#mike and still feels like... like there's this Thing between them tht's all in his head and he just. he needs to hear mike say it. he needs

[bylertruther]

modern au mike would be the repressed internalized homophobia harboring kind of gay that says shit like "it's not gay to kiss ur homies goodnight 🙄 that's just being a good bro" and is essentially playing gay chicken with will 24/7 which is why will never suspects anything and thinks it's totally unrequited. bc they have Always been like this . and still mike insists he's straight and who is will to say Um Actually esp when mike made a big stink abt dating his sister n also gets super defensive abt it any time they talk abt it or get anywhere even remotely close to talking abt it. hope this helps 👍

[pynkhues]

For the top 5 ask game I was wondering your favourite Brio moments and favourite of the girls’ moments? Xx

Nice! Thank you!

Okay, for the Brio moments, I'd say In no particular order:

All of 2.04. Yes, of course the bathroom break, but honestly all their scenes in this episode are so great. From the opening scene at the bar which just brims with her exhaustion and his excitement, to the last scene in Boland Motors where Rio both listens to her (doesn't tell Dean what they did) and doesn't (destroys the corvette), it's just hot and emotionally complex and good. Genuinely one of my fave eps of tv ever.

The bench scene in 3.06 where Beth and Rio finally confront reality. This scene just aches in all the best ways. I know a lot of people found their lack of communication frustrating, but I loved the way it made scenes like this one really pay off. They both feel like they're nearing breaking points, and the wound between them is still bleeding, and nothing they've put on it is making it stop, and you just feel that. I love it a lot.

"If you need something, all you gotta do is ask" in 4.15. It still makes me insane.

All of 3.04. I know, it's kind of another cheat, but the early scene in the bar where they're both so emotionally wasted juxtaposes so perfectly with the tension and promise of the money making scene at the end. The fact that it plays into all those things that make their dynamic so interesting - the way they can't stay away from each other, the fact tht he sees her, the fact that she always steps up for him - - it just gets me in all the best ways.

The Dubby in 2.07. I've done enough unhinged posting about this ep to last a lifetime, haha, so I'll just leave that there.

And for the girls - - I'd be here forever if I was talking about all my favourite scenes with iterations of them, so I'll try and keep it to trio moments:

Annie and Beth give Ruby the full cut at the hospital after Sara's seizure in 1.05. Honestly one of the scenes that encapsulates the show for me. Funny and tragic and always empathetic, it just shows off Christina, Retta and Mae's friendship chemistry like nothing else.

Ruby shooting Big Mike in the foot and Beth and Annie's reactions in 1.03. I SCREAM.

The bachelorette party scene in 4.08. Absolute cinema magic, they're on fire, I love them.

All of 2.08 - the flashbacks, Annie setting Beth and Ruby up, the crack in Beth's voice when she says she'd always choose Ruby. 10/10 ep actually, I love it very, very dearly.

All of 3.08. This one's maybe a surprise, but the episode where they retrieve Boomer is such a good one, especially for the push-pull between their motivations and the way we get to really see their growth from the start of the series. I love that it's Ruby who's actually the most accepting of the situation, and that Annie's the one who can't really cope. All three of them act the hell out of the episode, and play off each other so well, and I think especially given it felt like we got less of the girls together in s3, it really means a lot to me as an episode over all.

Ask me for my Top Fives

[honkhonkrichard]

Theory: Stanley Uris was Murdered.

Tagging @vvanini I hope you can follow this okay it’s very word vomity lol

Okay So TW because this post will touch on Stan's death ad the methods behind it

I propose that Stan Uris was murdered. by IT. In his home on that fateful night. I think that Stan posed the biggest threat to IT and therefore IT felt the need to take him out before the battle even started.

Allow me to explain.

Okay, so, I need to lay out some basic "rules" or "facts" before I make my case. They are as follows.

- IT planted it's roots in Derry, and finds it difficult to leave, but still can at it’s own wil.  If you read the book (I honestly don't blame you if you haven't) You'd know that once the Losers kill IT for the final time, Derry (the Physical town) is obliterated. Buildings explode, sinkholes appear, things are flooded. The town is in ruins by the time that the Losers leave the sewers. The movies don't adapt this so If this is news to you thats fine. the bottom line is that destroying IT destroys Derry, like ripping a tree out of the ground with all it's roots. Because of this, we can make the claim that while it can Leave Derry (as it does every 27 years) it probably takes tremandous amount of power to do so, which is why IT only goes when the cycle is over. Why does this matter? Well, what if IT left Derry to get to Stan? The murders had stopped for about a week when they're all in the Jade of the Orient. Plenty of time for IT to cross from Maine to Georgia. Side Note: We KNOW IT leaevs Maine to elsewhere in the world because of King's extended universe all interconnecting. it's not far off at all to make the claim that IT is the same evil that haunts, say The Shining's Overlook Hotel, which is in Colarado.

- IT is omnipresent This is also a given, IT lives everywhere, and can fuck with time and space in godlike (or maybe eldritch like) ways. in IT: Chapter Two, when Mike claims "IT Doesn't know I know what I know" he's unfortunately wrong, because we know that IT can be in A) Multiple places at once, B) can manipulate anything on the drop of a hat (See: Stan being teleported away from everyone else in Chapter One, Everything about Neibolt, etc) and C) Knows everyone's deep fears. This is further proven by IT Saying things like "Beep Beep Richie" (although this is Horribly Horribly executed in the films, ugh.) and so on and so forth. On top of all of this, We can make the claim that IT can exist outside of Time as well, given that IT is immortal. SO, what's stopping IT from Knowing Mike was going to call them all back (Espically considering that IT TOLD Mike to do this?). Even if we keep IT's omnipresence to the location that IT inhabits (in this case Derry) IT would still have knowledge of where the losers are through Mike. And if you take the Lucky Seven/Chosen Seven route (oh my god I got theories on that too) you could argue IT knows where they are inherently due to their cosmic status.

- Stan is the "most Powerful" loser So, obviously all the Loser's are powerful, espically considering they're the ones who Defeat IT (Again going on to the Lucky/Chosen Seven theory). This next claim is going to be less focused on what the 2019/2017 Movies do because they are Bad Movies and that's a whole other rant. However, in the book, Stan is (to my knowledge feel free to correct me on any of this) the only loser to Actively ward off and 'defeat' IT on his own without running away. He uses his belief in this what is Real (birds) to ward off what is "not real" (IT). The other losers do manage to take down IT in their own Right, but Stan is ultimately the one to Really get IT. This is because Stan's character revolves around Belief and Willpower. These are, in some form or another, the ways to Defeat IT. the ritual of Chud is a battle of Wills. in the book, Bill takes IT down and Eddie does the final blow. In the Remake (ugh) the losers can defeat it Technically using the belief that IT isn't as powerful as it claims because IT's "just a clown" (Ihatethatfuckingendingsomuchugh). Stan being much more skeptical than the rest of the group in his ability to understand Reality vs IT's illusions is a powermove, and IT knows that ability doesn't go away as Stan grows up, but rather he gets more powerful. Stan is the Only loser out of the 6 who left that has any sort of knowledge about IT, where the other losers have nothing. Bev has nightmares, yes, but she still forgets them. We're told in his chapter (Chapter 3, Six Phone Calls (1985), Part One: Stanley Uris Takes a Bath) that he has some hazy knowledge of his place in the Lucky Seven, and even goes so far as to MENTION it sometimes, even if he doesn't quite remember or understand any of it, his knowledge of IT and Derry is worlds more prominent than that of the rest of the losers.

(page 52 of IT:  "Stanley, nothing's wrong with your life!"  "I don't mean from inside." he said. "From inside is fine. I'm talking about outside. Something that should be over and isn't. I wake up frmo these dreams and think, 'My whole pleasent life has been nothing but the eye of some storm I don't understand.' I'm afraid. But then it just... fades. The way dreams do." OR  page 45: He had been smiling a little. Now the smile faltered, and for a moment he seemed puzzled. His eyes had darkened, as if he looked inward, consulting some interior device which ticked and whirred correctly but which, ultimately he understood no more than the average man understands the workings of the watch on his wrist. "The turtle couldn't help us," he said suddenly. he said that quite clearly.)

So, Stan has some cosmic knowledge of IT and Maturin and his role in the battle against It. What does any of this have to do with his death? Well, let me point out some other things about Stan's death that always stuck out to me. - His death chapter is narrated by his wife, Patty, rather than himself. The other chapters - almost all the other chapters - are narrated by their respective Loser (the caviot for this is Ben, but Ben is also wasted out of his damn mind so its understandable.) - Stan's personality is few and far between in the book, but we know he has a weird little sense of humour and that he's incredibly logical. I think that this logical part of him would be able to understand that Suicide is Never Ever the answer, and that it would cause FAR more problems than it would solve. (the 2019 movie tries to reexplain his death and it's crap and i hate the letters i hate the letters so much im gonna explode) The other losers try to rationalize his death by saying "He would rather Die Clean than Live Dirty (Page 506, Chapter 10, The Reunion, part 3, 'Ben Hanscom Gets Skinny') but he had already BEEN Dirty when he defeated IT the first time, and I think he would've recognized that. - upon finding him, Patty (in her narration) notes that Stan's head is bent back over the edge of the bathtub, so from his sight she would have been upside down. If Stan DID kill himself, why would he be positioned like that? It's unnatural, like someone Posed him. - the cuts on his arms are two length wise cuts. I'm no expert but.. that's suspicious. That's weird. - IT is written in blood on the wall. Why? Why would Stan right THAT of all things? You know who DOES like to paint with blood? IT.

Alright, returning to my thesis statement, Stanley Uris was murdered. Do I think Stan genuinely was going to take a bath at 7pm (which we're told is weird for him)? Yes. I think that's absolutely a thing he could have done or planned to do. Do I think he slit his wrists and commited suicide so he wouldn't go back to Derry? No. Not even remotely.

Let me paint a New Picture.

It's May 28th, 2016, or 1985. Stanley Uris gets a call from Mike Hanlon. Stan is incredibly hesitant to go to, and says he needs time to think about it. Or tht he'll try. He can feel the starts of a Panic attack, and as he's remembering the circles of Hell he went through as a child, he tries to hold himself together. He doesn't want his darling wife to see his break, so he says "I think I'll take a bath" and nothing else before going upstairs. he hides in the bathroom. He closes and locks the door, because, well, he's panicking. Locking doors is one of The Small things he does. Is it usually the bathroom door? no, but still (OCD is a bitch, and even with medication, but this is a special case). He looks in the mirror and tries to breathe. This is fine. He can do this. They killed IT once before and they can do it again. He thinks about his younger self, the promises made, and how he could explain all of this Patty in time to catch a flight to Maine. It's terrifying, but if his friends are going to bite the dust, he wants to be there with them, wedding vows be Damned. Then he looks at his reflection again. A younger, rotted version of himself stares back at him. IT crawls through the mirror. Stan freaks out, obviously. This isn't real. This Can't be real. But IT utilizes this notion against him. It digs it's claws into his arms, and forces him to bleed out in the bathtub. IT then sets the scene nicely. Razorblades on the counter, a bloody signature on the wall, a horrible posture of Stan's neck. So on and So forth. and then IT returns to Derry. IT's a little weak, yeah, but Stan is dead. That's what matters. the Lucky Seven has now Officially broken, and the balance shifts in favour of the clown.

So that's the theory. feel free to correct me on anything or engage I have plenty of theories on this story and I like discussing this stuff :).

[thoughtfullyyoungduck]

Schooling

A/N: hi anon! From what you’re requesting it’s pretty obvious that you’re struggling a grave bit with schooling and as someone who has been there (literally, I changed my major five times), I want to assure you that everything always falls into place the way it should be. I believe in you! 

Also, as i was posting this I remembered that I don’t know how schooling works in the USA so I just wrote it from a Belgian perspective. 

Summary: could u do a richie x reader where reader wants to be a musician but their parents are forcing them into sum hard uni course, but the readers getting awful grades and then accidentally applies to a random easy program instead of the hard one and freaks out tht her future ruined, so richie convinces the reader she doesn’t need to worry bc she’ll be a famous musician instead

High school was not a thriving environment for you. You had your friends, the losers club, who you adored and couldn’t imagine your life without, but you were also bullied relentlessly, and you weren’t fond of the studying part of the school dynamic. No one is, supposedly, but compared to Stan and Ben – both possessing the motivation and drive to put it in the effort, and Richie and Mike who were effortlessly smart, you felt lost.

The idea of college was the only thing holding you up, the only motivation to get through your high school years. That musical course you planned on taking was a bright light at the end of the tunnel. In hindsight’s, you accumulated way too much pressure on yourself for imagining college to be this amazing place where you would get to thrive in life. The reality was a lot more grim.

The first problems arose in choosing your major. Your friends had all zoned in on one – or were getting close to at least-, but you were clueless about what the right thing to do was. There were worlds apart between what you thought would truly bring you joy in life, and what your parents were manipulating you into choosing.

Your parents, at least when you’re younger, have the biggest influence on your view on the world and the way you see yourself fit in it. When your parents pushed you towards a biology degree, and kept at it for months, you agreed.

From day one, you knew it had been a mistake. You shared a few classes with Stan, and those all went over fine -because you had a friend around that you needed to stay strong for-, but the moment you had your first class, a deep feeling of dread settled inside you. Despite not enjoying high school like some might, at that moment you hoped for a miracle to turn back time.

Tests passed by in a flurry, and as each one got progressively worse, your mental health followed suit. You were caught in a visions cycle of bad grades and bad emotions, and it drained you so bad that anything that could potentially have anything to do with school, like emails, send you into a frenzy.

The inevitable happens on a Wednesday after school. You wasted a lot of time thinking of what could be, and winded up at the school that organized the musical course. On the home page of the sight, there had been a test titled: ‘is our schooling up your lane?’, and you, snorting with irony, took it to be coy. They asked a bunch of personal questions, and you didn’t think anything of it, until you received and email to state that you had started your admission to the school. The month long building tension snapped, and you started crying hysterically. You weren’t sure what you had done and if it was even anything to worry about, but everything got to be too much, and you wanted your best friend with you.

Richie arrived a mere ten minutes after your phone call, and let himself in to your bedroom where you were still crying on the bed. Thank god your parents weren’t home.

‘What’s up with you?’ Richie asked incredibly, sinking down on his back next to you on the bed. You appreciated the lack of fake sympathy and pity.

‘Same old,’ was the only thing you could come up with to say. You didn’t know if you had the energy to rehash everything again.

‘Your schooling again?’

‘It’s my schooling everyday Richie. It’s important.’

‘Is it as important as hanging out with me?’ It coaxes a laugh out of you, but the lighthearted moment is quickly squashed. You can’t shut off your kind and live in the moment. With everything you do, the reality slams on you, never allowing you to have a break.

‘Yes Richie. I know that school doesn’t matter to you, but it does to me. My parents will kill me if they find out I applied to this course. Help me.’

Your leg begins to bounce, a sign that your anxiety is taking over completely. Richie can recognize the signs, as he himself displays them often.

‘Calm down y/n, you’ll just follow the music program and became a musician. I’ll pay you to be my support act, and all of the losers will come to watch us. It’ll be fine.’

‘For you maybe, but my parents will kill me when they find out.’ It’s true. Before you enrolled in biology, you had already hinted at maybe following a music path, and your mom had shut it down faster then you could even finish your sentence.

Richie snorts. ‘Your parents are mad at you all the time. Who cares, in a few years you’ll be out of there and you won’t have to listen to them ever.’

‘But-‘

‘Y/N/N, come on’, Richie interrupts cheerfully. He throws one of his legs atop your to stop your leg from moving. ‘You’re stressing over nothing. If you can tell Bowers to fuck if you can do anything.’

‘Well Bowers was nothing, he’s just pathetic. This’, you empathizes ,‘is my future Richie.’ You sigh, completely disheartened. Your pc screen is lit up, and you notice a new email pop up from your new school. You can’t take it, why can’t you have a few moments to collect your thoughts?

‘What if I’m not good enough?’ You ask him quietly, sagging against Richie for support. It’s now that your true stress comes out. Your parents views are a problem, but if you were truly convinced that you could do it, you would go against their wishes anyway. ‘What if I do this, and I have to hear about how disrespectful I am for years, and it doesn’t pay off?’

Cruelly, Richie laughs. That’s weird. Richie is never fully serious, he always has a way to alter a situation into something cheerful, but he’ll never be intentionally rude.

‘Please? Not being good enough? You’re the best musician I’ve ever seen and heard.’

‘We live in Derry, that’s not saying much.’

‘I mean it. My second favorite thing is listening to you with your instrument, my favorite is still fucking Eddie’s mom though.’ A mom joke while you were debating over your major was not something you were aiming for, but hey, it’s Richie. Are you really surprised?

‘What do I do if I fail?’

‘You won’t. But if you do, you can always do that one year school thing right? You have the rest of your life to do the adult thing, why not choose your happiness now?’

It’s profound in a way Richie isn’t often -and in a way that people don’t credit him enough-. He has a hard time being serious, but you know that once he is, he always tells the truth. Maybe this time, he is too.

‘You truly believe that?’

‘It’s as true as my wang is long.’

‘Gross’, you protest, but his words light a fire under u. It gives you a whole new wave of confidence, a way to see things from a different perspective. Why wouldn’t you go for it and take the chance? Why should you be stuck doing something you take no pride or joy in. Your parents will be a problem, but this is not the life they have to life. They have made their own decisions, and now it’s time for you to take yours. Are you willing to do something for the rest of your life simply for your parents approval?

Another email filters in, one to confirm your decision to enroll in the new major. Richie intertwines your hands, offering up more strength to do what you have to. With one last encouraging smile, you nod to yourself, and press accept.

[echelonfiction]

Thinking Of You: Chapter 6 - not like usual

AN1: It’s just fanfiction, i mean no disrespect 

AN2:  I had a chapter of brightlights ready  to go but my computer died a bout a monthag and /that/ seemed to be the only thing tht hadnted backed up, enjoy some TOY

Warning: , drugs,  alcohol

Tagging @fyeahproudglambert @meghan12151977 @msroxyblog

(ask to be tagged)

Chapter 6

“Chester, what do I do,”

“Is she actually... oh my god, she said she was exhausted but doesn’t everyone say that,”

“I think maybe... I don’t know,” Mike laughed.

“Maybe most people say it, but those who fall asleep really are,”

“No, I didn’t” I groaned as I opened my eyes. My hands were tucked under my armpits my head was rested on someone’s shoulder I looked up at Mike he looked nervous. “I’m sorry,” I whimpered.

“It’s okay,” he said I sat up holding my own head noticing a drool patch on his shirt. Both our eyes with to it then to each others.

“I’m sorry,” I said again, I could feel my cheeks as the heat rose in them.

“It’s okay,” he said as I grabbed a napkin and his shirt wiping it off. “You must be really spent,” he said I looked up at him. he didn’t seem mad at all.

“That’s not an excuse,”

“Tatiana,” Mike laughed. “It’s not a big deal,” I turned to the table and threw the napkin on it.

“Tatty,” Chester said I looked up to him. His face was soft. “Why don’t you have your dinner and not think about it,” he said. I looked at the food I’d ordered on the table. “It’s really not the end of the world,” he said softly.

“You’re right,” I laughed looking between him and Mike. It really wasn’t an issue, embarrassing but I was fucking tired. “Want some of my fries as an apology?” I asked pulling my food tray to my knee, half leaning it on Mikes' knee as well. He looked nervously at Chester who must’ve told him to in some secret bro code.

“Sure,” Mike laughed.

*

I walked into the bedroom. I’d finally sorted everything out into a good routine, work aside, sometimes I got some free time. Shannon was looking at his phone.

“Are you ready bear?” I asked.

“Yeah, babe, I was just putting some feelers out for something good,”

“Not really a vital, Shan” I smiled.

“maybe” he smiled as he walked to me. “But fun!”

“Right?” I turned to him

“Besides, you’ve been so uptight lately,” he said with a smirk. “It wouldn’t hurt you to lose your mind for a little while.”

*

We got to the club, I don’t know why I felt so uncomfortable here.

“Leopard girl,” I heard and looked over to see Chester’s friend Brad waving us over.

“Hey,” I called back giving each person I knew a hug as I approached. “Guys, this is my amazing boyfriend, Shannon.” I said pulling him into me, “Babe, that’s Chester, Brad, Dave,” I said realizing Mike wasn’t here. Shannon gave a nervous wave to which he got a bunch of hi’s

“yo, Tatty,” Chester called. “This is my wife, Talinda”

“Hey,” Talinda waved.

“Hey” I grinned, nice to finally meet you,”

“You too,” she smiled.

“sit down guys,” Chester said, Joe was grabbing drinks, I’ll get him to grab you some,”

“sure thanks,” I smiled sitting down next to Shannon.

“Where do you know these people from, again,” he asked. “Those loon groups you attend?” I looked into his eyes and took a deep breath.

“I know Chester through the group,” I told “He come through work or Burger King a couple of times when I’ve been studying,”

“Right,” he sighed.

“They’re not loons,” I told calmly. He looked into my eyes.

“Babe,” he laughed.

“I go there too,”

“I know,” he said pulling my hair over my shoulder. “You’re better,” he said kissing my cheek.

“Tatty,” I looked up at Chester, “Joe will bring your drink soon,”

“Sure,” I smiled. “Are you guys nearly set up?”

“Yeah, I think Mike’s just,”

“Chester, there’s a problem with the, oh hey Tatiana,” he said walking over giving me a huge hug. “I’m glad you came,”

“Mike,” I cheered. “Same, this is my boyfriend,” there was an awkward silence before Mike moved and shook Shannon’s hand. “Shan baby, this is Mike,”

“Hey bro,” Mike said happily,”

“Hey,” Shannon said sarcastically before Mike sat next to me.

“So, you’ve been well?” Mike asked.

“Yeah, crazy busy,” I laughed. “But I think I’m starting to find a balance,”

“Getting back up on top of your leopard stuff?”

“slowly,” I said. “I caught up on all the stuff I needed to submit, but need to catch up on the readings and shit,”

“You’re smart, you’ll get there,” he smiled.

“Thanks,” I laughed. “How’s your week been?”

“Decent,” he nodded. I felt Shannon tense a little. “I have to do a sculpture now, from that drawing,”

“Oh, you made it so complex,” I worried grabbing Shannon’s hand holding it tight.

“Yeah, it’s going to be a bitch,” Mike laughed.

“Mike,” Chester called we both looked over. “What was there an issue with?” he asked as Joe started handing out drinks.

“Oh, right,” Mike laughed. “I’ll catch you later, Tatiana, thanks for coming,”

“Sure,” I smiled as I was given my drink. I leaned back into Shannon as he said thanks to Joe. “I always get nervous when I am about to hear new music,” I told Shannon.

“You do?” he half laughed.

“Yeah,” I smirked. “Like what if they’re shit and I have to pretend they’re good,”

“do you pretend I’m good?” he asked looking into my eyes. I had a feeling he was asking about something not music related. But I wasn’t biting. I wanted a good night and I wanted a good night with him.

“I know you’re the best,” I told. Moving closer to him. “But you’re oh-so-naughty,” I kissed him.

“Oh, really?”

“mhmm,”

“You need to show you deserve to know exactly how much,” he said grabbing my thigh kissing me deeply.

“Challenge accepted.” I grinned.

We sat with each other, Shannon and I eventually broke off a little-going to the bar acting kind of like a normal couple for the first time pretty much ever. The band started they were loud and grungy I watched as they sung and really owned the stage.

“wow,” Shannon laughed.

“What I looked over at him

“Your friend has some lungs,’ he admitted, Mike got his turn he put his guitar over his shoulder and started. “wow,” Shannon scoffed. “Homeboy is rapping,” I looked at him. His eyes were dark. He was turning in to dark Shannon who was a fucking jerk.

“I think they’re great,” I said honestly stirring my drink.

“I figured you would,” he said kissing my cheek. “Hey, will you be okay here for a bit?” he asked looking at his phone.

“why?” I snapped.

“I’ve got to go meet someone,” he said looking at me. “Don’t give me that look, I told you I was putting feelers out,”

“I don’t want to do it, Shan,”

“Don’t want us to both have a good night?”

“Yea- “

“Watch your friends play, I’ll be back before you know it,” he said kissing me before walking off. I turned back to my drink and it was almost like the music changed to suit my mood. It went from some kind of regular rock song to the lowest grungiest guitars I’d heard in such a long time. The song hit in just as I looked up the boys were going crazy on stage, Chester started singing something about bliss, ignorance something about being one step closer to the edge, being ready to break, wanting to disappear. I found myself staring at my drink. I felt this song at my core, by the time it got to the bridge it broke for a moment before Chester started screaming ‘shut up when I’m talking to you,’

“Where’s your boyfriend,” I heard I looked up, Chester’s wife.

“Oh, he had to go meet a friend, He said he’d be back,” I smiled.

“Good, come hang,” she said grabbing my arm pulling me over to her table right by the stage, I barely had time to grab my drink, let-a-lone say no. I was now apparently watching the band with her. “They’re good huh?”

“Yeah,” I smiled. “Such an individual style.”

“I agree, I could watch them for hours.” She said I smiled at her as she started watching them, her eyes trained on her husband. He held the stage so well, I watched them all do their thing until my eyes noticed Mike. He was everywhere. All over the place like a bunny on speed, pressing this button and that button all the while still having a great time on stage with his friends. Every time he smiled, I did too.

“Have they been a band long?” I asked.

“Kind of,” Talinda said. “Like not as long as Metallica,”

“Fair,” I nodded.

“Chester moved from Arizona a few years ago to be the singer, they’re really starting to get somewhere,”

“Oh, nice,”

“Mike and the other guys were a band before that, but Chester really meshes with them,”

“I can tell,” I smiled. “Did you move here with him?”

“No, we met here,” She told. “I am also from Arizona but we met here,”

“That’s cool,” I nodded.

“Are you from Cali?”

“Yeah,” I smiled. “My mom’s family is out of Long Beach, my dad out by Modesto,”

“Oh wow,” Talinda laughed.

“My parents thought LA was pretty central,”

“What about Shannon?”

“He’s from Louisiana,” I said. “He and Jared moved here for Jared’s career,”

“Jared?”

“Shannon’s brother, he’s great,” I admitted. “He wants to be an actor,”

“Oh,”

“He’s actually good though,” I laughed. “But I think He’s a better singer,”

“He sings too?”

“Yeah, he and Shan are in a band as well,”

“Oh, that’s awesome” Talinda cheered. “Maybe they can tour with Linkin Park?”

“Linkin Park?” I questioned. Talinda pointed at the stage. “Oh, right,” I laughed. “I’m so dumb,”

“Nah,” she laughed with me. “I don’t think they’ve said it once,”

“Alright, Ladies and Gentlemen,” Mike called from the stage. “We want to thank you all for coming out and being such a great crowd,” his eyes flickered to mine. I think. Probably not. “This is our last song, we’re Linkin Park, this is Papercut,”

“There we go!” Talinda and I said in unison.

“This is a really good song,” Talinda said, I smiled at her and listened. It was pretty intense, fear of the night, paranoia, the words struck something in me, then the way it was arranged at the end. I found myself completely mesmerized by Mike. “He’s cute, huh?”

“Huh?” I looked at her

“Mike, he’s cute,”

“Oh,” I looked at him pretending I hadn’t yet. “I mean, he’s not ugly,” I admitted. “He’s got a nice smile,” I said. “But I have a beautiful boyfriend,” even if I was major pissed at him right now.

“Okay,” she grinned at me like she was keeping a secret.

“Don’t do that,” I warned with a grin.

“Hey, I’m with the singer,”

“I like drummers,” I laughed as they finished up the song. Chester was off stage Talinda was instantly all over him giving him kisses and praise.  The other guys went to their respective partners or guests. Mike came to the table that I was standing up. “That was kind of amazing,” I told him as he at wiping his face with a towel he was given at some point.

“Kind of?” he laughed looking at me out of the side of the towel.

“Yeah, I’d give you the hugs your band was getting but it would be weird,” I admitted.

“Only for you,” he grinned starting to catch his breath. I looked away “Drinks,” he cheered as the bartender brought a tray of what everyone was drinking, including me, which was weird. Chester came over grabbing his drink.

“What’d you think Tatty?” he asked.

“I thought you guys were great,” I admitted. “I don’t know how you guys aren’t touring,”

“We might be soon,” Chester admitted.

“Sweet,” I grinned. “I really liked the last song,” I admitted. “and the shut up screamy song?”

“Shut up screamy song?” Mike laughed.

“You know, the angry one,” I said. “shut up when I’m talking to you,” I sang half-heartedly.

“One step closer,” Mike said.

“Yeah that one,” I smiled “And the last one, the lyrics were hype,” I admitted.

“thanks,” Mike smiled.

“And the rapping over the rockfish sound, it’s pretty epic,” I said he looked in my eyes.

“Thank you,”

“You’re welcome,” I said proudly.

“Where’s Shannon?” he asked looking around.

“Oh, he had to go meet a guy,” I shrugged. “He’ll be back soon”

“Oh,” Mike looked away to Chester who was talking to some guy. I watched his face for a moment, so sticky and sweaty, his hair was up spikey as from the towel just now. The sweat was right down his neck into his shirt, I felt a hard lump in my throat that I had to swallow as I looked away. It doubled back as a slight cough as I took the next mouthful of my drink.

“You good?” Mike laughed.

“Yeah,” I smiled. “Wrong hole,” Mike busted out laughing I don’t know why but I joined in.

“what the actual hell,” He laughed turning to me.

“What?” I laughed.

“you don’t just say that in public,” he laughed.

“you’re dirty,” I said pushing him away.

“I’m dirty?” he exclaimed. “You said it,” I shook my head and went back to my drink as arms went around my waist.

“you look like you’re having fun,” my boyfriend whispered into my ear.

“Even more now you’re here,” I said turning and wrapping my arms around him. Kissing him, but he didn’t take it properly. He pulled back for a moment showing me his tongue with a pill on it. I rolled my eyes and kiss him anyway. Taking the pill with a chaser of his kiss. “Babe, you should’ve stayed for longer, the set was awesome,” I said bringing Mike back into the conversation.

“I heard the start,” he said. “It was pretty good,” he said.

“Thanks, Man!” Mike said offering Shannon a high-five which somehow turned in to a high-five hug over the top of me.

“You guys been playing together long?” Shannon asked.

“Few years with Chester,” Mike told, repeating the story Talinda just told me, a moment later Chester had joined Shannon and Mike in a conversation of band talk. Shannon wrapped his arms around me but wasn’t paying attention to me. So, I turned mine to Talinda. I was enjoying being out and not being completely bat. Shit. Crazy.

[bylertruther]

"it's not my fault you don't like girls!" is such a crazy line for so many reasons.

they filmed versions with mike saying "you don't like girls yet" but didn't use it. hm.

"you don't like girls"? so... mike knows, right? and he backs down because bringing it up (even though technically it's not uncalled for since will was the first to make it personal but anyway) clearly hurt will?

"it's not my fault" so mike recognizes that will is unfairly zeroing in on him? that he's upset with mike specifically being the one to get a girlfriend and abandon him, himself, and their party for her?

"it's not my fault" so it's true that he feels suddenly cornered and attacked here, and that's why he puts his foot in his mouth? that he really wasn't trying to be a jerk like many still think?

the general fact that mike obviously is not the reason will's gay, but also he kind of is very much the reason lmao.

the way that he basically says "listen, i know that you're gay and all, but did you seriously think it was going to be you and me, together, us and only us, sitting in what has always been our safe space doing that which has always brought us joy, forever?" and will responds with a very simple "yes. i did. i really did." that kills and breaks the heart of everyone in a 5k mile radius including them. :(