if they all thought we were dating, it just wasn’t preferable. So much time had been spent now without the influence of others, and the situation seemed delicate to begin with. With all on the table, we both knew Niall was paying me. The money stopped being the only reason to answer his texts a long time ago, but without it I’d have been back in Oregon before I could finish my first term at Imperial.

“Yeah? Guess you do seem like the type to keep a pen pal for seven years.”

“Oh yah, call me Mr. Impractical, babe.” Two rows of straight-laced pearly whites sat at my eye level as his eyebrows gave spirited jumps

The next episode begins, and we maintain the quiet to watch. Having already seen every episode of The Office (UK version of course, I binge watched on arrival in London), my thoughts were instead focused on the dinner Harry had proposed. While I felt like not going would be the best course of action, I still had to see what Niall thought. Maybe he’d pass along the fib of homework and then tell me to meet him in his bed when he got home.

I’m reminded of the time Niall had called me over, only to be interrupted by multiple calls from Liam alerting that he was supposed to be shooting an interview in half an hour. With hot lips on my chest and quick fingers on my back I was told in no uncertain terms to still be there when he returned. Never a rule breaker, I made use of the new copy of Flowers for Algernon in my purse. Upon return three hours later, Niall found me still in bed, naked save for the book dressing my face. Had I not been near finishing the novel I might have put it away upon his entrance. Either way, Niall didn’t seem perturbed by the sight.

“How about after that dinner this weekend I meet you in your bed, working on that mountain of homework I’ll be building on Friday?” I didn’t look up at Niall as I said it, working to be the purest picture of nonchalance next to him; nose to the screen, eyes glazed, muscles relaxed.

“I think that sounds great, babe, but I figured you’d accompany me to that dinner.” Solid fingers squeeze my shoulder in earnest and I can tell this is one of those moments, where something in the back of my mind is screaming that this means more than just the words he’s saying. Doing anything to tell me that my decision means more than what I think it does. Now that we weren’t wholly a secret anymore, the voice was bolder than ever. “Don’t see the point in hiding now that they see you’re my old friend.”

The noise in my mind calling for thought tugs my attention away from answering, and Niall continues. “They’re all big fans of you, even from the minute that you all talked. ‘Specially Harry, always excited to meet someone new.” He pauses for a moment, and I still have not come to reply. “Not like we can’t take advantage of all your coursework later, I’m sure I can come up with some review exercises.”

I know what he’s really asking (I think), and I can’t find a reason to deny. Just like I couldn’t find a reason to deny him calling me babe, or him visiting my home, or talking about things that really don’t have anything to do with my job. So I tell him I’ll go to the dinner, and that afterwards I’ll memorize chapter four of my Basics of Entrepreneurship textbook line by line in his bed. He quibbles over some of the plan’s details.

The third episode is ending, and the fading screen seems to be a cue for Niall’s hand to roam south. Noses land just left of each other and lips crash. The routine is familiar, but welcome. His broad chest guides me back, molding against my own as I flatten against the cushions. There’s no push to go farther, and roaming hands stray no farther than weak cotton barriers. Making out like this feels like high school, and I remember lazily kissing Christopher Lock my junior year, when making out seemed like the main event.

Older, more experienced, and cockier, Niall is a much better partner. Even knowing that making out isn’t the last base, it’s just as fun. Fingers and lips and palms and a tongue that knows exactly what to do, exactly what I like and how I like it. I don’t know exactly how much time passes before he pulls away, but when he does we sit in silence and watch the last few scenes running on the TV.

When he stands up and drops the fifties on the kitchen table, I don’t watch. He reminds me to lock the door as he’s closing it.

[adventurous-tess]

The First Few Days

Homesickness: The first few days were rough. I felt extremely homesick. Everywhere I went I carried the weight of knowing that I wouldn’t see my family for almost four months. I cried every time I went to bed, every time I spoke to my family, and every time I thought of my dog. Because almost all of the other kids in the program are in college, I felt very alone. This was not because I didn’t get along with them (I have always been comfortable with people older than myself), but because it did not appear as though they were experiencing the same feelings that I was. Most of them said that they were happy to be here and excited to leave home. They had already experienced a “breaking-off” from their families in their transition from high school to college. I hadn’t. Moving forward, things have gotten better. That’s not to say that I don’t still get homesick, but when I do it comes and goes pretty fast. I have also found other kids who do feel the same way. While they don’t advertise it, they are definitely there, which gives me some comfort. Even most of the kids who don’t feel homesick at all were sympathetic to what I was going through, so I now don’t feel as isolated from my peers.

Tico-Family: Janiva, the program director, couldn’t have done a better job pairing me with my family. My family consists of my mamá-tica, my papá-tico, my hermana-tica, and my fellow American housemate. My tico-family currently has four dogs, a chicken, a bunny, and some fish, so in the house there is never a dull moment. My mamá-tica is wonderful. She is always there to talk, laugh, and teach me about Costa Rican culture. She is very big on communication, accommodating my odd food preferences and checking in constantly to ensure that I have everything I need. My papá-tico is a really nice guy. He has already rided my room of a spider, shown me how to use all the locks in the house, and given me advice on Latin dancing. My hermana-tica is thirteen, almost fourteen, and has most of the mannerisms of a girl that age (lots of time spent on her phone and in her room). She is not, however, whiny or rude. She is quiet, but does not hesitate to engage in a conversation if I ask her a question. My housemate, Molly, is a sophomore (Winona State) from Minnesota. She is 5’11’’ with blue eyes and a warm smile. She and I get along very well (another excellent pairing by Janiva). She is a very interesting person, and has told me stories of being taken (by her boss) to Latin dance clubs in the Twin Cities and going on a date with a man who failed to tell her that he was engaged. Her Spanish is good, so whenever we can we speak to each other in Spanish to practice. We have our own floor; there are three bedrooms (we each have our own, one will be for a third roommate who comes in February, and we share a bathroom). We are in the same SOL class, class with locals, and activities group, so it is a very good thing we get along.

Orientation: Orientation was a bit of a blur. The group is currently 43 students, though there were fewer on orientation day because some flights were delayed, cancelled, or moved for one reason or another. We went over the alcohol policy (those over 18 can drink- I obviously do not fall under that category), safety concerns (no walking around at night, walk to school in groups, ignore catcalls), and other general information. We split up into groups of four to go on a scavenger hunt around the school, and played what must have been a thousand name games. We also decided what we wanted in our group (inclusion, support, fun) and what we didn’t want (no bullying, no cliques, no scrubs). We were essentially put in a room for six hours to get past our awkwardness. One of the most memorable games from orientation involved us getting into pairs and dancing in circles until the music stopped, at which point we would find our partner and get into whatever awkward position Janiva called out. There was Tucan (partner A sits on the knew of partner B and flaps his/her arms like wings), Tortuga (back to back, the partners link arms and partner B lifts partner A into the air on their back by bending forward), Caballero (partner B gets on all fours while partner A puts one knee on his/her back and twirling an arm in the air like a lasso), Novios (partner A jumps into the arms of partner B), and Pollino (partner B curls up like an egg while partner A squats like a chicken above him/her). The last pair to get into position is out. I was partner A, and my partner B was a boy named Cameron (a CA boy to his core, educated in the Waldorf schools, and an avid beekeeper). We made it to the top two, at which point I sensed that Novios would be the winning move. When the music stopped, I sprinted and leaped into his arms before Janiva had even finished calling out the position. As the winners, our prize was a henna tattoo (which I just received today).

The first couple of days were exhausting, and I’m happy to have moved on from them. Though it has only been a week, it feels like forever ago that I was shaking from homesickness and being introduced to my new family. Now, I feel at home.