#and gay kevin but he doesn’t matter here

[lesbaurinkos]

cherylkins doodles and also archie. the world’s most important gingers

[read-and-write-]

Writing Roundup 2023

here they come at the very last minute doing the tag games

Thank you to @anincompletelist @littlemisskittentoes @happiness-of-the-pursuit @songliili @rockyroadkylers @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @bidoofenergy @inexplicablymine for tagging me! Even if I've been putting this off for weeks!

January

Nope

February

Not yet

March

the only heaven i'll be sent to is when i'm alone with you (M - 1.9k - The Shadowhunter's Chronicles) “You’re lying.” Ty furrowed his brows, Kit thought for a moment he had been discovered but it was impossible, as clever as Ty was he wasn’t a mind reader. “’m not lying.” “You are” “How could you know that?” “I don’t know, I just feel it” Ty shrugged, and for a second Kit just wanted to say it, to spill it out, but how could you tell the person you considered your best friend I just keep thinking how good it would feel to kiss you. or Even when the world might end the only thing Kit is able to think about is a boy.

April

I was reading actual books here

May

Nada

June

you are an idiot (i missed you)  (T- 1.6k- All for the Game) “The best, and arguably the only, good part of playing on opposing teams from your husband was getting to play a match against him. Therefore one could say that Neil was very excited about getting to play against Andrew tonight. Not only because for the first time since the season started they'd finally be in the same State and City (And later after the game, the same house) but also because Neil thought Andrew was 100% hotter when he was playing (Not that he would tell him out loud), and seeing him live was definitely better than seeing him on a screen. There was also the added bonus of the infamous Minyard - Josten Rivalry.” Or Neil and Andrew are having too much fun with their rivalry until someone else takes it too seriously, and then they have a talk.

i don't want you to be a secret (but i want them to shut up) (T- 2.6k- All for the Game) "The kiss tastes like victory, like happiness, like love. And suddenly it doesn’t matter what the press will write about them, or what the audience or the other players are thinking, because it’s their moment. It’s public, it’s loud, it’s bound to cause a scandal, but it’s theirs" or Neil is getting tired of the press writing about him and Andrew, and Andrew comes up with a way to help.

July

self-preservation (G- 2.4 - All for the Game) “You have to know something” “Something like what?” Kevin answered, his tone was hostile, but none of the other two seemed to notice. “Like, if they are…?” Jones started, letting the question hang, Kevin cocked an eyebrow, as if daring Jones to finish the sentence, he didn’t. “Not that we would have a problem with that, we are huge allies, right?” The other rushed to say, nudging the man by his side, who nodded eagerly as he added, “Yeah, yeah, huge allies” or Professional Exy players have a lot to say about Neil and Andrew, but they also don't have a death wish and no one dares to ask (Until they don't have to ask anymore)

It's terrifying to have you in front of me (and making you smile) (T- 1.3k- All for the Game) Loving Neil used to terrify Andrew, he waited for Neil to disappear, to be taken away from him, to do something that will make Andrew leave him. But he never did; Neil stayed, and he took what Andrew could give him without complaints, he waited patiently and spoke softly even if he hadn’t been built for it, he never took without permission and never ran. He made a thousand promises and he made sure he never broke a single one. A yes at a time Andrew let himself love Neil, the key, the car, the home, the shared bunk bed. The roof, the promises, the plans. The rings. The words. or A glimpse at Neil and Andrew's relationship through the years and the things that make it theirs

August

las formas de llamarte amor (M- 2.5k- Red, White and Royal Blue) Henry has been a public figure for most of his life, the reason why he’s been given dozens of titles, some kinder than others, he’s been the gay prince, the spare, the prince of England's hearts, the activist, the author. All of the titles are inevitably a part of his history, but the way Alex calls him is the most important of all. Because to Alex, he is sweetheart, amor, and corazón; Alex calls him mi vida in between kisses and whispers hermoso, lindo, precioso with his wandering hands working through Henry’s body. His name sounds better when it comes out of Alex’s lips. or 5 times Alex calls Henry a pet name in Spanish and one time he calls him by his name or Henry learns Spanish one pet name at a time

and every song reminds me of you (G- 4k- Red, White and Royal Blue) Alex can’t help but smile — Henry is not a great dancer, but the mere sight of Henry dancing merengue because of him is more than enough. His heart swells in his chest, despite the awkwardness of Henry’s movements; there’s something that’s more special about him getting to do this with him. “You know, there was actually this trend a few years ago,” Alex starts as he guides Henry’s hands to his shoulders and then positions his own on Henry’s hips. Henry hums but doesn’t look at Alex, too focused on trying to keep his feet moving the way Alex had taught him. Alex finds it adorable. “People said that you had to dance this song with the love of your life.” or Music is a part of Alex's life, just as much as Henry is, so it is inevitable that sometimes the songs remind Alex of him. (And then remind Henry of Alex)

a love to hold in words (ongoing -Red, White and Royal Blue) A Drabble Collection from The Brownstones 100-word drabble prompts

September

when she was here the path was clear (and she was just here) (T- 3.8k- Red, White and Royal Blue) Alex feels the tears prickling in the corners of his eyes, it’s as if his breath got knocked out of his chest, the pressure of grief weighing him down. He feels Henry standing closer behind him, his husband's hand hovering above his back, asking for permission to touch him. Alex moves back a little and leans his body against Henry's, closing his eyes and focusing on the rhythm of his husband’s heartbeat and matching his own breaths with his. "What do you need, love?" Henry whispers, pressing a kiss to the side of Alex's head. Alex lets out a shuddery breath. “She’s not here, Hen, she’s not here anymore.” or when Alex's abuelita dies he finds a house full of memories and stories to remember and to tell.

yo te llevo dentro, hasta la raíz (G- 546- Red, White and Royal Blue) Seeing you grow up has been one of the greatest privileges of our lives, being able to be with you in every step of the way. And we hope, I hope, if you let me, to be with you for the rest of it. Te amo. Te amamos. De aquí a las estrellas que siempre tuvieron planeado poderte conocer. Tu papi, Alex. or A letter from Alex to his daughter on her quinces

October

Y hace falta que te diga que me muero (por tener algo contigo) (G- 1.6k- Red, White and Royal Blue) “Nora, I have a very important question.” Alex says, it’s been a few hours since he got asked about him and Henry, he’s wrapping up his school day and he has not been able to pay attention to any classes because he’s been thinking about Henry. Henry and him. Henry and him dating. Dating? “No, we are not dating again. Go get someone else,” Alex realizes too late he’s been thinking out loud, his cheeks feel warm. It’s rare that he gets flustered by something like this, he’s always flirty, it’s almost second nature, and this is Nora who has definitely heard worse coming from him, but that’s the effect Henry has on him. “It’s not that!” Alex exclaims and Nora laughs, Alex takes a moment to gather his thoughts into a question. “Am I dating Henry?” Nora glares at him, her eyebrow raised. “How am I supposed to know that, Alejandro?” or the one where Alex is oblivious but no less determined to tell Henry how he feels

un hilo de pensamientos (de cosas que no se deben olvidar) (T- 2.1k- Red, White and Royal Blue) La campaña, Henry, salir del closet, los emails. Lentamente el divorcio de sus padres pasa a segundo, hasta tercer lugar. Tiene problemas más grandes, una relación, una plaza en NYU. Con cada año que pasa Alex deja de recordar las peleas, recuerda los gritos como una imagen vaga de un tiempo alejado de la persona que es ahora. Pero su cuerpo nunca las olvida; siente su sangre helarse cuando a su alrededor alguien levanta la voz, un escalofrío le recorre la espalda cuando se sienta a la mesa a comer con su familia, se le hace un nudo en el estómago cuando Henry se tarda en contestarle. O en el que Alex debe enfrentarse a las consecuencias que el divorcio de sus padres tuvo en él.

a train of thought (of things not to forget) (T- 2k- Red, White and Royal Blue) The campaign, Henry, coming out, the emails – slowly, his parents' divorce slips to second, even third place. He has bigger problems, a relationship, a place at NYU. With each passing year, Alex forgets the fights, he remembers the screams as a vague image from a time far removed from the person he is now. But his body never forgets them: he feels his blood run cold when someone raises their voice around him, a shiver runs down his spine when he sits at the table to eat with his family, and a knot forms in his stomach when Henry takes too long to reply. or Alex needs to face the consequences of his parents divorce

November

to belong to a family (even beyond this world) (G- 2.5k- Red, White and Royal Blue) “Talk to him. They listen, they always listen,” Ligia says and Henry nods, she squeezes his hand again before turning back and leaving him alone in front of the ofrenda. It's very rare that Henry has been at a loss for words when he tries to talk to his father. He has spent countless nights speaking to the stars, looking for Orion and hoping that —wherever his father is— he is looking for it too. “Hi dad,” Henry says softly, taking another look at the picture of his father, smiling at the camera. “I missed you.” or When Alex and Henry go to Mexico for Día de Muertos a familiar face appears on the Díaz ofrenda

December

Super Six and the Siren's Call (T - 111k - Red, White and Royal Blue) with @happiness-of-the-pursuit and @inexplicablymine “Alex didn’t ask to be a half-blood, and he definitely didn’t ask to die before he hit sixteen on a Tuesday morning. But apparently beggars can’t be choosers. Not that Alex had ever begged for anything in his life… Except maybe for a dog, but he maintains that was a reasonable request to ask of his parents. Well, parent.” Or Camp Half-Blood and the Super Six have never seen a villain quite like this.

This year was a crazy year, and even with everything that happened in my life I never thought I would find myself here, writing fic again, obssesing over one fandom, meeting so many people and getting so many pocket friends that I'm forever grateful for, I wish I can see more of y'all in 2024 and I hope to stay here to write my silly little words for a while<3

Take this as an open tag if you want it, but I think most people have already been tagged or already done it, i did leave this for the last... 50 minutes of 2023

[hunter-sylvester]

I was talking with my friend about Hunter’s emotional state throughout the film (as you do) and we came to the following conclusion.

Disclaimer: I know full well that Metal Lords (2022) is a lighthearted comedy & coming-of-age film of which Kevin is the main character. Like, I get why the film goes the way it goes and I love it as it is. However, I obviously hyper-focus on a certain character and I just like exploring the ‘ifs’ in films & shows, so here’s the thing:

Getting dumped at rehab by his dad should have triggered a Macbeth level breakdown in Hunter and here’s why.

Quite early in the film it’s established that Hunter’s mom left. The only explicit text we get on the subject is in Kevin’s voice-over. “He’s been into a lot of things since I’ve known him, but he’s stuck with metal longer than any of them. When his mom left in seventh grade, he decided it was the key to everything.” And two shots of the picture frame Hunter has in his room that his mom has literally been ripped out of.

So there isn’t much to go off, but there’s implications. You could just read it as him being a temperamental little shit that ripped up a photo in anger. But I think it’s more interesting to go a little further.

We know how Hunter feels about his dad, once again being something touched on in part by Kevin’s voice-over. “Sometimes he’s not so nice to people when he’s uncomfortable. And being around his dad makes him uncomfortable” It’s a line that is cut off by Hunter being a little shit in DnD but we know the word is uncomfortable. Then, obviously, Hunter and his dad are mostly seen mid-shouting match. They don’t get along. They can’t communicate productively. They just don’t get each other. There’s a lot of yelling and his dad makes him uncomfortable.

And with all of that he still has a photo of him and his dad on his shelf. What that tells me is that Hunter has to fucking hate his mom. We don’t get much of an indication as to why but one factor that would make sense is that she abandoned him. She left. And she left him.

If we assume that Hunter and his dad have always butted heads to some degree, his mom leaving him with his dad would be even worse. She rejected him, she didn’t want him and now all he has is someone who makes him incredibly uncomfortable to be around. His dad is a cunt, but at least he didn’t abandon him.

Now, Kevin. Bare with me here, it’s about to get gay. That’s how I see the character, however, it can still apply if you do see Hunter as straight (I don’t know how you manage it, but go off, cis)

Hunter is clearly very very attached to Kevin. Possessive of him, even. I think it beams off the screen that Hunter is in love with Kevin. But even that isn’t entirely necessary to acknowledge for it to be clear that Hunter sees Kevin and himself as a package deal.

“We’re Skullfucker” Skullfucker isn’t just their band to Hunter. It is them. It’s them against the world. They’re not particularly shown to have many/any other friends. One can infer that Hunter has people he plays DnD with. But that doesn’t necessarily make them his friends.

“you are afraid of everybody” It doesn’t matter that Kevin says this in the heat of a fight. I think he’s dead on.

Kevin is the only person Hunter feels safe with. The only person he’s not scared of. And then Kevin abandons him too. Not explicitly. Not to Kevin. But Hunter deeply feels like he has. Kevin getting a girlfriend, trying to get her to be a part of the band. Not to mention drumming for a different band. It would shatter the image Hunter has in his mind of their band being them. Of them, and their bond, and the time they spend together being something uniquely special. 

And then his dad is so fed up with him he dumps him at a rehab facility for no other reason than just not wanting to deal with him anymore.

I don’t buy even for a second that Hunter was dropped off at rehab for being ‘addicted to metal’. His dad didn’t wanna deal with trying to be a parent to a delinquent child that stole his fucking credit card. So he dumped him somewhere where he wouldn’t have to deal with him. In a “they’ll fix him” kind of move.

What I buy even less is that it fucking works. Hunter is portrayed as doing better after rehab. Like it was a wake-up call to someone whose main issue was just being an asshole.

No. Fuck that.

That was the last person he could rely on abandoning him too.

His mom doesn’t want him. His best friend/crush doesn’t want him. His dad doesn’t want him. There is no way in hell he is doing better after that. Hunter spends the entire movie an anxious (autistic) mess that automatically shoves down any emotion that isn’t anger. Being abandoned by everyone he had left would have been more than enough to break him.

There is just no fucking way that Hunter is okay.

[sadaveniren]

Can't someone be in the closet or protect their private life without using a child?

Sure. But that doesn’t make it better or worse than someone who does use a child as part of their closet. Queer men and women have been using children and marriages of conveniences as part of our closets for years. Nothing about this situation is as unique as we might feel it to be. It’s a paternity scandal that is such a comedy of errors it’s Shakespearean when you think about it. “Larry A Trilogy”

Jokes aside, one of my favorite oldie blogs on here was @diggingandfluff and they once described closeting and the things done while closeted and how people generally react to it so insanely well. It went like this:

Coming out of the closet is wiping the slate clean. All of the inconsistencies in the past are gone. People either write them off as made up/fake, or an attempt at “blending in”. Either way the end result is that the person NOW is gay. What they say NOW is what matters.

I believe fluff talked about how we actually watched this exact same thing backfire SPECTACULARLY with Kevin Spacey when he tried to duck his rape charges by saying “wait I’m gay and it’s tragic you have to forgive me. This entire thinking btw is probably why some fans are like “at this point the details of BG doesn’t matter it will all be forgotten the moment they comes out”

If you’re asking me if I think BG is a fucked up stunt that yeed its last haw back in 2017, then yes absolutely. But if you’re asking me if I think Louis is going to go to hell for play acting dad with this kid once or twice a year? No.

[star-mum]

Criminal Minds 3x17 - Live Star Reaction

Y’all know what time it is babies <3

HELL YEAH !! I DID NOT ASK TO BE LATINA NOMAS TUVE SUERTE

Someone IS about to die here tho :/

Oh no 🤦🏻‍♀️ KEVIN FUCK OFF

“You mean like a vacation?” Yes cause last time the Team went on vacation everything turned out so well

OKAY i am watching this in the living room sksksk and I dont wanna broadcast that a couple Might Be having full sex on screen so I turned the volume way down BUT the way this actor is pronouncing his S’s (?) makes me think he’s Brazilian

Okay I went way closer to the TV and he’s 100% brazilian, he can’t NOT be (I will check imdb later to confirm it)

OKAY I THOUGHT THAT COUPLE WOULD BE MORE IMPORTANT (like getting murdered/murdering)

FEM UNSUB ! FEM UNSUB ! FEM UNSUB !

Also I love Garcia’s hair so much, the black, blonde and purple/magenta combo is just phenomenal

Morgan just can’t help himself (flirting with the chief detective in the case) KSKSKSK

LEMON TANGO !!!! AAAAAAA HES BACK !!!!!

“You all know each other?” “Professionally” no one said it wasn’t JJ

Are all the victims cheaters? All of them were on a party/cruise/something im not sure completely alone, the last guy was engaged (which i mean this would be the perfect place for bachelor party, not for a solo fiancé to go to) AND if the unsub is a woman, she could’ve been cheated on in the past, specially by a guy who matches the victims descriptions

“You haven’t told them about us?” GAGGED AND GOOPED OMG ALREADY ?????

“Im not good with names” “the skinny kid and Derek” LSKSKSKS ROSSI AND PRENTISS LITERALLY ON THE SAME BRAINWAVE AS ME

A BUSINESS MEETING ???? That’s a cheater, baby

Either he didn’t wear any of the suits she packed for him cause he was killed on the first day OR Cheater Cheater Best Friend Eater babies

“Who takes off their wedding ring to go running?” I KNEW IT !

Doesn’t he have a job? (About Kevin just hanging around Garcia while she works) like doesn’t HIS team have cases to work on?

“Can’t go wrong with a latina in the controls” Detective Lopes that is a Very Sore Subject to me please ;-;

WAIT WAIT WAIT ! OKAY ! IDEA ! So what IF the unsub ISNT a woman (cause they kinda hinted at it too early on, with the chokehold comment) so what if these guys were cheating on their fem partners with Other Guys ?

What’s a Regata?

“Is a Gay Bar, Hotch” IM ON FIRE TODAY ????? HELLO ????

Okay Regatta, my bad (it’s a sporting even with big boats and shit)

I really want one of the guys to have to play bait (gender equality you know) oh shit it’d have to be Will, he’s the only one who REALLY fits the profile

“Im a police officer in New Orleans” ... uhm what ?? Is Will already playing bait ? Why are they only showing him from the back? CHARLIE LUVET ?? BUT ??? Is the unsub taking on the the identity of the ppl he murders (like every new murder he plays a new person)

Oh he is stealing the victims things, he might as well be taking their identities

“You wanna break up?” “Y-...” I *JUST* FOUND OUT YALL WERE TOGETHER, CMON JJ

“Why is that so important to you?” Damn Jennifer

“Cluster B?” THATS THE PSYCHOLOGY BA I WAS WAITING FOR !!

Listen I know it’s a show and it doesn’t matter That much but even for ppl with psychology aligned jobs, Rossi and Hotch are older and this is a show from the early 2000s so it just makes me so happy to see them not only stand against but be genuinely Angry and Repulsed at homophobia (they have every reason not to be, demographic wise you know)

“Steven isn’t missing sir, he’s the offender we’re looking for” OOOHHH ?????

Reids hair is not surviving the heat sksksksk

At least he gets to work on his character/accent work

“You think you could show me a good time?” 🚑🚨🚑🚨🚑🚨

THANK YOU EMILY !!!

LSLSLSS THEY ALL KNEW ! I was sure Em knew and that’s why she was acting like that, but eVERYONE ???? Damn these profilers

HOLD ON ! I FORGOT TO CHECK IMDB

I have never been wrong in my life (and yes I checked to make sure it’s the guy from the cold open)

[theartofjournalling]

I swear twice and let my guard down and then I am to blame

The trick is to remain calm and not swear and keep your cool under all circumstances

If you can

You can win under pressure

The game they play is sadistic

You can insult as much as you like and shatter their values and reputation but if you raise your voice or swear you’ve immediately lost

Play their game and you can succeed and destroying them at their own medicine

You must remain calm and charming and civilised and you can say the most atrocious things, as long as you are charming in your delivery.

The way my parents work is to avoid conflict

Avoidance constantly

Aloof

Escapism

Even when I suggested counselling they told us we couldn’t as if the domestic and emotional violence were to surface, then, they might put your mother in jail, and then you’ll be forced out of the home, and so until I earn enough money, I have to keep my mouth shut and tolerate it all. Oh but it wasn’t bad, he reasons:

Maybe it wasn’t but a compiled a list anyway

Here’s all the bad:

14 Ways mum was horrible

1 left me in Hong Kong for 2 hours because she left chocolates behind in the hotel. I was 8, and could have easily been kidnapped. When security approached me, I lied to him that my dad was over there, as I was concerned I’d be kidnapped.

2. Every Saturday without fail I was lost in Southland. Mum would leave me behind. I followed random people thinking they were my mother because my mum would walk off so fast. No care for her son walking off shopping.

3. Emotionally Cold, calls me a worm for hugging her. Very seldom offers physical or emotional love.

4. Every time she offers a gift she uses it against me later on. “I bought you this and this is how you treat me.” Now I hate gifts

5. Stone walls me for months. Doesn’t speak to me.

6. Holds grudges that doesn’t end

7. Threw scissors at me drawing blood

8. Screaming, saying I’m gonna kill us all now while driving. I see black and white.

9. Fights with dad and brings up his sex life, that he liked dominatrix when I was 7.

10. Took photos of her half naked when I was 4.

11. Used to key cars that stole her spot in the car park. Write on the windshield with lipstick. Would road rage, frequently as a kid, swerving her car into other cars. Terrible example of road rage to me as a kid.

12. Possible affair with Kevin. Every weekend Kevin was there. She was flirty with other guys All the time, especially on the dance floor. My friends would call me slut mother due to her promiscuity.

13. Very secretive. I know very little about her or her past. She says, I don’t need to tell you anything about my history.

14. She lied to me that Elaine was my half sister. I found out by myself by working it out logically when I was 16.

Here’s all the good:

Good

1. When it comes to material gifts and love. She is abundant

Made me breakfast every morning and dinner, washes my plates, clothes. Threw me a surprise 21st birthday. Touring the world, many vacations paid for.

2. When I was sick, she said, how I wish it was me who was sick and not you and hugged me

3. She accepted me being gay crying over the letter I wrote her.

4. She loves me and cares for me, always liking my Instagram posts.

5. Buys many tickets to my shows for her friends to watch

6. Is a great source of inspiration in her confidence and self assuredness and charisma

7. Is highly functional and knows what she wants. Not someone to mess with. Knows her self worth.

8. Highly critical. Good and bad. It’s made me have very high standards.

9. Scratched my hair until her hands were sore to get me to fall asleep

It just reminds me to never get involved with them on any matter, period.

Also, you should be able to handle criticism.

Perhaps you should ask what is the celebration regarding.

Why do you get so volatile. Chill Mason.

I write about myself so frequently as Mason

I actually have to take a second to remember what my real name is

Kinda scary

[blackgirlsuperherorants]

Stuckys, we need to talk. Like, seriously.

I understand you're upset that Stucky is not canon in the MCU, but you have got to stop yourselves from using that fact to shit all over Black characters just because of their newfound proximity to Bucky Barnes. Seriously. No, seriously. I'm going to call a bunch of you out, now, but I hope you listen and take heed.

1) This isn't about queer representation for you. It's about Chris and Sebastian being hot white men and you wanting to see them make out on screen. And that's literally fine, who doesn't want to see that? But you need to start admitting that's what it is. Because if it wasn't about that, and it was really about queer representation, so many of you wouldn't be calling Sam Wilson "sloppy seconds", and y'all wouldn't treat both Sam and Anthony like an afterthought. Even with a lot of y'all becoming Sambucky shippers, you're doing it under the guise of Sam being some sort of consolation prize because Bucky can't have Steve. Sam has no agency, and also is treated like he isn't as good. Literally, I saw a TikTok with some girl pretending to be Bucky and Sam, and having Bucky literally tell Sam he's sloppy seconds because he can't have Steve. Literally yikes, guys.

Also, it's always girl fans who do this. I'm not saying there aren't any, but I never see gay men who are MCU fans shipping in this toxic way. And I definitely have seen gay men ship Stucky, but I swear to God there seems to be a clear difference in the way they ship vs the white girls who clearly just want to watch Chris and Sebastian make out. Literally every toxic Stucky I've ever seen who does stuff like this is a white girl. I'm not going to say no gay men are toxic fans, because there probably are some, but the amount of fans I see shitting on Sam who are white girls far outweighs any toxic Stucky gay man. Like I always say on here, Stucky is an obvious ship and I understand why people ship it, but it never had to be canon and treating it like it's the end all be all, and especially shitting on other ships like Sambucky, is really weird and, again, makes it obvious that it's not really about queer representation for you.

2) Bucky is allowed to flirt with Sarah Wilson. The same girl I saw saying Sam was "sloppy seconds" also said Bucky was only flirting with Sarah because she's an "extension of Sam", and because Kevin Feige won't let Sambucky happen so Sarah is the stand in. How insulting and sexist to insinuate that a woman is simply an extension of her male family member. No matter how you meant it, that's a really sexist notion. I've seen people make funnier jokes, like Bucky can't decide which Wilson sibling he likes, or he's going to become a Wilson one way or another. Neither of those jokes takes autonomy and humanity away from Sarah. ALSO, Sarah is a dark skinned Black woman being portrayed as desirable to the white boy fave on a major TV show that is part of the biggest film franchise in the world. I'm not sure if y'all know how much colorism effects Black women, especially dark skinned Black women. Hollywood almost never casts dark skinned Black women as desirable love interests. Especially one that isn't super modelesque with basically European features and bone straight hair. This is a positive thing for representation of dark skinned Black women, and I KNOW you've seen how happy Black girls were just seeing that 2 second interaction. How dare you reduce it to being there because Marvel stole your Stucky, and especially not because she's simply "an extension of Sam." At this point, there's no clear indication that Sarah and Bucky will literally happen, but goddamn, you can't let Black girls be a love interest for just one second? Even if you like "queer Bucky", bisexual men exist, damn. Sticking Bucky with Sharon for no reason, like they did with Steve, would have been weird and bad and you would have been more valid for questioning Marvel's motives for doing it, but letting Bucky be himself and flirt with a cute girl on a boat for 2 seconds isn't a bad thing. And if Sarah does actually become his girlfriend, it's an absolute win, and you need to let Black girls have this.

Like, I get Stucky, and I also understand wishing Marvel would just finally let any main character be actually queer. I seriously understand. But can you complain about that without shitting on the Black characters and the fans who are happy about them, right now?

I never was a fan of Stucky, because I don't think you have to have romantic feelings for someone to care about them that deeply, so I don't understand the Stucky shipper assertion that Marvel somehow stole something owed to them... but I also do understand why you ship it, and it's honestly not a bad ship. You guys just take it too far and make things uncomfortable for everyone else. And, as I've been saying for years, sometimes you make it lowkey racist. People have been shipping Stevesam since CA:TWS and you guys have downplayed it the entire time, and even used Sam as Steve's stand-in for Bucky in your fics and all of that. I remember reading fics tagged Stevesam where Steve would be having sex with Sam and then reminiscing about how it was with Bucky and wishing he were still with him, and y'all literally never saw how gross that was. Using Sam like a consolation prize. Now Steve is gone and you're still treating him like that.

And Sam and Bucky have never once treated each other like a stand-in for Steve. They treat each other like individuals with autonomy, and they even care for each other on the level that the other person needs it. It's actually really fucking good, the canon version of their relationship that's unfolded with the show. If y'all could let go of Steve for a second, literally, you would see how great Sambucky's dynamic is and that neither of them would ever see the other as "sloppy seconds" or some kind of consolation prize. It's gross.

Also, I hope Sarah gets that super soldier dick just to piss y'all off.

I'm done.

[bananacreamphi]

Okay so everyone else is doing their post reboot ideas so I might as well throw my hat into the ring.

So basically, the story picks up like 5-6 years after the reboot ended. Ben never took off the watch and he ended up getting all full of himself in the meanwhile, and got into a private school and is just insufferable as hell, and then he comes back for summer break. More under the cut:

Ben:

Pretentious as hell

In a private school out of town because he started studying hard and got a scholarship

Atrocious fashion sense, he wears his school uniform except the sweater is tied over his shoulders and his hair is omniverse length but ~styled~ and he has these STUPID $200 wayfarer frame sunglasses on all the time and I HATE HIM SO MUCH-

Main Playlist: Bloxx, Shock Rock, Chromastone or Diamondhead, Way big, Eatle because it’s funny, Wildmutt, four others I haven’t decided for

Thinks he’s hot shit but he’s actually just shit

Adores his little brother glitch, who is the only person who still hangs around him at this point

“Nfts are the future bro trust me”

Gets a reality check when he comes back to Bellwood and has to start doing actual hero work again

Flaming Bisexual (but also horribly in denial about it)

Gwen:

After she graduated elementary school she crashed HARD, total gifted kid syndrome, is struggling with schoolwork and gets Cs and Ds

Undiagnosed ADHD because I’m projecting on her

No magic/Anodite powers, relies on technology to fight but she’s kinda weak

Hair up in a half ponytail, may or may not be greasy

Had a falling out with Ben because she resented that their roles had switched and she was no longer the smart kid, they don’t hang out anymore

Had a nasty nasty NASTY breakup with Kevin, everyone heard about it, blows were exchanged, they hate each other’s guts (I love Gwevin I just don’t think it’d work out here)

Kevin:

Works at Vin Ethanol’s garage

Tons of piercings & jewelry

The only main character with a brain cell

All tennysons are banned from being within a mile of anything he’s working on because they always end up wrecking them

Despite his best efforts, his car keeps getting destroyed in increasingly over the top and graphic ways

Idk if he’s osmosian or not, or maybe even half whatever bashmouth’s species is, either way he gets to keep the armor thing

Playlist includes bashmouth, bootleg and Humongoraptor because I love them

Finds Ben annoying, dislikes Glitch because he keeps eating his car parts, and Gwen because of the whole breakup thing

He hangs out with Rook a lot. They’re mechanic buddies

Rook

Idk how but he’s on Earth in this and knows all the others

He’s the only one of the main characters that can get along with pretty much everyone (Even Ben, despite finding him very annoying)

This results in him being a messenger a lot because these idiots won’t talk to each other

Gay and dating scout and may or may not have some chemistry with Ben going on

Has the proto-tool and proto-tech armor, while he keeps the former on him at all times unlike canon, he actually has multiple sets on normal clothes

Doesn’t get why Ben keeps getting all worked up about sumo slammers

He actually gets bullied a lot because of his weird mannerisms and appearance while wearing his ID mask, and later just for being an alien

Thus his self-esteem is deeply tied to his mechanical abilities and heroism and if he fails he thinks he’s the worst person ever

Glitch:

Baby boy. Baby

Actually dislikes being treated like a little kid and not taken seriously

Fiercely loyal to Ben and stays by his side no matter what

Still he’s annoyed by Ben’s behavior and the way he treats him like he can’t do anything on his own, but he doesn’t say anything about it until later in the story

Naive but smart

Nice to pretty much everyone

Has cravings for metal a lot and used to eat Kevin’s car parts until he got caught, idk if he can eat normal food

He feels sorry for eating Kevin’s car parts but he doesn’t know how to apologize without making Kevin mad

Has to learn to set boundaries and stand up for himself

Grandpa Max:

Feels sad that his grandkids and Kevin have all drifted apart on bad terms

He’s the only one that both stays with Ben and is willing to call him on his bullshit

A mentor to both Rook and Kevin

Everyone in the main cast likes him and goes to him with their problems which can be very emotionally taxing to him at times

A bit of a boomer but he’s trying his best

Ex-plumber but really really doesn’t want to get the kids involved and disagrees with Phil on this

Absolutely does NOT have a crush on Maxine

Phil Billings:

MONSTERFUCKER

By god he’s Something

Still involved in the plumbers

Also a mentor to Kevin

Decides that Ben coming back is the perfect opportunity to bring all the kids back together and form a team of heroes��️

He’s nice but he doesn’t get it at times

Ryan Sez:

Non-binary

He/they pronouns

Has some kickass dreadlocks tbh

Still not interested in Gwen at all sorry queen

Wants his little brother to make friends his age

Simon Sez:

Wants to play!! Friendship!!

Slightly less bratty

Tries to hang out with Glitch but Glitch is like ehhhhh 😬😬 but he’s still polite to him

Maxine Sez:

She’s the grandma everyone likes

Doesn’t know much about what’s going on but very accepting

“Oh hey aliens are real” “ok sweetie”

Billy Billions:

Ben’s equally insufferable cryptobro friend

May or may not attend the same private school as him

Has chilled out in the interim but still a little bastard when he wants to be

Grew up normally

Still wants friends

Julie:

The normal one

Never seen without ship

A big tennis star and takes her sport very seriously, she wants to be in the olympics one day

Ben has a big fat crush on her but until he gets his shit together there’s no way she’ll go out with him

Vilgax:

Bigger, badder, and even sluttier than ever

Still salty over being defeated by a literal child

He could fuck off and spend the rest of his life being a ruler of a bunch of planets but he can’t leave well enough alone

The story goes like this: There’s a new threat on town (possibly the highbreed) and Phil decides he needs a hero team to get rid of it. He gathers Ben, Gwen, Glitch, Kevin and Rook all together to tackle this, and the group refuses to work together. Too bad an invasion is already happening, so now they have to put their differences aside and work together anyway before the whole world gets totally destroyed.

TL;DR a bunch of teenagers who fucking hate each other have to come together and save the world.

[amazingphanisnotonfire-imagines]

Cheryl//this is me trying

Request: Can I request a season 1 cheryl x reader. Cheryl always protects reader from people and r is shy but falls in love with the redhead and some who’s accidentally tells her while she’s having a bad day but cheryl is quick to reassure her then they cuddle after going to pops or something and it’s just fluffy.

hey! happy valentines day gays! and get you, two imagines in one day, it must be the day of love. i hope you all like this because it’s really fluffy and i enjoyed writing this a lot!

Overnight, Riverdale became a shell of its former self. Two months since Kevin Keller and Moose Mason stumbled upon the body of Jason Blossom, and nobody has been the same since. 

The town is riddled with secrets, they’re slowly destroying it like a disease. Nobody trusts anybody anymore, everyone is on high alert, and everyone is a suspect. 

Cheryl usually loves being the centre of attention, she has done ever she was a kid. It’s something that comes naturally with being a twin, you share everything and as much as she loves loved the shared birthdays and friends, she has always loved being the centre of attention.

Now however, she hates it. Her life is a true crime documentary at the minute, and all she wants is for the killer to be caught so the crew can pack up and leave and she no longer has to stare down at the blinding lights being cast over her and her family. 

The only thing that’s kept her sane over the past two months, is you. Despite everything happening, despite the murder and the secrets and the suspicion, you’ve stuck by her side. You were with her when they found the body, and you haven’t really left since. 

The two of you are unlikely friends, she’s Cheryl. Bright and bold and never one to back down from confrontation. But you’re Y/n, sweet and shy and always the first to shrink away from any sort of attention directed at you. 

She knows you hate the constant attention recently, it’s something you get used when you’re best friends with the victim’s sister, but not once have you complained. 

You’ve being questioned by police, journalists and strangers on the internet. You’ve had camera’s shoved in your face on your walk back from school and been asked countless questions about what you know about the Blossom’s. And you’ve also been offered ridiculous amounts of money in order to talk. But no matter what happens, you always just rush past them and join Cheryl, who’s always waiting for you with a sad smile and warm hand. 

Due to the constant hoard of vultures swarming Riverdale High, the two of you had to figure out somewhere else to meet after school so you could walk the long way home. It adds twenty minutes to your walk, but it’s not that well known around town, meaning people can’t bother you. 

Plus, the extra twenty minutes that you get to spend with Cheryl isn’t the worst thing. It’s the opposite in fact. It’s the thing you look forward to, even if you are looking over your shoulder every so often 

But today you’re not at your meeting spot. 

When Cheryl pushes her way through the stares of her fellow students with you and only you on her mind and makes her way through the school basement, back up the stairs and out of the fire exit, you’re not waiting for her with a smile that makes her feel warm and a cold slice of pizza you snuck out of the cafe earlier. 

The only thing waiting for her is a full bin and an empty field. 

“Y/n?” She calls out and looks around the corner. She’s met with three seniors, all of which are smoking with absolutely no care for being caught. 

“She’s not here.” One of them says, her blonde hair and large glasses cover half of her face and Cheryl forces a smile. 

“Hey, Blossom.” A boy says and Cheryl freezes. Who knows what they want, but whatever it is, it probably won’t be nice. It’ll probably be something along the lines of ‘hey, did you kill your brother’ and no matter how many times she’s asked that, it doesn’t get any easier. “Maybe try the bleachers.” He says, ending his sentence with a sympathetic smile and Cheryl nods slowly, not really sure what to say. 

“Thanks.” She forces and spins on her heel. 

“We’re sorry about your brother, Cheryl.” The blonde one says and she turns around again. Each of them look sad, with matching frowns and sorrow swimming in their eyes. 

Jason meant the world to Cheryl, but he also meant a hell of a lot to other people too. And that’s when it hits her. Of course you’re at the bleachers. 

For some bizarre reason, only known by your father. You and your family used to come along every other week to watch the Bulldogs play. For a while you thought it was because your dad was trying to get you and your brother into football and this was a lot cheaper than the actual game, but the older you got the more you figured it was because he was just trying to relive his youth. For 90 minutes he could pretend that he was quarterback again and for those 90 minutes your dad would be the happiest he’d been all week. 

Then one week, a redhead sat beside you. In clothes that were far too expensive to be worn to a high school football game. Her parents looked like they wanted to be there as much as she did, but then a boy with matching red hair ran out on to the pitch and you’d never seen a smile quite like it. 

After that, you made sure to sit beside her at every game. And then one day she sat opposite you at lunch. The first few times she was alone, but then soon she began to appear with a group of other girls, but you were the only one she’d talk to. 

Eventually lunch times and football games turned into group projects and sleepovers. You spend hours braiding her hair and listening to her tell you stories of other worlds and the creatures that live in them. You’d sneak down the dark and creepy halls of Thornhill in hopes of finding a midnight snack, and instead be met by Jason and your older brother in clown masks. 

Eventually, you found a different way to get to the kitchen, one that Jason didn’t know about. And when he’d come looking for you, both of you would jump out  and chase him around the house, much to the dismay of Penelope and Clifford. 

Those bleachers are what started a whole friendship, not only between you and her, but also you and Jason. When you’re brother eventually made the team, thanks to a good word put in my Jason, despite him being a year younger. Him and Jason became as inseparable as you and Cheryl and so it wasn’t an uncommon occurrence to see the four of you hanging out. It also meant that if Cheryl was busy, you and Jason would hang out until she finished whatever she was doing. 

Grief is a hell of a lonely thing, and sometimes Cheryl forgets that other people miss Jason too. With everything going on, she didn’t even think about how you were doing. With all the questions, accusations and crying that constantly fills Cheryl’s house. She never even asked how you were. 

And now her legs can’t carry her quick enough to were she hopes your sat. Because she’s already lost her brother, she can’t lose you too. She wobbles as her heels dig into the dirt, kicking up dust and mud as she runs across the field. Her hair swings behind her, and she can feel the red scrunchie loosen the quicker she runs. 

The bleachers have all sorts carved into them. Initials in hearts, some of them still there, some of them crossed out so aggressively that it’s a miracle they didn’t chop it in half. There’s inside jokes and ridiculous rumours. Codes and dates and everything in between. 

But something new has been added in the past few days. 

cheryl murdered jason

and y/n helped

The writing is small and barely legible, but it’s there and the more you run your fingers over it the more it carves itself into your heart. 

“Y/n?” Cheryl pants breathlessly and you quickly pull yourself away from it. Instead you stand up properly and pull the sleeves of your sweater down over your hands. The y/f/c scrunchie remains still in your hair and Cheryl has to stare at it for a few seconds to calm herself down. “You weren’t at our spot.” She says quietly and you close your eyes. 

You let her down. You let her down. You always let her down.  

“Sorry Cheryl.” You sigh and sit down in the dirt. Cheryl looks around before sitting beside you. “I just wanted some space.” You add and force yourself to look at her. 

The sun sits behind her, but even that doesn’t seem as bright as it used to be. Nothing is what it used to be. For the past two months, you’ve been told that thats a good thing. But what’s good about someone you loved being dead. What’s good about watching someone else you love go through life but not really live. 

Cheryl just exists. 

But she exists for you. 

Because as lost as she would be without you, she knows you would be just as lost without her. 

It’s an unspoken rule now, you always text each other when you wake up and before you go to sleep. It’s something you used to do anyway, but now you make a point not to forget. Because forgetting means that the worst could have happened, and that’s something neither of you can bare to deal with. 

“I get it.” She nods. “I was just worried that’s all.” She adds, trying to sound as casual as she can. But on the inside she’s screaming. Because she thought you had died, she thought whoever had killed Jason had gotten to you too, and the whole reason you’re both dead is because she wronged the wrong person. 

There’s a lot of people that don’t like Cheryl, being unliked comes naturally to her. But she doesn’t know how she’ll cope if she’s so unlikeable someone she loves died. 

She has no idea why your friends with her to be honest. She saw you staring at her at a football game once. But it wasn’t a stare she was used to. It wasn’t cold like her mothers or jealous like her friends. No, this was nice. You were staring at her like you wanted to know about her, like when you looked at her, you saw a friend not someone to be feared. 

And so Cheryl clung onto the tiny hint of friendship, the crack of a door into something that could happen, and she shoved herself through it. It worked, and now you’re the only person she’s nice to. She’s mean to everyone else, she calls them names and teases them, especially when they’re rude to you...but you stay. And she has no idea why, but she’s not going to wish it away. 

“Shit, sorry Cheryl.” You drop your head into your hands and Cheryl looks at you confused. She looks around, not really sure of what to do. “I didn’t think, God knows what you thought had happened.” You ramble and she realizes you’re crying. Her eyes widen and you look at her, your eyes red and puffed and your lips pulls into frown. 

“It’s okay.” She replies and wraps her arms around you. You bury your head into her neck, the smell of maple and cherries invade your senses and you let out a shaky breath. 

It smells like home and happier times, and you want to crawl into those happy memories and never come back out. “I was just being ridiculous.” She tries to play it off, to make it seem like she couldn’t feel her heartbeat in her throat and the ringing in her ears. Pretend like it didn’t feel like someone had pulled her heart out and stamped on it. 

“No, no you weren’t. I’m really sorry.” You sob and wrap your arms around her. She falls into your neck, surprised but not upset with how tight you’re holding her. She never wants you to let go. But of course she has to, and so however reluctant, she untangles herself from you and lets out a deep sigh. 

“I’m sorry.” You sniffle. She hands you a tissue and you wipe your eyes with it before scrunching it up in your hand. “I’ve just had a rubbish day. Somebody shoved this in my locker.” You frown and pull a balled up piece of paper out of your pocket. 

Cheryl’s eyebrows knit in confusion as she takes it from you, her fingers graze yours and you freeze for a few seconds. 

who do you think did it? 

cheryl __

y/n __

Jamie __

“Why is your brother on here?” Cheryl asks, her voice rising with each word and you rest your hand on top of hers to calm her down. 

“I dunno.” You shrug. “Your parents are on there too.” You add and point further down the page. 

“What a bunch of dicks.” She grumbles and crumples it up. “Do you know who it was?” You shrug and she sighs. 

“I’ve just gotten tired of the staring and the whispers. So I thought I’d just have five minutes peace before going home and having to listen to Jamie cry in his room but pretend he’s okay. Or for my parents to walk on eggshells around both of us. Neither of them know what to say, and because of that they keep saying the wrong thing.” You ramble and she listens intently, trying her best to find a resolution to all of your problems. 

Unfortunately, she doesn’t know the answer to everything, no matter what her mom says. 

“I just thought five minutes by myself can’t be terrible. But then I came down here and someone carve-well it doesn’t matter what they wrote. What matters is that I made you worry at the worst possible time in your life. I hurt you, and I’m really sorry. Believe me, hurting you is the last thing I want to do you. I feel sick even just thinking about it. I never, ever want to hurt you. I love you too much. I love you more that I’ve ever loved anything or anyone ever. I just love yo-” Your eyes widen when you realize what you’ve just admitted to. 

You don’t want to look at her, but she hasn’t said anything in a while and that’s strange for her. So you force yourself to look at her, expecting the worst. Expecting disgust, disappointment, betrayal. But it’s none of those. 

Instead she’s smiling. And she looks actually happy. Something you haven’t seen in so long, something you’re glad to see, despite the circumstances. 

Oh yeah, you’ve just told her you’re in love with her. What do you say after that? 

“I-er-”

“Y/n?” She cuts you off before you get the chance to ruin the moment. She’s known you for long enough to know that when you get nervous, you ramble and when you ramble you say weird things. 

You’re grateful for her cutting you off, usually if she talks over you, it annoys the hell out of you. But this time it’s welcomed and she stifles a small laugh and the sigh of relief you let out. 

But the next thing she says is something that you weren’t expecting, but you’re sure as hell grateful for. 

“Would you like to go on a date?” 

---

The red lights from outside, illuminate Cheryl’s pale face in the night, painting her in a reddish hue and you find yourself staring at her for far longer than would be considered normal. 

Lucky for you, she hasn’t noticed. She doesn’t seem to be paying attention to anything, not really anyway. Instead she stares down at her food, pushing a few fries around the plate and anxiety rises in your chest. 

She’s already regretting doing this. She’s made a mistake and now she doesn’t know how to let you down gently. 

She seems to sense you nerves because she’s looking at you quickly, a sad smile twitching at her lips.

“Sorry, I just. Jason always used to tease me about the two of us. It’s the only thing we’d take about sometimes. He’d constantly ask me if I’d asked you out yet. And every time I would say ‘no, we’re just friends’ but, well neither of us really believed that.” She says, a small laugh escapes her lips near the end, but she quickly shuts it off. It’s too soon for her to be laughing, too soon for her to be happy. 

“Yeah.” You nod and finish your drink. “He used to tease me too. ‘if you don’t tell her, I’ll do it myself’.” You mimic his voice and a ghost of a smile twitches at her lips as she forces herself to look at you. “I am really glad you did ask me though.” Your voice shakes a little with nerves and Cheryl stares at you confused. “I do really like you Cheryl.” 

“I really like you too.” She smiles softly and you stare at her lips. Sometimes you think the red lipstick has permanently stained her lips cherry red. Even when you guys are a sleepover, she still has bright red lips and the other part of you wonders if that’s just what they look like. 

“Hey.” You start and a sly smile twitches at your lips as you remember an old memory. She leans forward, excited to know what you’re smiling about. 

It could literally be anything, from a musty old book she let you borrow from the Thornhill archive, to a new tv show you started to watch. But whatever it is, she’s excited to hear you talk about it. 

“Can you remember last year. It was Jamie’s 16th birthday and you and Jason were invited over. Jason was there because him and Jamie were planning on sneaking out later that night, and you tagged along so you could keep me company.” You start and she smiles at the memory. 

The four of you sat in the living room, while your mom brought cake and your dad sang ‘happy birthday’. Cheryl remembers how happy she was, and she remembers talking to Jason afterwards, the two of them whispering and wondering if that was what a normal family was supposed to look like. 

You, Cheryl and Jason had each pitched in for the record player he wanted. And even though you all knew that just Cheryl alone could have been able to buy him it if she really wanted, you knew they split it for you. 

Jamie was ecstatic when he opened the box, and then all of the records you’d bought to go with it. He’d played it every single day since getting it, but now you haven’t heard it in months.

“Yeah.” She nods, a sad smiling taking over he face. “Can you remember when Jason pushed his face into the cake.” She adds making you snort a laugh. 

The bell above Pop’s rings and Betty and Archie walk in. They send you a sympathetic smile before sitting at their own booth, and you and Cheryl share a look. 

“Would you like another one?” You point at her milkshake and she nods, smiling shyly. 

---

The walk home is over far too soon, and it’s only when you’re standing on your porch do you realize you took the normal way home by accident. Either the media has gone to sleep, or people are starting to forget about Jason and Riverdale. 

That thought makes you frown and Cheryl watches your expression falter before you look back at her again. 

“Thank you for walking me home.” You smile shyly and a nervous laugh escapes her lips. 

“It’s no problem.” She shrugs and the two of you stare at each other for a few seconds longer than normal. She’s about to leave when you grab her hand and spin her around to face you. 

She’s surprised for a second, until suddenly she feels a pair of lips on hers, and then the only thing she can feel is them. Everything else disappears, and though the kiss is short and a little awkward, it’s still perfect. 

“Would you like to come in?” You ask and motion your head to large wooden door. The pain is chipped around the metal numbers, something your mom has nagged your dad about for the past 6 months. “We still have the rest of y/f/s to watch.” 

“I’d love to.” She nods and the two of you grin at each other. “But seriously, how many times have you seen that now?” 

“It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen it.” You unlock the front door, giving it a quick kick before you stumble through it. “What matters is that this is the first time you’re seeing it.” You add and she rolls her eyes but follows you up the stairs anyway. 

The sun sets over another day in Riverdale and darkness floods the town. The streets are cold and scary, but wrapped in your duvet and Cheryl’s arms, you’ve never felt warmer. 

[kevindayscrown]

The one where Kevin Day falls in love with an ice hockey player.

Part 7 Night Lights

(TW: Awkward first dates with Andrew watching from a distance)

Anything included in this head canon takes place the semester after the Foxes won the championship against the Ravens.

Disclaimer: I know next to nothing about varsity teams in the United States so excuse any false information. Head over to the directory to find the previous parts.

Kevin knew that wherever they went in Palmetto, someone was bound to recognize either one or both of them. It didn’t matter where their date would take place, as long as people saw them.

He’d been to dates before. With Thea, after he left the Nest and whenever the two of them had time. It had been less than ideal. But, being the only experience that he had, Kevin used it as an example and booked a table at a restaurant.

It was obvious that Eric was hesitant about it but he agreed nonetheless.

“I think I might have a suit buried somewhere.”

Of course, he had to book two tables, seeing as Andrew and Neil would be joining them. He’d told Andrew that he didn’t need a fucking chaperone, but Andrew had ignored him completely.

Eric offered to pick Kevin up at the parking lot, half an hour before their reservation. Kevin had gone with the suit he’d worn at the last banquet, figuring this wasn’t something he should put too much thought or effort into.

Kevin realized, upon meeting with Eric in the parking lot, that he had had a different idea.

Suit brand new, hair brushed back, freshly shaved, the goaltender looked less like the jock he was and more like the proper date for someone like Kevin.

That thought made Kevin halt. Obviously, his ideal date would have been a woman. Obviously. He wasn’t even attracted to men.

“Come on Day, give me that one million-dollar smile all those fans of yours go crazy over,” Eric said and laughed as he opened the door so that Kevin could get in the car.

Kevin simply glared at him and got in the car. As Eric closed the door, Kevin watched Andrew and Neil heading over to the former’s Maserati.

“This is going to be a long night,” he muttered under his breath as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

The restaurant was packed, which made sense since it was Sunday night. Their tables weren’t as close to one another, which Kevin was grateful for. He sat down across from Eric an picked up his menu.

“Are you going to give me the silent treatment all night?” Eric asked once they’d ordered.

Kevin looked at him and put his hands down on the table. He found himself wishing he had the puck, which had proven to be quite useful as a stress reliever.

“We have nothing to say.”

“I thought you loved hearing yourself talk.”

Kevin narrowed his eyes at him, but decided to let it slide. He almost clenched his left hand again but Eric reached for it and stopped him.

“I told you not to do that.”

Kevin would have pulled away, but the warmth of it reminded him of their night practices, when Eric would take his hand and guide him forward on the ice.

He wasn’t sure if Andrew would come out of nowhere and use the table knife to stab Eric’s hand, but they’d made a new deal and Kevin hoped he would keep it.

“Day, relax. You are too tense. We are supposed to be on a date, no?”

“Why are you enjoying this?” Kevin finally asked as he stared at him, although he tried to not let his anger show.

Eric looked surprised by the question, but quickly shook it off with a shrug.

“I don’t care what people think, Day. They can make assumptions about me all they want. That’s on them. I just want to have a good time.”

He said it so casually, that Kevin was almost jealous of it.

“Are you-,”

“Gay?” Eric completed the sentence for him and then shrugged his shoulders a second time. “I don’t like labels. And I’ve never thought about it really. I’ve only ever dated girls but honestly, who knows?”

Kevin stared at him as if Eric was speaking a foreign language but said nothing else as their food arrived. Eric pulled his hand away; Kevin’s own almost instinctively reaching for it until he forced it to stop.

They ate in silence.

Eric shifted in his seat when they were done.

“I have an idea. But you’ll have to trust me.”

Kevin didn’t like the sound of that so he only arched an eyebrow at him.

“Look, no offense, but this is kinda boring and I want both of us to enjoy this. Plus, we may manage to get rid of your legal guardian over there,” Eric said as he glanced at the table where Neil and Andrew were at.

Kevin thought for a moment but nodded. They both insisted on paying but eventually settled with each of them paying for what they’d ordered.

Sneaking out of the restaurant without being seen was easier than expected, but perhaps it was because Neil and Andrew unexpectedly ended up having their own date, which kept Andrew occupied.

Eric wouldn’t tell Kevin where they were going, but Kevin was just glad to be out of there and not have Andrew on his back, watching them.

The building they stopped at was not enough on the outside to alert Kevin of what was waiting for him. Eric looked excited, which scared Kevin further as they made their way inside.

“Seriously? A public rink?”

Children yelling and laughing as they slid and fell across the ice, couples holding hands, groups of friends messing around, amatueurs holding onto the ledge. It was loud and busy.

Eric grinned at him. “I brought our skates just in case,” he said as he held up the duffel bag he’d taken from the trunk of his car.

The goaltender seemed to know his way around. He found them lockers after talking with some people he was quite friendly with and Kevin removed the blazer of his suit and the tie, shoving them inside, with no care whether they’ll get wrinkled.

Eric handed him his skates and as Kevin put them on, the other reached forward and undid a few buttons from Kevin’s shirt.  

“It’s not ideal to skate in this but let’s make the most of it.”

People in and out of the rink instantly recognized them as they slid on the ice. Kevin told himself that that was the only reason Eric reached to take his hand again.

“Relax,” he whispered in his ear as he leaned closer to him. Feeling Eric’s warmth breath against his skin in an otherwise cold room made Kevin shudder.

He turned his head to look at him, but almost fell back at how close their faces were. Thankfully, he had practiced enough to keep his balance.

Eric smiled at him and then moved forward, taking Kevin with him. Kevin tried to dodge all the kids and anyone who was in their way. Some would come up to him on purpose, introducing themselves, saying they were big fans. Kevin gave them all his flashing press smile, saying he was glad to meet them, while still holding onto Eric’s hand.

“If you’d excuse us, we are on a date,” Eric eventually told yet another person who had approached them. Despite the words, the way he went about it reminded Kevin of how calm he was on the rink during games.

People mostly left them alone after that. Kevin was grateful for it. Sometimes, he got too lost in the persona, in the ‘who he was supposed to be’ that he lost the meaning of what he did.

Besides that, however, Kevin realized that he was genuinely having fun. The two of them would challenge each other as to who would skate a certain number of circles faster, and in the end, they’d banter about it while still holding hands.

Kevin forgot which part of it was an act and which was real, the lines blurred.

It dragged on long enough that they’d have to leave because the rink was closing for the night.

“The night doesn’t have to end here, you know?” Eric said when they were both in the car.

Kevin smiled. It was a genuine smile, nothing more than one of the corners of his lips quirked upwards. But it was still there.

“No. No, it doesn’t have to end here.”

[livingasaghost]

the foxes during pride let's GO

disclaimer: i know everybody has their own headcanons for what all the foxes' sexualities are so do not come at me if i give your character a different sexuality than you think they deserve! (except aaron that bitch is straight)

so obviously the foxes are Not Straight™️ (except aaron fuck that guy) which means the foxes during pride are just.....chaotic af....but also, it took them a while to figure out how not straight they are

they all decide they're going to the pride parade bc none of them have ever been and since they have so many Gays they need to support them and now that they're all friends it'll be way more fun

kevin does NOT want to go and argues about it for three days before andrew shuts him up

nicky is so excited that he asks erik to fly in just so they can go together

neil still doesn't really know a lot about pride since he didn't even realize he "qualified" since he "only likes andrew"

one night he shares his fears with renee because she seems like the only person on the team who understands his sexuality aside from andrew and she says that he seems like he's on the ace spectrum and that he definitely belongs in the community

neil spends the rest of the night on his computer looking up demisexuality and asexuality and a whole list of terms he never knew existed

the next day he shows andrew, happy to finally have a language to explain himself, and andrew just nods

as neil keeps talking and explaining romantic attraction, andrew starts to think that maybe he belongs a little on the aro spectrum...but he doesn't say anything. just keeps thinking.

eventually neil speaks up at one of the team's hangouts and shares that he's demisexual and he may also be questioning his gender

this sparks a huge conversation where everybody starts Questioning™️ and soon it's 2am and matt is sharing that he might actually be pansexual?

allison waves everybody off because "of course i'm not straight i never have been you guys just haven't noticed"

nicky gets very put out that so much of his team is Not Straight and they all acted like he was the odd man out for being gay

then allison decides to stir the pot a little more "actually, i've always had a crush on renee but i know that'll never happen"

which leaves renee and the entire team speechless

renee: "...i always though YOU were the one that was never gonna happen"

nicky: "WAIT? RENEE AND ALLISON LIKE EACH OTHER?"

matt: "andrew just won like $300"

nobody really knows what to do next, so allison and renee just kind of look at each other and the two of them silently agree to talk about it all later

nicky: "okay well y'all better spill the tea when you hook up because i want all the details"

dan shoves him off the couch

as the night wears on, kevin stays conspicuously quiet, and it isn't until almost everyone goes to bed that neil finally convinces him to open up

kevin: "the reason i told you that you shouldn't be homosexual is because.....i used to have a crush on jean"

even though neil doesn't really understand, he admits that jean does have a beautiful face and it's really really attractive when he speaks french

neil shares a little bit more about demisexuality and kevin wonders if maybe he falls on that spectrum somewhere...if maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if he wasn't entirely straight

after their Big Night of Sharing, dan talks with allison because "how did you know you actually liked girls?"

and the more allison starts to talk, the more dan realizes that all those girls she thought were pretty growing up.....weren't just women she admired

but she stills likes matt and she still finds some men attractive and she starts to realize that maybe she falls on the bisexual spectrum....or maybe just queer, she isn't sure yet

one day after practice wymack goes off on some tangent and eventually nicky spills that they're all going to the pride parade

wymack: all of you?

nicky, totally serious: okay, well, not aaron bc he's homophobic and he's also the token straight teammate

aaron: i am not homophobic

matt: i'm pretty sure you are

wymack almost asks about why they all want to go to pride because he's sure most of them are queer, but it's above his pay grade so he just tells them to have fun

almost everybody decides to dress up for the parade — kevin obviously refuses — and andrew surprises everyone by wearing armbands that are rainbow colored

neil tells andrew he doesn't care about dressing up but andrew buys him a rainbow shirt anyway

and then while they're getting ready allison insists on drawing a little demi flag on neil's cheek right over his scar and it makes neil feel like he finally belongs somewhere

nicky obviously goes all out and wears an outfit that matches eriks: short shorts, rainbow flag cape, rainbow socks, etc. he even wears heart-shaped pink sunglasses

the girls spend a few hours doing their make-up and they even convince matt to put glitter in his hair

renee gets a few disposable cameras for the occasion and spends the entire day taking cheesy photos of (and with) everyone to remember everything

halfway through the day neil looks over and sees allison and renee holding hands

at one point kevin gets recognized and people start asking him about his sexuality, wondering if he's just an ally and kevin almost bolts....but then he glances at neil, who's standing close to andrew...and he looks at nicky and erik....and then he notices allison and renee together.....and something in him just kind of snaps

kevin: "actually, yeah, i'm here because i'm bi. i'm bisexual."

the whole team just stares at him, most of them wearing proud smiles, and when the fans leave (inevitably about to share this news with the internet) they all gather into a group hug — even andrew — and congratulate kevin

and even though kevin keeps telling them to "GET OFF!" he's also secretly glad that he finally has people to accept him and love him no matter who he loves

andrew doesn't say anything the entire day, looking entirely unimpressed by the crowds and the parade, so neil pulls him aside at one point

neil doesn't expect him to say anything, just wants to give him space to breathe, but then andrew speaks up

andrew: i never thought it could be like this

neil: like what?

andrew: colorful

[sheyshocked]

Luck of the Irish

Summary: Nines gave Gavin a four-leaf clover to bring him luck before a difficult case, but he rejected it. Now he’s injured and Nines finds out that maybe, just maybe he treasured the gift more than he initially showed.

Ship: Reed900

Warnings: None

Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Gun Violence, Hospitalization, Gavin Reed is Bad at Feelings, Upgraded Connor | RK900 Is Bad at Feelings, Gavin Reed is Irish, Short & Sweet, Gay Disaster Gavin Reed, Symbolism, DBH Of Roses and Ravens Challenge, Upgraded Connor | RK900 Has Feelings, Gavin does too, He just doesn’t know how to show it, Soft Upgraded Connor | RK900/Gavin Reed, Swearing

Wordcount: 1335

A/N: So yeah, my personal headcanon is that Gavin is of Irish descent. Don’t look too much into it, I just thought it would be cool (also his infamous "pheck" scene reminded me a lot of Call Me Kevin...)

That’s it for my second entry for the DBH Of Roses and Ravens Challenge organized by wonderful @connor-sent-by-cyberlife! Thank you so much for reading!

You can also read it on ao3!

Neither of them knew how to say I love you. No one has ever taught them to. What a couple they were. Gavin, a former street fighter with anger issues, and Nines, a murder machine designed with one purpose only - to kill. And yet, they found ways to express affection to each other.

It started with simple things. A warm cup of coffee on Gavin’s desk every morning just at nine. Watching Nines’ favorite TV show, even though his partner found it boring as hell. Then came the terribly made snacks to work. Kisses shared behind closed doors. It wasn’t much, but it was theirs. And that was all that mattered. To Nines, at least.

One day, just before Gavin was about to leave for an undercover mission, Nines smuggled a big four-leaf clover on his desk. It was the prettiest one he has found and was excited to see his partner’s reaction.

It wasn’t what he expected, though.

“What’s this?” Gavin frowned at it like a cat at a banana.

“It’s a clover. For luck. Do you like it?” Nines replied in that tone of a cheeky brat pointing out something obvious he hated.

Sometimes, he wished they gave him a less monotone voice. And a more expressional face. The way he was now, he looked like he wanted to throttle someone in their sleep. And no matter how hard he tried, his every attempt to smile ended up being a gigantic failure, only scaring off people faster. He didn’t want that with Gavin.

The man in question rolled his eyes at him. “No shit, Sherlock. I can see that. But what’s it doing here? I’m already Irish. I don’t need extra luck.”

Poor Nines. He was genuinely upset by this, even though it didn’t show in his face. Instead, he slumped his shoulders and hurried to excuse himself, so he wouldn’t embarrass himself further. On the way, he cursed his inexperience and inability to properly express emotions. Hell, even not being able to call them by their name!

...The mission didn’t go well. The meeting with a mobster turned out to be a trap, and Gavin got shot during the incoming onslaught. After dealing with the scum who did it (Nines made sure to make it hurt as they were arresting him - to hell with his own damaged arm), they hurried him to the hospital.

Terrified Nines carried his jacket, still soaked with both red and blue blood. At some point, some nurse came asking for Gavin’s ID. He vaguely remembered he put it in some of his pockets, but which one? He was too distracted to remember such unimportant detail.

As he rummaged through every single one of the many pockets, something fell on the floor. He immediately leaned down to pick it up... and for the first time in his short existence, a sob left his throat.

It was the clover he gave him not so long ago. Lovingly sealed away in laminate. Nines didn’t even expect him to keep the thing after that whole display! Knowing he did anyway sent a warm, but somewhat uncomfortable sensation to his heart. It hurt to think he found out about this just as Gavin was fighting for his life. What if he’s about to lose him forever? He couldn’t let that happen!

The surgery at least promised recovery. Gavin was still sound asleep, but he was alive and fighting. Nines didn’t care about anything else. He spent three nights by his bedside, unwilling to leave. Even when doctors and Fowler himself came asking him to visit a mechanic because he was leaking thirium on the floor and scaring other patients. He did get himself repaired, begrudgingly, but not before his blue blood levels got dangerously low.

He didn’t sleep as humans did, so he counted instead. He counted the hours for which Gavin has been unconscious. But that turned out to stress him even more, so he counted the number of nurses that went by. The stitches. The raindrops that started rolling down the window. And lastly, something he told himself he wouldn’t do - the probability of Gavin’s survival. It has been at 38 % when they got him here and went up since the surgery, but only by fractions.

Gavin could die here. He could die and there was nothing Nines could do about it, as he was built for taking lives, not saving them. It frustrated him to no end.

Then, at the brink of the fourth day, Gavin finally woke up.

Nines was sitting where he spent most of the time up until now - at the chair right beside his partner’s bed, his starkly blue eyes glowing in the darkness of the room. Unsettling, Gavin has once called them. It was shortly after they got assigned as partners, his spite for everything android still glaringly obvious, but it hurt Nines’ freshly budding feelings nonetheless. He has been called many things since he woke up. A creep. A monster. Barely looking like a human being. Yet none of them hurt as much as Gavin’s remark made in a moment of malice.

The first thing Gavin did after waking up from the coma was giving him a smile.

“Hey, tin can,” he slurred, throat sore after the surgery. Then it hit him something was off about this place and the goofy, just-woken-up smile was replaced with a frown. Shame. Nines rather liked his grins, as rare as they were. “What... the shit? Where are my cigarettes? And where am I?”

“At the hospital. I’m sorry to inform you that the staff took away your cigarettes, but at least it’s a motivation for you to go on without them for a longer period of time.” Seeing the genuine confusion in Gavin’s face, he slowed down and elaborated on some things. The poor man was out for four days, after all. “The mission you went on turned into a bloodbath. We managed to get the mobster arrested, but sadly not before you got injured. You slept for nearly four days.”

His voice trailed off for a few seconds, unsure what to say next. Everything seemed too stupid or insignificant. But he had to say something, so at last, he croaked out: “How are you feeling right now? Should I call someone?”

“Fucking superb,” Gavin hissed, and Nines has been long enough with him to know that was sarcasm. Well, at least he still had the strength to joke, right? “Wait, don’t call anyone. I’m fine. Just a little bit shook, that’s all.”

“Good,” he nodded stiffly, then, before he could talk himself out of it, threw his arms around Gavin’s neck, hugging him.

“Woah! Careful there, robocop! What brought this on?”

“Your chances of survival were less than 50 %. I grew worried you wouldn’t wake up.”

Gavin seemed surprised to hear that but quickly recovered, putting on a brave face. Stupid oaf. “Told ya, I have the luck of the Irish.”

“And a lucky clover on top of that.”

He noticed the fear in Gavin’s eyes as he asked: “How did you -? You found it?! Who let you search my pockets?!”

“I apologize, Detective. I didn’t mean to snoop. I just... they told me to get your ID, I placed it somewhere in your jacket, and well... I’m sorry I upset you, I really am. But I’m also glad you kept it.”

It took Gavin time to process everything. Dozens of emotions crossed his features in the meantime. Anger. Dread. Meanwhile, Nines just sat there, hands between his thighs, waiting for the final verdict. He worried he might have lost Gavin forever. What has he done?

But then familiar warm arms closed around his neck. “Oh, come here, you insufferable dork!”

They kissed, and this time, it felt different. Not the act itself, heavens know they had a lot of practice at that, but the fluttering sensations it elicited in Nines’ chest. He felt... great. Happy. More than happy, to be honest.

He felt... lucky.

[aftgficrec]

Omg OMG IT IS OPEN!!!. you guys are amazing. Do you have any new FICS around the twins bonding with Nicky? Either both or just one?

I’m a sucker for all things Nicky & the twins! Below are the canon-universe fics I could find from this year, where their relationship was an important component or the focus of the story. For a bonus, there are also some previously-recommended older fics focused on their relationship. -F

‘Head Above Water’ here

‘My Cousins’ here

‘TFW There's a Gaysplosion and you were NOT invited! (How Rude!)’ here

‘Nicky and His Twins: the Trial’ here

The twins’ and Nicky’s bond here

Nicky pov of his relationship with the twins here

Nicky & Andrew:

Andrew Says Hey Twice by Zenoouh48 [Rated G, 968 words, Complete 2021]

At the bottom of the box this time, is a t-shirt. The pieces of clothes varies from box to box, from sweats to hoodies, from new to old, but always worn exclusively by Erik for a full day, and sprits by his cologne so it really smells of him. This time the t-shirt is actually one of Nicky's old ones. It's a sky blue comfy shirt two sizes too big, and the font on the front is considerably worn, but still readable "SAY HEY IF GAY"

only love (can hurt like this) by adverbialstarlight [Rated G, 3213 words, Complete 2021, AFTG Mixtape Exchange]

Neil's off visiting Matt and Dan, leaving Andrew alone for a week. He doesn't miss him that much.

Based off of Only Love Can Hurt Like This by Paloma Faith in the AFTG Mixtape Exchange

Nicky & Aaron:

A Study in Feelings by Aaron Minyard by aristotlethecat [Rated T, 9512 Words, Incomplete, Updated March 2021]

He hesitates for too long and Nicky pokes him. “What’s up little dude,” he says. “Are you finally having that long-awaited sexuality crisis? Hm?”

Aaron closes his eyes. “I want to lick Kevin Day’s face.” He covers his face with his hands again and groans. “It’s so goddamn pretty,” he mumbles.

“Oh,” Nicky says after a moment. “Wow. You are.”

Aaron scoffs. “You wanted to fucking know.”

In which Aaron doesn't know how to process his emotions and Kevin is Kevin idk just read the story.

(tw: implied/referenced drug use, tw: alcohol)

innocence died screaming by loud_as_lions [Rated M, 3800 words, Incomplete, Updated February 2021]

He didn’t think about it, really. At least, he tried not too. Sure, it’d been traumatizing and the prelude to the shittiest part of his life, but he’d gotten though it, and that’s what mattered. He’d talked to Erik about it, of course. They had no secrets between them- one of the many things he loved about his boyfriend. But once they’d done that, it was over. No more discussion of Nicky’s time at... camp. He preferred it that way- the less he talked about it, the easier it was not to think about, and the easier it became to forget it ever happened.

Until it wasn’t.

Basically, the conversion camp Nicky went to is being investigated for unlawful therapy tactics and it forces him to finally deal with the trauma he went through there.

There is a lot of soft, family and friend bonding BUT there is also going to be a lot of talk of religion and trauma and conversion therapy and some really dark stuff. I'm begging you, read the tags and chapter warnings and please, please, do not read this if it might trigger you.

(tw: conversion therapy, tw: depression, tw: suicidal thoughts, tw: religious abuse, tw: homophobia, tw: internalized homophobia)

Nicky with both twins:

‘Ink Blotted Memories’ here (since updated)

a home by any other name by Willow_bird [Rated T, 2751 words, Complete 2021]

Nicky Hemmick has recently gained custody of his two teenaged cousins, and he's barely out of his teens himself. He doesn't know how to do this, but he is going to try his best.

(tw: implied/referenced drug addiction, tw: implied/referenced withdrawal)

like you swallowed a bone by nanatsuyu [Rated T, 7644 Words, Complete, AFTG Mixtape Exchange 2021]

“Why are you calling me, then?” There was a pause as he waited for Aaron to explain. Aaron made sure the sip on his coffee could be heard across the line. “It’s not our scheduled call.”

Every other day he had to remind himself that ‘being abrasive’ was a genetic trait in the Minyard DNA, and he could continue rolling his eyes, but it was still better than Andrew not speaking to him at all. He opted for the civil route. “Nicky called me.”

Andrew paused so long, Aaron wondered if he had hung up. Conversations with his twin were short, but that would be a new record.

“The sun also rises and sets every day. This isn’t really something that’s newsworthy, so I’ll ask again: why are you calling me about this, Aaron?”

“He wants to know if we consider him family.”

(tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: implied/referenced drug addiction, tw: alcohol)

[bunnys-beetlejuice-blog]

some kind of loud, attention grabbing noise that lets you know ITS FIC TIME, BABYYYYY you could start here, but the context... the build up.. the hours of worldcrafting, you'd miss it all... so start here, instead, then circle back.

These last two weeks have actually been nice. She and Adam had both mutually agreed that, despite not being the kind of person either of them would intentionally seek out on their own, Beetlejuice (she still has a hard time believing that’s what BJ stands for, but okay,) is fun. Not just fun, but funny, and seemingly often in the mood to laugh, in that overblown, Vincent Price horror movie way he does, which earns him multiple shushes in the library.

Drama club has gotten better. Barbara has a private theory that what most people need is to just get used to BJ, to spend enough time with him that he stops looking like an outsider, and it’s coming true, slowly, but finally. BJ had mentioned off-handedly he played ukulele, and when the other kids had expressed interest, he’d brought it with him the next day... Though she’s not quite sure where he kept it, the entire day. She’s seen that mess of a locker he’s got. She doubts it fits in there. And it can’t have been in his backpack, either, because every time he sets it down, she can hear what sounds like glass and rocks settling. She’s even seen him, after school, pick up a rock and shove it in one of the pockets. She has to assume his bag weighs a hundred pounds, or so.

His instrument, almost predictably, was painted with black and white stripes, but he’d played the little thing like a pro. She had never taken him for someone who enjoyed the mellow, soft sounds the ukulele was known for, but clearly, she doesn’t know enough about the boy. Miss Larson, the drama instructor, had clapped, and learned that BJ could read music, too. “Maybe while we’re practicing, you can accompany us?” She’d asked, clearly trying to work a way into getting more participation out of their newest member. BJ had been flustered, but had agreed, easily.

The wildest thing had been hearing him sing. They’d moved from being in the drama room, most days, to being in the auditorium, working on lines and practicing their singing. No one’s been officially cast, yet, but it’s mostly to get used to being on stage. Miss Larson had insisted that BJ sing a few lines for them, and he’d sort of made a face, ducked backstage, and had appeared with his ukulele in hand. Barbara didn’t even know he’d put it back there.

“Uh, so, sing what?” He’d shuffled awkwardly, and Miss Larson had smiled. “Whatever you feel,” to which BJ just snorted, and rolled his eyes, but then he plucked a few notes on his ukulele, and started to sing.

“There’s a camp, there’s a camp, by the frozen lake, wa wa ooh. With every belly starving and every finger numb, but up on the hill there’s a red, red rum, somebody’s always cooking something in the lean-to.”

It wasn't a song she’d recognized, but it was clearly morbid. She shouldn’t have expected anything different. The real focal point was his voice, his strange, scratchy pitch, because despite sounding like he gargles sandpaper and nails, he’s got a strong, clear tone, one that carries well, and as he sings, he doesn’t hit a single sour note. She also noted that his enunciation is much clearer when he’s singing, oddly enough. He sang as much as he decided he needed to, and clung to his ukelele as he finished, like a lifeline. “So. Yeah.” He’d said, and then flinched when the clapping started, from all members present, but especially her and Adam. He’d stood looking around at them all, utterly baffled.

“You didn’t tell us you would sing!” Jeremiah, the student director, was the one who looked the most enthused, and BJ balked. “Didn’t think it mattered. M’just gonna be a stagehand.. Right?”

“Maybe he could play the dentist?” Miss Larson had looked at Jeremiah, and they’d begun talking amongst themselves, ignoring him, as he strummed nervously at his instrument.

“Oh, wait, check this out!”

And he sings again, another verse from that same, oddly morbid song, which she’d started to pick up is definitely about cannibals, but his voice is.. Different. The grit is gone. It’s like he’d ran his vocal cords under some hot soapy water, and washed all the grime and gravel out of them, because he sang like an angel, like a normal person, and then, suddenly, devolved into a hacking cough, doubled over.

“Sorry, can only do that so long. Hurts my throat,” he said, after a moment, all the grit back in his voice. He waited. There had been a soft laugh, and then it grew louder, coming from each of the members watching him in turn, because the idea that speaking like THAT somehow hurts, and his normal tone doesn’t, is just so outrageous and silly, and he’d stood there proudly, grinning in that way he does, because his joke had landed, and he might, for the first time since he was forced into their club, be enjoying himself.

So, yes. The last few weeks have been good. Very good.

All that club progress aside, looking back makes her a little flustered, because at this point, she’s gotten the hint that he’s not gay. What he is, is incredibly flirty, not only with Adam but with her, and she finds herself... enjoying it. He keeps his ukulele tucked into the bottom of the cart in the library, and sometimes, when he’s certain he won’t be interrupted, he grabs it and sings little songs about them, laying on top of the cart like a drunk lounge singer on a piano, as she or Adam wheel it along. The songs are made up on the spot tunes that often start dirty, and end sincere, like he can’t even help it. It’s embarrassing, and endearing, and just very… Beetlejuice.

There’s just the problem lingering overhead, the one she’s desperate to solve, of Kevin. BJ doesn’t talk about him, abruptly changes the subject when she tries, or just goes silent, and gives her a hard glare with those amber eyes, which is the worst of the three options, because silence on him is unnerving. He can do this thing where he goes deathly still, and she swears he doesn’t even breathe, just stands there, totally unmoving, like a corpse.

She thinks if she could just go to his house, and talk to his mother, she might get a better understanding of the entire situation, but despite him inviting them, he’s never followed up, and both Adam and herself are too polite to push.. Directly. But then, he doesn’t show up that day, not for library duty and not for drama club, and she makes the decision for him, that today is the day they’ll be coming over. She gets his address out of the guidance counselor, easily. “It’s so sweet you two want to go check up on him,” Mrs. Birch says, sliding his address across her desk to Barbara. “I knew the drama club would be a good fit for him! He’s already making friends!”

Adam’s mom is nice enough to drop them off, and Adam, adorable, sweet Adam, stares delighted at the house, as they walk up the front steps. “It’s a tudor!” he tells her, and she sort of nods, not really knowing exactly what that means. “I’ve never seen one painted black and white, before. Usually those accents are a natural wood color,” and she rings the bell, as he goes on. The outside of the house matches BJ’s stripes, and she wonders if that’s coincidence, or if his parents just really, really love him. The door swings open, and then a chubby blur jumps away from their line of sight, startling her from her thoughts. “Beetlejuice?” Adam calls, concerned, and it takes a moment for their friend to reappear in the doorway, with a croaked out, “Sup?”

He looks terrible. He always looks a little terrible, as mean as that is to say, too pale and with purple spots under his eyes she chalks up to exhaustion, but he looks worse, today. It hadn’t occurred to her that he’d actually be sick.

“We just wanted to come by and see if you were okay,” she tells him, and BJ cocks his head so far to the side, he looks like he might fall over. “Why?” “Because.. We’re your friends,” Adam says, cautiously, which causes BJ to stare down at the checkered entryway tile.

“Oh.” He packs a lot of emotion into that little noise.

“Can we come in?” She asks, and he doesn’t look sure, rubbing at the back of his neck, but then next to him, in the doorway, appears what must be Mrs. Deetz. She’s on the tall side, slim, with blonde hair past her shoulders, and she’s wearing all black with lace accents. Even her stud earrings and the rings on her fingers are that same dark hue.

“Well, hello! BJ, invite your friends in!” She urges him, and then, to them asks, “You kids hungry? We’re just sitting down to dinner. It’s grilled cheese tower night,” and then she turns, and leaves them there, like that needs no explanation.

BJ fidgets a moment, but relents. “Come in, I guess,” he moves aside, and Adam and Barbara take a collective step into the Deetz household. The house is dark, not for lack of light, but for lack of color. The walls are paneling which Adam, delighted, says must be original, but they’ve been stained a dark shade of coffee, and it takes a moment for her eyes to adjust. When she does, she takes in how strangely eerie the place is. It’s less like someone’s home and more like a haunted house ride.

“Oh, you guys haven't taken down the Halloween décor, yet?” Adam asks, noting a cracked vase full of black roses on a side table as they follow BJ further in, and BJ snorts. “That crap? It's up in th’ attack. This is what passes for normal around here.” Barbara stops to stare at a picture of a distorted figure cannibalizing a smaller one. “Saturn Devouring His Son,” BJ says, briefly putting on a voice like a tour guide, high pitched and peppy, and both she and Adam wince. “What’s with you and cannibalism?” she asks, which only earns her that haunted laugh in response.

The kitchen, at least, looks a little more normal and bright, but Barbara learns quickly that’s not to be trusted, because sitting on the counter is what looks to be a lasagna made from sandwiches and sauce. “You guys are here on a night Emily had to cook. Bad luck,” BJ tells them, and it takes her a moment to realize he’s talking about his mother. Does he use her first name?

Emily, or, Mrs. Deetz, her mind corrects politely, busies herself with dishing them both a plate. “So, you kids must be.. Adam and Barbara,” she says, knowingly, and BJ, perhaps embarrassed, shuffles his bare feet at nothing. He’s been talking to his mom about them… aww. She notices then that he’s in his pajamas, which are, like everything else he wears, eccentric. He looks cute. She realizes she’s staring, and BJ catches her eye, and wiggles his eyebrows at her. Oh, god.

“We’re sorry for dropping by unannounced, Mrs. Deetz,” Adam says, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, and Mrs. Deetz waives that off. “It’s totally fine. BJ’s never taken a sick day, before, I bet you probably thought he was faking. You kids can call me Emily. And that, of course, is Lydia.” She gestures to the nine year old scrutinizing them from the kitchen table.

“Hello again,” Barbara says, and Lydia gives her a smile, at least, but it's wary, it’s very, “I’ve got my eyes on you.” It’s strange to see from a little kid.

They all sit down to eat, all five of them, at the kitchen table, she and Adam settled across from BJ and Lydia. Adam squints, trying to read what’s on the other boy’s shirt. “What does that say?” he asks, and BJ glances down, and pulls the top taught, to make it easier to read. “Least exciting hole I’ve ever been in,” both boys say, at the same time. “Grand Canyon National Park.” Barbara and Adam both blush at that, and Mrs.. Emily, Emily just laughs. Lydia looks annoyed. “No one will explain to me what that means,” she tells Barbara, leaning closer to her, and almost looking hopeful. Barbara avoids that look. “It’s a dirty joke,” is all she says, and Lydia, clearly not satisfied, just takes a bite of her grilled cheese abomination. “Chuck hates this shirt,” BJ tells them. “Chuck?” “Chuck, Chuckster, Chuckles, Charles.. My dad,” he grates out. Barbara can’t imagine calling her father by his first name. She’d be in a world of trouble for being “disrespectful,” if she tried. “Is Mr. Deetz home?” Adam asks, and Lydia is the one to reply, mouth still a little too full.

“He’s at the office. He’s always working so fucking late,” Lydia says, and then lets it settle in the air, like she’s waiting for something. Barbara balks, and it feels like her eyes are bulging out of her head, because she’s never heard that kind of language from a nine year old. She glances at Emily nervously, waiting for her to blow up, to be angry, but Emily just seems to be in deep thought.

“I dunno about that one, Lyds,” Mrs. Deetz finally says, and Lydia puffs up her chest and tries again. “He’s always working so god damn late?” She looks to her mother, and Emily, finger on her chin, nods. “Yeah, alright. I hereby decree that Lydia Deetz, at the age of nine and a half, is allowed to say god damn.” Lydia pumps her fist and then takes another huge mouthful of grilled cheese casserole. “Bout fuckin’ time,” BJ grunts. Barbara thinks the Deetz family might all be whack jobs. there's more, a lot more, but tumblr can't handle it all, so read this chapter in full over on Ao3!

[codename-adler]

foxes + onesies (5/9)

based off of that one post i saw and don’t remember, where people once caught Allison wandering around Fox Tower in a giraffe onesie, and i absolutely melted for her. here is the Foxes’ journey to getting a onesie each!

Nicky

almost immediately after Dan, Nicky gets his own onesie

like, two days after

and, as he finds out later from Dan, he ordered his first

it just got a little lost in the mail (that’s just Nicky’s luck)

the thing is, he’s completely jealous of the upperclassmen

not just a little; a lot

and not because he feels excluded (he does), nor because he wants to be belong (he does) or even because he misses those happy moments of childhood when everything was still easy (he achingly does)

no no

he’s jealous because he wants to steal their onesies and wear them all

he’s jealous because he just really, really wants a soft and silly onesie to wear

that’s it

it’s not a childhood memory (he never had one)

it’s not a self-care tip (he doesn’t think he needs self care lessons, thank you very much, he’s a very mature adult with 2 angry teenagers under his very adequate care, you know)

it’s not a grand gesture for love-

but perhaps…? oh yeah get this:

Nicky is always planning for the future

ever since Erik, ever since the twins, he makes plans upon plans upon plans

it’s not that he’s anxious about the future (a little bit, still, given everything that he went through)

making plans for the future is his way of looking forward to it, of not losing hope, of staying strong in the present

he’s got a lot of dreams

getting tattoos…

getting a tattoo with Erik…

or many tattoos with Erik, for that matter…

owning a blue or green vintage Westfalia…

doing a roadtrip across Europe… (with Erik, duh)

volunteering for humanitarian work in any country…

owning a ranch with lots of horses…

or at least having one horse of his own…

marrying Erik…

and don’t get him started on his plans for the very far future, when he’s sixty-seventy, in his shabby German cottage with Erik, his only neighbors being Andrew and Aaron…

Nicky is hopeful

Nicky is optimist

Nicky is excited for what he future might bring, despite the adversities that knocked him down times and times again

you have to give him that

which is why he starts planning for an event that is closer than he thinks:

Berlin Pride Ceremony, also known as Christopher Street Day

Nicky’s never been to Pride

not even in his time in Stuttgart, and certainly not here in the US

so when he graduates, and the twins are legally independent from his guardianship, you can bet your sweet ass that Nicky is flying back to Erik in time for Pride Month, and that he will be shaking his sweet ass in the streets of Berlin to celebrate his love

thus, he needs an outfit

he and Erik need an outfit

now, what screams “I’m gay”, “I’m proud” and “I love horses” ?

rainbow unicorn onesie

lemme say that again

rainbow. unicorn. motherf***ing. onesie.

that’s right baby

but once Nicky’s got a vision, a plan, he’s very picky about it

sure, once he’s in the moment, he lets loose and has fun and enjoys

but leading to it? very difficult

he searches every shopping center in the Palmetto area

he searches every shopping center in the Columbia area

none of the unicorn onesies satisfy him

so he resorts to online shopping

which he hates

online shopping, to him, lacks the true experience that is walking for hours, raiding stores and the food court…

a few Google searches, a couple of clicks, and his onesie is ordered

it’s… it’s very gay

as in, very bright and lively

the faux-fur is made of pastels of all the colors of the rainbow

the mane is hot pink and almost feather-like

there’s cute little ears, two cute little eyes, and a freaking yellow horn on the hood

it’s as if the Gay Pride flag had had a baby with Pegasus or Spirit the stallion of the Cimarron

it’s beautiful

Nicky’s already picturing himself with rainbow flag temporary tattoos on each of his cheeks, a rainbow bandana, his sweaty hand in Erik’s sweaty hand, singing Rain On Me and Born This Way and Single Ladies all day long amongst a safe and proud crowd

he can’t wait

he’s so excited

he’s also nervous to see Erik’s reaction when he receives his surprise gift

deep down, he knows he’ll love it, but he’s just a little scared still

and so Nicky waits

and waits

and waits

and waits

then he hears about Dan’s little stunt for Valentine’s Day

and he gets envious, because 1) she got to celebrate with Matt while Erik is an ocean away and 2) she got her onesie first, when he knows for a fact that he ordered before her from the same website

and then he hears about a special movie night the girls had where they all lounged in their onesies watching Hunger Games and the Avengers

Nicky’s getting very jealous

but finally, finally, when March rounds the corner, Nicky gets a package

he also gets an unscheduled Skype call from Erik at 4 AM (US time)

the screen just opens on Erik, in his onesie, jumping on his mini indoor trampoline

Erik doesn’t speak, he just keeps on bouncing

Nicky screams and wakes up the whole dorm

Andrew kicks down the door (literally, it breaks and falls down its hinges), Kevin can be heard yelling “WHAT THE FUCK” from his bed and Neil’s got one of Andrew’s knife

and the crash of the door wakes up Aaron and the upperclassmen in the other dorm rooms

the night ends (or the morning begins?) with all the Foxes cramped in Nicky’s room, watching Erik wordlessly bounce in his rainbow unicorn pajama and Nicky yelling “THAT’S MY MAN BITCHES”

needless to say, Nicky is quite happy with himself, and so is Erik

Nicky gets invited to the special movie night with the girls, on the promise to never wake them up at ass-o’clock ever again, even if he’s being murdered

oh, and somehow his pillow mysteriously gets stabbed and stuffed out…

[onereallygoodlambonastick]

kandrew headcanons

one of their cats is named Alexandria

one of their dogs is named Helen of Troy. kevin always calls her Helen; andrew calls her Troy or “hey you”

kevin is incredibly touch-starved and andrew Does Not Convey Physical Affection All That Much so they compromise and either hook pinkies or knock elbows (if they don’t roll each other’s heads first with their respective racquets but u kno)

andrew very seriously teaches kevin some effective self-defense moves, usually against opponents bigger and heavier than oneself

in case he’s ever not in the same place at the right time, but andrew never hands out truths on a silver platter

kevin figures it out well enough on his own

in return kevin buys andrew pepper spray so he doesn’t have to get his hands (or their very nice carpet) dirty

and andrew just Looks at him and holds up his armbands with knives in it and kevin just Looks back and is like, “are you trying to prove my point? because you’re proving my point”

“if you crave human touch you don’t have to start a fight to get it. just come to me.”

“i hate you.”

“our relationship depends on it.”

“110%, day.”

“oh? wasn’t i at 200%?”

andrew walks away at this point

kevin is competitive as fuck so he is, predictably, always trying to maintain the highest percentage of andrew’s “hate”

this, predictably, only incenses andrew even more, thereby raising the percentage

kevin calls andrew “andy” when he’s feeling catty

andrew calls kevin “kev” when he’s feeling petty

kevin calls andrew English pet names when he wants to be smug about it but uses French ones when he wants to be intimate and sweet

andrew does not like it

he likes it

andrew uses his eidetic memory to memorize the ancient Egyptian section of the university library

and absolutely flusters the living fuck of kevin

kevin drags them both to history trivia night (weekly extra credit)

they win, easily, surprising the professor and everybody in their class

(they maybe also kind of out their relationship but nobody says anything bc andrew. and wristbands. hidey-hidey. known “psychotic” midget)

generally-speaking, andrew weaponizes his eidetic memory to capitalize on kevin’s nerd brain 

andrew presses a thumb to kevin’s cheekbone right over where his queen is when he wants kevin’s undivided attention

kevin says “Yes or no?” when he wants andrew’s

the uno reverse play annoys andrew but it also endears him more to kevin bc he’s learning

one day they talk about dying, and dying before each other, and dying at an expedited rate because of their addictions. they agree to try to wean off of their individual vices. or actually do something about it

bee gets wymack and abby to stop enabling kevin during his breakdowns and helps andrew and kevin both ingrain healthier alternatives. i.e. sweet candies for andrew and coffee liquor/soda combinations + watered down alcohol + smoothies for kevin.

wymack permanently locks down his alcohol cabinet

bee has the only key

and she is immovable

abby has every local liquor store in a 10 mile radius blacklist kevin

Kevin Hates Every Adult in Vicinity

kevin keeps candies and lollipops on himself for andrew, ranging from really sweet stuff to really sour to really bitter. just the whole Taste Crew. occasionally he has to make an emergency run to the store for bins of ice cream because Withdrawal Sucks Butt and andrew needs a stronger shock to his system

andrew keeps hydroflasks of kevin’s smoothies/soda&cofee liquor cocktails in the maserati

sometimes if kevin wants to be gay on court he will toss a lollipop to andrew after they wrap up drills and congratulate him on a job well done

“are you treating me like a maladjusted dog, day?”

“not a dog. a cat, maybe.”

“you’re despicable.”

andrew takes the lollipop tho. it’s always sweet

they manage their addictions, eventually. riko’s dead and kevin stops associating imminent doom with hangovers and andrew sits at the edge of the roof staring at nothing in particular

sometimes when it gets really, really bad, and kevin can’t do anything but curl up into a fetal position, andrew brings him to wymack

wymack and abby take turns caring for kevin while andrew remains on standby

bee eventually has to take andrew away so that he doesn’t drive himself into a pit of self-loathing with how helpless and useless he is. she guides him to a more tolerable state of mind

renee helps a lot in this regard. she takes him sparring, and they go shopping for swords

having a permanent mental reserve of Cool Shit Medieval Knights Have Done and a history buff not-boyfriend can do that to you

aaron actually sort of helps, in his own constipated way. he chides his brother for being arrogant enough to assume that he’s the only thing around capable of dragging kevin out of a dark place

andrew knows he is though--it’s been that way for the longest time, for so many different people. but when aaron snaps it at him, he has the realization that maybe that isn’t Fact anymore

not with all of the Foxes at their backs

these self-imposed burdens ease up somewhat, when the truth of the matter settles in

anyway, nicky brings andrew mint ice cream and strawberry sherbet and he’s Okay. actually okay

eventually, wymack calls:  “kevin wants to see you. get over here”

when he gets there kevin just pulls him into the longest hug of his life

and when kevin calls him his lune et étoiles andrew almost wants to say it back in every language he’s ever wanted to learn

he can’t, of course. not yet, anyway

but he will learn