#alan's said connor was in boarding school

[sluttywoozi]

For Worse or For Better | PART 1 OF 3

Prompt: this marriage was supposed to be a scam but, but listen, 

For: @lenireads

Rating: T || Word Count: ~3000

Warnings: fake marriage au, strangers to spouses to lovers, wine and champagne drinking, food mention, swearing, flirty/sexist comments from men (unseen but mentioned), attempted unwanted touching of the waist (reader stops it and its not a huge plot point), wonwoo is oblivious, kissing, some suggestiveness but not as much as is normal for me sorryyyy, this is a full on romcom just so yall know

Reader Notes: in grad school, i say wife multiple times, girlfriend once, and cleavage once, wears a dress and heels, receives flirty/sexist comments from men (briefly mentioned), attempted unwanted touching of the waist (reader stops it and its not a huge plot point)

Wonwoo has no idea what he was thinking when he asked you to marry him.

All he knows is that late one night, after a few too many whiskeys, his boss told him he’d never get on the board if he didn’t settle down. All the execs were traditionalists, apparently, and wanted to give the position to someone who’d use it to support a family.

Wonwoo tried to argue, tried to explain that he didn’t see himself settling down, that he was the right person for the position, that cats should count as family. 

Nothing got through, and that night, Wonwoo poured his boss into a cab and left work feeling defeated. 

Mingyu called, picked up on the exhaustion in his voice, and offered to bring food over and brainstorm ideas. Now, Wonwoo doesn’t normally go to Mingyu for ideas, just out of self-preservation, but he was feeling a little desperate. 

He’d been working toward this position for five years now - starting in the mailroom and moving up step by step, with Chief Financial Officer as his end goal. It was finally in his sights, but one pesky little factor was keeping him from reaching CFO, and he knew that rat bastard Alan Connor was vying for the position too.

Connor was already engaged to a nice woman named Helen, and if Wonwoo didn’t figure something out, he’d be glaring at Alan over a celebratory dinner. And he knew the douche would request seafood, knowing full well Wonwoo hates it and would have to pick at the sides like a peasant. 

No, Wonwoo simply could not allow it.

He supposes that’s why he listened when Mingyu mentioned knowing someone trying to avoid international tuition for their Master’s Program. And he listened when Mingyu said they’d considered getting married to obtain citizenship. And he listened when Mingyu offered to put him in contact with them, saying that you could solve your problems together. 

The next thing he knew, Wonwoo was standing next to you in front of the minister, sliding a ring on your fourth finger to the tune of Mingyu’s loud weeping in the aisle behind him. 

It was awkward at first.

Wonwoo had a spare room and you were looking for a place to stay, so the logical decision was for you to move in with him.

You were like a ghost the first few weeks, staying in your room most of the time, mainly emerging to cook or get water. It was only after he got takeout for the fifth night in a row that you appeared in the kitchen, telling him that if he wouldn’t let you pay rent he could at least stop getting delivery and let you cook for him. It made sense to say yes at the time - Wonwoo was getting tired of eating nothing but restaurant food, and you would be cooking for yourself anyway, so it wouldn’t be hard to double the portion. 

That was Wonwoo’s first mistake. 

Well. 

Second, probably, after marrying you in the first place. 

Because agreeing to your proposal meant he came home to delicious smells and soft music and you, dancing in the kitchen in your pajamas, with a glass of wine in one hand and a wooden spoon in the other. It was so heartwrenchingly domestic that Wonwoo started wondering why he didn’t want a family in the first place. 

It got worse when his cats started liking you more than they liked him. Maybe it’s because you’re so warm, both in personality and body temperature. Maybe it’s because you were home more often than he was, doing online temp work until your citizenship went through and your tuition was adjusted. Maybe it’s because you were happy to pet them until they were tired of affection, or because you let them sleep on you, or because you spoke to them so sweetly. 

Wonwoo’s not sure, but he does know he literally felt his heart clench in his chest the first time he walked in on you cradling Mr. Mittens like a baby.

Queen Bea was wrapped around your shoulders like a fur stole, and your fingers were running up and down Mr. Mittens’ stomach, his purrs audible from the front door. He’d stopped in his tracks, eyes wide behind his glasses, breath caught in his throat, because Mr. Mittens didn’t even let Wonwoo hold him like that. 

(Mr. Mittens had been adopted to help soothe Wonwoo’s anxiety, but he discovered soon after that Mr. Mittens himself had even worse anxiety, and thus entered into their lives Queen Beatrice, his emotional support cat’s emotional support kitten, who now runs the entire household)  

Then you started school, and Wonwoo announced to the company that he’d gotten married to his long-term girlfriend. The financial advisors at your university were a bit suspicious at the sudden change in your marital status, and he had colleagues asking him left and right what you looked like and for cute photos from the vacations he’d lied about going on with you. It was starting to make him nervous, and it must have been obvious to you because you had the genius idea of staging couple photos.

You disappeared and came home one Saturday afternoon with various outfits and props, plus Mingyu in tow to act as your cameraman, and off you all went.

(Gyu’s a self-proclaimed Instagram whore so he had a lot of ideas, and knew spots all over the city that could be passed off as more exotic locales)

Wonwoo felt so stupid after for thinking it would be a safe outing, that he wouldn’t be put further at risk of falling for you with every snapshot of you kissing him on the cheek or wrapping a scarf around his neck or staring at him like you love him. You dragged him all over the city that day, your hand warm in his, Gyu trailing behind the two of you and shooting Wonwoo eyebrow wiggles every time he turned around. He felt like such a newlywed, posing for pictures with you on his arm, and it just made things all the more dangerous for him.

But it worked, the pictures got the financial aid office off your back and got him in closer with his superiors, and Wonwoo learned nothing.

(Conveniently, one of the places you’d fakecationed was where the President had honeymooned)

For posterity, Wonwoo set his favorite photo from that day as his lockscreen, and stubbornly ignored the butterflies that rose in his stomach every time he checked his phone. 

It got a bit more difficult when the board started asking why Wonwoo didn’t bring you to any company functions.

There were… a lot. 

And before, Wonwoo hadn’t felt the need nor the desire to attend the many dinners and parties and cocktail hours the board paid for, but now, he had a wife. Wonwoo had a wife. 

And Alan Connor didn’t, yet. It was time for you to start making appearances, and the excuse that you were studying for an exam or working on a paper could only pass for so long, so Wonwoo dragged you with him to the next dinner party. 

That turned out to be a great decision because not only were Connor and Helen unable to attend, but you, Wonwoo discovered, were a natural at charming old traditional dudes and their wives.

You had knowledge on seemingly every topic, and you had the whole table leaning in to hear your every word without coming off like a know it all. You fielded the flirty (and sometimes sexist) comments from the men with grace, subtly twisting their words to compliment their wives instead, leaving the women blushing and hiding smiles behind cloth napkins.

You were a revelation, honestly, and even got the board to help clean up at the end of the night without twisting any ears. It was the most fun Wonwoo had ever had at a company function, and he resolved to bring you to every possible one after. 

Which was yet another mistake, because Wonwoo had failed to consider the possibility that he’d be charmed too, by your intelligence and kindness and wit. And he was charmed, beyond belief, falling deeper with every outing and falling harder with every sleepy smile you’d send him from the passenger seat afterwards, the way you’d pad into the living room, makeup gone and hair loose, pajamas on and arms ready to snuggle. 

With Queen Bea and Mr. Mittens. Not with Wonwoo. 

Never with Wonwoo. 

It was getting harder to pretend he didn’t wish it was him you pulled into your arms at the end of the night. 

And now here Wonwoo is, staring at you from across the ballroom, his eyes tracing the line of your neck and his smirk hiding behind a champagne glass as you tilt your head back to fake laugh at his coworker.

The crystal chandelier refracts flecks of light on you, golden beams dancing on the soft skin exposed by your slip dress, and Wonwoo tries not to let his eyes linger too long on how the silk fabric drapes over your chest, glides down your body, outlining everything he gets to see but not touch.

His only consolation is that you don’t let anyone else touch either, and he smiles secretly when he sees you grab the touchy asshole’s wrist before his hand can land on your waist, flicking it away from you with disdain. Wonwoo’s first move as CFO will be convincing the board to transfer that guy to Alaska.

You turn on your stilettos to stalk toward him and Wonwoo tries to compose himself, smoothing down the lapels of his suit and straightening his tie, hoping you didn’t notice him watching the interaction.

“Hi honey,” you breathe, then hiss through teeth clenched into a smile, “I swear to all that is holy, if one more of your bastard colleagues tries to feel me up, I will be sending this pointy ass heel through their foot.” 

Wonwoo laughs, gives you explicit permission, and tries to pretend your rage doesn’t turn him on before wrapping a loose arm around your waist and guiding you over to the champagne table. God knows the both of you could use another glass. 

His eyes shift behind his glasses, trying not to follow the drop that slipped past your lips and is currently trailing down your neck, descending toward your chest rapidly. It will show up on the silk, and you’ll be annoyed he didn’t tell you, but he can’t find it in himself to say anything or to stop the drop rolling into your cleavage. You must feel the chill, because you catch it daintily with a cocktail napkin before it gets that far, and he looks away just in time to see Alan Connor storming over. 

“You’re getting the promotion, dickhead, congratu-fucking-lations,” Connor all but shouts at Wonwoo, voice barely low enough to avoid attracting attention. 

“What do you mean? How do you know?” Wonwoo can’t keep the excitement out of his voice and glances over at you only to find you still glaring at Connor for calling him a dickhead. He feels his heart swell and can’t suppress the fond smile rising on his face, feeling so lucky to have a fake-wife as protective as you. 

“You just had to get married before me, didn’t you? Do you know how long I’ve been planning this? How hard it’s been to put up with her?” his rival seethes, chest rising and falling rapidly, face reddening with rage. 

Now Wonwoo really doesn’t know what Connor’s talking about. 

“Put up with who?” You say in unison with Wonwoo and look over to him with a little smile, your eyes glittering. You sound a bit more suspicious than Wonwoo, who sounds more bewildered than anything. 

“Helen! She’s not my fucking fiancée, she’s an actress, you idiots,” he grits out with derision, “I hired her to pretend to be engaged to me so those old bastards would give me the promotion! I was willing to fake a goddamn pregnancy if it got me CFO,” Connor shouts, gesturing wildly, eyes bulging. 

Wonwoo and you are both struck silent. He can feel his heart pounding, both at the fact that he’s going to be the new Chief Financial Officer and at the fact that Connor has been faking his relationship too. Not as well as Wonwoo was, apparently, if he dislikes Helen this much. 

You barely have time to gather yourselves before another voice booms out above all the chatter stirred by Connor’s outburst. 

“Alan Connor. Thank you so much for reassuring me the board made the correct decision. I expect your letter of resignation on my desk tomorrow morning,” President Laybourne states jovially, though his eyes are burning with ire. 

Connor pales, “Bu-but sir, tomorrow’s Saturday! Can we just discuss this like civilized adults, please?”

His pleas are unsuccessful. 

Wonwoo tries not to feel smug as he watches his former enemy be escorted from the hall by security, coughing to cover the laugh attempting to escape him when Connor shoves the guard's hand off his shoulder and shouts, “I can walk by myself!”

The fear rises within him again when the president lingers, eying you and him and the way you stand so close together. Wonwoo doesn’t know when it happened but your hand is entwined with his, fingers tangled together, and your other hand is clutching at his forearm, wrinkling his suit. 

“Well, I guess the cat’s out of the bag,” the president chuckles. “Get it? Because you have cats.” 

Wonwoo laughs much too loud, and he can feel your nails digging into his skin even through the wool of his jacket, telling him to tone it down. 

“Yes, we do have cats,” Wonwoo agrees breathlessly, nodding his head until his glasses start to slip down his nose and your hand appears to still his head and gently push the frames back up to rest correctly. 

President Laybourne eyes him again before continuing, “The promotion is yours, Mr. Jeon. Welcome to the Board of Directors,” he finishes with a smile and his hand primed for a shake. 

Wonwoo tries to compose himself, gently freeing his fingers from yours and wiping his hand off on his pant leg, just in case it’s gotten sweaty, before taking the other man’s hand and firmly shaking it once. Wonwoo’s hand searches for yours as soon as he lets go, probably clutching your fingers tight enough to cut off circulation. 

“You know, I always thought there was something off about Alan and Helen. They seemed…  a bit too fake, a bit too perfect,” the president shakes his head, staring into the distance. “I just didn’t feel like they loved each other, not like Marci and I do. Not like you and your wife do,” he finishes with a clap on Wonwoo’s shoulder that nearly knocks him over before saying goodnight and returning to his wife. 

“Well, now we can never get divorced,” Wonwoo jokes. 

You laugh, saying, “That’s fine with me,” under your breath, and Wonwoo laughs too, before he processes your words and starts to feel like he might die. 

“What? What did you say?” He asks, somewhat desperately, nearly out of his mind with hope. 

Your eyes grow wide, your mouth snapping shut, and you rush out in one breath, “Um, nothing, I’m gonna go see if they put out more of those spring rolls, I’ll be right back!” 

You try to spin and speed away, but Wonwoo is faster than you and catches you by the elbow gently before you can run to the snack table. 

Your eyes won’t meet his, and he ducks and moves around trying to catch your gaze before you finally turn back to him, and he begs, “No, please, tell me what you said.” 

Wonwoo knows he looks pathetic, practically panting and imploring you with his eyes to be honest, his brows pinched so close together they’re skewing his glasses, but he doesn’t care.

If you said what he thinks you said, it will change everything. 

You gnaw on the inside of your bottom lip, looking at him through the sides of your eyes, before your shoulders lose all their tension and you sigh, “I said it would be fine with me. If we never got divorced.” 

You sound defeated and small, like this is something you’ve been holding back, and Wonwoo feels all the air in his lungs exit in a whoosh before both hands fly up to cradle your face and pull you into a searing kiss, months of pent up love and adoration and fondness and lust pouring from his lips into yours. Your shoulders bunch up a bit and your hands move to cover his, and Wonwoo fears for a second that you’ll pull away, tell him that wasn’t what you meant, but you just pull him closer, kissing him back until you’re breathless too. 

Eventually, Wonwoo realizes both that you need air and that you’re at a public function hosted by the company of which he’s just been made Chief Financial Officer, and gently detaches from you. He stays close though, can’t bear to go further than a few inches, and you stare into his eyes before breathing out, “Should we go home? I think we should go home.”

Wonwoo nods before you’re done talking, and he makes straight for the exit on light feet before you veer to the side, tugging him towards his colleagues, and he’s grateful you remembered that the two of you should say your goodbyes. 

He’s as quick as he can be about it, shaking hands and accepting toasts, and when he hears you tell everyone how proud you are of him, knowing you mean it, his heart starts swelling. 

Then Wonwoo hears you say, “My husband and I should be getting home, have a great night!” and something else starts swelling too.

(His dick. Wonwoo is talking about his dick. Oh you got it? Good.)

AN: hiiii so this was a sleepover fic turned oneshot for the lovely @lenireads who was the first person to join my taglist!! thank you so much for supporting me and i hope you enjoy!! there will be a smutty part two, don't worry!!

PART TWO

ALTERNATE ENDING

taglist: @confusedbansheee @junhui-recs @burningupp-replies @heeseung-lover686 @favehoshiposts @gyvswhore @jaysawake (unable to tag) @1004luvangel @bangchanbabygirlx @Baldi-2 (i know you filled out the taglist again but i still cant tag u for some reason im so sorry) @just-here-to-read-01 @gaebestie @noryyyyyyyyy @heavenly-mobo @smalliechelle @shuabby1994 @snowgirlfallen @noraehey @swinterr @fr0g-filez

you can join my taglist here

[pynkhues]

Hi! I love your Succession meta, especially when you drew parallels between Kendall and Rose, I wouldn't have thought of it myself, but that makes perfect sense! I'm curious what is you take on how Logan treated Kendall's ambiguous disorder when it first started manifesting (probably in his teens?). It must haves been such a mess, considering the fact that Kendall is in a complete denial he might have serious mental health issues, and his family only brings them up as a weapon to use against him. Would anything have changed if he'd actually got the help he needed at the beginning?

Hi! Thank you so much!

And ooo, that's such an interesting question, especially given the show has shown that the Roy siblings have spoken to therapists / psychologists before. Roman and Shiv both bring it up a few times throughout the series, and Kendall mentions it most notably in 3.02, and I think you could argue that his breathing exercises in 3.01 are an indication he's spoken to someone about anxiety before (although I do suspect Kendall's therapy has mostly been tied to rehab / recovery in the past as opposed to him trying to actually address any of his other issues).

It sort of makes me think that Logan himself isn't actually adverse to the concept, because if he was, I don't think any of the kids would do it at all, but I do think he has this sort of - - mmmm - - failure to acknowledge what that means, if that makes sense?

So much of what we see of Logan's understanding of vices, mental health or neurodivergence seems to come down to one of two things – either it's something to be fixed, or it's something to be controlled. Both are really clearly demonstrated I think with Iverson, where the Thanksgiving episode positioned his difficulties with transitioning houses as something Kendall should be controlling, and then later in 3.08 with the loaded line 'is he getting better?' as an indication of him viewing Iverson's autism as an ailment to be fixed and not a part of who he is.

We see it in other ways throughout the series too – telling Roman he needs to get 'straightened out', or confronting Kendall on his crying as if he wants to wring the weakness of it out of him. Interestingly too, he tends to treat Kendall's addiction not as something to be fixed, but something to be controlled, most notably in 2.01 when he tells him thinking (and using) is best done 'in limits'. Even still though, his advice is never to seek help, but always to self manage, and the idea I think of really unpacking an issue is something like acknowledging a weakness. Gosh, he even calls rehab 'the nuthouse' in 1.01.

The thing about Logan I think is that he cares more about projecting strength than possessing the actuality of it (although he does care about that too, haha), and that seems to go double for his sons. They represent a legacy of power, control and force, and while they might be varying degrees of fail children, it's only when their weaknesses or 'embarrassing' behaviour i.e. Connor's presidential run or Roman's issues with sex, become more public, that it becomes a problem for Logan.

In that sense, I don't think there's any way Logan's ever really known how to deal with Kendall's mental health. I think you're right that he was probably displaying symptoms from his teenage years, if not from childhood (I tend to read him as bipolar and as being on the autism spectrum, but it is still fairly ambiguous), and I think Logan probably more often than not either looked the other way or reacted as an authoritarian / disciplinarian, not unlike how he did with Iverson in 1.05.

I think for Logan a diagnosis wouldn't necessarily have changed that. It would've been something that needed to be hidden and controlled, and for Kendall, I think it would've been something he felt immense amounts of shame around, even if he had a treatment / management plan, and that his father's need for it to not exist would likely have him self-medicating through drugs and alcohol in the way he already does. Kendall's not someone who easily accepts help after all, even when he really, really wants it, and I don't really think a diagnosis early or otherwise would really have changed all that much for him.

I'm not sure though! What do you guys think?

[riotgrlpossum]

Secret Santa

Hey @beaniejared!!! Merry Christmas! I’m your secret santa for @dearevanhansensecretsanta! Here’s some Connor/Jared theatre fluff for the soul. <3

In Kleinsphy We Don’t Say I Love You We Say Fuck You And I Think That’s Beautiful

2204 Words, Rated T for inane amounts of swearing

Connor groaned loudly. The prickly school carpeting was making his back numb, and the lack of sleep inherent to tech week made his entire body feel like he was pumping cough syrup instead of blood.

The bright, fluorescent lights of the booth boring into his brain were not helping.

“Jared!” He whined, covering his eyes with his hoodie. “It’s two in the fucking morning. When are we going to leave?”

Jared didn’t look up from his equipment. “You had the chance to get a ride home with Zoe, Evan, and Alana two hours ago,” He said.

Connor rolled his eyes. “I didn’t know you would be staying so late. I thought if Alana Beck, our ever diligent stage manager, was leaving then you wouldn’t be far behind. You’re generally known as a slacker -”

“You can’t see right now but I am flipping you off -”

“Besides, I would rather be trapped here until dawn than in sitting next to Evan in the backseat of my sister’s car while she and Alana suck face. Yannow, I think he’s still scared of me.”

“He’s not scared of you, he’s just skittish. Like a fucking… chipmunk or something. A sweaty chipmunk.”

Connor snorted.

“And,” Jared continued. “For your information, I can be very diligent. I only slack off on things I don’t care about. Programming the lighting board takes time and patience. Something you actors wouldn’t understand.”

“Oh blow me, Kleinman.”

“Maybe later. Right now I’m working.”

“I’m not even an actor, you know,” Connor said. “I’m not talented. I’m just one of like… five guys who tried out. And like… making me the sadistic dentist? That’s just blatant typecasting.”

“Shut up, Connor. You and I both know that you’re good at this.”

Connor sat up and smirked.

“What was that?”

“Fuck off.”

“Was… was that… was that a compliment?”

“I hate you.”

“From Jared Kleinman?”

“Why are you like this?”

“Did the Amazing Asshole Jared Kleinman just give me a compliment?”

Connor had slowly made his way over to Jared’s chair, until he was right in his face.

“You’re the worst, you know that?” Jared said, a fond smile ghosting over his lips.

Connor shrugged. He was half expecting Jared to lean forward and kiss him, with their faces being so close together, but he instead turned back to his computer with a soft hum.

Connor glanced at the screen. It was full of codes and colors and buttons that he didn’t understand, but he could glean that Jared would not be done for awhile.

He jumped on the the counter next to Jared’s workstation, resting his legs on one of the many plush chairs that occupied the space.

“You aren’t supposed to be up there,” Jared said.

“Mkay, but consider this, I don’t give a fuck.”

Jared rolled his eyes absentmindedly, but didn’t press the issue any further.

“Ya know,” Connor said after ten minutes of insufferable silence. Connor hated silence. And stillness. He’d had ADHD when he was younger. Sometimes he thought he still had it, but his dad had said he’d “grown out of it” and that “adults don’t have ADHD.” “I used to get really high up here sophomore year.”

“Oh, Jesus, that was you?”

Connor shrugged. “Not just me. Charlie Davis and Alan P. were there too.”

“Alan P.? Dana P.’s older brother?”

“Yeah. He was a senior when we were sophomores.”

“There’s no way he was a stoner. He’s going to like… an Ivy League school.”

“So? Those two things aren’t mutually exclusive. But yeah. Alan P. is a major pothead. He was my first kiss, too.”

“Were you guys high?”

“As a kite.”

“Kinky.”

“Fuck off.”

“What’s that even like?”

“Getting high?”

“Kissing while high. Or getting high. I dunno. Both?”

“Getting high is like… I dunno. It just chills me out. It makes Big Bang Theory watchable, if that helps. And kissing while high is… it depends. Kissing Alan while high was whatever. Cause I didn’t really have a crush on him, it just sort of happened? So it was like… ‘whoa you taste like weed but also have a mouth, that’s fun.’ I dunno what kissing someone I really liked high would be like.”

Jared nodded noncommittally. “So you really didn’t like Alan P.?”

“No? Why?” Connor raised an eyebrow. “Holy shit are you jealous?”

Jared blushed slightly. “No. Fuck you.”

Connor cackled. “Don’t worry, Jared. You’re the only boy I want to kiss. High or otherwise.”

“Connor, that’s gay,” Jared said, a smile pulling at his lips.

“cONor thAT’S gAy,” Connor mocked, doing his best impression of the Spongebob Parrot meme.

Jared laughed softly. Connor loved Jared’s laugh. It wasn’t a particularly melodic or dulcet laugh, it was kind of cackley, and to the untrained ear it would sound mocking, but it was perfect for Jared. It was rough around the edges, kind of disarming at first, but also gleeful and unapologetic. Jared was different and odd and unexpected and Connor thought he was perfect. Jared went back to his programming. Different combinations would light up the stage, and Connor could barely tell the difference between most of them, but Jared would shake his head and change something minute twelve hundred times before he actually inputted a queue. Connor admired the laser focus that Jared had. The only thing Connor could do for a continuous amount of time was read. He also liked to dance or play video games, but neither of those things were still. Connor had to be really high to sit in stillness. Jared seemed to relish in the monotony of inputting codes and tweaking HTML.

Connor abruptly jumped off of the counter, landing less than gracefully. Jared jumped at bit at the sudden movement.

“What the fuck?”

“I need your keys.”

“My… keys?”

“Yes. Your keys.”

“Uh…”

“I’m not going to abandon you at the school, Kleinman. Just fucking trust me.”

Jared let out a beleaguered sigh, but reached into his backpack and tossed Connor his keys. They were attached to a first generation Pokemon lanyard. It was adorable.

“Cool. I’ll be back in like twenty minutes.” Connor started for the door.

“Where are you going?”

“Sucking dick for meth!” Connor called as he walked down the hallway to the stairs.

“Bring me some back!”

Connor chuckled. Jared was such a dork.

He walked down the stairs, then left the janitor’s closet that held the passageway to the booth, and exited the school, the brisk night air chilling him to the bone. He left one of the many blocks of wood that littered the floor of the scene shop in the door so that he could get back in.

Jared’s car was a cherry red monstrosity that had over a hundred thousand miles on it and a steering wheel that was held together by duct tape. It could only play cassettes and didn’t get FM radio. Connor absolutely loved it.

He opened the passenger seat door, and was washed over by the smell of dirty laundry, fast food, and Jared. He sat on the cracked leather seat, putting the key in the ignition and stepping on the break. Connor loved driving. His parents took away his car after his last suicide attempt, which, okay, was fair, but it still sucked. It was a weird dichotomy, understanding the measures his parents took to ensure his safety but at the same time being angry and stifled by their constant worry and restrictions.

He flipped on the radio, turning on NPR. His and Jared’s favorite radio show was on. Coast to Coast. It was a conspiracy show that talked about everything from aliens to bigfoot to demonic black eyed children that haunted people until they went insane. It was great. Connor and Jared would stay up until dawn listening to the broadcast in their respective rooms, texting each other back and forth. Gregg Noory was talking about some sort of miniature black hole that scientists were working creating on which had the possibility to destroy the entire world. Driving down a road in the dead of night listening to him talk made the hairs on Connor’s arms stand up. It was exhilarating.

He swerved in to the nearly empty convenience store parking lot. The fluorescent lights illuminated the air around the store like an edgy CW drama. Not that Connor watched edgy CW dramas. He just happened to sometimes be in the room when Zoe was watching them.

He entered the store and grabbed a basket, then headed towards the freezer section. Connor grabbed a carton of rocky road and threw it in. He turned to open the doors again but realized something that felt earth shattering.

He had no fucking clue what kind of ice cream Jared liked.

He couldn’t just text him and ask him, that would ruin the whole romantic shtick. But he couldn’t get the wrong kind of ice cream. Connor came from a family that took ice cream very seriously. One wrong distinction between chocolate and rainbow sprinkles could be the difference between civility and throwing around microwaves. (Connor liked rainbow sprinkles because he was gay and awesome, and Zoe liked chocolate ones because she was a dweeb.)

Connor pulled out his phone and shot a quick text.

To: Hansen

what kind of ice cream does jared like

To: Connor Murphy

What? Why? It’s three am?

To: Hansen

i know what fucking time it is asshole what kind of ice cream does jared like

To: Connor Murphy

Why are you awake? You should be asleep, Connor.

To: Connor Murphy

And cherry garcia.

To: Hansen

pot. kettle. black.

To: Hansen

also, cherry garcia?? fuckin weirdo

Connor grabbed the cherry garcia and dropped it in the basket nonetheless. He also picked up a package of plastic spoons and two water bottles. A suspiciously red-eyed twenty something checked him out and Connor drove back to the high school, not taking notice of the speed limits because it was three in the morning and he had ice cream in the car.

He entered the school, jogged up the stairs, and dramatically kicked open the door to the booth. Jared was still in front of the computer, ever so slightly adjusting shades of pink.

“I’m fighting against every fiber of my being not to make a ‘honey, I’m home,’ joke right now,” Connor said, setting his bounty down on the counter.

Jared turned towards him. “What did you get?”

Connor pulled out the ice cream, flashing a smile.

“Connor, we aren’t allowed to have food up here.”

“I’m pretty sure we also aren’t allowed to be here past midnight so…”

Jared furrowed his brow. Connor smiled wider and handed him the pint of ice cream and a plastic spoon.

Jared opened his mouth to protest, but Connor cut him off.

“Stop being such an Alana and eat the ice cream, Kleinman.”

“Wow. Rude.” But Jared pulled the top off of the carton and tried to pull out a giant scoop, breaking his spoon in the process.

Connor handed him another spoon.

“Fuck off,” Jared muttered.

Connor grinned. “I didn’t say anything.” He opened his own ice cream and dipped his spoon in.

Jared paused, turned back to his computer and grabbed his phone. A song Connor recognized as being from Next To Normal started blaring from the speakers meant for the God Mic.

Connor smiled, and in a moment of bravery, leaned over and pecked Jared on the lips. Even though they’d been dating for a few months, they were shy around affection, both expecting the other to reveal that the whole relationship had been a prank or a lie.

Jared’s face went red, splitting in to a wide grin.

The ate their ice cream in relative silence, occasionally cracking jokes or singing along to Jared’s musical playlist. At one point, Connor put down his spoon and did an entire dance routine in the cramped booth.

“How the fuck have you memorized the entire dance to King Of New York?” Jared asked, incredulous.

Connor shrugged. “I might have a small crush on Ben Cook…”

“Don’t we all.” Jared looked up in fake wistfulness, then looked back at Connor. “So, Newsies is a favorite of yours then?”

“Oh, God no.”

Jared stared at him, offended. “Okay then, Mr. Judgy. What do you like?”

“Off the top of my head? Fantasticks, Apple Tree, and Hair.”

“Oh my god, what are you, seventy?”

“Oh go blow Steven Schwartz, asshole.”

“How can you not recognize that we are in a new golden age of musical theatre?!”

“Okay then, what do you like?”

“Next To Normal, Spring Awakening, and Cats.”

“Cats?!”

“Okay listen -”

“I cannot believe I’m in love with someone who likes Cats!”

“Cats is - wait. In… In love?”

Connor stopped dead. The late night and the free flowing banter and the being alone with Jared has loosened his tongue, and he’d ruined everything.

“I mean… I just… no! Fuck! Of course not, I’m just… I meant to say… I… fuck you!”

“Connor.”

Connor stared at his hands, trying not to freak out.

“Connor!”

His head snapped up, and he looked at Jared.

“I… I love you too.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“Okay.”

“Cool.”

“Very cool.”

“Insanely cool.”

“Fuck off, Kleinman.”

[crisscolferfanforever]

10.7 Team Labor Lost

10.7

Jock

Team Labor lost

Written by smoothie smith

We see smoothie Anderson center parking lot   where Cade and Zach are throwing football in the march winter weather we see ambulance going by and cars flying in

Cade

“go long “

Zach

“me go long no you go long “

Cade goes long for a pass

Car approaches

Zach

“CADE! “

Cade

“what “

Has his hangs up in the air

Zach

“CAR!”

Cade gets out of the way by jumping on his own car

Car goes by dumps a male student off and drives off

Cade

“what you crazy are you out your mine”

Zach checks him out

Zach

“hey, let’s get in the medical room “

Cade

“and I thought this was going to be a good day before we had to practice “

Zach just looks at cade

Cut to Zach and cade bringing him with Carol and Chris the nurses at the center

Zach

“I got it cade “

Cade goes to the front desk “

The grinne almost runs over hazel

We cut to the Exam room helea just enter

We see Gunner and Cindy working on the patient ankles first

Dr. Dahm comes in he’s a general Surgeon at JFK

Zach

“I need some help here we got a kid with a high fever “

Dahm

“move cade “

Cade goes with Zach

Music beating faster

Zach

“what’s your name “

The kid doesn��t respond

Zach

“cade call Albert and Holly Finnell down here”

Carol looks at Zach

Carol

“what’s the problem “

Zach

“it’s just for protocol “

Cade calls them  

Luke comes in

Luke (sign)

“do you need me “

Zach(sign)

“Gunner and Dr. Dahm do “

Luke (sign)

“thank you “

Zach gives them the thumbs up

Cindy getting ready to help

Cindy

“what happen In Room 1 “

Zach

“some kid got run over “

We turn the camera around to Zach

Zach

“oh boy “

Cindy

“he’s Seizing “

Helea

“get Albert in Here now”

Connor runs and gets him

We move to the next room Dr. Dahm is still examine the patient we see carol trying to get Steve Attention

Carol

“Steve”

Steve

“what “

Carol

“he doesn’t want to be naked in front of anyone “

Steve

“ok, everyone clears the room “

Zach and the other workers look at the next room

Carol comes in the room with Albert

Albert

“what do you have”

Zach

“we got a 9-year-old male with a high Fever “

Albert

“why did you call me down”

Carol gives him the chart

Carol

“we want to know if you think he has Autism “

Albert

“Holly can you get me the camera “

Zach

“albert he’s got a high fever “

Albert gets the camera then takes pictures of the kid

Albert

“ok, Page Jerry or Frank you know what just put him on IV I’ll do it “

Zach (sign)

“thank you”

Albert runs

Cut back to exam room as the patient begins to mumble

Zach

“hey friend how is you doing “

The kid keeps mumbling

Zach

“can you sign”

The Kid shakes his had

The Kid wants a paper and pen to write on

The kid writes and gives it back to Zach

It said why am I here

Zach writes down

Albert comes in

Albert

“any luck “

Zach

“will probably have to send him to JFK”

Albert

“we can call his parents “

The kid nods

Albert writes something down

What is your name

The kid writes Daniel

Zach

“Daniel my name is Zachary this here is Albert we both work here at the center with kids who have special needs and who are deaf and hard of hearing now we think we can send you to JFK but we need to notify your parents before we do this “

Dr. Dahm comes in

Albert

“this is Dr. Dahm is one of Volunteer doctor’s “

Steve

“I can take him up to the sixth floor if he wants “

Albert

“right now, we were waiting for a notify from the parents “

Steve

“why don’t we send him up there then Zachary and carol can work on contacting the parents “

Zachary

“Daniel, we need to know your parents phone number “

He writes it down as he sent up to the six floors

Zach gets the phones

We cut Sandy office where she is working with helea and albert

Albert

“Zachary is working on a phone number with Carol “

Gunner comes in

Gunner

“do you know a person name Jake Arneson “

Helea looks at Albert and sandy

Helea

“yes why “

Gunner

“he is here but I can’t sign”

Albert

“I will do it take my job “

Gunner comes in the room and sits down

Helea

“this Gunner Stock Sandy Gunner this is Sandy she is the Director for Special needs and treatment for them she is also a special education teacher at Rufus king high school “

Gunner

“nice to meet you “

Fade out

We see Albert and Jake at the front desk when Zach is working on the phones

Zach

“yes, he is here “

Albert looks

Tracy also comes in

Zach flags someone in the office

Cade comes In

Cade

“what’s up”

Zach

“give this to Dr. Dahm tell that Daniel parents are on their way over in 5 mins”

Cade runs

Zach and albert high five each other

Jake (sign)

“what happen”

Albert (sign)

“we got a hold of the parents of the kid that is up in surgery “

Jake (sign)

“cool”

The three walks up

Fade out

Cut to the Girls basketball conference room as they get ready for the Sectional finals against Bronx Prep we see the coaching staff as they

Craig

“what’s the game plan against the 6”3 and the 6”5”

Rebecca looks at her scout report

Rebecca

“coach Jackson “

Alan

“I go Triangle and two “

Amanda

“what about man to man but you shut the three around them “

Rebecca

“that Is possible “

They look at donna

Donna

“what about 1-3-1 “

Alan

“no “

They leave

Donna

“ok I am kidding “

They stop at the door

Donna

“I think we need to run Triangle “

Rebecca looks At Alan

Then walks to through the door

We cut to the starting line ups

PA

“now to the Generals of New York Rufus King, starting at guard a 5”5 senior number 10 Hazel Anderson Gosz, starting at the other guard a 5”5 Junior number 21 Megan  Kendrick’s starting at forward a 5”9 Freshmen number 24 Cindy Jenison starting at the other forward a 5”8 Junior number 20 Stacy Jenkins and starting at center a 6”0 junior number 44 Anna Wedding “

Rebecca claps

PA

“and the Head coach of the Generals is Rebecca Fisher Asset by Craig Mchurt Alan Jackson Andama Johnson and Donna Bonnell “

Rebecca

“let’s go lady’s “

They all huddle up around coach fisher

Rebecca looks at the with fear but excitement

Rebecca

“play hard, have fun and win “

They head out for the opening tip

The student section leads by Albert the crazy and Zach the Wild pump up the Rufus King Crowed

Albert (Shouting)

“I believe we will win “

He repeats over and over as the fans jump around

The boys staff along with Derrick watch game from behind the bench as they see Bronx prep starting five

David

“holy shit”

Josh looks

Josh

“right with you “

They watch them jump center

Fade out fast pace

We cut to the first part of the second half

Rebecca

“T”

The score is Bronx Prep 12 King 6

Basket good makes it 14-6

Rebecca watching as block after block

19-6

Hazel finally hits a Three

Rebecca Screaming

Rebecca

“TIMEOUT!”

Ref Grants her the timeout

Ref

“what do you want “

Craig

“30”

We cut to the huddle

Rebecca

“go 23 for one position I want Ann in the middle “

Ref

“first horn”

Rebecca (counties)

“trap the big girl when she gets in the ball”

They break

Rebecca looks at her bench

Rebecca (sign)

“be ready “

The bench nods

She looks on ward to the court

Rufus king gets a stop

Rebecca calls the plays

We look over to the boy’s staff

Jake

“I don’t like this “

Morgan looks at her husband

Morgan

“you don’t have faith “

Jake

“your right “

Bronx Prep scores a three to make it 25-12  

Rebecca

“Push Quick! “

They get inside for a two the score is 25-14

Anna wedding going to the line

Rebecca

“hurry You five get in quick “

Craig

“subs!”

One stays for anna

She makes it a ten-point game

Starting five 3 mins ok get a breath and blow and then your back to work

Craig

“Rachel over “

Rebecca

“run motion “

Yolanda hits a three to make 28-17

Rebecca

“get a stop “

3 mins approach

The d gets a stop

Rebecca

“you five get in “

Starting five get in

Rebecca

“be ready in the second half “

They nod

Score is 28-19 with 1:30 to go in the first half

Donna

“coach press a little “

Rebecca looks at the clock and then at her

Rebecca

“Diamond “

Hazel hears it

Hazel

“set it up”

They get a trap and steal hazel pass to anna for a basket its 28-21

Rebecca

“stay in it “

1:10 to go

Student section run by albert and Zach

Zach

“Come on let’s go!”

Gunner and Connor join in

Gunner

“I believe!”

Connor

“I believe that “

Zach

“I believe we will “

Albert

“I believe that we will win “

The student sections

“I believe that we will win !!!”

Another steal

It’s 30-23

42 seconds to go

Craig

“stay in it “

Hazel picks up a deal steps back shots a three and she is foul

30-26 with one more coming

Student section fired up

10 seconds Cindy with the ball

Rebecca puts up one shot

They pass it to anna who shoots it but its off the rim

Halftime score is 30-27 Bronx prep

Jake goes with the staff as the players go in the locker room the coaches wait outside to talk about the first half and what needs to be changed for the second half

Rebecca

“wow “

Amanda

“yes “

Rebecca gets her board

Rebecca

“ok what are we doing well on and what needs to be twixed “

Amanda

“fast tempo needs to be a key “

Craig

“got to be able to run with them “

Alan

“they need to trap the big two at all time and we need help inside at all “

Donna

“offense needs to keep it up “

Rebecca

“what do you think Jake “

Jake

“all said is what I would say but I stick to 23 don’t change it but it’s your call “

Rebecca

“thank you, coach, let’s go “

They go into the locker room

We cut to the student section who are taking a break

Albert

“what do you think”

Cade

“they got a chance “

Zach

“hell, yes they do “

Gunner

“Totally “

We cut back to the locker room

Rebecca

“keep attacking and keep playing hard this is our game don’t give up”

We go back to the student section

Albert

“they need to keep attacking I want them to attack “

Zach

“who hear likes the press “

Everyone raise their hands

They hear shouting

The other team’s student section starts a war with them it’s friendly

Cut back to the coaching staff as Rebecca draws out the plays

Alan

“always be aware of where everyone is around you “

Rebecca

“ok we are going to go 23 “

They bring it in

The second half is about to begin

 Rebecca Squats down like a coach

Rebecca looks at her players and her coaching staff as she is ready to go

Rebecca

“23”

Bronx Prep scores the first 6 points

Rebecca

“come on let’s go “

Megan hits a three with 14 miins to go 36-30

The Bronx Prep scores 9 points unanswered in 3 mins

Score is 45-30

Rebecca puts her five subs in

One hits a three

45-33

Rebecca screaming

Rebecca

“TIMEOUT”

Ref

“full or 30”

Rebecca with her board

Rebecca

“full”

We go to the student section looking ashamed

We go back to the bench

Rebecca

“wake UP we are down 12 with 10 mins left, press them get back in this game like how Rufus King plays “

They break out

Craig

“you have 1 30 2 full left to use “

Rebecca erases the board

Rebecca

“thank you, coach”

She squats down

We cut to the student section getting fired up

Student Section

“Rufus king!”

Hazel with the ball

Rebecca looks at the offense

Rebecca

“set it up “

Hazel gets it to anna who hits the bucket and the foul

Rebecca

“that a way, Hazel Diamond “

Hazel gives her the thumbs up

Anna makes both it’s 47-36 with 9 mins to go

Rebecca

“get in it”

They get a deal and a layup 47-38

Rebecca

“back, BACK, BACK!”

They get a foul

Ref

“foul number 12 “

Rebecca

“subs “

Five players go in and out “

Rebecca

“be ready “

Craig

“23”

They get in to the 2-3 zone

They get a deal and a lay up

The score is 47-40 with 4 mins to go

Ref

“charge “

The girl starts screaming

Ref

“technical foul!”

Amanda

“hey back move out of the way”

Ref goes over to the scoring table then to coach fisher

Ref

“coach we got a technical foul on Red 44 who do you want to take two free-throws “

Rebecca

“number 10 “

Hazel goes to the line and hits both free-throws

Albert

“that’s my girl “

Jake and john laugh their ass off

Diana

“what a dork “

Curtis

“he’s my daughter’s boyfriend “

Diana

“maybe he gets from you “

Curtis looks at Diana

Cut back to the game where we see after hazel makes those two free-throws is now 47-42 with we see Donna signal to Rebecca, Rebecca looks at the clock 3:00

Rebecca

“Hazel,”

Hazel looks at coach

Rebecca (sign)

“next make 13”

Hazel informs

Bronx prep scores to make it 50-42

A deal and a basket it’s a ten-point lead 52-42

Rebecca

“break it “

We watch hazel hit a three to make it 52-45 with 1:30”

Rebecca (signing Diamond /talking/Screaming)

“Get in it!”

They get a deal and a layup with 55 seconds to go

Rebecca looks at her bench

Rebecca

“you five get in “

Amanda looks

Amanda

“FOUL!”

Ref

“foul! Gold 21”

Team fouls on the scored board Rufus king is one more in bonus

Subs go in

Alan

“stay here”

Rebecca watches 29 seconds left down 52 47

Rebecca

“foul “

They foul to go to the line

Music becomes extreme as Bronx prep best player goes to the line

Albert and Zach Screaming

She misses

Hazel

“Cindy “

Hazel watches it

Hazel

“hit it “

Cindy hits a three to make it 52-50

Rebecca and hazel both scream

Rebecca

“TIMEOUT!”

Time out is granted with 9 seconds left

Alan

“subs check in “

The subs check in

Cut to the bench as Rebecca draws a play

Rebecca

“I want a 1-3-1 Zone Trap at HC get the ball or foul right way then go from there “

The break as coach Bonnell goes to Rebecca

Donna

“you have 2 full left to work with “

Rebecca

“thank you “

We see Rufus King in a 1-3-1 HC Trap with Jill on top “

A lose ball

Jill grabs it

Rebecca screams to the ref again

Rebecca

“time out “

Ref grants a time out with 4 seconds

Rebecca looks at her bench

Rebecca

“starting five in “

Starting five checks in

They break the huddle as they are told what to do

A line is formed where Anna is inbounding she sees hazel at the top of three point she passes

Hazel

“ball!!!!”

 She gets shot fake goes up hit three but its off the rim

Final score Bronx prep 52 New York Rufus King 50

We see hazel just on the floor as Megan and Cindy tried to get her up

We see the student section as albert comes in as albert and Zach are in shock

Albert

“wow”

We see the guys staff just shell shocked

Music raps up intense

We see the locker room hallway as we see the players walking to the Locke room we final see Megan and anna carrying Hazel behind them is Coach Fisher and her staff

Amanda

“wow “

Rebecca just stops

Rebecca

“what do I say”

Craig

“don’t be mad”

Rebecca

“I am proud of this season I mean 23-3 for 2 years in row that is 76-5 in three years one state championship”

Alan

“thank the seniors “

Donna

“just be positive “

They walk in

Cut to the bench where Derrick and Curtis are talking as Albert come in

Curtis

“I will take her home”

Albert agrees for once

Derrick

“what about Rebecca “

Curtis looks

Curtis

“she will be fine in her 18 years she has been to 10 sectional finals appearance “

Albert

“ok Zach and I are going to see hazel then are going to go home I will call you “

Curtis and albert huge

We cut to the locker room we see everyone silence as Rebecca and her staff come in to the locker room

Rebecca

“I know this is not the Results that we wanted but I also  know everyone is hurting right now but I am so proud of you guys for never giving up on yourself  we played a very tough Bronx Prep I thought when it was 19-6 we came back and made it 30-27 at the half I want to thank not just our starting five but to our bench I can’t thank you enough , to my senior Hazel Anderson you are blessing to this team coaches “

 We see outside the locker room Curtis and the rest wait we see hazel and the girls come out

Hazel (defeated)

“hi dad “

They hug

Curtis

“you played a good game, great career and you made me proud for those four years”

They hug as Curtis future son in law just begin to cry

Curtis

“I will see you when you get home “

Hazel nods

We see Derrick and Rebecca talking in the locker room office

Rebecca

“I thought we played well I just could not stop the two big players “

Derrick

“I thought you had a terrific season 23-3 I mean you will be back “

Rebecca

“I think I am going to give It some serious though “

Derrick

“what”

Rebecca

“resigning “

Derrick looks shocked

Derrick

“you think your tired out”

Rebecca

“I have been here for 18 years 14 years as the head coach I have 302 wins 2 state championships 11 sectional finals appearance I have re build the program the why I want it “

Derrick

“you want to see your daughter play is that why “

Rebecca nods

Derrick and coach go

Fade out

 We see albert and hazel with Cindy and Megan outside the locker room after the bus drops them off

Cindy

“well what do we do now”

Megan

“we go home and start on Monday “

Hazel

“thank you, guys, “

They look

Hazel (counties)

“I am the only senior but I am so proud that we are team mates the four seasons that I’ve been here I don’t know what I can say “

They smile

Albert

“you ready “

Hazel

“yes, I am “

 We cut to the inside of the school Gym We see Curtis and Rebecca outside the locker room  

Curtis

“that I was a fun game to watch “

Rebecca looks at her best friend

Rebecca

“yes, it was I got something to say “

Curtis looks in fear

Curtis

“what is it”

Rebecca

“I am thinking about Resigning “

Curtis is worried

Rebecca (counties)

“listen I have been here for 18 years 14 as a head coach I have re build this program the right way “

Curtis

“yes, you have”

He smiles

We see Curtis and Rebecca give a big hug as Curtis leaves

Curtis

“call me when you get home “

Rebecca

“I will”

Fade out

We see Hazel just looking at the floor as her mother comes in she is still in shock after the lost she doesn’t know what to say then just sit there

Rebecca

“it’s not your fault “

Hazel

“I know “

They hug

Rebecca

“I will see you tomorrow “

 Hazel leaves the locker room

We cut to the Bus stop where hazel and albert are walking and talking

Albert

“I know your down but making it to the sectional finals every year of your high school years is pretty awesome “

Hazel

“I just want to get home “

Albert looks at his girlfriend

Albert

“talk to me “

Hazel

“I will when I get home “

Albert

“ok “

Albert

“I Love you “

He grabs her by the arm as the green line pulls up

Hazel

“I love you too “

They kiss

Hazel

“I will see you when you get home “

Hazel gets in the bus as Albert waives to his girlfriend we cut to the bus where hazel sits down she takes a deep breath

(sad music starting to play in the background)

We see Oakland Ave and Bradford Street as the bus keeps going we turn to hazel who realize she just played her final game as a high school player she begins to ball her eyes out on the bus as she becomes increase sadly

The Carmena fades out

 End of 10.7

[pynkhues]

Hey :) I have these headcanons that all of the golden trio had these passions and talents when they were kids that just went completely un-nurtured by their parents. Like, Ken was really into music and singing, Rome was a writer, really creative stuff. But they got kind of pummelled into business by their dad. And Shiv was into politics, loved it, and Logan’s neglect due to her being a girl is what allowed her to run with it into a career. Am I crazy? I guess this is a long way of saying, hey, I headcanon Ken still knows piano but would never dare admit it. What do you think their passions were?

Hey! Oh gosh, that's so cute, anon, I don't think you're crazy at all. I love the way the show touches on these genuine interests for all of them and then how easily they get swallowed, crushed or redirected by their father.

I was actually thinking about something along the same lines the other day with Connor and about how his mother ran the dance charity, and about what that means in terms of him being so encouraging of Willa's playwrighting. I like to think that maybe Connor's experiences and interests were shaped by both parents and are his way of connecting with them. It makes me thinks that his desire to change his mother's charity and move it away from the arts in s1 was about him trying to appeal to his father's nature and reject his mother to appease him, but his connection to his mum sort of spilt out in this way of encouraging Willa's creative work (even if it's bad, haha). Alan's said that he thinks Connor probably tried going to art school for a bit too which I love and kind of like to headcanon as maybe a trauma response after her death too.

As for the golden trio, I spoke a little bit about their hobbies in this post, but I'm especially loving your headcanon about Kendall being able to play the piano! I love the thought too that Shiv can play but doesn't like it at all? The parallels between Kendall and Shiv are some of my favourites on the show, and I love this idea of Caroline and Logan both wanting Shiv to learn how to play because that's what girls do, and her hating it but being forced into lessons for years and years while Kendall desperately wanted to learn but Logan wouldn't ever let him, because to him, it's a bit 'fruity'.

I like politics as a passion for Shiv, but I also like reading, which I talked about in my other post, and I think maybe something like debate? I can see her being in model UN and debate club in highschool before she realised that her dad would never come and see her thrive in either and so she sunk all her energy into horse riding and dressage and showjumping, because at least that was something her dad thought was appropriate (and liked the class connotations of).

And Roman I think is a natural born storyteller from the way that he lies so easily, hahaha. In a lot of ways I think maybe he had more opportunities to explore his passions at boarding school (especially since St Andrew's was no longer a military school when Roman would've gone there, although it was still very outdoorsy) and away from his father's constant influence, but I imagined that would've made the transition back to home during the holidays even harder. All freedoms were probably crushed in ways more brutal than Kendall and Shiv felt, because they never really left their place under their father's thumb, at least not until college. Given the camping and the fishing, and the fact that St. Andrews is such an outdoorsy school, I actually kind of like the thought that Roman likes being outside and that it's one of the things that was squashed?

On paper, it's the sort of 'masculine interest' that would appeal to Logan, but I think Logan has his own issues with that sort of thing because of Ewan, and I can see him projecting anger and the rejection of that onto Roman. I don't know though! What do you guys think?

[pynkhues]

still thinking about Connor saying he didn't see Logan for 3 years. What was happening?? Was Connor with his mom? Boarding school? Why didn't Logan see Connor??? I'm guessing this was a time of huge growth for the company, maybe when Logan transitioned from multi millionaire to billionaire. And it probably ended when Logan married Caroline. Ah I just have SO many questions

Gosh, I'm still thinking about it too, anon. I'm obsessed with how well thought-out all the backstory is (would literally kill to get to read the series bible - I feel like it's probably a beast of a document, haha) and every time they drop a tidbit I become the Charlie from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia meme.

Three years is such a specific period of time, I feel like it gives the impression that Logan left Connor, but then came back and got him? Something I think that's pretty supported by Connor being so involved with the golden trio and knowing Caroline's estate like he does. Surely if Logan had abandoned Connor entirely in his childhood, Connor would've said that, but to instead put a timeframe on it implies something else. A sort of contained period of time as opposed to an ongoing abandonment.

I think you're probably right in that Connor probably got lost in the shuffle of one of Waystar's big expansions, and was probably neglected in the early days of Logan and Caroline's relationship (after all, we've now seen how swept up both Logan and Caroline get with new relationships, to the detriment of everything else in their lives).

My inclination is probably that Logan and Connor's mother separated in Connor's late childhood / tween years – maybe when he was around ten or eleven – and it wasn't until Logan decided he was setting up house with Caroline, that he wanted Connor back at his side. It likely timed with Connor's mother being institutionalised and maybe even Logan's falling out with Ewan too.

It makes me curious as to how different Logan was as a father to Connor. If there's a fifteen year age gap between Connor and Kendall like Alan's said, that puts Logan at 25 when he had Connor and 40 when he started having the golden trio. It's a wildly different stage of life, and even more so when you compound it with Logan's ascension in wealth and power. He probably wasn't thinking of his legacy in Connor's childhood and adolescence in the same way he was thinking about it in Kendall, Roman and Shiv's, and having three children to groom and pit against each other with your empire and their mother's aristocratic genes and status is probably much more appealing than one adult-child you already briefly abandoned with a mother who's mentally ill.

I don't know though! What do you guys think?