#and he couldn't even commit to the fishnets

[wyn-n-tonic]

People need to stop reaching so damn far to be offended about something or feel like they have the moral high ground or something. Like... baby... does your back not hurt?

[aintnoloveintheheatofthesun]

A love letter to the brilliant, talented, lying ass, cheating heifer...Pearline 🖤

There is so much to love about this character. She is played by Jayme Lawson so jot that down.

I couldn't sleep after watching this film. Not only did she cheat, sing and kill in the space of 2 hours 18 minutes, she stole my heart, too.

Let's break this down sequentially.

Name

'Pearline' connotes something rare and beautiful. There's two elements I love about this imagery.

One - she is a shining vision in a sea of flesh. This reflects her performance on stage, where she is a sight to behold in a sea of moving bodies.

Two - she is linked to local history. For decades, African Americans found employment and even autonomy fishing oysters along the Gulf Coast. These oysters would be shipped around the nation; creating opportunity for black fishermen, chefs and entrepreneurs. Her names anchors her to the South, to black ingenuity and resilience.

Furthermore! Her solo reflects the idea that Pearline is deeply committed to her people. While Sammie wrote an original song that he had never shared before, Pearline sings a lively song where everyone could join in.

When she thumps in time with the twins' violence, I feel like that emphasises her carpe diem nature. You cannot reach the valuable part of an oyster without exerting physical force. Before we reach the climax of the song and see Jayme Lawson in all her brilliance, a sinner in the back room takes several blows to the chest. Since this takes place during the Prohibition Era we can assume that she is no stranger to violence or crime.

Look

Damn, this woman is fine. Her skin was so well lit in the film. The night scenes when she was sweating on stage (and on that table) had her looking radiant. The beat was flawless and the hair worked!

Fits

The Clarksdale train station look will always be a favourite of mine. The white fishnet gloves, the floral earrings, the dark hat with flowers at the back and the floral print dress ate down. I'm just glad Sammie saw the vision.

Her light green, silk number in the juke joint made sense. We even got a new accessories  on stage, she can be seen in her wedding ring, different dangling earrings and a shiny cuff. The matching scarf was the perfect touch and them shoes!! Lord. They took 'Pale, Pale Moon' to the next level. Speaking of that that song - I am obsessed. It went triple platinum in my house last week. Brittany Howard and Ludwig Göransson devoured.

Love interest

That introduction after Pearline first watched Sammie play did it for me. There were fireworks between them!! Only to be followed up by

"You gonna sing?" "We'll see where the night takes us"

My goodness me. This woman really said I do what I want. She walked all the way to that juke joint, got her pussy ate, and sang like never before.

Queen shit.

Character arc

We first meet Mrs Pearline in the golden light of day. She looks calm and curious; eyeing up Preacher Boy. We then learn more about her tastes (in terms of sex, music, choreography and aromatics) before seeing her in action (killing these undead motherfuckers with Annie). She starts off reserved and mysterious and later proves herself to be brave and self-assured. Her dance style is sensual, animalistic and free. Clearly, this is not her first time performing for folks in a place like this; unlike Sammie. He has only ever sung at church and on Delta Slim's territory.

Speaking of Preacher Boy! She stands side by side with him, guarding the room where they are holding Stack. She calls Smoke evil to his face when he threatens to kill her over some garlic. She shoots at vampires, stakes motherfuckers and fights to the bitter end. My girl has ice in her veins.

Background

A massive thank you to professional dancer and cultural historian Melany Centeno for her breakdown video on YouTube explaining all the ancestors in THAT scene. She found that Ahmari Vaughn played Pearline's ancestor. This dancer was dressed in Hamar cultural wear while doing traditional Nilotic dances. The Acholi people are a Nilotic ethnic group found in Sudan and Northern Uganda. They have dances like Larakaraka and Bwola; which emphasise female agility and elegance.

Also credit to Walter English. He created this reading list inspired by Ms Pearline. It explores some brilliant Black Feminist literature and historical archives.

Thoughts on the actress Jayme Lawson deserves every good thing in this world. I love this character that she has brought to life and I thoroughly appreciate how messy, beautiful and real Pearline is.

Favourite quotes by her

"Y'all are cousins? I thought you were a nice young man"

"What was in that jar?"

These quotes represent the 'fuck it, we ball mentality of Mrs Pearline. When she learns that Sammie is related to the twins, she doesn't run out of that place - she spends even more time with him. I love that for her. There's no doubt she has heard rumours of the Smoke Stack twins not-quite-legal employment history. Rather than seek the company of upstanding black folk in Clarksdale, she goes even deeper into this mess.

For the second quote, I love how Pearline is actively working to figure out how the hell they can survive. The criticisms of her character as a jezebel are not completely unfounded however this line changes things. She is a woman who feels trapped in her marriage, just like how Sammie feels trapped in his father's church.

While she is very comfortable in her sexuality; she is not defined by it. She gets head from Preacher Boy, with her wedding ring on. She performs with reckless abandon on stage to an adoring crowd.

Siren, sure. Jezebel? No.

Mrs Pearline is not a sexual object with no thoughts, no ambitions for herself. She understands that in 1932 Mississipi, the sale of alcohol is illegal and she sings in a Juke Joint. She learns that this man she has just met has notorious, gangster cousins and she continues to seek him out. She finds out that they are surrounded by cold blooded monsters and she picks up a stake, then ties it to a shotgun.

The lovers' performance

I am calling it a singular performance because these two partners, idgaf. When Pearline arrives, Sammie dares her to play. She plays it cool and returns the dare. As he sings, she makes her way over and dances for him.

Them getting nasty in the backroom is the interlude. And finally, as she sings, he is in the wings, watching her with pure adoration.

Her musical number is just as powerful and vibrant as Preacher Boy's. Both of them are shown to be deeply rooted Southerners who love their people and the arts. They even stand up to Smoke in a similar manner. When Smoke tells Sammie to live a decent life, playing gospel music in the next town, Sammie refuses. Smoke holds a gun to his head. When Pearline hesitates to eat a clove of garlic, Smoke holds a gun to her head. Neither of them back down, even when their safety is on the line.

I saw an excellent post that explores the narrative development between 'I Lied to You' and 'Pale, Pale Moon'. It is a beautifully constructed journey that takes us from a coming-of-age musical to a historically accurate horror film. Sammie's song introduces us to his God given talent, while setting the scene for Remmick's self-serving, cult-like, pursuit.

Pearline's song is where the violence and the music begin to converge; namely when Pearline gets to stomping on stage in sync to the twins kicking a man in the gambling room.

In this scene, Sammie is admiring his woman and the juke joint patrons are singing in a chorus with her. This siren is at the centre of everything, in part because of her sex appeal, but mostly because of her passion and vocal abilities. The lyrics of the song even foreshadow the violent fates of these patrons. Sammie's music celebrates Black cultural contributions through past, present and future while Pearline's is a warning for what is to come.

Sammie is not the only griot in that place. The final credit scene features the gospel song 'This little light of mine' in which the lyrics directly contrast Pearline's song. Ms Pearline gets turned and becomes vulnerable to the sun so when she sings

Don't let it shine x4

Oh Lord

We learn that she is Sammie's equal and opposite.

In conclusion, Pearline is much more than eye candy in Sinners (2025). She is Sammie's narrative foil. She is a daring, formidable character who is about that action.

Favourite quote about her

'You so beautiful' - Sammie Moore 1932

No notes. Dude's right.

That whole scene had me like

[sihtricfedaraaahvicius]

Note: this is a request by an anon, I have turned it into a Halloween setting for spooky season :) this is the first time I try to write in the present time! so excuse me for any mistakes, I am not used to writing like this but wanted to give it a try.

Warnings: smut! 18+!!

pairing: Modern!Sihtric x you (f)

summary: Sihtric needed to be reminded that you only belong to him.

wordcount: 1,5k

Masterlist

'Are you ready for your check-up, sir?'

Uhtred's Halloween party was a busy one, like every year. And like every year, since you've been with Sihtric, you would attend the party together. Sihtric had proposed to you a few months ago, and yet, you still couldn't agree on a couples costume, which was also a problem every year. And this year wasn't any different. You were dressed up as a hot nurse, which Sihtric didn't mind, while he had made a poor attempt by dressing up as Michael Myers. Without the mask and keeping his long hair braided, with his curls in the back. So he was just wearing a blue coverall, which made him look like a hot mechanic actually, but it just wasn't a fun outfit. But then you suddenly had an idea. Because, in an odd way, it actually was a bit of a matching couples outfit afterall, you realised, and grabbed some fake blood you bought earlier that day.

'Michael goes on a murderspree at the Haddonfield hospital in the second Halloween movie,' you grin as you splatter your future husband with fake blood, 'so you can still be Michael, without the mask,' you roll your eyes, 'and I'll just be one of the nurses.'

'Yeah, that works,' Sihtric shrugs, not really caring about matching outfits anyway.

He then enjoys the view as you splash some fake blood on your pushed up cleavage, and some on your arms.

'By the way,' Sihtric says with a wolfish smile, 'your tits look amazing in that latex dress.'

'Just my tits?' you furrow your brow as you turn your back towards him, washing your hands in the sink.

'And your ass,' Sihtric says as he moves up behind you, placing his hands on your buttocks to give a firm squeeze, making you jump lightly. 'And those legs too,' he smiles as he traces his fingertips up your thigh, 'you could wear those fishnets some other time too, you know?'

'Oh, could I?' you smile as you lock eyes in the mirror in front of you, 'you mean in the bedroom?'

'Mhm,' Sihtric hums and wraps his arms around your waist, 'that's exactly what I mean,' he gives a quick kiss to your cheek, then says, 'or, well, not just in the bedroom. Anywhere I can get you alone for even five minutes would work.'

'Of course,' you laugh and turn to him again, wrapping your arms around his neck, 'well, I'll think about it,' you grin and kiss his lips, 'let's go, honey. We're already running late.'

Sihtric thought your tits, ass and legs looked great in that nurse outfit, and much to his displeasure, almost everyone at the party seemed to share his thoughts. Almost all the other ladies are dressed up as some slutty version of a first responder too, but most eyes were landing on you, for some reason. And Sihtric has been biting his tongue for nearly an hour already, watching guy after guy come up to you whenever you stray even slightly from his side. He understands those men think you look hot, but how they think you are single is beyond him, as that huge rock around your ring finger should be clear enough of a sign that you are taken and in a committed relationship.

'Honey,' you say as you wrap your arms around Sihtric, noticing his sour face, 'what's the matter, babe? You look upset.'

Sihtric mumbles something inaudible and rubs his hand over his frustrated, blood splattered face as he circles one arm around you. And then he sees a guy walk by who has his eyes on your ass, and seconds later, another guy winks at you. And finally, Sihtric loses it.

'I want to go home, love,' he suddenly says, 'I've seen enough here.'

'What?' you ask, confused, 'babe, we just got here like an hour ago? I mean, shit, I'm not even tipsy and you want to go home already? Are you not feeling well, sweetie?'

'No, it's,' Sihtric sighs, 'every fucking guy here keeps flirting with you, eyeing up, trying to hit on you. It just pisses me off. I'm not having fun anymore.'

'Oh, sweetheart, come on,' you groan as you look up at him, your chin on his chest, 'you know I have no eyes for anyone that is not you,' you say and move your hands to his fine ass, 'others can look, but you're the only one who gets to touch,' you smile.

'Yeah, well, they shouldn't look or even attempt anything,' he says, 'can't they see the ring around your finger, I mean… what the fuck?'

'You're usually so good with this stuff,' you say, 'so calm. What's different tonight that it's getting at you?'

'I don't know, baby,' Sihtric says and shakes his head lightly, 'I'm… I'm just not feeling that confident tonight, I guess. I'm sorry, I don't know why.'

'Oh, hon,' you pout and cup his cheeks, 'that's okay, love. But you know you have nothing to worry about, right?'

'Right, yeah,' he mumbles, not very convincing.

'Hey,' you say sternly, 'you have nothing to worry about. I'm yours and yours alone, no matter how many other men may look at me or try to hit on me. I'm yours only,' you reassure him and kiss his cheek.

And just when your lips leave his cheek, another random guy comes up to you.

'H-hey,' the stranger slurs, 'can you… like… ch-chh-check up on my c-cock, nurse?'

You give the stranger a nasty face while Sihtric becomes furious.

'No, I'm a private nurse,' you hiss and quickly push your partner away from the drunk, 'and I have an appointment now!'

You push Sihtric towards the entrance hall of Uhtred's house, up the stairs, and into the bathroom. You lock the door and turn to face Sihtric, who is staring at you with big eyes.

'Are you ready for your check-up, sir?' you pur as you push him against the wall and unzip his coverall.

'Wha-' Sihtric wants to ask, but immediately bites back a moan when you take his hardening arousal in your hands, 'oh,' he sighs and leans back against the bathroomwall.

'Hm,' you hum and kiss his lips, 'I need it to be a little harder,' you whisper in his ear before you kiss his neck, 'can you get a little harder for me, baby?'

'Mhm,' Sihtric hums with a smile and chuckles, 'yes, nurse.'

'Good,' you say and sink down to your knees, 'perfect,' you smile up at him as you work his length with your hands, enjoying the sigh of his toned torso peeking out between his unzipped coveralls.

You lock eyes with Sihtric as you lick the tip of his cock, causing him to bite down on his lip, and he throws his head back when you wet his cock with your saliva before you take him in your mouth. You suck him off for a good while, enjoying the way he twitches on your tongue and how he struggles to contain his moans.

'It's good to let it all out,' you tease, after almost making him finish, but you get up from your knees just before. 'I need to check your pulse now,' you drag your lips and tongue over his neck, biting and sucking his pulsepoint, earning moans and whines from your man continuously.

'Yeah, that sounds good,' you husk, then kiss his lips as Sihtric grabs your waist.

You turn around and bend over the bathroom sink, locking eyes in the mirror again with Sihtric, just like you did before, at home.

'I need you to fuck me now,' you grin as you wiggle your ass at him, 'real hard, so I can determine your levels of anger and frustration.'

Sihtric licks his lips as his hand runs down your back, he shoves your latex dress up slightly, pulls your thong to the side and rips half of your fishnet tights before he eagerly pushes inside you.

'Fuck,' he sighs and closes his eyes, biting down on his lip.

'Yeah, just like that,' you pur when Sihtric slowly thrusts into you, 'a little harder now.'

Sihtric listens and quickens his pace gradually, taking you deeper. It doesn't take long before you both become a moaning mess, and then Sihtric loses his self control fully.

'Yes, yes!' you moan with a smile, 'fucking give it to me, bad boy.' 

You giggle at Sihtric's growl as he continues to ravage you in that bathroom, remembering he's the only one who gets to touch you and enjoy you. You claw at the sink, knocking over tiny bottles of soap and a glass with a toothbrush, while Sihtric pounds into you without mercy.

'I need you to claim me,' you moan, 'fill me up with your cum.'

And only seconds later, Sihtric finishes inside you with a heavy grunt, filling you up and claiming you while he pulls your hair and has a hand around your neck, just as you had ordered. 

And after he zips up his coveralls again, and you pull down your dress as far as it would allow, you both look at each other, and break out in soft laughter.

'Feeling a little better, honey?' you ask and wrap your arms around his neck.

'Yeah,' Sihtric smiles, his cheeks a soft shade of pink, 'thank you, nurse,' he laughs softly and pulls you in for a kiss.

'Good,' you smile and nuzzle his nose, 'I love you.'

'And I love you,' he whispers and holds you tightly in his arms for a moment.

'Still want to go home?'

'Maybe,' Sihtric says with a cheeky smile, 'but only so I can hit that fine ass of yours again.'

taglist: @clairacassidy @finanmoghra @uunotheangel @hb8301 @bathedinheat @neonhairspray @anaeve @bubblyabs @travelingmypassion @sylasthegrim @bubbles-for-all-of-us @andakth @chompchompluke @willowbrookesblog @lady-targaryens-world @skyofficialxx @diosademuerte @elle4404 @alexagirlie @sweetxime @solango @gemini-mama @cheyennep3107 @little-diable @jennifer0305 @drwstarkeyy @mrsarnasdelicious @verenahx @urmomsgirlfriend1 @moonchildrenandflowercrowns

[distopea]

What was the worst thing Gabriele has ever done while in undercover, the worst crime? Does it still weight him down? What was the worst thing he witnessed but played no part in? Does he feel responsible for it even if it was out of his control? What’s something horrible that he feels no responsibility or guilt about?

@nezumivc103221

you're going to make me very emotional writing about that...

For him, the worst thing he has ever done was when he contributed to the end of Tomaso and Matheo, the two sons of Mario Albertini, the head of the Palermo mob. Gabriele was determined to succeed in his mission, but he had grown very attached to them. They were like brothers to him, and he had been profoundly parted for months before the beginning of this fishnet operation. Gabriele was aware that Tomaso and Matheo wouldn't want to be arrested, and that they would fight with their lives to escape their judgment. He has betrayed them both, knowing perfectly they wouldn't survive, and it's still for him the worst he has ever done, because he loved them both sincerely. 

In terms of crime itself, his most traumatic memory remains the first man he helped kill. He was just a young local dealer who had tried to steal from the Albertini, but after several warnings, he was still abusing Mario's trust. Gabriele was the one who pulled the trigger, and he's today forever haunted by the look in his eyes. That man was just a nobody, unlucky; and Gabriele was a police officer who couldn't betray his disguise and needed to be accepted. He sometimes dreams about himself; it could have been him, in another life. 

For the thing he felt most responsible for, even if he didn't commit it, it happened five years before the end of the Albertini operation. Gabriele had developed profound feelings for Eugiono Romani, who everyone called Gino. He was a true free spirit, a brat with a big mouth, a risk taker, but smart, curious, passionate and handsome. Gino was coming and going to deliver drug packages between Sicily and several southern regions, and he was great at organizing those convoys. He was useful to many families, but not accepted for one small detail... Gino was homosexual, and it was a secret to no one. Gabriele and he have often traveled together for various missions, and he developed strong and forbidden feelings for him, their mutual yearning sometimes pushing the two of them to secretly sleep together. One day though, in a background of sexism and homophobia, Gino disappeared. He had been tortured to death, his body abandoned in a simmer, his genital parts cut off and stuffed in the back of his throat. It wasn't Gabriele's crime and he wasn't even responsible, but it's something that has deeply shaken him and a death he has never been able to openly mourn.  

Among all the crimes and decisions he has ever taken, the loss of Gino and the death of Matheo and Tomaso are the only two stones that will forever put weight on his heart. He has learnt to accept the weight of guilt along with his own responsibility and he doesn't look to be pitied for it. It's a burden he knows that he will have to carry forever. 

[headstrongblake]

would your muse prefer to be freezing cold or really hot? what's the one piece of clothing your muse couldn't live without? what's your muse's dream car/vehicle? does your muse believe in marriage? do they ever want to get married? / both kids :'3 / @thewholecrew

would your muse prefer to be freezing cold or really hot?

nicklas - really hot octavia - warm

what's the one piece of clothing your muse couldn't live without?

nicklas - his leather jacket honestly. he's had one at various stages of his life, but he got the one he wears regularly just before finding the gang. octavia - lmao this girl over here trying to say any of her emerald or black clothing and im like..... that's the majority of your wardrobe baby, pick something else. so for this verse, she's going to go with her different fishnets because she is OBSESSED with styling them under ripped jeans, dresses, skirts, shorts, pretty much anything tbh.

what's your muse's dream car/vehicle?

nicklas - a '67 chevy impala octavia - honestly, a jeep wrangler in black

does your muse believe in marriage? do they ever want to get married?

nicklas - yes and no. in his teens and very early twentys nicklas viewed marriage as the ultimate commitment between himself and the person he loves. it also meant he someone made it. he saw it as a way to let the world know that that person was his, and he was theirs, and in a sense, prove to himself that despite his brokenness he's capable of love. however, his views have shifted as he's matured and gotten older and doesn't actively seek someone to fix him xD i think he still believes in marriage, but perhaps not necessarily for himself anymore. he likes the idea of having someone to call his wife so that he can proudly display his commitment and love to his wife, but now, nick is just as happy to be committed to someone without the legalities of it. although i could see him, after years of dedication, referring to his person as his wife regardless of actual marital status or not. also him saying this is my wife is not about ownership but more about like DAMN, look at this goddess, this woman, that's my wiiiife! ya know? octavia - yes and no, but again it's complicated. she doesn't believe a marriage = happiness or even commitment. in her childhood, she's never been shown a healthy marriage, and so to her, it almost seems like a trap. a way for someone to claim their love, all while locking them into a forever despite any bad. her father nearly killed her mother and prior to that, octavia watched their unhappiness for years, a marriage didn't make a happy family. HOWEVER, the yes part comes in because deep down, whether she's admitted it or not, octavia desperately craves a lifelong happy family and marriage. she wants to know she'll never be alone. she wants to be shown that they will be there forever. if you ask her right now if she ever wanted to get married, outwardly she would probably say she didn't know. deep down, yes, she does want to get married.

[no-one-likes--a-mad-woman]

Alice laughed at the idea of pulling out her old fishnets to essentially go 'undercover'--she certainly wasn't against the idea when it came to an undercover situation but she wasn't sure she'd like to go back to that style on the regular. Chuckling, she said "Eh, I don't know if I really want to dig out my fishnets and my combat boots again--but maybe. I suppose you're right, it could give me some mystique, that's for sure." These days, she preferred her sharp suits and high heels but maybe she could walk on the wild side once more, maybe just for fun. Playfully rolling her eyes, she said "Yes, of course you're all of those things because of more than just stars--but I'm just saying that maybe the stars had a point, you know? Maybe they were right."

That means I'll continue to be, y'know, annoyin' 'cause nobody's gonna be good enough for you when Alec already fucked that up sky high. Cy's next words garnered a genuine laugh from Alice--she really did appreciate how protective her brother was of her. It made her feel cared for, appreciative of the fact that he was still looking out for her, even after all this time. She was already certain that whenever she did tell Cyrek about Abra that he was sure to scowl at her--he may even call her foolish, which she could deal with. She knew that it came from a place of love. "You're not annoying. It makes me happy to know you care so much." She was just thankful that Cyrek was so much better at picking people than she was--because she did approve of Stella and she thought that the spitfire was quite good for her brother. She was positive that she'd also feel some vitriol if Cy had an ex that was an equivalent to Alec.

She could already feel the heat radiating from her scalp and she resisted the urge to itch the top of her head. Overall, her head didn't have an actual issue with bleach but was bleaching ever truly pain free? She thought not. "How long do we leave the bleach on again?..." she asked. She laughed when he stuck his tongue out at her. He was bound to find out sooner or later--besides, it was fun to have a little secret for once. Honestly, it was nice to have fun in general. It felt so rare these days. S'kind of ironic we're all flipped now. Didn't really have no plans of bein' in any kind of relationship like this when you were gettin' hitched. She nodded in agreement and said "I know, we've both done a one-eighty. But I think when it's right, it's right--and this is just my two cents, but... I think you two are right." It was kind of funny that in less than a month, Cy and Stella were going to be engaged--Alice had always been the one to want a picket fence and happily ever after. Even now, though she was cozying up to Abraxis, she was almost positive that she had no interest in getting married ever again. Even if she did agree to get married again someday, it would be small and lowkey--nothing like her first great white big wedding.

Sounds excitin'. She smiled when she saw the glimmer in Cyrek's eyes. He'd always pushed her to get out there and date--she figured that he was worried about her being alone and spending too much time in solitude, which she supposed was a fair fear to have. Besides, both siblings wanted the other to be happy. Giving a nonchalant shrug, she said "We'll see."

Alice listened intently as Cyrek began to get into the details about him and Stella, trying to remind herself to act as if she'd never even thought about them getting married before, all the while picturing the gorgeous ring that Stella had purchased for him in her head. I get that she doesn't...want that kind of commitment. Stella most certainly did want that commitment--but it seemed like she'd had a difficult time expressing that and Alice couldn't really blame her for that. After all, there was a reason that she had almost written it off entirely unless the right person came along--marriage was serious. It was a big deal and it shouldn't be taken lightly. It sounded like, at one time, Stella had been vehemently against it but now, it seemed as if the brunette knew exactly what she wanted.

As Cy finished the last bit of hair and propped himself up on the bathroom sink, her eyes followed him, giving him a moment of processing time when he mentioned the miscarriage that they'd suffered through. She nodded as he spoke, remembering how Stella had phrased it when she was seeking Alice's advice. It was difficult to come right out and say what one was thinking, especially about such a vulnerable topic as marriage. "Well..." the journalist finally started. "It sounds like Stella's thoughts on marriage and commitment changed--and it sounds like she didn't even really realize that they were changing at first. I know it's difficult for her to...say how she's really feeling but it sounds like she's trying. Maybe she just needs...a little practice." And Alice wouldn't be surprised if she was practicing her speech, given how nervous she'd seemed at the jewelry store. "I would say... Maybe give her a few weeks to let the argument die down and find a better way to say how she's feeling. Honestly, I think it just might be unchartered territory for her, being so open about expressing her emotions. And then maybe you two can revisit the idea. But... For the record, I think you two are gonna' make it." Though Alice was trying to steer her brother away from popping the question in the next few weeks and unknowingly ruin Stella's own proposal, she was also being genuine. She'd always thought that Cy and Stella made a good team. "You two will find your way, I know it."

An eyebrow arched, lips quirking in vague amusement. "Okay, fuckin' Galileo in my bathroom. Personally, think you'd be more incognito as a journalist if you whipped out the fishnets again. I'd say you can borrow some of Stell's, but I still owe her a pair 'cause I ripped 'em a while back." Everyone was already more or less filled in on the gory details in his girlfriend's circle, he'd hazard to guess, but he wasn't about to hash into that with his sister. Looking down, he continued to apply the bleach to the ends of her hair in sections. "And I think I'm all that 'cause of more than the stars said I was gonna be. You've persuaded me to think about how to upgrade the cool look, though." He wouldn't call himself much of a fashionista — his half of the wardrobe consisted of clothes that were unideal for the Alaskan weather because they were see-through, ripped, or otherwise, plus a wealth of suspenders over belts. Perhaps the only area he excelled in was the wealth of jewelry and accessories that the coupling had found an arrangement for, picking and choosing from each other's things at leisure.

It's because I value your opinion, Cy. "That means I'll continue to be, y'know, annoyin' 'cause nobody's gonna be good enough for you when Alec already fucked that up sky high." Okay, maybe he was holding onto a grudge after all that time — ironically, he couldn't recall many times he'd actually spoken to or mingled with Alec, so his perspective was already biased. It was Cyrek's phone number she had dialed when she got wasted and he just so happened to be in the big city, after all. Folding up the aluminum strips, he moved on to the middle sections of her hair, glancing at her in the reflection of the mirror, sticking his pierced tongue out at her petulantly. "Yeah, whatever." Then, after a moment, he looked away and said thoughtfully, "S'kind of ironic we're all flipped now. Didn't really have no plans of bein' in any kind of relationship like this when you were gettin' hitched."

Lost in thought as he dipped the brush back into the cup of bleach, and he clucked his tongue in agreement with the outfit choice. It would be a fan favorite among his daughters, if nothing else. Alice's vague word choice steered him clear of being nosy about her plans, a knowing smirk wandering across his lips. "Sounds excitin'," he jested, his tongue rolling playful.

You're thinking about proposing? "Um." Unusual silence washed over them, as he considered his words and how to frame them into his third language. "Let's... not go that far. I mean," he sighed as he tried a third time, moving on to coating her roots, "She's got this thing about marriage, so I knew when we started datin', she didn't wanna get married, still, and that was okay. I wasn't sure I ever did, neither. She just thinks that... 'cause all the other chicas in her family got up and left when they got pregnant, she'd get up and left if she got married. I get that she doesn't..." Didn't? "Want that kind of commitment, but..." Trailing off, he hesitated, glancing at her. "Don't tell her. But when we found out we were havin' a baby girl, I bought a ring, 'cause I... wanted to really show her I wasn't gonna up and leave her, y'know, with the baby. Then we lost Twyla a couple weeks later and..." A heaviness settled over his chest, dropping the brush back into the bucket. Restlessly, he hoisted himself to sit on the bathroom sink while their hair marinated, studying the arrangement of bracelets decorating his wrists, lifting his shoulders. "I thought about proposin' on our first anniversary and it didn't seem like the right time. Then the other day, we got into this big fight —" A phrase he used far more when they were allegedly just friends than once the dust had settled in their relationship. They bickered, certainly, and it was scarcely serious. They'd probably had three actual fights over the course of their romance, and he was honestly frozen in a state of shock when he reflected that maybe, he hadn't been so hard to love, after all. Significant others had merely never loved him right. "She's mad 'cause she said she's been droppin' hints and waitin' for me to propose all year. Either I'm a big fuckin' idiot," not impossible, "Or... she's the worst at charades ever, and we're never gonna play that game together. But it pissed me off she wouldn't come right out and say it, so I said she should propose, and —" A breathy laugh escaped him, banding his fingers together. "I dunno. Maybe that means she won't. I always thought if I pulled out a ring, she was gonna flip out and dump me, 'cause it's like, that promise to herself was... the most important thing to her."

[sissytobitch10seconds]

The Gayest Shit We've Ever Done

Fandom: Stranger Things Summary: Living in Chicago means that they get to live different than they did in Hawkins, in the best way possible. Warnings: Mentions of period typical homophobia Word Count: 899 Ship(s): Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington & Eddie Munson & Nancy Wheeler, Eddie Munson/Steve Harrington

Archive link!

The whole thing had started when Nancy showed up to the shitty apartment that Steve shared with Robin and Eddie. Her face had been covered in tears as she admitted, "I think I'm aromantic, Steve." None of them had passed any judgment on her for that. After all, she was standing on the doorstep of the lesbian living with her bisexual best friend and his gay boyfriend. 

After that, things had begun to spiral to the point where they were in a dynamic unlike any that they had encountered before. It wasn't until Eddie's band actually hit it off and they were able to use the money from his first four albums that actually sold to move to Chicago that they figured out what they were. They had attended an event that Eddie had been invited to, and found out a lot about themselves. Every single person in that huge room had been accepting of what they were and a few of them had even bothered to teach the twenty-year-olds about the things they had missed living in conservative Hawkins.

Queerplatonic had been the one that stuck out to them the most.

The idea of being able to hold hands and cuddle with each other without the commitment of a romantic or sexual relationship had been wonderous for Nancy. For Robin, who had been having a bit of a sexuality crisis over her intense love for Steve and Eddie, was reassured that she could be a lesbian and still have something more than friendship with the two men. 

"Come here, big boy," Eddie called, reaching out blindly with one hand. He had Robin sitting in front of him as he carefully painted over her eye with the liquid eyeliner in his spare hand. She kept squinting and making little upset noises whenever he got too close to her actual eye. Steve was sitting beside Nancy as she got one lipstick out of her bag at a time, removing the top and holding it next to his face to see if it complimented him well enough.

"I'm busy, love," Steve replied. Nancy placed her hand underneath his chin to bring him closer and make him stop talking. Eddie responded to the dismissal of his request by grasping hold of his boyfriend's hand. He threaded their fingers together so that the other man couldn't escape despite what Eddie was still trying to do to their girlfriend's face.

Them calling each other 'boyfriend' and 'girlfriend' had started out as a joke because of how often Robin and Steve had gotten mistaken for a couple back when they lived in Hawkins. After their queerplatonic polycule formed, they leaned into the joke more because it was confusing watching the people that they were close to try and figure out who was together with who. They never explained it either, just said yes whenever someone asked if a certain duo was together.

Robin peaked one eye open and then made a face by scrunching her nose up. "Gross!"

"I can hold your hand in a second, Rob," Nancy said softly. As much as their girlfriend liked to object to physical affection they knew that she was the one that liked it the most. 

Nancy painted over their boyfriend's mouth until his lips were a lovely shade of black. It complimented the dark eyeshadow and eyeliner that was already in place around his eyes. His hair was undone from how he normally styled it back, most of it pushed back with gel with a few cute curls hanging down into his face. He was wearing a fishnet shirt and a pair of ripped black jeans. Nancy herself had dark red lipstick and the same kind of eye makeup as Steve, but she was wearing a short black skirt and a matching maroon crop top that barely covered her stomach. Robin was wearing a pair of black cargo pants that had several chains connecting the right pockets, and a black band shirt underneath a bomber jacket. She had foregone lipstick since she tended to eat it before the night was up. Eddie was dressed like normal, since this was his normal aesthetic. They were dressing up for him, after all.

When they had finished getting their partners ready, they all grabbed the things that they would need for the show tonight. When they finally left their apartment, Eddie grabbed Steve and Nancy's hand. Robin was on Steve's other side, despite the fact that they didn't all fit on the small sidewalks. 

"This is really gay," Eddie commented once they had gotten far away from any other pedestrians.

"I hate to break it to you, but we're really gay, love," Nancy smiled. She loved getting to call them pet names, and used them as often as possible.

Robin gasped, "Oh no, I just realized that there's four ways for us to be straight and only two ways for us to be gay!"

"I think the fact that Steve and Eddie are holding hands and makeout in the back of concert halls often kind of deters that," Nancy laughed. She was so much happier now that she was with them, getting the kind of affection that she had longed for with Jonathan. She still cared for her ex-boyfriend, but she couldn't love him the way that he needed to be loved. This was the kind of love she needed.