#Town Hall Theatre

[datshitrandom]

Darren Criss | 2023 | PHOTOSHOOTS

[standupcomedyhistorian]

Hi, everyone! Happy World Mental Health Day! 🌎💗

I’ve got two new posts on my site for the occasion:

As part of New Zealand Comedy Month, the first is a playlist of influences on Flight of the Conchords’ songs. I’ve also incorporated Bo Burnham’s tunes that were obviously similar to those by his musical comedy idols, such as 3.14 Apple Pi and High School Party

It’s a fun read, AND there’s a corresponding Amazon Music playlist that I’ve curated for you all (my name is “Jessica Lee” on Amazon because that was a pseudonym I came up with in the nineties when my parents were scared about using real names online haha)

The second item is a look at Bo’s performance of Make Happy in Philadelphia in 2015. For this piece, I recently interviewed Keswick Theatre audience member SnowyOwl about his experience seeing Bo live and what he thought of Bo’s subsequent works.

SnowyOwl and I actually have a few connections that I learned about during the interview: Aside from living in Pennsylvania, we both attended the Inside screening at the Ritz on July 22nd (albeit at different times) AND we were lucky enough to see the Kiwi duo in 2016 at the Mann Center! Small world haha

I hope you all have a mindful day today, and remember to reach out to people who might be struggling with their mental health. When you’re in the darkness of severe depression and suicidal thoughts like I was on July 25th, it becomes almost impossible to see the light, but it DOES get better—

You are worthy and lovable! ✌🏼🐔

[magentagalaxies]

if nothing else the whole "paul bellini is my bestie" saga has confirmed to me that when i eventually have the time to make my series of kids in the hall video essays i will almost certainly be noticed by someone from the show

[vipcohost]

Marietta, GA - A Historic Haven with Modern Charms and Vacation Rentals Homes

Nestled just 20 miles northwest of bustling Atlanta, Marietta, GA, is a hidden gem that seamlessly blends rich history with modern vibrancy. This Atlanta suburb is not just a destination; it's a haven for historians, art enthusiasts, and foodies alike. Marietta's charm lies in its five National Register Historic Districts, a historic town square, and a plethora of attractions that make it an ideal retreat. Let's delve into the historical tapestry and contemporary delights of Marietta, all while considering the convenience of vacation rental homes for an immersive experience.

Historical Marvels: A Walk Through Time

Marietta stands as a testament to Georgia's history, boasting five National Register Historic Districts that invite visitors on a captivating journey through time. The streets are lined with beautifully preserved homes, each narrating a story of the past. A must-see is the William Root House, an architectural gem that offers a glimpse into antebellum life.

Brumby Hall, home to the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum, adds a touch of Hollywood glamour to Marietta's historical allure. Explore the exhibits dedicated to the iconic novel and film, immersing yourself in the world of Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler.

For nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike, the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park provides a unique experience. Hike the trails that once witnessed significant Civil War battles, offering panoramic views and a connection to the past.

And no visit to Marietta would be complete without experiencing the cultural heartbeat of the town at the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre. This beautifully restored venue hosts a variety of performances, from plays to concerts, providing entertainment that resonates with the town's rich history.

Artistic Vibes: Galleries, Art Walks, and More

Beyond its historical significance, Marietta embraces its artistic side with sleek galleries and a monthly art walk. The Marietta Art in the Park festival, held annually, showcases the works of local and regional artists, turning the town into an open-air gallery. The vibrant colors and creative expressions add a modern flair to Marietta's cultural landscape.

Foodie's Paradise: Culinary Delights and Marietta Square Market

Marietta's burgeoning food scene is a delightful surprise for culinary enthusiasts. The town is home to a host of buzzworthy restaurants, each offering a unique gastronomic experience. From fine dining establishments to cozy cafes, Marietta caters to diverse palates.

A highlight of Marietta's culinary landscape is the Marietta Square Market Food Hall, a bustling hub of flavors. Here, you can explore a variety of culinary offerings, from artisanal pizzas to international cuisines, all within a vibrant communal setting. It's a foodie's paradise where the local community and visitors come together to savor diverse culinary delights.

Vacation Rentals Homes: The Gateway to Immersive Experiences

As you embark on your Marietta adventure, consider the convenience and comfort offered by vacation rental homes. These homes provide a home-away-from-home experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in the local community. Whether you prefer a historic cottage or a modern apartment, vacation rentals in Marietta offer a personalized and authentic stay.

Imagine waking up in a charming Marietta home, steps away from the historic town square. You have the flexibility to explore at your own pace, cook local ingredients in a fully-equipped kitchen, and unwind in a cozy living space that reflects the town's warm hospitality. Vacation rental homes not only provide comfort but also enhance your connection to Marietta's unique character.

Planning Your Marietta Getaway

For those eager to explore Marietta, planning your getaway is key. Research vacation rental options that align with your preferences, whether it's a historic home or a contemporary apartment. Explore the town's events calendar to coincide your visit with the monthly art walk or a special performance at the Strand Theatre. Consider indulging in Marietta's culinary scene, savoring dishes that highlight the town's diverse flavors.

Marietta, GA, offers a harmonious blend of history and modernity, making it a captivating destination for every traveler. Whether you're strolling through historic districts, immersing yourself in artistic expressions, savoring culinary delights, or opting for the comfort of vacation rental homes, Marietta invites you to experience its charm in every aspect. Pack your bags, plan your stay, and embark on a journey to Marietta – where the past meets the present in perfect harmony.

[benfouldsmusic]

October is here, and it is all about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang The Musical! 🎭

Limited tickets are still available, so make sure you don't miss out on this truly fantasmagorical show!

🎭Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

🗓 10th-14th October 2023

📍 Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Hall

🎟 www.ticketsource.co.uk/tmcs

[thealogie]

Now the craziest theatre experience of this trip was that in Matt Smith’s enemy of the people the theatre legitimately turns into a town hall for an entire act of the play. About 1/4 of the play genuinely consisted of them passing a mic around asking the audience for their views Matt Smith’s big political speech and ad libbing responses. Overall I loved the play but even as a generous audience member I was like…I did not pay twice the amount of any other theatre ticket to hear the British public’s views lol

[lyralit]

ꜰɪꜰᴛʏ ꜱᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢꜱ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴡɪᴘ

a modern-day city: flashy signs, culture, people

a countryside town: farms, markets, fresh air

a school: students, uniforms, classes

a small house: shared rooms, large meals, family games

a large house: empty halls, quiet nights, loneliness

a swim meet: slick floors, loud whistles, team cheers

a workplace: offices, papers, chaos

a blog: curated posts, a careful eye, also chaos

a government facility: taps of shoes, brisk orders, sharpness

a farm: fields and haystacks, ladders, checkered tablecloths

a ship: the sunset on water, crashing waves, sliding cutlery

a ball: swishing gowns, champagne flutes, lilting music

a club: the press of bodies, pounding music, hoarse voices

a kid's party: a character appearance, ice-cream cake, colourful balloons and stacks of presents

a medieval castle: rich silks, red wine, bustling people

a cottage in the woods: soft birdsong, quiet chores, open lake

a space station: dark abyss, beeping machines, emptiness

a superhero facility: training grunts, advanced tech, posters

a football game: spotlights, cheers, divided colours

a movie theatre: quiet giggles, spilled popcorn, sticky hands

a tennis match: bonk, bonk, bonk

a dingy basement: a lighter, a coil of rope, a can of oil

a restaurant (customer): close tables, quiet chatter, That One Screaming Kid

a restaurant (worker): stacking orders, clinking coins, greasy floors

a flower shop: cloying sweetness, dampness, the crinkle of plastic

a grocery store: the squeal of cart wheels, scrape of boxes, crackle of the announcements

a witch hut: bubbling cauldron, bright potions in round bottles, funky jars of ingredients

a bakery: fresh bread, tinkling bells, morning sun

a ruin: dust, beating sun, crumbling rock

a wedding: smashed cake, white lace, cheers

a cliff: crashing waves, swaying reeds, sharp rocks

a concert: nicest clothes, gilded halls, the sound of music

a bank vault: beeping alarms, flashing lights, piles of coins

a sauna: slick tiles, misted mirrors, stifling air

a mine: scuttling rocks, the clank of picks, cool breeze

a cruise ship: bouncy music, sound of laughter, ocean wind

a diner: neon lights, booths, milkshakes with a straw and cherry

a garden: soft breeze, shifting leaves, green flowers

a graveyard: crunch of stones, eerie lighting, the whisper of trees

a house party: clink of glasses, soft voices, flowery perfume

a family dinner: roaring laughter, grabby children, sense of warmth

a foreign planet: rising smoke, hissing steps, green faces

a prison: scratches on walls, thumps of boots, creaking of cots

a jungle: cry of birds, rustling of trees, patter of rain

a gaming room: click of keyboards, flash of lights, scroll of mouses

a forest: howl of wolves, whistle of wind, crunch of underbrush

a waiting room: tick of the clock, tapping of feet, flip of magazines

a lounge: jazzy music, gilded mirrors, plush chairs

a sporting event: cheering crowds, bags of snacks, flashing videos

a fantasyland: roar of dragons, clank of metal armour, thump of horse hooves

[allthecanadianpolitics]

LGBTQ2 advocates are calling for a boycott of Canyon Meadows Cinemas in southeast Calgary in response to a parental rights town hall scheduled for Tuesday evening.

The event, named “Let Kids Be Kids Town Hall”, is organized by the Calgary-Lougheed United Conservative Party Constituency Association. According to the event’s Eventbrite page, the town hall is an opportunity for community members to discuss the Alberta government’s proposed parental rights policy.

Full article

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[this-is-a-podcast-fanblog]

american suburbia is a lie and so is american urbanism now that we live in a capitalist post-dystopia

because walkability is probably never going to be achieved in our lifetimes. Does anyone else ever just sit and think about this? I grew up as a kid in the suburbs and now live as an adult in the city. Yes, I know there's privilege within both of these living situations, but I also think that American "Exceptionalism" is not anything of the sort and should be criticized when most suburbs have no good public transport or even things to do. How is a person supposed to be enriched in a social way, to have fun with their friends, to build community?

Just imagine what a walkable community could look like. Within five to ten minutes of you, you have the essentials for living and some enjoyable things too. A grocery store. A cafe A daycare. A school. A gas station. A park with a playground. A library. Then imagine that within twenty minutes, you have your workplace, you have a place to go shopping, a good restaurant, a town hall, a community college, a couple of bars. Within half an hour's travel time by public transport, there are things that are less essential for survival, but still important for recreation and cultural enrichment: there's a museum, a strip club, a spot to go hiking, a fancy restaurant, a sports facility, a live theatre venue. If you travel out an hour or so away there are other towns to visit, cities nearby that you can venture into on the weekends, and the highway is very short.

These things are much more achievable in the city, but are so corporate that it can't even foster community. Your local cafe is a Starbucks, your local restaurant is a Chili's, and even the arts centers are privatized. We don't live in communities, we live in Walmart parking lots. We live in Disney World. America is not a real country.

[peaceofflights]

“What’s Three Years in the Eyes of Eternity?”

Rated: T for swearing, drug use, making out, slight references to sex.

Warning: slight age gap relationship. (And I made Wally 18).

Pairings: Wally Clark x Reader, Slight Wally Clark x Maddie Nears

Word Count: 4,000 (dear lord how did that happen.)

A/N: Honeslty I love this series and wanted to add some of my own stuff. It’s definitely not beta read so you have been warned. Might go back and edit later, but if I’m being honest probably not. If people like it I’m thinking of making it into a series.

Even though you knew a lot of people who went to Split River High you always felt lucky that you didn’t have to be one of them. Though you wouldn’t call yourself exceptionally talented, growing up in musical theatre gave you a certain edge compared to your peers and landed you across town at an arts school for “gifted” children when it came time for highschool. Before death you could count all the times you had been to the public highschool on one hand, all of which had been to see your brother’s football games. It felt like a long shot when you applied to teach the school’s summer camp of guys and dolls, but when you actually got the job it felt like a weight lifted off your shoulders.

Then again they did pull a weight off your shoulders… well the majority of the catwalk when it collapsed and crushed you to death, but that’s a technicality. Being 21 is hard enough, but being 21 for eternity surrounded by high schoolers, that’s your own personal hell.

Don’t take it the wrong way, all the ghosts were nice enough. You’d think because you and Mina had similar death experiences you would be fast friends…unfortunately that wasn’t the case. Due to her young age you and Mina seemed to only have a love for the arts in common. And unlike you, her accidental death seemed to make Mina bitter, never leaving the theater. Even though the theater felt most like home to you it made the place unbearable to be in, leaving you to roam the halls.

Most days were spent goofing off with Charley. He was a good kid, he reminded you a lot of your friends in highschool. You both liked to think that if you had been in school at the same time you would have been inseparable, but who really knows.

It took Rhonda some time to get used to you. Since you’re both known for a dry sense of humor it took a while to figure out if you were joking or insulting the other. Even still people couldn’t figure out if you were friends or sworn enemies… and honestly you two liked keeping it that way.

Then there was Wally Clark.

Six foot three golden retriever disguised as a jock Wally Clark. It’s funny because you spent your whole life making fun of football players and now you're trapped in purgatory with one. One that was funny, and smart, and always knew how to make you smile. Who if you actually were honest with yourself is the best part of being stuck at Split River High.

It didn’t matter what you two were doing whether it was golf cart joyriding, smoking the weed you found in some weird stoners kids’ lockers, or even learning the moves to dirty dancing (which for some reason there is a copy of stashed in the teacher’s lounge). Life with Wally was good.

But that didn’t change the fact that he was 18.

Something you reminded him of quite often, though Wally always seemed to have his own comebacks.

“What’s three years in the eyes of eternity?”

Or

“Technically I was born in the sixties… I’m older than you.”

Or his personal favorite;

“Can you shut up so we can make out already?”

Yeah, Wally Clark was probably the love of your after life… he just didn’t need to know that. It didn’t matter how many times you turned him down he always came back, patiently waiting for when you would be ready to say yes. It was your routine, and you were more than happy to keep it that way. But I guess Maddie Nears was the day that changed.

—————————

“y/n/n, y/n/n, y/n/n”

You could already hear Wally running down the hall calling your nickname even before he turned the corner. You couldn’t help but laugh and play along.

“Wally, Wally, Wally.”

Suddenly you two were standing face to face, maybe just a step too close for dramatic effect. His over the top waving at you made you crack a smile, making you completely miss the small blonde standing behind him.

“Y/N there is someone I’d like you to meet… Y/N, Maddie, Maddie, Y/N.”

Your smile dropped for all of half a second before you forced it back onto your face. New ghosts might not come very often but they definitely stuck around so you needed to make a good impression. You reached out to shake her hand, she took it and smiled.

She took in your appearance for a moment before cracking a joke; “what are you? Some kind of camp counselor?” Gesturing to your tie dyed shirt and jean shorts.

“Um, yeah actually.” You replied, scratching the back of your head.

You both awkwardly laughed, shifting your weight from side to side, waiting for the conversation to be over. It was clear you two weren’t about to be best friends. But it was one ghost, not much in your life was going to change.

——————————

It felt like your whole life had changed. In the span of a week you went from having your friends whenever you wanted them, to feeling like Maddie was taking up all of their time.

You weren’t dumb, you knew Maddie was going to need friends here too, and if you looked at it objectively there were only so many options for her to choose from. It was stupid to feel jealousy when they hadn’t really gone anywhere at all. It’s not like any of you could roam too far.

But your days spent gossiping with Charley were now spent reading books in the library. And nights of golf carting with Wally were now spent laying alone on the football field gazing at the stars. Even Rhonda seemed too busy for you, all three seemingly absorbed in Maddie’s recent murder.

You were currently on your way to see what Dawn was up to when you heard a familiar sound coming from a classroom.

But it couldn’t be.

You swore your ears were deceiving you until you heard a familiar voice say;

“You’re telling me you’ve never seen Dirty Dancing? Come on Maddie, it’s a classic!”

Your ears weren’t deceiving you at all! That was the sound of Hungry Eyes playing through one of the tv’s dragged into a classroom.

Look it shouldn’t have bothered you, it’s just a stupid movie. Well not a stupid at all, Dirty Dancing was one of the best movies of all time. Maddie was dumb for not having seen it in life, so obviously it was a must watch in her afterlife. But this wasn’t about the movie at all, but what it represented: this was yours and Wally’s movie. The movie you both knew every line to. The movie that you’ve spent years trying to learn the choreography to, and he was watching it with another girl.

“A classic? I don’t know if I would go that far. Was this movie even out when you were alive?”

You should’ve gone in there and yelled at him. You should have told him off for doing your special thing with somebody else. You should have at least listened outside the door to the rest of their conversation, but you didn’t.

——————————

Ever since Maddie joined your little group your life felt like it had been a whirlwind. You didn’t even realize just how much you were missing out on or how much time had passed until you walked into the school gymnasium.

“Shit, is it homecoming already!? I’m sorry Wally, how could I forget?” You exclaimed as you plopped down in front of the hand painted banner the crew was currently working on.

How could you have forgotten about the homecoming game? Despite the game not meaning anything to you, you knew it meant everything to Wally. Sure, you never went to a homecoming game while you were alive, but now that you knew how much it meant to him you spent every year making it as special to Wally as possible.

You along with the rest of the support group made sure to make him feel appreciated. With a homemade banner and decorations, Wally was well celebrated on his death date.

Plus it always made up for the fact that every year he asked you to the homecoming dance, and every year you said no.

“I’m 21, I don’t need to go to another shitty school dance.”

Or

“You really want to go to the dance with the school chaperone?”

So every year Wally went to every school dance alone. And every year you spent the night locked away in some random space blasting Hair or whatever music you could get your hands on.

It was better that way. It helped you keep some remembrance of your old life. It was often difficult to remember you had a life outside the school before you died. And it kept Wally from realizing that he could do so much better than you. The closer he got to you emotionally the more he’d notice he’s way better than the musical theatre dork you are. Even in your adult life you were a loser, you came back to teach summer camp because you couldn’t pay your bills.

“You okay cherry pop, or did the mere sight of lover boy’s ass send you into a coma?”

It wasn’t until you heard Rhonda’s snide remark that you were pulled out of your spiraling thoughts.

That’s when you realized that Wally had left the gym, with Maddie (figures), and you (probably) stared at his ass while he did.

“Hey, what's wrong with you lately? You seem even more moody and distant than usual, and that’s saying something coming from you.”

You shrugged at Rhonda’s words “I don’t really want to talk about.”

“You think I want to talk through your oh woe is me crap? Trust me I don’t. But I’m getting tired of dealing with everyone’s stupid problems by myself, so spill tootsie roll.”

Your second shrug of the conversation had Rhonda groaning, but quickly cut herself off when she realized what all this was about.

“That is what this is about? You know for a college girl you really are stupid. Do you really think Wally could ever replace you? That boy hasn’t stopped drooling since your heart stopped. If you were half as smart as you think you are you’d get your head out of your ass and finally go lay one on him.”

And just as quickly as the conversation with Rhonda started she was out of the door. But this time you knew your friend was right, you needed to fix the situation and fast.

—————————-

In a way you were killing two birds with one stone. There was no way you could go to the game in your t-shirt and shorts, for some reason even ghosts got cold. But looking at yourself in the bathroom mirror dressed in lost and found stolen jeans and Wally’s jacket you couldn’t help but feel confident.

You knew it was cheesy to show up to Wally’s football game wearing his letterman jacket and express your undying love for him. But you knew Wally, and he was absolutely going to love it.

You gave yourself one more once over before you decided to head out, trying to fix your forever slightly sweaty hair from the hot summer sun. This was it, this was your moment.

As the game started you quickly snuck out to the bleachers to hide out until the perfect moment. This part was nerve racking, but also probably your favorite. Watching Wally in his element was enduring and made you think about all the time you had missed out on by his side, all because you were too stubborn to tell him the truth. You ducked down as you saw him start to climb the bleachers to sit down next to his mother, but seemed to be caught by an entirely different ghost.

“Girl, I hardly recognized up here all by yourself in your-“

Charley cut himself off when he noticed what you were wearing.

“Has he seen it yet?” He asked with a special glint in his eyes.

Your cool and collected attitude was thrown out the window as the strong blush on your cheeks gave you away. “No, he hasn’t. I was waiting until he was done with his quality time with his mom to surprise him. It’s not too much is it? I know I should have just sat him down and told him-“

“No, no, no trust me, he’s going to love it. That boy is going to die when he sees you.”

“Hasn’t he already done that?” You softly laughed at your own joke, but Charley just deadpans at you, rubbing his temples dramatically like you’re the Bain of his existence.

“You’re gooood.” He quickly drops his annoyed act to smile warmly at you. “Wally lives for grand gestures, he might actually cry.”

You just smiled at your friend. He’s right about one thing, if Wally loves anything it’s a grand gesture, and now felt like the best time to do it, but as you scan the bleachers you realize he’s nowhere to be seen.

————————————

It felt like eternity until you finally found Wally. The game ended about thirty minutes prior when you finally see him walking behind the stadium, extra swagger to his step.

“Hey Wally! I’ve been looking for you all over! What’s got you in such a fantastic mood?” You giggled to yourself like a schoolgirl, this is it.

“I just asked Maddie to the homecoming dance and she said yes! You know as friends, I mean we’re going as friends. But she’s new and I figured it would be nice for her to know she has a friend In the afterlife. It also gives me someone to go to the dance with and -“ he continued to ramble on but you were no longer listening.

Your heart felt like it lived at the bottom of your stomach. It was silly of you to assume that he’d still want to go to the dance with you after how many times you’ve rejected him. It’s silly that at your age you want to go to the dance at all. These were things you never even thought about in your adult life, but here you were about to cry because some stupid 18 year old jock would rather go with a girl who was willing to immediately agree to a date with him instead of some bitch who’s turned him down how many times in the last fifteen years. Yes it all made perfect sense to you, but it didn’t stop you from wanting to cry yourself to sleep in the girls locker room.

“Hey, is that my jacket?” His words finally took hold in your ears.

“Um yeah!” You stuttered. “My clothes aren’t exactly weather appropriate, and I figured you wouldn’t need it tonight. I hope that was okay.”

“Yeah of course! That’s what friends are for!” He smiled, ruffling your hair before moonwalking out.

———————————

Of all the things you thought you would do this year, getting help from Mina wasn’t even on your metaphorical bingo sheet. But there you were, a hour before the dance having Mina help you sew together a dress fit for homecoming.

You thought it would take a lot more to get her to help you, but her assessment of the situation was simple.

“All technical work is underappreciated by the actors.”

You weren’t sure how that translated to your current conversation, but she wasn’t wrong. We were both stagehands, and stagehands stuck together.

With an extra set of hands putting together a dress wasn’t as difficult as you thought it would be, and for the first time since your death you were ready for the homecoming dance.

——————————

Running your fingers over your baby pink dress you spotted the others standing in a circle by the punch bowl. You wiped the sweat from your hands onto your bodice before making your way over to them. If you had a functioning heart it would be beating faster than ever before.

“Hey guys, fancy seeing you here” You smiled, stealing a sip of Charley’s drink. Your false sense of chill would make others believe you did this every year, but the tapping of your heel on the floor made it obvious that you did not.

“Fancy seeing you here? That’s all you’ve got to say? You look gorgeous!” Charley the ever kind soul that he is says, giving you a half hug in the process.

“You do baby cakes! Who knew you had such nice tits under all that tie dye.” Rhonda’s voice cracked in her signature vocal fry, pinching at your waist trying to get a better look at your figure.

“Mhm” You smiled. “I’ve missed out on a lot of these things. I definitely owe it to my friends to make up on some lost time.” You looked directly at Wally as you finished your sentence, he swallowed hard before averting his gaze. He quickly put on a false over the top smile and grabbed Maddie’s hand while she was taking a sip of her punch. “Come on Maddie let’s dance!”

———————————

Wally POV

Wally laughed as he tossed and turned Maddie around the room flamboyantly, but couldn’t help but watch you through the corner of his eye sighing into your punch as you twirl your pinky finger along the glass.

“You know I think you came with the wrong girl.” Maddie said, breaking Wally from his trance.

“What?”

“Ever since she walked into the room you can’t stop staring at her. It’s clear that you like her. Wally we came as friends, if you want to go ask her to dance it’s not going to hurt my feelings.”

Wally wiggled Maddie’s arms with humor but the look on his face was anything but.

“It doesn’t matter how I feel about her, she’s made it very clear she’s not interested. Do you know how many times she’s turned me down in the last fifteen years? Way too many times for me to deem her into me.” He stated as he ran his fingers through his hair.

“All I’m saying is that a girl doesn’t wear your jacket to your death date and show up to a dance she’s never once wanted to go to unless she’s at least a little bit interested.”

“Or something like that.” Wally replied back before smacking his happy go lucky façade back on attempting to teach Maddie his moonwalk moves.

———————

Y/N POV

That’s when you heard it, your song.

“And this one was requested by that weird kid, you know who you are. Next time put on a tie.” The dj said dramatically in the annoying voice only dj’s are allowed to talk in.

“(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” begins to vibrate through the gym as Maddie Nears comes to stand next to you.

“I had Simon request the song for you.” Maddie says simply looking off into the distance with you at Wally and the rest of your friends across the room, you had been too busy sulking to sit with them.

“I know it’s kind of your guy’s song.” She continues; “ I figured you two could use a little push.”

You're immediately puzzled. “How did you-“

“That dude is absolutely obsessed with you.” She smiled. “Plus when we watched the movie he wouldn’t shut up about the fact that it was your favorite and you guys had spent the last fifteen years memorizing the choreography, it only felt right.”

You gave her a big hug before whispering in her ear “thank you”.

“Now hurry up” she laughed, “This song is only like five minutes long.”

You rolled your eyes at her before making your way across the room. Yes, this was dramatic, and yes it should have embarrassed you, but for once it didn’t. When you finally made it across what felt like an ocean of people you tapped Wally on the shoulder even though he was already looking at you, stretched out your hand and said;

“Nobody puts Baby in a corner”

Wally smiled before shaking his head and grabbed your hand leading to the middle of the dance floor.

It didn’t matter that the song was already halfway over, you started your choreography regardless, laughing the whole way through it. Every part of it felt like a flirtatious inside joke. It made you realize just how much you missed your best friend. You held him as close to you as you could in peaceful silence until he stepped back from you three steps nodding his head. This of course was the best part so you nodded back and started stepping backwards.

As he lovingly put it each time, if you fell you fell. He would always break your fall, you were both dead anyway. However, just like actual Johnny and Baby you had practiced the move in the pool countless times before you got it right. Now despite the time away from the routine you trusted that both of you knew this lift like the back of your hand, and you were not disappointed when you got a running head start into your jump and were caught gracefully by a strong set of arms.

When Wally placed you down onto the ground again he smiled, pulling you as close as humanly possible.

“You know, I always thought the point of us learning this dance was so we could pull it out at every school function and show all these other losers who’s who.” He laughed clearly, making a joke out of the unspoken.

“They can’t see us anyway” You smirked, resting your arms around his shoulders. “But you're right, I’m sorry it took me this long to come to the dance with you.”

“Sweetheart, have you already forgotten? Maddie is my date to dance.” He smiled, lovingly pushing you away before grabbing you again as fast as he could.

“But I can give you the next best thing,” he said, looking down at you. “Be my date next year?”

“I can do you one better,” You smiled. “Go to prom with me?”

“I don’t knowwwww darling, might bring down my popularity to go to the prom with a chaperone.”

“Hey Wally?” You boink him very lightly on the nose. “Can you shut up so we can make out already?”

You didn’t have to tell him twice. His mouth was on yours in less time than you had to take a breath. Immediately you feel like you need to breathe but if lack of oxygen is your only problem right now then you’ll gladly take it.

His arms moved from rubbing up and down your arms to slowly being snaked around your waist pulling you in tight. You stayed wrapped up in his musky scent for what felt like eternity. You felt his hands slowly start to migrate south when you hear a low whistle from behind you.

“Alright kids break it up, nobody here wants to watch you two defile each other on top of the snack bar.” Of course Rhonda would be the one to break the two of you up after pawing at each other like cats in heat. But she was right about one thing, you definitely felt like a kid again in the best possible way.

“Haha laugh it up Rhonda, you’re just jealous. I know everyone wants to ride the pony.” He smirked, giving her a joking wink.

“Alright Stallion.” You said patting him on the shoulder. “Time to go.”

“Where are we going?” He asked as he intertwined his fingers with yours.

“The teacher’s lounge.” You said giving him a similar wink he just gave to your friends.

While you tried to catch your breath as he dragged you through the halls at dare you say a record pace, you realized Split River High might not be as bad as you thought

[captainremmington-13]

A Night on the Town

A Bellova x Coriolanus One-Shot

DISCLAIMER: I don’t own The Hunger Games franchise, the images above, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, or any of the characters in this fic other than Bellova and the made-up places I included. I also do not condone the beliefs or actions of Coriolanus or Bellova.

SUMMARY: After drinking more than they initially planned during a night out with friends, Bellova and Coriolanus exchange secrets and promises.

⚠️Warnings⚠️: swearing, alcohol consumption, mentions of violence and assault, Festus being creepy, slight angst

A/n: This takes place the school year before TBOSAS occurs, so during the equivalent of their junior year of high school. Also, I HIGHLY recommend you catch up on my series, A Lady Made of Snow, before reading this.

“I am so glad that’s over with,” Festus Creed grumbled.

“It wasn’t that bad,” Lysistrata Vickers said as the group of students exited Professor Demigloss’s classroom and started down the staircase to the dining hall. 

Persephone Price nodded in agreement. “I found it to be a pretty straightforward exam, all things considered.”

Festus snorted. “Maybe for you, but for me, it felt like reading another language.”

“I thought it was easy. You’re just an idiot, Festus,” Arachne Crane said smugly. 

Festus opened his mouth to argue, but shut it when he noticed Bellova Reginelle had joined their group.

“Is Festus complaining about the exam?” she asked, giving the boy a teasing smirk. Lysistrata nodded. “I’m starting to believe you’ll flunk Demigloss’s class, Creed.”

He scowled. “I won’t, I’ll pass with flying colors, you just wait and see.”

Bellova laughed. “Keep telling yourself that and maybe it will come true.”

Bellova, like most of the students in her class, had been worried about Demigloss’s exam for the past few days. She and her study group had studied vigorously, but the stress kept mounting. The tension had put her on edge, and she’d lost her temper while bickering with a certain blonde boy. 

Thankfully, the test was not nearly as difficult as she had expected it to be. She found that she had time to spare at the end of the period, which she spent passing notes back-and-forth with Persephone. They both agreed that their friend group should spent some time together outside of school to celebrate the completion of Demigloss’s exam. However, they weren’t sure what to do. They could visit someone’s penthouse or go shopping, but they’d done that several times already. Doing something new and exciting would give them all a chance to let loose a bit.

The group, consisting of Festus, the Ring twins, Arachne, Lysistrata, Persephone, Felix, and Bellova, sat at their usual lunch table. They were soon joined by Sejanus Plinth, to the chagrin of several people. Bellova ignored their silent attempts to shoo him away, and allowed Sejanus to sit next to her.

After chatting lightheartedly about some mundane gossip for awhile, Bellova cleared her throat, silencing the group.

“Persephone and I,” she began. “Were thinking that we should all go out tonight. But we weren’t sure what we should do.”

The group exchanged glances, waiting for someone to suggest something.

Finally, Sejanus spoke up.

“My Ma told me that there’s some kind of show happening at the Odysseus Theatre. You know, the one on Aleona Street? We could get dinner beforehand and go to that.”

Miraculously, the group seemed to like Sejanus’s idea. Festus added that it was an illusionist show reserved for the Capitol’s elite, and that unlimited drinks would be provided during the performance. 

Lysistrata frowned. “Festus, some of us have never had alcohol before. What if someone gets sick?”

He shrugged. “Then that’s their problem.” 

Bellova gave Festus a look. “Anyways,” she continued. “Are we all in favor of that plan?”

“Excuse me, what plan are you all forming without me?”

Bellova rolled her eyes when she heard the voice or Coriolanus Snow behind her. 

He took a seat next to Sejanus, and gestured for Bellova to speak.

She sighed. “If you must know, we are thinking of going out tonight to destress and have some fun. Sejanus suggested going out to dinner and then going to a show. I was about to ask how everyone felt about it before you so rudely interrupted me.”

Coriolanus scoffed. “You’re so sensitive.”

“You’re one to talk about sensitivity, Mr. I throw a tantrum when I don’t get a perfect grade.”

“Guys,” Sejanus said, preventing them from continuing to bicker. 

Bellova gave Coriolanus one last scathing look before turning to the rest of the group. “All in favor of the plan raise your hand.”

Everyone raised their hand, including Coriolanus. She raised an eyebrow at him. 

“Bold of you to assume you’re invited.”

“Bellova, don’t be mean,” Persephone said, frowning. “Of course you can come, Coryo.” 

Coriolanus smiled charmingly. “Wonderful.”

Bellova glared at him, but didn’t object. “Fine. Let’s meet at The Ambience on Heirloom Avenue at five o’clock. And make sure to wear something nice, we are going to an exclusive event after all.”

Everyone nodded and went back to talking as normal, except for Bellova. She was watching Coriolanus carefully, observing the way his body had tensed when she mentioned dressing formally. 

‘How odd,’ she thought.

Little did she know that Coriolanus was internally panicking, wondering how the hell he was going to find something to wear that his classmates wouldn’t look down upon.

______________________________________________

“There she is! Oh, you look so gorgeous!” Diana Ring gushed, waving Bellova over.

Bellova smiled as she stepped out of her limousine, walking towards her friends who were standing outside of the restaurant. Sejanus greeted her with a warm hug, which Bellova generously accepted. She gave Lysistrata and Diana a friendly kiss on the cheek, and nodded politely at the others.

“Nice dress,” Arachne said, not even trying to hide her jealousy. She wore a dark green velvet dress, which Bellova thought was pretty but overall unimpressive, especially compared to her own outfit. 

The sheer, glimmering material of her form-fitting silver dress made her look like a diamond personified. Her matching heels wrapped around her ankles, the straps resembling silver snakes. On top of her dress was a white fur shawl, which protected her from the chill of the evening air. 

“Thank you, Arachne,” Bellova responded. “That shade of green really brings out your eyes.” 

Arachne grinned proudly at the compliment. Festus, who was standing next to her, was obviously fixated on the bare skin revealed by the shortness of her dress.

“Festus,” Bellova snapped. “Stop ogling or I’ll rip your eyes out.” 

The boy smirked. “Fine, fine. But it’s hard not to stare when you’re so…exposed.” 

Lysistrata smacked him on the arm. “Stop it, Felix! You’re embarrassing yourself.” 

“Damn right you are,” Bellova agreed, rolling her eyes. “Alright, are we ready to go in now?”

“We’re still missing Coriolanus,” Sejanus spoke up. 

She huffed impatiently. “If he doesn’t show up in the next thirty seconds, we’re ditching him.”

“You’re out of luck then, Bellova.”

Bellova scowled as she saw the Snow heir approach the group. “I was hoping you’d get hit by a car on your way here so we could all enjoy our evening.”

“Guys please,” Apollo Ring said hastily. “Let’s not argue now. We should head inside, our table is waiting for us.”

The group of students filed into The Ambience restaurant, chatting amongst each other as usual. Bellova linked arms with Persephone, complimenting her outfit. She had chosen a less flashy dress than Bellova’s, which made sense given her more reserved personality, but still looked gorgeous. 

They all took their seats around a circular table, which had been reserved by Felix’s father for the occasion. Unfortunately, Bellova ended up sitting between Arachne and Coriolanus. 

So much for a relaxing evening. 

She hoped that some alcohol would mellow the two out, but knowing them, it was safe to assume that wasn’t likely. But she had never been around them while they were intoxicated, so perhaps they were entirely different people while they were drunk.

As expected, waiters soon came to place small glasses of sparkling wine in front of each of them. Festus eagerly took a sip and immediately shuddered, making the group laugh.

“I suppose we’ll see how well Creed over here handles his wine,” Apollo joked. 

“I bet he’ll be a mess by the third refill,” Arachne added, smirking.

“I disagree,” Bellova chimes in. “He’ll be a mess by the second.” 

She saw Coriolanus grin at that, which gave her a strange sense of pride. 

Felix raised his glass, indicating that he was about to make a toast. “To us, for surviving Demigloss’s exam.”

The rest of them raised their drinks. “To us.”

A chorus of clinking glass followed, as well as the sound of many of them coughing as the liquid burned their throats. Bellova, who had become familiar with the drink recently, had no trouble downing half of it in one go. 

Coriolanus nudged her, making her cringe in surprise. “Someone’s been indulging themselves with alcohol recently, hm?”

She scoffed. “None of your business, Snow.”

“Easy there, I’m not judging you.”

“You judge me every fucking day, so forgive me if I don’t believe you.”

Coriolanus smirked. “Fair enough. But I feel like actually having some fun tonight, so I’ll try not to agitate you, regardless of how amusing I find your angry expressions to be.”

Bellova rolled her eyes. “How kind of you.”

“I know, my generosity is quite admirable.”

Bellova couldn’t help but laugh, making Coriolanus smile. She could tell it was a genuine one. He rarely gave those out, especially to her. 

She secretly hoped she could elicit a few more before the night came to an end.

______________________________________________

By the time the group left the restaurant, several of them were quite tipsy. Bellova, as well as Sejanus, Lysistrata, Persephone, and Coriolanus stayed unaffected, thanks to either their higher alcohol tolerance or their choice to only have a glass or two of wine. 

While waiting line to enter the Odysseus Theatre, Bellova listened to her friends chatter excitedly, speculating about who would be at the show. Apparently, there was some famous television star attending, but she wasn’t particularly interested in that. She decided to focus her attention towards Sejanus and Coriolanus, who were having a hushed conversation.

“What are you two conspiring about?” she asked, pulling a compact out of her purse to re-apply her lip gloss. 

“We’re just talking about Festus,” Sejanus murmured. 

Bellova looked over at the Creed heir, who was trying and failing to subtly steal glances at her.  She gave him a cold stare, making him turn away quickly. “What about him?”

“He’s being a creep,” Sejanus said. “Looking at you like that.”

“I know,” she agreed. “If he keeps it up, he’ll be dead by the time midnight rolls around.”

Sejanus sighed. “You should talk to him and get him to stop before it gets to that point.”

Bellova huffed. “Fine, but don’t make me do it alone. He gets angry when he doesn’t get his way. And I don’t want things to get physical.” 

Coriolanus laughed. “That’s a first.”

“Shut the fuck up, Snow.”

Sejanus ignored their exchange. “Coriolanus and I will be by your side to make sure Creed doesn’t try anything funny, okay?”

“Hey,” Coriolanus protested, pouting slightly. “Why am I getting dragged into this?”

Sejanus sighed. “I don’t want to see Bellova get harassed any more, and she wants some silent support while confronting him.”

The young Snow looked at Bellova, clearly annoyed. “Fine,” he relented after a moment.

“Thank you, boys,” Bellova said. “I appreciate it.

The group was allowed into the theatre without any trouble after showing a man their ID’s. Many of the Capitol’s richest were socializing loudly with one another, glasses of posca in hand. 

They made their way through the crowd, eventually finding their way to their reserved area. Felix’s father, being the president and all, had ensured they had the best view possible. 

“I want to sit next to Felix,” Arachne said obnoxiously, latching onto the arm of the president’s son. 

“Relax, Arachne, nobody is going to steal him from you,” Diana teased, sitting down next to her twin brother. Arachne gave her a look before taking a seat as well, still holding onto Felix’s arm.

Noticing Festus move to sit next to Bellova, Sejanus quickly took the seat before he could. Coriolanus followed suit, sitting on the other side of his rival. Scowling, Festus reluctantly chose the seat next to Sejanus, and began chatting with Apollo.

“Creed!” Bellova said sharply. He turned back around, his eyes going straight to her cleavage. She scowled, covering herself with her shawl. “If you keep eyeing me like I’m a piece of meat, I’ll ensure that you end up like one: cut into pieces and served on a pretty platter.”

Festus gulped. “U-Understood.” 

Bellova gave him a sickly sweet smile. “Lovely.”

She picked up the flute of posca set before her. After finishing the drink, she started to feel slightly warm, the effects of the alcohol beginning to set in. She folded her shawl on her lap, resting her hands on top of it.

Sejanus smiled at her. “You didn’t need our help after all.”

She shrugged. “It was nice to know that you two had my back. Or at least you did.”

Coriolanus frowned at her, setting down his empty glass. “Do you really think I’d let Creed assault someone and get away with it?”

She pursed her lips. “If it was me he was after, then maybe.”

He shook his head. “Bellova, I would never let harm come to one of my friends.”

“Hmm” was her only response. 

Loud music began to play over the speakers, causing the chatter around them to quiet down. The lights dimmed, and the stage was illuminated a moment later, revealing a group of performers with sequin-covered costumes. 

The illusionists were brilliant. They made white doves appear as if they vanished into thin air, and re-appear in a cloud of purple flame. The crowd was enthralled, gasping and applauding loudly. Avoxes walked through the room, keeping the guest’s glasses full of posca. 

After the third glass, Bellova was definitely intoxicated. She felt slightly dizzy, and was trying desperately not to say anything that would embarrass her later. 

While the performers were setting up their next elaborate trick, Bellova glanced at the two boys sitting next to her. Sejanus was in a dark blue suit that complimented his chocolate brown eyes. Coriolanus, on the other hand, wore a black long-sleeved dress shirt that he had rolled up to his elbows, paired with matching dress pants and black leather boots. There was a silver watch on his slender wrist that was engraved with the Snow family crest.

He looked like he was attending a funeral, but he looked as handsome as ever.

She giggled. “I’m in a Snow and Plinth sandwich.” Sejanus chuckled, making her eyes widen. “D-Did I say that out loud?”

“Yes, you did,” Coriolanus said, smirking. She sighed, rubbing her temples gently.

“I’ve got to stop drinking after this glass,” she murmured. “I’m going to keep saying stupid shit like that if I keep this up.” 

Two more refills later, Bellova and Coriolanus were completely, utterly drunk.

Bellova had no idea that Coriolanus was the slightly giggly, honest type of drunk. She expected him to be meaner while intoxicated, not more pleasant. He was more boyish and cheerful, and had an almost goofy smile on his face. 

Bellova looked at him, her eyes glassy and a bit unfocused. “What’s making you so happy?”

He shrugged. “Nothing. I just am.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Yes it does.”

“No it doesn’t!”

Coriolanus pouted, crossing his arms. “You’re so mean all the time. Why can’t you cut me some slack?”

Bellova smirked back. “I would if you weren’t such a cunt on a daily basis.”

“Watch your language, we’re in public.”

“Yes, I’m aware of that.”

“Stop giving me attitude,” Coriolanus said, glaring at her.

“You’re one to talk about attitude, Coryo,” Bellova muttered.

He suddenly placed a hand on hers, making her shudder slightly. His hands were cold, which was fitting, given his last name. 

“What’s this for?” she asked, confused.

“You would be so much nicer looking if you weren’t always glaring. You have a pretty face, you shouldn’t waste it by scowling at me all the time.” 

Bellova was too intoxicated to stop herself from blushing slightly. “You think I’m pretty?”

He rolled his eyes. “It’s an objective fact that you’re gorgeous. Everyone with eyes thinks so. You should hear what the older boys at the Academy say about you.”

Bellova winced. “I don’t want to know. They’ve harassed me before, have I ever told you that?”

“No, you haven’t,” he said, his eyebrows furrowed. 

“Okay, well I don’t want to talk about it,” she snapped, suddenly feeling tense. 

“Why?”

“Because,” she said, biting her lip. “It’ll…make me upset.”

“Why?”

“Coriolanus, I had to stab three boys in the arm to escape being forcibly stripped,” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears that she hastily wiped away. “That was why I almost got expelled last year. I would’ve been if the boys hadn’t been threatened to confess by my father.”

Coriolanus stared at her in silence for a moment.

“That’s awful,” he said quietly. “I had no idea. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” she said. “It’s in the past now. Just…don’t mention it to anyone. I don’t want the drama to start up again.”

He nodded. “I won’t, I swear.” 

“Good,” she replied, giving him a small smile. She saw him yawn, covering his mouth with his hand. “Tired?”

Coriolanus nodded. “Exhausted. I was up late last night.”

“How come?”

“I couldn’t sleep. Nightmares.”

Bellova frowned. “What about?”

“My mother. And the night she died. You know I was supposed to have a little sister? She died minutes after being born.”

Bellova felt her heart tighten. Coriolanus’s baby blue eyes were watery, and he looked more vulnerable than she’d ever seen him. He was still holding onto her hand, his grasp tightening slightly. 

“I’m sure that your mother was a lovely woman,” she said softly. He nodded. 

“She was. I keep her old compact by my bedside when I need to calm my nerves. There’s still rose-scented powder in it, and it makes me feel as if she’s in the room with me.”

Bellova gave him a soft smile. “That’s sweet.”

“I suppose,” Coriolanus said, his eyelids beginning to droop slightly. To Bellova’s surprise, he let his head rest on her shoulder. His golden curls brushed against her bare skin, making a warm feeling bloom in her chest. 

Sejanus looked over at Bellova to see how she was doing, and his jaw fell open when he saw Coriolanus resting comfortably on his fiercest rival. 

‘What the hell is going on?’ Sejanus mouthed at her.

Bellova gave him a dazed smile. ‘No clue,’ she mouthed back.

She felt as if she’d fallen into an alternate reality. This felt so odd, having Coriolanus cuddled up at her side and holding her hand while half-asleep.

But she wasn’t complaining. Not in the slightest. 

______________________________________________

With a good amount of difficulty, Sejanus managed to convince Coriolanus and Bellova to accept his offer to call a cab to take them home. 

Both were almost unconscious, and had forgotten to call their drivers to ask them to pick them up. Sejanus knew they both needed to be at home in bed soon, or they’d regret it in the morning.

In the back of the cab, the two academic rivals sat on opposite sides of the back seat. Bellova assumed Coriolanus had finally fallen asleep, as his head was resting against the window. 

Her head was still swimming, the posca affecting her thoughts greatly. She had urges she’d never have while sober, such as the urge to run her hands through Coriolanus’s curls. They looked so soft, almost like a kitten’s fur. 

She turned away to look out the window, staring at the pristine Capitol buildings in the distance. One day, she’d have one all to herself.

“Bellova?”

Coriolanus’s raspy voice startled her out of her fantasies, making her sit up. “Yes?”

“Maybe…” he said slowly. “Maybe we should stop being mean to each other.”

Bellova sighed. “Maybe. But it’s part of our relationship. It’s fucked up, but that’s how it’s been for years.”

“I don’t always enjoy fighting. It’s stressful and frustrating,” Coriolanus said. “And it gets tiring.”

“What exactly is your point, Coryo?”

“Let’s make a pact,” he said, his glazed eyes looking into hers. “An agreement to stop arguing for no reason. Maybe we’d be happier if we work together instead of against each other.” 

Bellova hummed. She supposed he was right, bickering with him could get exhausting. It would be hard to stop trying to get under his skin on purpose, as it had become a habit. But was worth a try.

She extended her hand. “Okay. Let’s do it. No more pointless fighting.” 

He grasped her hand, giving it a firm shake. “Promise?”

“I promise.” 

When the cab driver reached Bellova’s estate, Coriolanus gave her a parting kiss on the hand, making her giggle loudly. She blew a kiss back to him before one of her guards escorted her through the gates, putting an official end to her night out. 

______________________________________________

The next morning, Bellova and Coriolanus both woke up in their own beds, their hangovers giving them splitting headaches. 

Coriolanus ended up vomiting in the bathroom, worrying Tigris immensely. He assured her he was fine, but she insisted on making him a cup of tea and coaxed him back into bed. 

Bellova was prepared for the hangover, and took some medicine she had in her bedside cabinet in order to quell the pounding in her head. It was the weekend, so she had no obligations. After her headache had lessened, she slipped back into sleep.

Neither of them realized they had blacked out the previous evening. They didn’t remember anything after having their fifth glasses of posca. 

Along with forgetting the deep conversation they had at the show, the promise they made to each other was forever lost in the recesses of their minds. They would continue to fight over the most mundane things, and do whatever they could to get a rise out of the other.

Until, of course, the conflict came to an end once and for all on that fateful October day.

✧ ‧˚₊ ❆ ‧ ₊ ⊹˚✧ ‧˚₊ ❆ ‧ ₊ ⊹˚✧ ‧˚₊ ❆ ‧ ₊ ⊹˚✧ ‧˚₊ ❆ ‧ ₊ ⊹˚✧ ‧˚₊

TAGLIST: @daenerysqueenofhearts, @squidscottjeans, @euphemiaamillais, @gracieroxzy, @effectwalker, @mystargirl-interlude

Author’s Note: Thank you for reading! Please let me know what you think in the comments! I really loved writing this one-shot, and I may write more for these characters in the future in order to expand upon their backstory. If you have any one-shot ideas, pls leave a comment below or send something to my inbox!

Also, let me know if you want to be added to the tag list!

[klausinamarink]

One Kid Gone, Another Up and Vanished (part 5)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 next: Part 6

a bit of a weirdly chill chapter this time. might take a break after this part but my brain is always on you know like a liar creative mode so who the hell knows xD

“Have you seen my nephew?”

“Has my nephew stopped by here recently?”

“Did he mention anything worrying?”

“If you see him, call me by this number, would ya?”

Wayne’s never been much of a theatre boy unlike Eddie, but he supposes he knows how the extra actors feel when they have to repeat their few lines over and over for their plays.

Eddie’s not anywhere in town. Nobody has seen him last night or this morning. Some of the people he’s asked look at him strangely and say why should he even be worried.

A part of Wayne wants to grab them by the collar and shake them and furiously spit on their faces while he cries out, “Shouldn’t you be worried if your own child disappears and might be hurt!”

He doesn’t do that.

He keeps his head down as he says his lines and leaves.

He checks at Hawkins General Hospital, something he’s been putting off since he drove off and left the police chief at the dirt. He reckons that if Eddie’s hurt, he could’ve at least have the sense to run in here.

But the nurse at the front desk shakes her head with a frown and says nobody with Eddie’s description came in.

He says his lines and leaves.

He starts checking the spots Jeff had listed for him.

The first is some old picnic table close behind the high school. When Wayne gets there, there’s a few students loitering. They see him and quickly scramble off. He calls out for them but they don’t look back. He eyes at the table, absent of any sign of Eddie, and leaves.

He goes to the rest on the list.

Some spot in the forest called Skull Rock. The abandoned Creel house. A gas station out of town.

Eddie’s not at either of them.

The Hideout is the last one he visits.

Wayne prays to heaven above this is where his boy’s at. But he doesn’t see him. The bartenders only confirm that while Eddie has make visits before (“not a bad band, by the way. Vocals need a little work though.”), he’d only came for an hour on Halloween night last week.

He gives the bartenders his lines and leaves.

At this point, Wayne’s considering looking far out of town. Bloomington’s close.

But it’s already nearing four in the afternoon, his gas needs a refill, and he feels so tired. It is God’s miracle that his body hasn’t collapsed yet, even in the drive back to Hawkins. He feels a bit grateful that today is his day off, but he has to call the plant later for a few more days off.

The sun starts to set as Wayne pulls over to the house. His mind is starting to get fuzzy from exhaustion and hunger so he walks inside automatically.

He even hollers out, “I’m home!” A vain attempt to hear Eddie’s response.

Only silence greets him.

Wayne sighs, worrying a thumb over his front temple as he readies the pullout couch. Then he stops himself. Looks down the hall to where Eddie’s bedroom door remains close.

He walks down and carefully opens the door. When he peeks through, he sees the hundreds of memories of catching Eddie doing whatever boys like to do on their own: Eddie writing in his notebook, Eddie playing the guitars, Eddie reading a stolen dirty magazine, Eddie dancing to that loud headthrashing music, Eddie staring up at the ceiling depressed, Eddie smoking, Eddie crying from a bad day.

This time Eddie’s not here.

Wayne shuffles to the bed - mindful of the messy clothes thrown about, Eddie we talked about this - and gently lays himself on top of the unkept blankets. His feet barely hang over the edge as he stretches. There’s a faint smell of sweet cigarette smoke as he breathes in.

When Wayne finally falls asleep, the memories surround him comfortably and he feels the phantom weight of Eddie hugging him tightly.

He prays that his nephew will still be hugging him, living and breathing and safe.

—

As they walk to Mirkwood, Eddie thinks it’s safe to say he and Will are little more prepared.

They’ve stopped at one of the houses on the way to stock on bottled water (thankfully drinkable, man they were parched) and weapons. Well, their ‘weapons’ were really just some knives. But Will had skillfully crafted a couple into spears by tying the handles with twine on the ends of broomsticks.

At least Eddie could sweep the demogorgon off its feet should it come back.

(Will groans first at the joke before laughing. Then he laughs even louder when Eddie cries in mock betrayal over the loss of his jester skills.)

He also snags a backpack from some guy’s bedroom so Will won’t break his back carrying the cans. They’d both nearly gagged when some rotten-smelling goop and wrinkled algebra textbooks were shaken out.

Will also brings up a couple startling facts about this hellish environment.

“I think the vines are a hive mind.”

Eddie had nearly dropped the water he’s holding to clean his cut. It’s not bleeding badly anymore, but he doesn’t want it get infected. “I’m sorry, what?”

“A hive mind. Like the vines are alive and they’re some messengers to the monster.” Will waves his hands around a bit as he speaks, though he keeps lowering them to his lap. “Remember when the demogorgon was outside your place and it only came in right after you stepped on a vine? It’s probably how it knows where we are.”

Eddie slowly moves his feet away from one particular thick vine. He breathes out a whoosh. “No stepping on vines. Easy enough.”

“I think these are spores too.”

“What?”

Will blows away a few speckles of ash from his face. “I thought this was snow, but… I’m more convinced it’s spores.” He stops to cough and fuck, that throws Eddie’s anxiety up into goddamn Mars because none of this was even fucking ash.

There’s no kind of gear around in this house or the one next door to keep them from inhaling more of this stuff. So Eddie grabs the cleanest shirts he could find, rips them into bandana-style masks, and fits them over his and Will’s face.

Eddie hopes to god that they don’t already have lung cancer and can at least live for another few decades.

It’s also on the way to Mirkwood that they really get to know each other.

Eddie learns that Will loves his mother and older brother from the moon to back. That he’s been drawing since he was practically born and wants to be an artist. That he has a secret hideout called Castle Byers. That he has a trio of best friends that he bikes to school and play DnD with and who are definitely also looking for him.

Eddie doesn’t give his whole life story (like he really wants to trauma dump on the kid, no thank you), but he does share a few things about himself. Will’s eyes are bright when he talks about playing guitar and a new hobby of sewing band patches on his denim jacket. He also speaks fondly of Uncle Wayne. (“I wish I had a cool uncle with Garfield mugs.” Will says with a wistful sigh) Though the ache in his ribs nearly shutter his voice away when he recalls the truck engine driving away.

“Ya know that if you ever go missing, I’ll search even the lands of Hell for you.”

He said that yesterday, didn’t he? Then why hasn’t Eddie heard from him? Why isn’t Wayne been trying like Will’s mother apparently been doing?

He stamps down the nasty feelings down he hasn’t felt since he was eleven and instead talks about summer visits to his extended family in Alabama.

“Wait, so you’re from the countryside? Like a farm boy and stuff?” Will asks with a tilt of his head.

Eddie cackles and ruffles Will’s hair. “A farm boy? Well, maybe for the help, but it’s a job I will never do even when I’m retired. Haystacks and cow smell are too much for me.” He points a mock accusing finger at Will. “Also wipe out any classist stereotypes from your precious brain. I don’t want to hear any questions about lack of running water or food or schools because we do have them. That’s right-wing businessmen propaganda for ya.”

Will nods seriously. Though he keeps whispering “Alabama” under his breath like it’s a magic word. Eddie lets that one slide. Alabama is a nice name to say a lot.

They finally reach to what Eddie assumes is the Byers residence. It looks worn down with the darkness and vines. He grabs the handle of Will’s backpack to keep him from running into sudden doom.

“Environment check, Little Byers.” Eddie says in his DM voice.

Will huffs but he stops moving and glances around. After a moment, he announces, “No demogorgon in sight!” Then quietly, “So far.”

Eddie lets go of him and moves in front, broomstick spear brandished. He walks carefully over the vines, not willing to make the same mistake in his house.

Oddly, the front door to the Byers’ is already open. It makes Eddie’s guts turn with unease. He slowly steps inside, nearly dying of a heart attack when he hears something from the kitchen. Then relaxes when he realizes that it’s actually some normal people chattering.

“Mike’s been taking this hard. I know it’s ridiculous to say that, Joyce, but he really cares about his friends. And Will going missing is making him act out a bit. But he’s been looking too.”

“Oh, that’s.. uh, sweet of him..”

Will brushes past Eddie as he goes inside. The kid stands in the living room, staring at the kitchen where the voices are coming from. Then he runs down the hall, looks up, and starts jumping up with a hand outstretched.

“Uh, what are you doing?” Eddie calls out. His eyes automatically lower to the ground where Will’s jumping on. The floor is surprisingly spacious from vines, but he doesn’t want any risks or a heart attack.

“Trying.” Will pants out with every jump. “To get. Lights.”

Eddie looks around, both inside and outside before carefully walking over to Will. He watches for a minute, glancing dubiously at the very dead lightbulb in the ceiling. Then he scoops up Will in his arms. Damn, twelve year olds are heavy.

“Okay, that’s enough hopping, Little Byers.” He’s about to move away - to where in the house he doesn’t really know - when a small orange flash makes him pause. It’s a literal ‘blink and you miss it’ but he swears he sees it.

He looks at Will, who’s staring intently at the ceiling light. His fingers brush against it. Then it happens again. The orange glow, this time blinking long enough to be noticed.

A small gasp falls out of Eddie’s lips. Will excitedly taps at his shoulder and points to a door at the end of the hall. He obliges.

It’s a bedroom, clearly for Will’s mom. Eddie’s not sure what to look for, but Will points again. This time, at a spot at the foot of the bed. “Right there. See?”

Eddie doesn’t see but slowly makes his way anyway.

Will scrambles out of his arms and holds out his hands, eyes furrowed in concentration. Then, faintly like a spell, small dots of glowing orange appear. One by one like a fairy doing tiptoes.

Eddie’s certain that his jaw falls to the floor. He’s so entranced that he doesn’t even startle when the voices suddenly move behind him.

“Holly! I’m sorry, she always wanders off-”

“No, no, it’s okay. But.. did she- did you see something?”

The glowing disappears. One is still present, beaming from Will as he smiles under his mask, “Told you the lights work.”

It doesn’t take too long for Eddie to find his voice again, “Ho-ly. Fuck.”

— —

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[esteemed-excellency]

RE: Hiram's lodgings

Lore drop under the cut for everyone who's curious about the Townhouse, this is your chance to snoop around

Hiram coordinates all his affairs from his sanctum at the Brass Embassy and the Bazaar. He officially works for the Foreign Office, meeting diplomats in Wilmot's End, at the Palace, and overzee. He supervises his shady businesses from the Cabinet Noir in Balmoral, and he uses the Rooms above a Gambling Den as a secondary meeting location.

He keeps all his research notes and scientific papers at the university and at the Embassy sanctum, with backup texts in Parabola. There's backups of backups scattered around different lodgings like the Rooms above a Bookshop and a recently acquired Sanguine Château, in case of emergency. He keeps track of every single document and duplicate copy in his possession, never storing all his belongings in one place.

The Townhouse is the only lodging with an aesthetical purpose, other than functional: he needs a place to keep all the items he collected over the years, but almost everything is expendable in case of emergency. All the most important documents and personal items are in his rooms on the second floor, the only place he truly considers home.

The house staff is employed exclusively to look after the house and the guests, and even if the majority of them comes from a shady background they don't do any criminal work. Since Hiram is often out they can do whatever they want, as long as the house and the guests are looked after. The Second Floor is the only part of the house not accessible to guests, and if someone gets too curious the fingerkings can have everyone who gets too close to the mirrors.

Including foyers, bathrooms, facilities, balconies, corridors, store spaces, and other rooms I forgot to account for, the Townhouse consists of:

Basement: kitchen, pantry, scullery, store room, servants' dining room, cellar, vault. Other than the main stairwell, a servants staircase connects the basement to all the other floors. The vault holds some liqueurs, too expensive to be simply kept in the cellar, spirits (the alcoholic kind), spirits (the non-alcoholic kind), and whatever Hiram is smuggling around town on a daily basis. An old additional stairwell connects the basement to the attic but nobody knows about it, and if anyone discovers it they don't remember it for long. Hiram burned all the floor plans years ago (don't worry about it for now).

Ground Floor: porch, entrance hall, parlour, dining room, main library (literature, gothic novels, classics, poetry, theatre, art)

First Floor: drawing room, guest rooms + dressing rooms, budoir/fumoir (depending on the guests), second library (travelogues, naval tales, maps, globes, scientific treatises, penny dreadfuls).

Second Floor: Hiram's rooms + dressing room, private study, private library (law books, trade almanacs, hyper specific scientific treatises, proscribed material of various kinds). The main corridor is full of mirrors, and it's the only floor with mirrors big enough to allow entrance to Parabola. They're always covered when Hiram is at home. The curtains are almost always drawn in every room and the light is dimmer than in the rest of the house. A secret compartment in a bureau desk holds Hiram's infernal contract and an old stash of letters.

??? Room: (ok you can worry about it now) accessible only via mirror. It should be connected to the secret staircase but the door is always locked from the inside, and the outside is walled up and covered by another wall section, the staircase is just beside it. There's no windows. The room holds the Shrine to St Joshua, a weapon rack, a small vault with the Leasehold on all of London, some fragments of the Tragedy Procedures, a bottle of Brandy, and a few other items. The mirror is always covered. A pickaxe guarantees an emergency exit.

Third floor: servants' quarters and offices. Few of them can stand Hiram playing music at ungodly hours and they take turns sleeping at the townhouse. They all have their own lodgings and accomodations.

Attic: the main stairwell ends at the third floor, and the attic is only accessible via the servants staircase. The butler and some urchins are aware of the additional secret staircase, but the butler can't be bothered with it, and the urchins don't like to forget what they were doing every time they go down the stairs. There's no fun in sending someone to steal biscuits from the basement if they forget to bring them back upstairs.

Other than the house staff, the polycule, some urchins, and Hiram himself, the (semi)permanent residents include:

A Hungover Terrier, often out and about with the bohemians.

The Midnight Matriarch: you can pet her in your dreams if you fall asleep in the guest rooms.

A Lamp-Cat: the best bioluminescent bedlight. You can pet it but it will sit on your lap. If you try to sleep it will sit on the bed. Or on you. Pros: very cute. Cons: very humid.

A Bat with Attitude, permanet resident in the attic.

Two Raven Advisors. One white, one black. One always tells the truth, one always lies. Or so they say.

Sugarplum (Hiram's)

Sugarplum (Captain Dargor's)

Sugarplum (Giorgione's)

[prototypesteve]

The Bridge.

Yes, when I was in Durham, I went looking for Georgia and Rooney’s bridge from Loveless, based on clues from the text. Because yes, that novel was the only aroace representation I had found during my coming-out year, and it still wrecks me in a good way. And no, I don’t care if anyone thinks that’s silly. 😄

1) Across the Elvet bridge. So, east of St. John’s College.

2) Following the route from Elvet Riverside Lecture Hall, then the Sudent Union Building, then the Bill Bryson Library.

3) In a field by the river, “maybe a kilometre away.”

4) Following small, worn footpaths.

5) Near a bridge.

6) Rooney would have a path to the bridge from town.

That narrowed it down to this bridge, Maiden Castle Footbridge, built in 1974 and named after the remains of a fort that stood on the hill near the bridge.

(The other bridge roughly 1 km from the Bill Bryson library is reached by Church Street, which doesn’t have fields or small footpaths. And the run back—in Part 5—wouldn’t be “all the way along the river” since it’s only about 200-220 meters from the Elvet Bridge back up towards the Student Theatre which is up on the peninsula, with the Castle and Cathedral, and St. John’s College.)

[wigglys-dikrats]

wait so who are the waylons because I genuinely have no clue

mathias and agatha waylon were two of the first followers of the lords in black in hatchetfield

they founded the church of the starry children, as well as built the town’s most important landmarks, revealed to be black altars where rituals written in the black book could be performed: the starlight theatre; the gazette, which would one day become CCRP; the old mill, now lakeside mall; the old schoolhouse, now hatchetfield high; and waylon hall, their home on which they put a spell so anyone who dies there doesn’t truly die

the waylons had the town in a chokehold for 150 years, until the people of hatchetfield (the hatchetmen, aka the ancestors of the metzgers we meet in perky’s buds) got sick of the waylons and their cult and burst through the doors of waylon hall and hacked them all to bits with hatchets

[dwarvendiaries]

Last night I went stargazing. Earlier that night, one of my new college friends had come to see the play I was stage managing because we're theatre kids and that's what we do. So, when the performance had ended, we discussed what he thought of the show while walking back to halls.

Just as we're about to grab dinner, we bump into some friends who say they're going stargazing; it's a clear cloudless night, and there's a good hill on the edge of town where the light pollution isn't so bad. It's nearly eleven o'clock at night and we need to have dinner so we tell them we might go later.

It turns out that dinner and a cup of herbal tea, take a little longer when the dinnertime is a scene-by-scene discussion of Bat Boy the musical.

The path up the hill is dark. And muddy. At the top, the stars are clear to see. We don't see anyone else.

It's at this point we realise neither of us really have any star knowledge, beyond me pointing out Orion. I desperately pull star charts on my phone hoping data will cover it, before confusing ursa major with ursa minor and taurus with Perseus, but bit by bit we piece the night sky together with pointed fingers...

We're looking up at Camelopardilis and I'm getting dizzy so I put my arm over his shoulder as I point it out. He puts his arm around my waist. I hear my heartbeat in my ears. We look up at the warm stars in the cold night.

We continue stargazing for roughly an hour. I identify a few red giants and Jupiter. A few other people arrive and clouds start coming overhead in the last 10 minutes. We chat about our home towns before finally saying good night to each other at 2 in the morning.